How this all began

This all began when I woke up one morning in the summer of 2018 bored with my circumstances, my life and even with Cheltenham, something I’d never have imagined as, when I moved there in 2007, I told everyone I’d only leave in a box! I’d been driven out of a job I loved in October 2017 and, subsequently, been unsuccessful in securing two other jobs that I knew would be fulfilling. So, changes had to be made given that life is short or, as Graham would say: “There are no pockets in shrouds”!

A few years ago I read an interesting article in the ‘Sunday Times’ about a couple who, whilst travelling, had been asked by some house owners they met to housesit for them. They agreed and, as a result of their experience, recognised a gap in the market and set up Trusted Housesitters. I joined in 2012 expecting to use it for free holidays in the UK and enjoy the company of other people’s pets. However, I didn’t use it and my membership lapsed. After much deliberation I decided to rent my home from January 2019, rejoin Trusted Housesitters and housesit in the UK for a few months to save some money and get housesitting experience before travelling to New Zealand and Australia and then, who knows…?

I’ve rented out two previous homes (1998 and 2005) to go travelling and thought I’d got it out of my system but it seems not! It was certainly a lot more tiring emptying and packing up my home this time and I thought it best to make the most of life while I still have my health and energy, albeit a bit less than in 2005! This time I didn’t need to pay for storage as I sold some furniture, got most of the rest of my belongings in the eaves and attic room, padlocking it, and had the kind offer from Helen to leave clothes and camping gear at her house for as long as necessary.  Friends were also offering me a  bed should I find myself adrift between housesits.