Another house-sitting assignment for us

@JudyEv (382019)
Rockingham, Australia
September 4, 2023 7:45pm CST
We had a call yesterday from a lady I met when we were house-sitting. I taught the hostess and this lady how to make mats from binder twine/hay bands. She rang to ask if we could house-sit in January as she’d like to go overseas for nearly three weeks. It hardly seems worth her going for that long but that’s her business. Her main worry is a 13-year-old chocolate Labrador dog. The dog was kept in pretty horrible conditions as a breeding bi*ch but now has a nice home on a few acres. There are a couple of sheep which get hay and some chooks/chickens to let in and out of their yard each day. It sounds just the sort of place we’d enjoy. It will be hot there at that time of the year but they have A/C. They also have good wifi so we’ll be all set.
32 people like this
27 responses
rebelann1949
@rebelann (117220)
• El Paso, Texas
5 Sep 23
I'm surprised she'd leave given the age of the lab, 13 is quite old for a large breed dog but hopefully the dog is in excellent health. It just sounds so odd to think of January as hot or as July as cold. You must feel the same way about the northern hemisphere.
7 people like this
rebelann1949
@rebelann (117220)
• El Paso, Texas
5 Sep 23
I can relate. Here it's rare for December to be all that cold although normally the temperatures are similar to those many people from regions that get really cold winters it would be considered early fall. I can remember playing in the back yard kiddy pool right around the 25th of December back in the early 1960s.
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Sep 23
To me, a cold Christmas wouldn't feel like Christmas at all!
6 people like this
YoghurtGal
@flapiz (23530)
• United Kingdom
5 Sep 23
The wifi is definitely the deal maker here. Very important commodity
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YoghurtGal
@flapiz (23530)
• United Kingdom
6 Sep 23
@JudyEv What are endurance photos? It's the first time I've heard of it?
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Sep 23
@flapiz Sorry. I've written so often about Vince and I taking photos at horse endurance rides that I've stopped explaining it in detail. We put the photos on a website (downunderimages) and the riders can buy them if they want to.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Sep 23
I could cope without it if I had to but Vince would find it very difficult. It's essential if we have endurance photos to process but there won't be any at that time of year.
5 people like this
Raine38
@Raine38 (12387)
• United States
5 Sep 23
She's fortunate to have someone like you whom they can trust their house and fur baby with. And hey, indoors, with AC, wifi, and a nice doggie pal to keep you company - not too shabby for a work assignment!
4 people like this
Anne Marie Guyer
@LeaPea2417 (40029)
• Toccoa, Georgia
5 Sep 23
@JudyEv sounds fun
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Sep 23
@LeaPea2417 They are usually fun and pretty much stress-free although we've had a few issues from time to time.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Sep 23
We're quite happy about the assignment really. We take our computers and a book or two and we'll be very happy. Gentle walks with an old dog will go down well too.
3 people like this
Four Walls
@FourWalls (86652)
• United States
5 Sep 23
I posted a Jimmy Buffett song about house sitting last night. I know you are NOTHING like that song! I’d be worried about the lab, too. That’s old for any baby but especially for a chocolate lab.
5 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Sep 23
This is her first trip alone since she lost her husband a couple of years ago but she says she is more concerned about making sure the dog is looked after.
4 people like this
DW Davis
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
5 Sep 23
Working A/C and good wifi sounds like just the ticket.
4 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Sep 23
Yes, we'll be very happy and content I'm sure and it will be nice to have an old dog to look after.
3 people like this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (135690)
• Marion, Ohio
5 Sep 23
You will enjoy that one.
4 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Sep 23
It will be a nice easy one although most are pretty easy.
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Amber
@AmbiePam (120696)
• United States
5 Sep 23
I hope the lab adjusts okay. I know you’ll be good to the sweet girl.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Sep 23
I hope so too. She said she is very timid but I'm sure we'll get on okay.
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Ptrikha_2
@ptrikha_2 (49753)
• India
6 Sep 23
So that would be your "Summer" Testing ground perhaps? Here the rainy season seems to be over with a disappointing rain record in the later half of August. A/C and good Wifi would be a nice thing to have. And at that time, we would be handling the winter extremes here !
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Ptrikha_2
@ptrikha_2 (49753)
• India
7 Sep 23
@JudyEv So really a very tough place to live in !
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Sep 23
It can be very hot in that region and bushfires could be hanging around too.
1 person likes this
OceanTiara
@RebeccasFarm (91299)
• United States
5 Sep 23
Oh it will be nice Judy. Can't wait to see what you get up to. Yes doesn't seem very long 13 weeks. You taught them well then the mat binding.
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Sep 23
There might be hay bands at the place next week in which case, I'll make them a mat too.
3 people like this
Judy Story
@jstory07 (148731)
• Roseburg, Oregon
5 Sep 23
That sounds like a nice place to do a house sit.
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Sep 23
We should be very comfortable there. Her sister-in-law has a separate house on the same property but she is even more elderly than us.
2 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502392)
• Italy
5 Sep 23
I had a senior moment, I thought "hot in January?" With the A/C you will be fine and their old Labrador dog will be happy to have company.
3 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502392)
• Italy
5 Sep 23
@JudyEv I hope they will be quiet sheep, I know hard to pretend lovely as Herc, but at least quiet.
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Sep 23
Hopefully it will be touble-free and an easy period. There are several sheep in the next paddock that will need to be given hay each day but I don't know how quiet they are.
2 people like this
Dena Miller
@Dena91 (17041)
• United States
5 Sep 23
I'm glad you have another house sitting job lined up. I feel bad for that poor dog, what she went through before being rescued.
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Sep 23
Breeding kennels can be awful places. It must have a lasting impact on them.
3 people like this
Ruby Hawk
@RubyHawk (99367)
• Atlanta, Georgia
5 Sep 23
Sounds like just the thing for you and Vince. Too bad it isn’t til January.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Sep 23
We have another one next week and one over Christmas so they're quite nicely spaced really.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Sep 23
@RubyHawk Most places are an hour or less away.
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Ruby Hawk
@RubyHawk (99367)
• Atlanta, Georgia
6 Sep 23
@JudyEv You guys have a lot of traveling to do.
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Anindita Sengupta
@aninditasen (18198)
• Raurkela, India
5 Sep 23
The dog is old and she would need lot of care. So be careful.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Sep 23
Yes, we will keep a close eye on her.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Sep 23
@aninditasen Thanks. I like going to different houses and different areas.
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Anindita Sengupta
@aninditasen (18198)
• Raurkela, India
6 Sep 23
@JudyEv Hope you enjoy your house sitting.
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snowy
@snowy22315 (208846)
• United States
6 Sep 23
Well, there is that.wifi I mean..Sounds like a good assignment for you.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Sep 23
Yes, it sounds a pretty easy one really.
Always smiling
@allknowing (153544)
• India
6 Sep 23
You sure will like it there. he Lab, will be happy you will be there.
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Always smiling
@allknowing (153544)
• India
6 Sep 23
@JudyEvThey are the best companions
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Sep 23
Labs are beautiful dogs. A friend has a chocolate Labrador too.
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DE
@DaddyEvil (174376)
• United States
5 Sep 23
Three weeks seems a long time to me. I've nearly gone crazy being away from home for two weeks... Maybe I just had too much I wanted to do while on vacation. I don't know. I'm sure you and Vince will enjoy yourselves, though.
1 person likes this
DE
@DaddyEvil (174376)
• United States
5 Sep 23
@JudyEv I'm never totally comfortable staying in someone else's home. I much prefer my own. I'm sure you'll both be run ragged by the time the owners get back.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Sep 23
Three weeks is probably long enough. We're starting to look forward to going home at the end of such a spell. Next week's is just ten days so that will be easy. However, they do have quite a young border collie pup to look after. She might keep us on our toes. I think it's a 'she'.
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Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
5 Sep 23
It sounds like a nice house-sit.
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Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
9 Sep 23
@JudyEv I hope it is.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Sep 23
It should be an easy, relaxed job.
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Manuela Lopes
@nela13 (59367)
• Portugal
5 Sep 23
That is great that you can help her. It is a win-win situation for you both.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Sep 23
Yes, you're right. We get a bit of a holiday in a new area and hopefully she will have a trouble-free trip.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Sep 23
@nela13 No, we don't charge but mostly people give us gifts and now we ask for a donation towards the cost of our fuel to travel to their places. Fuel is really expensive here at the moment.
Manuela Lopes
@nela13 (59367)
• Portugal
7 Sep 23
@JudyEv Does she pay you to stay in her house while she is out?
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LindaOH
@LindaOHio (222310)
• United States
5 Sep 23
That sounds like a good sit. The lab will need some TLC so it's good that you will be there. Have a great day.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Sep 23
Thirteen is getting quite old for a big dog but hopefully she won't die on our watch.
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LindaOH
@LindaOHio (222310)
• United States
6 Sep 23
@JudyEv That would be horrible. I would feel so guilty! I hope he/she is just fine.
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