"...I'm in a dancing mood..."

Mes Amis

Yes, I am indeed still alive. Working hard, don't'cha know?

And dancing, too.

Last night, somehow, I wound up at a charity Ceilidh evening: one of those events that is generally either interminably dull or actually really rather fun. I mean Ceilidh's are usually enjoyable (moreso when you're among the normal people who have only a basic idea of what's going on: nothing like people who really know the dances to ruin the fun for everyone else!) but charity events with auctions tend to turn into these rather dull affairs where it all falls into dissaray. Indeed, with the auction overrunning (and someone buying the title of "Lord" for £300!) it looked like, after the over-peppered soup, frozen beef and vegetables and burnt sticky toffee pudding (I know it was for charity, but at forty squid a head...) we weren't even going to get to the fun part of the evening... one couple even got up and started waltzing while the auction was trundling inorexicably onwards: a subtle protest, one might say.

But the band weren't about to let a reduced playing time spoil their fun. With energy and enthusiasm, they managed to get everyone up on the floor. Of course, its around this time where Russel laughingly tells the poor English girl he dragged up to dance that sure, he'll show her what's going on. And then realises he can't even remember how to do the Gay Gordons* But soon enough I'm picking up the swing again. And the falling over is the best part of any Ceilidh. Words to live by when it comes to Strip The Willow which inevitably ends up with one person doing a nose dive. And this time it wasn't me, although I was twirled with force by a deceptively frail looking elderly lady who took great delight in whooping as she spun me off my feet and into the nearest table.

All in all though, a dull start to the evening followed by a fantastic finish. Except no one would describe my dancing as fantastic... interesting, perhaps...

So there we go, my friends, a nice little update just to prove I really am still here... and for those of you considering going to see the new Adam Sandler movie*** here's a little insight into the making of it, courtesy of the wonderful Flick Filosopher....

Au revoir

Russel

*Although apparently nobody can, even the experts**
** And, yes, let's get the snickering out the way: there was teacher at school used to, in a politically correct fashion, refer to it as the happy Gordons so we wouldn't keep giggling.

***Yes, Mr Rickards, we know you're a closet Sandler movie buff...