I wrote this song when I was on vacation with my son Dylan in Friesland
in The North of Holland. We had sailed accross the IJsselmeer (the former
Zuiderzee) to a place called Koudum. It is situated along an inland shipping
route which allows sailing boats with masts to cut through the province
of Friesland right the way to the Waddenzee at Harlingen or Laauwersoog.
We had stumbled on a camping location which also had a marine for passing
yachts. There were some good child friendly facilities such as an indoor
swimming pool and other sports activities like surfing, sailing etc..
This particular year we had met the Fennel family from Geleen in Limburg.
They were also moored with their large yacht which they had just purchased
in the Caribbean. I believe it had been damaged by a hurricane hence they
were able to pick it up for a good price. Repairing the boat was one thing,
both after the Fennel father had to sail it all the way back to Holland.
He did this together with some of his friend and told me many storeis about
their adventures.
In the meantime Dylan had become friendly with the two daughters of the
Fenell's and so there was a lot of inter-ship acitvity.
One evening we were both invited to come over to their boat for a drink
as they were celebrating their youngest daughter Jamie's birthday. We didn't
have a birthday present for her or the opportunity to buy one, so I wrote
this song. and within about 20 minutes it was conceived and scibbled down
out onto a piece of paper. I took my guitar over and played it for her
birthday. Later I would record it for the second edition of our Singer
/ Songwriter CD Lakeside Stories II.
I sent Jamie the CD when it came out, however we never ever saw them again..