Badges (3)
Photos
Information du profil
Information de voyage
Actuellement, je suis
en voyage
Ma prochaine destination :
New Zealand Voir tout
Description
Hi! I’m Bill. I am a youthful 58 (until about 9pm, then not so youthful) who lived the first 27 years of my life in England, and the next 30 years in Australia. Dual citizen. I am retired from careers as an Automotive Engineer and then a Software Developer. I probably do match the stereotype for these professions … so, I am thoughtful, considerate, caring, intelligent, humourous, tidy, respectful, honest, calm, gentle, quiet, not very social, a good listener not a big talker. I plan, make lists, like to get things done. Quite comfortable in my own company. I’m up for a planned adventure, but I’m not a thrill-seeker. I enjoy being physically active (even in my office days I always commuted by bike, went to the gym, played sport) and try to do 2 hours exercise a day (usually walking or cycling) when not working in the outdoors. I eat lots at meal times, but generally don't bother with tea breaks. I could easily live on a vegetarian diet, but I do eat meat. I don't smoke, drink or do drugs, and don't drink tea or coffee. I follow many sports and am fully on the NZ bandwagon with the All Blacks, Black Caps, Silver Ferns etc. although not much to watch this year thanks to Covid-19.
The last 8 years I have been a nomad in Australia, living in my self-built campervan, staying and helping on friends' properties/ sheep farms. And doing a lot of volunteer work, mostly with BlazeAid (helping farmers after bushfires), mostly doing fencing. I do like fencing, and am experienced enough to take on most things now. I am also very much a handyman, self taught (with some grandfather influence) but pretty capable. I like fixing things and being resourceful, but I have no trade qualifications. Note: I’m not a keen gardener, and avoid uisng chainsaws unless they are battery powered.
I am in New Zealand to experience the culture, climate, physical geography, different lifestyles. I had planned on being here for a year, but am now extending that for obvious reasons ie its a wonderful place to be! (And Covid)
I don’t consider myself a traveller, but have been to France several times for holidays, had 2 work trips to Japan, holidays in Fiji, Malaysia, Germany, Florida, recently 10 weeks in the Netherlands helping on a friends property; I have seen much of Australia and think Tasmania is the best bit. I really only speak English, and a little schoolboy French. Tried to learn Dutch recently but it didn't stick.
I have no interest in social media and don’t do facebook. I use Signal rather than What'sApp.
I have bought a small car for transport around NZ.
Langues parlées
Anglais: Courant
Hollandais: Débutant
Compétences et connaissances que j'aimerais partager ou apprendre
Ça m'intéresse :
Bricolage et projets de construction
J'ai des connaissances :
Entretien général
Aider dans une ferme
Éco-projets
Aider à la maison
S’occuper des animaux
Aide informatique / Internet
Enseignement
Quelles sont vos compétences ?
I am very practical and enjoy making or fixing things. I have no trade qualifications, but i can do woodwork, metalwork, painting, decorating, electrical, plumbing. I have built cars, steel sheds, wooden sheds, put up shelves, saved an old wooden barn, installed small solar systems. Haven't built a house yet but would like to. But I'm most practised at farm fencing.
Âge
60
Autres infos...
I do the occasional crossword and more frequently sudoku. Maybe a jigsaw on a rainy day. Watch TV when available.
Informations complémentaires
Fumeur
Permis de conduire
Allergies
Régime alimentaire spécial
No, but I do eat lots when working hard! Wholegrain bread, fruit and cereal are great fillers for me.
Feedback
27.11.2021
This a beautiful place with great hosts. If you get the opportunity to come here, you will be glad you did. I was lucky to be here through a Covid lockdown, and then stayed even longer. Cranleigh and Ros made me feel very at home, made my end of the house very comfortable for me, and certanly went the extra mile in preparing/organising a meal for… read more
(Excellent
)
17.08.2021
Laissé par l'hôte (Help out on our lifestyle ...) pour le workawayer ()
We were very lucky to have Bill come and stay with us for 2 weeks.
Fencing is one of Bills skills and that was great for us as on a farm there are always on going fencing repairs, or new projects to work on. He was so good that WE got advise from him!
Bill is not a fussy eater so my cooking skills were adequate. I was also able to prove that I… read more
Fencing is one of Bills skills and that was great for us as on a farm there are always on going fencing repairs, or new projects to work on. He was so good that WE got advise from him!
Bill is not a fussy eater so my cooking skills were adequate. I was also able to prove that I… read more
(Excellent
)
16.08.2021
Catherine and Martin are excellent hosts - they really go out of their way to make your stay interesting and comfortable. There seems to be endless jobs on the farm, from routine help with the animals to infrastructure improvements and maintenance, and probably cooking and cleaning in the house. I was mostly occupied with fencing jobs and… read more
(Excellent
)
20.07.2021
I spent 2 weeks in early winter with Deborah, Tobias and Richard in a grand old house on a beautiful property. I was lucky enough to help out with some fencing work, which meant spending days walking up and down hills, with spectacular views over Gisborne.
So, the house is old, and quite dated internally, but perfectly functional. A little cold… read more
So, the house is old, and quite dated internally, but perfectly functional. A little cold… read more
(Excellent
)
18.07.2021
Laissé par l'hôte (Lend a hand on our farm and ...) pour le workawayer ()
While Bill was staying with us ,he was able to assist repairing & making our existing farm fences goat-proof.
We found him to be an honest,hard-working Workaway; quick to understand the task at hand And using his already gained practical experience, achieve the job.
A polite ,tidy,helpful person,capable of working independently.
We found both the… read more
We found him to be an honest,hard-working Workaway; quick to understand the task at hand And using his already gained practical experience, achieve the job.
A polite ,tidy,helpful person,capable of working independently.
We found both the… read more
(Excellent
)
Amis
Feedback
27.11.2021
Laissé par le workawayer () pour l'hôte
(General outdoor help needed ...)
This a beautiful place with great hosts. If you get the opportunity to come here, you will be glad you did. I was lucky to be here through a Covid lockdown, and then stayed even longer. Cranleigh and Ros made me feel very at home, made my end of the house very comfortable for me, and certanly went the extra mile in preparing/organising a meal for… read more
(Excellent
)
17.08.2021
Laissé par l'hôte (Help out on our lifestyle ...) pour le workawayer ()
We were very lucky to have Bill come and stay with us for 2 weeks.
Fencing is one of Bills skills and that was great for us as on a farm there are always on going fencing repairs, or new projects to work on. He was so good that WE got advise from him!
Bill is not a fussy eater so my cooking skills were adequate. I was also able to prove that I… read more
Fencing is one of Bills skills and that was great for us as on a farm there are always on going fencing repairs, or new projects to work on. He was so good that WE got advise from him!
Bill is not a fussy eater so my cooking skills were adequate. I was also able to prove that I… read more
(Excellent
)
16.08.2021
Laissé par le workawayer () pour l'hôte
(Help out on our lifestyle ...)
Catherine and Martin are excellent hosts - they really go out of their way to make your stay interesting and comfortable. There seems to be endless jobs on the farm, from routine help with the animals to infrastructure improvements and maintenance, and probably cooking and cleaning in the house. I was mostly occupied with fencing jobs and… read more
(Excellent
)
20.07.2021
Laissé par le workawayer () pour l'hôte
(Lend a hand on our farm and ...)
I spent 2 weeks in early winter with Deborah, Tobias and Richard in a grand old house on a beautiful property. I was lucky enough to help out with some fencing work, which meant spending days walking up and down hills, with spectacular views over Gisborne.
So, the house is old, and quite dated internally, but perfectly functional. A little cold… read more
So, the house is old, and quite dated internally, but perfectly functional. A little cold… read more
(Excellent
)
18.07.2021
Laissé par l'hôte (Lend a hand on our farm and ...) pour le workawayer ()
While Bill was staying with us ,he was able to assist repairing & making our existing farm fences goat-proof.
We found him to be an honest,hard-working Workaway; quick to understand the task at hand And using his already gained practical experience, achieve the job.
A polite ,tidy,helpful person,capable of working independently.
We found both the… read more
We found him to be an honest,hard-working Workaway; quick to understand the task at hand And using his already gained practical experience, achieve the job.
A polite ,tidy,helpful person,capable of working independently.
We found both the… read more
(Excellent
)
18.07.2021
Laissé par l'hôte (Off-grid unique location ...) pour le workawayer ()
Bill stayed with us for two weeks in June 21.
Whilst we did not get started on the tiny house project we were hoping to complete with him (due to weather and other demands on our time), Bill was very helpful in getting a number of small projects finished off.
During his time with us Bill undertook house painting work, helped clean up our orchard… read more
Whilst we did not get started on the tiny house project we were hoping to complete with him (due to weather and other demands on our time), Bill was very helpful in getting a number of small projects finished off.
During his time with us Bill undertook house painting work, helped clean up our orchard… read more
(Très bien
)
07.07.2021
Laissé par le workawayer () pour l'hôte
(Off-grid unique location ...)
Jane and Kelly are champion people. Firstly they have committed everything to a hospitality business which they are managing successfully despite the difficult circumstances of the Covid pandemic. Secondly they are very integrated with the local community and other businesses along the river; everyone helping each other. Thirdly, they work very… read more
(Excellent
)
27.05.2021
Laissé par l'hôte (Help out around our lifestyle ...) pour le workawayer ()
This is a bit late but Bill sorted out all the jobs that I had not got to and made the place ready for winter. The workshop clean up was a bit daunting but the new shelves and organising the container made way for the car hoist which is underway. I was a bit busy but as Bill said I managed to break out of the office and annoy him on the job from… read more
(Excellent
)
12.04.2021
Laissé par le workawayer () pour l'hôte
(Help out around our lifestyle ...)
Chris and Pam welcomed me into their home and provided exceptionally good accommodation. They are both hardworking individuals, resisting retirement and doing remarkable things. Most of my work was in-and-around the workshop, adding some finishing touches to a vintage caravan, building shelving and helping to reorganise a storage area, plus some… read more
(Excellent
)
20.04.2021
Laissé par le workawayer () pour l'hôte
(Help us in a small valley in ...)
A great 2 weeks with Karen and Roger. Really generous and caring hosts, a fabulous room in a lovely house on a beautiful property with stunning views. I was given a wide variety of interesting tasks and usually trusted to carry on independently. Karen cooked beautiful, healthy meals, and made sure I had plenty to eat, especially if they were not… read more
(Excellent
)
19.04.2021
Laissé par l'hôte pour le workawayer ()
Bill is an amazing man. He is incredibly clever and was able to turn his hand to anything from getting our 60 year old tractor that hadn't been used for ten years working again, to installing a boundary farm fence all on his own, to chainsawing logs, replacing a shed door and a myriad of other jobs. He has a warm, kind personality, a great sense… read more
(Excellent
)
23.03.2021
Laissé par le workawayer () pour l'hôte
(Help us with projects in our ...)
Came for 2 weeks, stayed for 3 months! Yes it was that good.
Its not every day you get the chance to help restore a heritage building, and in some way become a small part of that building's history. Its also not every day that you get the chance to help such courageous people as Tim and Sofie taking on such a challenge as this house whilst… read more
Its not every day you get the chance to help restore a heritage building, and in some way become a small part of that building's history. Its also not every day that you get the chance to help such courageous people as Tim and Sofie taking on such a challenge as this house whilst… read more
(Excellent
)
22.12.2020
Laissé par l'hôte (Learn about rural life at our ...) pour le workawayer ()
Having Bill here to help me for three and a half weeks was an absolute godsend. Bill can turn his hand to anything, (although he'd rather not garden). He can fix anything, paint anything, clean anything, and he walked my dog every day and treated her with as much love as I do. if you get an approach from Bill to come and help you, you are very… read more
(Excellent
)
24.11.2020
Laissé par le workawayer () pour l'hôte
(Learn about rural life at our ...)
I had 2 stays with Lynda and Lulu, totalling 4 weeks. We got on very well, were very busy and got lots done. Lynda is a super host, very considerate and excellent at communicating what she wants done. She always provided lovely food for me, despite being in the process of moving from the main guesthouse to the cottage. She also tolerated my… read more
(Excellent
)
06.10.2020
Laissé par l'hôte (Come and explore sunny Nelson ...) pour le workawayer ()
Bill is such a lovely guy...warm, friendly, considerate, sensitive, kind and also has a good sense of humour. He slotted into our household routines effortlessly and Mum loved having him stay with her. He is a real perfectionist and very generous with his time. He made such a perfect job of levelling the ground and plotting out the positions of… read more
(Excellent
)
06.10.2020
Laissé par le workawayer () pour l'hôte
(Come and explore sunny Nelson ...)
I had a really lovely week here. I stayed with Lorna who was a delight to be with - always positive, cheerful and fun. Most of my work was next door at Carolyn and Richard's who were also lovely company and very caring. These are great people to be with and I was always made to feel thoroughly at home and comfortable.
Accommodation was great, with… read more
Accommodation was great, with… read more
(Excellent
)
14.08.2020
Laissé par le workawayer () pour l'hôte
(Lifestyle farm with mountain ...)
I booked for 2 weeks with Mandy and Tony, and stayed for 3. And may return for more. I had a really enjoyable time here. They had put significant time and effort in to making me welcome - they had read my profile carefully and had made some preparations accordingly. Mandy had a lovely list of jobs for me to do, including some pretty challenging… read more
(Excellent
)
27.07.2020
Laissé par l'hôte (Lifestyle farm with mountain ...) pour le workawayer ()
Bill is definitely the kind of person we like to have around. He's super polite and positive, and likes doing projects around the farm. He's very easy to deal with and is very welcome around here. He's thoughtful and considerate plus good to chat with.
(Excellent
)
03.08.2020
Laissé par l'hôte (Enjoy this paradise off-grid ...) pour le workawayer ()
The feedback by Bill requires a balanced and honest reply. First we are sorry Bill did not enjoy his stay here or the places he visited with us as they are not mentioned. We totally accept people and their various diets as their absolute right and enjoy and learn from the many variations and ideas we have encountered.
On arrival as with ALL… read more
On arrival as with ALL… read more
(Très bien
)
31.07.2020
Laissé par le workawayer () pour l'hôte
(Enjoy this paradise off-grid ...)
I spent a month in the middle of winter with Clarrie and Syth (and animals) in this very beautiful part of NZ. They clearly love where they are and how they are living, and are a gentle, cheerful and likeable couple. Sadly, for me this wasn't an enjoyable experience. I was repeatedly reminded of their indifference to my wellbeing, and generally… read more
(Bien
)
14.03.2020
Laissé par le workawayer () pour l'hôte
(Learn about sustainable ...)
Just a week with Jon, Birgit and the young family, but enough time to get to know a very generous and community-minded couple. Nature had forced them in to squeezing 4 months work into 2, and then sent along a flood - so they were very busy and working extremely hard. Despite this, they made time to find me suitable work (mainly house maintenance… read more
(Excellent
)
28.02.2020
Laissé par le workawayer () pour l'hôte
(Help on a small farm on the ...)
Nicki and Brent welcomed me into their home and made me very comfortable. Nicki produced some delicious meals, mostly created from homegrown produce. And also went to the extra effort of providing desert for me even though that isn't ordinarily on the menu for them. Workwise things were a little disjointed initially as the planned greenhouse build… read more
(Excellent
)
28.02.2020
Laissé par l'hôte (Help on a small farm on the ...) pour le workawayer ()
Bill came to help us erect our greenhouse for the aquaponics but unfortunately delays with delivery of the components meant things didn't go to plan. It didn't prevent Bill from keeping busy during his 10 days with us however and he helped in constructing the base for the greenhouse and putting together parts of the structure where possible… read more
(Excellent
)
21.02.2020
Laissé par l'hôte (Come and enjoy this beautiful ...) pour le workawayer ()
Bill arrived with a cold, but his work rate showed no sign of it at all. Amazing! He was very apologetic about the chance of spreading his cold, and offered to delay his arrival. But I am so glad he arrived sooner - because he was great to have around! Bill is very quiet, thoughtful, and sensitive, and notices everything going on around him. So… read more
(Excellent
)
19.01.2020
Laissé par le workawayer () pour l'hôte
(Come and enjoy this beautiful ...)
Amazing is a much overused word these days, but my week here was truly an amazing experience. The house has extraordinary character and a wonderful sense of calm. Andrew could be described in the same terms. Truly a fine host and, despite being an unusually busy week for him, there was always quality and healthy food supplied and time for guidance… read more
(Excellent
)
13.02.2020
Laissé par l'hôte pour le workawayer ()
Let me just say that Bill now has a paddock forever named after him at our place and he is welcome back anytime. Bill is highly skilled (and very modest) and his work is of the highest quality. It is a measure of his high skill level and abilities that I didn't feel the need to be looking over his shoulder. Then when it came time for me to learn… read more
(Excellent
)
09.02.2020
Laissé par le workawayer () pour l'hôte
(Rural lifestyle in the heart ...)
I had a really enjoyable and fulfilling 2 weeks with Rob and Rochelle, staying in a very comfortable caravan with wifi. They are such busy people having a real go at getting ahead in life, so it was a pleasure to give them some help. I was mostly kept busy completing a driveway fence and another fence to create a new paddock for sheep or cows.… read more
(Excellent
)
10.01.2020
Laissé par l'hôte (Help with maintenance at a ...) pour le workawayer ()
holy smoke! William sub-par was only here a few days but made quick work of installing a new TV aerial in galeforce winds, fixed a sliding door that had been dodgy for a decade or so, along with some ace housekeeping and clearing oodles of other small jobs... welcome back anytime and 100% unreservedly recommended to anyone fortunate enough to hear… read more
(Excellent
)
10.01.2020
Laissé par le workawayer () pour l'hôte
(Help with maintenance at a ...)
At short notice Caro took me in and allowed me to stay despite me having a significant head cold. I felt very welcomed and comfortably independant, was able to potter around and do some of the tasks on her superb list. I had a really good time despite my illness, and will maybe come back and do some real work! Bailey is a gorgeous dog who likes a… read more
(Excellent
)