No.289, October 2019

No. 289 - October 2019
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The Editor's Bit

This month’s Cover Competition would be too easy if I was to ask you to name the location of the statue because the street name sign is visible in the background! Instead, I want to know the name of the statue and there’s extra kudos if you can tell me who donated it to Amsterdam. As usual, there are no prizes, but I’ll give you an Honourable Mention in this column if you get it right.
Last month’s cover featured the statue of Queen Wilhelmina on horseback and Angelica Keur gets an Honourable Mention for telling me it’s on Rokin by the metro entrance.
You may recall me mentioning in this column last month that I had a bike accident and suffered concussion. I felt sufficiently recovered to give cycling another go before the last Stun came back from the printers, so I went to Vondel Park for the last live music afternoon of the season, where I shared a bottle of wine with a friend. After dinner in a €5 pasta restaurant near Leidseplein, it was still Happy Hour in the Waterhole, so we popped in for one last drink... Then Ati’s Wildflower hit the stage! See page 18 for more of that story.
What it comes down to is that I came off my bike again, on the first day back in the saddle! I suffered bruised ribs this time, so I couldn’t even lift anything, let alone ride my bike, which meant me delivering Stuns was impossible. I couldn’t even call on Josie, my usual go to helper, because she broke her ankle the same day!
I appealed for help with getting the new Stun into bars and the response was amazing! It totally restored my faith in human nature when so many friends offered their assistance.
Special thanks go to Mairead, Cici, Franklin, Nelleke, Marcelle and Sylvia who did most of the deliveries; I hope you had as much fun as I always get from the best part of doing the Stun. Sylvia and Marcelle did the Red Light District together; some of their photos are on page 22.
Even though I was still in pain, there’s no way I was going to miss Edward’s 60th birthday party in Coco’s; we go way back and he’s been the Stun’s most faithful sponsor for more than 25 years. See pages 24-27 for more photos of his Up and Under The Sea Party.
As this Stun goes to press, I haven’t been on my bike for four weeks, my ribs still hurt when I cough and I haven’t got a clue if I’ll be strong enough to do the best bit yet, but all of the usual stuff is here, so enjoy your Stun.
Andy
P.S. The Amsterdam Stun is 26 years old this month!