House Sitting Magazine Issue 24: February 2019

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

Courage, Change, Challenge... and a Conference!

Ian Usher

The Reality of House Sitting Vanessa Anderson

The Phone Call That Changed My Life Christine Brand

Our First House Sits - Stories From Around The World Collaborative Article

Your Trust Under Observation Lamia Walker

Inverness, Scotland - Things To Do For Humans & Dogs Ali Keeler

Camping With Your Dog Judy Robinson

Destination Bequia in the Caribbean Yvonne Bauche

Seeing The Bigger Picture - Get Your Photos Sized Correctly Ian Usher

Get On Track For 2019 Lori Fowler

Top 5 Thinking Traps - What's Yours?

Jenny Lincoln

House Sitting Inception - Part Time vs Full Time Sitting Phillipe Lalonde

How Volunteering Helped Us Secure a Year of House Sits Tasha Page

Taking Early Retirement to Travel & House Sit Ian Gledhill

Trusted Housesitters – Sitters of the Year Awards

In the next issue...

COURAGE, CHANGE, CHALLENGE...

AND A CONFERENCE

by Ian Usher

What would you give to be happy and free - to live how you want, on your own terms? Maybe you think it's just not possible.

Well, you'd be wrong.

It does, however, take courage to take on new challenges, to make changes to your life.

But don't worry, we're here to help, by inviting you to join us at the world's first House & Pet Sitting Conference, where you'll get to connect and network with others who are all living successful house sitting lifestyles.

Vanessa and I are no strangers to stepping out of our comfort zone. We believe life is richer when you challenge yourself to learn something new, to develop your skills and abilities, to scare yourself a little every now and then.

Last year, for example, as we transitioned between our final house sit in Australia, heading back to the UK, in we spent two weeks in Thailand learning how to sail, before heading to the Caribbean to sail down the chain of beautiful islands known as The Grenadines, in a chartered boat.

This year we're over halfway through our self-created challenge to complete 52 house sits in 52 weeks. We thought this would be a huge undertaking, but once started we've actually been finding it easier than we'd imagined it would be.

In fact, this is often the case with challenges that seem insurmountable at first glance. More often than not the secret to success is just to get started. Most people who fail to achieve their goals do so not because the goal was unachievable, but because they failed to even make a start.

Here at House Sitting Magazine, and in our House Sitting Magazine Facebook Group, the most common question we get is about how to get started as a house sitter. We've got plenty of articles that can help, and we also offer a video course on how to become a great house sitter.

But nothing can match in-person inspiration in a conference setting to really motivate and help you achieve your dreams.

That's why we've teamed up with Tim and Louise at House Sitting World to create the world's first conference dedicated to the house sitting lifestyle.

Once again, we're stepping outside our comfort zone, taking on a new big challenge, facing our fears. We've never run a conference before, and have a lot to learn.

And we invite you to come along and join us. Take on a new challenge for yourself, to learn and grow.

The conference is aimed at people interested in discovering more about house sitting, and wanting to know how it might fit in to their hopes and dreams for their future lifestyle. There will be lots too for those who have already begun their house sitting journey.

We aim to inspire, inform and educate.

Our goal is that you will leave at the end of the conference weekend with a much clearer picture of how and where house sitting might work for you, and a knowledge of exactly what steps you need to take next to move forwards towards the future you want to build for yourself.

You can find out more about the conference here, and if you're quick you might be able to secure one of the few remaining 1/2 price "early bird" tickets: https://HouseAndPetSittingConference.com So if you are on the fence about house sitting, or worried that it won't work for you, then you now have a choice: 1) You can come along to the House & Pet Sitting Conference, be inspired by those who've already won their freedom, and learn how to start making the changes that will catapult you towards yours, or...

2) You can do nothing, and a year from now, nothing much will have changed for you. You'll still be stuck in the same rut, trapped by the same mindset, insecurities and lack of financial freedom.

That's because change requires action and an investment in yourself.

We believe that if you're in the UK in September this year, the House & Pet Sitting Conference will be the most affordable and effective way to invest in your future lifestyle success.

We hope to see you there, and we look forward to facing new challenges together.

Best wishes, Ian and Vanessa (currently on Sit #28 of our #52sits challenge, in Devon, England)

THE REALITY OF HOUSE SITTING WHAT IT'S REALLY LIKE TO BE A TRAVELING HOUSE SITTER?

by Vanessa Anderson

Having been full-time traveling house sitters for almost 4 years, and part-time for even longer, we can genuinely claim to have experienced a wide variety of house sits, in different destinations around the world. In fact, since 2014 we've done almost 60.

Our passion is house sitting, and as well as publishing House Sitting Magazine for the community, we also run a house sitting support group on Facebook with over 6000 members.

The point being… we see A LOT of what goes on "behind the scenes" in our industry.

So is being a house sitter REALLY the perfect lifestyle?

On the outside, and for anyone new to house and pet sitting, it can seem that if you're looking for an alternative travel or lifestyle experience, house sitting travel is the perfect answer.

That's because house sitting is often glamorized and promoted as the "dream lifestyle".

Honestly, you'll be led to believe that before you know it, you'll be saving tens of thousands of pounds, living in million dollar homes, in glamorous destinations all over the world, with little more to do than sit by the pool with your cocktail.

You might even fall under the illusion and popular misconception that you can "travel for free".

Well of course, that isn't true!

But here's where some confusion lies and it's something we want to try and set straight.

For anyone starting out house sitting, or who is a little disillusioned with their initial results, we want to give a bit more clarity about the true nature of house sitting.

Oooh… I'm starting to feel like Louis Theroux on an undercover mission!!

But, let me start by telling you about our current house sit.

We arrived back in the UK during summer last year, and have been seeing the UK from a different perspective by booking lots of shorter sits. As I write this, we're looking after a stunning home in Essex taking care of 2 adorable black labs.

Our house, is in fact, a million dollar home… and some It has a heated swimming pool and a fair bit of land. The home owners are incredible, generous people and it's very likely this will top our list of awesome house sit jobs.

We don't ever photograph or publicly make known exactly where we are house sitting, but if you were to see this property, you would think that everything you've read about house sitting is true!

Let's be honest now...

In reality, it's highly unlikely (but not impossible), that you would land a house sit of this calibre as your first ever assignment. This house sitting job has been the culmination of years of fulltime experience successfully looking after luxury homes and a vast array of pets, resulting in consistent five star reviews. That's not to say you shouldn’t try of course, but be prepared for some rejection - just don't take it personally!

We have a reliable, trusted and credible house sitting profile - our house sitting resume stands us in good stead. Just like a good career resume or CV would.

I'm giving you this luxury house sit example because it's the reason why it's so easy for those of us living the travel house sitting lifestyle to sing it's praises, rave about it, thank our lucky stars, and want to inspire others to follow in our footsteps. It's really true… amazing house sits are possible and do frequently occur.

And consider this… if you've slogged away at a job for years, trapped by materialism, longing for a break and a happier life, and you land house sits that are in beautiful homes, allowing extended travel in distant dream-like locations, cuddling up to luscious pets, then you wouldn't be wrong in jumping for joy, thinking you've just landed the best job ever!

We wouldn't blame you at all, and we are guilty of exactly the same.

But here's the thing…

Looking after someone's house, possessions and pets, carrying out daily routines, walking the dogs, cleaning the property, maybe doing a bit of gardening… it is a job!

"Tough job" I hear you say, and I agree, it's pretty good as jobs go.

But it's NOT the same as going on vacation and renting an Airbnb property, and it's definitely not like staying in a hotel. So if that's what you're after, it ain't for you!

Being a house sitter isn't ONLY about getting a cheap holiday or free rent For starters, you will have responsibilities - in most cases, the pets come first!

There will be duties you'll need to work into your day. You might have to get up early to feed dogs, cats, chickens, horses… and take your charges for walks, whatever the weather, once or even twice a day.

All of this will depend on the house-sit and the expectations of the home and pet owner, but suffice to say, you can't just do what you want, when you want, get to the end of your house sitting vacation, throw the towels in the bath, and hand the keys back.

Or if you do, it will probably be one of your last "jobs" because this isn't what house sitting is about. You may spend less on your holiday, and as a full-timer you'll no doubt save a lot of money on accommodation, BUT this shouldn't be your primary reason for wanting to house sit, or you could end up disappointed.

We cover the topic of expectations more deeply in another article here, but for now, we want to talk more about how HOUSE SITTING IS JUST ONE PART of our "perfect" lifestyle.

And, we think this is where we sometimes confuse those looking in from the outside. People who want to live like us, but who are enticed into international house sitting for the wrong reasons.

House sitting is just one part of the whole Our traveling house sitter lifestyle comprises many aspects:         

Belonging to and promoting our sharing trust based community Travel and adventure between house sits Local exploration when on house sits Living with and dealing with cultural challenges The logistics of travel House and pet sitting "duties" including care and daily routines Our online jobs that create our remote income to fund our travels Connecting with like-minds along the way Returning home to spend quality time with family and friends

So, if we now equate house and pet sitting to that of a "job", you can think about it with a different mindset.

As with everything else on the list above, you'll have "good days" in your job", not so good times, and occasionally, out and out shitty experiences.

A tough day at work In house sitting terms, a "tough day at work" means OCCASIONALLY things will go wrong with the property, pets will get sick, or you might not "click" with your homeowners.

External events, extreme weather and temperatures, transport strikes, wild fires, critters and insects, and the like, might all conspire to interfere with your plans or present challenges totally alien to you.

Shit happens, as they say!

In the "perfect lifestyle" scenario, you might now find yourself not quite so enamored with house and pet sitting.

You wonder where you've gone wrong, or whether everyone is misleading you about the way they live!

But then the next pets come along, in a new location, with the opportunity to experience something different and unique - and all is rosy in the garden once more!

The truth is there will be "ups" and there will be "downs" and this might happen as part of your house sit, travel logistics, in-between sit adventures... or any part of your lifestyle.

A mindset adjustment That's why we think it's important to see house and pet sitting as just one part of your lifestyle design, and to realize that you are in a temporary job (the house sit), with a temporary employer (the homeowner).

Despite this being a trust-based exchange, we believe that having this mindset can help rationalize the situations that occasionally go awry.

I'd like to be clear too, that doing due diligence and following best practices is also key to being a successful house sitter.

But, In 99% of cases, house sitting will NEVER feel like a job in the sense of the word as you used to know. In the same way that retirement takes on a whole new meaning as a traveling house sitter.

It will be a fun travel experience, or an alternative more meaningful vacation option, with a chance to bond and care for other people's pets.

Only in a very small percentage of sits will it feel like the worst job on earth!

But really, as we keep saying, house and pet sitting is just one part of your overall lifestyle - and that overall lifestyle is pretty damn awesome!

I think that's often why in Facebook groups and forums, you see the occasional insensitive remark when someone expresses a problem with their sit, suggesting you "get over it and move on".

Think back to "life before house sitting" when you were caught up in the trap of mainstream society. Didn't you have bad days then, terrible days in fact? And you probably suffered a lot more stress than you'll ever experience in your traveling house sitter lifestyle.

What makes up our perfect travel lifestyle?

For us this IS the "perfect travel lifestyle" - but it's made up of much more than just house sitting. For others it may be their perfect retirement lifestyle, or their perfect way to work remotely.

There are so many benefits that massively outweigh how we used to live:         

We work part-time when we want, doing what we enjoy, part of which is house sitting We travel "slowly" all over the world We take "between sit" travel adventures… a month in Cuba, a road trip in Australia We have time to eat and live healthily We experience very little stress We have pets around us always We have eliminated accommodation costs, utilities, and other home expenses We have been liberated from the worry that comes with owning expensive possessions property, cars, etc.

We have escaped the rush hour rat race

When we say we love the house sitting lifestyle, or that it's our perfect lifestyle, it's because of all these things. Being a house sitter is just a part of the whole!

What About Bad Sit Days?

We aren't suggesting you disregard the bad sits and pretend they didn't happen.

Not at all.

They do and they can be hell for part or all of a sit, and for so many reasons, especially if there's a conflict with the home owner.

But this can also an opportunity to learn more about yourself, your skills, how you deal with challenges or conflict - a chance to be a better you. Or at the very least, it can help perfect your future exchanges and experiences, protecting against another bad house sit situation.

Think "Human Resources" - companies have an HR department partly to deal with disputes between workers, and workers and management. As a house sitter you are encountering so many different personalities and "work" environments, yet you have to be your own little HR department, often with no-one else to help. That's along with all the other self-management skills you'll find yourself developing!

Putting it all in perspective First of all, don't be put off.

With almost 60 house sits under our belt over four years, in some very challenging environments, off-grid, island based, in tropical environments and harsh remote locations, this is the sum total of our "less than good" experiences:  

  

On our very first sit, a radiator pipe burst soaking into an understairs' cupboard.

In Fiji we had to evacuate pets, and prepare for and cleanup after devastating Category 5 cyclone Winston - the largest ever to hit the region with sustained winds of 285km/h leaving 44 people dead.

In Africa we had a total mismatch of expectations: owner wanted unpaid staff not house sitters.

On Boxing Day in Australia we had to prepare for a bush fire one block from the house.

Around the world we've had a few houses that were not as clean as we'd have liked

Of these, only 2 house sits, Fiji and Africa, caused us any real problems - both stories in their own right.

The bush fire, however, didn't reach the property. We had a stressful couple of hours preparing for the worst, but it was contained and we were all safe.

The burst radiator was isolated within minutes (always ask where the water cutoff is!), and the less-than-clean properties involved a few hours of cleaning before we could relax.

All of these were in our first year of house sitting, when we were finding our way, learning about due diligence and best practices as we became more experienced house sitters.

House sitting is 100% better than any day job!

So here's the reality of house sitting for most of us…      

House sitting is one "part of" a pretty perfect travel or location independent lifestyle.

Things will occasionally go wrong, and you'll need to be adaptable, flexible and always have a backup plan.

Trusting your gut or instinct is VERY IMPORTANT. Your day is not always your own - pets and their routines need to be maintained and seen as priority.

You won't like everyone you meet, but you will also make life-long like-minded friends along the way.

Some of the most generous people ever are part of the house sitting community.

If It's Not Really For You - Don't Do It! If it doesn't work for you, don't force it to fit. Find another way to travel, another way to retire even - there are plenty of options available these days, even for the budget conscious.

But at all times remember, house sitting is just one part of your lifestyle, and it's the overall lifestyle that freaking awesome!

It works for us, and we've found nothing yet (save winning the lottery), that compares!

THE PHONE CALL THAT CHANGED MY LIFE House sitting in Bali

by Christine Brand

Two puppies and five rescue dogs – plus a monster lizard, a bat in the bedroom and a biting cat! Here's the story of my first ever dog sits on the magical island of Bali.

While I was chugging my rented scooter through neon green rice fields across the island of Bali, with a helmet much too big on my head, the thought suddenly popped up in my mind…

Isn’t it strange how life is going? Just a year ago I still had my own apartment, a permanent job as a journalist for a Swiss newspaper and a regular income - and now I am living the life of a nomad and I'm on my way to apply as a dog sitter...

But let me start all over again.

The phone call that would change my life reached me in Sicily.

"I have a publisher for you," my agent Lars told me excitedly.

He then spoke of a new publisher for my latest crime novel, and of a contract, that would give me real money for one of my books for the very first time.

The key to freedom It took me a moment to realize what this contract meant to me. But at some point I understood that it was the key to freedom. So after 24 years I decided to quit my permanent job as a journalist, to give up my apartment, and to give away more than half of my property. Because if from then on I could live on a modest income by writing books, I could work wherever I wanted!

I have always traveled a lot. In fact, I was just back from a seven-month trip around the world, when I got the call from my agent. But now traveling was no longer going to be a leisure activity, but my new way of life.

I started researching digital nomads and alternative lifestyles. Just as I had booked a flight to Bali to escape the European winter, I came across the Trusted Housesitter's website. And indeed, there were several jobs advertised as "dog sitters" on this Indonesian island. That sounded like a perfect exchange - I could watch the house and enjoy being with the dogs while I wrote my next novel in a very nice place.

I applied and arranged to go and introduce myself to Steve and Sissil.

Arriving at my first sit For the first time in two years I sat on a scooter again (maybe I shouldn't mention here that I don't even have a ticket for it...), and drove to the coastal town of Canggu in the unfamiliar lefthand traffic. It was magic. I found the place (normally I get lost) and arrived just in time. This must be due to my Swiss genes.

Well, I had seen in the picture what a fantastic house this was. It stood in the middle of a huge, wild jungle garden, with a swimming pool. The two puppies, Luna and Bodhi, looked heartbreakingly cute.

But when I arrived at the villa, I almost lost my breath. I thought the apartment was on one floor in the huge house. I never imagined that the whole three storey house was, in fact, the apartment.

The property was magical. The rooms are wide and open, there are hardly any windows and walls, you live in the middle of the jungle. And the dogs were tiny, just three months old. I really wanted this job - and I got it. Had I known at that time how many panic attacks my heart would need to survive - then my enthusiasm about this promise would have been limited.

The disappearing dog My first panic attack struck me about three hours after I had started this job as a dog sitter.

Little Luna was gone. And to make that clear, it really was possible that she had disappeared. As I said, the house where these two super curious puppies live, has no walls, no doors, and no fences. The animals always have access to the garden, which is more of a wild jungle than a garden, and where many traps lurk. The water tank, the fish pond and the pool, places where small dogs can easily fall in and can't get out, are just a few.

In the middle of the garden there is even a fast flowing wild stream. There was so much terrain in which puppies could crawl and get lost.

Luna was nowhere to be found. So I called Steve in complete disarray, dismayed that I had lost one of his dogs on the very first day. Steve calmly said: "Ah, there is this hiding place under the shelf behind the fridge in the kitchen." Lo and behold, when I laid down on my stomach and shone my flashlight into the hiding place - Luna's eyes were shining towards me.

Several adventures with Luna and Bodhi followed. But the puppies were not the only animals that kept me busy. As a dog sitter in Bali you are confronted with completely different situations.

I had to scare away a wild monkey who was hanging in the branches just two meters from me and who wanted to jump into the living room. I tried to ignore that a spider the size of a saucer with thick hairs on its legs, was running straight towards my bedroom on the wall in front of me. I got used to having to chase a bat out of my bedroom before I could go to bed.

And then there was the monster lizard...

Thankfully I only met this creature on the tenth and last day and not on the first!

To my concern, Bodhi and Luna had started to scout the river in the garden during the last days, but fortunately it wasn't carrying that much water. But, on that last evening I heard something, just as Bodhi and Luna were climbing back up to me.

It sounded like something big. In fact, it was huge! Down in the water a lizard ran up the riverbed, which without exaggerating was longer than one meter fifty. Probably, it could have swallowed Bodhi and Luna with one bite.

House sit number 2 When Steve and Sissil came home a little later, I was glad that I could give the two cute puppies back to them safely. Bodhi and Luna had demanded a lot of attention, and I hadn't been able to write as often as I had hoped. But I didn't have time to think about whether it's a good idea to be a writer and a dog sitter at the same time - the next day my second job was waiting for me this time five dogs!

"Can you drive a scooter with five dogs on it?", Rachel had asked me. I had nodded hesitantly, "maybe".

"Do you mind if the dogs sleep in your room?" "No", I answered, "that's not a problem."

Rachel's reasoning sounded convincing. Bali is an island of dogs and an island where dogs are eaten. Often animals are kidnapped too during the night. Again in the open plan house, the bedroom was the only room with walls, a door and windows.

When I started my job, I no longer had to worry about driving a scooter with five dogs. The construction of the transport boxes, which should be attached to the scooter on the left and right side, was fortunately not finished yet. I had imagined it would be easier to sleep with five dogs in one room, however at least four of the five dogs preferred to share, not only the room, but also the bed with me!

To make a long story short, it is a small pack and they are all very good guys. Jose is half wild and only jumps over the wall into the garden and open living area during feeding time. Ez, Itch, Georgie and Delicous are rescue dogs that Rachel picked up on the street. But they are all grown up, independent, and kind of reasonable. They can even go for a walk on their own and hang around in the wonderful green rice fields in front of the house. When they come home, they knock at the entrance gate with their paws to get back in!

So it was again another animal that caused me the most trouble on my second mission. No spider, no lizard and no monkey this time - but it was the neighbour's cat, which got caught by "my" pack. The five dogs behaved as if they wanted to eat her!

I tried to save the panicked animal, but this cat wasn’t really grateful for my selfless effort, and she bit me hard on the finger.

Regardless of all this, Rachel's five dogs conquered a big place in my heart. And I am already looking forward to my next assignment as a dog sitter… wherever it takes place in the world.

Writing my books?

Well there's a different story!

Christine Brand is a Swiss writer. At the end of 2017, she turned her life upside down. She quit her permanent job as a journalist and court reporter and gave up her apartment. Since then she has lived as a freelance writer and works from all over the world.

This winter she had her first jobs as a dog sitter in Bali. A perfect combination - while looking after the house and animals, she can write her crime novels in great places. You can find her at: www.christinebrand.ch

OUR FIRST HOUSE SITS First time stories from around the world Collaborative post We've been noticing that more and more people are asking us, when we meet and in the Facebook Group, questions about getting started as a house sitter, or how to use sitters to care for their homes and pets. But the conversation often includes concerns too.

One of the worries is that there will be too much competition for individual house sits when starting out, and that it won't be easy to secure the important references required to show your credibility as an international house sitter.

We have some information that can help with this, but there's nothing quite like hearing from those who have gone before.

So we thought it would be nice to ask some of our group members from around the world, who have starting house and pet sitting in the last year, to share their experiences of starting out as house sitters, positive or otherwise.

Here is a selection to inspire you so that you will find the reassurance to begin your own house sitting travel or lifestyle adventure very soon.

Shona & Colin (from New Zealand) https://maytheroadriseuptomeetyou.blog/

A year ago we started planning our epic trip! We were at a perfect point in our lives to take a "gap year" - not too old, no dependent kids, no pets, and happy and well parents.

It's now eight months since our first sit and we have been having the time of our lives. We've clocked up 7 house sitting assignments, looked after 8 dogs (one disabled), 11 cats, and taken 3 cruises - all last minute deals and the perfect way to travel from A to B, enjoying a holiday at the same time!

When we first put our profile online, applied for our first sit, and then got it (within a few days) we were amazed, exhilarated and filled with excitement.

It had been 32 years since we'd embarked on our last overseas experience to London and beyond. We've been lucky enough to have several holidays since then, but always had the urge to travel more for longer. House sitting has been the perfect way to do this and we have made some wonderful new friends.

After renting out the house, we packed up our favorite possessions, gave everything else away, put the business on hold, said our goodbyes, and headed off.

We began our house sitting adventure in Las Vegas where we sat for five weeks, looking after 3 rescue cats. It was the perfect first house sit assignment! It was the homeowner's first time too and we were very lucky to have met someone so generous and trusting, and who gave us a wonderful reference - yah!

We have now house sat in Seattle, Vancouver, South Carolina, Cyprus, Malta and are currently in Wilmslow, UK. We are booked for France and Bulgaria and are searching for another one or two in Europe. We have absolutely loved meeting all our new furry and human friends.

Not everyone lives in the same way we do and that has been a challenge for me as I suffer a bit with OCD! I haven't always felt comfortable with some of the pet arrangements - things like whether the dogs are walked or not, or when the cat pees in the shower! But we have always done our best to give these pets our love and commitment, leaving all the homes in the same or better condition than we found them.

When we've applied for sits we haven't always been accepted, but we aren't feeling rejected quite so much now either! Nor have we always found sits that suited our travels, BUT we have had the most incredible experiences, and love sharing our adventures on our blog and with people we meet along the way.

What have we learned? Most importantly to ask more questions, it's a two-way commitment.

We also know now that we CAN live out of a suitcase! All you need to get started is love and a sense of adventure... just do it!

We're heading home in July, but I'm sure it won't be long before we're on the road again.

Although we have invited everyone we've met to come stay with us in New Zealand, so perhaps with the "world" visiting us, we might stay settled for a while!

Andrew & Carolyn Deagle (from Australia) https://www.travelissweet.com/ Four years ago, house and pet sitting was as alien to us as comprehending someone speaking a foreign language. Neither of us had heard about it, let alone fathomed exactly what its concept was.

Having caught the travel bug in 2004, we longed for the day when we could travel constantly.

Logically was this possible for us? NO was our answer. How could it be when we were chained to the bank with a mortgage and reliant on our jobs to cover our day to day expenses.

We were not wealthy, hadn't been left money by a rich relative, nor had we won the lottery.

But then we met with a business client, who by sheer coincidence was also a house sitter. By the time I'd finished repairing her computer I was sold on house and pet sitting!

Three years down the track, after countless hours of long talks, lots of research and many questions about why we should do it, Carolyn finally arrived at that point where she was ready to make a drastic change to our lives.

It may have been a long path, but achieving this apex was super exciting. One major factor I believe that helped us immensely, was doing Ian and Vanessa's online video course "Become a Successful International House Sitter" through their House Sitting Magazine - it's well worth doing if you are just starting out.

Now we were both onboard, we had to work out how we could survive financially. We agreed to sell our house, car, most of our possessions and get a small storage unit for the other few

things. We also rearranged insurance to reflect our new circumstances. Carolyn was fortunate enough to reach an agreement with her boss that would allow her to work remotely and still earn an income. This was a genuine answer to prayer.

Now that our financial situation was under control, we joined Aussie House Sitters to see if we could acquire our first sit close to our home town. Working through the current listings available we decided to apply for two, both a couple of hours from us. Using an application we had crafted, with tips gained by completing Ian & Vanessa's course, we submitted our applications.

To our great surprise, and within 20 minutes, we were accepted by one homeowner. Even before a video call and with no real house sitting experience. So unexpected was this, we accepted pretty much straight away. Knowing what we do now, I wouldn't suggest doing this, but it worked out to be an amazing first house sit. We had the pleasure of caring for two dogs (one a very old gentleman), two cats and five chickens for five days. We had a marvelous time and it reinforced our desire to become house sitters!

Jump forward seven months, and we've now completed ten sits over three continents. We've looked after 14 dogs, 8 cats, 12 chickens, 5 guinea fowl, 8 cockatiels and multiple fish - we can honestly say we have found our calling.

Has it had its challenges? It sure has!!! From giving an injection of fluids every five days to an 18 year old cat, to having to coerce a cat to use her aero-cat inhaler. But the flip side far outweighs the odd challenge. Bonding with some incredible animals and owners has been an amazing, humbling and blessed experience, and we see this continuing for many years to come.

If you are considering house and pet sitting as a lifestyle change, we would encourage you to take the plunge. It will change your life and fill your soul.

Brooke & Buddy Baum (from the USA) https://www.trailingaway.com

After trying out living in a motorhome in the US for a year, my husband and I finally admitted it wasn't the right fit for us and began looking for other options.

We wanted to travel, be around animals often, save money, continue a minimalist existence, and do something that felt meaningful. I happened to read a blog post about another couple doing pet and house sitting and it just felt TOO perfect. Truth be told, I had heard about it before we bought our RV, but dismissed it as something we wouldn't enjoy. And we probably wouldn't have at that time.

However, a year on the road changed us a lot and what sounded uncomfortable before, read like a dream the second time around.

So, we uploaded our profile on TrustedHousesitters and began applying like crazy for house sits, as soon as we'd sold our RV. We had great success locking in our first couple of sits quickly, despite our lack of experience.

With high hopes this lifestyle would suit us better, we headed to our first sit, a "lowmaintenance" cat in Utah. Ha! This quirky little fur-ball woke up at 5am every day demanding breakfast. He chewed any cords left out and attacked everything in the house after dinner each night. But he also was the best snuggler, loved to play tag, and made us smile all day long.

He wasn't as easy as we had expected, but we still loved our time with him and were sad to say goodbye. We also had a blast exploring Salt Lake City for the first time, and really loved being able to meal-plan, do laundry, and feel at home instead of in-transit in the motorhome. Plus, knowing we were helping fellow travelers enjoy their own peace of mind while away, made our hearts really happy. We were hooked.

Initially, we planned to only take sits in areas we knew and were comfortable with, while building up our reviews. However, somewhat ironically, on that first sit we applied for a monthlong assignment in Hawaii. To our surprise we were very quickly accepted, which really propelled us into an adventurous year of house sitting.

We often hear from other sitters that they are waiting to apply to their dream sits until they build up their profile more, but we are so glad we just went for it. We'd encourage others to do the same. Sure, there have been a ton of sits we didn't get, especially when we only had one or two reviews, but the ones we did get made any minor sense of rejection we felt totally worth it.

With each sit, we've also been able to really identify what works best for us. So, while we are glad we did shorter sits in the beginning, we look forward to visiting places and pets for much longer going forward. And yes, we plan to keep house sitting full-time for the foreseeable future.

After ten months, six countries, and dozens of furry friends, we can't imagine a better way to pursue the things we enjoy most in life.

Sam & Ben (from Australia) https://awesomeadventurecouple.com I've worked remotely for the past 5 years, and my husband Ben for two. Initially we worked fulltime from home, but when I began spending extended periods in tropical destinations, we decided it was time for him to join me.

We started with an extended period in Asia. Mostly Thailand, but also visiting Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia, traveling around and staying in different locations from a few days to a few weeks. We kept Australian hours (and still do), which meant an early morning start, but our afternoons were free to learn how to kite surf, or go diving. We quickly knew that this lifestyle suited us and decided to become full time digital nomads in late 2018.

We gave up our home in Melbourne, donated a lot of our possessions and put those we couldn't part with into storage.

It was about this time we decided to re-visit house sitting. We spent a month in New Zealand over Christmas and New Year and I had joined the House Sitting Magazine Facebook group run

by Vanessa and Ian some time earlier. But my interested was re-ignited by a family friend who had a great experience with bringing in a house sitter to care for their pets. With our new nomadic status, we decided we had nothing to lose.

We've had lots of experience caring for pets as past foster carers and we love the stability of a regular home and the opportunity to live like locals.

Initially we'd planned to head back to Asia, but as new sitters we were open to different locations and found lots of opportunity in Canada, you can read all about how we secured our first sit here We realized we'd be swapping mid-summer for mid-winter, but Canada had always been on our travel bucket list, so we applied and found the experience very straight-forward. After chatting to our first homeowners on Skype, we were, within a few days, booked for a 3 week stay in West Vancouver. We'd planned to spend three nights before in an AirBnB, but there was a last minute sit request 24 hours before we left, so we actually had a our first official sit looking after a Bengal cat named Nala.

Our homeowner wasn't there to meet us as she had an earlier flight, and we were coming straight off the plane after 22 hrs of travel, but she left instructions and we had a great time exploring trendy Kitsilano. Vancouver itself is incredibly easy to navigate and we've been blessed with lots of blue sky as well as snow. Now we're caring for two sweet dogs, one of which is a little pup full of energy - perfect for all the nearby hikes!

We now have five house sits confirmed in Canada taking us up to the end of March 2019 and we're hoping to confirm another sit this week to visit New York. Then we'll head back to Western Australia where we have a further two month sit booked - all through TrustedHousesitters.

So if you're considering house sitting then we say, go on try it, you never know what adventure awaits!

Diana Olsen (from Arizona, USA) Link to House Sitter Profile

I retired to Arizona and was bemoaning the 120° summers when a friend suggested house sitting. I wrote a nice TrustedHousesitters profile, applied for three sits and, to my surprise, someone chose me! It was exciting and intimidating at the same time. What do I do now?

My first surprise was in the initial phone call when the homeowner asked me to arrive the night before. I hadn't planned on staying at the home before the owner left – this was a complete stranger!

I now know this is the norm and I've come to enjoy getting to know people on their own turf. Of course the homeowner wants to meet me, show me around the house and introduce me to their fur-babies. That one meeting has resulted in repeat sits and new friends!

My second surprise was arriving at a home much different from what I expected. Looking back, I realize that these are not deal breakers but as a novice house sitter, I reacted differently. Now I ask specific questions:    

Will I be in a guest room or the main bedroom (my first sit only had one bedroom – interesting when you arrive a day early)?

Are there dietary restrictions in the house or with the animals (the dogs and owners were vegetarian – I'm not and some HO don't even want meat prepared in the house)?

What if I run out of animal food (this required an emergency call with the homeowner for the dog's vegetarian recipe)?

Is there a microwave and a sofa (there wasn't so how would I take a nap or heat leftovers, big considerations obviously)?

Like I said, not deal breakers but it was all new to me and I was off balance for a bit.

The TrustedHousesitter agreement is good for peace of mind but not necessary. However, a "Welcome Guide" or other form of written questionnaire is mandatory for me to define all of the above and more. It also provides important information in advance so I can do my own due diligence - I always research the homeowners before I go, if only to confirm they are authentic!

Getting out of the desert in summer had been my primary goal for house sitting but now it's so much more. It's an opportunity to bond with a lovable four-legged cutie that I can't have in my current living situation. And I get to travel to familiar places and reconnect with friends and family, or explore new places that I might never have discovered.

What I've learned - That house sitting is, at its core, a "mutual trust" arrangement. I trust that the homeowner will provide a clean, safe space for me (even with some surprises), and they trust that I will love and care for their animals and home as if it was my own.

And I learned that I can get by quite well without a sofa or microwave!

Glenda Mailloux (from Canada) Link to House Sitting Profile Travel. As much as you can. As far as you can. As long as you can. Life is not meant to be lived in one place.

For as long as I can remember, I think no other quote sums up so accurately my philosophy on life. Having traveled to over 70 countries so far, you could say that I take it quite literally. I worked internationally and was fortunate to "live as a local" while on my various assignments around the world.

After retiring a couple of years ago, I based myself in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, a vibrant city that is a great hub from which to travel around Asia. However after a few months, I found I was getting bored. It was difficult going from Chief Executive positions in large telecom start-up projects, to merely doing my day-to-day activities- you can only do lunch so often!

Several years earlier I had heard of house sitting and thought what a great way it would be to see the world combining my love of animals and travel, but I kept putting it off. However, as I sat in my living room one day, wondering what I could do, I thought now is the time to put a plan into place and make this happen!

I subscribed to TrustedHousesitters and built my profile, keeping it light and cheerful. I talked about the homes I have owned in France and Canada, my experience with animals and what I can bring to a house sit. I obtained my police clearance certificate and also enrolled in a pet care course at the local SPCA. As I had no previous experience of house or pet sitting, my strategy was to focus on local assignments in Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia, as I would have the advantage of my proximity to perhaps edge out the competition.

After two weeks and 6 applications, I was confirmed for two assignments, both in Penang, an island off the coast of Malaysia that I had been interested in visiting. One was for an American woman with two cats who lived in a lovely condo overlooking the ocean in Batu Feringgi on the north east side of the island. The second was for an Australian couple with an adorable pug dog name Doug.

Both had fantastic apartments in resort like complexes with stunning ocean views. Both house sits went extremely smoothly with lovely homeowners and gorgeous animals. I especially fell in love with Doug the pug! But nobody tells you of the heartbreak of leaving a pet after you have fallen in love with it!

It was an amazing first experience and I have not looked back since. I have completed wonderful sits in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo, Melbourne, and just last autumn I traveled for 3 months in the UK doing five back-to-back sits. I learned to give insulin shots to the sweetest little American Eskimo dog in St Albans, enjoyed seaside walks with a deaf Cockapoo in Brighton, and cuddled with a rabbit in London.

With over 20 house sits under my belt I am living the retirement that I always wanted. I am now moving home to Canada after 20 years working aboard, but I know that no matter where I chose to base myself, my house sitting lifestyle can follow me!

Karen & Martin Sharpe (from the USA) https://rovingnomads.com

Martin retired November 3rd 2018 soon after we sold our house and everything in it - we'd been looking forward to this for two years. After doing all the research, we were planning to travel full time using Workaways and house sitting to give us more of a feel for the cities we were visiting, and to help keep costs down.

This last month was crazy though. With the house sale and moving out of state we'd had no time to research all of the house sitting platforms and hadn't built our profile, much less been able to obtain any references. We had to hope that our "mature" age and professional backgrounds would help us get our foot in the door. On December 10th we finished our profiles on TrustedHousesitters and applied for 2 “last minute” house sits in Bangkok, Thailand – just in the nick of time, we were landing there in 48 hours.

We had a layover in London and saw that we had received a response to one of our applications. We answered their questions and an email or two later we had our first confirmed sit for December 15-17.

Even though it was only for a few days we were so excited and felt lucky to get a sit quickly and be able to start building our references. As it turns out, no sooner did we lock in the dates, but the second home we applied to responded and wanted us to sit, but the dates overlapped. We expressed our regret and were informed that they were leaving again over Christmas and asked if we would still be in town. We would be and so locked in our second sit in 2 days!

Within 2 weeks of our first application we took care of a black pup named Tasi and a beautiful grey cat with huge blue eyes named, yep, you guessed it, Blue Eyes.

House sitting has been everything we wanted it to be.

We've been able to avoid hotels and tourist traps, we met families who lived in the areas we were visiting so got recommendations on where to go and what to see, and it felt like we were at home with a furry friend to welcome us when we walked in through the door.

Thailand is a relatively small country so we haven't been able to set up any other house sits while we've been here (although we have lived with another family for a few weeks through Workaway), but we have two sits arranged for when we head back to the states in March and April.

It has been a great experience so far and as we continue to travel we hope this will be an experience we can repeat.

Michelle McDines (from the UK) https://thehappyhousesitter.com/ I met my first house sitters in April 2017 when they cared for my friends' house and cats. As their emergency contact, we were introduced over dinner, during which the couple told me how they lived virtually for free while earning a living online - a big dream of mine.

I was so inspired but the next morning reality struck. I realized that as I had my own dog, Eddie, I'd probably end up a house sitting client rather than a house sitter.

A few weeks later, some other friends mentioned they were going away and weren't relishing the idea of their three dogs (and three cats) going into boarding. I suggested getting a house sitter - thinking I could connect them with the couple I'd met earlier.

Next minute, I was being asked if I would consider doing the job. “We know you, we trust you and most importantly, the dogs love you” was the rationale.

And so a couple of months later, I packed a bag - and Eddie - into the car and headed up the motorway to Limassol (Cyprus) for two weeks. I arrived to a fridge full of food and wine - and strict instructions to use everything up by the time they returned. A tour of the house, a demonstration of the feeding routine and early the next morning my friends were gone before I'd even got up.

The dogs had their own small van, so taking them to the beach or the forest was easy enough and my car was spared the mess that sixteen muddy paws can create. They found it a novelty to have me leading the walks instead of their "parents". Once or twice they tested the boundaries with head boy Santa slipping away and Kaine and Dotty sneaking after him. But when I turned the tables and hid from them, they soon realized they weren't that brave all alone and stuck to me like glue for the rest of our time together.

The cats were a lot easier to care for - the right food at the right time and the odd cuddle and they were content to carry on as if nothing had changed - just a different staff member on duty I guess.

Before I knew it, my friends had returned and it was time to go home. It had been a great experience for both Eddie and me. It made me appreciate that if my friends had been willing to allow Eddie to come to stay, then perhaps there might be other people who would do the same. I decided to start asking.

I could so easily have written off the whole idea. Said "No" to my dream myself. But instead I dared to go for it, knowing a certain amount of rejection lay ahead. I joined some house sitting sites, started applying, and while most people said “No” (some less kindly than others), eventually someone did say “Yes” and the rest, as they say, is history!

Nathalie Bouchard & Paul Boucher (from Canada/UK) https://oneflexi-life.com/ Our house sitting journey started while living in the United Arab Emirates. It was February 2018, and we were well into the second year of our work contracts.

Our UAE home was in the Dubai Marina area, a trendy part of Dubai, but unfortunately a no-go area for pets. We'd heard about TrustedHousesitters from friends, and were interested in joining the network, using it to experience living in other areas of our own country of residence, as well as giving us the opportunity to enjoy time with pets of all varieties.

We quickly picked up two local assignments and enjoyed the experience so completely that we decided to undertake a major shift in our lifestyle and align ourselves on, what we call "Oneflexilife" - a lifestyle that allows for better management of the life balance between family, work, travels, non-profit project contributions and more.

It was soon obvious to us that we could use the house sitting as a means to flip the work + life balance equation on its head. We decided to follow our passion for travel and discovery and

along the way, choose the work challenges we wished to face. On May 31, 2018, we completed our work contracts, closed the lease on our apartment and stepped away from our professional work lifestyle heading into the wild blue yonder.

One year into our new lifestyle, we have cared for twenty seven pets in nine house sits, visited four countries with over 83,000 kms of travel, developed two online businesses, and published over 20 travel stories on our blog site. As we are writing these lines, we are settled in Granada, Spain and have booked house sits across Spain and Portugal until September 30, 2019.

As a professional couple we had traveled quite extensively, but we always used organized tours and plush hotels and only got the tourist view of our destinations.

Using house sitting as a means to travel has taken us to amazing places. We've looked after homes in communities and areas that we previously would never have even known about, least of all thought of visiting.

By living in someone else's home as though it were your own, and being responsible for their property and pets, we get much more involved in the community, and we get to know the culture and the history of the places we visit.

The main challenges of a Nomadic lifestyle are around administration; getting the correct visas, appropriate health cover, forwarding snail mail, and making sure family and friends can reach us by phone or Skype, and finally that of keeping everything within our budget.

Between our online work, we love hiking, golfing, discovering new countries and cultures. This lifestyle we have chosen allows us to achieve the life balance we had been chasing for the longest time!

If you are at all hesitant about that leap of faith, don't be, this life is fulfilling, rewarding, and downright awesome.

Orla & Neil (from Ireland) https://www.allthewaysyouwander.com

Our journey started by looking at ways to maintain a nomadic lifestyle. We wanted to travel more and develop our new travel blog. As we researched the kind of remote work that was available online, we started finding more and more people mentioning house sitting as a lifestyle.

At home, we've always minded pets for family and friends and, because we love the outdoors, we really enjoy taking their dogs out for big walks, and they love us for that! Slowing down while traveling is something very appealing to us and house sitting seemed like a great way to live like a local and get off the beaten path. As we don't have pets of our own, it also gave us the added bonus of cuddling cute pets while on the road!

We read an article about alternative living which convinced us to sign up with the house sitting website Nomador and it didn't take long at all to find our first house sit in Portugal, back in November 2017.

Our very first experience was fantastic, looking after a cool cat and a happy, affectionate dog. It totally exceeded all our expectations and we had absolutely no problems at all. We have since returned regularly and have become really good friends with the home owners. Sadly their cat passed away last year of old age, but we still get the best welcome from their lovely dog each time we return. Every time we go to Portugal to house sit we always make sure to have a few nights either side to hang out and have a good time together.

Back home in Ireland, we have had the pleasure of minding a couple of cats in Cork and two lovely old fluffy dogs in Kerry. Cats and dogs are our preferred pets as we're certainly not

experienced with farm animals or horses (they sense our fear!).

Having said that, we don't mind fish or other small domestic pets. We've often seen amazing opportunities to live off-grid or to look after small farms. But, there's no way we'd ever pretend to be skilled in something we're not - that's definitely the biggest piece of advice we'd give in applying for house sits. It's a pretty serious commitment.

The pet and home owners are handing over a precious part of their life to you so you need to be 100% confident that you will and can take full responsibility for it. You absolutely need to be an animal lover because pets don't just get fed and walked. They need love, attention and genuine affection. You have to want to spend quality time with them.

We've been really lucky that none of the pets we've taken care of so far, have needed veterinary attention, but that's not to say we haven't cleaned up our fair share of bodily excretions! All part of the job!

Saying goodbye is probably the worst part of house sitting - we love the pets we mind so much that we miss them terribly when it's time to leave!

Miri Oravcova (from Slovakia) Instagram Link - Traveling_Alphabet House sitting is addictive! Once tried, you'll never stop!

Everything started for me one day in January 2018 when I decided to take a break from my managerial position to look for a way an alternative way to spend my next year. I'd promised myself I would dedicate this time to me and my daughter - we had been entirely neglected in that recent period.

So I Googled... and you know how it works. You start with recipes and finish with the YouTube videos of Justin Bieber's mom talking about her famous son.

In my search I found "house sitting", and was surprised how it combined all the things I loved and still do – travel, language, meeting new people, new cultures, local homes, different mentalities and the most crucial aspect... pets.

I checked almost all the portals, even the local ones, as some countries have their own local house sitting websites in the local language only. But the easiest to navigate and clear about what to do, was TrustedHousesitters, and I've just renewed my membership for the next year.

In the beginning, I read all the advice of masters of house sitting, and I also started as a humble house sitter. I applied to an ad in Budapest, Hungary, over Easter to take care of their fourlegged "son" - Loki, and I also decided to take my daughter (aged 8) along with me.

The owners provided no pictures, nothing to create an idea, so I didn't tell my mom! I think she would have worried about our safety in this big European city.

Of course, I asked the owners about taking my daughter as some homeowners aren't so keen on having children in their homes, and I respect that.

As it turned out, the house sit was lovely! Not sure, who was more scared, us doing it for the first time, or the dog – little Loki, that his "parents" decided to leave with us. But all of us

learned day-by-day, and after five days when it was time to say goodbye, all of us felt really super sad.

In 2018, I did 11 house sits, many repeated with the same homeowners because if you click (and mostly you do), the friendship endures for a long time. This year I have three already completed with a fourth to come in three weeks – finally in my home country of Slovakia.

I really recommend this way to connect together all the loves you have in your life. Don't be greedy in the beginning and don't target the world's most competitive house sitting cities - you probably will not be chosen. This can discourage you, as happened to me even after my 7th sit, when the owners didn't reply to my application - don't take it personally.

Build the career of house sitter step-by-step, review-by-review, and after a time you can call this passion a lifestyle as I do now. In my year of 14 house sits I visited countries all over Europe and Scandinavia, but also the United Arab Emirates. I'm already thinking where my next destination will be... time to refresh the house sitting offers!

Tara Marlow (from Australia) https://travelfarenough.com

We began traveling full time in 2017 and so then also began our life as house sitters. We heard about house sitting from a blogger friend who had learned of our plan to travel full time. Now, 17 sits later we have, thanks to her, saved over $7000. Maybe more.

Our first house sit was in the Southern Highlands, just south of Sydney, Australia. That sit was a great introduction to house sitting, with only plants to care for... along with the house, of course!

It was stressful though, not just because it was the first time we were taking care of a stranger's house, but also because the homeowner was the President of her Garden Club! But, we got a "gold star" because, when she returned home, she repeatedly said how happy she was. Phew!

House sitting isn't for everyone, but it's definitely something we love.

By living this life, not only do we save money, but we get to immerse ourselves in communities through slower travel. We love that we can connect with like-minded people and care for their animals as we travel the world.

We've looked after dogs and cats, of course, but we've also cared for goats, chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs. Dogs are without a doubt our favorite, but goats are fun (tip: they love weetabix!), and we love the fresh laid eggs we get when chickens are present at our house sits.

We were humbled to be nominated as House Sitters of the Year (2018) with our chosen house sitting service, from a homeowner in Chicago. There, we looked after a rescued Australian Shepherd who'd been the Mumma dog in a puppy mill. She'd been rescued only two years

prior. She took a lot of love and attention and of all our sits, she is the one that captured my heart completely. I bawled (cried copiously) when I left.

There have been others animals I am still attached to. Like the one I get emails from periodically, a (rescued) greyhound whom I also fell in love with (in Victoria, Australia). I love it when those emails arrive.

Out of all our house sits, we've only had two that didn't go as expected and that was due to a lack of information upon starting the sit. There are some home owners who don't invest in doing the research or providing clear instructions, but rather are simply looking for a body to be in the house and feed their pets.

One lesson we've learned when scoping out potential sits: Never agree until you are clear on expectations and instructions. The other thing we've learned is communication is key - keep communicating. Make a connection with the homeowner. You may find that makes a difference in the house sit and you may find, like we have, some life-long friends as well.

Kristin Tocci (from the USA) Link to House Sitting Profile I got into house sitting after doing a lot of paid dog sitting through Rover in Seattle. I started out by taking my pup to be cared for in someone else's home when I travelled. But when my pup passed away I soon became an in-home pet sitter myself, and found that spending time with others people pets was a gift.

I'm an avid traveler and when I found out about TrustedHousesitters, I thought it was a great way to see some of the world and explore new places and cultures, while getting to spend time with new adorable furry loved ones!

In-between my transition from living abroad in Ireland, to moving back home to the US, I decided to spend a few months travelling and exploring Europe. Pet sitting allowed me to spend my summer in three different places in Europe, with 4 pups in total!

I was lucky that I had one local house sit I could complete while still in Cork, but it was still fairly challenging to get my pet sits lined up with only one review, even though I did have lots of offsite references through Rover. I do feel this local sit review is what helped make it possible for me.

So sometimes getting that first house sit done locally can make a difference to new house sitters who are competing against others who have completed many sits already. I'd also suggest sending A LOT of applications. Be prepared to spend a good amount of time doing this, and make sure to track the ones you have applied for. Expect not to get a response on the majority of your applications. In a perfect world, yes, it would be nice to get a response, but unfortunately it just isn't feasible for every homeowner sifting through applications, to do this.

If you persevere however, it will be worth it!

Of the 4 unpaid house sits I have done through TrustedHousesitters, while all enjoyable, some have been more challenging than others. I've found that the ones that were more challenging, probably would have been less so if there was more clear and deliberate communication between myself and the homeowners BEFORE the house sit.

The more questions you can ask beforehand, and the more "what if" scenarios you can imagine, the better the house sit will be for everyone! However, even with the challenges, I still really enjoyed doing these sits and cannot wait to do one again.

Caring for someone's furry loved ones while their owners are away is an incredibly rewarding experience and I really enjoyed my summer. I fell in love with some pups who I miss very much, met some great people along the way, and spent time really getting to know the places I visited.

Now that I have returned back to the US I will continue to do paid pet sitting nearer to home, but will also hope to do at least one to two house sits abroad each year in Europe - hoping to get to Switzerland soon! Thank you to all the homeowners who have trusted me with their furry loved ones, and to all the homeowners and house sitters out there that make this whole sort of thing possible.

Knowing someone is caring for your home and your pets as if they were your own while you are away, is priceless. Spending time exploring new places and cultures, while getting to "borrow" someone else's furry loved ones, is also priceless! Slainte!

YOUR "TRUST" UNDER OBSERVATION

by Lamia Walker, Founder of HouseSitMatch

What do we mean by the word "trust"?

And why does it matter so much online and especially in house sitting?

As a house sitting platform owner I feel bound to facilitate the growth of trust bonds between matched pairs online. Once those initial links are formed, it's up to both homeowner and house sitter to build on that trust, to communicate and make the best relationship they can.

Since launching HousesitMatch it has become clear that it's not only homeowners who worry about trust. First time house sitters regularly ask for advice about homeowner expectations.

In fact, house sitters in general need reassurance, especially if they are paying for travel to get to a new property, possibly in a different country. They want to know that the homeowner wont bale on them at the last minute resulting in non-refundable travel costs and nowhere to stay.

Clearly there is concern on both sides.

Keeping it real with house sitting Personal experience - One way we try to stay in touch and to understand how it feels on both sides, is by house sitting ourselves and inviting house sitters into our homes. It allows us to deconstruct our own concerns, and build support mechanisms for all.

It helps us understand how, as a platform, we can engender trust and confidence early in a relationship and find new ways to eliminate most fears.

Why do we find some people trustworthy instantly, and others not?

Is it because they come recommended by someone we know well and whom we already trust?

Or is it because we believe the paper work that they show us to demonstrate they have relevant experience?

Hearing it from our active members We know you can build trust in relationships because you tell us. We see that over time with greater experience and more reviews, with good profile descriptions giving supporting information and perhaps accreditation, you can show that you have relevance and reliability. All help to engender trust.

We know that you can also earn people’s trust As a house sitting network owner, I think about this all the time. I believe it is our duty to help build trust between collaborative members of our platform. But how and why do we do that?

It is a complex puzzle but there are things we can do to help you get started.

MEANING & INTERPRETATION OF TRUST First comes the meaning we reflect in the word "trust", and then the interpretation.

It's plain that in any house sitting arrangement there is an inbuilt level of trust required. As a home and pet owner walks away from their property for any length of time, leaving you in charge of their most precious possessions, they are trusting you to care.

How did you secure sufficient trust to show them that you are able and that they can have confidence in you to mind their property and their beloved animals?

PAID HOUSE & PET SITTING If you have a professional standing as a house and pet sitter, or maybe even a small pet sitting business, it goes without saying that you are dependent on every last professional performance as a sitter. You would not jeopardize future business through errant or sloppy behavior.

References and doing a good job - So you do a great job every time, you get paid for it and the client is happy. More importantly the client is willing to give you a reference saying you did a good job.

Professional qualifications - You may have worked for professional certification e.g. attesting to your knowledge, animal husbandry, pet first aid or dog handling experience.

Insurance - you may have professional liability insurance, something that's only possible in most countries, when you have an associated business.

Background checks - You may have secured a national police background check to show a new client that you are deemed trustworthy by the state authorities with no previous felonies or convictions.

FREE HOUSE SITTING BASED ON TRUST As a house sitter who does not receive payment for your services, building trust early on in your house sitting lifestyle is essential. Because you exchange your time and experience for free accommodation as many of us do, house sitting enables you to travel on a fixed budget.

But why should a complete stranger on the other side of the world place all their worldly goods and their pets in your care?

To allay their fears you need to do all you can to inspire confidence through your online profile and references.

Show that you are responsible, that this is important to you. A video on your profile helps to give an open impression of who you are. Help them see that you are someone who can be relied upon and whom other people respect.

How do you do this in unpaid house sitting?

Join a reputable house sitting platform - it goes without saying that we believe in the facilitation of house sitting through an established and reputable platform that offers support and guidance if needed.

Go through the ID checks – Take courage and heart when faced with an online ID check. This is important because while you are asked to share passport and photo ID details it verifies you as a collaborative member of the network, who is willing to be identified. HouseSitMatch offers a free ID check through our strategic partner Hooyu - they keep your documentation for no more than 2 weeks.

Your identity is still veiled on the site as we ask you to present a Username, however, we have verified you as a real person and that shows on your profile. It is also worth noting that we ask all our members, sitters and owners to go through this process for the same reasons.

Secure and up-to-date Background check – Ideally before you start house sitting make sure you secure an up-to-date background check to present to either your house sitting platform or your homeowner.

If you are interested in traveling to a new country by house sitting this will show that you have taken the time and trouble to present your good name to the community. HouseSitMatch has an option for you to request a background check online, while you are on the road if you need to.

Prepare for house sitting and overseas travel by getting your background check - We currently use Verifile as our strategic partner for background checking. Once you have shared your up to date background check with us or have gone through the Verifile check online Housesitmatch will display a "checked" mark on your profile. This inspires confidence and helps to build trust in your profile.

Fast and responsive communications – We cannot stress this enough to both house sitters and homeowners. Responsive communications mean that your dialogue is stronger, you are seen as more reliable and collaborative. Check regularly for messages even if you don’t see email alerts.

House sitting agreements – when we first introduced legal templates for house sitting agreements prepared by lawyers for our members, it caused some debate in the community, about the formality forced on a house sitting arrangement. Now, however, we see many house sitters and homeowners insisting on a document that records essential terms of the verbal agreement. We believe it helps to manage expectations on both sides.

References and qualifications - as with paid house and pet sitting, references play a big part in validating trust. As will any additional pet care and handling qualifications that you may have taken to further your standing as a professional sitter.

COMMON OR SHARED VALUES If you analyze your friendships in life you can see that some endure from childhood to adulthood. Others become strong bonds in formative years perhaps at college or in a first job.

And then there are those bonds that become real with people you meet with whom who share common values.

This might transpire in the communications that pass between you, you may hit upon a similar sense of humour, respect and passion for animal welfare and so on.

Skype or Facebook Messenger make communications easy.

Regular communications between homeowners and house sitters before, during or after a house sit will help establish an understanding of shared values in house sitting. Our advice is keep the communications channels open at all times.

Agree what that looks like to help you manage expectations.

Some homeowners like to hear from sitters while they are away, and see photos of the pets.

Others are happy with an occasional note to reassure them that all is well. Agree what works between you.

BUILDING TRUST IN THE COMMUNITY The last element in the house sitting trust lexicon is the trust in the brand you work with. What does that brand represent and how will the community benefit?

As a relative newcomer to the house sitting world, we wanted to establish ourselves through our reputation for good service. So, we share our client stories via Trustpilot - they authenticate our client reviews and share our client stories online.

We hope that more homeowners and house sitters will feel the same way about working with HouseSitMatch as a trusted brand in the community. We aim to build a safer well trusted network enabling more affordable travel for all.

INVERNESS, SCOTLAND THINGS TO DO FOR HUMANS & DOGS

by Alyson Keeler

For the humans Inverness really has got a lot to offer anyone traveling or house sitting in this Scottish city.

Discover its flourishing culinary scene, explore the Victorian Market or Eastgate Shopping Centre, or visit the many different art exhibitions in the city's gallery spaces.

There's plenty of history to delve into as well. Visit Inverness Castle and St Andrew's Cathedral before strolling along the banks of the River Ness. If the weather is good, cross the suspension bridge for some peace and relaxation on the islands.

More historical treasures can be found at the Bronze Age Clava Cairms, or Culloden Battlefield.

If you want some sea air, then Nairn is a pretty Victorian seaside resort, or for a tipple, take a tour of one of the nearby distilleries to see whisky in the making!

Inverness isn't far from Loch Ness which contains the largest volume of freshwater in the British Isles. It's located to the south of Inverness and once there you can take a loch cruise - keep an eye out of Nessy (the famous loch monster) - or explore the famous ruins of Urguhart Castle on the banks of the lake.

If you head to Moray Firth or Chanonry Point you might also see the resident pod of dolphins!

For the dogs I was house sitting in a residential area called Drakies, which adjoins the golf club, fairly close to the city. I had a car so was able to go further afield than just walking out from the house. The Cavapoo I was looking after traveled well and had his own seat-belt harness for the car.

1. Tow paths - The obvious start is the tow path along the canals. Up one side and back down the other. The bridges are spaced well so that they are neither too far or too short apart. You can walk right out to the breakwater in the Moray Firth.

2. Inshes District Park on Sir Walter Scott Drive is a great place to let dogs off the leash to chase a ball. The park has just been doubled in size, with a new area on the other side of Stevenson Road. (picture on next page)

3. Ord Hill - You'll find Ord Hill on the north side of the Moray Firth across the bridge and just off the A9. From the car park there are many well marked trails to explore which are also good for off leash walking.

4. Chanonry Point - This is the popular dolphin watching area with a totally inadequate car park. BIG TIP..... either park at the Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Club or go right into Rosemarkie town and park there. It’s a great walk along the beach back to see the dolphins, or there is a shuttle bus from the town.

5. Cromarty sits between the Moray and Cromarty Firths. The town itself is worth a look and then head out north towards the Sutors of Cromarty if you feel like a long hilly walk. There's a coffee shop at the car ferry entry point where you can have a chat with the Aussie owner.... tell him I sent you!

6. Nairn is a beach north of Inverness, out past the airport, that has a great off the leash type of beach to the north of the marina and town. There is another beach to the south of the marina which has a nice walking path and a coffee shop.

7. Dores Beach is a rocky beach at the northern end of Loch Ness. If you walk along behind the beach you will find a big forest with a great path along the side of the loch back towards Inverness. (picture on next page) 8. Culloden Battlefield - While you can't take dogs into the museum, the battlefield itself is OK for dogs on leads. There is also a long walk of about 8km which goes outside the enclosed area and is well marked. There are maps on most of the gates.

Ali Keeler and husband Denis were both born in the UK and traveled to Australia as small children in the 50s as "Ten Pound Poms". They identify as Australian, but embrace the fact that they can have dual citizenship with two passports.

They have enjoyed house sitting in the UK as that is where they can work as well. The rest of the world is on the bucket list and they look forward to resuming their house sitting journey soon when they have sold their B&B on the Sunshine Coast in Oz.

CAMPING WITH YOUR DOG

by Judy Robinson

Dogs are indeed an important part of the family. And although house sitting provides a perfect solution for keeping your pets cared for at home without any change to their environment or routines, sometimes a vacation just wouldn't be complete without your furry family companion.

So while your dog may not always be able to accompany you on every vacation (such as those overseas trips), camping in your home country, is one vacation that he most certainly can enjoy, just as much as the rest of his human family!

It's important to realize that dogs do have certain needs, separate and distinct from our own.

This is precisely why one has to make sure both humans and four-legged campers, have an amazing time by following some simple tips.

This will ensure that everyone, including the pets, come back refreshed and rejuvenated from that long-overdue camping trip.

Research dog friendly campsites and know the countryside rules This is pretty much the very first thing that you should do. Find a campsite that is pet-friendly.

Luckily for you and your pet (or pets as the case may be), this won't be too much of an issue.

Many campsites allow and even encourage campers to bring their canine friends along.

However, if there aren't any pet-friendly camping grounds about, try heading into the countryside for some pioneer type wild camping. Make sure that you are livestock aware, and don't let your dog off the leash anywhere around farm animals. This could result in dire consequences. Ensure too that you are fully aware of any wild camping restrictions, particular to where you are.

Also make sure you know any specific rules for walking or camping with your dogs. Different countries, and different types of environment and public land/walkways can have different regulations - make sure you know what these are. Find out as well what the local dog walking etiquette is. Are dogs to be kept leashed for instance? And of course, be responsible - if you're dog isn't socialized for instance around other people and dogs, you may have problems on camp sites or on popular walks.

Book a pre-trip vet checkup Once you've decided on your campsite or planned your route, it's a really good idea to take your pooch for his mandatory pre-trip vet visit. Why mandatory? Because it is imperative that you make absolutely certain that your furry friend is safe and healthy enough at the very least for the duration of the trip. This is going to be important for not just him, but you as well.

Dogs are unwilling hosts to many external parasites and that is why their flea and tick treatments have to be up to date as well.

The problem can get terrible and even spoil your trip if the parasites change their hosts and infect you and your family members. Their bites can cause a nasty infection in dogs and humans alike and the last thing that you might want is for you to be in close quarters with a flea infected dog, especially if it rains and all of you guys, end up living in the same tent.

Remember that just like with humans, different species of ticks and their bites can cause longterm health problems in our canine companions too.

Check your dog's documentation Once your vet has given your dog a (proverbial) "clean bill of health", it's time to check all his documents are in order.

Make sure your pooch has an up-to-date license along with his ID tags (according to the country's regulations). You should also take with copies of all papers that verify his current vaccination status (at the time of the camping trip). All of this could vary depending on the country you are camping in, so check the local requirements as part of your camping research!

Put together a pet specific first-aid kit With the red tape over and done with, the next thing you'll need is a pet specific (dog) first-aid kit. While they are easily available in many pet supply shops, you can also go right ahead and assemble one yourself.

It's pertinent to note that while medicines and equipment may well overlap with your own first aid kit (surely you've not forgotten to pack yours!), it is just as important to have a pet specific first-aid kit. Make sure you know how to deal with any emergency that may inadvertently arise, such as choking for instance.

Don't forget the poop bags!

Unfortunately, many prospective campers fail to pack their poop bags when planning for extended camping trips.

The same clean-up routines should apply in the countryside or wilderness as apply when you walk your dog closer to home. Make sure you always clean up their poop! Not only will it keep the environment clean for all concerned, but at the same time, it will help make sure that you don't attract unwanted animal visitors at night.

Respect wildlife and livestock Give wild animals and livestock space. Don't let your dog chase or stress other animals. In the UK you will often see signs instructing you to put a leash on your dog, to protect livestock grazing on public rights of way. Farmers have been known to shoot dogs that stress their

animals. When house sitting, always ask the home owners if the dogs are trained around sheep especially in the UK, as many public paths will pass through fields and pastures.

Pack plenty of fresh water and feeding bowls Make sure that the food and water bowls you pack can easily and safely be carried for long distances when you go hiking along a rugged trail. It's a good idea to spend money and buy lightweight collapsible bowls and food containers so you can feed your dog easily when he gets hungry or thirsty.

But, remember to clean-up food crumbs or spilt kibble. If you took it in, you can take it out… or dispose of in recommended campsite refuse bins.

Pack a leash, tether and take a stake This is something that you should do regardless of how well trained your dog is running loose without a leash. A tether, a leash, and a stake can sure come in handy if you end up at a campsite where the policy is to have dogs on leashes only.

Even if your dog is obedient and good at walking and recall off leash, it's still a good idea to carry a portable leash in your pocket. Just in case you want to go into the wilderness or countryside where you might encounter wild animals or livestock.

In conclusion It's easy to see that certain precautions should be taken when you go camping or even on long hikes with your dog(s). These simple preparations will help ensure that both you and your pets have a great time during the trip, avoiding any unnecessary mishaps.

Have fun!

Judy Robinson is a passionate health and lifestyle blogger. She loves to write on healthy lifestyle, travel, fitness 101 and DIY related topics.

Follow https://www.instagram.com/judyrobinson/ for more updates.

HOUSE SITTING ON THE ISLAND OF BEQUIA St Vincent & The Grenadines

by Yvonne Bauche

Ease of getting to Bequia Bequia is neither cheap nor easy to get to, which is why it remains relatively unspoiled by mass tourism. The least expensive way (around US$ 95 one way) is to arrive is via LIAT airline either from Barbados or St. Lucia (both of which are served by international airlines).

Once you've cleared immigration and customs, it is a 40 minute taxi ride to the ferry terminal in Kingstown where there is a regular ferry service to the islands.

The ferry crossing takes one hour and costs EC $25 (less than US $ 10 one way). As an alternative you can fly direct to Bequia from Barbados with SVG air at a hefty US $ 240 one way.

Cost of living Like most of the Caribbean islands, eating out or buying imported goods is going to cost you.

However local produce is reasonable. Fresh fish is available straight form the fisherman and in season, live lobster goes for only (Eastern Caribbean Dollar) EC 10 per pound. Local beer and soft drinks are around EC 80 and EC 40 for a case of 24 (prices as of 2018). If you’re a rum drinker you’ll be in heaven - it’s cheap and plentiful.

Bequia itself only has one reasonably sized supermarket called "Knights", which is situated in the harbour. They carry a wide range of dried and canned goods, with a limited produce and meat selection.

For something a little fancy just around the corner, you'll find "Doris" who caters to the charter yachts and bare boaters. Whether its stuffed olives, sliced almonds or French cheese, Doris will have it, but expect to pay 3 or 4 times what you would expect to pay back home.

Best thing to do is to take a trip by ferry to Kingstown and go to "Masseys" (close to the ferry terminal) or "Graves" on Front Street and stock up there. Graves will even box up your order and put it on the return ferry for you.

Anything that is imported is going to cost more, therefore the list of things to bring with you is long. Personally we bring our own toiletries such as deodorant, face cream etc. We also bring coffee, quinoa and tea (I like my UK brands).

Getting around Bequia Driving is on the left side of the road, although a lot of tourists and locals haven’t got a good handle on that and drive in the middle. Roads are narrow, often with steep open drainage gutters running right alongside. So drive with caution and be aware that the "game of chicken" is a full blown sport here.

Public transport is in the form of "dollar buses", which cost just a few EC depending on the distance traveled. They service most of the island but with some exceptions. Passengers are packed in tight, blasted with the driver’s favorite tunes and subjected to a fast ride with sudden stops. Fun, but not for the faint of heart.

Medical care There is a hospital/clinic in the harbor. There's also a French Doctor who has a clinic and art gallery combined, right by the water’s edge on the Belmont Walkway.

Vets & pet care There are no resident vets on the island, so you need to be prepared to deal with any emergency yourselves. Dr Audain comes in usually once a week and Dr Boyle comes only when he has enough patients lined up to keep him busy. Both vets maintain a small office on the island where basic supplies can be purchased. This is also where medications can be collected after being sent over from Kingstown in St Vincent.

Pets are not considered important by the locals (although that is slowly starting to change). Unneutered dogs and cats abound, mange is commonly present, and in many cases the loss of hair and open sores caused by this goes disease goes untreated.

The Bequia Animal Protection Alliance started up last year and have so far carried out 4 or 5 spay and neuter clinics around the island and have more scheduled. BAPA is also helping pay medical costs for injured dogs and abandoned pups. However the demand for foster homes is outstripping supply.

Climate & weather Bequia is hot and sunny often (depending on which part of the island) with great sea breezes.

June to November is hurricane season in the Caribbean.

However Bequia is far enough south that we have watched many a storm head north and pass us by with little impact, including Maria and Irma in 2017.

Things to do Walk along the Belmont Walkway, enjoy a coffee or ice cream at the Gingerbread café and then head to the end of the beach and over the hillock to Princess Margaret Beach, it’s our favorite on the island. You can snorkel at the far end of the beach and grab a rum punch or a cold drink from one of the beach vendors afterwards.

Bequia is also famous for its walking trails, although a guide is helpful, as trails quickly become overgrown and are not readily identifiable.

For general exercise, there are no gyms, however, there are long walks on the beach, lots of swimming, and good hiking. But watch out for the Brazil which grows all over the island and will cause break outs similar to poison ivy. In high season there are regular yoga classes in Lower Bay, but not in the summer months.

Scuba Diving with Dive Bequia is a must, especially the wreck out by "The Devil's Table", and they do snorkeling trips as well. Rent a private yacht charter to explore the Grenadine islands, or in season sign up for a day out on the "Friendship Rose". This beautiful schooner goes to the Tobago Cays and Mustique Island weekly in season.

Cost of eating out A Dalpri (fried dough stuffed with spicy lentil and potatoes) from Susie's is only EC 4,but by contrast a three course meal at Fernando’s Hideaway will cost you EC 75. Saturday night BBQ at Keegan's in Lower Bay will cost around EC 25 for a local style plate, but the prices skyrocket from there.

Overall impression Bequia is the Caribbean of 25 years ago; it has retained its charm and its simplicity. The people are friendly, crime is low and it feels safe to walk around both day and night. Single ladies may get "hit on" or chatted up by the locals, but they can easily be deterred.

Score out of 10 as a house sitting destination A solid 10! We are here for our 5th summer and already committed to returning next year.

For the past 5 years Yvonne & Michael have been house sitting homes in Europe, Central & South America, and the Caribbean.

Too young to collect pensions, they supplement their travels through writing, and books and photography sales. Their mission is to show others how they too can follow their dreams, retire or travel overseas and "live large" on a shoestring Find out more at: http://NomadicRetirementLiving.com/

SEEING THE BIGGER PICTURE

by Ian Usher

House sitters - how many times have you looked at a house sit job listing and realised that you are only seeing a small part of the images of the house and pets?

Home owners - have you ever spotted a profile where you only see the top of the head of the sitter, or the front of their shirt?

Anyone - have you ever been frustrated on a slow internet connection when a website takes forever to load, the pictures appearing slllooooowwwlllyy line-by-line?

It's said that a picture is worth a thousand words. In house sitting, pictures are everything.

Have you ever applied for a sit that shows no pictures at all on the listing? Or would you?

TIP FOR HOUSE SITTERS: Think twice before applying if there are no pictures! There may be some nasty surprises ahead. Or ask the home owner to send you some pictures by email - some people don't post because of security fears.

TIP FOR HOME OWNERS: Get your images ready before you list your assignment. Provide a good selection of both pet and home pictures.

On both sides of the house sitting application images are a vital part of the process. As a home owner you want to showcase your pets and home in the best possible light. This way you will get more applications, giving you more choice in who you select to look after your valued pets and home.

As a sitter applying for sits you also need great pictures. A home owner wants to be confident that you are responsible, reliable, good with animals, and of course, trustworthy. A lot of this will come through in your written profile, but still we all like to "see" who we are dealing with.

So what's going wrong when pictures don't display as you expect on a website?

With so many different devices now capable of capturing digital images - cameras, phones, tablets, computers - there are so many possibilities in terms of size, shape, file type and more.

Let's take a look at some of the basics

1) Picture orientation Pictures are usually taken in either portrait mode (tall and narrow, like a portrait picture) or landscape mode (shorter and wider, like a computer monitor)

2) Image resolution Digital images are usually measured in pixels - the more pixels used the better the image resolution. This can be expressed in a couple of ways.

You may see the size of an image shown as 4000px by 3000px. This means that the image is 4000 pixels wide, and 3000 pixels high (landscape). Standard protocol suggests width measurement is given first, followed by height. 3000px by 4000px would be a portrait mode picture.

Another way the resolution of the image can be expressed is in megapixels. MP is simply the total number of pixels used to create the image. In our example of a 4000px by 3000px image, multipying 4000 by 3000 gives us 12,000,000 (12 million), which means we have a 12MP image.

You will often see mobile phone details advertising perhaps a 2MP front camera and a 5MP rear camera.

3) Aspect ratio The aspect ratio of a picture gives a measurement of the relationship between the width and height of the image. Our example image above, at 4000px by 3000px, has an aspect ratio of 4:3.

Similarly, a picture of 800px by 600px also has an aspect ratio of 4:3. An image of 1600px by 900px has an aspect ratio of 16:9, as does an image of 800px by 450px.

See the graphic below for an idea of the bewildering range of image (or video, or computer monitor) sizes and aspect ratios.

4) File size The phone mentioned above will perhaps produce a picture 1600px by 1200px with the front camera, and 2952px by 2214px with the better quality rear camera.

The number of pixels used has a direct impact on the size of the file created. Less pixels makes a smaller file, all other things being equal. File size for images is usually measured in megabytes (Mb). The front camera might produce an image with a file size of 1Mb, the image from the rear camera might be 3Mb. Higher resolution, larger file size images are great if you want to print them out as photos, or want to display them on a large monitor in high definition, but if you want to post them on the internet, or use them for your profile, these images will be far too big!

Bigger images take longer to upload, then take longer to display when anyone browses the website where these monster images are hosted. On a phone, or a slow internet connection this can be very frustrating. And in some cases a website may only display a very small part of the image.

Some websites, Facebook for example, will reduce your pix as you upload them, so that they display well in your Facebook feed. If you download one of your pictures from Facebook you will notice it is only 960px wide, no matter what size image you uploaded.

But not all websites will help you out in this way. So you need to reduce your image size yourself before you upload them. Otherwise you might not be seeing to full picture.

In the video below I show you EXACTLY how to do this with a great, FREE online tool. I hope it helps you improve your images, and your online presence.

You'll also discover why you should check and edit ANY picture you upload online because of a major security issue that affects all house sitters.

Make sure people are seeing the bigger picture when you upload your images online. Maybe Justin Beiber's photo shoot for his "My World" album cover actually looked something like this:

Image below copyright aptitude.co.uk See here for more bigger-picture album covers: https://www.aptitude.co.uk/blog/album-covers/

GET ON TRACK FOR 2019 Ask yourself a few simple questions

by Lori Fowler

“Even more than doers, we are deciders. Once our decision is clear, the doing becomes effortless.” Ralph H. Blum One recent January morning at our current house sit in the UK, my husband Shaun and I were cradling our mugs of coffee and discussing where to go after our next house sitting gig is over.

Sound familiar?

We darted like squirrels between this destination and that one. We researched visa requirements. Checked flight costs. Looked up house sits and Airbnbs. And considered the overall timing to make sure we don’t—heaven forbid—end up in a cold climate next winter.

First it was Spain. Yes, Spain is close and, mmmm, tapas. Right, all decided.

But then the next day we settled on Malaysia. Tickets are cheap right now, and we could do with some medical checkups. The next day it was Tanzania, our yearly pilgrimage to the place that is as close to a home as we’ve got. We’ll likely travel to all three places this year, but we were still undecided where to go first.

I needed clarity, so it was time to try this simple reflection exercise.

It can guide you to discover what you really want, based on the things that happened in your life the previous year.

And the beginning of the year is a perfect time to do this.

You can apply it to your career, health and fitness, relationships, or finances. Apply it to everything at once, or break it out. Share it with your partner and see what you may have forgotten. While it’s easy to remember the ugly stuff—and it was ugly for many people last year—we often forget the good things that happened.

I applied it specifically to travel, house sitting and working from the road.

Grab a beverage and a piece of paper and jot down your answers along with me. Here’s what I came up with to get you started.

What was challenging in 2018?

I created quite a laundry list, surprise surprise. I won’t bore you with the entire messy inventory, but here are a few examples:

   

We were down to one income; in our first year of travel we had two.

I was trying to set up a business from the road and grappled with a severe lack of focus.

We spent more money than we should have on flights, ground travel, and Airbnb accommodation.

We were spending the winter in a cold climate. I know, boo-hoo.

What were the disappointments or losses?    

I didn’t secure a new job contract.

I lost a year of income researching, taking courses, and detouring away from my original business direction.

I was too preoccupied to make the most of our time in Croatia and Albania.

Someone stole Shaun’s checked bag en route from Kuala Lumpur to Tanzania. It was uninsured, and after countless calls and emails between Tanzania and Mauritius, we gave up trying to get any compensation.

Now for the good stuff.

What were the successes and accomplishments of 2018? What can I celebrate?      

We enjoyed 4 longer-term pet sitting assignments in quaint English villages with access to gorgeous walking trails, met lovely owners and their pets, and received good reviews.

We clocked extra time with our eldest daughter and her husband who live there, and our younger daughter came over to visit.

I decided on my business direction and finished my website. I even added to my blog.

Shaun’s remote job continued to give us a steady income.

We spent a few months with extended family and friends in Tanzania, and in Canada.

We spent time in six countries altogether; three of which we had never visited.

What did I learn?

This was our first year securing sits, and we discovered we’re well suited to it. In England sits are plentiful so we could be choosy, and it was a great way to clock time with our daughter. We saw many parts of England that were new to us, and we fell completely in love with the English countryside. Even the weather behaved.

I also realized I want to balance my desire for a constant change of scenery with routine and stability. Staying in one location for a few months at a time is our ideal. We’ll continue to apply for house sits that are at least one month long, and failing that, I learned that I need to be a better negotiator with Airbnb hosts.

Oh, and I learned to make sure our travel insurance covers baggage loss, and to use my fullmeal-deal credit card for every flight booking. But it forced us to lighten our load even more, and Shaun found it quite freeing to have only two shirts, one pair of shorts and one pair of pants. Me, not so much.

Now, do a little happy dance around the kitchen, draw the curtains on 2018 and let it go.

What do I want more of in 2019?

Here’s my list:      

Travel (um, yeah) More quality, long-term pet sit opportunities, in and outside the UK Career momentum and sustainable income Family time Longer stays in one place Winter in a warm climate

So did we decide on where to go next?

Well, we’re definitely closer. Because we decided that sustainable income - aka money - is important to consider this year, we’ll help the equation by spending less on flights. For now,

we’ll opt for destinations that are a short, cheap flight away instead of the expensive long-haul options.

And after reflecting on the challenges and successes of 2018, I have a feeling that for many years I’ll want much the same every year: slow travel, great house sits, sustainable remote work, and the chance to see family along the way.

I love this lifestyle.

Lori and her husband Shaun sold up everything - for the second time - and are now in their third year of full-time travel, working remotely.

When she’s not busy cat wrangling and Labrador wrestling, Lori is a freelance writer and copy editor. You can find out more about her at lorisloanfowler.com or read their sitter profile on TrustedHousesitters.

TOP 5 THINKING TRAPS Are any of these holding you back?

by Jenny Lincoln

Do you want to kick-start your house sitting career but keep side-stepping those first few steps?

Maybe you're ready for a total sea-change but you're concerned your age or single status will be a disadvantage? Perhaps you've had a bad experience and feel tainted by your choices?

In your heart you know adventure is calling, but something is stopping or blocking you from moving forward. You can't seem to put your finger on it!

Chances are ... you've got yourself tangled up in a "Thinking Trap".

They tend to pop you on the "path of procrastination" and before you know it you've justified your way out of the very thing you are yearning to do!

Here are the top 5 offenders Which ones are messing with your plans?

1. Intrusive thoughts from your "Inner Critic" 2. Taking things personally 3. Discounting yourself 4. Making assumptions 5. Watching the reruns of your mind

Intrusive thoughts from your "Inner Critic" Too often we tune into the words of our Inner Critic. Thoughts like ... "That was a silly thing to do", "Can't you just keep your mouth shut", "I should have done a better job". This sort of language impacts our level of confidence, capability and productivity. So it's important to be able to "speak" the words you need to hear!

We all have a choice to be our own Inner Coach or Critic. This is especially the case with self-talk and mind chatter.

As COACH you move yourself into a GROWTH MINDSET. This empowers you and it is much easier to find your natural rhythm to take flight. When you play the CRITIC you dis-empower yourself and move into a DEFENSIVE MINDSET. Here you will spend more time and energy justifying and resisting.

Which mindset will get you feeling better and help you achieve more, and which will generate doubt, leading you down the "path of procrastination"? I think you know!

Do this one thing: Tune into your self-talk. Identify one area where your Inner Critic is giving you a hard time. Now look at yourself with "soft eyes". What would your Inner Coach say to yourself instead? Write it on a post it note or for a more visual reminder, create a quick image on your phone using an app like Wordswag. Refer to it whenever you catch your Inner Critic wanting to chime in.

Taking things personally There are times too when we take people's words and actions (or in-actions) to heart when in actual fact they have nothing to do with us! One of my favourite sayings is ...

"The words people say, say more about them than you!"

Think about the times you have shared your travel dreams or remote income ideas with someone. What have the responses been...

"Are you sure you'll be safe", "Have you thought it through properly?", "Aren't you taking a risk", "What about responsibilities to your family?".

These sorts of comments drown your dreams.

They are all fear based and reflect the other person's values and beliefs, NOT YOURS!

When people offer their thoughts on these matters, they are often projecting their own priorities and concerns. So it's really important to KNOW what is most important for you. If the time is right for you to pack up and go, don't let other people’s worries tether you!

Let's look at another scenario...

You've just finished a deep clean at your house sit and it's looking spic and span, better than when you arrived. Every surface is sparkling and tidy. The homeowners arrive home tired - it's been a long trip home. They explode into the house and in a matter of minutes there are dirty footprints all over the floor, suitcases are spilled onto your clean surfaces, the wife heads straight to the shower with hardly a hello, and the husband heads outside to check the pool or garden with the pups.

How do you feel?

It is tempting to think... "They don't appreciate what I've done", or "why isn't the wife talking to me".

We take these actions or in-actions personally, when really they are simply the result of the situation at hand. 20+ hours traveling door-to-door is tiring and some people just don't handle it well. Pleasantries can go out the window, but it hasn't got anything to do with you!

Do this one thing: Take responsibility for your own thoughts and feelings, not the thoughts and feelings of others! And remember... resist the urge to take it on!

Discounting ourselves Selling yourself short, underestimating your own abilities or thinking you're not good enough, are very easy things to do. Especially when you are stepping out in a new area with lots of unknowns ahead.

Fear and doubt creep into your thinking and before you know it you are discounting yourself all over the place. It may not be in obvious ways. This "thinking trap" can be a sneaky one! It loves a variety of camouflage tactics like:    

Age - I'm too old to start skiing, or people think I'm too young to take my responsibilities seriously.

Gender and / or relationship status - Being a single female makes it more difficult to get house sits.

Language barriers - I won’t be able communicate properly with trades people therefore a mistake may be made.

Technical abilities - I'm hopeless with technology so it's easier to stay local and besides, I don't want to get hit with a big expensive phone bill from data roaming.

This "thinking trap" can also hide itself behind the belief or need that you need to put other people first, through responsibility and obligation. A very effective way of keeping yourself safe and sound in your comfort zone!

Do this one thing: If you find you are discounting yourself on a regular basis, start a new daily habit. Write down 10 to 20 reasons "why you love being you". Do this every day for a week, then read it aloud. It will boost your confidence and help you realize all the fabulous things you bring to this world. Knowing these things will open you up to greater receiving and you will lose the desire to discount yourself.

Making assumptions Making assumptions is an easy trap to fall into. The mind loves solving problems and puzzles ... it likes to fill in the gaps when we don't have all the information. This often leads you to a false sense of thinking you know everything you need.

Most house sitters have a checklist or questionnaire they run through to ensure they cover all the various scenarios they might encounter. These lists provide a great way to identify the unique aspects of each sit.

The most important rule of thumb is to NEVER ASSUME. Ask as many QUESTIONS as you need, especially if your gut feeling has been triggered negatively. This will avoid mismatched expectations and misunderstandings.

Another area to focus on is that of "difficult conversations".

We've all had them and, at some time, made a mess of them! This is where there is the greatest opportunity for misunderstandings and hurt feelings. We make assumptions due to NOT being comfortable in our discomfort, or from the fear of hearing the painful truth or the concern of getting the person offside and then getting an awful review.

Do this one thing: Next time you are faced with a difficult situation, start the conversation in a calm, kind and gentle way. Be open-minded and have an open-heart. When you are genuine with your desire to understand the other person, free of judgement and accusation, amazing results happen. It will also deepen your compassion for the other person and your own self.

Watching re-runs of your mind Hands up if you like to re-run snippets of your life over and over again. Especially the awful or embarrassing ones where you feel you have made a mistake.

For example, that beautiful blue pool that turned green overnight, the day before the homeowners returned, or having a chicken taken by a fox that caused you to get lost after dark trying to return to your remote sit, or doing your morning rounds and finding your donkey has mysteriously disappeared!

You berate yourself for not doing a better job and replay the moment again and again. You want to burn the images onto your retinas so you never make that mistake again! Here's the crazy part..."where thought goes energy follows!"

The more often you hit the replay button the more energy you are throwing at it. This will play out in one or two ways - the situation WILL happen again because you have practiced it in your mind’s eye so many times, or you invest a stack of energy into avoidance and resistance behaviours to ensure you never repeat that situation again.

The key here is judgement. We are disappointed with ourselves and feel guilty for not getting it right or doing a better job. So we re-run the imagery as a form of punishment and prevention.

A more effective and nurturing approach is to realize, what is done is done! The most important thing now is your response and recovery. Just like in sports - if you focus on the balls you dropped or the goals you missed, your performance will deteriorate. It is more important to focus on what you did next and how you recovered from that mistake. Did you intercept another pass or get a rebound?

Or did you keep your head down and beat yourself up? This does not promote healthy headspace. In fact ruminating over your mistakes is a form of self-indulgent behaviour that keeps you on the couch feasting on your failures.

Do this one thing: If you spending time replaying events from the past, look at it as a form of over indulgence, feasting on your own failures. See how this sits with you. It usually puts a different light on things and gets you motivated, up and off the couch!

Jenny Lincoln is a Human Behaviour Specialist traveling and house sitting her way around the world. Her teachings help open the hearts and minds of those seeking to live a true and authentic life. Her practices enable people to create courage so they can move beyond limited thinking and fear based actions.

Follow her on Instagram, or Facebook

HOUSE SITTING "INCEPTION" A tale of part-time house sitters

by Phillipe Lalonde

Traveling puts all our senses to the test.

The sights, the sounds, the smells, the tastes, and dare I say touch?

It's the very reason why we, the travelers, get addicted to it so much.

The further away we are from our own culture's "norms", the more our senses become taxed.

In fact, traveling is a lot like going to the amusement park.

There's the merry-go round, the house of horrors, the house of mirrors, the roller coaster ride, and way too much cotton candy!

Which is why, for us, we could never be full-time house sitters.

After a while, our senses tilt.

When we reach that point, it's time to punch our ticket home and take a breather from it all.

House sitting advantages Winding down As you all know, the very concept of house sitting implies that you slip into someone else's shoes while they go on vacation. You take over their lives, caring for their pets and home, sometimes befriending their neighbors, friends and family.

Because Sophie and I choose long term house sitting assignments (6 to 10 weeks long), the people and the pets that we meet over time root themselves into our hearts.

Leaving really does feel like a break-up.

We shed a few tears.

We wonder if we'll ever see them again.

Which is why, in part, we welcome the opportunity to go back home and collect ourselves.

There's an innate need to play back in our minds the tape of events and experiences of our recent travels.

In a sense, it's a mini mourning process, an emotional cleansing if you will.

At least we find solace in the fact that we get to spend time with our own cat once again.

Income options Being part-time house sitters means we don't have to be digital nomads exclusively in order to earn a living.

Diversification of our income sources is possible, with a blend mix of seasonal work, contract work, digital work and whatnot.

Releasing an online product doesn't have to be a be-all end-all, cross yourself and hope to be able to afford to eat in a month's time. Its income generating potential is only a portion of our pie.

When at home, we're able to focus on work without the pleasurable distractions a new destination has to offer.

Besides, who wants to travel halfway around the world just to lock yourself up and work the vast majority of the time.

It's a nice balance that we've come to appreciate.

Flight hacks Exclusively in North America, credit card companies throw incentives at you if you sign up for their cards.

"Earn 40,000 points just for signing up to our card!"

If your finances are in order, you can turn these type of offers to your advantage and accumulate points at a rapid pace, which in turn can be redeemed for flights.

We fly all the time for relatively little or no cost, and in business class on top of that!

The kicker?

You can't pull this off when on the road full-time.

A fixed address is required, as well as occasional visits to a banking institution and some additional steps here and there to meet minimum spend.

But our end result is comfortable and inexpensive travel whenever it's time to hit the road again.

House sitting compromises Overhead expenses "Aha! Mr. fly-for-free doesn't look so sharp now!"

Bugger…

With a fixed address comes fixed expenses, which in turn means having to earn more income. *sigh* The hamster wheel of life.

We try to offset this by adapting a minimalist lifestyle and applying frugal living principles, but still… it's a constant thorn in our side for sure.

A not-so small price to pay to have a place we can call home.

Logistics After being home for a while we inevitably get the itch to go travel again.

Uh-oh… This is where it gets slightly complicated for us.

What should we take care of first?

Do we try to lock in a house sitting assignment?

Or find a house sitter for our cat?

Look at flight availability and costs?

Kind of parallels the chicken before the egg conundrum, doesn't it?

We call this part of the equation "House Sitting Inception", in reference to the movie Inception where Leonardo De Caprio finds himself in multiple states at the same time.

Nowadays we essentially block off specific times during the year for traveling, followed by securing a house sitter for ourselves.

Afterwards, we look at house sitting assignments and try to successfully apply to those that suit our interests and availability.

Once that's all in place, we book flights and fill in the gaps with free hotels using points, or we make Airbnb bookings.

Not as straight forward as picking up and going whimsically.

More like planning a prison break!

What's your formula?

Whether you're a part-time or a full-time house sitter, each option comes with its set of challenges and benefits. The right formula for either lifestyle is a moving target at best and must be tweaked with each new travel experience.

How wonderful it is to be part of a flourishing house sitting community where we can learn from each other as we're trying to figure out what works best for us all.

What else can I say but to embrace the journey.

And don't eat too much cotton candy next time!

Philippe Lalonde, alongside his wife Sophie, split their time between house sitting internationally and staying at home back in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

They rent a furnished apartment downtown for economical and walk-ability reasons, are part of a car sharing program, and everything they own can be stored away in only a few boxes!

You can follow their adventures abroad at https://theamazingstroll.com and on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

VOLUNTEERING HELPED US SECURE OUR FIRST YEAR OF HOUSE SITS

by Natasha (Tasha) Page

Since arriving in Australia in late June 2018, my partner Rhodri and I have been fortunate enough to secure back-to-back house sits right up until we leave in June 2019.

This means we've been able to discover new places, spend time with loving animals, stay in beautiful homes and avoid shoddy backpacker accommodation (all whilst, saving on accommodation costs).

Most of our house sits have been for around 5 weeks in duration but March 2019 will see us undertake our longest house sit to date - an incredible 96 days!

After that, we hope to move on to different countries whilst continuing to use house sitting as a way to enrich our travel experience.

How it began We met in our hometown of Cardiff in Wales, back in 2008, and after some time we moved to London together where we lived for 5 years.

Travel was something we had always enjoyed, and we took full advantage of the frequent flights available from London airports. It seemed we were always jetting off to somewhere new – mostly in Europe.

We had always pondered with the idea of traveling further afield, for a longer period of time but it would be many years before we finally plucked up the courage to do so!

The 8th January 2018 was the day that saw us finally do just that. Mainly driven by a desire to explore as much of the world as possible, we set off with our backpacks, a rough plan and a one-way ticket.

One thing we agreed on before leaving is that we'd like to volunteer along the way, preferably with animals. Whilst researching volunteer opportunities, we came across a dog shelter in Chiang Mai, Thailand. They were looking for volunteers to walk, wash and spend time with the sheltered dogs. This would be the first stop on our backpacking journey.

Whilst at the shelter, we met another volunteer, Jacqueline Lamb of "Lambies Travels", who began to tell us of her adventures. She and her husband were house sitting in the local area and had been on the road for over 12 months.

She was using house sitting as a way to subsidize the cost of full-time travel. Intrigued as to how it all worked, I began to ask questions which resulted in her providing me with more details.

You can read Jacqueline's story of volunteering in Thaliand at this link.

At that time, she gave us a link for TrustedHousesitters, which meant we could become members at a discounted rate. I stored the details and thought nothing more of it for a while.

After 5 weeks of dog shelter volunteering, we packed up our belongings again and set off on the road to Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and India before returning to Chiang Mai (and the dog shelter) then heading to Malaysia and Singapore as our final stops before heading to Australia.

Our first house sitter profile One evening, whilst unwinding in a Cambodian home-stay, we remarked on how much we were enjoying our travels and wanted it to last for as long as possible! Here we began to discuss the possibilities of joining a house sitting platform, which would enable us to see different places whilst spending time with animals and providing us with more comfortable accommodation.

We took a look at TrustedHousesitters that night and were struck by the amount of home owners advertising for sitters in Australia! We read through the adverts and came across quite a few which were specifically looking for "mature singles or couples" or "experienced house sitters with references" – none of which applied to us.

It left us feeling quite disheartened at this point and we considered our chances of getting sits pretty low. However, we went ahead and set up our profile anyway, highlighting our dog shelter volunteering experience with the hope it would demonstrate our genuine love for animals.

Our profile also included an in-depth and honest explanation as to our interest in house sitting.

Our love for animals, desire for privacy and hope to continue traveling long-term being the central reasons.

A few months before we left for travel, a distant family member had asked us to house sit for them for our first 5 weeks in Australia. They lived in Sydney so we knew that would be our first stop, but after that our plans were unknown.

The first YES The day came when we sent off our first application.

The home owners were heading to Canada for 5 weeks to attend a wedding and they needed someone to care for their gorgeous black Labrador, 6-year-old Holly, in a quiet suburb of Brisbane.

I went all out and wrote a detailed and personalized message to the home owners, expressing our desire to be considered for their house sit.

To my absolute delight, we heard back from the home owners within 24 hours and they seemed to be as enthusiastic about us as we were about them. We were offered the house sit right away and we were absolutely over the moon (if not, a little blown away).

We could not believe that our first application had turned out to be a success (especially due to the fact we were inexperienced newbies and didn't fall into the "mature" category).

With a boost in confidence, we sent off several more applications which resulted in us securing house sits for the first 3 months in Australia, before we had even left Asia!

How it's been so far Our first house sit in Brisbane was a huge success and we really hit it off with the owners, who have become valued friends to us. Since that time, we've also become members of Aussie House Sitters and Mind A Home in addition to maintaining our Trusted House Sitters profile.

We've gotten to care for what seems like an endless supply of fantastic dogs. From Bedlington Terriers, to Boxers and a super large Weimaraner, each animal has left a huge imprint on our hearts.

Most recently we had the pleasure of being reunited with April (a lovely lab) and her charming partner Alfie (a golden retriever) over Christmas & New Year after having spent a week with them earlier on in the year.

For us, house sitting has been much more than we could have ever imagined.

It's offered us the opportunity to stay in lovely homes, get to know new communities on a personal level and save accommodation costs as a bonus. In fact, by the time we leave Australia

– which is currently scheduled for June 2019 - we would have paid for just 11-nights' accommodation in total.

The biggest joy is being chosen to care for some truly special animals, all of which we developed incredibly genuine bonds with (we still find it hard to say goodbye – every time).

Over the next few months we have secured more house sits in Australia which will see us spend time with a couple of Poodles, a Cocker Spaniel, a Jack Russell cross and our very first cat! We hope we can continue using house sitting as a way to enjoy the world for a long time yet.

Tasha & Rhod set off to travel together in January 2018. Since then they’ve completed several house sits. For homeowner's past, present and future they have created a blog to share their house sitting tales, along with lots of pictures – you can find it at: www.rhodandtasha.home.blog

TAKING EARLY RETIREMENT TO TRAVEL & HOUSE SIT

by Ian Gledhill

In 2017 we sold our home in Sydney and decided to take early retirement from our careers. We really enjoyed traveling, but we wanted more than the four weeks of holidays that we were restricted to each year. We knew that there had to be a better way to travel the world and see the things that we wanted to see.

A work colleague had mentioned how house sitting could be an option to enable us travel long term. After some research into the various websites we joined Aussie House Sitters and started the process of looking for pet sits locally in New South Wales in Australia.

In March 2018 we were on holiday in northern New South Wales when we saw a post for a pet sit in Ballina for four weeks from mid-December 2018. As we were staying nearby at the time we arranged to meet the home owner. Over a cup of tea we made a new friend in the owner, met the adorable Romeo and confirmed our first sit.

A few weeks later a two week pet sit near Ballina for October 2018 was posted which we applied for. We visited the owner in her beautiful home which was in the rolling hills in the hinterland behind Byron Bay with macadamia farms in the distance. We were really pleased that we were able to confirm this sit too.

Staying in touch whilst traveling In May we flew to Europe to travel around the UK, France, Spain and Portugal. We were away for nearly five months. The great thing about the house sitting websites is that they can be viewed anywhere and applications can be made online for any of the pet sits.

Another benefit of the house sitting websites is that home owners can view our profile and contact us directly. Whilst traveling in Spain we were contacted by a home owner who wrote to us to ask if we could sit for her two dogs in North Turramurra in Sydney. As we knew the area well and the dates worked for us we accepted the offer.

A further sit was confirmed for September in Corindi Beach near Coffs Harbour, this would be our first ever pet sit. We flew back to Australia from Europe knowing that we had confirmed 11 weeks of pet sits!

The importance of a good profile We were surprised how easy it had been to apply for the sits and to be accepted for them, especially as we were totally new to pet sitting. We think that one of the reasons was that we had written a strong profile with some good photos.

It's strange that some sitters do not bother to load photos on their profiles, as it really is key to getting accepted. In a similar manner, we do not apply for any house sits where the owners have not taken the time to include photos.

Meet Lucy!

We had not met our first pet sit owner before the sit so this was really quite an usual feeling.

We arrived at the home and after a chat and a walk along the beach the owner left in a taxi, she was off to work interstate for three weeks. We were left with a home to look after and Lucy, her super cute dog.

We loved our twice a day walks with Lucy, she lived near the beach which she loved running along and dipping into the ocean and the rock pools. She also enjoyed a journey in the car so we took her up and down the coast as we explored the area.

On her return the owner wrote our first review on the website which she ended with "I’d like to give them a 1 star rating so that I can keep them to myself!" Luckily for us she did give us 5 stars. It felt like we had achieved a real milestone.

A 60 Acre farm Whilst we were in North Turramurra in Sydney a pet sit on steroids was advertised! It was in the stunning Upper Hunter Valley looking after 28 horses, 12 cattle (2 of which were pregnant) and a beautiful Mastiff cross dog with the best name, T Bone. We contacted the owner explaining that we had no horse or cattle experience, he asked if we knew how to look after a swimming pool, indeed we did and we got the job.

This actually turned out to be a very easy pet sit, the horses and cattle were self-sufficient, we just needed to walk around the farm and check that there was water in the various troughs and that none of the animals looked ill. T Bone would join us on our walks around the farm, he really loved exploring the land.

Reviews We always give 100% on each sit that we take, ensuring that we look after the home and the pets as if they were our own. It is really important to keep in contact with the owners while they are away. This can be done by sending daily photos of their pets, usually with humorous comments. All or our home owners have loved us sending the photos to them.

It's been pleasing to see what has been written about us in the reviews that we have received.

We have been described as "great friendly guys", "simply the best", "super nice, friendly, clean and trustworthy" and "charming and interesting gentlemen"!

It makes our hard work seem worthwhile.

Moving on It now feels quite normal to us to arrive in a new location to look after a home and the pets that live there. It can feel a bit like staying in an AirBnB accommodation except pet sitting comes with two bonuses, the pets are included and there is no payment for the accommodation.

To reduce the amount of traveling that is required we prefer pet sits that are at least two weeks long.This can enable us to live like a local and to really get to experience a place in a slower manner, not having to dash to see everything within a few days.

Summer in England As we will be traveling around Europe in 2019 we joined the international website Trusted House Sitters. But our first confirmed sit on the new site was not as international as we had hoped for! It was in East Ballina, in northern New South Wales, 7km from where we were at that time. We messaged the owner and she wrote back to suggest that we pop over for a coffee to meet her and her husband and their Labrador, which we did.

Since joining Trusted House Sitters we have confirmed four pet sits, the one in East Ballina and three in the UK. We will be sitting in Devon for three weeks, then two weeks in Banstead, and ten days in Cambridge.

We used Skype to talk to the owners in Devon who were absolutely lovely, we are really looking forward to their sit. The owners in Banstead and Cambridge confirmed our sit with messages on the website.

Feeling grateful We feel really fortunate to have found all of our pet sits to date. It does take a bit of work looking for the sits and applying for them, but it is well worth it. We have met some wonderful people on this journey, stayed in some beautiful homes and looked after some very cute pets.

The hardest part is always saying goodbye to the pets that have become part of your life.

We have really loved spending time with all of the pets that we have sat for. Each of them has their own personality and identity. There is so much more enjoyment in taking a four legged friend for a walk along the river or beach than completing spreadsheets or attending sales meetings as we did in previous lives!

So far it really has been an amazing experience and we know that we have only just begun this journey.

Ian Gledhill is a qualified accountant and worked in the TV and music industries for 30 years in the UK and Australia. His partner Lloyd was a retail sales director in the UK and a general manager in Australia. They now travel between the northern and southern hemispheres enjoying summer in both.

You can follow them at their blog: NomadicSummer.com

TrustedHousesitters SITTERS OF THE YEAR AWARDS

"Annie and Ian have house sit for us twice in Florida. This picture was taken the first time during the Hurricane that hit Florida. They were at our home during the hurricane whilst we were in the UK. Not only did they have the challenge of keeping these three dogs and two cats safe but they were without power for 4 days — which for our area since we are rural means, no electricity, no power, no water, no petrol, and all businesses closed — the amazing part for us is after enduring all the problems of the area during a blackout because of damage, they cleaned

our 3 acre yard of the debris, and since there was no running water, they bathed in a local pond and stayed up at night putting wet towels on the dogs to keep them cool from the Florida heat The even more amazing part was this year when they came back to stay and once again they flew into Florida with a hurricane in the gulf. They came because they were committed to the care and excellence for our animals. Annie and Ian are great people who go the extra mile. Both times they insisted that we go on our trips and not cancel, I believe they took care of things better than we could have. The picture above is Annie sitting on the floor caring for the dogs during hurricane winds. It is the amazing people like Ian and Annie that makes TrustedHousesitters successful. It is with our heartfelt respect that we offer the highest recommendation for Sitter of the Year to Ian and Annie. The award could not go to a more deserving couple."

"Our youngest cat Mallory was involved in an accident not long before we were due to go on our long haul holiday. He was quite badly hurt including having a broken jaw. He had to have it wired for six weeks which meant he had to have it removed when we were away. Maryanne really stepped up to the plate and insisted in taking him to the vet for his operation and bringing him back even though she didn’t have a car — she did it all by taxi. She really looked after him and by the time we got back he had got his confidence back and was not frightened anymore to go outside. She had to cope with our other cat too who could use the cat flap and go out at night which Mallory initially was not allowed to do. All very complicated but she was totally unfazed and kept us informed whilst we were away sending us photos and updates. She was a real stalwart. Even dealing with his offerings of live voles when he was better and wanted to thank her."

"Marie Flora stepped in to save the day after my mother died unexpectedly and we had to completely re-arrange and extend our time away. Undeterred and unprompted, she bought a new aeroplane ticket from France and looked and loved our Charlie like her own, during a very difficult period for us all. She sent daily photos and videos and was such a reassuring presence for me during all the turmoil. When we returned, she had left the house immaculate and had bought me a beautiful gift from Liberty, plus copious food gifts from France. I was absolutely overcome with her kindness and compassion and cannot speak of her highly enough."

"Vanessa and Jeff are the best — it’s clear that they adore animals. They took our doggy everywhere with them and let her sleep on the bed. They even took her when they rode around to the cafes in the bike basket. We felt so comfortable having them stay. They are a warm friendly couple who communicated with us before, during and after the assignment. They sent photos every day of what our pooch was up to which was so reassuring. When they left our house it was immaculate. I’m not sure our doggy was happy to have us home, but she sure had the best holiday with Vanessa and Jeff."

If you want to find out for yourself how TrustedHousesitters can help you find house sitters for your and pets - people that love them as much as you, then take advantage of our specially negotiated 25% discount by clicking the picture on the opposite page, or this link

The next issue of House Sitting Magazine will be available from 15th April 2019

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