December 31st, 2025Just sayin’…
Well, that was a boring Christmas. Kyle and both managed to come down with some random virus which saw us unravelling all of our Christmas plans.
So no overnight trip to friends in Phillip Island, or friends in Frankston. And then we cancelled our Aperitifs for Christmas Eve. But not until we had cancelled Christmas Day with friends in Melbourne. And then we cancelled friends who were coming to stay Boxing Day night.
We watched a lot of television, slept a lot, ate biscuits and cheese for our wonderful Christmas lunch (and dinner) and got not one present. I know, we could have already shopped if we were planners, but we’re not.
However a few days before we got crook, we did make it to the 5000 Club’s Christmas luncheon – and it was fantastic. We joined more than 60 people at Daylesford’s Victoria Park for a three-course lunch with a mango and prawn starter, a roast meal with all the trimmings and then about six choices for dessert.
Well done to all those involved – and these guys do this nearly every Friday for the entire year. Offering not just food but also friendship to anyone keen to come along. It was really heartwarming and a shout-out to all those who volunteer their time throughout our wonderful shire. So many people give their time so freely. It only works because of you. You are appreciated.
Talking of volunteers, we did also get caught up in a house fire (not ours – and everyone was OK) on December 23. We were feeling pretty average by this stage and decided to travel to Woodend to “do” a Click & Collect. I just can’t Click & Collect at Daylesford. I would know the staffer and would feel really lazy. So off we went.
Doesn’t matter where but we saw a fair bit of smoke at a house and I thought “they should not be burning off” while Kyle’s immediate thought was “it’s cold, they’ve got the fire on”. Anyway, we ummed and ahhed, and Kyle did a u-turn and sure enough smoke was billowing out of the roof.
We rang Triple 0 and all three emergency services arrived and I would just like to say how wonderful they all are – volunteer and professional, as in paid.
The CFA was there within minutes – thank you Trentham, Tylden and Spring Hill – and I think there was another back-up team as well. I hope I did not miss anyone. They were all exceptional in not only their firefighting skills but being so kind with the homeowner offering water, something to eat, chairs, ground blankets…
Then the police arrived, once again amazing, they were from Kyneton and Gisborne I think. Again, outstanding and just quietly going about their business.
The ambo arrived next. I have never met an ambo I didn’t like and this bloke was no exception. Also thanks to so many people who stopped to see if help was needed. (No thanks to the grandparents who walked their three-year-old right through the scene declaring “we had no idea there was a fire, he just wanted to see the fire engines”. FFS.)
We are so lucky to live in this amazing region with its wonderful volunteers and professionals. I watched it unfold and felt what can only be described as gratitude. You are all amazing. True heroes. Not just today but every day.
Side note: We got it wrong. Kyle, who has fire training, called 000 while I ran to the home looking for occupants. Whoops. But I can truly say together we saved a woman and her child, two budgies and a cat from a burning house.
A few people who know us asked if we were triggered – we had a house fire before we moved to the Central Highlands. No, is the answer. While it certainly raised our heart rates we always felt once the living beings are out, that’s the best outcome. You can always rebuild. Wishing that family a better 2026.
