Starting to wind down at Stoke Poges

 Tuesday 29/11/22

A misty, milky sun on a very chilly winter's morning

We're two-thirds of the way through our sit and starting to look forward to a few dog-free days in a campsite before the final sit for 2022 - we have certainly looked after enough dogs this year!

Happy Birthday to Teddi who turned 2!

The weather has taken a wintry turn and is grey and very cold at the moment, with no end in sight.  Saturday's maximum temperature is forecast at 6°C so we'll certainly be testing Bokkie's heating system once we're back in her.

Wonderfully detailed little cabins at the Common

The Stoke Poges community have decorated their Common with miniature elf-houses which are incredibly detailed, and they had a small Christmas market this last Saturday as well.  We popped across to admire the reindeer on show, sampled the mulled wine but had to skip the visit to Santa's grotto as the queue of toddlers was too long!  A fun time was had by all and the rain luckily held off until we arrived back home.

Spotted on our walk to the market, some people certainly go all-out at Christmas!

We've added two videos, one showing the dogs frolicking in the field under the morning (almost) sun.  In fact, I think that's the best view of the sun we've had in ages.  

The other is mostly for the sound effects - we get treated to major excitement when it gets closer to walkies-time.  By the time we get the leashes out they are completely beside themselves, you can see what Tea, the old Lab thinks of the display.

Testing a new phone at Stoke Poges

 Friday 18/11/22

Both of our iPhones are fairly old, having bought them second-hand from Toni's previous employer and, although they still work reasonably well, they are no longer supported by Apple so many modern apps won't work on them any more.

It's frustrating that we are forced to replace something that still works but, as many of the banking apps were not working anymore, we decided to replace one of the phones.  We've bought a refurbished phone which should keep us going for a few years and I am still trying to get used to all the features, including the camera, see photos and video below.

Typically highly-strung Spaniel, terrified of missing out on something.

Cute-as-a-button Teddie, a Cockerpoo

Old girl, Truffle, getting some love.

Peace and quiet, unless any human moves a muscle...

The two old girls chilling out

We've had a few days of rain but it has now cleared up but become decidedly more chilly.  It has been a mild Autumn so we wait to see what winter brings.

We've been trying to capture the manic young dogs on their daily park visits but, as usual, the video doesn't do them justice.  They both run around like demented cheetahs, even Rolo, who is a little on the pudgy side.  I think they will both be a little fitter and slimmer when the owners get back.

Full house at Stoke Poges

 Monday 14/11/22

Remembrance decorations on a local post box

A lovely sculpture in Stoke Poges

We are looking after three dogs and a cat in Stoke Poges for a month.  We normally try to limit the number of animals we look after but really liked the location and duration of the sit when we booked it a year ago.  

Unfortunately the owners forgot to mention they were moving house until a couple of weeks ago, so we are in a half-unpacked house while they take a cruise around Hawaii, not an ideal situation but we have to take the good with bad sometimes.

Scratches for old girl, Truffle.

Rolo, Teddy and Tia getting some ball-time in the garden.

Lovely British weather on our morning walk - NOT!

We have an elderly Labrador, a Cocker Spaniel, a Cockerpoo and a very infirm Burmese cat.  The two younger dogs are very highly strung and can be quite a handful as they are prone to bouts of overexcitement but, as usual, we have bonded quite closely with all the animals.

You can see from their tongues that they love the park - the dogs, not Toni as it was cold!

We'll give them our utmost care while we're here, especially Truffle the old cat, who loves regular grooming sessions as she can't manage them herself anymore.

How can you not love a face like that?

Rolo and Teddy watch your every move...

In other news, we have booked our flights to South Africa with Charmaine in April 2023 and have some time with family as well as a week in Addo to look forward to while we are there. Very exciting!  

Four year update in Four Oaks campsite, Henley

 Monday 07/11/22

We've come full circle (almost) and are camped less than 300m of where we spent our first night in Bokkie on 08/11/2018.  Four years ago we handed over the keys to our house and shakily made our way to Henley to begin a new adventure in our life.

Bokkie camping near one of the campsite's oaks.

On Friday the Farnham owners returned so we reluctantly handed over the animals and the house (but forgot their house keys in my pocket!) and headed off to Henley for a few days before our next sit starts.  Luckily my driving confidence has improved substantially since those early days and we have settled into camping life in spite of the grey, wet weather currently on offer.

Walking along the river Thames in Henley

We have now been 'on the road' for 1,461 nights and have spent 861 in house-sits, 192 with Charmaine, 188 in campsites, 141 in official aires, 39 in national park accommodation and 39 wild camping.  We hadn't really considered house-sitting as an option when we started this adventure, but we quickly realised that we needed something to keep us busy and give us new experiences along the way.

We've also had our French visas approved which opens up travel opportunities for next year and so, the adventures continue.  We still have two house sits in the UK which will see us through the rest of the year and will then head to Brittany to look after Jess and Jasper for three months.  

In April we head to South Africa for a few weeks to visit family and then plan on spending the European summer travelling in Bokkie.

The three of us enjoying a meal in the Giggling Squid in Henley