Just like the East River… sort of…
About a year ago, I registered with an outfit called HomeExchange.com.
You register your house and then you can swap it with someone else, who lives somewhere you want to go.
Well, at first I was not sure, and I got lots of emails from people who owned tiny one-bedroom apartments in Paris.
Not what I had in mind, having lived in Paris for a few years, but not in a tiny one-bedroom.
Then, I got an email from a guy who owned a farm in the Cotswolds, probably the most scenic part of England.
As a builder he had rebuilt the whole house, including an indoor movie theater, and wifi! My kind of place.
We exchanged emails, then did a video skype.
I mean, who knows.
His family lives in your house for a week, you in his.
This morning we arrived in Birdlip (that’s what it’s called) in the Cotswolds for a week.
He should arrive in Manhattan in a few hours.
So far… so good.
He not only gave us the keys to his house, he also left his chickens, sheep (with new lambs – like puppies), and cattle and calves.
Well, like I said, it isn’t New York.
He also left us Jan, his hunting dog. The dog, a Hungarian Vizula is gun trained to respond to whistle commands. That is, they send the dog to school for 3 months, where it is trained to respond to a series of whistle commands. (ie. 5 short blasts is come. And he does!).
Tomorrow, long walks with the dog. Tonight we have to feed the sheep.
Like I said, it isn’t Manhattan.
7 Comments
Peter Holden April 21, 2009
Of course, brilliant ! I’m looking for a 2-3 bedroom place in the UWS and am simultaneously trying to rent out my 2 bedroom beautiful mews house in Notting Hill London – anyone fancy a equitable house swap !! Available fully furnished, plug and play on all services, utilities etc – right off portabello road. Can send pics if interested. Peter 917-601-1388
karl April 18, 2009
This is really a very amazing story. I am not sure whether this always works as well as it did with you. I am a real estate agent in Paris and I know very well what kind of surprises may wait for you if you swap apartments in Paris.
Karl http://www.khs.fr/BlogEN.cfm
Kathy O’Brien April 13, 2009
Michael:
FYI, a sheep farmer I know tells me they are very, very dumb — he has noticed they are literally too stupid to come in from the rain.
Michael Rosenblum April 12, 2009
Fed the chickens and the sheep. Man, those sheep are not kidding around when you show up with the food!
AlexBentzien April 11, 2009
Hey, that made me laugh 😉 Comparing Manhattan alone is not an easy task. Grown up on a farm myself, I can imagine the fun you’ll have with sheeps and dogs in the countryside.
Enjoy.
Adam Westbrook April 10, 2009
My first reporting gig was covering the Cotswolds…beautiful part of the world. I recommend driving over to Morten-in-Marsh/Stow-on-the-Wold if you get a day free. Enjoy!
invitedmedia April 10, 2009
hey,
edsel (yes, that one) built a home right down the street from where i grew up based on the cotswolds.
click on my id and check it out.
the “history” link has a few good shots.