I have lived in many towns that have been twinned with other towns (usually with better climates than the place I live in) but I have never really understood the purpose of twinning.

I read with vague interest in The West Briton of Helston's recent twinning with Plougasnou in Brittany.

The story says the Helston mayor travelled to Brittany to sign the relevant papers to do the deed. I wonder how many other people travelled with him (including his wife) to carry his bags and to enjoy this moment and who paid for the trip?

Further to this exciting twinning story , I read a story (pre the signing) that during the visit of some important type people equal to our mayor of Helston from Plougasnou they highlighted the fact that the Helston town trial is only in English. It was therefore translated into Spanish and French as well. Available from the Guildhall and The One Stop Shop.

I wonder how many visiting people from oversea have the faintest clue what a "One Stop Shop" actually is, let alone where we hide it in Helston.

Keep your eyes out for the influx of Spanish and French speaking tourists looking for the "Un/Uno Stop Shop".