A Cat Sitting Christmas Carol

At the office, the computers were down. It could last all day, we were told. Only the Internet was performing normally. The November/ December issue of The Caretaker Gazette was just made available on the Internet. So, instead of serving the public in my job, and with nothing much else to do, I was looking at hours of just reading and enjoying the latest Gazette. It was going to be a very, very nice day! An hour later my first email was on its way. In the South of England a dog/cat-sitter was required over Christmas. My own holiday would start that same week, but with nothing much planned I suddenly realized I might be able to change the whole thing around. And there was the old dream. For years now I promised myself one Christmas where there would be no obligations, no guests, no dinner parties etc. Instead there would be only me and the BBC.  One Christmas where I would be able to watch all the fabulous programs they show during the festive season. All of a sudden there was a distinct possibility this was going to be the year!

A half an hour after I sent my email message - there was a reply. This family of three would be visiting relatives in South Africa and they needed someone to look after Barney, their nineteen-year-old red Tomcat. Sadly, their dog had just died very unexpectedly. There was kindness and warmth in the email and it felt to me like reconnecting with an old friend. It turned out the feeling was mutual. We exchanged more emails and two days later we were sure it would all work out fine and I was very welcome to come and stay in their home. There would be a live Christmas tree, two deep freezers filled with food that I was welcome to dig into, a tiny supermarket just across the road and fabulous neighbors! I emailed back that I was very much looking forward to my first official cat-sitting assignment. A few weeks later I received an email telling me my Christmas cake just came out of the oven and was smelling rather good. How nice and wonderful!

I arrived in Southampton, where I was met by the homeowner. We drove back to her home via the scenic route and just a few minutes after leaving the airport I was reminded of what it is England does best: countryside. Even in December it looked glorious! A great drive and lots to talk about. Forty minutes later I was welcomed by the rest of the family. Barney was not totally taken with me straight away, but I was confident that would change. After we said goodbye like old friends and they left in a flurry of excitement and last minute changes to their luggage, I started getting the house serene and uncluttered for my own special  Christmas. Soon I had candles burning, the cat on my lap (I told you so), the Christmas tree sparkling with lights, my beautiful Christmas cake on display and yes...the BBC on. It turned out there were even a few presents for me under that beautiful tree. How kind and thoughtful was that?? It was going to be a very very nice Christmas!

I was not mistaken. Long grey days, just begging to be spent in front of a TV screen, a great choice of wonderful programs, a lovely cat, food at arm´s length and indeed, fabulous neighbors. They took me carol singing in their church, to Chichester to see the Cathedral and to Portsmouth to see Old Portsmouth and the Harbour. And since I injured my knee a few days before arriving that was the extent of my explorations of the region. It didn't bother me. I liked it at home. It was cozy. A few times I went to a nearby village to do some shopping but couldn't wait to get home again and enjoy the cat, the tree and yes...the BBC. Never spent as much time at home as here. This was hibernating and I loved it. My dream proved to be a good one. Whenever South Africa called me and told me about the great time they were having, I could truthfully answer them that everything at the home front was hunky-dory and that I was having a great time too.

Then, one day, it was all over. Four and a half weeks gone. My dream Christmas was over and I needed to come out of hibernation and get back into reality. It was difficult. Difficult to say goodbye to my new friends, the neighbors, difficult to say goodbye to lovely Barney and back home difficult to find my ''Amsterdam legs'' again! But what a great experience! For the rest of my life I will be seduced by house/cat/dog sitting ads. Now, when I get an update from The Caretaker Gazette I feel butterflies in my tummy: will my next assignment be in there? Because if it is up to me, there will be another great one!

As 2010 draws to a close and The Caretaker Gazette is about to begin its 29th year of publication, we would like to thank all of our subscribers and advertisers for their continued support. Without all of you we would not be the #1 source for caretaking and housesitting opportunities. 2010 has been a year of economic challenges but many of you turned these challenges into opportunities by making lifestyle changes and becoming caretakers and housesitters. We wish everyone success in their pursuits in 2011!