Back at home.......

we found things very strange as by now we knew ours days in Southbank were coming to an end.  The biggest difference was the noise after the peace and quiet of our time in the bush.  We had accepted an offer on our apartment the week before we returned and now we had to decide if we wanted to make an offer on the house we had found in Euroa.

We weighed up all the pros and cons and decided that we could make this little house our home so we made an offer which they accepted the next week while I was away in Halls Gap with Mum.  So with just 10 weeks until settlement it was time to get organised.

Bill got onto Gumtree and bought lots and lots of packing boxes and butchers paper.  Too much I thought but we used almost all of it much to my surprise.  Who knew how much stuff you can accumulate in 10 years!!  Bill packed most of the house up room by room over the next weeks and at the same time tried to organise all the bits and pieces that go with moving house.

During this time we did not stay at home for long.  I made my usual pilgrimage to Halls Gap with Mum for the 29th Annual Jazz Festival.  Astrid joined us again and once more we enjoyed a great weekend of beautiful weather and great music. The crowd was down a little on previous years and everyone put it down to the extra hot weather forecast which thankfully didn't turn out to be quite so hot as they thought.  I think age plays a big part too as many of the 'old' hands, both musicians and  patrons are in their eighties and more.  Hopefully enough younger people will come along and enjoy the music to keep this wonderful event alive.  For now we will continue to enjoy it while we can.

Back at home first and foremost was the paperwork connected with our offer and as Faye and Kevin were selling the house themselves we drove to Kilmore to meet them and sign all the documents.  We met on a lovely sunny day for coffee in The Rose Cafe and left an hour later the almost owners of our new home.  Now we just had to wait for settlement and it was ours.

After another busy week at home we left again on the following Friday to spend a couple of days in St Leonard's with Cheryl and Shane.  Leaving early we stopped at the Geelong waterfront for lunch.  I love the colourful bollards along the boardwalk here and the HMAS Sydney was moored at the wharf and getting a good cleaning for an open day tomorrow.  

Arriving a little later at St Leonards catching up over a glass or two of bubbles was a great way to spend the afternoon and soon it was time to head off to the Country Club for dinner.  After a nice meal we returned home for an extended evening of drinks and deserts.

The next morning after breakfast we drove into Drysdale to pick up some fresh Blueberries at Tuckerby Hill.  Of course we had to have a coffee and some of their famous blueberry buckle too.   Back at home we whiled away a lazy afternoon with drinks, nibbles and lots more talking. Soon it was time to dress for dinner once more and this time Shane drove us into Geelong for dinner at their favourite little Thai Restaurant.  A yummy meal was enjoyed by all and I can certainly understand why they are happy to drive the 30 mins or so to come here.

Home again and Bill and Shane hit the spa while Cheryl and I adjourned to the kitchen to make a Blueberry Buckle for me to take to Faye's birthday the next day.  Fingers crossed that we could still read and follow the recipe after a few wines.  Once it was in the oven we too hit the spa as the boys got out.  A perfect end to a lovely day!  Oh, and the buckle looked great.

We said goodbye to our friends after breakfast on Sunday as we had to be at Faye's place for her birthday lunch.  We arrived on time and even before most of the other family members.  We enjoyed another afternoon of fun, good food and a drink or two and the Blueberry Buckle was cooked to perfection and really yummy.  Great work Cheryl!  Must try it by myself and see how I go.

We said goodbye to the family and made our way home for a very quiet night after our big weekend.  With only three more weeks left it was time to get serious with the packing which we did over the next week.

On Tuesday we had a break from the boxes as we drove down and picked Mum and her friend up to deliver them to Port Melbourne to board The Dawn Princess for a cruise to New Zealand. A beautiful day and the drive in around the bay was a nice way to start their holiday.  They are back now and really enjoyed the trip so we may see her off again next year perhaps.

We made a trip to Euroa on Wednesday as we wanted to organise a Post Office Box and this was proving very difficult to do by phone via the call centre.  In person it was a very pleasant 15 min job and we left with keys in hand.  We had a coffee with Faye and Kevin and they took us home so we could check out a few bits to do with the house.  We finished the afternoon with a glass of Red and left them soon after.  Dinner at the Avenel Roadhouse was a good idea too.

A sad note during the week, Bill's Uncle Jack passed away after many years in a nursing home with dementia.  He was buried the following Friday on what would have been his 90th birthday.  We attended the funeral with Maree and Faye and as these things go it was a nice send off. 

After that sombre start to the day our next stop was to pick up the van as we were escaping the city once more to spend the next few days camping at Linton.  We arrived later in the afternoon and soon were all set up and Bill had the camera out again.  We were staying at Clarkesdale Bird Sanctuary until Tuesday morning and looking forward to this little respite from the many boxes at home.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time here and really did not do much at all.  Coffee in Linton one morning and Skipton the next.  A quick look at Devils Kitchen for the Peregrine Falcon which did not show itself so we went back to the van to play with the robins.  Lots of time with a good book was just what we needed.  We drove back into civilisation on Tuesday afternoon, stored the van and returned home for the last time.  

During these last weeks Bill had had a lot of bits and pieces done to the car ready for extended periods on the road.  A long range fuel tank, and extra wheel and roof racks took care of a few days.  Having the car serviced and two new tyres took out another day or two and then the van went in for two days for the little things we had come across during our shakedown trip.  And then two days before we moved Bill spent the day at the yard as he had a diesel heater fitted to the van.  We are ready to roll now!

With just one week left we decided to spend our last weekend out of town again and what better place to go than to our favourite little cottage at Jamieson.  Camellia Cottage was just the break we needed and Angie and Freddie welcomed us as usual with big smiles and a couple hours over coffee in the kitchen.  We had dinner at the Court Hotel on Friday night in Jamieson before returning home for a quiet night in.  The following day we just relaxed in the sun around the property and finished the day at the Kevington Pub having dinner with Angie and Freddie.  This old pub really looks like it's seen better days but the food was delicious and a great night was had by all.

On Sunday morning we said goodbye, stopped for a coffee in Jamieson and made our way home over the Eildon-Jamieson Rd.  We made our way into Alexandra for lunch and then drove home from there.  Back at home we made our way 'Downstairs' for their Sunday night roast for the final time.  No more Sundays here!

Our last couple of weeks was spent saying our farewells.  On the previous Saturday night we had dinner with Ben and Jennifer at their place in Rowville.  Chinese takeaway and a few drinks made for a fun night with friends.  We had lunch with Suzie and Bryce at their place on Sunday.   Denise was there too from SA and it was great to see them all again. We had dinner with Joy and David at their place.  A lovely meal and good company.  During our last week Astrid and Hans came into town and we had dinner at Ants Bistro in Chinatown.  A yummy Chinese meal as always.  I had dinner with Emily and Stephanie from work at a Thai restaurant in Swanston St.  And finally we had dinner at the Chelsea RSL with Mum and Maree on Thursday night.

And then the countdown was over.  Only one more sleep and our new life begins but for now it's goodnight all

until next time..........