This year has been a busy one and we’re only three quarters of the way through it! I had a busy start to the year with a trip to Amsterdam and that jaunt taught me that I could pretty much do business at any point of the globe. I managed to put the finishing touches to the March publication while over there. It was exhilarating to be able to prove that you can operate from anywhere. Time and distance is no longer an issue when it comes to technology and having an organised approach.

This has been a bonus because for this edition I’ve moved offices temporarily to my home address. The office space at Newtown is up for sale and I’ve had to juggle moving and getting the premises ready for auction. Working from home really isn’t a plus or a minus for me. I’m well used to having a structured day similar to anyone who commutes and works in a normal office.

Contrary to popular belief, working from home doesn’t mean that I sit on a couch wearing a Snuggie with a laptop on my knee. No fair going back and forth to reload the washing machine either. Come to think of it, I would have less of a load to do on the weekend. The TV isn’t on in the background as this would be a major distraction for me. Nor is my day punctuated with tea and Tim Tam breaks. Boring as it is, my work day is as structured as anyone working in a normal office environment. What’s not like a normal office is that I have two dogs downstairs and two cats upstairs. This arrangement would be hard to find in any office throughout the CBD. It’s amusing to watch the dogs follow the sun throughout the day. They start out in a sunny patch in the lounge, and then they make their way to the dining room following the warm rays.

My cats have a similar sun-seeking pattern but they end up in the late afternoon sun on the bed in what has to be the warmest and cosiest part of the house. In a few months we’ll be on the move as we’re looking for a new house that will offer us a little more space. A backyard would be nice for all of us. Our current backyard is a typical Newtown postage stamp sized, paved yard with barely enough room for an outdoor setting and barbeque. Not enough room for swinging cats let alone dogs. As an owner of two very active dogs, I’m always conscious of their exercise needs so we always start the morning with a long walk. Scooter’s the first to awaken and will promptly let me know that since the sun is almost up, the first planes are about to land at Kingsford Smith and there are birds chirping so it’s time to hit the pavement. So my daily commute begins. We start with a ten-minute walk to the park and then another twenty minutes enjoying a stroll. Then it’s time to head home and grab Lilly for the same routine.

After all that walking, it’s time for a hot shower, fresh clothes, brekkie and then I check my emails over my cup of coffee. My dogs ensure that I have quite a structured routine and this serves me well. Once I get their exercise needs out of the way, I’m free and clear to tackle the calls, emails and other correspondence the day has in store for me.

Often I get so busy and occupied by work that I realise it’s almost 5:30pm and time to think about what to cook for dinner. I have enough to pack into my day that I barely take much time out away from my office desk. Perhaps a couch, Snuggie and laptop would make for an interesting change. All while my clothes are finishing up in the spin cycle.

Lisa Treen Urban Animal Editor