We have just spent two days and two nights with the hosts of our current house sit. It is always good to get to know the routines and the quirks of the home before they leave. But, it is wonderful when they go.

I know that sounds nasty but it is not meant to be.

It is just nice to be able to make their space our space for awhile. It will be three weeks before they return and my first job, once we waved them goodbye, was to put on a load of washing. I then did a stocktake of their fridge to see what we will need to replace and what we can use.

The home is quite large. Mick and I have been given the upstairs area which comprises two kingsize bedrooms each with an ensuite, and a sitting room area located between the bedrooms. We only need the one bedroom of course, but it is a nice space we can access if we want.

Downstairs the kitchen is separate and the lounge / TV / dining room is one large space. The real downstairs is where the dogs sleep and it is also where the laundry room and store rooms are found.

This house sit we have four Springer Spaniels to care for, and Mick and I think we have worked out who is who.

It was actually quite important on my first solo duty of feeding them because one of them, Ella, was to be operated on later that day and was not to be fed. Unexpectedly, the owners were advised that she needed an operation to remove a small bone in her front paw and the date of the operation was set for the date of their departure. When we went to collect her this afternoon we were advised it was not possible. I panicked a little because I did really understand what the receptionist was telling me. Thankfully we worked out that the operation had been significantly delayed and Ella had to stay overnight. The owner had received a call from the vet earlier in the day telling him about the delay, but he could not understand the message and thought I had to collect something the next morning for the dog. But in fact, it was the dog.

We are only required to take them on a walk once per day for about an hour. And sadly for me, it is at a very slow pace (less than 2Km), weaving through dense scrubland in places and past blackberry brambles. Mick can’t resist picking some on our way.

Not long into the walk, the dogs find an almost-dried up pond that they play in until they are called. And there is always one who is reluctant to leave the cool mud bath.

I was shocked the first time I observed this as I wondered how they could get back into the car for the return trip to the house. But the owner assured me that most of the mud would be dried by the time the walk / stroll was over.

Most of it does dry off thank goodness because the dogs actually share the lounge with us. Once they are out they think they deserve a treat.

The house sit is situated in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region about 5 minutes drive from the small (one flower / one star) commune of Magnac-Laval, which has a large supermarket, a boulangerie, a boucherie, two pharmacies, two restaurants / cafés and several bars. Oh, and a vet. Everything we need.

 

We have been loaned a car for the time we are here, mainly because we need to drive the dogs to the walking track each day.

I was pleased to see it came pre-dented, apparently by previous house sitters. I am hoping I don’t add any further damage to its body work.

There is a challenge with the car though.

It is right-hand drive and I have to drive on the right side of the road.

Mick and I hope to spend some time in the next few days planning a few short excursions around the area. But, it will all depend on how Ella recovers from her operation. We’ll find that out tomorrow.