It has been 1000+ days since I last posted...

And how life has changed.  Reading my first and last post I am struck by how quickly I accepted my new lifestyle.
I find myself in Forrest, a tiny village in the Otways, with a population of around 170.  But today that increased to around 2 thousand, all bicycle riders.  It was nice to join in the atmosphere at The Corner Store, a cafe and bike shop as well as an excellent information centre.
I am homeless now, have been for 2 years, and I wouldn't want it any other way.  Forrest Alapaca Farm and B & B on Colac-Forrest Road, is an amazing pet and home sit, as the name suggests there are alpacas, chickens, a turkey- I named Google, a goat, a llama-Castro, a cockatoo named Elwood, a snake, 2 lizards, Northern and Southern Sugar Gliders, Kangaroo Island Kangaroos, Tasmanian Paddy Melons, a Swamp Wallaby, cute little Bettongs, numerous Kookaburras, Rosellas and other native birds who have made their home here.
Indoors is Takina the elderly very smoothie pussy cat and Sherlock and Griffin both Bernese Mountain Dogs, huge gentle giants.  If 66 kgs gives you an idea of their size.
The home was built by the owners, literally, while they lived in the shed for 18 months taking showers in the open.  Now the Otways can get very chilly in the winter so more respect to them both.
Included in their beautiful home is their B&B, 2 lovely large rooms and each with their own ensuite.
I will be leaving on Sunday to begin a sit in Diamond Creek to care and spoil two pussycats, Stix and Wednesday, seventeen days of such beauty and interesting animals certainly needs to be repeated.
And it will be in January for the Australia Day weekend plus.  I will be heading to Lorne for a swim and to mooch around the local 'high street' shops.
I have given away most of my 'worldly goods' and I haven't looked back.  Being homeless can be a blessing, I heard a victim of a bush fire whose home was totally wiped out say that it cleans the slate and she will focus on what is important.  Life, health and purpose.
For those who would love this lifestyle or for those who need a sitter I suggest you contact
www.trustedhousesitters.coma worldwide agency and an Australia only site is
www.happyhousesitters.com.au.  
If you would like more information from me then email me or reply on this blog.
francien21@gmail.com
Have an extraordinary life.

NEW YEAR WISHES

Two more sleeps and we move into 2011.  It doesn't feel that long ago that as I read George Orwell's 1984 I believed that was such a long time ahead.  Reaching 50 was also a huge milestone, half a century!!  Now I'm fast approaching 60 in July 2011,  the students get told that I'll be 70 in 11 years. ;-)
WISHING YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES AN AMAZING NEW YEAR, MAY IT BE A HAPPY AND FRUITFUL YEAR.
We are travelling to the UK, Europe and cruising  for 14 nights from Budapest to Amsterdam in 2011, a 60th birthday gift to myself.  And I can't wait to ride 'my' push bike in North Holland again.  Pure bliss and after 14 years I will know the way to all my favourite places and there are so many of them.  In France my highlight will be Monet's garden in Gerverny and we will ride a bike to that site too. 
2011 will be an amazing year, awesome in fact.