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
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
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