Daylesford Summer Dispatch - Sunday, 26th January 2014

Dear Friends, we have been struggling this week as you can imagine and finding it hard to get back into projects. I have been doing lots of crosswords and logic puzzles while watching cricket and tennis with the TV sound down and the radio on. Wes has tried to work in the garden, but ends up in front of the computer trying to lose himself in Ancestry.com. Our early morning walks with Bilbo are going well and he is enjoying being able to trot along by our side instead of being pulled from pillar to post by his brother. I did try throwing balls for him one afternoon, but ended up retrieving them myself, so we have decided to just let him find his own way back to equilibrium.

When Greta discovered Frodo had died, she suggested that she visit us, which thrilled us very much, so she, Penny & Danny are all coming for lunch tomorrow. Bilbo will be delighted to meet Penny and we can only hope that will be reciprocated. He will also be happy to see Danny as they met on the boys’ first weekend home 9 years ago almost to the day. Tom & Deb have also made a date for lunch here in February and they will bring their dogs with them.

 

23 January 2005 – Bilbo sitting up alert and Frodo relaxing – nothing ever changed!

 

We have been overwhelmed by all the messages of support we have received since Frodo’s death. Thanks so much to everyone for emails, phone calls, FB messages and flowers. We were especially overwhelmed by the beautiful flowers and kind words from Andrew & Annette at Eureka Kennels, where the boys felt very much at home and were looked after nearly as well as at Maloney Folly. Thank you also to Lib, who hasn’t been well, but showed her feelings by sending  us a very lovely box of exquisite pink & white blooms.

We were pleased to get back to semi-normal by going to gym on Tuesday and Thursday; and I met up with Dot, Gail & Valerie for our first Mah Jong of the year on Wednesday. We had hoped to see the final screening of The Book Thief on Tuesday night at the Rex Cinema, but didn’t like to leave Bilbo for 3 hours.

 

 

 Bilbo & Frodo New Year’s Eve 2006

Bilbo enjoyed the visit by Jan Smith on Monday at lunchtime. She arrived with a card and flowers for us, and Bilbo sat on her feet the whole time. On Thursday, Joe Rozen dropped in as he hadn’t known about either death and it was lovely to see him as well.

Wes spent Friday in Melbourne visiting Joan Testro in the morning and Leanne in the afternoon. It rained all morning in Daylesford, which was very welcome, so I took Bilbo shopping in the car with me, and later we walked up to the Post Office together to make sure we both had some exercise. In the afternoon I tried playing ball with him and he responded by retrieving it a few times, which was very good to see. Wes arrived home around 5.30pm very tired but happy with his day.

As you know, I am a big fan of cards and flowers and have been thrilled to receive so many of both from our friends and families. Just as last week’s flowers were past their best, a huge bunch of glorious Christmas lilies arrived from Leigh & Simon Murrin one day and a lovely box of brightly coloured gerberas and Asiatic lilies came the next day from Terry & Georgie Borg. Thank you to everyone for your thoughtfulness and generosity.

Bilbo & Frodo walking at dawn around the Lake on 6^th January this year

On Saturday we decided to go to Ballarat to collect a few things we can’t get locally, such as new cushions for the outdoor setting, sticky address labels & a one litre bottle of Jameson’s Whisky. We took Bilbo with us and he enjoyed the outing. We had just arrived home when Eddie & Jenny Beacham were on the doorstep with a home-made cake and some hugs.

This morning I am about to take Bilbo shopping, then off to the Sunday Market & breakfast. Wes is watering the garden, the kookaburras are laughing, there are ducks up and down our street; the roses are blooming in profusion and all’s well with the world. I promise to be back to normal with next week’s Dispatch.

 

 

 

 2006 – all three boys asleep together!

Daylesford Summer Dispatch - Monday, 20th January 2014

Dear Friends, this is another sad Dispatch as we have had to put our dear Frodo to sleep. His heart had been affected by the latest Great Escape and he deteriorated over Friday and Saturday. We suspect he had a small stroke on Saturday afternoon, and then another big one late that night that left him unable to see. Wes sat up with him all night until he could speak to the emergency vet in Ballarat at 9am. Our own vet was unable to be contacted on his mobile, so this was the kindest solution. Bilbo stayed with me all night, and in the morning, before Wes left with Frodo, we let them say goodbye to each other.

I took Bilbo to the Sunday Market as usual and then we walked up to breakfast, where everyone made a fuss of him. Wes let me know when Frodo was at peace, and brought him home to bury him in the backyard next to Casper. We spent a very sad day yesterday, crying and reflecting on all the Frodo stories. He loved Wes’s scarves and we came home one day to find them draped all down a staircase. He also loved body lotion and licked bare legs and feet clean whenever he could. He was a very beautiful, soft, good-natured dog and we are missing him. However, it is made much easier than before when we have lost our pet, because we still have Bilbo to love.

This is my last photo of Frodo, taken on Saturday when he was restless and looking for somewhere comfy to lie – why not on our bed?

This morning we walked Bilbo on his own for a slightly longer walk around the Lake and down by Sutton Springs. He is catching up on sleep, as we all did last night, and trying to get used to being able to enjoy his food instead of bolting it down in case his brother came and ate it (which he often did). He is also taking full advantage of being able to stretch out on the various dog beds, but he is missing his mate in spite of all this.

Daylesford Summer Dispatch - Friday, 17th January 2014

Dear Friends, since I last wrote we have celebrated Viva’s life in style with a wonderful funeral at St Monica’s Church in Moonee Ponds. She would have loved it all – the reading by Terry, the eulogy given by Peter, the big crowd in the church (nearly 100); the piper playing Amazing Grace; the lovely wake next door, and the private burial where Sinatra belted out New York, New York, before we five siblings released doves to symbolise the freeing of Viva’s spirit.

We want to thank everyone who came to the funeral. We were overwhelmed that so many of our friends came to support us. There was a healthy contingent from the Climb Every Mountain Choral Society Cricket Match days, Daylesford was well-represented, as well as friends from Brunswick days, and a surprise visit from Jane from Sydney. We have been thrilled by all the phone calls, flowers, cards, emails and Facebook messages we have received. We have enjoyed hearing your stories and memories of Viva, which keeps her legacy alive in all of us.

Peter, Cathy, Wes, David, Jane & Rhonda

 

 

Malcolm, Lovely, Kathy & Joyce

After the burial we all met up at the Pascoe Vale RSL, where Viva had been a member. A room had been organised for us, there was a Vale notice as we came in the door, and Wes found a couple in the bar who had known Perc during the war. They were friends of Kevin Saundry, my only surviving uncle, and my Godfather. We family enjoyed catching up with each other as that is such a rare thing these days with us in Daylesford, Peter & Anka in Canberra, and Paun & Brian in Tathra.

Just before releasing the doves – Terry, Karen, Peter, Leanne & Paun

 

Viva’s beautiful grandchildren – Liam, Rohan & Warwick, Jessie & Michelle

We collected Bilbo & Frodo from Eureka Kennels on Saturday, where Andrew & Annette also suspected what we had been fearing – that Frodo had cancer, as his tummy was very swollen. Last week, we had decided it was best to wait until after the funeral to seek treatment as Viva’s death was enough to cope with. On Sunday morning, after the walk, Frodo refused his bone, and then an apple, and lay down on their bed with very shallow breathing and cloudy eyes. We thought it was the end, so sat as a foursome for about 2 hours until Wes decided it would be best to take Frodo into the garden if he was going to die. I got the lead out to put Bilbo in the car and suddenly Lazarus awoke, sat up straight, brightened his eyes and charged out to the hallway to be part of the walk. When we recovered from our amazement, we offered him his bone, which he demolished with gusto!

On Monday we took him to the vet, who suspected liver or kidney problems and did some tests. The results were fine, so on Tuesday, Frodo went back to the vet to have 3.5 litres of fluid drained from him. The fluid was tested and nothing showed up. Andrew finally suggested we try giving Frodo some heart-starters and diuretics to see if that would help and so far it is doing the trick. He isn’t retaining fluid and has lots of energy in spite of the heat. We don’t know if this is a band-aid solution or not, but we are grateful to have some more time with this delightful Labrador, as 9 years old is too young.

We haven’t really been doing much this week as we haven’t wanted to leave the boys and it has been too hot to go anywhere. Wes postponed a visit to Joan Testro until next week and I cancelled a massage, but we have been to early morning gym and I did have a last manicure with Michelle Jenkin before she moves to Mount Martha this weekend to start a new life with her partner, Anthony.

The highlight of the week for Wes was going to a boys’ War Film night on Tuesday, where he, Jeff Bain and Brian Nash were ‘hosted’ by Warren Pengilley. I use the term in inverted commas as Secundus as he is known, has been spoilt rotten by Jan all his life and only knows how to look after himself. I am sure his guests didn’t mind pouring their own drinks and cutting pieces of cheese and cabana.

Waterlily in the pond at Maloney Folly

Daylesford Summer Dispatch - Wednesday, 8th January 2014

Dear Friends, as many of you already know, Viva died peacefully on Monday afternoon at John Fawkner Hospital in Moreland. She had deteriorated after she was discharged home by Brunswick Private and on Sunday we all agreed to get the ambulance and have her taken to Emergency at JFH. They looked after her very well, but suggested that she would have trouble recovering from her latest lot of infections. And they were right.

Peter flew back down on Monday afternoon and he and Leanne have been busy organising the funeral, which will be held on Friday. We have managed to squeeze the boys into Eureka Kennels for Thursday & Friday nights, so will be able to stay in Melbourne for the those nights.

Thanks for everyone for your messages of support, and for sharing your memories of times with Viva. She was a very generous woman, a good mother, a thoughtful friend and an interesting and intelligent person. We all have a lot to be grateful for, and we are. We are also very lucky to have had her in our lives for so very long.

 

Wedding Day – Viva & Perc 17 March 1949

2010 at Melba Restaurant, Southbank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
  

Daylesford Summer Dispatch - Saturday, 4th January, 2014

Dear Friends, we enjoyed a wonderful New Year’s Eve by going to see The Hobbit, Part 2, in Gold Class at the Regent Cinemas in Ballarat in the morning. We got the last two seats, so were in the front row, which isn’t ideal, but the toasted banana bread took away some of the pain. We loved the film and were pleased that we were in comfort for the 3 hours of the session.

We decided to have a very late lunch, so I spent the afternoon taking down decorations and denuding the Christmas tree, while Wes gardened and helped Barbara with some computer and phone issues. Which reminds me – I keep forgetting to tell those of you who have indulged in e-Wallet, that there is a very good App for the phone which enables you to carry all your passwords around with you very easily. It synchronises with your computer e-Wallet and costs about $9. The website is http://www.iliumsoft.com/ewallet

This is a photo of Wes’s cactus in flower – the first time it has done it and it is rather spectacular.

Wes cooked us a very yummy dinner of squid ink pasta with chili prawns, and we indulged in some more of the Christmas pudding with brandy butter before joining Barbara in the walk down to the New Year’s Eve Parade in the main street. I haven’t made it to the last couple of parades, so was very excited to feel well enough to get there. We left just before the end as the fumes from the Fire Trucks were getting to us. However we enjoyed the spectacle, said hello to heaps of friends, were congratulated on the return of the wanderers, and especially appreciated the music played by our two town bands – the Daylesford Brass Band, who led the parade and the Daylesford Pipes and Drums Band, which finished it.

We didn’t stay up for midnight, although I woke briefly when the fireworks (about 6 in total) went off at the Lake House. Instead we were up early and walking the boys around Lake Daylesford at 5.30am and it was a beautiful sight.

 

I had suggested to Wes that we go to the Glenlyon Sports Day, which is a fun occasion, and he decided to invite lots of others to come with us. However, the weather forecast was most unkind, predicting 36° and rain, neither of which was particularly attractive. Wes didn’t want to let anyone down, so decided we would have a Games Afternoon instead.

Barbara arrived with mince pies and shortbread; followed by Judi & Michael with bottles of wine and a berry strudel, and finally Jenny & Eddie walked in the door to join the card players and share the afternoon tea. Judi & I played Scrabble, but could hardly concentrate with the hilarity coming from the card table, where no-one seemed to know what he or she was doing most of the time!

On Thursday we had a sleep in as it was quite wet at 5.30am, and after a yummy breakfast at Gracenotes Café with Wes, I drove to Brunswick Private to visit Viva. We had a good long time together but it was obvious that Viva probably wasn’t strong enough to come home. However, the doctor okayed her departure for the next morning.  Leanne and I were worried that she wasn’t well enough, but thrilled that she would be coming home again.

Wes decided we should have a lovely long walk yesterday, so walked the boys to Twin Bridges and back, which took about 90 minutes and was most enjoyable. We both worked hard before the cricket started and then I sat down to listen and watch Day 1. After lunch I rang Leanne to see how things were going and discovered that she needed Warren’s help, so he immediately dropped everything and drove to Strathmore to help her.

Wes has stayed overnight in Strathmore and will return this afternoon when Peter arrives from Canberra. Viva has slept well and eaten breakfast, both good signs. Meanwhile I walked the boys early this morning and they are sleeping at my feet. It is raining so I probably won’t take them with me to the Farmers’ Market as I had planned.

 

A lovely thing happened on Thursday, when I turned on my computer. There was an email from a chap in England saying we didn’t know each other but he had woken to find New Year’s Day wet and cold and windy and decided to google ‘Bill Longley’ on his computer as he had lost touch with him over the years. My blog celebrating Bill’s 80^th birthday was the first item that came up, so he emailed me asking if I could forward his details on to Bill. I immediately sent the email on and Bill is thrilled to bits and was getting in touch yesterday.

I hope your New Year celebrations were good; that you are enjoying the cricket and time with family and friends and that 2014 will be a happy & healthy year for us all.

 

              Daylesford Pipes and Drums in the New Year’s Eve Parade

Daylesford Summer Dispatch - Monday, 30th December 2013

 

Dear Friends, such a lot goes on when I don’t send a weekly Dispatch! I left you on 21^st December and we have been busy since then. The next day, Sunday, we enjoyed a lovely breakfast together at Gracenotes Café, and Glenn & Denise joined us for coffee afterwards. I had taken the boys to the Sunday Market, where everyone was very pleased to see them, and when we arrived back home, I had to take Bilbo off the lead as Frodo was sitting on it and choking him in the back of the car. Bilbo promptly set off. I shouted to Wes and took Frodo inside while Wes set off to catch Bilbo. Fortunately he had stopped in the middle of our street when he realised Frodo wasn’t coming with him! I don’t Frodo ever wants to run away again, so hopefully that will stop Bilbo when he gets a bee in his bonnet.

Bilbo & Frodo, the way we prefer them to be!

At lunchtime we went to a wonderful, healing Celebration of the life of Stuart Rattle at St Peter’s Catholic Church here in Daylesford. There were 5 speakers and 2 singers as well as a quartet playing Handel. The last speaker, Patrice O’Shea from the Friends of the Wombat Gardens, really nailed with her speech, as she was the only one to talk about Michael and remind us that we had lost two people, not just one. There was a huge turnout, which would have been very comforting to Stuart’s two sisters who were in attendance. Wayne & Chris from Pepper’s Springs Hotel put on chicken sandwiches and champagne afterwards, (as Stuart had requested), but we were unable to attend, as we headed straight to Melbourne to visit Viva.

Viva was sound asleep, but we were able to talk with her briefly when the nurse changed her dressings, and she was thrilled with the visit and the fragrant pink roses we had brought from our garden. We dropped in to see Leanne on our way home and enjoyed a hot drink and a chat, as well as scoring some great presents!

On Monday we did the morning shift at the Town Hall, for Christmas Cheer. This involves manning a trestle table groaning with goodies – in my case – cakes, puddings, mince pies and meringues; Wes had the biscuit selection, which included lots of Tim Tams, cheese crackers, iced ginger biscuits and even some gluten-free goodies. There were 176 families registered for this, which is a very sobering thought in this mostly well-off community.

We decided to have fish and chips for lunch around 2pm and spent the rest of the afternoon resting, as we were exhausted both physically and mentally from our travels and the morning’s activity. However, we were very thrilled to receive a surprise Christmas floral arrangement from Peter and Anka, just as I was thinking about buying some Christmas lilies.

Just love this photo of Peter and Anka on their wedding day in Sydney in 2005 with Judi & I below

I had planned to visit Viva on Tuesday morning to give Leanne a break and dropped in to see Lal on my way to give our Christmas presents and deliver some eggs that Gillie had given me for Viva. Leanne has everywhere looking festive, including tinsel around Viva’s chair waiting for her return. A new ramp has been installed in the front which eradicates the step that has been the cause of near-falls, and the shower recess has been raised with a small ramp leading into it as well.

When I found Viva the Brunswick Private, I was delighted to see her sitting up for the first time and thrilled to see me. She has a lovely room with a big window and I put the freesias and peace roses I brought her in a jar on the sill so she could see them. I was there for nearly 2 hours – she wanted to know what was happening, and had forgotten that we visited on Sunday. The physio arrived to get Viva taking deep breaths and standing up, and I reminded Viva that the sooner she could walk, the sooner she would arrive home. We rang Leanne with the good news while I was there and she was overjoyed, as she too, had only seen Viva sleeping.

I arrived home to a lovely late lunch of oysters and snapper, accompanied by a Cofield Sparkling White, which was all wonderful and we celebrated Viva’s amazing recovery. Wes had the energy for some gardening, but I just sat and read and did crosswords as I was spent.

Christmas Day was lovely – Wes walked the boys early, then came home for breakfast and some books I had found for him. I took over the kitchen making salads and brandy butter until 8.30, and then we went for a walk around the Lake. We arrived back just as the phone rang and it was Viva to wish us a Happy Christmas. Leanne was with her and had dialled the number – such a thrill. Peter and Anka were flying into Melbourne late morning and were planning to visit Viva at lunchtime.

Leon was the first of our guests to arrive and helped Warren with the stubborn gas bottle, then went to Barbara’s to help bring over her ham and ramp. While this was happening in came Denise & Barry armed with big bon-bons and their preferred sweet wine. Wes cooked up a storm of fish, lamb and beef, each with their separate accompaniments and everyone tucked in. The pudding lived up to its usual standard…I’m struggling to think of a failure of this old recipe handed down from my great-grandmother and adapted for the metric system by me some years ago! We did enjoy sitting outside on the decking for a change.

      Barbara, Denise, Leon, Barry, Karen, the pudding and the back end of a Labrador!

We spent a quiet evening – Wes did some watering and I got all the washing, ironing & dishwashing done before we went to bed. This doesn’t often happen, but it does help when we have to be up very early the next morning for the trip to Melbourne and the Boxing Day Test.

Wes walked the boys just after 5am for about an hour, I put out all the bins in the street, checked John & Jan’s home, posted letters and finished packing in time for us to leave at 7am for breakfast with Peter and Anka at The European. We enjoyed our catch-up with them, and they headed off shopping while Wes dropped me off at the MCC Entrance and then checked me into Rydge’s Hotel in Exhibition Street.

He then visited Viva, giving Leanne some time off, and picked her up for a yum cha lunch at Shark Fin House, before heading home to the boys. I had a reserved seat with a perfect view and really enjoyed Day 1 as the Poms batted well. How exciting to be part of a world record crowd!

 

 Jane Knox flew in that afternoon and we met at Yum Cha Café for prawns and vegetables and a good catch up. We were both in bed early and ready for 8am breakfast at The European the next morning.

We met up with Gillie from Daylesford and Andrea, aka Bilby, who we met many years ago in Alice Springs, and have remained in touch with. She was keen to catch up and breakfast suited her as she is HR Manager at the Arts Centre, which is a hop, skip & jump away. Gillie left to drive to the ground and get a seat, while Jane and I enjoyed a leisurely stroll and met David Lazzaro when we arrived. Once again it was a good day’s cricket; especially Mitchell Johnson’s ferocious bowling, which intimidated the English lower order. The Aussies struggled to match their total however and the pendulum had swung back in England’s favour.

That night Jane and I found a funny little Thai restaurant in Lonsdale Street, in the heart of Greek food – Le Bangkok. Our meal was very yummy, but we were amused that the wine list was much bigger than the food menu and that the specials of the day were all wines by the glass!

Day 3 I met Leon Anderson at breakfast, where he enjoyed freshly squeezed orange juice and a huge omelette with bacon inside. We walked to our seats in anticipation of an exciting day and it had everything. Jane arrived much later as she wasn’t feeling wonderful. We saw Mitchell Johnson bowl, catch and achieve a run out, and Nathan Lyon get 5 wickets in 38° heat. The weather changed abruptly and the temperature dropped 10° at the same time as the wind swirled around and the ground was covered in debris, which made being out there extra difficult.

 

David, Karen, Warren, Annette and Jane at Trent Bridge this year

Jane left early to go to the airport and missed most of the day’s wickets, but she did hear them on her radio. Leon headed for the train after the game and I went back to Yum Cha Café where I celebrated the amazing turnaround in Australia’s fortunes with another good meal of prawns & rice.

Yesterday, David Lazzaro decided he wanted to see the win, so I got him a Guest Pass and we spent a lovely few hours together watching Chris Rogers and Shane Watson bat beautifully and put the result beyond doubt. I can’t believe how different this has been from the result in England in their Summer this year.

I had planned to visit Viva in the afternoon, but realised that Peter and Anka would probably make a second visit to Viva before they went home last night and Viva tells me they did. So I went to see the film, Philomena, with the incomparable Judi Dench, and enjoyed it very much. I rang Leanne to let her know I would visit Viva this morning and she could have time off, which she appreciated.

This morning I had a final breakfast at the European, and promised I would see them all again in April when we spend some time in Melbourne for the footy, art galleries etc. After checking out I caught a taxi to Brunswick Private Hospital and spent a couple of hours with Viva, who was looking much improved and who has been told she can probably go home on Friday if she continues to practise walking. We talk about memories she has, things that have happened many years ago or only recently and she was very keen to hear about the Test. Wes arrived at 10.45 to say hello to Viva and collect me.

We had a good run home apart from two breathalysers – one in Woodend and the other in Tylden, about 15 minutes apart. Wes passed both with flying colours and, apart from a detour to collect the mail, headed straight for home and the boys, who were very pleased to see me, and me them.

This is my last Dispatch for 2013 – I hope you all enjoy whatever you do for New Year’s Eve and the following day, and wish us all a very safe, happy and healthy 2014.

             

 

Daylesford Summer Dispatch - Saturday, 21st December 2013

Dear Friends, thank you all again for all your support while Bilbo & Frodo were missing. It was very much appreciated. We were so lucky to get them back as they were quite lost in the forest at Blakeville (20kms away) and they may well have died of exhaustion if the young men hadn’t found them and rung us. They arrived back looking very dirty and tired and slept constantly with short intervals of eating and drinking.

On Monday Wes tried to take them for a walk but their muscles were too stiff so he bathed them and they spent the rest of the day sleeping, only bothering to get up when it was dinnertime. I had an appointment for laser acupuncture in Ballarat and arrived back in time to watch the Aussies bat in an exciting fashion, especially Watson’s 100 and George Bailey’s record-equalling 28 off one over.

Our Christmas tree

It was warm quite early on Tuesday and after gym we did a few chores before I had a manicure. I had bought Wes 16 seaside daisy plants and he is having fun dotting them around the place. I have always liked them, but when he saw how Stuart Rattle used them in his pathways, Wes became a fan as well and now we have them everywhere.

It is fun collecting the mail and receiving lovely Christmas cards, often with letters full of news. Sadly because of a change in Australia Post regulations mail that isn’t addressed to the PO Box is no longer automatically put in our box and sometimes returned as we don’t have a letterbox at number 78. Please address all mail to PO Box 81, Daylesford 3460 to be sure we receive it.

Wes and Barbara went to the ALP Branch drinks at the Daylesford Hotel and stayed on for dinner. The branch is strong & growing as everyone is so disgusted with all the broken promises and dismantling that Tony Abbott is doing. The boys and I were in bed by 7pm, exhausted by winning Australia back The Ashes in such a fine fashion. Nick Massaro gave me a massage and the timing was such that he was able to hear and see the victory as well.

On Wednesday I delighted Dot & Valerie with new Mah Jong books – The Mah Jong Player’s Companion, which introduces us to a whole new range of hands. So we played those hands only and had great fun. I also bought a book for Gail White, so that she is au fait when she returns to our group. Meanwhile Wes took Barbara shopping after lunch at Gracenotes Café. We gave our cleaner, Sandra, a framed Brian Nash print of the Wombat Hill Botanical Gardens that she loves and she gave us a beautiful bottle of red and cellophane-wrapped red apples for the boys. We were all very content with that gift exchange!

 

That night I was too tired to go with Wes to Candy & Hal’s place for Christmas drinks, but he went and had a good time catching up with Labor and local friends.

It was the last gym class for 2013 for us on Thursday morning and we were pleased as the weather was too hot to be enjoyable. We had been invited to the Men’s Shed Christmas Lunch at Victoria Park by John & Karen Meir, so rocked along there for a lovely catch-up with them, Dot & John Smith and David Hawker among others. Wes was instrumental, as Mayor, in saying yes to this project, and the original President, Colin Dunlop, has never forgotten. He came over to express his thanks yet again.

                     Viva at Christmas Lunch 2006

Yesterday was a completely free day, so we decided to play golf very early at Trentham. Wes got frustrated with his lack of consistency, but I was lucky enough to play my best round in months – completing 9 holes in 59 – a far cry from 110 with Sherryn all those years ago! We arrived home to discover Viva had been taken by ambulance to Royal Melbourne Hospital as she was very weak. We kept in touch with Leanne during the day and eventually Viva was diagnosed as having an infection and fluid retention. She has been moved to Brunswick Private Hospital, where they hope to get her back on her feet again very soon.

We had planned to go to Melbourne today and visit Leanne, but she was busy visiting Viva and cleaning up at home, so we decided to take a rain check and may travel there tomorrow or Monday….whenever Viva is well enough for a visit. We went to Ballarat to get a new battery for Wes’s watch and on the way home visited Spring Park Nursery to buy a final fragrant rose for Wes’s rose hedge. We ended up with the very beautiful Close to You

 

Finally we decided to have lunch at the Farmers Arms Hotel, as they were so helpful when the boys were missing. We enjoyed a bottle of prosecco with our chicken and snapper and have come home to garden and rest. Wes is planting the rose and a fuchsia as well as mulching madly with lots of horse manure and straw we picked up yesterday on our way back from golf.

This will be my last Dispatch for a while as I will be in Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test, catching up with Jane Knox, David Lazzaro, Leon Anderson and Gillie Gough. Wes and I will have breakfast with Peter and Anka on Boxing Day as has become our tradition.

Tomorrow we are having breakfast at Gracenotes Café and there should be 10 of us, which will be lovely. On Monday we are helping out with Christmas Cheer at the Daylesford Town Hall, and on Christmas Day we are sharing lunch with Denise & Barry, Leon, and Barbara.

Happy Christmas to you all……