What an interesting Sunday morning I had last week. It was Mother's Day, and as I walked with my suitcase from The Hotel Windsor to Flinders Street Station, I was passed by heaps of runners of all ages, who had just completed the Annual Mother's Day Classic run or walk, which is a fund-raiser for breast & ovarian cancer. It was a dry, overcast morning, which probably helped the marathon runners in particular.
When I got to Flinders Street Station, I asked which station was best for Southern Cross Station, and was told to go to Platform 4, the Craigieburn train. When I arrived the platform was quite full, with lots of people of all nationalities and most of them clutching cameras & cardboard cut-outs. The train was 12 minutes late arriving, and when it did, everyone sprang into action taking photos & chatting excitedly to each other. Unwittingly, I was one of those riding the first trip of the first of 25 X'Trapolis 2.0 trains, which are being built in regional Victoria. The experts seemed very happy - the train had better passenger information, was very comfortable, and held more passengers with an excellent seating arrangement. I was sorry I had to get out after only one stop!
Wes & Morse picked me up at Woodend Station - I usually go on the Ballarat line, but all the trains were being replaced by coaches that Sunday, so I took the Bendigo line instead, which confused Morse no end. He was thrilled to see me get into our car. We drove home via Trentham on a most glorious late Autumn day. The sun was shining, the trees were still beautifully coloured, and when we got to Daylesford, there were wall-to-wall cars & visitors taking advantage of the weather to celebrate Mother's Day.
On Monday, we were able to walk Morse in the cemetery, before I did the Coles shopping, and later Tonna's for pasta, Dutch Cream spuds & tarragon. Before Wes went out into the garden, we did our ABC Classic Top 100 of everything picks & mine are shown below. As a result of Wes's hard work in the garden we now have pots & wheelbarrows of bulbs - tête à tête, tete boucle & hyacinths. We should be able to see them all when they flower in Spring as they are visible from at least one window in the house.
We've got our fingers crossed that we end up with displays like this - tete boucle, tête à tête & mixed hyacinths
The next morning was cold, but Wes & Morse walked, while I had an early WhatsApp chat with my aunt, Jeff, in Torksey Lock, Lincolnshire. She was in good spirits in spite of some pain in her shoulder and the effects of the latest COVID jab. Then it was time to catch up with my sister, Leanne, in Strathmore, who was heading out with her support worker, Bec, to have a blood test. She was very chirpy and pleased to see Morse, who climbs on my knee to say hello & receive a treat each time we chat.
Then I was glued to our desktop & my phone screens to get tickets for three upcoming Collingwood matches. I managed to get them all - one on each device! It is much easier since I became a 50-year member and can book seats in a dedicated bay on Level 2.
Meanwhile, we were both very flat to read that an old, much-loved Daylesford friend had died on Sunday - we first met Alan & Kaye Harrison, when they ran Sweet Decadence café in Vincent Street. Then we had more contact through Daylesford Rotary, where Alan was an excellent Treasurer, and helped us enormously when we took on running the Daylesford Art Show back in 2010. Sweet Decadence is known for its beautiful chocolates, and when Wes was Mayor, he asked Kaye to make a chilli choc, which she did. They are very popular and there is still a plaque in the café commemorating his request.
We had our usual Wednesday - early walk, followed by a fringe trim for me and delivery of goodies to Vinnies, one of our 4 Op Shops. Then while Wes cleaned the floors, I played Mah Jong with Judi in a busy Muffins & More café. Honours were even, and I left to come home, while Judi had lunch with friends.
I had booked a mammogram for 9am on Thursday morning at Lake Imaging in St John of God Hospital in Ballarat as Dr Ellie had advised me I couldn't continue with Breastscreen at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital because of my age. Fortunately Wes decided to drive me there - we left home at 8am and I arrived at Lake Imaging at 8.59 - we encountered 6 lots of roadworks and spent 12kms behind a driver whose top speed was 60kms.
Once there, I was interviewed by a lovely radiologist, Brontë, who told me that it would cost me $300 to have it done where I was, and that it was still free for me at Breastscreen. She then rang them & they agreed to fit me in because I had travelled from Daylesford. Wes drove me to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, about 5 minutes away, and I was looked after very well. Louise, the receptionist assured me I could always come to them every 2 years, but I wouldn't get an automatic reminder.
We then drove to the NAB ATM to get some cash and I discovered too late that the ATM I chose only delivered $100 notes - EEK! So I got in line to see the teller, who happily gave me some $50s & $20s instead. Our next stop was the Ballarat Fish Supply and Wes had fun choosing fillets of salmon & flake; some frozen King prawns; a rainbow trout, & prawn & ginger dumplings. Meanwhile I went to Woolworths to buy packets of cooking salmon, which we can no longer get at Coles in Daylesford.
We were hungry & thirsty by then, so went to our favourite little café, Wen & Ware, which was very busy. We found a corner on a shared table & tucked into cheese & tomato toasties & hot drinks, which certainly hit the spot. We love the friendliness of this place - the staff are always smiling, polite and patient, and there are plenty of plate glass windows to look out of, so you feel part of the day.
We were delighted to have a day at home after our busy morning in Ballarat, and after walking Morse, I had another good Zoom with Leanne, while Wes did wonders in the back garden. Everywhere needed pruning, mowing & a drink - all these things were done in lovely sunshine.
Wes has enjoyed a social week on the phone or via Zoom or WhatsApp - he's spoken with Barbara Simpson twice; chatted with Carole Hardwick; caught up with his sister, Denise, and enjoyed a long overdue conversation with very old friends, Hymie & Joan Zawatzky in Caulfield.
On Friday night, Collingwood played Sydney at the SCG, and instead of being soundly beaten, as expected, they played their hearts out & led most of the night, being beaten by a goal when the final siren blew. I was so proud of them, especially as we were missing 5 regular players, and our young ruckman, Oscar Steene, sustained an ACL injury.
Yesterday we had our usual walk before Wes gave Morse a bath, and I caught up with Rhonda at The Convent for morning tea. Rhonda had brought back from Florence two bars of beautiful soap from the Santa Maria Novella Apothecary - one for her & one for me, and I wanted to thank her for her thoughtfulness.
That afternoon, Wes took David Hall to the monthly Politics in the Pub at the Farmers Arms Hotel in Daylesford. They had a stimulating & enjoyable afternoon, while Morse & I watched footy! That night, the Blues, under new caretaker coach, Josh Fraser, won a tight game against the Doggies, much to the delight of all Carlton supporters who were sick of losing every week after being in winning positions. Wes was delighted!
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