It is always so nice to be invited back to previous sits and Sampson is no exception. This is our fifth time caring for this boy. Our last sit with him was back in 2020 and he has since moved house! Well from a house to an apartment. He is very easy going, not so much of a cuddler but does love the occasional belly rub!

Sampson likes to be around you and has his favourite spots in the house to observe what’s going on. Always on his chair during lunch and dinner prep. He also positions himself on the ensuite basin waiting for the tap to be turned on. Even though he does have his drinking bowl he also likes to drink occasionally from the ensuite tap. He gave us a run for our money one day with not being able to find him anywhere. Our last resort was to look in the main bedroom cupboard and out peeked that adorable face!!!

We never tire of the differences between the sits, and the pets. We went from smaller pets with our previous sit to larger ones this time! Spike and Lucy are both rescue dogs and whereby similar in size had very different personalities. Spike is a Staffy Cross and Lucy a Kelpie Cross both gentle & calm in nature. Casper named for obvious reasons, I think, kept us entertained with his antics.

Spike is a big gentle boy and previously a therapy dog. They both walked well on the lead and looked forward to their Denta Sticks in the morning, their evening meals and any treats during the day. We found it lovely that wherever we were, they liked to be also. A lot of time by the pool was had! Casper also was never too far away being allowed out during the day but in for the night after his dinner.

Both Spike and Lucy were very intrigued with the lizard living in the garden box at the side of the house. Thankfully he/she had the knowledge to not actually venture out from the box. Spike & Lucy knew it was there but thankfully never encountered it face to face. Lucy gave up after a while but Spike would still be there I think if we didn’t distract him in some way! This was a daily occurrence!

We were so pleased to be chosen to look after Nacho, Cleo and the owner’s beautiful home, only a few minutes from family which was perfect for us given the time of year. Nacho and Cleo were easy care and kept us amused with their antics. With Cleo only being a kitten it was entertaining seeing her daily interaction with Nacho.

Across the road from the home is this great park. We were able to walk Nacho early morning and evening and it is a real meeting place for owners and their dogs. Nacho particularly liked running into the owner with the treats! We also were able to take her to nearby walks in the car to the the waterfront at two separate spots.

We applied to sit Stanley & Lulu while we were in France, this being our last sit before leaving to head back to Australia late October. One of the wonderful things about housesitting is of course the pets that we get to care for, the owners we meet and where we might find ourselves living.

Stanley & Lulu were just delightful – inside outside cats equally endearing but as different as can be! We had a lot of fun with them and found them joining us wherever we were. Not brother and sister but with very similar markings, both very pretty cats. They both enjoyed their time in the garden with Lulu taking up her position just outside of the kitchen door while Stanley spent most of his time snoozing!

Each day we had a neighborhood cat visit which both Lulu and Stanley weren’t too happy about. Always making sure through the kitchen door that he/she had left before venturing out! While on this sit we both contracted Covid having avoided it for the last 4 1/2 years. We were able to manage this, without too much trouble, with the owners full knowledge. Thankfully we both tested negative a few days before returning to Australia.

We were accepted by the owners to sit in Atri, Italy before arriving for our six month stay in Europe. It is an area of Italy that we have not been before and found Atri itself to be a very vibrant and lived in village. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there and this was mainly due to the pets.

Princess & Gordon were delightful and kept us entertained with their high energy antics! They are both inside only cats due to the home being situated on a busy country road and the owners had lost a previous pet through being allowed outside. They were both easy care with litter box duty, clean water & fresh food each day.

Hazel & Piper, mother and daughter miniature goats were acquired by the owners after we had accepted the sit. We had no problem with the addition and were quite looking forward to looking after them as well as we have not sat miniature goats before. Once again very easy care with feeding, supplying a new lot of leaves daily and locking them in for the night due to wolves and wild boars in the area.

We watered and weeded the gardens on the property and during our stay we were able to enjoy all the fresh vegetables from the vegetable garden. There were several flower gardens also which were in full bloom by the time we left.

Applying to Antonio while en route to Europe we were accepted by him to care for Enzo & Ester his very much loved felines. Possessing very different personalities we were highly entertained through their daily antics. Enzo being more content to laze around until mealtime while Ester satisfying her curiosity with feeling nowhere was out of bounds to her. She could be found at anytime, anywhere including the top of the high bookcases.

We were able to take ourselves off to places, but with having visited before and it being July (peak holiday season) with temperatures never dropping below the high 30’s we stayed mainly around the apartment with just two short tram trips to the centre.

Enzo and Ester were very easy to care for and we enjoyed our time with them.

We were contacted by Naya’s owners back in November 2023 while we were still in Australia, asking would we sit for them in June 2024. As we were leaving for Europe in April 2024 and both, never having been to Switzerland we decided to accept. We were so happy to have done so as we found ourselves sitting Naya in a beautiful mountain ski village.

Not long after arriving we went to take Naya for a walk and let her owners finishing packing for their departure in the morning. We were told that while they were still home Naya would not go with us. Centre photo being proof she was not going to budge! We had a variety of walks to choose from the forest becoming our favourite then the various walks to go up to the village. Most days it was Naya’s choice as to which way to go. She would sit down if she thought that you were trying to do the short walk!!!

Naya just loved water and on the forest walk it is channeled down from the mountains and she would race in for a drink then lie in the channel let the cool water run over her. In several places around the village are water troughs and there again she would drink the cool water with sometimes making it in fully to the trough.

Bruno and Gail were first introduced to us sometime ago by our very first house and pet sitters and have looked after our precious mini Schnauzer and home a few times since. We cannot speak highly enough of them. Honestly if you are lucky enough to have them sit your pet and home you are on a winner. Our Mini needs medication every day and they looked after him as we would. The bonus is you will come home to the most amazing clean home. I am more than happy to be contacted to give verbal references.

Previous Sits: 22 April – 26 April 2023

Louise – Bli Bli – Queensland – 25 October to 02 November 2023 – (Trusted House Sitters)

Bruno and Gail minded our home recently and were nothing short of amazing!
No fuss settling in and respected the fact that our property was very low on water. They had an extra hard job as one of my hens was sitting on 8 fertilised eggs. ( luckily they got to see a few hatch before they left)
We came home to a spotlessly clean house, healthy plants, healthy chickens and the garden/grass had been raked of all its leaves!!!
I would not hesitate to have Bruno and Gail stay in our home again! They are welcome anytime!!

Where do I start!

We applied to sit Bosco & Daisy in their beautiful home and were accepted by their owners to care for Bosco and Daisy in their absence. How lucky were we to be caring for these two well behaved and entertaining pups! They are a huge part of the family and we just loved spending the Christmas period through to New Year with them in their beautiful home and acreage property situated at the base of Tamborine Mountain.

Their owners have them both extremely well trained so that you can take Bosco & Daisy anywhere! They love to go for a drive in the car and if you are not quick enough will find one of them in the front passenger seat ready for departure. We were able to take them to the beach and to the nearby lake for walks and exercise. A few trips to the Tamborine Mountain Cafes as well. We christened Daisy the Blonde Bombshell (a name already used by her owner) and Bosco the Chocolate the Teddy Bear, people stoppers wherever we went!

As well as taking Bosco and Daisy out we had the pleasure of walking through a beautiful rainforest walk each day that surrounds the property. This walk has been made by the owners with many years of planting all of the plants that you would see in a natural rainforest. An added bonus is Bosco & Daisy have the run of the property and quite often went off exploring. Such a beautiful space to roam.

Not long after arriving Daisy made it quite clear her love for Bruno and where he was, she was!

Christmas morning Bosco & Daisy had been left a present from their owners. Days leading up to opening Bosco was very curious to what it was. Giving it a sniff and roll every now and then. They were very pleased with its contents, special treats!

Looking forward to returning one day to care for these two pups again!

Responsibilities Included:

Feed/Water Daily

Walks/Outings

Home Security & Mail Collection

Spa Maintenance – Minimal