So many questions, so little time...some of the answers to the questions we've been asked by enquiring pet owners, and a few that maybe you should ask...
Q. Where are you based?
A. We're British, and previously lived in St. Ives, Cornwall. We now spend our time in between sits renting apartments in St. Ives in the UK, Tarifa in Spain, Luz in Portugal and Western Crete. Although we're mostly away petsitting these days. We love to travel!
Q. How far in advance should I book you?
A. Typically, a petsit may be booked a few weeks or months prior to the sit. The earlier you contact us, the better the chance is that we may be available. You can also book us as far in advance as you wish, we have clients booking us up to and over 1 year in advance. You can book us for a regular slot with you too. Once you're booked in with us and we have received your deposit, it's a firm booking, and you will receive a confirmation email in return for your booking and deposit. We may also be available for an emergency or short notice petsit, so do contact us to enquire if this is the case.
Q. How do I know that you're 'okay' people?
A. Because we really are 'okay' people, we've undergone police checks, in order to provide you with reassurance. You can see these on request. You can also request references from any of our referees, some of whom have known us for up to 20 years, almost all of whom have used us as pet sitters or caretakers. We also have a reference from our vet, who cared for our own dog Tangle and cat, Gooseberry, for many years, so she knows our caring approach. We can provide contact details for referees upon request, you may contact up to three. You can also read some of their testimonials on this site.
Q. Will you leave my house just as you found it?
A. Oh yes! We will take care of your home, clean it, look after it as if it was our own, but we will NOT rearrange your furniture, or the insides of your cupboards, or attempt in any other way to change or 'improve' your home. It's your home, and how you like it is how it stays. We tell you this, because we have heard from clients that this has been a problem with some over 'helpful' sitters. If it's good enough for you, it's good enough for us.
Q. What kind of people do you get on with?
A. Smart, friendly, relaxed executives and professionals like ourselves.
Q. Why do you do this?
A. Back in January 2000, we were living happily in a lovely village in West Wales. Blue was a course director at M.Sc. level, and a research fellow, part way through her studies for Ph.D. We were looking into buying a house in the village at the time, and Blue was moving smoothly up the ladder to head of department, with her dream of becoming Dean of Faculty one day looking highly feasible. Then disaster struck, and Blue was taken very seriously ill indeed. She almost died, and became increasingly ill over the following few years, ending up almost totally incapacitated and housebound for some time, with Willow becoming carer as well as loving partner. As Blue was a coastal rowing champion, runner and surfer, it was a shock to everyone, and devastating for us both. It cost Blue her job and her career. But we fought through those tough, lean years, and came out on top. Blue has been well, fit and strong again now since 2007, and the first thing she wanted to do when she was well again, was to travel and see the world. Something we had promised ourselves as we lived through those tough years. House and pet sitting was our way of doing that on our then limited budget. We've learnt to be resourceful through our experiences, and bring those skills to bear on our work as house sitters. We fell in love with this lifestyle, and love that we get to stay in so many different locations and property types. It's like a sampler of life! Sure, Blue still sometimes misses that fabulous career path and course director's wage, and wonders what if, but we've learnt to look forwards not back, and live for the joy of the new friendships we make, and experiences we gain as we travel. There's a great quote that sums this up: "out of necessity comes invention". We dusted down, reinvented ourselves and moved on…
Q. How do you earn your living?
A. We earn our living through Blue's writing, photography, web design and Apple Mac tech support, and through Willow's personal training and fitness coaching services. See more at http://blueperez.com & http://smplist.com [Blue is currently building a new website for Willow's business too, more info here soon].
Q. Are those your real names?
A. Willow is named in memory of her wonderful, beautiful grandmother, who was our responsibility for many years, when we were younger. Blue is a name that Blue adopted after it became her name in common use many years ago, and that's the way it's stayed. We love our names, unusual as they may be!
Q. How can I find out more?
A. Contact us right now with any other questions, and we'll get right back to you, usually within 24-48 hours.
Q. How do I book?
A. Simple, just contact us with details of your requirements, and we'll get back to you to confirm our availability and to agree a confirmed booking in writing by email. Once you're booked, you're booked! Simple as that.
Q. What if I have another question not covered here?
A. This one's easy...just use our contact form to get in touch for further info.
Q. What do I do now?
A. What's stopping you? Get right on and make contact, or make a booking!
Job done...see you when we arrive, we look forward to meeting you and your pets and taking care of them and your home in your absence.
Blue & Willow
Q. Where are you based?
A. We're British, and previously lived in St. Ives, Cornwall. We now spend our time in between sits renting apartments in St. Ives in the UK, Tarifa in Spain, Luz in Portugal and Western Crete. Although we're mostly away petsitting these days. We love to travel!
Q. How far in advance should I book you?
A. Typically, a petsit may be booked a few weeks or months prior to the sit. The earlier you contact us, the better the chance is that we may be available. You can also book us as far in advance as you wish, we have clients booking us up to and over 1 year in advance. You can book us for a regular slot with you too. Once you're booked in with us and we have received your deposit, it's a firm booking, and you will receive a confirmation email in return for your booking and deposit. We may also be available for an emergency or short notice petsit, so do contact us to enquire if this is the case.
Q. How do I know that you're 'okay' people?
A. Because we really are 'okay' people, we've undergone police checks, in order to provide you with reassurance. You can see these on request. You can also request references from any of our referees, some of whom have known us for up to 20 years, almost all of whom have used us as pet sitters or caretakers. We also have a reference from our vet, who cared for our own dog Tangle and cat, Gooseberry, for many years, so she knows our caring approach. We can provide contact details for referees upon request, you may contact up to three. You can also read some of their testimonials on this site.
Q. Will you leave my house just as you found it?
A. Oh yes! We will take care of your home, clean it, look after it as if it was our own, but we will NOT rearrange your furniture, or the insides of your cupboards, or attempt in any other way to change or 'improve' your home. It's your home, and how you like it is how it stays. We tell you this, because we have heard from clients that this has been a problem with some over 'helpful' sitters. If it's good enough for you, it's good enough for us.
Q. What kind of people do you get on with?
A. Smart, friendly, relaxed executives and professionals like ourselves.
Q. Why do you do this?
A. Back in January 2000, we were living happily in a lovely village in West Wales. Blue was a course director at M.Sc. level, and a research fellow, part way through her studies for Ph.D. We were looking into buying a house in the village at the time, and Blue was moving smoothly up the ladder to head of department, with her dream of becoming Dean of Faculty one day looking highly feasible. Then disaster struck, and Blue was taken very seriously ill indeed. She almost died, and became increasingly ill over the following few years, ending up almost totally incapacitated and housebound for some time, with Willow becoming carer as well as loving partner. As Blue was a coastal rowing champion, runner and surfer, it was a shock to everyone, and devastating for us both. It cost Blue her job and her career. But we fought through those tough, lean years, and came out on top. Blue has been well, fit and strong again now since 2007, and the first thing she wanted to do when she was well again, was to travel and see the world. Something we had promised ourselves as we lived through those tough years. House and pet sitting was our way of doing that on our then limited budget. We've learnt to be resourceful through our experiences, and bring those skills to bear on our work as house sitters. We fell in love with this lifestyle, and love that we get to stay in so many different locations and property types. It's like a sampler of life! Sure, Blue still sometimes misses that fabulous career path and course director's wage, and wonders what if, but we've learnt to look forwards not back, and live for the joy of the new friendships we make, and experiences we gain as we travel. There's a great quote that sums this up: "out of necessity comes invention". We dusted down, reinvented ourselves and moved on…
Q. How do you earn your living?
A. We earn our living through Blue's writing, photography, web design and Apple Mac tech support, and through Willow's personal training and fitness coaching services. See more at http://blueperez.com & http://smplist.com [Blue is currently building a new website for Willow's business too, more info here soon].
Q. Are those your real names?
A. Willow is named in memory of her wonderful, beautiful grandmother, who was our responsibility for many years, when we were younger. Blue is a name that Blue adopted after it became her name in common use many years ago, and that's the way it's stayed. We love our names, unusual as they may be!
Q. How can I find out more?
A. Contact us right now with any other questions, and we'll get right back to you, usually within 24-48 hours.
Q. How do I book?
A. Simple, just contact us with details of your requirements, and we'll get back to you to confirm our availability and to agree a confirmed booking in writing by email. Once you're booked, you're booked! Simple as that.
Q. What if I have another question not covered here?
A. This one's easy...just use our contact form to get in touch for further info.
Q. What do I do now?
A. What's stopping you? Get right on and make contact, or make a booking!
Job done...see you when we arrive, we look forward to meeting you and your pets and taking care of them and your home in your absence.
Blue & Willow