Wednesday, 30 July 2025

Keys of Gold 25 - 27 July 2025

Hmm, it took me over 3 hours to get to Inglewood on Friday afternoon again.  Left just after 2.30pm and arrived around 5.45pm

And the weather was shocking - rained pretty much all the way. This wasn't too bad on the Calder, but it was white knuckling on the Calder alternative.  Reason being when a big truck passed going the other way, it displaced so much water, it was like a wall of it was dumped on my windscreen - temporarily completely obscuring any vision- was actually a bit scary. 

That said, I did get to Inglewood safe and sound 

Dave from Black Wallaby dropped over 8 bottles of wine - 2 x red, 2 x white and 4 x bubbles in preparation for tomorrow (photo from their website)


Leanne had said that she would get here late afternoon, so I wondered if she would be there before me - but she ended up arriving around 7.30pm, and she had had a similar challenging drive

Anyway, we had a light dinner - pate/dips and then pumpkin soup.  Had a relatively early night

Saturday, and after my quizzes in bed I started organising the dining room ie moving chairs/bottles etc

Leanne came down at 8am, and we had porridge for breakfast and more organising ie plates/glasses in preparation for our reception/after party for the Keys of Gold VIPs who were coming over after the concert....







You see, David from Loddon Shire had asked me some time ago if we would be prepared to host a "party" after the Keys of Gold Concert in St Augustine's Church.  The Shire would provide the catering ie sandwiches, cakes, tea/coffee and wine.  That sounded just fine, and I said would cook something too

Below is a photo of St Augustine's - taken from the internet, as it was a very grey and rainy day today  


The concert started at 11am, and Leanne drove us there at 10.30.  Yes, we could have walked, but it was too miserable    

Got a good seat in the middle - the organ was around to the right - and you can just make out the pipes on the wall (once again this is a photo from the internet, I had turned my mobile phone off - and so couldn't take any photos) 


Coincidentally, David S and Rosemary came and sat with us 

The concert was fantastic - and below is the program


Thomas Heywood - world renowned organ virtuoso was the organ player, and also the MC and told us numerous informative and amusing stories

He had organised the program with "Olde World" favourites - which could have easily been played on this organ when it was first used in the church   

The first piece was by Philip Charles Plaisted - who was a gifted composer - but ended up hacking his wife to death - and therefore becoming an axe murderer (Thomas joked that mushrooms may not have been available)

 Another interesting fact was that Joseph Tivey had purchased the Fincham pipe organ for St Augustine's in 1878, including a number of stops (but not all of them) - he thought the community could pay for the rest.  But they never did.  Then by chance a set of Fincham stops were surplus to needs in a Hobart organ restoration - and coincidentally - the oboe swell was available.  It was meant to be - installed and now the organ is complete!

Below is a photo from the Loddon Herald - of Thomas and the oboe stop of the St Augustine's organ


Anyway, the concert was superb - with Meryln Quaife singing many favourites 


They even did an encore

It finished around 12.15, and Leanne and I hurried back - as we had to get there before the guests

I had left the heaters on - my room and the dining room - to take the chill out of the air.  By the way it had been freezing in the church 

Jill knocked on the door almost immediately with the sandwiches and cakes, so we put them on the table - along with my pate/dip/crackers.  And I put the chicken balls and frittata in the warming oven

Val from across the road came first, with her son Dale. She's 90 now, and used to play the organ at St Augustine's.

The rest came in quick succession - Thomas and his wife Simone, David S, Meryln and a friend, Pip J  her husband Denis, and his brother Robert, Daniel the organ builder, Caroline (Ulumbarra Board member) and her friend Susan - and I think that was about it - with obviously myself and Leanne




We all had a lovely time 

Thomas told me how he had watched our Restoration Australia program - 5 times and loved it ! And that they had also contacted him and Simone - as their house had also been designed by Vahland

Except "house" is an understatement - it's an Estate ...

Langley Estate in White Hills - 50 rooms - wow!!


He said that he had been looking for the right place for 15 years - wanted a beautiful house, but also with room for a concert hall for 100 people

There had been a good contender in Hobart - the old Governor's House - but Simone didn't want to live in Tasmania - and then Langley Estate became available - and the rest is history

Simone (Thomas' wife) was interested in our mural - so I showed her - she also said that the artist's parents had stayed with them.  I didn't quite understand - not realising that their "house" also had a bed and breakfast facility.  And I knew it wasn't Shawn's parents - but his uncle and aunt from Sydney - as they had wanted to come and see the house/mural midweek a month or 2 ago - but I couldn't make it up there at the time 

Merlyn was also lovely - and she told me how she had spied our front door open one day - and wondered what it would like inside

Because I had enjoyed the concert so much, I tried to buy tickets for the closing concert on the Sunday - however they had closed off the ticketing.  That said Pip/Denis assured me that I should be able to get in - and if not - Denis would give me his seat.  Leanne wasn't able to come, as she had to leave on Sunday morning 

I guess we finished off around 3pm or so

Anyway, most of my chicken balls, frittata and pate went - quite a few sandwiches, cakes and my red dip were left



Leanne and I tidied up  - and then I suggested that we both retire for a few hours to rest- and to  re-emerge at 7pm

So we did 

Toasted some of the sandwiches on the aga hob and had more pate and some cheese etc - very simple dinner

And then we went into the dining room and played cards - gin rummy which was fun

Sunday - and I had more toasted sandwiches on the Aga for breakfast

Leanne left soon after breakfast - and I did some more tidying up - and also took a photo of the back wall - as Dave the plumber had moved the hot water service in preparation for the extractor fan



And yes, the daphne flowers were a little more out, but the hellebores still hadn't opened - I hope we won't have missed them by the time we get back


The rhubarb is starting to shoot 


And the almonds are close to bud burst


The two types of jonquils look pretty 

 And lots of lemons (or whatever they are)

The jonquils are looking better than my Melbourne ones - I wonder if they will actually flower?

I dropped in on Damo and Nicole around 11am and saw their progress on the School room


Damo had put down floor sheeting and got the services ready.  They hope to be finished by October - which I thought was pretty good

I had also brought the box of cakes - so we had some with a cup of tea

Back to the house, packed up, and drove to Bendigo - to St Pauls Cathedral.  The concert started at 3pm, but I left Inglewood at 1.30 - as I wanted to get there nice and early in order to be able to buy a ticket and to also check out the parking situation

Well, I literally got the rock star park - right outside - and carefully checked the parking restrictions - all good for a Sunday - no chance of a ticket

I went and stood - waiting outside the Cathedral, a young guy was standing around also - and I chatted with him a little 

Then a rather loud fellow arrived with a bunch of flowers - he immediately started talking to me - and saying how much he loved the Restoration Australia program and how good I was ....I was stunned

I had seen this guy at the St Augustine's concert - and he was lovely and very effusive

The Cathedral doors opened soon after, and Merlyn was there selling tickets

She told me how she had also watched the program last night - and had loved it !  and yes, she was able to sell me a ticket

We were the first ones inside - there weren't any other audience members for a while

Thomas was there, and seemed pleased to see me (and remembered my name) 

David took a selfy of the 3 of us


And Thomas showed me around the organ - very impressive 3 layers of keys and many many stops



Lovely painted pipes - with gold leaf


The sides of the pews were also rather fancy with carved eagles?


David and I sat in the front row - well why not? - and obviously had a fabulous view

Well, the cathedral soon started filling up, and Thomas came out to MC


The first performer was Yasmin Rowe - on a very fancy Steinway concert grand piano which had previously been played in the Sydney Opera House for many years. She played beautifully


Next up was Alexey Yemtsov.  he came onto the stage without any sheet music, or an ipad (Yasmin had an ipad which she controlled with a foot pedal.

So he obviously played it all by memory - extraordinary!
 

I took these 2 photos of the screen - you can just make me out at the top left of Alexey's head- looking toward the screen and taking a photo of it with my mobile phone 




And then of course Thomas played some pieces - some solo and some with either of the pianists 




It really was superb!! I'll definitely go again next year

Given that this was the last concert,- there were refreshments in the supper room - some lovely canapes and also Mandurang Wines - I had a cheeky glass of bubbles

I also spoke with Carolyn and Susan, and Pip & Denis etc which was nice   

I didn't stay long - maybe 1/2 hour, 

Got home around 6.30 or so


 

Monday, 21 July 2025

Bendigo Sheep & Wool Show and a judge for lunch Thur 17 - Sun 20 July 2025

Well it's really Winter now - was pretty cold in the house when I arrived on Thursday afternoon - thank goodness for the split systems!

I met up with Kirsty at the bank at 2pm - to close the Town Hall accounts, and then went and had my haircut and coloured at Michelle's at 2.45

I also invited Kirsty and her Mum Kim to come over for a cheeky drink at 5.30pm - as Kim was interested in seeing the house, and Kirsty was keen for a catch up

We had a pleasant time  

On Friday morning I got up early and drove to Bendigo for the Annual Sheep and Wool Show - this was to help out the Bendigo Group


I parked a few streets away - and was well rugged up as I walked to the Showgrounds - once I was in the Pavillion - I peeled off some layers as it was warmer in there

Our stall had lots of knitwear, baked goods and jams and preserves - was pretty busy - and we were very competitively priced 




I knew some of the CWA gals - ie Marilyn from Bendigo, Deb from Mitchell group etc 

And I was very surprised to see my Melbourne neighbour Peter B there 

Not so surprised to see Deb the Butcher from the Inglewood Fat Butcher, or Carol S from Inglewood 

My shift was from 10am -1pm, and when I left I had a wander around 

I was looking at a lovely stall with beautiful mugs and artworks - when the woman/artist said she knew me ...yep, she had recognised me from Restoration Australia.  I was flabbergasted, I have seen all of the shows, but wouldn't necessarily recognise any of the people from them...

I must admit I was a bit tickled by this

But back to wandering around - I saw some sheep shearing 



And also spinning on spinning wheels (no photo)

Lots of wool skeins, clothes etc for sale

Some superfine merino wool


And also food offerings ie artisan gins/wines, whiskies etc, honey, olives, biscuits, homewares - there was heaps of stuff!

And I bought some goodies too

Firstly some fingerless gloves from our CWA Stall


And then some delicious jumbo kalamata olives - I had told the vendor that I don't like it if my family buys olives, but it's ok if I do - as these olives were better than mine.... 

And lastly a lovely showercap - made from bee patterned (perfect for the house) material

Anyway, left the show, and drove back to the house - and thought I would trim the new flower beds of the old flowers - the sages were looking particularly scrappy - but I couldn't cut right back - as there are still a lot of heavy frosts

Before 

And after


It took a while, I filled the bin, and I was pretty cold at the end of it 

So, off to have a lovely hot bath 

Saturday, and I got up relatively early after having done my puzzles

We were having one of Justin's judge mates to lunch with his partner 

I had written myself a plan of attack the night before 

ie Bread dough first (was using another internet cast iron pot recipe - and I set it to prove in the warming oven (but I reckon it was too hot in there, as the bread didn't work out), then the sticky date pudding and sauce

Once I'd finished with the sweets - onto the savoury

Chicken liver pate, red dip, a thermi  shredded lamb ragout with sliced potatoes on top, and a pumpkin soup - quite a lot for lunch ....And, as it was we didn't eat it all (didn't even have the dessert - oh well)

Justin arrived from Morwell (via home last night), around 11.30am - and set the table etc 

I was still doing the soup when the guests - Marcus and Susannah arrived  - bit it was under control (thermi)

Justin wanted me to give them a tour of the house - so I did so, and then went back to finish off the soup  

I had already set up nibbles in the dining room - fancy olives from the Show, pate, red dip and crackers - and we polished this down with some delicious sparkling rose that they brought.  We didn't eat much of this though

And then onto the main event - the lamb ragout - with a green salad accompaniment.  It was delicious - so I'll make it again 

Some time during lunch I saw Connie, Rhonda and Kaye (CWA gals) troop past the window - and went and saw them at the back door.  Connie had sent me a text yesterday to ask if they could visit - and I said yes of course - but after 3pm, as we were having guests to lunch

Well, it was 4pm - and we were still lunching....

So I excused myself from the lunch guests (we had finished our main meal) and showed them around (Kaye hadn't been there before)

While I was spouting forth in the hallway, there was a knock at the door, and it was Maile and David - we hadn't seen them for ages -  they saw the cars out front - so figured we were home.

I ushered them into the dining room for a drink with Justin, Marcus and Susannah, and continued on my "tour" with the CWA gals 

Finished the tour with the gals, and they left, so I rejoined the dining room - where Marcus and Susannah were getting ready to leave...I persuaded Susannah to take some sticky date pudding and sauce with her to have at home

So they left, and then back into the dining room with Maile & David.  They stayed a little bit longer, and then left, and Justin and I then had an easy evening after a day full of visitors

Sunday, and back to the Bendigo Show.  Got up at 7am, did my quizzes etc, and intended to leave to pick up Rhonda in Bridgewater at 8.15am

However there was very heavy frost

I could hardly even open the door of the ute - it was sort of frozen shut, so I was unlocking/locking etc - didn't know what was happening.  Ended up using the key

The pattern of the frost seen from the inside of the windscreen was quite beautiful - although the photos don't really do it justice




I put on the windscreen wipers and water - but it didn't really do anything - the ice/frost was too thick

So I had to go back inside and get something to scrape it off - chose a plastic kitchen spatula.  I knew better than getting a kettle full of boiling water..


 Once completed, there was a lot of ice on the sides


So, finally went to pick up Rhonda - and there was a LOT of fog - especially once I got closer to the Loddon River

The GPS put me on a tiny back road this time to get to the Show - and it was a little hair-raising at times, as visibility was pretty poor - but we eventually made it 

The Show was a lot quieter today - so there wasn't all that much to do - sat and chatted with Marilyn for a while

Was also very surprised when a woman (Kitty) came over to the stall saying "hello Lisa" and clutching the new Inglewood brochure with our house on the front - so we talked about the house and the show for  a little bit, and I told her about the upcoming Garden Party in October - she seemed quite interested 

Marilyn told me afterwards that she had been across talking to Deb the butcher, and that Kitty had taken the brochure and was saying "oh Inglewood, that's where the show was etc".  So Marilyn pointed across at our stall and said I was there, and she could come over and have a chat!

Anyway, my shift was til 11am, so I left soon after that - and went back to the house

Justin had left already - was going back to Morwell for his circuit, and he'd done the first round of dishes ie glassware etc 

I did the rest, and also tidied up

Took a photo of my daphne plants - a few little flowers have opened - not enough to get the perfume yet though. 


 The port wine hellebore flowers are also close to opening 


 I hope they'll be open for this coming weekend and the Keys of Gold festival