After a long but uneventful day of travel by plane (Darwin - Adelaide - Melbourne) and car (Melbourne to Yarragon), we arrived at Retreat Cottage about 10.00pm on Monday night. As we pulled up in the drive with the wind blowing the trees and the cold rain misting our view, we felt a deep and settled sense of having both left home and come home in the one day. There were no unpleasant surprises as we entered the cottage. All was as we had left it - still clean and fresh. Someone had even come in and made the bed (Thanks Tessa!).

Our plan for this week was to have no plan. No plan for painting. No plan for gardening. No plan for shopping trips to Bunnings or IKEA. No plan for anything much.  We have stuck to the 'no plan' plan and let each day and evening unfold as it will.

Sue is healing well from the implanting of the port though there are some interesting (now yellow) bruises that indicate that she was gripped and squeezed in ways and places that I (as a gentleman) will not dared describe. Other then the ever-present tiredness, and issues with sleep, Sue is travelling well.

This morning Sue decided to have a bath in the large spa that is in the lounge room of the cottage (it was built as a B&B). As she luxuriated in the bubbles I received a text message from a friend of ours from a nearby town, Pauline, who announced that she was 'in Yarragon' and had something to drop off to us and asked whether it was convenient to pop in. I replied that Sue was presently in the spa bath but by all means come over when convenient. Pauline replied 'Actually, I am out the front of your place now!"  Keeping completely calm and in control I simply announced to Sue that we were about to receive a visitor and she might like to ensure the bubbles were appropriately positioned to protect her modesty. Seeing Sue's look of surprise (shock?) I told her who the visitor was and reminded her that Pauline was a nurse - so had seen plenty of people naked!!

To her credit, Sue handled the whole event with grace and dignity. It was rather amusing though to have a lengthy casual catch-up chat with Pauline and me sitting in lounge chairs and Sue lying in the spa nearby and contributing from there.  I assured Sue that what happens in Yarragon stays in Yarragon, but may be reported on this blog!

As well as providing great amusement and a unique start to the day, Pauline also left us with some ANZAC and some shortbread biscuits.

A little place in the country. A morning 'spa-ty'. Home delivered treats. Talk about living the dream!