Lauren

& Robert

Travel information

We are currently

Description

We're Lauren and Rob! We've been living in our van with our two dogs for about 20 months now and are loving every minute of it!

We've spent that time bouncing between the UK and Europe, exploring the mountains, lakes, cities, and villages, sampling all the amazing cultures, food, wine, and whisky we can get our hands on! We both love the freedom and flexibility of our lifestyle, being able to meet new people and experience new things all the time.

We live outdoors as much as we can, are unphased by bad weather (even midges), are both very hardworking, and always keen for a new challenge and adventure!

Dogs:
We have 2 small, quiet dogs (a terrier and a cocker spaniel) who we inherited several years ago and who travel with us. Both dogs are more than happy to spend the day chilling by themselves, and are used to relaxing in the van quietly.

Lauren:
I'm a keen hiker, cyclist, swimmer, and trail runner, as well as a bad (but enthusiastic!) surfer, yoga-attempter. I also love reading, wine, making fires, eating and socialising. I enjoy board and card games. I'm a trekkie, love watching films, and have been trying to learn photography.

Rob:
I love biking, running, wild swimming, surfing (although I am not at all good!), climbing, hiking and generally exploring. That said a quiet evening in front of a fire with a book (maybe even with a whisky) definitely takes some beating.

Other projects and interests:
We have just started renovating an old house in a small french village.

Interests

Languages

Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate

More details about my language interests
This workawayer has indicated that they would be interested in sharing their language(s) or learning a new language. You can contact them directly to discuss this.

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Skills and knowledge we'd like to share or learn

We're interested in:  

Charity Work

Being an elderly companion

Eco Projects

Babysitting and creative play

Life at a Farmstay

Animal Care

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Some knowledge of:  

Gardening

DIY and building projects

General Maintenance

Helping around the house

Hospitality/Tourism

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Able to teach about:  

Languages

Teaching

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Helping with Computers/ Internet

More details about your skills

SUMMARY:

DIY & Gardening
- DC /12v electrics
- Basic carpentry & Woodwork
- Basic plumbing
- General maintenance & Decorating
- General gardening

Languages
- French (1 fluent, 1 learning)
- Spanish (1 learning)

Teaching
- Experience leading workshops, teaching & training in professional environments
- Experience teaching in schools & universities

Health & Safety
- 1 First aid qualified (ex-life guard) and outdoor first-aid

Hospitality
- 1 worked in hotel, cafes, shops
- Both worked in restaurants
- Both worked on a campsite

Outdoors
- 1 Mountain leader trained
- 1 Day Skipper qualified (Sailing) w. passage experience
- Both lots of general experience - climbing, hiking, biking & bikepacking, kayaking, wild swimming etc.

Other
- Cooking
- Pet/Child care

More about us/our skills:

We converted a standard panel van to a complete home on wheels, so we have basic 12v electric, plumbing, carpentry and decorating skills from that. We have just bought a house in France where will be putting our DIY skills into practice for the rest of this year!

We spent this summer working at a campsite in Ireland (mostly cleaning, odd jobs and mowing the grass.)

Lauren:
I'm an academic working in Archaeology, Geography and the Environment part-time on the road from my laptop. I'm generally handy, detail-orientated, always hardworking whatever the job, and keen to pick up new skills! I really enjoy outdoor work, regardless of the weather or time of year (I have spent a lot of time on fieldwork and hiking in bad conditions!). I have completed my Mountain Leader training and have outdoor first aid qualifications, and lifeguarding first aid qualifications (out of date).

I've done a lot of University-level teaching and leading groups in Iceland and Scotland. I have also had a number of different jobs over the years involving different skills and am very happy to pick up any new work! I have worked in a few different bars, restaurants and cafes, a hotel, a bookshop, a leisure centre, a pharmacy, and a DIY shop. I have also been an assistant gardener which I loved!

I'm a native english speaker, but am learning French as we are moving there. I love music and used to play a few instruments, which I am currently planning on reviving in the near future when I have the space for them! I also love cooking as well and am happy cooking for large groups, having done many times on fieldwork and on trips.

Rob:
Before we moved into the van full time I worked as a Senior Project Manager in IT - lots of working with different people, planning ahead, picking things up quickly, problem solving and most of all communication.

Since starting travelling I've taken on the odd remote contract, but this is the exception rather than the rule (I much prefer spending my time time on my feet or outdoors, teaching, learning languages, doing things with my hands and generally being useful!).

One thing I love is languages - in my early 20s I studied French and lived in France for a year, teaching English in several secondary schools and later worked at the Wall St Institute tutoring professional adults, all of which means I'm more or less fluent (although a little rusty). I've also been using the time on the road to teach myself Spanish and now read it well, understand spoken spanish and can hold a conversation (just about).

Another thing I really enjoy is cooking, and cooking for people (the more the merrier). After 18 months on the road with only 2 hobs, and time spent on boats cooking with limited supplies I enjoy the challenge of knocking up tasty meals with whatevers to hand.

I also have some sailing qualifications - day skipper and competent crew, and some passage experience.

In terms of other professional jobs - before and during Uni I worked in supermarket, kitchen and restaurant jobs, and recently I've been on a workaway on a campsite in Ireland.

Lastly skills-wise I guess the main thing is being handy, ourdoorsy and ready to learn. Doing up our van was a brilliant chance to learn some basic electrical skills (thankyou youtube!) in designing and then wiring up our Solar, Water, lighting and charging systems as well as expanding our DIY and carpentry skills.

Age

33 & 33

Some more information

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  Smoker

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  Driver's licence

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  Allergies

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  Special dietary requirements