Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
15 Apr 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 1 day
Feedback
56
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Details
Description
I have recently bought a second home by the sea so you will move with me in my car between the homes, the journey takes 2 hours each way. The map on my profile is for the Brittany home by the sea. For the countryside Normandy home put 50600 Lapenty, France into google maps to see the general area!
Long weekends (Friday to Monday) and most school holidays we will be by the sea in beautiful St Quay Portrieux in Brittany helping to garden, clean, cook and a bit of general maintenance if you have the skills. Midweek you can discover the beautiful rural village of Lapenty and the peaceful surrounding countryside and small towns while helping me create the most wonderful home and garden.
About Katy, your host:
I love stimulating conversation, meditation, swimming in the sea, dancing, gentle cycling, uplifting books, films and music. I'm interested in uncovering my and humanity's full potential. I teach Tai Chi and Qigong for my living (you are welcome to come along) and I meditate daily. I go to traditional french dancing (Folk Selune) every other week and you are welcome to come and join in. When I'm by the sea I go cold water swimming in the sea most mornings at 11am with the locals as well as cycling and walking. I also love sitting on the beach or by the view spots on the coastal paths and relaxing or meditating.
Things to do in your spare time:
In Brittany there is the seaside town of St Quay Portieux, known for it's stunning beaches and swimming, free salt water swimming pool and beautiful walks a 20 minute walk or 10 minute cycle away. It has everything you need, cafés, shops, restaurants, beaches, a free outdoor seawater swimming pool, cinema, tourist information, casino etc. You can see the sea from my garden and the upstairs landing (it's just 1.5 km away) and there are beautiful views including a windmill from the other windows! There are lovely countryside walks from the house with sea views and a windmill. The stunning GR34 (the coastal path that extends the length of the Brittany coast) passes 1.5 km from the house. There is the possibility of hiring traditional or electric bikes nearby.
In Normandy you can discover the beautiful rural village of Lapenty and the peaceful surrounding countryside and small towns while helping me create the most wonderful home and garden. Electric bike and traditional bike available to borrow. Lake 2 minutes away. Lapenty is very rural so if reading, conversation, making music (piano and harmonium available) and when the evenings are light the countryside are not your thing this is probably not the right place for you. I have found it does not work out for me with volunteers who want to drink alcohol every night, but if you like a glass of wine or beer a few times a week you are welcome. Both houses are non smoking. Smokers are welcome to smoke in the garden or by the windmill or lake just a minute's walk away!
Meals
I'm mainly vegetarian and eat fish about once a week. Vegetarians, vegans, meat and fish eaters are all welcome, as long as the meat eaters are happy to buy and cook your own meat when you want it. I do not drink alcohol myself so you would need to buy your own if you like the odd glass.
Feedback - please note the feedback for before 2023 was for a previous Normandy home 6km away. Feedback before March 2024 is for my current Normandy home. Feedback I receive from April 2024 will be from workawayers who get to go to the seaside second home in Brittany as well as the Normandy home!
About the help available:
Outside
Tasks in the garden - spreading out gravel to make a grass free area, sanding and teak oiling furniture, mowing, weeding, planting and pruning, depending on your skills.
Inside
Painting and general maintenance for workawayers with the skills.
Cooking, some cleaning and washing up.
Artistic - I have some blank canvases and acrylic paints. I also have a few things needing sewing adjustments if you have the skill.
Depending on the task and my work schedule I might be working beside you or moving between helping and my own work. We eat together and I rarely watch TV so there is always the time to chat and learn from each other. Many workawayers like coming with me to the classes I teach, dancing and my other activities.
If you would like to stay be sure to let me know what project(s) you would like to help with. After a pause of several years from hosting while my life evolved I'm now meeting and learning from amazing people like yourself through workaway again.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
I am spiritual, meditate, look within and eat healthily. Guests generally leave healthier and find they have recharged and reset. I live between the heart of rural France and by the sea. You are welcome to join me in Qigong or Tai chi classes or come along to local French dancing (all in French). I love nature, the local waterfalls, countryside, walks by the sea, swimming in the sea and the beach. Sometimes while you are volunteering we will work together, sometimes I'll be more supervising, you will always be in the same house as me.
Working, studying or retired volunteers are welcome during your holidays. Volunteers are also welcome for longer stays who are are retired, not working at the moment or who work on line.
Help
25 hours a week help.
We also share the preparation of meals and washing up afterwards vegetarian food (and occasional fish) provided which is often organic.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: IntermediateThis host offers a language exchange
I speak French well and like sharing my knowledge, I'm also interested in improving my French, I'm English so am happy to share English. Language exchange is in addition to and not replacing volunteering work.
Accommodation
NORMANDY (countryside)
Accommodation in the beautiful rural village of Lapenty (50600), La Manche, Normandy, France in a semi-detached stone house. I have a spare room with both a double and single bed for quiet guests, bedding provided. This is on the second floor and I don't have a lift. My home is 2 minutes walk from a beautiful peaceful lake with free camping car parking and facilities (and loud church bells!). There is also the possibility of camping in my garden for guests who prefer to chat into the night or stream or listen to music without headphones (tent, sleeping bag and airbed provided, no wifi in the tent). Be aware I'm right by a church, with wonderful bells that chime every half hour day and night.
BRITTANY (seaside)
I have a spare room with one double bed for quiet guests and beautiful views, Possibility of camping in the garden for louder guests.
What else ...
If you arrive in Brittany get the train or BlaBla car to St Brieuc (3 hours from Paris) then the number 1 bus to St Quay Portrieux where I will meet you. You can also get the bus from Paimpol.
Lapenty, Normandy is very rural. The train from Paris is about 3 hours. The nearest train stations are Vire and Avranches, from the train station you get the bus to either St Hilaire Du Harcouët or Mortain and I will meet you there. There is public transport from the ports of Caen and Cherbourg. The train from Paris is about 40 euros one way booked last minute and much cheaper booked in advance, the bus 3 euros. Many Workawayers use Blabla car to get here. Search for Avranches.
In Normandy I'm 8km from the famous market town of St Hilaire du Harcouët and 12km from the WW2 history town of Mortain with it's waterfalls. The Mont St. Michel and the beach are an hours drive away. There is no public transport in our village, the nearest bus stop is 8km away. There are no shops or bars in the village. I have UK TV and good internet.
My daughter returns home for the weekend every couple of months or so. If you are visiting when she wants to visit this would be a great time for you to have a weekend in Paris or at the Mont St Michel or coast if you are staying in the guest room in the house (as this is also her bedroom!), or if you prefer to stay here you will need to sleep in the tent, the meditation room or the lounge during her visit.
Where you will need to get transport to depends on which house I am in so check dates with me before doing too much research!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
I have fibre optic WiFi throughout the house in Normandy. There is a large desk in the large guest bedroom as well as wifi and your phone should have a decent signal. The weekends in Brittany it is just a WiFi hotspot from my phone so your internet usage will be limited.
Space for parking camper vans
There is a free parking for campervans and motor homes 100 meters from the house by the lake in Normandy, all sizes welcome.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
25 hours per week plus a fair share of the cooking and washing up
Feedback (22)
Photos
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.8)
Cultural exchange:
(4.8)
Communication:
(4.8)
If you want to eat every day better than restaurant , if you like go around with bike, if you like quiet and beautiful land this is the right place.
I felt like at home and I'm really happy to met this people.
Bye :)
They are very trustworth, so we took the opportunity to go and see a friend in Paris while they took… read more
All of their ideas and projects were quite creative, it's nice to find other people who are free thinkers.
I would highly recommend staying here :)
Merci,
Logan
He enjoyed seeing the sites and… read more
The family are lovely. We had some very good conversation over… read more
Victor is easy to get along with and a joy to work beside. He got on… read more
We can thoroughly recommend him to either work on his own or with you. He did loose focus quickly when paired with another… read more
The workaway website suggests 25 hours volunteering a week plus helping with the cooking and washing up which is what we ask. On days off… read more
can't recommend going there. The describtion sounds good but the reality isn't.
The family is not welcoming (except the daughter) and don't understand the concept of workaway. They mix it up with cheap servants who have to clean after them, even on our days off. We didn't work along side them but replaced them, which leads to… read more
