The drive was relatively uneventful until we took the Fogartys Gap Road exit and was stuck behind a very wide load slowing chugging up the hill. It was a tractor towing a thresher? As you can see it was well over the other side of the road - and at that stage there were double lines. Justin advised that I keep well back (I was driving) in case a car came in the opposite direction....
One did, but luckily after we had made it up the hill
The tractor driver also signalled for me to overtake on the flat as he could see that there were no oncoming cars.
Google Maps took us on what I thought was a bit of a strange route. I thought we would have gone up to Maldon, and then just followed the road to Dunolly, but we made a number of left/right turns, and ended up approaching Dunolly from a surprising direction.
Thought we'd go to the cafe that we went to last time for lunch. However once there, it looked as though the service would be slow, ( we had given ourselves just over an hour) so we went onto the Railway Pub.
Coincidentally, saw Terry and co there finishing off their lunch
We had a table by the fire, and I had the calamari which was very nice, and Justin had flathead tails. The pub dining room was also pleasant - had kept the period features, high ceilings, open fire etc - so was quite atmospheric
The service was quick, and the food was good, Alex and April came and joined us also - but not for lunch.
I left for the Town Hall with April around 1.45, while J and A finished their coffees
Saw Rachel in the front hall, and was surprised that she didn't introduce the operetta...
Patience was a rollicking good show, and the women especially had excellent singing voices
The show finished up around 4.40pm, so we drove back to Inglewood, and spied a cheeky roadside kangaroo on the way.
Unpacked, had a wander/inspection around the garden, and then drove up to Terry's as he had kindly invited the 4 of us to dinner (as well as Arleen, David & June). Justin and I elected to stay in our fancy clothes for dinner
Encountered a bold/stupid kangaroo on the Kingower Road - just sitting in the middle of it. I braked, and it eventually loped off.
Had some halved chillies with flavoured cream cheese and smoked salmon and cheeses for starters - very nice
And then an eggplant parmagiana and green salad. A homemade apple pie with cream rounded out the evening
Of course a guitar or two were pulled out , and David and Justin entertained us. David christened the two of them the Elderly Brothers - I think Justin thought he was a bit "young" for this appellation
Terry and I also discussed an upcoming film night (in 2 weeks) and also a Christmas in July - where we would have French food ie Beef bourguignon and French onion soup etc, rather than traditional Christmas foods
No kangaroos on the way home - good
Foggy start to the morning
I read the Age online, and got out of bed around 8am. Was pleasantly surprised to find the dining room relatively warm and cosy. Alex had come down earlier with his heater, and turned it on.
Had a simple breakfast of toast and coffee, and then put my overalls on and went out into the garden
It was still quite wet out there from the heavy dew. - with dew drops glistening on green blades of grass
Some of the pomegranates that I'd left on the tree had "exploded"
And one of the geraniums that I'd planted recently had turned a striking red
And the self seeded poppies are going gang busters
I really must thin them out
Anyway, my self imposed job today was digging holes for the proposed trellis fence to close in the front orchard, and then grow kiwi fruit on.
Troy had advised that the bloke who was going to dig the post holes had been sick, and his son had temporarily taken over, but was backed up
So I thought we, or I, could dig the holes with the post hole digger - especially given that the soil was damp and therefore softer than normal
Justin kindly set up some string in order to keep the line straight and put in some bamboo stick markers as to where the holes should be
The only thing was that Troy had advised that the water plastic pipe was in line with the tap, which was in line with the fence. So I had to ask him where to dig, and he suggested on the outside of the line - so as to avoid the pipe
So, armed with my trusty post hole digger, I started.....
Was more tiring than I had thought it would be
Started my first hole and got down about 40cm or so, and then had some resistance, yep, it was the pipe
So, I left that hole and started on some others - this time with the string as the mid point
Eventually got stuck again - as up at the Storm Lane end I came across a loop of wire about 10cm down (like a clothes hanger). Thought it was just rubbish and would have pulled it out, however, it was holding a junction of the pipes in place
It was at this stage that I gave up, and thought I'd leave it to the experts....(as per Justin's wishes)
Justin in the mean time was busy chopping wood, as April was studying in the dining room. And although Alex had the heater on in there, he also had a roaring fire going, and was chewing through a lot of firewood
Had a modest antipasto lunch in the dining room quite toasty with the fire and heater, and then I went back outside and did some more gardening - weeding this time,as the weeds - particularly oxalis were going mad and growing "like topsy"
Maile (and then Terry & Arleen) had told me that Mark & Chris :- Both Banks were having a vintage release - their first commercial one, from 1pm today /(Sunday)
They said that there would be food, drink, music etc
So, we expected that, but were rather surprised by how many people there were there. Lots and Lots 100 or so?
And I was still in my paint and dirt spattered overalls...We only thought we'd just drop in, and I'd probably do more gardening afterwards, so I didn't want to shower and change twice
Well, I was roundly/gently told off as I approached familiar faces
My defence was that I had dressed to the 9s yesterday, so didn't today....Didn't really wash. Had fun though.
Sat around a fire for warmth, had a glass or 2 of red and chatted with friends
Came in from weeding around 5.30. Didn't think I was cold until I got in the shower, and realised that I was actually freezing.
Stayed in the hot shower perhaps longer than I should have, and the bathroom was so steamy by the time I finished that I couldn't see my reflection in the mirror in order to comb my hair
Had a G&T by the fire, and wandered up to the Empire after 7pm
We basically had the dining room to ourselves, and were served very quickly. There were a few new items on the menu - so I tried the chicken Kiev, which was very good
April tried her luck at the chocolate claw, and after many of Alex's dollars got 4 pieces which she shared
Another slowish start on Monday morning, and Alex had the heater on in the dining room again for breakfast.
Alex and April left soon after breakfast, as April had another engagement in town
Justin and I took a few boxes of Mum's stuff to Steve & Denise - spilt between retro stuff for the shop, and tools/hardware for the men's shed
I did more gardening, and also picked olives - just the large ones.
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