House Sitting Magazine Issue 17: December 2017

You'll find extra news, reviews and snippets throughout the magazine!

Malyasian Delights & Long Haul Flights Ian Usher

8 European Christmas Markets Not to be Missed Brittnay Sharman

Rural House Sitting in Japan Sarah Nishina

Why City House Sits Could Be Your Best Option Sam Anthony

Expect the Unexpected - Dealing with Skunks Sherry Nethers

A Christmas Surprise Jane Dempster-Smith

12 Things to do in Belfast at Christmas Faith Coates

The Many Delights of Chiang Mai, Thailand Andrea Jordan

Giving Back - Why We Love Workaways!

Gail Harrison

Recipe - Crispy Mongolian Tofu Heidi Medina

Gear Review - Point & Shoot Cameras Rafael Ziah Franco

Exercise of the Month - The Squat Elly McGuinness

Holiday Gift Giving for House Sitters on the Go! Lara Plogman

A Novices Route to House Sitting Debbie Wood

Cleaning Tips for Carpets Michael Brooke

In the next issue...

PHOTO CREDITS Cover by Christopher William of RainbowHouseSitters.com Christmas Kittens by Cheryl & Lisa at WhatBoundariesTravel.com

MALAYSIAN DELIGHTS AND LONG-HAUL FLIGHTS

by Ian Usher Welcome to another issue of House Sitting Magazine. This one comes to you from sunny Perth in Australia, where Vanessa and I are finally shaking off the last effects of jet-lag after traveling halfway around the world.

One of the great joys of house sitting, at least as far as Vanessa and I are concerned, is the never-ending change. We both enjoy new experiences and new challenges. It is fun finding our way around a new neighbourhood, discovering the local market, or hiking in a different location.

Each sit also brings new connections and, of course, new pets.

We've had a busy couple of months since the last regular issue of House Sitting Magazine, which was published in October, while we were still house sitting in Barbados.

At the start of November we flew back to the UK, where we enjoyed a sunny but chilly month, as we took on three short house sits, with a bit of time scheduled to catch up with friends and family too.

Our first sit was near Liverpool in a beautiful converted barn on the edge of a golf course. We had just one cat to look after, a gorgeous Bengal, Pixie. She was so independent, and behaved just like her larger, wilder lookalikes, but still offered the occasional display of affection.

From there we moved to a lovely house on a hillside, overlooking Matlock on the edge of the beautiful Peak District. Here we looked after Toby, a 4-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with lots of character.

Our final sit was to the east of London, in Gravesend, Kent, where big grey cat Marley provided endless amusement. He was another very independent cat who spent his time between two houses.

When he was with us he was usually either eating or asleep. I think we were just there to open doors for him, and provide food upon request!

We managed to meet up with a few other house sitters also in the UK, and enjoyed several great traditional British pub lunches.

Our next stop was Asia and this month's magazine is loosely themed around this eclectic region, with a sprinkling of Christmas joy for those celebrating the holiday season.

We had booked three luxurious nights in the centre of Kuala Lumpur, the bustling capital of Malaysia. We stayed in a beautiful apartment (a great deal through Booking.com) with a rooftop pool looking out onto the KL Tower. It was only a short walk to KL City Centre where the iconic Petronas Towers stand, the tallest building in the world until 2004.

In the other direction a short distance away we found streets filled with small restaurants offering amazing curries and a wealth of other dining options. Our favorite offered the infamous Malaysian roti bread with curry sauce, and our first meal there, including tea, cost us less than USD $5... for both of us !!

Kuala Lumpur is a great stopover city when traveling between Europe and Australia, and is becoming something of a digital nomad hub too. No wonder, with cheap accommodation, great food, fascinating culture, and blazing-fast internet.

More mapahub meetups One must-do is to visit the Heli Bar at sunset. Perched on top of one of the higher building in the city centre, each evening the rooftop heli pad becomes a trendy bar for a spectacular sundowner.

Our final destination for the next three months is Perth in Western Australia. We arrived about a week ago and stayed with friends for a couple of days before our first house sit began. The weather is warm and sunny, as summer has begun Down Under, so it's great to be in shorts and t-shirt again after being so well wrapped up for a cold UK November.

We're currently looking after two very interesting Basenji dogs in the Swan Valley area of Perth, to the north of the city. Logan and Missy are very striking dogs who don't ever bark, but “talk” to each other, and us, in little quiet yips. Logan occasionally lets out a very odd howl when he wants to get our attention. They are fun dogs to have around.

They potter around the house quietly, sniffing and inspecting everything, but are quite restless as they live mostly outdoors. If we decide to watch TV they usually have to go outside, unless we can finally get them to settle on the sofa with us.

Find out more about Basenjis here: http://www.purina.com.au/owning-a-dog/dog-breeds/Basenji Where are you this month, and where do you plan to be for Christmas?

We hope you have a great festive season wherever you are, and we hope you enjoy this issue of House Sitting Magazine.

Ian and Vanessa (currently house sitting in Perth, Western Australia)

8 EUROPEAN CHRISTMAS MARKETS NOT TO BE MISSED!

by Brittnay Sharman

We'll never forget our first Christmas market. We had only been in the UK for 6 months and were coming into our first northern hemisphere winter.

Having booked a holiday to Budapest, we were actually unaware of the existence of Christmas markets, and when we stumbled upon the filled town square we were in awe.

It was here we had our first mulled wine and lángos (a deep fried dough originating from Hungary) and we never looked back, or stopped eating.

Since then, we've visited many more markets and here are some of our favorites!

1. Dresden, Germany - Striezelmarkt If you think of Christmas markets, Germany is on top of the list. There are around 80 different markets around the country. Dresden is the most traditional and is said to have first begun in 1434.

Another great thing about Dresden is the food. Try the Kartoffelpuffer, a delicious potato pancake and you'll also be able to get your fair share of Brätwurst (German sausage).

If you are into sweets, Dresden is the place. They have a Stollen festival, where they make one Giant Stollen (traditional German Christmas Cake) and then divide it into pieces for all the crowd to share.

2. Strasbourg, Germany - Christkindelsmärik The self proclaimed capital of Christmas, Strasbourg has been holding its annual Christmas market since 1570. Set around the magnificent Cathedral of Notre Dame de Strasbourg, this market attracts thousands of visitors looking for the perfect gift, who indulge in Christmas treats along the way.

From bretzels (bread pretzels) to bredeles (butter cookies in star shapes), there is an abundance of sweets and you can have them all with a nice cup of “vin chaud” (hot mulled wine).

3. Nuremberg, Germany - Christkindlesmarkt Nuremberg is one of the most popular of the German Christmas markets. It is famous for the Rostbratwurst (a unique sausage from the German state of Thuringia), is a small and tasty sausage that is usually served in a trio. You also have to find the local delicacy of lebkuchen, which is a sweet gingerbread served in tins or heart shapes.

Nuremberg is also famous for its handmade goods. Everything sold at the market is artisanal as they have banned mass produced items in the city. If you can, try and make it for the Christkind celebration on the opening night of the market. With her white and golden dress, the Nuremberg Christkind has been the symbol of the Christmas Market for decades.

4. Copenhagen, Denmark - Tivoli Market The Tivoli Market in Copenhagen will have you in awe. It looks right out of a Disney movie.

That's because Tivoli Gardens was the original inspiration for the famous Disneyland Castle.

During winter the gardens (also an amusement park), are transformed into a winter wonderland. It's a fantastic place to take the kids - the rides will keep them busy while you enjoy the local mulled wine!

5. Prague, Czech Republic - Staroměstské Náměstí There is nothing more amazing than visiting Prague in the winter time. Like Tivoli, the city transforms into a winter wonderland. If you love to shop, this place is for you. You can get lovely handmade angels for the Christmas tree, artisanal jewelery, and an incredible variety of scarves and knits.

Make sure you try the traditional klobása sausage, spit roasted ham, and classic Czech pastries like the Trdelník. The best part? You have a choice of amazing beers to wash it all down!

6. Krakow, Poland - Rynek Glowny Market For those who dream of a white Christmas, there is nowhere better than the Krakow Christmas Market. Usually covered in snow, this Polish city looks like a scene from the movies. It's a great destination for families as it is one of the cheapest cities to visit.

When it comes to activities, you can check out the competition for nativity cribs. They are all handmade and represent the churches and cathedrals of the country. The food is absolutely delicious (and good for your wallet), some local favorites include pierogi (filled dumplings), Borscht (sour beetroot soup), and gołąbki (cabbage rolls).

7. Paris, France - Village de Noël du Trocadéro There's nothing like doing your Christmas shopping with the Eiffel Tower as the backdrop. The Trocadéro Christmas market is aimed at both old and young, with an ice skating rink to keep the kids busy, and plenty of food and drink for the adults.

Sadly, this market isn't happening in 2017, but there are many others you can visit in Paris where you can sample delicacies like macaroons, foie gras and almond biscuits. To find where the best alternative Parisian markets for this year, check Time Out: https://www.timeout.com/paris/en/paris-christmas-markets

8. Vienna, Austria - Schönbrunn Palace Market Imagine a Christmas market at a Palace Court. That’s exactly what you get at Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace market. With twinkling lights and entertainment including gospel singers and even jazz bands, it is a sensory delight.

They offer selected products - most things are handmade, with decorations created from glass, ceramics or wood. The market is set to take you to another era, with traditional candy and sweets, and foods that belonged to the Victorian times. It’s pretty popular, receiving around a million visitors every year.

There are so many Christmas markets all across Europe, with each and every one of them spreading the spirit. These are some of the top quality venues that will leave you well and truly in the Christmas spirit.

Where's your favorite Christmas market?

Brittnay Sharman is an Aussie who lived in London for the past two years before making the move to Dublin. She managed to squeeze in 21 trips to Europe and Africa in that time (including lots of cheese and wine).

Her adventures of travel and house sitting is captured at her blog: The Travelling House Sitters

RURAL HOUSE SITTING IN JAPAN ESSENTIAL READING FOR YOUR FIRST TIME

by Sarah Nishina The magic of the orient, the land of the rising sun, powder snow, heavenly food delights, the distinct four seasons.

Which will entice you? Perhaps all!

Welcome to Japan!

I am a resident of Japan and enjoy exploring new places when the opportunity arises. A fellow Australian who is the chatelaine of a 350 year old farmhouse in rural Japan was joining her husband on a six-month stint in Germany. She needed a house sitter to tend to the garden, the home, the temple, neighborhood responsibilities and Bugsy, her 18 year old cat.

Through the power of social media, we were connected.

She knew she had to find someone who could speak the language, know the culture and be willing to become part of the very rural community rooted in rules and traditions, to be strictly adhered to. We hit it off over a few telephone calls and emails. My husband and I were on our way!

My Japanese House Sitting Adventure Begins It's summer. Wet, humid and hot! Please remember this when planning your travels - July and August in Japan are best avoided. Many country homes do not have air conditioning, let alone central heating. Oh yes, winter in some areas can be extreme too. Things you take for granted at home may be non-existent in rural Japan.

At the request of the owner we arrived 4 days early to be formally introduced to the other households, shown the ropes of the area, how things are run in the house, the garbage system (not to be shrugged off!) and be taken through a list of local neighborhood duties and local temple responsibilities.

I hear you gasp! Indeed, a lot to take in and yes, lots of tasks on the list of “Things to Do.” The fridge door was covered with lists and charts.

It was very important we were formally introduced as Japanese are extremely wary of strangers and new things, especially in the countryside. No one speaks English so language skills are important.

Let me share just a few of the tasks we had to adhere to.

Getting To Grips With The Garbage I still giggle about the first day I walked (about 5 minutes away) to the designated garbage area to dispose of the “burnable garbage”. I had checked and double checked it was only burnable garbage to be put out today.

As soon as I reach the area and open the caged door (to prevent wild animals getting in) a man comes storming out of his house and stands an inch away from me. “Who are you?” As I gracefully bow and explain who I am and where I am staying he starts to back off and accept that I am of no danger. He let me go about disposing of my garbage while telling me that today is only “burnable” and I must NOT put out anything other than that.

I assure him I have the list on the fridge but he rambles on to make sure I know. I let him. Keep the peace.

As I was leaving he calls me back to remind me that also, in case it wasn't written down, that plastic drink bottles must have the cap removed and placed “here” and the label to be taken off

and placed in the bag “over there” and the plastic bottles are only to be thrown out on Wednesdays. I bow again and say I would adhere to the rubbish rules as I knew he would have his eagle eyes on my rubbish from now on in.

Temple Duties In Shiga prefecture there are hundreds, if not thousands of temples. Many neighborhoods have their own temple. The younger generation are slowly leaving the country towns to settle in the big cities, meaning many houses sit empty and derelict. Temples are tended to by the villagers and as the population dwindles, so too does the money to keep the temple running.

I check the chart on the fridge titled “Temple Duties” and ensure I have input the days and dates into my iPhone with alarms. I was told I must not stuff up here.

One of the biggest jobs is weeding the temple grounds. A HUGE job. Rituals must also be attended and donations of money given at set ceremonies.

In Japan, money is never handed over simply as a note in your bare hand. It must be a crisp new note (need to visit the bank) and folded into the correct envelope for the occasion.

Most traditional households have a special drawer filled with these special envelopes. Death, wedding, temple donations, festival, children's day to name a few. The amount must also be written on the bottom corner of the back of the envelope. On the front of the envelope you write what it's for.

On the day of temple duty, my alarm goes off at 5:30am. We need to be at the temple graveyard for weeding. First at a secondary area deep in the forest 15 minutes walk away then back to the main temple to do weeding there.

I refer back to the lists on the fridge and arm myself with weeding tools, gloves, wheelbarrow and brooms. Oh, my goodness, was I in for a shock. When the Japanese do something, they do it to perfection.

The way they do the weeding is an art form. They don't leave one weed unturned. Roots taken out from every single one! They easily squat and spend two hours, nonstop, doing the best weeding I have ever seen! I try desperately to keep up but with my creaky knees I am unable to squat and my back is aching from bending down trying to keep up with them.

I am the youngest of the group, as most of them are in their seventies and eighties!!! How on earth can I complain or say let's stop for a breather!? Perseverance and endurance – Japanese traits which are in their blood and bones.

Memories made in Japan Besides our long list of tasks, we had plenty of time to explore the area.

Kyoto, Nara and Osaka are day trips away and we certainly explored all these areas in our six months. Close by is the largest lake in Japan, Lake Biwa. It takes a full day to drive around.

Many people enjoy spending 2-3 days riding their bikes around the lake. Highly recommend that!

We were able to partake in many local festivals and made many new friends. Lots of wonderful memories we will tuck close into our hearts forever.

Bugsy the 18 year old cat was a pleasure to look after. He bought us lots of laughs with his antics and funny sounds. Daily eye drops needed to be administered and one visit to the vet for a checkup.

We endured two fairly big typhoons and two of the back storage houses needed buckets and mop-ups. A few tiles flew off the house and water pipes fell apart. We mustn't forget the house is 350 years so it's all part of the parcel.

I must not leave you without mentioning the animals – mischievous monkeys having persimmon parties in the garden, diligent deer leaving their hoof-marks on the same pathway through the garden, and slithery snakes – oh no!! Don't let me see your face! Wacky wild boars digging up potatoes. Raccoons, foxes, moles and more!

It was exciting to be surrounded by all these creatures, some I had never seen before. Old country homes are welcome havens for all types of bugs too – I get goosebumps remembering the huge, as in 15cm centipedes… inside the house. Frogs too! In the garden, there were some amazing bugs with beautiful patterns and colors.

I will end with a few tips for house sitting in Japan. I hope you will visit this beautiful country one day. Your senses will be tantalized and you will enjoy all the new and wonderful experiences.

Tips for house sitting in Japan 

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More than likely your house sit will be for a non-Japanese household or one of the partners is foreign. I have never heard of a Japanese family requesting a house sitter. I have asked many of my Japanese friends, of varying ages and they all responded they could never even imagine the concept. They would not like the idea of a stranger in their home.

Language barriers. However, as it will most likely be for an English-speaking household, they will certainly supply you with a list of English speaking services in the area (when in the big cities).

Rural areas will most likely be inconvenient and missing mod-cons. You might be surprised if your image of Japan is all high tech. English will be limited in rural areas. So Japanese language skills and knowledge of culture is essential.

You will need to allow a few days handover to be shown the ropes, how to use electrical devices (nothing in English), how to get around, the rubbish system, meet the neighbors and learn about the local train line, etc.

Remember that even in the big cities, not many people speak English. If you need to communicate, writing things down on paper is better than trying verbally. Japanese are extremely wary of strangers and unfamiliar things.

If you are unable to determine how big a place is from the photos, ask for the square meter size. Remember Tokyo is a huge city with a population of 23 million. Space is precious and expensive. The minimum amount of space you would need, for 2 people to live for longer than a few weeks, is 40 sqm and that is still tiny - just two rooms. Anything over 50sqm is breathable. Of course, it all depends on what you are used to! Just remember everything in Japan is small.

You might like to use this too. The Japan Times newspaper interviewed me about house sitting: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2017/07/16/how-tos/house-sitting-japan-stillmostly-expatriate-affair/

Where can I find house sits in Japan?

There are currently five house sits in Japan on TrustedHousesitters and one on MindmyHouse.

You could also join the Facebook Page run by Lucie Aidart – Housesitting and Petsitting in Japan.

You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover is yourself - Alan Ald

Sarah Nishina is currently a traveling gypsy enjoying what life throws at her. She has been living in Japan on and off for the last twenty years. She ran a successful educational institution for ten years in a city at the bottom of Mt Fuji. She has extensive experience in education, liaison work between Australian and overseas companies, cultural training both in Australia and Japan and as a consultant for Japanese companies setting up in Australia. She has a strong knowledge of Japan, its culture and people.

Nowadays you can find Sarah house sitting here and there, exploring the back streets of Tokyo by bike and snapping away everyday life in Japan from behind the lens. She likes to savor every moment like its her last milkshake.

You can contact her at sarahnishina@gmail.com

WHY CITY HOUSE SITS COULD BE YOUR BEST OPTION

by Samantha Anthony

City house sitting isn't the first thing one thinks of when they imagine house sitting.

People often envision large luxury properties in exotic locations, like French castles or tropical resort homes. And while these opportunities do exist, they're far less common. There are many other options for house sitting that fulfill different needs in different environments.

We've come across people who are interested in house sitting but have several valid concerns that keep them from starting.

Many fear they are too young, or are worried about house sitting in rural locations. Most are concerned about having an internet connection, either because they work online or simply like to stay connected with friends and family.

We've solved all of these issues by mainly focusing on house sits in cities.

Our initial leap into house sitting was a 9 month stint of full time house sits in the US in places like Salt Lake City, New York City, and Baltimore.

These days we are based in Madrid, Spain and house sit only in summers and on school breaks.

We house sit pretty much exclusively in cities, as we did this past summer when we spent around 10 weeks house sitting in London, Glasgow, Brighton, Berlin, Valencia, and Granada.

All of these house sits have been through the house sitting platform TrustedHousesitters who have many city sits. There are also smaller and regional websites where we've also seen city house sits listed.

What are the Advantages of House Sitting in Cities?

House sitting in cities is great for younger house sitters, single house sitters, and anyone who is worried about feeling isolated or stranded in a more rural location.

House sitting in cities saves both house sitters and homeowners hundreds if not thousands of dollars (as it does generally across the board). However, not only is accommodation more expensive in cities, but so too are kennels and catteries. Again, it's all about the exchange and both parties are winning out big here.

We've found there are several unique advantages of house sitting in cities, not all of which are immediately apparent! With 15 house sits in various cities under our belts, this is what we've learned.

1. Age is a Non-Issue for Many City Home Owners We often hear from younger potential house sitters that they're concerned their age will be a hindrance when applying to house sits. While there are owners who do prefer older house sitters, our ages have never impeded us on our house sitting journey - I was 24 and my partner was 28 when we first started house sitting!

We attribute this largely to our focus on city house sitting, combined with a strong “go-withyour-gut” mantra when reading listings and speaking with homeowners.

Generally speaking, city-dwellers tend to be more liberal and open-minded. City pet owners understand that a person's age does not necessarily mean they'll be a better house sitter. On several occasions, homeowners have told us they felt more comfortable and happier with us than with older house sitters.

In fact, younger, city-dwelling house sitters may have an advantage when applying to city sits.

We're used to fast-paced city life and we aren't afraid of “urban” (aka diverse) neighborhoods these were pretty much the exact words of a homeowner we sat for in a grittier area of east London. We thrive off the hustle and bustle and navigate it with ease.

As another example, we recently landed a several week house sit over Christmas in our old neighborhood in New York City. We were chosen over another older couple who the homeowner was afraid might require more hand-holding.

2. Alternative Lifestyles are Often Welcomed House sitting is more than a free place to stay for us. We love making connections with others and their adorable pets. Since we thrive in cities, we tend to connect with similar people, often who are living non-traditional or alternative lifestyles. Many of our homeowners have been vegetarian or vegan like us and over half of our homeowners have been gay or lesbian couples.

This means that our more alternative appearance and lifestyle is a non-issue. I often have dyed hair and both of us have facial piercings, none of which have ever prevented us from landing highly competitive house sits.

When we first started out, I did tell my partner to take out his earrings and labret piercing for initial Skype conversations, but as we got more confident in our services as professional house sitters, we stopped hiding who we were. And we didn't need to anyway!

We love the very alternative Berlin so much that we have house sat here twice!

Other Benefits to House Sitting in Cities There are tons of other practical advantages to house sitting in cities. There are exceptions, but generally, a car is not needed. Public transportation does vary, but usually grocery stores and other necessities are a short walk away.

The availability of WiFi is almost always a given when house sitting in cities. While we often hear stories of poor satellite or connections with data limits in rural areas, most city-dwellers understand the importance of a fast and reliable Internet connection. One would be hardpressed to find someone living in a modern city without one!

International city house sitting is easier as there generally tends to be a drastic reduction of a language barrier. Again, this is a broad generalization and of course varies by country and city.

However, overall you'll have a much easier time finding someone who speaks English in a large city than in a rural town. A great help should you run into a problem or need to communicate in more than hand signals!

Our Tips for House Sitting in Cities If you're new to house sitting, we recommend starting off with lesser known cities as your build up your references. This is general advice for house sitting anywhere, but as city house sits are usually quite competitive, it's essential to have several solid references under your belt before going after sits in popular places like New York, London, or Paris.

While city-focused house sitting does remove a lot of the problems one might face while house sitting, we always recommend doing due diligence when talking to pet owners and going with your gut feeling on the situation. In addition to pet responsibilities, ask about availability of grocery stores, public transportation, WiFi, and anything else you are concerned about.

House sitting in beautiful Granada in the south of Spain

Ultimately, house sitting can be very rewarding- just stay focused on communication and only taking commitments you can handle.

There's no one way to house sit. Some people prefer a menagerie of animals and no neighbors around, over a city flat with one cat. We love exploring the world's diverse and interesting cities via house sitting and always encourage others to do the same!

Sam Anthony is a former archaeologist turned writer, editor and photographer. Originally from New York, she's now based in Madrid, Spain and explores Europe via house sitting with her partner Veren.

Together they write about house sitting and sustainable vegan travel on a budget on their website AlternativeTravelers.com

DEALING WITH SKUNKS An Unexpected House Sitting Challenge

by Sherry Nethers What is a house sitter to do when she finds an uninvited visitor in the house?

I had to figure that out while sitting for four indoor/outdoor cats in Ajijic, Mexico.

I'd only seen two of the cats, Samara and Tristan, before the homeowners, George and Elaine, left for their trip. They described their third cat, Oliver, as gray with a bushy tail. The fourth was Bandito, technically a stray, although I knew he'd found home. They were fed wet food in the morning and early evening, and dry food was kept out to free feed.

The first evening, I kept checking to see if they were all inside but only found Samara and Tristan. Later that night, I was lying in bed reading and out of the corner of my eye, I saw a fluffy tail disappear under my bed.

“Great”, I thought, “Oliver is in and warming up to me.” But, they were never all in the house at the same time so I couldn't close the cat door for the evening. The next morning, they all came in to eat, but again, I just caught a glimpse of the elusive Oliver leaving the patio.

While watching a movie the second evening, I heard a crunching sound in the kitchen. I've always wondered about the likelihood of wild animals coming through pet doors. I now know.

To my horror, I found a skunk eating the dry cat food! He scurried off into the laundry room, so I ran and shut the door.

At the same time, I realized it was probably the skunk, not Oliver, that went under my bed the night before. I was looking around this gorgeous home, knowing this skunk could spray all over the house and me. I desperately needed a plan.

Bandito

The laundry room was between the kitchen and garage so I decided to try to lure him outside.

Praying he'd stay behind the washer and dryer, I opened the door from the kitchen. I closed the kitchen door behind me, opened the door into the garage and the overhead garage door and quickly put down a trail of cat food that led from the laundry room through the garage and down the driveway.

I came back into the house through the front door. I listened at the kitchen door and started hearing “crunch, crunch, crunch.” When I couldn't hear it anymore, I cracked open the kitchen door, saw him in the garage and closed the door into the garage. I was now watching him through a window in the laundry room slowly following the trail outside. Once he was down the driveway, I closed the overhead door.

Success! He took the bait and was out of the house.

But now what? He knew there was a source of food in the house. I couldn't get Samara, Tristan, Oliver, and Bandito all in at the same time, so I had to leave the door open all night.

And so I found myself in Mexico watching a video on how to get rid of skunks.

Not quite the glamorous international house-sitting life my friends and family envisioned I was having.

Unfortunately, even the natural skunk repellents like orange peels, etc., can be unhealthy for the cats. Since skunks are nocturnal, I turned on all the outside lights and hoped it would deter Mr. Skunk from re-entering the house.

The next night I turned on all the lights, inside and out. I sat outside on the patio near the cat door until late and had no skunk sighting,but the cats weren't all in either. I went into the house to pour a glass of wine, started browsing through their movies, and gosh darn it, I heard “crunch, crunch, crunch!”

A skunk (not the actual one from the story!)

Same routine as the night before - skunk in the laundry room, trail of food to the garage; but this time I didn't open the overhead door, instead I trapped him in the garage. But it's not like I knew whom to call in Mexico to remove a skunk. And, after eating all the food, he seemed to be getting agitated. Defeated, I opened the door and let him out before he sprayed the garage and car.

I'd been lucky so far with no damage to the house. As much as I wanted to solve this situation myself and not interrupt the homeowners' vacation, it was time to call them. With their input, we decided to just feed the darn skunk outside.

I put two bowls of food in front of the house and two on each side of the house near the front. I left only the lights on in the back near the cat door. This became the new routine every night, and it seemed to work -at least, I didn't see my little friend again.

But not quite the end of the story.

Scotty the skunk is now one of the family!

He comes by every night and they leave cat kibble at the front door for him. Toby, their new rescue dog, is not crazy about him but none of the cats seem to mind.

Sherry Nethers has always loved adventure and dreamed of exotic places. Her roles of international house and pet sitter have allowed her to travel solo throughout the US, Canada and Mexico, with plans to expand her services beyond North America.She has also traveled extensively in Europe, Asia and the Caribbean.

Sherry started house-sitting to escape Ohio winters. The lifestyle has been such a perfect fit she is now on the road almost full-time.

Sherry is currently sitting in Maui, Hawaii, where she is creating a new blog - On The Road To Home. In the meantime, you can connect with Sherry on her new Facebook page Her house sitting profiles can be found at: TrustedHousesitters HouseSittersAmerica

A CHRISTMAS SURPRISE (Don't Ignore Your Gut Instincts)

by Jane Dempster Smith Let me start by setting the scene.

We had arranged back-to-back house sits at Christmas time in Sydney. One finished on Christmas Day, the other started on Boxing Day, in a highly desirable northern beaches suburb.

And... we thought we had done our due diligence! We had organized two visits to the house prior to the Boxing Day start.

It was a messy house - two young kids, toys everywhere, two very busy high fliers in the corporate world, one cat and one dog and some fish who needed house sitters over Christmas.

There were apologies from the owners on both pre-visits about the house being such a mess, but… “it will all be tidied up before we leave”.

We were left with a feeling of what if!

On arrival Boxing Day, we found a bottle of wine, mince pies, a Christmas card and some cash to cover emergencies. Oh and in the Christmas card just dropped in as a casual mention... “ we think we have a flea infestation.”

Fleas, fleas and more fleas!

Just as we are eating a mince pie and re-reading the Christmas card, the first attack happened.

Bare legs in readiness for the Australian summer are too delicious for the fleas to resist.

We find the dog scratching herself raw and the cat beside herself with the fleas. An hour on the sofa also finds us with fleas where fleas should never go. Communication with the owner is delayed for 24 hours while they reach their destination, and then we able to advise them of the extent of their flea infestation.

The next morning, we awake to find another person in the home.

The cleaner (she has let herself in) who has not been told about us, or us about her. We explain the situation with the fleas. She apologizes, feels accountable and responsible for the fleas, but explains that she only comes once a fortnight and only for three hours. It takes her those three hours alone to tidy up the mess left by the home owners before she can even commence with the cleaning.

As she starts to clean the family bathroom, we hear a piercing scream. In the waste bin a female's personal item has been discarded which is now covered with fleas. Her legs are covered in bites. She leaves the house promptly to deal with her bites, with promises that she'll advise the homeowners of the problem.

With the money left we head off to purchase flea tablets, flea shampoo and flea bombs, as there were none in the home. We advise the homeowners of what we are doing and what we had walked into. They tell us that if we are unhappy with the situation, to put the animals into kennels.

At Christmas time, with fleas?

We don't think so, and we always stand by our house sitting commitments.

For three weeks, we scrubbed the bedding and kennel of the dog, washed her down daily after her walks, tried to brush the cat, scrubbed the house top and bottom, took out endless bags of rubbish that had been left behind in the kitchen and behind the sofas. Everything was infested with fleas and cockroaches. We also cleaned the black mould from under the kitchen sink and disinfected daily all the surfaces.

We were paranoid, as every bite and every screech from one of the animals sent us into overdrive.

But at least we survived to tell the tale!

However, the moral of the story – trust your gut instinct! If it doesn't feel right, don't take the sit!

Over the past four decades, Jane's passion for travel has taken her to over 44 countries. Having lived and worked in Australia, the UK and Singapore, she has extensive experience in all aspects of travel, from airport ground staff, to air hostessing, retail, corporate and group travel. She's enjoyed flying in two-seaters, hot air balloons and even on Concorde.

Jane now offers her skills to baby boomers who want to change their lives - to travel light and travel far.

You can find Jane Dempster-Smith on Facebook and at her website: www.totraveltoo.com

12 THINGS TO DO IN BELFAST AT CHRISTMAS

by Faith Coates

Belfast is one of the hottest cities to visit these days. It has left the troubles far behind and has one of the hippest vibes on the planet. National Geographic Travel Magazine has declared that Belfast is an absolute “must see” destination, and as a house sitter, I couldn't agree more.

From super friendly locals, to top notch dining destinations, scenery that will knock your socks off and thousands of years of history, you couldn't find a better place to settle for a while and spend time exploring.

If you are lucky enough to be here at Christmas time here are some of the Belfast must do's for Christmas.

1. Christmas Lights Switch On The lights go on in Belfast in a gala celebration at the end of November usually around the third weekend. The streets are shut down all around City Hall and the event includes live music, celebrities and a grand throwing of the switch to light up the town as soon as dark begins to settle in.

2. Christmas Pantos It wouldn't be Xmas in any UK city without pantomime. From Rapunzel to Peter Pan and Aladdin this city is all out for the families and this traditional British entertainment.

3. Santa Claus is Coming to Town So many cool Santa's are in town starting the last week in November. The Santa Claus Parade takes place at 12 noon on the same day the lights go on. The parade begins at City Hall and winds it way down through the main streets of Belfast to Castlecourt, which is one of Ireland's largest shopping centres. You can visit Santa in the grotto and get all your shopping done.

4. It's not Christmas without a Market Ireland is no slouch in the Christmas Market stakes. From the glorious St. George's market with its Twilight Market early in the month or its extended hours that run up to the big day, Belfast is a haven for great markets at Christmas time.

The Belfast Christmas Market is returning to the grounds of Belfast City Hall and will offer crafts, artwork, superb street food, and rides for the kids on heritage fairground attractions like a beautiful old carousel. There will be lots to see, do, drink and eat. You can also check out the Inns Market where you will find all manner of locally made treats and produce to grace your Christmas table.

There's plenty to do all around Belfast with Christmas Markets in some heritage locations including Castle Ward's (yes it's a Game of Thrones location) Crafted Show. This is a winter fair and market chock full of locally made arts and crafts, including locally produced gourmet foods, and it's presented in the superb surroundings of the 18th Century House and Stable Yard at Castle Ward.

The Argory is an Irish gentry home that sits in a beautiful wooded estate. It is open year round but at Christmas dresses itself spectacularly for the holidays. The home is festooned with traditional wreathes and trees and you can take a cosy horse and buggy ride around the estate after you finish your shopping.

5. Party Time Belfast has some legendary “craic” (good times) with a huge variety of pubs, clubs, theatres, music halls and live music to sample the best of Belfast. It wouldn't be Christmas without a Horrible Xmas Jumper Pub Crawl. Sign up on Facebook - follow the simple rules and you're off.

6. The Snowman It just wouldn't be Christmas without watching the Snowman and listening to the glorious music. At the waterfront, you can watch the movie on the big screen scored by the Ulster Orchestra and a young singer performing “Walking on Air” this has become a Christmas tradition for many families.

7. Titanic Belfast You can't visit Belfast and not visit the waterfront and behold the Titanic Experience. With its interactive special effects, rides, full-scale reconstructions you can uncover the true legend of the ship the world didn't think could sink.

The Titanic experience includes a magic step into the Old Curiosity Shop to enter the world of Father Christmas. You can also take part in a Sunday Afternoon tea in the re-created Titanic dining room to end your festive day out.

8. Santa & Gruffalo's Grotto If you don't know who the Gruffalo is then you are too old for this Christmas treat. All the kids know the story of the very clever mouse and the 8ft tall Gruffalo. Join them on their Christmas Journey to the grotto to see Santa. A brilliant way to spend the day in a forest park that features life size statues, a rushing river and beautifully created seating areas.

9. Ice time If you fancy doing a little skating why not head to the SSE Arena where for £8 you can skate for a couple of hours and feel the chill of icy winter. On the other hand, if you prefer to watch some seriously fast skating check out the Belfast Giants hockey team.

10. Feel like a bit of fancy dress?

Then head to the Belfast Waterfront with your secret password to access the Roaring Twenties and immerse yourself in an underground world of forbidden drinks, gangsters and glamorous flapper girls. A fabulous night of sumptuous food and incredible live entertainment, along with party games and a disco plus a DJ playing all your musical favourites. Party dates run from early December to the end of the month.

11. Feasting for Christmas It wouldn't be Christmas without a festive feast on the day and many fine Belfast Hotels will be hosting guests for sumptuous buffets. At the Europa (which has the distinction of being the most bombed place in Belfast during the troubles) you can eat yourself senseless with a gorgeous buffet for a mere £100 per person. You will find a lot on offer at a wide variety of establishments from hotels such as the Malmaison to Benedicts of Belfast all of these hotels offer superb celebration dining.

12. Christmas Queens Finally, the Christmas Queens will keep you in the festive mood. They are hosting a Festive Drag Extravaganza with the stars of RuPaul's Drag Race; Michelle Visage will host this blingy event, and the Christmas Queens feature yuletide performances by Sharon Needles, Manila Luzon, Thorgy Thor, Ivy Winters, Ginger Minj & Phi Phi O'Hara.

The Boxing Day Races Most of Belfast will shut down for Christmas Day but will re-open with a vengeance on Boxing Day for huge sales. If you want to partake of an Irish tradition on Boxing Day you should attend the Races at the Down Royal Racecourse. An annual tradition since the 17th century the races on Boxing Day are held at Ireland's oldest race course, and make a great day out for the entire family

Getting About Belfast has a very good transportation system connecting all parts of the City and into the more “rural” areas it is a city that makes it easy to get around and having a smaller footprint means that taxis are much cheaper than in the bigger cities in N. America.

There are all kinds of bus trips, tours and guided walks to help you see the best of the City, but I would recommend renting a car or taking bus tours to see the country itself.

From the Game of Thrones to Causeway Coast Tours you will find lots of ways to get out of the city and see for yourself why Ireland is considered the most beautiful country in the world.

Faith Coates is fulfilling a lifelong dream to retire early and travel the world, Faith is now happily traveling to find the perfect place to settle.

After spending a year in a tiny fishing village in the Yucatan, mangling Spanish and writing by the pool, itchy feet struck again and Faith is now house-sitting and traveling in Ireland, the UK and Europe.

She loves writing particularly about other cultures, travel and food, but is always up to take on a marketing plan or two!

If you want to read more of Faith's travel articles go to: http://www.xyuandbeyond.com

THE MANY DELIGHTS OF CHIANG MAI, THAILAND

By Andrea Jordan

I first came to Chiang Mai because my sister in law sent me a link to an elephant sanctuary that she wanted to visit. I ended going to the sanctuary by myself – it was to be the first of many trips as I fell in love with the city.

I volunteered at The Elephant Nature Park for a week and loved the experiences. Yet the turning point for me was the dog shelter at the end of the road.

As we had lots of spare time between volunteering tasks I wandered down to the dog shelter to see if they needed a hand. What they needed most was for people to simply sit with the dogs as they didn't get much human contact (elephants are more alluring!).

The first enclosure had about 30 dogs in it. There was a pool, trees, a two story wooden platform and a stream. A fine place for a dog to stay while looking for a home.

I was smothered with dogs as soon as I sat down by the pool. One jumped on my lap, another sat at my back and many more wanted pats and lots of attention. Heaven for me! I'd grown up with dogs on the farm but this was something else. I'd never seen dogs that were so desperate for attention.

I didn't know it then but this was the start of the next 4 years of volunteering that would see me come back to Chiang Mai three more times (as well as volunteering in New Zealand, Mexico and Guatemala).

After that initial trip it was a random Google search and a traveler's blog post about a shelter called Care for Dogs that would see me return to Chiang Mai a year later to live there for 3 months, while volunteering with the 200 dogs that the shelter cared for. This was to be the place where my love of animals and photography would have a happy collision.

When I wasn't volunteering I was enjoying the delights of Chiang Mai.

The Food I was delighted to find an extraordinary variety of food on offer in the city. From Pad Thai at a local market to fantastic coffee and cake at the many unique cafes.

It became my mission, after finding a place to visit online, to get on my trusty push bike and see if I could find a new taste sensation as I explored the twisting streets. Sometimes I was lucky, sometimes my sense of direction failed me. The destination didn't really matter as there was always an adventure to be had.

Two of my favorite cafes: Love At First Bite - a legendary café to the East of the River Ping. They're famous for their cakes but their pies are great too. They have a lovely garden that you can sit in while enjoying the food.

Into The Woods – I loved the atmosphere of this café. The fairy tale theme is carried into every part of the café. From the Red Riding Hood mural to the fact you have to walk through a closet, Narnia style, to get to the bathroom.

The Markets Chiang Mai is well known for its street markets.

The Sunday Walking Market is the most well-known and can become clogged with people.

Don't go here if you're in a rush. Take your time looking at all that is on sale, have a foot massage to refresh, a fresh fruit smoothie then continue along your way, ending your wanderings at one of the many street side food stalls.

If you'd like something quieter then head to the Saturday Walking Market (south of the Old City). There are far less people but the same wonderful Thai street food is on offer.

Nearly every Friday night I went to the Night Bizarre on Chang Khan Road. My favourite masseur was there as well as a fantastic food court full of tasty dishes. Try out the roti with banana and chocolate. Heaven for a sweet tooth.

The Temples Chiang Mai is home to the most extraordinary temples. Over 300 of them!

The most famous is Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. It sits high on the hills, with its golden spire visible for miles.

There are many temples within the old city too that you can easily walk between. Some of my favorites were: Wat Phan On - I discovered this temple when I was wandering the streets of the old city to see what I could find. It was a peaceful break from the busy streets.

Wat Phan Tao - the only wooden temple in Chiang Mai. It may not seem as impressive as other temples but look closely at the details and you'll see its beauty.

Chedi Luang - I discovered this temple by accident. I was cycling along the back streets and saw tourists walking up a side street. Curiosity got the better of me so I followed along to see what they were up to. At the end of the street was the stunning Chedi Luang, the largest temple in Chiang Mai. Remember to show respect at all of the temples by having your shoulders and knees covered.

I'd cringe every time I saw women in tiny shorts and tank tops walking right by sights that asked them to cover up. Please don't be that tourist.

Digital Nomads With its affordable living, fantastic food and great culture Chiang Mai has become a welcome place for many digital nomads to call home. More and more co-working spaces are opening up which can be wonderful places to meet other nomads.

What's your experience of Chiang Mai?

Andrea Jordan has traveled to over 50 countries and all 7 continents. She put her business in her backpack and is now traveling throughout Latin America, house sitting and volunteering in animal shelters as she goes.

She's a keen dog walker and champion bell-scratcher, but it's when she picks up her camera that magic happens. She creates stunning images that capture the personalities of the wonderful creatures she cares for.

You can see her photos and read about her travel adventures and her business life here: http://www.learndiscoverbefree.com

GIVING BACK Why we love Workaways!

by Gail Harrison

Work twenty-five hours a week for your room and board? You must be crazy?

This is what we often hear from friends when we first begin telling them about our experiences with Workaway.

However, after we explain that we do it to learn a new skill, to experience a new area, to “give back”, and that we meet the most interesting people, they sometimes change their minds.

Or, at least they begin to understand our love for this part of our retired nomadic lifestyle.

What is a Workaway?

In essence, workaways involve volunteering your time to help someone, in exchange for food and lodging. The time suggested is typically 20 to 25 hours a week (4 to 5 hours a day for five days). In return, you have a place to live and your food is provided too.

The type of work you do depends on your interests and skills and some of the areas where you could choose to volunteer your time might involve:        

gardening child-care language practice building helping with an eco-project computers or tourists teaching elderly care

We all have skills we can share, and like us, you may have skills you want to learn.

Retirees are often involved as volunteers in their home communities. However as nomadic retirees, we have to create our sense of community wherever we are in the world. Workaways allow us to choose not only how we want to volunteer but where we want to spend our time.

Does living in a chateau in France while helping with a bed and breakfast pique your interest?

Perhaps you are, or would like to be a sailor? There's a host in Puerto Lindo, Panama, who is looking for someone to help out with refitting their boat.

Do you have a yen to visit Indonesia? There are many opportunities there to teach or practice English.

Workaways are available in almost every country of the world so no matter where you want to travel, you could add workaways as part of your experience. If you are a full-time house sitter, then a Workaway project could provide you with a different experience between sits when you have a gap, or want to try something a little different.

How Can I Find a Workaway Opportunity?

Several platforms offer opportunities for travel and volunteering: Workaway , Helpx , Wwoof are just some of them. Each may focus on different areas of the world or different types of experiences, but all operate in a similar fashion.

You start by creating a profile to list your background and to showcase the skills you have to share, or wish to learn.

Then you decide when and where you want to volunteer, and select the types of “volunteer work” you want.

What Can I Expect On a Workaway Experience?

Our accommodations have been varied. We've had our own tiny house (a converted garage) complete with private patio, a room in a quirky home overlooking the Inside Passage to Alaska from which we regularly spotted whales, and a bedroom in a lovely home where we shared a bathroom.

Meals have always been plentiful, and we've benefited from some of the home owners’ passions. One couple insisted we stop work to join them for early afternoon espresso breaks, complete with homemade German pastries. Another couple always stopped what they were doing at 3 pm – that was time for a beer, a snack and to catch up on everyone’s day.

At times, we offered to cook some, or all of the meals. We did this when an owner didn’t enjoy cooking (and we do). In those cases, the owners purchased what we asked for, and we often counted the cooking experience as part of our volunteer time.

Some of the things we have done during our workaways, are reclaiming arbours, limbing trees, staining and painting, helping restore a Victorian home, creating a patio for a tiny house, and installing windows.

As you may have guessed, our areas of interest include gardening and building!

Most importantly, we made many new and eclectic friends. These have included an 80-year old woman whose zest for life is unparalleled, a sculptor who can create art from almost anything, and an “older-than-us” couple who shared fascinating stories about growing up in Eastern Europe and emigrating to Canada. All these people have remained friends and have left an unforgettable imprint on us.

How Do I Get Started With Workaway?

As in any new venture, the first thing is to check out and research the situation. In this case, take the time to look carefully at several of the sites offering travel combined with volunteering. Then consider some or all of the points below:  

Are there postings which “call” to you, perhaps because of the location or the project involved?

What about the hosts? Do they sound like people you would enjoy working with?

Remember, you'll not only be working, but also living with them too.

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



  

What accommodation is being provided? Where you will be sleeping can vary from a bedroom, to a trailer, to a “bring your own tent” situation. What are you comfortable with?

Read carefully the information about food. Most hosts provide food every day of the week.

Others may provide it only for the days you work, as they assume you'll be touring the area on your days off.

Do you have special dietary needs e.g. gluten or dairy-free? Many hosts will adapt their usual meals somewhat, but asking them to completely change how they cook can be offputting.

Do the hosts themselves follow a special diet – vegan or vegetarian for example? While that gives the opportunity to try out a different way of eating, it's not for everyone.

Do the hosts have pets? If you have pet allergies or phobias, that is important information.

If, like for us, good WIFI is mandatory, look at what the hosts have.

Check out all the sites you can find that offer travel with volunteering experiences. Each of them is slightly different and you may find one which, for whatever reason, holds more attraction for you.

Take a Good Honest Look At Yourself After taking a close look at the opportunities out there, you need to look at yourself.

While the idea of a workaway may sound interesting, you may also come to realize that living closely with a complete stranger is not for you. We cannot stress enough how important this step is. No one wants to end up in an uncomfortable situation – you don’t and the host doesn’t either.

Creating a Workaway Profile The next step is to create a profile. Looking at other workawayers’ profiles is a great way to see what you should and should not include. Here are our tips:       

Keep it short but informative.

Briefly outline your background and why you are interested in travel/volunteering.

Mention specific skills you have to share or want to learn.

Select the important options for you - the types of work you want to do, with or without pets, internet availability and the host’s language(s).

Say where you are willing to travel and when you are available.

Add some photos showing you working in an area of interest.

Set your profile aside for several days and then return to it for a second viewing. How would it look to someone who doesn’t know you? Edit if needed and then post it.

For an example of a Workaway profile here is the link to ours.

Finding Perfect Match Workaways Now comes the fun part. Apply for volunteer travel opportunities that interest you. You may also find that hosts contact you about working with them.

You may want to start out “small” and begin with an experience nearby or of short duration, as part of an already-planned trip.

By starting with small steps you may become adventurous and comfortable enough to plan trips using only travel volunteering.

Once you are in contact with a host, set a time to phone or Skype - this gives everyone the opportunity to exchange information, ask questions and see if your personalities will mesh.

Remember, you do not need to accept every opportunity that you apply for or that comes your way. If it doesn’t feel right, then it likely isn’t.

Finally, pack your bag (whether a suitcase or backpack) and head off to your new experience somewhere in the world.

Why We Volunteer With Workaway?

Although we are still in house-sitting traveling mode, we have begun thinking about what we will do when we decide to settle down again.

In our future lives, we have visions of building a home with natural or recycled materials, living mainly off-grid, having composting toilets and grey water systems, and being partially selfsufficient.

Alternatively we're toying with the idea of renovating an older home in an interesting, eclectic neighborhood.

Our dilemma is that we don’t know if these are pipe dreams or possible realities. We use workaways as a means of exposing ourselves to these lifestyles and ideas, and learning and sharing with others engaged in projects of interest.

We've done five workaways so far. Our next will be for two months in Baja helping build a home. Where will yours be?

Randy & Randy Harrison sold their acreage home in Alberta. Already retired they have taken advantage of the opportunity to explore various cultures and countries, learning about other people and themselves along the way. They've travelled, often through house and pet sitting, in Europe, Central and North America.

Our workaway profile Our house sitting website

CRISPY MONGOLIAN TOFU

by Heidi Medina

Depending on where you are in the world, finding Asian ingredients can be a little hard. So, when that craving for Asian flavors hits David and me, I turn to my simple Crispy Mongolian Tofu recipe.

The one required Asian ingredient is soy sauce, which you can find almost anywhere in the world, making this easy-to-make dish a hit wherever you are.

This recipe is vegan, but even though we are meat lovers, we never miss the meat. If you're in the mood for meat or can't find tofu, switch in equal parts pork, chicken, beef or seafood for the tofu. The same with the veggies. Use your favorites or whatever is in season in your part of the world.

While utterly delicious in crispy form, you can also bake the tofu or even just pop it into the pan after the marinade process. And while the ingredient list may seem long, this isn't a fussy dish to make and will satisfy your Asian cravings while making your taste buds ecstatically happy.

INGREDIENTS            

16 oz. firm or extra firm tofu, cut into 1” cubes 1/4 cup soy sauce 1 Tbsp. fresh ginger, grated 1/2 cup cornstarch (sometimes called corn flour in the UK) Sunflower or vegetable oil for frying 3 cups broccoli florets 1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced 2 medium carrots, sliced 1 small zucchini (courgette) 1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped 2 green onions, sliced Sesame oil for sautéing

SAUCE            

3/4 cup soy sauce 1/2 cup brown sugar 3/4 cup water 2 tbsp. rice or white vinegar 2 Tbsp. sesame oil 1 Tbsp. fresh ginger, grated 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/3 to 1 tsp. red pepper flakes, to your taste Juice from 1 lime 1 tsp. black pepper 2 to 3 Tbsp. cornstarch for thickening 2 to 3 Tbsp. cold water

INSTRUCTIONS 1. Drain tofu. Marinade in soy sauce and fresh ginger for at least an hour. Drain excess soy sauce and toss in cornstarch.

2. Heat sunflower or vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over medium heat. Add tofu and cook on each side until golden brown and crispy. Remove from the pan and set aside.

3. Heat sesame oil in the wok or large skillet over medium-high heat until smoking. Toss in broccoli and cook until crisp-tender, about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from pan, set aside and do same with pepper, carrots, and zucchini.

4. Turn heat down to medium and add all the sauce ingredients in the wok or large skillet, except the cornstarch. Bring to a gentle boil. Mix cornstarch with cold water. Slowly pour into the sauce, stirring continuously. When sauce has thickened to desired thickness, remove from heat.

5. Add reserved veggies and crispy tofu back to the pan along with the green onions.

Serve over jasmine rice or noodles.

Ciao! I'm Heidi Medina, your personal chef for cooking up fresh, tasty recipes. Since 2012, I have been the writer, creator, food photographer and recipe creator for Simply Sophisticated Cooking. http://simplysophisticatedcooking.com/ I believe eating, drinking, loving, laughing and living well are essential ingredients for a good life.

Currently, I'm in the middle of creating the new life and travel site, FlyAwayU, which provides choices for a better quality of life through travel rather than staying chained to society’s norms.

Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

GEAR REVIEW - POINT & SHOOT CAMERAS

by Rafael Ziah Franco

3 Fast & Easy To Use Cameras For Quick Snaps On The Go Back in 2015, my wife and I traveled overland from Canada to Argentina. It took us a glorious six months, time during which we became incredibly familiar with the lack of immediacy and response that some point-and-shoot cameras had at the time.

Having learned exactly what makes a great “B” camera for fast shooting while on the run, (and thanks to a few advances in tech) here is a top list of the most ideal, easy to use, fast, uncomplicated cameras for 2018.

Ditching your mobile and going “old school” has a way of making you feel truly vintage.

The Gear Prep Before our trip, we equipped ourselves with Sony professional gear (A7S) to shoot content for stock and broadcast, as well as consumer type gear for impromptu shoots.

We knew we wanted to share our content on the road, so we got an iPod Touch and a Samsung Galaxy 2 Camera equipped with Android OS. For a tiny bit more control, we got a Nikon Coolpix S7000.

The Response Problem If we happened to drive by an amazing spot completely in awe of what we were seeing and wanted to take a quick shot for posterity, the process of just starting up our “B” cameras, was excruciating to say the least… including the Nikon. Yikes!

Not that we didn't stop often if something piqued our interest. But the pleasure of shooting off the cuff was ripped away from us by choosing to shoot with mobile devices and the Coolpix, whose auto focus seemed as reliable as a drunk giving you directions.

By the time any of these devices finished doing something as simple as turning on and were “ready” to shoot, we had already driven way past the point of interest. **Facepalm**

The Interim Fix While face-palming became a fun recurring joke while trying to shoot with our little cameras, using our Sony A7S pro gear became a reluctant go-to strategy. A bit bulky and high profile, but we finally gained photographic control and got some great shots along the way.

However we wished we could shoot “drive-by”, so to speak. So we promised ourselves we would later look into getting something better.

The Final Solution After thinking about the lessons learned, we decided to research quick response “B” Cameras that would (most importantly) be super easy to use and somewhat professional at under $400 USD. This is what we found out:

The Gear Beyond their basic features (High megapixel, HD video, compact size) here are three amazing and easy to use point-and-shoot cameras.

Quality and megapixels aside however, all three of these cameras can have you shooting happily and most importantly, quickly… to never miss a shot.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 Series Panasonic continues its tradition of great Lumix cameras with this little gem. It has a super long zoom, viewfinder, low light sensitivity and a control ring that can be programmed to adjust focus, zoom or exposure.

Canon PowerShot SX620 HS Versatile and powerful, the Canon SX620 is light, feels great in your hands, is super fast and features image stabilization. Zoom is more than adequate and its WiFi connectivity can have you sharing your images swiftly.

Sony HX80 Compact Camera Claiming to be the world's smallest and lightest, the Sony HX80 packs a punch above its class.

Featuring a flip screen for ease of viewing as well as a viewfinder, this little machine includes lots of great features such as WiFi connectivity and image stabilization.

So what's our top choice?

Canon PowerShot SX620 HS Our criteria was based on size, weight, ease of use and cost.

For us it wasn't as important to have a viewfinder, a touch screen or even a flash. Most important was however, that the camera's automatic mode was super quick to pick a proper setting and that the settings were easy to find and work with.

Hands down, the Canon PowerShot SX620 HS was the fastest and most uncomplicated of the three. Furthermore, it was the most economical!

This little camera is a simple, fast, no frills Canon gem. It nicely fits a Digital Nomad lifestyle by being a great - dare I say better - alternative to mobile devices and pro gear that can be clunky when swift light travel is most important.

Its low light shooting abilities leaves much to be desired and the viewing screen will need a protective material to keep it safe, but just pop up the flash when it tells you and buy yourself a screen protector online. You'll be good to go in no time!

We love it, and I'm willing to bet you will love it too.

Happy picturesque trails, friends.

Rafael Ziah Franco is a Canadian Television Director, Filmmaker and Photographer, hailing from Colombia. He writes about travel, visual storytelling and Digital Nomadism.

You can find more from Raff on Medium at: https://medium.com/@rafaelziah

THE SQUAT

by Elly McGuinness

I'm excited to kick this column off with one of the best all time body weight exercises – the squat.

All exercises have their place, but the squat is an exercise that receives bonus points for all its benefits. Like all the exercises that will be featured in this column, it can be done with no equipment, so is perfect to add into your fitness regime while you're traveling.

What are the benefits of the squat? 

It's what is called a “compound” exercise, so it works multiple muscle groups at once, giving you more “bang for your buck”.

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It works big muscle groups so it will create a greater response in your nervous system than exercises that work smaller muscle groups. This means better results for fat loss, muscle strength and muscle building.

Best of all, it is a “functional exercise”. This means that the squat is one of the primal movement patterns that your body was designed to do.

Practicing it regularly and properly will help make activities of daily living easier, and you'll have a good chance of being able to get out of the bath by yourself when you're 90!

Muscles Worked The squat works the whole lower body, so it's a great choice if you only have time for one or two exercises. Specifically, it works the buttocks, front thighs, rear thighs and calves.

Technique Start with feet just outside hip distance and slightly turned out. You can take a slightly wider or narrower stance if preferred – the knees will just need to follow the line of the feet.

Sit down, imagining you are sitting back into a chair. Stick your butt out, draw your belly button in, and keep your chest lifted. Push back up to the top with control, thinking about driving from the hips. Shoulders should stay back and down throughout and spine must be straight, with head in line with spine.

Progressions & Regressions To make sure your squat workout is effective, choose the right progression level to suit you.

This means choosing a level that you can do with great technique, but where you feel challenged.

To regress - try doing the squat above a chair. Use the same technique but lightly touch your buttocks onto a chair or bench behind you.

To progress - you can use weights if they are available, or try an advanced version such as a one-legged squat or a jump squat.

For something in the middle - try holding your squat at the bottom part of the movement for a five second count, and then slowly pushing back up. Repeat for a full set.

Other Considerations 

Always warm up before and cool down after your workouts

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If you're not sure how many of each exercise to do, try building up to 10-15 repetitions.

You can repeat a second set after a short rest if you're feeling energetic.

Breathe continuously and never hold your breath.

Keep movements slow and controlled – two seconds to the bottom of the movement and two seconds to the top.

IMPORTANT - If your knees, hips or lower back hurt while doing the squat, refer to a qualified personal trainer for advice. Similarly, if you have injuries or a medical condition and are not sure whether the squat is right for you, please seek professional advice.

Elly McGuinness has been inspiring people to make sustainable changes to their health, fitness and lifestyle for the past 15 years. She offers online solutions for people who are looking to get started on, or improve their health and fitness. She blogs regularly, writes for a number of health and well-being publications and is the published author of a holistic weight loss book.

Elly is mum to a spirited three year old girl, and along with her partner Colin they embrace a digital nomad, world schooling lifestyle.

Find out more at: https://ellymcguinness.com/ https://www.facebook.com/ellymcguinnessfitness/ https://www.instagram.com/ellymcguinness/

HOLIDAY GIFT GIVING For House Sitters On The Go

by Lara Plogman

As full-time house sitters, getting rid of almost everything we owned was a very emotional experience.

We had a lifetime of memories attached to our “stuff”, and when we went from a house full of stuff to just what we could fit in our suitcases, it was both freeing and sad.

The hardest to part with was my extensive collection of handmade Christmas ornaments. There were so many great memories of Christmas past, and I felt like I was just throwing it all away.

Everything we own now fits in a few cases and a couple of plastic storage tubs of paperwork and photographs in storage back in the states.

We love having the ability to pick up and go whenever we are ready to move on, but it’s also been a learning experience for us to not accumulate new things. We see souvenirs that we want to collect, but that’s rarely an option now. Buying new clothes always means parting with old ones.

When we do long term house sits there are things we need that the homeowners may not have. For example, the house we're in now didn’t have a working blender which is something we use a lot. Buying a high-quality blender is expensive, and it’s not something that's easy to take with us when we leave. So, we knew that when we bought the blender it is likely something we'll leave for the homeowners when we move on.

What we have collected are wonderful friends wherever we go, and they often want to buy us gifts for holidays or special occasions. While we love receiving gifts, we try to politely let people know that the best gifts we can receive are either consumable or experiential. Then we don’t have to part with them later when we don’t have room in our luggage.

So, with the upcoming holidays I thought I'd share a few gifts that are great for house sitting friends or for when someone asks what you want for your birthday.

#1. eBooks Books are a traveler’s best friend, especially when traveling to places with spotty internet. But eBooks only take up room on our Kindle or eReader. Gift cards for Amazon Kindle or iTunes can really be a great idea.

#2. Cook a Meal One of the great parts of traveling is experiencing the different cultures through food. Offer to cook dinner or send baked goods as a gift.

#3. Wine & Food Need I say more? But really any food or drink item would be great. Maybe not celery, but coffee, candies, fruit, bread. All are wonderful gifts that don’t need to be packed when we travel.

#4. Gift Cards for Local Restaurants or Excursions House sitters can use these before they travel onward. When we're in the states we love going to movie theaters, because that is something we don’t often get to do when we are in other countries. While traveling outside the states we enjoy things like guided hikes and tours, local restaurants, museums, diving lessons, parasailing. Think of experiences that the house sitters can enjoy at their current location.

#5. Make a Video or Write a Song If you're musically inclined, write and sing a song for someone. If not, you can head over Fiverr.com and search for “sing my lyrics” or “write a song”. For $5, you can have a custom song created for you. Who wouldn’t love such a one of a kind gift?

#6. Donations to Charity My husband and I have been blessed to work with several charities and volunteer organizations over the years. We love being able to give back, but that isn’t always as easy when we are traveling. Making a donation to a wonderful organization, volunteering to do community service work, or even donating blood in our name, is such a heartfelt gift.

As animal lovers, we'd be thrilled if someone volunteered at a local animal shelter for the day on our behalf, spent the day helping at a senior center or made a financial contribution to a charity in our name.

#7. Offer Your Services, Time or Skills Are you great with cutting hair, taking photos, teaching cooking or guitar lessons, writing poetry? Why not give of your time instead of giving physical gifts. My husband and I would love to have photos of us together that we can share with friends online or a poem about a memory with us.

#8. Spa Services Because who doesn’t love a spa day? A great massage or facial can do wonders for anyone.

#9. Spend Time With Us Some of our favorite memories with friends are at comedy clubs, wine tastings, backyard BBQs, or spending the day at the beach. Making memories that last a lifetime are better than any physical gift.

#10. Gifts to Wear Lastly, if you do feel you need to give something you can hold in your hand, please make it something that's easy to carry. A small piece of jewelry or fun sunglasses - those are easy for us to wear instead of packing in our suitcases.

I hope that you find some useful ideas on this list. I would love to hear your ideas on gift giving for people always on the go.

Feel free to email me at Laraplogman@yahoo.com with your ideas.

Lara and Ron Plogman are retired from San Antonio, Texas, and are currently house sitting full time in Bocas Del Toro, Panama.

They've been married for eight years, and in that time helped to raise 47 foster children. They enjoy community theater, motorcycle rides, and travel. You can contact them or find out more about the services they offer through their website at www.Rolatopia.com

A NOVICE'S ROUTE TO A FIRST HOUSE SIT

by Debbie Wood

How It All Began It started with a phone call. Well to be precise, a missed call on Boxing Day, that wasn't noticed until the 27th December, when we realized it was a call from our friends in Cyprus.

Why are they calling us, we wondered. They weren't looking after our house or our pet. We listened to the voicemail which asked us to ring urgently, so my husband Martin went downstairs to call. He didn't wish to disturb the rest of the household so early during the holiday.

As soon as he came back upstairs I could see how upset he was – our little dog Pepper had been attacked and killed by two wild dogs.

Moving on We had always said that if anything happened to Pepper we would not replace her, but take the opportunity to travel. The only question was, where to start?

A friend had mentioned her success with house sitting and we thought this might be worth pursuing. A search on Google revealed TrustedHousesitters as a popular site, so a few days later our registration was completed, and a daily check of email alerts began.

We applied for a handful of sits, in various locations, but we favored those that were for a month or more. Particularly if they were in far off countries as we wanted to make the trip worth our while.

It wasn't long before we were fortunate to receive an email from a home owner in Perth, Western Australia asking for more details. After a few emails between us, I asked the HO how long we would have to wait before he made his decision. Luckily he came straight back and said he had chosen us as his house sitters. His reason was that it was his first time on TrustedHousesitters, and as it was also our first time he felt we had something in common!

We then had a Skype interview with the HO and it was reassuring to receive satisfactory answers to the questions we felt were necessary to ask. We passed the next few months quietly researching the area, keeping in regular contact with the HO, who kindly made suggestions on activities he thought would interest us during our stay.

Our Arrival in Australia We had never visited Australia before and I excitedly pointed out to Martin when we first sighted land from our plane, “Look, we're nearly there.” Of course we weren't, we still had a couple more hours before landing!

Both of us were feeling rather anxious when we passed through arrivals. Would the HO be there to meet us as promised?

No worries, he was there, with a big smile ready to welcome us.

The first day was full of “getting to know you” time, and learning about the routines of the pets - Mangu, a miniature Shi-Zhu and Simba the cat. Mangu was mostly black and very fluffy so it was difficult to see which end was his head, and which was the “other end”.

That evening we enjoyed a BBQ in the garden with the HO's friend, who, we were informed, would be available during the sit in case we had any problems. The next day we were introduced to the local area, where to buy groceries, the nearest petrol station, the location of the vet etc. etc. We were advised that we were to “help ourselves” to anything in the fridge or freezer, also washing machine tablets and cleaning liquids etc.

The following morning was departure day for the HO and his wife, so Martin drove them to the airport in the HO's car, which had been made available for us during our stay.

If you want to know more about house sitting in Australia, check out Issue 9 which is dedicated to Oz!

Time Passes In And Around Perth We initially spent time investigating the local area, but gradually ventured further afield. The HO had kindly left a number of brochures of walks and activities he thought might interest us.

We took advantage of many of those, including visiting Caversham Wildlife Park where we fed the kangaroos. I soon realized it wasn't a good idea to sit there wearing white trousers!

We also visited the Perth Mint which was very interesting, and had fun traveling to Penguin Island where our boat was chased by dolphins.

Our evenings were spent back at the house, where we took great joy in watching the antics of Mangu and Simba. They completely ignored each other during the day, but at approximately 5 pm each evening they had a mad five minutes, chasing each other around the garden.

The scenery in and around Perth is amazing, and we enjoyed walking in the countryside. We are used to walking in the heat as we belong to two walking groups in Cyprus, so we were aware of the need for strong sun protection and plenty of water.

We experienced some fabulous sunsets during our time in Australia, and I'm afraid I went a bit mad taking far too many photographs of them.

One think that did surprise me was that we never met the neighbors. I had been led to believe that Australians are very friendly, but the HO had told us he didn't socialize with them, so we weren't introduced. However we were very warmly welcomed at the local church.

All too soon it was approaching the time when the HO and his wife were to return, so we replaced any food items we had used and thoroughly cleaned the house for their arrival. I also bathed Mangu so he looked great and smelled sweet for his owner.

Martin was at the airport to meet the HO on his return, and although we had been in contact a few times during their holiday to reassure them that all was well, the lady of the house was almost in tears when she arrived home to discover that her furbies were alive and well.

Sadly I have since heard that Simba was killed in a car accident - it was such a relief that it didn't happen on our watch!

I am delighted to report that we have, on a number of occasions been asked to return to this HO to sit again, and I'm so pleased that our first house sit proved to be so successful.

We still miss our Pepper, but we take great delight in caring for the pets of home owners as a substitute to having our own.

In conclusion, house sitting is great, we love it!

I should mention that I have the HO's written permission to use the photographs of Mangu and Simba, also the video that I have attached.

Link to our rambling website: www.csrc.ws

Debbie and Martin are a young at heart mature couple with a variety of pastimes, both shared and single, ranging from wine education and appreciation, through rambling, to membership of a community choir.

You can find their house sitting profile at Housecarers

CARPET CLEANING TIPS FOR HOUSE SITTERS

by Michael Brooke

House sitting is a great way to live and see the world on a budget. It's also a huge responsibility and respect for the owners place is a necessity. You'll be rightfully expected to maintain the home, keep it clean and take care of any other issues that might arise.

Any property owner who is trusting enough to allow their house to be used for a house sit, should be able to come back to a home left as clean as it was the day they left it.

Truth is that most house sitters come and go without ever experiencing much in the way of problems. Even if an issue does arise, more often than not you'll find it a trivial matter that's easily taken care of.

There is one issue though that I'd plant firmly in between those two situations. While not a major issue it is one that can cause a usually calm house sitter to experience quite a lot of stress.

The issue I'm referring to is that of carpet stains Anyone living in a home can relate to this. Who hasn't caused a wine spill or accidentally walked mud through the house on occasion? As a sitter though things are a little different than for an owner. You don't have the luxury of just leaving it and you should always attempt to return the carpet to its former glory.

You may feel like this is a fairly isolated incident but I'm here to tell you this is a very common occurrence. I've been a professional cleaner https://www.carpetcleaningsydney.com.au/ for over 10 years and have attended literally hundreds of house calls from panicked sitters needing urgent stain removal.

But here's a little secret...

In the vast majority of cases a professional cleaner isn't necessary.

There are lots of tips and tricks you can use to remove carpet stains yourself. I've listed some of the most common carpet stains below. All with a common, easy and budget friendly remedy.

Use my knowledge to guide you to stain free carpets while on your house sit.

Red Wine Stains If I were a betting man I'd wager that red wine is the most common carpet stain. Certainly in the top three. Probably the worst thing about red wine on the carpet is how obvious it is. On darker shades of carpet you may get away with a less than thorough clean. However, if you have light or white carpets you'll notice the stain forever if you don't completely remove it.

If you've just dropped some wine onto the carpet over dinner then take the following action.

Act fast, seconds count and the quicker you move, the better your chances are of keeping the stain at bay.

Jet into the kitchen and grab some salt and club soda. Place a liberal covering of salt over the stain. Add the club soda and then use a rag to gently pat at the stain to lift it. If you need a little extra ooomf add some vinegar to the soda solution to aid you.

Dog & Cat Urine Stains These types of stains are extremely likely if you're also sitting a home with a pet. One of the big reasons this happens is that pets can get anxious when their owners leave. This may cause them to forget their bathroom etiquette and poop or pee on the carpets.

Not to worry though as it's dead simple to remove these stains. Grab some vinegar and water along with baking soda. Pat at the stain with vinegar and water until it's mostly lifted. Press some bi-carb into the stain and allow to dry before vacuuming off. For really stubborn buggers repeat this process a few times.

Chewing Gum Stuck To The Carpet This is one of the more common and surprising stains you might face during a house sit. Always caused by accident or more often than not by walking the gum in from outside. Rest assured the solution is completely simple and can be done with little more than an ice cube.

Simply use the ice to freeze the chewing gum and pick it out piece by piece. You might want to use some tweezers for this. It does take a while using this method but the results work.

Morning Coffee Stains Nearly everyone loves a good cuppa-coffee as a wake-up call. That lovely feeling though can be crushed if you spill a dark brew on the carpet of your house sit. Luckily coffee, unlike red wine, is easier to lift from the carpet. That means there's definitely no reason to call in the pro's for a stain type with such an easy remedy.

Use a tiny bit of shaving cream mixed with detergent and a bit of water. The froth and soap will break

Blood Stains & Drops It's the stuff nightmares are made of but we have all done it from time to time. An accidental slip while chopping veggies or a mishap when cleaning the dishes. I am referring to a small nick on your skin and cuts caused by home knives. I had a customer once who had run from the kitchen without thinking and left a trail of blood drops behind her.

Blood is a tricky old thing and not as easy to lift using household items as our other stains are.

We recommend buying some hydrogen peroxide for use in this case.

Dampen the area with it and let it sit for no less than an hour. The time delay here is the most important as it will break the blood down. Without it you will just stretch the stain across the carpets with the risk of making it worse. Use a cool damp cloth to lift the stain gradually. Be patient here as it can take quite a while.

Removing General Carpet Stains Of course there are a myriad of different kinds of carpet stains and no one article can cover them all. If you have a specific stain we didn't mention above then a good rule of thumb is to use a mix of vinegar/bi-carb/lukewarm water. It will do good job of lifting a majority of household stains.

House sitting is a great way to live, see the world and save significant amounts of money.

Don't let a carpet stain ruin even a piece of those benefits. Use the advice above to get you through many a carpet cleaning emergency. If you have a concern or something we didn't cover feel free to contact us at Carpet Cleaning Sydney.

Michael Brooke is a house and carpet cleaner from Sydney, Australia. Though he doesn't get the opportunity to travel much that doesn't matter when it comes to the world of cleaning. The tips and rules for spotless clean are the same the world over.

His company CarpetCleaningSydney.com.au has been helping owners and house sitters for over 15 years. When not working he enjoys walking his dog or surfing at the beach.

We’ll be going back to basics with a “Beginners’ Guide to House Sitting” in next month’s issue of House Sitting Magazine

Available from 15th January 2018

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