Hemsby Number 1 PHOTOS
T.aka Eileen Munchkin and I set off from the centre of the
universe aka Nottingham around mid-day Friday on what was for the most part an
uneventful journey to the county of Norfolk. I say most part because Munchkin
decided to spice the journey up a little by taking a slight detour off of the
A47 onto a narrow strip of tarmac that he thought was a slip road to McDonalds
only to find we were being led up a farmers dirt track and onto ploughed fields.
Not to be perturbed, at the next macky D’s he went one better and took another
sudden left turn only this time we were confronted by a big white fence with a
warning sign saying DANGER!!! Do not enter. The fence stopped people entering
onto a bank that if mounted lead straight to hell. But full credit to his
braking abilities as we managed to go from 60mph to a sudden stop with exactly
7.36753 yards to spare….PHEW. After copious amounts of caffeine to steady our
nerves we braved the final 20 miles to Hemsby.
Once into Belson (sorry Pontins) we found the chalet the aptly named ii Towers,
dumped our gear and headed straight to the Queen Vic where we were greeted by
AVT, Dawn, Joy and Sue who had already had several drinks head start. But on
closer inspection it was noticed that Sue was actually diluting her own and
Dawns drinks with a bottle of water. When confronted her excuse was that the
beer was too strong and they dint want to get drunk. Not one to miss out in such
an extraordinary sight much mickey taking was enjoyed by all. The pub started
filling up as more and more peeps arrived and we were treated to a karaoke
competition that would have had Simon Carroll squirming in his boots, but fair
play to all who took part and in true pop idol style the victorious budding
chart topper got to treat us all again to his lack of vocal talent. By now our
family was growing larger with Olly, Dms, Dunny and a new addition to the group,
a really loud and vociferous young lady by the name of Jody (does that woman
ever shut up). We spotted Beanie, Jason and Curtis who was accompanied by her
partner at the other end of the bar and the usual pleasantries were exchanged.
As the drinks flowed the atmosphere heated up and then suddenly out of
nowhere a tornado hit the bar. Taxi had decided to come after all and only told
Dms a few hours earlier. Knowledge he decided to keep to himself so when she
walked in, water proofs helmet and all and was spotted by Eileen all hell broke
loose and anyone within a 5-mile radius must have thought someone was being
murdered. The happy smiling faces that belonged to H and Beeb enriched our
company with Ju and Karen arriving just as it was time to go and check out the
first of the weekend’s bands, The Simulators. They were a decent sounding band
playing all the usual mod kind of stuff and was only spoilt in my opinion when
they finished their set with a track that they had already played earlier. Emma
Cox and Rob Class (Tony’s brother) who had been taken ill earlier in the week
were DJ’ing and got the place buzzing till around 3.15am when we were told to
go into the Northern soul room as the main room was closing for the night. This
was my cue to head back to ii Towers to get some much-needed rest, as I don’t
do Northern.
Upon my return to our humble abode all was not as it seemed as it was decided by
Dms and Taxi that it would be a good Idea to booby trap the entrance for when I
arrived. Their cunning plan worked and I fell straight into their trap and was
not allowed in until I had performed a break dance routine that they had not
seen the likes of for a long time( Hemsby 02 to be precise) but they got more
than they bargained for as I treated them to a pantomime as well.
The Cockerel crowed at 7.51am and we all arouse and discussed the previous
evenings entertainment of the booby trap variety. “Which even by my standards
was pretty impressive”. Eileen came out of her sleeping bag from which she
teleported herself to from the ladies the night before (just how does she do
that). Before long we were joined by Olly and were all tucking into a rally
special brekkie of the Eileen and OAJJ variety (no hash browns again…..TUT). A
glance at the days events page in the programme and a long discussion later we
decided to get ready and head off to the venue where everything was happening.
Well some of us did, as I was last in the bathroom all the hot water had been
used up (how rude) but who cares “everyone smells on rallies”
There wasn’t much to shout about in the stalls department
and it wasn’t practically busy either but at least it gave us chance to have a
look around without having to fight for space. H and Beeb were spotted aimlessly
walking around oblivious to all and sundry but once prompted they were only too
happy to share in conversation.
The Queen Vic was our next port of call where we settled down to watch the
battle of the bands and we aptly named them band 1, band 2 and band 3. Band 4
didn’t show but the three that did play, played for around 30 minutes each.
Band 1 played all their own stuff and was ok but Eileen wasn’t too impressed
giving them big thumbs down. The table soon got congested as most of the ii
family and friends had gathered around which included Dms, Eileen, Munchkin,
Dunny, Jody, Olly, Taxi, Beanie, Jason, Curtis and fella, Joy, Ju and sue. It
was around this time that Taxi had to leave us and head off back down sarf as
work was beckoning her. We had our hugs and kisses and watched as she slipped
out of the door and said goodbye to the 2003 rally season. Band 2 sounded good
and got the room rocking but it was pointed out by DMs that they played
well-known songs and may have given the impression that they were better than
they were…fair comment. They played classics by the Who and other mod stuff
and went down well whilst band 3 played a lot of reggae and two tone songs and
for me were the best as they put their own slant on each song and didn’t try
to be anyone but themselves. They comprised of a nine-piece set up complete with
brass section with the average age of fifty plus. At first they seemed out of
place as they looked more like a jazz band then anything else but they went down
very well in the now very packed pub. Dawn decided to grace us with her presence
after sleeping most of the day and wasted no time in joining in with the
festivities. Around 4.30 we decided to head back to ii Towers for some much
needed sustenance and recuperation. Seating space was minimalistic to say the
least with the amount of bodies but we managed somehow. And once a few peeps had
left it was back to picking on the little guy again but this time it was Dunny
Eileen and Ju playing chief prosecutor, judge and executioner in all fairness I
had no chance as the kangaroo court had found me guilty before I’d even been
charged. DMs let it slip that the previous nights shenanigans re break dancing
routine was all Taxi’s doing and he tried to stop her but she wouldn’t have
it. (mmmmmmm I’ll ponder on that one)!! Funny how she wasn’t able to defend
herself eh DMs.
The pub began a calling and so we headed off for more fun and frolics. We
started in the pub before moving on into the main venue where we caught the end
of yet another band. Eileen failed to win the raffle in which Dunny assured her
she would and there was just enough time for supper before the main feature of
the evening’s entertainment was due on stage, Desmond Dekker and his Aces. The
room was packed solid with just about everybody on site in there. (Including AVT)
who’d spent all day in bed. “Now” I’d seen Desmond at Camber Sands 2002
and thought he was flogging a dead horse but this time even though it was pretty
much the same act even I have to admit he was absolutely excellent. From start
to finish he had the audience in his hands and as the clock approached midnight
the entire room from front to back and wall to wall was bouncing up and down. I
very much doubt if you’ll see the likes again at any other rally ever!! To be
part of the whole atmosphere was well worth the entrance fee alone. As 1am
approached I announced my retirement and headed back to ii Towers. Eileen,
Munchkin and DMs joined me and we swapped ghost stories, frightened the life out
of DMs and left him all on his own in the cold dark room where I’m told he hid
under his quilt lol.
Once again Sunday came all too early and after another Brekkie by the lovely
Eileen in which AVT and Dawn partook it was time to bid farewell to one and all.
But this time the farewells weren’t as sad coz we get to do it all again next
week yippeeeeeeee. Roll on Cala Gran
OAJJ
Keep it simple keep it fun but most of all keep it ii