We are looking for someone to care for our two burmese cats, and keep our garden and home well maintained from June 25th to July 14th while we are in Japan visiting family. This is a beautiful time of year here in Horningsea, just right for sitting in the garden or walking along the river to one of the pubs.
We are both retired academics, with lots of books, but probably not very exciting ones as far as most people are concerned. Unless of course you enjoy detective fiction! The cats are 12 and 11 years old and are allowed outside. The little girl, Tiger Lily, is a hunter but also a home body and loves playing with us and follows us around....and talks to us. She is not very sensible about roads and was knocked down by a car six years ago but has made an excellent recovery although she is beginning to have a bit of arthritis.The boy, Monty, is lazy and loves a warm lap. We keep them in at night as far as possible.
The house is modest but comfortable with sun room and plenty of living space, a well organised small kitchen (I am a keen cook) and downstairs loo. Upstairs there is a bathroom and four bedrooms, but two are studies. We have a small garden which will require the grass mowing and watering if it is a dry summer. The house is the end one in a relatively modern terrace of four, forming one side of a 400 year old square. It looks out over fields down to the river Cam. The other two sides of the square are older houses, and the fourth "side" leads out to the road, a quiet village street.
The occupants of the Square are always interested in the people we have staying and have lent bicycles to our summer sitters. Cambridge is as flat as a pancake, ideal for bikes along the tow path. The local pub is a great centre, it is owned by the village community, and there is a strong musical element in both village and pub. Jam sessions on Thursday nights and much eating and merriment on Friday nights.
Horningsea is a small village about 3 miles from the city centre of Cambridge, with easy access by car. There is a bus three times a day into and out of Cambridge, but there is no village shop. We have a plant nursery in the village and they have a restaurant where you can buy cakes and other goodies. There is also Park and Ride nearby. I normally drive to the P & R and take the bus into Cambridge as parking during the day is expensive. At night it is fine. You would need a car or bikes if you want to explore the area. (Although four of our past housesitters have managed without!) There are a lot of activities going on in Cambridge of course and you can check out the village events on the net. We are a few fields away from the A14 with easy access to Norwich, Newmarket, Ely, the M11 etc and there is a regular 58 minute train service to London Kings Cross from the next village 2 miles away.
If you are interested I will supply you with more details and pictures. We have had many house-sitters before over a period of 14 years and we have nearly always had very positive experiences, and the feedback about our house has been equally positive.