Help us renovate a 400 year old Bearnaise farmhouse in beautiful Auterrive, South West France

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least a week

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Hi, hubby and I (first timers) are renovating a nearly 400 year old Bearnaise farmhouse in a beautiful part of Aquitane. We are 50 minutes from Biarritz and an hour from the Pyrenees mountains. Lots of lovely market towns around within an easy drive. Fabulous restaurant within walking distance and a fishing lake across the road. Lovely golf courses in the area too.
    All of the difficult, complicated and heavy work has been basically done, it's now time to finish off with tasks like removing river stones from lawn, finishing off ancient floorboards and digging holes for fence posts. Suitable for a couple or 2 friends.
    I have 2 double en-suite bedtooms for your use and am not a bad cook. I also have 2 naughty puppies who are escape artists and need to be minded and 2 kittens, one of which is a dreadful thief.
    I would never ask you to do anything I wouldn't attempt myself and am definitely getting into the relaxed French way of life.
    More than happy to take you around with me or do drop offs and pick-up during leisure time.
    If you're travelling to improve your french then I'm unable to help as my French is still terrible but there are loads of lovely French and English speaking people around.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    General Maintenance
    Help around the house
    Animal Care
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    I love driving around to all of the medieval beautiful towns that surround us. Places like Salies de Bearn, Sauveterre, Navaranx etc. I also go further afield to Spain, Bayonne and Biarritz.
    There are many fetes at this time of year with bands and huge meals in the square.

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

    This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

  • Help

    Help

    I basically need help running the house, sorting the garden and looking after the pets plus a bit of renovation. If 2 garden/builder types arrive then I'll do pet care and cleaning. If a couple should come I'll swop places and do garden and pet care if someone prefers housework. I'm extremely flexible. Otherwise we can all muck in together on each project.
    1. Debris removal between floorboards and vanishing.
    2. Stone removal from lawn (not heavy) and a bit of a stone feature created.
    3. Washing extremely thin, new plaster off river stone wall.
    4. Attic (accessed by proper staircase) sorting and tidying.
    5. Pollyfilling gaps in walls
    6. Hole digging for fence posts
    7. Painting lounge.

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    2 double en-suite bedrooms in a very large house with pool.
    There's a well stocked fridge and 3 meals per day. Breakfast would be "help yourself" and the occasional 4 course lunch at the restaurant down the road.
    Smoking allowed on the patio.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    I moved here nearly a year ago and still constantly smile at the beautiful surroundings.
    Transport isn't great but there's a railway station 20 minutes away and I'm happy to transport to a certain degree. If required I should be able to borrow a couple of bikes.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • ...

    Hours expected

    Maximum 4-5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Host ref number: 452161233332

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