Hello Ian,
After all these years, sadly I will not be renewing my membership this year.
At 80 years
young, widowed for 5 years, and with my own house and garden to maintain, I no
longer have the stamina to look after other people's animals or keep their
houses, gardens or pools to the standard which is desired.
After many years
of housesitting with my husband, who was the 'fix-it' man, and being a farmer
originally was able to turn his hand to anything that was required, now there
is no longer the will, or in current times, the same opportunity, to travel.
We visited 60 countries and house-sat in many of them, as well as 40 states in USA and Canada, and every state in Australia. I have lifelong friends all over the world and many happy memories.
I spent months
travelling on my own in France, both housesitting, and working on farms and
in B and B's, house-sat in Norway Sweden and Denmark, my specialty
being to look after diabetic cats who needed insulin injections twice daily at
the same time of day, which dictated meal times and social activities.
Also Hong Kong,
mainland China, Singapore and Malaysia, where blonde hair and blue eyes invited
conversation and interest from locals.
I rounded up sheep in outback Western Australia wearing bright clothing, hot pink sneakers and carrying a matching hot pink umbrella, the sheep being so mesmerised - or, perhaps confused - against all expectations, went obediently into the holding pens.
There were snakes in the sofa we were sitting on! They escaped into the lounge room when we got up off the sofa, and in trying to escape outside, got trapped between the window glass and the glass sliding door... Snakes eating the chicken eggs before we could collect them, or up in the rafters of the veranda. Some injured magpies required hand feeding, and mice jumping out when the toaster was turned on.
And of course many cats and dogs to be shampooed, walked, fed, and
cuddled, and horses and cattle to be tended, to - many of whom (dogs and
cats) turned up their noses in disdain when their owners returned, clearly
indicating they'd rather stay with us.
I reorganised
pantries and cupboards, packed up whole houses for owners
moving interstate days after their return, picked fruit and vegetables and
made jam and preserves, picked up thousands of macadamia nuts on the nut
farm, and hundreds of avocados from the avocado farm, with trays and boxes
kept in the bath for cool storage, made hundreds of beds, and washed
countless floors.
The snake
catching, mouse killing and spider eradication - as a city girl, I left
to others to deal with.
It's been wonderful Ian, and I thank you for all your hard work and organisation, making it possible for people to have such wonderful adventures. We have introduced so many people to Housecarers over the years. Now I'm handing over to a new generation.
Thank you
again, Joy B (Adelaide)
View Grandma_Joy housecarers profile
Hi Joy,
Phew Joy, I am out of breath just reading of your energetic wandering and overcoming all the challenges along the way.
Thank
you very much for your service and support over the years – since 29-Jun-03!
You
were one of our early members.
Also I love hearing your story and experiences – thank you so much for sharing. It all makes my efforts over the years worthwhile.
All the best with your “retirement” from housesitting and I wish and pray for many more fruitful and filled years ahead for you.
Ian
