Freight run for party 27 February 2020

Well, a quick one day trip with the ute full of glasses, 6 cases of wine, lights, and all of the components of the huge portable gazebo that we used for Christmas at Jan and Peter's

Had got the kids to help me load up.  However, I hadn't managed to get either of them to help me unpack at the other end - was a lot of to-ing fro-ing

The other thing was that I couldn't physically carry the large gazebo piece by myself, was just too big

Gave Denise a call, to ask to borrow Steve, but he was busy

So next stop was the pub - went in and saw Margie, and asked the bar at large if anyone could come and assist

And yes, I got a volunteer - who said he'd come down in 10 minutes or so

Walked back to the house, and there were a couple of 4 wheel drives out the front with a few blokes standing around.

Asked one of them if they'd help me - and two of them did - took in the large piece

Tried calling back Margie to cancel the other helper, but of course he rolled up while I was on the phone

Oh well

Also went to the butcher and saw Debbie - ordered my 6kg of pork belly for Thursday

Walked around the garden , and saw that Corey had chopped up the bunya pine

He'd also sent me photos from when he'd done it

Here are my photos

The last 2 metres or so were not chopped, perhaps we can do something with it

Didn't worry about lunch - wasn't really hungry

Gave my poor citrus trees a bucketful of water each - as the watering system is really not giving them enough water

The pear looks like its survived though - ie new growth at the branches, not just near the roots

And the guava has been inundated by grass/weeds.  I hope that I can get someone to do a bit of weeding before the party....however I don't necessarily like my chances

 Anyway, it was a flying visit - so back to Melbourne around 2 or so

Mid week appointments Wednesday 12- Friday 14 February 2020

The purpose of this quick mid week trip was to meet up with various people

However, I arrived later than I had wanted to

Firstly,  Rhonda from CWA had asked me to come and talk to her Samarinda clients at 1.30, and she wanted me to go through til 3pm....

So I did that (was quite fun) and came back and quickly packed up.  Was considering  taking the ute with the Christmas Lewis Gazebo, but it was getting late, and I basically couldn't be bothered, so took the passat instead

The traffic was fine on the Monash (maybe left around 4.10pm) - but started slowing down  after the Bolte Bridge, and was then just crawling....

I had been going to meet up with Terry initially at 6pm for a G&T and a brainstorming session for our party, but called him up and made it 6.30.

But that soon went by the wayside, and we ended up meeting about 7.15

The cause of this horrendous traffic was a truck fire just near Diggers Rest - I found the photo on the internet

And of course, once past this - the traffic unsnarled, back to 110kph

So, I called Terry again at the Calder alternative, and said I'd be there in about 1/2 hour

I arrived, emptied the car, put some food in the fridge, and Terry got here about 5 minutes later, I made us a G&T, and we went and sat on the back veranda, and started the brainstorming session for the party

Went well, Terry suggested I try the IGA for some young people to help out, and also offered up 2 bedrooms to friends of ours (just in case) as the local motels are full.  Discussed the pros and cons of having a sit down vs finger food dinner, outside in the garden, inside at the town hall, types of food, entertainment, etc etc

Left for the Royal around 7.45 - had to make sure we were there before the kitchen closed

They had a new menu by Sassy Sally - looked good

We started with some arancini balls which were pretty good, and then I had a beef, basil and lemongrass stir fry, and Terry had a carbonara pasta

Had a nice evening - was relatively warm

Thursday morning, and my first visitor was at 8am

The bloke (Peter) doing the underpinning came around to have another look, and he also brought his engineer

Showed them around inside also - the engineer thought that the cracks in the back hallway were due to the bricks crumbling a little bit - as that area is having to hold up a lot of weight.  Said to brace it, replace the bricks and replaster

Also thought there was no lintel in the garden room windows - which is why it was cracking around the top there

And Peter, the underpinner said that we only had to move furniture from between the bay windows and the fire place - that's a relief.  But we need to cover everything,as it will be very dusty

After they went, I walked up the street, to the IGA, and asked Peter about getting some of his staff to help out at our party, he was pretty positive. I then went to Sharp's Bazaar, and invited Chris and Bernie, tried David O, but his shop was closed for 5 minutes.

Back home, and saw that the plum tree didn't have any viable plums anymore - so can't do any sloe gin this year, unless I buy the plums....

The Bunya tree had also been cut down earlier in the week

The blokes had sent me some photos

I didn't realise it was such a big job....with 2 x trucks and a cherry picker

They said it had been eaten out by termites, but that they had gone.  There was not much wood left at the base - although the bark was very thick

I also went across the road to the Town Hall to have a look at the kitchen /fridges/dishwasher etc - as I may make use of them for the party

Saw an old photo of the Inglewood CWA in the supper room

And made a soft booking for the hall and the kitchen - in case of bad weather

Went up to Terry's around 10.30.  He'd brought me a small bucket of delicious nectarines from his trees last night, and had invited me to come and pick some more if I liked. So I did.  Had a nice coffee there first

Back to Inglewood and tried Enzo's to hand deliver the invitation, but no one was home, and then onto Bridgewater to give an invitation to Peter at Waterwheel

And back to Inglewood again, stopped at David O's got some eggs and invited him, then to the Bakery and bought my favourite Thai Butter Chicken  pie, tried Enzo again, but still not there.

Home for lunch, and the Renderer who I'd found via the National Trust website came and had a look.  Obviously couldn't give me a quote as yet, because we don't know what's going to fall.  Showed him around also - inside and out

Corey - the tree bloke also dropped in after this - he'll cut up the trunk for firewood - what a pity. And will see if any of it is any good further towards the top - so maybe we could in fact mill it, and make something out of it

He also said that the termites left behind this black tar stuff (poo). And that it wreaks havoc on the chainsaws

And as I said the bark was really thick

Pottered around, reading the Age on line after Corey left - also saw that the new curtains that I bought in Ocean Grove might fit in the little yellow room

Uncanny that it's the same material as the curtains that we have in Melbourne (but a fraction of the price)

Got myself some left overs for dinner, and settled down in front of the tv to watch Outlander on Netflix

Gary the Heritage consultant had been supposed to come later in the afternoon, but I figured he wasn't coming anymore

Imagine my surprise when he rang and said he was outside the front door with his wife.. This would have been around 7 or later

Anyway, showed them around also - it had been some years when they'd been there last.  He gave me some great pointers about the sash windows, and also gave me a couple of names of alternative renderers/plasterers who he had used in the past, and who were very good.

He also said he would be willing to give further advice - which was rather good of him

They left around 8.30, offered them a drink, but they declined

And then it was back to Outlander

Left around 9.30 in the morning on Friday - as Justin and I were going to Clare's Dad's funeral at 1pm

Dunolly Garden Soiree 24 January - 26 January 2020

Well, it's been a while, and in the interim, we've had a huge extended family holiday (7 groups/27 people) in Koh Samui

Anyway, came up on the Friday to get my haircut at 2pm with Michelle - listened to A Passage to India audio book in the car (Michelle had lent it to me)

Managed that, and had a leisurely afternoon afterwards

At least the watering system seems to working properly now, however not soon enough for my poor kiwi plants - only one has survived

That said all of the citruses now look good

And the poor fig has rejuvenated down the bottom

As has the 3 type pear, however I think it will only be a one type pear now, as the three types were grafted on

Also have a couple of apples that I'm watching - but I suppose the birds are watching them also, as they seem to have eaten most of the small apples from the tree that Helen gave us 

Had a quiet night, watched Trainspotting 2 on Netflix, was quite good

Woke up 7ish on Saturday morning, and went for a walk

Was surprised to see the dam behind Verdon Street completely dried up

Also saw 5 or 6 kangaroos/wallabies

Came back and had a bit of breakfast, and Terry dropped in. He was wondering if I was going to Buckley's by myself, and if so, I could go with him. 

So, I did, got to Terry's around 1.15, and then he drove us to Dunolly

There were lots of people there - more than 50 (and Rachel had anticipated 30)

She had organised a garden soiree - Champagne and Afternoon Tea fundraiser.  I mistakenly thought it was for the bushfires, however it was for Rural Australians for Refugees

Anyway, we paid up, had a quick look inside, and then went out into the garden, and had a glass of bubbles, and found a seat in the shade under a tree

Was very pleasant sitting there, a few musicians entertained us - singing, and playing guitar, violin, tenor horns etc

Arleen, David and June arrived soon afterwards - and pulled up some chairs to join us in the shade, and then Michelle and Lorraine a little later

So sat out here for 1/2 an hour or so, and then inside to the drawing room - which had a grand piano, a harp, and numerous chairs set up like an old fashioned salon

Us "younger ones" stood at the back - as there weren't enough chairs

A harpist played for us - and also sang to a few pieces - was lovely

But a bit hot - so we adjourned to the garden again, had more musical entertainment, more bubbles, and some finger food was also offered around

It really was lovely, and a very civilised way to spend a glorious afternoon

Finished around 5pm  - and Terry gave me a lift back to his place where my car was.   We passed (and missed) a very large goanna which was upright in the middle of the road

Back to the house, and I found a stranger in the dining room

It was a young magpie - which was a bit scared of me.  As I approached, it flew across the room to the other window, and then back again

I opened a window for  it - but it didn't realise, and kept flapping around

Eventually, I just closed the door, hoped that it would fly out the window and went and made myself comfortable in the hammock  and read The Age online

I also put out a bowl of water for the birds - as it was so dry, and yes they came to drink

Michelle and Lorraine appeared some time later, as I had recommended that they look through the main street of Dunolly which incidentally was having a street market

Got them settled in and showed Lorraine around, and then back to Kingower for a movie night on the Village Green

Lorraine was also successful in shooing the magpie out of the dining room - hoorah!

I had made a ham and cheese tart before Dunolly, and brought that, and Michelle brought some cheeses and dips - so we had quite the feast

Terry, Arleen, David and June were there,as was Maile and David.  Damo and Nicole came a bit later

Was a perfect evening, balmy clear and still - and we watched Love Actually - one of my favourites

Back to the house when it finished, and to bed, as we were all tired.  Saw quite a few kangaroos on the way back, one just about in Inglewood

Lorraine got up first - and very kindly did the dishes, while I was lolling around in bed reading the newspaper (I didn't know she was being so industrious)

Michelle had more of a sleep in (I would have if I could have).  Breakfast under the big tree - just simple toast and tea/coffee

And given that it was another lovely day, I suggested taking Lorraine to Melville Caves - even though Michelle had only been there a few weeks before hand

I'd also said I would drop in on Terry for a coffee, and give him the brewers yeast that Justin had bought a while back

So the 3 of us set off, had an excellent coffee and chat at Terry's, and I also asked Terry if he'd like to come to Melville's Caves with us.  So he did, and I drove

Had a wander around there, and then Terry showed us some other vantage spots, and we drove back the back way - very carefully, because of potholes, loose stones etc.

Stopped at the Crystal Mine, and also the spot where Terry's son Dermott got married.  Was interesting to discover something new

Dropped Terry back at his house in Kingower, and we then went onto Bridgewater, and Waterwheel.  Peter was there, and in fine form.

I tried a couple of wines, but not many as I was driving

I guess we stayed about an hour or so, chatting and having a grand old time - and yes I bought some more wine, as did Michelle and Lorraine

Back to the house, and had a picnic lunch under the tree - basically the remains of last night's dinner, plus some odds and ends from the fridge

They left after lunch, and I stayed a bit longer, tidying up, etc - also  noticed some very thick spiderwebs in the dining room.  All the better to catch the flies and mosquitoes I say

And yes, it was the Australia Day Long weekend, but I went back to Melbourne on the Sunday afternoon, as I'd said that I (or Fraser if he felt like driving)  would pick Justin up from Tullamarine as he had gone to Hobart with Matt to clean out the boat (chucked out 2 x wheelbarrow loads of rubbish)

And then the Monday a shocking - started off sunny, but then huge hail stones - literally the size of golf balls. 

They were thundering down on our colourbond roof.  Broke some skylights and also a leadlight window pane, cracked some others.  Very destructive.  And all the cars in the street which were in the open were pummeled, some had windows broken, and all of them had multiple pock marks

Summer Holidays :- Boxing Day 26 December - 2 January 2020

Caught a lift with Helen and the kids on Boxing Day ( Thursday), as it was going to be hot at Inglewood for the next few days  -ie High 30's - mid 40s.

Justin was going to come up on New Years Eve (Tuesday) when it was only supposed to be about 26 degrees

Anyway, on the drive there Helen said her back was hurting, and she ended up lying down when we arrived, and taking it easy.  Was also feeling nauseous, and had a few small vomits.  No idea what was wrong

We left her to rest, and I walked up to the pool with the kids for a well deserved cool down

Water was lovely and refreshing, stayed there a few hours - and did at one point manage to be the only person in the pool for a short period of time, about 6.30pm

Walked back, the kids had a shower, and I had a G&T in the garden under the tree.  (swapped G&T notes with Justin back in Melbourne)

Helen was still feeling a bit poorly, so didn't really have any dinner.  The kids and I had Christmas leftovers - turkey, ham, onion tart and salads

Kids went to bed, and Helen and I watched La La Land - which I'd seen before - but thought it was quite a lovely film

Friday, and another hot day - stayed reading in bed til around 8am, then a quick breakfast, and watered my parched citrus trees.

Played Trouble with the kids - and told them the secret to my success - ie if given the choice, do not go in front of your opponents - as they might then have the opportunity to capture you.  Michaela started winning after this.  Previously I had pretty much always won!

Pies and pasties from the bakery for lunch - none for Helen as she wasn't hungry (still had the back pain)

And then off to the pool with the kids again after 2pm.  Helen remained behind, and made an appointment with the local doctor - who diagnosed a kidney infection, and put her on antibiotics

After the pool another G&T, this time on the veranda

The kids and Helen also came out to join me

More leftovers for dinner - and then we watched Life Itself, as Helen had wanted to see the film that I had seen with Karen and raved about

She also loved it

Saturday, and another very hot day. More watering by me in the morning, and then dead heading the dried poppy heads and collecting the seeds

Xavier helped me

Invited Terry over for an Iced Coffee frappe which we drank in the dining room.  Made some iced chocolates for the kids. And gave Terry some of the poppy seeds.

And then his time Helen came to the pool in the afternoon, as she was feeling better.

The kids were playing with their friends there, and Michaela asked if her friend Addie could come over for a sleepover - so she did - after dinner - as our leftovers were getting pretty sketchy by this stage, and I pulled some stuff out of the freezer ie dolmades that Terry and I had made a while back.


Sunday, and it was supposed to be a very hot day - around 42 or so.  Did my watering, and then given that the top veranda rail was very dry, I gave it a quick sand, and a 1st coat of oil.  You can see in the below picture where I have oiled, and where I haven't.

Helen still wasn't feeling well, so after oiling the rail, we went into the Emergency Department in  Bendigo.  This was another very hot day -so the only good thing about wasting more than 4 hours of waiting there was that it was air-conditioned

Finally after 4 hours and 20 minutes (we got there at 11.48am, and they saw us at 4.10pm) - Helen was seen by a doctor - who basically couldn't see what was wrong.  But she didn't think it was kidney related, and advised her that she may as well keep on taking the antibiotics, and also to take some painkillers for her back - 2 tablets of paracetemol 4 times a day, and 2 tablets of ibufuron 3 times a day.  She didn't do this, preferred the advice of the Inglewood doctor.

Anyway, got back to Inglewood well after 5pm, had a quick change, and back to the pool for an hour and a half or so (closes at 7pm)

Monday 30th,  and another scorcher - however, given that it was a funny overcast sort of day, ie no radiant heat yet, I called up Terry to see if we could come up and do some yabbying in his dam

The answer was of course

So, we went and bought some bait, and drove up there - but by the time we got there the sun must have broken through the light cloud, and it was already around 35 degrees (in the shade)

We assumed that we wouldn't be yabbying for that long - and Helen actually stayed in the cool of Terry's house

Terry came out with us, and thought that the chicken was not very good bait...had thought that red meat with some blood would be better 

Took a while to catch something....and Xavier was the first - catching two at once!

We caught about 25 all up, and put them in a bucket filled with water

At the end - Xavier caught one with his hands...ie from the string without a net

Given that we only caught 3 or 4 larger ones, we decided to free them all

Went back inside to Terry's after this - was pretty hot by this stage - over 40 degrees

Terry offered us cold drinks - and I drank a very welcome icy G&T - delicious.  He then asked if we'd like to stay for lunch - we did. So he warmed up a yummy spinach and filo pie in the oven which we had with some salad

Helen and the kids were in raptures

Given our late lunch - around 2pm - we left around 3, and I had a nap on our return. Was lovely.  And then back to the pool

I had suggested the pub for dinner - the kids were very keen, but we weren't even that hungry given our largish lunch at Terry's.  So we ordered some nachos and wedges to share, I had a entree size calamari, Xavier had a full size parma, and Michaela had kids chicken nuggets and chips.  Helen grazed on the nachos and wedges.

Steve also gave the kids some icecream - which was nice of him

Back to the house, and we all watched Pitch Perfect together - which the kids found quite amusing - particularly Rebel Wilson

Tuesday 31 (New Years Eve) and only supposed to be 28 degrees or so. We had some kid visitors - who played with Michaela and Xavier. And I finished off with the 3rd coat of oil on the veranda rail  

We were expecting both Justin and Michelle separately.  

They arrived around 1pm and we had a lovely leisurely antipasto lunch under the big tree. Also invited Terry

   

It was really nice, and afterwards retired for a bit of a siesta

The kids and Helen went to the pool, I didn't this time

Made some tuna patties and simple salad for dinner - and had them under the tree again

Wednesday 1, and we used our Christmas present from Sarah - a fancy new 4 piece toaster - worked very well

  

Thought it would be nice to show Michelle Melville's Caves and then go to Waterwheel.  I called Waterwheel first to see if they were open. Peter answered, was only there doing paperwork, but he said we could go. 

Once again he amused us with his stories, and I bought a case of shiraz (excess stock for the Chinese) and Michelle bought some whites  

We were there for quite a while, as Peter was quite the raconteur.

And then onto Melville Caves.  Was a lovely clear day, and not too hot 

Back to Inglewood for lunch - and more of the same antipasto lunch as yesterday - under the tree.  And once again very nice.

Off to the pool, Michelle and Justin elected to remain behind.  The tree guy from Bridgewater came and provided an estimate to Justin to cut down the dead bunya pine - around $700.

Dinner was the remainder of the tuna patties for Helen and Michaela and I made up a simple Patak chicken curry (Michaela had some and loved it)  Once again under the tree.

Upstairs after dinner - and somehow we ended up having a bit of an impromptu concert.  Justin started singing, and was on guitar, and  Helen on the drums.

This of course woke the kids up (probably weren't asleep at that stage) - and Xavier and Michaela then had a shot on the drums.  Michaela and Michelle danced, and I filmed some of it on my mobile. Was a lot of fun

Not so sure about the musical ability, but we all enjoyed ourselves

Lateish start on Wednesday - Michelle and Helen and the kids left before lunch.  Justin and I pottered around, I was making good use of the hammock under the tree, and we left around 3.30