Written by Gordon Pearce
The school pipeband playing in the centre of Luxemburg City
Friday 29.6.01
Left from Kilrymont building at 10.00pm, heading overnight on the coach to Dover. A very fitful night, with not much sleep, including several service station stops in the early hours of the morning – not much more to say, apart from the fact I was now tired and crabby…
Saturday 30.6.01
As the first rays of light emerged in the morning gloom, the trip was well underway to Dover. Reached ferry port in time to get the 10.45am channel crossing. After the 1 hour long crossing, where there was just enough time to get some food (and not much else…), re-embarked coach, and headed to the final destination of Valkenburg, a sizeable town in the south of Holland, near the borders with Germany, Belgium and Luxemburg, set in the hilly area in the south of Holland – beautiful landscape, and beautiful weather. Upon reaching it, after a further 4 hours, checked into 2 – star Hotel Duipis near town centre. Had tea, during which a ceiling tile fell onto several tables (at this point, I was wondering how safe this hotel really was, after discovering that most of the bunk beds were dodgy…). The evening was spent exploring Valkenburg (Which is a very beautiful town, with many historic buildings), and relaxing.
Sunday 1.7.01
The first full day abroad dawned hot and sunny. After being woken up at 6.30am (too early in my opinion…), had breakfast, got packed lunches, and boarded coaches to head to a theme park called “Bobbejaanland” in Belgium. After lugging equipment through park to area where we were playing, had 1 hour in the park before having to set up for concerts. The pipe band played first to a sizeable audience, then short concerts from the windband and orchestra inside (in front of hardly anyone, in stuffy inside area…). The rest of the day, until 5.00pm was then free to explore the park. This time allowed us to go on pretty much all of the rides (which consisted of several wet water rides, and a few cool roller coasters – all were great rides) – all of which had almost no queues worth speaking about. After leaving, headed back to the hotel. Had tea, then everyone went 10 pin bowling. Enjoyed a couple of games (one of which I won!!!), then it was back to the hotel, and bed - much needed by this point, I can tell you…
Monday 2.7.01
Guess what – the second day dawned hot and sunny. Same starting point as yesterday (6.30am), then on to breakfast, and collection of packed lunches. Dressed ready in our uniforms, and headed to Luxemburg City – the most spectacular place you have ever been to (the old part of the city sits on an island in a deep river gorge, with spectacular views, and high bridges connecting it to the rest of the surrounding city). After lugging our equipment a long way, made it to the central square, where we set up on the biggest bandstand in Europe – it actually had room to stretch, and plenty of space left over – amazing, after the cramped St. Andrews bandstand back home. After a short pipe band recital, the orchestra and windband had 20-minute slots, as in Bobbejaanland, followed by the pipe band again – large audience, which was enthusiastic, and loads of people taking pictures – now this is what its all about!!! After this, all of the equipment was lugged back to the coaches, and we all got changed, and allowed to go around the centre of Luxemburg City. Here I did a vast amount of shopping, getting presents for folks back home, etc, and enjoying the beautiful city and surroundings. Then we left Luxemburg, and headed back to Valkenburg. Had tea, then a disco was organised – this allowed me, and most other people to strut their fancy stuff, and generally make a fool of themselves – the most amazing thing being I wasn’t drunk…I got very hot and sweaty, though, which was fun, I think. Then it was to bed…
Tuesday 3.7.01
Another hot day, with a later start – 7.30am instead of 6.30am. After breakfast, the whole group went en-masse to one of the major attractions in Valkenburg - up in a chair lift high above the town to the Toboggan run – an absolutely great thing, where you bolt down a metal track in a little cart, moving a stick forward to go faster, and pulling it back to break (quite a speed could be reached, I can tell you now!!!). After this fun, we all sunbathed on the grass, and frazzled away to nothing (we were all beginning to burn major time now…). In the afternoon, we had a little time to shop in Valkenburg, which didn’t amount to very long in theory… At 1.00pm the coaches arrived, and drove us all to Aachen which is about half and hour up the road from Valkenburg. In the blistering heat, we arrived at the Spa Gardens for a concert in front of a bunch of old people. The pipe band played first, followed by the orchestra, and windband, who were both set up under a sort of acorn tree – loads of these acorn things were falling down all of the time, causing a few problems…Mr Craib, the orchestra conductor also delighted the amassed crowd with his sort of witty comments in German in between the pieces – none of which we had any clue what they were about... After this good concert, time was available to walk into the sort of centre of Aachen and have a little look around – all I ended up buying was lots of food… After this we went back to Valkenburg for tea. I phoned people in the evening (family and Alice), then had my moment of glory singing in the organised karaoke (I sang “R.E.M. – Losing My Religion”) – generally well received, and I enjoyed singing with a microphone for the first time since the band I used to be in broke up. Then there was a general knowledge quiz – my team did dismally – then to bed (early start tomorrow…)
Wednesday 4.7.01
The hottest day so far – temperatures nudging well into the 30’s (that is C) – started off early (5.30am start…). EVERYTHING was packed onto the coaches before 6.30am(no mean feat, but executed brilliantly), and then breakfast was served. The hotel was checked out of, and then the coaches headed to “Eftling” theme park, which is one of the biggest in Europe. We entered through a back door, and dumped everything in an employee changing room which smelt badly of damp… We had an hour in the park, which wasn’t long enough to even contemplate getting on any rides (unlike Bobbejaanland, Eftling is a huge place, with just a few huge rides, which all have equally huge queues – most were well over an hour…Although the park itself is beautiful, with loads of winding paths, and trees everywhere). Then we set up, and the orchestra played for half an hour – the best we have played the whole time abroad. Half an hour break followed, just enough time to gab a little bite to eat, re-hydrate, cover up burning skin, and get the windband set up. The windband played for half an hour as well – as with the orchestra, it was the best we played the whole time abroad – and today, we had many half pissed Dutch people as an incredibly responsive and cheerfully involving audience – much enthusiastic singing and merriment was to be had by them all… We then got some more time in the park – just enough time to get soaked on the river rapid ride, and have a brief look at the rest of the vast, sprawling park – quite a great place, but it was WAY too hot to enjoy it really. We left at 2.45pm, and headed to Rotterdam. Upon reaching the port, we disembarked, and went on as foot passengers. The two berth cabins were tiny, and also had no toilet or shower in them… Mmmmmmm, communal everything, I think…had tea at 6.15pm (a huge buffet), then the ship set sail at 7.00pm. Went up to the quiet lounge, and broke my holiday long alcohol fast – I had a pint of Guinness, and a half pint of Heineken (after a little persuading from some other people…). Then, after much hilarity, fun and stimulating conversation with the adults (honestly), went to the boat cinema at 10.00pm to see “Pearl Harbour”. I don’t agree with the critics – it’s a fantastic film, with loads of action (although don’t expect much in the drama department), and the sequence where the harbour is attacked is simply breath taking – it gets top marks from me!!! After it ended at 1.00am, it was off to bed until 6.00am
Thursday 5.7.01
Up at 6.00am, for the final leg of the journey home (sniff, sniff – it’s so sad…). Breakfast was a huge buffet, then we all disembarked, and reunited with the coaches – god, it’s good to be back in good old Blighty…yes, yes, yes – it’s good to be back!!! Headed from Hull northwards, stopping at South Waite services near Carlisle for lunch. Got back to Kilrymont car park at 4.00pm, with everyone feeling knackered, but very pleased at how it had all gone on the trip. Rescued my bags, said farewells, helped unpack the coaches, then went home – wow, it’s great to be home, but it was good fun, all good fun. Everything was great, and I’m going to miss playing for the school a lot… But hey, lets be upbeat about it – it was fun - lots of fun!!! - Enough said!!!
The school orchestra playing in the centre of Luxemburg City