Join outdoor projects and experience calm village life in Saint-Georges-sur-Cher, France

Infos

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  Description

  I am a recently widowed retiree of Scottish descent resident in Touraine for the last 25 years. I live in a traditional stone longère on the edge of a dynamic village, with a large garden and park planted with an orchard and an incipient arboretum wth some interesting trees. I have just under 2 hectares of land altogether, and I run a small b&b. I have two cats but no other animals, so am not able to accept guests with pets. I am a keen cook! ( I am not vegetarian, but do not from preference eat much meat.)
  
  I n addition to the parc of about 1 hectare, I have a garden more English in style than French, majoring on roses, of which I have around 150, including rose hedges, but no herbaceous borders(Too time consuming and difficult in this climate.)
  
  Being currently somewhat incapacitated following nearly nine months in hospital following a car accident in June 2024, I would be glad of some help in the garden to put it back to rights, and to get the unavoidably neglected vegetable garden back in production. I do have a garden contractor for the heavy work, pruning trees, etc., and the mowing, as both my tractor mowers were rendered unusable in a flood.
  
  la Roseraie is just five minutes' drive from the world-famous Chateau de Chenonceau, and very well-placed for visiting all the principal chateaux of the Loire Valley, in the middle of the wine-growing area of Touraine, and half an hour from the wonderful Zoo-parc at Beauval. A car would be needed as there is no public transport. It is hwever wonderful walking and cycling ountry, with many well-signposted cycle paths linking historic sites and pedestrian walkways.
  
  I have just acquired a lodger in my converted stable gîte, but otherwise live alone (except for two friendly cats!)except when I have guests for B&B.
  
  I have a very good 1902 Bechstein upright piano recently comoletely restored so musicians welcome and an informal concert in my big salon could be an option - I calculate one could seat 30 people at a pinch.
  
  We have internet access, of variable quality however, but no television or radio. A big library, mainly of books in English, and in addition to gardening some help cataloguing the library would be helpful - a job for inclement weather!
  
  Other information about the village: About 3,000 inhabitants in a very widely scattered commune, well equipped for local services - pharmacy, medical cenrre, post office, bank;, superette, butcher, 2 boulangeries, florist, hairdressers, several vignerons making excellent and inexpensive wine, a good restaurant, for the last 5 years annually awarded a Michelin 'Bib' (representing good value for money) a bar/brasserie and a Sunday morning covered market in the central square. all only 6 km from a very picturesque small town on the river Cher where there is a beach for swimming, and canoes and pedaloes for hire. The toxwn centre has recently been completely remodelled, and has many tempting little shops and several bars and restaurants, and a busy weekly market. There is a good cinema, run by volunteers, where the latest films are shown, often in the original language, subtitled in French. Amboise, with its three chateaux, including the last home of Leonardo da Vinci, who is buried in the chapel of the Chateau Royale, and a small privately-owned chateau with the restored first formal Italian garden, which inspired all the formal 'French' gardens, and the very first Orangerie in France.
  
  A word of warning: this is a strictly no-smoking property and I cannot accept families with chhildren because of the unguarded stream which divides the property . I cannot accept pets as my cats would strongly disapprove!

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  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Jardinage

  Entretien général

  Aide informatique/internet
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  Centres d’intérêt

  

  Événements/vie sociale

  

  Animaux de compagnie

  

  Culture

  

  Musique

  

  Histoire

  

  Jardinage

  

  Langues

  

  Écriture

  

  Arts du spectacle

  

  Architecture

  

  Cuisine et alimentation

  

  Livres

  

  Art et design

  

  Nature

  

  Activités en plein air

  

  Cyclisme
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  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  There is always a lot going on in the village and surrounding area, a good local cinema run by volunteers in the local town, and depending upon the time of year there are various local Festivals and cultural events to suit most tastes.
  
  I am an honorary member of the local Confrerie of wine-producers and am happy to introduce helpers to vignerons to larn about wine. My professional life was in the field of classical music and as a poetry recitalist working with chamber music ensembles, and more recently I have been involved in lecturing. I have written articles for various journals, edited several non-fiction books and recently co-authored a major biography of my great-grandfather, a leading Victorian figure in many fields including conservation, education and public health. My major interests i(apart from gardening) are music, literature and art. It would be very interesting to discuss these subjects and to exchange ideas with others.

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  Aide

  As mentioned above, some general help with the garden is chiefly what I would like, and if you enjoy cooking we can share ideas. The garden was designed and created pretty well from scratch by me and my husband - it was mainly just grass and a few fruit trees when we bought the property - and we bought the adjacent field and what is now the park , divided from the house and the surrounding garden by a stream. >It is only help with my (extensive!) private garden which is required, not with the B&B We are very rural and quiet and there is very little traffic on our road.

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  Langues

  Langues parlées
  Français: Courant

  Cet hôte propose un échange linguistique
  Cet hôte a indiqué qu’il souhaitait faire partager sa propre langue ou en apprendre une nouvelle.
  Contactez-le pour en savoir plus.
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  Hébergement

  I can offer my comfortable rooms (all double beds) each with private bathroom. You would live as family, and if interested in cooking can be responsible for a meal or two if desired.

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  Autres infos...

  There is a huge amount to see and do in the surrounding area, not just cultural visits, but also wonderful walking country, or if you have a bicycle (or wish to hire one) lots of very well-designated cycle routes. As already indicated there is no public transport in the village, but there is an accessible railway station fairly close by and regular local trains to Tours or Vierzon.
  
  The only 'house-rule' is respect for others, particularly when we have B&B guests, and as this is a 'relais de silence' - we do not have TV or radio and the quiet of the neighbourhood is a particular attraction for our guests, so we discourage any unnecessary noise, pop music etc.

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  Informations complémentaires

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    Accès Internet

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    Accès Internet limité

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    Nous avons des animaux

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    Nous sommes fumeurs

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    Familles bienvenues

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  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Deux

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  Mes animaux

  

  Tinka & Tifi (7 ans)

  5 colour and black-and-white sisters from same litter

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