Thread by @GPBinNL

Not a fan of Christmas Day? Come and join me while I work with cute animals. It's an early start, so I'm leaving the boarding dogs in bed with Ken for him to walk in a bit, while I visit all the Christmas kitties #JoinIn

Beatrix isn't impressed with me waking her up so early, but as you can see from the keys, there are a lot of animals to look after today.

It's kinda nice having the streets to myself at this time. My trusty steed will be getting me around as I cover the streets of Amsterdam today. F

First up is Lucy. We'll be seeing her twice today. She's 16 and needs various medications have to be crushed and added to her food. 0800 is probably the earliest I've ever used a pestle and mortar in my life.

Km cycled: 1
Flights of stairs climbed: 2
Litterboxes cleaned: 1

Next up is Peachka. She's a new client and it took a few days to earn her trust, but we're besties now.

Km cycled: 1.2 (she lives round the corner from Lucy)
Stairs climbed: 6 (+4)
Litterboxes cleaned: 3 (+2)

Now on to Honey and Truffle. They both have kidney issues so a special diet for them, and poor Truffle is on rations as he's a bit porky. But it's Christmas so I gave him a little treat, ssssh.

Km cycled: 2.3 (+1.1)
Stairs climbed: 6 (+0)
Litterboxes cleaned: 5 (+2)

#JoinIn

Also, just in case you're wondering why I'm tallying up the number of staircases climbed, you probably haven't been to Amsterdam. But this is what they're like. Steep with very narrow steps! People also keep a lot of stuff in them, including snowboards!

Quick supermarket stop as I just realised I need food colouring for dessert later. I'm always surprised that supermarkets here are open all day on Christmas Day.

Pit stop at home to prep some bits for dinner, namely a mushroom Wellington and a vegan peppermint dessert. We have a client joining for dinner later as he moved to NL recently and doesn't know anyone yet.

But first, jumper change and a coffee!!

I mentioned earlier my partner will be taking out the dogs we have boarding with us. Here they are in an empty park.

Some can go off leash, and some can't. Here's little 13yo Barrett who we've looked after for three years. He has a pretty incredible story, which you can read about here: instagram.com/p/CV3WpfJoP1U/…

While I prep some of the food, my partner, Ken, has gone to visit two more kitty clients, Minnie & Leo. They live in a part of town we no longer cover, but we love them, so make an exception.

Km cycled: 5.6 (+3.3)
Stairs climbed: 6 (+0)
Litterboxes cleaned: 7 (+2)

Just received a call from someone desperate for a dog sitter as the person they had arranged cancelled on them. This morning! Unfortunately, her dog doesn't do well with cats so can't stay here, but I've given her some alternative companies who could help. She was distraught.

Onward I go to Ophelia. She's a new client, and I was told she'll not be my friend. Challenge accepted.

Also, have you ever heard a cat go 'nom nom nom' before? No? You're welcome.

Km cycled: 7.1 (+1.5)
Stairs climbed: 10 (+4)
Litterboxes cleaned: 8 (+1)

I also managed to squeeze in a cuddle with the guest dogs, and my own dog, Max (in white). We rescued him 3 years ago from Romania where unfortunately he had been mistreated. He is still very wary of humans - he has a point! - but he loves us and truth be told, he rescued me.

This isn't ideal! For some reason my key has decided not to work at my next client's house. We always have a spare locked in our office, so Ken is hurtling across the city to bring it to me. If it doesn't work, then it's a Christmas Day locksmith and a big bill for our client!

In the meantime, enjoy this video of me cycling through the beautiful Jordaan district. I don't think I've ever cycled past the Anne Frank House and NOT had to ring my bell at a tourist standing in the road!

Also, if you need a giggle:

https://twitter.com/highfielder80/status/1474670689072390145?t=yVHPFlIW9qvTr2m3fQ-71g&s=19

My knight in shining armour.......

.....except our spare key also doesn't work, so a locksmith call out it is. This means a complete re-jig of our schedule today to fit this in later on today, but needs must.

Is it too early for a drink? Asking for me.

So, on I go to Lola. She's a cute little dumpling who doesn't care for games or toys as they just get in the way of eating. And she's not shy about telling me that!

Km cycled: 11.2 (+4.1)
Stairs climbed: 13 (+3)
Litterboxes cleaned: 9 (+1)

Next, it's Wade & Kingsley. Wade, pictured below, is super shy. He always checks us out downstairs, but......

..... he then scurries upstairs and hides behind the bed pillows. It's strange as he then likes to be tickled, just not anywhere else in the house!

His brother Kingsley used to hide under the bed when we visited, but one day, 18 months after our first visit, he decided he liked us, and now enjoys lots of scritches.

Km cycled: 12.8 (+1.6)
Stairs climbed: 15 (+2)
Litterboxes cleaned: 11 (+2)

Finally time for a break for Christmas lunch and a glass of bubbles. Although of course there are still animals involved.

This is our client, Chris. His dog, Albie, comes for daycare twice a week, but they don't know any people in Amsterdam so we invited then for dinner.

Not only has @highfielder80 cooked for us today, he also took care of all the boarders today. It's very much a joint effort today.

Vegan dinner for me and Chris, and a turkey dinner for the chef. A glass of red to wash it down with, and then it's back out to do the evening kitties. Come with me why don't you? #JoinIn

But first, these two beauties are my cats, Klaus and Beatrix. They, and Max, are named after the Dutch royal family, and I love them so much. They're so good with all the guest dogs too.

Km cycled: 14.9 (+2.1)
Stairs climbed: 16 (+1)
Litterboxes cleaned: 13 (+2)

Back for Lucy's second visit of the day to give her dinner and medication. She's often snoozing when I arrive so I have to gently wake her, but today she is up and ready to greet me.

Km cycled: 15.9 (+1)
Stairs climbed: 18 (+2)
Litterboxes cleaned: 13 (+0 as I did it earlier)

Now it's Peachka's turn for a second visit of the day, and it seems she has a foot fetish.

Km cycled: 16.1 (+0.2)
Stairs climbed: 21 (+3)
Litterboxes cleaned: 13 (+0)

Sorry for the delay, the last couple of hours have been pretty manic. Swung by Honey & Truffle again to give them dinner. Honey loves to watch the bird feeder live cams on YouTube.

Km cycled: 17.2 (+1.1)
Stairs climbed: 21 (+0)
Litterboxes cleaned: 13 (+0)

The locksmith has arrived! So it's time to finally see Maxima and Binx! He thinks someone tried to break in as there are metal shavings on the floor and the lock has been busted. Thankfully it appears they were unsuccessful and nothing has been stolen.

Binx is finally happy to get some tickles.

Maxima, on the other hand, is not so happy that she has to have her asthma inhaler. As you can see, she doesn't like it at first, but after some soothing, she takes it like a champ.

Km cycled: 19.7 (+2.5)
Stairs climbed: 26 (+5)
Litterboxes cleaned: 14 (+1)

My last clients of the day! These two don't actually have names - don't ask! - but we call them Mama and Sylvester. Unfortunately, Mama injured her leg the day before her owner left on holiday, but thankfully the vet said nothing is broken and the limp is improving.

They're a pair of sweethearts and today I got double cuddles. What a way to finish work!

Km cycled: 22.8 (+3.1)
Stairs climbed: 26 (+0, they have a lift!)
Litterboxes cleaned: 16

Now that I'm home, Ken has popped out for the very final appointment of Christmas Day, to see Minnie and Leo again. And it seems he's interrupted Leo in the middle of an aria!

Km cycled: 29 (+6.2 round trip)
Stairs climbed: 26 (+0)
Litterboxes cleaned: 16

So there you have it. Christmas Day in the life of a pet sitter. Not without its incidences, but things ran pretty smoothly considering how busy it was, including trying to fit in Christmas dinner etc. I'm pretty knackered after a 13 hour day, but what a great group to hang with.

For those wondering how / why we do this, this little video might help. Look at all our wonderful clients.

If you've enjoyed this thread and need more cute animals in your life, we post a lot more on our Instagram at instagram.com/tailsofthecity… so feel free to give us a follow.

I'm off to have a beer in the bath. Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas

#JoinIn

Oh, and I did at least get to see Amsterdam at its finest this evening. Such a beautiful city that I feel very lucky to call home.

And today my own cats are paying me back for yesterday by being little shits.

So today was essentially a duplicate of yesterday's business, so Ken has upgraded my post-work bath. I was also offered beer, rye and hot chocolate with Bailey's, all of which I think I'll have after.

It doesn't matter how long my working day is, or how late I get home, I will never turn this down.