Quiet, responsible sitter, who loves animals, nature and long walks.

About this sitter

I am a 56-year-old single woman living near the beach in The Hague. I am self-employed and sometimes stay abroad for a few months or work remotely. Animals make me happy, but I have none of my own. I think they deserve time and space, which I cannot offer them right now, so I look after other people's pets. I am quiet, responsible, clean, and organised. I don't smoke or drink and keep fit by running. I love books and walks in nature. I love exploring new places and meeting new people. What am I looking for in a house sit? First of all, mutual trust and respect. You need to trust each other. In my experience, that is mostly an intuitive process. A quiet spot in nature where I can take dogs for walks (or join me on a run) is my favourite, and a few cats and dogs to cuddle up with on the couch with a book is my idea of heaven. I like to live slowly and intentionally, but I am also a workaholic. I can work from home, which keeps me sane. I play chess, read multiple books at the same time (nonfiction) depending on my mood, and go for walks, preferably with a few furry companions by my side. If there is a garden to maintain, I'm even happier.

Why they want to house sit

I am primarily based in The Hague, Holland, where I work as a consultant, mainly for the government. Right now, I don't have enough time to spend with them. Life is incomplete without animals around, so I look after other people's pets.

Their experience

I have been pet-sitting for 15 years now. After a long pause to care for my mother, I am slowly back into it. I was raised with animals in the house: cats, hamsters, birds, turtles, fish, and dogs. My brother had horses, which I used to look after with my father. I have been riding horses for over ten years. In Greece, where we lived, we used to have strays from everywhere, taken to our home because people knew we'd nurse them back to health. It even included an owl and a donkey. I had dogs, cats, and a giant land turtle in South America that we saved from the soup.

What can they bring to the assignment

I'm a highly responsible person, making it easy for you to leave without worrying. I'm quiet, and I don't drink or smoke. I'm a morning person, and I like walking and running. I enjoy gardening and am happy to maintain whatever needs maintaining. As a former captain of sailing yachts, I am used to keeping my surroundings tidy and in seamanlike order. Furthermore, I am independent, have a driver's licence, and can easily interact with others. I am not the sightseeing type who is out and about exploring all day.