Your Hosts at Parker Cottage

	Liz Sayigh and Phil Rendel and staff
	Parker is a small, owner-managed business with five permanent staff, six if you count Busby. We’re Liz and Phil, (the owners), and came to Cape Town from the Eastern Cape (Grahamstown) in 2006. We bought Parker Cottage in 2008 after a couple of years running another guesthouse, Mountain Magic Suites. We’re also academics by profession: Liz works in the sociology of education and is writing her Phd at the moment and Phil has a consultancy, English for Africa, that develops language solutions for business and educational institutions. When we’re not at Parker, Liz likes nothing better than anything to do with horses, gardens and fantastic outfits! Phil’s never happier than when covered in oil working on his Land Rover, skateboarding or windsurfing at Langebaan.
	Anton has been working in hospitality for longer than he can remember: with such employers as the Saudi Royal Family under his belt and several years experience as a butler, Anton is really, in his own words, part of the furniture at Parker! Recently returned from Australia, Anton helps Liz and Phil to manage the guesthouse and is the wine buyer.
	Betty has been working at Parker for over 8 years: beginning as a cleaner, she’s now one of two senior housekeepers along with Marie. Betty’s area of expertise is stock control and the linen store, both not small tasks requiring constant attention. Betty’s a mother of 5 mostly grown up children and loves nothing more than a good laugh!
	Marie came to Parker in 2004 to help Betty out but initially only as a maid. She’s now a housekeeper with Betty and is mainly responsible for the kitchen and its smooth running. She’s a self-confessed giggler and married to a lay preacher with one child. She’s also obsessed with her toy poodle!
	Donovan is our caretaker at Parker. Even at the tender age of 20, he manages all painting and decorating here with exceptional diligence. He's originally from the Eastern Cape, Graff Reinet to be precise, and loves riding his racer bike around town. He now lives in Mitchell's Plain and is the main breadwinner for his household of five.
	Busby is the Parker Poodle – a fine specimen of a black Standard Poodle, Busby was born in Bathurst in the Eastern Cape seven years ago. Always welcoming (except of the neighbour’s cat!), Busby is in residence mainly for evening drinks. He’s a little too fond of bacon to be allowed to come to breakfast, though.
	Albert hails from the Eastern Cape where he still lives: a painter and handyman by trade, we've known Albert for over ten years. His Xhosa name is Mthetheleli, which means 'one who speaks on behalf of others'. The name suits him very well. As founder head coach of a football team in his local township, Tantyi, and father of three, Albert is a high respected figure in his community. He is a Rastafarian in the religious sense and travels through to Cape Town to help maintain Parker about once a month.