Ceilidh Dance newsletter – next Ceilidh Dance – Monday, August 6, 2012 in Stanley Park
Last week I tried to send you a cartoon but I have not found out how to get it from the source to the newsletter. The cartoon was about a person who wanted the best sunscreen and the answer was a trip to Vancouver.
Demonstration Team 2012 BC Highland Games
If anyone has any suggestions or complaints regarding the newsletter please let me know – ceilidh@rscdsvancouver.org
Winston Churchill was born in a ladies’ room during a dance.
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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.
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.
Canada Day Parade
Invitation to all dancers :
Sunday July 1st please come and participate in the Canada Day Parade downtown. It will be very joyful!
Time: 7 pm. Route: 1.1 km long, along Burrard and Georgia.
Our entry: walking and dancing simple steps behind a car booming out Scottish dance music!
Clothing: seasonally appropriate tartan wear, and solid comfortable shoes!! Red and white would be great! Something colourful, at least!!
Meeting time and place: 5:30 pm Alberni & Broughton. Check here for updates after June 23rd.
Parade info: www.canadaplace.ca/canadaday/parade
Family and friends: We need you to carry our banners, and hand out leaflets ! Contact: Cathrine 604-299-6447 (ccmusic@telus.net)
Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
Oban
The 2012 BC Highland Games were held yesterday in Percy perry Stadium, Coquitlam. The weather did not look promising at 7 a.m. but it gradually improved and by 9 there were glimpses of sunshine and soon there was enough blue sky to make a pair of sailor’s pants which was a weather indication used by my aunt when I was young. It stayed dry until the Grade 1 Pipe Band competition and the eventual downpour meant the massed bands were cancelled – too bad as that is always stirring and impressive. However after the rain on Friday night we should be very thankful indeed. Friday’s weather probably kept some folk away but hopefully the financial side will not be too bad.
See www.bcpipers.org for the official pipe band results.
Both the Massed Dancing and the Demonstration Team performances were well received. There were over 70 Scottish Country Dancers participating in these two events which was not too bad. A huge bouquet to both Mary Murray and Rebecca Blackhall-Peters for leading their respective teams and also to everyone who came along to show the audience what a fun past-time this is. Cathrine and volunteers manned the RSCDS tent and may have got a few folk interested in coming along.
Check out the BC Highland Games website at www.bchighlandgames.com
Children Are Quick
TEACHER: Winnie, name one important thing we have today that we didn’t have ten years ago.
WINNIE: Me!
A busy week with the last practices for the demonstrations at the Highland Games, cars being serviced, driver training, graduation BBQ, etc. etc. Life is never dull that is for sure. I did manage to get the ditch at our back entrance whipper snipped but the rain came back before I could rake it all out so that still has to be done. This afternoon we did (well mostly Margaret did) some weeding and cutting back.
Comments made in the year 1955!
If cigarettes keep going up in price, I’m going to quit; 20 cents a pack is ridiculous.
COMING EVENTS IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS –
| 2012 | |
| Jun 25 | Dancing in Stanley Park 7 — 9 p.m. hosted by Fort Langley |
| Jun 25 | Stave Falls Scottish Dancers perform at the Kitsilano Showboat |
| Jul 1 | Canada Day Parade please come and participate in the Canada Day Parade downtown. It will be very joyful! Time: 7 pm. Route: 1.1 km long, along Burrard and Georgia. Our entry: walking and dancing simple steps behind a car booming out Scottish dance music! Clothing: seasonally appropriate tartan wear, and solid comfortable shoes!! Red and white would be great! Something colourful, at least!! Meeting time and place: 5:30 pm Alberni & Broughton. Check here for updates after June 23rd. Parade info: www.canadaplace.ca/canadaday/parade Family and friends: We need you to carry our banners, and hand out leaflets ! Contact: Cathrine 604-299-6447 (ccmusic@telus.net) |
| Jul 2 | Dancing in Stanley Park 7 — 9 p.m. hosted by Glenayre |
| 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 |
see www.vancouverceilidh.org for a complete list.
See website www.vancouverceilidh.org for a more complete list.
Old Man of Hoy
IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER – by Erma Bombeck
(written after she found out she was dying of cancer).
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
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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:
GAS:
According to the studies done in India and Japan, it is revealed that if Honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.
IMMUNE SYSTEM:
Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of Honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacterial and viral diseases.
Ed Note: more to follow in coming weeks
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Old Man of Stoer
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
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Riddles (answer next week)
Last week:
What is in seasons, seconds, centuries and minutes but not in decades, years or days?
The letter “n”
This 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.
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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.
I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury.
– Groucho Marx
Why Parents Drink
The boss wondered why one of his most valued employees was absent but had not phoned in sick one day. Needing to have an urgent problem with one of the main computers resolved, he dialled the employee’s home phone number and was greeted with a child’s whisper.
‘ Hello ? ‘
‘Is your daddy home?’ he asked.
‘ Yes ,’ whispered the small voice.
May I talk with him?’
The child whispered, ‘ No .’
Surprised and wanting to talk with an adult, the boss asked, ‘Is your Mummy there?
” Yes ‘
‘May I talk with her?’ Again the small voice whispered, ‘ No ‘
Hoping there was somebody with whom he could leave a message, the boss asked, ‘Is anybody else there?’
‘Yes , ‘ whispered the child, ‘a policeman .. ‘
Wondering what a cop would be doing at his employee’s home, the boss asked, ‘May I speak with the policeman?’
‘No, he’s busy , ‘ whispered the child.
‘Busy doing what?’
‘Talking to Daddy and Mummy and the Fireman , ‘ came the whispered answer.
Growing more worried as he heard a loud noise in the background through the earpiece on the phone, the boss asked, ‘What is that noise?’
‘A helicopter ‘ answered the whispering voice.
‘What is going on there?’ demanded the boss, now truly apprehensive. Again, whispering, the child answered,
‘ The search team just landed a helicopter ‘
Alarmed, concerned and a little frustrated the boss asked, ‘What are they searching for?’
Still whispering, the young voice replied with a muffled giggle…
‘ME . ‘
Keep sending jokes, pictures and info you wish to have included. Don’t forget to look at our web pages at www.vancouverceilidh.org
Hanging Olympic Rings in Edinburgh
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.
Ochtertyre House
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 …..!
Sunset from Oban
Duncan ceilidh@rscdsvancouver.org