Hello to all of you grey nomads doing the never ending laps of this great country. We have been on the road 24/7 for almost 2 1/2 years now and have been out volunteering wherever we can in Queensland when its cooler and down south including Tasmania when its too hot up north. We came back from Tassie at the end of January and took up a volunteering offer from a lady in the Whittlesea-Kinglake area to help with horse rescues which is my passion. While there my husband was asked to clean up the place outside and mow some paddocks near an electric fence. During our last week there another couple of grey nomads arrived for a week and we got on very well with them. He and my husband both went down to clear the electric fence - one with a whipper snipper my hubby on the ride on mower. When they both came back we were all sitting talking about what had been done when the lady looked at the mower and yelled at my hubby saying he broke it. Well an ensuing argument started and both the men had looked at the part which she said he had broken and it had oxidised which meant it was broken some time ago but she was having none of this and yelled and carried on. We decided then and there to decamp even with the other couple still there. He was gutted to think that she had accused him of breaking it as he is a mechanic by trade and had checked the mower before using it. He also fixed all the other brakes and floats around the place that needed repairs. We came away from there in pieces and wondered if we should just stop doing this volunteering. This sort of thing really leaves you with a bad taste and mixed feelings for people who request your help then accuse you of breaking things. We are at the moment cooling our heels at Lang Lang van park on the water. What do fellow travellers think of this? I would really like to know.
bluemoon2 said
03:20 PM Mar 6, 2016
Hi,
we have done many house sits and I am very active and probably do more than expected of me . I did blow up a old mower once but the owner agreed it was due for heaven.
Another ride on, lost forward gears, so I mowed in reverse (not easy) but I guess one needs to go on gut feeling. We have refused some because of their karma.
Sorry to hear you were treated so shabbily, its her problem not yours. Good luck in future and maybe just stick to house sitting (plenty out there)
twoblackducks said
07:36 PM Mar 6, 2016
Thanks bluemoon2 appreciate the comment. We have not just been house sitting but working actively on properties in the drought areas in Qld - feeding calves, feeding mums and others everyday and love the work. A few times we have had to shoot them due to lack of food and water but we still go back as we love the outback. The break did not stop the mower and did not impact it in any way. This person was quite bossy but I can handle that but to be told you are a liar goes over the top. If we had known that it was broken we would have paid for it to be fixed. We have even outlaid money as she did not have much due to the place being a 'donations accepted' place which is what she lived on. We didn't mind helping out but all that has gone out the window now and we will do house sitting for a few weeks until it cools down up top.
GEODIA said
08:21 PM Mar 6, 2016
Lang Lang i went to primary school there.
So i guess you are at the foreshore.
Beach looks nice when the tide is in.
Used to have a lovely jetty and pool but the pool was filled in years ago too many eye ear infections.
Your other experience that was yesterday, and today is the present.
Dont look back because thats not the way you are going.
twoblackducks said
10:46 AM Mar 7, 2016
You're so right Geodia...it is past now but just wanted to warn others that there are people out there who do not appreciate what GNs do. Love the peace and quiet here...not ones for city life anymore. Thank you for replying. Have a great day.
pawsoz said
05:23 PM Mar 7, 2016
I will add to that warning for those of you who are doing house sitting....all the checks are requested of the sitters, have you ever stopped to wonder if the apparent 'owner' is in fact the owner....? Also if there is a fair bit of shall we say wear and tear on the house taken dated photographs...so as you prove it was not you?....just saying...
HunnyBunny said
05:09 PM Mar 25, 2016
I guess in this changing world we are living in, we all need to be wary who we might be dealing with. It's unfortunate, but it is sadly true! As pawsoz mentioned, there is no way of checking on the character of the owners of these properties. I know there are also a lot of people out there who are extremely trusting. I guess if this is the lifestyle you have chosen you just have to be very careful. Remember. not everyone is like you.
I would imagine there are still many,many good people who would be very grateful of your help. Just reflect on those people not the others. They are really not worth a second thought.
Aus-Kiwi said
06:11 PM Mar 25, 2016
Thing is .. Even if he did break it. How is it his fault ? Things break ! Grew up on farm .
Hello to all of you grey nomads doing the never ending laps of this great country. We have been on the road 24/7 for almost 2 1/2 years now and have been out volunteering wherever we can in Queensland when its cooler and down south including Tasmania when its too hot up north. We came back from Tassie at the end of January and took up a volunteering offer from a lady in the Whittlesea-Kinglake area to help with horse rescues which is my passion.
While there my husband was asked to clean up the place outside and mow some paddocks near an electric fence. During our last week there another couple of grey nomads arrived for a week and we got on very well with them. He and my husband both went down to clear the electric fence - one with a whipper snipper my hubby on the ride on mower. When they both came back we were all sitting talking about what had been done when the lady looked at the mower and yelled at my hubby saying he broke it. Well an ensuing argument started and both the men had looked at the part which she said he had broken and it had oxidised which meant it was broken some time ago but she was having none of this and yelled and carried on
. We decided then and there to decamp even with the other couple still there. He was gutted to think that she had accused him of breaking it as he is a mechanic by trade and had checked the mower before using it. He also fixed all the other brakes and floats around the place that needed repairs. We came away from there in pieces and wondered if we should just stop doing this volunteering. This sort of thing really leaves you with a bad taste and mixed feelings for people who request your help then accuse you of breaking things. We are at the moment cooling our heels at Lang Lang van park on the water
. What do fellow travellers think of this? I would really like to know.
we have done many house sits and I am very active and probably do more than expected of me . I did blow up a old mower once but the owner agreed it was due for heaven.
Another ride on, lost forward gears, so I mowed in reverse (not easy) but I guess one needs to go on gut feeling. We have refused some because of their karma.
Sorry to hear you were treated so shabbily, its her problem not yours. Good luck in future and maybe just stick to house sitting (plenty out there)
I would imagine there are still many,many good people who would be very grateful of your help. Just reflect on those people not the others. They are really not worth a second thought.