Thursday 13 August 2015

Don't fool around, don't chase women, don't eat too much - World's oldest living twins aged 102

Interview: Paulus switches between French and Dutch, the country's main languages, and the Ghent dialect

Eating in moderation, drinking a glass of good wine every day and avoiding chasing women are the secrets of a long life, the world's oldest living twin brothers claimed today.

Born on July 8 1913, Pieter and Paulus Langerock have lived together for most of their lives and barely leave each other's side, sharing a room at their nursing home just outside Ghent, Belgium.

After their long careers as court magistrates in the middle of the 20th century, the suited Belgian 102-year-olds prefer speaking French and being addressed as ‘Pierre and Paul’.

Paulus, switching between French, Dutch and the local Ghent dialect, said: ‘There isn't much advice I can give. Don't waste your time fooling around, don't eat too much and don't run after women.’

Both enjoy a glass of wine every day. ‘Get us a Bordeaux, but a good quality one,’ Paulus tells his nurse at the Ter Venne retirement home into which they moved three years ago.

Tips: Eating in moderation, and drinking a glass of good wine every day are said to be the secrets of a long life

It was only then that they gave up their own house. Neither married, disapproving of each other's choice of potential life partner. Pieter said: ‘Yes, Paulus is my best friend. We're always together.’

While they are the world's oldest living twin brothers, they have another three years to go to break the record of US brothers Glen and Dale Moyer, both of whom reached 105.

Paulus says he does not care, adding: ‘When we were 85 we went to the doctor and he told us: “Don't think you'll be living to 100”. Well, I never really wanted to be this old.’

No comments:

Post a Comment