Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
8 Apr 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 1 day
Feedback
11
Email verified
Badges (3)
Details
Description
Help needed from April 7th. for myself (John) after major shoulder surgery, basically being my friendly hands!
I am retired, my wife works and we live in central Sweden. We have an 18 yr old son living at home, and an older daughter in Gothenburg. In 2011 we emigrated from UK, so we are a part English/ Swedish family. Our home is in a tiny village amongst dairy farms. We live a simple but rather cluttered life in a former vicarage, and have a very large garden to maintain. Now we find my wife (also partially disabled) and I need a pair of helping hands for several months, from immediately.
After my shoulder replacement operation (happens March 31st) my ability to fetch and carry in the house, to care for our dog and cats, and drive errands for us needs YOU! (Previous Workaway volunteers said they couldnt tell if trips in the locality were work or cultural adventures!)
There is no bus or shop in the village, the nearest facility is 4 km distant, so work-awayers need to be able to occupy their spare time and evenings. Fiber Wifi broadband is available all the time."Escape" by car, bicycle or motor scooter(moped) is the only way "out" unless you do a 4km walk to the main road and buses!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Elderly Companionship
Gardening
Animal Care
Help around the house
Interests
Pets
Sustainability
Plant care
Photography
Gardening
DIY & crafts
Animals
Hiking
Nature
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You will certainly "escape from it all" in our rural family home. We offer the experience of living in a small village of mostly farmers and forest owners. Walk and cycle in solitude. Enjoy Sweden's "right to roam" without prosecution for trespassing. Go wild swimming in local lakes and rivers at your own risk in the cold spring!
I love where we live and the nature around: I love to share my enthusiasm with any volunteers that come and work. I will wherever possible show you ancient Rune Stones, medieval Burial mounds and vast stone tombs where the covering soil has gone. There are also historic sites of 1000 year old churches and church ruins. I will arrange visits to local towns and places of interest, either with our family or on your own.
All in all enjoy a slower pace of life, and its joys and occasional frustrations.
Note that much of the week my son and I live alone. My wife Ingegerd works 50 km distant, staying overnight.
Help
I, John, the dad, have undergone shoulder replacement surgery and I require an extra pair of hands to assist me in rehab. as I regain my strength and flexibility. Tasks will include general help in the household, outside some pruning bushes. Help me shopping and other errands.
Careful experienced drivers would be useful. Our home is not accessible by public transport.
Spring time in Sweden can be a mixture of sunny days and wet cold days. Frosts can continue at night through to early May. Volunteers should be prepared and have clothing for cold rough work some hours ech week.
We have a "moped" and bicycles for your leisure use. A licence/experience of European driving desirable.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Swedish: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
English spoken (John) and Swedish (Ingegerd, Hannes)
Accommodation
You will occupy a downstairs Guest bedroom in the house, with separate toilet and shower, partly shared with homeowners. You will join the family for all meals. No personal cooking facilities. The house includes several cats and a fluffy boisterous dog.
Sewerage is partly sustainably treated and all water is direct from our own well, and drinkable un treated. We endeavour to live simply and as sustainably as we can, making some compromises.
We are very much part of a farming community and although I (John) have been 90% vegetarian all my life it is natural to eat local and support local sustainability so milk, eggs, some meat and even hunting are bound into our way of life.
What else ...
The house is in a village 4 km from the nearest bus route and 8 km from the nearest shop. There are no other local resources. Volunteers need to be able to be content for long periods such as evenings when they will be left alone. Unfortunately we have no communal TV however fiber broadband and WiFi are strong signals and reliable. Mobile phone networks are occasionally unavailable.
Note: that much of the week my son and I live alone.
I love where we live and the nature around: I want to share my enthusiasm with any volunteers that come. I will show you places and things that I love.
I am a keen photographer and love to record the daily life and landscape around - I am happy for Workaway volunteers to share these mini adventures with me.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
Yes space for a mobile home or campervan or use of a simple stuga - but very basic cooking facilty and a caravan-toilet which campers would be expected to maintain and service every 2 or 3 days.
Can possibly accept pets
We have our own 3 cats, and a dog, so any guest pet should be quiet and tolerant to fit in.
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
Feedback (5)
John had a list of the tasks to do and I could choose what I wanted to do. My main job was tidy up the garden before winter. I cut the grass, I collected a lot of leaves and I cut some… read more
In her welcome pack Vivien could choose a variety of garden tasks to complete in the approximately 10 days in… read more
We chatted on the 35 minute drive to our home and project and my first impressions grew stronger and when she delighted in our home, garden and accommodation provided, I knew she was a… read more
The tasks (which I could choose from a menu), were in their large garden and were satisfying and clearly explained.
Despite only staying 8 days, I was taken to a generous number of sites of… read more
James was given a selection of garden tasks on arrival from which to select his daily work, and we also included several sight seeing trips and shopping trips into his stay. Playing board games in the evening was fun and enjoyable for our… read more
Photos
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
John had a list of the tasks to do and I could choose what I wanted to do. My main job was tidy up the garden before winter. I cut the grass, I collected a lot of leaves and I cut some… read more
In her welcome pack Vivien could choose a variety of garden tasks to complete in the approximately 10 days in… read more
We chatted on the 35 minute drive to our home and project and my first impressions grew stronger and when she delighted in our home, garden and accommodation provided, I knew she was a… read more
The tasks (which I could choose from a menu), were in their large garden and were satisfying and clearly explained.
Despite only staying 8 days, I was taken to a generous number of sites of… read more
James was given a selection of garden tasks on arrival from which to select his daily work, and we also included several sight seeing trips and shopping trips into his stay. Playing board games in the evening was fun and enjoyable for our… read more
During my stay, I focussed on one or two main tasks in the garden… read more
She loves to travel and talk about her travel experiences, and believes how important experiencing other cultures is for world peace, which of course is so in tune with the spirit of Workaway.
Alice worked entirely in the garden, mostly… read more
