We were on a Ramblers Holiday in Italy. One night we sang Happy Birthday to our friend. A collection of 20 or so local Italian people sang an Italian 'Happy Birhtday' type song back.

So we sang The Manchester Rambler and they sang what sounded like a 'community singsong' song. And so it went on for about an hour us singing mostly English Folk Songs and the Italians sing what I can only describe as 'community singsong' songs. Not Italian pop songs that I have ever heard.

Then someone suggested a Beatles song - and off we went - they knew them as well as we did - for about half an a hour which included a international duet on Eleanor Rigby - tears all round.

Our average age was probably 60+ and theirs 50+