Saturday, 17 October 2026

Holidays

This week I went away up the coast for a few nights. I stayed in a tidy little motel at Belmont and I want to say it was overlooking the lake. The motel is right on the shore of Lake Macquarie but it is built facing the highway, as things were back in the day.

No matter, I went out and sat by the lake every day, watching the weather and the birds. At one time I noticed some ravens scuffling just nearby and when I looked, they were not scuffling at all but investigating this Tawny Frogmouth. When I saw her, I wondered if she might be dead but a quick google revealed that the head down and wings out position was for sunbaking. As I watched, she sat up and eventually flew away. Why a nocturnal bird was sitting in the mud at lunchtime, I will never know. She looks young and on another day the mud would have been a delightful dust bowl so maybe there was some learning happening.


  
Moody Lake Macquarie. It was drizzling and overcast a lot of the time, which was ok by me. Speaking of the weather, I wore my day time cardigan to sleep in because there was only one very thin blanket on the bed and I was waking up a lot until I finally realised I was cold.
I suppose they expect guests to use the air con but I'd prefer a cold room and more blankets. I haven't ever before seen accommodation where they don't provide extra blankets. I found it quite odd but maybe it's cheaper to run air con than to launder blankets? 

 



Caitlin put these cockatoos on the bathroom wall for me today. I have added an ibis near the front door as well. I look forward to the day when my grandson sees them, meanwhile I will enjoy them. I thought I was doing something fun and different but apparently whimsy is having a moment in interior decor. It's funny how the zeitgeist works, isn't it?

10 comments:

  1. Your time away sounds restful. It is odd that there wasn't an extra blanket, and perhaps you are right, it being cheaper to have heating on that providing a blanket, although some would use both.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When I was in a metal box in Goulburn, I used the air-conditioning, the extra blanket and the electric blanket.

      Delete
  2. Nice holiday. It's possible they don't keep spare blankets because people steal them. They may have given you one if you'd asked at the desk and promised to return it when leaving.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did consider asking for another blanket, I also have blankets in my car but in the end a cardi was at hand and did the job.

      Delete
  3. Lovely holiday. Always a good break when you're by the water. That frogmouth is adorable. And I love your bathroom wall.
    XO
    WWW

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was so excited to see the frogmouth and she stayed quite a while, summing me up.
      Thanks, www

      Delete
  4. Yes, most hotels provide thick blankets and heating. As you say, they must expect you to only use the air con. A pity the motel didn't overlook the lake but despite that you saw the lake as often as you wanted.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Beggars can't be choosers, Nick. For what I paid it was a decent break.

      Delete
  5. Next time take extra blankets and a hot water bottle!
    That poor little bird - I'm glad it was still alive.
    I like the birds in your bathroom!
    Sx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gotta love a hot water bottle, ms Scarlet!
      I was also very glad the bird was alive and i could have watched it for a long time but i was very happy when it flew off.
      Thank you!

      Delete

go on, leave a comment or four.