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Help our small family and cuddle our many dogs in Southern France

Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Availability: Looking for people for early 2025

    (see our reviews for other workaways views on how our holidays feel)

    Being a single dad, running my own business can be hard, school runs, feeding kids, cleaning up after many dogs.

    I am mainly looking for people to come and chill and chat and help with domestic stuff, cleaning dishes, entertaining the kids and general house tasks. also where possible to help trim hedges, weeds etc

    We prefer to accommodate female workawayers for the holidays as its more activity based for my daughter as my son does his own things most of the time.

    The good stuff:

    We are Harry, Quentin (15) and Temperance (13) and several dogs , and our random friendly doggies at the dog hotel.

    If you are fun, open, and friendly to be around and love to spend time with kids and dogs in a chilled-out crazy house, and have a great sense of humor then please read on.

    We can only consider single/double travelers at this time so long as your okay sharing a double bed

    The daytime is your own time and the days off are flexible . The evenings are mainly making sure my daughter has completed her homework (my son is away at school during the weekdays then onto activities. Most weekdays the time is only 2 or 3 hours long, I prefer days off to be taken during the week so that you are free on the weekends

    During the summer holidays/school holidays the hours are during the day, generally afternoon and evening so the morning is yours to do as you want 3 hours afternoon 2 hours evening). Activity-based, with my teens.

    FYI: Theme park days are an all-day thing and are more of a fun day out as a family so are seen as one of your days off (we pay for all tickets, passes, food) During school holidays we try to keep days off to the weekends but we can be flexible if your here for a longer period and want to go places during the week sometime. (theme parks are a summer holiday thing when I can manage to get away)

    School holidays the days off are flexible and again for long stay visitors if you want to take a couple of weeks days off in one go thats acceptable. We try to be very flexible with the days off.

    (Optional tasks if you have some DIY skills) We are also looking for people to help me put up shelving, build a chicken house and fence ready for some battery farm hens we are going to be rescuing once we have done the tasks, plus we have other building tasks going on all the time, walls, fencing, Decorating, etc.

    We are primarily a host family. If you are not looking to socialize for a few hours a day we are not the place for you so please be sure you are happy to socialize before agreeing to visit. While 75% of our language in the house is spoken in French with thew kids they are both fluent in both English and French. I have a very good understanding of verbal French but still, today struggle to actually speak French. We can offer to mainly converse in French with the kids and we can help you learn both French or English (or both). We cannot offer FULL English or French immersion as we are a bilingual family but we can work to converse mainly in one language most of the time (apart from me I only speak a little French)

    Good French would be beneficial (BUT not a requirement) for helping with homework and also for visiting places as many places you might visit on your days off may not speak anything but French. While we will take people who speak no French, we would prefer people with some French as French is the natural language for my children and nearly all their friends speak little or no English. (90% of our house guests have not had more than basic or no French and have managed very well)

    Our preferred period for visits is 1 month but we will look at 2 weeks for the right Workaway, as we feel you cannot get to know people properly until you have spent a few days in their company and we feel it is a very good starting point. We do a trial for a few days at the start to make sure all is okay on both sides though.
    -----------------------

    English speaking is essential but your actual level is not an issue so long as you can communicate.
    You can be either Fluent in French and Basic/intermediate English, or English (intermediate and upwards) with any level of French so long as you can speak some English. There will be plenty of opportunities to practice your French and English if you want to as well. We would discuss this on our video call.

    MEALS / FOOD:

    We cater to all main meals only on your helping days. We can cater to vegetarians, but we cannot cater to extremely fussy eaters but we are always happy to discuss this. We ask all meals be taken with the family where we are eating together or with the kids (sometimes I do not always eat in the evenings) If you can cook even better as we can share the task of cooking

    Breakfast: Cereals or toast/ croissant with butter, jam (when we have them)/ marmalade or chocolate spread/powder
    Lunch: We eat our main course hot meal as the kids have a 3 /4-course lunch at school
    Dinner: Normally a lighter meal on school nights but there is always food available to cook.
    Any questions regarding anything else please do discuss them before booking.

    Our house is 100% a smoke-free environment but you can smoke outside including vape / ecigs

    We have lots of dogs (it is a dog hotel after all). The dogs do all live in our house so being very comfortable around gentle dogs is a must. You are welcome to cuddle them and spend time with them and give out free belly rubs.

    if you have any questions please do reach out and we will give you our whats-app / Facebook messenger details for a video chat

    Warmest Regards.

    Harry, Temperance, Quentin and (Dogs)

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    This next part is essential so please do read this as it's important. Sorry if it's repetitive.
    .
    * We can only accommodate solo/double travelers.
    * We CANNOT help get you a work visa, but we are happy to accept travels with work visas in place.
    * 100% we will need a copy of your ID/passport
    * We require to see booked tickets before we accept any bookings.
    * A sense of humor is 100% a must in our home if you are easily offended we are not the place for you.
    * Please be aware we are a regular house and have our quirks like any family (we are also a huggy family)
    * We have lots of dogs so an allergy to dust or dog hair must be considered.
    * We 100% video chat with Workaways before we offer a space in our home.
    * The minimum period is 2 weeks. (we prefer 4)
    * For me Punctuality and communication are key when it comes to being ready, setting up video chats, some tasks that have time frames, IE kids shower, food times, etc and while we are very relaxed I see this as a key thing we look for within a Workaway when we need it.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    You can learn some French, I can teach you about dogs if you want and how to handle many dogs from many different families in one space. (it is not easy if you do not understand dogs)

    We do ask that if you are looking to come to stay with our family that you are able to socialize with us. Helping and eating and spending the rest of the time in the bedroom upstairs is not what we are about and honestly, we want this to be a cultural exchange and for it not to feel like all people do is work and nothing else.

    They can learn French and/or English with my children and can experience life in the area we live and get to see the sights and Pic du midi (if they are interested), learn about life in France and share experiences with us, can also talk about the business and how it runs and I am open to most discussions.

    If there is anything, in particular, you would like to ask me please do, I am very open minded and no matter what your orientation we are happy to chat.

  • Au pair

    Au Pair Help

    Further details can be found here

  • Help

    Help

    Like living in your own family home, general help around the house, dishes, cleaning, helping with food if you can cook, any other little tasks we have going.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    French: Intermediate
    Spanish: Beginner

    This host offers a language exchange
    English and French and my Son (plus my daughter) would welcome Spanish speakers.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    Bedroom with a double bed and other furnishings. You have your own shower room with a toilet but others do use the toilet (mainly at night). The shower is just for you. it is not connected to your room.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    there are lots of places to go and visit, bus / train car rides away. Toulouse, Lourdes, The mountains and many other places.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

    Pets are limited to dogs only and provided they are gentle and able to mix in a pack. (no intact males)

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    Two

Host ref number: 568643363284

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Photos

The image shows a group of dogs sitting on the floor, with a table and chairs in the background. The dogs are all different breeds and sizes, and they appear to be socializing with each other.
The image features a black dog lying on a white tile floor, with a kitchen in the background, showcasing a cozy and inviting atmosphere.
The image depicts a black puppy with a white patch on its chest, sitting on a gravel path surrounded by rocks and grass.
The image depicts two young boys standing together in a lush grassy field, with one boy\'s arm around the other\'s shoulder, conveying a sense of friendship.
The image depicts a serene landscape with a grassy field, trees, and a body of water, evoking a sense of tranquility and natural beauty. The scene is peaceful and idyllic.
The image depicts a serene landscape with rolling hills and a winding road, featuring a body of water and a grassy area, evoking a sense of natural beauty and tranquility.
The image shows a man and a toddler in an inflatable yellow bouncy castle, with the man leaning over the child, who is holding a yellow ball.
A man lies on the ground, surrounded by five playful puppies, with one puppy standing on his chest and four others climbing over him.

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