Trustworthy lady to care for your house, pets, garden and plants

Barbara

12 reviews

Join to Invite Barbara

Barbara from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

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Barbara

Trustworthy lady to care for your house, pets, garden and plants

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

12 reviews

Join to Invite Barbara

Sits for free

About Barbara

I am a single lady with no ties, who loves to travel the world while still being fit and young (at heart).
As much as I like to mix and mingle with others, I am happy in my own company and the company of all kind of animals. Reading, meditating, gardening, enjoying indoor and outdoor exercises, long brisk walks in fresh air, bike rides, swimming, strolling with a dog through parks, taking in the abundancy of flora and fauna.
I am a trained homoeopath and counsellor, as well as a Yoga and Meditation instructor. I have also worked in different fields such as a nanny, language teacher, IT helpdesk and palliative carer.
Reliability, punctuality, responsibility and honesty are some of my “good” qualities. I also have a good sense of humour. I don't smoke, don't drink alcohol and I am not interesting in parties....

Why I want to house sit

I am German, and I have lived in Sydney for 25 years. I used to work hard and spent my annual leave in Germany visiting my family. When I turned 62 I decided to slow down with work and get to know Australia during summer and the rest of the world during Australian winter.
I like my “follow the sun project” to take place beside the beaten tracks, I don't want to feel like a tourist, but at home where I am staying, enjoying a healthy balance of fun/relaxation and duty/responsibility while caring for house, pets and garden.

My experience

I started house sitting in the early 80s when lots of young European people seemed to travel to India (as I did).
After I had looked after one's friend house, mail, plants and dog for several weeks the word was spread and I got many house sit offers between my own travel times. My life was like 3 months India, back home, finding the odd job wile house sitting and back to India with a new visa.
This went on for a couple of years. The experiences I gathered in India and as house-plant-pet carer have provided many valuable lessons.
As I believe animals have perceptions and consciousness I approach all of them with respect and love.

There was this cute cat which at night time run up the wall, rested on the wardrobe and jumped from there on my bed. First I was scared but became to trust her instinct and sense of balance and she always landed precisely next to me.

Or Larry, my sister's dog, a Bolonka Zwetnaw whom I got to know when he was a pet of just 8 weeks. Once a year when I am going to Germany, my sister and Larry will pick me up from the airport. I love the way he is greeting me, he is just out of control, running in circles, jumping up and down. I like to think he loves me as much as I love him.

My neighbours in Sydney owned a wonderful Border Collie named Bonny who waited every morning patiently for our “hour of early morning jogging”, after my neighbours moved away I did the annual house sitting during school holidays and Bonny and I shared a great time together. She only gave me a headache with her witty way of spiting out her “heartguard” tablet, I don't know how she managed to eat the pie or piece of cheese and detecting the tiny tablet.

Before I joined trustedhousesitters.com I was looking after friend's houses and pets on numerous occasions.
I gathered some experiences with guinea pigs, cats and dogs of all colours and breed.

As I love gardening I am also happy to look after indoor and outdoor plants.
I got some common sense, maturity, experience and a positive attitude to get your pets, your property and myself happily through life.

Reviews (12)

Michele - Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

14 September - 01 October 2017

I would highly recommend Barbara as a Housesitter. We went away on holiday feeling very confident that our cat and house would be well looked after and they were. Barbara sent us a photo or two of our cat looking very content which was lovely. And we came home to fresh flowers! + More

I would highly recommend Barbara as a Housesitter. We went away on holiday feeling very confident that our cat and house would be well looked after and they were. Barbara sent us a photo or two of our cat looking very content which was lovely. And we came home to fresh flowers!

Organised

Reliable

Self-sufficient

Tidy

Pet care

Response from Barbara

thanks a lot, Michele. It was a pleasure to look after your property and lovely cat Eddie. I enjoyed my stay very much.

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Greg - Rainbow Beach, Queensland, Australia

13 January - 13 April 2016

Barbara has become like a family friend, our cat Mia loves her like a member of the family. I have no issues with leaving my home and beloved cat in Barbaras capable hands while we travel. + More

Barbara has become like a family friend, our cat Mia loves her like a member of the family. I have no issues with leaving my home and beloved cat in Barbaras capable hands while we travel.

Organised

Reliable

Self-sufficient

Tidy

Pet care

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Maria - Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

08 January - 30 January 2017

Barbara was beyond our expectations as a housesitter and especially as our petsitter. She looked after Sir Ted my 13 y.o shitzu maltese and Princess Mischa the youthful and exuberant Cavoddle (my daughter's dog). As it has been a long hot summer she took them for early morning and late evening ... + More

Barbara was beyond our expectations as a housesitter and especially as our petsitter. She looked after Sir Ted my 13 y.o shitzu maltese and Princess Mischa the youthful and exuberant Cavoddle (my daughter's dog). As it has been a long hot summer she took them for early morning and late evening walks, but the highlight of their days would be the swimming and playing in the Pool. They would demand that she take them for swims every day. Barbara took good care of the garden and it seemed like she genuinely enjoyed her time at our home, which was important to us. She would send us videos and photos of the dogs constantly and we felt very secure that everything was in such good order. I would recommend Barbara to the most fastidious of dog owners and home owners. Thank you for looking after Ted & Mischa in such a caring manner and we hope we have the opportunity to have Barbara care for our home and dogs soon in the future.

Organised

Reliable

Self-sufficient

Tidy

Pet care

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