We started our week with a good visit to the Daylesford Market, followed by an overdue wash for Morse, which he enjoyed. We three were tired after our big Saturday, especially Wes & Morse who had stayed up to see if Carlton could beat Freo over there. We bought spinach & feta croissants from Baker's Delight, and spent plenty of time with the weekend papers & the day's footy matches.
On Monday, I had lots of shopping to do - Coles, Tonna's & Blooms - where I finally got some very good advice from one of the pharmacists, Georgia, who suggested I ask Dr James for an extra ingredient to be put into my asthma medication, and found some cough mixture that didn't taste of senega & ammonia! We then had School, where we made some financial decisions and solved a few computer issues that were worrying me. As it was another gorgeous Autumn day, Wes spent the morning watering our front garden.
More lovely roses - Volcano, 4th of July, Friesia, Hot Cocoa, Tangles & Perfumed Passion
For the past couple of years I have been going to bed between 3 & 5pm, unless I have managed to have a very quiet day and still have energy to do something else e.g. go to the footy. Most nights I prepare Morse's food just before 5pm & Wes gives him his dinner. Then he joins me in our bedroom, sitting in our lovely armchair and we debrief on our day & make plans for the next one while sipping on Jamieson's whisky (him) & Hendrick's gin (me). Morse comes in to say thank you for his meal and lies on the floor until we are finished chatting. Wes then very kindly makes a yummy meal, which I eat in bed on a tray, trying not to make a mess!
Last Tuesday, I was due to chat with my aunt, Jeff, in Torksey Lock, and now that there are only 9 hours difference in time between Victoria & England, she stays up until 9.30pm & I forgo my walk with Wes & Morse, and endeavour to ring her on WhatsApp at 6.30am our time. We had a good chat, with lots to catch up on as it had been a month since we last spoke. She told me that my brother, Peter, & his wife, Anka, were heading overseas this week, and would be spending time in Lincoln so they could visit her, which is lovely.
Then I caught up with Leanne, my sister, in Strathmore. She was looking good & we chatted about the ANZAC Day footy, as well as plans for our visit to her last Friday. My final socialising was to visit Juls in Hepburn Springs for a manicure - always a fun experience, and this was no exception. That afternoon, Wes had a good catch up with an old friend - Carole Hardwick, who had recently returned from a cruise with friends.
On Wednesday, Judi & I met for Mah Jong and she easily won more games, including trying some difficult ones. I think she can take her P plates off now! It was nice in Muffins with locals galore, even Kelly, who used to run it, turned up for an early lunch. Meanwhile Wes did the floors before spending an afternoon on Ancestry and then having a long chat with Simon from First
Samuel about the best way forward with our finances.
Samuel about the best way forward with our finances.
Collingwood was hosting Hawthorn at the MCG on Thursday night - a five day break for the Pies, which isn't ideal, but I had booked a room at The Windsor, so I could attend the game. We both had early morning chats - Wes with the Jackson Group, discussing the future of universities, and me with Old Friends, which turned out to be the two Karens, as Kathy & Joyce were both coughing too much.
While I packed and did my usual Thursday chores, Wes visited David Hall, who has moved into Hepburn House, and took him out for morning tea at Sweet Decadence. They had a good time together & David particularly enjoyed being driven around the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens to enjoy the Autumn colours.
Then Wes & Morse drove me to Ballan Station - when I walked onto the platform, there was our friend, Dene Roberts, who used to live next door to us in #80, with his partner, Rob Griffin. Dene was as thrilled to see me as I was to see him. Dene guided me onto the emptiest carriage, put my suitcase up for me, and proceeded to engage me in conversation until he had to alight at Footscray. It was a lovely start to my trip to Melbourne!
When I booked into The Windsor, I was able to turn on Classic FM radio from the TV, and sit quietly for a couple of hours until it was time to shower & change for the footy. I had made arrangements to catch up with Collingwood friend, Gayle Gibson, in the Long Room, so I needed my best black jacket & trousers. We enjoyed a lovely time over glasses of sparkling wine, before I went to my seat in the 50-year member bay to get ready for the game.
I hadn't expected the Pies to win, let alone hold their own, and didn't think we could prevail, until the last 2 minutes, and then we made a couple of errors and let the Hawks catch up. They had more of the ball, but kicked inaccurately, which kept us in the game.
The next morning, I had breakfast in the beautiful Windsor dining room, before packing, and walking to Flinders Street station to catch the Craigieburn train to Strathmore, where Wes picked me up about 10 minutes after I arrived. We then drove to Leanne's place, and had a very enjoyable visit. Wes checked her computer, fixed a knob that was loose, and she & I tidied up two kitchen drawers.
We were tired when we got back home, where Morse presented us with a bone he was in the process of digging up! Apart from unpacking & washing & watching the entire replay of the game, I did very little and was in bed when fish & chips were brought in!
Yesterday, we were still recovering and had a quiet morning - I made some potato salad to go with our dinner that night, and read the Saturday Age from cover to cover. Wes did some computer work and we settled down to watch the day's footy. Sadly that night, the Blues couldn't keep up their early good form against the Saints and lost their match.
