Mother & Son, and a camp oven lunch May 16 & 17 2015

Late start to our weekend, as Fraser had hockey in Wheelers Hill at 12.30pm.  So we didn't get to Inglewood til after 4pm.  As you can see it was a glorious day, and continued to be fine and sunny for the rest of the weekend.

 

Hockey at Wheeler's Hill

Given the amount of rain that we've had in Melbourne this last week, the verges and fields on the way to Inglewood were greening up quite nicely. But the closer we got to Inglewood, the less green there was.  Still a little mind you, a slight suggestion of green in our "lawn" courtesy of new weeds, and perhaps a few blades of grass.

a bit of green on the ground

Actually, on Friday 15th, the Age had a feature story on just how dry it was in Salisbury West (which we've driven through on the way to Boort recently.  And coincidentally which I visited again on Sunday.

 

article about how dry it is - the Age 15/5/15

Got a dreaded electronic statement saying that the car  needed more oil.  We were just outside Bridgewater, so continued on.

Had dinner at the pub - Fraser had his favourite parma, and I sampled a fillet mignon based on Karen's recommendation from a few weeks ago. And yes, it was very good.

Fraser and his parma

I had suggested to Fraser that we arrive at the pub later ie around 7.30pm, so that we would be served relatively quickly, as most people seem to arrive and order early.  Well, we were served quickly, but it was still quite packed as the Lions Club people were there.  Joy, Alex, Ian, Robert, Terry etc.  And they asked me again if I was coming to the lunch on Sunday - after showing them around the house at 10am.  I assured them I was, and tried to get Fraser interested in coming also.  But sadly, he declined, he wouldn't know anyone there, and the thought of just hanging around with me was maybe not that appealing.

He's 16 now, and doesn't come to Inglewood with us all that often.  He came this time as he had to take some architectural photos for Photography at school and thought that Nimmitabel would be a fine subject.

After the pub, he went and watched movies on his laptop in his room, and I tried to catch up with Broadchurch on the mini dvd player, as I'd fallen asleep watching it with Madeleine a week or 2 ago. Sadly, the same thing happened again.  After all, I was back in full time employ and had just enjoyed my first full week back.  I guess I was tired.

Sunday morning, and it was cold, so rather than getting up immediately, I stayed in the warmth of bed, and read.  Rather enjoyable, but eventually did have to get up and make sure that everything was ship shape for the Lion's Club house tour at 10am. 

It was still pretty much set up from the Heritage Day tour, I just stuck the room information sheets up again, and made sure that Fraser's bed was made.

I was putting something out in the rubbish bin about 9.55am, and saw that they were all milling around outside.  I still wanted to do a couple more things, so invited them in at 10.  Apart from the Inglewood Lions there were a lot of associated people from Melbourne who sponsor the Lions and have provided them with a much help over the years.  

I guess there were 20 or 30 people, so I showed them around, gave them the spiel, answered questions etc.  I'm getting pretty used to it by now.  And they said they enjoyed it.

Watered the garden after they left, as the olive tree leaves were curling up a bit.  Fraser helped with the watering too.

The yuccas are looking mighty good, thickening up very nicely.

remember these were just sticks when we planted them

Also thought it a good idea to put the oil in the engine while it was cold.  I had a theoretical knowledge of what to do, but was a bit stumped as to whether to put the dip stick where I poured the oil, or where it came from.  Luckily a chap I knew by sight was walking past at the time, so I commandeered him in the nicest way possible, and he did it for me with me looking on intently.

oil goes in here

Went for a bit of a walk after this, and spied a fine looking rooster up the road in Storm Lane.

good looking rooster

At 12.30 I left for Robert's place on the river in Salisbury West.  I had been given somewhat sketchy details with the directions written on a pub paper napkin.

Luckily there was a Lion's club apron on the front gate 

this is the right place

And then down the rutted drive and onto lunch.

Robert was giving a speech when I arrived.

Robert in the background making a speech

But I had my eye on the promised camp ovens with rabbit cooked 4 different ways, with salads, breads etc.

some of the pots

There was plenty of food, and I enjoyed the rabbit.  There was chicken also, but I gave that a miss, I could have chicken any time.

The garden was quite lush around the house with a terrific huge old jacaranda, and a very bountiful lemon tree.

The huge jacaranda

the bountiful lemon tree

Beyond the lemon tree were the original gums and the river

the river at the bottom of Robert and Colleen's property #1

The river at the bottom of Robert and Colleen's property #2

 They also had cows, and a slender llama

Cows - with not much grass

Llama with a bit more grass #1

Llama with a bit more grass #2

Everyone had a good time, there wee a couple of musicians, and desserts,tea and coffee as well

musicians

having a wander

enjoying the band

I left around 3pm, and took a few more photos on the way out of the property and back to Inglewood.

leaving the property #1

leaving the property #2

Their private road 

very dry

the open road

Salisbury West signposted

Got back to the house, and got Fraser to shine his ipod as a torch while I took a couple of photos of my hanging pork leg in the box in the cellar.  Justin had been quite concerned about it, and I must admit I was a little apprehensive myself, not knowing if we would have been inundated with flies, and a terrible stench of rotting meat.  How would I have explained that to the Lions?  However, it all seemed fine, no smell, and the meat looks good (according to my Melbourne neighbour George, who I showed the photo to, and know such things.

Ahh, home cured prosciutto in 9-12 short months #1

Ahh, home cured prosciutto in 9-12 short months #2