@Stephanie
I have probably got myself into a bit of a trap in that both my reviews and my guests reviews suggest that a lot of interaction betweeen guest and host happens here and I find guests are booking to experience that interaction. It will settle down a bit now that winter is here. I don't encourage guests inside our main house and with nights getting down around the 0c mark socialising outdoors is not majorly comfortable.
Having said that we do get in some of the nicer still nights around the fire pit and try to convince each other that we don't need summer.
Some guests just amaze me with how sociable and talented they are.
Not long ago I had Joy here from the country South Australian town of Whyalla. Joy is a music teacher, an accomplished pianist, a great guitar player and a wonderful singer/songwriter.
She pulled out her guitar one night, sang and played one of her compositions which turned out to be one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. We had tears just listening to it!
Three Japanese girls cooked us a wonderful meal one night and tried to teach me how to make an Origami heart. We all laughed like crazy as I tried to duplicate with my massive big fingers what the girls did with their incredible delicate fingers. My heart looked more like a feshly removed Liver!!
Wine is always a great meeting place and my mancave has been the scene of some really nice nights that none of us want to end.
My only regret is that I did not start hosting/B&Bing twenty years before. Ade has run out of puff these days and prefers the seclusion of a nice warm chair in a quite corner somewhere than the 'getting to know you' bit that comes with having guests on the property.
Hosting is a part of my life that I am so glad didn't pass me by!
Cheers.......Rob