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House and Pet Sitter. United Kingdom PETS & POEMS OPENING STATEMENT OF INTRODUCTION

Pets & poems is my life-choice and is not a profit orientated business.

As a writer, it allows me to write peacefully and to live a healthy way of life, whilst providing you with 100% peace of mind whilst you are away, knowing that your pet(s) are being loved and cared for and that your house will be returned to you in excellent order. My decision to accept a booking on all occasions is based on the presence of warm mutual respect and equality between myself and the h

ousehold and not on the basis of a transactional arrangement. To date, I have never accepted a booking based on the fact that I am being paid and communication between us is central to achieving these aims. I like to respond promptly and to acknowledge all correspondence, no matter how small or irrelevant it may seem, and a reciprocal curtesy is essential to me, in order to feel comfortable and happy to proceed. If you feel that this is not your way of being, or that your communication differs markedly from my own, then it is best to seek an alternative more conventional/transactional arrangement that will better suit your needs. It is essential that you are entirely happy with my approach, before contacting me to arrange a booking and so please email me to request the full Introduction which will help you to arrive at a decision that is best for you (and for myself) in the long run.

16/04/2025

Greetings from the home of Tatchi (grey) and Tilly (Tortoise) in Yorkshire. We are all settling in, as when I arrived Monday, they had been in a very nice outer shed for the week, with self feeders and lots of water and games and bedding and hot pads, but I am sure they were happy to roam the grounds again and nestle in the kitchen which is their base. They are both 13, but Tachi seems older and a bit lazier apparently and seems to forget she can jump in and out of the window. She also loves affection but will meow and occasionally hiss all at the same time, as if she's confused by her emotions and what she wants! she is very loving and Tilly is more independent and comes and goes more often. This is now our third day together and all is well.

13/04/2025

Darling Nooma enjoying the Spring sunshine. She melted a few people's hearts yesterday as she likes to visit people along the way, who may be sitting on a bench as she passes or a group of people sitting in the park. Yesterday was particularly special as she stopped at a group of young vulnerable adults who looked up to see her standing in the centre of their small circle, waiting to be stroked. They looked so startled, surprised and happy, she made everyone's day including mine. Nooma's breed including Lurchers, often do this: go up to strangers and rest their head against their leg or hand and it has never failed to touch each stranger. I say goodbye to her tomorrow and am then on a journey to Yorkshire for three weeks, to meet two 13 year old cats. Photos and introductions to follow.

09/04/2025

I'm delighted to return to darling Nooma, but I am missing Boysie, her constant companion, who passed away since I was last here. Boysie was very vocal and very loving and always loved companionship. He didn't give up on trying to win Nooma's friendship when Nooma first arrived as a rescue dog from Spain. Nooma used to very gently grumble if Boysie got too close, but over time, they regularly snuggled up and Nooma was happy for Boysie to share her dog basket and Nooma missed her dear companion when he was no longer there. However she has adjusted and is as gentle, sweet and silent as ever and I am loving my time with her in her beautiful village which is especially lovely in Spring. Here she is being effortlessly elegant and one of Nooma and Boysie together, for those who haven't met them before.

02/04/2025

Little Toffee waiting for the Post-lady to arrive, because she delivers a treat through the door. I discovered this the other day, when I was wondering why she hadn't barked and seemed to be munching on something and then it became clear: I remembered that Toffee and the Post Lady are said to mutually adore one another, and so it was no surprise to me to turn the corner this-morning and see Toffee waiting for the post to come this-morning! It melted my heart! she really does live up to her name and is the sweetest little thing.

26/03/2025

Lovely Toffee enjoying the Spring sunshine...

24/03/2025

Dear All.
I hope you are enjoying the Spring. I am now with dear little Toffee (photos to follow) but I wanted to advertise a few days of availability that have just emerged, between June 2nd (afternoon) and June 9th (Timings TBC). Please do get in touch if anyone would like to have those days.
With warm wishes,
Lorraine x

20/03/2025

Darling Gus enjoying the Spring sunshine in his garden...

10/03/2025

Greetings from the home of the lovely Gus (golden) and Rufie. My time with them heralds the beginning of Spring, and each year, we have the pleasure of walking around a contained city park, known for its Spring flowers and blossoming trees. The first walk we are up at the crack of dawn, so they can have the park entirely to themselves in their unbridled joy of living, and then we return again for an afternoon walk which often entails three laps if a local friend joins us. Rufie is gently sighing next to me in his sleep and Gus is sprawled in one of his characteristically laid back poses, over the sofa with his head looking out to the garden, but also having a light snooze too, whilst the birds are singing in the background. A temporary cold spell is about to return, but we all know now, that Spring: that utterly beautiful time of year where hope and life seems to pervade everything around is here!!!! So here is Gus who was beside me this morning (what a lovely way to begin a day) and here is Rufie mid conversation: I say this, because his head is cocked as he is trying to understand what I am saying. This characteristic of Rufie is just about heart melting. Lastly, a photo sent in by the devoted guardians of Ralph and Lauren: two magnificent retrievers who really are gentle giants and as you can see, would survive any winter with those coats!!!

05/03/2025

Greetings from the home of the lovely Matilda the greyhound and Mong, the cat. They are so gentle and sweet beings, who are both very elderly now and needing more care. The weather has been beautiful and so the slow walks with Matilda have been a pleasure and the Spring flowers are wonderful. Below is a poem by my 16 year old Nephew, who shocked us all by announcing he had come second in the Eisteddford with a poem. It took a few days for us to get hold of a copy, but it was worth the wait. It was a lesson to learn as well, when we think our teenage boys are Neanderthals who grunt and are unable to communicate. We often don't stop to consider it is only around adults, and that with their mates, they probably chat about anything and everything (well of course they do). I think it's like that with cats as well. Little do we know, that as soon as we are out the door, they are up to all sorts of hobbies, past times and pursuits and don't think the indoor security cameras to keep an eye on them, is fooling any self-respecting cat; they will find a way around it. Just look at this photo of Tommy and Tuppence, if you ever had any doubts about the cultural life of cats as well as teenage boys...

The Boat

The boat drifts gently on the sea,
Swaying side to side like a biscuit in tea.
The boat moves softly with ease,
The sails inhale the Summer’s breeze.

The boat is free, with skies so wide,
A quiet journey with the tide.
The boat glides through the morning mist,
A quiet journey nothing missed.

Suddenly the water crashes against its side,
The waves and wind become its guide.
It sails toward the bright blue sky,
It aims for the horizon with one last try.

23/02/2025

The Story of Alfie the Welsh Farm dog, and his journey into the family home, has been rapid and heart-warming. In February of this year, Alfie was still roaming the farm and sleeping out of doors, wherever he chose to be. He's a huge Golden Retriever, unusual in itself for a farm dog (mostly collie's of course) but had the unique position of being the farm's stud, and many of the farm dogs, are crossed with Alfie's genes. When I first met him, covered in mud and approaching me, I did wonder for my clothes, but soon discovered he was the most laid back dog I had ever met and he simply came up to me with a gentle smile and waited to be petted, if I felt so inclined. Even that didn't seem to bother him either way. On remarking about his laid back behaviour, and inquiring why he was the only dog free to roam and not in the kennels with the rest, I was told that after multiple break outs, there was nothing more that could be done but to let him roam free. His teeth had all been destroyed, after so many desperate attempts to gain his freedom and no matter the fortifications, he ended up breaking through. So, what else could they do? Alfie roaming free, was a last resort, which turned out to do no harm at all. He was hardly a sheep killer, (his gums could hardly inflict much damage even if he'd tried). However, since the kitchen extension and snug area, with utility room and out house were completed, Alfie had taken to sleeping in the out house. The mat came first, as you can see in photo one and this was when I first looked after Ruby (cute red head pup/cockapoo who was the first house dog the farm had had, much to the disgust of Dewi, sixth generation farmer on the land, whom my Niece had married into). It was my Niece and her children that were keen to have Ruby. So, Ruby was in doors, Alfie was out, and that was the way it was going to be. So what happened? I'll show the photos in order of the decline (Dewi I'm sure would put it that way, though Alfie would use the word miraculous, deliriously happy ascendency to cosy in door life). In just a few weeks, Alfie has been bathed, given an indoor coat to mitigate the farm mud, allowed to stay overnight with Ruby, free to lounge on any rug he fancies, and last but not least, has now finally been allowed on the Sofa!!!!! Just look at his face!!! how did it happen?! Well, any dog lover of domestic pets, will understand fully, but poor Dewi? I can only imagine that Alfie's in door dog coat and his time on the sofa, is a carefully guarded secret that only the Niece and every other family member knows, but him?!!....

18/02/2025

This post is in honour of darling Boysie, the very lovely and very vocal cat that I have had the pleasure of looking after for the past few years, and who was loved dearly by his family. Nooma joined Boysie and his family, just a few years ago, as a rescue dog and to begin with, was very weary of Boysie's wish to get close and to become friends. Over time, I have witnessed their budding relationship, and here are three beautiful photos to attest to their bond. Nooma is a sensitive girl, and I know she will be missing dear Boysie's presence as much as his family are, and I feel very blessed to have known him and to have seen Nooma and Boysie together. They would often share Nooma's day bed and I have taken many lovely photos of them over the years, but these were taken by his dear family, on evenings when they have witnessed some of their sweetest moments together.

14/02/2025

Dear All. It's way too early for us to be making plans for Christmas 2025, but I'd like to test the water to see if anyone is contemplating spending Christmas week away from home this year. Do let me know so I can make a note of it and then we can revisit it at a later date, as it will help me to formulate my own plans for that week also, and what I decide to do with it i.e 22nd - 28th December. With warm wishes, Lorraine

12/02/2025

Some beautiful photos of the lovely elderly Connie who managed to charm her way onto the sofa. We all know that look and what it can achieve!!! also, a lovely photo of Connie on her Winter walk. Thanks Paula for sharing them. L xx

27/01/2025

Greetings from Cymru. I am currently in the wild and windy Welsh Hills on my Nieces farm, looking after their house dog Ruby. There is a vital distinction as many farmers wouldn't have dogs in the house and Dewi who is 6th generation farmer on the land, is still not won over. They are away and the three other children have been farmed off for the duration, but I still have Geth the 16 year old who spends his time in his boy cave and comes out to eat and get a lift when needed. Here is Alfi: an unusual farm dog who doesn't seem to have any purpose besides absolute freedom. He sleeps in the outhouse as they gave up keeping him in the kennels as he broke out, like some kind of Houdini, no matter what they did to contain him, but I think he must be the most laid back dog I've ever met, which is a good job, as he is huge and very muddy underneath! Here he is sleeping in the porch. Here too is the odd-sock pile I have been tackling. I have been at the house work for three days solid and I have never seen an odd sock pile so big (this is just a small part of it). Last but not least: a beautiful photo of Oscar and Mable the cats sent in today, and who I have the pleasure of spending time with intermittently.

18/01/2025

Greetings from the home of the lovely and elderly Mong and Matilda. Mong the cat, who is now almost 20 years old, came out of her airing cupboard (where many self respecting cats spend their days), but with a dislocated shoulder, merely from waking up from one of her many cat contorted sleeping positions. Her little heart was going like crazy, as was ours (home owner was leaving next morning) and so it was a trip to the emergency Vets, last Sunday night. Thank goodness, by the time we got her there, it had slipped back into place. So, this week, no airing cupboard and she's had special care and attention and the run of the living room as her private quarters whilst she rested and repaired herself and there was no repeat. Matilda who is also very elderly, hard of hearing and slowing down, still has her two daily walks and sniffs around the neighbourhood and is always a gentle and silent companion. I have been with these lovely creatures for the past week and leave them shortly, until hopefully the next time.

13/01/2025

Dear All
Due to an adjustment in dates, there is now one week availability between May 7th and May 13th, if anyone would like to take advantage of those dates, do get in touch.
Warm wishes
Lorraine

05/01/2025

Greetings from the home of Blink, the blind rescue dog. We've been settling in nicely together, as I have been here several times now, and very much part of 'Team Blink'. Because of his background, he has to be guided on his walks, to make sure he doesn't bump into objects, but also to make sure that he is a good distance away from other dogs and is not taken by surprise as he can sense them from a mile off! His beloved guardian has this down to a fine art of course and they are entirely and automatically tuned in to each-other, but for me, it is a question of 'spot the dog' and in plenty of time, though if I go out very early morning, any concerns are reduced to a minimum and in fact, when we crunched through the snow this morning around his home town, there were no dogs at all and the town was looking very pretty covered in snow. At home, it is pretty straight forward and I just have to learn to let him know when I get up, as this can startle him, as he likes to be pressed up on the sofa next to you. He's a very gentle dog by nature and it is always peaceful spending time with him, now that I am used to his needs and ways.

03/01/2025

Dear All.
Happy New Year! I possibly have a small gap coming up on Friday/Saturday of 10th/11th January. If anyone would like to take advantage of seeing a show or just having a couple of nights away, do get in touch.
Warm wishes
Lorraine

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