Tuesday night, Wed Morning.. just North of Taradale

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Got a coffee from the coffee van in the art precinct. Went to get my 2 walking sticks that I must have left outside the servo/ general-store/ post-office, after I first went in to get a pastie and coke around 1pm. They were thrown over against the fence. The man said he thought kids must have left 'em there. A man was in getting his mail or something like that, and as i left i asked if he knew of anyone who might have a bed for the night. He took me back inside to the postoffice man and between them we tried any other options. None had a vacancy tonight. Some suggested Kyneton. Last ditch, the customer man said Tarastone Winery about 2 or 3 km North, just might have accomodation.  So i said thank you and walked along the highway, found it, and walked up the long driveway. A lovely winetasting bungalow. The little dog barked to see such fun, and i followed the signage which said to knock on the house door. A wiry wine grower met me on the way. No they didn't have any accommodation, sorry. We talked briefly, & when i asked if I could possibly sleep in the small hay shed i passed on the way up the driveway, something clicked in him, and he said no. He led me back to his beautiful wine tasting bungalow, to a bedroom which he said was his, & becomes his when the grandchildren visit. And this Macedonian man, Costa, 

said this would be where I slept tonight. I said I could pay, he said we'll sort it out tomorrow. Then he made me a cup of tea, and a cold drink, let me use his toilet, and shared stories about Europe, 53 yrs in Australia, carpet laying, pioneering this farm 33 yrs ago, grandchildren, fishing trips to Bourke and Menindee lakes, & his wife brought me a beautiful roast lamb leg, fresh tomatoes, cheese and bread, a meal i would have been hard pressed to find in a restaurant.

Costa had been to about 20 funerals recently of friends and neighbours. We commented on not being here for ever, or even for very long.

But during my small stay here at their farm, i had been welcomed so warmly, it was hard to believe.

Thank you Costa & Julia, and the crestive love that connected us through a tenuous collection of threads, end on end. 

I hope to bring my son & daughter-in-law back next visit, for some Shiraz or Cabernet from their  cellar door!

Costa wakes 4:30-5am, and offered to share a coffee before I head off in the morning.

Good night!

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