Peaceful,traditional home ,large garden and pool, in armagnac country, SW France
Introduction
We are a retired couple (Scottish/Anglo-South-African) enjoying a tranquil country home just outside a tiny village in the Midi-Pyrenees in rural France. We have 2 much-loved pets, an elderly little Biewer Terrier and an energetic Vizsla pointer youngster - still in training! Whilst we live permanently in France, we frequently need sitters to look after our dogs, home and garden whilst we go to the UK, return back to South Africa to see friends and family, or visit Opera, art galleries and see historic sites around Europe.
Show more...Home & location
Sarragachies is a small commune about 4 Km from the village of Riscle which has all amenities. It is surrounded by attractive Gerois villages, vineyards (Armagnac country) with glorious walks in the quiet countryside and along the banks of the Adour river. The Pyrenees are about 1 hour away with beautiful old towns of Condom, Auch and Pau in reach, and several other points on the Compostela St Jacques pilgrimage close by. Enjoy Gascon local cuisine at highly affordable restaurants. Our home is centrally heated, with a Pellet burner and log stove, ensuring you have a toasty warm stay even in Winter. Our library offers a wide range of books and we have good, unlimited broadband access, Netflix, BBC and many videos to watch. We have only one Guest double bedroom (en suite), so we prefer not to have applications from families.
Show more...Responsibilities
Our dogs - Bela requires a good one hour walk per day off lead. They are very attached to humans, and will 'demand' lots of cuddles and affection. They are fit and well, although Scamper is aging and sometimes prefers snoozing to walking. Scamper has a sensitive tummy, so we have to be aware what he eats. Scamper does not like other dogs, in his home or on walks and avoids them when possible. Bela wants to play with ALL other dogs, in a hugely energetic way, which is fine in playschool/daycare but not at home, so housesitters with dogs are just not possible. The dogs are very tactile, so sitters need to be comfortable with them sitting beside them on the sofas in the living rooms (but not the drawing room)! We would love if you like plants and gardens - we have many pots laden with geraniums++ so watering is essential in Summer, plus hosing the 7 small beds in summer months - a peaceful task in long sunny evenings. We have a lady who cleans once/week Otherwise normal levels of domestic duties apply. The pool requires to be backwashed weekly in Summer, otherwise work-free. And the two fires can be lit in winter. We have 2 acres of grounds (mostly grass) so croquet, boules and field badminton are possible! Otherwise lots of free time to enjoy the area as the dogs are happy on their own for 2 hours at a time if left with a bone or chew (in Bela's case).
Show more...Meet the pets
Bela
1 years
Scamper
13 years
Sitter Reviews (12)
Homeowner Reviews (1)
None
Richard gave us a warm welcome and we enjoyed his easy and relaxed company over a delicious meal. We did no meet Catherine who left a few days before our arrival. Catherine & Richard are very organized, sharing great information in advance about the dogs, the house and sights to see. They are generous and thoughtful hosts who ensured that we had everything we needed. Their home is lovely, warm and inviting. The dogs were loving and affectionate and it was so nice to have them curled up on our laps or at our feet. They certainly let you know when it is time to go to their walk! The area has several beautiful areas where you can walk the dogs off the lead. On off-leash walks they were super attentive and responded well to command. They were well-behaved in the car and even liked being wiped off when it rained. We highly recommend this sit.
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Monte, Scamper and Lazslo were sweethearts, adorable and so fun to hangout with! Their feeding and water station are set up conveniently. The two small dogs like to be by your side and go for long walks in nature. They’re loyal and kind. Catherine and Richard are great host! They’re super nice, easy to communicate with, and flexible. Catherine and Richard made us feel welcome in their home right away. We had the opportunity to meet them when we arrived and we got to know each other for two days. I was amazed by their travel stories. The house is in a safe town with easy access to restaurants and grocery stores (5 min drive). I would recommend it to anyone. We would love to stay there again.
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When we saw this sit come up, we immediately applied and crossed our fingers! We are so glad to have had the chance to meet Catherine and Richard in person, they were just as delightful, friendly and charming as they were on our zoom call. They welcomed us with a delicious dinner and the pups warmed up to us very quickly. Catherine and Richard showed us all the important things with their lovely home and most importantly, the boys's stuff. Monte is on medication but it's in his food so easy to prepare and he gobbles it up! Monte, Scamper and Laszlo have conquered our hearts. They are quite the trio! Extremely well behaved characters that made our stay even better. They are loving, cuddly, and full of personality. Especially when they know they are going out for a walk! We were left with easy to follow directions for local walks as well as nearby village, towns, shopping and wine tastings. Their home is absolutely beautiful and easy to care for. We enjoyed spending a few extra evenings with Catherine, Richard and the boys which added to the incredible experience. We look forward to seeing them again! It's so nice to meet such wonderful people and know that we have made connections to last a lifetime.
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Catherine and Richard were incredibly welcoming, making us feel very at home, in their home. We were also left some incredibly clear instructions on how to best take care of their lovely dogs, beautiful house and garden, while also enjoying all the area has to offer. Monte, Scamper and Lazslo are delightful pets. Very well behaved and affectionate, so a dream to look after. There are some great walks in the area, especially around the lake, that we probably enjoyed as much as the dogs! The house is also very comfortable and easy to take care of, and the weather was lovely and hot and sunny when we stayed, meaning the garden needed regular watering, which we found quite therapeutic! We would love to be asked back again…
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We had a fantastic time at Sarragachies. Catherine and Richard gave us a warm welcome and we enjoyed their easy and relaxed company over a delicious meal. They are generous and thoughtful hosts who ensured that we had everything we needed. With views over the forests and fields, their home is both gracious and comfortable. Great walks abound from the house and there are a number of beautiful lakes and rivers in the surrounding area to explore with the dogs. It was our absolute pleasure to spend time getting to know Lazslo, Scamper and Monte. They are affectionate and loving companions who respond well to commands and they made our trip to Sarragachies memorable. The weather was warm and we spent many happy evenings watching Lazslo paddle fish in nearby lakes while Monte and Scamper enjoyed the shallows. The dogs travel well in their ‘dog car’ and enjoyed their outings. Sarragachies is tiny hamlet in really beautiful part of France. The countryside is dotted with interesting villages to explore, forests and vines. Thank you so much for hosting us. We really had a fabulous time, exploring the countryside, relaxing by the pool and best of all spending time with Lazslo, Scamper and Monte.
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Catherine
Katie and Chris were clearly much loved by the dogs, who had a wonderful time with them, despite the Wintry- cold early Spring weather. Katie enjoyed baking - this was clear from the ingredients left behind and a welcome supper provided on my arrival! Despite Chris working full-time on US hours, he managed to keep the lawn mown which was growing at full Spring speed. And in spite of telling us that maintaining dogs, house and garden kept them occupied, they seemed to find the time to visit many places in SW France which we have not yet done (mostly due to Covid); which is what a house sit should be all about! We wish them well on future sits and their travels.
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Catherine
