We are looking for a sitter for eight weeks in early 2019 who can keep an eye on our home and garden and look after our very sweet natured spaniel.
We have a modern stone built house with a pool (too cold in January of course!) and a large garden and mountain views. The house has radiator central heating and a large log burner. Sitter/s would have use of two double bedrooms and two baths, one ensuite, a large lounge and modern kitchen with dishwasher etc. All on the ground floor. There is a washing machine. There is wifi internet as well as Sky satellite TV with sport and movie channels.
The house is in a rural but not remote area and close to many beautiful walking routes. There are two villages a 5-minute drive away/approx 25 minute walk. The larger is a proper Greek working village but has riverside restaurants, numerous cafes and bars, three small supermarkets, a bank, pharmacy, two bakery/cake shops plus a doctor and dentist. There is a 24-hour health centre an approx twenty-minute drive away. Also a vets. The village is about half way between the beautiful Venitian cities of Chania and Rethymnon and on a regular bus route to both. We are a twenty-minute drive to several beaches and small resorts.
Crete is a beautiful island at all times of the year but January and February fall in our winter. We get snow on the high mountains and very occasionally lower down. The usual pattern is two or three days of rain followed by a week or so of blue skies and spring-like temperatures. Great for hiking and walking on the beach with the dog.
Which brings us to the most important part...our three-year-old spaniel. He is very undemanding but will walk as often as you are prepared to take him. Definitely a short walk at least twice a day. He is ok to be left at home but he is very sociable and well-behaved. He loves short trips out in the car and will happily sit under your table at a bar or taverna.
Ideally we would like someone to mow our lawn a couple of times while we are away and obviously to keep the house and garden well maintained.
There are no direct flights to Crete in winter but there are regular fifty-minute flights from Athens to our local airport, Chania.
There are few tourists on the island in January and February but there is a thriving community of international expats based in the area around us. There are groups organising various art, craft and music events throughout the year.