Morse

Morse
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Sunday, 10 December 2017

Port Fairy Dispatch - Sunday, 10th December 2017


 

What an exciting Test Match – Australia looked on top until the last session of Day 3, when the Poms bowled brilliantly. Suddenly, the game could go either way. We turned up for Day 5, paid our $2 & were treated to 2 hours of excitement with an Australian victory after some fine bowling. 20,000+ watched the session, which was wonderful – we saw many families who might not have been able to afford the Days 1-4 tickets getting to see their heroes for a pittance.


Stunning sight of rain falling under lights



                                           
We’ve enjoyed some wonderful breakfasts while we were in Adelaide – after Luigi’s we tried Mister Sunshine’s, followed by Peter Rabbit, complete with live rabbit in hutch, and Handsome & the Duchess, and finally Jamface in the Adelaide Market. All were interesting, most warmed the teacups before serving & most required patrons to perch uncomfortably on stools rather than rest their backs sitting in chairs. The service in all places was friendly & welcoming, the meals were interesting & yummy & we would visit them all again!

We saw the film, Goodbye Christopher Robin, which was perfect in every way & hasn’t left our minds yet. Do see it if you haven’t already.

We also went to the State Library which had an amazing collection of political cartoons; the Centre for Democracy; the Art Gallery; the War Memorial and various Gardens. Because the weather was more like Melbourne than Adelaide, we were able to walk everywhere & enjoy it unlike the last two years when it has just been too hot. The Adelaide Oval has been a delight to visit again, with welcoming staff ready to help – one attendant even carried beer upstairs for a patron whose hands were shaking too much to attempt it.

Me with Shiraz vin plastique – most nights we were able to drink our wine out on the concourse, but this night was just too cold in the wind, even for Victorians!

Finally, we said goodbye to Adelaide after a last night which included drinks at the National Wine Centre (a favourite haunt) & dinner at Rigoni’s, a fine Italian restaurant in Leigh Street. We tried to have oysters at the Oyster Bar, but they were embarrassed to report they had run out of oysters & smoked salmon at 6.30pm! 

The final leg of our trip was three nights in Port Fairy, where Wes & his sister, Denise, had spent family holidays in the late fifties. I had booked an apartment with beach views, hoping it would be the back-beach. Not only was it the back-beach, but it was also where Wes & Denise used to come to swim & play every day amongst the rockpools. They stayed at The Star of the West, a pub that still exists.

The view from our room complete with bunnies!

Our drive into Port Fairy was quite challenging with very heavy rain & the possibility of being blown off the road each time a huge truck went past going the other way. However, we arrived safely & spent a few happy hours watching the rain beat down on the glass, through which we could see the waves. Our room was comfortable, although the shower was a challenge with a fierce spray that went in every direction & soaked the bathmat utterly. We walked down to the beach each morning along a private path.

After breakfast on Friday at The Farmer’s Wife, we set off for a stroll around town, followed by a drive remembering spots that the Maloneys visited during their two weeks here each year. The day dawned cold & wet, but there was a beautiful huge rainbow in the sky around 7.30am & everything started to improve after that.


Mushroom omelette for me & chia porridge for Wes with the wonderful Age headline – Signed, Sealed & Delivered re Marriage Equality.

We drove to Koroit, Killarney, Crossley & Tower Hill areas – found a viewpoint for a Von Guerard painting, as well as the graves of Danny Millman’s grand-parents. The wind was fierce, but the sun was shining & it was a lovely day for memories.

That night we had dinner at Lemongrass Thai Restaurant, which is BYO. Wes picked up a bottle of Brown Bros Dolcetto, which turned out to be slightly sparkling – no wonder it was on special at $13! The meals were yummy & the service very friendly & welcoming.

Next morning was breakfast with ex-Daylesford friends, Chris & Suzanne, who moved to Port Fairy about 5 months ago to have a fresh start together. They are both looking very well & happy & involved in the local community. We wished them Happy Marriage Equality & they were delighted.


After breakfast we visited the local Saturday Market, which was very well laid out with all stalls under identical tents. Then onto the wharf & an hour’s walk admiring the boats, before we returned via the front beach.

On our way back to our room, we stopped to look at Pea Soup Bay, which is a cove along the back beach – not as good as our cove though!

This morning we’ve been for a last walk along the beach & are looking forward to arriving home after a lovely trip. We miss Bilbo, friends, our own bed & pillows & having lots of space. However, we’ve done lots & it feels as though we’ve been away much longer than the 12 days it has been.


Thanks for sharing our journey with us – I’ll be in touch again next Sunday from Daylesford. 

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