Daylesford Winter Dispatch - Sunday, 29th July 2018

 

Last Sunday’s Dispatch was sent just before Bilbo & I had an unexpected collision within the confines of our walk-in robes – I turned to avoid him, he turned to match me & his head collided with my instep, leaving me with strained ligaments in my left foot. At first, it seemed very minor, but as the day wore on it became more & more painful & I was forced to apply ice, keep my foot up & eventually go to bed with a compression bandage.

This is the perfect Snoopy cartoon to accompany my whinge!

I was very lucky that it wasn’t worse & by Friday was feeling just about back to normal. I think the sunshine helped after a few days of Brigadoon. Wes was even able to get into the garden & potter around for a bit, although it is still very wet underfoot.

Foxtel offered free films during the early part of July & Wes booked a few for us to watch, which have come in handy during the past two weeks. I have watched my all-time favourite film, Chariots of Fire, which is so well-cast, beautifully written & filmed with the wonderful music of Vangelis. I’ve also seen Paddington for the first time, watched A Passage to India with the wonderful Aussie actress, Judy Davis, in the title role in 1983; reconnected with Dead Poets Society starring Robin Williams, and The Book Thief with Geoffrey Rush.

On Wednesday, Dot & I played Mah Jong for the last time for a month, as she & John are heading for warmer weather. We evened out the wins, which pleased us both, if not our husbands. Thursday was Denise Anderson’s birthday, so Wes booked a table for two at Bad Habits Café, at the Convent Gallery, and the siblings spent an enjoyable lunch time catching up on news. We are so lucky to have so many choices for breakfast, lunch & dinner here in our little neck of the woods.

Denise enjoying her birthday lunch.

Yesterday, we drove to Melbourne for the big Richmond vs Collingwood game at the MCG. It was very exciting to be there amongst 88,000+ for a great match. Richmond were too good for us in the final quarter, as expected, but I was very proud of our team.

Last night, Carlton had its second win for the season, unexpectedly against Gold Coast up there. Wes is enjoying the day after very much – it’s been some weeks since he woke up as a winner!

It’s going to be a very quiet day today after our big day driving to & from the footy yesterday. Bilbo is very happy to have us home again & didn’t want to get up for an early walk or anything else this morning. He will start to show interest shortly when I prepare to leave for the Sunday Market.

We have a busy week coming up with a trip to Melbourne on Tuesday – me to see Leanne & Wes to take Leon to breakfast for his birthday. Wes has a funeral in Bulleen on Wednesday – Terry Lane, a very popular & much-loved insurance broker died suddenly last week (on the golf course, which would have pleased him). We are due to go on a date on Thursday, but I suspect we will be happy just to see a film in Ballarat, rather than drive anywhere very far!

Daylesford Winter Dispatch - Sunday, 22nd July 2018

Last Sunday’s trip to Melbourne brought about mixed results. Wes enjoyed being at the Town Hall with a group of like-minded people all determined to preserve our ABC, although he was amused that he had to queue to rally! At the MCG, I arrived in time to get a seat in my favourite bay, and then found Margaret Nolan & her daughter, Judith, in the Collingwood Social Club, where I could finally give them hugs & commiserate about the sudden death of Margaret’s husband, Eric. After that I went into the Long Room & spent a very pleasant hour with Loud Gayle & her friend, David, quaffing bubbles & reminiscing, until David realised that his wife, Joan, who was sitting outside, was eating all the hot chips! It was that sort of a cold afternoon!

Collingwood played their best but weren’t good enough to beat the West Coast Eagles in front of a good crowd of 53.000+. Wes picked me up after the match & we drove home listening to the very exciting game between Sydney & North, which was won by the Swans in the last minute by their Sudanese player, Alir Alir, who had been beaten most of the game by North’s Sudanese player, Majak Daw.

All this excitement was too much for me & I had a relapse in the early part of the week, which meant I didn’t get back to gym. Nick came & gave me a massage on Monday, which was very welcome. Dot was unable to play Mah Jong on Wednesday, which gave me extra time to get the guest suite ready for our friend, Deane Wells, who was due to arrive from Brisbane early that afternoon.

Deane at the Chocolate Mill

Deane flew in later than planned & stayed overnight in Melbourne. We picked him up at Ballarat Station on Thursday morning & took him to the Regent Cinema to see the latest Australian film starring Shane Jacobson & his brother, Clayton, called Brothers’ Nest. Fortunately, we knew nothing about it, except that it wasn’t like Kenny, the film that put these two actors on the map. We haven’t stopped talking about ever since.

After the film, we crossed the road to the Art Gallery to see their special Winter Exhibition Into Light featuring artists such as Renoir, from the Musėe de la Chartreuse, Douai. There were some good paintings, but we were disappointed with the quantity on display & the variation in quality. Most paintings were excellent, but a handful didn’t deserve to be in such elevated company. We ate lunch at the café attached to the Gallery & enjoyed our food choices very much indeed.

On Friday, I had an appointment with Emma for a facial at EKO, so missed out on the trip around the Shire that Deane & Wes went on. I think the highlight for Deane was the visit to the Chocolate Mill & they finished in Trentham with scones at Chaplin’s, sitting at the communal table. That night Wes took Deane to The Farmers Arms Hotel, where they sat at the bar chatting with locals & enjoying dinner & a bottle of red. Everyone there was thinking of Rodney Peacock, who used to run the Friday night raffle so well. Rodney now lives in Ireland & married his partner, Mark, that day. Over 30 people from Daylesford area flew to Ireland to attend the wedding, which seems to have stretched over a few days!

Yesterday we dropped Deane in Essendon, where he was staying overnight & headed to the MCG to see if Collingwood could beat North Melbourne. I had obtained a Balcony Pass for Wes, which meant we could sit in the best seats in the ground. Before the game started we headed to the Collingwood Social Club area & spent time with Margaret Nolan & her daughter, Judith. They were both thrilled to see Wes & we enjoyed a good chat. We also had a chance to see Loud Gayle, who told us that the current Ladies committee at Collingwood (the Dolly Greys) were providing the guard of honour for the team as they ran onto the ground. 36 years ago, when the first committee was formed, this would have been impossible – women weren’t allowed in the Social Club on match days, let alone out on the ground. The first President, Shar O’Reilly (Lendrum at the time) was considered good enough to run the creche! The first Treasurer, me, refused to help her on the grounds that I had never been much good with children, especially the spoiled sons & daughters of footballers.

Gayle & I standing in front of a small section of the massive tapestry outside the Long Room – you can see famous footballers & cricketers behind us

Much to the delight of the Collingwood supporters, we played very well & after the first few minutes, were never headed by North Melbourne, who didn’t bring the same desire to win. This sets us up for another tilt at Richmond, who are top of the ladder & looking the goods – next Saturday should be a huge game! I’m hoping to bring Wes along again as he is obviously a good luck charm.

We arrived back home to find Bilbo happily asleep on his bed in the lounge, although he suddenly felt very hungry when he saw me come through the door. The last two weeks we have asked our lovely neighbours, Rob & Dene, to bring Bilbo inside if they should see him wandering around in the garden while we are away. They have done that successfully & he has happily slept in his bed waiting for us to come back home. The issue is the stairs – he has tumbled down them a couple of times & is much happier if someone accompanies him.

He & I are about to head off to the Sunday Market, then breakfast at Larder, where we will be a small group as David & Sandy are both away & Margot is preferring to eat at The Food Gallery, where they serve more meals that she likes. Then we are going to rest for the rest of the day!

Daylesford Winter Dispatch - Sunday, 15th July 2018

You will be delighted to read that I am up & about again & enjoying Winter in Daylesford once more. The first part of the week went rather quietly. Collingwood was lucky enough to win a hard-fought game against Essendon in front of 70,000 at the MCG on Sunday afternoon. I was sorry not to be there, but not well enough, so we watched it on the big screen instead.

I’ve been reading quite a wide variety of books while I have been confined to quarters. One author I have been meaning to try for some years is Michelle de Kretser & I finally picked up her second novel The Hamilton Case, set in colonial Ceylon. It’s not the sort of book you want to put down & I am in awe of her writing talent.

Before Michelle, I read the latest two novels by Ann Cleeves – one set in the Shetland Islands & the other featuring Vera. Ann has a wonderful ability to create characters that come to life through her words & the skilful casting of Brenda Blethyn to play Vera in the TV series has been inspired.

Currently I am reading an omnibus by P G Wodehouse which centres around Uncle Fred, one of his finely-drawn characters, who doesn’t impinge on the Jeeves & Wooster novels, but rates three novels of his own, with his nephew Pongo. This is also stunning writing, not just in the convoluted plots, but the many finely-drawn lesser characters who people these books.

As soon as I finish these novels, I will be heading back to Italy to read my fifth Marco Vichi novel featuring Inspector Bordelli, Death in the Tuscan Hills. These books are set in 1960s Italy & provide an interesting backdrop to the crimes that Bordelli is forced to face.

By Wednesday, I was ready to face the world again, and headed to Muffins & More to play Mah Jong with Dot. That afternoon I answered my mobile, which I don’t usually do if I don’t recognise the number, to find a female caller asking if she had found Maloney Insurance Brokers? Wow! We sold our business to OAMPS back in 1999 & the only contact point that remains the same since that time is my mobile. During the first few years after 1999, my phone rang often, but eventually the calls petered out.

On Thursday, Wes took me to breakfast at Larder, where we sat in the window & watched the street come alive. We saw quite a few friends – Aileen, Kim & Marjorie in particular & enjoyed a short chat with front of house, Martin, before settling down to eat our meals & catch up with each other’s news.

One of our favourite photos – taken 50 years ago at Melbourne Uni!

On Friday, it was back to normal – food shopping at Coles, followed by a walk around Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens with Wes & Bilbo.

We arrived home to discover that our NSW Opal Travel cards had arrived, after only 10 days since we applied for them online. That is great service & I hope that interstate Myki buyers are having the same experience.

Yesterday morning, we went out for breakfast again – this time to Boathouse Daylesford, where we were beautifully looked after by Susanne & Claire. Good friends, Eddie & Jenny Beacham arrived with some of their large extended family, but the rest of the patrons were visitors enjoying views of Lake Daylesford from behind glass & in the Winter sun.

Wes is very disappointed with Carlton’s efforts against St Kilda on Friday night – this year has been the worst in his lifetime as far as his beloved Blues are concerned. Today, after breakfast, we are heading to Melbourne – me to the footy & Wes to the Save the ABC rally. Fingers crossed the Pies can continue their winning ways, although it will be difficult to beat West Coast with three of their key forwards back in the team.

Daylesford Winter Dispatch - Sunday, 8th July 2018

Last Sunday was a very cold & chilly morning & everyone was careful driving to breakfast. Judi stopped to help a trader from the Sunday Market, who had hit a kangaroo & couldn’t drive his car; Barbara had to avoid black ice as she travelled in her electric wheelchair & Janine reported seeing more kangaroos & wallabies than usual on her journey in from Musk.

At the Market itself, it was very quiet at 8am & lots of regulars were late. We arrived to find Bilbo’s shredded cabbage waiting for him, but that wasn’t enough. He wouldn’t walk past Geoff, the dried dog treat man, without something & Geoff obliged. Then Bilbo smooched up to Ken Rae from Spring Park Nursery & wouldn’t move without a pat or three. We eventually arrived back home & he turned his nose up at the celery offcuts!

Me enjoying English toffee ice-cream after our fish & chips in Triabunna, Tasmania

In the afternoon, we visited Jane Barrett & John Webster to admire the new home they have built on a beautiful block in Western Avenue, Hepburn Springs. Alan & Linda Stroud had also been invited & it was lovely to chat with them over tea & cake with the sun streaming through the windows.

Apart from gym on Monday, I spent a very pleasant time catching up with good friend, Rhonda. We haven’t seen each other properly in ages & it was lovely to share our stories in the warmth of The Food Gallery. The sun shone again in the afternoon, which gave me a chance to wash our very dirty little Mazda 2 before my next trip to Melbourne.

Wes has been in the garden a few times this week – he has planted 200 daffodil bulbs; weeded; mulched & enlarged some of our garden beds. I emptied the remaining two planter boxes & put most of our herbs into the greenhouse to help them survive Winter. Things like the Winter Savoury, the Basil Mint & Pennyroyal all seem to thrive in the cold frosty weather, so there are still plenty of herbs for the chef to pick.

Judi advised me that it is now possible to buy a permanent Senior’s NSW Opal Card, so Wes & I applied for them online. In the past you had to apply 2-3 weeks before you travelled & they only lasted 60 days, which was very restrictive. Even though we have no plans to visit Sydney, we would like to be prepared when we next do, as it is possible to travel all day there for $2.50 as a Senior.

Wes tucking into sardines at Artifakt Café, Swansea, Tasmania

On Tuesday afternoon, just as Wes was congratulating me on being so much healthier than at the same time last year, I could feel a very rapid head cold coming on. Sure enough I have been confined to quarters ever since as it travelled rapidly into my chest & seems determined to stay put.

Wes took Barbara to the Regent Cinema to see The Bookshop & lunch afterwards at the Art Gallery of Ballarat to celebrate her birthday on Wednesday. After he arrived home, he started to show signs of having caught my cold. So, we have both been under the weather for the rest of the week.

Fortunately, he has been able to do the Friday supermarket shopping & this morning’s Sunday Market, as well as cook meals, for which I am very grateful, as I haven’t been up to anything much at all!

I’m disappointed to be missing this afternoon’s big game against Essendon at the MCG with one of our best-loved players, Steele Sidebottom, playing his 200^th game for Collingwood.

Bilbo can relate to this Snoopy cartoon – one morning he refused to get out of bed until after 9am – even the lure of a treat wasn’t enough to drag him out into the day. Can’t blame him with these -2° starts.

Daylesford Winter Dispatch - Sunday, 1st July 2018

 

We enjoyed a wonderful night celebrating the 70^th birthday of our oldest friend, Tom Tyrrell, last Saturday night at La Luna in Carlton. There were only 16 guests, so we felt very honoured & enjoyed catching up with good friends, Danny & Kim, Mike & Kathey & Tom’s daughter, Becky (who flew down from Qld as a surprise) & son, Paul, who brought his son, Oscar, & daughter, Macy. Wes had spent the week planning his speech & presented it to Tom afterwards in a typed dossier which included some great photos.

Back – Bob, Gayle, Mike, Oscar, Tom, Paul & Jackie; Front – Kathey, Lynette, Becky, Deb, Karen, Macy, Giovanni, Wes, Kim & Danny

Everyone had stories to share & it was fun to remember good times, especially from years ago! It was a late night for us as we didn’t get home until after midnight & saw far too many kangaroos & wallabies on the roads to ever be able to relax. Fortunately, we didn’t hit any of them, especially the young wallaby posing in the middle of the turn-off to Woodend.

Last Sunday, Wes had offered to drive me to the footy to see Collingwood & Carlton play, but we were both quite tired after our trip to Melbourne the night before & decided to stay home instead. We made the right decision, even though Wes would have been very proud of how well his boys played, especially with a couple of early injuries.

We’ve had a busy week – both of us have been to Strathmore to visit Leanne (on separate days). Wes had a wonderful Boys’ Afternoon with Jeff, Danny, David, Brian & Secundus, where they watched the Churchill film, Darkest Hours. By the look of Wes when he arrived home, a very good time was had by all! He spent Tuesday morning helping Barbara instead of their usual Wednesday catch up.

I’ve been able to catch up with friend, Gillie, & we shared a lovely time having breakfast at The Food Gallery after gym on Monday. Gillie is not long home from a month visiting her sister, Wendy, in South Africa, followed by some R&R in Singapore. We talked about both holidays, and the time just flew by. Later in the week, Bilbo & I had a cuppa with Annie & Maisie in the courtyard at Larder. We ordered sunshine from Martin, but he explained his previous customers had requested clouds & we would just have to wait!

Branching out – matchings mitts & beanies & the odd scarf!

On Friday, we took my trusty chair, which must be at least 30 years old, to a local upholsterer in Warrenheip, near Ballarat, for him to replace the material on the seat, which is starting to wear. He told us that the fabric used had lasted that long because it was something he would expect to see in a car, not on a typist’s chair.

Beautiful addition to Vincent Street from David Bromley that we found on our return from Tassie

I had bought tickets to see Tea with the Dames at Ballarat’s Regent Cinema. We had time for a cuppa in their Gold Class lounge before seeing the film, which we loved. It was a brilliant idea to bring these four wonderful actresses together & let them share their stories over cups of tea, glasses of water & finally flutes of champagne.

Yesterday was so cold I cancelled all plans to do some gardening & found some indoor chores instead, until it was time to sit down & watch footy. We lit the fire, which was wonderful & watched games until it was time to go to bed! The Blues did their best against Port Adelaide but fell short in the end. The Pies were at the Gold Coast playing a very determined pack of Suns, who wouldn’t let us run away with the game. I was amazed to discover that we were second on the ladder after the win. That won’t last long as we have to play some very good teams over the next few weeks & I hope we can stay in the Top 8 at least.

Bilbo getting as comfy as possible!

Today, apart from the usual activities, we have been invited to visit friends, Jane & John, who have recently built a new house in Hepburn Springs. It will be good to see what they have done to the beautiful block they bought, which had a very tiny rental property on it.

I suspect the rest of the day will be spent watching more footy games (by me at least). I’m knitting scarves at present, thanks to some multi-coloured pink wool given to me by Leanne & the footy is the perfect accompaniment.

Two Trees beach on Bruny Island – we stopped here as part of our tour & read the history of this place, which looks pretty much as it did 200 years ago