Then it was time to take turns with the Dutch at “entertaining” - our heroes with their dancing and the Dutch with their singing. An example was “It's a long way to Tipperary” - unfortunately they new only the first line, which they repeated throughout the song; and “Bier, bier, bier, bier, bier barumpompom!” (repeat ad nauseam) to name but a few which everyone could join in.

During the excitement Len had appropriated a glass of rum and, with thoughts about drinking neat spirits before lunch, was in search of some coke. A glass of black liquid standing next to an empty Coke can was found and the drinks hastily mixed before taking a large draft of the refreshing mixture - only to discover that all of the contents of the glass were rum, only three times as much as previously.

“Cor”, said Len, “if they can make such a racket, so can we!”, and off he sped to the car deck, returning in a short while with his music-machine. “Six men up!”. Bells and waistcoats were donned, and pushing their way to a clear space, they began to dance. At first everything went well, but as the audience pressed ever closer our heroes soon found themselves performing heys and leap-frogs in a space four feet by two feet - not so easy!

Finally, at about five o'clock, everyone fell silent apart from a couple of Paddies quietly singing ballads of the “Dear of Country”. The whole area was littered with Earls in various sleeping positions on chairs, tables, and the floor. John had wisely taken up station under the card table (with Maggie!) - “I'm not having any of you swine dancing on my body!”.

(Footnote: when Mick returned to work he discovered that one of the girls from his office had been on the boat that night, hence the uncontrollable screams of hysterical laughter whenever he walked into the room).