Hello!
It’s time for a quick end of week check in…
What’s one word you’d use to describe your week?
I’ll go first, my week has been… autumnal!
Let us know one word that describes your week in the comments!
Jenny
Whales.
Remarkably, we’ve seen humpback whales every day this last week. Countless blowholes and tails as they swim and dive deep to eat. Clearly visible from housesit property window (waterfront). Howe Sound near Vancouver Canada. Over the years, we have seen orcas, porpoises (~dolphins) and lots seals but never before whales. Quite something for us. Less so for the dog 
Snuggly.
My sit dog and I are getting along terrifically. Contrary to what I was told, I found him curled up on my bed last night. (He normally sleeps under the bed or on a cushion next to his human’s bed.) And now he’s snuggled next to me on the sofa.
To me, it’s the highest form of trust when any pet sleeps with you.
Serendipity
Speed up - slow down! I was at home the first half of the week tending to house maintenance details, dog duties, relationships upkeep, exercise demands at the club, and…well, life! Here on my house sit in Bolinas, one sweet old kitty and a seemingly empty town and a gorgeous garden home with art and books and “Ted Lasso” episodes, and the icing on the cake: Milan Kundera’s book found in the HO’s library to read “Slowness!”
It’s warm in Costa Rica, we’re working a lot, and we haven’t seen any tigers 
Fortunately! We’re happy with the results of all those hours behind our computers.
At around 05:25 each morning, I lead the chickens outside to roam freely within the boundaries I’ve suggested. Not every chicken agrees with those boundaries 
So I get plenty of walking in.
After tending to the chickens, I swim in the natural pool on the property, surrounded by hummingbirds and other birds. In the evening, the soundtrack is provided by a frog orchestra.
As I’m writing this, I realise I mostly send our host videos and hardly any photos. Which explains why I haven’t got a photo of our little flock to share 
But I’ve got a photo of our guest dog, Batty who comes up to our house on the hill to check if we have some dog snacks. Which we always have.
Am I the only one who find it hard to say ‘no’ when pets look at you like this?
On the move!
Sorry for using 3 words. A week ago we left after visiting a friend in Southern Oregon. We visited more friends in Northern California. Then took two days to get to Southern California to hang out in the desert with a friend to celebrate her 50th birthday. We have a 4 week sit starting on the 10th. I’m looking forward to a chance to rest!
I’ve enjoyed a bit of serendipity this week as well:
I had started what I thought was an Oregon Trail nonfiction audiobook at the beginning of my three-ish hour drive toward my current sit. Turned out it was actually a historical fiction book, about settlers who traveled the Oregon Trail by wagon train.
I’m now on the third book in the series, having discovered a genre new and enjoyable to me, as a history buff.
And I happen to have a bunch of unused Audible credits, so I’ll be able to load up for my return drive home as well, happily.
Plus, it’s extra fun for me when I spot historical sites during sits, like on exploits with my sit dog today:
Wish I was there.
Rambunctious
On a paid sit and client informed me two weeks before start date that they added a kitten to the mix. How fun I thought. Wrong! It’s like watching a three year old. I had to go around and kitty proof the house. He is cute though and sleeps with me and purrs so loud it sounds like a train going by.
Cultural
No house sit this past week but Monday & Tuesday was spent in London popping into the National Gallery for an hour or so, excellent evening performance of Sondheim’s ‘Into The Woods’ & matinee on Tuesday of ‘Sinatra the Musical’ - also brilliant.
Since Friday I’ve been in Lincoln for their book festival, mainly to support a friend who was being interviewed about her debut historical fiction novel ‘Suppression’ set in Lincoln, also 3 other events including Mark Billingham, a favourite crime author. A good week.
Disappointed
We’ve been stuck in Vienna for 3 nights sandwiched between two other River Cruise boats, our planned visits down the Danube cancelled due to low water so missing sailing into Budapest.
However I did get to attend the famous Lippizaner Stallions Spanish Riding School training session and visit the stables.
That’s unlucky, but Vienna is a nice place to be “stuck.”
After reading about European heatwaves and droughts, I’ll avoid summer or summer shoulder seasons going forward. Spring should be good for river cruising, after snow melts feed rivers.
We’ve taken multiple river cruises in Europe and otherwise and fortunately haven’t gotten stuck or had our itinerary changed. Our last European river cruise was during Christmas markets and that was fun.
That is what puts me off river cruises, I would not want to end up unexpectedly on a bus tour. I’m sure in good conditions they are lovely and at this time of year I’m sure you thought you would be safe @BonnyinBrighton 
I agree however, we particularly booked this trip because of sailing into City centres and mooring up so that we could enjoy the nightlife easily. Also a balcony suite isn’t much use with another boat jammed up beside you..
Yep it’s our 3rd River cruise and the previous 2 were fabulous but this one is 5/10 and has been very challenging with all the changes/coaches/trains, and now being stuck.
That sucks.
The only time we were lined up like that on cruises was when we disembarked for tours. And we were always on the outside.
Well… it’s only Tuesday… but so far my word for this week is…
Sleepy!
The seasonal shift is beautiful, and the cooler weather is perfect, but I feel quite strongly that I could hibernate for a few weeks!
How’s everyone’s week so far, in a word?