MEET KATH
Hi, I’m Kath, and I’m Here to Make Life a Little Easier
I’ve spent most of my working life helping other people get things done. From supporting busy offices to helping customers with their shopping, I’ve always enjoyed being the person who can step in and make things a little easier.
Just Ask Kath brings together the things I’m good at and, perhaps more importantly, the things I genuinely enjoy. I offer practical help to people and small businesses in Wallington, Carshalton, Sutton and nearby areas.
Get in Touch
A Working Life Spent Getting Things Done
I started my career in administration in the early 1990s and spent many years helping offices, managers and organisations run smoothly. I’ve prepared documents, arranged meetings and travel, answered enquiries and handled the countless small details that make a working day go better.
I worked as a personal assistant to a managing director, supported the team organising a major construction exhibition at Reed Business Information, and later worked for the National Council for Hypnotherapy and The Surrey Institute of Clinical Hypnotherapy. Those roles taught me to be organised, discreet and adaptable. They also showed me how much I enjoy being useful to other people.
I’ve always enjoyed learning too. Alongside my office experience, I’ve developed skills in document preparation, proofreading and updating WordPress websites. But I gradually realised that sitting at a desk all day wasn’t the only kind of work that suited me.
The Job I Never Expected to Love
When lockdown began in 2020, I’d only recently changed jobs, which meant I wasn’t eligible for furlough. Rather than sit at home, I decided to do something useful and became a key worker in Asda’s home shopping department.
I wasn’t expecting it to change the way I thought about work, but I absolutely loved it. We were a big team, working hard to get shopping ready for customers who depended on us. The days were busy and there was always something happening. I loved the people, the teamwork and the feeling that we were doing something genuinely helpful.
The hours suited our family life, too. I started at 4am and finished at 1pm, which meant I could spend more time with my children in the afternoons. It was an early start, certainly, but that time together mattered to me.
When lockdown ended, I could have gone back to office work. Instead, I chose to stay at Asda because I was happy there.
An Unexpected Change
That chapter ended after I fell and broke my arm while on holiday. The injury meant I could no longer manage the physical demands of home shopping. Leaving a job I’d enjoyed so much was difficult.
Afterwards I took on temporary work, but it didn’t give me quite the same satisfaction. I missed the variety, the contact with people and the sense of finishing a day knowing I’d made someone else’s life a little easier.
It made me think about what I wanted to do next, and about the parts of my previous jobs that had always made me happiest.
Why I Started Just Ask Kath
Looking back, there was a common thread running through everything I’d enjoyed. Whether I was organising appointments, helping a small business, getting someone’s shopping ready or solving an everyday problem, I liked making things easier for other people.
I also knew I wanted variety. Some days I’d be happy preparing documents or updating a website. On other days I’d much rather be out and about, running errands, walking a dog or visiting someone’s pets.
So instead of finding another job that used only part of my experience, I decided to create something of my own. That’s how Just Ask Kath began, a friendly, flexible local service built around practical help.
It’s a new business, but I’m bringing more than 30 years of working experience with me, and a genuine enthusiasm for what I do.
A Little Adventure Along the Way
Life hasn’t all been offices and early morning shifts. Between 2002 and 2005, my husband and I spent three years sailing around France, Italy and Greece.
Living aboard a boat was quite an adventure, and a good lesson in planning, flexibility and dealing with the unexpected. It gave us memories I still treasure. I suppose I’ve always been happiest when life offers a bit of variety.
What You Can Expect From Me
A small, personal service, with no complicated process or unnecessary fuss.
You Deal Directly With Me
When you get in touch, you’ll speak to me, and I’ll be the person doing the work.
Practical and Flexible
A one off errand, a regular dog walk or a few hours of admin, we can discuss what suits you.
Respect and Discretion
I understand the importance of treating your home, pets and personal or business information with care.
Clear Arrangements
We’ll agree what needs doing, when it can be done and the likely cost before I begin.
Sometimes All You Need Is a Little Help
You might have one particular job in mind, or perhaps a few things that have been sitting on your list for too long. Either way, you don’t need to have everything worked out before you contact me.
Tell me what you need, and I’ll let you know whether it’s something I can do. We’ll discuss the arrangements and agree the cost before anything begins. I’m based in Wallington and help people locally, as well as providing remote business support where appropriate.
Just Ask Kath