Abigail353
Waco, TX
Level 2
I am new to the hosting game and I had an inquiry for a 72 d...
I am new to the hosting game and I had an inquiry for a 72 day stay. Here are my concerns:1) the person's account is new, joi...
Hello from Helen in New Zealand!
I love hosting because it’s great for our mental and physical well being, to share and enjoy nature and heritage.
Some of my loveliest guests have said they like the details in my listing and that their families helped them decide who to stay with which I think is sweet.
They’ve contributed in their own ways as to how I've evolved in my hosting, as have the fabulous members here in Community Centre.
Spending time amongst nature is one way of maintaining one’s health. I’ve a wee garden with Monarch Butterflies along with been Centrally located to a variety of gardens and areas where rural life is still present.
Occasionally my guests get to meet and spend time walking my friend’s dog, Zara the Jack Russell who has had a head rub from Prince Harry!
I give guests cuttings from my garden & Tulip bulbs that were gifted to the people from Cornwall Park, One Tree Hill, Auckland, New Zealand when there garden staff remove them to replant the garden beds so we can all share the love and beauty of nature to unify as one people in the world.
I gift some of my Swan Plants to share the love with our delightful "Monet the Monarch" caterpillars & butterflies.
Monarch butterfly resting it’s body between the Geranium leaves, that I grew from a cutting, immediately after it came out of its chrysalis - Guests like a safe & comfortable resting place too.
Monarch butterflies enjoy living in my Swan Plant, Geraniums, Lilies, Sweet Peas and Lavender plants. The Sweet Peas were grown from seeds, their pods produce seeds Hosts can share.
Central To All Home & Location is close to Cornwall Park / One Tree Hill Domain, Auckland where Irish settlor, Thomas Henry, created one of the original farms which is to remain in perpetuity as a Domain for the betterment of all New Zealand people.
It’s a friendly place where one can mix with nature, see lambs & sheep, pat the calves, cows & bulls, enjoy flowers from all nations, play archery, cricket, rugby league and relax away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Guest Corrin, NYC, USA, who had not seen lambs since she was a child, making new friends on our visit to the Park. We nicknamed these bottle fed lambs Louis, Henry, William, George and Arthur. They are all Rams growing up and still recognise Zara and myself.
It’s fun to incorporate Guests in day to day life in one’s location.
Our Guests mental health and well-being is important to, animals and nature can help one relax and ease homesickness.
Do you take your Guests to places they may not have experienced before?
When Guests wake up in a different place they can be like a newborn animal waking up to new surroundings.
“Maaa, that was a great sleep, Baa, nice to meet you!”
This twin lamb a couple of days old woke up with a yawn whilst its companion kept one eye open on watch.
New Zealand is known for woollen products like carpet and clothing. We used to have more sheep than people.
Hosting guests who have chosen to stay with me in my home & share an interest in history and stories is a passion I enjoy.
Forget-me-Not flowers and Periwinkle planted on Mount Hobson Domain are some of the self regenerating Botanicals gifted to New Zealand people by David Hay and Son, Montepellier Nursery in the 1880’s so future generations would not have to worry about financial expenses in the years ahead.
Flowers of all nations were planted in areas for our betterment, so we would all feel Welcome and at home wherever we are in the world and originated from.
Do you have an area in your location like that to share with your Guests?
If not, help create one, 2019 is 100 years since the start of the Peace Commemorations after World War 1 ended.
Periwinkle, one of Her Majesty The Queen’s favourite flowers on a tree that fell over during a storm in the 1930’s, The Depression era, left to decompose naturally where centipedes, millipedes, lichen and other species make their home.
Mount Hobson is named after New Zealand’s first Governor Captain William Hobson. His Grave is in the Symonds Street Cemetery where they are undertaking a restoration project.
Dilworth Avenue is named after James Dilworth, who once owned Mt Hobson and gifted land for a school for disadvantaged boys. He is buried in the nearby St Marks Anglican Church grounds where one can reflect on how those early settlers before us lived in much more challenging times.
I’m very thankful we have access to fabulous newspaper & photographic archive websites dating back to the early 1800’s where sage one’s before us recorded valuable information.
Whilst I’m a host in a more recently built home such archives have helped improve my knowledge as a Host to share with those interested in family, world history, 23andMe and Heritage.
Have you considered researching your own home and location for it’s history in similar archives to include in your listing and to share with Guests?
Thanks
Thank you @Susan17 for your kind words.
I'm glad to hear New Zealand is still on the cards to visit for you - make it at least 6 weeks to see it properly as there's much to see and it's a reasonable distance to travel to.
Yes they did create a Casino in Christchurch, however I think there may have been one in Hamilton in the North Island before then.
Like most countries we to have an interesting history with gaming, there's many a funny story how in the past they used to play cards and were not permitted to under law.
It's still against the Rules of Cornwall Park where many of these photos have been taken to place bets of any kind at Cornwall Park!
I assume that also means for those who want to play Lotto or have a bet on the horses or sports..I'm not sure how well enforced it is as I'm sure many may not even be aware such a Park Regulation exists!!
Where in your location did you take time out to Nurture with nature with your little one that veered you around the cape along the way to New Zealand?
@Mike-And-Helen0 @Stephanie @Lizzie @Susan17 @Miloud0 @Cathie0
I love seeing those horse to @Mike-And-Helen0 .
We used to have horses on our hills and now city land to.
There's still the occasional horse post about but we have lost our troughs unfortunately - silly Council don't think of why they were there and retained - nature needs water and it's heritage.
What are your horse named @Mike-And-Helen0 ?
Ages etc?
Salute @Helen427,
So beautiful topic. Thank you, also, very much for the wonderful photos.
Thanks,
Miloud
It's a pleasure @Miloud0
Have you ever visited New Zealand?
It's great to be a part of the ABB community and help heal with nature as mental wellness is so important for us all.
Thanks
Helen
Salute @Helen427,
I did not visit New Zealand but i know that it is a beautiful country.
Thanks,
Miloud
@Miloud0 You must include a visit to New Zealand in your list of things to do and places to visit.
Just like your lovely country is in my list one day to.
All the best
@Helen427 the bay is called Flo ands she's a New Forest pony from Hampshire. The skewbald is Zoe and she's a cob (Heinz 57 !) we think there's some Irish Draught horse and some Shire in the mix. They're both 11. xxx
@Mike-And-Helen0 @Miloud0 @Stephanie @Lizzie @Susan17 @Sandra126
@Inna22 @Ann72 @Anna @Anna-W @Anna0 @Cathie19
@Clara116 @Laura_C @Sergi @J-Renato0
@Helen0 @Helen99 @Helena0 @Helen88 @Helen89 @Anonymous @Helen199 @Helen19 @Helen18 @Helen19 @Helen197 @Helen17 @Helen901 @Helen899 @Helen900
@Helen4 @Helen49 @Helen42 @Helen40
@Helen52 @Helen59 @Helen5 @Helen51 @Helen56 @Helen53 @Helen539
Come on in all your hardworking Helen's and take your time out to take time out to Nurture yourselves with Nature with your fellow Airbnb Hosts and Guests worldwide with the same name!
To all you also with the name of Flo here in CC, take a look at this.
I hope you all enjoy and take time out of your busy schedule to find time to Nurture with Nature to!
@Flo0 @Flo7 @Flo6 @Flo5 @Flo4 @Flo1 @Flo56 @Flo55 @Flo53 @Flo58 @Flo54 @Flo19 @Flo52 @Flo39 @Flo38 @Flo37 @Flo36 @Flo28 @Flo27 @Flo2
How fitting for this topic, @Mike-And-Helen0 that your horse's name is Flo as Flo is the name of one of the farm managers at Cornwall Park's dogs.
@Helen427 so many of us Hardworking Helens!
This one has cleaned the listing and ironed the bedlinen and now off for a pedicure!
I loathe ironing fitted sheets, I iron them on the bed.
Sure is @Mike-And-Helen0 in this era we didn't know about @Helen350 did we??
Come on in all you other namesakes...
I reckon!
I looked up Flo first and then got a little carried away!
Ironed my fitted sheet today but prefer flat sheets.
Enjoy your pedicure, or is it Flo who is having one???