Apologies for being a day late, but it does give me a
chance to wish everyone a very Happy New Year. Let’s pray it will be a healthy
one for us all. The Sunday before last Wes, Judi, Janine & I all met at
Boathouse for our last breakfast together this year. Claire very kindly offered
us all bubbles on the house & we exchanged gifts, with Judi winning the
award for her lovely selection of beautifully presented goodies.
Monday was spent packing for my 5 nights in Melbourne,
which involved washing & ironing my coolest clothes for the trip. That
night we had oysters & prawns for dinner. We are so lucky to have such a
wonderful seafood supply at the Daylesford fish & chip shop.
Christmas Day was a beautiful morning – we walked around
Lake Daylesford where it was my turn to feed the geese & ducks, who were most
appreciative.
After early chats with my siblings, we headed off to Strathmore
where we were having lunch with Leanne, Peter & Anka. We had promised to
arrive early in case there were any last-minute issues, but Leanne had
everything under control & we were able to sit down with hot drinks &
chat. Peter & Anka arrived shortly afterwards & we had a wonderful time
exchanging presents, all of which went over very well.
Anka, Leanne &
Peter having fun with blowers & poppers as the pudding arrived at the
table.
Me cutting slices of
pudding & brandy butter – always a relief when the pudding works out!
Late in the afternoon we left Leanne stacking the dishwasher
& headed into Melbourne. Peter & Anka were staying at the Park Hyatt, while we were at Hotel Lindrum, in Flinders Street,
about 10 minutes easy walk from the MCG. We were delighted with our room, which
had high ceilings, a very comfortable KS bed & a large, well-appointed
bathroom.
Apart from having a drink in the bar, we were too tired to
do anything more than have an early night.
The next morning, we got up at 6am & headed to
Docklands to have a walk followed by breakfast at Mad Duck café, which we had enjoyed a couple of years ago. Even
though the website suggested they were open, the café was, in fact, closed for
the week, so we found ourselves in Port Melbourne, where we enjoyed yummy
breakfasts at 101 Bay Street. Wes dropped me back at the
hotel, so I could get my bag packed for the cricket & he drove back home
via Strathmore to help Leanne with cleaning up & watering etc.
Our Christmas gift to Peter & Anka’s was seats in the
MCC with me on Boxing Day & we had a lovely time together. During lunch I
took them on a tour of the 2nd & 3rd levels. We met
Loud Gayle on Level 2 & Bob White & his Mexican friend, Angel, on Level
3. They enjoyed being in the MCC, so this may become an annual event!
That night, I headed for my favourite Chinese café, 369
(formerly Yum Cha Café) only to discover it had disappeared & there was a
noodle bar in its place, which was most disappointing. So, I headed down Little
Bourke Street to find a new favourite spot & started off at Shark Fin House. This was memorable
mostly for the rudeness of the waitress & for my invisibility to the
manager, who was the only one taking food orders.
The next morning, I walked through the Treasury &
Fitzroy Gardens to Square & Compass
in Clarendon Street, where I was meeting Kathy & Gerard Lazzaro & Karen
& Malcolm Stevenson for breakfast. We had a wonderful time together, and as
usual, the time flew by and I had to leave to get in the queue for a good seat
in the Balcony (for which I was successful). I spent the lunch break catching
up with David Lazzaro & his son, Daniel – always a treat, & watched the
last session in the Long Room having a glass of bubbles with Loud Gayle (a most
enjoyable time indeed).
Perfect viewing spot
behind the sight-screen
That night I tried an old favourite, Westlake, which does great yum cha. They didn’t ignore me but did
put me at the side & back of the restaurant & their meals are OK
without being memorable.
On Friday morning, I walked back to Square & Compass, once again through the beautiful peaceful
gardens, which have so many paths it is possible to walk a different way each
morning. This time I met up with Peter & Anka. We were to have been joined
by Danny Millman, but he was most unwell – we missed you Mate!
That day I spent sitting next to Brendan, a chap from
Traralgon, who stays in Clifton Hill for the duration of the Test. We met some
years ago & usually look out for each other – not only do we enjoy the cricket,
but we are both Collingwood supporters & as Paul Jackson learnt earlier
this year, we have plenty of talk about when it comes to Aussie Rules footy.
After two days of good batting, we were treated to some great bowling by the
Indians.
That night I tried Dragon
Boat restaurant & enjoyed a lovely meal & very good service. This
used to be a difficult place for single diners (especially females), but it
appears to have changed management & has a much better attitude.
The next morning, I met our oldest friend, Tom Tyrrell, (who
was my guest for the day) & we started with breakfast at Square & Compass (which serves very
yummy, interesting meals) before having a great time together with perfect
seats in the back row of the Balcony. We spent lunchtime having drinks with
Loud Gayle and saw quite a few wickets & runs, including a stunning
unbeaten 60 by Pat Cummins, who held on until stumps.
Poached eggs with broccolini & avocado
I was quite excited about the fifth day & after
checking out of Hotel Lindrum, strolled through the gardens yet again for my
final breakfast at Square & Compass.
There was a very small queue at the gates & it was easy to get good
seats in the back row again. Brendan & I sat together & we were both
anticipating a fight when the rain eventually disappeared. Sadly, it was not to
be & both Cummins & Lyon looked ill at ease and didn’t last long. The
Indians deserved their win & I can’t wait for the Sydney Test to see if we
can even up the series or if the Indians will win for the first time in
Australia.
Beautiful long-stemmed
roses from our garden
Wes picked me up after the Test was over & we drove
back home, which is always so very welcoming. I spent the afternoon unpacking
& washing clothes again, before sitting down with a pot of Jasmine tea
& the bits of the Age I hadn’t read when I was in Melbourne. As well, Wes
& I debriefed on the guests he had invited over during my absence – David Hall
came for a boozy dinner one night & David Early for a working lunch another
day. Also, Wes attended Jenny Beacham’s 80th birthday party, which
started at the civilised hour of 4pm. Apart from that, he had been busy in the
garden & at the computer, as well as doing the Coles & Sunday Market
shopping.
We walked around Lake Daylesford together this morning
& spent some time with Barry the fisherman, who left England with his wife,
June, some years ago, to live here where their daughter, Gemma, has married a
local, Martin, and produced two grand-daughters that are the apple of their
eyes. Barry fishes most mornings around the Lake but must keep an eye on the
ducks & birds that come to steal his bait – Maloney Labradors have been
known to get close as well!
Wes has spent the morning in the garden, while I’ve done
the usual weekend house chores & caught up with emails, late Christmas
cards & writing this Dispatch. We hope to get to the New Year’s Eve Parade
tonight, but if we don’t, we’ll enjoy an early glass together well before midnight.
No comments:
Post a Comment