Hilversum RADIO 2 three pm Certainly we wanted to make Marti feel welcome in Holland so we were waiting at the radio studio's in Hilversum to say hi. At home we put our children at the tape-recorder: they are so happy we are Marti-fans!! Around three o'clock a taxi arrived and Marti stepped out the car saying 'blimey!!' and then: 'hi girls' Not shown on the picture but he smiled and I said 'good luck on your radio session' and we asked if he was in a hurry for the interview. 'no not at all, I can sign your items if you want' To Fred he asked: 'are you Wil??' A little voice of Wil at the background said: 'I am Wil!' while  putting her finger up.........Marti looked at her and smiled, but said nothing why he asked!!

picture Wil Snijders

Marti was amazed to see the promo!! 'where did you get this???' he asked. But he signed it and was very friendly and seemed to feel relaxed. He was looking great and we were so pleased to meet him! Wil gave him a present in name of her, Annette and me, Marti began to laugh when he saw the black T-shirt we bought him with very small text on it: 'If you can read this, you're standing too fucking close!' He looked at Chris and said: 'that's a good one!!!'

Just before Marti arrived I phoned my son and he told me Marti was already announced at the radio, but instead of hurrying he was talking to us!
x
x

picture Erna

Later at home we listened to the interview. And the session also contained the original version of 'Fire And Rain'; Marti told he was always feeling very attached to that song. The evening before he had been singing it himself, sounding stunning according the radio- presenter. From the same live session they let the listeners hear 'Close To You', Marti's forthcoming single out on June 4th. At the end Marti asked: 'can I get the money now?? then I can pay for the bus ride back to Amsterdam!'

As you see on these happy pictures Marti was glad to see us again :-) No kidding he seemed to be in a good mood but we just catched him in lens on more serious moments. We all had have burst our brains out how to ask him for photo's, as he said: 'do you want some pictures made with me?' And amazingly we wanted that! :-)
 
 

Marti asked Fred and Esther if they were a couple and they told him they are going to be married soon. He then spread his arms around them both and it was pretty cute to see the three of them together. We all then got the chance for a picture and Marti was very patient with us and stood there smiling while we were busy changing camera's and telling each other in Dutch how they are working.
 
 

Marti & Wil

We spoke to Chris about the promo and told him where we had found it. He was just as amazed as Marti and was stunned it contained four tracks. He asked what we did pay for it and we told him 10 dollar. We asked for a group photo but Marti said he really had to go to Scheveningen. We told him we were going to be there too and he said': 'great! see yah there'

Chris Difford and Marti's dressing lady

Scheveningen Staatsloterij Muziekland 7 pm

After a busy traffic ride we arrived in the nice city Scheveningen on the seaside of the Netherlands. The weather is pretty OK, a bit dark but at least dry. Marti is looking at the sea and to the public and the tent, we see him standing behind the window of the Kuhrhaus!!
 
 

Marti was announced and he was appearing at the stage but it took a huge while before he could actually began singing. 'Het is koud' he said in Dutch!! (it means it's cold) We all liked to warm him a bit but we didn't got the chance ;-)

Marti was sounding so well, and we liked to sing along. The other people in the audience seemed to be very amazed we could and that we knew all the lyrics!!! The audience liked 'Close To You' very much and Marti got the applause and appreciation he deserves!!! The presenter said Marti was English but during the whole song we waved our Scottish flag, we hope we all can see it on tv when it's broadcasting June 1st or 8th on RTL4.
When 'Love Is All Around' was announced as second song, we let hear a bit disappointed 'ahhhhh', we were hoping for a new song!!! But it was a good choice, people liked to hear this song, it was so long ago for them! Marti sounded as good and as strong as ever, and we also enjoyed it much!!!
 
 

Then it was all over, they announced the end of the program, although Marti was the first artist of the evening. It was all taken at random. The publik was very enthusiastic, so we are sure we soon aren't the only fans any more. Some young guys behind us said: 'wooww has this man a pair of lungs!!!' And we couldn't agree more. 
 
 

picture Wil Snijders

At the front of the Kuhrhouse we saw Marti again and he said to Esther and Fred: 'congratulations with your wedding, have a nice day!' Marti had to go back to Hilversum again to do the late 'Na Elven' program. But he took the time to sign something for Anneke and other fans who missed him earlier.

Hilversum Na Elven 11 pm

After a drink the whole group said goodbye to each other, what a wonderful day it had been!! At home we watched the sport program Marti was on and we were thrilled by his performance. 'Close To You' in an acoustic version was the best I ever heard; it was truly stunning!!!! Even my husband, no Wet's fan, said Marti sounded fantastic. With such a feel, pure and beautiful. Marti you surpassed yourself here! Great ending of a great first Marti Pellow day in Holland :-)