Animal Lover, Homebody & Nature Lover

More information about this house sitter

Hello! My name is Alex. I'm 46, single, and currently embracing a slightly more adventurous and open-ended chapter of life.

I'm a qualified clinical herbalist in Western herbal medicine and am planning to begin my Master's in Acupuncture next year. Over the years, I've also trained in massage therapy, yoga, mind–body medicine, kinesiology, furniture design and fashion design. As you can probably tell, I have a slight addiction to learning!

I'm at a point in my life where I'm exploring where I might like to settle next, and when the idea of housesitting came to mind, I honestly couldn't think of a more perfect arrangement. The opportunity to spend time in different places, care for beautiful homes and, most importantly, enjoy the company of animals feels like a wonderful fit for this chapter of my life.

I have stable places to stay with family and friends in both Victoria and NSW between housesits, which means I can be very flexible with locations and the length of stays.

I also work remotely four days a week, so I'm home most days and able to provide plenty of company, attention and care for your animals.

A Little About Me

I'm an incredibly house-proud person who genuinely loves creating and maintaining beautiful, clean and peaceful spaces. I actually enjoy cleaning and organising (yes, really!), and I would care for your home with the same attention and respect I give my own.

I live a fairly quiet, grounded life. My favourite things include reading, cooking, gardening, yoga, daily meditation, making herbal medicines, studying Chinese medicine and slowly bringing my dream of opening a herbal apothecary to life. I'm very much a homebody at heart, so spending time at home with a few furry companions is pretty close to my idea of heaven.

I'm also pescatarian and gluten-free, and very respectful of other people's dietary preferences and household values. I'm more than happy to maintain a completely vegan household during my stay if that's important to you. Equally, if your household doesn't follow any of these dietary preferences, that's absolutely fine too! I'm very self-sufficient, have my own kitchen essentials where needed, and am happy to adapt to whatever works best for your home.

I'm also fit, strong and active, and very happy to roll up my sleeves and get my hands dirty. Whether that's gardening, looking after larger animals, maintaining a property or taking dogs for walks, I'm more than comfortable with the practical side of caring for a home.

My Love of Animals

Animals have always been a huge part of my life, and caring for them is something that comes very naturally to me.

My greatest companion was my beautiful ginger cat, George, who sadly passed away a few months ago at the grand age of 19. I was lucky enough to share 17 wonderful years with him, and I still miss him terribly. He was the love of my life.

George developed diabetes later in life, so I became very experienced in managing his medical needs, including blood glucose monitoring, taking blood samples, administering insulin injections twice daily and giving various medications. I understand how important consistency, patience and gentle handling are, particularly with elderly animals or those who require extra care.

I also know how much trust it takes to leave a beloved animal in someone else's care. Having been so devoted to George, I would want anyone looking after him to treat him with the same love, kindness and attentiveness that I did. That's exactly the approach I would bring to caring for your animals.

Beyond cats, I grew up surrounded by all sorts of wonderful creatures, including dogs, ducks, chickens, roosters, sheep, alpacas, a miniature horse and, at one point, even a cow!

Animals are also a bit of a family affair. One of my sisters is a trained veterinary nurse, while another runs a dog-minding business, so I have some wonderful knowledge and experience around me should I ever need additional advice.

My background in herbal medicine has also sparked a strong interest in animal health and wellbeing, particularly natural approaches to supporting their health alongside appropriate veterinary care.

Whether your animals are energetic and playful, shy and sensitive, elderly and needing extra attention, or simply happiest curled up beside someone on the couch, I understand that every animal has their own personality, preferences and routines.

I would always take the time to get to know them and ensure they feel safe, comfortable and loved while you're away.

What You Can Expect From Me

I understand that inviting someone into your home and trusting them with your animals is a big decision, and I don't take that responsibility lightly.

I'm respectful, reliable, independent and naturally very conscientious. I'll happily follow your animals' established feeding, exercise and medication routines, look after your plants and garden, and keep your home clean, tidy and well cared for.

I'm also very happy to provide regular photos and updates while you're away, so you can relax knowing that everything at home is going well.

Because I work remotely and enjoy a quiet lifestyle, your home would genuinely be my home base throughout the stay, rather than simply somewhere to sleep.

Let's Have a Chat!

I'm very flexible and happy to discuss the individual needs of each housesit, whether it's a short getaway or an extended stay.

I'm also more than happy to arrange a phone or video call, or meet in person where practical, so we can get to know each other and you can feel completely comfortable before making any arrangements.

Above all, I'd love for you to be able to go away feeling completely at ease, knowing that your home is being respected and your animals are receiving plenty of love, attention and companionship.

I look forward to meeting you and your beautiful animals!

Alex Read more...