Profile information
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Description
I am a retired widower with 2 grown-up children and 2 grandchildren. I spent the first half of my career in the private sector working in HR and Operations and the later half as a Lecturer in 3rd Level education. However I was raised on a farm where I developed many practical skills including dry stone wall building and in my retirement I would like to revisit these. I am physically fit, visit the Gym most days and I am not afraid of hard work. I am currently learning Spanish and it is my ambition to become fully fluent. I love travelling and meeting new people and I hope Workaway provides opportunities for me to realise my ambitions/dreams.
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Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner -
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Being an elderly companion
Eco Projects
Languages
Teaching
Some knowledge of:
Light gardening
Creative DIY projects
Light maintenance
Life at a Farmstay
Animal Care
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More details about your skills
Gardening
Animal care
House cleaning
Home maintenance
Child care
Teaching
Project Management
Dry stone wall construction -
Age
73
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Some more information
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Smoker
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Driver's licence
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Allergies
No -
Special dietary requirements
No
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Feedback
27 Oct 2025
Left by Workawayer () for host
(Learn about the local flora ...)
I spent a very enjoyable 3 week in Jill's and Patrick's finca in Mijas. The work was varied and interesting and they both went out of their way to make me feel welcome and valued. Patrick worked along side me each day and he thaught me a lot about work safety. Jill is a fabulous cook and her cinnamon pastries are to die for.
Hablaron español todo … read more
Hablaron español todo … read more
26 Oct 2025
Left by host (Learn about the local flora ...) for Workawayer ()
Dear John, we would l like to thank you for these three weeks that you spent helping us.
Nothing was to difficult or hard for you. You are very hardworking, sees the work that needs to be done, organized and tidy.
Felling trees, pruning and preparing fire wood. Innumerable trips with the wheel barrow.
Cleaning of various roofs of arabic terracota … read more
Nothing was to difficult or hard for you. You are very hardworking, sees the work that needs to be done, organized and tidy.
Felling trees, pruning and preparing fire wood. Innumerable trips with the wheel barrow.
Cleaning of various roofs of arabic terracota … read more
4 Jan 2025
Left by host (Live in the countryside and ...) for Workawayer ()
first of all...thank you John!!, you are a wonderful person.
polite, respectful, easy going and hard working. juste a perfect volunteer!!
whenever you want to come back...happy to have you around again.
all the best.
polite, respectful, easy going and hard working. juste a perfect volunteer!!
whenever you want to come back...happy to have you around again.
all the best.
29 Nov 2024
Left by Workawayer () for host
(Live in the countryside and ...)
I spent a very enjoyable month in Sabina’s and Pablo’s finca near Vejer. The accommodation was comfortable and well equipped and the work was varied and not too demanding.
They are very welcoming and down-to-earth people who are prepared to work alongside the workawayer(s). Sabina is a brilliant cook serving up some delicious meals during my … read more
They are very welcoming and down-to-earth people who are prepared to work alongside the workawayer(s). Sabina is a brilliant cook serving up some delicious meals during my … read more
12 Nov 2024
Left by host (Join us with our land, ...) for Workawayer ()
John stayed With us for one month and we had a really good time together. John is very careful and very able to work independent and he sees the work which is needed to do, so he was a very big help in this month. He painted wood, pruned trees, did gardenwork and cared our three donkeys and went for dogwalks...and although he sais he is not a big
… read more
2 Nov 2024
Left by Workawayer () for host
(Join us with our land, ...)
I spent a very enjoyable month on the finca of Thomas and Nika. It is such a beautiful and relaxing place surrounded by oak, pine and eucalyptus forests.
Nika and Thomas are very kind and helpful people who go out of their way to make you feel at home. Nika is an excellent cook and I will miss her whole meal bread and delicious cheese cake.
The … read more
Nika and Thomas are very kind and helpful people who go out of their way to make you feel at home. Nika is an excellent cook and I will miss her whole meal bread and delicious cheese cake.
The … read more
Photos
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Friends
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Communication:
(4.9)
Skills:
(5.0)
Observed house rules:
(5.0)
27 Oct 2025
Left by Workawayer for host
(Learn about the local flora ...)
I spent a very enjoyable 3 week in Jill's and Patrick's finca in Mijas. The work was varied and interesting and they both went out of their way to make me feel welcome and valued. Patrick worked along side me each day and he thaught me a lot about work safety. Jill is a fabulous cook and her cinnamon pastries are to die for.
Hablaron español todo … read more
Hablaron español todo … read more
26 Oct 2025
Left by host (Learn about the local flora ...) for Workawayer
Dear John, we would l like to thank you for these three weeks that you spent helping us.
Nothing was to difficult or hard for you. You are very hardworking, sees the work that needs to be done, organized and tidy.
Felling trees, pruning and preparing fire wood. Innumerable trips with the wheel barrow.
Cleaning of various roofs of arabic terracota … read more
Nothing was to difficult or hard for you. You are very hardworking, sees the work that needs to be done, organized and tidy.
Felling trees, pruning and preparing fire wood. Innumerable trips with the wheel barrow.
Cleaning of various roofs of arabic terracota … read more
4 Jan 2025
Left by host (Live in the countryside and ...) for Workawayer
first of all...thank you John!!, you are a wonderful person.
polite, respectful, easy going and hard working. juste a perfect volunteer!!
whenever you want to come back...happy to have you around again.
all the best.
polite, respectful, easy going and hard working. juste a perfect volunteer!!
whenever you want to come back...happy to have you around again.
all the best.
29 Nov 2024
Left by Workawayer for host
(Live in the countryside and ...)
I spent a very enjoyable month in Sabina’s and Pablo’s finca near Vejer. The accommodation was comfortable and well equipped and the work was varied and not too demanding.
They are very welcoming and down-to-earth people who are prepared to work alongside the workawayer(s). Sabina is a brilliant cook serving up some delicious meals during my … read more
They are very welcoming and down-to-earth people who are prepared to work alongside the workawayer(s). Sabina is a brilliant cook serving up some delicious meals during my … read more
12 Nov 2024
Left by host (Join us with our land, ...) for Workawayer
John stayed With us for one month and we had a really good time together. John is very careful and very able to work independent and he sees the work which is needed to do, so he was a very big help in this month. He painted wood, pruned trees, did gardenwork and cared our three donkeys and went for dogwalks...and although he sais he is not a big
… read more
2 Nov 2024
Left by Workawayer for host
(Join us with our land, ...)
I spent a very enjoyable month on the finca of Thomas and Nika. It is such a beautiful and relaxing place surrounded by oak, pine and eucalyptus forests.
Nika and Thomas are very kind and helpful people who go out of their way to make you feel at home. Nika is an excellent cook and I will miss her whole meal bread and delicious cheese cake.
The … read more
Nika and Thomas are very kind and helpful people who go out of their way to make you feel at home. Nika is an excellent cook and I will miss her whole meal bread and delicious cheese cake.
The … read more
25 Mar 2024
Left by host (Improve your language skills ...) for Workawayer
John spent some six weeks on our finca mainly rebuilding a stone wall. He is kind, friendly, fits well in the group of volunteers and hard working. The comunication and observing the houserules was very well. It was a pleasure to have him here. Looking forward to see him next jear again.
16 Mar 2024
Left by Workawayer for host
(Improve your language skills ...)
I spent a very enjoyable 6 week in Wolfgang's finca in Mogan reconstructing a stretch of terraced stone walls.
Wolfgang is an excellent craftsman who knows what he wants done, who gives clear work instructions and the freedom to complete the work. He is also a kind and considerate man.
The accommodation is clean and comfortable and the food … read more
Wolfgang is an excellent craftsman who knows what he wants done, who gives clear work instructions and the freedom to complete the work. He is also a kind and considerate man.
The accommodation is clean and comfortable and the food … read more
2 Nov 2023
Left by host (House-sitters on our finca in ...) for Workawayer
John is a very responsible and hard worker. He is a very calm person who fitted in with our way of life perfectly. He is sociable but a bit difficult for Hipólito to comunicate ( he doesn't speak English) which was a shame because he wanted to get to know him better.
26 Oct 2023
Left by Workawayer for host
(House-sitters on our finca in ...)
I have just completed a very enjoyable 3 weeks with Louise and Hipólito in Ítrabo. They are two really lovely people who make you feel at home from the minute you arrive. They treat you as part of the family and involve you in their social activities. In my case this included a beach picnic, a hike and a jam session.
My tasks there was varied and … read more
My tasks there was varied and … read more
29 Oct 2022
Left by host for Workawayer
John has been with us for the past month and it has been truely absolut excellent having him here!!!
We had agreed in advance with him to go away for a week that month. He not only looked after the house and animals, but also worked voluntarily during this time. He is very motivated to work physically! It was unbelievable to see how much earth he … read more
We had agreed in advance with him to go away for a week that month. He not only looked after the house and animals, but also worked voluntarily during this time. He is very motivated to work physically! It was unbelievable to see how much earth he … read more
29 Oct 2022
Left by Workawayer for host
(Help with the garden and join ...)
I have just competed a very enjoyable 4 week assignment with Julia and Juan. They a very friendly and hospitable couple who exemplify the true spirit of Workaway. They really go out of their way to make one welcome. Julia is a brilliant cook and Juan is a clear and patient with work instructions. They both work alongside the workawayer(s)
… read more
19 Mar 2022
Left by Workawayer for host
(Help in my vegetable garden ...)
I have just completed a 3 week assignment in Salvatore’s finca near Telde. I worked with 2 other Workawayers and Salvatore visited the finca each day to eat with us or to demonstrate Italian cooking and pizza making.
Salvatore is a very easygoing and caring host but he expects flexibility to ensure the horses and other live stock are well cared … read more
Salvatore is a very easygoing and caring host but he expects flexibility to ensure the horses and other live stock are well cared … read more
31 Oct 2021
Left by host (Learn regenerating an olive ...) for Workawayer
Is has been a great luck to have John at El Campo. Very hard working and kind person, with many skills and so quick learning new ones! His work at the olive grove has been remarkable, it looks like spent his life here!! He made the most beautiful insect sanctuaries, small and valuable shrines for biodiversity that will outlive us.
His wisdom, … read more
His wisdom, … read more
30 Oct 2021
Left by Workawayer for host
(Learn regenerating an olive ...)
I have just completed an amazing 2 week assignment in El Arrecife near Córdoba. My host,Valle, exemplifies the true spirit of Workaway treating all workawayers as guests of her family.
My work mainly involved pruning olive trees and harvesting the olives. I also constructed some insect sanctuaries.
The work was quite strenuous but there was no … read more
My work mainly involved pruning olive trees and harvesting the olives. I also constructed some insect sanctuaries.
The work was quite strenuous but there was no … read more
27 Feb 2020
Left by host for Workawayer
It has been a real pleasure to have a person like John in our home. He is a sociable, respectful and hardworking person. He has worked very hard building a dry stone wall and has done a wonderful job. You are welcome to our home whenever you want.Thanks for everything once again and enjoy your stay in Gran Canaria.
24 Feb 2020
Left by Workawayer for host
(Volunteers to help on a farm ...)
I had an active and enjoyable 3 weeks in Armando’s finca. He is working hard to regenerate and restore the property using ecological methods and I am pleased to be able to contribute a little to his efforts. My main activity was stone wall building although I also was involved in sowing, weeding and harvesting vegetables and fruits. I was made
… read more
23 Oct 2019
Left by host (Join me in the outdoors in a ...) for Workawayer
John is a wonderful workawayer. Positive and dedicated to his job. He asked me if he could walk the dogs every morning. So the lucky girls had 2 long walks per day, because I have my daily walk with them too! So the 3 of us miss John! We appreciated a lot that John was autonomous in his tasks. I even went a few days on holidays and the job was
… read more
23 Oct 2019
Left by Workawayer for host
(Join me in the outdoors in a ...)
I've just returned from a wonderful two weeks with Sophie. This is my first Workaway experience and I was a little apprehensive as to how I would fit in but Sophie made me feel at home from the start. She is such an optimistic and positive person. My work mainly involved rebuilding dry stone wall as well as a little home maintenance. Sophie
… read more
