Daylesford Summer Dispatch - Sunday, 24th February 2019

We are always exhausted by the time we get to breakfast on Sunday morning, now that we have two wide-awake little boys to walk, feed & water. It is so lovely to sit quietly at Boathouse & share some good conversations.

Last Sunday was the inaugural Daylesford Motorfest, held at Victoria Park. There was a huge crowd in attendance, which meant that we had trouble getting back home after breakfast. We had to turn left, drive up to the roundabout & come back slowly that way. The organisers were delighted with the turn up, which suggests this won’t be the only time this event is held here.

In the afternoon we watched the Melbourne Stars go from a seemingly impregnable position to lose 7 wickets for about 19 runs & be beaten by the Melbourne Renegades in front of a big enthusiastic crowd.

We have managed to get up & walk the boys each morning, even though it is getting darker & darker daily. We tried walking around the Botanic Gardens one morning, but there is very little lighting & we have gone back to Lake Daylesford, which is more familiar & has more lights to supplement our torch.

Early feeding of the birds with help from Lewis & Morse

Nick Massaro came with his power saw to remove some branches from a tree belonging to no 76 which has been obscuring our light as it grows upwards & outwards. Esther has moved back to Sydney, and the new female occupant, Glenn(?), is a keen gardener from Queenscliff, who will be moving in very soon.  

Wes took the boys to Ballarat for heartworm injections. Our vet doesn’t do them as this isn’t a heartworm area, but Nathalia is & Andrew was worried that the boys hadn’t been immunised.

Meanwhile I was kept busy with walks into town, a haircut, a manicure, gym sessions, shopping & a visit to Leanne. We had hoped to go together, but, decided that we couldn’t leave the boys for 7 hours yet. The longest we have deserted them is 2 hours and we need to build up gradually. So, I went on Thursday & Wes visited on Saturday. In between, Tricia Dunlop spent 2 hours doing one-on-one dog training with us, Lewis & Morse. We are the ones that need the training of course, but we are managing to put some of her advice into action & hope to get better as the days go by.

Lewis & Morse asleep with Morse making sure that Lewis can’t go anywhere without him!

Other activities this week included a long Skype call with Jeff & Kev in Lincolnshire to celebrate Kev’s 84^th birthday & introduce them to Lewis & Morse.

I spent a lovely hour or so with Dot Smith, while John did some shopping, and they gave me a pair of pink pigs for the boys. The pigs have a grunt sound, which completely mystifies the dogs & they love these strange toys.

Wes showed & watched the film, Collette, on Friday night & enjoyed it, along with his audience. We had been sitting on our decking demolishing a sparkling shiraz with Rob & Dene, while hearing about their recent trip to Malaysia, when we suddenly realised that it was Film Night & we needed to have an early dinner to ensure Wes got to the Town Hall by 7pm.

Congratulations to Greta & Harry on the safe arrival of Jeremy Ellsmore on Thursday night.

Lovely photo of proud Grandfather, Danny Millman, with one-day old Jeremy.

Daylesford Summer Dispatch - Sunday, 17th February 2019

We had a very busy Sunday after I sent the Dispatch. We took Lewis & Morse to the Sunday Market, where they had their first taste of cabbage, courtesy of Corey. Lots of friends stopped to say hello, which they loved. When we got home, Wes bathed them, before we headed to breakfast at Boathouse Daylesford.

That was fun, lovely to be back in such beautiful surroundings with yummy food & good service. Warren, Karen & Barbara were joined by Jan, Janine, Judi & David & conversation flowed.

Afterwards we took Lewis & Morse to Ballarat to visit a friend in hospital who wanted to meet them. That was a big success, but they were exhausted by the time we got home & just wanted to sleep. Wes took advantage of the quiet to work in the back garden, while I washed both cars, which were looking rather dirty after our fires, winds & rain.

 Roses that survived the weather including 4^th July, Peace &            St Patrick

There were 12 of us at gym on Monday morning, which meant lots of sharing of equipment. Many of us have been put onto the same programme so we are able to pair up & use the various machines & weights in turn. In the afternoon we tried walking the boys on one lead, which they loved. However, it was impossible to get them to heel properly as they were so busy playing together.

We had a visit on Tuesday morning from old Brunswick Rotary friends, Rob & Lucy Skidmore, who were on their way to stay with friends at the RACV Club in Creswick and popped in on their way. We haven’t seen each other in some years & it was good to catch up. Lewis & Morse were delighted to see them & eventually wore themselves out in their excitement.

 Rob & Lucy & Wes – spot the Labradors!

Wednesday was delightfully cold & we all enjoyed walking around Lake Daylesford early, before I went to gym. Afterwards I had a cuppa with Dot, while Wes spent the morning helping Barbara, and the boys discovered my foil bird deterrent & pulled it to pieces which they then strewed across the decking.

On Thursday morning I spent time with Judi over pots of tea at Cliffy’s. I had hoped to have taken Lewis & Morse with me, but it was too cold for Judi & me to sit outside, so I abandoned that thought for another, warmer morning.

That night the Melbourne Stars unexpectedly beat the Hobart Hurricanes in an exciting T20 semi-final in Tasmania. That means we play in the Final today against the Renegades.

When we walked the boys on Friday morning, we met a record number of other walkers & dogs (not all the dogs were on leads, which is quite scary). Wes & I were exhausted by the time we got home from all the socialising & toileting that this excitement entailed!

That night we had a lovely early dinner at Jackie’s on Vincent, before Wes went off to show the film, Widows, with David Robinson. He didn’t enjoy it all – liked the idea, but not the violence. The boys & I watched the second T20 semi-final & I was amazed to discover yesterday morning that the Melbourne Renegades had beaten the Sydney Sixers after the Sixers had scored 180.

A very colourful Wes about to tuck into goat curry – one of Jackie’s specialties.

Yesterday seemed to be full of washing – us, Lewis & Morse, clothes, towels, dog stuff – I lost count of the number of loads I did. However, we are all clean & shining for our trip to the Sunday Market & hopefully Wes & I will still be clean when we go to breakfast at Boathouse afterwards!

Apart from removing the trigger from the downstairs hose & learning how to get up onto the outside table on the decking (Morse), the boys have been pretty good. They love all their toys & chase each other around the yard in their excitement.

In the afternoon we watched as Winx won her 30^th straight race, 1400m, not her favourite distance against some quality opposition.

Danny Millman sent me this photo of his grand-daughter, Clara, no doubt being introduced to horse-racing by him yesterday!

Last night we watched the Carlton AFLW team look very good as they beat a determined GWS. However, the Collingwood girls were awful against Fremantle & only managed to score 2 goals – very disappointing. We seem to have lost, traded or given away so many good players from last year & our team has no cohesion yet.

Daylesford Summer Dispatch - Sunday, 10th February 2019

How different a day can be! When I left you last Sunday, we had planned breakfast back at Boathouse & lunch with friends. However, there were fires in Hepburn Springs & the “Watch & Act Zone” was slowly moving its way up towards it. I rang Karen Stevenson & we agreed it would be madness for them to drive up to us, Wes cancelled breakfast & Judi & Michael evacuated with their dogs, Maddie & Major, to our place & stayed there all day. At no point was our house ever in danger, although the Zone crept closer during the afternoon until suddenly at 6pm, Daylesford was no longer included. Judi & Michael were able to go home rather than spend the night here.

Wes had rung various friends especially those who were on their own, as well as his sister, Denise, and invited them to our place for lunch. Barbara came across the road & Gail & Terry joined us later for fruit salad & ice-cream.  We were very pleased with Lewis & Morse, who had to share their home with two dogs they had never met before. They weren’t at all territorial or aggressive, which augurs well for the future.

Thanks to everyone who rang, sent messages or texted us to make sure we were safe. We really appreciate your thoughts & concern.

On Monday, I set off for gym, but Barry didn’t show up, so we all headed back home & hoped he & Fran hadn’t been impacted by the fires. Wes took the boys to our vet, Andrew, for their injections & afterwards they enjoyed their first walk, which was the top path at the Botanic Gardens. We ended up outside The Food Gallery for hot drinks. Lewis & Morse loved all the cuddles & pats they received from friends who spotted them & came to say hello.

This is what happened when we arrived back home!

On Tuesday morning we took them around Lake Daylesford, and they were thrilled. Apart from introducing them to Barry the fisherman, we didn’t meet any other walkers until the boys were back safely in the car. Gillie, Judi & Robyn all came over to say hello, which was lovely. We are so thrilled to be able to have them out & about at last. We moved them onto two meals that day & they couldn’t believe their luck when they had so much to eat at breakfast!

We took them to meet Dot & John at Muffins & More after gym on Wednesday, but they couldn’t stay as the outside part of the café was already occupied by a couple of barking, unfriendly dogs with oblivious owners. Later we drove to Ballarat to visit a friend in hospital and left Sandra in charge of giving treats when she finished.

On Thursday I visited Leanne in Strathmore, where we had a good time & achieved heaps. Wes spent time with Barbara & the boys were fine on their own. After the long morning walks, they are delighted to just sleep & digest breakfast!

I was able to go to gym again on Friday morning to make up for missing Monday & did the shopping afterwards. I felt quite exhausted – ¾ hour walk with the boys & an hour of gym (with a new programme that includes ‘clean & jerk’ which is quite challenging). Wes offered me lunch out, but I opted to stay home & chores instead.

That night Wes went to Penny Reilly’s Gallery Opening, where he caught up with lots of long-time friends, before heading to the Daylesford Town Hall to show & watch the film, Boy Erased, which he enjoyed. The boys & I settled down to watch AFLW, where GWS were hosting North Melbourne at Drummoyne Oval. The weather was atrocious with heavy rain, lightning, thunder & power outages. Somehow, they managed to play the full game, which North won by 4 goals because the GWS girls were inaccurate. The Collingwood girls were outplayed by Melbourne yesterday which was disappointing, especially as the game was at Victoria Park.

Yesterday we had planned to take the boys to Cliffy’s for a cuppa, but the heavens opened & we enjoyed some very welcome rain mid-morning instead. Wes was disappointed not to get into the garden, but it should be easier to weed now the earth is moist again.

We’re all off to the Sunday Market now, which should be fun & then we’re catching up with friends for breakfast at Boathouse Daylesford.

Daylesford Summer Dispatch - Sunday, 3rd February 2019

When I arrived at the Sunday Market last week, everyone was most disappointed that Lewis & Morse weren’t with me. I explained about injections & will no doubt have to do it all over again this morning. Tomorrow is the big day & then we can introduce them to Daylesford life.

While we were at breakfast at Larder, Rob & Dene came in to give the boys a hug & play with them. We arrived home to find them watching next door looking for signs of life in the garden & hoping that the sad looks on their faces would prompt another visit.

 

Lewis found himself on Wes’s chair & seemed to like it!

This past week has seen the end of holidays for most school children & their parents. The traffic has increased on the freeways, but Daylesford is much quieter & there are very few cars in our little piece of Duke Street. Our U3A starts this week & gym classes are on again. As I haven’t been to gym for 4 months (holidays, asthma & puppies), I had a private lesson with Barry on Wednesday morning to get myself back in the swing of it all.

Lewis & Morse – getting bigger, but still fall asleep at the drop of a hat – between the ottoman & the couch & under my feet until I got up to take the photo

On Thursday we had a lovely catch up with our oldest Daylesford friends, Glenda & Joe Rozen, over lunch at Boathouse Daylesford. Glenda sold us our house & without her we probably wouldn’t be living happily here, as every other estate agent we visited was unhelpful & not prepared to listen or show us any properties. Joe & I developed a great friendship at the Info Centre. Joe invited me to join him there on Monday mornings & we worked together happily for about 11 years & were joined by Wes for some of that time.

The next day, we were visited by Kathy & Gerard Lazzaro, who had been to the Bendigo Gallery for the Frida Kahlo Exhibition there. They arrived in time for lunch & the weather was kind enough for us to be able to sit outside on the decking during their visit.

   

You can see how excited Lewis & Morse are to have visitors!

We were delighted to have some rain at last – 12mls, all in a hurry including thunder, lightning & giant hailstones. This was a good opportunity to introduce the boys to all these climatic events & they have already learnt not to panic at the noise.

On Friday night, Wes showed & watched the film Vice, about Dick Chaney. He was most impressed as were the rest of the audience. Although films at the Daylesford Town Hall aren’t a patch on a cinema, patrons are turning up in good numbers, thrilled to be able to see the latest offerings without travelling to Ballarat, Bendigo or Melbourne.

Yesterday Rob came in to have a serious cuddle & play with Lewis & Morse. It is lovely to see how much they enjoy seeing him & how excited they are to play. They are nice & clean after their first serious bath.

In the late afternoon, Wes accompanied Barbara back to the Daylesford Town Hall to make sure she was able to get in successfully to see Bohemian Rhapsody. He ended up showing the film to 48 patrons. Meanwhile I was watching the first game of AFLW where Collingwood lost by 1 point to Geelong at Kardinia Park. We had planned to attend this match until Lewis & Morse arrived!

While we swelter here, our cousin, Leigh Murrin, is shown leaving home to walk to work in Luxembourg about 10 minutes away

After the Sunday Market & breakfast at Boathouse Daylesford this morning, we are looking forward to a visit from old friends, Lovely & Malcolm, who are keen to meet Lewis & Morse. Similarly long-time friends, Judi & Michael, are joining us all for a sandwich lunch which will be inside with this dreadful heat back again.

  

Latest vase of roses from our garden – amazing how resilient they are!