Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
19 Apr 2024
Reply rate
90.9 %
Usually responds within 13 days
Feedback
14
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
We are a family of 3, Lavinia (45, stay at home mum), Misha age 9 and Ewan age 7 (both attend a local primary school); 3 cats, 1 gerbil and a dog!
We are vegetarian, so all the food I cook is vegetarian. However, if you would like to cook meat for yourself, that's ok with us.
I am beginner level at woodwork, pilates, sewing, badminton and Irish set dancing. I have an interest in herbs as medicine, permaculture and sustainable living. I have been a member of Couchsurfing for many years, as a host and as a surfer- staying with a local is the best way to experience the culture of a country!
Misha loves arts and crafts, reading and playing button accordion. Ewan loves playing with toy cars, lego, and football. They both love cycling, swimming, building dens, trampolining and Minecraft.
We live in a rural part of East Cork but just 5 miles from the nearest village and 8 miles from the beautiful historical seaside town of Youghal. There are regular buses from there to the cities of Cork and Waterford.
Generally, volunteers work 4-5 hours per day Monday to Friday, however we are flexible on this so if someone wants to work a full day to have another day off etc that can be arranged! Please bring old/work clothes with you.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We would be delighted to help with teaching English, and some Irish maybe! I can teach irish set dancing and bring our workawayer to a traditional ceili night and for a drink in our small local pub. We can show you around our beautiful part of the world, we are close to the coast, woods, the Knockmealdown and Comeragh mountains and many historic buildings.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We have started a big restoration project on our old stone cottage (pre 1830) so help with that that would be brilliant! There is a lot of digging to be done, also lime plastering etc etc
We would love help in the garden, grass cutting, strimming, weeding, digging and watering plants. Depending on the time of the year - sowing vegetable seeds, potting on and planting out.
Help also needed with painting, building an outdoor compost toilet, and cutting firewood.
Possibly some help with babysitting and housework and if you have some tasty vegetarian recipes for us to try out that would be great!
You need to be able to work alone or not mind children 'helping' on occasion!
Languages
Languages spoken
English: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
Your accommodation will be in an old campervan parked in the garden away from the house (Wi-Fi is only in the house). It has a double bed accessed by a ladder, camping toilet which can be emptied in our waste tank. However you have full use of our bathroom and kitchen/living room aswell.
There is no heating in the campervan so we do not accept volunteers during the colder months.
We usually wake about 7.30am, breakfast at 8, lunch at 1 and have our dinner about 5.30pm. The children go to bed about 8pm.
What else ...
We have a bike that you can borrow or can bring you to the nearest bus stop if you would like to travel further!
There is lots to explore in Youghal, Lismore, Ardmore, or day trips to Cobh, Blarney Castle, Kinsale. The river Blackwater flows into the sea at Youghal and can be enjoyed by boat or kayak trips.
The Greenway in Dungarvan Co Waterford is a great track for cycling or walking.
If you tell me your interests, I can advise on other things to see and places to visit!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
Small campervans welcome, we have a hard standing area or grass to park on. Outdoor electricity point and outdoor tap on site.
Can possibly accept pets
Any pets must be cat, dog and child friendly!
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (7)
Lavinia and Dave are really dynamic and they brought us everywhere ! We visited lots of places like Cork 2 times, the Ring of Kerry with the Paddywagon, Youghal...
Lavinia helped us to do some activities too, like running, dancing and dog racing.
Dave works a lot… read more
Lavinia is a good soul. She really cared about me having a good time and I really appreciate that!
I mainly did some work in the garden (weeding, planting) and I could learn cool things about plants/weed from Lavinia, for example how Ivy can help with your laundry and in general what one can make out… 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:
(5.0)
Communication:
(4.9)
Lavinia and Dave are really dynamic and they brought us everywhere ! We visited lots of places like Cork 2 times, the Ring of Kerry with the Paddywagon, Youghal...
Lavinia helped us to do some activities too, like running, dancing and dog racing.
Dave works a lot… read more
Lavinia is a good soul. She really cared about me having a good time and I really appreciate that!
I mainly did some work in the garden (weeding, planting) and I could learn cool things about plants/weed from Lavinia, for example how Ivy can help with your laundry and in general what one can make out… read more
The vegetarian meals of Lavinia… read more
They have a wide variety of interests to chat about, they were eager to try new things, learn new skills and complete tasks to the best of their abilities. They were patient with the kids and happily read stories to them. Jack & Dainora initially came for… read more
He is chatty, friendly, open-minded and seemed happy to throw himself into our family routines and activities whether it was painting walls or trying out Irish dancing!
The kids were mad about him and he was excellent with them!
It was a pleasure having Martí to stay!
I stayed there during 2 weeks and 3 days, sleeping in a clean and comfortable van and carrying out different tasks as grass cutting, strimming, and painting.
During this days I had the opportunity to see the first Ironman competition in the… read more
