Up at 7am and across to the IGA for the paper, and walked back along Brooke Street, to see if anything else was open. Was surprised to see that Nevins was open and that one of the twins was there. Went in, and reintroduced myself, and it was Jamie. Asked him about the Tivey wedding photo, but he said he’d given it to Kevin at the historical society. He disappeared into the back room and came back with a bottle of white wine which he gave to me as a housewarming present – how nice! I invited him over for a drink later in the evening.
Back home and J was rather surprised and a little suspicious that I had returned with some wine that early in the morning.
Cereal for breakfast, and I proceeded to boil up a kettle of water for some coffee. J asked if it was tap water or the bottled water, as he hadn’t liked a cuppa that I’d made him the other day. Thought it had tasted strange, and threw it away. I had told him that all of the other coffees that I had made previously were with tap water, but he was adamant. Anyway, had to throw away that kettle full of water also and start afresh – I wasn’t overly impressed.
Anyway, got over it, and woke the kids up to have breakfast.
J & I walked up to David’s store to see if he possibly might sell Dulux Indian red – unfortunately he didn’t – but it was worth a try. A young boy was waiting before us – he’d come to get some chook feed, and also a chicken, and was then going to ride off on his bike. I wondered how he was going to manage all of that. However he did manage, held the chicken upside down by the feet, the large bag of feed in the other hand, and both hands still somehow gripping the handlebars he rode off – would have made a great photo!
Then I started making phone calls – as I wanted to call garden designers as I had decided that it was a good idea that I didn’t buy a lemon tree yesterday, as I would prefer to have the garden designed properly, and not have to possibly move it later. Called up quite a few places form the local directory that Jill had given us yesterday. Two said they were more hard surfaces designers ie paving retraining walls etc, one said he was interested, but was pretty busy, left a message for another, and was told to call back the last one. Also called a chimney sweep, as we want the chimneys nice , safe and operational for when it gets really cold. And lastly called Kevin from the historical society re the Tivey wedding photo. He very nicely said that he would come over around 11.
Tidied up a bit, and went out in the garden for more weeding until he came.
He came supplied with the Tivey file including the photo, an extensive article on the suicide of Joesph Tivey and various other general photos, news clippings etc – all very informative.
Karen, Mark and Zoe arrived during his visit, and I made the introductions. Kevin left soon after, and the kids disappeared off together.
Mark had certainly arrived ready for garden combat – with a trailer full of tools – including a lawn mower, whipper snipper, chain saw, and various manual tools – what a champion! We then went into the front garden, and I recommenced on the weeks in front of the fence. He attacked with the lawn mower, and then the whipper snipper – and was so fast and efficient that I gave away my manual dilletante ways in defeat, and came back inside the fence and did other more specialised weeding with Karen. Also took out another stump – which was another old one, but much larger than the previous ones that I had vanquished.
By this stage it was lunchtime, and Karen had very kindly supplied the lunch. A lovely home made onion tart and filled cob loaf with grilled vegies and pressed meats – both delicious. Alex had arrived by this stage and also joined us for lunch
Back to the garden for the 3 of us afterwards – while J concentrated on front door and A got back to the plastering/skimming etc in the hallway. Those 2 then decided to go into Bendigo to buy some paint for the front door – and they were gone for hours. I’d said to Karen that it was like when Mark and J went off from Casa Lucati to buy some wine on a Sunday (when most shops are closed). Karen and I had thought that they had disappeared off to a bar to have a few drinks – but they were really searching and searching for something open. Similarly today, they had problems finding Dulux Indian Red – and had to go to a number of places.
Meanwhile, K and I weeded and stumped, and Mark went crazy with the chain saw, and cut up a lot of dead wood, stumps that I had pulled up etc – so we will have a bit of firewood for the winter. The mulch was also delivered out the back.
K and I also went for a bit of a walk around the town – had a look at the butcher for tomorrow, showed her the pubs as we had decided to eat out for dinner tonight, went into David’s store to see if he sold lantern wicks etc. And then drove up to the lookout to show her the view towards Inglewood. Then back for more weeding...
The chicken boy (Jordan) and a friend were out the front, - so I chatted to them for a little while. I then called Fraser out to say hello, as these boys were 11 and 10 respectively, and I thought it would be nice if he could make friends with them. Unfortunately he was a bit embarrassed at my meddling ways and escaped back inside soon afterwards – luckily the boys didn’t seem to mind.
Rested out on the curb a few times – exhausted, a lady that I’d seen the other day stopped to chat. She’d been helping out in Bridgewater with Blazeaid – rebuilding fences that had been washed away by the floods.
J & A finally came back, not amused at having taken so long. And J started back on the door.
It started clouding up in the afternoon, so it wasn’t as cool tonight – but we wanted a fire. K had the brainwave to actually check and see if the chimneys were clear, so we stuck our heads up each chimney and were thrilled to see daylight in the upstairs chimneys ( the bottom fireplaces wetn behind the upstairs ones – so you wouldn’t have been able to see daylight from them anyway) K and I set a fire in the dining room fire place.
And then up to the veranda for G&Ts and some nibbles – lovely!
And then across to the Empire for dinner – and yes Mark was impressed with the Merlot Franc – determined to buy some from Jill tomorrow
Back home to the dining room, where j took out his guitar, we lit the fire and had some more wine and cheese and biscuits. Was delightful, lovely atmosphere, great friends, - life was good!
Had a late night (for us In Inglewood) – close to midnight
Strangely felt that I was swinging the mattock as I started to fall asleep – like when I was little, and had been swimming all day, I went to bed and felt as though I was still swimming
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