The Firepit Retreat

Thank you, and you would be most welcome again.

I am happy if you are happy

I'm so glad you were happy. You are welcome back any time. And I'll tell my cleaners you are happy with their work too.

Good. Hope your accommodation contributed to your enjoyment!

Thank you for your comments and for noting the location and equipment provided. As outlined in the listing description, photographs and guest handbook, the property is offered as a private home rather than a hotel-style or depersonalised rental. When not hosting guests, this is my own residence, and it retains the character of a beautifully furnished home with artworks, books, quality furnishings and the many comforts of a fully equipped household. Many guests choose the property specifically for this reason. The house is set up as a lived-in residence, with Persian rugs, original artworks, premium linens, a chef’s kitchen and a stocked pantry available for guests’ use. Each bedroom provides luggage racks and hanging space suitable for typical holiday stays. Guests seeking a hotel-style or an impersonal property may prefer accommodation designed specifically for that style of stay, whereas those who enjoy staying in a well-appointed private home with art, character and thoughtful amenities tend to find the house particularly enjoyable. Thank you also for mentioning the barbecue knobs. I appreciate guests bringing small maintenance matters to my attention and will have the barbecue serviced to ensure everything continues to operate perfectly. For the benefit of future readers, the property has been consistently rated very highly by guests who enjoy the experience of staying in a private home. I’m glad you enjoyed the location and wish you many enjoyable future stays.

so glad you enjoyed it - come back soon!

Thank you Wei, it was a pleasure to host you - please come back soon! And no problem about the messed up arrival - YOU were accommodating too !

Wow.”Perfect”! How am I going to improve on that? Seriously, thank you.

Thank you so much for this feedback. There's nothing worse than staying at a holiday place with uncomfortable beds - glad you noticed my efforts. And Augusta is a gem of a town in a magic region. Come back soon!

Thanks for being great guests.

I’m glad you all enjoyed my place especially Bok Choy the bunny. I fell in love!

Thank you so much for this review. I am so pleased you enjoyed your stay. You were a pleasure to welcome to my home. Yes, the bedroom faces east. Luxury eyeshades coming up!

Dear future guests: the bed complained about is normally set up as a queen. It was converted to singles at our guest's request, with a very thick new queen mattress left available for their use in case they preferred it as a queen. My home is ideal for two couples, (2 QS beds) but if people travel with children they may prefer the bed split into 2 singles. No child has ever had an issue with the mattresses! I will add a comment to my property description to make all this clear. I am glad of the feedback, but realise that sadly you can't please everyone. This is my home, (remember what Airbnb used to be like? Being welcomed into someone's real home?). It is not a spartan hotel with 4 cups, 4 spoons, 4 plates etc . I am a keen cook so the kitchen is particularly well-equipped. Most people are happy with this. Future guests please take note that this is a spacious apartment, but it is not a house. I suspect these guests might have been happier with a house which is a fulltime Airbnb without extras.

Thanks Christine, appreciated. You were both lovely to deal with. I'll drop you a message tomorrow about the Kiva (microloan) donation I have made from your payment

Thank you for your kind comments. It was lovely “meeting” you, albeit remotely. I’m always thrilled when people like my home, although I think this is the first “magnificent” I’ve scored. I’ve had “quirky”and “luxurious”. Thank you for the extra adjective! . I’ll message you son with the details of the Kiva micro loan to a person in a devoting country I’ve made with part of your payment. I’d love to host you again sometime.

thank you Janene, for the much-appreciated positive feedback. Love to see you again.

I’m glad you enjoyed the surrounds inside and out. A pleasure to host you.

There's always one, isn't there? I know I should just take this review on the chin, but I am offended, especially at the suggestion that I was not upfront. Whoever reads this please view all the other (mostly 5 star) reviews and ask yourself if they are all wrong! As an example of me not being upfront, the guest says says "the property is not on Manning Rd but fronts the main road in Augusta". The address IS Manning St. It is on a corner of Manning and Blackwood Av. This is why the material sent to guests in advance explains carefully that : "the address is Apartment xx, x Manning Street, BUT take the entrance off Blackwood Avenue just downhill from the supermarket". In the same materials it mentions the entrance being just past the Deckchair Cafe and the Augusta Hotel. A cursory look at a map shows the property is in the town centre, facing the main road, if the mention of cafe, supermarket and pub isn't enough of a hint. He complains about traffic noise. This was between Christmas and New Year in a tourist town on the main street. He complains about the heat. There is air conditioning downstairs. It has never been needed upstairs as there is a fantastic cross-flow of air (and fans). This guest stayed during a heat wave with the hottest temperatures on record in much of WA including Perth and Augusta. So I am sorry that (a) I could not cancel the main holiday period and barricade the street to keep all the other tourists out, (b) move the property from its advertised location and (c) turn the weather off. He says it is small and cluttered. It not small. It is a spacious 2 BR, 2 ensuite apartment, not a huge house. It has my beautiful artworks, Persian rugs, books, games, appliances, furniture. It is not cluttered, but certainly not minimalist as the photographs of my home show. It is a home not a spartan hotel. I do agree he was not happy. I encountered him at the bakery during his stay and he was very aggressive towards me, much to the embarrassment of his wife and friends. Please look at the other reviews that variously praise the high end furnishings and decor, the artworks and furnishings, love the location, love the cooling breezes, love the welcome and ignore this man who really should have stayed in the Taj Mahal (but he still wouldn't be happy). Other owners beware - avoid accepting John C as a guest at all costs.

Hello Alison - thank you for your kind words. I see despite your 4-star rating, on every individual measure you have awarded my home 5 stars! So thank you kindly for the 5s. Hope to see you again next time you feel like some relaxation.

Thank you Marc. You’ll see I personally delivered your daughter’s shower hat back for her. I’m gllad you enjoyed the space and your stay. I’ve never had a guest have an issue with the feather doona before. But at least there was plenty of alternative bedding, so it was only the one night.p that you were bothered. I’ll add a note to the listing for future guests to let me know if they have any allergies etc.