Daylesford Easter Dispatch - Sunday, 31st March 2024

 
Too true!

It doesn't seem like a week since I last wrote, this year is flying by too fast & we're already a quarter of the way through. Last Sunday, after the Daylesford Market, we drove to Strathmore and spent a most enjoyable few hours with Leanne, mostly chatting, and watering the garden for her. 

On Monday we had booked our 7th COVID boosters and headed off to Springs Medical in Kyneton, only to discover when we pulled up that their stocks were out of date and we couldn't be injected. We walked across the road to Little Swallow Café, where we enjoyed breakfast before driving back home. Later that morning I had a massage with Sarah, and as has become the norm, handed over about 4 bags of bottles & cans that attract 10c refunds. Leanne has been saving them for her too, and we usually have quite a few each month. Sarah's younger daughter, Maya, is the beneficiary of the money earned. 

On Tuesday, we had a busy morning. After I chatted with Leanne, I went to Springs Medical, Daylesford, and told Tanya our sad story. She immediately booked us in for our boosters on Thursday, as she remembered that we were keen to get them before we drove to Adelaide for the AFL Gather Round. 

When I returned home, I sat at my desktop for 30 minutes and was successful in getting myself a reserved seat in the 50-year Member bay in the MCC for Collingwood's ANZAC Day game against Essendon, followed by the big game versus Carlton the next week. 

We then drove to Ballarat, where I had a 90-minute dental appointment with Dr Anna to have two very old metal fillings replaced. I was quite nervous, but Anna explained everything as she went along, and I gained an elephant stamp as it only took an hour. Apparently some patients take ages for their mouths to go numb, and others request constant breaks - I did neither and found the whole experience rather interesting, as well as emerging with lovely white teeth. I'm back again next month to have the other two metal fillings replaced. Meanwhile, Wes had used his time wisely in Ballarat - had a haircut, and spent time by Lake Wendouree reading Voltaire.

It was quite a relief to have a quiet day on Wednesday. I drove Morse to Porcupine Ridge to deliver Epicures & The Local, plus some Easter eggs to Nick & Robyn, before we went to Leitches Creek to pump mineral water as I was running out of it. Later Wes took Morse to track down manure for the garden, but all the usual spots were bereft, so he vacuumed the floors instead of gardening. Meanwhile Judi & I met up to play Mah Jong at Muffins & More, where we exchanged Easter goodies and had a fun morning, with her winning all the games except one. 

The next day I had two early Zooms - one with Terry Borg, who was at Philip Island with all her family; and the other with Old Friends - Lib, Joyce & Karen. Both chats were most enjoyable and full of laughter. Wes spent the morning in the back garden, pruning, staking, mowing & watering and, as usual, everywhere looks so much better after he has finished.

Our visit to Springs Daylesford for our 7th COVID injections was a delight. We walked in the door at the same time as old friend, Kim Lyden, who now lives in Ballarat, but comes here a couple of times a week. We chatted with him while waiting to be called, and were quite pleased the doctor was running late. Dr Shashika checked our temperatures and passed us on to Nurse Alex, who was a chatty new Daylesford resident. We hardly felt our injections, and when she noticed that I had a large bandage on my forearm, asked to see it, checked the wound was healing & gave me a superior waterproof covering & a spare. Great service indeed!

That night, Collingwood travelled to Brisbane to play the Lions in the Grand Final rematch. As both teams were winless thus far, there was a lot at stake. The Pies started well, but Brisbane took over in the 2nd quarter & were ahead at half-time. However we kicked 9 goals to 5 in the second half to win by 20 points in front of a sell-out crowd. 

Needless to say we were all tired on Good Friday morning, and postponed our plans for a Vaughan Springs walk to today instead. We slept in, had Hot Cross buns with jam, watched the replay and did very little until it was time for Wes to drive to Ballan to catch the train to the Docklands Stadium to see Carlton & North Melbourne play at 4.20pm.

He had a wonderful afternoon at the footy, sitting with Ben, Leanne, Jack & Olivia Lazzaro and watching Carlton have an easy win against North Melbourne in their now traditional Good Friday afternoon game in support of the Royal Children's Hospital Appeal. There were so many families there it was a delight to see, and such a fuss was made of those who are patients at the RCH.

Young patient & North supporter, Imogen, tossing the coin before the game

Yesterday we both had Zooms we had postponed from Friday - I chatted early with Leanne, and Wes spoke to Barbara in the afternoon. We spent the morning doing chores - I uprooted the tomato & cucumber plants, plus some dead annuals; while Wes washed & vacuumed both cars, and did some gardening. In the afternoon, he did all the end of month computer reports, while I managed to find some footy to watch while I sewed up a small jumper I've been knitting.

I was just about to go to bed after dinner, when I decided to check if neighbour, Glen, had arrived back home after spending a few days in Frankston with her younger daughter, Jess, and family. Glen was out the front watering her sweet pea seedlings and as we chatted, James & Yoko arrived back from dinner at Beppi's and came over to introduce their son, Hamish, and his partner, Sacha. Sacha wanted to meet Morse, so they all came into our place and we sat chatting on the decking for a while, with everyone making a fuss of Morse until he had had enough & tried to climb up on my lap!