It’s been
a very busy & emotional week for us both & just when we thought life
would get back to normal, my computer died. Apparently, it is a Windows 10 compatibility
issue & could take some days. Hence this late Dispatch. I have set up the
laptop on the dining room table, plugged in my back-up USB & am back on
line this morning.
The best
news of our week was our visit to our niece, Jessie, on a very wet Thursday
morning. We left Daylesford at 7.45am armed with flowers & gifts from
ourselves & Leanne & arrived at Narre Warren a couple of hours later.
Our first surprise was to be greeted by Jessie’s mother, Mary, who had swapped
shifts with Michelle to be there; our next surprise & thrill was to see
Jessie, not just up & dressed, but having put a slow cooking meal on for
dinner, and our final surprise was a very unexpected visit from my brother,
Terry (Jessie’s father). We spent 90 minutes there & Jessie talked most of
the time. We were delighted to be able to enjoy such a long visit, to give
Jessie plenty of hugs & kisses & to catch up on her progress.
Terry, Jessie, Karen & Mary – all of us
thrilled to be together at Jessie & Anthony’s home.
On
Saturday, Jessie & Anthony held a ‘Bugger Off Cancer’ party, which also
celebrated their 42nd birthdays, which are a week apart. They had 80
guests & Jessie didn’t seem at all fazed that she would have to cope with
all these people.
After our
visit, we drove back home via Beacon Cove, where we delivered Lovely &
Malcolm’s painting & saw them both briefly, & then via Northcote, where
we delivered Danny’s painting & had a quick chat with him & his friend,
Kim, who is living at Danny’s house until he finds one of his own. We were also
able to congratulate them all on becoming grand-parents again, as Patrick
Millman & his wife, Kate Adams, welcomed Clara Joan into the world last
week.
The next
afternoon, along with most of Daylesford, we headed to the Convent Gallery for
a Memorial Service for Al Ebenreuter, who had died a fortnight previously &
been buried privately. It was a very bittersweet affair – Al would have loved
it, especially as friends came from near & far. Our friend, Caroline Storm,
aged 86, came from Clifton Hill, & enjoyed seeing us, as well as old
friends like Ginger, Peter & Cathy, Ann & Kevin, as well as giving her
condolences to Kathy Hancock.
Our favourite photo of Al, taken at a Daylesford
picnic
We are
still in shock over the news that our friend, Trish Nield, died last week,
after falling while walking her dog. She never regained consciousness &
will be very sadly missed by her family & friends. We first met her when
she joined Rotary about 10 years ago & enjoyed spending time together.
Lovely recent photo of Trish with her great
grandson, Jax
On
Saturday, Judi & I travelled by train to Melbourne to see the ‘Wallace
& Gromit’ Exhibition at ACMI, Federation Square. We were blown away by the
size & scope of it. It was due to finish this week, but has been extended
to the end of January, so if you love Wallace, Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, Chicken
Run, the Pirates, the Were-Rabbit, or any other characters, don’t miss it. We
paid $20 each & spent 90 minutes there, which is fabulous value.
Afterwards
we walked to the Kino to see ‘Final Portrait’ with Geoffrey Rush as the
painter, Alberto Giacometti. He does a wonderful job with his role, but it is a
very slow, monochrome film & we were delighted when it speeded up towards
the end!
Yesterday,
we had a fun breakfast – Margot & Janine are heading to China for 10 days
& very excited about the trip. Barbara had been unwell again during the
week, but recovered sufficiently to join us. Judi regaled everyone with our
visit to ‘Wallace & Gromit’, which made Barbara, Janine & Margot decide
to go & see it before it finishes.
Wes showed
the documentary ‘I Am Not Your Negro’ yesterday afternoon to a very
appreciative audience, on the last day of films at the old Daylesford Cinema,
which has closed now while the new one is being built. We’re going to miss the
luxury of being able to see films without going to Ballarat or Melbourne.
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