Isabelle & Benjamin

Travel information

We are currently

Description

We are Belle and Ben! Recently engaged couple from Scotland on our adventures! Making a long journey home from Australia after working hard, seeing and taking in as much of the world as we can along the way!
We have had unique experiences growing up in rural parts of Scotland, and also a shared experience of both having a younger sibling born during our teenage years and playing a significant role in their upbringing.
We have strong beliefs in nurturing the land as this has been our way of life:
Ben grew up working on local farms becoming a gardener and landscaper alongside other manual labour jobs. He is a gentle, stoic strong man who will usually be found with his face in a good book or a good cake.
Belle grew up in the family business as an arborist/tree surgeon and gardener. Which she pursued even after her degree in fashion and contemporary art. She worked hard as both an arborist and as an experienced dancer/ artist. She worked within therapy and with able and disabled groups ranging from birth to 90+, she is passionate about working with people to find joy and freedom in movement.
Collectively we love spending time in nature whether it’s gentle strolls, surfing waves, diving or quiet moments just watching the world go by. Our favourite memories have been spent in the outdoors from meeting on a stormy Scottish beach to getting engaged in the rainforests of Australia.
We are new to this site but have had many experiences similar in Australia, in home stays and house sitting, using our skills to help on their land and our joint love of animals to take care of people’s beloved pets (Ben’s work with farm animals was always an added benefit and comfort to the owners).
We have loved immersing ourselves in new cultures and treasure the experiences and relationships we have collected along the way and look forward to gathering many more.

Interests

Videography

Photography

Yoga / Wellness

Van life

Sustainability

Outdoor activities

Pets

Nature

Performing arts

Events & social

Music

Mountain

History

Hiking

Fitness

Gardening

Farming

Dancing

Drawing & painting

DIY & crafts

Culture

Charity work

Cooking & food

Camping

Carpentry

Books

Art & design

Beach

Animals

Adventure sports

Languages

Languages spoken
English: Fluent

More details about my language interests
Both of us have a keen interest in learning Spanish, and have a little knowledge of French as Belles brother lives and works there.

Find a language buddy

Skills and knowledge we'd like to share or learn

Some knowledge of:  

Charity Work

Helping with Computers/ Internet

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Able to teach about:  

Gardening

DIY and building projects

Babysitting and creative play

General Maintenance

Creating/ Cooking family meals

Life at a Farmstay

Eco Projects

Helping around the house

Animal Care

Hospitality/Tourism

Art Projects

House sitting

Being an elderly companion

Teaching

More details about your skills

Ben:
Working land
6 years of gardening/ landscaping experience, from grass cutting, weeding, hedge cutting, fencing, turfing, irrigation, concrete and patio work.
Working with animals
Working on a free range chicken farm, collecting eggs, preparing orders for supermarkets, cleaning coops and maintaining equipment.
Tending a herd of show cattle, grooming, vaccinating, treating minor ailments, preparing for show days and assisting in sales.
Working with horses including cart horses.
Working on a sheep farm, lambing, shearing, general farm maintenance, cataloguing and selling at market, tagging and castrating.
Operating quad bikes, tractor, 4WD vehicles, hovercrafts and various power tools.
Spent 3 years as a general labourer and plasterer; Stripping old walls and hanging new plasterboard, Framing repairs, Plaster repairs, Mixing and top coating walls, Ceiling work, Painting.
3 seasons as a beach lifeguard in Scotland and Australia with advanced first aid certificates and skills.

Belle:
4 years as a full time tree surgeon, skills included, diagnosing tree hazards/projected problems, tree inspections, in depth knowledge on trees and plants, felling with chainsaw, chainsaw up a tree, rigging, speed lining, pruning, emergency jobs, operating a chipper and cherry picker, crown reduction, crown lift, high hedge orders, hedge reduction and giving advice on how to keep a healthy tree.
Gardening experience for 7 years through school and university, grass cutting, wedding, hedge cutting
Managed a cafe in Scotland for 2 years as experience barista, training people to become baristas, cooking and preparing organic, foraged and local produce. Ran community events including outreach to our elderly locals. Stock orders, till counting, hiring and managing staff in a healthy environment.
Alongside being a tree surgeon I worked part time as a dance and drama facilitator; working and communicating with groups of varying physical and mental abilities, lesson planning to accomodate all individuals, working with children from 6 weeks onwards and adults 90+, one on one sessions, guide for a blind performer, help organise, run and choreograph stage performances, create a space for people to be safe and happy and able to express themselves freely.
I studied Fashion and Contemporary Art at university, with my work focusing on human interaction through the medium of fashion and textiles and performance art.
In the past 2 years we have done pet sitting, caring for people’s homes and pets while they were on holiday, home stays living and working with people on their land and property. Helping people clean and run AirBnBs and rental properties. We are happy to provide references and contact details.
Individually and together we believe in turning our hands to anything, revelling in new challenges to learn and grow and take life with an open, can-do attitude.

Age

27 & 22

What else ...

We both love looking after our bodies and souls, the definition of kids at heart! We dabble in couples yoga (entertainment for all), love herbal teas the weirder the better, a good nights sleep and a beautiful sunset. We prefer a good conversation over a TV program and loving hearing other people’s stories and adventures. Our dream is our own patch of land, animals and oasis one day.

Some more information

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  Smoker

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  Driver's licence

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  Allergies
  Nuts

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  Special dietary requirements
  No Nuts