Travel the Home Exchange Way blog

The Saga of the Keys: a Home Swap Story (3 of 4)

Note: see parts 1 & 2 below to make sense of 'The Saga of the Keys'.

'Eventually Gerry got the window loose and, with Geoff’s help, lowered it down. At the last minute the corner cracked on one pane of glass. Gerry was most annoyed about this because he felt he should have been able to get it out intact. Anyway, Gerry climbed into the kitchen and retrieved the second set of keys and we got in.

Afterwards we were just so grateful we’d met this load of neighbours. Imagine doing all this and them watching from their windows - they’d have called the police!'

Read the final installment in Maureen's home exchange saga tomorrow.

The Saga of the Keys: a Home Swap Story (2 of 4)

'Gerry put his hand into his pocket for the key to the Malthouse and immediately knew what had happened - Jim had taken the keys off to Australia and we are left in the cold setting sun with no access to the house ...

But Gerry, feeling confident he can get in a window or pick a lock begins to investigate. No bloody access anywhere. The back door has two locks; he got one open but not the second. It's getting dark, decisions have to be made, get help ...

So off to Marion and Dennis’s place. Gerry needs tools, a ladder, etc to break in. Marion already knows we are locked out as Jim had discovered the keys as they are about to board the plane and Barbara has rang Marion with instructions to break a window.

The windows are all double glazed (two panes of glass together instead of one). Dennis (3 hip, 1 ankle replacement) is anxious to help even though he needs crutches to walk. He finds some VERY old screwdrivers, and he has a ladder. Gerry is thinking "if only I had my tool box!"

He chooses the kitchen window which has a wooden beading all around, thinking if he can remove the beading he can lift the window out. Marion arrives and enlists Edna (the 84 year old next door) because we need to put the ladder in her backyard to reach the window and we need her lights. It's bloody dark now and freezing cold.

So Marion and Edna are holding the ladder for Gerry, the ladder is on full stretch to reach the window and Gerry is worried if he falls he’ll fall on the two old ladies trying to help! Then Edna goes to get Geoff, the Village young blood, because he’ll have tools. And, like the charge of the light brigade, into the backyard comes Geoff with his tool box, closely followed by wife Lin who’s also anxious to help.

As Lin is the smallest, she thinks she’ll be the one to climb in the window! The laughter going on is enough to wake the whole Village. We are all freezing cold but no one was going anywhere until we got into the house, in case they missed something.'

Maureen's home exchange saga continues tomorrow.

The Saga of the Keys: a Home Swap Story (1 of 4)

'Everything was going so well with the home exchange between The Malthouse in England (HE14669) and the Aussies from the Gold Coast (HE14532).

April 1st saw us Aussies, Maureen and Gerry, installed in the Malthouse and just loving the place, and the time came to drive Jim and Barbara to Manchester for their flight to Brisbane en route to our home.

As we loaded the suitcases into the car, Gerry locked up the Malthouse, put the keys in his pocket and headed for the car. All set to go, Jim decided on a last minute toilet stop before the two hour drive. He took the keys from Gerry, re-entered the house, locked up again, pocketed the keys and got into the car and off we went.

After fond farewells at Manchester we drove the two hours back to Craven Arms and, would you believe, the sun actually shone all the way back and we even saw a sunset!

As we entered the gates of the Malthouse, Gerry said to be sure to get the camera out and take a photo of the sunset for proof. The following events will show why we never did take that picture.' - Maureen Poulton, Gold Coast, Australia

Read the next installment in Maureen's home exchange saga tomorrow!

Holidays with a Donkey: and Other Ways to a Home Exchange Blog

What did we do before the internet? Now it's so easy to find information on any subject under the sun. As this weblog focuses on home exchange vacations, most visitors interested in home swaps, if not already Home Base Holidays members, find their way here via a website or by searching on relevant phrases. However, search engines aren't human and the odd funny result occurs. I checked recent logs (records of weblog visitors' search phrases) and was surprised at some of the phrases people have searched on and ended up at Travel the Home Exchange Way! Some examples:

holidays with a donkey

under cupboard toasters

town with no kids

buy a crab near london bridge

w*** swappers

hiking gear shops in new york

upload my wardrobe

skinny house england

Australians are great

how come beer stays on your breath?

Huh? No doubt this post is going to attract even more visitors looking for something not even vaguely related to home swapping! I do hope though that some of you (you know who you are), who have taken the trouble to check out the weblog when searching for your new toaster, crabs, odourless beer and other people's wives, will also be curious to find out more about home exchanging and might decide to swap homes yourself (maybe with someone who will look after your donkey so you don't have to take him on holiday with you?) In fact, a recent Home Base Holidays member (HE17214), who lives in a farmhouse on 45 acres in the beautiful Peak District National Park in Derbyshire, England, has donkeys (and cats, ducks, chickens and dogs) and could be the ideal person to look after a donkey while on an exchange. Serendipity!

A Different View of the World through Home Exchange: 'the Kindness of Strangers'

'We have just completed a seventh, really wonderful exchange in Bali. (Thank you Paul and Elena). I would say that home exchanging has profoundly altered the way we view the world. It makes you more optimistic, less blasé about travel and is incredibly rewarding financially, intellectually and emotionally. The ‘kindness of strangers’ is staggering.' - Bridget Poher, Molineuf, France

The Pohers', a bilingual Franco-British family with 3 children (17,16,12), swap their restored 16th century property, set in a small village 6km west of Blois in the Loire Valley, famous for French renaissance castles. View full exchange offer, HE6223

Swapping Homes over the Holiday Season: Christmas Home Exchange Offers

Although many Home Base Holidays members want to swap homes during the (northern hemisphere) summer, the holiday period over Christmas and New Year is a popular time for exchanges too. For British home exchangers wanting a little winter sunshine, Australia is one of the favoured destinations. For others, notably many Australians looking for winter exchanges in the UK, swapping homes at this time of year is a chance to spend the holiday season visiting relatives and friends while having their own home away from home to relax in. But it's not just the Brits and Ossies who enjoy home swaps at this time of year ...

Canadian members (from Ottawa, Ontario): 'Would love to exchange over the Christmas holidays - we just want to have a different Christmas holiday. Our tree would be up for you to enjoy.' The family, experienced home exchangers, are open on destinations. Check out their exchange offer, HE12509.

and, from another Canadian: 'Interested in a white Christmas in Montreal? I have a charming house in a quiet area 5 minutes walk from a huge park by the St-Lawrence River where people can cross-country ski. I am looking for a place in New South Wales or Victoria for Christmas time 2005 for three weeks. I will be using the house with my 22 year old son who will be in Australia for a year.' See exchange offer, HE17131.

A few more samples of home exchange offers available over the holiday:

Bath, Somerset, England - a welcoming family home set off the road in a quiet, friendly cul-de-sac in Bath, a World Heritage city with magnificent Georgian architecture. See exchange offer, HE17096

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - a light, spacious detached 5 bedroom family home with 4 reception rooms and enclosed sunny garden. 10 minutes to the sandy beaches of Dubai, 5 star hotels, spas, restaurants and shopping centres. See exchange offer, HE17200

Sydney, NSW, Australia - large, quiet unit on top floor of modern 2 storey complex. Great location in close proximity to Sydney City centre. See exchange offer, HE17083

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia - 'wanting Christmas time somewhere cold!!' and offering in return 'a gorgeous 3 year old, ultra modern double storey home with all amenities and views to the water from two huge decks. Huge inground pool with separate toddler area, hot tub for 8.' See exchange offer, HE17050

As well as browsing listings by dates of exchange, Dec 2005/Jan 2006, you can find many other exchange offers for the holiday period by using Advanced Search; enter 'Christmas' in the Free Text box before searching.