Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
11 Jan 2020
Feedback
35
Facebook verified
Email verified
Badges (3)
Details
Description
Two old fossils, been living in France since 1989. Just retiring after 15 years of full time fostering, so the house/garden and ourselves are all just a tad battered and in need of restoration! I (Rowena) had quite a serious tussle with cancer a few years back, that has left me full of ideas but largely useless with 1 lung and chronic asthma. I am still a full time technical translator. Peter is an author and strangely enough writes books! We have travelled extensively over the last few years in conjunction with charity work, and have visited the townships around Jo'burg and the adjoining shanty towns, which we hold very dear to our hearts. We are basically looking for motivated autonomous people to take over, manage, plan, improve, use their imagination and make our home liveable again. In return I am more than willing to cook, wine and dine and welcome you. We can offer a massive garden, use of a bicycle or motorbike, fabulous deciduous forests, stunning lakes in the Morvan National Park in Burgundy, France, bus service available to Dijon, Avallon and Beaune, good food and an ideal location for yoga / meditation...
We have just had a donation of a hundred pallets - all of which will need breaking down to upcycle the wood into creative projects - all bright ideas welcome!
UMMMM - well the best laid plans and all that :-( Peter has had a mild stroke and the decision has been made The Saggy Baggy Mansion has to go! We still need help up until end of July to clean, sparkle and make the old heap (not Peter) look as irresistible as possible to prospective buyers! We're NOT being prosaic, we're going to move to India! At our age why not? Would love to host one last season of wonderful workawayers ;-)
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
General Maintenance
Help around the house
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Whilst we are deep in the French countryside there are very real opportunities for mixing and brushing up your French language - really it depends on how sociable you are...
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We need you NOW! Trying to empty, clean, paint and ready the house for newcomers whilst still working MAJOR challenge - please come and help!
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Accommodation
Rooms in our 'saggy baggy mansion', though with 2 hectares of land if you prefer the privacy of camping that's not a problem - we can also welcome camping car/van drivers and provide an electrical hook up
What else ...
We are very laid back, always happy to host and share our bit of paradise, animal wise we're down to four chickens and a cat - so no great pet caring burden there - we're trying this route to see if, with helping hands, we can stay in this house we have worked so hard to pay for, this is a great place to 'get away from it all' and years ago when we ran it as a B&B people came here to sleep! Quite high altitude and 0% pollution can really go to your head! Beaune, Dijon, Semur-en-Auxois are all easily reachable, and the number of places to take a day-trip are innumerable! From Paris easiest way to get to us is TGV to Montbard, where the bus going to Saulieu will be waiting in the car park just in front of the station (you can book this online with your train ticket) - let us know your ETA, and we'll be there waiting for you :-) Coming from Dijon there is a regular bus service on weekdays running from the station and that will get you to Saulieu for the princely sum of 3 euros, regarding ETA, same thing applies!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (16)
I loved the house and was fascinated by all the things they had done in their life. Truly inspirational.
When I left it almost felt like I was leaving my family.
I wish them a wonderful time in… read more
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
I loved the house and was fascinated by all the things they had done in their life. Truly inspirational.
When I left it almost felt like I was leaving my family.
I wish them a wonderful time in… read more
Rowena and Peter are very special folks! From the first moment I met them I felt absolutely good. Being such warm-hearted people living in piece of paradise the two made me having a lovely time. I enjoyed working the way I wanted to without having any kind of pressure and also listening to all the storys about their lives-… read more
Their friend who came by also makes good vegan with fish food, I definitely did not go hungry despite being a meat eater all these while.
The house is eclectic on its own and full of character. We… read more
more. In their wonderful house it was my first workaway experience and it was better than I could immagine. They were like really a second family in France, giving me the way to feel like at home, really welcolming, the food provided was absolutely good. I couldn't ask for… read more
Working:
I mainly worked in the garden which is lovely in the morning and too hot in the afternoon. That is why I worked in… read more
The first thing arriving after a long ride at there place is a warm welcoming on a gin tonic with them and there friends.
Two bright people who give you a sharp tik tak in all those interesting conversations with them about almost anything you like. Ofcourse I never forget our musical entredeux ( Rowena… read more
I spent a month organising, gardening, cleaning and cooking in this big house and huge garden. I really enjoyed being able to choose what I did and when, since Ro and Peter were happy for me… read more
Ro and Peter are lovely and… read more
First of all, Rowena and Peter are loving, interesting and kind people and they are also exemplary hosts! They made me feel welcome and part of their biiig family right away and plus, the food was great… read more
But it was amazibg with you! I arrived and a few hours later I felt like being part of the family (Peter, Rowena and Wouter) I'm so pleased having to chance to join this wonderful place for a little bit more than two weeks :) warm, interresting and grateful people who are really willing to… read more
