Carole was a great host! The house was very clean and she made an effort to reduce waste, which I appreciate. She was very flexible with my arrival time and even offered to keep my bag at her house until the end of the work day on the day I checked out. The house was very quiet - although you can hear the train on the Kew Bridge, it's not loud enough to wake up even a light sleeper like myself.
Additionally, Carole pointed out some exciting fungi that were fruiting at Kew Gardens when I was there - it was great to get to see these, and it was nice to have a host who knew my interests.
One note for Americans: Like many European houses, this one is a little chilly in winter. Bring a sweater and you'll be fine. The blankets are quite warm, and you'll sleep very well. I think Carole may have made some of the beautiful quilts herself.