Daylesford Autumn Dispatch - Sunday, 19th March 2017

 

 

Dear Friends, we had a great time at the ChillOut Parade after breakfast last Sunday. There was a big crowd in attendance & probably the most people involved in the Parade ever. Bilbo was beautifully behaved, even when the motorbikes revved up in front of us. People came to pat him, to take his photo & to remark on his relaxed pose.

Bilbo & Bam Bam in harmony at breakfast before the Parade.

After the Parade we came back home & Wes spent time in the garden, while I watched the Collingwood women have a good victory over GWS at Olympic Park in Melbourne.

         Dame Edna on the left & Max Primmer looking stunning in gold below

Police, Precious Paws & the Wizard of Oz characters were part of the colourful line up

On Monday, we walked early & picked up a few bottles & a towel that had been discarded. There was a mess on the main barbecue area, but we left that for the next lot of walkers as it was too dark for us to be able to do properly. Barry the fisherman was in position again after a week’s absence & the only obstacle to our walk was a German Shepherd that was tied up to a van parked next to where we usually park & start our walk near the Lake House. We decided not to risk annoying the dog and had a chat to Bilbo about how hard some dogs lives are & to think twice before complaining because he, at least, has an inside bed & would never be tied up outside all night in a place he didn’t know.

As it was the Labour Day Public Holiday, we decided to celebrate with breakfast at Boathouse Daylesford – always a lovely spot to visit. We grabbed chairs looking out the window onto the Lake & enjoyed very yummy meals – chorizo breakfast for Wes & smoked salmon for me.

Afterwards we visited the Daylesford Museum to see the display celebrating the 20^th ChillOut Festival. There was a 90-minute video, words & pictures (including a photo if Wes when he was Mayor supporting the cause) about each year’s event & a few props as well as one of each of the T-shirts designed for the volunteers to wear, quite a few of which are still in our wardrobe. We were disappointed there weren’t more memorabilia – would love to have seen a few of Max’s outfits from over the years, but at least the Museum is firmly behind ChillOut after years of antipathy.

On Tuesday, we were amazed to see a small round trampoline on the diving deck at Lake Daylesford. We can only hope that the owner is on Facebook & discovers from Warren’s post where it has gone, although it was still there this morning. The 10am film was ‘Hidden Figures’ which I went to see along with 20 others & we all enjoyed it very much indeed. Afterwards, Judi & I had lunch at The Food Gallery & found ourselves talking about the film most of the time.

That afternoon, Nick came to give me a massage and brought some of his honeycomb as a gift. He is so thoughtful & like most generous people, doesn’t want anything in return – I offered zucchini, tomatoes & herbs, but was knocked back on all three.

Dot was unable to play Mah Jong on Wednesday as she had an appointment, but I visited Muffins & More after gym for a pear & ginger muffin & a pot of Jasmine tea. I used to have breakfast early before I went to gym, but find that I can exercise much better on an empty tummy. On Wednesdays, Sandra comes to clean at 7.30am, so by the time I get back from gym, it is after 9am & she has well & truly taken over our house! Wes spent the morning in Barbara’s garden, mostly hosing, which probably caused the lovely rain we had that night & the next morning early.

We had planned to go to Melbourne on Thursday to visit the NGV (National Gallery of Victoria) & catch up on their current exhibitions, but Ticketmaster decided to make tickets available for the GWS & Collingwood match at 10am that morning, so we cancelled any thought of Melbourne. I was ready at the computer on the dot to obtain 7 tickets for the game, preferably with an end seat to give Terry McDonald some room, which I achieved! The game is at the Sydney Showgrounds in May – Danny & I are going to it, as well as our Sydney friends, Jane & David Knox, Terry McDonald & his good friends, Tim & Marj.

Wes planned a picnic outing instead and a very lovely one it was. First, we stopped at Eganstown Catholic Church & cemetery and went for a walk around it with Bilbo. Next stop was Powlett Hill, where Wes & Brian had found the abandoned dry stone home with pear & apple tree orchard still growing. Our picnic was held at Smeaton Mill, by the side of the water, which was most relaxing. I was a million miles away when it was time to go home, which we did via the Kingston Showgrounds, so that Wes could let me see the splendid old grandstand there, which was stolen from Smeaton (God know how!).

Brian Nash painting of Eganstown Cemetery

We arrived back home just in time for the Third Test in Ranchi to start & what a great toss to win. We were glued to our chairs & particularly enjoyed seeing Steve Smith & Glenn Maxwell bat so well together.

I had hoped to join the Bushwalkers in Trentham on Friday doing the Domino Trail, but after shopping, I felt as though I needed a quiet morning & pottered around here instead. Wes worked in the garden & Bilbo slept. We enjoyed sending & receiving St Pat’s Day e-cards & when Wes & Brian Nash visited Sailors Falls Estate in the afternoon, Wes took some Guinness along to celebrate the day.

Wes & Bilbo getting settled at our picnic at Smeaton

Yesterday, after our early walk, we headed off to Melbourne together. Wes dropped me at Strathmore and I spent my time with Leanne, while he drove to Foxtrot Charlie in Sydney Road, Brunswick, for a long overdue catch up breakfast with friend, Jon Stephens. Gerard Lazzaro drove there to meet up with Wes & collect our Tom Tom for their upcoming trip, where they will be driving in England. We were very thrilled Kathy & Ged decided to take up our offer, as we have found using it makes such a difference.

We arrived back here in time to see Winx beat a small field at Rosehill in Sydney, to record her 16^th straight win. She is an amazing horse – the jockey carries a whip, but I have never seen him use it. He just seems to whisper in her ear & off she goes like the wind.

The 3^rd Test is nicely poised with the Indians slowly but surely amassing a decent total. We will be glued to it again this afternoon, hoping Australia can take the last 4 wickets before India gets ahead on the first innings. As well, we have two AFLW matches to watch – the last games for Collingwood & Carlton are being played this afternoon. The Grand Final is next Saturday in Brisbane between the unbeaten Lions & either Adelaide or Melbourne depending on whether the Pies can knock off the Crows.

20 years ago – Wes & Ray Maloney at lunch with Joan Testro – always a wonderful experience