Sunday evening had arrived again and there we all were, outside waiting for the French again, who were delayed again! Soon enough there was the regular sight of the Demellier coach coming up Bridge Street and onto the Tow Hall car park.  The French quickly left the coach after their long journey and many hugs and copious amounts of kissing went on.  A quick reception in the Town Hall took place where families  were paired with their hosts and people started disappearing back to their homes for dinner and for some, reminisces about past visits.

Monday morning was a lay in for most and following lunch the coach took our guests off to the St George’s Whisky distillery at Roudham, near Thetford, for a tour, this was followed by an aperitif at Pippa and Rob’s. Through the week several parties or dinners went on, we had nine for dinner on Monday and thirteen on Tuesday. Tuesday was at the seaside, Great Yarmouth, where the guests were able to find their own lunch and do some exploring. In the afternoon they had tickets to the Summer Spectacular at the Hippodrome which I hear lived up fully to its name. On Tuesday evening we had the Colombel family to dinner with their hosts, this included their four children, all of whom were delightful, so well behaved, and did they like their desserts!  

On Wednesday afternoon there was a visit to Pentney Church and a glass of something with cakes and sandwiches in the garden of Steve and Sharon Reynolds, They had also booked a jazz band to play and a very good time was enjoyed by all. It rained but I don’t think it spoiled anyone’s afternoon.  Thanks Steve and Sharon.  In the evening a Ceilidh was held at Denver village hall where at half time a supper of traditional fish and chips was served, I think most of the French enjoyed the meal, you certainly wouldn’t have gone hungry.  Thursday brought an early start for a visit to Lincoln, a guided tour in two parties was followed by a most acceptable lunch at The Lincoln Hotel.  In the afternoon there was time to visit the Cathedral, the shops, the castle or all if you very very fit, and you needed to be to get down and up Steep Hill.

The Mayor’s reception was held in the Town Hall on Friday morning where there were speeches from the Mayor, our Chairman and Mme France Bernard who was leading the French trip. After lunch there was chance to play Petanque and many enjoyed the experience although there wasn’t actually an organised competition.  The evening saw the Dinner and a band who wanted to do their sound check while we ate.

The whole weekend was free with your guests, we took ours to London, they had their grandson Remy with them so we took in changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, we managed to get Remy right up by the railings so he had a marvellous view, he was very excited. We had a picnic in St James Park and walked to Parliament Square via Trafalgar Square.  We returned to Kings Cross station on the top deck of a bus, Remy’s day was made!

For us Sunday was very leisurely, a late start and then after lunch a trip to King’s Lynn for a stroll and to see some of the end of the Hanse Festival.  A fine barbecue in the evening and then our guests were getting ready to leave, the week, as ever had flown by, a tearful goodbye on Monday morning left us very much looking forward to the exchange visit to Civray next year.