France
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I am a widower with four grown up children and four grand children. We have a small farmhouse with about two acres of land and some barns in Hautes Pyrenees in France, which we use as a holiday home. It is situated on the edge of a small hilltop village with views of the mountains on clear days.
The Workawayer who was joining me this summer is now not coming so I urgently need a strong, young helper with carpentry and building. Can you help?
Gardening
Building
Cooking / shopping
Help in the house
They will learn about living with widely travelled British people.
They will enjoy the French countryside, wine, cheese, people and customs.
They can learn building techniques.
I am seeking fit young help to renovate/repair the barn walls, first floor and roof and to assist with gardening.
This will involve mixing lime mortar, laying stones and clay tiles in the wall repairs. Some new internal walls in concrete block-work or stone are also planned.
First Floor tasks will involve treating existing timber with preservative, installing new joists and timber flooring and treating all new timber.
Roof works will involve working from scaffold towers and ladders to install new oak and Douglas fir rafters, together with sheeting and tiles.
Gardening will include cutting back brambles, grass cutting and hedge trimming and managing compost heaps.
As I am not a good cook, assistance with cooking would be appreciated.
English [mother tongue] with a smattering of French, Spanish and Arabic
The house has three double bedrooms, one of which will be available for use by volunteer helpers. There is one bathroom with WC, bidet, wash basin, bath and shower, with hot and cold running water. Camping in my field is possible.
On the ground floor there is an entrance hall, salon with a wood burning stove in a large fireplace, a dining room and a kitchen, with a gas cooker, microwave oven, fridge freezer and washing machine.
I am now seeking assistance for the period July and August 2018.
The village is on the pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostelo and there is excellent walking in the Pyrenees and all around the area. There are plenty of vineyards to visit for work or to enjoy the wine and there are many ancient castles and other monuments to see. Nearby are spectacular caves.
The market town of Maubourguet is close by and is linked to Tarbes by bus. Tarbes has rail, TGV and air links to all locations.
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Two
Maximum 5 hours per day, 5 days a week
