AAR TES PASSE ame SPEARS OT ave, oars TS NAS rn EN re ete : chronic’: ee haters LAST WEEK, | listed some of the general preparations that a traveller must deal with prior to taking a foreign vacation. One pre-trip item { mentioned was insurance. There must be a lot of frequent travellers on the North Shore because my phone has been busy with callers wanting to know where to purchase excess medical coverage ona yearly besis. Many had checked with dni: own in- surance agent, who was unable to provide coverage. For the record, our agent is Pat O'Riley at Harbour View In- surance Services, 710 Queensbury in North Vancouver. Pat is very interested in travel insurance because so. many coim- panies provide policies that have severe’ » limiting conditions hidden in small print. “2 Not only: has ‘he: found. a “good yearly policy, he tells. me that. his partner: has :located "a policy ‘that “doesn’t havea rider’ “barring treat- ‘ment . for. All ‘of ‘us want: 10: return from: a an vacation’ vand find our. homes in-' tact But, despite: all: the precau- tions: we: take,” things ean “still g0° “It is “essential to have a friend or. néighbor : check the’ house. on a . Fegular’: basis.’ Personally, I_ prefer ‘to. have ‘semeone actually living in our home. while we’ "re away. ” ‘BEACH FRONT ‘COTTAGES — OCEAN VIEW CONDOS “ @ Two Bedrooms :. @ Woodburning Fireplace Fully Equipped Kitchen Indoor Pool ©. Whirlpool/Sauna Mooting Facilities AS SEEN OF 7.4, P.O. Box 2396. Parksville, B.C. CANADA VOR.2S0 | TOLL-FREE RESERVATIONS: 1-800-663-7309 "illnesses - who” “find. themselves" with: some : Alare- “up A while away from k home...) 3; I’ve been lucky — our ‘‘house sitters’” have always been apart- ment-bound friends who like the novelty of a big house. On one occasion, it was a couple struggling with the delays in con- struction of their own house. Another source of house sitters is an advertisement in the paper. From what readers have told me, this approach is generally suc- cessful, providing the candidates are carefully screened, One of the best_sources of house sitters is retired couples wanting to ‘take a cheap holiday, perhaps to 1 travel wise Barbara. McCreadie be near friends or relatives here. For . this |. reason, .. community ; “newspapers or seniors’ papers such as Elder’ ‘ Stateman are the best ; source If you~ decide to leave your -home: vacant. here’s a list of “precautions you’ should consider. “Remember, your. aim is to’ make your home look occupied. vo; It: is. essential to have someone do .'a.: walk-through, | o -every day. It’s best if they come at “a. different. time’ each . visit and change the position of curtains and “perhaps move the car. If, you. have installed a timer device on a lamp it’s a good it idea to move it around, " Deliveries: These may be either stopped at the source or collected by your dai- ly visitor. There are two schools of : : ‘thought about ‘this. ‘Some people preferably, -that won't look well in _ Sanitary feel that the fewer people who know you're away the better. They are the ones who return home to deal with a month's supply of old newspapers. Others, trusting in the integrity of carriers everywhere, cancel everything. | suspect that some of these people don't want their daily visitor to know how many bills they get. Checklist: © Newspapers © Mail © Milk and eggs Once delivery you can do nothing about is flyers. It is essential to have your visitor get rid of these, Security: Check your locks. Repair any that are shaky. If you have win- dows that any five-year-old can lift out and climb through, a couple of small nails can solve the problem. It's wise to insert anti-slide bars in glass doors and sliding windows. One warning — don't sleep overnight in a house with windows nailed shut, Don't leave ladders and touls around the yard. If anyone plans to break in, make him bring his own. I think it’s a good idea to notify the police that you're going to be away. Give them the name and number of the person who is house ' watching for you, both to save- them getting arrested and so that the police have someone to call in case of trouble. Checklist: ® Locks e Ladders and tools * Police General Preparations: Before leaving your house a thorough clean-up is vital. Don’t leave anything in the refrigerator three ‘weeks. Get rid of garbage from in- side and outside. 1 like to clean out cupboards and put opened boxes of crackers and cereals in’ the refrigerator. No sense providing lunch for any ants that might move in during your absence. 39 - Sunday, March 20, 1988 - bicach in the toilet tanks and bowls. Pay special attention to clothes hampers and closets, especially if you have kids! Leave closet doors slightly ajar and give inside a quick spray of moth repellent. Leave your washing machine fid open. Most machines collect a bit of water inside which can become musty, Turn your thermostats to SSF. ‘Checklist: ® Refrigerator and cupboards * Garbage © Drains ® Toilets North Shore News *Closets and laundry hampers ® Washing Machine © Thermostat Lastly, before you leave, make a list for your house sitter and take a walk through with her. Make note of anything special that needs checking such as your freezer. Set your plants in one place for easy watering. If you've got lawns to be mowed or pools to be chlori- nated, make sure it’s on the list. And, please don't reward her for three weeks of drudgery with a T- shirt or anything stamped: “‘Sou- venir of “TUGGED, SCRUNCHED, TOSSED... Dear Mr. Tikey We have tugged, scrunched and tossed and lolded ow Tiley gear into Amazing shapes and sizes that would force other clothing to run for cover. When 4 comes to washing, we simply fotiow instruchons and “GIVE "EM HELL? They thave ont... Ted, Pam and Doug (in New Zealand) On Now Year's Day, Torontonians Pam Giltand, Doug Sman and Ted Merry went deing off Magnebe isiand, Australia, Alas, 2 ttuel stole nearly att Ted's Tilley’s (his only clothes) and Pan and Doug's Long Shorts (shown: secret poctets, five-yezr replacement The sign ‘ads “its Tubes or S Noshingl™ guarantee but not against thelt, ‘special washing instructions: women's $59, men's $65, khaki, white, navy) in Austrata thieves nsk prison for what a Canadian can ‘simply acquire by phone! NEW ADDRESS Drop in, Phone or Write Hours: . Mon-Sat 10-5:30 Go through. your house like a — inspector. Flush some Draino down your drains and scrub the .plumbing. Tip: Last thing before leaving — pour a little Fora special film evening, and to plan your trip to New Zealand during Magic Season with Air New Zealand, HOTPAC and the New Zealand Tourist office. 7:00 p.m. WEDNESDAY LONSDALE QUAY HOTEL MARCH 23 NORTH VANCOUVER 7:00 pm. THURSDAY ROBSON SQUARE MEDIA CENTRE, MARCH 24 VANCOUVER Tickets $3.00 per person Contact your local travel agent or 2 air HEW ZESlang The pride of the South Pacific. (604) 689-3331 You'll enjoy your stay at ... im Barbara Tille 21537 West Broadway Vancouver, B.C. V6d 1W6 Ph. 732-4287 or SEA-HATS —=s eel #; 1140 Govemment St., Victoria, 4 /B.C. V8W 1Y2 (604) 384-6835 Quality, ' Character, Service The Athambra reflects Its com- fortable, European sense of style from soaring lobby to graciously furnished guest rooms. - % Special rooms with private dacuzzi baths or soaking tubs. . . + Pure goose down com: ~ forters on all beds _ % In the heart of Victoria's fabulous shopping district. Meeting roums and small conference facilities “available, Highly affordable rates from $52-$110 (single or double oc- cupancy) per night including Complimentary Continentat Breakiast.. - ~~ Rates valid until May 15, 1988 of 10% when presented at check-in and 1 0% ~ Clip p this ad and receive a further reduction mentioned when making reservations.