Come and share a lovely lifestyle and help with a barn renovation in the Aveyron dep, France

  • Favourited 62 times
  • Last activity: 10 Dec 2023

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: No minimum

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    I am an English engineer who retired early at 47 to buy a farmhouse in France with a barn to renovate. I enjoy a nice lifestyle here in the Aveyron dept in the south of France. The area is gorgeous with a great climate and I grow my own food in a 2 acre garden bounded by the River Serene. This is a fairly rural area but has a selection of the most beautiful villages in France nearby and I visit a number of the local bars and restaurants including a few owned by English speaking people with a mixed English / French clientele. I can provide transport to town several days a week and can provide mountain bikes. This is an ideal escape from a hectic or city lifestyle and gives the impression of what life in the UK would have been like 50 years ago. The locals tend to have a 2 hour lunch with wine and do not worry about schedules or work. There is a fairly free-living hippy feel to some of the bars. The accommodation would be in one of the two spare rooms in the small farmhouse - I have now moved into the barn but still need to retain some access to the farmhouse.

    Getting here - Najac station is 10 minutes away and I can pick up from there. It is on the line from Toulouse Matabiau to Figeac or Aurillac.
    Rodez is the nearest airport and is served by Ryanair or Hop from Paris Orly - I can pick up /drop off here.
    Toulouse airport has a shuttle bus service to the train station for a connection to Najac.
    I am keen for one or two workaway helpers to help with outdoor building projects and gardening in April, Mày and June but could also use someone to supply food,drinks or clean to free my time to help outside. The farmhouse is fully for the use of guests as I live in the barn. I need access to my tools on the lower floor.
    All the best, William

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

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

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Visitors will be able to join me in gardening and building work, sometimes supervised by an English builder.
    Clearly I mainly speak English but most of the locals are limited to French speaking only.

  • Help

    Help

    I have so much building work in the barn and am employing some professionals to work alongside us. There is some heavy duty manual work but I could easily deal with someone for lighter duties such as cleaning or operating a sanding machine. The vegetable garden occupies much of my time so help would be appreciated. I need a supply of logs for winter so there are trees to cut up, wood to stack etc. I have a tractor and many power tools which need someone to operate them.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    French: Intermediate

    This host offers a language exchange
    Keen to pick-up basic Spanish for travel purposes.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    House - smaller rooms 5m X4m and 6m X 4m with a shared toilet between the rooms and a shared bathroom on the ground floor.
    Larger room 6m x5m which contrains my main computer and printer - I rarely use this so this room could be available. Washer available. UK Sky satellite TV in my barn and internet in the house.
    Given that I have moved into the barn, this accommodation is largely self contained.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    I tend to start work each day around 8.30 am and break for lunch and a swim around midday. If it is hot, I may work from 3pm to 7pm followed by another swim, some cool beers (my fridge will never run out of cool beer and wine) and a BBQ. On Thursdays, Friday and Saturdays I head to the local bars in the evening and would happily chauffeur between 8pm and mid-night. Villefranche de Rouergue is the local "big" town 20 minutes away with a selection of villages like Najac or Laguepie 10 - 20 minutes drive. I tend to head to wherever the best live music is playing and it is mainly rock / blues with a hint of soul or jazz occasionally. I would be happy to show any guest the local sights from time to time.
    It would be advantageous to have your own transport.

  • 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

  • Space for parking camper vans

    Space for parking camper vans

    This host can provide space for campervans.

  • Can possibly accept pets

    Can possibly accept pets

    Dogs would always be welcome. Cats welcome on the ground floor of the house only .

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    One

  • ...

    Hours expected

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

Host ref number: 891138278884

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