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Hi, Rusty!
Yes, I rather sensed that you were in battling spirit!
Your hosts missed a treat!
No , I haven't looked for the ceildih yet......was Miss P there?........and Morag?
I liked Morag!
It was her initial letter that made me want to read the books!
Oh, dear, it is all I can do to say awake.....
I am away to my bed while I still have strength to get there!

Hello, Elle!
My song will have to keep for another year!
I did not see Miss Peckwitt, but I did see a woman dancing, and half an hour later the camera cut to her again, and she had her arm in a sling!
Goodness knows what happened her.
Dangerous things these Strip the Willows!
The ceilidh was great fun.
Hope it goes up on YouTube soon.

Hi rusty
When I was a teenager I used to go to country dancing classes in the Christmas and Easter school holidays. I sat out any dance containing "Strip the Willow" because the boys used to keep their tweed jackets on and it made my arms sore from wrist to shoulder ! I also wouldn't take part in any dance that included "baskets". Really enjoyed the rest though and would love to do it again

Good morning, Rosalind!
I agree, the country dancing is great fun.
You may know the Strip the Willow dance, "Drops of Brandy"?
This is how the opening of the dance is described,
"Drops of Brandy.
A Strip the Willow where the lady first strips down the men,
the man strips up the ladies,
then both strip down the set together".
A whole lotta stripping going on!
Sounds a bit indecent to someone new to country dancing, but great fun!

Good morning, Rusty!
A chilly - and now wet - morning here!
I am just home from the park.
I am a tad later this morning.
There are not many folk about, just a few of the more stalwart dog walkers!
I shall have a lazy day today - there are no chores that need doing.....
I shall relax, do my crosswords, read my book and organise 2018's wall calendar....... without which I cannot possibly manage!
You can find the Skye ceildh on BBC iPlayer
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b09jqwpz/ceilidh-na-bliadhn-uire-8-2017
It lasts 119 minutes - I haven't watched it yet....that is planned for later today!
Btw, I learned Scottish country dancing at school....I am adept at the footwork (we wore special shoes) although I cannot remember the format of the dances!
What are you up to today?



Hello, Ros!
I belonged to the Scottish Dancing Society at school - I loved it!
I have since been to Barn dances, but no intricate footwork required for those !

Hi rusty
Yes, stripping a set of 4 or 8 men with bare arms when they (poor things!) had rough jackets on was no fun. These days no doubt no one would be so silly as to dance in a tweed jacket!

I loved these classes, elle. They were run (in the holidays) for the children of those who went to boarding school in the posh suburb where I had previously lived. I didn't qualify on school grounds but they needed more girls! I loved ballroom dancing, too and have longed to do it again ever since.

Good morning, Elle!
Fell dreich up here after the early morning frost.
I have finished my puzzle.
I am impressed by your Scottish country dancing background!
I was more enthusiastic rather than foot perfect, shall we say!
But I could never resist the toe-tapping music and was often one of the first on the floor!
Happy days!

Hello, Rosalind,
No tweed jackets these days, so you have no excuses to sit one out!
I do not know how anyone can resist the music anyway!

Hello, Elle and Rosalind!
I liked this short video of Cary Grant getting into the spirit of things in an eightsome reel!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKO_cHse5wg



Boy, but he was nimble!

Goodness- he is nimble but he says "Let's learn it", but there's no caller!

What does his woman look so sour about? His famous halitosis??

Brought back happy memories though, rusty, thank you