Monday, December 26, 2022

Pre Christmas Catch Ups

Ex Sis in Law and her Santa impersonator husband would be working long hours before Christmas so we caught up with them for a seafood lunch at Wings and Fins at Tooradin Airport in November. 

Late November we caught up with my former workmate for dinner at Gentleman George across the road, once called Roscoes before it was remodelled. 

Next was our Hairdresser Friend at Romeos about which I published about a couple of days ago. 

Then it was delicious lunch cooked by our friends at their apartment in Beacon Cove, Port Melbourne. 

Lunch at Clocks with Brighton Antique Dealer, supposed to be with her female friend who we didn't know, but had fallen victim to Covid. Instead her gay 70 old year old friend came with her and it was a very nice lunch.

The final pre Christmas tick was a visit to our friend in Kyneton, a one and a quarter hour drive away. We had coffee and shortbread at his place and then drove to a bakery in town where we had a pie. Not just a pie, a gourmet pie and the walls were adorned with about fifty certificates for award winning food at the bakery. My pepper steak beef pie was rather good. Maybe a bit more pepper to challenge me would have been good.

We took a wander around the town's Botanic Gardens, careful to not walk down too many slopes as that means walking back up. Here are a few photos taken in the town and at the gardens. It's a nice thriving and growing town with a reasonable train connection to Melbourne.

Former Post Office.


Town Hall.


I think the word jelly is in the name of this palm tree. I thought I'd remember the name but clearly I haven't.



I think it has some kind of tulip display at the appropriate time.

R craved an ice cream on this warmish day but the town doesn't have an ice cream shop. We bought a box of four ice creams from the IGA supermarket and our friend took the remaining melting left over one home. 

It was quite an enjoyable trip even though I hate freeways. I say freeways but the first part is a toll road, $10 each way, $20 for the day. Thanks very much you ahole former Premier Kennett who brought us toll roads by turning public roads into pay roads. Unlike freeways to Mother's and to other family on the Mornington Peninsula, the Calder Freeway has hills and curves and scenery and turn offs to cool places like Organ Pipes, Hanging Rock and Mount Macedon.  

Calder Freeway also has a 110 km/h speed limit, rather than 100 that we are used to. I was so amazed at how many people drove under the speed limit at about 100 and no one overtook me as I sat on the 110 limit. Ok, I did bump the radar cruise control up to 112, 70 mph. No fine for just two kilometres over.

As we left the town to return home we saw a painted dead tree. It was too late to take a photo but I asked our friend who we visited to take a photo of the tree. Initially he sent this one, which was a joke and I understood that. It's a nice enough dead tree and photo but it misses the point.

That's better, in colour, in support of Ukraine against the warmongering Putin government in Russia. Unlike many local council areas in Victoria, Macedon Ranges Shire Council is quite socially progressive.

28 comments:

  1. I am constantly blown away by how social you are. I don't think we had that many social events last year.
    Love that tree - and hope that support for Ukraine lives long and sends out vigorous shoots.

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    1. EC, it may have been six meetings with people over six weeks. But still, we were glad to tick off our Kyneton trip and then it was only Christmas and Boxing Day with family, somewhat harder work for me. Putin won't be troubled by Kyneton's tree painting but collectively around the world, he must sniff the breeze.

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  2. Kyneton was recently flooded too. One of my favorite restaurants was closed there. It is called "Source". The local duck cafe is my favorite place for breakie. You had a packed schedule leading up to Christmas! There is a French restaurant that is so homely and cooking up fabulous cuisine.

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    1. Ronetare, I don't think houses were flooded. Our friend did show us some water flooding areas. Your local knowledge is very interesting. It is a very nice town indeed, but so far from the sea.

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  3. Oh my goodness. You packed in more socializing in a week than I do in a six months. That tree took some effort, didn't it? It is striking, though. It looks so warm there Andrew. I am wearing one shirt and two (TWO!) sweaters. I am shivering still.

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    1. Debby, the socialising was over six weeks. Not so bad. 38 for us tomorrow, 100F. We don't like that. We received a jigsaw at Christmas. Maybe it will be jigsaw day and not go out. But we can cope with such heat. I see terrible things on from your country. YouTube vids of cars sliding downs streets on ice and pile ups on freeways. The Governor of New York is appearing daily on our tv news and she seems ok.

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  4. I love the tree! The Calder Freeway sounds interesting with curves and turn-offs to explore. one of my favourite comedy authors, Kerry Cue, wrote a series of funny books about living in Kyneton when she was a child and her father was the policeman there.

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    1. River, I know of Kerry Cue from years ago but I don't remember much about her now although I have a vague memory of her growing up years. She also wrote newspaper columns. Thanks for the reminder of her.

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  5. Having an active social life, outside the house, is the best remedy for post-Covid depression, anxiety and physical sluggishness. Well done!

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    1. I expect you are right about that Hels, but I am generally content with my own company. I have the best of both worlds really and I am never bored.

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  6. You sure have been living it up. Can you still do up your pants. Love the painted tree.

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    1. Diane, I don't eat much at all. The fermented grape juice is what causes my belly.

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  7. Replies
    1. Thanks Dora, and it is great to know you. Stay warm.

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  8. Aren't you quite the social butterfly?
    Kyneton and the surrounding areas are lovely but my heart still yearns for South Gippsland. The prettiest part of Victoria.

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    1. Caro, I agree with you about South Gippy. Not that I would want to live there, but it is just so beautiful.

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  9. That tree makes quite a statement. I admire how you make the effort to see all your friends. I am more of a whatsapp friend.

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    1. Ah Marie, you are both. A real friend and a Whatsapp friend.

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  10. You had quite a lot of pre Christmas catch ups.

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    1. Some years Strayer we would combine some of these but not this year.

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  11. That's the most interesting pro-Ukraine paint job I think I've seen yet!

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    1. Steve, it took me a few seconds to work out and I had to explain it to R. Quite effective indeed. Do you have an email or postal address for Putin? I could send him a piccie.

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  12. You've been busy, for sure! Is the woman who fell ill improving (I'm hoping 'victim' doesn't equate to mortality)? Thanks for sharing your stories.

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    1. Darla, as far as I know she is ok. No, I didn't mean victim in that sense of the word.

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  13. I have such a hard time getting my head around Christmas in that kind of heat!

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    1. Jackie, we have had at times cooler Christmas Days, around 15 one year not so many years ago. It was nice.

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I was a bit emo

I had a nice weekend away. The hotel was not that posh but quite nice, and on the Geelong waterfront. Unbeknownst to me until an hour or so ...