Morse & Lewis after playing in the rain at Eureka Kennels, Ballarat - the owners sent us this photo while we were in Melbourne
We started our wonderful holiday week with a fun breakfast at Woodshed Café with Judi, Janine, Di & Glenda. When we told the staff we wouldn't be meeting up this morning because of ANZAC Day, they were worried we were going to stop coming, which was lovely.
Our drive to Strathmore in Pearl went well & I learnt more about all the safety features we paid for as an extra package with the car. We spent a couple of hours with Leanne before checking into Quest Moonee Ponds, where we had a large apartment with KS bed, big lounge/dining/kitchen area & bathroom/laundry. It is in a perfect spot opposite the Moonee Valley Racecourse and close to public transport as well.
That afternoon we caught up with old friend, Josephine Ward & her husband, Tony D'Aloia, at The Quiet Man Hotel in Flemington. We stayed for an early dinner & were very pleased to have coped with our first visit to a pub in over a year. Fortunately our table was well away from other patrons & I sat with my back to the crowd, pretending that it was just us there.
Next morning was breakfast with Kathy, Ged, Karen & Malcolm at Code Black, Brunswick. This wasn't our first choice of venue, but was recommended and it was a perfect spot - probably the best breakfast place we tried. The staff were wonderful, we were able to sit for two hours away from others at a very roomy table, and the food was interesting & yummy.
from the top - Kathy & Gerard, Malcolm & Karen, & Wes
I had spent the time before meeting everyone trying to reserve seats for today's ANZAC Day match against Essendon at the MCG. I was just filling in the last bit of info when I was timed out, so instead of being on Level 1, we are in the gods on Level 4. We have a reserved carpark, and are very excited to be seeing our first live AFL footy game since 2019.
Later that day we visited old Daylesford friends, Bronnie & John Scarffe, who moved to Moonee Ponds a year ago. It was lovely to see them again & catch up on their new lives over a drink & some very yummy tapas plates made by Bronnie.
The view from the Scarffes' balcony at night
On Tuesday we walked up Puckle Street to
Chew Chew Café, where we met up with Danny Millman & Marilyn & Robert Preston. Once again the café was very obliging, letting us sit around for a couple of hours, catching up on each other's news. Robert gave me a most unexpected, but very welcome gift, which I will show you when it makes its way to our place. It was too heavy for us to carry back to
Quest, so Danny took it home instead.
Wes & Marilyn above, with Bobby & Danny below
Marilyn had suggested to Wes that we consider Sun Theatre, Yarraville, for a film and we took her advice. We loved the old theatre with its comfy leather seats, wide carpeted stairs, friendly staff & amazing choc-top selection (including my favourite, coconut, which didn't have a choc-top on it!) We saw the film, The Father, starring Anthony Hopkins & Olivia Colman. What a stunning experience that was!
We went back there again on Wednesday afternoon to see The Dry, with Eric Bana. I really enjoyed it, especially as it is set in Victoria, and is a successful adaptation of the very popular book by Jane Harper. Wes wasn't so impressed, but we both loved visiting the Footscray Market beforehand - hadn't been there for at least 20 years - so many wonderful smells & sights!
Breakfast that morning was at an old favourite, Square & Compass, with Gayle, Fraser, Tom & Deb. Once again we enjoyed catching up & hearing how everyone coped with COVID-19. It really has been lovely to see & speak with old friends again. That night we went walking along Puckle Street, Moonee Ponds & found Oriental Flavour, which served good meals with happy smiles.
We had planned to spend time with Terry Borg on Thursday, but she had come down with a virus & wasn't well enough. We have been trying to meet each other for 15 months & will just have to continue with Zoom chats for a little longer. Instead we had breakfast at a little café around the corner from Quest. Next step was catching the 59 tram (90% passengers wearing masks) into the city, where we headed for the NGV to see the Australian impressionism exhibition She-Oak & Sunlight. We were overwhelmed by the sheer weight of numbers of paintings on display and particularly enjoyed Frederick McCubbin, Tom Roberts & Jane Sutherland. Back home on the train, where masks were the exception rather than the rule.
That night we walked to Angie's Kitchen just off Puckle Street, for a delicious meal of dumplings & other yum cha goodies, finishing with hot custard dumplings for sweets. Among other items for discussion, we laughed at ourselves arriving at the Shell Service Station & having no idea how to open Pearl's petrol cap. Eventually Wes consulted the manual & discovered that a light touch of the hand is enough to open it!
Our last day was Friday and after a light breakfast back at North x Northwest, had a walk around Queen's Park, which brought back lots of memories, before driving to Keilor Road, Essendon, to find The Maltese Pastizzi Bar/Restaurant. This delightful spot is small, but crammed full of Maltese memorabilia & all the famous dishes of this tiny country. We bought 4 dozen pastizzi before heading to Strathmore & lunch with Leanne at her place.
After a couple of lovely hours together, it was time to drive home before the traffic got too busy. We were thrilled to arrive back here, but a little sad to find the frost had taken our basil & some of our chilies & cucumbers. Judi had left some limes & tomatoes, which sorted dinner & drinks for us - thank you so much!
Yesterday, while I went shopping at Coles, Tonna's & the Farmers' Market, Wes drove to Ballarat to pick up Lewis & Morse. They went straight into the laundry trough for a bath & were rewarded with bones, much to their delight. That afternoon we tried very hard to get Carlton over the line against Brisbane, but they just weren't good enough.
Morse & Lewis thrilled to be back to normal - watching the footy with Wes
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