Camels, SpongeBob Squarepants, and the Easter Bunny

Easter arrived in my area last week and along with it, lots of free events. As a former house sitter who used to live on less than $200 a week, I love free events.

The one I went to had displays and craft activities, rock climbing, and treasure hunts in the sand. Children could ride a pony painted in rainbow colours, or a camel covered in a rainbow coloured cloth. All along the beach front were hundreds of stalls selling everything from soy candles, to sculptures made from cutlery, and clothes, and teddies, and jewellery, and too many more to name.

On the beach kids dug into piles of special sculpting sand, alongside a huge sandcastle of Spongebob Squarepants, his house and his friends. Parents watched the start of the Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race and everyone watched the Easter Bunny arrive on a life savers blow up dinghy.

When you are saving money, why wouldn’t you go to a free event? It was a fantastic day out and all it cost was my lunch money, … and maybe a little more because I was not properly prepared.

My friend and I had potatoes cut into spirals and deep fried, Lebanese bread with pineapple and cheese, and Vietnamese cabbage rolls. It was all good, and not expensive, but we spent the most on drinks; mostly fresh lemonade and homemade ginger beer. It was all sweet stuff, but I resent paying three dollars for a bottle of water.

That is where I went wrong. It got sweltering hot. With a little preparation I could have brought my own iced water and saved even more.

When I was a house sitter, I went to a lot of free events. They are a great way to have fun without spending lots of money.

House Sitting and free events are a great combination and a big part of how I lived like a princess on less than $200 a week.

If you have a favourite festival, feel free to share it in the comments section. Your comment might be where I learn about my next big adventure.

To learn more about house sitting, along with fun house sitting stories and tales of my adventures around Australia, go to https://www.createspace.com/3750764 or Amazon.com or Amazon.com to buy my book.

Someone to drum with

We sat under the shade and followed along with the happiest drum teacher I have ever met. Each of us seated around him had an instrument. I had a large authentic looking drum with a well-worn skin cover and what looked like cow fur around the top. My friend had a handful of what looked like hardened leather bells, that jangled as she shook them.

The teacher led us in simple rhythms and chants and I wondered why I didn’t drum more often. It made me incredibly happy and relaxed. My friend said it made her hands sore.

We both had fun and we sparked off each other. She showed me how my drum vibrated with the other drums even when I wasn’t playing it. I tried to push her into the middle when the leader asked for dancers.

It was the Redcliffe Easter festival and it was busy and alive with activities for all ages, and I am so glad I went, but I nearly didn’t. It was only after my friend called for my opinion on a piece of writing that we decided to go together.

The drum teacher’s enthusiasm was infectious. He smiled for non-stop for the half an hour we were there and when we returned three hours later he was still smiling and jollying along another spell-bound group.

He showed us how to beat different patterns and even tried to get us to jump dance. I loved it but if my friend had not phoned, I would have missed it all

My friend is an amazing author and very skilled. I only met her last year, and we started sharing writing this year. Writing is a solitary activity, but having a friend who can critique my writing has been invaluable. Friends and family are often too kind. Only another writer knows how fragile I can be about my writing, and is skilled enough to offer useful suggestions that I will listen to.

Just as I could have sat down with a drum and played it myself, I could continue to write by myself, but I had much more fun with a skilled teacher and a group of other learners who amplified the sound of my own drum and added richness. So it is with having a friend to discuss my work with.

People of other professions naturally share information, skills, and advice with each other. Writers too can benefit from the same strategy.

By sharing my work with her, and also by sharing my opinions on her work, we both will have something better to offer when we share it with the world.

Two heads really are better than one, whether it is writing or drumming.

To learn more about house sitting, along with fun house sitting stories and tales of my adventures around Australia, go to https://www.createspace.com/3750764 or Amazon.com or Amazon.com to buy my book.

Why Go To a Writers Group?

When everyone else is rushing off to work and hoping to beat the traffic, a writer is free to choose when and where he or she works. I love that about writing, but you can’t always stay inside and write. Sometimes you need to get out and meet some people who can inspire, provide perspective, and maybe even improve your writing.

I am talking about writers groups. They are a great place to meet some other writers and compare notes.

I went to a local writers group the other day. It was low key and more social than educational, but I learned a lot and met some fascinating writers.

One has just returned from a successful visit to the Worlds Book Fair in Germany. There was a woman who has spent time in jail and is teaching people how to avoid the trap she fell into. Another woman was a radio cooking shows presenter and has a cooking and poetry book. Some of the writers were so quiet, I have no idea if they are writing, or just thinking about it. I can learn from all of them.

From meeting with other writers I have learned;

·         Where to get books printed locally for a reasonable price

·         How to format and sell e-books

·         How other people market their books

·         Which local writer events are worth attending

·         How others schedule their writing

There was so much more. If you are at all interested in writing, I suggest you find a good local group and spend some time sharing with them. You probably have things you can pass on to others too.

If you are not a writer, perhaps a local trade group, or craft group, or mothers group, or professional group would suit you.

Why not give it a try?

House Sitting those "Spoiled" Dogs

I watched in awe yesterday as a woman on TV explained how she spent thousands of dollars buying her children costly clothes, exotic holidays, expensive cars, and other lavish gifts as a reward for bringing home a good school report. On one occasion she arranged a party for her daughter that cost over one million dollars.

She admitted it was indulgent to spend so much on the children but said it was not doing any harm. She said her children were doing well in school, and that they were polite, humble, and well-adjusted. From the little we saw of them, that seemed to be the case.

Most people would call her children spoiled but I am not so sure. I think the great thing was the way she linked the reward to what she felt was “good” behaviour.

It made me think of some of the pets I have looked after. Some of them lived in mansions, and some of them in much more modest circumstances, but they were all happy and healthy.

In my very first house sit, there were three dogs and the owner described them as “spoiled” dogs.

They had the most complicated feeding routine that I have ever seen. Twice a day they had three types of food in their bowls, and when I went out they had a snack. Each meal seemed to include every variety of dog food ever made as well as some butcher meat that would have made a good stew. Half the cupboards in the kitchen were taken over with their dry food and treats.

They had to go for a walk together, so it took ages to walk just around the block. Especially when the smallest insisted everyone else stop at every interesting tree, post, plant, or what looked to me like an unremarkable grass patch. I could almost see the German Shepherd rolling his eyes when we stopped for the tenth time in twenty metres.

There was no use trying to hurry the little one along. The others knew who was boss, and I quickly learned for myself that unless I was prepared to drag her along the street, then I might as well put up with it.

Despite all this, they were just the loveliest dogs. They were patient with me and each other. They never clamoured for attention, or fought. They seemed happy, well-adjusted, and just plain content with their life.

In another home the three dogs were less restrained. They charged around the house making mess, dragged bones and sticks into the home, and sometimes wet the floor at night, despite there being an open dog door for them, I think the dogs were used to making their own rules because the family was out for most of the day at work.

In one home the dog would hide whenever anyone came by, including the owner, unless it was raining and then she needed a cuddle. In another home I walked two tiny dogs that would have chased people down the street if they could.

I looked after elegant cats, and moggies, and chickens, and fish, and I once looked after two four-hundred pound steer that used to try and hide behind a tree when I walked by.

There are so many advantages to house sitting and meeting the pets is one of them. After all the reason I got to house sit at all was often because people wanted me to look after their often “spoiled” pets. I learned to love them all.

I loved seeing how pets (like children) that have food, shelter, and most of all affection, are by and large well-adjusted whether they live in a mansion or a rundown inner city home. 

To learn more about house sitting, along with fun house sitting stories and tales of my adventures around Australia, go to https://www.createspace.com/3750764 or Amazon.com to buy my book.

What's Not to Like about House Sitting?

House sitting is a rewarding way of life and the financial benefits are huge. Free board, no electricity bills, no phone line costs, no rates, no rent. My living costs while house sitting were around $100 a week.

Then there are the cute pets in most homes. I have looked after big stately dogs, little fluffy dogs, elegant cats, and scruffy moggies. I have also taken care of one miniature horse, several full-sized horses, two cowardly steer, numerous fish, and half a dozen chickens. Having pets in the homes is a bonus. I got to play with them, feed and walk them, and they kept me company.

So what is not to like?

To be honest not much, but there are a few things you might miss if you take the plunge into house sitting.

1.       You can’t have parties

Having a few people over for dinner would probably be fine, but having a large group might not. Anything that might cause undue wear and tear on the house or annoy the neighbours would not be a good idea. Now I am in my own home, I can invite all the family over any time.

2.      You usually can’t go away for the night.

Since the only reason you are there is to occupy the house for the owner, it would probably be a breach of your agreement (even if it is just verbal) to be away overnight. Exceptions might be for a long house sit where the owners have set up a backup for any animals.

3.      You can’t decorate it how you like

You can put some of your own things around of course, but you wouldn’t expect to hang your own pictures, or install your own shelves. I love trialling other people’s lifestyles and seeing their decorating ideas, but I miss the photos of my sons I usually have on the wall.

4.      You won’t have your own garden

While I benefitted from other people’s gardens and enjoyed their fresh vegetables, there is nothing like growing your own. When I knew I was going to be settling down for a while, I got excited about having my own garden.

In summary, house sitting is a wonderful lifestyle and I love it so much, but there are responsibilities to the job too.

After being a middle level manager for so many years, I think I can live with a few restrictions when the rewards of the lifestyle are so incredible.

How Long Does It Take to Write a Book?

If you are thinking of writing a book, you might be interested in knowing how long it will take. The answer is ... it depends.

J.K Rowling spent three years writing the fifth Harry Potter novel, but Barbara Cartland writes many of her books in about two weeks. My first book took eighteen months to write and my second nine months.

What makes the difference?

First, I am no Barbara Cartland (or J.K.Rowling). Barbara has written over a hundred books. Experience helps.

Second, I rarely get it right first time.

I have written each of my books at least three times over. Each chapter is written, then left for a while so I can get some perspective on it, then I reread it and see if I enjoy my own writing. If I don’t it is in for an extensive rewrite.

 Even when I am happy with the stories, I still have to go back and edit the language and check for mistakes. You need eyes like an eagle hawk to notice you have missed the word “a” in a sentence or used the wrong version of “there, their, or they’re.” It really helps to have someone else look at it too. After you have reread it three or thirty times, it is easy to read what you think you wrote and not what is there.

Third, most writers recommend a schedule, but I prefer to write only when I feel inspired.

If I insist on writing when I am not inspired, then my writing often sounds hollow and maybe even a little sterile. It might read well, but after I have analysed every sentence, I sometimes lose the emotion. Sometimes after hours of work, I regret the changes and go back to a previous version. Some days, I just can’t seem to get it together.

That doesn’t mean I don’t write, just that I write something else, or work on the cover design, or publicity.

Fourth, formatting a book takes time.

I published through CreateSpace and it takes a while to learn how to add page numbers in the right place or the chapter headings where they belong. If you pay for these services it is simpler, but I wanted to save money. It took me months to work it all out.

Fifth, it takes what it takes.

If you have a full-time job, or young children, or just have trouble focussing (like me) then it will take longer. If you are motivated and work all night, then you could get it written in a few days, just like Barbara Cartland.

The question is, … would it be as readable and engaging as one of Barbara Cartland’s books?

My next project might just be a novel so I have been doing some research. Here are a few blogs about writing that I found helpful

1. Ivory Madison’s Time to Write a Novel in a Month. It is an interesting idea and it could work.

2. Write a Novel in 60 days from Life Learning Today is five years old but has some great ideas including a link to Randy Ingermanson’s great Snowflake Method for setting up a novel. It starts with outlining the plot and characters and then moves on to the main body of the book.

So, how long does it take to write a book?

The best answer is that it takes as long as it takes. Writing a book could take just a few days. Writing a good book could take years. Unless you are Barbara Cartland of course.  According to Wikipedia she wrote 23 novels in 1983.

No matter how long it takes, it is well worth it. It is so satisfying to hold your own book in your hand.

When you write your book, I would love to hear about it.

A Middle-Aged Princess in Tramping Boots

What do hedgehog bushes, a bone in a bed, and a snake in a ceiling all have in common?

The answer?

They are all stories in my new book, A Middle-Aged Princess in Tramping Boots.

My second year house sitting has been just as much fun as the first and just as surprising. I have written about every crazy incident.

There was the family that wanted me to look after 30 wandering goats. There was the trip where we had to keep the car going by using half a dozen empty milk bottles. There was the time I found half a mashed cockroach in one family’s kitchen. There was also the time when I got kicked out of two homes in one day

I had so much fun this second year of house sitting that I had to write it all up and publish it in a new book. There is also more about my transformation from a depressed housewife to an adventurer and explorer, and some helpful tips for those considering house sitting as a lifestyle.

I love my new life and I wish everyone was as happy. I hope you find my stories inspirational and if you do read it, please take a moment to review it on Amazon.com.

Writing a book is the easy part.

Spreading the word is hard.

You can find my new book at CreateSpace or on Amazon.com. If you live in Australia, you can also buy it from me. Just email me at housesittinginaustralia@gmail.com

The first copies will be here about September 30^th.

See you then.