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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
5 Jun 2026
Reply rate
83.3 %
Usually responds within 1 day
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Details
Description
We are both retired. I am English and Patrick is French, I speak both English and French and Patrick is French and speaks only French.
Patrick is a retired master carpenter, retired since 2019. He is still very active and has just moved to this area from Provence where he was engaged in renovating a medieval chateau and has just finished the roof and shutters on a large provencal manoir. He is also an active member of the French Ancien Combattants also the UNP (French National Union of Parachutists) having been in the Parachute Regiment stationed in Montauban in the late 70's and early 80's from where he was engaged in active duty in the Middle East, and he formed his association (Theogales) whereby his carpentry work's profits go towards helping soldiers injured in combat.
Patrick is actively involved in large projects around this house which is being renovated, He is making a wood framed conservatory extension and also a pool house for our swim spa. he has a lifetime of experience teaching carpentry which is his great passion.
I am passionate about mosaics and had a small workshop in my last home which I am in the process of unpacking and setting up here. I also like stones and minerals and love beach-coming and vide greniers, so I have lots of finds which I like to incorporate into my mosaics. I have given workshops in both beading and mosaics and hope to do more in our new home.
I have just moved to a much bigger house near the Pyrenees which is walking distance from a small up and coming trendy country town with all amenities and fab views of the Pyrenees.
The house is very run down and so we are having electricians, and plumbers working on and off at present. It has a big garden and so there is lots to do and a fair amount of help is needed.
In February we lost our roof in the big hurricane which affected this part of France quite badly. And so I now have rooms to empty to make way for repairs, and lam feeling a bit lost on that one, and badly needing help. There will also be help needed for decorating which the electrics have been fixed.
When not helping out at the house, in the local town there is a cinema, local brasserie, restaurants shops and a nice social club. The scenery around is stunning and so there is no shortage of places to walk and visit. There are busses and the train station is only a ten minute drive away, so we can take and pick up if needed.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Light gardening
Creative DIY projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Light maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
House & pet sitting
Interests
Technology
Movies & TV
Charity work
Photography
Music
Architecture
Gardening
Carpentry
DIY & crafts
Art & design
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
I am happy to share what I know about beading, bead weaving and wire work I really like making ear wires and earrings. But my main love will be introduction to mosaic and pic assiette. I will be making pic assiette tiles and maybe pebble mosaic slabs for the garden.
Patrick is a fantastic wood worker and general builder, plumber etc. Happy to share all he knows, with a lifetime of teaching behine him, he is well experienced in helping people settle in and learn the trade.
Help
There is a choice of things to do here to suit how folk most like to help out.
We need help making the rooms liveable in our new home - paper stripping ready for re- papering and decorating. I am having trouble with my arms and cannot lift anything over 5 kilos so need lots of help moving and unpacking boxes. Our garage was a jumbled mess and I am halfway through sorting it out, Its emptied into a tent and I need help with shelving and putting it back nicely.
I need help in the house to clean and maybe cook, so I can set up my mosaic workshop - also help drilling and erecting stuff in various areas is badly needed.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Accommodation
The house is large and although there are bedrooms to spare, they all need work and are in the process of being stripped. So all the rooms will have to swap about a little according to work being done - but the helper guest room will always be relatively comfy and sufficiently cooled in summer or warm in winter.
We have a swim spa which is heated and which you will be welcome to use.
Guests will certainly be welcome to join in and help with meal preparation will be greatly appreciated. We have a big gas fired barbecue outside with hobs and its used all year round. We like Indian, English, French we both love traditional as well as trying new things. Exchange of culinary skills is most welcome.
What else ...
You will need your own transport if you want to go exploring the mountains, although there are trains and buses which we can help you to get to and from. The town is about 700 metres from the house. And there is a big municipal pool, a camp site, restaurants, supermarket, post office, cinema, small brasserie (we are told the beer is good) and many other small shops. Doctors surgery and pharmacy are also to be found in the town which is trendy country town about an hour south of Toulouse, about 30 minutes from St Gaudens and has fab views of the Pyrenees.
We tend to live a fairly quiet life, we do love to play petanque, and are quite competitive, we like music, but we don't like it overpowering.
On days off you will be welcome to stay and soak up the rays in the garden if you wish or if you prefer to go out exploring we can help you with that - there are so many lovely places to visit in the Pyrenees, many of which are just around an hour from us. We love vide greniers (like an English car-boot sale) and you will be most welcome to come along with us.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
We have fibre, so very fast internet.
Space for parking camper vans
We have room for camper-vans or full sized motor home if necessary.
Can possibly accept pets
Well trained dogs are welcome. we do NOT allow dogs on our furniture or on beds. Cats are also very welcome.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (5)
She saw immediately the situation here with me being primary carer for my husband Paul, yet unable to move following a bone fusion surgery on my foot.
So she simply took over as cook, housekeeper and primary carer… read more
When Koen arrived with us he had already cycled from north of Albi, then Toulouse - so close on 100 kms. It was late evening, we told him to rest up have a late breakfast and take it easy.… read more
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Cultural exchange:
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Communication:
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She saw immediately the situation here with me being primary carer for my husband Paul, yet unable to move following a bone fusion surgery on my foot.
So she simply took over as cook, housekeeper and primary carer… read more
When Koen arrived with us he had already cycled from north of Albi, then Toulouse - so close on 100 kms. It was late evening, we told him to rest up have a late breakfast and take it easy.… read more
The town was… read more
We were happy to join Chrissy and Paul for a bit longer than two weeks. They are an incredibly hospitable couple and we have enjoyed very much and appreciated their company and wisdom. Paul has traveled the world and has many stories to tell and Chrissy knows rocks and their healing properties by heart. They need a lot of help around… read more
