I really feel I should start Once upon a time.
On the 27th October I got on the train for Sleaford at Grantham at 4.30 sitting next to me
was Helen she asked if I’d been away for the weekend (the suitcase was a clue) I replied I’ve been
to Lille with Sleaford Twinning and she said oh do write a piece for the U3A newsletter. So here I
go.
Sleaford Twinning (in case you do not know has been going for a good many years, it
consists of people from Sleaford, France and Germany getting together 3 times a year and enjoying
each others company.
I joined this year as I wanted to learn French and Jan Mathieson asked if I’d like to join them
on the French or German trip. I said yes please France as I don’t speak German ( I discovered later
it doesn’t matter as our hosts normally speak very good English. So on 24th October with suitcase
and passport in hand I went off to Sleaford station where I was given my tickets and met my 20
other travellers, some I knew.
I’ll skip the journey we arrived at Lille and were given refreshments and met our hosts. I
was with Martine who was lovely she looked after myself and Pat fed us very well and took us to
explore Lille and surrounding area.
On the Friday we went to Esquelbecq to visit a puppet workshop. The gentleman who
made life size puppets took them in carnival parades and they were fabulous and scary.
We walked around the village and found the military cemetery for the 1st and 2nd world wars
beautifully kept but very poignant. Also the brick church rebuilt after a fire in 1976ish they retained
the burnt wooden statues which looked quite macabre as well as beautiful. We then moved on to
Herzeele where there was a cafe and 3 huge steam organs which had been discovered when a warehouse was being pulled down they were renovated and now play dance music whilst you eat.
On the Saturday we explored Lille the shops, the cafes, the Cathedral half modern and half
15th Century.
Sunday we came home after a lovely visit, the people we met were wonderful and I can
only say thank you.
End of Chapter 2. Chapter 1 was when I hosted Martine over here in May but that is
another story.
Chapter 3 is yet to be experienced but I shall definitely host again and visit too.
Cherie Renaud