I have always loved to blog and list, so what better way than to track and write about the different things that come my way this year. It is a joy to showcase Fred's photos too, as he captures special moments in our lives. Some of these different things may be new, may be revisiting the usual, may be about things, people, family, places or about travel, but either way I am curious to see where this blog takes me and to understand the emotions attached to each 'thing'.
Getting started....
NUMBER ONE:
Expanding my footprint in the Shared Economy.
My adventure into the 'shared ecomony' started last year when I listed our Amanzimtoti and Cape Town properties on Airbnb. I have loved every minute and have also been hugely challenged. Interestingly, not so much about sharing our spaces or our things, but more when communication breaks down between my support team and guests, and when I feel helpless to correct issues like no hot water or satellite dishes been blown off the roof by a tornado!
Mid-year I decided to explore the local portals and have been hugely impressed by TravelGround/Lekkeslaap. The website is easy to use and their service is excellent.
I have had 178 bed nights across the two places, guests from Italy, Australia, Germany, USA, UK and from all over South Africa. And through all this activity, I only got to meet one guest, a special man, Thabo and his family. He booked The Loft through Booking.com - a platform that did not suite me at all, and then popped into Gardenflat in Cape Town for a night. He made me smile and I loved how he left me gifts as a thank you.
I have had 178 bed nights across the two places, guests from Italy, Australia, Germany, USA, UK and from all over South Africa. And through all this activity, I only got to meet one guest, a special man, Thabo and his family. He booked The Loft through Booking.com - a platform that did not suite me at all, and then popped into Gardenflat in Cape Town for a night. He made me smile and I loved how he left me gifts as a thank you.
Fred built Herb Cottage last year, here in Norwood, we loved styling it, shopping in our home for furniture pieces and upcycling elements. So my footprint now includes this quirky, special self-catering cottage, nestled in our back garden. I started the process with TravelGround and Airbnb today to put Herb Cottage onto their portals and so starts my listing of 100 different things - 99 to go.
 |
| Herb Cottage, Norwood, Johannesburg. |
And - had my first paying guests on the 12 January!
