are you Canadian? Or just sitting in Canada? May I ask where? I was born in Sarnia.
I am indeed Canadian. The sit is finished now but I am back next week and then again in December. You would like it … there is a hot tub and a sauna. I haven’t used them though.
I’m in rural Vermont with two wonderful kitties. When I take sits, I’m on vacation from work so I have time to do nothing but veg in my pajamas, read, do puzzles, and sight-see. However, I got pulled over by a cop on my drive up last night because one of my headlights is out - so my chore today other than loving on and feeding the cats is to get it replaced😝. It’s gray and overcast here, but there is a stunning view from almost every room of woods, fields, and hills in the distance.
It’s a step up from most I’ve seen outdoors, having both taps in place. Have you tried the hot tap yet? I know you like wild swimming Red Lassie! And you’re born and bred in Bonnie Scotland!
This photo gave me a big laugh! Thanks for sharing it’
Just to be clear my wild swimming comment isn’t for the fish pond photos which are also lovely, especially with the noble evening visitor, but for the outside bathroom facility!
Mid-way through a 3 week sit in the Appalachian mountains of West Virginia. I missed the fall colors but it is still beautiful and calm and peaceful. This is really a country sit. 40 minute drive mostly on 1 lane black-top/gravel to the nearest grocery store in Fayetteville (America’s coolest small town on the road sign - there is a really cool coffee shop).
3 dogs and a black cat - all are free to wander the property although I bring the dogs in at night. I’m thinking there are bears and maybe some other wild critters out there. When letting the dogs out in the dark (morning and last trip out at night) one of them barks loudly going out the door - maybe a notice to anything out there to get out of the way.
Ricky is a GSD x, I think, but with a curled tail. I’m told he had a history of mis-treatment by former family but he is very relaxed around me. Ricky is a real talker.
Lucy is a 4 yo GSD.
Maggie Mae is a beagle. She took a few days to become my friend and still chooses to spend her nights in the garage under the house with Blacky the cat.
Blacky the cat is the independent one - she spends her nights in the garage under the house and doesn’t seem to eat much kibble. They say she is a mouser and given that we are in the woods….
Ranger is a neighbor dog who has come by a few times to help himself to a snack. Ranger is the HO’s son’s dog.
This is my second sit with a pair named for a comedy duo - I sat George and Gracie, a Boston terrier pair last spring. And have a sit scheduled with a pair of cats -also George and Gracie, although George is a foster so he may be adopted before the sit.
So now I have to seek out sits with pets named Bud & Lou, Stan & Ollie, Dean & Jerry, Cheech & Chong, Dickie & Tommy, and Jerry & Anne.
Nearby national park on the New River.
I’m in Ronda, Southern Spain, for a week. The owners got cheap midweek flights from Malaga to Milan for 60 euros!
Berta, the Bull Mastiff is such a lovely companion! She is a big sleeper! She has two walks a day and the owners want me to keep to her routine as they both work and she is happy with things as they are. Berta barks if the tv is too loud when she wants to sleep. I am happy with subtitles so we are a good fit!
It’s colder inland for sure but I like this location as it’s spectacular with lots to explore in and around Ronda.
When I went to get my last bits of luggage from the car Berta was ready to climb in! She has had a few pet sitters but usually one or two days. This is their longest period away to date.
Food is a great distraction - and a great comfort! We are getting on famously!
Before she left Argentina, Berta had twelve pups! All family and friends now have one!
She must have been a great mum!
The flat is modern and centrally located. Berta takes the lift as we are on the fourth floor. She and I fill the lift completely. So far we haven’t met any other residents.
Berta barks when she needs to go out. She only performs on grass so there are limited places in the centre of town. I feel privileged to share a week with this Great Dame!
I’m currently on a sit in Southbourne, West Sussex UK and had the joy on Sunday of being part of the huge crowd who welcomed home the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales to Portsmouth. Her crew of 4000+ sailors have been away for 8 months and were all out on deck. Tens of thousands of people lined both shores of the Solent, cheering and waving with flags and banners. There was a multi vessel fleet plus helicopters, bands and a 17 gun salute. The 80 year old gentleman I was sitting next to in the crowd was an retired navy engineer and so interesting to talk to.
It’s the kind of “live like a local” immersive slow travel experience you get being a sitter, that I’d be unlikely to get being on a normal holiday in a foreign country.
Hi @Crookie
That “live like a local” immersive slow-travel experience you get being a sitter is exactly what we love about this lifestyle too — it lets us blend our love of travel, animals, and genuine local living.
And I love how moments like yours quietly remind us that we’re not chasing a dream anymore… we’re creating it. That gentle shift from being tourists to settling into the rhythms of real life is pure magic.
Wow! @Crookie I absolutely love your Story! How wonderful to be part of such an impressive occasion! All those sailors arriving safely home for Christmas! It brought tears to my eyes 
We are one week into a lovely long 9 week sit just south of Perth in Western Australia. Our hosts are wonderful- super friendly, kind & generous. We are settling in well with our animal family of 2 dogs and 4 cats! We were a bit wary, during the video call, when we heard the dogs were a Rottweiler and a Doberman- two breeds we have so far avoided! But since the couple have a 5 year old child we figured they must be OK! And they are indeed both gentle and harmless- They are both very old-& the Rottie has Arthritis and the Doberman has extreme anxiety (and can’t cope with the outside world- bless her!) so neither gets walked. They have an enclosed compound to run around in. The 4 cats have a large Catio on the other side of the house and there is a pool between the two! Its a nice set up,with a comfy home, a car included, and only 10 mins drive to the sea. We are looking forward to a relaxing stay! 
Pics of a few of our charges!
I’ve been in Young, NSW, for just over a week. Perfect timing to be here as it’s The Cherry Capital of Australia with the 75th National Cherry Festival this weekend, beginning tonight with fireworks I could see from the house. So many cherry products available for sale!
I’m caring for 3 indoor cats who do have an outside enclosure to enjoy, 2 very friendly chickens and 10 goldfish. The cats are great company with one, in particular, a real smoocher who snuggles up under my chin.
No, the smoocher is the grey fluffy one 
@Highfive
Sorry this should be moved to record breaking sits topic!
Help’ Jenny!
We have done some challenging sits too. One in Portugal was an extensive exotic bird breeding farm with lots of birds in cages to check on. Admittedly we didn’t feed them but we were caretakers and had to patrol the areas and houses and check the garages that had expensive motors :Aston Martins, Bentleys, Rolls etc. we had to feed and check in on the dogs several times a day in the extensive grounds. We daily walked the dogs that guarded specific areas of the farm : an Alsatian, an Akita, 7 Labs and lots of smaller dogs around the home owners’ home and gardens. In addition to watering duties and feeding the koi carp in several ponds. I had to scare off herons who raided the ponds at dawn and dusk!
In return we had a house with heated pool and maid service and the loan of an estate vehicle for shopping trips as this was deep in the country with dire country “roads” !
The owners went off on a trip and their neighbours travelled with them, chauffeuring them.. so yes you guessed it, my wife looked after their place up the road with three dogs and a large pool and garden to enjoy.
We got a lot of exercise and experience in a month! We went back several times although we only got the review for the first time! I guess they were saving money..
We didn’t get much time off to explore anywhere as at weekends we were the only residents on site and had to man the fort.
We loved the job and collected feathers for a primary school teacher friend to use in class to identify the birds!
A Portuguese family worked in the week to feed the birds, prepare their foods and clean out the cages. We had the easy jobs! We also sat with the dogs on the terrace to spend time cuddling them and handing out treats.
We don’t seem to have trouble with bad cholesterol build up!
I didn’t count what we cared for but it would have broken records for value and responsibilities! I drew the line at handing out the wages and collecting the weekly fruit and vegetables for the food supplies for the birds. Peacocks roamed the site as well as some stray cats we fed and nurtured.
Dr Doomuch comes to mind!
An update to my WV sit - the sit following was cancelled and the WV folks were delayed so I was able to extend the sit for day and was treated to snow (rather than the rain that had been coming down off-and-on for the week. Was a bit concerned about my departure as the sit was about 10 miles via gravel/blacktop mostly 1 lane road from the highway. But getting out wasn’t a problem.
Just started a sit in Pasadena, right in town. Cat sit. Easy, enjoying being out of the north for winter.
