Ceilidh Dance newsletter – next Ceilidh Dance Monday August 6, 2012 in Stanley Park
Happy belated Canada Day. I am late again with the newsletter partly due to the holiday weekend, family arriving and a few other matters. I thought I would cheer everyone up with some pictures of Scottish Beaches in the sunshine!!!
Sandwood Bay
If anyone has any suggestions or complaints regarding the newsletter please let me know – ceilidh@rscdsvancouver.org
Bonus!! All the ants in Africa weigh more than ALL the Elephants!!
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Dancing in the Park has started and will continue every Monday from 7 – 9 p.m. weather permitting. Tomorrow night – Monday, June 25 is led by the Fort Langley club. There are always “dances for everyone” each week so come along, bring your friends and join in the fun. Too bad it was cancelled tonight but this is the first time since 2010 I think.
Check out the list of events on the web page – www.vancouverceilidh.org – as there are often new additions such as I have added an early warning about the 50th annual Tartan Ball in Toronto in 2013.
There is a Ceilidh night in the Park again – August 6 – see below for more details of Dancing in the Park. There also is a joint Ceilidh/Scottish Country Dance event on Friday, July 13 in the Scottish Cultural Centre, 8886 Hudson Street, Vancouver with music by a group of visiting fiddlers from Scotland as well as the Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra. More info to come.
Older Than Dirt Quiz:
Count all the ones that you remember, not the ones you were told about.
Ratings at the bottom.
1. Sweet cigarettes
2. Coffee shops with juke boxes
3. Home milk delivery in glass bottles
4. Party lines on the telephone
5. Newsreels before the movie
6. TV test patterns that came on at night after the last show and were there until TV shows started again in the morning.. (There were only 2 channels [if you were fortunate])
7. Peashooters
8. 33 rpm records
9. 45 RPM records
10. Hi-fi’s
11. Metal ice trays with levers
12. Blue flashbulb
13. Cork popguns
14. Wash tub wringers
If you remembered 0-3 = You’re still young
If you remembered 3-6 = You are getting older
If you remembered 7-10 = Don’t tell your age
If you remembered 11-14 = You’re positively ancient!
I must be ‘positively ancient’ but those memories are some of the best parts of my life.
Sango Bay
About 15 dancers turned up for the Canada Day parade yesterday. Maybe you think that is not too bad a turnout but I think it was terrible. Cathrine and Katherine deserve much more support from all of us. Oh I know you all had wonderful excuses but the Japanese, Russian, Korean, Filipino and many other groups had many, many more people in their entries in the parade.
The 15 did their very best and we got many cheers from the big crowds watching us. I do hope that when the call goes out for next year’s parade that you arer all able to come along. It is fun and well worth the effort.
Check out the BC Highland Games website at www.bchighlandgames.com
Children Are Quick
TEACHER: Glen, why do you always get so dirty?
GLEN: Well, I’m a lot closer to the ground than you are.
Summer must be here, not that we can tell by the weather, as my family are starting to arrive from all points. Our house gained 6 more residents (plus a black lab) for most of July and August and there are 6 more to come although, fortunately, 4 of them are staying with our oldest son. It looks like being a fun but busy summer. We got our first walk down to the pool to watch the two youngest (2 and 4) take their swim lessons – gosh they were brave having not long arrived fro Hong Kong and then the 4 year old had a tennis lesson (we start them all young in the MacKenzie clan!) I have not filled the hot tub nor put up the trampoline so the next dry day I have some chores to do. It is much noisier in the house but it is great to hear the happy sounds of children. I must get to bed earlier as we are certainly woken much earlier.
Comments made in the year 1955!
Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging 7 cents just to mail a letter.
COMING EVENTS IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS –
| 2012 | |
| Jul 9 | Dancing in Stanley Park 7 — 9 p.m. hosted by Burnaby |
| Jul 13 | “A Midsummer Night’s Fiddle” in the Scottish Cultural Centre, 8886 Hudson Street, Vancouver. Admission at the door $10 (students $8) Live music by the Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra and guests The Strathspey Fiddlers Come, meet and dance to the lively music of the Strathspey Fiddlers — a young group who are touring from Scotland — and the Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra. This should be a fun evening with a mix of Scottish Country and some Ceilidh dances. We hope as many dancers as possible will come and support the VFO and the Branch who are sponsoring this event. If some of you could you bring a dish of finger food., it would be appreciated. Contact Cathrine Conings (604-299-6447 or ccmusic@telus.net) or Fran Caruth (604-922-6842 or caruth@telus.net) for more info. See the branch website later in May for the program. |
| Jul 13 – 19 | Celtfest 2012 in Oak Bay, BC Fiddle, Song, Piping & Drumming, Guitar, Highland Dance, Step Dance, Irish Dance, Ceilidh & Scottish County Dance, Bodhran, Scots Gaelic, Penny Whistle, Art …and more! Get information and registration forms at www.celtfest.ca |
| Jul 16 | Dancing in Stanley Park 7 — 9 p.m. hosted by West End |
| July 22 —Aug 5 | TAC Summer School to be held in Portland, Oregon — information to comewww.rscds-tac.org Open to all dancers. |
| Jul 23 | Dancing in Stanley Park 7 — 9 p.m. hosted by Delta Borderers |
| Jul 30 | Dancing in Stanley Park 7 — 9 p.m. hosted by Friends and Family night |
| Aug 6 | Dancing in Stanley Park 7 — 9 p.m. — Ceilidh Night |
See website www.vancouverceilidh.org for a more complete list.
Sanna Bay
IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER – by Erma Bombeck
(written after she found out she was dying of cancer).
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
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Honey and Cinnamon
Weekly World News, a magazine in Canada, in its issue dated 17 January, 1995 has given the following list of diseases that can be cured by honey and cinnamon as researched by western scientists:
INDIGESTION:
Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.
INFLUENZA:
A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural’ Ingredient’ which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.
Ed Note: more to follow in coming weeks
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Scalasaig, Colonsay
The next Ceilidh Dance is on Friday, September 28, 2012 – that is the last Friday of the month. There will be, however, the annual Ceilidh in the Park on Monday, August 6, 2012 near 2nd Beach in Stanley Park from 7 – 9 p.m. – free of charge!!! AND there is to be a Ceilidh/Scottish Country dance on Friday July 13
See website www.vancouverceilidh.org Coming Events listing for all Dancing in the Park dates etc.
Please help spread the word about all the Ceilidh Dances as that is the best (and cheapest) form of advertising. Here is a link where you can watch a short video of a Ceilidh Dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MvUwZnY9Ms
The format for all of the regular monthly Ceilidh Dances will be the same with the class from 7 — 8 p.m. and the dance from 8 — 11 p.m. and all dances will be walked and talked through. The price is only – $10 or $8 for students which, for what you get is a super bargain — everyone is welcome. No partner is required and you should wear FLAT, comfy shoes and loose clothing. Children are also welcome but should be prepared to dance with other people as some of the dances require a change of partner. Don’t forget to bring a few extra $$$$ to help defray the cost of the refreshments which are otherwise free.
For those who enjoy listening to Scottish music, song, banter etc. try www.andysceilidh.co.uk/ this is a radio programme that you can get sent to you and listen any time you want.
The Branch has opened a Facebook Page at “RSCDS-Vancouver” – check it out there are some good pictures etc. www.facebook.com/rscdsvancouver. There is a link on both our website www.vancouverceilidh.org and the Branch website www.rscdsvancouver.org
It really is never too late to come along and join in one of many Scottish Country Dance (SCD) classes and SEPTEMBER is a great time to do it as all the classes will start up again then. You will be made very welcome. Many classes have a policy that the first night is FREE! Plan to come along to try out a class next week. There are classes all around and on different nights so
GIVE IT A GO!
In the meantime plan on coming down to Stanley Park on Monday nights starting June 11 from 7 – 9 p.m. where there are always dances for everyone to join in.
For those who don’t know SCD is a fabulous pastime which is super exercise for body and mind. SCD is, naturally, rooted in Scotland but there are groups in almost every country so you can learn here and then dance with other groups when you vacation or travel. SCD is not to be confused with Highland Dancing which is more solo dancing. SCD is usually done with a partner in groups or sets however you do not need to come with a partner. It is more akin to Square Dancing. It takes a year or two of classes, workshops, etc. to get the basics learnt then you can hone your skills in advanced classes. You start by learning the steps and formations. Dances (of which there are over 13,000) are made up of these formations so a good grounding will give you the ability to learn a new dance fairly quickly. SCD has its HQ in Scotland and is known as the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS) and there is a Vancouver Branch of the RSCDS under which there are many clubs throughout the Province (there also are Branches in Victoria and Seattle). There are a great many classes and the ones in the Vancouver area are listed below. Come along — check us out — the first night is usually free and thereafter it will average about $6 a night and that’s for a 2 hour class! You will find many friendly people who will be eager to help you and welcome you to their club. You never know you actually might like it!!
Check the list of classes at either at www.vancouverceilidh.org or www.rscdsvancouver.org. Note that the latter website has the latest updates to temporary changes to times and locations
as well there are classes all up and down Vancouver Island, a number of the Gulf Islands, the Cariboo, Okanagan, etc. etc. and there are various groups all over this great Province, Country, World and who knows where else! Check the Branch website for all these details – www.rscdsvancouver.org
Also the Inverary Step Dance class on Wednesdays in the French School, 1555 West 7th Ave., Vancouver- info b_campbell@dccnet.com
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Riddles (answer next week)
Last week:
Think of words ending in -GRY. Angry and hungry are two of them. There are only three words in the English language. What is the third word? The word is something that everyone uses every day. If you have listened carefully, I have already told you what it is
It states, “There are only three words in the English language. What is the third word?” The third word of that phrase is of course “language.” Don’t get angry at me, I didn’t make it up.
This week:
The person who makes it, sells it. The person who buys it never uses it and the person who uses it doesn’t know they are. What is it?
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For upcoming events see www.vancouverceilidh.org and www.rscdsvancouver.org.
Other announcements etc:
Seattle Branch – info at www.rscds-seattle.org
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The next regular monthly Ceilidh Dance will be held on Friday, September 28, 2012 in the Scottish Cultural Centre, 8886 Hudson Street, (73rd & Hudson which is between Oak & Granville), Vancouver, BUT. there is a Ceilidh Night in the Park on Monday, August 1st – see www.vancouverceilidh.org for info – and a special dance on Friday, July 13. We need everyone to help us get as many new comers (as well as former Ceilidh Dancers) as possible to come and join us. WE Really NEED YOUR HELP to advertise the Ceilidh Dances!!!! What a nice thoughtful gift it could be if you gave your friends admission to the Ceilidh Dance. They don’t need to know it only costs $10 – it is worth so much more in fun, exercise and camaraderie. Use any access to free adverts etc. You can also use things like the Youtube link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh2HV3OPBgw or the Face-book page
https://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=116203315&k=Z5C5Y4TZPT6G6BD1PKZZTWQQQ6BAW26L34AV&oid=164741310207760 Suggestions to improve our advertising are always welcome. Don’t forget to tell them about the website www.vancouverceilidh.org and get them to “subscribe” to the newsletter.
The cost is still the amazingly low price of $10 or $8 for students and we provide refreshments although we do ask for your donations towards their cost. We always need your support both by coming along and by helping us to advertise these dances by whatever means you use to communicate with your friends be it e-mail, Face-Book, Twitter, Text or even telephone! Most of you have been to at least one Ceilidh Dance so you know how it goes. You don’t need a partner; you don’t need any experience; you should wear FLAT soft soled shoes; we walk, talk, and call every dance and you should come to have fun and have a good evening on exercise and entertainment and maybe even to learn!
There is a FREE class from 7 — 8 p.m. and the dance from 8 — 11 p.m. with music by Calanais. Remember to bring some extra cash so you can make a donation towards the cost of the refreshments. Without these donations we will have to increase the price of admission again!!
The schedule for the 2012/13 season shapes up as follows:
All on Fridays of course —
September 28
October 19
November 30
2013
January 4
February 1
February 22
March 22
April 26
Come along and get some great exercise while also having lots of fun. We are still working on improving the strength of the smile muscles as well as the bows and curtsies! Please do your best to assist us in letting as many people know as possible. Use Face-book, e-mail, telephone or even word of mouth and tell everyone you know what a fun night it is. We need to attract students from UBC, SFU and all the other colleges and universities. Somehow we have to get word out to these students. Please do all you can to help us. Come one, come all to the same place (Scottish Cultural Centre, 8886 Hudson Street, Vancouver) and the same time (7 p.m. for the class and 8 – 11 p.m. for the dance) and the same amazing price ($10 or $8 for students.)
You should check the website – www.vancouverceilidh.org – from time to time as you can find various pages listing “Ceilidhs and Events;” Classes:” Duncan’s List;” etc. On these pages you can check all the upcoming events, where all the classes are located, times, etc. and some places to find Scottish things or some local trades, etc. I will continue to highlight the more current events in each week’s newsletter but, as stated, the calendar of all events will be available on the website. You should also have a look at the Vancouver Branch website from time to time – www.rscdsvancouver.org – as there is always useful information on it and it is a very good looking site.
If you have any questions regarding the Ceilidh Dances send them to me at ceilidh@rscdsvancouver.org
Please check the website – www.rscdsvancouver.org for updates, pictures and news.
Dance — it is good for your health.
My wife has a slight impediment in her speech. Every now and then she stops to breathe.
– Jimmy Durante
Over in the U.K. , a very pretty young speech therapist was getting nowhere with her “Stammerers Action Group”. She had tried every technique in the book without the slightest success. No-one was improving. Finally, thoroughly exasperated, she said
“If any of you can tell me, without stuttering, the name of the town where you were born
I will have wild and passionate sex with you until your muscles ache and your eyes water.
So, who wants to go first?”
The Englishman piped up. “B-b-b-b-b-b-b-irmingham.”
“That’s no use, Trevor,” said the speech therapist. “Who’s next?”
The Scotsman raised his hand and blurted out “P-p-p-p-p-p-p-p-p-aisley”.
“That’s no better. There’ll be no sex for you, I’m afraid, Hamish.”
“How about you, Paddy?”
The Irishman took a deep breath and eventually blurted out ” London .”
“Brilliant, Paddy!” said the speech therapist and immediately set about living up to her promise.
After 15 minutes of exceptionally steamy sex, the couple paused for breath and Paddy said
“-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-erry”.
Keep sending jokes, pictures and info you wish to have included. Don’t forget to look at our web pages at www.vancouverceilidh.org
Scremerston Beach
If you know of anyone who would like to be on the mailing list please send them the web address – www.vancouverceilidh.org and ask them to subscribe. If anyone has good pictures from the Ceilidh Dances please send them to me so I can put them on the web page.
If you have any announcements please send them to me preferably in Word; Times New Roman 12pt format with a layout similar to the one used in this newsletter. I occasionally hear of an event somewhere in our beautiful Province, on the Island or in the Interior, but don’t know all the details. This newsletter reaches out to some 370 subscribers (up 2!) from all over the Province, Country and to many other countries as well, so please send me the details of your event and I will only be too happy to include them. Note- I normally compose the newsletters on Sundays.
Selkirk
Thanks hope to see you at Dancing in the Park or somewhere nice. Enjoy yourselves – come Scottish Country Dancing – for it is good for your health and you never know you just might …..!
Wick of Skaw
Duncan ceilidh@rscdsvancouver.org