Caught a lift with the Danes, as it made more sense for Justin to leave for Inglewood from work, rather than come and pick me up - as we were planning on having dinner at the pub
Got there around 5 or so, and Justin wasn't far behind us
It was quite a nice afternoon, so we sat out in the rotunda and had some bubbles and cheese. Chris was wearing his "plantation" broad brimmed hat - which was very smart and sun safe
Susan and Mark arrived around 6.30pm, and we made up the beds and then wandered across to the pub for dinner
The menu is now a lot smaller (one page) which is probably a good thing - had a pleasant dinner, and then back home and into the dining room
Nin and Clare came around 10pm, and we went to bed soon afterwards
Got out of bed at 8am on Saturday, and into the kitchen. Nin and Clare went for a run, and Mark was the first to join me for breakfast, followed by Susan, and then Justin
Susan came with me to Terry's to help prepare the food for the Music Night dinner
My first jobs were snapping asparagus spears and peeling carrots, and then making up the mint/parsley fetta/cream cheese mixtures for the watermelon canapes
Susan was on potato peeling duty. Not sure what June was doing in that photo
Terry was doing something at the island bench
I went out to get an egg from the chook house - still quite small, as it's a young chicken (not that we used the egg for anything for the dinner as far as I know)
I was a bit flattered that my watermelon canapes from the garden party were repeated for the Music night. Arleen had cut the watermelon, and I put the cream cheese/fetta mixture on, and Susan put the green mixture and nut on top, I then placed them on the tray - we had a good system going
Arleen and June were doing the bread for the smoked trout canapes
Arleen and June also had a brilliant way of putting the gladwrap on the watermelon canapes
They basically pulled out about a one metre length, and placed it flat on the table. Then put the tray on top - in the middle, and brought the gladwrap over the top of the canapes.
Then did it again on the width of the tray. Because the tray is plastic/melamine - it doesn't stick properly. It wastes a lot of gladwrap, but it does it properly. I don't like using gladwrap on big things, as I generally make a mess of it... I was very impressed at their professionalism
The menu for tonight's dinner was watermelon & smoked trout canapes, a pumpkin coconut soup, silverside with asparagus, carrots, onions and masked potato, and then a sponge cake with stewed apples and cream
Susan, Terry, June and I then went up to the Church (Arleen had left) and put out the tablecloths, cutlery, glasses etc.
Then back to Terry's, and a nice lunch of eggplant parmigiana and a glass of wine - very civilised
However, Justin had been trying to call me to see if we were coming home for lunch - my phone doesn't work up there, and Terry no longer had his landline, so he couldn't reach me
We got back to the house and the others were having a lovely lunch in the garden
The girls very kindly did the dishes after lunch (and most of the other times too)
I set up the hammock in the shade for Susan after lunch
And Jo was comfortable reading in the rotunda
A few pesky weeds had re-emerged in my precious turf, so I was back on my hands and knees getting them out. I assured Susan and Jo that I wouldn't always be this fussy about it, it was just that I had put in so much work on it a few weeks ago
Whilst doing this I also admired the apple tree which was in full blossom
I next set my sights on the vegie patch - where there were weeds taller than me - these were pretty easy to get out - although we still have those pesky plum suckers coming up
Also attacked these weeds around the mulberry tree - but didn't take an after photo. Suffice to say, I filled the rubbish bin again
Carolyn arrived some time in the afternoon, and also did a bit in the garden
Meanwhile the boys were practising in the music room - I helped them out with some percussion
Nin took Clare to Bendigo around 3pm to catch a train home. Unfortunately she couldn't stay for the Music night as she had other plans (Music night was originally going to be on the 11th)
Fraser and Rileigh arrived too, I thought they had planned to go to Ocean Grove for the weekend, but they rang us and asked if they could come and camp with their swag in the garden - so they did.
Terry had wanted us back up at the Church at 5.45 - to help set up some more, and the boys also thought it a good idea to come early for a sound check
Thought we'd start early with some bubbles outside before the masses arrived...
We started serving up the canapes at 6.30 - the official start time - although not everyone was there yet
There were about 40 people this time - so 5 tables of 8
The play list was as follows
First up on the bill was the "Elderly Brothers" (David and Mark) but Justin and Chris were both invited to play with them - although Justin only got the song list and music on Friday!
It was a bit of a dog's breakfast.... but they had fun
Dermott was up next singing his mining etc songs acapella
Then a new act - Neil and Lou - who were pretty good. Lou had a lovely voice
Justin and Chris were on next at 9.30pm - and also had guest appearances with Mark on violin (fiddle) and Ninian on guitar
They played a cracking set
David was next with his daughter Helen making a cameo appearance
then Mark
and finally Chris again with his own set of 3 songs
By this stage it was 11pm - so a lot of people had left /were leaving
Unfortunately for his first song - there was a bit of audience noise/people leaving - which was a bit off-putting. Anyway, he got through it well, and did another couple - including one that he had written for and about Justin - which Justin very much appreciated
By this stage the remaining crowd had settled down, and wanted more songs from Chris - which he obliged with one more - and got Justin back up also
And then we packed up and left - hardly anyone left by this stage
Fraser and Rileigh had already left - ie after Justin and Chri's initial set. Susan drove 4 in Mark's car, and Nin drove us other 4 in his car. No kangaroos
I went straight to bed. Justin and the boys stayed up a little bit later
Sunday, and people got up at all different times - so there was a staggered toast and coffee breakfast
After breakfast I was in the garden again - wanted to get some epsom salts/magnesium for the gardenias as they were yellowing a bit
And Justin had permission to poison those pesky acanthus that keep coming up in the path. I had dug them out prior to the Garden Party, but I obviously hadn't got all the roots
When the topic of lunch came up the Bridgewater Pub was suggested, but then Susan suggested staying at the house - as we still had plenty of delicious food ie cheeses, bacon, tomatoes, nice bread etc
We ended up doing that - and it was delicious - and probably much nicer than the pub would have been
The guests left after lunch - and Justin and I gathered up the mounds of washing to take back to Melbourne - and we left around 3pm or so
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