Daylesford's one of those perfect country towns where you get to enjoy nature, eat good food, and maybe shop a little. It's not far from Melbourne, but far enough away that you think you're going somewhere for the weekend. We haven't been there for years, and the last time we went, we went with Dad, which made me a little sad, but it's true what they say - they do come with you. We took the Defender up - there was plenty of room for ghosts.

There's plenty of cool shops on the main street - delis with cured meats and posh wines, expensive clothing stores and stores that sell cheap woolen beanies against the winter cold, antiques shops, galleries, and more. This time we were attracted to the smelly - firstly a new soap store in a newly renovated arcade. I don't normally let Jamie get soap - what's wrong with cheap goat's milk soap from the supermarket? - but this was the nicest soap store I'd ever seen. It wasn't all lavender and chamomile and in fact the ownder was at pains to tell me how each recipe was carefully crafted to reflect the idea behind it, using scents despite the expense. Each soap smelt like the description. For example, the Moroccan hamam smelt like a hamam, if you'd ever been to one, which we have. I wish the guy every success - we spent $60 on soap and I'd go back to get more.

I can't say I liked the end gallery much - it wasn't my taste - but I thought the artistic seating was pretty cool, little cushions of leather nuzzled into a huge slab of wood. I didn't gel with many of the artists in town but that's okay, you can't like everything.

Jamie did like this nature painting though. Mute point, as we'll never be able to afford to spend so much money on art. We did see some art to our taste in the neighbouring town of Trentham, but again, our wallets did not allow such extravagance. Plus, as Jamie said, our walls are not big enough for big art.

The other smelly shop we entered was full of delicious spice blends. Truly amazing. We bought an umami blend I have to try to replicate (ground porcini and shitake featured) and a ramen blend. @beelzael , what do you think of this German potato spice :P

The spice shop was definitely lovely - it was hard to remind myself that I have an extensive spice cupboard to make my own blends, but I did get some good ideas. Oh, I also bought a chilli mix with black limes that was smoky and earthy and paired well with some saffron milk caps I'd collect on the way home and then roast for tacos.

Instead of buying an expensive lunch, we bought some smoked wagyu pastrami and some raclette to toast on sourdough in the back of the Defender. You can get four times as much this way. There's treating yourself, and then there's treating yourself, if you know what I mean. Oh, add to that some smoky tomato relish. To die for.

We spent one night in the caravan park (the free camp was full and crowded) and enjoyed a few lovely local stouts by the fire, and then went to the market which is on every Sunday, and is a great place for breakfast. We had huge rosti with saffies - mine without the eggs - a beetroot curry and some slaw. Definitely what one needs on a cold winter day in country Victoria.

We bought a brass naga for the front door for $40 (could only see them online for $200 and I needed or wanted one to match the other on the front door) and a bag of mandarines for the road.

As I said, I thought about Dad up there. The last trip we had. How animated he was, about everything. How enthusiastic. How he would have joined us at the drop of a hat. How we would have walked through the bush and thrown stones in the river to skip them or raced my nephews up the track.

Still, as I also said, he was around.

If you're in Melbourne with not much to do, it's always worth a trip out to this area. There's natural springs, good food, waterfalls, markets, bush walks and more, and if you're lucky, you'll find a gorgeous bnb somewhere with a spa. If not, there's also camping, and various hotels and the like, or just head out for a Sunday drive.

With Love,

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