A taste of the good life (From Gazette & Herald)

A taste of the good life

Having given up their hectic London lifestyles as a police officer and a security controller, a Pickering couple have found success after setting up their own businesses.

George and Janet Locke returned to North Yorkshire in 2004 after moving to London in 1989.

George set up his own mobile vehicle valet and carpet cleaning business called GL Cleaning Services.

"I've always loved cars," said George. "We live in an area where mud from the road and other debris coats our vehicles' exterior and is regularly trodden into the interior.

"I love a challenge, and a car covered in mud on the outside and just as dirty on the inside is just what I like to see. The transformation afterwards speaks for itself.

"I enjoy working for myself. The job satisfaction level is immense."

His wife, Janet, also runs her own business - a home-based franchise called Barking Mad which provides home-from-home pet care as an alternative to kennelling.

Janet said: "I was working as a police officer in Barking, East London, so to run a business called Barking Mad seemed very appropriate.

"We hadn't put our dogs in kennels for years and if a friend couldn't look after them, we didn't go away. Barking Mad provides a solution for people who think like we did by arranging accommodation for dogs with selected host families, where the dogs' exercise and feeding routines are maintained."

Since moving back to the county, the couple see their decision was the right one.

Janet said: "We were eager to give up our stressful lives. We decided a total lifestyle change was in order and just over a year later, we are both thrilled with the decision we made."

Updated: 15:49 Wednesday, February 22, 2006