Profile information
Host rating
85 %
Last replied
27 Mar 2024
Reply rate
100.0 %
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Details
Description
We are Philip & Laura, long-term Buddhists and world travelers. After decades of shuttling between our home-town London and France, we settled in Southern France and are now semi-retired and in our late 60's. We’re aware how living in harmony with nature and the environment leads to a clearer mind, healthier body, and happy heart, and we welcome all shades and sizes of spiritual seekers with either gardening, DIY, or internet skills, who would like to benefit from our wealth of spiritual experience and wisdom (that also comes from age!).
Our property is a 2500m2 garden. We are surrounded by 100 giant Holme Oaks and the garden has yet to reach its potential: we never use chemicals on the land so anything grown here is totally organic. The tiny hamlet where we live is on the edge of a regional park that winds around the river Gardon, where eagles fly above Garrigue forests of wild fennel and thyme, and is perfect for sunset meditation and star gazing. There are walking/hiking/biking trails, and mountain bikes at your disposal for rides to explore this area rich in Roman, Druid, and fascinating French history. Culture and delicious food and clothes markets are not far away as we are nestled between the romantic medieval Duchy of Uzes, the Roman city Nimes, and World Heritage Site Pont du Gard.
Two years ago we were adopted by a mama cat and her twins to join our elderly three-legged cat madam; all tend to live outside and make delightful companions to lounge with alongside the swimming pool.
Depending upon what spiritual practice you do, or would like to learn how to do, you are most welcome to join us in chi-gung, yoga (gentle hatha yoga), and meditation, all integrated with Buddhist principles of wisdom, ethics and skillful means _(*)_
FYI: we are English speaking. We get by with our French. And Philip is fluent German.
Also for your information we are among many people in France right now who have limited internet or phone connection since April. Crazy, but true. The comms company asks me to be patient and tells me that they are almost there (now mid-August). As you can imagine this has been an interesting time for us in the world of communication. So if you do send a message, please be patient with us... we will get back to you asap. Thank you _(*)_
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Apart from polishing your English (or German with Philip), or learning the names of herbs, stars, or intriguing historical objects, you are welcome to spend time with two Tibetan Buddhist practitioners who can answer most if not all your spiritual inclined questions from this perspective. We are both open-minded and easy going, and between us we have 70+ years of spiritual refuge. Laura also has many years of teaching/workshop personal development experience and can even work with you to find purpose and meaning in life which then helps you to fulfill your aspirations. On a more material note, Philip is a connoisseur of culture and history and a great raconteur.
Help
☆ This year's main project is to repair around the back of the dependance, which requires digging and therefore muscle: so a strong young man (or two friends) would be perfect.
☆ We would also appreciate help to refresh and paint various rooms in the house.
☆ Garden maintenance is ongoing with weeding and keeping bushes and trees under control.
☆ Internet, computer and website skills would be a boon and bonus for Laura who also works online.
☆ I also fantasise about creating a small organic garden that would be manageable by someone with a bad back (Laura).
Languages
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
French: IntermediateThis 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.
Accommodation
We offer a large comfortable room in a separate dependance that accommodates one, or two good friends. There is a a dry compost loo adjacent. We share washing facilities and kitchen in the house; and while Irish Laura is a good cook, Philip is Austrian by descent and excels in the kitchen. He also loves to feed other people. We are mostly vegetarian and enjoy seasonal raw food, and Philip is adept at catering for all kinds of allergies. We share three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and supper. We cannot cater for either children or animals, however, although we love them dearly.
What else ...
With much to see and experience in the Languedoc region, we are happy to take you out on occasion to see the sites. We are also an hour from the beach. You are welcome to work your days to suit, suggested working is 4-5 hours a day for five days, or you can arrange times to give you more time to explore the area.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
A combi-type camper van can park easily. Anything larger would not be possible.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Hours expected
Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week
