Live amongst and like the locals in a small village in the hills

About this assignment

Not a psychopath or a compulsive arsonist and like to 'keep it real'? Are you interested in living closer to as how many rural Bulgarians do, living amongst a bit of poverty and dereliction, and the wild peaceful natural environment?

Does this sound like you? If so and no one has applied before you, you're in!

Note that we can be a bit flexible on the dates (if we have set them).

What responsibilities are required of the house sitter

Feed the dog twice a day.
Do a bit now and again to stop the vegetation getting too out of control.
Let the electricity and water men read the meters if they come around.

What are the good features of the property and location

It is very quiet and peaceful here, with not another soul to be seen anywhere near the house most of the time. There are no real close neighbours, apart from one house across the street where a couple of people come for the weekend.

The property comes with about 2000 m2 of grassy orchard you can choose a spot to relax in, but there's lots of wild spaces nearby where you will never meet a soul.

The peacefulness and natural environment is further enhanced by the house being on the edge of a small village in the hills. You can walk 5 or 10 minutes up the road and you will be amongst fields and forest with a panoramic view of more fields and forest and the mountains in the distance. You may also enjoy the mood of walking around the shady green roads of the village looking at the different constructions and conditions of the houses.

We love it here.

What does the house sitter need to consider before applying for this assignment

You would need to have a car if you come here.
There is no bus service to the village.

The house consists of 4 rooms and a little entrance hall/room. There's a living room / kitchen, 2 bedrooms, and a shower room / toilet. The pictures you see of the rooms are always showing 'works in progress', so you will either find what you see in the pictures when you get here, or something better.

There are three shops in the village (probably none take card payments at the time of writing this) where I'm sure you can get all you need to survive, but for a proper supermarket it is a 30 minute drive.

We have an internet service via the mobile network. It is fine for video streaming via WhatsApp and YouTube.

The house you will occupy is a house we have semi-inherited and come into stewardship of. We own the house next door to it. If we are able to find house-sitters to look after our dog, then we will take the opportunity of the freedom this gives us to do other things. However we may remain in our house next door part of the time you are here. The advantage this gives you is that we don't have such a strictly set date or duration for when you should house sit, we would try and adapt as much as possible to you.

The previous Bulgarian occupiers of the house were an old couple in their 70s/80s who were not rich and not too poor. For this reason, although quite normal for Bulgaria/ns, the house is quite basic in terms of western standards where the electrical wiring, construction, and the presentation is concerned. At the time of writing this the house could still do with a bit more paint and 'tender loving care' here and there.

All the bathroom modern conveniences are present in the house. (Inside) toilet, electric water heating tank, shower, sink.

There is no air conditioning.
Or at least we have the traditional form of air con which we call: 'the basement'.

Due to the electric wiring previously mentioned, it is advisable to only have the water boiler switched on in advance of wanting a hot shower, otherwise a tiny amount of electric current can pass through any metal associated with the water system. It's the equivalent to a static electric shock that you might get from a balloon.

We ourselves find it more convenient in the summer to just put a tub of water in the sun and shower using this, basically a crude solar shower. It's really nice to shower outside amongst the fresh air and all the greenery.

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