How depressing -- is no one sutable looking for nanny work this time of year?

[GloriaInEleusis]

I usuaally look for a nanny in June. But this time I need to hire for a mid March start. Thought I'd start looking seriously in January. For now I browse around here and there. Maybe it's just because it's months away that no one turns up on my seraches.

But I did run across this little bit of competition that amused me.

"Discreet"? I think they mean "know your place"
And I loved the bit about driver not required because of course no female nanny can drive in Saudi even if she wanted to.

I wonder if they's consider a male nanny??? HA! Doubt it.

Job Title: Nanny
Source: Agency
Details: Experienced & professional nanny required for a Saudi Royal family to assist with a newborn baby (young parents; 1st baby). Native English speaker prefered due to English language teaching at a later stage; long term position. Fully staffed household, accommodation in the palace. Frequent travel involved, especially USA. Looking for a discreet & adaptable nanny to start in January/February time. Salary: neg. £700+ per week.

Additional Information:
Location: SAUDI ARABIA + USA, £700+
Start Date: January/February
Salary: neg. £700+ per week
Hours: neg., 6 days per week
Qualifications Required: childcare qual. bonus
Experience Required: newborn exp. essential
Driving Licence Required: No
Employment Type: Full Time
Duration: Permanent
Residential (live-in): Live In
Job Reference: Nannies Inc./Saudi Arabia + USA

Doesn't say anything about laundering the kids clothes and emptying the dishwasher, though, does it? Totally inconsiderate not to tell it how it really is.

And no mention of whether the boyfriend can stay over every now and then. They'll never get any applications at that rate.

it'll be 24 hours a day, not that there will be a good social scene going on.

I did notice that it is 6 days a week. However, the "accommodation in the palace" sounds okay. Well, okay, it depends on the palace but it might be okay.

I wonder if the nanny gets her own plane? But, more importantly, I wonder if each of the wives has her own nanny or if there are six wives, they each have one or two kids, and the nanny works for all of them.

I'd love a job like that but I don't think they'd take me with DP in tow! Although I do know a nanny who has to pretend she's married in order to get a job in the Middle East and the parents were really shocked when she said she'd live out and drive into work.

Urgh, an ex of mine worked in Saudi for a while. Sounds awful.

Mind you, no danger of the husband running off with the nanny, she could just be upgraded to seventh wife!

I'm currently a maternity nurse in the Middle East. It has been an eye opener!

Royal families here are totally different from the English Monarchy, there are probably over a 1000 members here. Men can marry up to four wifes, if they want to marry another then they have to divorce one of the original wifes. They marry first cousins, think all the members I've met have married the first cousins. Each child is likely to have their own nanny 24/6. I thought a fully staffed household would be quite cool, but it's also kinda boring as well - since been here I've not cooked a meal(chef does it), not cleaned(although have told maids I'll do my own dishes, clean my own room, and wash and iron mine and baby's clothes - though it would keep me somewhat down to earth! Having a driver is good as the roads here are kinda crazy, no one uses their signals, no body obeys rules or uses seat belts - so from a safety aspect I like to sit back and relax while in car.

And as much as I've grown attached to the baby I'm not going to be extending my stay of six months. Will be back to England to work for a normal family, who has the umph to look after their own children!