My Godmother is preparing to plant out her garlic farm by gathering research to make it the best it can be. So we googled Sunday markets and found one down in Yarra Glen that might sell garlic. And where there is garlic being sold, there is someone who has grown it with all their expertise.

We got down to Yarra Glen and found that the Sunday market wasn't the second but the third Sunday of every month and that it didn't operate through March. A bit annoyed that this information hadn't been available online, we instead found an art exhibition in the town hall to have a look at.

After this we headed out to Chateau Yering Hotel at Yering Station where the wineries of Yarra Glen begin. We looked around the old home briefly and instead of staying for a drink, we overheard that there was a chocolaterie and ice creamerie not far from there and decided that that would be a far better place to go.

Well we arived at the chocolaterie and it was heaving with people and would have taken an hour to get through the queue for a drink at the cafe. We tasted some chocolate samples and had a look around before deciding that there might be somewhere better for a cold drink.

My Godmother thought she might take me to a winery instead but on our way down the road we saw a sign for Alowyn Gardens that were open for viewing at the weekend. We parked up and went straight into the cafe. Well it was far more sedate than the chocolaterie and far fewer people. We then noticed that they sold their own home-grown garlic so my Godmother had a great chat with the owner about it and picked up some great tips for her own business. It was too hot to see the Gardens and thought we would come back another day for that.

My Godmother intent on showing me a real Australian winery, took me to Balgownie Estate. We tried a few reds and some sparkling wines but not impressed, my Godmother and I just had a look around the place as it was a resort and spa also. We then did a drive-thru of the smaller wineries along the same road: Acacia Ridge, Yarrawood and Yileena Park. We pulled into each but awkwardly those at Yileena could see us from their balcony and waved down to us not knowing we weren't planning to stop...

It was after two in the afternoon by this point and we were feeling a bit peckish so we headed back to Diamond Creek through the surburban areas, Kangaroo Ground, Eltham and Research via Sugarloaf Reservoir. The views were stunning but again we decided to come back to the viewing platform later as time was getting on.

We got home and after some lunch got on with some tasks: testing the soil pH and putting some stools for the kitchen together. After working up a sweat we all jumped into the pool. Unusually for autumn we have almost had a full straight week of temperatures over 30 degrees causing the mozzies to have great fun with me. My fresh British blood is obviously too good to be true and I have acquired a grand total of 21 bites! Keeping in the water is a good way of avoiding them in the evening. The pool was a lovely temperature and altogether it was a most enjoyable evening.