Bob's Blog

This Blog will follow my adventures - well holidays really. Hopefully you will want to tell me what you enjoyed in the countries I have visited and maybe recommend places to go.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Five go on Holiday (with Vincent and Flavia)

The Sunday Lounge Team (see http://www.thesundaylounge.co.uk/) went to Jive Addiction's first city centre weekendeer - Metropolis at The Palace Hotel, Manchester.

It's a large hotel, formerly the Refuge Assurance Company building with imposing entrance foyer, excellent ballroom and another smaller room for us to dance in, so very good arrangements. Some of the gloss white tiling convinced people that we were in an old sanitorium but apparently not. It was not an easy building to find your way around - I never saw any stairs and the lifts were slow when I was able to find them.

The bedrooms were large and comfortable but some noisy with all those things that go on in a city centre.

Breakfast was excellent and the main meal of the day for us five. We bought from Sainabury across the road and snacked mid-afternoon. These meals were a big laugh - thinking back we were probably very childish and I hope we can achieve that state again.

There were lots of classes (maybe a few less than other weekenders I have been on) and I certainly could not attend them all. There were many women spare at the classes I did go to and this is something to sort out - nobody wants to see an unhappy woman!

On Sunday Vincent and Flavia came - to teach 3 classes (Tango and Rumba) - never, they said, to so many people at once, and to do one demonstration dance. We gave them such a reception and applause, every decibel deserved for a glorious lyrical tango waltz, that they returned to do an incredible fast milonga. Later when we looked in the 'blues' room, they they were dancing with all and sundry. I didn't think I had the courage to ask Flavia to dance but Jane and I finished our dance with Flavia next to us and, with an appropriate push, I asked her to dance and as luck would have it there was a slow tango and a tune I know well. I have no idea what happened over the next 4 minutes but it was wonderful! Jane and Joan nhad tears in their eyes and there was definitely applause (maybe just from the two of them!)

Then John (who organises Jive Addiction) came over to us all and Vincent asked Jane to dance (probably the only person he actually asked to dance) and they looked a great couple. But it wasn't just Jane and I that had all the fun - Marc got a kiss on the cheek from Flavia, Di pinched Vincent's bum and he called Joan 'Bella!'.
Definitely the best weekender ever.
Not simply because Vincent and Flavia were there showing us why they are the best in the world but that they were prepared to relax and dance with any of us.
Even more than that the five of us had a ball!