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Description
We are active and happy Senior Citizens of Australia living in France renovating a 19th century manor house in rural France.
We speak English and are gradually learning the French language as we go. We also have basic Italian language. We have made our living quarters in the manor house very comfortable and our garden is a treat. We are very engaged socially with our French neighbours and community, and enjoy visiting local villages and fetes.
What we need help with are the remaining light DIY tasks. There are light gardening tasks that may be enjoyable to undertake. It will be our pleasure to bring you into our home and enjoy the mutual benefits of sharing our historical house which has become our home.
We can share with you our DIY knowledge, our cooking experiences, and introduce you to rural French life.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Politics / Social justice
Events & social
Culture
Movies & TV
Animals
Cooking & food
Gardening
Languages
Photography
Plant care
Music
History
DIY & crafts
Art & design
Books
Architecture
Nature
Outdoor activities
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
We engage with our neighbours for dinners and drinks socially, we enjoy our ‘language learning’ group of around 12 people to learn each others language, we enjoy the weekly social gathering at the local Association-cafe, we visit the lovely tapas bar, the local (very social) bar/cafe, the 5 local (walking distance) restaurants and Boulangerie. There are many places in the town to meet with other townsfolk and travellers. Everything in our town is accessible by walking. We enjoy the numerous local villages and fetes and markets. Also there are numerous and varied Chateaux in surrounding areas, even though we are in town centre of 7,000 population without its own chateau. Our garden is around 1000 square metres and surrounded by high walls, part of which was built in the 14th century.
It is best for our Volunteers to have their own vehicle as public transport is limited for moving around the region, but there is a daily bus service from our capital to get to our town. There is a swimming pool in the town, there is a GoCart business 20 mins drive, there is a golf course 20 mins drive, there is a water ski lake 20 mins drive……and many park activities.
Although we are active and healthy we miss the noise and activity of family, and so our Volunteers will be made welcome and be in their own bedroom with en-suite shower room, but join us in our large family home. There is a family size tv in the smaller living room with numerous channels and Netflix subscription.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
We would like assistance with light DIY projects, possibly some occasional gardening, possibly some occasional house help. Any tasks will be helpful for us, and we would be working alongside our volunteer(s) most of the time. Our current tasks include some painting, some general building maintenance, but generally just joining us with our day to day tasks, including house help and kitchen duties occasionally if necessary.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Italian: Intermediate
French: Beginner
Accommodation
We can offer either a two single-bed room with its own ensuite shower room, or we can offer a double-bed room with its own ensuite shower room.
We cook simple plain food with meat and vegetables, but enjoy cooking new recipes. For breakfast we generally have a very light Mediterranean or egg meal breakfast. We will cook the meals but will be happy for our Volunteers to do the meals occasionally if they would like to do that.
What else ...
Own transport not totally necessary as our 7000 person township offers all necessary amenities, and there is a daily bus service from our capital city to our town. However there is very limited public transport in or around our part of rural France, therefore a vehicle would make your stay more agreeable.
Go carts, water skiing, golf club, swimming pool, sporting facilities, gymnasiums, library, museum, numerous interesting villages to bicycle ride or drive to. There is also a local aero club with landing strip. There are weekly Hot Air Balloon trips taking off at a nearby township. The train station to Paris is a one hour drive and the TGV to Paris takes one hour. We can arrange a very inexpensive small apartment in Paris for accommodation.
We do not permit smoking or drugs on the property. We have a vehicle and you will be welcome to join us for weekend trips to village markets, chateaux, and site seeing.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
My animals / pets
Photos
