dancing in Newcastle (24 - 27 November 2006)

Yes - they do dance in Newcastle! Having met two lovely ladies on a dance holiday in Spain I was lucky enough to secure invitations to Newcastle for formal dinner dances. Fortunately another friend had increased slightly in girth and so I am now the owner of a very smart, previously loved, DJ. So, now counting myself as a friend of the family, and certainly being treated as such, I have spent some great weekends in the North East.
In these weekends the formal part has been very successful - a good meal, plenty of wine, first on the dance floor dancing ceroc with L, one of the lovely ladies. Dancing with many partners and introducing some to ceroc, or if that fails then some disco stuff which does seem very tame in comparison.
In addition there is the joy of watching 13 year old M playing football, usually in the rain! The joy is partly because they do really try to play and pass the ball about, but also because it is not me getting muddy and suffering the crunching tackles!
I have also got to know Newcastle city centre (tried to argue it was not as good as Nottingham, but had to lie a lot) and Alnwick Gardens which are stunning but I forgot my camera - good excuse to go again.
So, much to my surprise, I have discovered that it is very civilised up there and I hope more invitations will be forthcoming - watch this space.

Jiving at Scarborough (17 - 20 Nov 2006)

Scarborough greeted us with rain but provided two days of glorious sunshine and blue skies so we could see the resort at its best. Organisation was provided by Jive Addiction (www.jiveaddiction.com) and it all worked like clockwork. Most of us were in hotels at the top of the cliff with dancing in the spa complex at sea level. I managed the journeys up and down without using the lift. Not bad going on a Saturday night after a 10.30am start and 2am finish! Two days of lessons were provided from 10.30 in the morning until 5pm. 5 lessons in each of two locations with breaks for resting - no, most people danced then as well! Those as unwise as me attended all lessons and suffered overload of moves and remember very little, other than the enjoyment of being there, and admiration for the teachers.
Evening freestyles were excellent affairs. The culture of modern jive is such that, male or female, you can have as many dances as your body can stand. There were so many good dancers that it lifted one’s own standard and despite good attendance (maybe 400) there was room on the wonderful Ocean Ballroom floor to dance with freedom.
Saturday night involved a demo with a tango influence from about 30 couples who worked hard through 2 lessons with overtime! From my view dancing at the back of this group I thought it was pretty good!
Highlights for me were a Dirty Dancing routine - nothing I could incorporate into my freestyle dancing but such fun to learn - thanks Adam and Tonia. Also bringing tango into jive, not a fusion process, but a block of tango introduced into jive - thanks Ian and Mandy.
Nottingham desperately needs some Argentine Tango lessons!
So a weekend not to be missed and there will be more in the future, thanks to Jive Addiction.

Reflections on the Dominican Republic holiday

I had a good time - the wedding was wonderful, it was great to spend time with relatives and to meet new friends. It was a relaxed environment and as good a place to chill out as I can imagine. It's not my preferred choice of holiday, as I can chill out at home most of the time, and so usually look for a holiday that is more active, either walking or dancing. Having said that I am most certainly glad I went, to enjoy the company and to experience the Caribbean for the first time.
The island is a tropical paradise and I felt so much better for having done the tours and for seeing a little bit of the island, its people in particular, and so a little insight into how they live. I really don't know if the all-inclusive resorts are a good thing or not. They must have a huge impact on the environment but they employ a lot of people on salaries that are good for the island but, of course, low from our point of view. Hence we are waited on hand and foot and lavished with food and drink and entertainment.
I hope to visit other Caribbeam islands but would look to travel more, but the luxury of the all-inclusive is tempting!

Seeing the Island

I went on two tours from the hotel.
The first was the Northern Highlights which gave us a good look at Puerto Plata, the Amber Museum, the Cathedral and a few shops. It was good for me as I won some Larimar earings by picking out the false piece of amber! Watch this space to see if I have my ears pierced!
It was informative to be driven round some of the luxury houses of the rich as well as the shanties of the poor. Despite this the crime rate is the lowest in the Caribbean.
On to Sosua beach after a dismal lunch, served by the only miserable people on the island. It is a lovely bay with glorious sand but there is only a short distance of sand before the trees and the souvenir shack shops which circle the entire bay. Also there is a little bit of hassel to buy trinkets or rent a sun bed but it is very mild.

The next outing was the Outback Safari which was much more exciting, so many things packed into the day. A drive on dirt roads into the bush to see the very wild and picturesque countryside where Jurassic Park was filmed. Onto a fruit farm and a chance to see so much growing and to taste the freshest fruit ever. A visit to a typical house and a school and then the crocodile farm, they are a bit slimy feeling! Lunch and demo dances by local girls.
We cruised down the river for a relaxing half hour into what looked like jungle to me with some very grand trees. Finally to the Beach that is famous for surfing the whole world over, Cabarete beach. What a contrast to Sosua. Nobody there but those on the trip. Many miles of beach with impressive waves. Those with some affinity for the water ventured out with their boogie boards to try to surf in on a wave. Most succeeded, all enjoyed. I just plodged along the shoreline for a few hundred yards.
Back on the bus for the trip back with rum and coke or 7up. The amount the guide poured out of the bottle decided how strong your drink was as it was topped up with rum.
A hot bumpy fascinating day.

Am I dreaming....

I am sitting on a rather ordinary plastic chair at an ordinary plastic table. It is set on a wonderful beach of soft almost white sand and I am amongst palm trees with the sea just 100 yds away. There is a breeze which enhances the look of the sea with white horses on the waves. Also it gives a false sense of security making the hot sun, beating down out of a cloudless blue sky, not so fierce. I am sitting here having danced a little with some of the staff to a live band which is playing salsa and merengue music. In front of me is a platefull of paella with cray fish which is quite wonderful. I have downed a glass of sangria before starting the meal. I am in danger of taking all this for granted but I should not, it is as good as a dream!