Village Walk

 

Remember the Village Walk?
Walking up these steps to the Terracotta Room, sampling the delicious wine on offer. Remember the big silver bowl in the middle and the wines in rows on the wall? Finding myself not quite steady on my feet and deciding better not to drive for a while. And sipping on a steaming hot cup of coffee waiting. Ah..memories - it is good to remember the happy times.

The Christmas Shop of Marysville

It seems appropriate somehow, to write about the Marysville Christmas shop at this time.

I remember seeing this beautiful shop filled with the most beautiful Christmas things - it was like an Aladdin's cave. Angels, baubles, stockings, decorations, and all so beautifully made and arranged.

The centrepiece was a round table covered with a green cloth and on it stood a tree with decorations - hand-crafted bells, and baubles studded with diamentes and glittery beads.

There was a young lass working behind the counter and I asked her about the shop - Christmas isn't all year long you see. She explained to me that at other times of year, it was a Ski and Ski hire shop.

I saw a lovely Christmas stocking ornament which I dearly wanted to buy - she said it was $9.95. I was going to buy it, but then she said that couldn't be right, so did some checking and found it was much more. From memory I think it may have been around thirty or forty dollars. Being on a limited income, it was really out of my price range, and I hummed and haaed as I debated on whether to get it or not. I made the decision to (regretfully) not get it - I reasoned that next year, finances may have improved and I would get one then.

It was a decision I deeply regret. For this wonderful shop is no more. Yet I have these photos to remind me of this special place.

The front window

Uncle Fred and Aunty Val's Olde Style Lolly Shop

The wonderful world of goody-num-nums

Strolling down Murchison Street one sunny afternoon, I spotted this wonderful old shop - what I dubbed as "Ye Olde English Lolly Shoppe" - Uncle Fred & Aunty Val's Old Style Lolly Shop and as I entered the building I stood in awe with mouth-watering delight. I was like a little child whose Christmases had all come at once. There were so many yummy lollies and chocolates of every description.

I bought chocolates, lollies, boiled sweets, candy bracelets, truffles and all the "stocking fillers" for the Christmas stockings. I am ashamed to say I gobbled up most of the goodies reserved for the stockings. Naturally, I had to go back and replace them. But ohh, such scrumdiddlyumptious treats.

A Day In The Park

Marysville Visitor Information Centre I went to the Visitor Centre to use the computer. An older chap said it was a couple of dollars for (I think) about half an hour. Anyway, I logged on to the computer on the right (there were two) and found it was ohh....so....s l o w.....Took simply ages for a page to load and then it froze. Nothing worked, told the chap then switched to the other computer.

He went off-shift when a younger fellow came on. He was a very nice old man and let me stay on the net without having to pay extra.




The Footbridge in the Park
Then it was time for lunch. I had made a picnic lunch, a thermos of hot coffee, and some fruit and after having a wander around went and sat in the park. There I met a lovely lady from Adelaide who had come over to visit her daughter, but the daughter had other ideas. And she was here for two weeks staying at a motel. We had a lovely time chattting about this and that and all the while, we were surrounded by all this greenery - lovely trees, little footbridges. It was an idyllic spot. The sun dipped beyond the horizon and sadly it was time to go.

Marysville had worked its magic and grown on me. I fell in love with the place.

There's No Fish'n'Chips Here!

Well do I remember my first sight of Marysville - I was camping at Narbethong, and couldn't face cooking, and wanted some company and I thought fish'n'chips that's what I'll have. But there wasn't a fish shop around so I went to Marysville. As I turned into the town, everything was closed up.

There was a 4WD stopped in the middle of Murchison Street and a man was leaning on the driver's window chatting with the driver. I pulled up alongside to ask directions, and lo and behold - it was the local copper behind the wheel! He told me no, I wouldn't find any fish shop in Marysville, the closest was at Buxton and he gave me directions to get there. We were both blocking traffic, but that nice policeman didn't seem to mind. I said cheerio and tootled off to Buxton where I had a nice old time eating in the dining area.

The Igloo Roadhouse at Buxton.