TWINS Pat Dew and Mary Batchelor have never had an argument. But that could all be about to change. The 50-year-old sisters are setting off this weekend in a souped-up van - with leopard skin seats - to travel round Europe for six months working on organic farms.

"We have never had a row in the 50 years and nine months we have known each other," said Mary, referring to their time together in and out of the womb. "But we have also never spent six months together in a van."

"It doesn't matter if we row," said Pat. "We will always be sisters. It won't make any difference to our relationship."

The sisters, who are both divorced, will be leaving their York home on Sunday and heading for France, where they have found work on an organic smallholding through WWOOF (Willing Workers On Organic Farms).

This is basically an address book of organic producers looking for casual workers willing to dig up a few spuds or milk the odd goat in exchange for bed and board.

Pat, who was until recently a learning support tutor at York College, and Mary, who is leaving her cleaning job at the Abbey Park Hotel on Friday, have already set themselves up with work on three smallholdings - two in France and one in Spain - which should take them up until Christmas.

"We are not overloading ourselves with work. One week of work to three weeks of holiday sounds about right to me," said Pat, with a laugh.

"If we don't like it we can always jump in the van and head for the nearest five-star hotel," added Mary.

But why are they launching themselves on such an adventure in the first place? Why are two 50-year-old women swapping normal life for a van, some organic veggies and the open road?

"We were talking about our 50th birthday, discussing what sort of treat to give ourselves," said Mary. "We wanted to go on a fabulous holiday - the Grand Canyon or something."

"To be honest we just wanted to be somewhere hotter and drier than Yorkshire this winter," said Pat.

"Reaching 50 is a real turning point and we wanted to mark it. My daughters have worked on organic farms abroad, and we decided we could do it too."

Pat is certainly the more outdoorsy twin. She has her own organic allotment in York and is looking forward to learning from the experts on her travels.

"I've got more experience than Mary, but I have never milked a goat or anything like that," she said. "I'm looking forward to learning some new organic techniques to use on my own little plot."

They will probably work for about four or five hours a day, six days a week on their travels, giving them plenty of spare time to see the sights and soak up the local atmosphere.

And if all else fails, they can always jump in their van and hit the road.

"It's nothing spectacular," said Pat. "It's not a mobile home or anything. It's just a van with two beds and a cupboard in it. But it will give us the freedom to go where we please and do what we like."

The sisters will miss their family - they have four other brothers and sisters - but they think their adventure will be the making of them.

"The most important thing in our lives is the support of our brothers and sisters," said Mary. "They might think what we are doing is crazy, but they support us all the way."

"We will miss them," said Pat. "But we will only be a couple of hours away. And anyway, it's only for six months."

Perhaps, but if Mary has a say in it, six months may be just the beginning.

"A lot of people talk about doing what we are doing, but they don't actually do it," said Mary. "We are very lucky to have this opportunity.

"I love the idea of living abroad. I'm even toying with the idea of looking for a small property while I'm out there."

Pat, on the other hand, is sure she will be back in York when the six months are up.

"I think the call of my allotment will be too strong for me to stay abroad," she said. "I also think my dog will miss me too much."

Updated: 09:31 Tuesday, September 10, 2002