Last night we had a Kyneton couple around for dinner, and the end result was terrific. Ian and Simon are gay, and have a house about 200 metres away from us. Ian, a New Zealander, is an architect and designed our renovations, while Simon is, arguably, Australia's best garden and food photographer - as well as having his own books published.

We first met Ian in a local cafealmost 3 years ago, and he came down to our rundown cottage with its wild and overgrown garden and atarted giving us renovation ideas. We subsequently went to see his home and were stunned by its nagnificent garden. We wandered down the drive, turned to the left, and stood open-mouthed as we took in the amazing view. Those of you who mayhaps subscribe to the magazine "Country Style" should try and find the June 2012 issue, as Ian's and Simon's cottage and garden are featured in it,

Simon has done the photography for Paul Bangay's books (Bangay recently flew him to the Hamptons, NYC, to photograph several gardens he had designed), and those of cooks/chefs Stephanie Alexander, Maggie Beer, Kylie Kwong and Shannon Bennett etc. He has also done his own books - "Sheds", "Shacks", and "Boats".

But I digress.

Jules' made the most delicious food, and the two boys and I provided excellent red and white wines, and everything went off brilliantly. It quite made me forget the aches and pains that constantly wrack my body. The gourmet sausages (pork) and lentils - cooked to a recipe in "Gourmet Traveller" magazine - were superb, and the pear and caramelised cake was to die for!

And it wasn't a late night. The boys left at about 10 pm, and Jules and I hit the sack about 10.30.

We woke this morning at around 8.30, slept in until 9.30, and it's now 10.45 and I am getting ready to depart for Gisborne (a 30 minute drive) for an appointment with my neurophysio.