What's this? Gruppo Sportivo are gigging around the Netherlands? And I’m retired? And I have tons of miles amassed? I am so there, baby! I also decided it’d been far too long since I’d seen some good UK friends (a few of whom I’d had no contact with for forty years). So I planned my trip down to the hour, bought all my tickets, and off I went.

First stop, the Hague, where I'd house-sat for Gruppo Sportivo member Meike Touw over twenty years ago. Here's Schlemmer, my absolute favorite cafe in my absolute favorite part of town. Actually, it's one of my favorite cafes in the world.

Out and about in The Hague.

Meike and me, enjoying a fine Indonesian meal around the corner from her flat.

Meike's extremely proud of her gold records with Gruppo!

Off to Drachten, Friesland, for the first gig. Before the show, I ducked into a local bar, and met some very nice people. The bartender put some Gruppo on the sound system for me (Hey Girl and Tokyo). The guy sitting next to me asked me where I was staying after the show, and I told him that I had to catch the last train back to The Hague and so would have to leave the gig early. He said that's ridiculous, and invited me to stay in his little guest cottage at the back of his property, just ten minutes walk from the venue. What remarkable generosity! And so I got to stay til the end of the show, and had a great night's sleep.

Here's the venue, the Poppodium Iduna:

Rock Now, Roll Later!

It's Hans Vandenburg!

History's only photo to include both Hans and me...and proof positive that we are, in fact, not the same person (I'd often wondered about that...haven't you?)!

And here's some gig footage, a little touch of Rubber Gun in the night:

<Gruppo Sportivo, Rubber Gun, Poppodium Iduna, Drachten, Friesland, 14 April, 2023>

Bravo!!

Next day, Meike and I went to see Rock City, a new documentary about the burgeoning days of The Hague's rock scene. which focused quite a bit on Hans Vandenburg and Gruppo Sportivo...and so she was in it!!

Lange Voorhout; perhaps the world's most beautiful urban square.

Situated at the edge of Lange Voorhout is Hotel Des Indes. It's where the rich people go.

Next evening was the second Gruppo gig, this time at the Gigant in Apeldoorn. What a show! An absolutely smashing time!! Lies Schilp even changed the name of "Jeremy" (from P.S. 78) to "Danny" in my honor! I can die a happy man! Listen for it at 2:20 in this gig footage:

<Gruppo Sportivo, P.S. 78, Apeldoorn, Gelderland 15 April, 2023>

On to London to visit Steve, a great old friend who taught with me in Shanghai back in the mid-eighties. Steve made me feel right at home in Golders Green's high street.

The view from out back at Steve's. ("It was just a possing foncy...")

Steve and his wife Yamin took me to a glatt kosher restaurant called Kaifeng.

Yamin has very refined tastes.

At Kings Cross, I could barely contain my giddiness: both the King's coronation and the grand opening of a new Starbucks?! Which to attend?

...And on to Leeds to visit another old China friend Andrew, and his husband Yan.

Ever since I read The Secret Garden in elementary school, I'd wanted to see the Yorkshire moors.

Andrew at the Sawley Arms, a lovely country pub. I had the fish and chips.

And here's Rollo, a grand old friend, one of my flatmates from my student days in Edinburgh, where, when we watched The Young Ones on TV, it was like looking in a mirror!

Last stop, my beloved Edinburgh, to spend five fantastic days with Gary and Karen, lifelong friends from the old days.

St. Mary's, near my flat in Lansdowne Crescent in the West End, 2002, when I was a Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies. True! Me and Einstein!

And Lo! Santa Cruz bud Deniz was hanging out in Edin, and so I introduced him to both Tiles off St. Andrews Square, and Leslies in Newington. Inbetween, we each enjoyed a full Scottish breakfast at the remarkable City Restaurant. Here's Deniz at Leslies, grieving the state of the world.

Gary and Karen in Queensferry.

From atop the Johnnie Walker building, west end of Princes Street.

TMI?

Bennets Bar in Bruntsfield, another of my old faves.

Bruntsfield.

And a rollicking time with Gar and Kar at Morningside's Canny Man's.

Sunshine on Leith.

Taken by Karen at The Dreadnought, Leith.

In the Old Town.

Portal to Jacob's Ladder, up to Calton Hill.

Old Town tenement.

Cowgate arch tunnel #1, from Niddry Street.

Bannerman's.

Cowgate arch tunnel #2, to Candlemaker Row and the Grassmarket.

Across the Grassmarket to Victoria Street, taken from Castle Rock chipshop. Superb haggis and chips!

From the Grassmarket.

From the Vennel.

Edinburgh Central Library.

Boy with booze, Sandy Bell's.

The Scottish Widows Assurance building, just under Arthur's Seat in Newington, is being transformed into a huge art space. Karen is on the organizing committee.

My old flat in 83-84, the one I shared with Rollo, Andy, Charles, Allan, and Jamie...in posh Merchiston.

One last pint, at Athletic Arms, in Polworth.