American visitors are not ‘home alone’ at Newferry launch!
Thursday, 15 July 2010
New Hampshire couple Billy and Kathy Weibel with Mike Horan at Newferry.
AMERICAN couple Bill and Kathy Weibel have swapped their home in New Hampshire for one in Newferry!
They arrived last Thursday - just in time to see the new £511,000 tourism facility officially opened by Ballymena Mayor, Councillor Maurice Mills.
“We arrived at Newferry at 11am," pointed out retired salesman Bill. "And the next we knew we were part of the guest list at the opening of the new tourist facility."
Both Bill and Kathy agreed Newferry certainly looks the part.
The project at Newferry includes construction of a reinforced concrete slipway and new canoe landing steps.
Piling has been put in place for future pontoons while lighting has been installed around the resurfaced car-park.
There is also new fencing and paths.
Bill and Kathy were made feel very welcome and after the official speeches they enjoyed lunch in the marquee with the other guests.
How did they end up swapping New Hampshire with Newferry?
“We got all our arrangements through the inter-net. We have not met the couple we exchanged with - Eugene and Jenny Carey. But we maybe crossed paths in mid-air over the North Atlantic," quipped Bill.
" The Newferry couple have moved into our house at New Hampshire. The house exchange is for a month. It also includes use of our car, while we drive theirs."
Bill and Kathy have been to Northern Ireland before. They toured a few years ago.
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