Whitby Folk Week

 The end of August usually brings the highlight of my year Whitby Folk Week. This year the organisers again decided it was sensible to cancel the official Festival and go online instead. But many of us had accommodation booked and enjoyed a week that was part seaside holiday, part folk fringe. Some pubs welcomed us to play tunes and the Metropole even let us use the ballroom for a few dances. I enjoyed dancing to Frank & Clare from Regency Rejigged, then organised a Scratch Ceilidh myself borrowing musicians from the Euro session and asking dancers to spread the word. Great fun and a very helpful manager at the Met, good food on sale too.

A delayed wedding

High Jinks were booked to play for a wedding ceilidh last year. It finally happened last month. Shrigley Hall has high ceilings and good ventilation, the guest list had been trimmed and some of the guests left after the meal, so that the dance floor was not too crowded. Those who stayed were happy to dance and we enjoyed playing and calling after an 18 month gap.

Coming out of hibernation

 What a year it has been. No dancing since March 2020 until restrictions began to lift recently.

Some of us managed to dance at home, solo or as couples using Zoom, but it is really not the same. Some members of Stockton heath club have been regularly chatting over zoom, and we were invited to dance in Ros' garden in July. Her lawn is large and the weather was good, she invited some Brass band members to play for us, various callers brought dances (adapted for social distancing if the dancers wanted that). It was great to meet again.