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Help with projects around our home and with our dogs in Bisenti, Italy

Italy
Favourited 19 times
Last activity : 15 Oct 2024

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100 %
Last replied
16 Sep 2024
Reply rate
83.3 %
Usually responds within 13 days
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2024

Min stay requested: at least a week

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Description
My name is Angela. I am an ex primary school teacher who moved from my homeland (England) to Italy with my husband Tony (Retired Health and Safety Manager). We have 7 standard poodles (and sometimes puppies) and a mini crossbreed. We also have chickens and now a cat who found us! We live in the countryside and are quite isolated. There are neighbours within walking distance. Bisenti is a little village that has a couple of bars and supermarkets etc. Bisenti is famous as the birthplace of Pontious Pilate. We always need help in sorting out the living and garden areas, and the poodles love to be groomed by an animal friendly person. They like nothing better than to run in the garden chasing a ball!!! We are kind and friendly and pretty easy going. We would like hard-working travellers that are also friendly and easy going.

We would prefer a couple or a pair of friends so you have company!

Food is included, help yourselfto what's available!!
Breakfast have cereal or toast, lunch - sandwich, pasta whatever you find in the fridge or cupboards!
Dinner - travellers will be able to prepare their own food whenever they like and I’m sure we would also share some meals together! If we are cooking then we would ask if the visitor would like to join us but often we grab a quick bite in front of the TV and on those days the visitors would need to prepare their meal. We would provide the food! 😊
Guest living quarters are upstairs. You will have your own bathroom as we use the downstairs accommodation.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We are English speakers and have English television installed. We also speak Italian! We live in the Italian Countryside and are 45 minutes to the sea and 45 minutes to the mountains. There is a bus stop 2km from our home that goes to Pescara and Teramo daily. The village of Bisenti is a few minutes away in a car.
Help
We have lots of dogs and chickens and a cat. We have a large garden and there is always something to do from strimmering, weeding to log chopping.
We would like help inside: general house cleaning and grooming dogs.
Occasionally we have building projects on the go and if the work falls within your skillset then your help would be much appreciated!
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Italian: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
Accommodation
We live in an old schoolhouse. The traveller will have their own bedroom and bathroom. There is a good wifi signal throughout the house.

There are daily buses down to Pescara and in to Teramo.
What else ...
There is a local bar roughly 1.5 km away. The village is 10 mins by car. Bus routes to Teramo and Pescara. Montesilvano 45mins by car.
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
- Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have Deco Mesh placed around the home to ensure a good signal. We rarely have internet problems... only if the weather is particularly windy or stormy.
Space for parking camper vans
We have a large drive that can fit any campervan or motorhome!
Can possibly accept pets
Dogs welcome. As we have so many dogs, cats would not enjoy staying here so no cats.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
4 hours per day 5 days per week. (We are flexible sometime people prefer to do more daily hours and have 3 days off)

Host ref number: 187299896727

Feedback (3)

26 Sep 2024

Left by host for Workawayer (suaayy)

Suay and Mansor came on Tuesday 23rd September. I picked them up from the bus station approximately 30 minutes away, took them shopping and asked them to load the trolley up with things they like to eat. They seemed a pleasant young couple. On the drive home we chatted, quite a lot about the dogs. Our profile is centred around our Idogs, with… read more

(Negative )

28 Mar 2024

Left by host for Workawayer (Lauren)

Lauren is a friendly, chatty and helpful girl looking to broaden her horizons through travel.
She stayed with us for 5 weeks to help out with general house tasks and puppy watching as we had a litter of puppies on the ground.
Lauren was flexible and willing to learn new skills and not afraid to ask questions to make sure she did things as you… read more

(Excellent )

12 Mar 2024

Left by Workawayer (Lauren) for host

I was extremely lucky to have this as my first workaway experience.

Angela’s proactive communication before my visit made planning and travel go smoothly.
I took a bus from Rome and they were kind enough to have their son pick me up at the station. (Also a big thanks to him for the help while I was there like walking the dogs and more - even… read more answering my questions about “football” - or soccer as we call it here in Canada!)
The house was busy when I arrived as Mabel had her puppies the day before, but Angela and Tony made me feel welcome as soon as I got there, and after meeting the dogs (who are all SO special I don't know how to fit it all into this feedback!), let me get settled and showed me around.

I got to stay in a comfortable room with my own bathroom - shared for laundry sometimes but never posed a privacy issue. I found it easy to have time to myself, while also feeling welcome to socialize downstairs, whether chatting with my hosts, spending time with the dogs, reading, or watching a movie.

In terms of working hours, they were flexible and understanding while figuring out what worked best for the both of us, but were still professional about it to make sure tasks were clear, priorities were known, and the necessary work got completed.
It seemed from what they said that work could vary depending on time of year, current projects, etc., but during my time there I look back fondly on the average day: spending time out back in the morning sun, drinking a cappuccino as the dogs got some exercise and we played with their toys. I was told if there was specific things to do - like cleaning out a spare room, tidying the patio, or even getting to brush Bruno, but on other days I got into a nice routine of helping with general housework/cleaning since my hosts were kept more than busy watching newborn puppies, and taking good care of the adult dogs. This meant I would usually listen to music, do my best to stay on top of the dishes, tidy, sweep, mop, etc.
Even past the hours they asked of me, I found myself wanting to help extra when I could because it seems only natural to want to help and be kind to those who are doing the same for you! (Plus as a dog-lover myself, I would hardly consider walking the dogs or watching cute little puppies to be considered a “chore’!)

Food was easy to find when eating on my own, and shared meals were always delicious. I was lucky to get to eat Tony’s fresh bread, potato pancakes, and the dinners that he and Angela made like chilli or pasta.

As mentioned I had good opportunities in my free time, and can’t go without thanking Angela for her guidance on bus routes and Tony’s willingness to drive me into Bisenti to the bus stop. I also appreciated my chats with Angela, she was open with me and told me stories of her own and listened to mine as well which was very nice.

Overall it goes without saying it was an experience of a lifetime and I miss it everyday. I love being able to keep up with the dogs and puppies as they grow up through their facebook page. I wish Tony, Angela, and family/pets well, and will always be grateful for everything I learned there and for them opening their home to visitors like me.

(Excellent )

27 Aug 2023

Left by host for Workawayer (Jovenson)

Joe came to us in March for a couple of weeks and stayed until June! He is now an honorary member of our family and will always be welcome here. So Joe helped us so much during his time here. He has many, many skills and anything he doesn't know he self teaches himself and then does a fabulous job!
While he was here he painted, laid gravel paths,… read more

(Excellent )

30 Jul 2023

Left by Workawayer (Jovenson) for host

I had the most amazing 4 months staying at Angela and Tony's house! Let me tell you about my unforgettable experience with them, their lovely dogs, delicious food, and the fantastic work we did together.

First, I have to talk about their adorable red giant poodles. These dogs were not just cute but incredibly obedient too. I had the pleasure of… read more

(Excellent )

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26 Sep 2024

Left by host for Workawayer (suaayy)

(Negative)

28 Mar 2024

Left by host for Workawayer (Lauren)

(Excellent)

12 Mar 2024

Left by Workawayer (Lauren) for host

(Excellent)

27 Aug 2023

Left by host for Workawayer (Jovenson)

(Excellent)

30 Jul 2023

Left by Workawayer (Jovenson) for host

(Excellent)

21 Mar 2023

Left by host for Workawayer (Conal)

Conal stayed with us for two weeks in March 2023. He had already messaged me professing he knew nothing about dogs and was worried that his skill set did not match what we needed. I told him that the work we required was mainly labouring and he was happy to come and give it a shot! I'm sure he is now waking up in cold sweats imagining that he is… read more

(Excellent)

21 Mar 2023

Left by Workawayer (Conal) for host

I stayed with Angela and Tony in March 2023 for two weeks.
If they had let me, I think I would have stayed for life.
Tony generously picked me up from the nearest train station (Montesilvano) and we whirled through the Italian countryside to his and Angela’s home. I’d never been on a Workaway before—some people would say I’ve never worked a day… read more in my life before—and I was a tad nervous. I was scared Tony and Angela were going to kick me back to Ireland when they found out how skilless I was.
It was a forty minutes drive all in all, dipping into deep valleys, skating the rims of rolling verdant hills, but it passed in a flash in Tony’s company. He regaled to me the history of the area, his and Angela’s story, and why they were getting in some Workaways in the first place.
Pruning olive trees. Painting the living room. Gravelling. Sand. Something about putting a shower outside(?????). The more jobs he mentioned, the more I could feel my cheeks redden at my lack of experience.
Then he asked me about my skills.
I told him I had no experience except when I was twelve I dropped a plant into a pot for my Granda. Sixteen years ago.
He took a long sup of his vape.
I clenched.
After breathing out a thin plume of smoke he spoke:
—That’s grand, we’ll find something for you to do lad.
And after that I knew I was in safe hands.
Tony and Angela always have things that need done. Over the course of the two weeks I pruned hazelnut trees and olive trees. Helped the other two lads with levelling ground. Cleaned wine bottles. Brushed the front and backs of the house. Screwed in brackets and bolts into a ceiling to put up a new garage roof. Dug up the front garden. Wheelbarrowed some sand. Graveled the front garden. Graveled the back garden. Graveled the gravel.
There was a lot of gravel.
If there was anything I did not know (which turned out to be most things) Tony or Angela would patiently guide me through the workflow until I got the hang of it. And then they would let me get at it, only checking in periodically to make sure everything was going OK. If I ever had any questions they were there to happily answer them. I never felt a seconds hesitation about going to them with any queries I had about the work. They were exceptionally patient and kind the entire time, and given my very much lack of experience, I am so grateful at their kind words, willingness to teach, but also their trust.
After a day of work (4-5 hours), kick off your dust-blanched boots and relax around the house. Tony and Angela have a myriad of board games, TV channels and books that we were free to use. If you’re the outdoorsy type like myself, rejoice. Tony and Angela’s house is nestled at the precipice of a deep valley near the village of Bisenti. Hike to views of snow-dusted mountains. Trail through valleys and appreciate the melted-caramel landscape that rises around you. Cycle to the local bar in the middle of the night for cheap draught and good company.
But of course I can’t forget the dogs. I’m a bit nervous around dogs. But the five dogs, each with their own delightful personalities, will lick you to nothing within an hour of knowing you. I dare anyone to visit this house and not spend two hours a day throwing a ball for Rita. It’s impossible, I swear.
And after your day, settle in the living room room for the main event. A fire putters in its stove, gently warming the room and spreading the scent of wood. The work of the morning and afternoon will rise a fierce hunger in you. The scent wafting from the kitchen will rise an even fiercer hunger. Every night we were treated to delicious food from both Angela and Tony’s hands. Great, steaming bowls of food were dropped in front of us, served with delicious beverages which fantastically represented the surrounding area’s produce.
All home cooked.
All amazingly tasty.
All world famous.
And this isn’t even mentioning the mountainous lunches. Hunks of fresh bread, beautiful cheeses, lumps of ham and salami. Fresh orange juice squeezed from oranges grown in their back garden. Fresh eggs from the chickens that are kept at the top of the garden. It was all fantastic, truly, and I can’t be more grateful for the colossal amount of work they put in to preparing food for us in the two weeks I stayed.
But more than all this, more than the food, more than the dogs, more than the scenery, more than the history, more than my lovely private bedroom, more than Tony and Angela’s unending knowledge, was how welcome I was made throughout. Tony and Angela welcomed me into their house and treated me like a friend. They asked me about my life. They asked my opinion on things. And That means more to me than anything and I will always be grateful for that welcome.
It speaks so much about the pair of them.
Tony is a sweetheart and is as smart as a whip. He has eighty five uses for plastic bags and if you’re lucky, he’ll teach you his world famous graveling technique (Tony’s tip of the day!). Angela’s kindness shines through her. Always laughing, always smiling. Highly intelligent. She has a bucketful of anecdotes that bring the house down and the dogs trail her lovingly around the house like she has a piece of steak in her pocket. Together, they are a lovely pair and I’m very grateful for their hospitality.
So, if you are considering staying in Angela and Tony’s, please, do not hesitate for a second. There's work in this Workaway, of course, but all the great things in life are here, too.
Thank you, Tony & Angela.

(Excellent)

16 Mar 2023

Left by host for Workawayer (Shane)

Well what can I say! Shane has been with us for two weeks now and has already painted (to an extremely high standard) 2 bedrooms, a huge lounge and half of the outside of the house! Shane is a professional painter and decorator and his work is exceptional. He has fixed broken plaster and I cannot see any joins at all. His work is perfect! I feel… read more

(Excellent)

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Help with projects around our home and with our dogs in Bisenti, Italy

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Find your perfect host

Availability

Details

Description

Types of help and learning opportunities

Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

Help

Languages spoken

Accommodation

What else ...

A little more information

Can host digital nomads

Space for parking camper vans

Can possibly accept pets

How many Workawayers can stay?

Hours expected

Feedback (3)

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