Our second day in Pulheim saw us join the fun that is Stadtfest.
Our venue for dinner is a local farm that has diversified into an eco-farm which includes a rather swish restaurant. Under the canopy a welcome breeze cools as we enjoy a most delightful salad followed by one of the largest baked potatoes I have ever seen on a single plate. Ice cream rounds off a most favourable evening.
Sunday comes around too quickly as we gather in Steinstrasse once more to await our coach home. Nigel our ever friendly driver is on call to load our bags while fond farewells are made between firm friends both long established and new.
By late afternoon the heat has dissipated our band of volunteers and the beer is getting low. Stefan is delighted with the response though, his efforts to dispense the Goodens Gold partly the cause for signing up 11 new families into Partnerschaft, a terrific result.
Having enjoyed some of the varied foods and drinks on offer it is time to pack up and prepare for the evening dinner. Sad to reflect that Roger and Sandra are unable to join us again today but the heat of the day is unrelenting.
I have no doubt we will return to this charming small town in Germany but now we must head home and then start planning ahead to keep our friendships alive.
Since our little group gathered at Dover docks we enjoyed our first day in Pulheim on a visit to Dusseldorf followed by the band’s concert in Geyen. Today it is Stadtfest in Pulheim. The HMS Colingwood band have been given the honour of opening proceedings on the main stage and are greeted by Burgermeister Frank. His final words are to encourage the England football team to victory tonight, so a warm welcome on a very hot day. As the band mount the stage, our very own Amy Wheeler starts to wonder about whether her choice of instrument is wise as the flautists are right out front as the sun beats down. Johannes is encouraging, telling the band they are on the barbecue.
But the professional standard of their music is not impaired and they soon have the audience enjoying their sound, especially those in the shelter of the biergarten at the rear of the square.
During the interval entertaining the crowd is a task for the good burghers from town hall. Here they enter the cauldron as a pair of dragons.
Elsewhere a little train takes children for a tour of Pulheim streets
For Partnerschaft the main event is of course their stand, just behind the large biergarten which makes the distribution of our beer from Hampshire something of a surreptitious affair.
We helped set up the tent and tables and we soon attract a good number of visitors keen to find out more about the club and Fareham. Stefan has provided some fun for children with a target board and sticky darts whilst the selection of leaflets has a decidedly European theme.
