Upon arrival, the keys to the front door will be inside a grey receptacle that resembles a rock, and sits to the left of the front door, nestled into the left side of the aloe planter. All you need to do is pull off the white plastic door underneath the rock, and the key is inside.

At checkout, please lock the front door and then place the keys into the stone and return it to the same place that you found it, so we don’t have to play ‘hide-and-seek’ when we return home.

Our official check-in time is 1.00 PM. If you arrive early, and we are still at home, you are welcome to store your luggage and then return to check-in at 1.00pm once we have left.

Check-out time is 10.30 AM on checkout day. We appreciate it if you respect this to ensure rooms can be cleaned and prepared.

Heatpumps are controlled by the white remotes located close to them. To turn the heat pump on, simply hit the yellow button in the top centre. Use the mode button to toggle through heat, dry, cool, fan, auto etc. Then use the up/down arrows to select the preferred temperature.

Nika is our beloved black Labrador dog. It is very important to us that you note that she is an INSIDE living dog. She may bark when you first enter. She does not bite  – she will settle quickly, especially if you say her name. We try to take her with us when we can, so don’t fret if she’s not there when you arrive. She is full of love, but can be a little shy to begin with around strangers. Don’t worry, a quick tummy rub and chest scratch will turn her into your friend for life.

Note that she is a lounge dog. She sleeps on the couch, and that is why we cover it with blankets. You can remove them when you sit down and replace them at night or when you go out.  Please NEVER EVER leave Nika locked outside. She is an escape artist and might leave as she is not used to this treatment. . Please always keep the side gate- neat the banana tree closed and latched, as that is her easiest escape route. There are other ways she can get out, but that is the easiest and the way she’ll try first if she is locked outside.

We leave the back door open at all times, even when we are all out. She keeps the house protected. It might feel strange locking the front door but keeping the back door open, but that’s how we roll!

Nika is fed out the back (in a funky Purple slow-eat bowl) once a day in the morning – typically around 7 – 8am. Her food is a scoop of dry food, and then some chopped pet meat from the roll in the fridge.

Nika loves a small walk in the afternoon, but if you cannot manage this, no worries!

Nika may limp slightly with her left back leg – this is unfortunately age related, so don’t worry if you see her limp in cold mornings before she warms up.

Nika sometimes needs a bathroom break in the night, so please ensure the back door is left ajar for her. It is completely safe to do this, as she will bark should anything unusual enter the house ( which has never happened).

Clooney is a large, warm and cuddly ginger- white neutered Tom cat. He was rescued a few years ago and is a lovely member of our house and our son Finn’s cat.

Clooney is mostly self-reliant and will come and go as he pleases through the back catflap if the back door is ever closed. This is only likely if Nika is not at home when you arrive, as she’s gone with us.

Clooney eats dry food only, and we put out a handful of food a couple of times a day, usually when he slides up to us with a little smile and a meow. Please feed him up on the countertop next to the oven, only as Nika will eat his food if you feed him any lower down.

Mango is her mum’s shadow and is a Mozambique native and possibly one of the world’s most well-travelled cats, following her mum around for the past 13 years.

These days, she mostly enjoys living indoors and seeking out spots of sun that remind her of her time in tropical Mozambique.

It is most likely that Mango will be in kennels, and so you won’t have to worry about her!