Pet-sitting in the Staffordshire Moorlands, UK
Last activity
: 30 Oct 2024
Profile information
Usually responds within 13 days
Min stay requested: at least 3 weeks
Workawayers needed
Possibility that workawayers are needed
No availability
Details
Host ref number: 892985771391
Feedback (32)
Left by host for Workawayer (Benjamin & Rebekah)
Very sad to see Ben and Bex leave after less than 3 weeks. It was planned that way but I really wish they could have stayed much longer. They are two hugely inspirational young people who are also very kind, considerate and respectful… and they love animals as much as I do!
Ben and Bex brought joy and fun to my house. They are ‘glass full’ people
… read more (no half measures with them). Ben is the master of chill and Bex has an incredibly infectious laugh and huge personality . We all (me, my friends, and particularly my dogs) love them to bits and can’t wait to see them again.
They were also very disciplined and made sure that my dogs were looked after and came first. The house was kept impeccably clean and tidy throughout their stay. Ben helped with lots of jobs that I didn’t ask him to, for which I am extremely grateful.
They cooked my friend and I an incredible feast on the last night and Ben painted a beautiful picture of my dogs. He’s a very talented artist.
Ben and Bex have big hearts and are amongst those great people in life that you’ll never forget. Bon voyage both and see you asap!!
Left by Workawayer (Benjamin & Rebekah) for host
Well, where to start? We only stayed for a short while due to other commitments and we fell in love, we would have LOVED to have stayed longer! The dogs, Cleo and Duke are just the sweetest and lovable furry companions you could hope to spend time with. Always happy to have attention, cuddles and strokes.
There are plenty of fantastic walks
… read more nearby to take the dogs, or if you fancy staying local there is plenty of space for the dogs to explore and for you to spend time with the horses and goats at the same time! There’s plenty to do in the area and we were never twiddling our thumbs for ideas… whether it’s pottery (Gladstone/Middleport), hikes (Lud’s Church), charming towns (Eyam) or great food (Thornbury Hall/Hetty’s cafe) there is something to do to keep occupied. Nicki has also recommended these and other great spots to go!
The house is absolutely stunning and we felt very at home in no time at all. It’s a really incredible place to stay! Please do see for yourself!
It’s hard to put into words what it’s like to spend time with Nicki (and John!) as she instantly makes you feel welcomed and is an inspiration with plenty of travel stories and adventures to share. Nicki is an easy-going person and anyone is lucky to be around her and stay in her beautiful, beautiful home!
We love you Nicki and of course Cleo and Duke - we will be back 100%
Bex and Ben
XxThis workawayer has chosen to keep their profile private, but can be contacted regarding this feedback by other workawayers.
(Excellent
)
Left by host for Workawayer (Makenna)
Workaway is such a great experience when you come across someone as special as Makenna… who has great depth of character and maturity for someone so young .
She instantly clicked with me and my dogs and she took great care of my dogs and my house. I honestly think she loved my dogs as much as I do !
She was really helpful and supportive
… read more throughout her stay and always offered to help. I enjoyed making jam with her and she became a great digger driver!
I found Makenna to be kind and thoughtful but also charismatic and intelligent . She has a high degree of emotional intelligence and I really enjoyed our conversations on diverse topics..
I’d welcome Makenna back in a heartbeat and highly recommend her to other hosts.
Thanks for everything you did for us Makenna. We all miss you and wish you bon voyage and une bonne vie.
Left by Workawayer (Rose) for host
Staying with Nicki was an amazing experience! She is brilliant, kind, a lot of fun. The house is beautiful, my room looked like a princess room with spectacular views of the fields and the countryside.
Clio and Duke, lovely gentle giants, were a delight to have around. I enjoyed the peace and quiet of the location, as well as the daily trips to
… read more the little villages close by with the bus stop right in front.
I hope to see you all again!Left by host for Workawayer (Rose)
Rose was amazing! What a lovely lady. She settled in straight away and became like family to us.
She is probably the most courageous and adventurous woman that I have ever met. She has done so many things in her life that most people can’t imagine! Around the house she was very clean, tidy and organised. The dogs love her.
It was such an honour
… read more to have Rose stay with us and I wish her all the best for the future and sincerely hope to stay in touch.
Thank you Rose for everything!Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Left by host for Workawayer (Benjamin & Rebekah)
Very sad to see Ben and Bex leave after less than 3 weeks. It was planned that way but I really wish they could have stayed much longer. They are two hugely inspirational young people who are also very kind, considerate and respectful… and they love animals as much as I do!
Ben and Bex brought joy and fun to my house. They are ‘glass full’ people
… read more (no half measures with them). Ben is the master of chill and Bex has an incredibly infectious laugh and huge personality . We all (me, my friends, and particularly my dogs) love them to bits and can’t wait to see them again.
They were also very disciplined and made sure that my dogs were looked after and came first. The house was kept impeccably clean and tidy throughout their stay. Ben helped with lots of jobs that I didn’t ask him to, for which I am extremely grateful.
They cooked my friend and I an incredible feast on the last night and Ben painted a beautiful picture of my dogs. He’s a very talented artist.
Ben and Bex have big hearts and are amongst those great people in life that you’ll never forget. Bon voyage both and see you asap!!
Left by Workawayer (Benjamin & Rebekah) for host
Well, where to start? We only stayed for a short while due to other commitments and we fell in love, we would have LOVED to have stayed longer! The dogs, Cleo and Duke are just the sweetest and lovable furry companions you could hope to spend time with. Always happy to have attention, cuddles and strokes.
There are plenty of fantastic walks
… read more nearby to take the dogs, or if you fancy staying local there is plenty of space for the dogs to explore and for you to spend time with the horses and goats at the same time! There’s plenty to do in the area and we were never twiddling our thumbs for ideas… whether it’s pottery (Gladstone/Middleport), hikes (Lud’s Church), charming towns (Eyam) or great food (Thornbury Hall/Hetty’s cafe) there is something to do to keep occupied. Nicki has also recommended these and other great spots to go!
The house is absolutely stunning and we felt very at home in no time at all. It’s a really incredible place to stay! Please do see for yourself!
It’s hard to put into words what it’s like to spend time with Nicki (and John!) as she instantly makes you feel welcomed and is an inspiration with plenty of travel stories and adventures to share. Nicki is an easy-going person and anyone is lucky to be around her and stay in her beautiful, beautiful home!
We love you Nicki and of course Cleo and Duke - we will be back 100%
Bex and Ben
XxThis workawayer has chosen to keep their profile private, but can be contacted regarding this feedback by other workawayers.
(Excellent)
Left by host for Workawayer (Makenna)
Workaway is such a great experience when you come across someone as special as Makenna… who has great depth of character and maturity for someone so young .
She instantly clicked with me and my dogs and she took great care of my dogs and my house. I honestly think she loved my dogs as much as I do !
She was really helpful and supportive
… read more throughout her stay and always offered to help. I enjoyed making jam with her and she became a great digger driver!
I found Makenna to be kind and thoughtful but also charismatic and intelligent . She has a high degree of emotional intelligence and I really enjoyed our conversations on diverse topics..
I’d welcome Makenna back in a heartbeat and highly recommend her to other hosts.
Thanks for everything you did for us Makenna. We all miss you and wish you bon voyage and une bonne vie.
Left by Workawayer (Rose) for host
Staying with Nicki was an amazing experience! She is brilliant, kind, a lot of fun. The house is beautiful, my room looked like a princess room with spectacular views of the fields and the countryside.
Clio and Duke, lovely gentle giants, were a delight to have around. I enjoyed the peace and quiet of the location, as well as the daily trips to
… read more the little villages close by with the bus stop right in front.
I hope to see you all again!Left by host for Workawayer (Rose)
Rose was amazing! What a lovely lady. She settled in straight away and became like family to us.
She is probably the most courageous and adventurous woman that I have ever met. She has done so many things in her life that most people can’t imagine! Around the house she was very clean, tidy and organised. The dogs love her.
It was such an honour
… read more to have Rose stay with us and I wish her all the best for the future and sincerely hope to stay in touch.
Thank you Rose for everything!
Left by Workawayer (Loïc & Mathilde) for host
We stayed at Nicki's house for 3 months and it was a beautiful experience. Nicki is a wonderful person, very king, friendly, smiling and helpful. We could easily plan our days off to visit the surrounding cities (Manchester, Liverpool, London, Oxford, etc.). She always offered to take us to the train station or into town so we didn't have to take
… read more the bus - she's a lovely lady! We could also easily take the bus to visit the surrounding area and go shopping, as the bus stop is located right in front of the house. We enjoyed talking with Nicki and sharing our respective experiences on different subjects, all our conversations was very interesting. She also always took the time to help and advise us on learning English, which we really appreciated.
We had the opportunity to meet Nicki’s friends and family (John and Mark), who are very nice people, and it was a pleasure to get to know them. They were also very helpful with our English, thank you.
We enjoyed taking care of the two adorable dogs Duke and Cleo ! Duke is always very excited and energetic (especially about eating and going for long walks). We enjoyed our walks with him in the surrounding villages. Cleo is quieter and more reserved, but just as adorable, and we loved spending time with her outside playing.
Take care of yourself, your loved ones and the dogs.
Thanks again for welcoming us !
Mathilde and Loïc, the frenchies.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
Left by host for Workawayer (Sarah)
I have been a Workaway host for a long time and had the opportunity to host a lot of lovely people but Sarah proved herself to be a uniquely special person. It was a privilege to get to know her. She was great with my dogs and was a delight to have around. I would highly recommend her to other hosts. A very deep, sincere. respectful and balanced
… read more young lady who is one of the good people on this planet. Thanks so much Sarah and best of luck for you’d future!
Left by Workawayer (Karen) for host
I stayed with Nikki and her beautiful dogs as a last minute request in December.
I loved every minute of it. Nikki is such an amazing person, her dogs just love to be loved and cuddled and the house is fab.
Nikki is so understanding and nothing is a problem as i found out when i had a family emergency...and it was all so easy.
Nikki went away
… read more for a week and introduced me to her friend and neighbour incase i needed anything.
I can totally recommend Nikki and her amazing animals.
I hope to see you again soon.
Karen xxYou can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
Left by host for Workawayer (Karen)
Karen came for only 11 days but she settled straight in and was a godsend. I was able to confidently leave only one day after she arrived to go away for a week and she looked after my house and more importantly my dogs brilliantly. She is a very friendly and interesting person and easy to have around. She is self-motivated and respectful of others
… read more and communicates really well. Her daughter came for a couple of days and she was equally delightful. I highly recommend Karen to any hosts.
Left by host for Workawayer (Dan & Kanami)
Dan and Kanami are a lovely couple, very friendly, polite and respectful. I enjoyed having them stay here and my dogs loved them. I felt I could trust them completely to take care of the dogs and house. They were always happy and positive, even when I gave Kanami my nasty bug. They helped round the place even when I didn't ask them to :-)
They
… read more didn;t complain about the cold house (difficult to keep warm in very cold weather).
Kanami cooked every day and always filled the kitchen with delicious aromas. I wish them both well and success for the future and would recommend them highly to any future hosts.
Left by Workawayer (Dan & Kanami) for host
Me and Dan have stayed her wonderful house for about 7 weeks.
Our mainly job was dogs sitting, and I cleaned the house sometimes.
Luckily, Duke and us became friends quickly! Cleo was always polite.
When I stayed with dongs in livingroom, I was able to enjoy their snoring. And I've enjoyed her garden with dogs. Cleo will wait expectantly for you
… read more to stroke her bum or tummy if you go near her. She was so lovely.
I loved Duke because he was always looking for opportunities to eat and would sometimes act funny.
Nicky was a great host and gave me great advice on my work and English.
I enjoyed my time here because she was smart and really reliable.
Thank you for everything, Nicky! I'm sure we will meet at the Shop :)
Kanami and Dan.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
Left by host for Workawayer (Isaac)
Isaac stayed with me for a month or so with his friend Malin. They looked after my dogs really well and did everything that I asked of them. The dogs adored them from the first moment. They were polite and respectful and I was very happy to have them in my home and trust them to take care of everything in my absence. They are both lovely young
… read more people and very mature for their age. It was a real pleasure to meet and host them. I’d have no hesitation to recommend them to others and would love to welcome them back. They are two lovely young people who will go far in their lives. Thanks for everything you did for me and the dogs. I look forward to hearing how things work out for you and wish you every success.
Left by Workawayer (Isaac) for host
Me and my friend stayed a bit over two weeks with Nicki and her dogs, and it was amazing!! Duke and Cleo are the sweetest dogs ever and we got along immediately! Nicki is a great host and a super sweet person. She was extremely kind and made us feel very welcomed in her home. The job to take care of the dogs is easy and the instructions are
… read more extremely clear. It was also easy to make plans that fit us and the communication we had was always great. We got to see many places around like Nottingham, Birmingham, the Peak District, Manchester, Sheffield and Wolverhampton. I would definitely recommend Nicki as a host! I hope our paths cross again! Would definitely love to come back!!
Left by host for Workawayer (Malin)
Malin and Isaac stayed with me for a month or so. They looked after my dogs really well and did everything that I asked of them. They were polite and respectful and I was very happy to have them in my home and trust them to take care of everything in my absence. They are both lovely young people and very mature for their age. I’d have no
… read more hesitation to recommend them or have them back. Two lovely young people who will go far in their lives. Thanks both for everything you did for me and the dogs.
Left by Workawayer (Malin) for host
This was my first Workaway experience, and it exceeded all my expectations. Nicki was a wonderful person, and her house is even more magical than the pictures shows! The dogs were the sweetest ever. Duke is the loveliest dog, and he craves a bit of attention, play and cuddles, which I happily provided. Cleo is the true ower of the house, and it's
… read more obvius! She knows her ways, and it's the most adorable thing ever! My favorite activity was spending time in the garden with them. Watching them play with apples, sticks, and just being there created beautiful memories. The countryside setting is absolutely stunning, with fields, farms, and a charming rural atmosphere. I highly recommend this experience if you want that country feeling. We did travel with trains to see bigger cities so thats possible to mix in. Everything from communication, accommodation, food, and planning worked perfectly. I stayed with my friend for a little over two weeks, and it was like a dream!
Thank you, Nicki, for this opportunity with your wonderful little family!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
Left by host for Workawayer (Zhaoyang)
Zhaoyang left yesterday after a month with me. The dogs and I miss her very much. She brought sunshine into our home. Zhaoyang is a wonderful person who is intelligent, caring, mature in outlook, kind, easy going and lots of fun. She fitted in perfectly and cared for the dogs and my house wonderfully. I had no concerns whatsoever about leaving her
… read more alone. She built trust with my anxious dog Duke in minutes. Often this can take days. I am very lucky to have had such a fabulous person stay with me.
Left by Workawayer (Frankie) for host
I stayed in Nicki's beautiful home for just over a month. Nicki is very friendly and easy to talk to, so I felt welcomed right away.
The main duties were obviously the dogs - I learnt more about doggy medicine and care then I thought I would ;) - but they are both lovely and easy to manage.
The Dogs: Cleo is the boss and diva of the household who
… read more loves her belly rubs. Duke is a little nervous but warms up quickly to anyone who gives him food.
As well as dog care I had plenty of time to explore the area and do other work around the house like sanding & repainted outdoor furniture, mowing & strimming the lawn and general cleaning jobs. If you want to explore the Peaks and love big dogs then you won't find a better option then Nicki's, I hope to visit again :)You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
Left by host for Workawayer (Frankie)
I am so glad to have had the opportunity to host Frankie. She is a lovely and very interesting person and very easy to have around. My dogs absolutely adored her. Even Duke, who is very anxious, took to her within seconds.
I was away a lot of the time that Frankie was here and she cared for the dogs and the house admirably. She did a lot of jobs
… read more that I didn't ask her to do including cleaning the whole house and many aspects of gardening. She also renovated my teak garden table and chairs and gave them a new lease of life.
I regret that I wasn't able to spend more time with Frankie and I would sincerely recommend her to any other host. I have had many workawayers in the last 6 years but Frankie is one of the best ever. Thank you Frankie for all that you did for us.
Left by host for Workawayer (Seth)
Seth stayed with me for a couple of months and the day he arrived he fitted right in. He is such a fun and positive person and although only 19 years old he has great depth and maturity as well as emotional intelligence. He is a very intelligent, caring and considerate and highly self motivated individual who is a pleasure to have around.
He
… read more looked after my dogs and my house perfectly whilst I was away.
He instantly bonded with my 3 dogs and took on care of my 14 year old Newfoundland Xena with her ailments and problems which meant cleaning up after her constantly. He never complained, just took it in his stride and with a smile.
Xena has since passed away but I am thankful that Seth helped to make her last weeks as lovely as they could be.
The dogs and I were very sad when Seth left but all good things have to come to an end and I wish him much success in his life and hope he will be back someday.
I highly recommend Seth to any host, he is one in a million.
Left by Workawayer (Seth) for host
I was lucky enough to spend 2 months with Nicki and her dogs in her beautiful home. Nicki is an absolutely amazing person, she was so welcoming, understanding and welcoming. Her home is absolutely beautiful and the work is more than fair, she's very encouraging if you'd like to explore the surrounding areas or if you'd like to catch a train to
… read more London or really anywhere. The location is perfect in a cute little village with a convince store a short walk and buses that you take you to any of the neighboring towns. And the dogs were absolutely amazing and I will miss them all so much, they're a bunch of sweet, well behaved and cuddly teddy bears. I hope to return next summer to spend more time with the amazing woman that is Nicki it is truly a pleasure to meet her and her fluffy family!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
Left by Workawayer (Ella & Muriel) for host
We are very grateful for Nicky that she let us stay with her so spontaneously and she really helped us out by inviting us over only a few days after we got in contact with her. We directly felt comfortable at Nicky's because she is very welcoming and easy to be around with. We've spend lots of time with her three dogs Xena, Chleo and Duke. If you
… read more are not afraid of bigger dogs, you will love them because once you get to know them, their friendly and happy personalities are a huge gain of your stay! We fed them every morning and evening and cleaned their outdoor area as well as grooming them. Another task was to let the chickens out in the mornings and put them back into their stable in the evenings or checking their food and water. We also cuddled with Nicky's goats Molly and Lulu, wich was fun. We liked the tasks we did because they were very diverse and every day was quite different. We did tasks like gardening, cleaning or preparing stuff to sell it on eBay. She appreciated everything we did and days off were also not a problem. During our stay at Nicky's we felt like a part of the family because we met some of her friends and she showed us some places she likes. She is very kind and caring and did everything she could even when we had a car breakdown.
We highly reccomend Nicky when you are looking for a place to spend a beautiful time at. On the one side we visited some cities like Liverpool, Manchester and Oxford but we were also able to spend some time in the nature because the Peak District is only a 20 minutes car ride away.
Thank you Nicky for trusting us and letting us stay so spontaneously. We had a wonderful time wich we will never forget!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
Left by host for Workawayer (Ella & Muriel)
I was very lucky to have Ella and Muriel stay with me for a few weeks. They are delightful young ladies, very friendly, kind, respectful and interesting to talk to. They are also extremely hard working / dedicated and were meticulous with the things that they helped me with. They are self motivated, and participate as if they were a family member,
… read more which is so nice. They fitted in perfectly and my dogs loved them straight away.
Ella and Muriel are a real credit to their families. I cannot recommend them highly enough. Eleven out of ten!!! :-)
Left by Workawayer (Zara) for host
Eventhough my stay was short, l feel we got close and could talk like old friends. Nikkie is a gracious lady who wasn't comfortable to tell me what to do, so I was initiative which was welcomed by her. She was appreciative of my work which felt nice, and we had a good laugh with her rating me with gold stars. Taking care of the dogs was easy as
… read more she's so good to explain their personalities and routine, even Duke that could be nervous with new people wasn't a problem and we got on well.Left by host for Workawayer (Zara)
Zara sadly only stayed a few days due to family circumstances but she fitted in straight away. She is a gregarious person, interesting and interested, and works very hard. She cleaned my house from top to bottom! I'm sure we will stay in touch. I'd very much recommend her to other hosts.
Left by Workawayer (Chantal) for host
Staying at Nicki her residence has been a wholesome experience, I came to work on my English and Nicki took every opportunity to help me in any way possible. Nicki has a beautiful home and lovely dogs, goats and chickens! She is very hospitable and one of the most intelligent, interesting and delightful people I have ever met!
I recommend her
… read more address for everyone that wants to be outside and spend as much time with three cuddly dogs as possible :)Left by host for Workawayer (Chantal)
Chantal exceded my expectations as a Workawayer. She is a self-starter – it is not necessary to tell her what to do, she sees it for herself and does it. She is hard working, polite, courteous, resilient, and has a good sense of humour. She is a delightful person to have around. She has done an amazing job of looking after my 3 huge dogs and my
… read more other animals. Also a good cook! I was sad to see her leave but happy to have had the opportunity to get to know her.
Thank you Chantal!
Left by host for Workawayer (Malcolm)
What an amazing guy! Malcolm is a super hard worker, a true friend and a wonderful person.
I can't thank him enough for everything that he did for me, not only tasks but the friendship that he gave me.
On tasks, Malcolm was amazing. My house has never been cleaner! I never had to ask him to do thing, he just did them and always with a smile. He
… read more was amazing with my dogs from the first moment, even with my very anxious boy.
As a person Malcolm has a very high level of integrity, honesty and trustworthiness. People like him are very rare on this planet.
I was so sad to see Malcolm leave but I wish him all the best for the future - which he truly deserves.
If you have a chance to host Malcolm, don't think twice!
Left by Workawayer (Malcolm) for host
Stayed 2 months. One of the best experience of my life.
If Nicky contacts you, don't hesitate.
I was lucky to be contacted and i will never forget these incredible months at Nicki's.
Forever grateful.
Thank you Nicki, Xhena, Cleo and Duke
You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
Left by host for Workawayer (Eduardo)
Eduardo was such a lovely person to have around. From the moment he arrived I felt completely at ease with him. He is very sensible, diligent, respectful, tidy, well organised, intelligent, considerate, great company ..... It was a joy to get to know him. My dogs loved him from the first moment.
Eduardo, I hope to see you again one day. Please
… read more consider this as your second home. Meanwhile I know that you will be super successful in your career and you deserve to be!
Hugs from all of us!
Left by Workawayer (Eduardo) for host
Nicki lives in a small village between Manchester and Birmingham, this place and the surrounds are amazing! She love animals, she have three Newfoundland dogs, six chickens and two photogenic coats!
Since I arrived I have felt like one of the family, I have learned a lot from you and I want to let you know that you are an example to
… read more follow.
Nicki is incredible, she is a very good person, respectful and kindy person.
I will always carry you in my heart and I will remember the good times we have enjoyed together (and your little animals).
A hug with all the affection,
EduardoYou can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
Left by Workawayer (Robin) for host
I stayed at Nicki's for 11 Weeks for my University's Stay Abroad. My whole time there I felt at home and she made my Stay Abroad a wonderful experience that I will be thinking back on for a long time.
Nicki is a wonderful, generous, honest and kind person with a great sense of humour. I really enjoyed all our conversations and her interesting
… read more stories from all around the world.
And honestly, even though I only left 4 days ago, I already miss her... and Jon... and the dogs... and Lulu and Molly and the chickens... and the horses... and Sweeney Todd... and the ride-on-lawnmower... and the house and the beautiful gardens/nature surrounding it. However, I do not think I miss Jake (the cockerel) he is a bit of a meanie... Although to be fair he would be quite successful at waking me up in the morning because I had to make sure that he wouldn't straight up charge me when I let him out of the shed... so I guess I also kind of miss Jake. He is certainly more effective than coffee.
Nicki's house and its surrounding area is one big project and there is always some fun work to do. (Pro-Tip: The ride-on-lawnmower is the best job by far)
My tasks were amazingly diverse. One day I would be cleaning out the chicken shed, another I would be sanding a wooden floor in the attic and the next I would be cutting bushes and hedges all around the house. Some other things I did: Clean the stables, assisting with repairs of machinery, repairing a wooden floor, prepare some items to sell on eBay, some cooking, feeding the dogs, cuddle the goats, clean the field etc.
Also, I did take care of the chickens every day (5 Chicks were born just after I arrived, which was lovely) and would often feed the dogs in the morning and the evening.
Some of the tasks, especially garden work, can (of course) be physically quite demanding. This wasn't a problem for me but there are always a hundred different tasks that can be done around the house and that there is certainly something for everyone. Also, my hard work was always well compensated for with the amazing food that Nicki bought for me. (Pro tip: Work hard -> get a lot of amazing food.) (Second pro tip: Be careful when going shopping with Nicki, the speed she shops at is a workout by itself if you want to keep up).
The dogs deserve their own paragraph:
Cleo is the happiest and cuddliest dog that I ever met and the amount of excitement that she displays when you give her attention is the cutest thing on earth. She also has the funniest face of the three, she always looks like she just did something bad and is trying to hide it. Additionally, she also is the one of the three that you can't really bribe with food. Good thing is that you don't really need to bribe Cleo as from the instant you meet her she will just accept you into her heart.
Xena is the oldest of the three, at 13 (!) years of age she knows that she is the boss and doesn't need to prove it anymore. She is way too confident and things usually go according to her plans. When she wants butt-scratches she will push her butt against you so hard that you just might fall over. When she wants food she will bark and look at you until she gets food (and trust me she can eat and bark a lot). When she wants to enter the house she will basically headbutt the door and make sure to stand right in front of you when you're about to enter, so that there is no chance she doesn't get in. Also, funny story, she took me on a walk once... 5 meters from the gate she decided this was enough for today, stood stubbornly still for 5 minutes while I tried to persuade her that it was a beautiful day for a walk, only for her to turn right around and go back home.
Duke takes some time to get used to you but once he does he is an incredibly cute and energetic dog. The words 'food' and 'walk' make him jump around like a bouncy ball and running away from you with toys (or apples) in his mouth is his favourite activity. He also gets incredibly cuddly once he knows you well enough and running around the garden with him was one of the greatest joys during my time there. His slobbery kisses and face-licks are also beautiful. He is the biggest food monster of the three and the mere crackle of what might be the plastic wrapping around bread or toast ensures that you get his full attention... at least until he realizes that he is not getting any. He will however beg for food every time.
To sum up: The dogs are just amazing and considering how big they are they just couldn't be more gentle and loving. The walks I would go on with Nicki, Jon, and the dogs were always fun and interesting and introduced me to many of the beautiful landscapes around Kingsley.
All in all, I couldn't have wished for a better host for my Stay Abroad. I am incredibly thankful for the time I got to spend at Nicki's place and will cherish the memories for the rest of my life!
Thank you for everything Nicki! I hope to be back very soon!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
Left by host for Workawayer (Robin)
It was such a pleasure and a true honour to get to know Robin. What an amazing person he is! He is so diligent, industrious, intelligent and thoughtful. Everything that I asked him to do was done to 100%. That aside, it was so great to have him around, like having my closest favourite relative here. He is a real beacon of light, a bundle of
… read more positive energy. He always smiles and makes everyone around him feel happy. My dogs formed a very close bond with him and they already miss him greatly, as do I. His family must be very proud of him.
Robin would always be welcome here anytime and I would hugely recommend him to any other host if he ever chose to do workaway again.
Thank you so much Robin for all that you have done for us and for helping to make the summer so enjoyable. I wish you huge success and happiness in your future life and career.
Left by host for Workawayer (Nebai)
My dear friend Nebai, who I loved the moment I met her, is such a sweet and endearing person, and a true pleasure to have around. She absolutely loves dogs and takes tremendous care of them. She is vey clean and tidy, and did everything that I asked of her. Nebai came for 6 weeks but due to Covid she could not get home to Spain and stayed for 7
… read more months. It was a pleasure to have her company for all that time. We cooked a vegan south Asian banquet together for Christmas and baked German biscuits. It was like having a daughter, not a workawayer. Nebai speaks better english than I do and is a self starter. She has had a very interesting life so far and is really interesting to talk to. It has been so difficult for young people during this pandemic but Nebai just accepted it and took pleasure from the little things in life like sunsets and cuddling the dogs.
With the dogs she really was amazing. One of my dogs (a rescue dog, Duke) has severe behavioural issues due to his former life and she diligently worked with him. I felt 100% confident that the dogs were safe and cared for by Nebai. Over the months she was here we saw real improvements in Duke's behaviour.
I highly recommend Nebai to any host.
Left by Workawayer (Nebai) for host
I arrived in September last year for 6 weeks and almost seven months later, I'm getting ready to leave in a few hours, but I know a part of me will always stay here. My first Workaway experience with Niki and the dogs has been unforgettable, and I honestly think she's one of the most generous and kind people I know. Yes, spending two national
… read more lockdowns in a little village with no amenities wasn't ideal, but she went out of her way to make sure I had everything I needed at all times and I'm really grateful for that. Also, having nature on our doorstep meant I had lots of freedom to go out with the dogs without seeing any crowds, or sometimes even any person in our walks and I felt really safe at all times.
What can I say about the dogs? They stole my heart since the first time I saw them, and if you come you'll understand why. Xena is an independent old lady, and she likes to be on her own, but she loves people and cuddles, even from strangers in walks, and treats even more. Sometimes you'll think she is walking you and not the other way around because she likes to have the upper hand, and I love that about her.
Cleo is the most gentle and kind dog I've ever seen. She looks after everyone and likes to clean us frequently so tickling is guaranteed. She doesn't like to be the centre of attention and has the Sleeping Beauty title of the house, but give her a few cuddles and she'll be forever yours.
Duke will be the hardest to describe, because I know I'm no 100% objective with him, but I'm going to try.
To start, you'll need patience until he gets used to a new person. He doesn't like changes or different things, with me it took two days until we could get closer and he was comfortable. We have been training him for a few months now, and seeing the change he's made, from a scary and anxious dog to a much calmer and happier one, is one of my greatest accomplishments and makes me so proud of him. He has a loving and pure heart, and only wants love from you, and food of course because he is a foodie monster. He does take more work than the girls, and more patience with the training too, but I can assure you it's so rewarding you won't mind the time spent.
So if you'd read until here you have probably realised you have to be an animal lover to come. The job couldn't be easier, it doesn't feel like a job at all. I did lots of different things, but mainly taking care of the animals every day (Duke, Xena and Cleo, and also Molly and Lulu, the goats, and the three chickens and Jake, the cockerel), general cleaning outside and lawnmower in the summer, painting outside and renovating some original furniture from the house, and in the winter months more indoor everyday tasks like cleaning, cooking... I did learn different renovation techniques from Nicki and they're all super effective and fast!
I can't really thank you enough for all your kindness and for giving me the opportunity of spending such a long time with you. Also to John, who in this time has become a friend too, and when it was allowed took me to many towns and villages, giving me a local perspective, and for walks in nature and our supermarket trips, and I couldn't enjoy it more!
I'm going to miss you every day, but I'm certain we will see each other very very soon!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
Left by host for Workawayer (Hannah)
Hannah is a positive and happy person. She always smiles.
She doesn’t have many life skills but has pushed herself out of her comfort zone to learn some. It is courageous to do Workaway in the current climate.
Hannah was tidy and respectful. She did the tasks that I asked her to. I showed her how to do gardening tasks, painting and cleaning.
She
… read more was great with my dogs, and they loved walking with her.
I wish her well.
Left by Workawayer (danimejias) for host
Nicki is a beautiful person! Very kind, worried and cordial. This was my first workaway experience and it has been incredible! I have been 4 weeks with her and her beautiful animals. Three giant dogs, seven chickens and two goats. I have fallen in love with those dogs !! The house is beautiful and has an incredible view. Thank you very much Nicki
… read more for helping me with everything I needed. Especially with my English !! I hope to see you again Nicki :)You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
Left by host for Workawayer (danimejias)
Daniela is a courageous, sincere and warm person. It was a pleasure to have her here.
She improved her English language skills whilst here and we were able to have some nice conversations.
She was a little phased, I think, by seeing my huge dogs for the first time but she soon became close to them and was so kind and thoughtful. She did all of
… read more the tasks that I asked her to do and more.
Good luck in your life's adventure Daniela and keep in touch please!
Left by host for Workawayer (Morgana)
Morgana, was great fun and very practical. She is amazing with dogs... a true dog whisperer! She was tidy and helpful, and did the jobs that I asked her to very well.
Morgana, thanks for coming to stay with me, it was lovely to meet you and have you here. The dogs really miss you, particularly Louis! Good luck with your final year of studies, I'm
… read more sure you will be very successful!
Left by host for Workawayer (Portia)
It was a true pleasure to have met Portia. She was a delight from the first day. She is so positive, happy, capable and has an amazing can-do attitude. She fitted in right away and undertook all the tasks that I asked her to do - and many more - with great enthusiasm, even the not so pleasant jobs. She is a very interesting person and fun to have
… read more around. She is the perfect workawayer. She can turn her hand to anything. She is clean and tidy, well organised, reliable, responsible, polite, proactive, helpful. I highly recommend her to any other host.
Portia, you are welcome here anytime and I wish you a wonderful happy life wherever you end up.
Left by Workawayer (Portia) for host
What a wonderful month I’ve just spent with Nicki, Svenja and Paul and so many lovable animals. This house was such a positive place to be. The work was enjoyable and ranged from feeding animals to paint stripping to strimming. Svenja was a great teacher. Nicki has a heart of gold and I felt at home immediately. She treats her workawayers well and
… read more the rectory is a beautiful piece of history. We had great conversations and I learned so much from everyone. I will keep such fond memories of my time here.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
Left by Workawayer (Miguel ) for host
I spent a month a Nicki’s house, and it was my first workaway experience. This was amazing, all people there is polite and funny. The place is beautiful, and the task are no complicated. Look after the animals is more pleasant than work.
The room is big and comfortable. But the most important is the experience and lovely people that you met
… read more there. Super recommendable.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
Left by Workawayer (Nicolas) for host
This was my first Workaway experience, and it was a pleasant experience , Nicki is a very kind person and she made me feel like at home since the first day, i don't forget also Svenia and Paul who helped me to improve my english! And also two lovelyl dog (two newfoundland) I had a great time with them and it's was perfect place to start my UK trip
… read more
Kind regards,
NicoYou can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
Left by Workawayer (Louis & Anaïs) for host
We could not have had a better experience with WORKAWAY.
We stayed 3 months at Nicki's and it was a great adventure. Nicki is adorable, and this summer has been a great time for us two.
We love working with animals, dogs, goats, horses and without forgetting Bruce the goose.
See you Nicki ! ;)
You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
Left by host for Workawayer (Louis & Anaïs)
Louis and Anais spent 3 months here for the summer 2018. They were really easy to have around, and a lovely couple. I really enjoyed having them stay with me. They did a great job of keeping the garden in good shape and looing after my animals. Their chocolate cake and crepes are to die for!! I really hope to see you both again.
Left by host for Workawayer (Sid)
Sid was amazing. Within a day of arriving here he had already sorted out numerous things that I didn't even ask him to do! He has such positive energy that permeates everyone around him. He is a courageous and optimistic person, a delight to have around. We loved Sid's company, his happy demeanour and always smiling face - and his great cooking.
… read more He is such an interesting, capable guy as well as being very honest and trustworthy. If you want a real handyman around the place Sid is your man. He transformed my place in 2 short weeks. I truly hope that you will come to stay with us again Sid. We miss you.
Left by Workawayer (Sid) for host
Exceptional stay!!
If you're looking to stay in a breathtakingly beautiful part of the world, in a 200 year-old quintessential English mansion, with friendly dogs, horses, goats, and even chickens, with a funny, intelligent, warm and generous host, together with a long-term (and most awesome) workawayer...then my friends...do not look any
… read more further!
Superb experience, and one I'd like to do many times (as others have) more. Thank you Nicki for all you are and give to others. Bravo Madam!!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
Left by Workawayer (Rotem) for host
So this feedback is hard to write because it means I'm truly not coming back to stay with Nicki (which I kept expecting over the last six months). Leaving her house felt as difficult as leaving my own family, as she truly feels like the sister I never had.
There are so many priceless memories from my time with Nicki and her wonderful animal family
… read more that there are no adequate words to describe how incredible my experience was or how grateful I am for all that she's done for me. I hope only the very best people will find their way to her home.
Dearest Nicki, you are the most generous, warm-hearted, welcoming, easy-going and goofy person I know. I will forever cherish our long evenings of good wine (which I destroyed) and great conversation, giggling like school girls over matters big and small. Thank you for always caring, for always giving without being asked and for opening your heart and home so willingly. You are a rare light in this world.
I miss you, dear friend, and all the lovely fur friends, those present and those who are gone, and hope we will meet again somehow.
Please send me a copy of your zany family's autobiography when it comes out :-DYou can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
Left by host for Workawayer (Rotem)
Rotem, my dear friend, you will always be a part of my life and will always be welcome in my house.
You were a fantastic workawayer and oompanion and you taught me so much about life although you are more than 20 years younger!
Ro worked so hard, I'll never forget the days of strimming because the lawnmower wouldn't work, and her meticulous work
… read more stripping the ornate stair banister In my house.
Ro, you contributed to restoring a piece of history and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I so look forward to seeing you again!
Left by Workawayer (Madeline) for host
I spend one month at Nikki`s place and I think I couldn’t have had a better first experience as a Workawayer! I am so thankful for everything! Nikki is a very kind and lovely person, we always had a lot of fun. Now that I am back at home I miss her and the dogs and everyone else so much!
I really enjoyed the tasks and taking care of the animals
… read more and I was also able to do a lot of trips, Nikki always had good recommendations for me. And even if the house is still not finished the parts that are finished look amazing!
All in all I can only say that Nikki is probably the best host out there and she became family to me<3You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
Left by host for Workawayer (Madeline)
Madeline ... Maddy... what can I say? A wonderful friend, confidante, great to have around. Within days she became family to me. She is so dedicated and very mature for her young years. Very capable and simply delightful. I miss you Maddy. Thank you for everything that you did for me.
Left by host for Workawayer (LenaMinona)
Lena stayed with me twice, in summer 2017 and for a couple of weeks in summer 2018. In her first visit she tolerated a great deal, as one of my dogs had died and my mother was very ill. She gave me great support through this difficult period. She also worked very hard. and helped me with everything that I asked her to and so much more. My animals
… read more love her. Lena is a fantastic young lady and I would recommend he to any other host.
Lena, this is your home whenever you need it - you are welcome any time.
Left by Workawayer (LenaMinona) for host
I stayed at Nicki’s place for 6 weeks during Summer 2017. So – yes, my review comes a little late. Anyway, I enjoyed it so so much! Nicki and her lovely animals Xena, Cleo, Sutty, Bruce, Donald, Walter, Molly, Lulu, the horses, chickens and baby goats have been such a great company and really became good friends over time. I truly enjoyed caring
… read more for the animals and riding the wheel-horse-tractor! I hope the little baby chick is doing well and I am also excited to know if it turned out boy or girl ^^. During this summer I learned many new skills in terms of house and farm-keeping (yep, I still tend to invent words) that might come in handy one day. However, the most precious thing for me was the time chatting with Nicki. Because, she is the kind of person you can tell everything, she’s a great listener and always has some helpful advise. ––– Thank you so much for everything Nicki! XxxYou can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
Left by host for Workawayer (Workaway member)
Linda was a true delight to have around. My animals loved her, she got on with everyone! She is diligent and creative and mature for her young years... and so much fun! Linda did so many jobs for me, and all of them were done to perfection. She taught me how to use my own drill! She was also great company. What an amazing person.
Linda, I wish
… read more you much success in your life and you are always welcome here!
Left by Workawayer (Workaway member) for host
I have been staying with Nicki for one month in May 2018 and it was a great experience. She is a wonderful host who really does everything to make you feel at home. I was able to do many trips to different places in the area and I even could spend one week in Northern Wales at Nicki's sister's place. It was amazing!
The work in the house or
… read more garden is not too hard and I really enjoyed spending time with the horses or going for walks with the two dogs who are just wonderful.
Thank you for everything Nicki!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
Left by host for Workawayer (Agnieszka)
Aga was fantastic. I so much enjoyed having her here and I learned a lot from her. She embraced everything that I asked her to do and made the most of her stay here by visiting lots of places in her free time. She was great with my animals.
Aga, you'd be welcome here any time.
Left by Workawayer (Agnieszka) for host
I spent the whole March at Nicky's place. It's such a lovely house! Very big and still requires lots to do but it's obvious at first sight that it's a piece of history and Nicky put a great effort in renovating it. Helping her was a pleasure for me. I learnt many useful words thanks to her. Although she was very busy she always found some time to
… read more make a conversation, drive me to the station when I wanted to go somewhere, or just go to a pub with me. She tried lots of different things in her life so talks with her were always fascinating. She's very open minded and friendly. I spent there Easter which was also nice to observe how it is celebrated in another country.
Her animals are wonderful and I really enjoyed the time I spent with them.
It was my first workaway and I definitely gained a great experience from it!
Thanks a lot Nicky and I wish you all the best! :)You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
Left by Workawayer (Julianna) for host
I had a lovely experience staying with Nicki in her beautiful home during the month of October (2017) Nicki is very friendly and sweet, and the dogs are such cuddle monsters! Xena and Cleo love to play, and always put a smile on your face! We helped out feeding and caring for the animals including; dogs, cat, horses, and chickens. We also helped
… read more out cleaning around the house, sanding a few doors, and painting a new fence. There is a lot of work to do around the house but nothing overwhelming, I can't wait to see the finished product after all the renovations are done, I'm sure it will be really amazing. It was starting to get pretty chilly while we were there, so we only went out a couple times, going into Cheadle for drinks and one time we headed out to Manchester to see the Art Gallery for the day which was not very far by train. Peaks District National Park is really beautiful and it is a place I would love to revisit again. Our experience in Kingsley was a gem and I am happy we got to experience this beautiful part of England.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
Left by Workawayer (Workaway member) for host
We stayed at Nicki's home for four weeks in December/January. Nicki is very friendly and welcoming. She always tried to teach us typical English phrases we didn't know, which was pretty helpful. At the weekends, she drove us to the railway station in Stoke-on-Trent, so we could explore cities like Manchester, Chester, Nottingham and Liverpool.
Her
… read more dogs Cleo and Xena are very cute and lovely. We really liked taking care of them, taking them for walks and cuddling with them. Feeding the animals (dogs, cat, horses, geese, chickens, duck) was our main job, which was a lot of fun. Other jobs we sometimes had to do were poo picking, cleaning the chickens' stable and some gardening work. In general, we had a lot of free time, so we could relax and spend time with the dogs.
Our room was really lovely and spacious and it looks like a princess room.
We spent Christmas in Wales with Nicki's family. It was really nice for us to experience a British Christmas and to meet her family. We also enjoyed walking the dogs on the beach there.
In general, we had a great time at Nicki's place doing amazing trips to English cities and taking care of the animals,
Dear Nicki, thank you so much for having us!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
Left by Workawayer (Coral) for host
I stayed at Nicki's house for 4 weeks and it was a wonderful experience. I enjoyed a lot with her dogs, cat, horses, chickens... Nicki is a friendly person, very generous and active. You can talk with her and learn a lot about her hobbies, life style, anecdotes...she was a very good company to spent my time and improve my english because she is
… read more very patient with the mistakes.
Thanks a lot for the experience, I hope you finish the renovation soon and I'd like to visit you again :)
All the best to you and your small family.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
Left by Workawayer (Sofia & Chiara) for host
We stayed at Nicki's house two weeks on may! Everything was perfect and she is so kind! Our first workaway experience was amazing! Thank you Nicki!
You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
Left by host for Workawayer (Hannah)
Hannah, Hannah Semme and Steven Bauernfeind stayed with me for 6 weeks from 26th February. They were delightful company, and did everything that I asked them to do and more. They took fantastic care of my animals, even 2 sick goats. Not only are they all lovely people, they are very intelligent and interesting conversation.
I will miss them
… read more greatly and would highly recommend them to any other hosts.
Left by Workawayer (Juan Antonio) for host
I think I couldn't have had a better first workaway experience. Niki is a very kind, friendly, sympathetic, with a great sense of humour lady, who always gave me more than I needed and made me feel like at home. It has been a real pleasure to meet her, her partner, family and some of her friends, especially Andy. She helped me a lot with my
… read more horrible english and teached me a lot of useful sayings. I also enjoyed a lot of the really nice village and its surroundings with a bicycle or having walks.
I worked in differents kinds of Jobs, with the animals and with the refurbishment of the house. I have gotten a lot of new different skills and that has been very enriching for me.
Thank you very much for have given me this opportunity.
Your friend, Juan.
You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
(Excellent)
Left by host for Workawayer (Juan Antonio)
Juan Antonio was a godsend... I coukd not have imagined to have found such a polite, tidy, hard working, diligent and intelligent person for my first workaway experience. He also has a fantastic sense of humour and is completely trustworthy, and an excellent cook. He embraced everything I asked him to do with 100% commitment and did everything
… read more perfectly. He also loved my animals and I had no reservations leaving him in charge. I honestly could not commend Juan Antonio more highly. Just very sorry to see him leave and would tell his parents that they brought up their son to be a unique young man. Thanks Juan Antonio for all your hard work and great Company! Stay with us at our family home in South Somerset, UK
Help a friendly family with childcare near the village of Clogher, Northern Ireland, UK
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Pet-sitting in the Staffordshire Moorlands, UK
Information for those planning to visit the UK
Please note due to the UK leaving the EU, freedom of movement from the EU to the UK ended on 1st Jan 2021. If you are not a UK citizen, Irish citizen, settled status holder, Commonwealth citizen with the right to abode in the UK, BNO passport holder with valid visa or have a Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme (working holiday) visa and you are entering the UK to work or study you may be refused entry to the UK after Jan 1st 2021 unless you have the correct visas and permits in place. To find out more information about visas and work permits for your nationality you need to contact the embassy in your home country BEFORE travelling.