Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
18 Jun 2023
Feedback
16
ID verified
Email verified
Badges (4)
Details
Description
We are a couple who have retired early from our jobs in England and now live permanently in France.
We are working on a large project to renovate a beautiful maison de maitre and its out-buildings in Charente-Maritime, France. The house is situated within 2 acres of gardens which also needs work including clearing areas and overgrown trees and bushes. The house is slowly being worked on, so there is plenty to do!
We are particularly looking for people who have some experience in these things, and anyone with gardening, landscaping, joinery or construction skills and experience will be a huge bonus!
We are located in the popular village of Aulnay, with 4 bars (including 2 restaurants) and plenty of amenities within walking distance.
Our old Weimaraner Luna will love to keep you company in the garden when the weather is not too warm or wet!
We have lots of varied work to do, including stripping old paint from shutters, tidying and pruning gardens (which have not been managed properly for many years), helping to repair stone walls , helping with edging of grass ready for gravelling pathways, the list goes on!
Although we are in semi rural France, there is a good mix of both French and English around to meet and mix with. The locals are very friendly and you will often end up chatting if just going for a morning coffee on your own.
We like to meet people and hope that others may enjoy the little area of France we have decided to call home. There is plenty to do here within walking distance for those who don’t have transport. Tennis courts, bars, and an open air public swimming pool during seasonal months. It is a good way to experience rural France without being too secluded…
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
This is a beautiful area of France with a friendly reception. There are lots of places to visit within an hour of the property for those with their own transport.
We live in a very lively village with lots going on, and the weather is an added bonus.
For those who don’t speak French there are also quite a few English here too but the locals will always help.
Our home is a building of historical importance to the village and area, and therefore it is of great importance that we renovate it with respect.
We have a lot within easy walking distance, so those without transport can still experience rural France.
Help
Stripping old paint from shutters, ready to make them beautiful again. Garden work including starting a vegetable garden from scratch, clearance of areas such as overgrown hedges and shrubs, digging, planting, weeding and general improvements. Edging grass areas ready for gravel to be laid to paths. Possibly repair and pointing of stone walls to someone appropriately experienced.
Help with building of large wood store, and also an outdoor covered seating area, again for someone appropriately experienced.
Possibly also assistance with any tasks related to internal and external renovations, for example sanding, painting, help with plaster boarding, pointing and so on for anyone appropriately experienced ..
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
We are learning French and are happy to help others with English also.
Accommodation
The house is mainly un renovated, however our kitchen area is almost finished and certainly habitable so this is where we spend most of our time relaxing.
We have a comfortable although not yet renovated bedroom (double) with easy access to a bathroom with shower on the top floor for Workawayers, where they will have their own privacy and space.
Meals can be taken with us in our kitchen area.
There are around 2 acres of garden area to enjoy also.
We also have good wifi (fibre).
What else ...
Plenty of things to do in the area of Charente-Maritime. Towns of historical interest and also cities (including La Rochelle) within around an hour for those with transport. Beaches around an hour away also.
For those without transport Aulnay has most things you could need for Day to Day activities, including supermarket, 3 boulangeries, post office, 2 banks, a pharmacy, 2 bars & 2 bar/restaurants. Aulnay is famous in France for its beautiful church, and it also has a lovely public swimming pool open in summer months and a local tennis club.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
We have a large garden so have plenty of room for a campervan as long as it is not huge (if too big it won’t fit through the entrance gates)..
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (8)
He also joined in with us socially and made new… read more
They have a good work ethic, and worked incredibly hard while they were here. They completed lots of really useful jobs such as stripping shutters ready for painting, filling… read more
They worked really hard here, and did a great job. They didn’t need much supervision at all, and just got on with the tasks really well.
Haley and Adam were great… read more
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
He also joined in with us socially and made new… read more
They have a good work ethic, and worked incredibly hard while they were here. They completed lots of really useful jobs such as stripping shutters ready for painting, filling… read more
They worked really hard here, and did a great job. They didn’t need much supervision at all, and just got on with the tasks really well.
Haley and Adam were great… read more
They were both happy to join… read more
They stayed in touch and informed us of all their plans up to arrival, and even arrived bursting through the train station door with excitement to have arrived!
They were so much fun to be around, joined in with everything and… read more
She worked hard doing some jobs in the garden, and didn’t need supervision but just got on with the job she was given once shown. She also helped around the house, for example hoovering.
She helped us with our French too which was very much… read more
Jan is lovely, thoughtful and generous. Graham is good-hearted and super hardworking. Despite that, he didn't… read more
She was never phased by the jobs she was given, and always got through them really well. She worked incredibly hard and was… read more
