Anchors Aweigh Newsletter Issue 4 March 2014 Note from the Trustees Can you believe it s already March 2014, my how time flies when you are having fun or in most of our cases working hard. Regular Features Making Your Levy Work While rain has caused Eskom to start load shedding again most of us dream of our little home at the coast and some good times next to the Tips and Tricks braai at Anchors. Yummy Holiday Recipes Ons hoop om sommer baie van julle te sien in die kort April vakansie of dat die klompie langnaweke in April julle arm sal draai om n draai in Hibberdene te maak. Ry maar net mooi stadig om die verkeersouens gelukkig te hou en dan gebruik jy sommer minder brandstof ook. The trustees will be having a safari meeting on the 21st of March 2014 at Anchors and will use the time to identify more improvements and assist owners with queries on their units. As part of the continuous focus on security improvements at Anchors, you will remember that we implemented the cell phone system at the two gates on the property. We believe that owners have had enough time to get to know the system and we will be disabling the remote system with effect of 31 March 2014. Please send a mail to admin@anchors-aweigh.info to ensure your cell phone details have been captured. En onthou asseblief, enige voorstelle om sekuriteit te verbeter is altyd welkom. Stuur dit ook na die e-mail adres en ons sal kyk wat ons kan doen. We would also like to remind owners again that they are required to have a certified fire extinguisher in their unit and it must be serviced on a yearly basis. Anchors Aweigh Our home away from home Page 1
MAKING YOUR LEVY WORK It never ceases to amaze me how much work Oom Faan and his team do at Anchors, and looking at all the comments on our facebook page I m guessing that many people agree. Baie, baie dankie Oom Faan, ons waardeer dit verskriklik. Units 2, 19, 78, 95, 101 and 122 have been painted from top to bottom and the window sills and doors of units 50 and 144 look like new. Units 10, 11, 30, 70 and 78 roofs have been redone and Oom Faan and his team are busy with 14 and 102. With all the rain we ve been having, the owners of units 2, 34, 35, 60, 67, 80, 97 and 100 will be glad to know that their leaks have been fixed. Anchors Aweigh Our home away from home Page 2
Day & Night switches have been installed at 8, 39 and 93 and various globes have been replaced. As always our gardens are looking stunning, and the overgrown shrubs and bushes along our boundary fence have been cut back. Our reservoir has been sanded down, backwashed and sealed and 2 leaks have been fixed. The road to the dumping site has been cleared and many of the roads that were washed away during the rains have been rehabilitated. Our swimming pool looks beautiful. There s a new shower to wash the sand off your feet before taking a dip in the pool and the ablution facilities have been given an extreme make-over. Anchors Aweigh Our home away from home Page 3
Weerens dankie Oom Faan, ons weet daars nog baie meer wat julle gedoen het, maar daars net so veel spasie in die nuusbrief TIPS FOR RENTING OUT YOUR UNIT With Anchors looking so beautiful you might be considering renting out your unit. Here are a few tips that could make things a little easier: If you are renting your unit out, the bond holder and your insurance company should be informed. It s a good idea to look into taking out public liability insurance to protect you against any claims made by holidaymakers should they hurt themselves whilst in your property. Keep furnishings simple and avoid clutter; invest in a lockable cupboard to store away personal knickknacks and consider what practical items guests will expect. Great photos and descriptions really help potential renters see themselves enjoying their holiday in your property. Take time writing your copy and carefully prepare every shot. Make beds, set tables, or light a few candles, for example. Guests will want to see exterior shots, outside facilities and the gorgeous view, plus photos of every room. It really is worth considering getting a professional photographer to take your shots for you. It will be a one-off cost, but extremely worth doing. Ideally you should have someone to meet and greet your clients. You will also need a cleaner and someone on hand locally to deal with problems. One person can often fulfill all these roles. Ask fellow holiday home owners or your property agent for recommendations. Know your target audience and research the price of comparable properties and alternative accommodation in the area. What type of tourists visit the area and what will they be looking for? Know your seasons and run offers to attract off-peak travelers. Having your own website to refer guests to is great, but there are millions of websites online so you ve got to tell people this website exists before you are likely to see booking start rolling in. Set up auto-replies for booking enquiries containing further details of your property and travel options, and have a standard email prepared to send with your booking contract. If your calendar looks out of date, or your rates aren t clear, you will miss out on enquiries. Anchors Aweigh Our home away from home Page 4
Stick to week-long minimum stays in peak periods if you wish, but be flexible at other times to attract those taking short breaks and buying cheap flight deals. Positive testimonials from previous guests will help sell your property. Leave a guestbook at your property for feedback and to gather positive quotes. Look for holiday rental websites with reviews, as travellers prefer sites where they can read comments from past guests. Little extras can make all the difference so include a welcome pack of basics and local goodies. You can either include it in the price or on request for a small extra charge. It always nice to provide a file with useful information on local attractions, activities and transport. Remember to give your guests a copy of the Anchors Conduct Rules so they know what they can and can t do. LEKKER RESEP JAN SE STOKBROOD Aaai daars niks so lekker soos stokbrood op n braai. Probeer die resep vir n vinnige deeg wat min moeite verg en die eindproduk smaak soveel beter as winkelbrood. Benodighede 1 kg koekmeel 1 pakkie kitsgis 25 ml suiker 12,5 ml sout 2½ k water 50 ml olyfolie skoongewaste stokke Metode 1. Gooi die meel, gis, suiker en sout in n bak en meng goed. 2. Voeg die olie en 2 koppies effens warm water by en meng met jou hande tot n sagte bol deeg. Voeg nog water by indien nodig. 3. Knie die bol deeg op n plat oppervlak vir sowat 5 minute tot glad en plooibaar. 4. Sit die deeg terug in die mengbak en bedek met kleefplastiek of n klam vadoek. Laat dit rys vir sowat 30 minute totdat die volume verdubbel het. Maak n bier oop terwyl jy wag of loop n draai om Anchors. 5. Keer dit uit op n plat oppervlak (met n bietjie meel bestrooi) en knie n paar keer om van die lug uit te pers. Verdeel dit dan in tot 10 stukke en rol elkeen uit in n lang wors. 6. Rol die worse om n stok (druk die punte weerskante vas) en braai op matige kole sowat 15 minute lank. Draai dit gereeld om oral te verbruin. Die stokbrood is reg as dit maklik van die stok afkom. 7. Bedien dadelik met botter en iets soos stroop of konfyt, of druk n stuk gaar boerewors binne-in. Anchors Aweigh Our home away from home Page 5
EEEWWWW, WE VE GOT MOULD!! Mould is a common problem in most homes down at the coast. When walls, moulding, or carpets are damp for a long time they can start to grow mildew, which not only smells bad but can cause serious health problems from breathing in the mould spores. Mildew and damp can also damage furniture and upholstery, and all in all it s a problem that should always be dealt with swiftly. What Causes Damp? Homes at the coast are more susceptible to damp. There is always a lot of moisture in the air and we often leave our units tightly locked up when we re not there. The units at Anchors are also older and damp or mould often takes a long time to build up before they become noticeable. Damp can get in through windows, floors, walls, the roof, doors, and leaky pipes. Usually you ll notice a damp patch at the spot where the water is getting into the house, making damp relatively easy to fix if you know the right methods. There are several home remedies that contain a few simple ingredients which you could use to treat mould. Silica Gel Charcoal Briquettes One of the easiest solutions to help prevent dampness and mould is a dehumidifier, but commercial dehumidifiers can be pricey. You can make your own dehumidifier by simply putting a few charcoal briquettes in an open container or basket. People swear by charcoal briquettes for removing humidity. There is no particular brand you should use over another. Charcoal not only dehumidifies the air, it also removes odours. The charcoal will last for 2-3 months and you can use it for your next braai Silica gel may sound like something that would be tough to find, but it s actually quite easy. You know those little packets that come in vitamin bottles and shoe boxes that say Do not Eat? They re filled with silica gel, which is extremely good at pulling moisture out of the air. A lot of cat litter brands use silica gel as the main ingredient so just pop into our local Spar and some silica gel cat litter. To use it, make little bundles of silica gel with a porous cloth, such as cheesecloth. Put these in areas where you ve noticed damp, or just hang them around the house on the walls and in corners to keep it from creeping up on you. Silica gel is great because you can reuse the little beads by heating them to pull the moisture back out. If the silica gel isn t working anymore because it s become saturated, stick it in the oven on low for about 10 or 15 minutes and the water will evaporate. Anchors Aweigh Our home away from home Page 6
Calcium Chloride Calcium chloride is the main ingredient in Rubson Stop Humidity, but the name brand stuff can be pretty expensive. Calcium chloride is a desiccant, which means it pulls moisture out of the air. You can make your own using materials you can find at most hardware stores for a fraction of the price. Just ask one of the salespeople where you can find it. It s pretty safe to handle, but you should still try to keep it out of reach of animals and children. To use it, take an old yoghurt container or something similar and punch a few holes in the lid. Pour about 10cm of calcium chloride into the container, then put the lid back on and put it where you ve seen damp or mould. You ll have to change the calcium chloride every few weeks or as soon as you notice water pooling up on the bottom of the container. When calcium chloride gets wet it can get hot, so be careful when you re emptying the container. Chalk Yes you read that right plain old chalk. Take a few sticks and tie them together with an elastic band. Hang the bundles in your cupboards or place them between your linen and towels before you pack them away. N KLIEN STUKKIE GESKIEDENIS Kyk wat het ons gekry toe ons deur n paar ou koerante snuffle n pragtige artikel oor ons eie Anchors (toe nog Rondalia). Julle kan die volle artikel lees op die webwerf by http://anchorsaweigh.info/downloads/apieceofhistory.jpg Gepubliseer in NEWS CHECK SOUTH AFRICA and AFRICA, 7 Desember 1962 Anchors Aweigh Our home away from home Page 7
HANDY CHECKLIST FOR CLEANING YOUR UNIT To ensure that nothing is missed during the regular cleaning sessions, it's helpful to draw up a laminated checklist of all the cleaning tasks to be completed. You can use the one below to make things a bit easier. Empty bins, put new bin liners in bins. Collect all bedding, towels, bath mats, tea towels and dish cloths - put in bag and send to laundry. Empty the fridge, discard any food. Wipe the inside with antibacterial spray and leave the door open Check the oven is empty. Wipe the insides with oven cleaner. Check the microwave is empty. Take out, wash and dry the microwave plate. Wipe the insides. Shake the toaster out into the sink and wipe it clean. Wash up any dirty utensils, crockery, cutlery and replace in the drawers and cupboards. Wipe all kitchen surfaces with antibacterial spray. Pour some bleach down the kitchen sink drain. Spray floor cleaning liquid on the kitchen floor and mop thoroughly with clean hot water. Wipe all bathroom surfaces with antibacterial spray. Clean shower with vinegar and warm water. Rinse thoroughly. Pour some bleach down the shower drain. Clean toilet with toilet cleaner. Pour some toilet disinfectant in the pan. Dust all surfaces. Check inside all wardrobes, drawers and cupboards to make sure no items have been left behind. Shake the curtains and blinds gently. Wipe the doors and window frames if there are any marks or grease. Vacuum throughout the property, carpets and hard surface floors. Make the beds, fold and place new towels, tea towels, dishcloths etc. Make sure the geyser has been turned off. Anchors Aweigh Our home away from home Page 8