This morning I was out the front of the Lodge at King Parrot oiling some outdoor furniture.
Like most mornings, my head was already thinking about the next job. There is always something to do around the property.
As I looked up, I noticed Nugget standing quietly beside me looking out across the valley at the rolling green hills in front of us. The birds were busy in the trees and the valley was still.
He wasn’t waiting for anything. He was just standing there enjoying the view.
So I stopped what I was doing for a minute and joined him.
The furniture could wait.
One of my favourite things about King Parrot is watching guests settle into the slower pace of the Otways.
Children spend hours exploring the creek and looking for wildlife. Guests head off on our bush walks and return muddy, smiling and tired. Dogs come back from exploring the tracks with noses full of new smells before curling up by the fire.
Tucked away in the Otways near Lorne and the Great Ocean Road, King Parrot has always felt like a place where people can step away from everyday life for a little while.
This morning, Nugget reminded me to do the same.
Sometimes the jobs can wait.