Something doesn’t work. What can I do?
- Ring Alex Scott Real Estate on (03) 5674 1602. Failing that, ring the owners on 042 574 6523 at any time.
When does the rubbish go out?
- Put all the bins out every Tuesday night for Wednesday collection. Not all will be collected though owing to the council’s bizarre schedule. There are three bins: rubbish (red), recycling (yellow) and compostable (green) All bins go out fortnightly on a Tuesday night, but they are not all emptied each week. See schedule in kitchen or in the house handbook (Over the summer period the red bins should be emptied weekly.) Face the front of the bins to the road. Leave the unemptied bins out on the road when you leave please.
How do I get to the beach?
- Walk out of the driveway and turn right. At Ayr creek turn right and go along the creek pathway. Cross the road and you are there. (Or walk to the end of the garden, turn left, and then right.) The beach is 1-3 minutes’ walk from the house.
Why doesn’t the TV work?
- You need to ensure the “booster” switch in the living room, near the TV, is turned on.
How do I use the DVD player?
- To swap between TV and DVD select the HDMI port via ‘Source’. If you can’t operate the remote, try replacing the batteries. Spares are in the Laundry.
Why doesn’t the gas hotplates turn on?
- Some guests have accidentally unplugged the piezo ignition plug when moving pots and pans around. Replace the plug and all will be good.
Why isn’t there any hot-water?
- You need to ensure that the gas operated hot water unit is turned ON at the electronic touch pad on the left-hand side wall outside the bathroom. It should read 50 degrees. Press the arrows to adjust the temperature.
- If the touch pad reads 50 and there is still not hot water, the gas bottles might be empty. Keep an eye on the gauge on the bottles themselves. If the gauge on the bottles is red, at least one bottle is empty. Call the agent for a refill.
The water has stopped and the loo is not flushing!
- This is an environmentally-friendly house. If there has been a power failure (very rare) the pump for the water tank might have stopped because the power went off. As the garage will be locked you won’t be able to reset it. Restore mains water and you will be fine (see Utilities).
The outside shower is very slow and not hot. What’s wrong?
- The outside show flow is partially governed by a pump in the garage and the gravity of the water in the tank. When tank water is low (in summer) the flow of the shower can be reduced to a trickle. This is, however, very rare. You can swap to mains water to correct the problem—See the Utilities. If there is rain and the tank fills please change it back again to conserve water.
The water is flowing but outside shower is not running at all. What’s wrong?
- As the shower is outside in a seaside environment, the pores of the showerhead can clog with salt. This can prevent water flowing through. Equal parts of CLR (in the laundry cupboard) and hot water for two minutes fixes the problem.
How do I turn on the range hood?
- Slide out the range hood and check that the switch underneath the glass slide out portion is turned on.
The range hood globe has blown and there is no light. How do I fix it?
- Extend the range hood canopy. You will see two black sliding tabs on each side of the inside of the canopy. Slide these tabs towards each other. Remove the protecting grease trap screen by lowering it and drawing it towards you (wash it while you have it out), undo the globe and replace it (globes should be in laundry cupboard). Return the screen when it is dry.
How do I use the plug in the bathroom handbasin?
- Simply press down the fixed metal plug to seal the handbasin and depress again to release the seal and let water escape. Sometimes (rarely) the plug will get “stuck” and not seal. If this happens, a squirt or two of RP-40 (in the cupboard) will usually fix it.
I have trouble locking the sliding door. How is it done?
- The sliding door has two slide-able sections. Make sure the right-hand section (when looking toward the garden) is carefully closed fully or the door won’t lock.
What is the security camera for on the deck? Am I under surveillance?
- Relax. It’s fake and for show and is not plugged in. It is a pathetic attempt to deter would-be robbers.
How do I work the gas bar-b-que?
- Turn on the gas bottle. Turn on the jet nearest the ignition switch. Turn it on full. The ignition button does not work, so use a match). When the first jet is alight, turn on the next jet, and then the next one, etc. Remember to turn off the gas bottle when you have finished and clean the bar-b-que. Please refill the gas bottle if it runs out. The local garage sells refills. Thanks.
The kids are bored. What can they do?
- Board games, DVDs, balls, cricket bat, etc are all available at Anembo for tenants to use. There is a video shop in town, and at least two in Wonthaggi. There is a small playground area at the western end of Beacon Court, and bigger playgrounds in both Inverloch and Wonthaggi (Melbourne end). Rock fossicking is popular when the tide is out. There is a cinema at Wonthaggi and a much larger cinema complex in Leongatha. Leongatha has a huge swimming pool. Inverloch and Wonthaggi both have libraries that they can join for free. They can always go for a walk. Try walking to ‘The Caves’ en route to Eagle’s Nest. They have bats in them and the kids will enjoy the adventure. See Around the House and Around Inverloch.
Do you have wireless internet?
- Yes. Now we do. The wifi details are at the house in the information book and near the TV. We struggled with providing this for many years and finally caved-in. “Anembo” means “resting place” for good reason and we suggest you limit your internet use to a minimum. Personally, we find an enforced period of being off-line the best feature of Anembo Cottage.
Why don’t you add streaming services (Netflix, Disney, Stan, Apple, etc)?
- We don’t pretend to compete with places that offer ‘the works’. There are a lot of DVDs available at the house to satisfy most tastes in movie watching.
Who owns the vacant block next door?
- It is crown land managed by Gippsland Ports (originally the Port Authority). It used to be the location of a beacon tower and is now a wildlife corridor—hopefully in perpetuity. The street has been named “Beacon Court” in recognition of this. There is a Facebook group dedicated to maintenance and preservation of the unofficial Beacon Court Reserve. The South Gippsland Conservation Society is including this land as part of their broader land conservation efforts.
How old is the house and when was it renovated?
- The house was built by the original owner of the land, Mr Frank Cowen, and his sons Mick and Ted, over several years during the early 1950s (see History). It was mostly made with recycled timbers and materials scavenged from building sites and auctions. Originally, the house had a small hallway and a laundry room and a small timber shed stood to the south-west of the house. The house remained the same until 2003-4 when the original shed and lean-to on the southern side of the house were both demolished. A much larger deck was added and a large shed was also built at the rear of the property. Interior renovations commenced in 2006. The interior of the house was remodelled during the renovation to allow the sitting room and kitchen to face the expansive rear yard. Larger windows were added to the front and rear of the house, a new kitchen and bathroom were added, and the house was insulated, re-wired and re-plumbed. A new roof was also added to cover the new deck. A fence was added to the property in 2008. For an extended description of the history of the house, see the short story: Anembo Cottage. Resting Place.
Why don’t you make the house bigger?
- That would be nice but we don’t have the money to begin with. Second we don’t live there. It’s a holiday retreat. Third, occasional rental income barely covers costs of maintenance, utilities and rates as it is. Yes it is small, but there’s less to clean and that’s good when you are on holidays. It is what it is, and most people like it.
Do you get any wildlife near the house?
- Yes. Koalas and echidnas are spotted, or heard, regularly. There is also plenty of wonderful birdlife. Sit quietly on the deck and listen and watch. Echindas have been seen in the garden and under the house. Koalas make a grunting sound. They can sometimes be heard in the vacant block next door or can be spotted in the tree near the clothes line. One really great thing to do when you wake up is to open the curtains wide and lie in bed with a cup of tea watching the birds on the trees and the tranquil happenings in the front garden. Try it.
When is the best time to come to Inverloch?
- Anytime! Summer, of course, is the peak period. Anembo is booked out solidly from just before Christmas to the end of February in one or two-week blocks. From March until June there is still often good weather without all the holiday-makers. From this time, you can have the wild and windswept beach all to yourself. We are receiving an increasing number of bookings for the off-season. Easter, the school holidays, and the Inverloch Jazz Festival weekend in March/August (sometimes run in different months), and Inverloch Autumn Festival are peak booking periods. We think that March-June is the best time. In winter it naturally rains a lot, but this is the time for visiting the attractive small towns around the area, taking refreshing walks on the beach, and sitting around the cosy gas heaters in the Esplanade pub. Spring is always a delightful season in Inverloch with beautiful weather and a wonderful green garden to enjoy. Anembo is available for rent for both long and short getaway periods from Winter through Spring. It is also available for permanent, year-long rental.
Is the house available most of the year?
- There is almost always someone at the house: family, friends, friends of friends, permanent or holiday tenants. We regularly receive bookings 12 months in advance for peak periods by those who like the simplicity and solitude.
Have you thought of selling?
- No, the thought has not crossed our minds!
I am leaving the property. What do I have to do?
- Thanks for asking. Basically, ensure the property is as clean as you found it.
- There is a broom, dusters, mop, cleaning solution, etc., in the laundry area.
- Make sure the ‘fridge, oven and microwave are wiped over.
- Return all dishes to the cupboards.
- Fold up all blankets.
- Pack up all board games and play equipment.
- Close all windows and doors securely.
- Make sure all lights are off
- Make sure the air conditioner is off.
- Please leave a message in the Visitor’s Book!
Thanks for coming. Travel safely. Hope to see you again!