The Twinning Association have just completed yet another successful visit by our friends from Ballon in France. The aim behind the events organised for the visit was to give our French counterparts a taste of the English food, drinks and culture.
After an exhausting journey starting at 2.00am, our visitors arrived late on Wednesday afternoon and after welcoming drinks and very short speeches they were entertained by their English families for the remainder of the evening.
On Thursday, there was a trip to Southwell where visits were made to the Minster and the Workhouse. After ensuring that we did not leave anyone at the latter venue, the French spent the evening with their hosts. A large contingent however converged on the Coach & Horses where they enjoyed an excellent typical English meal as well as sampling English beer!!
On Friday everyone was up bright and early for a visit to “The Deep” sea-life attraction in Hull. After a fascinating tour of the exhibition, the party dropped off at the large Garden Centre at Brigg. There, they enjoyed a traditional Roast Beef Dinner and, of course, some retail therapy.
Saturday was spent with the families but everyone seemed to have decided that a visit to the newly re-vamped Lincoln Castle would be a good idea. They were right!!! The walk round the ramparts with accompanying commentary was fascinating as were some of the English attempts at translation.
The evening was the Gala Night with wining, dining and dancing, the order of the day. However the exertions of the previous days and the need for an early start meant a very tired group of people the next morning.
Both Associations agreed that it had been a very successful visit and we are now looking forward to renewing acquaintances next year in France.