Thursday, September 24, 2009

There's bad news... and good news




The thing I love about travel (aside from the obvious - new experiences, immersion in foreign culture, food, language, society, visual stimulation etc) is the unpredictability of it all. Travel truly shows us how little control we have over greater events. Even the most carefully laid plans can be thrown into chaos, and it is that which often brings the most to one's travel experience.

Yes, even in straightforward, simple, first world Australia, a holiday can go a bit haywire. But with the bad always comes the good.

So, we arrived at the Royal Mail Hotel, royally looking forward to our 10 course degustation at the best country restaurant in Victoria, only to find that I had booked for the wrong weekend.

If there is anything worse than being told there is no Room at the Inn, it is being given that message with carsick, tired, hot and dirty children in tow.

But, the hotel took pity on me and my incompetence and let us stay the night in Mt Sturgeon Homestead, an amazing 8 bedroom homestead complete with grand piano and drawing room, built in the 1870s , nestled in the shadow of the Grampians mountains. A really evocative, Picnic at Hanging Rock style environment which we would never had the opportunity to experience.



Once ensconced in our holiday house, I came down with a bad cold, throat infection and sinusitis.

But if I hadn't been a bit sick, I would have been rushing all over the place and may not have had the inclination to sit staring mindlessly at this view for eight days.



Or to read 7 books.

Or to pick yellow and purple daisies with my daughter from the garden.





Or to spend hours looking for albino snails on those same daisies and transplanting them to their new, not as nice home (a white saucer).

Or to gaze at this lovely dune garden and fantasize about how I would decorate my holiday house.



And if I hadn't been a bit out of it, I wouldn't have put a hot pot down on the beautiful wooden kitchen bench top and made an awful white scorch mark. And if I hadn't done that, I wouldn't have found a website called Tipnut, which told me that these can be removed by applying an iron on steam setting over a tea towel. Isn't that incredible - heat to remove a burn!

It is always nice to be home though...

12 comments:

Julie@beingRUBY said...

HI Jane
Sorry to hear you've been sick and the holiday troubles. I think you are right though.. I think it worked out for the best and you had a physical and mental rest with those glorious views. [my vacations always involve Calamity Julie!!]

Well the pics are gorgeous!! Welcome home!! x Julie

Splendid Willow said...

Your positive way of thinking is contagious! You can always go back to the Inn, but you can't buy a smart way of thinking and living. You go girl!

http://www.splendidwillow.com

P.Gaye Tapp at Little Augury said...

such a delightful and entertaining post-& oh, so sorry you were sickly.It seems the karmic balance was chasing you around the Homestead which looks great. Gaye

cj said...

wow, you are so positive in that post! Good for you, I find myself getting grumpy with age which I don't like! I lived in Melbourne in the 70's and we had wonderful friends who had a country house in the Mt. Macedon area. She actually went to the school which was portrayed in the movie. It was the first place I ever saw leeches!

brismod said...

Hello there. You have one of the loveliest blogs. I look forward to reading your posts and added you to my recently pared-deown list. Best regards, Anita

Jane said...

Hi all thanks Julie actually am still sick I obviously have majorly rubbish immune system but at least have not lived through a yuck dirty dust storm. CJ - cannot believe you know someone who went to that school . I must do a Picnic at Hanging Rock post for all those non Aussies to get a bit creeped out. Brismod - thanks ! I have to pare down my list too - it gets overwhelming otherwise!!

Anonymous said...

Oh dear, you're still sick! Get well soon Jane. XXX, Carmie.
(My eye caught something here on your page, so now I'm of to another topic here; High fidelity and the meaning of life. Sounds interesting!)

Lee said...

Hi Jane, I do hope you're feeling better now. Despite being ill & mixed up dates, your holiday sounded lovely - a bit of time to pause for thought. Thanks for sharing the lovely story & pics. Lee :)

Samy said...

You write so well, great post. Hope you get well soon :)

Anonymous said...

Way to look at the bright side of thing. Welcome home and get well soon!

Laura said...

that holiday home is amazing! How kind of the hotel to have taken pity on your. And the views, oh the view! Hope you're feeling better soon...

Millie said...

Oh dear Jane, sounds like you probably need to rewind this tape! But I'm sure you all made the most of the time away from the everyday hustle & bustle of home.
Millie ^_^

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