Expecting the Unexpected

I was delighted to be invited to write a piece for House Sitting Magazine following on from my blog article In Case of Emergency

As well as sharing a little about my love of sailing, it was a chance to pull together some great tips to help any housesitter be better prepared for emergencies.

Just click on the link below to read the article

House Sitting - Expecting the Unexpected

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Driving Miss Eddie – A Year on the Road with a Housesitting Hound

The following article was entered in the 2018 Blog Writing competition run by HouseSitMatch.com and won first prize! I've recreated it here so my readers can enjoy it too. Thanks to everyone who voted for us.


“There’s no way I’m getting in that” says Eddie – not in so many words but rather by the fearful look in her eye as she tucks her tail firmly between her legs and retreats to a safe distance.

I’d just brought home the flight crate she was going to travel in from our home on Cyprus to start a new life as international housesitters on the European mainland.  But over the coming weeks, as I coax her with treats, this object of dread transforms into a safe haven that she willingly climbs into once the big day arrives.

We land in Rome early one autumn morning.  The sun is just rising over the Appennine mountains, setting the sky on fire with all the ferocity normally reserved for a sunset.  What a glorious welcome from the country with which I have long h...

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How to Fold Your Hoodie

I don't know about you, but with travelling so much, I've become something of a demon packer.

I still strive towards the goal of 'travelling light'.  It's a goal I'm not sure I'll ever achieve.  Even when I set off 'light' I inevitably return 'heavy' having indulged my love of retail therapy.  My interim goal is to squeeze every last cubic centimetre of space out of my luggage.  I can honestly say that by the time I close that zip, the only thing more densely packed than my suitcase is a black hole!

I'm always watching videos about packing hacks, folding tips and the like and giving them a try.  My latest find is this great little video from Emily Brooker . In it she shows a great trick for folding a hoodie to take up minimal space in your suitcase or drawer.

https://youtu.be/spga09MsB7M

I love the neat little package that the hoodie ends up being.  So easy to store in a drawer or pack easily in a suitcase or holdall bag.  I might just have to order some ...

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