I have a dual role of Diving and Offshore Construction Supervisor, working mostly in the North Sea, and Kirsty has had a full career in the hospitality industry.
Our family moved to Italy in 2001 after purchasing a derelict tuscan farmhouse, which we spent the next two years renovating, before it became our new family home. Once installed in our new home we adopted two puppies, and two abandoned kittens to share our beautiful countryside location. A few more abandoned kittens and a rescue pup joined us over the next few years!
We have had housesitters when we have had the opportunity to travel so we are aware of what is is like to have "strangers" in our home, however, it has always turned out to have been a very positive experience. We also know how important it is, especially when travelling a long distance, for a period of time, to feel that things at home are being taken care of in our absence.
When we travel, we like to stay in the midst of community so that we can feel a part of it, and it is this that attracts us to housesitting, offering the opportunity to experience the real character of the place. I also have long periods of shore leave due to the seasonal nature of my occupation, and being someone who can't sit still for long, house sitting offers the variation and stimulation a different location delivers.
We are both keen cooks and enjoy sampling food from all over the world. I am also a big barbeque enthusiast, to the extent that I even built my own Texas offset smoker, from a recyled gas tank, in order to sample the traditional low & slow BBQ (which is wonderful by the way)
We both have clean UK / international drivers licences, and are comfortable driving on either the left or right. I also have a lot of experience in the running and maintenance of a solar heated, salt-water, swimming pool, and am also adept at DIY.