House sit near Alandroal

Tuesday 05/03/19

Well, we're almost through our first house-sit and are rested and exhausted at the same time.  We registered with TrustedHouseSitters.com to see if we could do some house sits for people with pets who need to get away but would like their pets to stay at home.  The owners get to save kennel fees and have their pets stay in their homes and the sitters get to have an experience of local life without having to pay for the accomodation.  It's a different way to see the areas we travel through as we get to stay in local houses and see how people live there. 

We were very lucky to get accepted to do a pet sit for a Portuguese couple in the Alentejo region, the heart of Portuguese agriculture.  They breed dogs for a hobby and currently have nine French Bulldogs and two Irish Wolfhounds to look after.  Their house is amazing, surrounded by olive trees with a view over an enormous lake.  The 'stoep' is situated around the front of the house and is ideal for viewing the most amazing sunsets and it so, so quiet here - no traffic noise to speak off.  Absolute bliss!

We arrived on Friday to meet the family and dogs and get some training.  The house is off-grid with no connections to local services apart from the phone line, so power and heating comes from the sun and wind and need to be managed correctly.  The routine for the dogs, of which three are pregnant, was explained and, somewhat daunted we took over on Saturday evening.

A very pregant Pica

Pregnant Bohemia summoning 'The Force' with her Yoda impersonation

The two pregnant Frenchies

With so many dogs we were quite daunted but they all have such fantastic natures that we needn't have worried.  It's still a lot of work and worry, doubly so when it is someone else's home and pets.  We're still not certain that Pica (the most pregnant of the girls) won't pop before we leave but we are keeping a close eye on her.

Toni with Apollo and Isla

My 'babies'

Pica getting some pampering

It is quite a privilege to spend time with this family and learn so much about Portuguese culture.  The dogs are amazing - they have won many awards and titles, so it's a bit like working with royalty.

Boy

Mo

How can you not love that face?

Bokkie has also had a few bits sorted while we were here and has been cleaned from top to toe, both inside and out.  She will have spent the fortnight resting under 100-year old olive trees enjoying a well-deserved break.  She has really looked after us over the past weeks so we have returned the favour.

Bokkie pampering time

Spic 'n span

We have thoroughly enjoyed the break from living in such a small space and loved having a bath and a full-sized kitchen again.  The first week was quite hectic as we smoothed out the systems but have really settled down to a good routine.  We had spent about sixteen weeks in Bokkie prior to this sit, so it has been a nice change to our routine and getting to do something totally different.

Soon we will be on the road again, with more regular posting of our travels.  We have another sit in France in about six weeks time - so will keep moving through Portugal and Spain on our way to France.