The Tour - Monday 28th May

Monday started of quite leisurely, with nothing planned until the scheduled rehearsal at 10am. The rehearsal took place in the Hotel, which was followed by a free day, although the majority of the Band followed the activities which will unfold as you scroll down the page.

The Hotel had many equine connections, such as this life size model on the front lawn.

Our newly qualified EYMS Coach driver aka known as Pete Wilson - 2nd Horn.

It's either Indiana Jones & Babe Ruth, or the Band is on tour abroad.

The driver with his 'baby'.

What is that on your head? It was sunny until our rehearsal, but now!

During the pre-flight instructions, Pete demonstrates the crash position.

The two drivers Peter & Paul, though today was Peter's turn to drive, and Paul's to be the hostess.

The coach took us to a small town - Dokkom - for lunch. Small in all aspects, the coach was too big to fit down many of the streets. So after a tactical withdrawal, the Band walked into Dokkom.

Normally 'drum kits' and 'peace' don't appear together.

A typical Dutch scene, canal, bridge, windmill........

...... and a canal-side bar.

Mind your fingers boys. (And I use the term 'boys' loosely, very very loosely!)

Meanwhile, back in the town centre....

... Jim mops his furrowed brow when he realises that his table for one.....is about to become a table for one coach-load.

Tim studies the menu intently, before ordering....

....beers all round.

Cheers.

Oops, looks like the photographer has just interrupted a tender moment.

You're looking at the wrong cameras.

It's no good trying to hide behind the bush.

Don't turn around Paul, you're being followed.

Yes, I used to have hair like that too.

Following lunch, we left Dokkom and headed to a small coastal town. Piterburen is home to a large seal sanctuary. The sanctuary is opened to the public as a way of raising funds both to help the seals currently resident, and also to fund research into some of problems that affect seals throughout the world. Some of the Band visited a local hostelry to contribute to the local economy. We'll visit them first, before seeing the seals!

Nice flowers boys.

The Euphonium section perfectly in harmony - and not a Euphonium to be seen.

This picture was taken moments before Neil disappeared.

He's in there somewhere.

Moments earlier Simon had modelled that dress.

Meanwhile back at the seal sanctuary (Zeehondencrèche), the tour had started.

The first seal we came across was so old it had splinters.....

......as you can tell by Liam's expression.....

.....but luckily help was at hand!

It was a lovely day for a paddle.

It took several attempts to get most people looking in one direction.

Back to school - and a presentation on the environmental changes, and their effects on the world-wide seal population.

Some of the captive creatures!

Some of the real captive creatures - and any similarity between these and other people is purely coincidental.

This mountain has been built up from the nets that have entangled the seals.

When the Seal visit finished, and the boys had returned from the hostelry, we were unable to leave due to the coach being blocked in. Another car had been parked (abandoned) in our way. There was only one thing for it......

.....pick it up and move it. You can see here how far from the white lines the car was.

That's a lot closer, and enough room to get the coach past. Unfortunately we couldn't stay and see the car owners face's when they returned.

Meanwhile, whilst some of us aided the smooth passage of the coach, others hindered it. Here Alison tries the drivers seat for size. (Just in case you are wondering, the driver still has the keys!)

This photographer's living dangerously.

Two minutes in the driving seat and things start to go wrong. No keys, and still Alison manages to get the coach onto two wheels.

Having got all obstacles cleared (the rogue car & Alison), we headed back to our hotel at Haren. There was time for a quick wash and brush up, (some people had the wash, others the sweeping brush - can you spot which?) before heading into the centre of Haren for a quick drink and then a meal at the local 'Indian' restaurant.

Ready and waiting in the hotel foyer are Andy, Jim, and Gareth. Gareth obviously taking precautions against dehydration before the walk to the village.

Look at the horror on Geoff's face as we sort out a glass for him - don't worry we found somewhere else for the flowers!

The Chief Leprechaun shows remarkable restraint - not a beer in sight.

Look at that look of adoration - and that's Simon & Paul, not Tony & Kathy.

Past Paul's bedtime I suspect. Let us focus in (no photography pun there - much) on the group beyond him....

Tim, Jez, and Jim. These reliable upstanding members of the Band visited this bar two days earlier, leaving quite late (or early depending on how you look at it). When they were at their most upstanding they arranged an impromptu concert for the Band, in the pub, for tonight. Great idea!! When we arrived, the board outside announced our performance. The only problem was that they'd omitted to mention it to the rest of us. Oops!

From the sublime to the ridiculous.

Free from their respective husbands for the evening (they were babysitting), Julia & Kirsty hit the bar. Looks like Julia has hit it harder than Kirsty though.

What was that song that Clive Dunn used to sing?

Aren't they sweet, and the flowers aren't bad either!

From the look of Erin, Shaun's talking about his collection of Jaguar sparkplugs again.

Quick, whilst it's quiet.

A man on a mission, or just an ageing rocker?

Just how do you do that with your hair?

Stop messing Steve, you've got to be able to lift it when its full!

Just like that. Well it was full a moment ago!

No. She did! No, I can't believe that. Yes, and then she......

Jim looks fed up. And the reason, Mel is distracting Tim and it's his round.

That's better.

They're still going, but now joined by Julia and Erin. Erin displays her full range of multitasking, partaking in the latest scandal and focusing on the camera.

Kathy, as always the style icon, displays the latest craze - matching eyes and top.

Obviously, Tony didn't quite hear when the photographer shouted watch the birdie.

One as gorgeous as ever, the other looking a bit jaded.

But which is which?

Meanwhile, in the happy corner.

Alice would have preferred to let Steve have the bucket of flowers, if she could have the bouquet of beer.

Oh okay, if you insisst.

Couple of big mugs ....... on the window sill.

Listen you, I'd have put on a different top If I'd known you were wearing your red head!

And at the other side of the table Tony's glad of the break.

If it looks like we're having a good time..............it's because we are!

Of course this was a genuine Indian Restaurant - complete with jungle. Here Paul and Alison are more like Stanley Laurel, than Stanley and Livingston!

Somehow Andy had lost a screw - from his glasses, and had some difficulty in seeing the candles to light.

It was okay though, Kathy had some spare glasses with her - unfortunately they were UV glasses. Which begs the question, why? And reopens the discussion regarding the contents of a ladies handbag.

Spot on.

That's correct, there wasn't mushroom for anyone else besides the Band.

Please don't eat the flowers Mel.

Shaun's starting to look hot and flustered, and that's before the curry has arrived.

Must be a fashionable female pose.

The only thing about eating in a genuine Indian Restaurant, is that you are likely to be savaged by the wildlife.

And speaking of wild, the restaurant manager wasn't to impressed when we invaded. So much for an early night.

Alison checks him out on her George Clooney lookalike chart. Just what is she doing to have that effect on his eyes?

Dinner is served. And the drummers still wonder why they are referred to as the 'kitchen department'.

Kirsty looks like she'd rather be babysitting.

To avoid clashing Vicki, don't wear green if you are going to sit between two tomatoes.

Most people asked for a large beer, but, Vicki being a trainee lady requested a small beer. Unfortunately for her, the waiter had a big sense of humour. Don't drink it all at once.

A little hot Mark? No, just standard!

Judging by Tim's plate, he left the talking to everyone else.

Are vultures found in India?

James - you've picked the wrong glass up!

Don't you think that whilst the flowers may look good, they take up too much room once the main event starts.

Gareth wonders if someone has turned the heating up. To see the result of Alison's close range photography scroll down slowly - but be prepared to scroll faster if you are easily frightened!

Gareth and his impression of a volcano.

Okay I'll be mother then.

Looks like Stewart and Mark have both pulled.

Instead of listening to Kathy, Tony once again relied on Tom Tom to locate the photographer.

Go on Alice tuck in, only 82 curries to eat before we go back to New Zealand.

82! #*$**#$ You'll be eating them without me then.

Erin made short work of her vegetarian salad.

How did Vicki know to wear her jungle camouflage?

Andy spoons in the vindaloo - or does he? Perhaps the camera lies, it could be a very cleverly posed picture.

What's next then?

Yes, that's right, lets put nappies on our heads.

Obviously, the experience of several years sunbathing on the beach at Withernsea, has given Tony a modicum of sartorial elegance.

Here's another distance shot of a photographer in action ..........

....... and their result, a mixture of youth and experience - not necessarily in that order.

The trouble was that everybody wanted to be Lawrence of Arabia.

It's no good bawling, we're not having ice cream!

Following the Tiger's visit the elephant came out to play. First his 'handlers' Tim and Simon fed him some Chicken Vindaloo.

And then like the rest of us, he needed a couple of beers to cool down again.

If you can't fight wear a big hat! And if you can't find a hat, grab the nearest napkin - that's right they're napkins not nappies.

Simon tries to hail a taxi, whilst Vicki does her Irish Washerwoman impression.

Red face - red shirt. Perhaps it's the reflection ....... and he's wearing a white shirt!

Andy tamed the Tiger, in fact he was quite near to a 'pull', but........

..... he spoilt it when he breathed on her.

Not even that amount of mints will help.

Never mind the wafer thin mints - just wake me up when the beer arrives.

The bowl of curry did a complete round of the table - is the spoon on its way in, or out?

Why am I sat here with a napkin on my head?

Pete was driving the next day, so went for an early night. Julia kindly offered to walk him back to the hotel.

And then obviously had second thoughts.

Yes, they're going and you've just the washing up to do.

Following the meal, we went to bed........................... via the pub and hotel bar.

Go on then, just one or two for the road.

Why is Kathy doing the 'Teapot Dance'?

Of course some people never moved far from the bar.

Why the laughter? The pattern on Jim's shirt was running.

That's it chaps, block the door and stop anyone escaping, the Band's going on the stage.

Unfortunately, only to sing. Watch the pub empty as you read this.

Following this the photographers went to bed, so any other happenings will live on in rumour, and heavily embellished stories.

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