Simon

United Kingdom
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Travel information

I am currently

At home

Activities i am interested in:

.... exploring southern Martinique. Les Trois Ilets, Anse Mitan, Anses à L'Ânes...

My next destination:
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France - from Sep 2026 until Dec 2026
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Description

June 2026 and I thought I should update this as I’ve not been here in a few years.

I’m looking for a longer Workaway or Workaways in the PACA region of France from late September through December 2026. I plan to drive down from the UK, probably stopping in the Charente Maritime on the way.

My first Workaway was in late 2022, 2 weeks at my host’s property in Bourgogne then a further 4 weeks in Roquebrune Cap Martin. To my surprise I am now the owner of a timeshare in Roquebrune and spend 3 months there in the Spring and sometimes visit my former host as she always has little “problems” she would like me to look into! 😁

I’m looking for a longer Workaway or Workaways in the PACA region of France from September through December 2026. I am looking to explore the region further from the coast with a view to finding my own little renovation project. Given I’ll already be spending several months in France in the Spring I will be applying for a tourist visa so I don’t have problems with the 90 day rule.

I would describe myself as a problem solver and have had 2 careers, firstly in IT Operations and SupportI then as a domestic electrician. 'm not the kind of person to sit around and do nothing. Equally, I couldn't see myself travelling as a typical tourist as this is both expensive and can become boring doing all the typically touristy things. Rather, I'd like to go places and do creative/productive stuff. This is what feeds my soul.

I'd love the chance learn more about boats, sailing and marine conservation. It's a long shot but if you have an electric boat project, it's something that interests me, also, sustainable architecture, renewable energy solutions, how dwellings were kept cool before electricity and general off grid living.

I have RYA Power Boat Level 2 - Powerboat Handling qualification, achieved in the rather nice Beaulieu sur Mer. PADI Open Water Diver and Molchanov Wave 1 Freediving qualifications.

I worked alone for the last 16 years of my working life so happy in my own company but that said, give me company and I can rabbit on for hours "... a constant stream of consciousness" as one friend once described it!

Sorry but I'm not a cat person (allergic), dogs and horses are more my thing and although I've never owned either I do have a passing interest in their psychology (think Cesar Millan and Monty Roberts). I have ridden but not in a while and would enjoy the opportunity to get back in the saddle.

I'm a non-smoker.
Interests

Water sports

Technology

Sustainability

Self development

Sailing / Boating

Nature

Outdoor activities

Mountain

Fitness

DIY & crafts

Carpentry

Cooking & food

Architecture

Adventure sports
Languages

Languages spoken
French: Beginner

More details about my language interests
I've described myself as a beginner in French, although I have dabbled in it for many years I wouldn't be comfortable describing myself as intermediate... yet. It is something I always try to work on when I visit France.

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Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

I'm interested in:

Eco Projects

Some knowledge of:

Light gardening

Creative DIY projects

Light maintenance

Helping around the house
More details about your skills

My first career was in IT Operations and Support, including Disaster Recovery Planning, and later on it also involved a lot of people and organisational culture activities.

I retrained as an electrician in 2006 and spent just over 15 years as a domestic electrician. I also had a side hustle helping friends with their corporate seminar and events business. This involved everything from providing transport, set building, event support services. I also acted as cook/housekeeper on some executive retreats.

I am a keen DIYer but never got the chance to get stuck in to a bigger project. I am a creative and practical person and consider myself a problem solver.
Age

62
What else ...

Although I worked for many years at the bleeding edge of technology I would now describe myself as a born again Luddite. I use tech but only when it has an immediate use or serves a specific purpose. Having worked in IT Disaster Recovery I like resilience in my life and there are too many aspects of modern life where people are utterly dependant on tech.

I like old stuff, be it mechanical, structural, or whatever. I enjoy finding out about old stuff, repairing it or upcycling it including learning new skills to be able to do such things.
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  Cats
- Special dietary requirements
  I am a real omnivore so couldn't live in a vegan/vegetarian only environment for more than a few days. I particularly like fish and seafood and would relish the opportunity to be catching it.

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19 Dec 2022

Left by Workawayer () for host (Come to the Côte d'Azur, help ...)

My first workaday and I spent a total of six weeks with Brigitte. The first two in Bourgogne which was a convenient stopping point as I was driving from England. Laubaron is a fabulous old Manor House, the home of her son Stephan and his family and this is where I stayed while working at her other property, Giblain. There was also the company part … read more of the time with three other workaayers. The bulk of the work was assisting Stephan with the yoga room roof insulation preceded by some quick fix electrics to get cables in place and get some lights to the other part of the building for the halloween party... and some of the best pizza courtesy of the freshly christened new bread/ pizza oven! The down side to this art of my trip was a sore throat that I could not seem to shake but it was a lot better than the cockerel's.

As I was a man with a car, Brigitte was my passenger down to the south with a two day layover in Grasse and the simple joy of picking and salting olives from the garden.

And finally I arrived here, Brigitte's home in the hills above Roquebrune Cap Martin, definitely in the south and with much needed sunshine! In my initial message exchange with Brigitte I had if there would be enough to keep me occupied as I can get bored easily.... I should not have worried. Where you are blessed with common sense and practical skills, there is always plenty to do and I think I became a bit of an expert on French electrical water heaters.

Brigitte is a real force of nature and never seems to slow down. She appreciates hard work but is not shy of rolling up her sleeves and getting stuck in herself, in fact, there weren't many occasions when she wasn't getting stuck into some task or other! And the stories, so many fabulous stories that seem to come out of nowhere... we're in the car and having a conversation about an antique bed of her great grandmother's, a passing comment from Brigitte about this relative "cutting her head" and my then realisation it was more than that! So many conversations about so many subjects but also the recurring theme of sustainable and off grid living and power self sufficiency. If this is an area of interest to you perhaps you should introduce yourself!

This was a fabulous place and my four weeks were spent there in November and December. I met some wonderful people beside Brigitte, her family, her friends, the other residents here as well as other workwayers. Living and working alone I had become something of a hermit so it was great to interact with so many nice, warm and interesting people while simply being en France!

There are some many memories, tinged with sadness that the experience ended but that is life. So much remains to be done there so perhaps, one day, I will return.

(Very good)