Day 64:

Our night at Ararat was very disturbed by not only trains that felt like they were using our van as the rail tracks but we heard what we thought was a gun shot and then multiple sirens happening for what seems like hours. Turns out the local primary school burnt to the ground, unfortunately.

We left for the long drive into Yarra Valley. We had decided to bypass Melbourne as much as we could cause the van. We went down some very questionable country roads as we tried to cut across country below Bendigo. Turned out to be close to seven hours of travel stopping for coffee and some great baked cheesecake at Castlemaine and then onto Seymour for lunch where the only parking we could get easily was outside a pop up burger place. We have had so many burgers on this trip, it seems the only thing that roadhouses and cafes can make. Many varieties of hamburger for him and chicken for me, frisbees come to mind with some of the patties, the salad a bit sad and the buns extremely depressed. But the Seymour place was good and very popular but I am so over them all.

We finally arrived in our beautiful valley escape about 3.30 and within the hour I was sitting on the lounge and lounging, ahhh the bliss, although we do find we can't get used to the space. He keeps talking to me and I can be three rooms away and cannot hear him, surprise, surprise. The sun was out and the view sublime as always.

Day 65:

Blissful quiet night but we were exhausted. Woke to an absolute white out fog but within a couple of hours a stunning day with stunning views with expected 27 degrees. We have the most amazing flocks of ducklings around that seem to like near the house as their feeding area. Up to 18 in one group and we think there is another. Just came up near the dining room at the top of the dam so gorgeous, they are quite big but not up to flying yet but fantastic to see as there are foxes around the area. The cows are all black this time, bit boring and there are 22 which we have to count a couple of times a day cause we have a couple of 'jumpers'. And if they get out we have to walk them up the lane and close the gate to that paddock, really, how do you tell a cow turn around and go back from whence you came. On twenty-five acres so they do go far, far away sometimes and we have no idea where they are. Although I did have an audience whilst dressing yesterday as they move around the house and sticky beak in the bedroom window if they see someone in there.

Anyway, we had a luncheon appointment at Mandala Winery to celebrate Jacqueline's 38th birthday, erchh my eldest is getting old way too fast. The winery was about 30 minutes away in Dixon Creek in a magnificently beautiful area of the Yarra Valley. Wow, it was a fabulous lunch only spoilt by a noisy group near us and the acoustics disgusting, couldn't hear ourselves but will catch up much more whilst we are here. We enjoyed: Quail Involtini with quail eggs, duck and mushroom pate, deep fried baby prawns and beef carpaccio for entrée. Mains: I had a magnificent lamb ragu with gnocchi and crispy kale, Wally enjoyed duck ravioli and duck leg, Jacqueline and Richard had wood fired gourmet pizzas of duck and beef salami with strange cheeses. Mr Dessert mind did a sad face when we said no to dessert so we had to have one to share. Ricotta doughnuts with lemon curd and berry coulis. These were only the size of a quail egg and just four of them so we could share, they were just poppable in the mouth type size, so not over the top, made him happy. So much better than burgers in red dust country just too many people for my liking.

And so ends another day down on the farm. xx