We are a private household manager couple from the UK. My husband is a qualified chef and I, a restaurant manager. We have both worked extensively in hospitality for over 10-15 years.
We are both very active people, I am currently completing a yoga course to become a teacher and my husband loves running and competes in marathons. We are lucky at the moment to be close to the Pyrenees so plenty of hiking in summer and skiing in winter. We enjoy playing and watching a wide variety of sports locally. Our other passion is travel and we try to make the most of any free time by heading off somewhere different. Because of our trades we are also very passionate about food from all over the world and love cooking in our spare time.
We started looking for work as a domestic couple six years ago and in 2017 we found ourselves in the South West of France in the Le Gers. Here we worked for a family who had built the seven bedroom chateau. Our responsibilities included gardening, cleaning, house maintenance, running errands, occasional childcare and dog sitting. We very much enjoyed the role but after 6 months the family had decided to sell the property and so we moved on.
In September 2017 we moved to New Zealand for the role as lodge hosts for a 3 day guided hiking trip. The company is owned by a Māori tribe, Ngāi Tahu and guests were welcomed to experience the history and beauty of the Hollyford Valley.
The trip was a 20 KM hike into the Hollyford on the first day, a jet boat ride on the second and then a helicopter out on the last day. We were responsible for two lodges set in different locations, we would work in one lodge for the first week and the the other on the second. We would prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner for guests, clean and set up rooms and entertain in the evening. As the location was isolated and the only way in was by walking, jet boat or helicopter we had to learn to think on our feet and solve any problems which arose, including emergencies on the track. Other roles were ordering of stock, POS, first aid and lodge maintenance.
We returned to the UK after the season had ended and took jobs in restaurants and bars while waiting to return to New Zealand for our second season in 2018.
We returned as lodge hosts but were asked to take on the responsibility of training new lodge hosts, implemented a new ordering system and writing new menus. This meant teaching all lodge hosts how to prepare, cook and order correct quantities for each dish.
We were unable to return to New Zealand for a third season due to visa restrictions and so we ended up back in the UK in 2019. We found jobs in hospitality and occasional catering events.
At the beginning of 2020 we were offered a role to run The Bridgend Hotel on the Isle of Islay in Scotland. This was just as the first covid lockdown had started and so due to all hospitality businesses having to close we were given other roles. The hotel was owned by Lord Margadale as part of the 20, 000 hectare estate. My husband was in charge of maintaining the manor gardens, large vegetable gardens and all sorts of property maintenance. I had various cleaning roles and was in charge of bottle feeding 150 lambs three times a day, a very new and enjoyable experience. It was here we were contacted by the new owners of the chateau in the South West of France, which is where we are to date.
The past three years we have worked as the property managers, as the family for not reside here we oversee everything. Some of the larger tasks we have overseen are;
- Designing and overseeing a conversion of an old stable into a two bedroom apartment. A large project which meant we were dealing with contractors daily, designing and ordering kitchens, buying and assembling of furniture, making decisions on behalf of the family.
- Negotiating and purchasing locally of new vehicles and a John Deere tractor. Also the importing and exporting of vehicles to and from the UK and registering UK vehicles into the French system.
-Maintaining and improving the 25 hectares of land/gardens. Including implementing and running of a large, organic vegetable garden. Exciting landscaping projects using heavy duty machinery. Installation or irrigation throughout the property. Regular chainsaw work alongside hedge cutting, mowing, strimming, weeding etc.
-We have learnt to maintain and service the large saltwater swimming pool on the property, no outside contractors. We also clean and service the property's fountains.
-We are responsible for all administration including house bills, utility bills, taxes, construction invoices and a weekly reconciliation of expenses.
-When the family are in residence we take on the role of chef and front of house, we prepare freshly cooked meals using all organic ingredients where possible. We have vast experience dealing with allergies and other dietary requirements. We do daily room checks, shopping, errands, airport/train station runs, liaise in French with locals/business associates/concierge on their behalf and work closely with all of the family to make their stay as relaxed and as enjoyable as possible.
