Gordon

Christmas Island
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Profile information

Reply rate

100.0 %
Travel information

I am currently

At home

My next destination:
Toulouse, France - from Jul 2026 until Aug 2026
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Description

Hello, my name is Gordon. I am a friendly person with very good manners and a pleasant sense of humour. A reliable and conscientious worker, I can be trusted to do a good job and get the work finished.
These days I am primarily interested in house and pet sitting, but will consider anything! I have been a gardener and worked for nature conservation charities.
I have many skills and ideas which I enjoy putting to good use although I would rather leave hard labour and heavy lifting to younger Workawayers!
I have a good knowledge of electrics and plumbing!
I appreciate nature and tranquillity, and a warm bedroom.
I am an experienced pet sitter and have been a companion for an elderly person.
Interests

Van life

Photography

Water sports

Yoga / Wellness

Fitness

Vegetarian or vegan

Books

Sustainability

Sailing / Boating

Plant care

Pets

Nature

Languages

History

Gardening

Drawing & painting

DIY & crafts

Cycling

Cooking & food

Charity work

Carpentry

Camping

Art & design

Animals
Languages spoken

English: Fluent
French: Fluent
German: Intermediate
Spanish: Beginner
Dutch: Beginner
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

I'm interested in:

Animal Care

Some knowledge of:

Being an elderly companion

Charity Work

Languages

Art Projects

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Hospitality/Tourism

Helping with Computers/ Internet

Able to teach about:

Eco Projects

Light gardening

Creative DIY projects

Helping around the house

Light maintenance
More details about your skills

Since 2012 I spent the majority of my time looking after my mother, and from March 2018 until January 2021 I was her full-time carer.

I have excellent handyman and gardening skills, augmented by my time working and volunteering for nature conservation charities.

I have renovated two homes in France, including all the plumbing and electrics, and have also worked in Germany and Spain.

I have a French Carte de Sejour valid until 2031, also a Carte Vitale, Mutuelle, and personal liability insurance.

Please feel free to browse the information below which is extracted from my CV. I also have a web page from 2011 which contains photographs of some of my work up until that time. Go to https://gordonsgardens.webgarden.com/ and click on 'Gallery' in the top left corner.

2018 -2021 Full-time carer
2015- 2018 School Caretaker at ACE Schools Plymouth
2006 -2015 Gardener / Handyman/Securtiy/ Driver in the UK, France and Germany
2002-2006 Nature Conservation Projects Officer for a nature conservation charity
2003 -2004 Head Gardener / Night Porter at a residential college of spiritualism, Stansted Hall
2000 -2002 Security Guard, ILL, Grenoble, France
1987 -2000 Hydrographic Surveyor , Royal Navy
1977 -1987 Telephone Engineer , British Telecom
1975 -1976 Gas Fitter , British Gas

Summer Jobs
2023 Overseas Campsite Courier for Venue Holidays, France
2016 Overseas Campsite Courier for Canvas Holidays, Spain
2013 Flexi – Courier for Vacansoleil, France and Spain
2012 Overseas Campsite Courier for Venue Holidays, France
2011 Overseas Campsite Courier for Matthews Holidays, France

Relevant Training

Technical
Gas Installation and plumbing - British Gas
Telecommunications I & II - British Telecom

Horticultural
Chainsaw Licence C30 C31 C36 - NPTC / Lantra
Arboriculture Correspondence Course- Royal Forestry Association
Environmental Awareness - CIEH
Tree Surgery Climbing Course - Merrist Wood Agricultural College
Garden Design - Hill College Cambridge
Hedge laying - Conservation Volunteers

Stonework and Walling
Bricklaying - Birmingham Bricklaying School
Wattle and Daub, Flint Walling - Essex County Council
Dry Stone Walling - Stroud College / Lantra

Cycling
Level 2 Certificate Cycle Maintenance - Cycle Systems Newton Abbot - 2021

Miscellaneous
German Intensive and A1 - Volkshochschule, Germany
Emergency First Aid at Work - British Red Cross - 2013
Enhanced DBS Check to work with children - 2017
Control of Legionella - SSG Training Plymouth
Minibus Driving, including trailers - Dudley Council, Belfast Council
Driving Licence B1E, C1E, F -Tractor, K, L, N.

Voluntary work:
Conservation Volunteers Northern Ireland
Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust
RSPB

Hobbies
Cycling, gardening, boating.
Member of Audax long distance cycling club
Age

67
What else ...

I worked at a secondary school as recently as 2018, which required having an enhanced DBS check. I also possess a UK police check certificate from November 2021.
I enjoy creating wildlife areas in gardens, especially ponds and associated habitats.
I enjoy cycling, especially when the weather is nice and there is no traffic! I have been to Holland and Spain on cycling holidays.
Looking after my mother lead to an appreciation of a cup of tea and a piece of cake, and to the benefits of a gentler pace of life.
Due to sinus problems, I can't sleep in a bedroom where the temperature drops below 10 degrees C, and I am beyond the age where I want to share a bedroom with a stranger!
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
- Special dietary requirements
  Vegetarian

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Feedback

22 Apr 2023

Left by host (Painting and gardening in ...) for Workawayer ()

Gordon was a great find and epitomised everything good about workaway. He fitted in immediately and was willing to have a go at most things. He works well on his own and is diligent and hard working. He has multiple skills was tidy and did not leave stuff around the property which is a particular niggle of mine. I would recommend Gordon to anyone … read more

(Excellent )

19 Apr 2023

Left by Workawayer () for host (Painting and gardening in ...)

I stayed with Allison and Nick for three weeks and found it to be a very enjoyable experience. The accommodation provided was of a very high standard with it's own kitchen and bathrooms, although there was no need to do any cooking as Allison provided excellent meals throughout my stay.
The work I carried out was mostly property maintenance, and … read more

(Excellent )

6 Dec 2022

Left by host for Workawayer ()

Gordon is a workaway to be highly recommended. He arrived when l needed help to put structure into my shop, garden and storage areas. He had the ability and common sense to SEE what needed to be done and got on with it. He did not need very much guidance and would ask when needed if he should do things. As a result of his stay l am now able to see … read more

(Excellent )

4 Dec 2022

Left by Workawayer () for host (Help with gardening, ...)

Beverley's house is in the nice little town of Aurignac. Adjacent is the brocante, which Beverley runs, and at the bottom of the large garden is a beer garden run by a local brewery. A lot of the work I did involved rearranging a lot of the stock and generally making a bit more space. Beverley was the perfect host, cooking lots of lovely meals and … read more

(Excellent )

4 Dec 2022

Left by host (Experience the peace and ...) for Workawayer ()

Gordon stayed with me for a couple of weeks and even house sat for me while I went on a course in the UK. Gordon did an array of jobs during his stay- he certainly is a handyman who offers lots of ideas and suggestions. His quiet demure make him an easy guy to be around and he was respectful of my place and space. We enjoyed many meals together … read more

(Excellent )

4 Dec 2022

Left by Workawayer () for host (Experience the peace and ...)

Celi's house stands on a ridge, just a few miles for the town of L'Isle En Dodon, with stunning views of the Pyrenees. During my stay I did a bit of pet sitting with the neighbour's two dogs and helped Celi around the house and garden. Celi cooked some very tasty and healthy vegetarian meals. I had my own bedroom with an adjoining lounge which … read more

(Excellent )

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Communication:
(5.0)

Skills:
(5.0)

Observed house rules:
(5.0)

22 Apr 2023

Left by host (Painting and gardening in ...) for Workawayer

(Excellent)

19 Apr 2023

Left by Workawayer for host (Painting and gardening in ...)

(Excellent)

6 Dec 2022

Left by host for Workawayer

(Excellent)

4 Dec 2022

Left by Workawayer for host (Help with gardening, ...)

(Excellent)

4 Dec 2022

Left by host (Experience the peace and ...) for Workawayer

(Excellent)

4 Dec 2022

Left by Workawayer for host (Experience the peace and ...)

(Excellent)

30 Sep 2022

Left by Workawayer for host (Help in house and garden in ...)

Je suis restée chez Chantal quand il y avait beaucoup de travaux à faire dans la maison et le jardin. Chantal était l'hôte parfait, préparant de merveilleux repas et m'emmenant à Avignon et dans les magasins. J'avais un bel appartement où séjourner avec ma propre salle de bain et un endroit pour m'asseoir à l'extérieur. La maison est à 15 minutes … read more

(Excellent)

28 Sep 2022

Left by host (Help in house and garden in ...) for Workawayer

Gordon est une personne respectueuse discrète et avec un bon sens de l'humour. C'est un excellent bricoleur qui se plait aussi à jardiner.Il est complètement dans l'esprit de Workaway en s'impliquant à fond dans tous les travaux qu'il entreprend.Je remercie vivement Gordon pour sa présence souriante et pour toute l'aide matérielle qu'il m'a … read more

(Excellent)

30 Mar 2022

Left by Workawayer for host (Come and help on a family ...)

I spent a very enjoyable time with Val, Pete, and Charlie at their house in Cornwall. The work was quite varied, sometimes assisting with walking the dogs, cutting up logs, mucking out the sheep pens, fencing, or simply just stroking the cat!
The company was great and I enjoyed listening to stories of their lives in agriculture and nature … read more

(Excellent)

6 Mar 2022

Left by host for Workawayer

Gordon is a great guy. He is conscience and friendly, is a really skilled man with a lot of experience and it shows.
He has done an incredible amount to help us over the last few weeks and we are so very grateful.
The dogs love him and dogs are a very good judge of character.
We wish him well in his new ventures.

(Excellent)

3 Feb 2022

Left by Workawayer for host (Help looking after some ...)

I stayed at Marilyn's in December 2021. All communication was via her daughter Gizelle, and I was tasked with looking after the animals and any other jobs which I felt I could tackle.
My accommodation was 'The Cottage', which is normally rented out but was made available to myself and Nacho, a helper from Spain. I thoroughly enjoyed being in the … read more

(Very good)

3 Feb 2022

Left by Workawayer for host (Peaceful rural retreat in the ...)

I stayed with Carrie for two weeks in January 2022. She asked me to help with painting inside the house and as that job came to an end I also did some pruning in the garden.
All the equipment and materials required were obtained by Carrie, leaving me to get on with the work in hand. For the most part I worked unsupervised whilst Carrie was busy … read more

(Excellent)