Prompt and Circumstance

Atonement Day

('refund' Oct. 21-23, 2016)

"This one sounds good... and the price is too good to be true." Kanute's face was a picture of beatific bliss... smarmily saintly or similar. Like the Cheshire Cat in Alice's 'Wonderland' perhaps? It happens whenever he's on the scent of a bargain - especially potential holiday accommodation being auctioned on our favourite travel site.

For some time we'd nurtured the wish to explore more of the history of our northern area now we were older, with a different perspective on all things antique. Funny how that develops as you join the ranks of 'yesterday's treasures'. Hmm... as does the deepening desire for comfort - like electric blankets, proper tables to sit at and check out Internet on our laptop through the wee small hours when this insomniac is in full operational mode.

Another successful bid! A three night stay in a holiday unit following immediately on from three nights in a 'Miner's Cottage' in another country town not far away (one extra night added if the stay did not include a Friday or Saturday night - easy-peasy for us retirees; we love the peace of travelling on a Sunday).

The first was glorious - a ' best ever' accommodation choice, and a totally satisfying exploration of that historic mining town. The second? Well-ll... do you believe THE worst EVER endured?

You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, they say. They are right! It was not only about what was NOT there - like Toilet paper (a few sheets on holder and no replacement roll), dish-washing detergent (a clean dish-cloth would have been nice, also), tea towel, scourer, ice block tray, Microwave cooking dishes (a handy oversight as there was no other cooking appliance than a microwave oven).

But wait, there's more! A non-existent door-seal left an inch gap beneath the only exit door (and no fly-door), offering the warmest of welcomes to any creeping, crawling, slithering thing wishing to share our space. No oven or hotplates, but a battered saucepan and frypan - a non-stick variety... once upon a very long time ago. Cooking utensils? One lonely large slotted spoon covered in more rust than anything else and one tiny cutting knife with a wobbly blade... also blunt!

One room fit ALL purposes - bedroom, lounge, dining room, kitchen - with two overhead fluorescent lights served by one lonesome single switch - at the other end from the bed, AND the front door. But wait. There was an ensuite bathroom and toilet. It was a dear little miniature model of the real thing, causing you to need to step out of the bathroom to enable drying yourself.

A compact setting takes on a whole new flavour in a unit where you need to move the bed to open the front door... and move it once again to sit on it to open the doors and drawers of the tiny robe.

"Ohh, hallo! Can I help you?"

"Uhrr yes. We're here to talk to you about a refund!"