We are currently looking for a short-term sitter in late August/early September (exact dates flexible). The stay will be for 8-9 days. Due to our rural location and number of animals we would prefer a couple (or two friends) or a small family.
Hello! We are looking for trustworthy, responsible sitters who will enjoy quiet, rural living in a beautiful house on the edge of a rustic Bulgarian village. Responsibilities will vary on the season, but the focus will be to look after our home, garden, friendly cat and dog and the farm animals.
Due to our rural location having your own vehicle is essential, especially in the winter. We can help you with car hire if you need.
We are a young British couple who moved to Bulgaria in early 2015 to live the simple life! People who would like to experience this kind of living would love it here!
Taking care of the animals is the biggest priority.
The dog and cat are very straight forward - just top up food and water when necessary. Of course feel free to take the dog for walks, as often as you care to, in the surrounding countryside.
The far animals are as follows:
We have several chickens, which need letting out in the morning, locking up at night and feeding daily. We have 3 rabbits, which need feeding twice a day.
We also have 5 goats (2 adults, 3 kids) who need feeding twice daily and taken for a walk (or supervised grazing) for 1 or 2 hours a day, weather permitting. They are very friendly and funny to be around, but are the most demanding/time consuming of all the animals. You don't need experience, just a love of animals and a little patience! :-)
In summer you will need to water the vegetable garden and, of course, harvest any available fruits / vegetables / eggs!
In colder weather you will need to keep the house heated. We have a central heating system fitted, powered by a wood-burner, so some prior experience with these systems would be a bonus. Otherwise, a sensible outlook and common sense is a must! The fire ideally needs to be monitored at all times when in use (you just need to be in the house to check on it regularly)
The house is situated on the edge of a rustic Bulgarian village surrounded by forests and hills. The village is very peaceful. The houses are old, made of stone, have wood fires and the locals are very friendly. There are many fantastic walks in the surrounding countryside straight from our doorstep.
There is plenty of space for a couple to relax - inside and out. Inside we have an open plan kitchen/living area and outside we have a large veg garden, which you a free to eat from, walnut orchard and a summer kitchen area with a BBQ!
The local town (10km) has a variety of shops and supermarkets that sell everything you may need. There is also a local fruit and vegetable market every Friday which is wonderful. There is also a 'shop bus' that visits the village several times per week.
We are located in southern central Bulgaria and to explore the rest of the country from here is easy. There are a number of tourist attractions within driving distance, including the city of Plovdiv which is renowned for its beautifully preserved Roman ruins and cultural centre.
The house is a traditional, stone village house which we have recently renovated as it was uninhabitable when we bought it nearly 8 years ago. The house is comfortable and mostly finished inside, but please bear in mind this is an ongoing project so there are always a few projects on the go!
It is a very quiet village. It may suit people who want some time to write or paint or just wish to relax with local wine in a beautiful area of the world! Don't expect to meet many people in our village, and those that you do will likely not speak English!
We don't not have AC but we will provide fans and there are mosquito nets covering the windows.
The house itself is renovated with most modern conveniences including fast internet connection. As well as a regular inside toilet and shower we also have a composting toilet and solar shower in the garden.