6 April

As it was Sunday I slept in a little and woke at just before 8 (although I still woke at the normal time for me, just turned over and dozed), got ready for breakfast and was down by 8:30. Again it was a leisurely breakfast, with occasional chats with Linda and Chris’ brother (about Massey Ferguson tractors and levees), before I returned to finish preparing to go out. Just then I noticed it had started to snow and already it was building up.
I walked to the car amid falling and driving snow and it really did feel cool on my head (I should have put the hood of the jacket up). At the car, just opening the door allowed snow to land and build up inside the car, so I had to do everything quickly. When I went to drive off, I had to use both front and back wipers to clear enough to see.
It is only two and a half miles to Peggy’s, so I took it easy and found, as she had said, that the road was full of cars. I went around the back to where the garages were, and then dashed to the back door to ask for the key. That was okay, but of course Peggy told me the garage was on the right (but she didn’t say which right, which for dyslexic people like me is necessary, but she corrected that when she saw I couldn’t open the door. Once I got to the correct door, and opened it, I found the garage was only a foot wider than the car – so leaving an inch of clearance for the mirror on the other side (which I just now realise I could have folded in), I had about seven inches to open the door on my side. I took the laptop and maps, and ran (after locking the door) as it was still snowing quite heavily.
Inside, I sat, displacing the cat cushion, and Peggy and I chatted. Then I got the laptop and found the pictures of Velma at Melbourne and also photos of Terry and Pat at Melbourne. After running through photos of Fran and family, it was then time to prepare dinner, which Peggy did while we then did some more details on the family tree. All of this proved very interesting to me, as while I knew I still had things to find out about the Mullett side, for the last few years I had been concentrating on the Pound side and that, detective-style investigation as it was, had taken all my energy. Over lunch Peggy revealed more about the family that she knew, so now there are a few more blanks which can be filled in (but, naturally, a few more blanks created).
After that we discussed how things had changed over the last few years, including schools and students (and parent expectation and transport), public services and communication. All of this was fascinating, and Peggy continued to ply me with tea (I had run out of room for food, and so the offer of dessert, while yearned for longingly, was something I had to refuse lest I explode over the inside of her home).
The snow had stopped and the (weak) sunshine had melted most of the snow, except that on cars. However, as the weather was far more pleasant, I left to travel back to my B&B in the warmth of the 3°C afternoon. By the time I was back, it was close to 6, so I did the first of my computer work, posted the (no) photos and then did some writing, sending some postcards back to Australia.
After that I did some reading and then retired for an early evening.