Hi,
First, the basics:
Thank you for taking the time to read this. It’s a bit long but we’d like you to get to know us better, before you extend the privilege of inviting us into your home or business.
After all, we have been home, business and farm owners ourselves and we understand why you’d be concerned about having strangers in your property. You need to get comfortable with us first, so we hope the following helps…
Our story:
We are ‘Weng’ (Rowena) and Jason Gregg, we’re married with no kids or pets, and simply, we’d like to care for your property. We’re honest, reliable and we feel that we are worthy of your trust.
We are mature age (47 & 68), we’re both active and very healthy, a very happy and resolved couple who are enjoying the best times of our lives right now, so we don’t come with hidden baggage or personal issues. And we are basically independent financially.
We are definite non-smokers, don’t do dope, and enjoy just an occasional beer or a glass of red in the evenings
We currently live in the Philippines and plan to return to Australia end of June 2013 where Weng will eventually become an Aussie in a few years.
So why Us Greggs?
Well first of all, we’ve been where you are, faced with the same concerns, and you can be assured that we value and respect the property and privacy of others, and we’ll treat your treasured home and your pets like we’d treat our own.
We’re happy to tend your gardens, feed your chooks, tend the pumps, watch your stock, fix fences, move your herds, mow lawns, put out the bins, forward messages, run errands, pay bills, take in the mail and especially, care for your pets ‘like family’. And while he’s no skilled handyman, Jason can usually take care of the basics.
We both love animals too – yep, Jason is also a cat person (a Rex and Aby owner in the past) He’s first aid trained and even able to handle most minor veterinary issues in an emergency.
More about us:
Weng is a 4 year degreed accountant with another three years of law and an extensive business career behind her.
Her English is excellent (all Filipinos learn in school) and she’s got a remarkably calm disposition, unflappable in a crisis and able to handle most issues without dramas.
She’s also got a rather warped sense of humor (she needs that around Jason!) and she’s a great housekeeper, loves kids and she’s a handy cook as well.
She is planning to eventually launch an online import business when we settle permanently, distributing our brand of unique bioceutical life extension supplements from the Philippines. She’s also looking to upgrade her accounting skills to Aust. requirements and provide tax preparation and bookkeeping services to rural clients.
On the other hand, Jason has had an eclectic life to say the least.
He lived for 20 years in the US, he’s trained in nursing and psychology (previously developing unique patented programs for elite athletes), and he has an MBA, a DD and a PhD in cognitive studies (he just loves learning!).
Growing up in tough inner Sydney, he later spent much of his adult life in the country, so he’s comfortable in both lifestyles. He also lived aboard his own boat in the US for many years.
Later in life, when he’d had enough of the ratrace and was looking for some meaning to his life, he dropped out completely to study theology. He finally entering the priesthood in 2007, where he was eventually elevated to the rank of Bishop of Qld in the Independent Catholic Church in Australia.
In 2009, he went to the Philippines to further his studies where he met and married Weng (yes, Independent Catholic clergy may marry).
On his return to Australia, he will again renew his association with the Church, and while a regular parish is not in his future at all, he will likely continue to provide marriage services when they eventually settle in an area.
By the way, it seems you really can’t ‘take the country out of the boy’ and his religious background has done nothing to dull his wicked sense of local humor, (something Weng still struggles with every day). In fact, you could say that he’s not your stereotypical ‘Bishop type’, enjoying a good story and a few beers like most Aussies. More importantly, he respects alternative worldviews, he’s comfortable with his own faith and doesn’t ever proselytise or feel the need to force it on others.
Rural skills:
Remoteness is certainly not an issue for us, our disco days are over and we’re homebodies, happy keeping our own company. So we’re fine with simple country living and rustic accommodations.
Weng grew up in tropical sugar cane country in the Philippines in a family where the parents struggled to send all the kids to University. The three girls learned early about the necessities of hard work, study, doing the chores and living a responsible, Christian life.
She has lived in both the country and the big city, and can settle into both while we take time to find our ‘home’.
Jason has owned mixed farming property of his own, raising champion show cattle (Brangus and Dexters) in Toogoolawah, Qld. He also managed a 4,500 acre mixed Hereford and sheep property for an absentee family near Armidale in 2005-6. And he also has previous experience with dairy cows.
He’s built his own house and a 40′ sailboat, owned tractors, bobcats, backhoes, slashers, ride-ons and quads, fixed fences, run water, birthed calves and done most of his own day-to-day farm work.
And while it certainly isn’t his strongest skill , he’s also OK with handled horses if needed.
The details:
We would consider all opportunities that offer accommodation with internet access (minor daily email updates only) and moderate usage of utilities included in exchange for housesitting, light duties and of course, your complete peace of mind.
We’d prefer weeks or longer rather than days,and would be most happy in a rural or remote area. But we would also be perfectly OK with city life as well, so consider us for anything, anywhere.
The only definite requirements are internet access and the availability of basic services and access to basic provisions.
And as we plan to land in Brisbane first, we’ll need travel time to get to you.
Both Weng and Jason have comprehensive national police clearances and references, Jason has held a Blue card (since expired while he’s been away) and we would be comfortable with signing an appropriate agreement between us.
We are currently booked during July in S.E. Qld. We’re looking for bookings after July for Qld, NSW, Vic, SA and WA, for housesitting, farmsitting or care taking almost any kind of property or business.
Current contact information:
email: ‘jasonagregg at me dot com’ (formatted to avoid SPAM harvesters)
+63 902 661 4049 (mobile in the Philippines)
Skype (inc video): dr.gregg (need to email us first so we can be online)