Brian & Karen

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Australia
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Travel information

We are currently

At home

Activities we are interested in:

Our next destination:
Perth, Australia - from Dec 2026 until Dec 2027
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Description

Brian is a Civil Engineer by profession and a recently retired Construction Manager for a large Construction Company in Australia. Also a former Registered Builder in WA.
Karen is a qualified Florist but had a gardening business in Australia. We are both Australian citizens.
We will soon be returning to Australia after spending some time in Europe. We have done lots of Workaways previously, both in Australia and Europe.
We are basically on holiday everywhere but we like to keep busy and would like to help someone out, meet new people and see a bit more of the countryside.
We are both hands-on people and don't mind hard work. I've renovated all the houses I've lived in and built the last one from the ground up. There's probably not much I can't do in the building trade (body willing) and I'm also a fair mechanic.
Hobbies are mainly nature walks when in Cornwall but in Australia I like doing long safaris into the bush or big trips with the caravan around Australia with the Merc X-class. Karen loves to get into Floral Art at the drop of a hat (when in civilisation).
We have both travelled extensively throughout our lives, mainly on a shoe-string by preference.
We are both omnivores but happy to go vegetarian if that's the norm. Moderate drinkers but non-smokers.
We are not interested in any big city locations and would prefer a country location with hiking opportunities and some sort of project work rather than just cleaning and baby sitting........in fact, forget the baby-sitting altogether. We are not really interested in housekeeping/cleaning host's B&B/Gites full time. We have a Merc estate for travel in Europe.
Languages spoken

French: Intermediate
Spanish: Beginner
Skills and knowledge we'd like to share or learn

We're interested in:

Eco Projects

Animal Care

Life at a Farmstay

Some knowledge of:

Helping with Computers/ Internet

Helping around the house

Able to teach about:

Light gardening

Creative DIY projects

Light maintenance

Creating/ Cooking family meals
More details about your skills

Brian can do anything relating to building trades, plumbing, electrics, bricklaying, carpentry, arc welding and basic mechanics.
Karen's forte is gardening/floristry.
We are both pretty good cooks.
We are not really interested in housekeeping/cleaning host's B&B/Gites full time and forget baby-sitting altogether.
Age

73 & 66
What else ...

We're both into board games, Risk, Sequence, cards etc.
We both do a bit of yoga (Japanese) but Karen more than I to be honest.
We are both pretty fit.

We were fully vaccinated against COVID when it kicked off.
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  Brian - mild hay fever
- Special dietary requirements
  Karen doesn't have butter on bread and won't eat whole eggs (but fine if they're used in cakes, cooking etc). We eat anything else.

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3 Jun 2025

Left by host (Stay in my beautiful rural ...) for Workawayer ()

It was an utmost pleasure to share few days with Brian and Karen. I really appreciated their enthusiasm for the work, even when it was not the most exciting support to provide. We have had very interesting exchanges and discussions. They were the ideal guests, positive, enthusiasts, hard-workers and interesting to discuss with. I really … read more

(Excellent )

20 Feb 2024

Left by host for Workawayer ()

Big thanks to Karen and Brian. Karen was my garden fairy getting the new native plantings back into shape, and my fairy godmother at times helping out. Brian was amazing on the tools making windows and door frames for one of our cabins helping Huw get it to lock up🙏🏻
Enjoy the rest of your travels :)

(Excellent )

12 Feb 2024

Left by Workawayer () for host (Experience the beautiful Blue ...)

This was the best place we have stayed. It is a beautiful house close to many fantastic walks even down to the local shops. It was a real pleasure to stay with Margaret and Rowan they are so generous, kind, interesting, helpful positive people. They really cared that we had a great time and we did. Rowan made excellent fresh bread Margaret and … read more

(Excellent )

12 Feb 2024

Left by host (Experience the beautiful Blue ...) for Workawayer ()

Brian and Karen are awesome workawayers! They stayed with us for 2 weeks and accomplished so much in that time. Their maturity and work experience meant they were happy to go about working on projects on their own. Brian built us new linen room cupboards and they reflect rare quality craftsmanship. Karen is a genius in the garden - amongst lots of … read more

(Excellent )

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Communication:
(5.0)

Skills:
(5.0)

Observed house rules:
(5.0)

3 Jun 2025

Left by host (Stay in my beautiful rural ...) for Workawayer

(Excellent)

20 Feb 2024

Left by host for Workawayer

(Excellent)

12 Feb 2024

Left by Workawayer for host (Experience the beautiful Blue ...)

(Excellent)

12 Feb 2024

Left by host (Experience the beautiful Blue ...) for Workawayer

(Excellent)

3 Dec 2023

Left by host for Workawayer

Brian and Karen stayed with us for three weeks and we loved every moment of their company. They are a lovely, very skilled and hard-working couple and a great pleasure to socialise with too. Brian built us a gorgeous gazebo on the edge of our wetland and was a terrific source of wisdom on various building projects we have going on around our … read more

(Excellent)

3 Dec 2023

Left by Workawayer for host (Be surrounded by nature on ...)

Not enough space here to sum up our great time with Rob & Deb. A very generous couple to the mind and body. We spent around 4 weeks with them and we had some good times. Interesting conversations, fantastic food and produce from their incredible garden excellent and abundant. The property is in an excellent location, bordering on Bush Reserve so … read more

(Excellent)

3 Dec 2023

Left by Workawayer for host (Help out on a permaculture ...)

Excellent stay in the tiny home, it worked out really well. Good food and generous hosts. Good luck in the future.

(Excellent)

5 Aug 2023

Left by host for Workawayer

Karen and Brian are lovely, funny and easygoing people with a great work ethic. They got up early and got straight into the work. They did plenty, including lots of pruning, bricklaying, pickling, tidying (including the shed - ghahh - which deserves a medal). Karen foraged really well in our rather sparce winter garden and made fantastic food with … read more

(Excellent)

11 Jun 2023

Left by Workawayer for host (Help with building or growing ...)

Wonderful folk and good company. We stayed a couple of weeks and had some good times, swapping travel stories over a few home-brews and playing games at night. Kangaroos hopping about in the morning, the eternally grumpy Ronald for a workmate and even a Koala up a tree, we had it all. I did some bricklaying and Karen did the tree pruning and … read more

(Excellent)

1 Jun 2022

Left by host (Help me with house sitting ...) for Workawayer

We were so lucky to have Brian and Karen here, they are an incredibly hard working couple who started working immediately they arrived, and hardly stopped! Brian is highly skilled in a number of areas; among other things he rebuilt and pointed part of a wall in our garden and filled in an area of the path by cutting stones to fit. Karen knows what … read more

(Excellent)

29 May 2022

Left by Workawayer for host (Help me with house sitting ...)

Fantastic hosts, Sue & Richard, helpful, kind, generous. Shared many good times, many great meals and many great games. Many thanks to our fellow Aussie workawayers for Greed$ and Mafia and Paolo for the flavours of Italy. A big Ruff Ruff to Barney & Django also. Great house, beautiful village, amazing gardens.

(Excellent)

29 Sep 2019

Left by host for Workawayer

Karen and Brian were true workawayers! They worked tirelessly to help bring some order to our gardens and every time I look outside now I can see the fruit of their labour - and I am sure that will be doubly so when all the roses they pruned and planted are blooming next year! After some brief discussions about what we wanted to achieve they went … read more

(Excellent)

2 Sep 2019

Left by Workawayer for host (Help with my land near ...)

We felt at home with Gabrielle she is a good host and fantastic cook plenty of fresh vegetables especially those yellow tomatoes
Gabrielle told us some interesting stories and introduced us to her neighbours and friends. We wish her the very best with all the garden plans.

(Excellent)

2 Sep 2019

Left by host (Help with my land near ...) for Workawayer

I was bowled over by the sheer hard work put in by Brian and Karen. They were discreet but happy to listen to my waffle and share experiences, and I think they enjoyed our time together. I certainly did, and I have all their achievements that remind me of them! I am most grateful.

(Excellent)

20 Jul 2019

Left by host for Workawayer

When you feel really sad to see people go at the end of workaway visit, you know you have had a special connection and great time. You will seldom meet two more disciplined, hard working and skilled people than Karen and Brian. They are dynamic, logical, self motivated and very energetic. Karen cleared rough overgrown ground and created features … read more

(Excellent)

20 Jul 2019

Left by Workawayer for host (Share knowledge and skills in ...)

Excellent hosts. Some great story telling went on amidst great feasts. Work was enjoyable and in beautiful surroundings. This was our first Workaway and the sad thing is I don't think it'll get much better. We will no doubt be returning as adopted family for further visits. The stay was enhanced by a lovely Brazilian couple also Workawaying and … read more

(Excellent)