I
guess I'm an old-fashioned dreamer - A journey report by
Malcolm Knowles
A couple of years ago
Eileen and I became aware that the black ‘Georg
Kajanus’ Nickelodeon from 1993, was lying in a barn
and in danger of being scrapped. I also understood that
the band had suggested that Katrin & Karsten could
have it – the only problem being that the barn was
in England whilst K&K live in Germany.
Now, as a loyal SAILOR fan, I just couldn’t bear the
idea of this beautiful version of the Nickelodeon being
scrapped and so I volunteered to look after it in our
garage until we could work out a way of getting it to
Germany. With some help from Grant, mainly to locate the
barn, we loaded it on a van and gave it a new temporary
home. There were also a few old flight cases which I
picked up at the same time. The great thing about having
a Nickelodeon in your home is that no one ever knows what
it is and, even when you do explain most people just look
puzzled. Trust me, it beats any piece contemporary modern
art as a discussion point.
Never one to make things easy, in late 2004, we moved
from London to the North of England. In short, the
Nickelodeon was now another 200 miles further from its
intended destination than when we started! However our
new house also had a garage and the Nickelodeon settled
into yet another temporary home.
Having pondered on the
matter, we finally decided to fulfil our promise to Grant
and the Wagners and deliver the Nickelodeon to central
Germany. So we acquired a van, booked a ferry, plotted
our route, sorted out hotel rooms along the way and set
off for Kassel. Now there are a couple of things you need
to know about the ‘GK’ Nickelodeon. First, it
is very very heavy and second, the wheels are like those
on supermarket trolleys and don’t necessarily all go
in the same direction at the same time. Still with a bit
of scientific thought about weights, measurements and
angles we managed to get it into the van. With the brakes
applied and ropes tied round it to stop it moving we set
off.
First stop Dover where we were guided into the inspection
bay and the Customs Official who wants to know
what’s in the van. How do you explain a Nickelodeon
to someone who doesn’t look too happy about working
on a Sunday morning? In the end he let’s us through
looking rather bewildered by my explanation. As we leave,
Eileen suggests we should have just described it just as
an old stage prop. Clever thinking but too late.
Having crossed the Channel, our first stop is Lille in
France. Having previously been a Capital of Culture we
have decided to spend two nights in Lille exploring. On
arriving at our hotel, I discover that I cannot restart
the van and have to call out assistance. The mechanic
tries hard to locate the problem but looks baffled. He
doesn’t speak English and I don’t speak much
French but with a bit a helpful translation by the hotel
receptionist I get the message – “it is
broken”. He arranges to have the van towed to a
local dealer but, being Sunday, nothing will happen
today. I wake up Monday morning realising that I have no
idea where the van or the Nickelodeon actually are. I
phone the breakdown assistance people who finally inform
me that the van has been taken to a dealer on the
outskirts of town but that they cannot look into the
problem until Tuesday. So we spend a rainy and dull
Monday wandering around Lille worrying whether we will
ever leave. Tuesday morning brings an early call and the
news that the van (an almost new VW van) requires a new
starter motor. Unfortunately Lille’s only commercial
VW dealer doesn’t have one!! However they have been
persuaded to send someone urgently to get one and by
midday the van is fixed and we are back on the road.
Hooray - next stop Kassel.
We arrive in Kassel with just enough time to check-in
before Karsten and Katrin come to meet us. We discover
that the Nickelodeon has shifted in the van and is now
jammed down the side step stopping us opening the side
door. Still that problem will wait until tomorrow –
tonight it’s Chinese buffet and German beer with
K&K.
Next morning, we drive to Katrin’s home to off load
the Nickelodeon. Karsten has some how magically lifted
the Nickelodeon up the van step and it is no longer
wedging the door. We start to unload the Nickelodeon as
Katrin videos the event. However, as we lower it down the
ramp it is all hands to the deck to stop it falling and
causing serious injury to anyone. For once, the wheels
cooperate and the Nickelodeon arrives at it new home with
Mr & Mrs Wagner looking rather bewildered about what
we propose leaving in their lovely garden. However, Mr
Wagner enters into the spirit of the event by taking
photos on all the cameras and then entertaining us by
playing some SAILOR tunes on his own keyboard inside the
house. For the record, he plays very well – watch
out Henry!!
I am almost too embarrassed to tell you the next part.
Since collecting the Nickelodeon I had always thought
that the top part was missing and was amazed when Karsten
returned from the yard to announce that he had folded the
top up. In all the time I have been the guardian, I never
knew that the top cleverly folded away and was there all
the time. How daft is that?
Anyway, after a lovely lunch (thanks again Mrs Wagner) we
set off to explore the sights of Kassel with K&K.
After a quick stop off to leave one of the flight cases
at Karsten’s flat we head for some sight seeing. 
The view of Kassel from the snow covered Herkules
Monument is stunning – something neither of us will
ever forget. Back in town, we meet up with Susanne who
has travelled up from Stuttgart to see us. Karsten has
kindly invited us all to take part in his ‘Buried
Treasure’ two hour radio special on Freies Radio
Kassel. Susanne and myself try to offer intelligent
comments each time Karsten opens up our microphone while
Eileen appears to have developed unforeseen stage fright.
However, I don’t think any of us will be giving up
our day jobs for a career in radio. For the last 30
minutes we go to a live telephone interview with Phil
Pickett. It seems very strange sitting in a radio studio
in Germany talking to one of my musical heroes live on
air. Still, nothing about this trip has been normal so
why not.
My own copy of ‘Buried Treasure’ arrived a few
days before the trip and, whilst this is not a review
column, it has to be said that it is a fantastic
collection of SAILOR tracks. Considerable thought has
gone into the track choice with some interesting versions
of the songs we all love and some early stuff that really
does help paint a picture of how the band developed. Well
done to Phil and all involved – it is wonderful. If
you don’t already have a copy then get on www.sailortheband.com and order one.
With the radio show in the can, we set off for a meal and
more German beer and then sadly say our goodbyes to
K&K. In the morning, we find time for a few hours
shopping in Kassel and have lunch with Susanne before
turning the van round and heading for home.
We spend that night in Essen (more shopping) before
heading to Calais on Friday. Friday is a strange day with
four meals in four countries – breakfast in Germany,
lunch in Holland (Eindhoven), afternoon tea in Belgium
(Gent) and supper in France. We finally reach home
Saturday and ceremoniously take the remaining two flight
cases to the rubbish dump. Others have survived but these
two had to go – sorry. We both agree that it has
been a fun trip and, although slightly bonkers, we would
love to do it all again.
Malcolm
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