Bucolic pleasantries

I mentioned in my last post that we recently bought an acre of land in the country, so I feel that I should introduce it to you!

 * * * * * *

Towards the end of last year we were thinking of moving to the island of Tasmania.

Tasmania

We spent a couple of wonderful holidays in Tasmania.  We motored around the island, checking out the lay of the land, considering our options, and deciding upon possibilities.  It is a lovely part of the world and Mr. A. has close links to it as some of his ancestors went there as free settlers in the 1810s, but when we considered all the angles we realised that, alas, it would not be feasible to move to Tasmania at our time of life.  There is not a lot of work to be had, especially in our chosen fields, and it would be difficult for our family and friends to come visiting.  Reluctantly, we shelved the idea.

We then decided to look in our own back garden: the fabulous state of Victoria.  What a wonderful part of the world it is.  We checked the real estate web sites and discussed the possibilities of the various regions, eventually deciding that we wanted somewhere that had a high elevation, high rainfall, the sorts of things that we like (good food, nice countryside, civilised activities etc).  After visiting a couple of properties we decided that rather than buy an old house and renovate it, we would buy land and build our own. 

It was then that we came across the perfect piece of land upon which to establish our ‘estate’.  Mr. A. put in an offer to the owner on the very same day, and that is why we are now the proud owners of a block of land in the Daylesford-Macedon region. 

Here it is:



The above photo shows the line of Spanish Chestnut trees.  The tree closest to the camera is a walnut tree.
On the other side of the Chestnut trees there is a long meadow:

 And at the end of the meadow one walks into a small forest of Chestnut trees.

The trees are somewhat spindly, but we like them.  They will need some care and attention.  We have big plans for this little copse.

Within the copse is a well:

As you can see it is somewhat primitive, being nothing more than a hole in the ground with a pump attached, but we have had plans drawn up to have it beautified with a proper well head.  Mr. McGregor (the builder) is in charge of that and we shall see what we shall see...
I rigged up a bucket and rope system for drawing up the water, which after testing is deliciously drinkable!   This is good because there is no running water to the property (and no gas either)  At least there is an electricity supply!!

The land itself is part of an old dairy farm which was subdivided some time ago.  Apart form the well, our block contains an old, ramshackle cow shed which is used to store fire wood, and a rather characterful hut that has 'possibilities':

Mr McGregor's wife informed me that the hut was used in the 1940s as a potato pickers hut.  I like that.  The cowshed (which is on the right in this photo) will have to go, but the hut is going to become our very own dacha of sorts.
Those are hazelnut bushes surrounding the buildings and the old water tank,.  So what with chestnuts, and walnut trees, we should be quite okay for nuts!!!  

I hope that you enjoyed this rather rushed trip around our new purchase.  Last week was Easter and social commitments here and there made it difficult to find the time to visit my blog, but here is a simnel cake that I made to celebrate that special time.  
Do help yourself and while you are at it you can look at this website which show what the Daylesford Macedon region has to offer!

http://www.visitmelbourne.com/Regions/Daylesford-and-the-Macedon-Ranges

Advent: Week 2 and a half

When Robert Burns wrote:

          'The best laid schemes o' mice an' men

          Gang oft agley…'

He might have been writing about me!

Last Friday AGA and I were invited out to dinner with some American friends of ours and as the night drew to a close I began to feel unwell. It felt as though I was coming down with some sort of sniffy cold.

The next day I could barely get out of bed!  Gone were the plans for visiting the Christmas markets, doing a spot of Christmas shopping, and making a few preliminary mince pies…

I felt dreadful: Head pounding, nose blocked, legs weak - the usual thing.

So I stayed in bed.

I thought perhaps that it might be one of 'those 24 hour things': Irritating while they are present but soon gone.

Alas no.  

It remained well entrenched on Sunday; and on Monday I dutifully trotted down to the place I dislike going to the most: "The Doctor's Surgery".  

I went early (7:30 in the morning actually) but whether one is in London, in Melbourne, in Ludlow or in Kaiserswerth, those places are all the same.  Feeling just about ready to ask for the Last Rites, One arrives to find a waiting room seemingly filled to the brim with healthy looking people who give the occasional cough.  

I cast a bleary eye over the happy throng: 

Malingerers!  

Hypochondriacs each and every one of them!!

(With the possible exception of him with the broken arm and that woman over there with the hacking cough) 

I chose a spot in the corner, settled and prepared for the long wait.

There are three doctors in the practice I go to, but the one I usually see is a very nice chap named Herr Rassmann.  He speaks English (which is a bonus) and is a very nice man as well.

Fore-warned is fore-armed and while I don't attend the Doctors' on a regular basis, I do know what it would be like in the waiting room.  That is why I arrived armed with 'The Magic Pudding' by Norman Lindsay: my favourite book to read when feeling unwell.

The one hour I waited until it was my 'turn' to see the Doctor, soon slipped by.

The diagnosis was a viral infection coupled with a bacterial infection, and for good measure an inner ear infection.  No wonder I felt so awful.

And so here it is Wednesday and I am just starting to feel better.  That's what a box of thin torpedo-like pills, coloured a rather nice shade of racing-green does for you, when combined with a box of regulation-white headache tablets, and copious cups of tea.

And as a result, my planned Blog post is somewhat late and somewhat abbreviated.

* * * * * *

These last few days have seen AGA rushing about like a mad thing; combining work and nursing duties.  He is a champ.

But my schemes (like those of Burns' mouse) have gone 'agley':
The Christmas tree is not 'up'
I have not sent Christmas cards to relatives in England.

There are no mince pies yet, and the cake has not been 'marzipanned'.

(Bad colds that occur at Christmas time, are even more of a bother than those that arrive at normal times!)

Anyway, the extremely stormy weather we have had in recent weeks blew away all the cobwebs, and all the leaves too!

I do like the trees when all you can see is there trunks, branches and twigs,  They are asleep for the Winter and there is something magical about the way they look, their branchy splendour revealed for all to gaze upon and wonder!

And the second stage of our Christmas Nativity being in place, I made a special walk down to the Basilica today; not only to see it, but to take a photograph or two for you.  We have moved forward in time to the Annunciation:

The prophet has moved to one side.  Our Lady and the Archangel Gabriel are taking centre stage:

And so to bed. . .

I hope that you enjoyed this little post!