Daylesford Autumn Dispatch 8th April 2018

Dear Friends, we’ve had a busy week after Easter. Sunday Breakfast was delightful with Sandy chuffed to have won the Dee Waterhouse 1^st Prize at the Glenlyon Easter Art Show. Wes took a photo which he put up on Facebook & that prompted Jackie Chen from Jackie’s on Vincent to contact me to see if Sandy would be interested in hanging her paintings on the walls of his restaurant. I passed on the message & she was most excited at the invitation.

Sandy, David, Janine & Karen at breakfast & Sandy with her winning painting on Good Friday evening

We visited the Exhibition in the newly refurbished Glenlyon Hall & were impressed with the standard of paintings. Most were reasonably priced & quite a few had sold. Apart from Sandy’s work, we liked Brian Nash & Peter Holthouse’s entries.

Wes has been able to spend plenty of time in the garden – spraying, feeding, pruning & weeding with some watering as well. Our tanks filled in the last downpour, which really helps with the watering. I declared the tomatoes finished & picked some green ones that are now ripening in the sun in our lounge. Our chillies continue to be profuse & we have more parsley, Thai basil & chives than we can use. The current favourite herb is Winter Savoury & we are really enjoying tasting it in our cooking again after an absence of many years.

We received a long email from our old friend & my employer in the early to mid-80s, Lawrie Townsend, physio extraordinaire! Lawrie has been based in Brisbane for many years & tells me he has just retired, albeit reluctantly. He enclosed a photo of his three daughters & one of his grandsons. His son, Nic, lives Gothenburg, Sweden, with his partner, Ankie, & their two children.

L-R Cara, Alison with Lucas, Lawrie & Grace

On Wednesday, we headed to the MCC Committee Room for a long overdue lunch with old friends. We drove Judi, as Michael was unable to join us. It was fun to dress up & we enjoyed a wonderful 3½ hour lunch & those friends who had never been into the MCC, let alone the MCG, really seemed to appreciate the ambience of the place & understand our passion for it.

L-R – Fraser, Gayle, Ian, Robyn, Kathy, Ged, Karen (AKA Lovely), Malcolm, Judi, me & Wes.

We had decided to stay overnight in Melbourne, which meant Bilbo spent a couple of days at Eureka Kennels. The next morning, after a walk, Wes & I found ourselves at Square & Compass, where Matt greeted us warmly & we enjoyed a very yummy breakfast before heading back home.

Wes looking good in Navy Blue!

We’ve been enjoying the Commonwealth Games, especially the swimming & cycling & the World Records on the first night, which were most unexpected & exhilarating.

Bilbo happy to sit while I have a pot of Jasmine tea at Muffins & More

                                                                                       

 

Jessie back in hospital

Yesterday we received a phone call from my brother, Terry, to let us know that his daughter, Jessie, is back in Monash Hospital, where the doctors are pumping steroids into her to reduce the swelling in her brain from the tumour (which has grown again) & give her mobility enough to allow her to go back home, probably next week. We hope to be able to visit once Jessie is back home.