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I have 10 guests coming for over a week...

228 replies

Helpfullnelly · 09/01/2026 16:33

These absolutely wonderful people are giving up a week of annual leave and coming to help me and DH to do some work on our house abroad.
We are paying for flights, transfers etc and all food.
Im planning on doing all food either buffet style or bbq depending.
I want to take care of their every need however small or different to ours they are.
Ive got each person, a face flannel, and a towel. Toiletries, shampoo, etc
What else do I need?
Tell me what you personally would need, its going to be a hard graft week.
The job that needs doing is around €35000 which we don't have, every one doing the work with us is cutting costs including travel and food to around €15000.
So I have more gratitude than I can ever expeess and I want them to go home glad they came to help, rather than tiny hiccups (wrong food/not enough food etc) to send them home annoyed they even bothered.
I will consider all, what good do you want?
Tv in rooms or no? Tell me everything....Go

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
Helpfullnelly · 03/04/2026 22:28

We will arrive a week on Tuesday, but the team will arrive later, on the 20th and 22nd.

OP posts:
bizzey · 03/04/2026 23:28

Has anyone had to drop out yet ?

bizzey · 03/04/2026 23:29

Just asking cos I am not good at manual labor but I make a mean bacon butty ! 😅

Helpfullnelly · 05/04/2026 01:56

bizzey · 03/04/2026 23:29

Just asking cos I am not good at manual labor but I make a mean bacon butty ! 😅

You would be very welcome, no one has dropped out although the cancelled flight was a scary moment

OP posts:
Tallestone · 05/04/2026 16:00

I hope it goes well you need to keep is updated the progress.

DeathBanana · 05/04/2026 16:37

Lovely thread! Years ago some friends bought some land to turn into a glamping site. A bunch of us spent the spring and early summer helping them out, tidying, clearing, building a facilities block. It was great fun. All we needed was good food and lots of booze. Our kids still talk about it, there was a bunch of them between about 6 and 13 and they had the best time. No one got badly injured. No one fell out. It’s a precious memory or a very happy time.

Helpfullnelly · 06/04/2026 11:27

T shirts ready ......

I have 10 guests coming for over a week...
OP posts:
bizzey · 06/04/2026 11:56

Ohh the T-SHIRT 's are fab !!
Definitely a moral booster for when the going gets tough ! 😅

Tillow4ever · 06/04/2026 13:18

Have only just discovered this thread but I have to say you sound like a really thoughtful person, and someone who wants to make sure they aren’t taking the piss out of their friends. I love the the t-shirt design.

Fingers crossed everything goes according to plan and you all have a good laugh along the way!

Iamblossom · 06/04/2026 13:43

Wow how lucky to know 10 tradespeople!

FoxLoxInSox · 06/04/2026 13:44

When I go away, with time to plan and pack, I always think ahead and pack accordingly. So in this case, if I was one of your volunteers I’d already be packing myself the following as standard:

  • earplugs for room-sharing
  • eye mask (probably no curtains)
  • spf / aftersun / mosquito spray
  • work boots
  • lightweight summer robe or kaftan for over PJ’s
  • comfy sliders
  • small first aid kit
  • san pro

Id just assume any group of practically-minded adults would pack the same - and might be a bit baffled at the over-display of you having also bought this anticipating that they wouldn’t have thought of packing such luxuries.

So I’d say try not to overthink it on the “little luxuries” side. Let the adults bring their own anticipated comforts (earplugs, paracetamol etc). Remember that you’re not running a boutique hotel and trying to preempt all of their personal comfort demands.

Youre there to keep the heavy cogs turning: a conveyor belt of big dishes of grub to be wolfed by the troops. A fridge full of beers, local plonk, bottles of water, pop.

Everyone gets given a towel and assigned a bunk / bed

You’re in charge of the lighting of and campfires or stoves, the nightly coordination of the laundry to your neighbour.

That’s it. Easy & simple. Military operation. It’ll be a huge laugh. And so rewarding
_All sat round the fire each night, exhausted, showered, belly full of delicious starchy Spanish stodgy, cold beer in hand.

Try not to add too many ‘extras’. Irrationally, I think I’d possibly feel a bit irritated by that if I was one of the helpers.

momager22 · 06/04/2026 13:49

If they are doing hard physical graft I’d supply ibuprofen, Epsom salts, deep heat and unlimited hot water for baths.
They’ll likely be exhausted by the end of the day so I’d make very clear they can go and chill in bed/ bath straight after dinner if they so wish.

Caspianberg · 06/04/2026 14:01

We had similar at our place when we moved around 10 years ago.

One thing that’s helps is timings and a calendar on wall with what’s planned.

Plan rest times in so everyone has chance to chill after lunch and in evening and not keep thinking they need to work. and if you have a morning or afternoon planned to take them
somewhere

Allseeingallknowing · 06/04/2026 14:20

Helpfullnelly · 06/04/2026 11:27

T shirts ready ......

Erm…spelling! Or is it deliberate?

Helpfullnelly · 06/04/2026 14:47

Iamblossom · 06/04/2026 13:43

Wow how lucky to know 10 tradespeople!

I dont think i know even one tradesperson!

OP posts:
Helpfullnelly · 06/04/2026 14:49

FoxLoxInSox · 06/04/2026 13:44

When I go away, with time to plan and pack, I always think ahead and pack accordingly. So in this case, if I was one of your volunteers I’d already be packing myself the following as standard:

  • earplugs for room-sharing
  • eye mask (probably no curtains)
  • spf / aftersun / mosquito spray
  • work boots
  • lightweight summer robe or kaftan for over PJ’s
  • comfy sliders
  • small first aid kit
  • san pro

Id just assume any group of practically-minded adults would pack the same - and might be a bit baffled at the over-display of you having also bought this anticipating that they wouldn’t have thought of packing such luxuries.

So I’d say try not to overthink it on the “little luxuries” side. Let the adults bring their own anticipated comforts (earplugs, paracetamol etc). Remember that you’re not running a boutique hotel and trying to preempt all of their personal comfort demands.

Youre there to keep the heavy cogs turning: a conveyor belt of big dishes of grub to be wolfed by the troops. A fridge full of beers, local plonk, bottles of water, pop.

Everyone gets given a towel and assigned a bunk / bed

You’re in charge of the lighting of and campfires or stoves, the nightly coordination of the laundry to your neighbour.

That’s it. Easy & simple. Military operation. It’ll be a huge laugh. And so rewarding
_All sat round the fire each night, exhausted, showered, belly full of delicious starchy Spanish stodgy, cold beer in hand.

Try not to add too many ‘extras’. Irrationally, I think I’d possibly feel a bit irritated by that if I was one of the helpers.

No one has any luggage allowance and its our house so we have the toiletries and other stuff in already x

OP posts:
CookiesAreForSharing · 06/04/2026 21:25

Alconol? In-joke? It all sounds very thoughtful and fun!

Helpfullnelly · 07/04/2026 16:55

CookiesAreForSharing · 06/04/2026 21:25

Alconol? In-joke? It all sounds very thoughtful and fun!

Nope. Typo.
You are my favorite person today xx

OP posts:
FuckOffWithYourFlannelNonsense · 07/04/2026 17:19

Why not @Allseeingallknowing who pointed out the typo yesterday?

I'm sure loads of us were wondering if it was a typo, but you didn't respond to the comment that you were tagged in.

Helpfullnelly · 07/04/2026 18:24

FuckOffWithYourFlannelNonsense · 07/04/2026 17:19

Why not @Allseeingallknowing who pointed out the typo yesterday?

I'm sure loads of us were wondering if it was a typo, but you didn't respond to the comment that you were tagged in.

Sincere apologies to @Allseeingallknowing i did miss the heads up xx

OP posts:
IAmKerplunk · 07/04/2026 18:27

I would love to be part of a project like this - regardless of any typo on a T-shirt 🤣

Allseeingallknowing · 07/04/2026 18:32

Helpfullnelly · 07/04/2026 18:24

Sincere apologies to @Allseeingallknowing i did miss the heads up xx

😄😄😄

Helpfullnelly · 07/04/2026 18:37

IAmKerplunk · 07/04/2026 18:27

I would love to be part of a project like this - regardless of any typo on a T-shirt 🤣

Depending on what gets done there could be a take 2!
But probably not.

OP posts:
Helpfullnelly · 07/04/2026 18:39

Im at work today (24 hr shift) so im finishing packing tomorrow, ready to load the trailer on Thursday. Then Friday i can relax, 36 hr shift over weekend then we are setting off from NW UK on Monday around 3.
Im so ready x

OP posts:
FuckOffWithYourFlannelNonsense · 08/04/2026 08:42

I think we were all wondering about the typo! Sounds like you have everything in hand. Hope you all have a blast. Safe travels to all.