Dogminding/housesitting Mullaloo

We come back from our 'fill in time walk' to meet Kerry and her husband Mark, and their gorgeous family. Son Harry (3y+?)and Hadley daughter (6m?) and their dogs Batman (7y) and Bella (5y). Kerry is so welcoming, and gives us a run through of what's required for the dogs. They just get fed once a day in the evenings, and 1 walk a day (30 minutes minimum) at a 'off leash' area, as Bella loves to fetch a ball while on the walk. These dogs are so cute, Labradoodles (so they don't shed hair - but do require good grooming to stop matting) and so good! Their home is lovely, neat and modern. We are to sleep in the spare room inside to keep the dogs company. They don't have to sleep with us (phew!). The dogs are fine to be left alone during the day - stay inside the house, have a pet door out into the back yard.
Mark and Kerry with their children leave around 1.30pm. They're taking 2 vehicles, 1 towing their boat, 1 towing their caravan, and spending the weekend in Lancelin.
After they leave, we settle our selves into the house and spend time getting to know the dogs, Bella is an active sweetheart and Batman a cool dude. Both very friendly, but no jumping up on us. Very nice to snuggle with on the sofa. When we have our lunch, leftover chicken dish, we find we can leave food on the benches - and not worry about it being 'stolen'.
At 5pm we leave them locked in the house and go walk to our 'dinner date' with the Walkers.
We get back around 10pm, have a cuppa to sit with Batman and Bella before we all go to bed. The dogs we are allowed to let into the main bedroom so they can sleep on the bed in there - they do (with Batman coming to check on us sometimes)
14/12/24 Saturday. We get up 6.30am and have our breakfast. I have Weetbix for a change - because I'm too lazy to organise my porridge. I get our 1st load (of 2) washing happening. We take our time with the dogs, though they seem quite content around us. When it comes time to go for their morning walk - we realise they don't have collars on and we can't find any collars in the dog gear box with the leads. A bit of a delay while we wait for a response from Kerry (texting). Kerry responds and let's us know which cupboard to find the collars in. Off we go!
Once we get back, the dogs happy to relax nearby wherever we are - so out the back with Roger while I have a shower. Then we get ready to go out for a drive and have a look around Mullaloo. Leave the dogs shut inside again.
We get back to have a late lunch - fresh rolls and hot chook with avocado. Now to relax for the rest of the day with the dogs. Roger does the caravan cleaning, and we keep up with our washing. We have some overripe bananas so I use the Thermomix to make banana bread - so great to have a good oven to use. I also have fun putting on the Christmas window clings that we just purchased - onto some of the caravan windows. Much better - feel like we've got some Christmas cheer happening!
Tea tonight - Roger does Chicken Kievs with salad and boiled potatoes. Followed by watermelon. After tidy up (there's a dishwasher) we set up to watch a movie on Netflix - based on a true story of a lawyer (negro) defending black Americans on death row. Very good - a great way to spend a couple of hours on the couch with the dogs. Roger has his shower and heads to bed. I stay up and do some online Christmas shopping for Christmas day with Walker families. I end up getting a Moorish Nuts Christmas Hamper to be delivered to Marilyn's. Bedtime (late).
15/12/24 Sunday. Up at 6.30pm, I strip the bed we've been sleeping in so l can wash the sheets. I get the washing going (all things we used while here, ie tea towels, dish clothes etc) then head out to our caravan to make my porridge in the Thermomix. After getting the load of washing hung out to dry we take Batman and Bella for their morning walk.
When we get back, I go have my shower, then start to help with our pack up and tidy up. I remake the spare bed and make sure we're leaving the house (and anything we used) nice and tidy. The dogs can tell 'something's happening' - we just keep calm and reassuring them with pats - they'll be right when their family gets back! We have our lunch, chicken salad sandwiches, we make up in our caravan (house stays clean) and take to outside yard to eat to keep the dogs company a little while longer. I leave a Christmas card to our housesitting home owners and we lock up and leave - knowing they're on their way and won't be long until they're home. Was another great housesit. Leave here just before noon.Читать далее