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HouseSit Match Surprised me with the Perfect Housesit
Kelly is a seasoned housesitter and it takes a lot to surprise her. However, in this article she tells us of her perfect housesit, and it happens that this came through HouseSit Match. Read on to learn more about her reasoning.
Photo by Lamia Walker
Sometimes, the perfect housesit is a perfect surprise.
I’m a city girl. My perfect housesit is a cat in a flat. But HouseSit Match’s Lamia Walker floated a country sit by me – with an added inducement: She lives just a few minutes away and promised a homemade Middle Eastern dinner (which turned out to be an incredible feast!).
That’s how I found myself on a rural estate in High Wycombe for three weeks in a nine-bedroom mansion with two lovely dogs.
Definitely out of my comfort zone, I adjusted quickly to the rambling walks where I could let the dogs cavort off-lead and not worry about the big-city dangers of noisy traffic, fetid garbage, or unpredictable pedestrians. Instead, we visited the horses corralled in the adjoining stable, glimpsed jack deer racing across the fields, and explored the various forested paths.
It Was Easy to Make New Friends During This Perfect HouseSit
Neighbors walked their dogs along these same paths and we quickly got to know each other, creating a sweet community one doesn’t always find in cities. This was rapidly becoming not just a perfect housesit, but a favorite housesit among the dozens I had done throughout the world.
The home was incredible: Nine bedrooms accessible by two separate staircases in two wings, an impeccably appointed drawing room, gracious foyer, a huge dining room that could seat a small army…I felt like I was living in Downton Abbey.
The real living area, though, was a modern open-plan kitchen with a TV room and a dining nook that lead out to the walled, private, fragrant back garden, pool, and – wait for it – sauna! Ahem, “perfect housesit”? You bet!
Rounding out this perfect housesit were the dogs, Gus and Pippen. Gus had been a show dog, but that hadn’t gone to his head. He is vivacious and smart, the leader of the pack and curious about everything. Everything! Pippen is more reserved, cuddly, and enjoyed sleeping with me. I let them take the lead in determining the directions of our walks, which exposed me to a greater variety of romping choices. I revelled in their freedom and exuberance.
I Forged a Great Relationship with the Homeowner
It may seem a bit counter-intuitive, but I believe the relationship between the sitter and homeowner is the “secret sauce” to creating a perfect housesit. Even though we spend little physical time together, our communication styles, expectations, and mutual gratitude can make or break a house sitting experience.
In this case, the homeowner was extraordinarily welcoming and gracious. During our first on-line conversation, when she heard that I’d been house sitting and traveling full-time for nearly 15 years, she asked, “Doesn’t that get lonely sometimes?”
Really the perfect housesit and the perfect hostess
In all my years of house sitting, no homeowner has asked me that! I immediately knew this would be the perfect housesit.
She encouraged me to ask my friends to visit while I was pampering her pooches. A dear friend from England spent a weekend (and shared that incredible Lamia Walker feast!), and three friends of mine who live in Portugal (my new home) visited for four days. We hiked, enjoyed the local pub, binged on Netflix, cooked, sauna-ed, and, of course, allowed the dogs to entertain us! Additionally, dear friends from London drove up for a day. Talk about the perfect housesit!
I loved Exploring Buckinghamshire
The homeowners also rented me a car. That’s not a typical thing for me, as I’m usually in the Big City. But I needed a car for grocery shopping and in case of an emergency with the dogs. The homeowners encouraged me to explore the surrounding area…which I did, but, as an American, I found the roundabouts daunting!
High Wycombe is just west of London and is surrounded by pastoral and historic countryside. I had a chance to explore parts of England I never would have seen if I were house sitting in London. For example, I met up with one of HouseSit Match’s bloggers in Marlow. We swapped house sitting stories, had a lovely lunch and explored the village’s many galleries. I loved the charming village so much, I later returned with another visiting friend and wandered along the picturesque path that hugs the River Thames.
Music at the Cliveden Estate – A National Trust Treasure
One evening, Lamia suggested we attend a string concerto at Cliveden, a stunning manor with a sprawling garden that formerly housed the Astor family. But the property’s history dates back to 1666 when it was purchased by a duke who wanted a place near London to entertain his mistress! The estate passed through several generations of earls, dukes and viscounts and endured two fires before landing in the hands of America’s wealthiest person, William Waldorf Astor, in 1893.
In 1915, the Astors dedicated part of the Cliveden Estate as a hospital to care for WWI’s injured soldiers. A memorial garden to the deceased soldiers still exists on the grounds. Among the hospital’s notable visitors were King George V and Winston Churchill.
Speaking of Churchill, he had a famous rivalry with Cliveden Estate’s Lady Nancy Astor, an American who was the first woman to sit in the British House of Commons, that allegedly included this exchange:
“If I were married to you,” Lady Astor declared, “I’d put poison in your coffee.”
“If I were married to you,” Churchill is said to have replied, “I’d drink it.”
Steeped in this rich history, Lamia and I wandered the manicured gardens and slipped into the mansion (now a hotel) to see the historic photos on exhibit before settling into outdoor seating to hear the concert. The summer evening enfolded us as the classical music began…
I Got to Chat-Up HouseSit Match During My Perfect HouseSit!
Lamia is an exceptional networker. She thrives on meeting her members and forging friendships. That’s how she and I met several years ago when I was house sitting in London. I can still remember the first time we met at the National Gallery restaurant and how we couldn’t stop chatting!
Another evening during my perfect housesit, Lamia invited me to speak at her local networking group about my experiences as an international house sitter. The women asked such great questions and it was a joy to support HouseSit Match. I am so passionate about house sitting that I take every opportunity to encourage pet owners to engage house sitters. And I really want quality sites like HouseSit Match to thrive. As a bonus, I met another one of HouseSit Match’s house sitters.
So, in the end, here I am, an avowed “city girl” redefining herself. It took Lamia Walker and HouseSit Match to expand my horizons and make me realize there are many, many more “perfect housesits” for me than I’d imagined!
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About the Author Kelly Hayes-Raitt
Before relocating to Portugal in 2022, Kelly Hayes-Raitt traveled full-time throughout the world while house sitting. Ever on the lookout for the next perfect housesit, last year she also house sat on the north coast of Scotland for a month and adjacent to a wildlife reserve in Tanzania for another month. She is the author of How to Become a Housesitter: Insider Tips from the HouseSit Diva, available in paperback or Kindle on Amazon.co.uk.
Further reading about housesitters and housesitting UK
At Housesit Match we like to share useful blogs and real experiences shared by housesitters, housesitting and pet sitting. We hope you find this small selection of our blogs on house sitters useful.
Housesitting in Buckinghamshire UK
Housesitters keep pets safe at home and save money
What a housesitter does – Top 10 responsibilities
Free housesitting websites or free housesitters – Which is best
