Nigel and the band arrive and the lay out of the room is such that Nigel has to walk round along the walls to get to the stage. Progress is slow as many people recognise him and want to exchange a hug and salutations of various sorts! Get on the stage!

Nigel disappears behind a door by the stage and the public starts a slow clap! Eventually the band appears and Nigel yells: “It is great to be back home! I should do this more often!” A loud claps welcome his words and a voice shouts “…and you have not played yet!” Nigel has to reply: “I have heard the slow rhythmic clap from the back of the stage, now this warm clap: we have had our ups and down already tonight!”

Okapi is the first piece of the set, “…it eats food from the ground and procreates…”! A wonderful piece: I could hear the tune all day in my head in the office, I beat the rhythm!

This is followed by another great piece written by Smietana: “ Message.”

But Nigel has another message for us! He berates the Brighton Councillors who did not do enough to ensure that Brighton FC has its own stadium in Brighton! Nigel is a Villa supporter but his heart still goes to the poor downtrodden football teams with no permanent ground at home! I think of Wimbledon AFC without their own ground in Wimbledon and I shall have to ensure that Nigel NEVER plays in Wimbledon or he will tear to pieces the Wimbledon/Merton Councillors!

Tomasz Cool Kupiec starts the musical message – deep and warm – “Cool Kupiec can also sing, but he will only sing for good crowds! Are you a good crowd or a bad crowd? He can change you!”

1983…(A merman I should turn to be) concludes the first half of the programme: Adam Czerwinski performs a fantastic solo whilst Jarek and Piotr go walkabouts! The band re assembles and plays again together – the public joins in enthusiastically with a warm applause!

Break time! “What kind of break do you want? A short one or a long one?” “A short one!” booms the crowd. “Size is NOT important!” replies Nigel: oh, yes, Nigel, you are right: when it comes to the interval we want a short one, but when we are dealing with your music we want a long one!

Ten minutes become twenty minutes but we are still all there and Nigel is back!

“Ladies!” A gentle “ aah ” replies. “Ladies!” repeats Nigel. A loud high pitched “AAH ” replies. “Gentlemen!” A low deep “ ooh ” replies…. “Other kinds of people!” and a few reply. The public is well oiled!

“Sunshine Alley”/ “Songs for the Father” / “Sidewinder ” Jarek claps his hands, slow one, quick two three four, the public follows the lead, we are centre stage as our rhythmic clapping drowns the music…but not for long. We are here to hear the band! The music is catching, a lady clad in black dances alone by the side wall: not far from her a chap leaning against the wall is watching her with a smile! The music continues! I wish to join her, but......I just sway in my chair…

…and then, unbelievably………I walk out of one of Nigel’s concerts!

My own home beckons! Must get the last train home!

I hug and kiss my companions, I love them and I leave them: my own version of “going home!”