Painting and gardening in beautiful surroundings in Auvillar, France

Details

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  Description

  We are empty nesters who are in our early 60’s. We are active and always have a busy schedule. We run a popular BnB and holiday cottage business here in SW France. We also have 2 Vizsla dogs and a cat plus 2 horses, so there is always something going on. My husband is a fountain of knowledge on anything from computers to building work, satellite dishes and mower repairs. He can turn his hand to most building work and is a perfectionist! However we have realised we can no longer keep everything going all by ourselves. We live in a beautiful stone maison de maître with two gites on the edge of a plus village de France surrounded by beautiful countryside. We are used to having people on site but they must be animal lovers. respect our property and be non smokers :)

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Light gardening

  Creative DIY projects

  Help around the house

  Light maintenance
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  Interests

  

  Pets

  

  Farming

  

  Photography

  

  Gardening

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Animals

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Nature
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  We can help with English language skills if required and the workawayers can learn many skills from my husband in DIY/motor maintenance/satellite installation etc… we can also give you information to investigate this beautiful area of France. We are on the compostelle pilgrims walking route and on the edge of a plus beau village de France. The canal des deux mers is just 8km from the house and we have a UNESCO heritage site 20 minutes away. This is a tourist area with lots to see and our village is the tourist centre of the department.

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  Help

  We are looking for one experienced person who enjoys doing diy and general maintenance as well as some carpentry. We have need for some general gardening like pruning and vegetable patch clearing for the winter etc but nothing major. Our current projects are shutter painting as well as some garden maintenance and maybe help sanding down and refinishing wooden worktops plus possibly building a wooden deck. As most of the work will be outside we prefer not to have Workaway’s in January or early February due to weather when painting is difficult if wet. All required equipment will of course be provided however you are expected to have suitable clothing and shoes for gardening.
  
  We expect any workawayer to have a strong work ethic like ourselves and for them to work on their own initiative once shown what to do. We would hope that if a task is given it is completed and tidied up before starting something else. We would like someone who is respectful and genuinely wants to help. We speak French and English. Own transport is preferred as we are in a rural location with no buses or public transport within 8km but we can collect from the local train station. We also have bikes to use if needed.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  French: Intermediate

  This host offers a language exchange
  I would like to be more fluent in French but very happy to help someone pick up more English and improve their prononciation or vocabulary. My husband would benefit from beginners French although his French vocabulary is not too bad if it’s to do with a subject like DIY!
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  Accommodation

  You will have the use of one of our 4* gites or luxury bnb suite for the duration of your stay which have all the conveniences any luxury holiday maker would expect. This must be left as found and you will be asked to clean your room on departure. We will provide breakfast, light lunch, and an evening meal as well as provide coffee with a machine in your room. I enjoy cooking and like to provide hearty traditional meals with a pudding or cheese. We are not big alcohol drinkers and may have a beer at the end of the day or a glass of wine with a meal.

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  What else ...

  Unfortunately we are unable to host families or workawayers with dogs and prefer single experienced workers. On your time off you can investigate the local villages, more than one is a plus beau village de France, go cycling on one of our bikes or walking. You can chose to follow a section of the pilgrims walking route Santiago de Compostella, or the vélo verte or just go for an explore around the local area. There are lots of paths and tracks in which to enjoy the lovely countryside. There is a rich history in the area with chateaux and museums from anything to ancient farming and household equipment to arts des table and villages with significant historical interest. There is also an art and cultural centre in the village who welcome international students as well as mature students to complete art projects in either painting, sculpture, writing or creative studies.
  
  We are happy to take and collect from the local train station that has direct links to Toulouse, Bordeaux if workaways wish to travel further afield on their days off.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  My animals / pets

  

  Tiago

  

  Pimms

  

  Possum

  

  Ruby

  Hungarian Vizsla 3 yrs

  

  Wilma

  Hungarian Vizsla 6 yrs

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