Mayor's Latin lark put on hold

Unpack those bags, Mr Mayor – the trip's off.

Marlborough Mayor Alistair Sowman could have been forgiven for excitedly brushing up on his Spanish this week after an email arrived in the inboxes of the Marlborough District Council, councillors and media announcing Blenheim was now the sister city of Puerto Cabezas in Nicaragua.

The whirlwind relationship was apparently cemented with the co-operation of Mr Sowman, who was said to be jetting off to Puerto Cabezas early next year as an "honoured guest", the email gushed.

Blenheim was chosen to replace the unfortunate United States city of Burlington, which was seemingly sistered out.

"(Burlington) has six other sister cities and (is) regarded as no longer suitable," the email said.

However, Mr Sowman conceded yesterday that his new year would not be nearly as exciting as was being made out.

He would not be visiting Blenheim's new friends in Puerto Cabezas because the email was a hoax.

"I thought it was a done deal and told Mrs Sowman to pack the bags, but then I found out it's all gone to custard," he joked, admitting he realised the email was not authentic immediately.

That may been a good thing, given suggestions by the email's author, Crad Kilodney, of Toronto, of recreational activities Mr Sowman could be exposed to.

A link in the email led to a wordy travelogue about the virtues of Puerto Cabezas and promises to take the mayor to "both whorehouses" and "get him drunk at the Hagfish Saloon".

However, he said the contents of the email had been a source of much humour among himself and councillors. At least one had offered to help Mr Sowman compete with high-flying MPs Rodney Hide and Hone Harawira.

"Councillor (Peter) Jerram said he would come as my partner, (but said), 'Just don't tell Rodney'."

The only sister-city relationships Blenheim has are with Tendo and Otari in Japan.

- The Marlborough Express

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Bollotta   #1   06:15 pm Nov 15 2009

The best yarn in the Express since Bob Dylan came to Picton.

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