We started our week with a lovely visit to Leanne on Sunday - we arrived in time for morning tea, and Wes was able to give her some financial advice, before deadheading her roses (which she can't reach) & giving her garden a good soaking. Meanwhile she & I solved some computer issues, did a back-up, folded washing & re-organised a few things that were worrying her. We arrived home in time to watch the third & final day of the 5th Test, which ended in an easy win to Australia after the Poms capitulated. We are both sure they were just longing to get home after this difficult & largely unsuccessful tour.
On Monday, for School, we watched Dame Carol Ann Duffy (former British Poet-Laureate 2009-2019) read some of her poetry at a University in America. We were rivetted by her stuff when we first saw her work on display in Edinburgh at the Queen's Gallery in 2015. Her poetry is modern, incisive & is best listened to being read by her with her wonderful Glaswegian accent. If you are interested, please follow this link (fast forward past the introductions) -
Carol Ann Duffy
Child's jumper with cables that I've been knitting while watching the Ashes
We've had another enjoyable week with screen catch-ups - Wes spoke with Barbara on Monday & Friday afternoons; I chatted with Jeff & Leanne on Tuesday morning, and with Kathy, Karen & Squiz on Thursday morning. As well I had a good phone call with Janine (we do miss spending Sunday morning together at breakfast), and chatted with Dot, who is sounding so much better than she was & is recovering well from her big op. Meanwhile, Wes & Terry McDonald played tag telephone until they finally connected on Thursday afternoon.
I had a fringe trim, which was very necessary after four weeks, and had to postpone a manicure until next week, as Juls contracted COVID after all the members of her family had tested positive in the New Year. Judi & I had a lovely time at Muffins & More on Wednesday with tea & toasties sitting inside along with 2 other locals. (Wes & I had attempted to have breakfast there last Saturday, but they were short-staffed and we had to settle for muffins & hot drinks sitting on the footpath & chatting to the locals at 8am).
The Novak Djokovic saga had occupied the front pages of The Age for far too long & we were very relieved when he flew out. It is sad that the Australian Open is deprived of his tennis skills, but he needs to get vaccinated, like everyone else. We've got our fingers & toes crossed that Ash Barty makes the Women's Final.
Wes did some really difficult work in the garden on Wednesday while Sandra was cleaning (lovely to have her back after a month's break) He removed the yuccas & put the remains near the back fence to deter the boys from chatting (read barking) at visiting dogs. He cut up all the branches that had blown down in the recent winds & made sure everywhere was well-watered.
Wes took these lovely photos of our back yard with roses in abundance
Danny Millman sent me a message letting me know that our original neighbour at 76 Duke Street, Russell, had died of COVID. We didn't have a lot to do with him, as Serendip was often rented out on the short-term accommodation market, but he was a keen gardener & laid the groundwork for the beautiful garden that Glen now has, after lots of work by her & her gardener, Patrick.
Wes had a lovely afternoon fishing at Lake Daylesford on Wednesday - he set off with all his gear, a thermos & a promise to return with a brace of fish. Meanwhile I refreshed our herb beds on the decking & planted fresh Italian parsley seedlings. No brace emerged, but he had some special chats & two offers of fish from other fishermen 🤣🤣. That night we sat rivetted as Glenn Maxwell carried his bat in the Stars final T20 - he hit 154 & broke numerous records along the way - most 4s, highest score etc
Meanwhile, our neighbour, Glen, has had members of her family come to visit including her daughter, Jess, with son, Donnie & daughter, Marlowe, and her son, Jim, later in the week. Glen sent me these wonderful photos of Donnie left & her elder daughter, Sarah, with Marlowe.
On Friday night we watched the AFLW Pies beat Geelong in a very exciting, hard-fought win at Kardinia Park. I think this must be the best start to a season for us - three wins in a row & we were missing both our captains & some of our best players.
That afternoon, I had listened to an audio from the Melbourne Cricket Club, reminiscing about the 1977 Centenary Test, which I was lucky enough to attend. It is memorable for so many reasons - Rick McCosker's broken jaw which didn't stop him from batting in the second innings; Dennis Lillee's 11 wickets; David Hookes hitting 5 successive fours off Tony Greig; Derek Randall's magnificent innings of 174, and the winning margin by Australia of 45 runs being identical to the margin in the first Test in 1877.
After I had listened, I searched You Tube and found an hour documentary, with all the highlights of the game. All past Australian & English Test cricketers were invited to Melbourne, and the Queen arrived in time for tea on Day 5, where she was presented to all the players and Lillee, famously, asked her for her autograph.
Everyone smiling as Greg Chappell (C) behind the Queen introduces Dennis Lillee - the bandaged Rick McCosker is on his right
Yesterday was hot, so we both did gardening early, and I walked down to the Daylesford Rotary Farmers' Market in the grounds of the Primary School. Wes washed the boys, who dried quite quickly & promptly fell asleep as they do after their morning walks. In the afternoon, Wes & Jeff Bain went fishing at Newlyn Reservoir with Jeff's friend, James. Once again, there was no brace of fish, but they had a lovely time.
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