Daylesford ChillOut Dispatch - Sunday, 8th March 2026

Trust Snoopy to get to the heart of the matter!

We had a very quiet Sunday after the Market. It was a wet day, very suitable for watching the Australian Women hit 409 for the loss of 7 wickets in the 3rd & final ODI. Alyssa Healy was stunning with her 158, and Beth Mooney made 106*. The Indian team seemed very demoralised after that and were all out for 224. Meanwhile North Melbourne pipped the Pies by a point to win an entertaining, but wet & windy game at Ballarat.

Overnight we enjoyed another 25mls of rain, and woke to find constant wet was the order of the day. When I went out shopping, it was the topic on everyone's lips, and we were all delighted to be benefitting from so much rain. Instead of School, we cleaned the laundry & two upstairs hallways, as well as the lounge air-conditioner, which had started to leak water. Fortunately the clean solved the problem, and we can use the unit again, but as it is 20 years old, a replacement is around the corner.

2020 - Karen & Wes outside St Paul's Cathedral, London

Our neighbour, Glen, was home again, and I visited her briefly with some shopping I had done to help her return. Then it was time to sit down with The Age and read about the terrible war in Iran, as well as the damage to Dubai Airport. We were pleased that friends there had caught flights home on Saturday, escaping the bombing. And have our fingers crossed for others who are working there.

We woke very early on Tuesday as I had an early Messenger chat with Jeff in Lincolnshire, followed by a Zoom with Leanne in Strathmore. Meanwhile Wes walked Morse in the dark and then pumped mineral water for me at Leitches Creek. Afterwards I drove to Hepburn to have a manicure with Juls, and Wes did some work in the back garden, where even the grass has turned green again.

2010- Cousin Leigh & Karen at Covent Garden for the ballet

It was another early start on Wednesday as I had a dental appointment at Ashmore Dentistry in Ballarat at 9am, where Anna, my dentist, was going to replace the last two amalgam fillings in my mouth. We've done this over three years, making use of our Extras Health Cover, and it was so good to finally finish and see a mouth full of white teeth! Afterwards, I drove back here and enjoyed a facial with Emma, even though half my mouth was still numb. 

Meanwhile Wes had vacuumed and washed the floors, and was hopeful of catching up with another old friend, Hymie, but was unsuccessful. He has been busy with Zooms though - Barbara twice; his Godson, Danny; Paul & Rod; the Jackson Group looking at the Global Economy, and David Hall. 

2010 - Karen, Wes & Leigh in beautiful Malta

I had booked a free Health Assessment on Thursday morning at Springs Medical, which meant I missed out on the Old Friends chat, but Kathy and Joyce had an enjoyable catch up. Justine, my nurse, was very kind and good to be with - she tested me on all sorts of skills as well as checking blood pressure etc and I came out with flying colours. We discussed my chronic fatigue, and she came to the conclusion that we were doing as well as we could with managing it - the secret is not to have high expectations, which means you are constantly disappointed, but to enjoy the wins when more is achieved than was expected. 

That night the AFL season started with a match at the SCG between Sydney & Carlton. The first 2 quarters were an arm wrestle with the Blues being the better side, but unable to score heavily. Sadly for Wes, the second half was a rout with the Swans running out victors by 63 points. I've got my fingers crossed that the same thing doesn't happen to Collingwood tonight up against St Kilda at the MCG.

2010 - the stunning Minarck Theatre, Cornwall

On Friday, I was very pleased to be appointment-free, and, after chatting with Leanne on Zoom, and doing a bit of shopping in Vincent Street, I settled down to catch up on computer work, while Wes continued to make the back garden sparkle. He was able to mow, trim, weed and clean up very easily as everywhere is still damp from all our rain. That afternoon I settled in to watch the Australia vs India Women's Test at the WACA. Alyssa Healy finally won a toss and sent the Indians in, and they made 198. We were 3/96 at stumps. Meanwhile at the Gold Coast, the Suns walloped Geelong in an unexpected victory.

Yesterday was another lovely day - I had to collect a couple of things early and enjoyed watching all the visitors emerge into Vincent Street - some looking for breakfast, others joining walks, still other registering for events - the atmosphere was so happy and most of the shops have decorated in rainbow colours to celebrate this year's ChillOut Festival.

The Test is nearly over - Australia made 323 with Annabel Sutherland hitting a magnificent 129 and so far taking 6 wickets, and debutant, Lucy Hamilton, with 5 wickets. The Indians are 6/105, still needing 20 runs to make Australia bat again. And in the footy, GWS accounted for Hawthorn, and the Doggies beat the reigning Premiers, Brisbane, up there, which is no mean feat.

Finally, a wonderful photo from 1976 - Woody, Wendy, Squiz & Karen outside Ascot Station - our memorable day at the races