Hello everyone,
It is that nice part of the month, when we get to know a little more about a fellow community member. Last month, we had a lovely Community Spotlight by @Lawrene.
This month, we are hearing from a host who I think many of us have a soft spot for here in the CC. Introducing....
Mount Barker, Australia
How long have you been hosting for and why did you first start?
I had my first guest (Luke) exactly 3 years ago today, 12th March 2015! Oh dear, it was like waiting in the delivery room for your first born to arrive, pacing around waiting for that knock on the door and opening it to my new hosting career. I had on two occasions used Airbnb previously as a guest and I have always been one of those annoying people who likes to be a part of anything. I love company. My hosts on both occasions wanted to find out a bit about me and I found I enjoyed the dialogue that hosting opened up and I wanted to have and be a part of that.
Tell us a little about your listing
We bought this property in June 2009 and it was derelict! It hadn't been lived in, or opened up, for a decade. Everything was still here just as though Joyce had walked out yesterday...her hairbrush on the bathroom hand basin, her towel behind the door, her clothes, letters and personal effects scattered everywhere. Although Joyce had departed, nature had moved in though! Termites had eaten out the roof structure! Possums and birds were either resident, or had left abundant traces of their residence right throughout the property. I spent 4 months getting the main home liveable for Ade and I then turned my attention to what was a 60M2 (645 ft2) double garage and storeroom on the rear of the house block. I wanted somewhere for my daughters to stay when they came to visit and for friends. It was pretty basic to start with, a second hand double bed, a few old cupboards that I removed from the main house. I did put in a new ceiling though and gradually worked my way down this space filling the cracks, painting and finishing by polishing the old concrete floor. I never know when to stop though and once I had made up my mind that Airbnb was for me I chased down a great bed, put in an air filtration system, a fridge and bench, did a bit of mosaic work, air conditioning, a library of sorts, stuff that I would want to live when I was away. It is still really just a room, sleeps two very comfortably, with another good quality sofa bed that will sleep a further 1-2. I don't think I will ever finish it though, every week something happens to it, something gets upgraded, probably to keep ahead of the tax man!
How long have you been part of the Community Center and why did you join?
When I created a listing I stumbled on the Community Centre and spent some months just reading. I was such a 'greenhorn' at the whole hosting business. It took me six months to get that congratulatory email telling me I had successful hosted 5 Airbnb guests.....whacko! Those months of reading were great for me and I am sure saved me making many hosting mistakes. Contributors like Dave & Deb, Clare, Deborah, Helga, Gerry & Rashid gave me such confidence, I could never repay these guys enough for their help, and around Sept 2016 I got brave enough to make my first post.
What is your favourite thing about the Community Center and if you could make it better what one thing would you improve?
I do struggle with the odd challenge at home and the CC enables me to leave my issues behind and try and be constructive in other areas. I feel I know a lot of people on the CC, I have learned something of their character, and whenever I have something I am not sure of I know I can get good constructive support here. Contributors come and go, but the support always remains. One thing I would do to improve the CC!.....Fix the direct message 'reply' button!! That 'Oops, can't send your message just now' is a source of continual frustration.
If you could live somewhere else in the world where would it be?
Moorea! Closest to the main island of Tahiti. Moorea is paradise on earth, not just for it's spectacular beauty but the way the Tahitians live. Local custom says, no building can be higher than the tallest coconut palm so, when they construct a building they start at the top of the hill and build down.
Are you fond of music? What would be your ideal genre to hear on the radio?
I love music, I pay my piano for around an hour a day, have all my life. Favourite genre would be Jazz/Latin American music....Antonio Jobin, Joe Gilberto, ('Girl from Ipenema', all that stuff). My favourite artist is jazz pianist Keith Jarrett. Some people don't just play music, they are music, he is a true genius, and I play his 'Danny Boy' absolutely faithfully, note perfect, and wish that arrangement had been my own!
Do you have any hobbies? If you were to try one new thing what would it be?
My hobbies (apart from the piano) are doing my mosaics and drinking good wine! There is always an hour in my day for a bottle of red! At the age of 73 I have to understand that taking up new hobbies means I have a finite time in which to perfect them. Just standing in front of the toilet bowl for more than 30 seconds now means I have used up a sizeable chunk of what is left of my life! I do want to get back water skiing again. Had a boat for many years and it was one of my favourite sports. My balance is still good enough and to get out on the river again would be heaven!
If you were hosting a Community Center dinner party, what would be on your menu? 🙂
Depends on the time of year. I do love my cooking as I have to do it all now and have come to understand the consequences of what you do in the kitchen. It's hard to teach an old dog new tricks but, I am learning! For entree I would serve Quail in Aspic: This comes cold as a rectangular block on the plate with a large sprig of mint. Meat is stripped off the carcass of the bird, mixed with Thyme, red grapes and finely cut roasted chestnuts and set in weak strength Cognac aspic! Main would be Salmon Wellington: A side of Atlantic Salmon topped with cream cheese, chopped leak, Dill and rolled in Fillo pastry sprinkled with poppy seed and served with a mushroom roasted in foil with plenty of butter, and asparagus spears! Desert would be a Creme Brulee. I have finally got it to the point where I don't burn the milk and I get a reasonable crust!
Tell us one fact about you!
I hate gardening! Ade loved it but can no longer take part so, when she is here she sits on the verandah with a bottle of bubbles and 'barks' instruction at me to the point where the only gardening I want to do is dig a hole, climb in and pull the earth back over me!
Thank you Robin for taking the time to share a little more about yourself. There are so many interesting part of your life and personally I am so pleased you feel the Community Center is a little haven for you to share what you are going through and talk with others. Thank you for everything you do for our community here.
Please do feel free to response to Robin with any questions about the above or share any nice comments, I am sure he would love to hear from you.
Lizzie
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Thank you for the last 7 years, find out more in my Personal Update.
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