The Blogger and the Squire

As of January 2019, we are no longer full-time nomads (my previous blog title was Globalhousesitterx2). This is mainly because the Squire was diagnosed with Bone Marrow cancer (Primary Myelofibrosis), and we have had to reevaluate our life.

A blog title change was needed to reflect this and our new home in New Zealand. The creation of “Life at No.22” is born with the inclusion of Globalhousesitterx2 posts.

What will I write about now?

My blog will still reflect me, the Squire and my quirky personality. I will endeavour to include more about our travels beyond our backyard, musings about life, tramping (hikes), cycling, walking basketball, photography and whatever else takes my fancy.

Hopefully, my posts will make you think and encourage you to do more of what makes you smile.
Hello, 2019 – We CANcer vive!


Can you tell I do not like having my photograph taken? Must get a few new photos of myself and the Squire!

Updated November 2021

This month, the Squire left Auckland hospital after 3.5 months in Motutapu Ward after a Stem Cell Transplant. Though my blog isn’t about cancer and the Squire’s journey, it is still a profound event in our lives. So, hang on tight while we navigate through it.

Updated February 2023

We are still enjoying life at a slow pace along it’s curvy path. Regular blood tests etc., for the Squire, mean our world is centred around where we live and a bit further down the road. We try to make the most of every day.

A saying I came across the other day that made me smile;

To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow – Audrey Hepburn

59 thoughts on “The Blogger and the Squire”

  1. Thanks for following my blog Suzanne and I’ve just reciprocated. This post resonates with me on several levels. Firstly, I share your pain at having to curtail your activities as I’ve had to do the same and secondly, your blogs look professional, interesting and covers a part of the world I don’t know anywhere near enough about. As frustrating as life can be when our travelling days are cut back, at least we can say that we’ve enjoyed the ride along the way, and of course, we can still write about our experiences. It’s a pleasure to make your aquaintance and please give my best wishes to the Squire and I hope that he is able to make a full recovery.

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    1. Hi Malc, mainly my posts are about New Zealand with occasionally making reference to our years of overseas travels which seem a lifetime ago. Thanks very much, for your kind thoughts and wishes. Here’s to sharing our individual experiences via our blogs.

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  2. Hi, Nice to meet you Suzanne and I’ve just signed up to receive your future emails and to thank you for following me. While I’ve never been a nomad, my husband and I spent as much time as we could travelling and before retirement for about six years we worked only during the UK summer and took off for hotter climes in the winter, then on retirement the world was ours! He died 10 years ago and for a while I kept on travelling, obstinately insisting i could go it alone, but it wasn’t really enjoyable so I have cut down now to about one-tenth of what I did before. Anyway, I’m getting too old to risk the problems that can arise when too far from home and in the sort of places I like to travel. See you at No. 22

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    1. Thanks for following, Maris and I look forward to sharing travelling experiences etc.
      Good on you for getting out there and travelling by yourself. It takes courage and I can imagine it’s never quite the same without your best friend/husband with you.
      There does come a point in our lives when travel no longer holds the interest it was once did. Not sure I have reached that point yet. Time will tell.

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  5. Thank you for ‘liking’ my own ‘about me’ page 🙂 I’m glad you dropped by as it’s led me here and I discover a fellow Number 22er (we live at a #22 house in a west London suburb 🙂 ) I’m sorry to read about your husband’s diagnosis – I hope things are going OK for him at present? I have Australian friends just about to embark on a life as full-time nomads so it’s interesting to come across someone else who’s done the same thing. While we’re not nomads we ARE passionate travellers and can’t wait to get back out there and see more of the world when that is finally possible again!

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    1. You’re welcome and thanks for “popping by” 🙂 It is a small world, and many of us have similarities in our lives. Blogging has certainly introduced myself to many folks from various countries around the world. One day, I might head off travelling once again. Time will tell I suppose.

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  6. I love your spirit, Suzanne. I’m so sorry about your husband’s diagnosis. I hope you are enjoying some adventures closer to home. How long were you full time nomads? My husband and I traveled full time for 2.5 years and now we’re waiting for covid to get under control, so we can start again. Take care and all the best.

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    1. Thanks Patti, we were full time nomads approx 4 years. I can’t imagine travelling will be a thing to do for a few more years? A wild guess on my part. Hope you’re enjoying adventures close to home.

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  8. Hi Suzanne – so glad I just found you! Or rather, you found me so that I could find you! I’m looking forward to reading more about your life and thoughts. And my Love, New Zealand. Sorry to hear about the squire…, but hope everything is under control. ♥

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  9. Suzanne, I just found you via Mel Life…One Big Adventure. I came to read what you are all about. Sorry to hear about the C word and the Squire. I hope all of that is going ok. I’m impressed with all of your accomplishments starting in your 50’s! I look forward to getting to know you through your blog. cheers.

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  11. You’re a kiwi and they are renowned for fixing everything with a piece of number 8 wire. I left 2 adult kids in NZ so I have an excuse to go back regularly. Maybe we will cross paths one day

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  16. I love this Suzanne!
    I had no idea you had had such an interesting and varied career as well as your nomadic retired lifestyle! ❤

    So, do you have someone house sitting for you and looking after your orchard while you are house sitting? If someone else was house sitting for them, there could be an endless loop of people looking after each others homes!

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    1. Thanks Josy. We sold our orchard in 2008, I am so used to everyone knowing this that I omitted to write it in. Hard to believe it will be 10 years this Easter!! Time goes by too fast!!

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  19. Hi Suzanne, I just found you from your guest post over on Donna’s blog! Glad I found you, as we seem to be kindred spirits. I love a good cup of coffee, gardening, traveling, laughing – and I’ve walked 5 half-marathons. That said, I believe my hands don’t fit that “lawn mowing machine” and I’m fortunate that hubs fancies lawn mowing as his form of exercise! Glad I’ve discovered you! ~ Lynn

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    1. Lovely to “meet you” Lynn. Look forward to connecting more. Yes lawn mowing does tend to be a man’s job. As long as I am fed and watered afterwards I’m more than happy to do it 😁 The 1/2 marathons feel a lifetime ago!! I sometimes get the urge for a repeat performance then I think I don’t want to push my luck!!

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      1. I’m with you! I found that in each half-marathon, somewhere around mile 9, I would find myself thinking, “Why in the heck am I doing this!” So for the past few years, I’m listening to that inner voice. But it was such an accomplishment for us when it happened, right? ~ Lynn

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  20. Funny that you call NZ Downunder. I had only ever thought of Australia as that. And Kiwis call Australia, “Aussie” – it is funny all these slang words. The young ones are thinking of new ones all the time. I just heard “gatho” the other day and ‘totes’ for totally! Where will it end?

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    1. I suppose downunder is an Aussie thing, though as we are only a puddle away I do use it instead of using NZ all the time in a paragraph. Totes is an old one, though it meant something different. I wonder if the younger generations use it to eliminate the older people in conversations 🙂 English is the most bastardised language with so many slang words.

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      1. I don’t think the younger people use this abbreviated sort of language to exclude the older ones deliberately, even though it works to their advantage to accentuate the generation gap! I think it more related to sounding cool and, or, being a bit lazy with their speech! They do not want too sound too formal!!

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  23. Nice to read about you and I am a walker as well Suzanne…My longest 26.2 miles, The Moon Walk it took me 6 hours and my poor hubbie was waiting half a mile from the finish line never knowing if I would make it but A promise is a promise and I did it!… I now to do much more sedate walks and no more than 8-10 K a day….but it suits me and more often than not it’s a modest 5k. Love gerring to know you 🙂

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    1. Thanks Carol, well done for achieving the 26.2 miles! It is wonderful when you put your mind to achieve something and you do it. I found the walking was more mental work than physical most competitions! Yes, I no longer do more than 10kms at one time.
      Though never say never 🙂 Aren’t we fortunate to have such amazing husbands who wait patiently at the finish line 🙂 Enjoying getting to know you too!

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  26. What an adventurer you are. A half Marathon and Triathlon my goodness I bow before you, this is how a healthy 50 something woman can live. And long may you keep challenging adventuring and exploring. P.s. put that tongue away #tooCheeky

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