There are some memories that I'd never like to forget, like my last band trip. That was the best band trip ever. It was my first taste of real freedom away from parents and the watchful eyes of chaperones. Some of the other students picked up your typical case of homesickness,but I didn't I picked up a British accent instead. :)The chaperones really didn't do all that much on this trip. A lot of people got drunk...Pam and her five cans of beer( I can't believe Stephen didn't stop her), other students, the chaperones, and the band directors. And a lot of people had fun watching others get drunk like Jake and me. Anyhow, so many things happened on that trip that I must dedicate an entire page to the Tring Trip.
This was my tour group (Stephen, Pam, me, and Jake), all of whom I was good friends with or became good friends with afterward. I bet Jeff would be oh sooo glad that he wasn't Jake on this trip. 
We were at each other's throats for a majority of the trip while the two love birds (at the time)were enjoying each other's company. I still can't believe that Tori and a few others thought that Jake and I were "together." If they only heard a few of our conversations....
Here's a pic of me at the London tower. I still remember that was when Jake and I finally came to an uneasy truce. I bought him a mint icecream cone with nuts because he had bought me a hotdog at the outdoor concert when I was hungry. He accused me of trying to kill him!! I had completely forgotten that he was allergic to nuts! The icreamcone didn't go to waste. Vickers ate it.
We were supposed to go to the Brighton seashore with our Tring hosts. Many of them came but some of them were unable to go. One of my hosts had a saxophone exam and the other was visiting Oxford. My friends' hosts were unable to come so it was just the four of us wandering around Brighton. It was freeezing there! And very windy! Not your mental image of a seashore at the beginning of June. Pam kept complaining cold and borrowed Stephen's jacket. Jake and I just adapted to the weather and were fine. (I'm the one with the pink sunglasses!) This outing was alot of fun despite all of my deaththreats to Jake. The bustrip back to Tring as so long that the driver had to stop by a field and let a bunch of guys water the plants. It was funny, some of the guys faked their initial choice of plant to water. Mr. Pierce and only one of the girls dared to join them. I on the other hand made the mad dash to the girls lockerroom.
Our first formal concert at Victoria Hall, a room with no airconditioner and lots of jet lag. The balcony on the left is where everyone ran to before and after the concert for fresh air.
And here's the band before the Victoria Hall concert.
This was the major concert that both the Carroll and the Tring groups performed in all day. There was singing, swing, excerpts from Le Miz, Greese, other bands,orchestras, choirs, all kinds of musical performances...even with made up instruments. Jimboree or what ever it's called. Any how the guy was nice and gave it to Sean. So we got to hear Sean playing it at the Gatwick airport. The concert was held behind the Tring school. I was amazed at how large the audience was...not only that, but it was a paying audience! There were jocks and theatre people at the concert as well! People sat on blankets under big umbrellas. Some sat on lawn chairs and others just on the grass. The group of guys sitting in the front were the drunk guys that I saw on the train. Matt, the bloke in the black shirt was the one who kissed me on the train. He must have really been pissed to do attempt that. There also were all sorts of concessions that included wine and hotdogs. At the finale of the concert, they set off fireworks while the Tring band concluded it's last song. It was grand.
BASSON LESSON AND ARMED GUARD
The caption on this pic taken by Mr. Conrads was too good to change. I bet you can guess who was the armed guard
!! We were waiting outside the tent for our turn on stage at the Saturday concert. I wish I could have seen all of the performances.
And this is my hot host, Ben. Everyone who saw him in person couldn't argue that he was anything but hot. ;) He's hanging off the contruction beams used by the guys working on his roof. (Sorry, this pic isn't very flattering.)I thought he was only cute initially, but the more I found out about him the hotter he became. He's smart, he sings, he plays flute and guitar! He played Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar and he played Danny in Grease. I think my Tring group got tired of how much I mentioned Ben, but hey, it got me over Mike. =)