Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
11 Aug 2023
Feedback
34
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
Hi - we're a British couple based in SW France our two boys have mainly flown the nest(!). We have lived and worked in France for over 30 years. 11 years ago we bought a run down watermill in a village close to Cadillac - half an hour south of Bordeaux in the vineyard region of the Entre-Deux Mers. The mill is now renovated as a lovely home but with 4 hecatares of forest/garden to tame, and given both of us work full time, we are struggling to progress on the outside renovation work and projects for the garden.
Jobs and interest-wise, I work as a wine consultant, exporting all over Europe, we also have a restaurant and wine shop in our local town and have recently opened a second one about 40 mins south of here - I love wine, travel and cooking. Adam is very much into boats, gardening, Rugby and DIY. We have a sociable, lively life but also enjoy the peace and quiet where we live. With Bordeaux on the doorstep and easy access, it's a good combination for a happy lifestyle.
We both speak French and English but normally speak English at home amongst ourselves. We have a 10 year old Border Collie called Iggy (as in Pop) and 11 year old Pointer-Beagle called Bono. Both are loving, sociable and adore being taken for walks in the forest. We also have 2 dwarf goats that eat the undergrowth in the forest (Joni and Freddie).
Our experience as Workaway hosts from 2016 till now was excellent so we're all set to continue with projects in the year ahead, and look forward to meeting and welcoming lots more Workaways from April/May time, once the weather is fine.
We are specifically looking for 2 plus friends who can work independantly without over seeing, we will point you in the direction, provide the tools and leave you to it as we work long hours and single people might find life a little lonely,
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Both Adam and I have lived abroad for a long time and travelled to many places. We were based in Burgundy for many years and cruised most of the French waterways when working on hotel barges in the 80's and 90's. We hope volunteers will benefit from a taste of rural France in an easy going environment whilst learning about the Bordeaux region, it's history and people. The beaches of the Atlantic coast are just over an hour away, there are cycling routes galore and plenty of places to explore in free-time.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We would mainly like some help with some clearing of the forest (brambles and small trees), wood chopping (ready for winter), and also stone work (pointing/repairs). Projects this summer are décorating (preverably with experience) wood cutting and chopping, and lots of gardening! Oh yes, and the pool needs retiling and painting.
Perhaps some help also with preparing meals if volunteers enjoy that. Volunteers need to be available to work 4-5 hours a day (timing to be agreed), 5 days a week and to be autonomous in their work. The exact project and daily schedule would be agreed mutually depending on individual skills and wishes as well as how hot it is.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
German: IntermediateThis host offers a language exchange
We are both bilingual English/French, Adam speaks passable German and would like to learn Spanish, but is interested in any languages
Accommodation
We have 2 spare bedrooms in the house, with there own shared shower and bathroom. There is also plenty of flat space to pitch a tent/s,
What else ...
There is a train station in Cerons, which is a 10 min drive away (train takes 20 minutes to Bordeaux) or there is an hourly bus to Bordeaux from Cadillac/Beguey, takes 45 mins and costs 2.50€.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
Ample parking space for camping cars in front of the house (on our land) with a 220v plug in
Can possibly accept pets
We have two non agressive male dogs, who normally make friends with other dogs easilly, but do like chasing cats!
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (20)
They are people you can trust and give a project to without needing to oversee everything. If they finish what was asked of them and have no further instructions, they will find something sensible to continue with. We… read more
As… read more
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.7)
Cultural exchange:
(4.7)
Communication:
(5.0)
They are people you can trust and give a project to without needing to oversee everything. If they finish what was asked of them and have no further instructions, they will find something sensible to continue with. We… read more
As… read more
Eager to learn and hard working we were very happy with their approach to managing various projects in the garden and house and would highly recommend them to future hosts. Important to note… read more
Claire is a great Chef and Adam is a experienced mechanic and it was a pleasure for me to Work and… read more
I'll struggle to find a better workaway in the future I reckon.
A very happy time, when we had a houseful so there was rather a party atmosphere to the week and yet inspite of this good work… read more
The location was great as we felt we were in the country, surrounded by vineyards, yet Bordeaux is very accessible. A direct train takes 17 minutes… read more
The warm atmosphere that they provided, the concern and interest that they had towards me, all the laughs and jokes that we shared around dinner table, all the amazing dishes that both Adam and Claire prepared, and lots of things that made me feel as a part of the family.
Thank you… read more
The work to… read more
Together with an Austrian friend and another Welsh workawayer we maintained the garden and the forest. The work mainly consisted of chopping trees down, but also creating stairs and… read more
I got to work outside while I was here in the sun building fences for the goats & cutting down some of the surrounding forest, The work… read more
I really enjoyed my time with them!
For the first time ever me and Alvaro, another workawayer from Spain, had to do studding, plastering and building a wall consisting of big stones and a chalk-mix. I think those were all… read more
We loved Richard's enthusiasm and zest for life - he even pushed us to go and discover things about the area we'd not have done without him such as the excellent… read more
