Judith

Travel information

I am currently

Description

I am in my second year of retirement (following a long career in children’s social work management) and am loving having time exploring and experiencing new things and meeting new people. Anything to do with the outdoors and nature engages me, so I love walking, enjoy cycling (whether for a few hours or several days) and trying new adventures such as canoeing or kayaking. I fit these in around a mixture of voluntary work in culture, nature conservation and at a garden centre which supports people with learning difficulties, where I work in the tree team. As a long-term trustee for a women’s aid organisation, I continue to pursue feminist values and challenge myself to stay focussed on safeguarding, inclusion and humanitarian principles.
I also sing in a local Chorus group and do a regular ceramics class.
For many years I have done working holidays with organisations such as the National Trust and previously BTCV, and I have benefitted from learning new skills and meeting similarly motivated people through these tasks.
I’m a proud Mum of a successful young man who has his own career and interests in London and I spend time together with him, sharing our mutual interests in food, music and theatre (as well as doing all three with friends too of course!)
These are some of the things that currently keep me busy, happy and motivated and I’m sure there will be more to add to the list as I continue to lap up the opportunities and experiences that being retired allows me. Up to now (Aug 2023) I’ve had the privilege of two Workaway stays together with my friend Gill and we plan to do many more as we loved the enrichment and fun these afforded to us.

Interests

Languages

Languages spoken
Indonesian: Intermediate

More details about my language interests
I enjoy picking up a bit of the local language wherever I go.

Find a language buddy

Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

I'm interested in:  

Gardening

DIY and building projects

Animal Care

Life at a Farmstay

Art Projects

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Some knowledge of:  

Eco Projects

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Helping around the house

Hospitality/Tourism

General Maintenance

Charity Work

More details about your skills

I’ve managed children’s social work teams for many a years so I have some fairly solid organisational skills and know a fair bit about keeping children safe but…I’ve moved on from being a decision maker! Though I am still a trustee for a women’s aid organisation and am pretty good at making decisions in that role when needed!
I can turn my hand to lots of conservation related tasks such as tree planting, fence building (with supervision!), scrub and plant clearance, footpath repairs etc. Plus I enjoy gardening either at home or with friends.
I’m a keen cook and cake baker, and even keener on sharing the cakes with friends.
Having been an Airbnb host now for 5 years and had excellent reviews, I think I’m fairly good at welcoming new people into my home and making them comfortable, so I hope I am equally adaptable and respectful in someone else’s home.
Since September 2021 I’ve taken up cycling and can change a puncture plus a few other jobs on a bike.
One retirement activity on my list of new thing's was to complete an abstract art class (to challenge me out of my box) which I loved and would wish to develop further though pottery and ceramics are taking up my creative time now.
Having lived in Indonesia for 3 and a half years in the 1990s, I can still read and speak some Indonesia, and have been trying to learn some Italian online though with limited success so far!

Age

62

What else ...

I love dogs and am happy to help care for them (sadly my last dog Poppy died early in 2022), I can do basic knitting and sewing, like Scrabble and other word games, obviously enjoy travel (!), sing in a local singing group which completes public performances covering a range of musical styles and genres, I’ve recently undertaken a canoeing holiday and also a Tall Ship trip, and found I love being on the water as well as swimming in it, ….I’m sure there’s more but hopefully you are getting the picture!

Some more information

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  Smoker

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  Driver's licence

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  Allergies
  Cats and horses

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  Special dietary requirements