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Host rating
80 %
Last replied
3 Nov 2024
Reply rate
63.6 %
Usually responds within 11 days
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Description
See the description in French below. Voir en francais en bas.
Subsequent to a major fire my house has been renovated fully and professionally and I am just moving back in.
The house is the village chateau, dating from 1550 ish , located in a small inconsequential village in a pretty and verdant region of the Béarn.
The extent of the damage meant everything has had to be redone and so there is a lot of work setting up again.
The old oak furniture that was stored in the grange for the four year duration of the renovation now needs to be cleaned and polished. I find polishing quite meditative but there is too much for one person. You need to have patience fo this task.
So the whole house needs to be got into working order again. Organisation of all the cupboards, Installing lights. Cleaning out the last of the builders dust , and then we tackle the garden.
Any trades men are extra welcome as i have a multitude of small jobs such as installing light fittings , shelves etc.
I live there and my boyfriend is there part time,, a retired vigneron, he lives nearby and he has 12 Spanish horses , so competent riders welcome. we speak English French and Spanish. I'm Australian and would love to have French visitors to help me improve my French.
We have the most brilliant local produce and I like to cook so we eat very well. Very comfortable accomodation too.
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Suite à un incendie majeur, ma maison a été rénovée entièrement et professionnellement et je viens juste d'emménager à nouveau.
La chateau , datant de 1550 environ, est située dans un petit village sans importance dans une jolie région verdoyante du Béarn.
L'ampleur des dégâts a fait que tout a dû être refait et qu'il y a donc beaucoup de travail de remise en état.
Les vieux meubles en chêne qui ont été entreposés dans la grange pendant les quatre années qu'a duré la rénovation doivent maintenant être nettoyés et polis. Je trouve le polissage assez méditatif, mais c'est trop pour une seule personne. Il faut de la patience pour cette tâche.
Il faut donc remettre toute la maison en état de marche. Rangement de tous les placards, installation des lumières. Nettoyer les dernières poussières de chantier, puis s'attaquer au jardin.
Je vis ici et mon petit ami est là à temps partiel, un vigneron à la retraite, il vit à proximité et il a 12 chevaux espagnols, donc les cavaliers compétents sont les bienvenus. nous parlons anglais, français et espagnol. Je suis australienne et j'aimerais avoir des visiteurs français pour m'aider à améliorer mon français.
Nous avons les meilleurs produits locaux et j'aime cuisiner, donc nous mangeons très bien. Le logement est très confortable.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You can improve your french or English. English for the renovation and French with the horses.
You can learn about French country life.. My partner has retired from the vines several years ago and is now just busy with his horses. He is also interested in meditation.
You can learn about traditional building construction. A world away from what passes for building now, sadly.
Help
Hours are flexible.
I appreciate careful and meticulous workers. It is pleasant and rewarding work too.
French speakers extra welcome as I need to improve my french.
There is skiing about an hour away, Gourette etc., and surf, Hossegor, about an hour in the other direction.
Biarritz, st Jean de Luz, San Sebastian are all with in easy reach.
Having said that, if you don't have a list of sights to see, and want to discover french rural life , by riding horses, gardening and hanging out this quiet, verdant region you will find this a very rewarding experience. I think the posting will suit someone who wants to get to know France more deeply , rather than checking off places on an agenda.
A car would be helpful but not essential.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: Fluent
Accommodation
The house has plenty of spare rooms. Shared beautiful bathroom . House has central heating . We dine en famille and the food is always excellent. Nothing commercially processed , no canned sauces etc. meat only from specific farms.
What else ...
Comfortable accomodation in a happy household
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
normally good internet. we dont have need for this type of work so it would be good to have other skills as well to contribute to our project
Space for parking camper vans
plenty of Parking
Can possibly accept pets
Dogs are fine if they get on with mine. If they are a travelling dog I am sure this won't be a problem.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
negotiable - 25 hours max
Feedback (11)
The work is quite varied, some technical while most is just basic labouring, like arranging the affairs in the… read more
Living for two weeks in an old french building in a small village was very insightful, because it is more than just a building...
Thanks to Kythe we now understand more about the history behind the old and new french way of living in the countryside. Jean-Louis showed us the mountains, his country and his love for equitation and… read more
This is a place where you can relax, be close to animals (she has three sheep, chickens, ducks, horses and the cutest dog who's actually like a family member), eat delicious local produced food, drink the region's best wine, try all the cheese… read more
Photos
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(4.7)
The work is quite varied, some technical while most is just basic labouring, like arranging the affairs in the… read more
Living for two weeks in an old french building in a small village was very insightful, because it is more than just a building...
Thanks to Kythe we now understand more about the history behind the old and new french way of living in the countryside. Jean-Louis showed us the mountains, his country and his love for equitation and… read more
This is a place where you can relax, be close to animals (she has three sheep, chickens, ducks, horses and the cutest dog who's actually like a family member), eat delicious local produced food, drink the region's best wine, try all the cheese… read more
do come again .
This was my first workaway stay and... wahouw! From the first day, I felt at home - even if I couldn't help myself being more amazed every time I discovered something new about Kythe's house. I was looking for fresh air, for a quiet place, and I couldn't have dreamed of… read more
An easy and pleasant visitor who is always helpful and quick to pick up on the routine and what is going on around the place!
I had the most amazing two week stay with Kythe, Zuzanna, Jean-Lucie, Esther and the 12 beautiful Andalusians. Everyone was extremely welcoming and made me feel right at home. While I was working there the work was varied and very fair hours. It was wonderful to eat fresh,… read more
Kythe and her friend Suzanna were great to be with and we had a lovely time working and staying with them. The food was fantastic, some really great home cooked meals which were always tasty.
We would highly… read more
Do come back if you can.
Kythe and Jean-Luis are such caring and friendly people. They made me feel at home very quick. The house and nature is beautiful and stunning!
I met a lot of great people and I went on some very nice trips with Kythe and/or Jean-Luis niece. The… read more
Many thanks Suzanne and Andy,
from Kythe
