“You couple are an Inspiration” ..............
"Wish I had your life” .............................
“I'm going to do what you do one day”...........
“You've given us the bug” ............
(thankfully this particular lady was referring to the travel bug)
I hear remarks like these from people I meet everywhere, especially when I “talk up” house and pet sitting, although my biggest frustration are the extraordinary number of pet and home owners who cannot get past the "Stranger in our home" mind set, if only they knew the opportunities they are missing, more travel, more often and for longer periods with happy pets and total peace of mind opening up their lives beyond imagination.
Home Owners just like Brain and Elaine of LA who first engaged John and I two years ago this month. We've been back four times as sitters and on more occasions as friends, we were their (Stellas) first sitters. Eileen admitted to being very nervous about the whole process, she even asked friends and neighours to “look in” on these nice people who were coming to look after Stella .... they have a LOT of friends and we didn't mind in the least. Within 24 hours of arriving this stream of lovely people began ringing
the bell, telephoning, stopping us in the street, when they were all satisfied we were doing our job properly all went back to normal, in fact we've become honorary clan members.
Back to the point of this blog title. As you may or may not know we own a lovely home which we're rarely in because of our house sitting nomadic lifestyle, which we couldn't possibly enjoy if we didn't have our own excellent reliable sitters. Enter David and Angela who arrived from Thailand yesterday (Wednesday) last week was spent making sure everything was spotlessly clean, tidy and ready for their arrival. I'd like to point out that our home is ALWAYS clean, tidy and ready for anyone's arrival, that's just the
way we are.
There's the Sitters House Manual which is always checked and updated if necessary which includes all essential and non essential contact info., services, shopping, personal preferences regarding the care of our home, gardening care, security, in fact everything the sitters need to care for our home the way we do. Our insurance company gets notified, all they require is assurance that items of value are stored, that the sitters wont be running a business and the home isn't left unoccupied for more than 30 days.
Next packing. We'll be traveling for a year how to pack for all weather conditions etc without incurring a National Debt in excess luggage I looked at shipping ahead with an excess baggage company, prices by weight and size start at $325.00 for one 23 kgs suitcase that doesn't include handling/customs fees or any taxes or duties and a full written inventory is needed. Begrudgingly we decided the airlines were the lesser of the two evils. Now may I impart my theory on packing? From the experience of NEVER wearing anywhere near the amount we take, lay everything out you THINK you need, take away two thirds et voila job done!!
I was flying Monday our sitters arriving Wednesday I'm afraid John is no Michelin starred chef, or any star when it comes to the kitchen and sitters would need dinner after their long arduous flight. So this was my Sunday, 7.00 am start house work, in between finish packing, do ironing, prep Sunday roast, prep Wednesday's dinner, take care of (numerous) e mails, final contact with sitters, Skype with family, call Edmonton to check on Jackie, call friends in Canada and States, cook Sunday roast and
desert, finish washing, house cleaning and storing of personal items ...........
there was MUCH more but this brain's forgotten. Oh yes and clean the car:)
Monday, flew from YVR into LAX plan was to call Eileen when I had my bags, her phone had quit I landed early, no way to contact her so I waited outside the terminal for an hour ... it was warm and sunny, I love people watching so NO problem. Eventually Brian picked me up when we arrived the house and Eileen were in melt down mode. Bear in mind this couple run a business had both been working until Brian picked me up, have elderly parents to care for, a daughter with eighteen month old twins and a dog, may other responsibilities regarding their personal and pastoral lives and absolutely NO spare time to breath. They'd not even packed and were flying early the next morning, no choice but to roll up the sleeves and get stuck in ... I took care of Stella, dinner and anything else I could see or thought needed doing. Midnight came Eileen and I managed to get to bed. Next day we drove to LAX I dropped them at the terminal and had to drive home in Brian's new, very much "loved" vehicle which I'd never even sat in let alone driven. If you've never experienced LA's traffic I can assure you it can be a nightmare especially the Freeways, I had two to navigate anyway we "both" made it back safe, sound and without a scratch. Brian and Eileen landed safe and sound in the UK, all's well in our travel world.
Last words I heard Brian utter when Eileen was asking me something for the third time ....... “Eileen how do you think this woman got to be the person she is ... you know she can handle anything” “Yes Brian I know, Angela you and Stella have a wonderful two weeks” .... "and you have a safe flight!”
I'm sitting writing this in the office, Stella is lying on my knee (she IS small) we've just got back from the park where we met up with Toby* and her dogs doing their Thursday Agility Class, yesterday I went for lunch with Gerri* before she did my pedicure, tomorrow I'm off to Santa Monica to take Stella to see Eileen's Mother a wonderful lady who's company I delight in and each and every night I'm kept warm in bed with my furry, funny Princess Stella.
I love what I do!!
* Two of the parade of neighbours, now firm friends
"Wish I had your life” .............................
“I'm going to do what you do one day”...........
“You've given us the bug” ............
(thankfully this particular lady was referring to the travel bug)
I hear remarks like these from people I meet everywhere, especially when I “talk up” house and pet sitting, although my biggest frustration are the extraordinary number of pet and home owners who cannot get past the "Stranger in our home" mind set, if only they knew the opportunities they are missing, more travel, more often and for longer periods with happy pets and total peace of mind opening up their lives beyond imagination.
Home Owners just like Brain and Elaine of LA who first engaged John and I two years ago this month. We've been back four times as sitters and on more occasions as friends, we were their (Stellas) first sitters. Eileen admitted to being very nervous about the whole process, she even asked friends and neighours to “look in” on these nice people who were coming to look after Stella .... they have a LOT of friends and we didn't mind in the least. Within 24 hours of arriving this stream of lovely people began ringing
the bell, telephoning, stopping us in the street, when they were all satisfied we were doing our job properly all went back to normal, in fact we've become honorary clan members.
Back to the point of this blog title. As you may or may not know we own a lovely home which we're rarely in because of our house sitting nomadic lifestyle, which we couldn't possibly enjoy if we didn't have our own excellent reliable sitters. Enter David and Angela who arrived from Thailand yesterday (Wednesday) last week was spent making sure everything was spotlessly clean, tidy and ready for their arrival. I'd like to point out that our home is ALWAYS clean, tidy and ready for anyone's arrival, that's just the
way we are.
There's the Sitters House Manual which is always checked and updated if necessary which includes all essential and non essential contact info., services, shopping, personal preferences regarding the care of our home, gardening care, security, in fact everything the sitters need to care for our home the way we do. Our insurance company gets notified, all they require is assurance that items of value are stored, that the sitters wont be running a business and the home isn't left unoccupied for more than 30 days.
Next packing. We'll be traveling for a year how to pack for all weather conditions etc without incurring a National Debt in excess luggage I looked at shipping ahead with an excess baggage company, prices by weight and size start at $325.00 for one 23 kgs suitcase that doesn't include handling/customs fees or any taxes or duties and a full written inventory is needed. Begrudgingly we decided the airlines were the lesser of the two evils. Now may I impart my theory on packing? From the experience of NEVER wearing anywhere near the amount we take, lay everything out you THINK you need, take away two thirds et voila job done!!
I was flying Monday our sitters arriving Wednesday I'm afraid John is no Michelin starred chef, or any star when it comes to the kitchen and sitters would need dinner after their long arduous flight. So this was my Sunday, 7.00 am start house work, in between finish packing, do ironing, prep Sunday roast, prep Wednesday's dinner, take care of (numerous) e mails, final contact with sitters, Skype with family, call Edmonton to check on Jackie, call friends in Canada and States, cook Sunday roast and
desert, finish washing, house cleaning and storing of personal items ...........
there was MUCH more but this brain's forgotten. Oh yes and clean the car:)
Monday, flew from YVR into LAX plan was to call Eileen when I had my bags, her phone had quit I landed early, no way to contact her so I waited outside the terminal for an hour ... it was warm and sunny, I love people watching so NO problem. Eventually Brian picked me up when we arrived the house and Eileen were in melt down mode. Bear in mind this couple run a business had both been working until Brian picked me up, have elderly parents to care for, a daughter with eighteen month old twins and a dog, may other responsibilities regarding their personal and pastoral lives and absolutely NO spare time to breath. They'd not even packed and were flying early the next morning, no choice but to roll up the sleeves and get stuck in ... I took care of Stella, dinner and anything else I could see or thought needed doing. Midnight came Eileen and I managed to get to bed. Next day we drove to LAX I dropped them at the terminal and had to drive home in Brian's new, very much "loved" vehicle which I'd never even sat in let alone driven. If you've never experienced LA's traffic I can assure you it can be a nightmare especially the Freeways, I had two to navigate anyway we "both" made it back safe, sound and without a scratch. Brian and Eileen landed safe and sound in the UK, all's well in our travel world.
Last words I heard Brian utter when Eileen was asking me something for the third time ....... “Eileen how do you think this woman got to be the person she is ... you know she can handle anything” “Yes Brian I know, Angela you and Stella have a wonderful two weeks” .... "and you have a safe flight!”
I'm sitting writing this in the office, Stella is lying on my knee (she IS small) we've just got back from the park where we met up with Toby* and her dogs doing their Thursday Agility Class, yesterday I went for lunch with Gerri* before she did my pedicure, tomorrow I'm off to Santa Monica to take Stella to see Eileen's Mother a wonderful lady who's company I delight in and each and every night I'm kept warm in bed with my furry, funny Princess Stella.
I love what I do!!
* Two of the parade of neighbours, now firm friends
