Do you require a house sitter?
Updated 15 April 2012
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I'm available to house sit in the Perth hills and foothills, in the Shire of Mundaring or the Midland foothills (see below for list of suburbs).

If you're looking for great references---housesitting, police, work, personal---give me a call or send me an email (see the end).

I'm sometimes asked how much I charge. Generally, there's no money involved---I get free rent & utility bills, you get free house & pet minding.

I'm mature (50 years young), sensible, experienced, capable, intelligent. I like living alone and have almost no visitors. Once in a blue moon my brother or mother might visit me. I'm a good communicator in all media (phone, letter, email, in person).

I enjoy watering lawns & gardens. No stranger to housework. Never smoked, drunk or used any drugs (I have a drink once a year).

Great rapport with pets. Over the last few years I've lived with eight dogs (very small, medium, large), six cats, dozens of fish, four flocks of chooks, two budgies, three red cap parrots and three galahs.

ABOUT  ME
Margaret D. Jones (androgyne), highly qualified classical musician, travelling music teacher (teaching students piano, theory or singing in their own homes, not yours).

MY  WORK previously also included some part-time work in disability support (one day per week) in Kingsley, to January 2012. Until July 2011 I had also been doing one day each week as a security officer (with an ordinary security licence), but, like the disability support, I gave them several weeks notice to give it up, partly because it was too far to drive (and security was too boring!)

MY  PLAN is to house sit almost continuously until some time in 2013 or 2014, at which point I will seek to rent a two or three bedroom house in the same area. At that time I'll resume teaching some of my students at my own home and continue teaching others in their own homes. (At present I only practice at home, and teach all my students in their own homes. I don't have students coming to the homes I house sit.)

When there are gaps between house sits I stay with my mother in Midland or with friends. I keep most of my life's acquisitions in storage.

PREVIOUS  HOUSE  SITTING  (references available, just ask):

2009: My very first. 15 weeks in a three-bedroom house in Karratha, which had been retained by an accounting firm as a staff house but was not required for their staff at the time. At the end of my stay they offered to rent it to me, "for only $1350.00 per week." (They don't use Australian money in the Pilbara, they have their own currency. It's called "Karratha Money.")

2011 May to October: six months in a house in Parkerville (Mundaring / Perth hills), May to the end of October. This home was complete with two gorgeous cats who always sat on my lap when I watched television.

2011 November to December: seven weeks in Mundaring town. One cat, 12 chooks, 20 fish, a worm farm, many plants.

2011 December to January 2012: three weeks in Stoneville. Two cockerspaniels, three redcap parrots, two galahs, some watering. This one overlapped a little with the Mundaring house but the owner was happy for me to simply make daily visits initially.

2012 January: Paid pet-sitting in Parkerville, daily visits for 16 days. Two cats, some watering. I don't normally do paid sitting but agreed as the plan was for me to do complete house-sitting some months later for free, and it was school holiday time which is when I have more time on my hands.

2012 January: two weeks in Gidgegannup. Two medium-large dogs (a ridgeback and a staffie cross) who were an absolute delight, 6 chooks, a few pot plants, mail collecting from PO. Quite an eventful time: thunder, lightening, hail; smelt smoke from 4km and began evacuation procedures (but didn't need to go); power & water failures (used the  generator); found stray birds in a covered orchard; gate forced open by storm debris; and a big tree came down. Was only 12 days but it kept me on my toes.

2012 February: four weeks in Sawyers Valley. 14 chooks and lots of watering.

2012 March: two and a half weeks in Mundaring town, two dogs (a ridgeback and a small dog) plus a little watering in the heat wave.

2012 March: ten days in Swan View. 2 poodles and a little watering. Nice swimming pool!

2012 April: Seven weeks in Mount Helena, four chooks and a little watering on hot days.

2012 April: Eight days paid pet sitting in Mount Helena: 5 chooks (inc. 3 silkies), six guinea pigs, one dog, some watering.

COMING  UP  NEXT  IN  2012:

May 17 to May 27: A GAP! How about it?

Late May to mid-July: six weeks in Beechina (near Chidlow), four dogs (one is blind and deaf), two cats, numerous fish. The neighbours will look after some bigger quadrupeds.

Mid-July to end of July: sixteen days in Gidgegannup (repeat client, two dogs and some chooks).

End of July to end of August: four weeks in Sawyers Valley (repeat client, 14 chooks plus watering).

Early September: one week in Glen Forrest (aviary birds plus goldfish).

September to 7 October: four weeks in Wooroloo, 11 chooks, 4 guinea fowl, and a really good piano. Yay!

December 22, 2012 to at least 14 January, 2013: three or four weeks in Mount Helena, with two dogs, two cats and two magpies.

WHAT AREAS / SUBURBS?

I love these localities and surrounding areas:

Mundaring (town or shire), Stoneville, Parkerville, Hovea, Mahogany Creek, Glen Forrest, Darlington, Boya, Koongamia, Greenmount, Jane Brook, Stratton, Swan View, Midvale, Midland, Bellevue, Helena Valley, Sawyers Valley, Mount Helena, Chidlow, Gidgegannup, Beechina, Wooroloo.

I grew up in Parkerville and Hovea, went to school at Parkerville PS, Eastern Hills SHS, and Governor Stirling SHS (this was all in the Good 'ol Days, up to 1978), but since going to UWA in 1979 I was living away from the area (in the eastern suburbs and Karratha).

I really love living up in the hills again, but will definitely consider housesitting 'down town,' especially in school holidays.

Click on the links to learn more about me. You can reach me by phone or email. My mobile is 0414 374 701.

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