Mature children's book author & musician with caretaking and petloving experience

About this sitter

I am a writer who bounces around between UK and Europe. Some times I housesit and look after people's pets, as I am very fond of animals and have lots of experience with them. I am mindful of individual needs, and careful to be in communication with their owners when it is requested.
I am in my mid fifties. For a year I lived with my ex-partner and her children in Paris. I was born in the New Forest in the south of the UK and grew up by the sea before moving to London and then out again. For a few years I lived as concierge on an organic apple farm in the mountain forests of Tenerife, with a couple of dogs and several thousand bees. I have also lived with cats, several pet rats, a rescued mouse, and have looked after pigs, chickens and ponies.
I have been vegetarian for over 30 years. I enjoy walking and cycling, and am rediscovering my latent artistic abilities. I am the co-author of a succesful children's comic book "Die Unschtbare Raumschiff" published in Germany, and the sole musician behind a double album "20 golden yolks" on tiptoprecs.com. I have used Nomador, and I have been on several successful placements using Workaway. Please note my French is basic but I am currently re-learning. I speak a little German too and less Spanish than I should! I am Covid-vaccinated. NB I am currently required to be in the Bournemouth area for one day every six weeks (ongoing hospital, not serious).

Why they want to house sit

Although I am a published author and have had some success as a recording and touring musician (producer and songwriter), I am neither J K Rowling nor Taylor Swift! My writing career tends to be based in Germany, my responsibilities tend to be itinerant (including an elderly mother in the South of England and occasional assistance to a Paris-based artist), and my nature is semi-nomadic, so. I enjoy having an ongoing responsibility whilst having time to write and be creative.

Their experience

I have worked as a community musician, fine artist assistant, chef, caretaker, performing musician and administrator. For a few years I lived as concierge on an organic apple farm in the mountain forests of Tenerife, with a couple of dogs and several thousand bees. I have posted a coupkle of photos of my creations - my hand-painted coffee grounds box with portrait of the owner's chateau, and the broken lampstand that I made into a perfectly acceptable lampstand. I have also lived with cats, several pet rats, a rescued mouse, and have looked after pigs, chickens and ponies.
I have a full and clean UK driving licence, although no car of my own. I cycle a lot. I don't smoke, I drink in moderation, enjoy cooking, and am familiar with doing odd jobs, getting wet and/or mucky and chopping wood!

What can they bring to the assignment

Experience, maturity, responsibility, initiative and reliability. Fitness and resilience, for all-weather dog walking.