Rural France, Enjoy the peace, Tranquility and space of the countryside!
Introduction
Hello We are Claire and John and our daughter Beatrix. We have one Bruno de Jura cross dog Esteban who is a big softy and two beautiful cats ( moggies) Aggi and Cleo and at some point hope to have some chickens! We moved from the UK in 2020 for a less stressed life and for our daughter to start college here! It’s been an interesting and somewhat challenging start with Brexit and the Pandemic, but be love our rustic house, the open space and tranquility it brings, from the hot hazy summers and the cold cosy winters! We are so happy to have found Trusted House sitters as we are very keen to ensure that our fur babies can be safe, well cared for and kept in their own environment when we go away or return to the UK, which is pretty frequent due to aged parents and our daughter who has regular ongoing medical treatment still provided in the UK. Our house is very much a 'work in progress' but has all the creature comforts! It is set in a rural hamlet and has an enormous enclosed garden. This is a great place if you want some real down time. The nearest smaller towns are 8 and 15km away! And Chateauroux is 22km away, so a car is essential!
Show more...Home & location
Our home is part of the Saint Valentin community it is 5km from the village centre, situated In a small hamlet of three farmhouses it sits In an acre and a half of enclosed garden with views of ever-changing fields and sports some of the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Our home is very much a work in progress, it is currently on one level but we have started to make it two! There are two bedrooms (ground floor) fully air conditioned and en-suite. The rest of the house is open plan to give full sociability and there is another air conditioning unit in the sitting-room area. The house is fully equipped with every day amenities, and whilst not the most glamorous of places yet, it is light, airy, tidy, clean and cosy. The kitchen is well equipped so good for the enthusiastic caterer! There are many games, TV with fire stick, music centre, Alexa, and we have lots of art bits for the creative folks. Outside we have a barn which is extremely rustic but is used for lots of entertaining, amongst other things in it, there is a karaoke machine, TV, DVD player, Electronic Keyboard and lots of games, it also has various exercise equipment for anyone wishing to keep fit! In the garden we have a large trampoline, and there is a badminton set, swing ball and boule set available. In the summer we put a large swimming pool up! You can enjoy outside dining in the garden and there is a charcoal burning Barbecue available. There are a selection of loungers tables and chairs for your comfort. In season we grow various fruit and vegetables, so if our sitters are here at the right time they will hopefully be able to enjoy some fresh organic produce! Although there are no on the doorstep attractions to walk to. We do have many beautiful countryside walks. This is however, an ideal place for relaxation and peace, A place to give you some away time from the outside world worries. That said, if you would like to venture out and about and experience other things then you have a plethora of choices many within just a short drive from some amazing parks, local markets, wine-tasting, theatres, museums, chateaus, sports facilities, shopping, Cafes and restaurants, we are just a 12 minute drive to Issoudun and a 15-20 minute drive to Chateauroux. Our village Saint Valentin is quiet and small but has a renowned Japanese restaurant, a post office and its very own garden of love. Every year on the 14th of February the village holds a festival for Saint Valentin. We love it here and we hope you will too!
Show more...Responsibilities
We would love for our sitters not only take care of our animal family and home as we do, but to really enjoy the time spent here! Esteban, Cleo and Aggi are fed twice a day. Cleo is old girl and mainly lives upstairs in the attic she has a litter there which needs to be cleaned out once a day. The water bucket outside for Esteban needs to be refilled with water when required and we do a garden poo patrol every to keep the garden clean! Esteban travels really well in a car and will happily go out with you for the day but he must be kept on a Halti and lead because whilst not that big he is immensely strong and not that obedient! especially when he gets a scent! He can be left in the garden or in the house but not for long periods usually we would not leave him for more than two hours at a time. Esty is quite a sensitive boy and doesn't like arguments and shouting. He was abandoned as a young puppy and so does like human contact He sleeps in a pannier next to the bed but does have a tendency to sneak up on to to the bed and lie very still! We would be grateful if our plants were watered regularly and daily when it is hot! We ask all sitters to look after our home and all our property and keep it clean and tidy!
Show more...Meet the pets
Esteban (Esty)
3 years
Cleo
15 years
Agatha (Aggi)
2 years
Sitter Reviews (7)
Homeowner Reviews (0)
None
If you are looking for a tranquil and relaxed couple of days - a big compliment to Claire & John - they have found a wonderful spot in the middle of rural France ! The two cats Cleo and Aggi are very easy going girls and easy to please - the dog Esteban is a softie and loves to play and interact. It was a pleasure to look after the veggie garden and have the privilege to sample some of the products. Perfect for cycling and walking or jogging you will most likely encounter the local wildlife - lots of birds, deer, fox and even wild boars. Thank you Claire & John for making me feel at home and part of the family.
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Housesitting for Claire, John and Beatrix was the best possible introduction to this platform. They made me feel so at-home, gave me a comprehensive welcome to the house and introduction to the fur babies. I had the pleasure of spending time with them either side of the dates, and only wish it longer because they are so kind, thoughtful and friendly. Claire and John were always only a phone call or text away, so I felt incredibly safe and supported throughout the week. Esty is a perfect, handsome, softie of a dog. He has a beautiful temperament, and was a lovely dog to cuddle and jog with. Cleo is a beautiful old girl, she is so smoochy and whilst nestled upstairs, she loves human company and belly rubs. Aggie is a fiercely independent cat, she was out and about a lot of the day hunting, but is a lovely best friend to Esty and cuddly girl when she's inside. The house is a French countryside dream- an idyllic location, sunflower fields surrounding it, with big barns on the property, so much character, and is a real home. It has everything you may possibly need to be super comfortable during your stay. It was an absolute joy to housesit for this amazing, friendly and loving family! I absolutely, whole heartedly reccomend sitting here and look forward to seeing them again.
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Claire and John
