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The Tour - Saturday 2nd June |
Returning back to the hotel from the concert, it was time for a celebration. Principal Cornettist Steve Rudhall was celebrating a major birthday. You may be able to guess which one by looking for the subtle clues in the following pictures. If you miss those, it's the big birthday that falls between 39, and 41!
Subtle clue number 1: The entrance to Steve's boudoir.
Subtle Clue number 2: The large, and partly inaccurate birthday badge.
The 'old man' arrives at the bar, with slightly red eyes before he reaches the bar.
Obviously he needed a helping hand!
Present time.
It was hard having to stay up and drink a few more beers, but we all made the effort.
Even those who should have been in bed earlier.
The generation gap!
You would think that with a beer in each hand, Kirsty would have had enough to contend with, but ....
.... she also manages to relieve hubby of his wallet.
Erin & Kathy in full flow, having sent their respective men to the bar!
Go away!
Super Smart Band Sergeant.
And there was some dancing - in its loosest sense!
Its either another speech, or Alison is still 'dancing'.
Even sitting down, Mark, Tony, and Pete, all towered above Paul.
Special lubricating oil.
Oi!
Not posed at all.
And there's more.
Some of the gifts, were, shall we say, a little more classy than others.
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See what I mean!
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For some reason the tie was to prove strangely popular.
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Paul and his ladies, or Neil with his scare-em harem.
Definitely the 'before' picture.
You're the one that I want!
Trying to work out who is the 'more mature'.
Just one for the road then.
And as the night passed into morning, time for a break.
The Euphonium section.
Steve got a little too attached to his new jewellery.
And now that he'd reached that age, nothing like cup of cocoa before bed.
Kirsty tries on Geoff's jacket for size.
Not sure if that's a three in one jacket, or a three in two.
And so to bed - matching door and shirt, how fashionable is that?
Early the next morning Mark was a man on a mission. His New Year's Resolution was to practice every day, and this was the only opportunity today. And no complaints from the neighbours!
Not sure if this is a hug, or hold me up straight whilst there is a camera around.
The weather was gorgeous, and the boat trip around Amsterdam's waterways started off pretty well.
....but after a while, last nights 'one for the canal' took effect.
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Some of the many sights we saw both on the canal boats, and wandering around the streets.
No Andy, you put your hand up to be excused, not when you get there!
The hand-dryer was a bit primitive!
Are the three on the left, or the three in the centre, the tourists?
What a poor show - cokes all round!
And coffee. It must have been a good night!
Well done Mel, looks like you've sampled the local brew.
The Band babies!
Oh dear!
Looks like the sun really does only shine on the righteous.
Time for one last coffee, before setting sail on the coach for the ferry.
Must have been good coffee.
It's either the last week catching up, or someone is getting old.
Please don't say he's driving.
Waiting to be cast off.
The view as we left Ijmuiden - a port on the outskirts of Amsterdam.
Quite picturesque.
Paragliding, or just a big seagull?
Seagulls and beach huts, it could almost be Withernsea.
The wind farm construction site.
Goedkoop, Hoe ver is het naar England?
Just a light snack for tea.
All very surprisingly civilised at the Captain's table - that's Captain Pugwash!
Allegedly if you drink plenty of water you retain your youthful looks - better get a bigger bottle then!
Last men standing?
Paul, Kirsty, and Simon, go on deck for cobweb removal.
Its not what it looks like, just a friendly wrestle to decide who is De Caprio and who is Winslet.
My Heart Will Go On.
And so to bed we went, knowing that the following morning we would arrive back at Newcastle, and the end of our tour.
© 2009 RMU/EYMS Brass Band