This is a wonderful house. But if it were to gain another half star or rise in ratings (or indeed, keep the so-far assigned 5-star rating) it would need better upkeep, minor upgrades. You'd want all the lights to work in bathrooms (no fun showering in the dark & I like to read on the toilet), you'd want the kitchen to be equipped with a kettle, scissors, a working can opener (we bought and left behind a small opener as well as a working toilet plunger!) We would have liked newer bedsheets and fitted sheets that stayed fitted. Master bedroom had an overabundance of drawers, other bedrooms had virtually none – or just more shelves. Upstairs carpets really need a good cleaning, as does the single sagging and ancient living room couch. This does not involve thousands of dollars of investment, maybe hundreds.

The house is spacious, airy, well-lit and properly designed. Bedrooms are large and individually air conditioned and showers are excellent. Kitchen and eating area were the heart of it for us; all 8 adults & 3 little ones could spend hours there without bumping into each other. Food preparation was a pleasure we all shared. Backyard was the place to BBQ, dine under the grape arbour, play badminton, enjoy our inflatable kiddy pool, look through the long grasses for chirping bugs, anything; the play area for our three year-old could extend to the private street – no traffic! George was always nearby if needed and friendly without prying.