rejuvenated

Wednesday 30th May 2007

11:40 a.m. BST Had an excellent night on Monday night. It was an average kind of evening until about half way through, when I started to get several requests and as I played them things gathered momentum. There was a group of young lads sat nearby who were requesting loads of different material, most of which was unsuitable (e.g. Van Halen), but I did end up doing a rather energetic rendition of Clocks by Coldplay, and an off-the-cuff impromptu interpretation of Take On Me by A-Ha. I also played Suspicious Minds, and there were a few women sat behind me singing in harmony. I had a mixed audience, with some Dutch and German as well as English people listening and asking for songs. I had three encores, and even had applause when I finished which is very rare!

Despite last night being very busy indeed, it was a more of a sedate affair in the piano bar, although I did end up playing a couple of upbeat numbers. There were a lot of German passengers who (as I’ve mentioned before) tend to be quite a difficult audience to entertain, but there were also some people in from the previous night, who made requests and were appreciative.

The weather has improved during the last couple of nights, and the sea has generally been a bit calmer, hence no repeat of Sunday night, fortunately…

Marie, the relief Ent’s manager, gets off today and Gareth will be resuming his position in residence.

from one extreme to another

Sunday 27th May 2007

5:57 p.m. CET Last night was definitely the most successful of the week, I had a warm reception throughout the evening, and people singing along to several of the numbers. Mid-way through the evening I asked for requests and about five people came over which was very encouraging. I got chatting to a couple of groups who were sat behind me, and a few more who were drifting in and out throughout the night. It was also the first time since I have been on here that the small circular dance-floor in front of the piano (which only features on the two larger ships) got any proper use. During my second set, a group of Dutch people requested Yellow Submarine, which I (slightly reluctantly) agreed to play, and they responded by instigating some rather erratic dancing. During my last set one couple requested Autumn Leaves, which I played with a sort of gentle Latin feel, and they did a slow dance along to it. I rounded the night off by playing Nightswimming by REM (which had also been requested), followed by Candle In The Wind as an encore. I played thirty songs in total (not counting instrumentals), which is the most I have played in one evening for a few months.

Monday 28th May 2007

12:54 p.m. BST A bit of an odd night last night, to start with some gremlins seemed to have crept into the sound system again so I was without vocals for my 9 o’clock set, but it was just as well, as we had left Europort earlier than usual so it was still light, hence the piano lounge (being the right at the top of the ship, with its panoramic view) became more of an observation deck, and there were lots of people milling in and out. I managed to get things back to relatively normal by my penultimate set, and although I did get a few requests and a few people singing along to some of the numbers, it wasn’t my best night.

Unfortunately the worst was yet to come as the boat was subject to some considerable movement during the night, and I suffered a rather severe bout of sea-sickness. Usually it doesn’t affect me but there was something about the way it was last night which seemed to throw me off balance.

a life on the ocean stave

Thursday 24th May 2007

5:22 p.m. GMT I am sitting typing this in my cabin having just done my first two nights aboard the Pride of Rotterdam, the other of the two P&O ships covering the Hull to Rotterdam route. My first couple of nights went quite well, although the first night was a bit of a struggle, as is often the case, the sound system wasn’t performing as well as I could have hoped, but I spent an hour yesterday sorting it out and it is sounding pretty good now.

Saturday 26th May 2007

11:06 a.m. It seems I ended my last entry rather abruptly, I think I ran out of time! As you’d probably be able to work out from the dates I have done another round-trip since then, but I’ll try and carry on from where I left off…

I have several new songs in my repertoire since my last contract, which I have been including in my sets since coming on-board. During the first round-trip I played I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel To Be Free) by the Billy Taylor Trio (more commonly known as the theme tune to the BBC’s Film programme), Better Be Home Soon by Crowded House, The Way You Look Tonight (old jazz standard), and during the last round-trip I also played Handbags and Gladrags by the Stereophonics, She’s Always A Woman To Me by Billy Joel, and Unforgettable, another jazz ballad. I’ve got several more new songs in the pipeline.

Generally the audiences have been a bit reticent during the week, but last night was probably the best so far. There were several attentive groups and couples sat nearby throughout the evening, and I had many requests.

As it is early summer the sea has generally been very calm, with the only exception being some slight movement during the first few hours of last night’s crossing. As before when I was on the Hull, we don’t leave until later (usually 9pm from Hull, and up to 10:15 p.m. from Europort), and I hear that we tend to arrive around 7am each morning, not that I have ever been up to witness that!

Gareth is resident Entertainments Manager on this ship, although he is currently on a week’s break (he got off after I had done just one round-trip), so the new relief Ent’s manager Marie (who coincidentally is also from Nottingham) is covering.

During my induction on Thursday we were taken up to the bridge, which seemed even more high-tech than the one on the York.

Apparently the Seafarer’s Mission on the port has been closed, hence why it has taken me longer than expected to update my blog. In a moment I am going to investigate to see if their wireless network is still operational. If not I think I will either have to go hunting for hot-spots this afternoon!

12:16 p.m. Update: the Seafarer's Mission is indeed closed, but their wireless network still appears to be very much operational, hence how I have managed to publish this! No jaunt into town necessary.