Daylesford Winter Dispatch - Sunday, 13th July 2025

There is nothing new under the sun!

We had another good early visit to the Daylesford Market last Sunday. Morse demolished his pear with gusto and happily trotted along to visit Jeff, the dog treat man, for a dozen eggs. After I had put everything away, Morse & I drove to Ballan, to visit Rob & Dene, who had offered us a bag of oranges & a jar of marmalade in return for lemons & jars. It was a quick, but enjoyable visit - Morse checked out every inch of their garden & I was shown all the work achieved by the previous Sunday's working bee. 

The next morning we woke to the news that our old Daylesford friend, Glenn Mack, had died peacefully the previous day. We hadn't seen him for some years since he moved to Cavendish, then Ballarat & finally, Trentham. We spent many happy hours with him over the years and are pleased to have those memories of a very talented & fun person.

After an early walk with Morse and the weekly supermarket shop, I sat down with Wes to go through our Executor Dossier and make sure everything was up to date before we sent it on to Adrian Tinetti, our solicitor & executor. There were a couple of corrections to be done, and some password updating, so I was able to pop into Vincent Street for my remaining chores, and Wes spent time in the garden, filling up our green bin, which hasn't been put out for emptying for quite some weeks.

We had booked a short stay in Melbourne during August to attend the Annual MCC Bradman lunch, and I was due to book tickets with our friends, Brendan & Margaret Wilkinson, when I discovered the MCC had changed the date of the lunch & we were unable to go. We cancelled our stay at The Windsor, and Morse's trip to Eureka Kennels and decided we would have to find another special event to attend in its place. 

On Tuesday, we battled a very strong wind all day, so decided to spend the day inside, apart from Morse & I travelling to my favourite mineral water spring, Leitches Creek, to pump water. The Hepburn Council had changed our bin collection and for once, all three bins were emptied on a Tuesday morning, which really suited all those who can't remember which two are due in any one week! 

Wes has been busy with Zooms & chats this week - Barbara in NZ twice, Danny in Brisbane, Helen in Melbourne & Paul in Oxfordshire, as well as the Jackson Group, and two lunches. 

We woke to Brigadoon on Wednesday morning, but it was dry in Duke Street, so we drove to Daylesford Cemetery (5 minutes away) and were greeted by rain when we got out of the car. We abandoned our walk and came back home, where it was still dry! Judi & I had cancelled Mah Jong, but the weather in Ballarat was better than here, so Wes & I made a quick trip to pick up smoked salmon pieces, a big bottle of Hendricks gin, (no whisky as Rob & Dene had given him two very special bottles of Johnny Walker) & a pair of warm Kathmandu pants for me. 

We each had Zoom chats on Thursday - Wes chatted with the Jackson Group, where the topic was DOGE, Trump's Department of Government Efficiency & its implications. Meanwhile I enjoyed catching up with Kathy, Lib, Karen S & Joyce, where the main conversation centred on the loss of banks & ATMs in Melbourne. We are very fortunate here in Daylesford as we still have two banks and at least 4 ATMs. 

Lunch in the Mother Superior's Parlour at The Convent 
L-R - Ava, Sara, Wes, Gen, Matt & Karen 

We were thrilled to be having lunch with our Godson, Matthew Spiteri & his family, at the start of their 4-day, 3-night visit to Daylesford. Matt had let us know in plenty of time, so I booked a table at The Convent and Marija put us in the Mother Superior's Parlour, which is always a special pleasure. Our meals were delightful and somehow we all found room for scones & cakes afterwards.

Once again, Fiona had visited to clean for two hours, and she enlisted the help of her husband, Les, to reach the really high cobwebs. Before he left, Les went downstairs to spend time with Wes & Morse, which was wonderful, as we have missed this couple in our lives over the past few months. Fiona did wonders in our bedroom & bathroom - she is cleaning skirting boards and ceiling fans, doors & walls & really making a difference.

That night Carlton played the reigning Premiers, Brisbane, at the Docklands Stadium, and sadly, continued to look inept when it mattered most that their play was fast and skilful. I gave up at half-time and I think Wes came to bed during the 3rd quarter as it wasn't getting any better.

Morse wondering when the footy will stop!

Friday marked 57 years since we committed to each other at Melbourne Uni - a day we remember very well. Wes posted this photo on Facebook, which produced quite a few comments & smiles. While I stayed here and recovered from our busy Thursday, he drove to Seddon to have lunch with two of his cousins - Amanda Testro & Gary Testro. He arrived back home at 5pm after a slow, wet Friday afternoon drive, but was delighted with the reunion and all the memories the three of them shared.

Us at Melbourne University Folk Club 1968

Wes, Gary & Amanda

That night Collingwood played the Gold Coast Suns up there, and I was worried as I thought they could easily beat us. When it took the Pies until the middle of the 3rd quarter to kick their first goal, I suspected I was right. We did rally, but the Suns kicked the last two goals & deserved their win. Fingers crossed they will play Finals this year for the first time. 

Yesterday morning, Wes had offered to take Matt, Sara, Genevieve & Ava for a tour of Daylesford and surrounds, taking in their special interests and finishing with a visit to the Chocolate Mill. Sara opted for a long walk on her own, but the others were up for the challenge! Meanwhile, I made a big batch of vegetarian minestrone soup, which was just what Wes needed when he arrived home. We were lucky with the weather - although it was cold, the sun was shining and Daylesford was sparkling. 

Ava & Genevieve indulging at the Chocolate Mill

Daylesford Winter Dispatch - Sunday, 6th July 2025

 

Last Sunday started well with a walk & visit to the Daylesford Market, where Morse was moderately well-behaved, ate his pear & didn't bark at any other dogs. We came home to tea & toast for breakfast. I started to feel very tired, and spent most of the day in bed, which gave me some more energy for the rest of the week. 

I had to cancel my massage with Sarah on Monday, which was a shame, but I didn't have the energy. It was 30th June, end of financial year, so we had back-ups & reports to do. It was a lovely day after a cool morning, with sunshine and not too much wind. Oliver & his mate, the Artful Dodger, came looking for more around 10am, which is a bit early!

Here is Morse catching the afternoon sun

Wes went back to Springs Medical to get the results of his Heart Study. He saw Dr Danielle, not his usual Dr James, and she gave him the good news that he was not a candidate for a heart attack, and that the medications regime he was on was what she would also recommend. He was very relieved and pleased of course, even though it means he has been booted off the Study!

While Wes has been busy doing home & gardening chores, I've been taking things very quietly. I was able to chat with my aunt, Jeff, on Tuesday morning, where the inside temperature was 34℃ at 10pm, while I was rugged up & wearing a beanie as we had woken to -5℃! Then I Zoomed with Leanne, who was looking better & we planned our visit which happened yesterday.

Judi & I once again cancelled Mah Jong - she was feeling much better, but still coughing, and I didn't want to take the risk of catching whatever lurgy she had. Although the temperature was higher on Wednesday, the wind chill factor was extreme and I was pleased to get home after finishing my chores, which included delivering newspapers to Spring Park Nursery, and buying an electric can-opener from Paris at Daylesford Hardware. Wes & I have terrible trouble with can-openers - very few are meant to be ambidextrous and those that are don't really like being used left-handed!

I appreciated the last bunch of Oriental lilies so much, Wes bought me another lot!

We had a busy Thursday morning - Wes walked Morse, who had interrupted all our sleeps to have loud conversations with dogs in the next street, and then spent time clearing drains & tidying up the wisteria in the back yard. I had a lovely Zoom with Terry Borg, who was back from trips to Thailand and Fiji, and looked very well as a result. Then I hosted an Old Friends chat with Lib, Kathy, Karen S & Joyce. We really enjoyed catching up with Lib, who has missed the past few Zooms, and wished her a Happy Birthday for Friday. 

Then our friend, Fiona, came for Day 1 of cleaning. I had prepared a sheet of jobs for her to do in the kitchen/lounge area, and she got through them all. Everywhere looks sparkling and the only cobwebs left were the ones she couldn't reach. She'll be back this Thursday to weave her magic on our upstairs bedroom/dressing/bathroom area. 

Wes produced a very yummy light fish soup that night with a crusty Illawarra sourdough baguette to go with it and little ice-creams afterwards. He was keen to have a go at soups and this was a big success. 

On Friday, I visited Daylesford friend, Sue Longley, and came home with a big bag of her lemons. She has two small trees, but they deliver an abundance of lemons every year. While I was in Vincent Street, I bumped into Lyndal Conroy who used to be my hairdresser, before her daughter, Brynlee arrived, and took up most of her waking hours. I haven't seen Lyndal since she was 8 months pregnant & it was lovely to meet Brynlee, who is now 18 months old and having a magical upbringing surrounded by horses, dogs & now her own pony!

Brynlee Younger with her grand-father, Glenn Conroy at the trots

We had a good visit with Leanne yesterday bringing Bourkie's vanilla slices with us, which went over well. After a good chat & catch up with Leanne's health, Wes & I turned her mattress around for her and remade the bed. Then he solved the issue of a slow desktop, while Leanne & I compared exercise notes and gave each other tips. We were back home around lunchtime and had a quiet afternoon after our busy morning.

Today we three have been for a dark, but not cold, walk around Daylesford Cemetery. Morse has been fed and now he is waiting anxiously for us to remember it is Sunday and we are due to visit the Market. We have assured him we won't forget, but he keeps muttering just in case!!

Daylesford Winter Dispatch - Sunday, 1st June 2025

 

More from the wonderful Peppermint Patty

After our visit to the Daylesford Market last Sunday, we came home to do a few more chores. We moved the bar fridge from under the house back into the study, which gives better access to cold water & milk; positioned some mats in the kitchen, study & at the bottom of the stairs, and put the chess table into the study where it is in sight & can be used as desired. Wes then spent a couple of hours in the back garden, making a start on pruning and cleaning up, while I watched the second half of the Collingwood vs North game that I had missed the night before.

We decided to look at our Executor Dossier for School on Monday, as there have been a few changes lately and it's an important document to keep up-to-date. It was sunny, but windy, so Wes spent time tidying up under the house, rather than in the garden. The wind was so strong that it blew down all the red & green bins waiting to be emptied the next morning. The second time I picked them up I moved them back to the retaining wall of #77, where they stayed put until Wes moved them out again on Tuesday early before the garbos drove up at 6.30am.

I missed walking with him & Morse on Tuesday, as they were able to manage without me, and I could catch up with my aunt, Jeff, in Torksey Lock, Lincolnshire. It was lovely to chat together and hear her news again after 6 weeks' break. Then I Zoomed with Leanne, who was suffering from a head cold that one of her NDIS visitors had given her, but she was keen to see Morse and chat with me, so we persevered.

Lovely recent photo of Jeff in her yard

While Wes pruned two rows of roses, I visited Juls in Hepburn, where it is usually a little warmer and less windy, for my regular manicure, as she had graciously changed all my Thursday appointments to Tuesdays without complaint.  

On Wednesday, Judi & I played Mah Jong, where the main topic was the cold wind! We each tried some interesting hands and went Mah Jong often enough to be happy with our form. Wes vacuumed & washed the floors while I was away, leaving the study clear so that Morse didn't have to be outside. 

We both had Zooms on Thursday morning - Wes was part of the Jackson Group discussing the topic "What is Truth?", while I chatted with Lib & Joyce about the incremental losses of independence we are all experiencing. The wind died down, so Wes could get into the garden, and I did some cooking! 

That afternoon, Wes saw his GP - Dr James - who was pleased with how he was going and asked him to be part of a heart check up study next month, to which he agreed. On his way home, he bought a baguette and aged cashew cheese at Blakes, to accompany the pumpkin & coconut soup I had made. This meal was a big success, so I've been enlisted to make another soup this coming Thursday.

These beautiful Oriental lilies were a thank you from Wes for the past 6 weeks & are much appreciated

On Friday morning, it was frosty at Daylesford Cemetery, but there was no wind for a change, so we were most appreciative. Afterwards I Zoomed with Leanne and then headed to Springs Medical Centre for my quarterly podiatry appointment with Peter. When he hadn't arrived by 9.30am, I questioned whether he was coming, and all the indications were positive. He was another 5 minutes and very apologetic. He had forgotten he was meant to deliver the dog to Doggie Day-care, which wasn't on the way to Daylesford from his home in Castlemaine, and hadn't allowed enough time. 

That night, after fish & chips, we settled down for the Collingwood vs Hawthorn match at the MCG, which attracted over 83,000. I was very nervous as the Hawks had completely smashed us when we last played, winning by 11 goals, and they looked determined as they ran out. Happily for Pies fans, we looked the better team most of the game and were able to win.

It was such a late night we cancelled our early morning walk, and slept in until 7am, which Morse was quite happy with. He had breakfast and then a long overdue bath and settled down in the sun with a bone as his reward. Carlton had a bye this weekend, so we have been able to watch the rest of the footy without stress. 

Daylesford Winter Dispatch - Sunday, 29th June 2025

 
What a lovely feeling!

It was quite cold at the Daylesford Market for the start of our Sunday, but soon the sun came out. Wes did some gardening and I made some phone calls, sorted out problems, changed to our Winter doona cover, and rested with afternoon footy games to watch.

Our friends, Paul & Pauline Jackson in Oxfordshire, recently celebrated their 60th wedding Anniversary and sent us this lovely photo of them cutting the cake at their celebration with family & friends. We first met them back in April, 2010, when we visited Daylesford, UK, and have stayed in touch ever since.

On Monday, after supermarket shopping, Wes gave me a detailed update on our finances, and we are both pleased that we remained on budget and stay here at Maloney Folly for a few more years yet - until we can no longer manage a house & garden I suspect, although we won't be in a hurry to say goodbye to our stunning views of Lake Daylesford & the Wombat State Forest.

I had a few chores afterwards and took Morse with me, as he loves trips in the car & Snoopy is the roomiest, most comfortable vehicle he has travelled in. We pumped water, picked up worming tablets, delivered corks to Daylesford Day Care, posted cards, and dropped some items in to the Salvos Red Shield shop. Later both Wes & I restarted our Keep Fit regimes - I haven't been able to do my exercises since March last year, and Wes has been promising himself to use the exercise bike - doing the work together was a success!

Latest crop of beanies

On Tuesday, I Zoomed with Leanne before having a manicure with Juls in Hepburn, where it is always a little warmer & dryer than Daylesford. We had about 10mls of rain, which kept all three of us inside for the rest of the day. We had tried to walk Morse early, but when we got to the cemetery, not only was their light rain, but the cemetery was completely covered in mist and there wasn't a moon or star to guide our way, so we came straight back home again!

Judi & I decided to cancel Mah Jong as the weather was going to be even colder on Wednesday and it was. I had a hair appointment, delivered some jars & an Epicure to Nick & Robyn, picked up various items we needed, and came home just as the heavens opened up. 

Our first attempt to grow cornflowers & we succeeded - they are sitting outside my study window and are a delight to see

We both had Zooms on Thursday morning - The Jackson Group discussed Climate Change, and the Old Friends talked about Malta. Then we had a visit from our friend, Fiona Groundwater, who has offered to do some cleaning for us. Morse was delighted and it was 10 minutes before she could sit down and discuss what we wanted & what she could offer. The good news is that we are both happy to give it a go, and Fiona starts next Thursday morning, spending a couple of hours in the kitchen/lounge area. We hope that if she can get everywhere looking good, it will be easier for us to keep it that way. 

Then we drove to The Pig & Whistle in Trentham East to have a lovely long catch up lunch with Kathy & Gerard Lazzaro. We sat in front of the open fire, enjoyed great meals & wines, and only left because it was time for our friends to get back on the road to Burwood before peak hour traffic hit. That night, Carlton were totally unable to cope with Port Adelaide's game plan, much to the disgust of their fans yet again.

On Friday, although it was cold & frosty early, the sun shone, and we were pleased to be heading off to Muffins & More for a long overdue brunch with John Smith, husband of Dot, who died last June. Wes & I had hot drinks & toasties while we waited, but John must have forgotten, so we'll make another date when he gets in touch. 

In keeping with everything going bung with water at our place, the upstairs loo refused to flush, so Gary, our wonderful plumber, came back yet again, and replaced the flusher, which had died. He's about to go on three weeks leave, so I asked him if he could check everything at our place before he goes, but he declined with a laugh!

Yesterday, we had a lovely visit from Rob & Dene, which all three of us enjoyed enormously. Wes provided Captain's Creek bubbles, coffee, cheeses & chocolate from Blakes, and we had a good catch up with Morse attempting to get on Rob's lap whenever he could.

Last night, Collingwood played West Coast at the Docklands Stadium. I was nervous, as even though the Eagles are at the bottom of the ladder, they do like playing the Magpies at that venue, and certainly notched up a win last time I was there. Once again, they played out of their skins, until we finally prevailed in the last quarter. 

Daylesford Winter Dispatch - Sunday, 22nd June 2025

 
A common problem for writers!

We started our week slowly with a quiet Sunday after going to the Market. I visited our neighbour, Glen, who has been resting since her first cataract op, and had a lovely catch up with her, and her daughter, Sarah, who is my remedial masseuse. Sarah's son, Matt, had played his first footy game for Daylesford Seniors, coming up from the Under 18s & it was great to share the family excitement at this milestone. 

Wes was very disappointed with Carlton's effort that night against West Coast in Perth. They played like winners in the first half, and then settled back & watched the Eagles try to catch up. Collingwood had a bye, which is always strange - rusted-on supporters like me aren't sure what to do!

On Monday, it was freezing cold in the wind, but Morse was more than ready for a run around the Cemetery. Afterwards I did the supermarket shopping, and then we settled down for a serious School chat covering a few topics - our insurances, MyMedicare & questions Wes had to ask Mazda when he took Snoopy for its 1,000km service on Wednesday.

Morse getting back to normal Winter behaviour 

Our home insurance had gone up by $1,000 because of our broken water pipe damage last year, and nobody seemed to want us even though the issue appears to be fixed. The car insurance had also gone up by $200, but we are insuring a more valuable car, so that was to be expected. As far as MyMedicare is concerned, I had registered 12 months ago, but with Wes's doctor, as mine was on maternity leave; and Wes couldn't get into the relevant site on MyGov, so took the plunge and rang them. He fluked a very helpful person, who told him to unlink Medicare and start again. That worked, and now we are both registered correctly with our own doctors!

Next morning, while Wes & Morse walked in light rain, I chatted to my aunt, Jeff, in Lincolnshire, where the temperatures are very warm, and then to my sister, Leanne, in Strathmore, where rain is falling, much to everyone's delight. Then it was time for my appointment with the bone scan bus, where a very friendly young woman from Thomastown, put me at my ease, asked questions, and complained about the cold & wet in Daylesford. 

We had ordered bare-rooted roses from Spring Park Nursery earlier this year, including an extra Golden Beauty to give Glen, as she has admired ours so much. Chris delivered them on Sunday, and Wes planted ours out the front in the strawberry patch. He had hoped to do more gardening, but the rain came down, so he had to be content with doing that much. 

We look forward to seeing our new bushes looking like this in Spring 

On Wednesday, Wes took Snoopy to Ballarat Mazda for his 1,000km service and learned a few more tricks with this lovely car. I got to walk to Mah Jong for a change & as the rain had stopped it was quite enjoyable, although I was feeling sad as it was the first Anniversary of Dot Smith's death, and I do miss her after playing Mah Jong with her most Wednesdays over 24 years. Judi & I had a good morning - we both played our favourite games & didn't try anything new. Wes arrived home just as I did and he had plenty of supplies - spirits, oysters, fish & new clothes - a very successful visit to Ballarat.

We continued our busy week on Thursday after giving Morse a really good walk at the cemetery. Wes had agreed to be part of a Heart Check Up Study at Springs Medical, which took the best part of two hours, while I had a lovely Zoom with Kathy, Karen S & Joyce, mainly catching up with Karen & Malcolm's recent cruise and visit to Greece. Then I got a lesson in using some of Snoopy's tricks, before Wes had a coffee at Blake's with Bob White, who has lost two very good friends this week. 

Bob & Wes at the Pig & Whistle Hotel earlier this year

Wes arrived back home with yummy bread & an ash brie to accompany the cauliflower soup I had made while he was away - not quite the standard of the previous night's meal of oysters, following by Atlantic salmon & steamed long beans.

Meanwhile, Jody, from Ballarat Mazda, rang offering to quote on our car insurance as she is an agent for Suncorp. We were delighted when her identical policy was much cheaper than our current cover, and even more thrilled when we got a Home & Contents quote with Suncorp, that was much closer to what we had paid last year. It's good to have our insurances sorted, and to have saved $1,500 on renewal by shopping around reputable companies. 

Unsurprisingly, I found myself spending Friday in bed, after what has been busier than usual for me. It was exactly the right thing to do & Wes very kindly served drinks & meals, while I read, did crosswords & logic problems and rested. I woke yesterday feeling much better and ready to tackle all the emails that had built up while I was offline. 

We had different fortunes with our footy teams - Carlton were jumped by North Melbourne, and looked very ordinary for three quarters before they slammed on 5 goals, 5 behinds to nothing, but it wasn't enough to beat the Kangaroos. We had lit the fire as it was a very cold day, and I stayed there watching the next game, where Port Adelaide were expected to beat Sydney and didn't, before retreating to bed to see if Collingwood could hold off St Kilda. It was a very even game until the last quarter when the Pies were finally able to get a break on the Saints, who had played out of their skins, but couldn't finish us off. 

Daylesford Winter Dispatch - Sunday, 15th June 2025

 
Poor Charlie Brown!

We started our week with a wet visit to the Daylesford Market, where we were the second car parked at the entrance to Yvonne's stall. Everyone was thrilled with the rain, but not so happy about their chances of selling all their produce. Morse was given two pears and was beside himself with delight. On our way home, we stopped at Baker's Delight to collect scrolls, which we enjoyed after Wes had reset the fire and I'd put away all our purchases.

We enjoyed listening to Day 2 of the ABC Classic 100 Piano, and ended up with most of our selections being part of it, although neither of us voted for the number 1 - Beethoven's Emperor Concerto. Along with quite a few other listeners, we were watching the footy with the sound down so we could keep up with the latest piece of music. That night, Carlton & Essendon played a game that looked like being one-sided at half-time, but turned into an exciting contest at the end with the Bombers coming back from 38 points down to lose by 8 points in front of 74,000+ on a cold, wet night at the MCG. 

I had planned to go to the footy on Monday, for the annual King's Birthday clash with Melbourne, with Big Freeze 11 (the fund-raiser to fight MND) the pre-game highlight. However, it was so cold, and I was still not 100%, so decided it would be best to stay home & watch in comfort with my boys. I did miss out on a most exciting match that the Pies won by 1 point. The Dees threw everything at us and were unlucky not to be able to win after getting ahead in the last quarter.

Tuesday arrived without any rain, which meant Wes & Morse could have a long walk in the cemetery - it was still too cold for me to venture out, and we then tackled packing for Barwon Heads where the temperatures were expected to be at least 5℃ higher than here. We had an easy drive and arrived there in plenty of time to collect bread & vanilla slices before settling into our holiday home on Golf Links Drive.

Wes admiring the full moon & pink sky while keeping an eye out for Morse

Late in the afternoon, so we took Morse for a beach walk, which went well until other dogs arrived! We managed to escape without too much difficulty and came home to poached salmon & vegetables, with a lovely bottle of Wangolina shiraz.

We took Morse back to the beach early on Wednesday morning, where the tide was out and we were the only ones around. There was a sign warning us about horses, but none turned up. Back home to eggs on toast & The Age newspaper.

Morse reluctantly posing on the sand with Wes early in the morning

We had a very relaxed day and I went for a walk around lunchtime, remembering places from when we used to visit Barwon Heads frequently, courtesy of Libby's kind parents, Doug & Bell, who allowed her friends to use their holiday house. We were very grateful and headed to 25 Margate Street to see if their house was still there, and it was - looking much the same as it did in the 70s. 

These delightful painted bollards are dotted around the streets making everyone smile!

We lasted until lunch on Day 1, at the ICC World Championship Test at Lord's - Australia was in trouble, but rallied to make 212, with Beau Webster the top scorer on 72. Then we had South Africa 4/43, which was a big relief. It's obviously a bowler's pitch!

On Thursday morning, we took Morse back to 13th Beach, and he got braver in the water - skipping along the edge of the waves and chasing birds. He was really loving the beach, but missing the routines of home, especially at night. There is no dog door, so we were leaving a sliding door open for him, but we suspect he didn't dare go out in case he couldn't get back in again. We eventually worked out how to turn up the sound on the TV set and enjoyed watching an episode of The Unforgotten, while we ate Coffin Bay oysters & prawns with a bottle of Wangolina Fiano for our Anniversary dinner. South Africa rallied in the cricket, then collapsed all out 138. The bowlers took over in our second innings as well & we were 8/144 at stumps. Meanwhile the Doggies made mincemeat of the Saints in a disappointing clash for St Kilda supporters.

We took Morse extra early for a long walk on 13th Beach on our last morning. There was no-one around as the temperature was -2℃. We all enjoyed our hassle-free time together and made the decision we would come home after breakfast. Our AirBnB house was fine, but we found it cold and thought we would rather shower in our own bathrooms where we would be warm. We arrived back just after 10am, and while Wes washed Snoopy, I got the first load of washing on, unpacked everything else and waited my turn for a shower.

This full moon was still shining brightly as we left the beach

Our decision to come straight home was a good one, and we realised that with all the chores done, we could visit Leanne yesterday, a much overdue visit. South Africa got on top of Australia in the Test with a wonderful century by Markram and they needed only a short time last night to win. 

Our visit to Leanne went well - Wes planted a magnolia and sorted out some computer problems, while I helped with Kayo and mobile phone issues. We drove in heavy fog until Woodend, and it was still foggy & cold when we were coming home 5 hours later.

Daylesford Winter Dispatch - Sunday, 8th June 2025

I'm sure he does!

We returned from our trip to the Daylesford Market last Sunday with one thing in mind - cleaning our bathrooms before we sat down to tea & toast. We have been doing these chores on a Monday, which is already busy, so tried moving to Sunday, and it worked well. Wes very kindly did both shower recesses and I looked after the flat surfaces in return. Although it had been cold & frosty for our walk, by the time we sat down, it was sunny and warm in the lounge and we took our time over the Sunday Age, listening to Martin Buzzacott on ABC Classic FM, as he played endless beautiful piano music to tempt those listeners who hadn't yet voted in the Classic 100 Piano. 

On Monday, after our walk & supermarket shopping, we headed to Cliffy's for breakfast to chat about our upcoming Dog Holiday to Barwon Heads. We leave on Tuesday morning and return on Friday afternoon, and are hoping to find a piece of Thirteenth Beach that we can let Morse run free. Wes enjoyed the porridge, while I went for poached eggs with tomato & greens. 

Later, while I had a massage with Sarah Hunt, Wes got the mower out & made a start on the grass. He also did some tidying up in the front yard & planted some Golden Oregano near our Golden Beauty roses. 

Tuesday was one of those days where the temperature doesn't vary much and it was too cold to do anything outside, so we both resorted to indoor jobs. I had my usual fringe trim a day early as we were off to Parliament House the next morning for a reception for ALP Life Members, which we were thrilled to have received invitations to attend.

As our friends, Karen & Malcolm have been in Malta recently, I thought I would revisit our photos from our unforgettable trip to that beautiful country in 2010 - from the top - cousin Leigh, Karen & Wes in Gozo; Greenpeace Warrior in the harbour, Wes & Karen in the fishing boat, and Wes with his catch

Sadly, we both woke the next morning with head colds & coughs, not COVID, but not worth infecting anyone else with, so had to forego our visit to Parliament and spent a very quiet day inside, with lots of hot drinks & panadol. 

Fortunately we both felt much better on Thursday and Wes was able to drive to Camberwell for lunch with the Jackson Group members who live in Victoria - Graham, Rod & Jim. I was pleased to have another quiet day at home, although Morse isn't too happy when Wes disappears and needs constant TLC & reassurance. 

The rest of the week has passed by very quietly - both our colds freshened up, and we spent Friday & yesterday with the open fire going all day as it was chilly & wet. The rain is so very welcome here in Victoria and we have our fingers crossed that it is getting to those farmers who are so desperate. We had to postpone our visit to Leanne, and hope to do it next Sunday.

We've been listening to ABC Classic where we voted in the Top 100 Piano - so far Wes is winning with 3 of his 10 picks in the music played yesterday, while I only have 1. It's been fun seeing what choices other friends made and shared on Facebook, as well as knowing that the whole of Australia is enjoying the Countdown at the same time. 

Daylesford Autumn Dispatch - Sunday, 25th May 2025

I suspect most kids have been through this - I know I did! However, I am sure I knew more than Peppermint Pattie!

We enjoyed a quiet start to the week last Sunday. Wes & Morse were greeted well at the Daylesford Market, and we came home laden with produce. I caught up with the weekend copies of The Age newspaper, but didn't have much energy, so watched footy all afternoon. There were three close games with all three having unexpected results - West Coast had their first win, North their second, and Melbourne hung on to defeat last year's premiers, Brisbane, at the Gabba. 

After our early morning walk on Monday, which was freezing, and  supermarket shopping, we discussed the garden as our School project. We agreed to replant the strawberries in wheelbarrows, and reuse the strawberry patch for Golden Beauty roses with Golden Marjoram as ground cover. Wes bought me a polytunnel for my herb pots that live on the decking, so I am going to give them all a facelift before we put protection on them from the cockies & possums. As well, we decided to move our bar fridge back into the study from under the house, as we often need milk for visitors, and water for us, when working downstairs.

This stunning maple at the front door is always the last to turn in Autumn, but it is always worth the wait - the top photo is taken from underneath

Wes was able to walk without the aid of a crutch early on Tuesday morning, where the weather was -3° (felt like -7°), but it wasn't windy like the day before, so we coped. Afterwards, when the sun came out, he cleaned both our cars after we emptied them of all their possessions in preparation for collecting Snoopy the next day. 

We were very excited heading off to Ballarat Mazda the next morning and even more excited when we met Snoopy for the first time. It is 4 years since we bought Pearl and the changes to the safety of the car and the ease of driving were immediately apparent. Andy spent ages showing us how to use Google Maps, how to lock & unlock the car without the key fob, and heaps of other useful pieces of information we hope to remember. I drove the car home and couldn't believe how comfortable it was and what a difference a bigger maps screen made. 

After we had a cup of tea and a chat, we opened Morse's new dog hammock and put it in the back seat. Amazingly he was very happy to hop straight in, and had to be persuaded to come back out again. Everything fitted perfectly and all we had to do then was check our diaries and change anything that required two cars!

Everyone's happy - Us, Andy the salesman & Morse!

Thursday mornings are now Wes's time to drive Snoopy, so I've spent some time changing the eight appointments I had on that day of the week for the remainder of the year. While I was Zooming with Terry Borg and catching up on her news; and later with Lib, Joyce & Karen S, he took Snoopy out for his first drive, adjusted the seat to his liking and added his mobile phone. He also returned Glen's crutches to her and gave her a beautiful country garden bouquet of flowers to say thank you. It was 5 weeks on Friday since his fall, and we are so grateful to Glen for her loan of the crutches, as well as her lessons in how to use them. 

We were thrilled with some overnight rain on Friday and even a few drops while we were walking Morse early in the cemetery. After I had a good Zoom with Leanne, I set off in Snoopy to pump mineral water, buy some herbs and get a lettuce for lunch. I forgot the lettuce, but did everything else, and Wes & I had a productive morning in the garden. He swept up all the Autumn leaves in the front, did some pruning & watering, while I refreshed our herb pots on the decking and added rocket seedlings to our greenhouse. 

Yesterday we woke to discover we had enjoyed 6mls rain in the last 24 hours, the best for some time and weren't the tanks & the garden pleased. We decided this was the best time to install the new greenhouse to cover the herbs and we started with some trepidation, but were very excited to find easy, clear instructions. This meant we did the construction with no arguments and a minimum of fuss, although we do have 4 cords left over with no idea where they belong!

The finished product - thanks to Wes & Morse for my Mother's Day gift - I love it!

Yesterday was a mixed bag in the footy - Carlton went down to GWS at the Docklands. Both teams started well, but the Blues didn't put in as many second efforts and the result was a big disappointment. Last night, Collingwood lost Pendlebury & Hill before the game started, and Maynard in the first 3 minutes, which had us out of sorts and enabled North to be ahead at half-time. We got our act together in the second half and managed to win. I'm looking forward to watching the replay, as we were too tired to last beyond half-time. 

Daylesford Autumn Dispatch - Sunday, 18th May 2025

Everyone was very excited to see all three of us arrive at the Daylesford Market last Sunday, and Morse loved seeing Yvonne and getting his cut up pear from her. On the way home, we bought scrolls to celebrate another step forward on the way back to normality.

On Monday, after walking Morse and doing the supermarket shopping, we sat down to School to discuss 4 important topics - most to do with getting older and making decisions going forward. So we have chosen to be buried at Daylesford Cemetery; to add some of the facets of the Advanced Care Directive to our Executor Dossier; to abandon Skype and not progress to Microsoft Teams; and to download the Uber app and make ourselves familiar with it, as we will probably need taxis and/or Ubers occasionally with only one car. 

An unexpected late burst of colour in a dark corner of the back garden

The lovely Autumn weather continued through the week with cold, frosty mornings and sunny days. We seemed to spend much of our time chasing up people who had promised to get back to us, and, when my phone suddenly misbehaved, getting a new one in a hurry!

On Wednesday, while Wes washed the floors, I drove to Castlemaine to deliver surplus toys, old towels and sheets to the Mt Alexander Animal Welfare shelter. They were very grateful for everything and I was pleased that these things were going where they were immediately needed. The drive there and back was delightful with Autumn leaves still around and in beautiful colours, even though we only have a couple of weeks of Autumn left.

We were inspired to go for a drive to Maldon on Thursday morning, and took Morse, hoping to find a café without dogs, and sit outside in the sun. Sadly that didn't happen, but we did enjoy driving around, admiring the Autumn colours and finished our trip with a visit to Cairn Curran Reservoir, which is a beautiful place, although the water level is down at present.

On Friday morning, Dylan from Taylor & Stirling Blinds arrived to install our additional blinds - 3 x blackout and 1 day blind in the study, plus one day blind for the only uncovered floor to ceiling window upstairs. He worked hard & well and we are thrilled to bits with the results. I think we first decided this about 12 months ago, and it seems to have taken forever, but we made the right decisions and should be cooler in Summer & warmer in Winter. 

As well, my new mobile arrived and I spent a couple of hours transferring everything from the old one. It was seamless and I didn't lose anything, which was a big relief. It is exactly the same model so I haven't had to learn anything new either. 

I've finally been able to knit again and delivered this small bundle of beanies & a beret to the Salvos - thanks again to Kathy Lazzaro & her friend, Maree Littlepage, who keep me going with colours & varieties of wool that I can't get here

That night Carlton played well at the SCG until they were overrun by the Swans in the last quarter. Wes was disappointed, but the Blues have not found the SCG a happy hunting ground for many years, which probably gave Sydney the edge at the end.

Yesterday, I went to see Collingwood play Adelaide at the MCG, where I met my footy Mate, Danny Millman. We had lunch first at the Hugh Trumble cafe, before taking our seats on the second level under cover in the 50-year Member bay. It was an exciting, close game with intermittent heavy rain and we were lucky to hold on and win by 10 points. Wes & Morse dropped me off & collected me from Ballan Station & we drove through rain both times, but Daylesford didn't get anything more than light showers. It wasn't enough to register on the rain gauge, which was disappointing. 

Daylesford Autumn Dispatch - Sunday, 11th May 2025

After visiting the Daylesford Market last Sunday, pumping water at Leitches Creek, filling the car with petrol, and buying us Apple Danish for breakfast, we had a quiet morning watching The Insiders discussing the repercussions of the Election result on ABC TV and then a mini of the exciting Collingwood game, which we just failed to win. Our neighbour, Yoko, came in to see how Wes was going and Morse was in heaven, as he particularly loves her. James, her husband, had spent the day running the Glenlyon Polling Booth for the Australian Electoral Commission, and after leaving home at 6.30am, got back again at 1am, and was still in his pyjamas as she set off back to their apartment in Southbank, where she had corrections to do for her Year 12 students.

On Monday, after walking Morse, putting out the bins and doing the supermarket shopping at Coles, I came home to find Morse waiting anxiously at the front door. Wes had gone to Ballarat in Pearl as we needed a new windscreen and he felt OK to drive that distance. I was going to collect him & bring him back home rather than have him sitting around waiting, but he packed a bag & thermos and was heading for the Library to wait while the job was done. It was done much more quickly than we expected and Wes was home before I returned from my 11.30am monthly massage with Sarah Hunt.

Another stunning early morning sky - this one lasted the whole time we were walking in the cemetery

The next morning Morse & I had an unsuccessful walk at the cemetery as there were no bunnies to be seen anywhere. He ran around looking for them, but they didn't oblige! Afterwards I had an excellent Zoom with Leanne and we confirmed plans to visit her yesterday. Wes was sore after his time in Ballarat, so took it easy until his knee felt better and he could come downstairs. We've been blessed with beautiful Autumnal days but would love some rain as everywhere is quite dry.

I thought we needed some Christmas lilies to cheer us up and these are looking & smelling wonderful in the lounge these past two weeks

As Judi was unavailable for Mah Jong on Wednesday, we made another trip to Ballarat, this time to see the film The Penguin Lessons, which started slowly, but finished very well. It is based on a true story of an Englishman teaching English at a posh boys'  school in Argentina during turbulent times in the 1970s. He adopts a penguin unexpectedly and it has quite an effect on him and everyone around him. Before the film we went to Wen & Wear café for hot drinks and toasties, and after the film, we stocked up on Atlantic salmon & gummy shark fillets from the wonderful Ballarat Seafood Store. 

Wes suggested we have breakfast together the next morning to chat about our cars, so we went to the Glenlyon General Store as we knew it would be quiet & we wouldn't be hurried away. We had a good discussion about downsizing to one car and both agreed that the advantages far outweighed the disadvantages. We would trade our current Mazda 2 & Mazda 3 on the newest 3, which has even more safety features than the 2021 model. I left that to Wes to negotiate with Ballarat Mazda.

Collingwood played Fremantle in Perth that night - I lasted until half-time when we were 10 points ahead and woke on Friday morning to find we had slightly increased that lead. In spite of resting 4 senior players, we were still the oldest team playing this weekend, and I suspect Freo was the youngest and one of the least experienced, so they should be pleased that they kept in touch and it wasn't a rout.

On Friday we had a delightful catch up with old Daylesford friends, Susan & Jamie Walker. Susan ran Hill End Café & Gallery for some years and it quickly became a locals' favourite spot. After some years away, they have returned here and have a new home close to Lake Daylesford. Lunch at The Convent was most enjoyable, especially as they were so busy we were given the table in the parlour and were able to spend two hours together.

That night Carlton just beat St Kilda in a good, close game of footy that honoured the memory and legacy of a much loved St Kilda player, Danny Frawley, affectionately known as Spud, who suffered mental health challenges. There were 80,000+ at the MCG, which was a wonderful tribute.

Yesterday we visited Leanne, caught up on each other's news, watched a mini of the Collingwood vs Freo game as she had missed seeing it live, and belatedly celebrated Easter with a cake Leanne had bought. Afterwards we drove home via Ballarat Mazda and signed the contract to trade in Sammy and Pearl on Snoopy, who will be available in a couple of weeks' time.