Housesitting in Stroud

Getting to know Bramble cat

Another week, another Housesit, now in Stroud, with a very fluffy but low maintenance cat called Bramble. We came down after the final stage of Brian’s MOT, a CT scan, a painless and un-intrusive procedure, but one that we have to wait for results for, so we are still waiting, though don’t feel there is anything to worry about.

Where is Stroud? On the edge of the Cotswolds near Gloucester and who knew it was so hilly? Makes for a great view out of the living room window though. It’s a pleasant little town with interesting little clothes shops, if I could remember back to when I was interested in clothes shops! Like Loughborough it has a Park with a Museum in, free and very interesting, so that was our little jaunt yesterday.

Views over Stroud from the back garden decking

A slightly unusual arrival, mother and daughter, had left by the time we could get here, so a friend had been organised to let us in which worked fine, but left us to introduce ourselves to Bramble. Found her under the bed, said hello and waited for her to brave talking to us. We didn’t have too long to wait fortunately, though she is a shy little thing. We’ve had strokes, purrs and tummy tickles as she gets more used to us and last night she finally decided to come on the bed for a bit of bedtime fuss. We may have ruined another cat however, jumping up to open the French door as she sits outside waiting rather than bring herself in through her own catflap!

It's definitely this way!

We’ve done a couple of short though hilly walks and spent a couple of mornings waiting in for deliveries, a big insulated front screen cover for Big Ted, and a thermal cook pot for me, should arrive within the next hour and then we can go out and enjoy the sunshine. An accessory for BT though I will be testing it in the next couple of days. It’s a cooker that works on the hay box theory, get everything up to temperature and then leave it for hours, unpowered, until dinner is ready..... so, economical and efficient, bring everything to the boil as we set off for a long drive, or a days skiing, insert into its own vacuum container and come home and eat, there is even a separate container for the rice or potatoes mmmm.

Sunday we had a day out as we went to visit Judith and Richard as they are 17 miles, but 45 minutes away. Had a lovely lunch, (the fantastic lamb shanks she served would be a great meal to cook in the thermal cooker, me obsessed?) and did we stop talking? Not for a second. 

Are you sure?

All cats were present and correct as I jumped out of the car before he’d even stopped, to say hello to, garage living, little Lottie, rapidly followed by Ginger and Fred. Judith appeared at the door asking whether we’d come to visit them or the animals? The dogs hadn’t even really alerted her to our arrival as we didn’t get barked at like strangers, which is lovely, despite not having seen them for a year. Sadly I can’t say all dogs were present and correct, Flora passed away in May, though a new black lab puppy Polly was a joy. A really enjoyable day, and another example of why we are so grateful to our housesitting way of life... people we would never have met otherwise!

Yes, here's the lake! (Toadsmoor lake - what a great name, is there a Toad Hall nearby?)

An update on Brian’s last blog, we were asked our equivalent costs for living in the UK as well as everywhere else we’ve been, and the answer is..... Now she's put me on the spot! I haven't got a final figure yet as it takes time to work these things out accurately (and I like to do that), but my initial stab is about £14,000.00 per year, but it will vary depending on how much housesitting we have done. I'll update. 

Bramble cat looking a bit wary as I approached with a camera

She's a very fluffy cat!

Stratford House museum in Stratford Park, Stroud

Meanwhile, preparations are underway in Costa Blanca, Spain for Big Teds visit. Jackie's dad is busy trimming the trees in their driveway so Big Ted doesn't scrape his head as we drive in. What you see is an electric chain saw on the end of a long pole. What could possibly go wrong?