Daylesford Summer Dispatch - Sunday, 16th February 2025

 
Eeek!

We've been busy this week - after the Daylesford Market on Sunday, we headed to Ballan to water Rob & Dene's fruit & vegetables, and were rewarded with plums & tomatoes. We've stewed the plums with some of our nectarines, and had the tomatoes on toast that night - so fresh & yummy! Afterwards, we drove to Gordon to get new Winter hats from The Old Hat Shoppe. Wes was successful, but I couldn't find a replacement for my black Greek fisherman's cap that I wear much of the time. It's getting faded and I can't get rid of a few marks, so it needs to be updated.

Wes wearing his gorgeous new cap

As expected, the Australian men easily won the second Test against Sri Lanka in the afternoon, and I was thrilled that Alex Carey won Man of the Match - his keeping was almost flawless, and he played an exciting and attacking game with the bat, scoring 156, an Australian record for a wicket-keeper in Asia.

On Monday, after shopping, we tackled the study, which needed some TLC. I dusted and polished, while Wes cleaned the flywire screens, made the windows sparkle and washed the floor. There is so much light when the screens are down, and I really enjoyed watching the birds feed. I had bought some punnets of pleasure, so Wes got potting mix and prepared an old wheel-barrow and a large planter box for me to put petunias and cornflowers in.

Not many roses in bloom at present, but enough for a mug at the front door!

We were thrilled to wake on Tuesday to no wind, which was a delightful change - certainly early, in Daylesford Cemetery! While Wes watered front & back gardens, I Zoomed with Leanne, and then had a lovely catch up with friend & neighbour, Glen, who came to sit on our decking and chat over morning tea. Morse was thrilled to see her and had to be persuaded to sit quietly after his initial greeting. 

Judi was unable to play Mah Jong this week, so we arranged to have lunch with our other neighbour, James, at Cliffy's on Wednesday. Beforehand, we both got busy - Wes working in the garden, tidying up the area under the decking, and me dusting & polishing & cleaning as everywhere I looked seemed to need TLC.

Morse sulking with his friend as we were both too busy to play with him

Lunch at Cliffy's was fun - James was delighted to find spiders on the menu and immediately ordered one to go with his chicken schnitzel and salad. Wes went for the platter, which was an upmarket ploughman's lunch and had a beautiful pinot gris with it, while I ordered Turkish eggs & tea. We chatted about all sorts of topics, as well as congratulating James on all he is achieving as President of the Daylesford Men's Shed. 

James enjoying his spider!

That afternoon, Australia played Sri Lanka in an ODI game at Columbo, where they were soundly beaten, mostly on the back of an exhilarating century by the Sri Lankan captain, Charith Asalanka. 

We had a rest day on Thursday - I Zoomed with Terry Borg, and then with Old Friends - Kathy, Karen S, Joyce & Lib, before retiring with a pot of tea and The Age as it was another hot, sticky day, 23℃ @6am!

On Friday, we caught up with Robyn & Ian Robinson for lunch at The Pig & Whistle Hotel - this was long overdue, as our last get-together was here at The Convent in August 2023. We did enjoy hearing about their recent travel experiences and exchanging health updates. Later that day, Australia was beaten again by Sri Lanka in the second ODI.

It was such a relief to wake to a cool day yesterday, and we are expecting similar weather today. We had hoped to get to Terry Borg's 80th birthday party in Burwood this afternoon, but realised yesterday that we would be unable to drive there & back with a party in between. We are so disappointed as we love seeing her & her family, but afternoon & evening activities are almost beyond me at present. 

Stunning sunrise at Daylesford Cemetery this week

With all the resting I am doing these days, I have been working my way through lots of books - Canadian author, Louise Penny, with her quirky Inspector Gamache, (gifts from neighbour, Glen); rereading Ruth Rendell's Inspector Wexford (chauvinistic, but intuitive), and Helen Garner's The Season, written last year about her time watching Aussie Rules training and footy games featuring her 16 year old grandson. I bought the book once I knew Helen was going to be at Clunes Booktown, and I absolutely loved it and recommend it highly. I've just started another wonderful book recommended by friend, Kathy Lazzaro, called All the Bees in the Hollows, by first time Australian author, Lauren Keegan, which is set in Lithuania.