The Water Rats Jazz Band
OUR PRIVATE TOUR DIARY 2007
Day six - Thursday 26th
Lunchtime: Flotilla Party Surlingham Broad
No, that did not happen. Due to bad weather We went to Coldham Hall Tavern, Surlingham
What a wise decision! Last year's flotilla party on Ranworth Broad was a huge success. The sun was shining, the air was warm. Not this year. It is cold, and again a chilly wind is blowing. So the guys decide to cancel the flotilla party and play inside Coldham Hall instead. It becomes a session that begins around noon and does not finish before 5pm. Everybody enjoys playing, and the Rats' fans hear some really remarkable good music. After some great food and drinks trumpet man Terry Starr took a small nap.
To deliver an additional attraction, the Rats' boat Alpha Mirage is declared "boat of the open door". Fans and followers are invited to risk an eye and take a look at a well kept kitchen and cosy cabins. Unfortunately, news of this great event has not been published . As nobody knows of it, nobody turns up. Anyway, we have pictured part of the great salon and the spotless kitchen - would you believe that this place is so well kept by men only?
Evening: Beauchamp Arms, Caxton
Late that afternoon the band travels to the Beauchamp Arms. Following the long lunchtime session not everybody goes there, among those the Rats' webmaster. Of course that night becomes a night to remember, at least for our friend Tony from Jersey. After the session Tony goes back to the Jersey Brats' boat, but in the dark night she falls off a small wall and hurts her left leg very badly. She is brought to a Norwich hospital where the emergency team looks after her leg. Unfortunately, there is no George Clooney on duty at the Norwich ER that night.
