Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Feedback
18
Email verified
Badges (2)
Details
Description
I am a retired journalist/English teacher who has lived abroad a great deal. I live in a small hamlet in Normandy with my 3 Shetland ponies, 8 cats and a dog. I have a house, a rental cottage and about a hectare of land including garden and fields. I love talking to people and have a circle of both French and English friends in a delightful area known for hiking trails, water sports on the river and good food.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
General Maintenance
Help around the house
Animal Care
Help
I had a knee replacement op in July last year and am waiting foe the other one to be done, MeanwhileI am struggling to maintain the grounds and do a bit of simple DIY work and digging in the garden. I need someone who can help me in the house and garden - painting, construction of a rockery, grass mowing, weeding, etc. Someone familiar with horses would be great but not essential, but you must be prepared for interaction with all the animals. Any Workawayer must be at least 25 to be insured to drive my car.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Accommodation
Accommodation would be in a double room in the rental cottage if it is free, otherwise in the main house. fully modernised with satellite TV, Wifi etc.
What else ...
A driving licence is essential, and you must be 25 at least so you can drive my car.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
Smaller vans like transits can be easily parked securely inside the prperty.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Host ref number: 3276983194c8
Feedback (9)
5 Dec 2015
Left by host for Workawayer (Maura)
Maura was the perfect person to have around. She manages to be sensitive, hardworking and fun as the occasion demands. I suffered a personal bereavement during her visit, and I was so pleased she was here - she helped support me through it, somehow knowing when I needed someone and when I wanted to be alone, and took on the household tasks without… read more
(Excellent
)
4 Dec 2015
Left by Workawayer (Maura) for host
I just returned from 2 weeks with Jenny in the beautiful countryside of Suisse Normande. Jenny is a generous, sensitive and accommodating host, allowing me to arrive early when circumstances in my travel plans changed suddenly. Working in the garden and with the animals was great fun and personally rewarding and rejuvenating. It was easy to fall… read more
1 Aug 2014
Left by host for Workawayer (Munda)
Simona was a wonderful ww. She is a natural gardener and knows exactly what she is doing. If she had any doubts she asked me. She was a pleasure to have in the house, sensitive to my needs and life-style, and my friends enjoyed meeting her.
(Excellent
)
1 Aug 2014
Left by Workawayer (Munda) for host
Glad to have a chance to stay with Jenny for 2 weeks in July. She is absolutely great person. I loved listening to her very valuable experience and I sympathize with her worldview. She gave me free hands to express my liking in her garden. It is very dynamically designed and I really enjoyed putting my hands on it.
Jenny made delicious, light… read more
Jenny made delicious, light… read more
19 May 2012
Left by Workawayer (Janette) for host
Jenny, what a great introduction for me as a new workawayer. Jenny had a variety of projects 'on the go'; landscaping, weeding and replanting her large pond, organising the vegie garden, planting new trees and shrubs and not forgetting caring for her extended animal family - cats, ponies and Snowball the goat. Jenny went out of her way to include… read more
17 May 2012
Left by host for Workawayer (Janette)
Jan stayed with me for three weeks this spring and was a brilliant WW. She worked very hard in the garden and with the animals and is very knowledgable so needed no supervision. Indeed I learnt many things from her. She can turn her hand to many things and will split logs, mend fences and dig veggie patches! She is good company and fun to have… read more
(Excellent
)
Feedback
5 Dec 2015
Left by host for Workawayer (Maura)
Maura was the perfect person to have around. She manages to be sensitive, hardworking and fun as the occasion demands. I suffered a personal bereavement during her visit, and I was so pleased she was here - she helped support me through it, somehow knowing when I needed someone and when I wanted to be alone, and took on the household tasks without… read more
(Excellent
)
4 Dec 2015
Left by Workawayer (Maura) for host
I just returned from 2 weeks with Jenny in the beautiful countryside of Suisse Normande. Jenny is a generous, sensitive and accommodating host, allowing me to arrive early when circumstances in my travel plans changed suddenly. Working in the garden and with the animals was great fun and personally rewarding and rejuvenating. It was easy to fall… read more
1 Aug 2014
Left by host for Workawayer (Munda)
Simona was a wonderful ww. She is a natural gardener and knows exactly what she is doing. If she had any doubts she asked me. She was a pleasure to have in the house, sensitive to my needs and life-style, and my friends enjoyed meeting her.
(Excellent
)
1 Aug 2014
Left by Workawayer (Munda) for host
Glad to have a chance to stay with Jenny for 2 weeks in July. She is absolutely great person. I loved listening to her very valuable experience and I sympathize with her worldview. She gave me free hands to express my liking in her garden. It is very dynamically designed and I really enjoyed putting my hands on it.
Jenny made delicious, light… read more
Jenny made delicious, light… read more
19 May 2012
Left by Workawayer (Janette) for host
Jenny, what a great introduction for me as a new workawayer. Jenny had a variety of projects 'on the go'; landscaping, weeding and replanting her large pond, organising the vegie garden, planting new trees and shrubs and not forgetting caring for her extended animal family - cats, ponies and Snowball the goat. Jenny went out of her way to include… read more
17 May 2012
Left by host for Workawayer (Janette)
Jan stayed with me for three weeks this spring and was a brilliant WW. She worked very hard in the garden and with the animals and is very knowledgable so needed no supervision. Indeed I learnt many things from her. She can turn her hand to many things and will split logs, mend fences and dig veggie patches! She is good company and fun to have… read more
(Excellent
)
3 Sep 2011
Left by Workawayer (Janelle & John) for host
We enjoyed our time with Jenny in Normandy so much, we actually ended up staying longer than our original scheduled time. Jenny is easy to work for and a wonderful host. Her meals are excellent and she graciously accommodated our dairy allergy. She has lots of great stories and we enjoyed spending time with her and her mother; they are both… read more
11 Jul 2011
Left by host for Workawayer (Janelle & John)
John and Janelle are a truly delightful couple and it was a great experience to meet them and have them work with me on improving my property and looking after my animals. They worked very hard, were never afraid of a challenge and never gave up on a job till it was done to a standard that they were satisfied with. I wishe them luck in their… read more
(Excellent
)
3 Sep 2011
Left by Workawayer (John) for host
Jenny is a fantastic host. Every aspect of my stay with her was excellent. She is very hospitable and a fantastic cook! There is such a wide variety of tasks to do during the day, so the work aspect of my stay never became boring or monotonous - I really enjoyed trying my hand at anything that needed doing, which may be why a friend of Jenny's… read more
28 Aug 2011
Left by host for Workawayer (John)
John stayed almost four weeks with me this summer and was an absolute treasure! He is so good natured, wonderful with the animals and I had to work hard to persuade him to take days off. He is willing to try his hand at anything, and helped in the house and garden with decorating, demolishing and building stone walls, and general maintenance. He… read more
(Excellent
)
30 Dec 2010
Left by host for Workawayer (Vincent)
Vincent is an exceedingly nice young man who was a delight to have in the house. He got on with things and nothing was too much trouble. His English is good, and I enjoyed explaining idioms and culture to h im. We learnt from each other!
(Excellent
)
29 Dec 2010
Left by Workawayer (Vincent) for host
I spent 2 weeks with Jenny. I helped her in the garden and in the house. It was such a great experience. The accomodation was excellent, the area is beautiful and the food is absolutely divine.
Jenny is a very nice person and really interesting. If you want to improve your english or your french and if you like animals, Jenny's house is the right… read more
Jenny is a very nice person and really interesting. If you want to improve your english or your french and if you like animals, Jenny's house is the right… read more
7 Nov 2010
Left by host for Workawayer (Lisa)
Lisa was a lovely companion and a great help and comfort to me during my recuperation. She bonded very quickly with my dog, who is missing her long walks dreadfully. Lisa is a discreet and intelligent person who immediately grasped what needed to be done and did it without fuss. I hope she will come back!
(Excellent
)
6 Nov 2010
Left by Workawayer (Lisa) for host
I spent 2 1/2 weeks w/Jenny at her house -- food = fabulous; accomodation = great! Beautiful country, great walking paths everywhere, Jenny was easy to please, most difficult part was to keep her off her feet and "yes, i can do this w/out your help" to allow her knee to heal. Enjoyed my time there immensly --
28 Oct 2010
Left by Workawayer (Ira) for host
I had a great time staying with Jenny in Normandy! Beautiful home, beautiful area of Normandy, good food, pleasant conversations and a great opportunity to explore the area.
Thanks again Jenny for the great visit! I hope your knees are doing better now!
Thanks again Jenny for the great visit! I hope your knees are doing better now!
6 Sep 2010
Left by host for Workawayer (Ira)
Ira stayed two weeks with me in France to help manage my house and animals while I recovered from an operation. He was very easy-going and quickly learned the routine of the house. I never had a moment's worry entrusting the care of my animals to him and they adapted to him very well. He is a careful driver and an efficient housekeeper, always… read more
(Excellent
)
10 Oct 2010
Left by host for Workawayer (Valerie)
Valerie was a great person to have around, and made my life much easier during the two weeks she was here. She achieved a great deal, doing the jobs I have not been able to do since my operation in house and garden maintenance. The problem was trying to make her stop working and have some time off! The animals loved her her too, and Tasha missed… read more
(Excellent
)
9 Oct 2010
Left by Workawayer (Valerie) for host
My time spend with Jenny & the animals was truly a great experience. I absolutely loved it. Lots to do, never a dull moment, beautifull surroundings, delicious meals and Jenny herself wonderful & colourfull and easy-going as she has lived such an interesting life and now has created this lovely place. I feel lucky to have been able to help out… read more
