We started our week with a good visit to the Daylesford Market, before Wes got stuck into pruning, weeding, edging & mowing in the back garden. I did my bit cleaning a couple of drawers in the kitchen, before sitting down with the Sunday Age and footy. Sadly the Blues, after a stunning start, couldn't maintain their pressure, and were beaten by Melbourne by 23 points. Wes was very disappointed - he can't wait until the coach is replaced!
On Monday, we had our usual cool walk around the cemetery, before I did the supermarket shopping. School was chatting about our upcoming trip to Adelaide & Lorne, and we have decided to go ahead and hope there will be enough petrol to get us there & back. We are looking forward to spending time with my sister, Paun, and her husband, Brian, who will also be attending Gather Round; as well as Adrian Tinetti & his family who will be there. Adrian is our solicitor these days as we needed someone who lives close by and we have known him for over 25 years.
Then I went to the pharmacy to stock up on all our medications, while Wes did wonderful things in the front garden. Meanwhile, Telstra Boy and his mates continue to eyeball me when the cashew plate is empty - it's an expensive taste they have developed!
We were very sad to hear that Isobel Esmore had died. We last caught up with her in Casterton, where she & her husband, Ian, were living, and he had died shortly before we saw her. Isobel started a Daylesford institution - The Massage Healing Centre - I used to go there for massages before I met Nick Massaro, and the therapist was a dog lover, who always let Casper sleep under her massage table. Isobel was a popular person here in Daylesford and will be missed. That afternoon, I had a massage with Sarah - it was long overdue and I was most appreciative that she could fit me in.
On Tuesday morning, we set the alarm for 5.50am so that I could have an early WhatsApp chat with my aunt, Jeff, in Torksey Lock. She had a horror story about waiting nearly 5 hours to have an x-ray only to be told it couldn't be done without an emailed referral from her doctor! Then I caught up with Leanne on Zoom - she was in good spirits and we had lots to talk about. Finally I drove to Hepburn Springs to have a manicure with Juls - fortunately she does all the talking, as I was running out of voice by then.
I forgot to reset the alarm, so we had another early start on Wednesday and gave Morse an extra long time at the cemetery. He was in a frolicsome mood and enjoyed running around, and between the two of us. Then I left Wes to vacuum and wash the floors, while I visited Daylesford Hair & Beauty for a fringe trim. They had just moved from Howe Street into the first floor of the Rex Building in Vincent Street, and were very excited with all the natural light coming in. The Rex was a theatre many moons ago, and has undergone a few transformations, but the latest is being done by two local couples and it looks rather wonderful. It incorporates a cinema, the Phoenix, which opened over the Easter holidays with films for kids.
Before meeting up with Judi for Mah Jong, I went to the Vinnies Op Shop with my latest batch of beanies, and they were wonderfully grateful. I usually give them to the Salvos, but they weren't opening until 10am, by which time we were playing Mah Jong. Judi did very well, tried some new hands as well as her favourite and won most of the games.
After Mah Jong, I drove back home and collected Wes, who was happy to be with me when the stitches were taken out, after my small operation a fortnight ago. Dr Brad assured me that it was benign, removed the stitches, and wishes us well for Gather Round this coming week.
On Thursday, the Jackson Group Zoom was cancelled because of Easter, so Wes headed off to Bendigo to visit our old friend, Cliff Talbot at Strath-Haven. Meanwhile, I chatted with Old Friends - Kathy, Joyce & Karen S, and we trialled using WhatsApp instead of Zoom, to allow more freedom to the Zoom host, which is usually me. It worked wonderfully well, and all our questions were answered when we tried it out. Hopefully we can ditch Zoom and use WhatsApp in the future.
That night, after fish & chips, I had the unwelcome experience of watching Collingwood play a shocker against Brisbane up there. We lost Nick Daicos just before the game started, but not even he could have held back the Lions, who played brilliantly and won easily by 9 goals. It looked all over in the first few minutes, so I had my Cherry Ripe at quarter time, rather than wait until half-time, which is the tradition.🤣
Good Friday was a lovely cool day with blue skies and a bit of wind. We walked early, picked up fresh Hot Cross buns from Bakers Delight on our way home, and enjoyed them with blackberry jam for breakfast. We like to have a quiet day, and in the past have taken the labs for long walks in the forest, but that isn't a pleasure for Morse, so we settled in the lounge instead with the Age, books, knitting and footy instead. Sadly, the Blues once again squandered a good lead, this time in the last quarter, and were beaten by North Melbourne in front of 45,000+ at the Docklands, where the focus is on fund-raising for the Royal Children's Hospital, and celebrating those kids & their parents who spend much of their time there.
Yesterday we had breakfast at the Glenlyon General Store, sitting at our favourite drop-side table. We both had pots of tea and Wes had his usual Dr Marty's crumpets with bacon & chili jam; while I indulged in Sourdough bruschetta with poached eggs, tomatoes & pesto.
