Daylesford Summer Dispatch - Sunday, 19th January 2025

I think they are enjoying it!

You'll be pleased to know that Morse had a wonderful time when we finally got to the Daylesford Market last Sunday. Yvonne & Ken made a fuss of him, Wendy had brought treats, and Jeff gave him a Christmas treat of a snowman dog biscuit. He was very happy to snooze around for the rest of the day after all that attention.

I got busy finishing off the second bookcase (there are five in total), and am very pleased to have the letters A-Mc in order again. While I was going through the books, I had an eye on the cricket - Australia & England women playing an Ashes series with the first One Day game at a sold-out North Sydney Oval. Australia won, but not easily, and they were very grateful for the 2 points they earned. 

During the afternoon we had a couple of thunderstorms, and some lightning, which turned Foxtel off each time. We were pleased to get 10mls rain and cool down again after some hot days.

Hot Cocoa in profusion

It's been a week of appointments for me, starting with the dentist on Monday. I go to Ashmore Dentistry in Ballarat. It is situated in a beautiful old home that was built during the Gold Rush. I saw Bec, the dental hygienist first, and she gave my teeth their annual clean, before moving to the next room, and Dr Anna, my dentist, who is busy replacing old metal fillings that are wearing out. She checked my mouth and we agreed that three more would be done this year, which leaves me with one big filling in 2026.

Afterwards I went to Faull's Shoes in Ballarat Central to buy a replacement pair of walking shoes. I had been wearing Rockport, but they have gone out of business, so took Jackie's advice and bought a very good pair of Comfort Orthopaedic shoes, which I am loving. 

On Tuesday, I was back in Ballarat, this time with Wes driving, as I had an appointment with my eye surgeon to see if the swelling behind my right eye had gone down after 4 weeks of intensive drops. The good news is yes, and I could see the scans that showed both eyes looking the same, with identical vision. It was such a relief - we went to Wen & Ware café and celebrated with tomato & cheese toasties & hot drinks. Once again I came home to watch cricket - the second One Day game, which was at the Junction Oval here in Melbourne, and the Aussies won that.

The next morning it was time to see Sarah, our local optician, who was thrilled for me, and measured me for new reading glasses. We are lucky to have an excellent optician in the main street, something we have taken advantage of since we bought our home here in 1998.

Judi & I caught up for Mah Jong after that and we shared the spoils evenly. I was most impressed as Judi tried some new hands including a very difficult one, and nailed it. I can't help but think of Dot and miss her, as we spent 24 years playing Mah Jong together weekly, and shared a friendship as a result. I am lucky that Judi wanted to learn and that we continue to play even though she & Michael now live in Ballarat.

On Thursday I caught up with Terry Borg by Zoom, and then Old Friends - Karen S, Lib & Joyce. I next had an appointment with Juls for a manicure, which involves listening rather than talking, and I was pleased to arrive back home and sit quietly with a pot of tea after my busy morning. Wes mowed lawns and watered, and we all enjoyed the cooler day.

This Christmas card arrived on Friday after being sent to Daylesford in the UK because there was no Australian postcode!

My final appointment was on Friday morning with Peter, the podiatrist at Springs Medical Centre. My feet are in good nick I was pleased to be told and I came home after that to sit & watch the final One Day Ashes game at Bellerive Oval in Hobart. The Australians were too good once again, which means the Poms have to win all three T20s + the Test to regain the Ashes.

Yesterday we visited Leanne for the first time this year. It was a good visit - we chatted over apple scrolls, before Wes went out to water everywhere as it was very dry. Leanne & I sorted out some computer issues, and fixed up some phone problems. Wes very kindly did all the driving as I still get tired very easily these days. Morse was happy at home with a bone, and a sleep or two.

This beautiful photo of the walk around Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens was taken by our neighbour, Glen, during the week

Daylesford Summer Dispatch - Sunday, 12th January 2025

 

Morse can relate to this!

We spent a very hot Sunday glued to the TV, wondering which team would win the 5th Test and hold the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India set Australia a modest target of 182, which should have been easy, but wasn't. We lost 4 wickets on the way to that total and the winning runs were scored by Beau Webster from Snug in Tasmania, who was playing his first test and excelled with ball, bat & in the field. After 10 years, it is very exciting to have the trophy back here again.

We woke on Monday to find there had been some rain overnight, but it was dry enough for us to take Morse for a run at Daylesford Cemetery. We got back here just before the heavens opened, and 20mls of rain fell. The temperatures plummeted and I'm sure everyone was pleased to feel cool again. The gardens, tanks, and waterways were all very grateful.

Perfumed Passion + a Red Riding Hood for contrast

This week we've gotten back into the swing of online chatting. Wes has been busy catching up with Barbara in NZ; his Godson, Danny, in Queensland; our mate, Paul, in the UK; our friend, Helen, in Melbourne; the Jackson Group - all over the world, and his sister, Denise, here in Daylesford. I've chatted with my sister, Leanne, in Melbourne; my aunt, Jeff, in the UK, and Old Friends, in Melbourne & Queensland. 

As well, we've had a wonderful in person catch up with my cousin, Leigh, her husband, Simon, and Simon's daughter, Charlotte. Leigh & Simon live in Luxembourg and decided to spend three weeks in Australia over Christmas, primarily because Charlotte is having a gap year and living here. She has been in Sydney and plans on moving to Melbourne in March to see what life is like there. 

We had suggested that they catch the train from the city to Woodend, where we picked them up and took them on a drive around the area. We started with Hanging Rock, which Leigh had never seen, and was thrilled to finally see in person. Simon & Charlotte, being English, didn't know the Picnic at Hanging Rock story, so we enlightened them and Leigh promised to find the film for them all to watch. 

We then drove through Ashbourne to the Pig & Whistle Hotel in East Trentham. Leigh & I have a great-great grandfather who came to Tylden in the 1880s and would have seen this hotel being built almost next door to his property. We had booked a table in the oldest part of the hotel and spent a very happy time sitting and chatting over a lovely lunch. 

Simon, Charlotte, Leigh, Karen & Wes in the bar

After lunch, we drove them back via Tylden, and Wes stopped at Bourkie's Bakery in Woodend to buy them vanilla slices. Not sure what Simon & Charlotte thought, but Leigh was in heaven! She has a suitcase to take back home that will be filled with Tim Tams, Cherry Ripes, Twisties etc (and Four'N Twenty meat pies with tomato sauce if she could).

On Friday, we spent time at The Convent with Di & Jeff, whom we have been trying to catch up with for some months. We all enjoyed the 90 minutes we had together sitting at the best table. Whenever we visit The Convent, we always think we should go there more often as we receive such a warm welcome from the staff, and Tina herself, if she is around. We are so lucky to have her in our town with all she has done for the local community. 

More stunning roses - Ashram & Guy Savoy in our Wedgwood Sterling coffee pot

Needless to say, all this wonderful socialising has taken its toll, and I am having a very quiet weekend. The bookcases are coming along slowly but surely - each bookcase has 8 shelves, and each shelf is deep enough to hold 2 books. I've done 12 shelves so far, parted with a few books I know I won't read again, and rearranged a few books that were out of alphabetical order. My method is to empty a shelf at a time and lie the books out on our large dining table, where I can easily see what needs to be done. I then clean the shelf, and return the books, leaving spaces for those living authors who might write a few more wonderful books that we need to own!

I couldn't resist this brilliant FB cartoon - this is Morse the minute he can't find Wes!

Daylesford Summer Dispatch - Sunday, 5th January 2025

Me too!

What an amazing Test I witnessed! After a lovely catch up breakfast with Squiz last Sunday, I headed to the G not knowing what would happen on Day 4. The Indians made a good score for their second innings and then had us 6/91 and completely on the ropes, until Labuschange and Cummings, and later, Lyon & Boland frustrated the bowlers and we scored 234 all out after a couple of overs the next day.

Squiz tucking into Eggs Florentine

An incredible crowd of 74,362 attended the 5th day, which took the total to 373,691, making it the best attended Australian Test ever. I had a quiet breakfast by myself at The Windsor, before packing, leaving my bag with the concierge, and walking to the ground for the final time. The gates opened at 9.15am and I was able to get a great seat, close to my friend, Brendan, from Morwell. He had been there every day, but we hadn't met up. 

The last day had everything we could wish for - brilliant batting by Yaiswal, who made 84, but even better bowling by Pat Cummins, and Scott Boland, who each took three wickets. There was controversy over decisions, even DRS took a hammering. We eventually bowled the Indians out for 155 at 5.15pm, winning by 184 runs. I left the minute we won, as Wes & Morse were parked in Lansdown Street, about 10 minutes' walk away. Morse was delighted to see me and licked me non-stop.

Lyon appealing for and getting the last wicket

It took us a couple of hours to drive back to Daylesford, dropping by The Windsor to collect my bag, and then negotiating our way onto the Calder Highway, avoiding the West Gate Bridge which had its annual lane closures. We were all tired when we got home, and I went to bed after a quick shower, leaving the unpacking until Tuesday. Wes served me tomatoes on toast and I fell asleep early.

It was great to get back into routine walking Daylesford Cemetery with Wes and Morse at 6.15am. Morse was thrilled that I was joining them again and I received more licks from the back seat. Then it was time to unpack, wash clothes, change sheets & towels, check the PO Box and get back in the swing of daily life with a Zoom with my sister, Leanne. I had also hoped to speak with Jan Pengilley, but she still had no voice, so we postponed that pleasure until she is better. Wes had done the Coles shopping on Monday, which was a big help, as I seemed to be on the go until 6pm, when I collapsed, exhausted, and was fed steamed trout, peas and spuds in bed. 

Morse is delighted with his new rug from Leanne, which has his name all over it in different fonts - not sure he can read yet

We were delighted to find there were no fireworks from the Lake House at midnight and no parties in our street. It was very quiet here in Daylesford, although plenty of locals & visitors had enjoyed the annual New Year's Eve Gala & Parade in Vincent Street during the evening. It was a beautiful day - we took Morse to Lake Daylesford, as it was quiet early, and I filled only one bag with rubbish - the cleanest Lake Daylesford has been on New Year's Day in years. Morse wasn't really happy that he was on his lead and not chasing bunnies.

Wes cooked a whole trout, which he served with steamed carrots, peas and stone fruit. We were able to sit outside on the decking and enjoyed a glass or two of his precious Charles Melton Rose of Virginia. The rest of the day we spent quietly, although I have been watching minis of each day of the Test, as it was so special, with so many highlights. Second only to the Centenary Test at the MCG in 1977, which I also attended, and which Australia won by 45 runs, the same result as the very first Australia vs England Test at the MCG in 1877.

On Thursday morning, we walked at the Cemetery again, much to Morse's delight and he chased up and down the perimeters to show his pleasure. Then Wes headed off to Bullarto Reservoir to fish and left Morse at home with me, which makes fishing a lot easier. 

We were excited for Day 1 of the SCG Test as it is the decider and thrilled when Indian won the toss & decided to bat. Our bowlers had the Indians second-guessing and took plenty of wickets. While I was watching the game on TV, I got started with my New Year resolution, which is to trim our vast library to make room for all the new books we've accumulated since we last made some hard decisions. I'm not sure how long it will take, but it will be worth it as books are piling up untidily and out of order, which is agony to someone like me. 

The new Collingwood flag looks good from our decking

Yesterday was very hot and we were pleased to be glued to the TV in our cool lounge room, watching as the Indian bowlers got Australia all out for 4 runs shy of their 1st Innings total. We had them 6/141 at stumps with Boland the pick of our bowlers with 4 wickets. 

It's going to be hot again today, although it was pleasant when we walked around Daylesford Cemetery early this morning. We're off to the Sunday Market shortly, and then I think it will be more of the same - glued to the Test, which should be decided today unless it rains in Sydney.