On Friday September 22nd, a Sedbergh delegation comprising Garth Steadman, Kevin Lancaster, Susan Garnett, David Burbidge and his partner Lucia Marquart attended celebrations in Zreče to celebrate 800 years since the town was first mentioned in records.

As ever we were very well and generously received with Garth, Kevin and Susan staying at the Thermal Spa Hotel Dobrava.

With Zdenka and Urska from the Tourist Office as our guides, we spent every waking hour when not eating or enjoying the Dobrava facilities of pools, jacuzzis and saunas, touring the local area.

Lunch on Friday was at the Hotel Smogavc. The mayor Josef and proprietor Ludvig came to welcome us and send their best wishes to absent friends in Sedbergh. As this was Kevin's first visit Urska took us to visit the ski resort at Rogla and the youth centre at Gorenje. En route we made several stops so that Sedbergh farmer Kevin could examine the methods, mechanical and otherwise, of hay-making on 45 plus degree slopes. Then back to the hotel for a quick swim in and out of doors.

That evening saw the hall at the Dobrava transformed into an over-sized railway carriage with historic footage projected onto the walls giving the impression of scenery passing the windows as we sat inside. A larger screen showed video clips of historic sites, manuscripts and local views with a narrative which we presumed was relating the long and no doubt fascinating background to our twin town. In between clips, we enjoyed songs and instrumental music featuring amongst others Samo and his group. David was interviewed live for Slovenian Radio, mostly in English although the audience cheered appreciatively when David courageously replied in Slovene. Then he led the assembled company in a rendering of "Rolling Home".

The evening concluded with light refreshments accompanied by more spontaneous folk-singing from those present. One of the delights of being in Zrecian company is their ability to break into song at every opportunity. Everyone knows the words and a great time is had by all!

Saturday began with a swim and aquarobics before breakfast followed by another tour led by Urska. First we visited a moving and poignant memorial to 100 partisans who were executed in wartime reprisals during the German occupation. Then onto the valley of St John the Baptist. Here, in a wooded and secluded setting, are the remains of a Chartusian monastery, founded in 1160. The monks were particularly known for their knowledge of natural medicine and pharmacology. The name of the neighbouring village is Spitalic is derived from the word for hospital. Having withstood many assaults including a Turkish invasion, the monastery was finally dissolved in 1782.

From here we drove to Sloveneske Konjice (literally "horsetown") to visit firstly the old manor house where a wide array of herbal products for health, bath and kitchen is produced from their own herb gardens. From there we drove to the old mediaeval main street. This sloping cobbled road with its central stream, bridged at intervals, is straight out of a film set. More was to come! We were taken to visit a private art gallery up a modest stairway in a quiet yard. A local industrialist had amassed a jaw-dropping collection which included, at least, paintings by Modigliani, Vermeulin and two Klimt drawings and many others which could be identified as Old Masters. The ceiling was embellished by a dramatic mural (?) of St George. Several churches in Slovenia are dedicated to St George and contain statues or paintings of him along with distressed damsels, dragons etc.

Zdenka, David and Lucia joined us for lunch at a tourist farm near Skomarje where, as ever, the table groaned with the array of home-made soups, meats and other mouth-watering local delicacies. We were entertained by the accordion played, we believe, by the young son of the house who, because of his diminutive stature, could only be glimpsed occasionally behind it. Not to be outdone, and fortified by the comestibles, Garth and David then performed for us with Garth on keyboard. We all joined in the choruses.

Our next official engagement was lunch with the mayor on Sunday (only two hours after breakfast) before we were taken to Graz for our flight.

The tourist industry in Zreče is supported by both Government and local industrial funds. Unfortunately we have no such support in the UK and rely on Twinning Club membership and any funds we can raise by various events or from local charities to entertain official visitors to Sedbergh. This delegation, as usual, paid air fares etc. out of our own pockets but we feel this was very worthwhile to keep the Town Twinning project alive and going forward.