ROVING JAY

Read about Lisa Morrow’s new book “Waiting for the Tulips to Bloom: Adrift in Istanbul” and find out how your purchase can help Syrian refugees.

You’ve been waiting for this moment and here it is – Josh “The Movie Squabblers” Obscure Gems and and Bottom 5 movies of 2015.

Find out what happened when we invited Laurel and Hardy to fit our bathroom door jam and door. Nothing’s ever simple in Turkey!

I’m getting warmed up for NaHaiWriMo in February, and am using January to home my Haiku writing skills. Here’s my Winter Chill Haiku.

Little did we anticipate that the rain on our windscreen signalled the arrival of the armageddon-like weather that descended upon the Bodrum Peninsula as we slept soundly in our beds.

We were Going to go Cold Turkey on Starbucks, but then discovered a Starbuck at Yalikavak Marina, Bodrum. Americano anyone?

We picked the black olives from our Bodrum olive tree and then followed a “oil cured” olive recipe that called for lots of salt. And not oil.

A deserted International Terminal at Bodrum greeted us, and our cases had one last road-trip before making it up the last leg of our garden path.

Leaving LAX with excess baggage, and arriving in the lap of luxury at the Elite World Business Hotel in Istanbul for our first night of our new life in Turkey.

After 17 years living the LA dream, we sold, gave away and donated our belongings to start a new life in Turkey. Our life was whittled down to 11 pieces of luggage and two sleep deprived travelers.

Kit lived in Changsha for 18 months, a small city by Chinese standards. 7 million people crammed at the feet of the Heng shan (Southern Mountain) range; Mount Yeulu (Foot Mountain) forms the Northern most point of the chain and enjoys some phenomenal view over the bustling city below. Here’s his guest blog post about 5 things he wish he knew before going to China to teach English.

“Why do we hoard, and leave clutter untouched, When all that we need just isn’t that much.” The decluttering process inspired a poem about getting rid of your stuff, and starting a new journey. Includes a Pinnable image.

A review of my One Fine Stay in Soho London. It’s like an up-market airbnb service, and they’re only in a few select cities around the world.

Find out how to request a Police or FBI background check if your home owner is requesting an additional level of security before they engage you as a house sitter.

Here’s my tried and tested SIMPLE recipe for Spicy Pineapple Salsa with Pul Biber. It’s a creative way to incorporate this hot Turkish spice into a fresh and fruity salsa.

Finding Travel Bloggers One of the most popular pages on my website is my 100+ Travel Blogs accepting Guest Posts….

Photo Album of the 2015 Half Moon Bay 4th of July Parade. See the cast of characters parading down Main Street for the annual parade to celebrate the Independence from us Brits! I kept my accent firmly under wraps!

Killing Time before & after Half Moon Bay 4th of July Parade I went Horse Riding, ate at Main Street Diner and walked the dogs in El Granada’s Quarry Park. Head to Vista Point for a panoramic view of Pillar Point Harbour and Mavaricks Beach.

Fitzgerald Marine Reserve is just north of Half Moon Bay. It’s famous for it’s tide pools and Seal Cove Beach. The best time to visit is low tide.

I took a Stroll Down Half Moon Bay Main Street when I was dog sitting in Northern California. It’s a quaint old town, and it’s easy to see it’s mass appeal

Point Montara Lighthouse is nestled between San Francisco and Half Moon Bay. The Coast Guard Quarters are now a hostel for cheap California Accommodation.

I went housesitting in Northern California near Half Moon Bay looking after 2 adorable dogs. We had plenty of walks along Montara State beach in the sun and during the fog, which seems pretty prevalent this time of year.

A sunny spring day was the ideal time to visit the Queen’s Estate in Sandringham to tour the house, museum and gardens. It was a North Norfolk day out during my house sitting adventure in the county.

The Green Landscape of Norfolk sprouts blankets of yellows each spring with rapeseed flowers, and there are many other yellow flowers in the hedgerows and along the lanes during my dog sitting adventures.