Entertaining Creatures at Chantecler

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Yesterday we all went to provide entertainment for the fish, buck and peacocks to be found at Chantecler Hotel in Drummond, some forty minutes or so from home. It is not cler . . . er, clear . . . what connection the hotel has with the cock Chanticleer that discovered, as did the fox coveting him for dinner, that pride comes before failure. Still, the place is definitely something to crow about.
We were rewarded for giving the local creatures something to goggle at by being fed with a magnificent carvery buffet kept warm on candles. No a la carte was available, because despite assurances that Christmas would be ‘electricity-loadshedding’-free, they were left without current.
Every time one passes the koi pond a group of fish gather to goggle at one, and no sooner is one seated than a peacock or peacocks will wander up to stare. For entertaining the buck, it is necessary to take a quick stroll from the seating area to the garden part where they graze. They are so close that this can easily take place between courses.
After we had eaten, the kids went to swim. Some people are really irresponsible. After we had been there for a while a group of adults and children arrived and, when I politely enquired, confirmed that they had also duly signed in at the office to use the facility and provided the necessary indemnities. The kids stripped down to underclothes and then a girl of eight or so jumped straight into the deep end. Fortunately, Much Better Half, sitting beyond the shallow end, kept an eye on her and noticed that she seemed to be floundering. When the girl threw up both arms MBH gave a yell and pointed. I started towards the scene, but one of the girl’s party standing there managed to grab her and yank her out. She lay for some time before she was able to move. A close thing!
Today the irrepressible Youngest Daughter took the guest and kids up the North Coast to see (or entertain) yet more wild animals. We grandparents opted out and pottered.

© December 2018 Colonialist