The Tour - Friday 25th May

After what seemed very little sleep - it actually was very little sleep - we awoke to the sound of a sweet harp playing The Lark In The Clear Air over the ship's intercom. Given that it was a beautiful morning, we wondered if the ships joker selected the music for reveille dependant on the weather. After a wonderful cooked breakfast we departed from the ship Europort, on the outskirts of Rotterdam, en route to our first base in Haren. Haren is on the outskirts of Groningen, in the North of the country.

Seven o'clock local time as the Pride Of Rotterdam approaches her berth.

Shaun searches for the Lark in the Clear Air.

Waiting for the all clear to leave the ship proved a little too much for Andrew, he came over all tired and emotional.

Too late, Alice discovered that the beds were hidden in the wall. Please no comments regarding the flasher in the doorway.

The journey by coach was too take several hours, and so we made one or two stops. Unlike most English tourists abroad we left the football at home, and took a cricket set instead. Much to the amusement of the locals we set up for a game in the morning at a motorway service area. Just a gentle knock about........ until Tony took the bat, and launched a fearsome rising drive.......straight onto young Liam's bottom jaw. Ever sympathetic dad David told his tearful young son, that he should have caught the ball before it got close to his face. Back on to the bus - sorry coach, and another few hours until our lunch stop, at the small town of Deventer. Here those members of the Band that hadn't visited the continent before, got a real surprise as they drove past lots of ladies sitting in windows. A gentle lunch followed in a really pleasant pavement cafe.

Not much left there then.

Whilst waiting for the latecomers to arrive back at the coach (We know who you are!), Steve took the opportunity to do a little practice. Starting with Brahms Lullaby, he almost dozed off himself, before moving on to the well known agricultural piece, Music To Grow Strawberries By.

And then he did a passable impression of the Pied Piper of Hamlyn - and yes that is a roadside strawberry field.

The trip took most of the afternoon, and we arrived at the Mercure Hotel just in time for a couple of hours of cricket, a spot of individual practice, and a night out.

Andy Kennedy lets a loose one go, just look at the height of the ball in flight. Or was it a beamer? Note the professional sports reporter Simon Blow, walking in with the bowler, ready to jump into action - the EYMS Band Phil Tufnell!

Look at the that for the perfect stance, and eye on the ball. What happened next......

Oh yes, he missed it!!

And then he tried the Ministry of Silly Batting approach.

And what an action sequence captured by our intrepid sports photographer Neil Johnson, who went in so near to the action to get these close ups, that he almost fell off the balcony. And a decent ball from Andy was met with what looks like a decent stroke from Tony.

The one step run up.

Some of the Band took a limousine into Groningen, (actually it was a big Mercedes that looked like it had seen better days as a fruit and vegetable wagon - but it served the purpose).

Cheers.

It's lager Simon, not fine brandy.

Led by the Band's Jazz expert (Yes, honestly) Simon, the boy's went to see 'New Cool Collective' in action.

Andy was delighted to find that with every beer, you got a free educational puzzle board. Look at the delight on his little face as he gets the round shape in to the correct hole.

He wasn't so pleased when he realised that his round shape wouldn't actually pass through the hole. And it's no good asking Shaun the Shed for help, all he could suggest was, 'If it doesn't fit......hit it harder.'

What is it with trombonists and percussion instruments?

This was a very cool customer though, eyes wide shut, playing away, and he still manges to gesture at the photographer.

He sure looks the part.

Ah, so that's what it's for.

The three ages of man!

People who are easily frightened should skip over the next picture....

Don't complain that you weren't warned.

The 'twins' compare hair product notes.

As the end of the night approaches, Shaun, Neil, and Gareth, each demonstrate their different pulling techniques.

Sorry Neil, I can cure the redeye caused by camera flash, but red, tired, and bloodshot eyes are beyond me.

Pretty in pink in downtown Haren.

Meanwhile, back at the hotel, the remainder of the Band had a ten minute walk into the centre of Haren, Well ten minutes if we had gone the correct way, but following driver Paul's directions it was a good forty minutes. After a good meal at the Astoria with the menu translated by Mark, who suddenly realised that he could read Dutch, several of the Band returned to the hotel. The diehards stayed a little longer, and discovered with the help of the barman, the ten minute walk back to the hotel (five if we had walked in a straight line).

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