If the Shoe Fits ... Auckland - London Home Swap

New Zealander, Jan Naish-Wallis, has used home exchange as a way of being near her grown up children in London without 'living with the "kids".' Last year Jan wrote an article for Home Swappers Newsletter on her home exchange in London to visit her first grandchild. This is a short quote from the article:

'Triona and her girls arrived in New Zealand the day before we left so we had an opportunity to show her the ways of our house. We instantly got on and laughed at each other's jokes. She admired my shoes and I noticed that we were both a small size 3. I said "if there's anything in my wardrobe you need - help yourself". She told me to use her jackets and coats in London if I needed them.'

Now many people might baulk at the idea of including personal belongings like clothes as part of a home swap but Jan and Triona (as well as conveniently being the same size) were obviously so comfortable with each other that they were both happy to share in this way. What a wonderful example they are of, as a Home Base Holidays member recently put it, 'the kindness of home exchangers'. And what a great way to cut down the need to pack so many heavy items like coats and boots 'just in case' you might need them while on an exchange.

Jan concluded:

'We returned to find a pair of Triona's shoes on our back porch. The shoes fit - so I wear them.'

Also see posts, Travelling Light on a Home Exchange Vacation and 'How to Prevent Lost Luggage'.

See Jan's current home exchange offer, HE13992. The photo is of her home in Auckland.