TWINNING

							HAYWARDS HEATH TWINNING NEWS
December 2006
Roger’s Rumblings
With Christmas and the New Year just a few days away, I would take this opportunity of wishing you all a Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year. May we also spare a thought, and perhaps a little more, for all those less fortunate than ourselves, and if nothing else, donate to the local organisations who are collecting to provide a little something to those in need.

Roger Stevens - Chairman

Thanks to French Joinery for their assistance with the production of this newsletter Subscriptions – It’s that time of year again and all subs are due on 1st January 2007. They have been held at the same level as 2006. In order to help reduce our admin costs please send your renewals to the Membership Secretary as soon as possible.
Wanted – Newsletter Editor! – It is with regret that I have decided to give up assembling/editing the bi-monthly newsletter. After 6 years I feel that it is time for someone else to take over this enjoyable role. Only simple computing skills are needed and it’s a great way of getting to know the members. The February 2007 edition will be my last one, so if you feel that you would be interested in helping in this way please contact me. Rest assured I will continue to be very involved with the Association.

A recipe that you might like to try………..
On two separate occasions last year members of HHTA and Bondues Jumelage have had occasion to meet, shop, eat and drink local produce in England and France. Both events have proved immensely successful and as with all the best meals, done without a recipe. Well, here it is, reproduced for you to try for yourselves . . . . . Ingredients

   

two couples or four individuals from either country (these can be known individuals or strange to each other dependant on how you want the recipe to turn out. Sometimes a little spice is good!) a lot of love of food and drink a dash of cultural interest a smidgeon of each others language (optional)

What to do. . . . . Take a couple or two individuals from each country and arrange to get together in one country or another. The time of year doesn’t matter but it is important that it coincides with a particular food event e.g. game season in England or perhaps oyster season in France. Once met, agree a menu between all of you based on the food of that country. Next, shop for the ingredients, making sure that the visitors take an active part in the selecting, buying, and, optional, the possible making of the foodstuffs you will eat that night. (if you find a good butcher or baker he might let you make sausages or cakes). Then have a glass of wine or beer. This isn’t optional but mandatory and can include a little snack to get you through to the dinner. Next, retire to the kitchen where the host will demonstrate the preparation of the meal. This is where the inclusion of the other parties is important and mandatory as without this mixture or melange the meal will not rise to the occasion.

Drink more wine or beer (or both - hic). This helps set the mixture! Once the meal is prepared, settle down to eat and drink and discuss the finer points of each other culture but above all, enjoy the experience. This recipe can be repeated, without failure, the following day or as often as required. Enjoy! Thanks to Peter Parr from whom further details can be obtained on 482009

What we have been doing. .
TWIGS AGM

Twigs has now finished its golfing program for the year and the Annual General Meeting was held on 23rd November with Captain Bernard Grimshaw in the chair. Seven meetings were held during the year at Slinfold Park, Hill Barn, Mid Sussex, Hassocks, Cuckfield, Seaford Head and Haywards Heath plus the Annual Golfing Exchange which this year took place in Bondues. Excellent weather was enjoyed throughout the year and the standard of golf is still improving judged by the record score of 47 stableford points returned by the winner of the President’s Trophy. Two new trophies were introduced this year, the Spring Cup which was won by Nigel Vokes and the Autumn Trophy which was won by Keith Fisher. The Twinners Cup was won by Bernard Grimshaw and will be presented to him at the Annual Dinner in January. The Secretary reported that Membership now stood at 20 and the average attendance at meetings over the course of the season was 12 although this could double when wives and partners were invited to the evening meals. Next year the number of courses played will be reduced by one by cutting out the October fixture and Slinfold Park and Cuckfield are being deleted from the calendar to be replaced by Hollingbury Park. The main event of 2007 will be the proposed return of our friends from Bondues to Hassocks Golf Club in June when it is hoped that there will be good support from Twinners as usual to make them welcome. The Secretary and the Chairman both expressed the need for more members to provide a comfort zone as most clubs require a minimum of 12 golfers for Society bookings and with only 20 members this can be a worry. If any Twinning members wish to join Twigs, please ring Colin White on 412757 for further information.

A Little time in Lille
Last weekend six members of the Twinning Association went to Lille. After leaving the tunnel at Calais they drove along to Gravelines Shipyard where they re-visited the museum and construction of “The JEAN-BART” which was one of Louis X1V’s 17th century men-o-war vessels. The huge task of constructing this ship, which is 50m long is estimated to take twelve to fifteen years to complete so there is plenty of time to visit the site to watch the progress of this fantastic project. The group moved onto an afternoon and evening in Lille where there was a colourful Christmas market in the main square and a huge wheel giving rides for a mere 3 euros, and there were even twelve life size elephant statues in a guard of honour pose down one of the main streets as there had been a celebration of India earlier in the week. On Sunday morning the group made their way to Bondues and met with two families of students that had been hosted here on work experience, Gregory Sion in 2005 and Mathilde Richour in 2006. After catching up with the gossip the group made their way back to the tunnel where they boarded the train home, with the promise to go to Gravelines at least once a year to see the progress of the historic ship. It was a very enjoyable weekend, and came to an end far too soon. Judith Bone

Opera for all!
On an overcast day in November a group of twinners went to see how to stage an opera – in other words a trip behind the scenes at Glyndebourne. A most engrossing tour followed which included walking on the stage and seeing the auditorium from the performers view, although no-one was brave enough to risk singing a song. We also saw the rehearsal areas, which are built to exactly the same specifications as the stage and the changing rooms, all with en suite facilities! We heard explanations of how the scenery is moved, how props are made, and the costumes and wigs were truly works of art, all with great attention to detail. Our guide patiently answered our questions as we progressed and dispelled several preconceived ideas about Glyndebourne. For example, the states are not as expensive as I had thought, indeed they start at a mere £7 for

the autumn season, and a subscription to the mailing list increases one’s chances of tickets. At the end of the fascinating tour we all felt that we had learned a great deal about what makes the place tick. Special thanks are due to Judith Heyman for facilitating the tour. Julia Vokes.

Dates for your diary…..
Friday 8th December – Christmas Party at Age Concern. Germans celebrate St Nicholas’ Day on December 6th and so tonight there will be some Gluhwein when you arrive, followed by a buffet supper and a light-hearted quiz. The cost for this enjoyable evening is £6 and it starts at 7.30pm. Last year’s event was very popular so to reserve your place please contact Julia Vokes on 452826. Friday 18th January 2007 – Quiz Night at Age Concern. For our first quiz of the new year the price is just £3 per person and please bring whatever you wish to eat and drink. Remember it’s not Mastermind, just good general knowledge, and a good night out. Please phone Julia on 452826 to book your space.
Bonjour mes amis! The Linguists Group are preparing for their annual language weekend to Bondues. This will take place from January 19th – 21st. The weekend promises a whirl of social, cultural and gastronomic activity with a language lesson on the Saturday morning. All standards catered for but be prepared to have a go at speaking French as there will be a minimal amount of English spoken! These weekends are always fantastic fun and so good for improving language skills -Being relaxed and among friends, possibly with a glass of wine or two to oil the tongue - these are the best possible conditions for speaking French! If you would like to join our party for the trip to Bondues and/or would be interested in meeting on a monthly basis to speak French then contact Liz Price on 455732

Friday 26th January 2007 – Annual Dinner at Haywards Heath Golf Club. The three course meal and coffee will cost £19.00 which is the same as in 2006. If you wish to attend please complete the form enclosed with the last newsletter, indicating your menu preference and return it with your cheque (payable to HHTA) as soon as possible, but no later than 11th January to Julia Vokes, telephone 452826. 3rd February – AGM in Bondues. The Jumelage of Bondues would welcome any members who wish to attend their AGM followed by a social event. Overnight accommodation would be provided with families. If you are interested in attending please contact Peter Parr for further details on 482009.
Julia Vokes can be contacted on 452826, by email at julia.vokes@lineone.net, or by letter at 7 Blunts Wood Road, Haywards Heath. The next newsletter will be published in February, so if you have anything you would like included please let Julia know