Sunday 19th June 2011
Coming Home!
author: Kevin Whittingham
Our last day in Norway consisted of a morning meeting at the Oslo Temple corps & the last chance for sightseeing before our evening departure back to the United Kingdom. With it being Father's Day back at home, a number of the dads in our Band had received cards & presents to open. This must have been tough for some, having been away from families & loved ones for over a week particularly on a day like today. The time & sacrifices made by those closest to us while serving with our Band is never taken for granted.
Saturday 18th June 2011
Boscombe Complete Tour in the Capital!
author: Kevin Whittingham
The morning broke with better weather in Drammen than the previous day, the hills surrounding the valley finally visible. The town looked so much more picturesque without the grey clouds, mist and persistent rain! Sadly there wasn’t time to walk down by the river as the bus departed for the Norwegian capital Oslo.
Friday 17th June 2011
Drenched in Drammen
author: Kevin Whittingham
Boscombe Band continued their journey south towards our final destination of Oslo, arriving in the city of Drammen in terrible weather. Constant rain fell throughout the day (the weather must be preparing for the start of Wimbledon back home next week!) and the cancellation of our planned march & open air ensued.
Thursday 16th June 2011
Boscombe's Olympic Effort in Lillehammer
author: Kevin Whittingham
After another night’s relaxation with billets, or in the case of four lucky Bandsmen, a top floor hotel apartment with hot tub & sauna (such a tough job being the blog editor!!), our coach departed for Lillehammer. The lengthy journey south was hampered by road blockages due to the recent flooding in the region, but the scenery witnessed from the coach was absolutely breathtaking. Just when you thought that Norway couldn’t possibly be more scenic & beautiful, the trip through the snow capped mountain ranges was awe inspiring. Towering rock faces, waterfalls through the wooded mountains, and we also half expected Julie Andrews to appear on the hills singing, “the hills are alive..etc!” [Ed: wrong country Kev 
]
Wednesday 15th June 2011
Terrific in Trondheim
author: Kevin Whittingham
The Florida Tour had Clearwater in 1994, the USA/Canada tour had Minneapolis in 1998, and now this tour has a concert to match those epic performances! The 2011 Boscombe Band excelled themselves with a barnstorming concert in Lademoen Church, Trondheim last night. From the opening notes of Rosehill to the final chord of Christ Hymn the Band were on top form. Soloists excelled, Howard directed with expertise and fluency, and the overall playing was on a higher level than achieved since arriving in Scandinavia.
Tuesday 14th June 2011
Wet, Winding & Weary (until Røros!)
author: Kevin Whittingham
A reasonably early start saw the Band meet at Askim corps in grey, cloudy, misty conditions, with driving drizzly rain for our long trek up north to Røros. Probably a good day to be inside our coach for the 8 hour marathon trip!! Goodbyes were said to excellent & friendly hosts as our transport pulled away, and the chance was taken by some to catch up on much needed sleep.
Monday 13th June 2011
Third Day...Third Country
author: Kevin Whittingham
Three days into our Scandinavian tour and another border has been crossed with Boscombe Band arriving for the first time into Norway. The journey today took us further north into more hilly & forest territory with some incredible views over gorges with the river dancing and flowing underneath!! Wayne Nock enlightened the journey by letting slip that he hadn’t realised that Gothenburg was in Sweden Worrying slightly that he was part of the organising comittee for the tour and is one of the drivers of the instrument van!??!!
Sunday 12th June 2011
Short but Swede
author: Kevin Whittingham
The majority of Sunday afternoon was spent aboard our coach travelling up the Swedish coast, after leaving Denmark via the spectacular Øresund (or Öresund if you are Swedish) Bridge over the water from Copenhagen into Malmo. Most people spent the time with iPods plugged in watching movies, listening to music, playing Football Manager (George Lawrence dreaming of taking Saints to the Premiership!!) and catching up on much needed sleep. The scenery outside the coach was rolling farmland & rivers reminiscent of the American Mid-West, with only the adverts in Swedish and the blue & yellow flags giving a clue to your real location.
Goodbye Denmark
author: Kevin Whittingham
After breakfast at our billets (which consisted of cold meats, Cheese, Bagels, Orange Juice & Tea), we arrived fresh and slightly less travel weary to the Army hall for morning worship. Before the meeting the Band had the honour of walking a short way to Vesterbro’s Torv for a march of witness. The Copenhagen Bandmaster Jens Schou Hansen led the Band in the march Hadleigh Camp with the final chord ringing around the fantastic acoustic of the tall buildings in the City Square.
Saturday 11th June 2011
Red Hot in Copenhagen
author: Kevin Whittingham
The first day of the tour has already passed after a scorching hot concert at Copenhagen Temple tonight!