Melbourne (Glen Waverley) - Part 4
Monday, November 12, 2018
This week began in Healesville. After a lovely weekend with friends, we packed up our cabin and loaded the car. One final day of touring awaited us.
We headed toward a new destination, Donnelly's Weir, which has been described as a terrific place to find a variety of bird species. We were excited about it as our favourite place, Badgers Weir, had been badly damaged in a storm and was closed to the public until repairs were done.
The road started out as a lovely paved road, two lanes wide. It gradually narrowed and finally became a one lane dirt track winding through a mature eucalypt forest. The trees surrounding us were tall and majestic. Some of them had extremely thick trunks and would have made amazing furniture or timber for housing. Happily, they are well protected as part of a state forest ... except for the fire that will eventually sweep through this beautiful area. All eucalypt forests eventually are exposed to fire as that is the only way that eucalypt seeds can be released and propagation can occur.
We were within sight of Donnelly Weir when we encountered a rather deep water crossing. There was a steep incline that led into the water and we were uncomfortable trying to navigate our borrowed car through it. A nearby sign might have provided a clue to the outcome of such an attempt. "Not Recommended for 2 WD Vehicles". Enough said. Donnelly Weir was off the destination list today.
We were driving through some very rich agricultural land when we passed by fields upon fields of strawberries. The plants were flourishing and loaded with ripe strawberries. Pickers were scattered across the fields, bending low to pick the berries. Tractors pulling wagons loaded with large boxes of berries were scurrying to and from the packing plant that was just across the road. Trucks were pulling out of the parking area and heading toward markets and wholesalers. This was strawberry season in action!!
As we continued along the road, we left the strawberry fields. They were replaces with acres and acres of pastureland peppered with cattle, sheep and some horses. It is spring here and, in spite or a dearth of rain, the grass was lush and green. The animals must have been enjoying this fresh meal.
Vineyards also dotted the landscape and many small wineries were marketing their products.
We finally reached the turn in the road that would take us out of the Yarra Valley and onto the climb up into the Dandenong Ranges. We passed through some residential areas where houses ranged from very modest to absolutely opulent. What bound them all together were the water tanks that were carefully placed in each yard. Water is at a premium in this area and rain water, however much or little falls from the sky, is carefully harvested through gutters and tubing and stored in these large tanks. The contents of some of the tanks are destined for domestic use. But most of the tanks are clearly labelled ... for fire fighting only. Yes, homes that are built in wooded areas are vulnerable to fire. Every home needs a fire evacuation plan and water to assist in fighting the fire.
The CFA (Country Fire Authority) has stations throughout the Dandenong Ranges and trained staff and volunteers at the ready to fight fires. Prominent signs are posted along the roadways to indicate the level of fire danger each day. The danger level is also broadcast as a part of the weather forecast on radio and television. On extreme fire days, residents are encouraged to leave their homes and seek safe shelter just in case a fire occurs.
On this particular day, the fire danger was quite low and we felt safe as we headed high into the hills to enjoy the beauty of the Dandenongs. Our first stop was The Outlook, a garden and viewpoint at the top of the mountains with an amazing view of the forest, metropolitan Melbourne, the skyscrapers in the CBD and the vast Port Phillip Bay beyond.
Sadly, the day was quite overcast and, though we could see all of these places, the scene was quite grey and dreary. Not what we had hoped for. But the coffee was good and the vastness of the scene was still breathtaking.
We carried on down the road to the National Rhododendron Garden. As we approached, we discerned that the name had been changed to the Dandenong Botanical Garden. Either way, the rhododendrons were well passed their prime and all tours and train tours through the gardens had been discontinued as of Melbourne Cup Day, a full week earlier. Oh well ... strike number 2!!
We continued along the road to a delightful town called Olinda. Interesting shops and cafes lined the streets on both sides. Clearly a tourist town, there was a little bit of everything there to appeal to tourists of all types. An award winning restaurant attracted our attention. "Pie in the Sky" has won numerous awards for its wide variety of savoury pies. That was where we decided to have lunch. Jim ordered a beef pie and I ordered a tandoori chicken pie. Both were delicious, including the pastry. High praise from Jim, to be sure.
We began our descent down the steep slope toward the city. Part way down was a stop called Grant's Picnic Ground. In the past, there has been a myriad of bird varieties that gathered at Grant's to be fed by the tourists. Over the years, it has been commercialized and now birdseed is sold inside a protected area. Sadly, sulphur-crested cockatoos, large raucous and bossy birds have become the predominant species here. We drove through the parking lot but we did not stop. The birds we wanted to see were no where to be found.
Strike 3!!
In spite of striking out on the day in the Dandenongs, we still had enjoyed our drive. It is a beautiful area; no rain had fallen in spite of how overcast it was and we had enjoyed a delicious lunch. It was now time to turn the car toward town as we were due to go out for dinner with friends.
A couple of hours later we met Heather and Robert Elkhuizen at an elegant Italian restaurant and thoroughly enjoyed the food, the company and the conversation. Jim and I shared a squid ink fettucine dish which was magnificent in appearance and flavour. Yum. The conversation was bright, entertaining, thought-provoking, honest and humorous, just as you would expect among good friends who had not seen each other for a while. This delightful evening ended all too soon.
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
This was a remarkably quiet morning. Our social calendar was uncharacteristically vacant and we enjoyed spending the time at home attending to a variety of tasks that had been previously set aside. I was far behind with this blog and set a goal of catching up before the day's end. When my memory failed me, I used maps, our calendar and Jim's memory to help me along.
We went to pick up Heather Bailey around noon as we were all invited to Bryan Fialho's home for lunch. Jim and I had met Bryan when we were in Italy with a group of Australian friends a few years ago. We hit it off with Bryan and have maintained contact ever since. Happily, Bryan is also a long time friend of Heather's so there is also a nice connection to our larger circle of Australian friends.
Heather guided us to Bryan's home in a suburb outside the city which Jim and I had never visited. He greeted us warmly, showed off his extensive Christmas decorations, already unpacked and set up for the season. The main event among these decorations is the extensive village of houses, trains and other accoutrements that occupy a large portion of a sitting room. All connected electrically, music plays, trains move, merry-go-rounds circle and lights go on and off. It must take him days to set it up and dismantle it.
Bryan had prepared a lovely lunch for us - three kinds of curry, a delicious raita and some beautiful saffron rice. We enjoyed this home-prepared food immensely along with the conversation, story-telling and laughter. Tea and mince tarts finished the meal and before we knew it the afternoon was almost over.
On our way back to Glen Waverley, we stopped at one of our favourite places, Churchill National Park. Jim and Heather went for a wander in the bush and found three kangaroos along the way. Churchill Park is a beautiful place where one is almost guaranteed to find kangaroos. Many of our friends right here in Melbourne do not know about this park and we have introduced many to Churchill Park with much surprise.
Late in the afternoon, we headed for an area of Melbourne known as Chadstone. Like Glen Waverley, Chadstone has gone through a transformation in population, culture and retail. Chadstone Shopping Centre was always a large regional mall, yet we were absolutly astonished by how much it has expanded. Similar to, but more extensive than Glen Waverley, Chadstone has added towers of apartments and condos, hundreds of retail shops and restaurants, and large expanses of underground parking. We did not go into the mall but felt that one would need an electric cart to travel from one end to the other, especially if you were carrying parcels.
We had arranged to have dinner with Charlotte Baines at the Hog's Breath Steakhouse near Chadstone. Charlotte is the daughter of friends, John, with whom we had dinner last week, and Annette, who sadly passed away with cancer in 2005. I mentioned her earlier in this blog when we visited her gravesite.
Charlotte is now in her mid thirties and a very accomplished professional woman. She studied law at university and was elected onto the local Glen Waverley council at a very young age. After a few short years, she became mayor of Glen Waverley and held that post for 3 years. Charlotte then embarked on study for her PhD, looking at the relationship between the role of religion and the role of the state in enacting law and culture in a community. To say the least, conversation with Charlotte is always very interesting. She raises great questions and provides thought-provoking insights about Australian culture.
We seemed to be the last patrons remaining in the restaurant so we finally decided it was time to go home. Another great evening with a good friend.
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
This morning was my favourite morning of all. We were going out for breakfast at a restaurant that served smashed avocado. Australian avocado is absolutely delicious, picked ripe from the tree and served soon after. No need to import avocados here. The avocado is peeled and the seed removed. The it is sliced and laid atop a lovely piece of toasted sourdough bread. Lightly smashed with a fork, it forms a creamy texture. Topped with seeds and greens, in this case toasted pumpkin seeds and fresh herbs, this dish is served with a poached egg on top. I asked for my egg on the side as I wanted to enjoy the smashed avocado as a dish unto itself. It was amazing!!
We were joined for breakfast with Deb and Bill and, as always, the conversation was light and lively. Such great friends ... They both work for the CFA and provide deep insight into the role of fire in Australian forests. They were also able to share quite a bit of insight into the dreadful fires that are ravaging California at the moment.
Following breakfast we embarked on our drive to Phillip Island. Phillip Island is south of Melbourne located in Port Phillip Bay. The drive takes about 1 1/2 hours through very pleasant agricultural landscape. The early morning rain had ended and the early morning traffic has passed so we were able to drive along at our leisure and enjoy the views.
Once out of the city, we were surrounded on all sides by vivid green pastures that were filled with cattle, horses and sheep. Because the grass in this area is so healthy in the spring, animal owners often rent the land so that their herds can eat the grass in these fields. Agistment is a common practice on the Mornington Peninsula and on Phillip Island. It provides nutritious food for the animals and rental income for the property owners.
Our destination was the village of Cowes and lunch at Pam and Malcolm Bunney's new holiday home. The home was designed and decorated by Pam and Malcolm. It is spacious and comfortable, painted and decorated in soft colours, a perfect spot for a midweek getaway from the busyness of Melbourne.
We enjoyed a delicious bbq meal, mostly prepared by Malcolm on the barbeque. Vegetables and lovely salads awaited us at the table. And mince tarts for dessert. The Christmas season is approaching
After lunch, Malcolm and Pam took us on a drive around many areas of Cowes. House styles varied from area to area, including many new homes that had been constructed, especially close to the beach areas. We also saw many, many species of birds (pelicans, black swans, ibis, gulls, and other seabirds). We stopped along our route to pick up some Australian sand for Edward. He has quite a collection of sand from different countries.
When we returned to Pam and Malcolm's home, it was time for us to begin our drive back into the city. It was a pleasant drive home. We managed to avoid most of the rush hour traffic while enjoying the lovely green landscape along the way.
Tonight was a rare event. We were actually staying at home to enjoy a dinner with our hosts, Anne and Ian. Ribs and vegetables were the mainstay of our meal along with some wonderful wine provided from John Hurst's extensive wine cellar. Lots of laughter and story telling accompanied the meal and well beyond. It was great to spend the evening together.
Thursday, November 15, 2018
Our day began with another quiet morning. Jim got a beard trim and I spent some time organizing photos. Then, we headed off to have lunch at Helen and Pete Stewart's home. When they answered the door, it was clear that they were surprised. In fact, they had been expecting us yesterday. Oops! Somehow the time zones in our calendar had been mixed up and the arrangement had been noted on the wrong day. Happily, they were home, able to laugh it off and served us the food from yesterday. Our conversation was as wide-ranging as ever.
Following lunch, I returned home for a nap while Jim went to clean out our storage boxes at Morgans' house. Most of the contents either went to the garbage or were packed away again to be donated to next year's church fete. There were a few interesting items, such as memorabilia and various books about Australian culture and wildlife. We will only be able to take home what fits in our suitcases so we still have some sorting to do.
McMillan's were going out for dinner and so were we. Heather Bailey arrived to go with us and then we went to pick up Onn Chin. (Onn invited me into the house to select scarves from Cynthia's vast collection. I chose one for summer and one for winter, both turquoise which was one of Cynthia's favourite colours.)
Eleven of us gathered at a large round table to enjoy a wonderful dinner at Rock Kung Asian Restaurant on the Kingsway. It is oldest restaurant on the street and packed with people. Onn ordered food for all of us. He has a way of selecting foods that together form a fabulous meal. We enjoyed a delicious array of fish, meat, veg, rice, noodles, all served from a large lazy-susan in the middle of the table. We were able to select from several choices of dessert - deep fried pineapple, banana, ice cream and milk. Yes, deep fried milk. There were lots of questions about what that could possibly be. Of course, Jim ordered the milk and so did Heather. Two pieces of deep fried batter came on a plate accompanied by vanilla ice cream. Inside the batter was a soft white pudding-like substance. We decided it was a milk curd. It had quite a bland taste with texture of cream cheese inside the crispy batter. Interesting? Yes!! But I really enjoyed my deep fried pineapple.
All too soon the evening came to an end. This was the first of many farewells that lie ahead of us. Steven and Jan Emms, Gael and Robert O'Brien, Veronica and Robert Woods, as well as others - will miss them all. Our time is really getting limited. It was especially difficult to say farewell to Onn, a dear and special friend. We wish him well as he makes his way through a huge time of change in his life.
Friday, November 16, 2018
It is hard to believe that this is the last week day that we will be in Glen Waverley. How can time pass by so quickly? But it is time to move on.
We began our day with several more laughs and conversation with our hosts, Ian and Anne. We are so grateful to them for opening their home to us and for sharing their car. It has been a real treat to have a true home to live in and to come to know Ian and Anne so much better.
We had several things we wanted to do today as our time in Australia draws to a close. First, was another coffee at Muddings, our favourite Kingsway bakery. The cappuccinos did not disappoint and the apple scroll and pizza slice were also delicious. Next we visited Wesley College, only to learn that their uniform shop does not open until noon today. Back home, Jim hung out the laundry and I attended to some messages and emails. And we were off again.
This time, the Wesley College uniform shop was open but they had absolutely nothing with either a W or the name Wesley on it. Sorry, Wesley, but nothing from Wesley College for you. We did take a photo of the name on one of the buildings for you!!
Lunch today was back at the Glen Waverley RSL Club. We are getting to know their senior menu well. Today, Jim opted for the lamb shank and I chose the roast beef dinner. Our friends, Warren and Judith Greenwood, chose lamb's brain (yes ... brain) and a roast beef dinner. For those of you who know them well, I will let you decide who made which selection. The food was delicious all round and the conversation was certainly lively. Topics ranged from grandchildren to church activities to children to retirement activities and homes, to grandchildren and grandchildren and grandchildren. We are all blessed to have children and grandchildren who love us and see us regularly.
Time marched on and we all had other places to be. Warren and Judith headed off in two different directions. Jim took me back home to put more laundry on the line and he went to a shop in the nearby suburb of Hallam to get the car detailed before we officially turn it back over to our generous hosts.
In just a couple of hours, a group of 21 friends will come to a party at the McMillan home as farewell to us. Nibbles and conversation will dominate the evening followed by heartfelt hugs as we bid good bye to many of them with a promise to return again in a couple of years.
Saturday, November 17, 2018
Our final full day ....
As usual, Saturday morning began with coffee at the Glen. Such a great group of people! Wonderful conversations and friendships that have spanned 18 years for us. We are delighted that somehow we have been able to maintain close relationships although we only come every two or three years.
I enjoyed a vegemite scroll for breakfast from Baker's Delight. This bakery chain has made its way to Canada under the name of Cobbs Bakery. The colours, the layout and the products are almost identical to the shops in Australia. Except that the Canadian bakeries do not make vegemite scrolls. So one last one for the road ....
Back we went to Ian and Anne's for a light lunch (mostly leftovers from last night) before heading up into the Dandenongs to meet the walking group at the Dandenong Botanical Garden. It was a glorious day, much nicer than last Monday when we spent the day exploring the Dandenongs in grey and dreary weather.
Ian and Anne dropped me off at the Olinda Cafe where I spent a delightful hour reading and writing. Soon the walking group joined me and we all had another coffee together. There is a quite a large overlap between the morning coffee group and the walking group. Deb Amos and Heather Bailey had made plans to visit a peony garden on the Mornington Peninsula so they were not part of the crowd. We had said goodbye to both of them this morning with promises to keep in touch and meet again as soon as we could.
After a couple of hours of writing and reading, I was joined by about 25 'walkers' just in from a hot day in the garden. The cafe had set up tables for us and pretty soon coffees were in hand, cakes were in front of us and the environment resounded with lively conversation and laughter. All too soon the time passed and we began another round of farewells.
A short and beautiful drive took us back ' home (we were passengers this time and could truly drink in the beauty of the area) where we very quickly changed clothes and got ready to go out for the evening.
This time we were visiting friends, Jacques and Brigitta, who we first met in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1981 when we were all graduate students at the University of Michigan. From 1984 to 1995, we did not see them at all but we kept in touch through letters and photos. They had moved to Melbourne for work and we had returned to Waterloo ... a world away from each other. Who would have guessed that eventually we would arrive in Australia and see them face to face again in 1995? And, since then, we have spent a lovely evening with them each time we are in Australia. We had a delightful dinner, an animated conversation and some wonderful reflection on a longtime friendship.
Home to bed ... our last night.
Sunday, November 18, 2018
We got up, finished packing, cleaned our room and headed off to church (not bad before 9:15 am). We enjoyed the service and, especially, the tea time afterwards. So many special people to greet, hug and make a promise to return.
At about noon, we arrived back at the McMillan's and loaded our luggage into the car. Off for lunch at Mango Tree where we enjoyed a sumptuous array of beautiful Thai food. The finale was black sticky rice with fresh mango. Absolutely delicious!! This was a modest attempt to say thank you to our hosts for their graciousness and their hospitality over the last several weeks. We have enjoyed our time together thoroughly!
After lunch, Anne and Ian transported us to an airport hotel where we were spending the night in preparation for an early morning flight to Vanuatu. Our Australian experience has truly come to an end. But, once again, we have promised we will be back!!!
Monday, November 12, 2018
This week began in Healesville. After a lovely weekend with friends, we packed up our cabin and loaded the car. One final day of touring awaited us.
We headed toward a new destination, Donnelly's Weir, which has been described as a terrific place to find a variety of bird species. We were excited about it as our favourite place, Badgers Weir, had been badly damaged in a storm and was closed to the public until repairs were done.
The road started out as a lovely paved road, two lanes wide. It gradually narrowed and finally became a one lane dirt track winding through a mature eucalypt forest. The trees surrounding us were tall and majestic. Some of them had extremely thick trunks and would have made amazing furniture or timber for housing. Happily, they are well protected as part of a state forest ... except for the fire that will eventually sweep through this beautiful area. All eucalypt forests eventually are exposed to fire as that is the only way that eucalypt seeds can be released and propagation can occur.
We were within sight of Donnelly Weir when we encountered a rather deep water crossing. There was a steep incline that led into the water and we were uncomfortable trying to navigate our borrowed car through it. A nearby sign might have provided a clue to the outcome of such an attempt. "Not Recommended for 2 WD Vehicles". Enough said. Donnelly Weir was off the destination list today.
We were driving through some very rich agricultural land when we passed by fields upon fields of strawberries. The plants were flourishing and loaded with ripe strawberries. Pickers were scattered across the fields, bending low to pick the berries. Tractors pulling wagons loaded with large boxes of berries were scurrying to and from the packing plant that was just across the road. Trucks were pulling out of the parking area and heading toward markets and wholesalers. This was strawberry season in action!!
As we continued along the road, we left the strawberry fields. They were replaces with acres and acres of pastureland peppered with cattle, sheep and some horses. It is spring here and, in spite or a dearth of rain, the grass was lush and green. The animals must have been enjoying this fresh meal.
Vineyards also dotted the landscape and many small wineries were marketing their products.
We finally reached the turn in the road that would take us out of the Yarra Valley and onto the climb up into the Dandenong Ranges. We passed through some residential areas where houses ranged from very modest to absolutely opulent. What bound them all together were the water tanks that were carefully placed in each yard. Water is at a premium in this area and rain water, however much or little falls from the sky, is carefully harvested through gutters and tubing and stored in these large tanks. The contents of some of the tanks are destined for domestic use. But most of the tanks are clearly labelled ... for fire fighting only. Yes, homes that are built in wooded areas are vulnerable to fire. Every home needs a fire evacuation plan and water to assist in fighting the fire.
The CFA (Country Fire Authority) has stations throughout the Dandenong Ranges and trained staff and volunteers at the ready to fight fires. Prominent signs are posted along the roadways to indicate the level of fire danger each day. The danger level is also broadcast as a part of the weather forecast on radio and television. On extreme fire days, residents are encouraged to leave their homes and seek safe shelter just in case a fire occurs.
On this particular day, the fire danger was quite low and we felt safe as we headed high into the hills to enjoy the beauty of the Dandenongs. Our first stop was The Outlook, a garden and viewpoint at the top of the mountains with an amazing view of the forest, metropolitan Melbourne, the skyscrapers in the CBD and the vast Port Phillip Bay beyond.
Sadly, the day was quite overcast and, though we could see all of these places, the scene was quite grey and dreary. Not what we had hoped for. But the coffee was good and the vastness of the scene was still breathtaking.
We carried on down the road to the National Rhododendron Garden. As we approached, we discerned that the name had been changed to the Dandenong Botanical Garden. Either way, the rhododendrons were well passed their prime and all tours and train tours through the gardens had been discontinued as of Melbourne Cup Day, a full week earlier. Oh well ... strike number 2!!
We continued along the road to a delightful town called Olinda. Interesting shops and cafes lined the streets on both sides. Clearly a tourist town, there was a little bit of everything there to appeal to tourists of all types. An award winning restaurant attracted our attention. "Pie in the Sky" has won numerous awards for its wide variety of savoury pies. That was where we decided to have lunch. Jim ordered a beef pie and I ordered a tandoori chicken pie. Both were delicious, including the pastry. High praise from Jim, to be sure.
We began our descent down the steep slope toward the city. Part way down was a stop called Grant's Picnic Ground. In the past, there has been a myriad of bird varieties that gathered at Grant's to be fed by the tourists. Over the years, it has been commercialized and now birdseed is sold inside a protected area. Sadly, sulphur-crested cockatoos, large raucous and bossy birds have become the predominant species here. We drove through the parking lot but we did not stop. The birds we wanted to see were no where to be found.
Strike 3!!
In spite of striking out on the day in the Dandenongs, we still had enjoyed our drive. It is a beautiful area; no rain had fallen in spite of how overcast it was and we had enjoyed a delicious lunch. It was now time to turn the car toward town as we were due to go out for dinner with friends.
A couple of hours later we met Heather and Robert Elkhuizen at an elegant Italian restaurant and thoroughly enjoyed the food, the company and the conversation. Jim and I shared a squid ink fettucine dish which was magnificent in appearance and flavour. Yum. The conversation was bright, entertaining, thought-provoking, honest and humorous, just as you would expect among good friends who had not seen each other for a while. This delightful evening ended all too soon.
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
This was a remarkably quiet morning. Our social calendar was uncharacteristically vacant and we enjoyed spending the time at home attending to a variety of tasks that had been previously set aside. I was far behind with this blog and set a goal of catching up before the day's end. When my memory failed me, I used maps, our calendar and Jim's memory to help me along.
We went to pick up Heather Bailey around noon as we were all invited to Bryan Fialho's home for lunch. Jim and I had met Bryan when we were in Italy with a group of Australian friends a few years ago. We hit it off with Bryan and have maintained contact ever since. Happily, Bryan is also a long time friend of Heather's so there is also a nice connection to our larger circle of Australian friends.
Heather guided us to Bryan's home in a suburb outside the city which Jim and I had never visited. He greeted us warmly, showed off his extensive Christmas decorations, already unpacked and set up for the season. The main event among these decorations is the extensive village of houses, trains and other accoutrements that occupy a large portion of a sitting room. All connected electrically, music plays, trains move, merry-go-rounds circle and lights go on and off. It must take him days to set it up and dismantle it.
Bryan had prepared a lovely lunch for us - three kinds of curry, a delicious raita and some beautiful saffron rice. We enjoyed this home-prepared food immensely along with the conversation, story-telling and laughter. Tea and mince tarts finished the meal and before we knew it the afternoon was almost over.
On our way back to Glen Waverley, we stopped at one of our favourite places, Churchill National Park. Jim and Heather went for a wander in the bush and found three kangaroos along the way. Churchill Park is a beautiful place where one is almost guaranteed to find kangaroos. Many of our friends right here in Melbourne do not know about this park and we have introduced many to Churchill Park with much surprise.
Late in the afternoon, we headed for an area of Melbourne known as Chadstone. Like Glen Waverley, Chadstone has gone through a transformation in population, culture and retail. Chadstone Shopping Centre was always a large regional mall, yet we were absolutly astonished by how much it has expanded. Similar to, but more extensive than Glen Waverley, Chadstone has added towers of apartments and condos, hundreds of retail shops and restaurants, and large expanses of underground parking. We did not go into the mall but felt that one would need an electric cart to travel from one end to the other, especially if you were carrying parcels.
We had arranged to have dinner with Charlotte Baines at the Hog's Breath Steakhouse near Chadstone. Charlotte is the daughter of friends, John, with whom we had dinner last week, and Annette, who sadly passed away with cancer in 2005. I mentioned her earlier in this blog when we visited her gravesite.
Charlotte is now in her mid thirties and a very accomplished professional woman. She studied law at university and was elected onto the local Glen Waverley council at a very young age. After a few short years, she became mayor of Glen Waverley and held that post for 3 years. Charlotte then embarked on study for her PhD, looking at the relationship between the role of religion and the role of the state in enacting law and culture in a community. To say the least, conversation with Charlotte is always very interesting. She raises great questions and provides thought-provoking insights about Australian culture.
We seemed to be the last patrons remaining in the restaurant so we finally decided it was time to go home. Another great evening with a good friend.
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
This morning was my favourite morning of all. We were going out for breakfast at a restaurant that served smashed avocado. Australian avocado is absolutely delicious, picked ripe from the tree and served soon after. No need to import avocados here. The avocado is peeled and the seed removed. The it is sliced and laid atop a lovely piece of toasted sourdough bread. Lightly smashed with a fork, it forms a creamy texture. Topped with seeds and greens, in this case toasted pumpkin seeds and fresh herbs, this dish is served with a poached egg on top. I asked for my egg on the side as I wanted to enjoy the smashed avocado as a dish unto itself. It was amazing!!
We were joined for breakfast with Deb and Bill and, as always, the conversation was light and lively. Such great friends ... They both work for the CFA and provide deep insight into the role of fire in Australian forests. They were also able to share quite a bit of insight into the dreadful fires that are ravaging California at the moment.
Following breakfast we embarked on our drive to Phillip Island. Phillip Island is south of Melbourne located in Port Phillip Bay. The drive takes about 1 1/2 hours through very pleasant agricultural landscape. The early morning rain had ended and the early morning traffic has passed so we were able to drive along at our leisure and enjoy the views.
Once out of the city, we were surrounded on all sides by vivid green pastures that were filled with cattle, horses and sheep. Because the grass in this area is so healthy in the spring, animal owners often rent the land so that their herds can eat the grass in these fields. Agistment is a common practice on the Mornington Peninsula and on Phillip Island. It provides nutritious food for the animals and rental income for the property owners.
Our destination was the village of Cowes and lunch at Pam and Malcolm Bunney's new holiday home. The home was designed and decorated by Pam and Malcolm. It is spacious and comfortable, painted and decorated in soft colours, a perfect spot for a midweek getaway from the busyness of Melbourne.
We enjoyed a delicious bbq meal, mostly prepared by Malcolm on the barbeque. Vegetables and lovely salads awaited us at the table. And mince tarts for dessert. The Christmas season is approaching
After lunch, Malcolm and Pam took us on a drive around many areas of Cowes. House styles varied from area to area, including many new homes that had been constructed, especially close to the beach areas. We also saw many, many species of birds (pelicans, black swans, ibis, gulls, and other seabirds). We stopped along our route to pick up some Australian sand for Edward. He has quite a collection of sand from different countries.
When we returned to Pam and Malcolm's home, it was time for us to begin our drive back into the city. It was a pleasant drive home. We managed to avoid most of the rush hour traffic while enjoying the lovely green landscape along the way.
Tonight was a rare event. We were actually staying at home to enjoy a dinner with our hosts, Anne and Ian. Ribs and vegetables were the mainstay of our meal along with some wonderful wine provided from John Hurst's extensive wine cellar. Lots of laughter and story telling accompanied the meal and well beyond. It was great to spend the evening together.
Thursday, November 15, 2018
Our day began with another quiet morning. Jim got a beard trim and I spent some time organizing photos. Then, we headed off to have lunch at Helen and Pete Stewart's home. When they answered the door, it was clear that they were surprised. In fact, they had been expecting us yesterday. Oops! Somehow the time zones in our calendar had been mixed up and the arrangement had been noted on the wrong day. Happily, they were home, able to laugh it off and served us the food from yesterday. Our conversation was as wide-ranging as ever.
Following lunch, I returned home for a nap while Jim went to clean out our storage boxes at Morgans' house. Most of the contents either went to the garbage or were packed away again to be donated to next year's church fete. There were a few interesting items, such as memorabilia and various books about Australian culture and wildlife. We will only be able to take home what fits in our suitcases so we still have some sorting to do.
McMillan's were going out for dinner and so were we. Heather Bailey arrived to go with us and then we went to pick up Onn Chin. (Onn invited me into the house to select scarves from Cynthia's vast collection. I chose one for summer and one for winter, both turquoise which was one of Cynthia's favourite colours.)
Eleven of us gathered at a large round table to enjoy a wonderful dinner at Rock Kung Asian Restaurant on the Kingsway. It is oldest restaurant on the street and packed with people. Onn ordered food for all of us. He has a way of selecting foods that together form a fabulous meal. We enjoyed a delicious array of fish, meat, veg, rice, noodles, all served from a large lazy-susan in the middle of the table. We were able to select from several choices of dessert - deep fried pineapple, banana, ice cream and milk. Yes, deep fried milk. There were lots of questions about what that could possibly be. Of course, Jim ordered the milk and so did Heather. Two pieces of deep fried batter came on a plate accompanied by vanilla ice cream. Inside the batter was a soft white pudding-like substance. We decided it was a milk curd. It had quite a bland taste with texture of cream cheese inside the crispy batter. Interesting? Yes!! But I really enjoyed my deep fried pineapple.
All too soon the evening came to an end. This was the first of many farewells that lie ahead of us. Steven and Jan Emms, Gael and Robert O'Brien, Veronica and Robert Woods, as well as others - will miss them all. Our time is really getting limited. It was especially difficult to say farewell to Onn, a dear and special friend. We wish him well as he makes his way through a huge time of change in his life.
Friday, November 16, 2018
It is hard to believe that this is the last week day that we will be in Glen Waverley. How can time pass by so quickly? But it is time to move on.
We began our day with several more laughs and conversation with our hosts, Ian and Anne. We are so grateful to them for opening their home to us and for sharing their car. It has been a real treat to have a true home to live in and to come to know Ian and Anne so much better.
We had several things we wanted to do today as our time in Australia draws to a close. First, was another coffee at Muddings, our favourite Kingsway bakery. The cappuccinos did not disappoint and the apple scroll and pizza slice were also delicious. Next we visited Wesley College, only to learn that their uniform shop does not open until noon today. Back home, Jim hung out the laundry and I attended to some messages and emails. And we were off again.
This time, the Wesley College uniform shop was open but they had absolutely nothing with either a W or the name Wesley on it. Sorry, Wesley, but nothing from Wesley College for you. We did take a photo of the name on one of the buildings for you!!
Lunch today was back at the Glen Waverley RSL Club. We are getting to know their senior menu well. Today, Jim opted for the lamb shank and I chose the roast beef dinner. Our friends, Warren and Judith Greenwood, chose lamb's brain (yes ... brain) and a roast beef dinner. For those of you who know them well, I will let you decide who made which selection. The food was delicious all round and the conversation was certainly lively. Topics ranged from grandchildren to church activities to children to retirement activities and homes, to grandchildren and grandchildren and grandchildren. We are all blessed to have children and grandchildren who love us and see us regularly.
Time marched on and we all had other places to be. Warren and Judith headed off in two different directions. Jim took me back home to put more laundry on the line and he went to a shop in the nearby suburb of Hallam to get the car detailed before we officially turn it back over to our generous hosts.
In just a couple of hours, a group of 21 friends will come to a party at the McMillan home as farewell to us. Nibbles and conversation will dominate the evening followed by heartfelt hugs as we bid good bye to many of them with a promise to return again in a couple of years.
Saturday, November 17, 2018
Our final full day ....
As usual, Saturday morning began with coffee at the Glen. Such a great group of people! Wonderful conversations and friendships that have spanned 18 years for us. We are delighted that somehow we have been able to maintain close relationships although we only come every two or three years.
I enjoyed a vegemite scroll for breakfast from Baker's Delight. This bakery chain has made its way to Canada under the name of Cobbs Bakery. The colours, the layout and the products are almost identical to the shops in Australia. Except that the Canadian bakeries do not make vegemite scrolls. So one last one for the road ....
Back we went to Ian and Anne's for a light lunch (mostly leftovers from last night) before heading up into the Dandenongs to meet the walking group at the Dandenong Botanical Garden. It was a glorious day, much nicer than last Monday when we spent the day exploring the Dandenongs in grey and dreary weather.
Ian and Anne dropped me off at the Olinda Cafe where I spent a delightful hour reading and writing. Soon the walking group joined me and we all had another coffee together. There is a quite a large overlap between the morning coffee group and the walking group. Deb Amos and Heather Bailey had made plans to visit a peony garden on the Mornington Peninsula so they were not part of the crowd. We had said goodbye to both of them this morning with promises to keep in touch and meet again as soon as we could.
After a couple of hours of writing and reading, I was joined by about 25 'walkers' just in from a hot day in the garden. The cafe had set up tables for us and pretty soon coffees were in hand, cakes were in front of us and the environment resounded with lively conversation and laughter. All too soon the time passed and we began another round of farewells.
A short and beautiful drive took us back ' home (we were passengers this time and could truly drink in the beauty of the area) where we very quickly changed clothes and got ready to go out for the evening.
This time we were visiting friends, Jacques and Brigitta, who we first met in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1981 when we were all graduate students at the University of Michigan. From 1984 to 1995, we did not see them at all but we kept in touch through letters and photos. They had moved to Melbourne for work and we had returned to Waterloo ... a world away from each other. Who would have guessed that eventually we would arrive in Australia and see them face to face again in 1995? And, since then, we have spent a lovely evening with them each time we are in Australia. We had a delightful dinner, an animated conversation and some wonderful reflection on a longtime friendship.
Home to bed ... our last night.
Sunday, November 18, 2018
We got up, finished packing, cleaned our room and headed off to church (not bad before 9:15 am). We enjoyed the service and, especially, the tea time afterwards. So many special people to greet, hug and make a promise to return.
At about noon, we arrived back at the McMillan's and loaded our luggage into the car. Off for lunch at Mango Tree where we enjoyed a sumptuous array of beautiful Thai food. The finale was black sticky rice with fresh mango. Absolutely delicious!! This was a modest attempt to say thank you to our hosts for their graciousness and their hospitality over the last several weeks. We have enjoyed our time together thoroughly!
After lunch, Anne and Ian transported us to an airport hotel where we were spending the night in preparation for an early morning flight to Vanuatu. Our Australian experience has truly come to an end. But, once again, we have promised we will be back!!!
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