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Lend a hand with my home and garden in Lonlay L'Abbaye, France

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    I bought this restored cow barn in Basse Normandy in June 2019 and it is now my permanent home. It has 3 bedrooms and two bathrooms and is in the centre of what was an active farm, no more than a kilometre from the nearby village. A garden didn't really exist when I arrived - it was just about half an acre of rough grass, ferns, brambles and saplings. In the autumn, a local farmer helped to clear the saplings and brambles and I tackled anything left behind. I also began to establish a herbaceous border by planting annuals and then adding to them in the Spring. I also dug about 4 beds (originally full of large stones!) to make a 'potager' and planted all kinds of vegetables, mostly grown from seed. Now, in August, I realise I was too enthusiastic about planting 'haricot vert' - I am drowned in them but visitors and neighbours have helped eat them! The courgettes and squash are wandering all over the plot and tomatoes, fennel, beetroot, celery and salads are all doing well. I have a son and family in Paris who visit from time to time and a son and daughter who live in Sussex UK who also visit if they can. I am very self-sufficient but, at times, would very much like a strong helper to help with things in the garden or DIY projects (e.g. a pergola over the back terrace or stone steps down the garden). I am an artist and I speak Italian and English and am doing my best to speak French. If you would like to come here, I could help your spoken English and/or Italian and it would not be difficult for you to find classes in French in the nearby town of Flers. You would probably benefit from having a car or a bicycle so that you could explore the beautiful countryside. I am about 1 hour from the coast by car and, by train from Flers or Vire, about 2 hours from Paris. I could offer you board and lodging in return for some DIY help on the house and work in the garden.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    General Maintenance
    Language practice
    Art Projects
    Help with Computers/ Internet
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    I am an artist. When I have time, I like drawing, painting and making characters from papier mache. I consider my house and my garden to be part of my creativity and I might spend time drawing, for example, architectural features inside an ancient church or an old industrial building or flowers or portraits from photographs. I speak Italian and English and am doing my best to speak French. If you would like to come here, I could help your spoken English and/or Italian and it would not be difficult for you to find classes in French in the nearby town of Flers. You would probably benefit from having a car or a bicycle so that you could explore the beautiful countryside. I am about 1 hour from the coast by car and, by train from Flers or Vire, about 2 hours from the coast or Paris.

  • Help

    Help

    I am very self-sufficient but, at times, would very much like a strong student to help with things in the garden or little building projects (e.g. a pergola over the back terrace or stone steps down the garden). I am an artist and I speak Italian and English and am doing my best to speak French. If you would like to come here, I could help your spoken English and/or Italian and it would not be difficult for you to find classes in French in the nearby town of Flers. You would probably benefit from having a car or a bicycle so that you could explore the beautiful countryside. I am about 1 hour from the coast by car and, by train from Flers or Vire, about 2 hours from Paris. I could offer you board and lodging in return for some structural help on the house and in the garden.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    Italian: Fluent
    French: Beginner

    This host offers a language exchange
    This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
    You can contact them directly for more information.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    I could offer you your own bedroom and family bathroom and perhaps we could share in the cooking in return for some DIY help on the house and help in the garden. I have excellent internet provision.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    There is a beautiful old abbey and a pottery museum in nearby villages and, further afield, the Bayeux tapestry and cathedrals in Caen and Rouen to name just two. Also, the Caen Memorial Museum and the Normandy beaches that featured in the Allied landings in 1944.

  • 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?

    One

  • ...

    Hours expected

    Perhaps a couple of hours a day

Host ref number: 689533829673

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