Ceilidh Dance newsletter – 2026 #1
My very best wishes to everyone for a wonderful year with lots of dancing.
WHERE IS IT?
I am include this picture of Scotland that I have been sent (among many others) without any note as to where they are. Does anyone recognize it? It is quite a distinctive bay with a very narrow opening. To my eye it looks more West than East coast but I may be completely wrong. Hopefully at least one reader will recognize it and send me an e-mail – ceilidh@rscdsvancouver.org
Union Canal
We had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends and I hope you all spent time with your family and friends.
There are many Burns events coming up this month and they can’t all be on January 25th. The main event of course will be the RSCDS Vancouver Branch Burns Supper on Saturday, January 24. Tickets ($100 ) are still available and can be bought online at www.rscdsvancouver.org The dance programme is geared towards new dancers with many few easy dances so this event will be fun for all. There are FREE classes on Wednesday evenings starting January 7 where new dancers will be welcomed and where you can learn the dances. The classes are at the Scottish Cultural Centre, 8886 Hudson Street, Vancouver at 7:30.
Tickets $100 ($90 for member societies of SCC (BC Highland Dance Association, BC Pipers Association, Gaelic Society of Vancouver, Sons of Scotland, RSCDS Vancouver, St Andrew’s and Caledonian Society of Vancouver))
Doors open 5:00 pm, program begins promptly at 6:00pm
Please allow yourself time to:
– Drive to Scottish Cultural Centre at 8886 Hudson Street, Vancouver. Traffic on Oak and Granville streets and all bridges can be heavy on Saturdays
– Park – details about parking will be made available
– Find your table
– Greet friends
– Purchase bar tickets. The bar will accept cash and credit or debit cards
There is also many other Burns Suppers in the lower mainland go to ScottishCulturalCentre.com to find details of a few.
The number of subscribers to, this newsletter at the end of 2025 was 575 but only about one third open the newsletters which is a few more than attend the ceilidh dances. For the amount of work involved it hardly seems worthwhile. Maybe I should stop sending the newsletters and just send out notices. What do you think?
Please pass along the website to your friends and maybe they will subscribe – www.vancouverceilidh.org
If anyone has any suggestions or complaints regarding the newsletter please let me know – ceilidh@rscdsvancouver.org ==============================================================
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| WHY PEOPLE MARRY AND OTHERS DON’T
Here are some quotes to inspire you….) I recently read that love is entirely a matter of chemistry. That must be why my wife treats me like toxic waste. David Bissonette When a man steals your wife, there is no better revenge than to let him keep her.
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Valley of the Moffat Water
Many thanks for the many e-mailed cards, congratulations and greetings
Events happening early in 2026 include the Branch Burns Supper on January 24 and the Love to Dance workshop and dance. Please see “Coming Events” below for all information.
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Location-locatio-location-For-sale-beautiful-waterfront-cottage-partly-finished-demolished
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Wallace Monument near Stirling
COMING EVENTS IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS –
See website www.vancouverceilidh.org for a more complete list.
A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together.
He said, “It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you.” The young executives were Shocked, but the boss continued. “I am going to give each one of you a SEED today – one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO.”
One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed.He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow.
Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn’t have a plant and he felt like a failure.
Six months went by — still nothing in Jim’s pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn’t say anything to his colleagues, however, he just kept watering and fertilizing the soil – He so wanted the seed to grow. A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection.
Jim told his wife that he wasn’t going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful — in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!
When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives. Jim just tried to hide in the back. “My, what great plants, trees and flowers you have grown,” said the CEO. “Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!” All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, “The CEO knows I’m a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!”
When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed – Jim told him the story. The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, “Behold your next Chief Executive Officer! His name is Jim!” Jim couldn’t believe it. Jim couldn’t even grow his seed.
“How could he be the new CEO?” the others said.
Then the CEO said, “One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead – it was not possible for them to grow. All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer!”
Wick Bay
When Insults Had Class
These glorious insults are from an era before the English language got boiled down to 4-letter words.
“Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I’ll waste no time reading it.” – Moses Hadas
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God’s Pharmacy! Amazing!
Onions look like the body’s cells. Today’s research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.
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Kenneyhill
The next Ceilidh Dance is Friday, January 30, 2026. You still have some time to spread the word about all the Ceilidh Dances as that is the best (and cheapest) form of advertising. It is great exercise and fun, for all ages, too. Note the new price – $20 (students $15)
The format for all of the regular monthly Ceilidh Dances will be the same with the class from 7 — 7:45 pm and the dance from 8 — 11 p.m. and all dances will be walked and talked through. The price is only – $20 or $15 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. Come early as we have set maximums for the class 80 and the dance 160.
Kirkhill sunrise
Thanks to Belinda we now have a presence on Instagram so you can follow us on instagram.com/vancouver.ceilidhs
https://www.instagram.com/vancouver.ceilidhs?utm_source=qr
Please check it out and make Belinda very happy!!
Aberdeen beach
It really is never too late to come along and join in one of many Scottish Country Dance (SCD) classes and JANUARY is a great time to do it as all the classes will be starting up again. 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!
Go to either www.rscdsvancouver.org or www,vancouverceilidh.org for a list of class locations and times.
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 $10 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
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Altnacealgach Motel
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 Friday, January 30, 2026 in the Scottish Cultural Centre, 8886 Hudson Street, (73rd & Hudson which is between Oak & Granville), Vancouver, We need everyone to help us get as many new comers (as well as former Ceilidh Dancers) as possible to come and join us. The Ceilidh Dances are a great way to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Invite all your friends along. Contact me if you will have a group of 12 or more and we can give them a discount!!!
What a nice way to celebrate the New Year. It really is good exercise so tell all yor frends to come to the next dance AND to bring their other friends, spouses, partners, etc. It only costs $20 – it is worth so much more in fun, exercise and camaraderie. 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 $20 or $15 for students and we provide refreshments. 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 — 7:45 p.m. and the dance from 8 — 10:30 p.m. with music by Calanais.
New Year Dip!!
The schedule for the 2026 season shapes up as follows:
All on Fridays of course —
2026
February 27
March 27
April 24
September 25
October 23
November 27
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. 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.
Arrochar Alps and Loch Katrine
KEEP THE GRAY MATTER ACTIVE-TEASERS
1. Which is correct to say, “The yolk of the egg are white” or “The yolk of the egg is white”?
2. If a farmer has 5 haystacks in one field and 4 haystacks in the other field, how many haystacks would he have if he combined them all in another field?
New Year bonfire in Biggar
Keep sending jokes, pictures and info you wish to have included. Don’t forget to look at our web pages at www.vancouverceilidh.org
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.
Here are the Answers
1. Which is correct to say, “The yolk of the egg are white” or “The yolk of the egg is white”?
Answer: Neither, the yolk of the egg is yellow [Duh]
2. If a farmer has 5 haystacks in one field and 4 haystacks in the other field, how many haystacks would he have if he combined them all in another field?
Answer: One. If he combines all of his haystacks, they all become one big stack.
Girlie Wisdom!
The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight because by then, your body and your fat are really good friends.
Amazing! You hang something in your closet for a while and it shrinks 2 sizes!
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Thanks, I send my compliments of the season to You and Yours. I hope 2026 will be a year full of joy, peace, good health and lots of Scottish Country Dancing.
Enjoy yourselves – come Scottish Country Dancing – for it is good for your health and you never know you just might …..!
New Year fireworks – Carlton Hill, Edinburgh
Fireball procession in Stonehaven
May your troubles be l, may your blessings be more,
and may nothing but happiness come through your door.
Trying to learn how to make the letters work but still needs lots of work!!
Duncan ceilidh@rscdsvancouver.org