House
Sitting Opens a Door to the Past for Retirees
Frank
and Jane Robinson of Deception Bay (on the northern outskirts of
Brisbane) have found a way to connect with their heritage through
house sitting. Relative newcomers to house sitting, the Robinson’s
were wanting to find a way to visit Jane’s homeland of Scotland
without the financial worry.
(PRWEB)
October 11, 2005 -- Frank and Jane Robinson of Deception Bay (on
the northern outskirts of Brisbane) have found a way to connect
with their heritage through house sitting. Relative newcomers to
house sitting, the Robinson’s were wanting to find a way to visit
Jane’s homeland of Scotland without the financial worry.
“My
wife and I were planning a nine-month holiday to Europe and Scotland
(my wife’s home country) and decided to join HouseCarers -- with
the hope of getting some house sits in Scotland -- as a means of
helping defray some of the accommodation costs,” Frank Robinson
reports.
The
Robinsons were able to find house sits, and were thrilled to be
in Scotland. “Our initial base on Scotland was on a property named
Benarty House. The locale, approximately forty minutes from Edinburgh
by rail and car, suited us fine. Once you have seen the scenery
along the western coast of Scotland, it makes you want to see more.
We do intend returning late next year.”
Frank
Robinson recommends that house sitters sign up at least once to
sit in Scotland. “I would recommend a visit to Scotland, and the
north of England, to anyone thinking of heading in that direction.
But bear in mind that Scotland and England are only a small part
of what is an extremely interesting part of the world.”
Unbeknownst
to the Robinsons, house sitting would also bring an old acquaintance
back into their lives. “We have been talking to a couple about a
sit early in November on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland Australia.
During discussion with them, we found out that one of their nearest
friends is an ex member of the Air Force -- whom I knew in Darwin
in 1963 and haven’t seen since then. Now we will have a reunion
to look forward to, as well.”
Frank
and Jane Robinson are like many retirees who are finding that house
sitting is the magic carpet that enables them to travel to various
places in the world. With a grown daughter firmly settled in her
life, the Robinsons plan to travel extensively while providing a
much needed service to home owners. “We are hoping to sit about
six to eight months a year. We will start looking for France and
Spain early next year.”
When
asked about being good house sitters, the Robinsons report that
honesty and organization are key. “One of the main requirements
is to be a completely honest and trustworthy person. You have to
realize that you are in some other person's home, with all their
personal belongings.” Frank and Jane Robinson always strive to leave
things as they found them, and to always respect the home owner
and their possessions. “You do need to have a fairly organized outlook.”
They
also report that being flexible and able to cope with different
environments is crucial to house sitting. “At our last sit we were
some miles out of Maleny on a 27-acre avocado property -- which
is not quite the same as sitting in the middle of suburbia with
a cat on your knee.” The Robinson’s enjoyed their 18 day sit in
Maleny, and made friends with the pet they were looking after. “The
left us with an absolutely lovable Kelpie cross dog named Dizzy,
a real sweetie.”
Frank
and Jane Robinson are pleased with their experience as house sitters.
“Ian's site (HouseCarers.com) is the only one at which we are registered
as sitters. We are more that happy with responses to queries we
have had -- and see no reason to change. Contact with owners is
remarkably simple, and we have had two way contact without fail
with all owners contacted.”
Contact:
Ian
White
HouseCarers.com
61-2-99131844
http://www.HouseCarers.com
