Six years ago, just after we decided to get married, we went on holiday to a small, pretty town in Victoria called Daylesford. This week we’re going there again for a little retreat.
We loved it so much in 2004, and especially loved the cottage we rented for the stay. Amazingly, given Easter is such a busy period, we were able to book the same little blue cottage that was ours all those years. ago.
I’ve been reflecting on what it’s like to go back to the same place this morning. When we first had the idea, I wondered if it was silly to go back when there are so many great places we could choose instead, but we are in some ways different people to who we were in 2004, and I like the fact that it will be an opportunity to think about where life has taken us in the intervening years. Not too much of course, because holidays are for fun and relaxing, but I really like a bit of thinking time, too.
In early 2004, we were newly engaged, still living in our one bedroom house in the inner suburbs and we didn’t yet know that we were going to face infertility.
Significantly, I wasn’t yet knitting. I was crocheting and had made some blankets and baby clothes for friends, a cardigan or two for myself but I don’t believe I’d picked up knitting needles since childhood by that point. I remember I spent that holiday crocheting blanket squares for my yet to be born nephew, Willem, who was only a couple of months from entering the world. I even have a photo of the blanket, which is odd given I hardly photographed anything I made back then.
Gosh how poorly did I photograph that? Flash in a darkened room? That’s another thing that’s changed in the intervening years. I know a little more about photography now (but am still entirely self taught).
On that holiday in 2004, I bought some needles and some wool. Not there, but later, when we went on to Melbourne. But I didn’t knit anything in particular until a few months later.
This time, I’m returning with no fewer than four or five projects on the go and a bit of excitement about checking out the local wool shop, Purl’s Palace. I know of a few local knitters from blogs and Ravelry and hope to maybe see anyone who’s around if there’s a weekend gathering planned at the shop? Let me know if you’re from Daylesford and know of anything happening over the break. Maybe I’ll see you around?
We’re so looking forward to five days of resting, walking around, riding our bikes, exploring the mineral springs the area is famous for, eating out and enjoying the lovely blue cottage where it sits on a rise on the outskirts of town.
Not to mention the hours of knitting time on the journey. I have promised Sean I’ll do my fair share of the driving but even with that, it’s an eight hour drive and that’s ample time for getting loads done.
Bells
