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2015
A busy year at the Beach House On-the-Dune left little time for new innovations other than the much needed "chucking out" of the old blue wood and rusted metal garden bench, repairs to which were no longer viable, AND the new addition of the Fabulous Olde Worlde Wooden Garden Table and benches set on the seaside next to the deck for sun lovers, as well as the Lord Of The Rings tree trunk resting at the children's play boat wall adding character to that area, as well as the casual cushions to cover the latte garden seating outside the second entrance on the other side, and the new seahorse fabric lounger cover on the deck lounger and some books being added in the main bedroom as well as lots of magazines to browse in the lounge. Another very happy addition was the wheel barrow kindly donated by Greg and Ansa Brand of Brittannia Bay to transport firewood....
After 6 years of operation the beach house required some maintenance work which was done (painting exterior, garden walls and built in braai) and some replacements such as a new fridge and microwave, toaster and kettles etc, and new double bed upstairs. The garden was also slightly extended on the seaside as the ground cover grew...
MORE IMPORTANTLY NOW PROVIDED !!!
Full DSTV up and downstairs
Firewood of the BEST kind
Golf Cart hire (so nice to drive around the estate in fun mode)
Whatsap use for bookings and any communication
AIrBnB booking facility
Gumtree Booking facility
Facebook Group booking facility
Upgraded Website
Listed on WesternCapeBirdingRoutes website (Anton Odendaal)
Plan for expansion with flat above garage (June Henry Architect)
Corporate bookings (Chartered Accounting Firms for Audit Teams)
It was a wonderful year all in all with a new Relief Operating System even being put in place in November to replace myself when I went to Thailand on holiday for a month ....Thank you to an Outstanding Team comprising Malandie (PR and Manager), and Phumeza and Ester (Cleaning and Laundry) ... It is wonderful to know that I am no longer indispensable... and freed up to be sick, go on holiday or just generally survive in business if I am not around or need time out.
NB Last year saw a hectic load of holiday letting in self catering units in the area. I have been looking after up to 8 places at a time both for owners and self catering guest houses and flats... This means that large groups can now be accommodated at different houses under one booking with one contact person and making one payment.... Over the festive season at one stage I was responsible for filling no less than 70 beds per night with an average payment of R240 per person per night.... all in luxury accommodation and 3 of them beachfront!
ONCE AGAIN HUGE THANKS TO EACH AND EVERY GUEST....
without you there would be no mission in progress.... ! Your support is greatly appreciated....
2014
After building the Beach House On-the-Dune and moving in in 2009, establishing the garden and literally trying to manage it from Cape Town things got off to a slow start in those early years....but since moving to Brittannia Bay permanently, it has been much easier to move things forward since May 2011 ....
By 2014 most of the "Mission in Progress" work was done and so much had been achieved that it was time to take a break and just enjoy the place! Subsequently, 2014 saw a new angle and some improvements were brought about mostly by changing the décor and indigenous garden.
Thanks to Bird Club's stand at the Hopefield Flower Show, 2 Gorgeous little blue and silver mosaic dolphins now adorn the front door patio wall at the entrance to the beach house and a lovely leather ethnic carving of lions is on the main bedroom wall between the 2 little side windows. A wonderful piece of wood (thanks Michelle Beaumont) has been put up on the inside deck wall with a round wooden wheel creating a more beachcomber effect on the deck as well as some hanging shell strings on deck and front patio...
Chairs were added to each bedroom and table and chairs purchased for the deck which now seats !2...
Boogy Boards were acquired and the bicycle removed as it constantly got damaged and became too costly to maintain at the beach house... but it does allow more space in the garage... Also the furniture in the garage has been removed also allowing more space in the garage for guest vehicles.
The car park to the left as you enter off the driveway has been extended all the way to the latte fence and side gate and has had grass and ground cover planted and grown, instead of the seashell turf and sand and it is almost fully covered, creating a more solid parking area.
Bird Feeders were purchased and attracts all kinds including 2 species of Sunbirds, long tailed Mousebirds, Hoepoe, Acacia Pied Barbet, Weavers, amongst others... and a bread feeder now hangs on the King Chair on top of the high dune in the garden where the gerbils and field mice share a meal with the birds! One bird feeder is right outside the front patio and kitchen window and it gives great joy to watch these little creatures so happy!
Much planting was done in the garden on both sides and this should be noticed soon! A seashell back alley was established to replace untidy undergrowth and a wheel barrow now rests there thanks to Ansa and Greg Brand for their kind donation. Always useful to carry plants and wood etc for the portable braai in front of the deck when there is no wind and weather permits a braai on the sea side... Planting includes 4 palms, courtesy of Cindy Wood - mwah mwah!
An old Tree Trunk which resembles something like a ghost out of Lord of the Rings was strategically positioned at the far corner of the property to ward off any would be intruders! Hopefully it will not scare our guest children, but may be a cute conversation piece.... and a weird chair was put at the boat covered by fish net....weird because you can not get out of it!
Challenge for the would be brave!
GOOD NEWS! The trees next to the yard have grown so big that your garden is now totally private from the neighbouring home... and also the outside latte garden seating at the 2nd entrance is now sheltered from the north wind.
A GOLF CART is now also on offer when available. It belongs to another holiday house which rents it out so get your request in early if you think it would be a nice extra to have at your disposal. It really is fun and one can take turns to get away from the madding crowd as well with your own holiday feel mode of transport... Unfortunately not available over peak season.
Breakages were few in 2014 year but many thanks to the guy who stole my hat in 2015 between February and April which was hanging on the upstairs lounge lantern.... it was actually of great sentimental value so please return it when you come back again...You know who you are and I shall be waitin.... mwah mwah mwah if you do! XOXO
Once again thank you to all past, present and future guests...
Beach House On-the-Dune is becoming an institution
...... 'Love you all... XOXO
2013
Much change at Beach House On-the-Dune this year with the advent of 2 friends leaving the Bay and many of their nice things being acquired including new and much better single and double beds, an additional fridge and a deep freeze for the garage, a garden lounger for the great seaside deck, snackwich machines, filter coffee makers, food processor, and book case in the main bedroom, glasses and crockery etc. Also a small stone buck for the garden donated by Lucille Byrne...
Also thanks go to Carl Van Haght for bringing the 3 huge wooden logs up from the beach to create more beachcomber atmosphere - 2 depict the path to the beach on the diagonal so as to not prevent the wild life from crossing (tortoises etc) and the last is now a seaside bench strategically placed opposite the deck for more seating in the sun! Also thanks to Carl there is now a genuine whale rib bone adorning the wall in the lounge....and the saying "have a whale of a time".....and that is besides the massive Sharptail Sunfish (Mola Mola) I found in winter which is now on the garage wall facing the sea making it is easy for guests to recognise their house when they return from the beach!
A new creation was the hanging shelf in the tiny upstairs bedroom allowing for more place to put your stuff like laptops and cell phones, quick access clothes ... as well as the addition of a shelf in the Main Bedroom En-suite bathroom and another in the upstairs bathroom.
Several heaters were purchased in winter so that now all bedrooms have their own as well as 2 in the downstairs lounge and dining rooms and one in the upstairs lounge.
The old black wrought iron triple sleeper bed was replaced after someone mentioned it was noisy! Thanks for letting me know - you know who you are! lol...But it was also a problem to move for cleaning as it was too cumbersome...
Fishnet was purchased for the children's play boat in the dune garden and a table covering was also created with fishnet and seashells but it became too difficult to clean the tables underneath for guests as it was heavy and very large... so now rests in the garage for anyone who wants to use it for atmosphere or a special event.
All in all it was a wonderful year with some nice little finishing touches added for practical use, and as always adding to the garden with the transference of plants and trees from the veld... next year should see a whole new picture of colour in Spring if the facelift is a success and our nasty friends Mr and Mrs Mole don't take over before then....
To all past, present and future guests, thank you for your patronage...I love you!
5 June 2012
Well the holiday season is now over (phew) and the beach house has been yet further improved and upgraded....out with the old box style tvs and in with the new....2 great TVs and a DVD player have been added....a 32 inch HD LCD TV is now downstairs and a 24 inch HD LED TV and dvd player upstairs as well as a music centre with radio and tape for the oldies! DSTV Select 1 package services both up and downstairs but can be used independently (watching different channels at the same time)
The indigenous garden is almost fully established with ground cover all over and plants beginning to thrive - more bird baths have been added as well as bathroom shelves in the en-suite and upstairs bathrooms....the new beach courtyard table seats 8 and the new front patio table seats 6... there is a stable table on the upstairs balcony now and another 2 small tables at the beach courtyard to assist with braais....did I mention that an alarm system was installed? 2 Separate remotes one for upstairs section and one for the downstairs section make life easier so people can come and go separately for both units...
Cushions for the outside chairs make it less chilly in winter...and the new bird feeder has attracted the mousebirds with their long tail feathers as well as sunbirds with their bright turquoise and red chests! The gerbils continue to eat allthe foliage planted like the new honeysuckle...! Dancing ladies have been planted outside the garden wall on the road side to pretty up the entrance! Here's hoping that springtime will show up all the hard work over the past year of living here....
Koryn Stone
1 September 2011
The rates went up end April this year after no increase for long over a year since the beach house was built and it has been upgraded with a water purifier system, a rustic outdoor patio set, a garden bench, entrance gate and walls at driveway and rustic latte fence at either side of the house. Burglar bars have been strategically placed at obvious windows which means you can now leave the bathroom windows open etc and burglar gate at 2nd enrance to the upstairs. ground cover has been grown to stop the sand from coming into the house and many plants have been planted including 35 aloes kindly donated by Trygve Skorge.
A beautiful uplifting and bright painting of the seaside has also been given to the Beach House by June Henry (Architect and Artist) and various wall hangings have been added for keys at both entrances, as well as hat and jacket stands for both the downstairs and the upstairs. An antique but rustic wall hanging depicting a wonderful saying has been put up as well as the first Nautilus shell found on the beach was framed and is now on the dining room wall. All these were lovely gifts from Trygve and Tenille Lindeque as well as Aletha and Mike Lee and Petro and Toerien Melville)
3 Seashell hearts bought from the local community now decorate the front door patio and the car parking on the left of the driveway has been levelled and covered in seashells so that the ground is now firm.
There is also a paddle ski now and a new braai on wheels which is bigger than the webers and much better.
There is also a washing machine downstairs and a music centre added upstairs. The shower downstairs has been fixed and the water now flows smoothly down the drain.
New beach house linen has been added as well as a gas heater and gas braai (upstairs) and 3 electric heaters and an electric blanket (upstairs). Little Fishing Rods and nets are available for the young ones to play around in the rockpools!
Koryn Stone