A Time to Travel, A Time to Stay

From time to time members contact us to say that they are not in a position to offer their home for exchange this year for one reason or another. Moving home, settling into a new job, renovating the house, or care responsibilities are among a multitude of reasons why people sometimes have to sacrifice their precious travelling time. For these people it is not the end but merely a temporary lull in their travelling days. So it is always a particularly sad moment when a long standing GTI Home Exchange member contacts us to say that they will not be renewing their membership because of ill health. "Unfortunately, we can't travel this coming year because of a health problem. So we shall not renew our membership. We have appreciated your organisation and helpful kindness. Kind regards, Louise C, France."

We wish anyone in this situation a speedy recovery, but time does eventually catch up with all of us when we no longer feel able to travel or it is simply not a pleasure any more. Then is the time to sit back and reflect on your globetrotting years, the friends you have made, the wonderful home exchange travel experiences you have been fortunate enough to enjoy, and to appreciate the pleasures of your own home.

At other times Green Theme International Home Exchange finds itself the victim of its own success, with members not renewing their membership because they do not need to. In reply to our renewal reminder letter, Wolfgang wrote: "I would like to renew my membership, but at the moment have so many exchange requests, that I would rather make a break of about a year before I resubscribe. Is that at all possible? Thanks for your help, it's a great page. Plus I would now like to subscribe to the rental page; what should I do? Wolfgang P, Austria"

Of course it is a member's perogative to take a break from membership. Rest assured that we shall be only too pleased to welcome you back whenever is appropriate. And to subscribe to our rental page, Wolfgang just needs to visit: http://www. holiday-homes-direct.com

Home and Dry with Home Exchange

Summer may appear to be on hold this year, and the weather may be wet, wet, wet, with Britain and most of Europe experiencing its worst June/July for decades, but home exchangers, as long as they are not in the worst affected areas, can be home and dry. Not for them the experience of being cooped up in a less-than-generous hotel room with little or nothing to distract them from watching the falling rain. To date we have not heard of anyone's home exchange arrangements having been ruined by the unseasonal and inclement weather, and we seriously hope that this is the case.

Of course, our sympathies go out to those people in the worst affected areas of central England near Sheffield, and eastern England near the city of Hull which people are beginning to call the 'forgotten city' so little apparently having been done to help them alleviate the affects of the floods.

It would appear that some areas of Europe have fared better than others, Greece in particular experiencing a minor canicule with soaring temperatures, and high pressure stationary over the Azores, apparently contributing to low pressure affecting the rest of Europe.

Hopefully there is still time for summer to get under way and for those of us who have been deprived our little bit of comforting sunshine, a gentle late Indian Summer would be ideal.