It was an advert in the Post Office window that started it all off. A French family, from Le Pellerin were looking for a holiday house exchange in North Ferriby. The idea was very appealing: going on holiday and having home comforts in a lovely country where we had spent many happy family holidays before, but usually under canvas. After e-mailing and exchanging photos of our homes, we felt the Broussards were nice people and we would be happy to exchange homes for two weeks in July.

It seemed ages away and a lot of work was to be done, as we had started work on our kitchen a few weeks before. But the time flew by and before we knew it, it was time to go. We had spent the week before cleaning under beds, washing skirting boards, wondering why we had agreed to this venture after many of our friends and family had said. “Oh I don’t think I could do that!” and “What if this or that happens?”. But in our mind we felt confident and comfortable with our decision.

Our journey to Le Pellerin went very smoothly. We crossed the English Channel from Poole to Cherbourg and spent our first night in Bayeux. We had wanted to see the Bayeux Tapestry for as long time so this was a good opportunity. The following day we travelled down to Le Pellerin and found the Broussards’ home after a little detour due to my map reading!

They are a lovely family. They made us feel most welcome. After having drinks, they showed us places of interest on local maps and told us where to eat out, shop and so on. Then they left to attend a family party where they stayed until travelling to England a day or so later.

Their home was spotless and it was plain to see the family had spent their last week doing the same as we had. We had previously agreed to use each other’s bedding and towels and this was a big help, plus it made the luggage a little lighter. Their home was typically continental with ceramic floors throughout, shutters on the windows and a big gazebo in the garden.

During the two weeks, we visited lots of places in the surrounding area. The city of Nantes, was just 15 minutes away, and Pornic a lovely seaside town just 25 minutes away. We also visited places further afield. We went to La Rochelle and the Châteaux on the Loire Valley. One of our best days was watching the Tour de France which came through a neighbouring village.

I didn't worry or think about home. We did speak to the Broussards a couple of times giving each other weather reports and telling each other where we had been. Some of the places they visited were Durham, Beamish, York and Bridlington. They were made very welcome in North Ferriby and we did joke that joke that they knew more people in North Ferriby than we did!

Our journey home was very tiring as we left Le Pellerin at 2am and travelled straight through France catching the ferry at 8am. We arrived home at 7pm. It was really good to be home. Our house swap had been a success!
We all enjoyed the experience and I’m sure the Broussards did too.

We have always been tempted by house exchanges: Martine’s brother has been holidaying like this for many years and has always had a great time. But we needed a house to swap with. We had just moved to Le Pellerin into a new house and met Carole Gauduchon, asking her about the possibility of a house swap as we knew she had contacts in England from when she had been an au pair.

It was just at this time that the twinning idea with North Ferriby was taking root and agreed to be an excellent idea. The associations were being formed in both villages and we took advantage of this to contact Jane Knight at North Ferriby direct to ask if she could find us a house swap contact. Finally it was the Davisons with whom we made arrangements – for the last two weeks in July.

What was interesting was to meet each other face to face, after writing, telephoning and emailing. We met the first day they arrived at Le Pellerin at our house and meeting the Davisons proved the impression we had already formed – that they were extremely nice people.

The other interest for us in arranging a house exchange with a family in North Ferriby was that we would have the opportunity to meet up again with the group from the association whom we had already met in Le Pellerin in June when they came to visit us and to see our famous Fete des Fleurs.

We travelled to North Ferriby via Calais and we had no difficulties in finding the house after visiting some cul-de-sac streets. The house was very cosy, and so is the village of North Ferriby, with lovely houses and lots of trees.

We had good contacts with the neighbourhood and of course we were very much welcomed by our friends in the twinning association. It was really great. We also had the opportunity of playing petanque boules near the River Humber!

We already knew Britain, as we have been to England, Scotland and Wales many times. But it is always interesting to discover parts or rediscover, for example, York.

Now we think that twinning houses is a very good way of having holidays, based on mutual confidence. And you can also discover new good relationships or friendship.