House Sitting Magazine Issue 29: December 2019

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

A change is as good as a rest Ian Usher

Summer house sitting in South Korea Stacie Allen

Nomad living - Staying connected Vanessa Anderson

Is Mexico on your house sit list for 2020?

Collaboration with intro by Vanessa Anderson

Heatstroke - Dangers of summer heat Lyndsey Harper

On the hunt for dog friendly places in Australia Ian Gledhill

Guide to feeding dogs with sensitive stomachs Leo Wilson

Best places to see cherry blossom in Japan Explore Shizuoka

Finding a house sit in Japan Sarah Nishina

Reverse culture shock... It's real Karen Purves

Dental tips for the savvy traveler Dr Sonal Bhoot

All the world's a stage Jill Young

Seeing the world one rescue cat at a time Madolline Gourlay

A different version of me Bernadine Swale

In the next issue...

A CHANGE IS AS GOOD AS A REST

by Ian Usher

We were invited to arrive at our current house sit in Yorkshire the night before our home owners departed for New Zealand. It's nice to have plenty of time for a thorough handover, but it's also lovely to be invited for a cozy dinner. We had plenty of time to chat with our hosts, and had a very enjoyable evening, getting to know them and Piccola the cat.

The conversation covered a wide range of topics, including, of course, house sitting and the range of lifestyle possibilities it can offer.

As many of you know, Vanessa and I are full-time house sitters. We have no home base and very few possessions. We often book sits back-to-back, while occasionally scheduling breaks between sits for our own travel adventures.

One common question which almost always comes up in any house sitting conversation is, "So, how long do you think you'll continue to live like this? Do you have any plans to settle down?"

In our mid-50s, we see many years ahead of this lifestyle of freedom, and when we check in with each other once in a while, neither of us has yet expressed a desire to settle.

So, our hosts wondered, what is it about this transient lifestyle that we find so appealing?

For me there are several possible answers:        

seeing new places meeting new people spending time "at home" somewhere new caring for a wide variety of animals an on-going life of travel a satisfyingly minimalist approach to life lower living costs a sense of adventure

It's quite a list of positives.

But for both Vanessa and myself, we feel many of these reasons boil down to one succinct reality...

We both thrive on change.

The Shambles, York City, UK

What's our ideal length of sit?

Over a period of a year, Sept 2018 to August 2019, we took on the challenge of achieving 52 house sits in 52 weeks. We really enjoyed the constant change, the new places, the range of wonderful animals we met. But towards the end of the year we were a little tired of the endless packing and unpacking of our little van.

Conclusion: 1 week sits (or less) - a little too short For a couple of years before that we took on fewer longer sits, sometimes as long as three months. Often we were keen to move on to new adventures before the sit came to an end, although it was great to settle in to an area, get to know some of the neighbours, and really feel "at home".

Conclusion: 3 month sits - a little too long At the moment we're finding our perfect "Goldilocks" sit - not too short, not too long, but just right - to be somewhere around 5 or 6 weeks.

We're here in North Yorkshire for 5 weeks, and we've already been over to the local community hub, and the local pub, which at two doors away is a little too convenient! The budget is taking a bit of a hit!

We'll be here over Christmas and New Year, and we're close enough to my home town that my mum will be able to come and celebrate Christmas with us - with the pre-arranged consent of the home owners, of course.

By early January we'll be ready to move on to the next part of the adventure. That part is planned and set, but plans from March onward were loose, with our only booked commitment in June/July.

Living life like this, embracing changes when they come, does mean that you have to have a very flexible approach to future plans.

So often we think we have everything mapped out, then something else comes along, and we dive in to re-jig everything to come up with a new plan.

For example, during this couple of months of UK winter we had planned to buy a large van and begin the process of converting it to a campervan. Our plans was to spend much of the rest of the year in the camper in the UK and Europe.

But about a month ago Vanessa spotted a 3 to 4 week house sit in Brooklyn, New York, listed on Trusted Housesitters. We've always said if an opportunity to spend time in New York came up we'd take it.

Brooklyn Bridge, New York, USA

So Vanessa fired off an application as quickly as possible, and after a Skype chat, we secured the sit. It all happened very quickly, and we had to once again re-assess our plans once we had made the commitment.

Maybe we could stay in the States afterwards for a further 3 weeks, which would take us right through to our 6-week repeat sit in the Caribbean, on the beautiful island of St. Vincent.

After lots of hunting through different flight options and routes we had a new plan. Norwegian Air could get us direct from London to New York in April for less than GBP £165 each. We found a direct flight from there to St. Vincent in June, which was a bargain too. And a return to the UK from New York in August was a further £165 each, thanks again to Norwegian Air! The only piece of the travel jigsaw currently missing is getting back from the Caribbean to New York. We're looking at options to spend a few days in-between sits in Trinidad & Tobago.

The flights we've booked will probably work out cheaper than simply flying from London to the Caribbean, which was our original plan. We've managed to add on a 3-week New York sit, and 3 weeks of travel time in the States at no further cost. What a win!

It's amazing, and thrilling, how quickly plans can change like this.

I think that is my best answer to the "what do you like about this lifestyle?" question - It's the wonderful and exciting unpredictability of the future.

Live life as an adventure I've always believed that life is meant to be lived as an adventure, and house sitting helps make this true for us.

Of course, our campervan project has to be put on hold until we come back to England in early August. But it will be much easier to do the conversion over the summer months, instead of in the depths of winter.

Once the conversion is complete we'll head south into Europe, hopefully to find somewhere a little warmer to spend the winter than this year.

Well, that's the plan for now...

We hope you enjoy this issue of House Sitting Magazine.

Best wishes, and Merry Christmas, Ian and Vanessa (currently house sitting in North Yorkshire, England)

SUMMER HOUSE SITTING IN SOUTH KOREA

by Stacie Allan

The first time I really came across South Korea as a country, aside from the far-off place dad would go on business to when I was too young to understand the concept of a country, was the 2002 World Cup. And I remember the camera phones. In one of those "cultural" segments that are shown around football matches, I saw a camera phone for the very first time. It felt light years ahead of the Nokia 3210 that I was very proud of owning. For me, then, South Korea was always a land of future technology.

However, the word that comes to mind when I think about my experience of house sitting in South Korea is not high-tech or futuristic or fast-paced - though the country is definitely all of those things.

The word is much more ordinary… It's "liveable".

For the first-time visitor, house sitting in South Korea is a lot easier than it feels it should be.

From small details, such as having tyre pumps at bike racks and availability of public toilets, to the extensive local and national public transport system, South Korea is an eminently liveable and people-friendly place. It is a place where things just work. Digital nomads especially will enjoy the ultra-fast telecommunications infrastructure and the plethora of co-working spaces.

We lined up two gigs for our summer of house sitting in South Korea - a three-week sit in Seoul and six weeks on Jeju Island.

A 21st century capital city When you arrive at Incheon, the island airport that serves Seoul, you are greeted by a robot. By selecting your flight information from the menu screen on its front, the robot tells you at which carousel your baggage will arrive and then leads you to it.

This brief futuristic encounter welcomes you to South Korea and to its twenty-first-century capital. Seoul is an exceptionally young city, rebuilt on the back of economic prosperity after the Korean War, the so-called "Miracle on the Han".

Youth culture of K-Pop and its energetic dance routines, fast fashion, and bubble tea, encapsulate this forward-looking Korea. Pockets of old can be found at the city’s gates, former boundary walls, and five royal palaces. Even in those places, Seoul’s history of war, occupation, and fire damage mean that many of the buildings have been reconstructed.

Most people in Seoul live in modern apartment buildings clustered together in blocks that reach tens of stories high. At street level, dog walking is a stop-start affair with the frequent crossing of intersections. However, green spaces are never too hard to find. Communal areas in between the clusters have grassy patches alongside outdoor exercise equipment (should the outings with your canine pal not meet the needs of your fitness regime).

For some, uninterrupted strolling of the parks shouldering the Han River or tracking old railway lines gives some respite from the constant murmur of traffic, and the loud buzz of passing scooters.

Jeju Island Jeju Island is often labelled "the Hawaii of South Korea". But, beyond their similar volcanic origins and the presence of honeymooners, few real connections can be found. Still, it's a more apt description than, say, "the Tenerife of South Korea" would be.

It is hard to escape the fact that Jeju’s landscape was formed through eruption after eruption.

Its cliffs trace the paths where molten lava ran and cooled when it met the sea.

The horizon is dominated by mounds of volcanic material pushed upwards over thousands of years. The island has 368 of these “oreums”, one for every day of the year plus a few left over.

Jeju’s natural features led to it being named amongst the New Seven Wonders of Nature (https://nature.new7wonders.com) in 2011.

Life on Jeju has much to offer the temporary resident. Modern coffee shops serve exotic blends, green tea lattes, and flavoured ales for the same price as a bottle of local craft ale from the Jeju Beer Company or Magpie Brewing Co. The latter is presumably named in honour of the island’s innumerable magpie residents. They are rarely seen alone; but, for all the "five for silver" or "six for gold", I have not received my windfall just yet.

Far away from the honeymooner’s resort town of Jungmun, schools of dolphins can be spotted from the west coast. There is an extensive network of quiet farm roads alongside fields of garlic and spring onions, which are ideal for dog walking.

Another option is following the Olle Trails that circumnavigate the island. Soon you’ll be familiar with the hessian rope pathways under foot and the wooden decked platforms. The trails visit some of Jeju’s most scenic spots and offshoots allow you to take in some thematic detours into dark tourism (addressing the Japanese occupation during World War 2) and the island’s history of exiled inhabitants.

Hiking up the oreums affords you and the dogs an elevated vantage point to take in Jeju’s unique landscape and coastline. We returned to Seoul after our house sitting assignment on Jeju feeling healthier, refreshed, and reinvigorated - just as a dip in the island’s carbonate hot springs promises.

Things not to miss A DMZ tour: Head north from Seoul towards the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to learn about life in the ever-present shadow of the Korean War. Busan: South Korea’s second city promises a laidback beach atmosphere, Japanese-inspired cuisine, and extensive hiking trails within the city’s limits.

Korean BBQ: Indulge in a meat-eater’s feast cooked right in front of you with unlimited sides of kimchi (fermented cabbage), pickled radish, and salad leaves.

Practical info for house sitting in Korea Where are the sits?

The majority of house sits listed are for expats… people from abroad who are living in South Korea, and are concentrated in Seoul or on Jeju Island. Seoul has a large American military base and families often look for pet sitters through the "Pet Sitting Network - South Korea" Facebook group.

Jeju has four international schools and the existence of TrustedHousesitters has rapidly spread by word of mouth among the overseas teachers there. Most house sits on Jeju are advertised for the Korean school holidays (Christmas, summer, October, and Easter).

Cost of living in South Korea House sitting in South Korea is not as cost effective as other parts of Asia might be and it is more on a par with Western Europe. Some products, particularly toiletries, fresh produce, and imported goods, can be very expensive. In contrast, we found that eating out in larger cities could be relatively cheap.

Attitudes to dogs in South Korea Keeping domesticated pets is becoming increasingly more common place in South Korea, and with that, attitudes towards dogs are evolving. When walking dogs, particularly large ones, you will encounter the whole gamut of reactions… disdain, horror, shock, excited waves, cars slowing down to rubber neck, and shouts of "so cute!"

Stacie Allan is a freelance translator, writer, independent scholar, and online English teacher.

Stacie and her husband Johnny have been international house sitters since September 2018.

You can follow their journey on their Instagram page and their website where they write thoughtful pieces about living a peripatetic lifestyle.

NOMADIC LIVING - STAYING CONNECTED

by Vanessa Anderson

One of the downsides of being a nomadic traveler, digital nomad or full-time house sitter is that you don't get to see your family and friends as often as before. As we approach Christmas, it can exacerbate the feelings of disconnection from family, or even loneliness (particularly for solo sitters), and especially if you are on the other side of the world.

For others, just starting out on their nomadic adventure, this may be a concern. It was for me when I decided to leave England to live with Ian in Panama in 2013. Selling my home and possessions back in the UK felt very final for my close family and it was difficult to console my mum. She, of course, wanted me to be happy, but would probably have preferred initially for that happiness to have been found in the UK. This is when it's important to find different ways of staying connected and to make new friends as you travel and live temporarily in different locations. One thing we've discovered since travelling full-time, is that relationships with some of your friends back home, do change.

When you are living such a completely different life, it's inevitable really that some people with whom you used to have a lot in common, are now less interested in remaining close friends as your life simply reminds them of something they are unable to enjoy! Others however, might be totally inspired and keen to find out how they can make changes in their life too!

By providing a few technological updates (Facebook, Whatsapp video and email), my mum now has access to me anytime she wants, and we have much more quality time to chat via video.

Now she totally supports and encourages my lifestyle. She says that she (and many of her friends) live through our travel adventures, learning about new destinations and cultures they may never get to see.

The nomadic lifestyle of 15-20 years ago would have been very different. However, the age of widespread technology, including WIFI, email, social media, video chats and more, have made it very much less lonely out there in the big wide world.

It's up to you of course how much you stay connected.

Some people are happy to remain quietly nomadic, enjoying making new local connections, rather than feeling obliged to keep constant contact with their family and friends.

It's each to their own.

But if you want to stay connected, here are a few ways that you can maintain old friendships AND develop new ones.

STAYING IN TOUCH WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS Free VOIP (voice over internet protocol) Skype is probably the most popular app for making FREE video internet calls anywhere in the world. However, since Microsoft took it over, we've had far less of a good service with Skype, particularly on calls over 30 minutes - they seem to deteriorate quite badly. Lately we've been using the free version of Zoom. It's easy to send a join request and also to have multiple people in the chat room.

There are a number of apps that can be used too, like video calls in Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp Video Chat, or FaceTime on Apple devices.

For US and Canadian readers - MagicJack A few of our American friends use MagicJack when they travel. It's a portable VOIP (voice over internet) product to which you can make and receive unlimited calls from the US and Canada, and get low rates for international calls.

From what I understand, you can plug it in to your computer or your home phone, and it provides crystal clear sound, and best of all you can take your existing home number with you.

But it comes at a cost - $59.99, although it's regularly discounted to $39.95. MagicJack to MagicJack calls are also all free.

Social media sites Facebook and Instagram both provide easy ways to keep your family and friends connected with your travels and adventures. I use Facebook as a diary that my mum can view whenever she wants to see what I'm up to. I like using Instagram as a way of sharing occasional photos and video stories. You can have a private or public account.

Another thing you can do on Facebook is to create a "family" or a "friends" secret group reserved for chatting or sharing photos and details of get-togethers and events. Secret groups are not shared publicly on Facebook - joining one requires being invited by a current member.

Electronic photo frames Ian has set him mum up with an electronic photo frame that's connected to her WiFi. He can remotely send her images from anywhere we are in the world. She loves that without notice she'll suddenly get a new set of images to view. This is ideal for older family members that can't or don't want to be bothered with learning computer or tablet based apps. We now shared this with Ian's brother as well, so she gets regular photos from us all!

Send a postcard As nomads, there's little that we buy now in the way of souvenirs while travelling, but we are always drawn to the beautiful images on postcards when in new places. We started sending postcards back home to our mum's, and they've really been appreciated. And when we get back we get to relive our memories of that particular day!

Email newsletters Before social media, a lot of people used to send an email newsletter to a list of friends and family. This is still a good way to tell them what's happening in your life and share details or links to your social accounts. Or, use it for a once a year update.

Pick up the phone!

If you get an opportunity to make cheap calls using your mobile or if you are back in your home country … don't forget the good old phone call!

A final word on communication Don't forget to ask your family and friends about their lives. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of our travels and house sitting adventures, which we naturally assume everyone will be interested in.

But the truth is that this isn't always the case. Remember that your friends and family are wrestling with their own challenges, at work or with their own circles of close family. Take time to see what's going on with them and give them some support that might be needed but easily overlooked as you talk non-stop about your own travels!

WAYS TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS & SHARE INTERESTS Community websites There are a number of sites now where you are encouraged to make new connections through hobbies and interests with like-minded people. Three that we recommend are Couch Surfing, Meetup.com and, specifically for house sitters, mapaub.com. Expat forums on Facebook are another.

Local community hubs If you are house sitting for a period of time in a small town or even smaller village, you'll often find ways to integrate with the local community. The Post Office, Village Hall or animal rescue centers are great places to find notifications of local events. Many towns and villages in the UK have a monthly newsletter that someone distributes, to varying degrees of professionalism. Ask you home owner for the current one or keep an eye out when the post arrives.

We've just arrived in a Yorkshire village where there is a "local hub" in the village hall. There is a lovely community room, heated and clean, where weekly gatherings take place and where you can find books, puzzles and games all of which can be taken for local use. Village pubs are another source of friendships and activities - the weekly quiz or fish and chip night!

Rotary clubs Rotary clubs exist around the world and you might get the opportunity to help out at a local charity fund raiser, or as we've done in the USA, go along to the monthly meetings and give a presentation about your travels and house sitting adventures!

Facebook nomad and expat groups These are another way to connect with local members for coffee, lunch or perhaps a walk in the countryside. Introduce yourself in the group and indicate when you'll be around - ask if anyone would enjoy meeting up.

Co-working spaces For working nomads, there are more and more co-working spaces opening all over the world.

These hubs are particularly good for meeting like-minds and sharing ideas or to get a bit of motivation with your work-load, especially if you work alone most of the time.

Dog parks and cat cafes While in Australia, we met so many people in dog parks and on the dog beaches in Western Australia. This was a constant source of house sitting possibilities! But also a good way to chat with local members of the neighborhood where we were staying.

We've also spotted more and more cat cafes opening in larger towns and cities, but they always seem a little on the pricey side for us.

Join a Yoga, Pilates or fitness class Your local town or village will very possibly run a weekly fitness class. Or if you are in a larger town or city you'll find the local gym, or some hotel spas will run a variety of classes where you could meet others interested in health and fitness. If you are on a longer house sit, you'll find many gyms now offer monthly memberships - and if they don't go and chat to them and explain your situation - they might let you join if they aren't over-booked.

Neighbors We often meet with the neighbors of the people we're sitting for. They are a great source of information for local walking groups, church activities, pet walking groups, ramblers and at Christmas, they will know all the festive get-togethers!

Volunteering There are a number of different organizations online now where you can find options for volunteering all over the world. But, if you are house sitting for an extended period, your volunteer services may be welcomed in local charity shops, rescue centers or shelters

There really are so many ways these days to connect with others and make new friends. It's one thing that the internet has really opened up in a positive way.

How do you stay connected… do you have any creative ways to stay in touch that we've missed?

Get 15% OFF your membership on all companies in the AussieHouseSitter Group with code: HSMAG15

IS MEXICO ON YOUR SIT LIST FOR 2020?

Collaborative Article with intro by Vanessa Anderson

Back in 2016 we bit the bullet, and despite many people warning us against going to Mexico, we set off to explore this vast and diverse country.

We pre-booked a couple of house sits, one in San Miguel del Allende, which turned into 3 separate sits over 8 months, and another in Ajijic, on Lake Chapala in Jalisco. In between these sits we explored a number of different regions, as well as various cities and "pueblo magicos".

Our time there was one of our best travel and house sitting experiences for a whole host of reasons. We loved the climate, the history, the culture, most definitely the food, and the price of the food, and of course the people. So impressed were we by what we found, we created a complete Issue (No 07) dedicated to Mexico.

We've just updated it too, so if you want to check it out, download the latest version!

As more and more Americans realize the benefits of living in Mexico as expats, they are moving across the border to form growing communities in historic pueblos and coastal towns throughout the country. This growth is opening up more opportunities for house sitters who are also enjoying time in this fascinating culture.

Currently visas are available for up to 6 months for certain nationalities, making longer term sits a viable option - please check the official government immigration and visa restrictions for your own nationality.

What's the best way to find house sits in Mexico?

You'll find a smattering of house sits on the international house sitting platforms, but we suggest you get on board with HouseSitMexico. This is a country based platform dedicated to matching house sitters with home owners, only in Mexico.

HouseSitMexico was launched in 2016 and it's growing steadily… just 3 years later they've advertised almost 800 house sits. We think that's pretty good going considering this is a country where house sitting is still a relatively new concept, when compared to countries like the UK or Australia.

So don't be put off by the smaller number of listings… less competition means higher success rates. This is a specialist site and they are regularly filling sits with some awesome house sit opportunities available.

HouseSitMexico advertises more sits in Mexico than all the other international house sit platforms combined, so if Mexico is where you want to house sit, it really is a good choice and a good investment.

It costs $79 US to join but House Sitting Magazine has a 20% discount that saves you on house sitter and homeowner memberships. This is a good, well thought out site with reviews, sit alerts and all of the features you'd expect from a leading platform. You may need to be more flexible about dates, and more patient, but we really do believe HouseSitMexico is the best site for finding house sits in Mexico.

It's founder, Alexandra Gordon, lives in one of the largest communities of expats on Lake Chapala, where using house sitters has become second nature for both pet care and security.

Alex provides a high level of service to her subscribers, based on her extensive knowledge of Mexico and its culture.

Some people think that house sitting in Mexico is more challenging destinations like the US, Canada, Europe or Australia, but we really did find it to one of the most diverse locations we've visited, friendly, inexpensive, and with a good infrastructure in terms of medical and dental care, public transport and safety.

All of the properties we stayed in were of a high quality build, often in gated communities, with access to some fascinating cities or local pueblos. But, you will find rural sits too, and these can be more of a shock if you are a first time sitter, as in Nancy's story below. But these are experiences that are character building, and sometimes it's good to step outside your normal comfort zone and find out what you are capable of!

To further reassure and inspire you, we asked four house sitters who are have house sat in Mexico, some with HouseSitMexico, to tell their first time stories.

RAY HARRIS Avoiding the summer heat of Las Vegas House sitting? Pet sitting? We had never considered anything like that until about July of last year when the temperatures in Las Vegas hit triple digits. My wife, Rose declared, "Nope. No more Las Vegas summers. We have to find somewhere to go." Since her wish is my command, I got online to look for some place to keep cool, and lo and behold, I just stumbled on pet sitting.

The idea of an arrangement where no money changes hands, where we get to stay in a place probably nicer than any short term rental, where we get to love on someone else's pets, seriously appealed to me.

It took some convincing to get Rose to go along with the plan. In her mind, we would be living the life of slaves, feeding, walking and otherwise constantly caring for the pets. I asked her, "Do you really think these folks spend all day caring for their animals? They are just like us. We feed and bathe our dog, we walk him and give him plenty of attention, but it is not something you find onerous, right?" There would be plenty of time to walk the markets and shops and go out to enjoy a nice, relaxing meal.

Having finally gotten her okay, I signed up for regional platform HouseSitMexico.com and another international site. I got to work on our profiles, adding photos, references and verifications where needed. Hit the PUBLISH button and we're off to the races! I quickly found a couple of sits that I thought we would be right for and sent out the request. And then we waited…..and waited. No bites, not even a nibble.

The thought occurred to me that perhaps we had wasted our membership fees for the two sites we joined. YouTube and House Sitting Magazine to the rescue! I watched a few videos and read several articles on house sitting and got some really good ideas.

I tweaked our profiles, adding more photos and more information about us. Pretty soon, I saw a sit in Lake Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico that fit our needs so I jumped on it. The home owner responded quickly and we were locked in. Yay! We have our first sit. Very shortly thereafter, another sit came available in the same area, and again I was on it like a duck on a June bug.

I really think responding quickly helps, and I love that HouseSitMexico sends out flash alerts when a new sit opens. After a bit of back and forth, we were locked on for our second sit. We would have an open period of about three weeks where we could travel around Mexico or just rent a place locally for that period of time.

Out of the blue, the home owner for our second sit asked if we would like to fill that empty time, and I said, "Of course. Thank you very much."

They contacted another home owner who was in a bit of a pickle since their selected sitters would have to leave – guess when – Yep, perfect timing! We finish the first sit, move right in the second and then go to our third. And to think we were worried we would never get a sit!

Rose's worries are quelled. My concerns about getting zero sits have been vanquished.

All we have to do now is close up the house for the summer, fly down to Lake Chapala and do a great job for the three home sits we have lined up. The Lake Chapala area is a place with terrific year around weather, friendly locals and tons of expats from mostly the US and Canada, with a sprinkling of others.

There are weekly fresh air markets, a local WalMart and if you need the American big box stores, Costco and Home Depot and others are about forty minutes away in Guadalajara. Some of the best (and cheapest) health care available is in Guadalajara and there are plenty of clinics and dentists in Lake Chapala. You can find more information than you will ever need on YouTube by searching for "Chapala and Ajijic."

We are already looking forward to NEXT summer!

NANCY B A Scorpion in my hair - But it's all OK! I've traveled a lot, speak passable Spanish. Retired, can't handle the endless gray days in the Pacific Northwest. International house sitting! Of course. Makes perfect sense. My last dog died, I have a responsible ( I hope) roommate.

Joined a Mexico site. It felt a bit like internet dating. Rejected by the first 2 I applied for. I was told that most jobs would be for retired Americans or Canadians in those gated communities, and they would usually prefer a couple. So I added in my profile that I remodel houses as a hobby, (not a helpless old lady who would run yelling for a man if anything went wrong). Bingo, got one! With 2 big dogs!

First mistake. Check airfare before saying yes. But that's OK, gotta start somewhere. So a few extra days in a hotel on either end. That's OK. Head on down, looked on the edge of town on the map. Guess I should have noticed the scale. Miles from town, really out there. That's OK, there's a car. Which I managed to set off the alarm the first time I used it. No idea how. That's OK, won't be driving a lot, could never find this little unpaved road in the dark, and man is it dark!

And it's the Christmas holidays so everything will be closed. Oh yeah, I don't cook, and no fast food anywhere. That's OK, I will buy real food ahead of time at the grocery. Fixing it will give me something to do.

No TV, that's OK, don't have one at home. There's WiFi, so my Netflix works, mostly, when the signal is strong.

The homes here don't have heat or air conditioning. That's OK, the temps are moderate, except recently. I don't mind wearing two shirts and two pants. At least I have them. Finally, daylight, and sun. I shall lay on the hammock and get warm, it works!

Come inside, feel a twig or something in my hair, brush it out, a small scorpion hits the floor. I'm oddly calm, maybe in shock. That's OK, I don't need to lay on the hammock... ever again. I can keep moving whenever I'm outside. Only 2 weeks to go!

So these dogs are fabulous, sweet and fun and loving. Sadly, they are outdoor dogs and can't come in. That's OK, I'll spend a lot of time walking and being with them in the yard. Except when the cattle wander by, or the random horse and donkey. The dogs apparently do not like other species. That's OK, I can check for them before we go for a walk.

The two weeks are over! I have lots of stories and pictures. I've never experienced such isolation. That's OK, I've learned a lot about myself. I can't wait to do it again!

Only thing not OK is how much I'll miss those dogs.

DOREEN CUMBERFORD Our introduction to Mexico!

A couple of years ago we found ourselves ensconced in a colorful, charming Mexican house on a wide cobblestone road in Ajijic, Mexico.

We'd first heard about Ajijic through former colleagues from our expat days in Saudi Arabia.

Our friends had retired there in the late 2000's and every year they sent an annual Christmas letter full of good cheer, along with bright reports of their lives in the town of Chapala beside a great lake in Mexico.

Arriving into the airport at Guadalajara, I was a bit apprehensive about this location. However after a 45 minute taxi ride, we were dropped off in the dark at a burgundy red house with twinkling lights - much more reassuring. Our lovely hostess showed us to her bedroom where the doors opened onto a back patio, which seemed to be brimming over with flora and fauna.

Frogs "croaked" us to sleep that night.

Ajijic proved to be one of the most colorful towns I have ever seen; the Mexican passion for vibrant decoration and dressing is a joy.

We were introduced to our two charges, a sweet copper colored Spaniel who suffered from blindness, deafness and a severe case of diabetes. I felt a heavy weight of responsibility descend since she was clearly in poor shape and needed extra care just to stay alive! Leaning in closely, we learned how to give her injections – our first time ever injecting a dog. We gleaned that it was critical to give her a tiny amount of food every two or three hours during the day.

Our second adoptee was a cat belonging to our home owner's partner. He was neither accustomed to the dog nor this house and spent the entire month hiding out in a spare bedroom. One day we were madly panicked when we couldn't find him. After a neighborhood search, we rechecked the closet only to be greeted by a spitting, hissing, furious beast ready to launch himself at his captors.

We felt great empathy for this poor cat, out of his environment, his single caretaker gone and living in a foreign room with strangers, we would certainly ask more questions next time about guest animals.

Fortunately, our hostess had lots of support in her daily life. A gardener tended the beautifully manicured garden every other day, while a maid arrived to briskly tidy up after we did so - we laughed about needing to create something for her to do each day. The third member of this support crew was a fix-it guy who came several times a week and with who we traded off the two-hour mini-treat dog feedings with him.

Discovering Ajijic was a thrill. We took Spanish lessons and fell in love with the language. We were introduced to pickle ball, which has now become a major pastime for both of us. I found a wonderful yoga group for more mature "yoginis". We found the community incredibly friendly and felt welcomed by our friends who were now the Pastor and Pastor's wife of a local Anglican congregation.

Ajijic hovers between roughhewn cobblestones, paved roads and gravel roads, we drove on many of them. May is the hottest season. I remember walking to yoga on blistering hot afternoons in the low 90's, everyone was looking forward to the rainy monsoons which would arrive shortly to cool things off.

Fresh fruits and produce were abundant, plenty of friendly expats shared their resources and wisdom. We enjoyed Mexican food and met colorful characters throughout the community, both Mexican and foreigners. As a house sitting destination I would give Ajijic high ratings and encourage anyone who is looking for a cultural adventure to seriously consider it.

We loved the dog, fed the cat and day by day enjoyed the Ajijic adventure as it unfolded.

Connect with Doreen at: https://www.doreenmcumberford.com

ROB & SANDY BALL Patzcuaro with HouseSitMexico We joined House Sit Mexico and started applying for sits. It can seem like a slow process, especially when you're in a different time zone, and we had a few unsuccessful applications, but the way our first sit came in just goes to show, nothing is impossible.

House Sit Mexico is brilliant in that it gives sitters instant email alerts, but of course being in different time zones, we switch our phones onto airplane mode at night. So as usual, we checked first thing in the morning where we were, which happened to be UK time and saw that a sit had been posted overnight in Mexico, for a place we hadn't heard of and no other house sitters had even mentioned.

As we speak Spanish and wanted to see the real Mexico (whatever we hoped that was), we applied. It turned out we were about the 20th application… but as the home owners said… they

were glad they had waited for ours. Six months later and we were in Patzcuaro, Michoacán, for the month of December 2018.

Over the 6 months we were in Mexico, we had 7 housesits, 4 of which were through House Sit Mexico; one in Patzcuaro, two in San Miguel de Allende and one in Ajijic, where we also managed to meet up with Alex (the founder) in person.

All of the houses we stayed in were beautiful and comfortable. The home owners were generous and kind, with pets who were much loved and pampered. All of our HouseSitMexico sits had dogs - on two of the sits the dogs didn't leave the yard but on the other two sits we were able to take the dogs on countryside walks.

Being able to speak to the housekeepers, gardeners and other local people we met added to our overall experience. The house sits really are on a different level in Mexico, I guess because for the most part, the home owners are retirees and often American, so their pensions and income go a long way against the Mexican peso.

We found in all cases that the home owners had embraced life in Mexico and were very supportive of local community activities, including projects for schools etc. The fact that we had maids and gardeners made our lives as pet sitters feel very luxurious; coupled with the most comfortable, huge beds and en-suite bathrooms we've ever had on sits, what's not to like!

Oh yes, and this year we've returned to Patzcuaro, on a different sit, for the month of November where we got to enjoy the annual cultural event, Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Check out our website here

FREDA HOLMES First time in Mexico - San Miguel de Allende I responded to an advert on one of the international house sit sites, from a couple who live “11 miles south of San Miguel de Allende, in a rural setting, on an organic farm, to care for a 1-yrold cat for 5.5 weeks”.

We talked on FaceTime and decided we were a good fit. I was persuaded by the accessibility of a bus passing the property several times daily into San Miguel and the assurance of friendly neighbors in the 3 adjacent apartments - neighbors who offer rides to town occasionally, AND reliable WiFi. The TV is in the common room.

The homeowners put me up in a hotel in San Miguel de Allende (SMA) the night of my arrival and also the night before my departure as they don't have a functional second bedroom.

They're lovely, gentle people who dote on their delightful cat. The neighbors are great and the bus system works fine as long as you know exactly where you want to get off.

The BIGGEST mistake I made was coming to a rural area of Mexico totally unprepared languagewise. I guess I supposed that since SanMiguel has a large ex-pat community, there would be a lot of English-speaking locals. How naive and how arrogant of me. I'm SO sorry I didn't make more of an effort to become functional in Spanish before this trip. But I'm here and I'm managing... I did learn my lesson, though.

The homeowners asked the neighbors to care for their cat if I wanted to overnight in the city and that's worked out well. My daughter came to spend a week with me and we've ventured into Guanajuato (GTO), the favorite city of her year of travel in Mexico five years previous.

So it's been a very positive experience and I'd come back to this area again, but the nearby city has lost its appeal for me since I visited GTO! I'll definitely apply for anything available in Guanajuato, but I will commit to Duolingo or registration in a GTO Spanish language course prior to my next visit.

The rural setting of my current sit wouldn't be for everyone but I'm loving the expansive property, the butterflies, the anonymity, the caretakers and the general adventure of living here for almost 6 weeks when the temperatures are dropping in Canada.

HEATSTROKE - DANGERS OF SUMMER HEAT & HOW TO PROTECT YOUR DOG

by Lindsey Harper

Heat stroke is a serious issue for dog owners. During the summer extra attention is needed to keep our fur babies from getting over-heated. With high temperatures it doesn't take long before symptoms of this terrifying event can occur.

As we approach the more extreme summer heat in the Southern Hemisphere, in countries like Australia, it's important to understand how to protect the dogs you are house sitting for. If you've come from a country (like the UK) where extreme heat is rare, you may not naturally think to take precautions. So take a read of this and get yourself informed.

Remember, what could seem like a routine short walk could spell disaster for your pooch if you aren't sure what to look for or how to avoid it in the first place.

What is heat stroke?

Also referred to as hyperthermia, heatstroke is defined as an extreme spike in body temperature. This varies a little according to different specialists, but generally when a pet's body temperature exceeds 103°F (39.4°C), it is considered abnormal or hyperthermic.

Above 106°F (41°F) and associated with exposure to excessive environmental heat is referred to as heat stroke. The critical temperature where multiple organ failure and impending death occurs is around 107°F to 109°F (41.2°C to 42.7°C).

Which dogs are more at risk of heatstroke?

Dogs most susceptible to heat stroke are:         

Obese dogs Older dogs Large breeds Breeds with more fur Brachycephalic breeds (have restricted breathing), like pugs, for example.

Dogs who exercise more Working dogs Dogs that live in humid and hot climates Dogs on certain kinds of medication

In hot weather don't go extreme too quickly Summer inevitably means that most people become more active.

We enjoy taking our dogs on longer walks and doing more physical activities with them. It is tempting to hit the ground running once the weather gets nicer, but that may not be safe for our dogs, especially if they have been mostly sedentary throughout most of the year.

Try to take it slow and work your way up to more intense and longer lasting physical activities.

Take short walks when its cooler, early morning or later evening, and keep a small collapsible bowl on the leash along with a bottle of water. Remember to take frequent breaks and pay attention to how your dog is acting.

Furthermore, don't allow them to be outside for extended periods of time and err on the side of caution by not allowing them out during the hottest times of days. Dogs don't always remove themselves from heat, preferring instead to be with their owners or carers! Think for them.

Make sure they have a cool place Check with the homeowner what they normally do when not at home. See if they leave air conditioning on, or fans, or have somewhere cool for the pets to rest and sleep. Keep doors shut to garden rooms and conservatories where the heat builds up very quickly.

Dogs die in cars - Never leave a dog in a car, even with the windows open. A car can become as hot as an oven very quickly, even when it doesn't feel that warm. When it's 22 degrees, in a car it can reach an unbearable 47 degrees within the hour. More dogs die from heatstroke in this situation than any other. If you are in the UK and you see a dog in a car, ring 999 - the RSPCA do not have the powers to break into the vehicle to release the animals. (Source - RSPCA)

Keep dog's water bowls full It’s especially crucial to keep an eye on water bowls during the warmer months as both evaporation and increased thirst will empty them quickly.

Check water levels multiple times a day. Look into buying a self-watering bowl if you aren't home for long periods of time. These can hold larger amounts of water (such as a gallon). Place more than one bowl at different places around the home and out of any direct sun.

Heat exhaustion vs. heat stroke Heat stroke is a much more serious condition than heat exhaustion. When a dog is experiencing heat exhaustion he or she will want to stop doing the activity. The dog may also pant quicker and heavier, and lay down.

With heat stroke dogs will experience much more serious symptoms, the worst case would be death. Symptoms of heatstroke include those of heat exhaustion as well as much more extreme ones like:         

increased body temperature above 103 F (39.44 C) excessive drooling reddened or discolored (grey, purple, or bluish) gums and moist tissues of the body dehydration (little urine, dry nose, visible tiredness, sunken eyes) rapid or irregular heart rate bloody diarrhea or black tarry stool, irregular heart rate muscle tremors, strange movements (notable to walk straight, or running into things) tiny areas of bleeding seizures and unconsciousness

If your dog exhibits any of these more serious signs do not hesitate to take them immediately to the vet.

How to help a dog displaying signs of heatstroke First take your dog to a cooler area and call the vet for advice.

If he or she is outside bring them into a cool or air-conditioned space. Dowse them with only cool or lukewarm water. Avoid iced water or water that's very cold as this can be dangerous to your dog.

Apply water around their ears and paws. Next, check their temperature using a plastic thermometer. Once they are below 103 F give them water to drink. Again, remember that any water used must not be extremely cold and the dog should never get to the point of shivering.

It is important not to put the dog into cold water or put wet towels on them. The cold water can send them into shock in some cases, and towels can warm up quickly producing a heat barrier that makes them even hotter. In extreme cases, if you do put cool wet towels on a dog, you should replace them as soon as they start to warm up.

How to tell if your dog is too cold In contrast, dogs can also experience negative symptoms if they are subjected to extreme cold.

If you need a coat to go outside then it’s pretty good chance that your dog may need one as well.

Snow and ice warrant for even more caution as these can make the temperature even colder.

Not surprisingly, short-haired breeds are more cold-sensitive.

When your dog’s body temp drops too low (hypothermia) their behavior changes. The dog will slow down and their movements become still. They may also limp because their feet are cold.

Bring your dog inside immediately and hold them close to you to bring up their body temps.

Be aware and prepared for extremes of temperature Practice sound judgement when it comes to exposing your dog, or a dog you are pet sitting for, to any temperature extremes. Remember that they too can experience serious issues from hot or cold weather. Its best to know your dog and how they act in order to be able to detect when something is off.

Play it safe when the temperatures are too far at either end of the spectrum and familiarize yourself and those who care for your dog with the steps to take to help your dog.

When in doubt it's always best to call a vet first, especially if looking after somebody else's pets.

Lindsey Harper has always been a pet lover since she got her first puppy as a kid. She is the cofounder of AvidPup.com, a pet blog where guides and tips are shared, so dog lovers can raise their pups healthy and happy.

ON THE HUNT FOR DOG FRIENDLY PLACES IN AUSTRALIA With the help of Pupsy.com.au

by Ian Gledhill

Between May and August 2019 we completed five house sits in the south of England. One thing we noticed during this time was the number of places, such as pubs and cafes, that welcomed dogs. In the UK a pub seems quite empty if it doesn't have a few dogs in it.

Things felt quite different when we returned to Australia in October. Back in Oz, we became aware of a lot more restrictions about where and when dogs are allowed in public places.

For instance in Brisbane there's currently a trial period allowing dogs onto the river ferries.

What a great idea! However, on further examination we discovered this trial is only between 8.30am and 3.30pm, and then after 7pm. Dogs must remain on a lead and wear a muzzle!

National Park Restrictions On our first house sit in northern New South Wales, we took the two Cavoodles, Benson and Ted, for a walk through Byron Bay. As we headed up towards the lighthouse we decided to stop at the Pass Café.

Here I asked if could sit on the outside terrace of the café with the dogs for a coffee. We were informed that as the café was inside a national park, dogs were not allowed, plus we could receive a fine from a warden if they came across us. We quickly left and walked the 100m back to the main road to continue our walk outside of the national park area.

Off-lead restrictions Our current house sit is in Bulimba, a very nice suburb that is on the river in Brisbane where we are looking after Basil, a dachshund. On our first Saturday we took Basil to the local park that had been recommended by his owners.

In the park we noticed that several dogs were running around off lead with their owners, so we decided to let Basil have an off lead run too which he really enjoyed. We repeated this on the following day and again we observed that there were several other dogs off lead in the park.

On Monday we returned to the park and let Basil off the lead. Being a work day t was much quieter, in fact we were the only ones in the park at that time in the morning. We were then approached by two council officials who informed us that we must keep our dog on a lead in that park. We complied and felt lucky not to have been fined.

We then walked around the circumference of the park to see if we could find any signs clarifying the rules. We did eventually find a small sign stating that dogs must be kept on a lead in the park. On all subsequent visits to the park we have kept Basil on his lead.

Dog Friendly Website - Pupsy.com.au Oxford Street is the main street in Bulimba, and as we walked along it we noticed that Belissima Café was a dog friendly venue with several dogs sat in the cafe with their owners.

This became our go to place for a morning coffee with Basil.

There's also the Revel micro-brewery on Oxford Street which is also dog friendly. Here we saw a sticker in their window for Pupsy.com.au, a website that lists dog friendly locations.

We searched the website and found several other parks, beaches and venues were listed as being dog friendly. The website allows searches by suburb with a map showing the venues nearby with different icons for dog parks, cafes, bars etc. It's such a great website for pet owners, and house and pet sitters in Australia.

Today on Pupsy.com.au you can find over 3000 dog friendly places in Australia across multiple categories such as pubs, wineries, campgrounds, beaches, cafes and holiday homes on Pupsy and more are added in every week!

Basil introduces us to the best venues in Brisbane The first place we visited, as recommended by Pupsy, was the most amazing boardwalk in Wynnum on the bay. Here we found the biggest dog park that we have seen. There is also a loop walk that goes through the park and then onto a long boardwalk over mangroves, it is quite beautiful .

We then took Basil to the listed dog friendly beach in nearby Manly which was very well sign posted with both off-lead and on-lead areas. Basil was not impressed with the beach, maybe it was the sand, he seems far happier with grass under his paws!

Next we visited the Barko and Co café which has big views over the Brisbane river. Basil was welcomed here with a fresh water bowl and a dog biscuit. He was then able to sit on the deck where he could people and dog watch.

Another venue that we discovered was a bar called Spritz at Kangaroo point. This is listed as having the best views in Brisbane, so we couldn't miss this one. The views across the river to the city did not disappoint, the coffee is really good and Basil was welcome to sit under the tables and chairs.

So, in a short time we have been able to turn some negative incidents into some really positive outcomes.

It's amazing how many places Basil has introduced us to so far and no doubt with the help of Pupsy we will continue to have some great experiences as we travel and house sit around Australia.

Ian Gledhill and his partner Lloyd Pickering took early retirement in 2017. Since then they have traveled between the northern and southern hemispheres enjoying the summer in both. In late 2018 they commenced house sitting in Australia and in 2019 shall be house sitting in the UK and France before returning to Australia later in the year.

You can follow them at NomadicSummer.com or on Instagram at @petsitboys

A GUIDE TO FEEDING DOGS WITH SENSITIVE STOMACHS

by Leo Wilson

There aren't many things worse than seeing animals in distress, knowing that they can't tell you what's wrong. It's especially stressful when it's a dog that you've been tasked to take care of while their owner is away. In that scenario, it can be difficult to figure out what the issue is because you're not overly familiar with the dog's normal behavior.

However, dog sitters also have the unique perspective of having access to multiple dogs over the course of weeks and months. They can use that experience to resolve problems at a current house and pet sit that they've maybe witnessed before.

As caretaker for a canine, one of the most important duties is feeding. It's reasonable to assume that the food in the house is something the dog is accustomed to eating. However, that doesn't automatically rule out the food as the source of stomach problems the dog may have under the dog sitter's watch.

What causes dogs to have sensitive stomachs?

There are many factors that can be behind a dog's sudden tummy trouble. Prolonged, chronic stomach issues can be an early sign of cancer. New environments and other stressers can also affect a dog's stomach, similar to the way this might affect humans.

Sometimes a stomach issue can be as simple as eating something the pup shouldn't. However, the most common reason for prolonged stomach problems is food allergies or food sensitivities.

Foods that are high in fat or are difficult to digest can cause stomach problems for dogs.

Ingredients such as corn, wheat and even chicken can trigger allergic reactions in some dogs. A veterinarian can run an allergy panel to find out what, if anything, the dog is eating to cause an allergic reaction.

But don't take it personally if it turns out the dog is allergic to you. Much like people can be allergic to dog danger, dogs can be allergic to human dander, too.

If a dog has a sensitive stomach, anyone who is around the dog for any length of time will know it. The symptoms aren't very subtle.

Symptoms of a sensitive stomach in dogs As a caretaker for a stranger's pet, dog sitters need to be observant of any changes in the dog's behavior or potty tendencies. In many cases, dogs can't hold their stomach issues until it is time for their designated bathroom break. However, a dog should never be punished for having an accident in the house due to an upset stomach.

Sensitive stomachs can result in the following symptoms:  Constipation  Bloody stools  Diarrhea  Vomiting  Flatulence Of course, these symptoms can easily be related to other issues. However, if the symptoms occur directly after the dog eats, chances are likely that their diet to blame.

Food sensitivity can occur in any dog breed. Smaller terrier breeds, such as Yorkshire Terriers, are known to be prone to stomach issues. That doesn't mean the tummy problems can't affect larger breeds, too.

Changing the dog's diet is one of the first steps in finding their ideal food. But of course this is something that should always be run by the owner first, or discussed with the pet owner's vet if they are out of contact. Stomach issues may simply arise on your watch, when they've been brewing quietly in the background - the owner may have changed the diet in recent months and you are only now seeing the effects.

How to resolve unexpected stomach issues For a one-time stomach issue, a meal of plain boiled chicken and rice can ease a dog's discomfort. Canned pumpkin (if in the Americas) is also a suggested remedy. But what can dog caretakers do if a dog has chronic stomach problems with no end in sight? If the problem is the ingredients in the dog food or the food's digestibility, changing foods may be the best solution.

Quality nutrients and proteins are essential in a canine's food source.

Hypoallergenic dog foods are processed through rigorous protocols to ensure the highest quality food makes its way to store shelves. There are even specific foods for dogs that have a sensitive stomach.

Dog sitters are generally only responsible for the animal for a limited amount of time. However, if the stomach sensitivity problems persist, the dog's owner can be advised to visit a veterinarian. The vet can put the dog on an elimination diet to rule out an allergy to specific ingredients typically found in dog food.

Tips for switching to a new food Throwing out the old food and changing to a new food immediately will have serious consequences by making the dog's stomach issues even worse! When switching foods, the new food must be slowly transitioned into the dog's diet over a period of time, such as a week.

The new food meant to appease the dog's sensitive stomach should be rationed with the previous food. Many vets suggest starting with ¼ cup of the new food and increase by a quarter every day until traces of the old food are gone from the dog's bowl.

This slow transition allows the dog's stomach to acclimate to the food designed for sensitivities or allergies. You can also supplement vegetables such as carrots and green beans into your dog's diet for weight loss or added nutrients. Another option the dog sitter may suggest to the owner is to eschew processed food entirely and make the dog's food from scratch at home.

Conclusion Children, dogs and even adults are all prone to the occasional iffy stomach. However, chronic stomach issues in dogs can be a sign of an un-diagnosed medical condition or food allergy. Dogs with sensitive stomachs aren't able to truly enjoy their food because it doesn't stay in their system for long.

Switching to a new food can be a hassle but it's ultimately the right choice for a dog with food sensitivity issues. Dog sitters will also appreciate fewer messes to clean up, leaving them more time to play with the beloved pet. But remember, this must first be agreed between the dog sitter and the pet owner - or with the advice of the owner's vet!

BIO - Leo Wilson graduated from a university major in animal health and behavior. He had over a decade of experience working in the pet industry and has contributed many dogs and petrelated articles to several websites before he decided to start sharing his knowledge on his own blog CyberPet.com - when he's not busy working, he and his wonderful wife love spending time at home with their 3 dogs and 2 cats.

THE BEST PLACES TO SEE CHERRY BLOSSOM IN JAPAN

by Explore Shizuoka

Spring may still feel far away as many of us get ready for Christmas, but in Japan's Shizuoka prefecture – just one hour from Tokyo by bullet train – it won't be long until the region's cherry blossoms are due to arrive.

Shizuoka sees some of Japan's first cherry blossoms each year, making it the perfect destination for travellers looking to get an early glimpse at the beauty of Japan's most famous blooms, known as "sakura".

Travellers from far and wide visit Japan every year to appreciate the iconic pink and white flowers, with most of Japan seeing the blossoms in March and April which usually last for approximately two weeks. However, in the Shizuoka prefecture the distinctive Kawazuzakura blossoms, with their large, deep pink petals, appear from early February and can last up to a month.

Just one hour from Tokyo by bullet train, Shizuoka prefecture is home to the iconic Mount Fuji.

It boasts a spectacular natural environment of coastline, mountains and lakes including the beautiful Izu Pensinula, which has been described as "Japan's Riviera" and was designated as a Global Geopark by UNESCO in April 2018.

The region is steeped in history, has a huge choice of traditional ryokan inns and onsen hot springs, and is also a gourmet paradise. Its natural environment produces some of the country's best food and drink, from green tea and wasabi to fresh seafood. In fact, Shizuoka is Japan's biggest producer of both green tea and wasabi.

To help travellers plan the perfect Shizuoka sakura trip, Tourism Shizuoka Japan has roundedup some of the best places in the prefecture to experience this natural spectacle. The blooming period of cherry blossom each year is dependent on a number of factors and can therefore vary so months are a guideline only.

The Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival (Feb to Mar) From early February to early March, the banks of Shizuoka's Kawazu River are lined with almost 8,000 striking pink sakura trees in full bloom, creating a beautiful sight to behold. To honour the trees, Kawazu holds an annual cherry blossom festival.

Stalls offer sakura crafts, local foods and even the opportunity to buy sakura seedlings and plants while in the evening, light displays illuminate the trees, adding to the magic of the occasion. Attracting over 1 million visitors each year, this festival is one not to miss!

Lake Tanuki - Sakura and Japan's iconic mountain (Early Apr to Mid-Apr) Home to Mt. Fuji, Shizuoka is the perfect location to capture the glorious sight of cherry blossom against the backdrop of Japan's most famous mountain. A visit to Lake Tanuki in Fujinomiya City offers a picture-perfect opportunity to capture the beauty of over 300 sakura trees and the majestic presence of “Fuji-san”.

For another opportunity to combine a cherry blossom experience with Mount Fuji, visitors can head to Osezaki, which offers spectacular views across Suruga Bay.

Spectacular viewpoints from Atami Castle (Late Mar to Early Apr) Atami Castle, which sits at over 120 meters above sea level, provides spectacular views of the seaside resort of the same name, and Sagami Bay. It offers fascinating exhibitions on Japan's history, culture and castles, making it a popular destination for travellers all year round. In spring, Atami comes alive with the colour of cherry blossom and Atami Castle is one of the best places to view this from above.

Hamamatsu Castle (Late Mar to Early Apr) Situated on the renowned and historical Tokaido route, which connects Tokyo with Kyoto, Hamamatsu Castle is a must-visit at any time of year. At the end of March and beginning of April, visitors to the Hamamatsu Castle Park can picnic under the 350 fully blossomed cherry trees that surround the castle, the perfect way to combine history and natural beauty.

Leyama Station and tunnel of Sakura (Late Mar to Early Apr) Perhaps one of the most-popular photography spots in Shizuoka during spring is the onekilometre long tunnel of pink cherry blossom close to Leyama Train Station. Here visitors can take in the eye-catching pink flowers and snap a photo of a traditional steam train as it passes through.

Longer blossom seasons in the foothills of Mt. Omuro (Sep to May) Visitors to Sakura-no-Sato Park at the foot of Mt. Omuro can enjoy the sight of cherry trees in full bloom at any time between September and May. The 40,000m² garden features 1,500 blossoms in 40 varieties, including the Jugatsu Sakura (October cherry blossom) and Sambagawa Fuyu Sakura (winter cherry blossom), making it a must-visit destination all-yearround.

With its earlier, and sometimes longer blooming periods, Shizuoka is the perfect place to discover the beauty of Japan's renowned sakura and start spring in style!

For more information, please visit: www.exploreshizuoka.com/ Some Photo credits - Shizuoka Prefectural Tourist Association

FINDING A HOUSE SIT IN JAPAN

by Sarah Nishina Almost all the house sits available within Japan are for homes occupied by non-Japanese.

House sitting is still a relatively mysterious concept that many Japanese simply do not comprehend. Whenever it comes up in conversation they are extremely interested but cannot fathom the idea of letting a stranger in their house. I have only ever seen one listing by a Japanese owner, whom I have met. She is fluent in English, an artist living deep in the mountains with her dogs and was educated abroad.

Japanese-based house-sits may be a bit more complicated due to language or culture barriers, but things vary according to the location and the length of the house-sit.

If you don't speak Japanese, it may be problematic in the case of an emergency. A contingency plan needs to be in place with contacts and a backup procedure. If in a rural area, there are neighborhood associations and attendant obligations. The occupier of the home will need to introduce you to all the neighbors.

City areas, especially Tokyo, are relatively easy, as many of the available house-sits that I have seen are from expats who already have a good list of English connections to pass on to sitters.

One of our sits involved a 350-year-old home in the heart of the Japanese countryside. This entailed gaining a thorough understanding of the duties that went along with the house-sit. We had to be formally introduced to the neighborhood and take note of all the responsibilities, such as weeding and temple cleaning. O-Bon (the summer holiday) is a busy time for a country home and we needed to ensure the home's family temple had flowers and was cleaned.

Don't expect electrical appliances, TV's and notices to be in English. Be sure the house owners leave detailed instructions about the talking bath and all the switches by the toilet!

Of the 125 million people living in Japan there will only be handful of expats looking for house sitters.

But, as the government is making it easier for foreigners to live in Japan, there are more and more expats in town. These will be the house sits to look out for, especially in Summer when expats escape the heat and the December and January months when many expats return "home" for Christmas.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Of course, it all depends on what you are used to! Just remember everything in Japan is small.

These tips have been taken from a previous article Sarah wrote about her experience house sitting in Japan. If you'd like to read the complete article, go to back Issue 17 at this link.

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

Nowadays you can find Sarah house sitting here and there, exploring the back streets of Tokyo by bike and snapping away everyday life in Japan from behind the lens. She likes to savor every moment like it's her last milkshake. You can contact her at sarahnishina@gmail.com

REVERSE CULTURE SHOCK It's a real thing!

by Karen Purves

What the hell happened?

I arrived at Heathrow Airport, London for the biggest adventure of my life when I was a starryeyed 22 year old. Remember being 22?

I was unstoppable, infallible and the world was my oyster… and, for the most part it has been. I didn’t give a thought that England would be different to Australia.

After all, I had been educated with English text books with stories of seasons and life in the UK. Growing up in a semi-tropical environment, seasons were just in books until much later. Still, I thought that there would be little difference between the two. Well, at that time, we had come mostly come from British stock given the White Australia Policy that was in force until 1974.

Still, I was in for a shock.

Something Australians are known for internationally is their friendliness. Can you imagine how I was greeted at south London bus stops when I struck up a rather one sided conversation?

Things aren't the same now, but more of that later.

Learning that reverse culture shock is a thing!

It took me the best part of a year to make friends. This is apart from work buddies. You know, friends to whom you can disclose how you feel.

Yes, it was a lonely time and I changed my travel plans to overcome it. I was determined to "crack" the British culture, which remained enigmatic.

Adapting to our surrounding is so subtle that we hardly notice it having its way with us. I made friends, got married, built a career (well, several really!) I lived my adult life in the outskirts of London.

I also traveled to many other cultures as well as my home country. Sure, I noticed how different Morocco was to Mexico, or USA to UK and Australia or France to Switzerland. I observed and expressed my gratitude for living where I was. Nothing much else.

In 2014, I decided to go back to my birth country to live, back to my hometown. I felt I could do with some sun, sand and sea. I was grieving so a warm climate was very inviting.

This is where I was in for a big shock, much bigger that I had imagined. I didn’t expect to return to the country I left and I acknowledged that it would have changed.

There is a reason for this...

When we leave a country, we selectively remember the good. We idealize the past and replay these memories in our minds whilst away. Of course, these are distorted memories. When we return, not only have we changed but the culture has traveled its own course for good or ill, and our distorted memories, now cherished ones, set us up for major dissonance.

Not everyone can handle this. The adjustment required is so great that they don’t settle and they end up returning to their adopted country. There is no right or wrong answer.

This is what makes coming home so hard. We aren’t the same person who left. Our experiences are so different because we left. While, the culture of the home country also changes with various influences.

Back for a second attempt I returned to the UK in August 2019 and I was determined not to experience Reverse Culture Shock.

I was in a better place and had already experienced the shock. I felt that I could do better this time.

After feelings of excitement passed, anger, frustration and perhaps isolation made their presence. During this early phase, I spent a lot of time watching breakfast TV. Not something I usually do, but it was a way I could learn what was topical and how it was being discussed.

I was glad to learn positive things about climate change but also how Brexit had fractured the country. I felt kindness and tolerance (two very strong attributes of the British culture), and their presence had changed. The behavior of politicians was also very different.

Adjusting to our new surroundings may take a few weeks or months. It doesn’t guarantee that happiness will be found by "coming home".

This is my tale of experiencing reverse culture twice in my life. Making such huge adjustments the first time was too much for me. The second time, having experienced the seriousness of reverse culture shock, I took steps to ease myself into the culture so I could live happily in my adopted country.

Karen Purves is the author of Gratitude Prompts, a speaker, coach and accidental nomad. She's currently based in the UK choosing house sitting to experience new and different places. Her future plans involve more house sitting travel to mainland Europe.

You can connect with Karen on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with the @karenpurves handle.

DENTAL TIPS FOR THE SAVVY TRAVELER

by Dr. Sonal Bhoot

Regardless of whether you are heading out of town for the weekend, a three week house sit in Europe, or for a bucket list safari around Africa, it's essential to consider every detail of your trip, and that includes dental health.

Think about it.

You will meticulously plan your hotel reservations, flight bookings, and car hire. You may even layout every outfit you could wear on this trip because you are trying hard not to over-pack.

However, it's very likely you will forget one thing - the planning of dental health for travel.

I'm sure you're thinking, "Of course I haven't forget my dental health. I've packed my toothbrush”!

Well, that's great you packed your toothbrush. But you've probably forgotten some of the other dental related items that could prevent you getting unexpected or emergency dental care in unknown and unfamiliar countries.

So, let us share some tips with you, so you are truly ready for everything on your next trip.

You're on vacation, but plaque is not!

The great part of a vacation is that you can take a break from your usual dietary restrictions.

You can forget about eating carb-free and enjoy your favorite pasta dish. After all, you've earned it! Same for dessert. A little extra piece of cake won't hurt you.

While this might be true for some, but just remember, plaque never takes a vacation.

Just because you're on holiday doesn't mean you should skip any of the steps in your regular dental hygiene routine. You should still brush at least twice a day, and floss at least once per day. Don't forget to use your mouthwash too.

On that same note, if you are taking a break from your diet and eating sweet treats at dinner, remember not to go crazy. Consume sweets in moderation. Sodas, candies and sweets, and pastries still contain the same amount of sugar, whether you are on vacation or not. You don't need to banish them from your diet. Just make sure you don't overdo it.

Take some carry-on product Don't risk losing your dental products if your checked baggage doesn't arrive with you. Buy some mini sizes (under 100ml), especially if traveling to countries where dental produces may be hard to find (that African safari), or on a house sit in Nicaragua where product will likely be very expensive or a less trusted brand.

International Airports (while more expensive) usually have good, well stocked pharmacies where you can buy product once through to departures, if you want a larger size to take on your travels.

A word on plastic toothbrush travel cases This might seem like a good idea. Since we put toothbrushes in our mouths, we need to be careful about what it comes in contact with. Surfaces can be covered with bacteria and germs.

That's why we always store our toothbrushes in something upright when we are home.

This is also why we let them air dry at home. We know if we put something wet into a container with no air circulation, it isn't going to dry. It's will simply breed germs and get smelly. So if we know all that, why would we change our habits on vacation?

Those plastic travel tubes for toothbrushes, are really not the best item to transport your toothbrush in. They do nothing except prevent the brush from drying out and cultivate bacteria growth. Don't waste your money on buying one. You can simply use a plastic sandwich bag or freezer bag from the kitchen for the period of transportation. Or simply buy a new toothbrush just for your trip and throw it away once you get home.

Deal with nagging dental issues before you leave Don't overlook a quick visit to the dentist before you leave. Travel can exacerbate dental problems. Not a lot of people know this, but flying can aggravate loose dental work like crowns and fillings. If your destination is tropical, so can water activities like scuba diving. The pressure changes can cause any loose fillings or crowns to pop out.

If you have any nagging issues, get your dentist to check them out before you go. Getting a dental exam before a vacation isn't something usually on your travel checklist, but it should be.

When you leave home and find yourself in a different country, finding dental care can be a daunting task. Depending upon where in the world you are, there could be a substantial language barrier and different levels of hygiene and cleanliness in surgeries.

Often your insurance policy will only cover you for emergency cover, meaning that you could end up with a temporary crown until your return home. Whether you have a problem brewing or not, it's wise to check out dental (and general medical) care facilities in towns and cities close at your holiday or house sit location. On the other hand, you might actually find your chosen location is a popular dental tourism location, where expensive work back home can be carried out inexpensively and professionally!

If your vacation is in the USA, it's still a hassle to find a dentist who will see you. Since you have no relationship to this practice, and probably won't again after your break, they are not obligated to see you.

Please don't forget your teeth!

I know… you are going on vacation to relax, not to worry about your teeth! But our bodies don't take a holiday. If you make plans for everything else when you are on vacation, traveling or house sitting, why not do the same thing for your teeth. They will thank you in the end!

Dr. Sonal Bhoot is the founder of Dental Expressions Lee's Summit. She has over 15 years of dental experience and received her doctorate in Dental Medicine (DMD) in 2003 from the New Jersey Dental School, with certifications and proficiencies in cosmetic dentistry, CEREC training, Invisalign, endodontics, oral surgery, TMJ disorders, restorative dentistry, laser treatments and more.

Get more information at: https://dentalexpressionsmile.com/

ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE ... and I'm treading the boards alone

by Jill Young

The Backdrop As I write this, it is approaching the end of October and I am sitting at a desk with the late afternoon sun beaming through open patio doors, warming my back. If I look over my shoulder, through the crisp golden leaves that are falling from the overhead grape vines, I can see a tree laden with ripening oranges. Next to that is another tree with over ripe persimmons, failing in their attempt to cling to the branches, and plunging to the ground to burst open, becoming food for the wasps.

In the distance I can hear the chimes of the now familiar church bell in the valley below. Apart from that, and the buzzing of the many insects, it is quiet and peaceful, a haven of tranquility.

I am on a Quinta in Central Portugal, enjoying my third house sit with Merry the dog, who I have come to love dearly. This is my final day before the home owners return and I leave to travel on to Competa in Spain where I have, very conveniently two sits back-to-back, split over the next three weeks.

Such is the life of a more or less full time house and pet sitter. When I decided to take the plunge, just over a year ago, and register as a sitter with TrustedHousesitters, I never for a moment imagined this would become my norm!

If you'd like to sign up to TrustedHousesitters, you can get a 25% discount applied at this link.

The Lead Character I am an over 60, solo, female house sitter from Northern Ireland who loves the more rural, remote and quirky sits. Not for me the luxury villas with private pools and staff, those are the ones I scroll past when perusing the website, and maybe just as well, because there is stiff competition for such sits. However, there are sitters for each and every kind of home, pet, and location; we vary tremendously in our preferences.

It’s not that I only do rural sits, I have successfully completed a wide range of sits in a variety of locations, both rural and urban, but for the purposes of this article I wish to focus on the more isolated and solitary kind.

It’s not a situation that suits everyone and at times the fact that I am a solo sitter has gone against me, with homeowners doubting my capabilities of spending lengthy periods of time alone. Add to that the fact that I travel without a vehicle, and I am often passed over in favor of others. Once, I even had a homeowner offer me a sit and then decide against it and cancel because she thought I would find it too lonely; that was a bitter pill to swallow.

Something to keep in mind however, if you are a homeowner, is there are reasons for everything. Some sitters wish to see the world and are avid sightseers, seeking sits that will give them the freedom to be out and about most days. Some sitters are digital nomads, seeking a quiet place to work whilst incorporating some adventure. Others may be writers, poets or suchlike, seeking solitude to write.

For me, the main reason I began house sitting was to seek out warmer climes during the winter months. Like many people of "a certain age", I find the warmth of the sun and the additional Vitamin D3 (so often lacking for those of us from the UK), to be of great benefit to my general health and well-being.

When a road traffic accident brought my working life to an abrupt end, a couple of years shy of receiving my state pension, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to establish myself as a house sitter. I am able to live extremely economically when house sitting and this is one of the reasons, although not the only one, why I enjoy the more isolated and remote sits. It means I have few temptations to spend money. Once I have my groceries, which I either purchase on the way, or are generously provided by the homeowner, I may spend nothing at all for the duration of the sit.

One thing I really enjoy about areas such as this is, because there are so few people, and because I am obviously a stranger, everyone wants to chat, or at the very least exchange a hearty "bom dia" or "boa tarde". The Portuguese are extremely warm and friendly people and love to engage with you.

The Inspiration It was while I was online with my daughter one day, telling her about the people I have met, that I thought I should write about it. Many people comment to me that they could not cope with the isolation of this type of sit but I find there is so much to absorb and enjoy that I rarely feel isolated or lonely. And who could feel lonely with a dog for company!

The Stage Dressing There are 2 forest tracks on which I walk the dog. The lower track leads to a river where Merry can jump in and splash around for a while. I don’t recall ever meeting anyone along that track, although I can certainly hear people going about the task of cutting down trees, which seems to be a fairly constant task.

Despite the absence of people there is lots to take in, for instance, the scent of eucalyptus trees, especially after the rain; the buzzing and humming of insects; birdsong and birds of prey hovering overhead waiting to swoop on unsuspecting victims; trees rustling in the wind; the bleating of goats; the crowing of roosters; dogs barking; tractors chugging; and then there are all the wild flowers to enjoy. For someone who enjoys photography it is idyllic.

The Supporting Cast It is along the higher track that I encounter people; a lady herding sheep, who allows me to take a video but then tells me, while wagging her finger, “não Facebook”, darn it; a man and his wife chugging along in a small three-wheeled vehicle, who wind the window down and have a great conversation with me, even though none of us understand much of the conversation; a man, early on a Sunday morning, with a gun over his shoulder and a gun dog by his side, who wishes me a hearty, “bom dia” ; the neighbour who lives next door, out with his huge German Shepherd, who greets me warmly while Merry cowers between my legs.

And then, at the end of this particular track is a tent, the home of an English guy who moved here a year or so ago. He bought one of the burnt out dwellings that was damaged during the fires of 2017 and has been living al fresco whilst cultivating the land. Obviously getting crops planted takes priority over the repairs to the dwelling but he does have an outdoor bath that is fed with water, heated in an oil drum over an open fire, and then flushed away along an irrigation channel to water the newly planted fruit trees. Just imagine lying in a hot bath gazing at the star, absolute heaven.

Coming back to the Quinta, after my walks, I am often greeted by the two sisters, and one of their husbands, who have the allotment on the other side of the fence. They are so full of joy and never stop smiling while they chat about the weather, pointing to the sun or clouds as appropriate. They may not speak any English but, I was still able to understand that I was being gently scolded for not wearing a hat in the sun the other day.

From time to time the "goat lady" appears accompanied by her husband. She collects all the windfall apples and other fruit, for her goats, while he prunes the vines. It was he who harvested the grapes earlier in the year to be used for wine making. They both chat enthusiastically, again with no English, but sure what does it matter? When they have finished their work and filled the trailer with the pruning and bags of apples they head off down the hill, the husband driving the tractor and the lady sitting in the trailer on top of the vines.

Some days the "goat lady" is to be found in the field next door, when she lets the goats out for a graze, and although Merry is most indignant that I am speaking to them, and barks incessantly, I enjoy watching their antics in the field as they leap around so full of joy providing me with a great photo opportunity.

The Grand Finale If I am really craving excitement there are two cafe/bars within easy walking distance where I can purchase a coffee for the princely sum of 70 cents and even buy a few groceries if needed.

This makes for an enjoyable hour or so and some social interaction as people ask me have I moved here and where I live. I think I have managed to convey to anyone who has asked that I am staying at a friend's house, looking after her dog while she walks the Camino de Santiago.

No way am I attempting to explain, in rudimentary Portuguese and mime, that I am a house sitter!

I also had a couple of hours out one day and went to the nearby town, by taxi, and had lunch; the homeowner very kindly gave me money to cover the cost of a taxi. The town is only just over 5km away so I could have walked in and returned by taxi but, as I was being treated, I enjoyed the luxury of being driven both ways and saved my energy for pottering around exploring the narrow cobble-stoned streets.

The Review However, in the town no one engaged with me, I was just another tourist taking photographs.

This is normal. In a town or city there may be many more people, but I find that there are far less opportunities to interact with the locals. As I reflect on my time here it is the moments spent with the local "characters" that stand out to me. They may have been brief, but they were enriching, and for me one of the real positives of being a house sitter.

That and the pets, of course!

In just over a year Jill Young has completed 19 sits in 8 European countries and cared for 15 dogs, 19 cats, assorted fish and a rabbit. Her favorite country is Portugal with Spain coming a close second. Between sits she enjoys staying in hostels.

If you would like to follow Jill’s travels and house sitting adventures, she has a new blog, or find her on Instagram. She subsidizes her travels by selling eco-friendly products, check out what's available here ASmallerFootprint.wikaniko.com

SEEING THE WORLD ONE (RESCUE) CAT AT A TIME

by Madolline Gourley

I had no idea just how popular rescue pets were in the USA. Or back home in Australia. But just three days after returning home from my first house sit, still on a high from receiving my first 5star review, my 13-year-old Birman passed away.

I was devastated.

I'm not one to cry. Ever. But I spent all day crying. I wanted - almost needed - to fill the void she'd left, and so I began to think about adopting a rescue cat.

Long story short - I adopted a Ragdoll from the Brisbane rescue centre Best Friends Felines and I couldn't be happier. Animal rescues do great work, and the cats and dogs they re-home can be just as loving as any other. My Ragdoll, Gracie, is proof of that.

My rescue family Harvey, brothers Fitz and Henri, Simon and Symone, Bodhi and Leela, Nika, Rumi, and Zoey.

These are the names of the rescue cats I've cared for while traveling around the United States as a house and cat sitter.

Harvey (as seen above) - he's a Maine Coon - was the first cat I looked after. This was back in 2017 before I had any "proper" house sitting credentials. We spent 10 days together over the Christmas and New Year break and, slowly but surely, we became friends before it was time for me to leave. Harvey was adopted earlier that year after his owners fell in love with his picture on a local rescue center's Instagram page.

Some house sits later, I returned to look after Harvey again. This time in August 2018. Harvey was more confident and playful than when we first met. I learned he now enjoyed spending his days staring out the window at a neighbor's cat. He was a lot more at ease with me and didn't run away when I first arrived. Harvey is the only cat I've been able to rendezvous with, but I often wonder how my other feline friends are doing.

What to consider when looking after rescues A lot of the rescue cats I've looked after were initially apprehensive about having me in their space. They're usually a bit jumpy and prefer to hide, but give it a day or two and they'll warm up to you. There was one rescue cat I looked after, 10-year-old Nika, who was the most affectionate of the some 20+ cats I've looked after. Nika remains my favorite.

Nika and Fitz Then there were Boston brothers Fitz and Henri (featured image) who were the most adventurous and cheeky of the lot. They enjoyed chewing on my cereal box and fighting over who'd sit on my suitcase. They also got great enjoyment from knocking anything and everything off the kitchen counter. These two weren't shy at all.

While I don't think providing live-in pet care for a rescue is too different from looking after a pet shop-bought or pure-bred animal, I've put together a few extra things to think about when weighing up whether or not you're up to it:     

Go through the pet's routine with the owner(s) beforehand. Stick to this routine as closely as you can.

Don't try to pick the pet up straight away (or at all and depending on how the owner's describe their personality). Respect their personal space.

Keep your eye on food and water bowls. Make sure the pet's coming out to eat and drink at some point each day. Check the litter box, too.

Treats! You can usually win them over with treats.

Let the owners know about the progress you're making or if you suspect something's wrong.

Next stop home In just a few short weeks, I'll be looking after yet another rescue cat. It'll be my third Christmas in a row spent with one. This time it won't be in San Francisco or snowy Boulder, Colorado, US. It will be in my hometown of Brisbane, Australia.

I went to meet Jaspurr, the Ragdoll, and his owners at the end of November. Jaspurr wasn't scared of me at all. He event let me pet him. He then followed us from room to room as I was shown around the apartment. Jaspurr's owners told me he suffers from separation anxiety and they love the idea of having someone being there for him when they're away.

I'm hoping it will all go well and that I will be the first person they reach out to next time they need a live-in cat sitter!

Madolline Gourley is a writer and editor from Brisbane, Australia. She has completed 15 house and cat sits in cities and towns across America, and has recently started blogging about her travels at "One cat at a time"

Gracie, cozy in bed!

A DIFFERENT VERSION OF ME

by Bernadine Swale

For a brief moment in time I get to be someone else, Or rather a different version of myself.

Today I am the retired woman who lives on the beach.

Not the quiet beach, with dunes and waves of sea grass, But the beach of manicured sands, volley ball nets and lifeguard stations, The beach of patrol cars, posted signs outlining the rules you must abide by, The beach where youth is a currency and the beautiful run along the Strand.

Sun kissed bodies glistening with the effort of chasing perfection.

I'm walking the dog that is mine for the week, Past homes like the one I'm staying in, beach front and elusive, Each one unique.

Each one showing its inner sanctuaries through floor to ceiling windows.

I choose to be the woman who has lived here for 40 years.

The one that moved here when there was decay in the area, The one whose rent is fixed, The one the landlord wishes would move on.

Last week I was the woman who worked in Tokyo.

The one who was important enough to be provided with a compact but well positioned apartment in the heart of the city.

There my dog was larger and not so fashionable, Well bred, well trained and sensible.

I walked him along the river where I was passed by men and women, clad in black suits riding bicycles.

I sat with him at a strangely French feeling street cafe.

The clientele busy with laptops and iPhones but the place remained oddly silent.

At other times of the day I walked in the opposite direction.

Tall crowded buildings, towers of neon, Crowds moving with the speed and efficiency of passing shoals of fish.

Home is in a tower block.

I am welcomed by the doorman, gleaming glass and shiny floors.

I have a toilet with a heated seat that plays music, and offers me a range of personal hygiene options.

I wonder who I'll be next week?

IN THE NEXT ISSUE

The next issue of House Sitting Magazine will be available from 15th Feb 2020

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