Got up with a headache. Did not breakfast till a little after 10. About 11 set out for a walk with Mr S and L to Mount Macedon, a very interesting walk up some hills which were not quite so stiff as those we went over last Sunday. On or about Mt Macedon, were a number of cottage villas belonging to Melbourne men. It was a mania at one time to go and live out there – the mania having died out, many would sell their houses but cannot. Went thro' “Fern Tree Gully” where there are a great quantity of fine fern trees. There was also another place called the “Devil's Hole”, at one time a dense scrubby place and even now there is a good deal of scrub or small trees about. Came back ... read more

Fine day, wind cold. Went for a walk in the morning by myself. Cannot get any of the girls to go with me. The two Miss S's do not seem to care for walking and the youngest is laziness itself, she has hardly stirred out this three days. Mr S came in the afternoon. Spent the same in reading and sleeping. Had whist in the evening.... read more

Warm day. Went for a short stroll in the morning. A hot but bright day. In the afternoon went crayfishing to the same place with H, S and Miss Castilla. Mrs S and Lionel, who had just come in from M, joined us afterwards. Caught a lot of crayfish.... read more

Mr Walters left early in the morning. A hot but bright day. Went for a short stroll by myself in the afternoon. The female portion of the S family are not at all given to walking. Came across one or two very pretty cottages. Cannot understand the eldest Miss S, she is as queer a compound as I have ever come across.... read more

A hot, dull uncomfortable day. Went for a short stroll by myself both morning and afternoon. Great number of small farms about, some of the houses look quite neat and pretty. Went over the racecourse in the afternoon. It is situated on a hill beyond the town. A Mr Walters came and stopped the night, he is an old friend of the S's. Walked about till nearly 12 o'clock. Lightening in the distance. Saw a fine shooting star as I was walking to the hotel.... read more

A windy dusty morning. Took a drive to the *Hanging Rock in the afternoon, all but Dora going. Hired a buggy for the occasion. The place is about 5 miles away and consists of a lot of rocks of curious formation which rise some 3 or 4 hundred feet above the surrounding country. Took the horse out and tied him to a tree at the foot of the hill and then walked up. The others did not care to go to the top, so I went to see the view which is pretty much the same as that from the “Hump”. Drove back, one of the girls driving. Cold evening. *Blog note:- Hanging Rock (formally known as Mount Diogenes) is actually a steep-sided rock formation dating from 6 million years ago. It is probably best known ... read more

Mr S and Lionel had left for M before I came in for breakfast. Did not go out in the morning beyond my walk before the morning meal. Did not dine till 2 o'clock as Miss Castilla was coming about that time to stay here. After dinner we all set out to catch crayfish in a pond formed by a disused quarry pit about a mile and a half away. Set out about 4 o'clock, late in the afternoon being the best time to catch them which is done by a piece of raw meat tied to some string fastened to a stick, the meat being dropped into the water and the crayfish fasten on to it and are hauled out by the net. In a very short time we caught scores and carried them home ... read more

A somewhat dull morning but it turned out a fine day. Did not breakfast till 10.30. Afterwards, Mr S, Lionel and I went for a walk, first of all to the reservoir which is situated on a hill some two miles from the town. Spent nearly an hour there examining the works to see in what state they were kept, Mr S being the engineer to the works. Found them in a very dirty state as tho' the place had not been cleaned out for months which was perhaps the case. From there went on to a steep hill called Camel's Hump – it is some 3,600 ft above the sea – it was warm work scrambling up and we had to rest and refresh ourselves with whisky and water several times. The view from the ... read more

Had breakfast at 9 o'clock. Remained in all morning shelling peas and doing other useful work. About four we all went out for a stroll to one of the hills. Sat down on the grass and made nets to catch crayfish in; that is we cut and broke down some young gum trees, stripped them of their leaves and most of their branches, formed the top into a loop, tied it down with string, fastened mosquito netting on the loop and the net was made. Afterwards went for a short walk. When we got back to the cottage we found Mr S there – he generally comes down from Saturday to Monday but was not expected till a later train. Had meat tea about 7 and some music in the evening.... read more

Fine bright warm day. Left Seymour by the 11.33 train. Mrs P and Geddy came to the railway station to see me off. Was sorry to leave, having had a quiet but pleasant visit and the place having done me a good deal of good. Nothing particular happened during the journey to Melbourne. Found on arriving there that I had an hour and half wait before the Woodend train started. I therefore went to Blyth and Co to get a letter I was told was waiting for me there, it had been there some two months. Went to the bank and drew out £20. Had a cup of tea and some biscuits at the station not feeling hungry. Met Lionel S at the station – he was going to Woodend by the same train that I ... read more