Hello and a very warm welcome to you Marike and Roel!

The trip from Europe is quite the mission isn't it? Matt and I hope that a few days in Dee Why will help your jetlag on its way (although don't be surprised if your jetlag takes five days or more to completely disappear - it'll be nowhere near as bad on your way home).

If you have any questions while you're here please don't hesitate to text me on 0412 888 380 (Matt's number is 0412 888 384 just as a back-up). We're happy to help.

Just a couple of last minute things:

1) There's a black-out curtain on the inside of the front door to keep the morning light out of the hallway, which helps keep the bedrooms dark (good for sleep).

2) you'll need to add sanitising liquid to the spa each day that you use it, so please make sure you read the Spa section below early in your stay.

I've put a feather doona (quilt) on your bed. If that's too warm I've put a lighter one (light blue) in the top of the bedroom cupboard (on the left side). Feel free to swap it out.

You can click on any topic in the manual below and it will take you to instructions for it.

Marike when you leave, don't worry about laundering sheets and towels. Just throw any used towels & face washers into the bath tub and I'll take care of it. I'm more than happy to do that for you given the short stay for a whole week's points.

Lastly, would you mind just giving two buckets of water to the potted lime tree in the front yard some time on Wednesday? The bucket is under the tap on the left side of the front of the house (beneath the main bedroom). Please replace the bucket lid when done so that lizards don't go in there and get stuck.

We hope you have a wonderful stay!

Warm regards

Lenorë and Matt

Please turn the a/c off when you don't need it, and definitely when you go out.

The control panel for this is on the wall outside the bathroom door. Just press the long horizontal button at the bottom to turn it on and off.

It's set at 23 degrees celsius. To choose a different temperature, just press 'Set Temp' on the touch screen and choose your temperature with the arrows.

If you want to turn it on for a certain length of time, press Timer and then 'on' or 'off' by time (1 hour increments). Press confirm, then back.

If you want to turn it on or off at a certain time of day, press Timer and then enter the times you want. Press confirm, then back.

If you are using it to go to sleep at night, please close the door to the loungeroom and un-select 'lounge' so that it only air conditions the front part of the house ('beds').

We've left the top drawer empty for you to use.

Spare toilet paper is behind the toilet. There's more in the top of the wardrobe in the main bedroom.

MAIN BEDROOM

We've left you some drawers, shelves and hanging space in the left side of the wardrobe to use. The bedside drawers are also empty for you.

If you'd like to use the speaker in the bedroom, it's called 'bedroom speaker'. After 3-10 seconds you should hear a sound through the speaker when it's connected with your device. Maybe 20% of the time it doesn't connect and you have to pull out the plug and re-insert it to let it re-set. It can take 20-30 seconds.

If you have a lot of rain while you're here, the main bedroom can sometimes get a little musty. If this happens and then the weather clears up, just open the windows and the back doors (with the flyscreens shut to keep out bugglies) and the breeze will clear it out. If the weather doesn't clear it up, just put the a/c on for an hour or two and it should improve.

2ND BEDROOM

There's a full length mirror in here (and in the office) as well as a magnifying mirror.

We'll put the bins out before we leave on Sunday. They are emptied on Wednesday mornings, so they may be empty by the time you arrive. If so, would you mind bringing them in? They go on the tiles at the edge of the carport. The carport opener is on the keyring. Please leave the garage door shut when not needing it open.

RECYCLING

The green bin under the sink is for glass and hard plastics (drink bottles etc.). You can also put UHT milk type containers in there.

The white slide-out bin at the rear (under the sink) is for paper and cardboard. The front is for garbage.

The black wire bucket is for soft plastics (e.g. bread bags).

Please just leave the house as clean as you found it. Cleaning products are in the lower cupboards of the laundry nook. Broom, mop etc are hanging in there too.

You can use 'robo-vac' (in 2nd bedroom) for a light sweep (it does ok - not great on carpet, but a reasonably good job on the floorboards/tiles) by just pressing the start button. Just make sure floor surfaces are clear. You'll need to put objects on the feet of the desk in reading room/office (or just shut the door to that room so it doesn't go in) otherwise robo gets stuck on them. It's best to do the front carpeted section separately (just close the door to the loungeroom), then empty the dustbin (just lift the and pull out the cartridge, then slot it back in) before starting the back floorboard section.

Robo will find its own way back to the charging dock as long as it's not obstructed.

There's a proper vacuum in the right side of the main bedroom cupboard if you need it.

I'm sure you'll want to get out and about and go to some cafes, but if you need a 'home coffee', our coffee machine rocks!

If the coffee cone (that holds the beans) runs empty, there are more beans in the top of the pantry.

The first video below is for how to use the coffee machine and the second is about what to do if the little red bar at the front shows up (it means you need to empty the water tray).

The upper cupboard in the laundry has a range of first aid items.

To open the front gate, pull the knob upwards and push the right gate. It can be a little stiff, especially if it's been raining.

The opener is on a key ring behind the curtain on the left as you walk out the front door. Please make sure the garage door is always closed unless you are using that entrance for something.

We've left this locked since you said you won't use it.

In right side of the mirrored cupboard in the office in the grey jute box. Ironing board also in that wardrobe.

We've put the key in a security device attached to the wire fence on the front deck. The code is the word WISE. Simply enter the code and pull the cup down to open it. Please leave the key back in here when you leave.

Feel free to use anything in the fridge or pantry. The only thing we'd ask is if you empty something (or almost empty it), to leave us a note to let us know.

Drinking glasses are above the fridge. There are some spare pantry supplies (including tea bags) on the top shelf in the pantry. Everything else you'll find as you look around.

The laundry is the cupboard on the left as you enter the kitchen.

If you need to wash clothes while you're here, feel free to use the washing machine. The laundry liquid and softener are already in the machine, you just need to put your clothes in and turn it on (press and hold the on button). It will automatically choose AI wash, but if you want another cycle, just turn the knob and find the one you want. Press and hold the start symbol.

We don't have an automatic clothes drier, we use a drying rack which is in the carport.

Because there are a few days between when we leave home and when you arrive, there might be some leaves etc on the back deck and paths. We've left the electric blower in the shed for you, just on the right as you enter from the back deck.

Garden lights in the front yard come on automatically in the evening and light the front path and fanginpani tree in the front yard. They switch off automatically too.

The switches for the tree lights/ party lights in the back yard (nice to have on when in the spa) are on the outside wall of the gym closest to the house.

Carport light switches are on the right as you exit the back sliding doors. There is another set on the right wall as you enter the carport from the back yard.

If you need extra sheets and towels they are in the left half of the wardrobe in the 2nd bedroom.

If you want table cloths for the outdoor table, they are in the right side of the wardrobe in the main bedroom.

Feel free to plug your laptop into the large monitor if you'd like to use it with the USBC cable connected to the black box. The ergonomic mouse is also plugged in when you do that - feel free to use that too if you like (there's an on/off switch underneath it).

You should also be able to use the printer if you need to once you're on the wifi network. It's located in the left side of the mirrored cupboard. On the network it's the HP PageWide Pro.

This Bali-inspired shower is plumbed with hot water and we use it all year round. It's especially delightful in a light shower of rain! You can either sling your towel over the bamboo screen or there are hooks on the inside of it. If you'd like to try a hot shower in the rain, you might want to put your towel inside the little wooden cabinet.

For evening showers there is a portable light hanging on the side panel. It has three brightness settings, getting softer each time you press the button. Please remember to turn it off when you're finished.

We cleaned the shower for you prior to your arrival, but because it's open to the elements, there may be some leaves and twigs fallen into it by the time you arrive (especially if we've had the company of any sulfur-crested cockatoos that day).

If you're showering during the day, beware of any cockatoos (large, white birds that are beautiful and very rowdy) fossicking in the trees above you. They delight in ripping off bits of dead Giant Bird of Paradise flowers and dropping them. The flowers on those trees are heavy!!! They aren't too active in this way at this time of year though.

No doubt you'll Google your way to the kind of restaurants and cafes you like (there are plenty in Dee Why and surrounding suburbs), but here are a few of our favourites in the local neighbourhood:

1) Queen K cafe - more of a locals' spot on a quiet street, good coffee and the best local muffins home made every day. They have a limited menu but it's good.

2) Bare Naked Bowls - on the beachfront - good coffee, a limited menu but what's there is good, a great view.

3) Girdler's Grind - also on the beachfront - we don't like their coffee as much but it's our favourite lunch spot with healthy, yummy, interesting food options. Ocean views.

4) Butterbox Cafe - at Long Reef (the northern end of Dee Why beach). Good coffee, a cool beach vibe and funky architecture, situated next to the Surf Life Saving Club just behind the sandhills at the beach. Their food is pretty good too. Gets busy on weekends but we've always been able to get a table.

5) Fish Bowl - in the Dee Why town centre. Healthy, yummy poke bowl-style lunches.

6) Black Honey cafe - a 10 min drive (two suburbs north, in Narrabeen). Our favourite coffee. It's just across the road from Narrabeen Beach but you can't see the ocean from the cafe.

There are loads of bushwalks in the area, beaches galore (all of them good), there's Narrabeen Lake where you can hire canoes or walk or jog around it (it's gorgeous!!). There's Manly with it's beach, harbour beach and ferry to the city - lots of good cafes and restaurants there. There's Palm Beach on the northern tip of the peninsula (where Home & Away is filmed) with a lovely walk up to the lighthouse. There's a fancy pub on the way to Palm Beach in Newport with a big outdoor seating area overlooking the Pittwater called The Newport Arms. Honestly, there's so much stuff to do and see I could write you a book, but you've only got four days and you're here mostly to see your neice, so I won't go overboard. If you'd like any more recommendations on specific things, please don't hesitate to ask.

We hope you enjoy our spa - we love it!!! It's a five seater with three sitting positions and two recliners. Each position is slightly different jet-wise. The recliners have jets that go down your legs as well as back and shoulders. The strongest one is on the right side when entering the spa, where you sit facing the gym. The best one for back and shoulders is in the corner spot.

OPENING THE SPA

We use just two of the clips on the spa lid (you'll need to unclip them to take the lid off), on the right as you stand next to the steps, and the other on the right of the surface perpendicular to that. Unclip them and fold the lid back, then slide it off the back of the spa (just lean it up against the retaining wall).

HEATING THE SPA

NOTE: you'll need to heat the spa in advance of using it - we don't auto-heat as that tends to waste a lot of power. It heats up at about 3 degrees per hour, so have a look at the temperature when you arrive, and if you want to use it that evening, make sure you turn on the heat pump far enough in advance. It's set to heat to 38 degrees Celsius which is pretty warm (nice in winter), so you'll probably want to turn the heat pump off as you get in. (If you leave it on you'll probably find yourself sweating!)

JET POWER

The two buttons marked 'jets' above will turn on the two sets of jets (one each side of the spa, covering two and three sitting positions respectively). The black handles on the edge of the spa (I've put stickers on them saying 'jet power) control the power of the water coming through the jets. You can turn that up or down to your liking.

SPA LIGHTS

We don't use the spa lights, we think it's nicer without them, especially if you have the party lights and the tree lights on in the back yard. However feel free to turn them on if you wish. Pressing once will start a cycle through the different light colours. Press again when the colour you want has turned on, and that will then stay. Press again to turn them off.

FIINISHING YOUR SPA

When finished, please remember to turn everything off - the heat pump, the jets, and the lights. Then slide the lid back up onto the spa, close it and re-fasten the two clips. If it's been raining you might need two people to lift the lid back on as rain seems to get into it despite our best efforts, and it can get heavy. When it's dry, one reasonably strong adult can do it on their own (easiest to lift it while standing inside the spa).

We love having an outdoor shower after we get out of the spa - just don't forget to bring your towel out with you before you get in the spa.

DAILY SANITISING OF THE SPA

You will need to add some liquid lithium to the spa every day (it turns into chlorine to keep the spa sanitised). It doesn't matter if you do it after you finish using it or each morning but please make sure you do it each day otherwise you'll find the water starts to get cloudy which means it's not as sanitary as you want it to be! Mornings can be easier as there is no light in the garden shed out next to the back fence where the lithium is.

****PLEASE TAKE CARE NOT TO GET THE LITHIUM ON YOUR CLOTHES AS IT WILL BLEACH THEM!!!****

We found a low risk (to your clothes) way to measure out the lithium which is this bottle in the video Matt made for you here.

We find that people from the northern hemisphere can often have some out-sized fears about spiders and bugglies in Australia. These are mostly very over-blown.

We've made sure the house is spider-free for you and as long as you keep at least the screen doors closed at the back of the house, it should stay that way (there are screens on most windows too).

If you do see any spiders they are highly likely to be either a Daddy long-legs (small bodies and very fine legs) or a Garden Wolf Spider (brown/grey and a little bit hairy), neither of which pose any threat to humans, although the latter can scare northerners because they can get quite large. (I was going to put pictures here for you but I'll leave it to you to look them up if you want to.)

There are also some Garden Orb Weavers that are common outdoors in our area - again they won't hurt you but they can look scary as they can be large-bodied. They sometimes weave a new (large) web overnight and sometimes in rather inconvenient places such as across the front stairs!

This only happens occasionally, but just in case it does, first of all, DON'T PANIC!!! They won't hurt you! We literally grab the structural strands from one side of the web with our hands and wrap the web onto the hedge. The spider will go and hide. Usually they get the idea and go and find somewhere else to make their web, but on rare occasions it can take a few removals over a few days before they get the picture. If you're too scared to do it with your hands, grab the broom and do it with the broom handle.

The only precaution I WOULD recommend, is to not walk in bare feet on the grass at night. The likelihood is low that you would get bitten but there are a couple of nocturnal spiders that live in grass in NSW that are dangerous (e.g. the Trapdoor and the Funnel Web spiders). To be clear, we've NEVER seen any, but we just use this rule to be ultra-cautious because their bites are nasty. Funnel Web bites can even be fatal if left untreated, although no-one has died since the 1980s when the antivenom was developed. There are some thongs (flip flops) and lace-less shoes near the back door, just slip them on if you're going to be walking around on the grass at night.

Being close to the ocean we do also get the occasional cockroach. Again they can be large but are completely harmless. We usually chase them onto the broom or mop head and put them outside. If they are around, they'll usually only come out after you've gone to bed but occasionally you see one during the day.

There are two remote controls. Use the large one to turn on the TV unit. From there just cast whatever you want from your phone or laptop. As long as you're connected to our wifi, the option of 'loungeroom' should come up on your casting options on your device. Just choose that and you should be away.

If any problems, just press 'source' on the large remote and make sure Chromecast is chosen as per the picture below.

Use the small remote for volume control/ mute.

No visitors please, unless you've discussed it with us and we've given the ok. Definitely no parties please.

Network name: ArthurStResort

Password: 19378756