Margaret & Geoffrey Blackwood
Retired teachers with a passion for cats, gardens, and the quiet rhythms of Scandinavian life
◆ Verified credentials
Roots in North Yorkshire, UK
Verified Oct 2025 · Member since 2019
Margaret & Geoffrey Blackwood
Retired teachers with a passion for cats, gardens, and the quiet rhythms of Scandinavian life
What We Say
Margaret and Geoffrey are the gold standard for cat-focused housesitting. Their 38 reviews paint a picture of extraordinary attentiveness — Geoffrey's gardening has been praised so consistently that several hosts have asked them back specifically for the growing season. They travel slowly, communicate beautifully, and bring a warmth and stability that cats respond to immediately. Their teaching backgrounds show in their methodical approach and detailed handover notes.
— Reputable Sitters
Platform Breakdown
Sits
40
Reviews
38
Avg rating
5.0
Member since
2019
What Hosts Say
Based on 115 mentions across verified reviews
Activity Timeline
Things to Know
Our audit noted 1 item
About Margaret
We taught for a combined 60 years — Margaret in English literature, Geoffrey in history — and when we retired in 2019, we wanted to do something completely different. A colleague mentioned housesitting in Denmark and we thought she was joking. She wasn't. Our first sit was three weeks in Copenhagen with a Persian cat called Ibsen, and we were hooked.
We've since gravitated towards Scandinavia, drawn by the light, the landscape, and the extraordinary homes. We sit primarily with cats — we've had cats our entire married life and we understand the patience they require. But we've also cared for dogs, rabbits, and a very opinionated parrot in Stockholm.
We're slow travellers. We take the train wherever possible, we bring our own tea, and we treat every home as if it were our own. Geoffrey is the gardener; Margaret is the one the cats end up sleeping on.
Experience
Between them, over sixty years of teaching and a lifetime of pet ownership. Margaret grew up on a dairy farm in Lancashire and is experienced with dogs, cats, and poultry. Geoffrey is a keen gardener and competent with basic home maintenance. Both are patient, methodical, and well-practised at keeping to routines — skills that translate directly from the classroom to pet care.
About Geoffrey
Geoffrey approaches housesitting the way he approached teaching — methodically, with preparation, and with genuine care for getting things right. He keeps a sitting journal, notes every detail the owner mentions, and tends to know the garden better than they do by the time they return.
Practical details
What I Offer
Pets I Care For
Mostly cats
Not available for:
Skills
Languages
English (fluent), Swedish (basic), Danish (basic)Rates & Lifestyle
£30–45/day
We sit primarily for the experience rather than income. Happy to sit for free for cat-only homes. We cover our own travel via train.