Dear
Friends, we’ve had quite a busy week and it has been beautiful weather for it.
Lovely sunny days and some rain at night or early morning – not lots, but
enough to wet everywhere. We had a good time at breakfast last Sunday, and were
unexpectedly joined by both Glenn Mack & Gillie Gough, which meant our
conversations ranged far & wide, including a long discussion on cemeteries
& cremations.
Wes
and I came home to get stuck into painting. While I did the trim out the front
along the sides of the ramp, he took everything off the decking and washed it
down for me to start painting. Once it had dried I managed to get two coats
done before sitting down to watch the thrilling game between the Western
Bulldogs & Hawthorn, which the Hawks won by 3 pts at the end. We were all
upset that the Doggies Captain, Robert Murphy, sustained an ACL injury in the
last minute and it looks as though he will miss the rest of this season.
Monday
was also earmarked for painting. After gym and a massage, I did the painstaking
part – hand painting between the timber slats. In the afternoon, I managed to
get two more coats on the decking and was left with the small area where the
barbecue & table are, as well as the stairs. Wes did some serious pruning
in the orchard with Bilbo’s help before making a very yummy risotto for lunch.
After
Tuesday’s early walk, we headed off to the Daylesford Cinema, to see the film,
Hail Caesar. Jeanette & Malcolm, the other volunteers in the team, were keen
to watch it, so Wes stayed at the ticket counter, while 10 of us watched the
film. Apart from enjoying Ralph Fiennes, who is always easy on the eye, I found
the film incomprehensible. In the afternoon, I visited EKO Skin Care Spa and
enjoyed having a manicure & pedicure with Alanna.
It
was good to see Dot & Valerie on Wednesday for Mah Jong after a couple of
weeks’ absence. We all won at least one game and were well looked after by
Bella, who puts cushions on our seats, remembers what we like to drink and has
it ready by the time we have sat down. Afterwards, Valerie & I had wraps
for lunch, then she headed off to the Masonic Centre, where most of the U3A
members play Mah Jong to see if anyone wanted a spare Mah Jong set she had. I
drove to Ballarat to pick up my bracelet at Gems & Jewels. Every few years
it becomes loose and needs a couple of links removed so I don’t lose it.
Wes
had a meeting with Keira Lockyer & Gary Lawrence in the afternoon to
discuss a Family History & Genealogy course that they are running for U3A
next month. Afterwards he went to Aperitifs, which was held at Val Porter’s
home in Smith Street, and caught up with quite a few of our friends. I had
hoped to go as well, but I am always tired after gym and Mah Jong and the drive
to Ballarat finished me off!
The
next day I had loads of energy and spent the morning using it – I finished off
the decking, which just left the stairs to be done; washed & ironed; baked
a fruit cake & made a fruit salad & was more than ready for our trip to
Macedon & Mount Macedon at midday.
What
a beautiful visit we had – we drove through stunning Autumn foliage up to the
top of the Mount to walk to the Cross and see the beautiful views.
The Cross, Warren with
Bilbo enjoying the views & below the walk there & back
Afterwards
we stopped for a late lunch at Mr Macedon, where we sat outside and enjoyed smoked
salmon bagels with Bilbo keeping an eye out for crumbs!
(Jane
& David Knox – we must take you there for a picnic next time you visit
Daylesford in Autumn!)
On
Friday, we were all awake early and decided to walk around Daylesford’s
Victoria Park to see how the new facility was going. It looks wonderful and
should be ready for the Grand Opening when Daylesford plays Hepburn on Sunday,
24th April. After going shopping, I took Bilbo to meet up with four
other walkers for Josie’s stroll around Glenlyon. It was most enjoyable, but we
were both tired afterwards and didn’t really achieve much for the rest of the
day. Wes had been busy in the garden, before coming in to cook Atlantic salmon
for lunch.
Before
we drove to Melbourne on Saturday, we put everything (except the pots) back on
the decking and are thrilled to bits with how it looks. We are still waiting
for our new pots & stands to arrive and as soon as they do, we can complete
the new look of our decking.
Off
we drove to Melbourne to see the Saturday afternoon Proms Concert, which was
based on the life and work of Sir David Attenborough. We didn’t know what we
were going to see and hear when we bought the tickets last November as our
Christmas gift to each other.
After
parking in the Arts Centre, we walked to Southbank & enjoyed a yum cha
lunch at Red Emperor, before walking back to Hamer Hall for our first visit
since it was completely renovated. We had front row seats, just to the right of
the conductor, which meant our view of the big screen was slightly impaired by
musicians, but that was a small price to pay. The concert was entitled ‘Life
Story’ and each segment was introduced by Sir David on the screen. The music to
accompany the vision of survival of animals from birth to old age was written
by Murray Gold and perfectly complemented the incredible footage we saw.
We
are so pleased we went – seeing the Proms has been an ambition for many years,
and this was the next best thing to the Royal Albert Hall. We were sitting next
to a couple who had flown down from Brisbane and were especially chuffed to be
supporting the Queensland Symphony conducted by Jeremy Holland-Smith.
On
the drive home, we listened to the very exciting last quarter of the Hawks
& Saints match in Launceston, where the Hawks won a thriller by 3 points. Sadly,
the Blues weren’t anywhere near as competitive against the Doggies and we went
to bed at half time with the game out of their reach.
This
morning we decided to have a sleep-in and 5am came & went without any of us
moving a muscle, especially Bilbo. I got up at 6.15am, gave him an apple and
have been writing this before we go to the Sunday Market followed by breakfast
at the Food Gallery. It’s a cool, blustery day and I am hoping the wind dies
down so I can paint the stairs to the decking and finish that particular project.
Spotted in Macedon –
an omen for today’s footy perhaps!
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