It surely is!
We started our week with a very early trip to the Daylesford Market, so we could be home, unpacked and ready to watch Day 1 of the 5th Ashes Test from the SCG. The Poms won the toss and batted very well, with Root making his first century on that ground, and Brook hitting 84.
I was still struggling with asthma the next morning, but did the supermarket shopping early, as well as a podiatry appointment and some chores before the early start of Day 2. After we dismissed the Poms, we batted very well with Head & Smith both making centuries.
Tuesday was another busy early morning - my first chat with Jeff for 2026, followed by a catch up with Leanne, and a midday appointment with my GP, Dr Ellie, who is leaving Springs Medical as the travel time is too much now that her elder daughter, Billie, is starting school. I am very grateful to Ellie for all her help, and we both agreed that Dr James, who is Wes's GP, would be a good fit for the future.
In the cricket, we were eventually all out for 567, a lead of 183, which the Poms set about chasing with enthusiasm on Day 3, and which saw Jacob Bethell make his maiden Test century in front of his delighted family, who rode every ball with him. At 22, Jacob looks like the future, and he played with a wonderful maturity. By stumps on Wednesday, they were 8/302, giving them a lead of 119 runs.
Before the cricket on Wednesday, I had visited Juls early to have my first manicure for the year. As I was leaving, she said she had a small gift for me in return for all the gifts I had given her over the years.
Not so small and full of yummy treats!
Meanwhile, most of Australia was sweltering in high 30s/low 40s heat, and we were very grateful for our air-conditioning, which kept us cool as we sat engrossed in this 5th Ashes Test.
On Thursday I caught up with Old Friends, Karen & Joyce, and we exchanged Christmas stories before chatting about the cricket and wondering what this last day would bring. Wes & I had arranged brunch at The Convent with Bob White and his Mexican friend, Angel Aldapeg, so we headed off there and were delighted to find ourselves in The Parlour, which was cooler than Bad Habits Café. We spent a very happy 90 minutes together, discussing a wide range of topics before heading back home to watch the Test on delay. ,
Bob, Angel, Wes & Karen with thanks to Beck Walker who always obliges by taking lovely photos
Wes & I were thrilled when Australia finally hit the winning runs, after losing 5 wickets and looking shaky in the final hour of play. Mitch Starc was a worthy Player of the Series, and it was a Test to remember for Usman Khwaja, playing his 88th & final one.
Wes has had a quiet week for Zooms, as, apart from chatting with Barbara in NZ, his other ones were either cancelled or forgotten. We have installed a strong fan in the downstairs study, which makes working there more pleasant in the temperatures we have been experiencing this week, but nothing beats the air-conditioning upstairs in the lounge & our bedroom.
The worst day was Friday, so we stayed put after walking Morse early and then pumping mineral water at Leitches Creek. I chatted with Leanne, who was staying cool, and not too concerned about her cat, Smokey, who seemed to be drinking water and sleeping happily. I ducked out early to get some spuds to make a potato salad to go with our fish & steak for dinner, and was very pleased to come back home.
Wes & I have spotted quite a few bunnies at the cemetery this week - as many as 10 on one day. We think Morse sees one or two and heads off for a run in the direction he thinks they have taken, which isn't always right! We continue to pick up rubbish on our walks and try to leave the cemetery cleaner than when we arrived.
Morse still looking for those elusive bunnies
Although Daylesford had some smoke haze, we fortunately remained free from fires, and it was a big relief to wake up yesterday to cooler temperatures. Wes spent the morning reclaiming our garden, which had suffered in the strong winds, and everywhere is looking much better now. I even managed to pick a vase full of roses that had been sheltered from the weather.
Far too many different blooms to name them all!
We had bought tickets last month to the Ballarat Organs & Fine Music Festival, previously known as Organs of the Goldfields, which we had attended when we first arrived here. We were attracted by the performance entitled The Singing Pipes - Music of Handel, Bach, Haydn & Beyond, which was at St John's Anglican Church in Creswick yesterday.
However, early in the week, we received a phone call to say that the performance was oversubscribed and we were invited to choose another item from the programme, which we were unable to do, as most were at night, and in Ballarat. So we missed out, but will keep an eye out for next year's schedule and book earlier. In some ways it was a blessing as there were trees and debris on the roads in & around Daylesford, and it wasn't an ideal day to be travelling.
That afternoon, Wes collected old Daylesford friend, David Hall, from his home about 5 minutes away and spent a couple of hours with him in our study, showing him how to get the best out of Ancestry.com and introducing him to WhatsApp, so he could contact his family & friends more easily. David is 93 and his mind is still as active and full of ideas as it has been since we first met him in 2000.
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