It feels inadequate to say that Salwa was a welcoming host, staying with her felt like staying with family.
She was warm and gracious from the very start, from confirming my booking promptly, to adjusting to my late arrival. I arrived to find that her flat was exactly as described, from the warm bedroom that she put me up in, to her lovely little garden, to her spick and span bathroom. Her kitchen in particular became a wonderful place to come home to, for reviving cups of tea, delightful conversations, and often, her home made meals.
Salwa always went out of her way to make me feel at home and comfortable, taking me to the local pub, offering to show me around over the weekend, even going out of her way to find me a pack of zatar since I enjoyed it so much at her breakfast table.
She and her lovely daughter are two of the most generous and kind people I have had the pleasure to stay with, and I'd highly recommend staying at their home. It is locationally excellent as well, a short walk from Royal Oak station, close to the beautiful Little Venice canal, Portabello Market, Notting Hill, etc. It's central location makes it the perfect base to get to more or less any place you might want to head to in London - but much more than the sheer convenience, it is a cosy home and warm company to come home to at the end of a long, cold day!