The Tour - Friday 1st June

On Friday, we had a free day - or free in the sense that we had no rehearsal or concert until the evening. Knowing this, most of the Band took the opportunity for a lie in, though according to the time on the photograph, John Mathews took the following picture at ten past seven in the morning.

Now perhaps John couldn't sleep, and neither could the rest of the people in the photograph, or perhaps the camera does lie?

Is it possible that these three are tourists?

Yes, definitely.

The camera moves in.

And then the substitute tourist gets into the picture.

Before embarking on anything too strenuous, perhaps we'd better have a hairy dog.

Not quite the Titanic, but at least this one managed to complete its cruise. Most of the Band took the tour around the Amsterdam canals.

The Captain's approach is slightly off centre.

That's better.

The cruise took us past some of Amsterdam's cultural centres.

Back in the dock, it was time to get off.

And, the boat was still floating when we left.

The sun wasn't really that bright, the glasses were just needed for Mark's shirt.

Turn it the right way up!!

No, don't let Tony help, we'll be lost for ever!

We took the opportunity to have a relaxing afternoon, though either Kirsty has done a quick change from the picture above, or this picture is from another day. Whichever, we enjoyed a coffee in the sun.

Vicki back at the hotel.

Alison and Vicki.

After returning to the hotel, we set off for our final concert in the village of Oostzaan. This concert was a joint concert with Amsterdam Brass. Our Soprano Cornet player - Geoff Hawley - played for Amsterdam Brass during the concert as their player was unavailable. One piece played by Amsterdam Brass that was to become a firm favourite with our Band was the Latin number Salsa Tres' Prado.

The end of the Amsterdam Brass section of the concert.

Following the concert, we were forcibly (honest) detained in a local hostelry where we were forced to sample, and resample several glasses of the local brew. Fortunately we travelled on the coach, because the local constabulary had a road block set up breathalysing all vehicles leaving the village.

One downside of filling the bar was that they soon ran out of man-size glasses.

Though the upside for Andy was that it is easier to do this trick with small glasses than pint-sized ones.

Another upside was the supply of delicious snacks served with the beer.

Though it would be better to eat them than smoke them!

Neil could have started a fashion though.

It'll take ages to cook them over that flame.

Isn't it interesting that after a couple of beers we are able to talk in any language. In this case probably Double-Dutch!

Geoff relaxes after the evenings hard work.

Meanwhile in the blue corner, Mark wasn't too happy after playing a wrong note during the concert.

Though normal service was soon resumed when the froth needed blowing off a couple of big beers.

Another plate of spicy balls disappears.

It's either hello or goodbye.

The conductor from Amsterdam Brass,

and with his groupies.

It's either two more beers, or two more groupies!

He's now settling for one more, or could it be a discussion on the merits of an international system for hand signals.

Balls!

Cheers.

When we returned to the hotel, it was almost time to celebrate Steve's big birthday....

....though as it officially didn't start until one minute past midnight on the second, you'll have to visit tomorrow's pictures to see what happened.

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