Tuesday 6 August 2013

A Maypole in July



An Aussie tourist show the rest of us how it's done.



Just a few more ribbons to fill. 



Looking good now.

So we carried on and took the pattern further down the pole, then did it all in reverse to unplait.
By which time it had started to rain.

I was booked to do 3 Maypole spots, the second was between showers, but only 4 believed me when I said it wasn't raining so the pole looked rather bare as they were each holding 4 ribbons.

The third spot began well. We persuaded  some young Japanese tourists to join in, all 16 ribbons were full. But as we were about to start the heavens opened. We would have got drenched so we gave up. The musicians played a few tunes but most people decided it was time to make for home.

Friday 19 July 2013

A Maypole in Northgate Street

The Northgate Street traders in Chester are organising Festival Sundays in July. On the afternoon of July 28th there will be a Maypole in the middle of the street, and I will be teaching some Maypole dances.

Should be fun.

Or utter chaos.

Or both

March - July. Snowstorm to heat-wave

I was quite worried when we had heavy snow in mid-March as I had a booking on the Saturday at Jodrell Bank school. Would I get there? Would High Jinks  get there? Would the dancers venture out. Would we get home again? I had a sense of deja vu - I was out with High Jinks on Burns Night and we had to dig the cars out of the car-park. Luckily the roads got clearer as I drove along the Northwich bypass, there was no snow on the lanes near the school, and we had a good Dance.

Tomorrow will be quite a contrast. A birthday / retirement party in a marquee in a garden in Mold with Tom Brown playing. Just the weather for it.

In between I did -
A short spot at Tessa's wedding (using recorded music),
A Ruby Wedding celebration in Glossop with High Jinks,
A teachers retirement party with Three Point Turn in Rhyl,
A fundraising Barn Dance with White Knuckle Ride,
Two bookings with  Fiddlestrum, a PTA dance and a Rotary Club international weekend with guest from various countries.

And I was invited back to the Chester Folk Festival to call the Family Ceilidh with Black Cat Band.

So many good bands, a pleasure to work with; great seeing a roomful of people getting up and enjoying the music and dance.

And still time for plenty of  dancing and club calling using recorded music.

Monday 11 March 2013

A musical Saturday

We started at Chester for Bagpipolorum. Took our not-bagpipes to a session and enjoyed the way the Playford tunes sounded filling the pub with music.

I couldn't stay for the concert, as I was calling at a 50th birthday party with the Millstone Band. More good music, mostly less than 400 years old this time. Lively tunes to dance to and gentler tunes in between.

Then home at midnight with a programme about the Modern Jazz Quartet on the car radio - jazz inspired by baroque music.

Quite a varied day.

Thursday 10 January 2013

Tessa's Party

Isn't it nice when someone likes what you do. Last year I called with Don and his band Three Point Turn at Tessa's birthday party.

Now I am booked to call a few dances at her wedding.