I exchanged my one-bed flat in London for a three-bedroom house belonging to a lovely couple, Louise and David Peach (see their listing HE14054) who were visiting London together with their son. I stayed in their lovely house, equipped with all creature comforts, topped up with a jacuzzi in the garden.

The exchange was a success and worked out to be the most wonderful experience: I met all those wonderful people, my 'instant' neighbours, who quickly became my friends (we are now in touch via email). I explored the most beautiful part of Australia, the Sunshine Coast. I did a scuba diving course, even had the courage to do a sky-dive jump which was beyond my comprehension. I am glad I had it all filmed as even now it is quite difficult for me to believe that I actually did it as I do suffer from vertigo!

As I am quite an active person I spent my time on different activities which, apart from doing a lot of walking and visiting friends, included excursions to places of interests like: Glass Mountain, Big Pineapple and Australia ZOO. On my first visit to the beach I realised why I had been warned by an Australian girl on my flight to only swim between the flags. The ocean waves were extremely powerful, strong and wide. They hit you and, if taken by surprise, you suddenly find yourself on your fours struggling to get up again with your mouth full of sand. It is great to play with the waves, jump, swim into them, ride them and even the small waves are powerful enough to give you a lift straight to the sandy beach. Being a "first time wave rider" I chose to try a boogie board and my next-door neighbour and her two sons taught me how to use it - great fun...

Apart from an enforced period indoors and visits to the doctor due to a painful ear infection and high temperature, my stay in Caloundra was most enjoyable and I would recommend home exchange to everyone. I can now consider myself an experienced home exchanger and I will definitely do it again. Further photos of my holidays and artwork can be seen on my website.' - Sofia Pucek, HE14196

Following the success of the first two series of 'Home from Home' on UK Channel 4, Maverick Television is now producing a brand new Primetime series. Home Base Holidays is offering a free one year membership extension to all members who take part in the new series.

Maverick are looking for potential participants who have exchanges arranged between June and 30 September 2004. The company welcomes all types of members - families, couples, singles, people going with friends - and of all ages. The only specification is that the home swap involves a home in Britain but the swap can be to anywhere else in the world. However, if you have not yet arranged an exchange but hope to do so, to or from the UK during this period, Maverick would also like to hear from you. One such volunteer, who is still looking for a summer exchange, is long time and very experienced home swapper, Paul Stafford. Paul and family are open to offers in Europe or North America. Check out the Staffords' attractive offer in Kingston-on-Thames, London, HE4175. Note: Paul was interviewed recently for an article on home exchange in the July 2004 issue of 'Essentials' magazine, due out in early June.

Each episode in the new 'Home from Home' series will feature both sides of a home exchange, capturing a unique insight into the cultural adventure of staying in someone else's home. During filming, the small Maverick crew aim to add to your holiday experience and those who were filmed on exchange for previous series' have expressed their enjoyment in taking part. Note: look out for the third series of 'Home from Home' which starts on 2 June at 4 pm on Channel 4 and continues every week day for two weeks.

Maverick is also looking for different types of exchange, for instance long-term swaps or job/business swaps.

Wherever you have arranged an exchange this summer, Maverick would like to hear from you. If you are interested please Contact Home Base Holidays as soon as possible, mentioning when and where you have arranged an exchange. We will forward your message to Chris Kershaw at Maverick Television. Chris will then send you further information and answer any questions you have. And, of course, members who do take part in the new series will also have a free extra year added to their membership. Let us know if you are chosen!

'Winter Escapes: When you are retired the idea of spending the whole winter in warmer climes can have an irresistible appeal; with house exchanges covering most of your accommodation needs, three months in the antipodes used not to be wildly expensive - the only significant cost was the airfare. Travel insurance was important but, until recently, the premium required was very small: less than £100 for an annual, multi-trip policy (we do like to get away several times in a year, don't we?) with worldwide cover for a couple in their sixties seemed quite reasonable. Now, however, many insurers seem to have decided that they do not like long trips (or older people!) and are either refusing to provide cover at all or are only doing so on a "single trip" basis (at very unattractive prices - particularly if, like the writer, you have been so unwise as to pass the 70 milestone!) A recent review of about 40 companies revealed only three that will still cover trips longer than 45 days on an annual policy - with many, the limit is 31 days, which experienced house exchangers will rightly judge to be woefully inadequate!

So where can you buy an annual policy that will permit a couple to take a three-month trip to New Zealand at a cost that leaves them able to afford the occasional bottle of Marlborough's finest? American Express and RIAS will cover you but both want more than £450 - total abstinence is too high a price to pay. The third possibility was Travel Insurance Services of Essex (found through speaking to someone found on the Seniors Network website), tel: 01277 314329, who have a considerable range of options for a basic, 31-day maximum stay policy, for between £130 and £250; and you can extend a trip beyond 31 days at a cost of £15 per extra week: not cheap by the standards of a few years ago, but at least not so high as to ensure a totally dry winter!

Thanks again, Lois; we can now look forward to 3 months in the antipodes next winter (involving seven exchanges in a row!) with the one remaining problem solved.' - Roger Gilbraith, HE3866

If you are a current member, log on to your member area (link below) in a week or two's time. Changes will be introduced gradually to minimise problems. Once you see that the layout in your listing form is different, check for any new options you might like to add to your listing:

• Paragraphs in description boxes: you can already break your descriptions into paragraphs to make them more readable
• Descriptions: the second description box will be re-named to encourage members to include more 'people' information (names, children's ages, etc)
• Character count - this will be added to both description boxes to help you better keep your descriptions to a reasonable length - longer doesn't mean better!
• State/county/province: USA, England and Canada are already sub-divided for easier browsing; France and Australia will be added. This field will be changed to a drop down list to prevent indexing errors due to mis-spellings or abbreviations
• More tick box options: second home, over 55s, languages spoken, computer, printer, internet access. There will also be new search options for second homes and over 55s so it is particularly useful to tick these boxes if applicable to you. Your listing will then be found when a search by a member or site visitor includes one of these options
• A reminder: update dates/destinations whenever needed or tick the box, 'Exchange Request Fulfilled' if not currently open to offers

Poyeen Publishing, publishers of 'The Home Exchange Guide', have offered us another free copy of the book to use as a prize. This time we will make it easy (no reviews to write) and, to make it fairer to members and subscribers living in different time zones, we will pick the winner at random on 8 June from correct entries received.

Now for the easy question: A recent Home Base Holidays member described a well known annual event in his home town as ' ..... yeeee haaaaawwwwww!!!' And to give you a really big clue, this member lives in Canada.

Use the link below to search the listings and, when you think you have found the right answer, send us a message giving the name of the town or city where the member lives plus his User ID (HE + a 5 digit number, shown at the top of the full listing).

We will contact the winner on 8 June to get your full mailing address and your book will be sent directly from Poyeen Publishing. Good luck!

Not only were we able to save three weeks hotel fees, but they gave us addresses of furniture stores, curtain makers etc that they had used. We have become friends on the internet, and plan to meet later in the year when we are all in Spain!! House swappng at its best!' - Adrienne Murray (photo of her home in England), HE12064

The Caretaker Gazette contains property caretaking/housesitting openings, advice and information for property caretakers, housesitters & landowners. Published since 1983, subscribers receive 1,000+ housesitting and property caretaking opportunities each year, worldwide. Some estate management positions start at $50,000/yr + benefits. Visit The Caretaker Gazette website (link below), PO Box 540, River Falls, WI 54022. (715) 426-5500.

Newsletter Contributions: We are always pleased to hear from members and newsletter subscribers and to receive contributions for the newsletter - short reports on your exchange experiences, tips you feel would be useful to those new to the idea of home swapping and any questions you have on home exchange. Please incude 'home exchange' in the subject line when contacting us as messages with no subjects (or dubious sounding subject lines!) or unexpected attachments may end up in our spam folder and deleted unread.

Reading this on the Website? Use the newsletter subscribe link to add your email address and receive the newsletter regularly. If already on the list but not receiving your copy by email, there can be a number of causes:

• Incorrect email address - let us have your correct address
• Add our email address to your address book or 'white list' for accepted messages
• Check your spam folder before deleting - spam filters often block legitimate email along with the spam

All Home Swappers content is copyright and cannot be used in any form without written permission from Home Base Holidays. However, please feel free to forward the newsletter (in full) to friends and colleagues who may be interested in home exchange (see Forward Email link below newsletter).

Home Base Holidays, London, UK 1985-2004: 19th year providing a home exchange service worldwide