Help us with painting and DIY projects at our country home in Baugé en Anjou, France

Details

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  Description

  Almost 4 years ago we decided to leave the cold Swedish winters behind and indulge our passion for France. Retirement is full of interest and hard work! We are a bit of an odd couple - a Welsh woman from Cardiff and a Swede! We love our lives here in Anjou, renovating our mid 18th century longère and 5 acres. We have 3 dogs, rescued from certain death and now living the good life with waggy tails and big grins! Also 2 cats who consent to keep us on as staff. There is a separate cottage here for visitors and it's home from home. There are 3 local villages each about 5 km away, 3 towns each about 10km distant and Angers, Tours, le Mans and Saumur are each about an hour's drive. Plenty to explore and experience this close to the Loire.
  Ingemar has a lifetimes' knowledge of engineering, sailing, IT and has some fluency in Nordic languages. I am still learning French and my background is business research, project management and academia.
  I love meeting new people, learning new things, cooking and having a go at creative stuff. We are generally relaxed, and friendly but we would prefer to be mixing with sensible people who don't mind mucking in and being friends with 3 black staffies. (Good classic staffie temperament! If you are dog people you'll understand).
  Our house is a bit battered and we realise we are too. I'm 72 this year and I can't lift the loads i used to and shin up ladders. Ingemar's knees aren't good either so we would really appreciate help with the tasks associated with creating the utility room and painting walls and wood projects in the attic bedroom we are putting in. There's a lot to do inside and out so all help according to skills and energy would be very welcome. Examples: Helping with clearing the spaces to put in the self levelling floor compound; brushing down and painting walls; possibly cutting grass, weeding, planting depending on the time of year.
  Our home is warm and welcoming, with good meals and homemade cake, bread and jam from our own produce. We offer language and cultural exchange, complete calm, fabulous skies with no light pollution, a lovely community to meet, so many grass cutters, a tractor, a digger, a little lake, woodland, and if you get satisfaction from standing back and seeing what you have achieved, rewarding tasks.
  Zoo de la Flèche is 10 mins up the road. Vineyards/domaines are within reach. We have bicycles too, a pétanque course and 300 metres of Ruisseau/stream. Surrounded by farmland it's very rural.
  Our goal/need for this spring is to finish the utility room/hallway to the first floor and also finish the new master suite and mezzanine.
  
  The house is pre Revolution with the original bread oven. We have a separate gite with 2 bedrooms, kitchen diner and living room with wood burner.
  We would welcome your questions.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Ingemar and I have different professional careers pre retirement and lots of experience in practical and academic fields. Ingemar was a competitive yachtsman and charter captain as well as an engineer and IT networking specialist. We have lots of
  outdoor equipment needing maintenance and repair for those wishing to learn through helping. I have a lifetime of research, writing and teaching as well as bringing up a family. I can help with language skills, spoken and written (not the same!). I have a qualification in mentoring and coaching, a teaching certificate and 15 years of mentoring in university. I can help with English language skills and an depth knowledge of UK business and geography. I don't know why that would be of interest!
  Our area of Maine et Loire/Sarthe and the Loire Valley is known for its rich cultural heritage, and much within easy driving distance for those wanting to visit.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  Painting, sometimes up a ladder. Lifting and carrying (jointly). General cleaning up needed when DIY projects are underway. Ability to use power tools would be very helpful as there are shelves to be installed.
  Gardening if someone likes gardening.

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Norwegian: Fluent
  Swedish: Fluent
  German: Intermediate
  French: Beginner

  This host offers a language exchange
  This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
  You can contact them directly for more information.
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  Accommodation

  Fully-equipped, self-contained
  2 bedroom cottage opposite the main house.
  It's a nice comfortable home!
  We are happy to provide lunch and imagine that workawayers would like to be free to decide what they prefer for an evening meal. We are very flexible.

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  What else ...

  We are very definitely in the middle of nowhere! No public transport. But very conveniently sited with villages, towns and cities within easy travel/drive time, as mentioned before. We can provide transport to local bus hubs.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  Can host digital nomads

  We are limited by download capacity each month.

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  Space for parking camper vans

  Plenty of space. Electricity hookup.

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  Can possibly accept pets

  We accept pets on the basis that they are vaccinated and under control. Owners will clear up after them. We have a separate fenced area if needed too. Our dogs are not used to other dogs so we would keep them separate for safety. We also have 2 free range cats!

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  Flexible. Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

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