When most people think of twinning I suspect what comes to mind is those signs on the outskirts of towns and cities - "Twinned with (insert name of suitable place abroad, of comparable size, here)".
Aside from the occasional visit of dignitaries, photographed for page 9 of the local newspaper, who actually knows what it's all about?
Well, in rural France and rural Scotland things are delightfully different. Long united in their shared detestation of, and wars with, the English, The Auld Alliance (La Vielle Alliance) is vibrant, wild and one of the weirdest things I participate in each year.
It works like this - one year residents of Penpont, Tynron and Dunscore travel to four small villages in Picardie (Le Deluge, La Neuville D'Aumont, Le Coudray and L'Abbaye Ressons) and stay with people there, and the next year they come here and stay with us. And so on. It's brilliant, you often stay with people you've never met before and frequently people who speak no French become great friends with people who speak no English (well, Scottish). There's a formal programme, visits to sites of cultural importance, aperitifs at 11am every day and meals that last 4 hours which whole villages attend.
A few highlights (OK, holiday snaps) to demonstrate L'Esprit de Jumelage.
Formal Declarations
For Celebrations
Bar Flies
Kilted Guys
Blue and White
Party Night
Scotland Scores
Eat Outdoors
Pick the Winner
After Dinner
After Dinner
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