Will it all Kick Off?

This week's Swanage Lifeboat Crew exercise is a little different to the other weeks in the year - it's the week when Martin Steeden our Coxswain actually sets foot inside the Red Lion and buys a few drinks.

For many of the crew the concept of grabbing a dirty pint on the way home after an exercise is not exactly a new one.  But for Martin it's definitely more of a Christmas Tradition than a weekly occurrence.

So, because it's such a special occasion, there just might be some shanty sheets[1] lying around the bar and there just might be enough of Kelp! around to start sing song.  Let's see.

[1] Shanty Sheet.  Like a Song Sheet, but with a Shanty on it.

Festive Sell Out

Saturday Night and a packed Sailing Club murmurs with anticipation amid rumours of a Kelp! appearance.

The in-compére-able Mike Etherington introduced the hastily thrown together SSC Orchestra and many of the usual Carols were sung.  But then silence descended like the fog outside as a long, rambling and frankly inaccurate introduction bought Kelp! out of the ranks, turning to face the slightly apprehensive faces....

"Sweet Ladies of Plymouth, we're saying 'Goodbye'"...

John's Bublé-like voice resounded, followed by the rock-steady cascading harmony that is our signature chorus.

I think it's fair to say we had a good evening.

From our Foreign Correspondent

Only a few days after the grand opening of castle gigshed, I was delighted to receive this cutting from the New York Times from a colleague.

We suspect the picture has been photoshopped to remove the less photogenic members of the crew.  

"No Comment", said John, the Kelp! equivalent of the ginger one from Girls Aloud.

2013 - a year of Kelp! firsts...

On top of a growing pile of 'that's the first time we've...',  we were delighted to get handed a small token following the Rowing Club's opening last weekend.  

This is the first time we've been 'paid'.  I suppose you could count the offer of a free cream tea from Bernard at the Kingston do, but we had to leave in a hurry after a run-in with the Town Band and didn't get to cash in on it.

Payment

I assume it is a token of thanks, have pretty much ruled out appreciation but have certainly not ruled out the chance of it really meaning 'please drink before you sing'.

Game Face

Over the years we've played all the big venues in Kingston, but an imminent show still fires a frisson of excitement through the ranks.

Tuesday's final practice before the Sailing Club's Festive night of Festivity on Saturday had an air of solemnity about it that paid justice to the professionalism felt by everyone associated with Kelp!. 

Here's Pete with his Game Face on...

Haulaway

Rowing Club Opening Ceremony

Here's what it looked like from our vantage point a-top the ramparts:

It's great to see the Club gain a permanent berth in the town and Kelp! were proud to be a small part of the ceremony, having quite a strong history in the Rowing Club too.

If you're gonna post a picture...

Post a cool one.

This was taken in 2006 and 'Whiskey Bravo' is sadly no longer around, but I remember taking the shot and being amazed I got anything in it - let alone as neatly framed as this.

Swanage Sea Rowing Club Grand Opening

Saturday 1100hrs with Military Precision the oars were arched and the ribbon cut, the start of a brand new era for the cunningly named Swanage Sea Rowing Club.

Kelp! were there, singing from the ramparts of Castle Gigshed.  Hopefully I'll get a picture soon.