Loch Etive
Well we did have a fun Ceilidh at the end of October though nobody came in costume and not many came. I am getting disheartened that without a large increase in attendance we may be forced to cancelling the Ceilidh dances. It would be a pity as those who come have a lot of fun but we have to pay for the hall, a small remuneration for the band and Alison and the donations do not manage to cover the cost of the food, drink and the liquor license. All the other help in done by volunteers for which I am very grateful. We are sponsored by the Vancouver Branch RSCDS but they do not have unlimited funds.
We could increase the admission cost but that might prove detrimental to the attendance. What we really need is more people. We don’t need a huge number – an average attendance of 75 would do it – but we had only 47 at the last dance. We do our best to promote the dances but more needs to be done. That is where you can all help.
We need a big crowd so get on your phones and tell all your friends and folk you have never talked to. Tell them what fun the Ceilidh dances are and what a bargain too. You can all help with promotion.
Groups of 8 or more qualify for a $1 discount so long as you warn me in advance. The “leader” chooses a password that the group knows. You tell me the password; I inform those that are collecting the admission and everyone in the group gets admitted for $1 less than the normal rate. For the dance on November 24 you have until Wednesday (22nd) to contact me with the password and the number in your group.
If you are a bit wary come to the Ceilidh dance on Friday, November 24 at 7 p.m. in the Scottish Cultural Centre, 8886 Hudson Street, Vancouver. What is a Ceilidh dance? It is informal, easy Scottish Country dancing in a relaxed style for all ages. We teach everything, no experience or partner required just a desire to have fun an ability to move to the wonderful beat of the lively music and to enjoy the company of other like-minded folk. But, fair warning, it is not for the faint of heart for there is exercise both of body and mind!
Loch Fascally
Snow in November! I guess winter has come early. I spent quite a bit of time earlier in the week brushing the leaves off roofs and paths. We filled 4 large green bins again. It was good to get this done before the leaves get wet but there are still more to fall and therefore more to rake up!
I bought candy, Margaret put out her grave stones, skeleton, etc. and we put all the lights on at the front of the house but no kids appeared! 3 groups, 12 kids, came to the back door! Now we have a large selection of candy to eat ourselves,
Clocks go back tonight (Sunday morning at 3 a.m. to be precise) so we get an extra hour in bed.
It is Remembrance Sunday which is always the Sunday before Armistice Day, November 11.
It is time to remind you of the Ceilidh dates for this season and in particular the next one on Friday November 24 with the usual class at 7 and the dance following from 8 – 11 pm. No change in the price this year but that is dependant on great attendance at every dance so mark your calendars now and tell all your friends to do the same. We need 75 + to break even so with only 107 coming to the first two dances – you can do the math. It is a team, we need you all to help. Tell your friends etc. about the dances – we can do it.
The other dates for this season are:-
- November 24
- January 12
- February 23
- March 30
- April 27
The dances are all held at the Scottish Cultural Centre, 8886 Hudson Street, Vancouver (73rd and Hudson which is between Granville and Oak Streets). They are all held on Friday evenings and where possible the last Friday of each month – the exceptions are December (as we never schedule one) and January. Calanais have been practising and are raring to play for us again and Alison and I are rested and ready so all we need is you! Hope to see you on November 24.
Loch Garten
=====================================================
Loch Hourn
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Loch Katrine
====================================
A sixteen-year-old came home from school driving a Porsche and his parents began to yell and scream at him, “Where did you get that car?”
He calmly told them, “I bought it today.”
“With what money!?” demanded his parents. “We know what a Porsche costs.”
“Well,” said the boy, “this one only cost me fifteen dollars.”
The parents began to yell even louder. “Who would sell a car like that to you for $15.00?” they asked.
“It was the lady up the street,” said the boy. I don’t know her name — they just moved in. She saw me riding past on my bike and asked me if I wanted to buy a Porsche for $15.00.” “Oh my goodness!” moaned the mother, “she must be a child abuser or something. John, you go right up there now and see what’s going on.”
So the boy’s father walked up the street to the house where the lady lived and found her out in the yard calmly tending to her garden. He introduced himself as the father of the boy to whom she had sold a Porsche for fifteen dollars and demanded to know why. “Well,” she said, “I got a phone call from my husband this morning. I thought he was on a business trip, but I learned from a friend he has run off to Hawaii with his secretary. Then she apparently stole all his money and now he’s stranded there!
Well he called me, without a dollar to his name, and asked me to sell his Porsche and send him the money. So I did.”
================================
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Loch Kinord
********************************************************************************
The next regular Ceilidh Dance is the last FRIDAY of November!! – That is Friday, November 24, 2017 and I sure hope you can come and bring lots of friends.
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
I have updated the calendar with known dates at this time – see the Upcoming Events tab.
===========================================================
Loch Leven
yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Thanks to Steve at the Celtic Treasure Chest there is now an online list of all the Celtic societies as well as a calendar of events:
List https://www.celtictreasurechest.com/links/index.php
Calendar https://www.celtictreasurechest.com/celticevents/index.php
The Celtic Treasure Chest on Dunbar – stock up on all your favourite foods.
Celtic Fashions on E-Bay – go to https://www.CelticFashions.com
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Being Scottish is about driving in a German car to an Irish pub for a Belgian beer, then travelling home, grabbing an Indian curry or a Turkish kebab on the way, to sit on Swedish furniture and watch American shows on a Japanese TV.
And the most Scottish thing of all? Suspicion of all things foreign!
=======================================================
The Scottish Cultural Centre is a pretty unique and wonderful asset and space is available for rent to anyone or any group. The Centre does not run itself but is actually run by the United Scottish Cultural Society (USCS). Memberships in this Society are for individuals only and presently cost $10 annually. Membership Application Forms may be obtained either at the Centre or on the USCS website – www.scottishculturalcentre.com . The cost is only $10.
Any person may join USCS and Scottish Country & Ceilidh Dancers are encouraged to show their support by doing so. If any USCS member would like to be more involved, then, Darryl Carracher, the Manager at the Centre, will be pleased to give you further information.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Loch Leven looking towards Glencoe
lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
Islet on Loch Lomond
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The next Ceilidh Dance is this Friday, November 24, 2017. That will be the third one for the season and the seventh and last one of 2017. There is lots of time for you all to get yourselves and your friends organized to come along for another fun, filled evening. Come and dance, it is lots of fun and really easy. Everything is taught from scratch – you won’t be the only newbie!
=========================================
Only in Scotland can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance.
Only in Scotland do supermarkets make sick people walk all the way to the back of the shop to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front.
Only in Scotland do banks leave both doors open and chain the pens to the counters.
Only in Scotland do we leave cars worth thousands of pounds on the drive and lock our junk and cheap lawn mower in the garage.
Only in Scotland do we use answering machines to screen calls and then have call waiting so we won’t miss a call from someone we didn’t want to talk to in the first place.
Only in Scotland are there disabled parking places in front of a skating rink.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Michelle has very kindly made up a Facebook event page for the Ceilidh but you need to “Search for Vancouver Ceilidh on Facebook and “Like” us to receive updates on upcoming Ceilidhs and other events”. Then, if you “Like” the Vancouver Ceilidh FB page (do as described above), you too will receive updates AND be able to share those updates and events on your personal Facebook page to your friends and ask that they “Like” and “Share”, etc. Ceilidh Dances are great ways to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries etc. Invite all your friends to come and join you at the Ceilidh. You are welcome to bring your own cake and we’ll even sing for you!!
llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
You can join the e-mail list of the SFU Scottish and Celtic Society; the club connecting you to all things Scottish and Celtic at SFU and the community. As members of this mailing list, you will receive updates on events and learning opportunities. All are welcome to participate and enjoy. Facebook Group: As of today, our new Facebook Group is launched and available to join. It is an ‘Open’ group. Anyone can join and invite their friends. We will create Facebook ‘Events’ for all our occasions. Join today at this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/451447541666799/
{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{
Some fun and interesting sites: – note if you have a link to something you think others will enjoy send me the link.
Sound On; Full Page
https://biggeekdad.com/2017/08/antiques-roadshow-rolex/#.WZ3zbff5ULY.mailto
Paper Is Dead? Made me laugh out loud! Foreign commercials are so good!
My hat’s off to the advertising team that came up with the idea. It has been said that paper is dead .. It’ s only 39 seconds so please watch it all…the irony won’ t be lost on you.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/V _gOZDWQj3Q?rel=0
COMING EVENTS N THE NEXT FEW WEEKS: Note – please check the Branch website www.rscdsvancouver.org for and last-minute changes.
| 2017 | |
| Nov 8 | Bellingham social dance – Fairhaven Library |
| Nov 11 | Lady Aberdeen Tea Dance, Scottish Cultural Centre 1:15 p.m. hosted by the Gleneagles SCDC – proceeds to Doctors without Borders. |
| Nov 17 – 19 | RSCDS San Francisco Asilomar Weekend 2017 – info: www.asilomar.rscds-sf.org |
| Nov 18 | St. Andrew’s Ball – Saltire Society |
| Nov 24 | Ceilidh Dance at the Scottish Cultural Centre, 8886 Hudson Street, Vancouver – no partner or experience required – live music with Calanais – refreshments available – class from 7 – 8 p.m. followed by dance from 8 – 11 p.m. – all dances walked, talked and called – admission at the door $12 (students $10 |
| Nov 25 | Delta Borderers Fall Tea Dance – 3 p.m. at the Kinsmen Centre, 5410 – 10th Avenue, Tsawwassen |
| Dec 9 | Inverglen Scottish Dancers present a Christmas in Kerrisdale. Performance of: Highland, Step and Scottish Dancing, singing in Gaelic. A great way to start off the Christmas Season. 2:00 p.m. Free Admission. Seniors Centre of the Kerrisdale Community Centre. |
| Dec 10 | Gleneagles Annual Ball, Pacific Ballroom, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver at 1;30 p.m. Delicious lunch, dance to the fine music of the Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra and end with a super dessert. Tickets $125 from Gillian 778-279-3995 |
| Dec 13 | Bellingham social dance – Fairhaven Library |
| Dec 28 | Betwixt & Between dance at the Scottish Cultural Centre |
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
The next Ceilidh Dance is Friday, November 24th, 2017. Same time, same place, same price, same amount of fun and entertainment. Now it is up to you all to help by planning on coming along and bringing loads of friends, family, acquaintances, etc. Please do your best to spread the word. Let me know if you would like a poster to put up.
Loch Long
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
What a great gift this newsletter would make (and it is free!!) Please pass along the website to your friends and ask them to subscribe. www.vancouverceilidh.org
Please keep opening the newsletter!! Any and all comments and suggestions are welcome.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
3 Scots die each year testing if a 9v battery works on their tongue.
142 Scots were injured in 1999 by not removing all pins from new shirts.
58 Scots are injured each year by using sharp knives instead of screwdrivers.
31 Scots have died since 1996 by watering their Christmas tree while the fairy lights were plugged in.
19 Scots have died in the last 3 years believing that Christmas decorations were chocolate.
Scottish Hospitals reported 4 broken arms last year after Xmas cracker-pulling accidents.
18 Scots had serious burns in 2000 trying on a new jumper with a lit cigarette in their mouth.
A massive 543 Scots were admitted to A&E in the last two years after trying to open bottles of beer with their teeth.
5 Scots were injured last year in accidents involving out-of-control Scalextric cars.
and finally…
In 2000 eight Scots were admitted to hospital with fractured skulls incurred whilst throwing up into the toilet.
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||….
If anyone has any suggestions or complaints regarding the newsletter, please let me know – ceilidh@rscdsvancouver.org Please do not complain to your server that this is junk mail. There is a link on the e-mail should you wish to unsubscribe.
Loch Fascally
Come Scottish Country Dancing – it is lots of fun. Just ask anyone who came along to the Dancing in the Park. We had great audience participation so I hope you will all come along and join one of our great classes or at least come to one of the Ceilidh Dances.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
The next Ceilidh Dance is Friday, November 24, 2017 (i.e. the last Friday of the month) with live music by Calanaish. This is the seventh and last dance of the year and the third of the new season. We need huge attendance with everyone coming along for a really fun evening.
Loch Leven
You still have 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. Here is a link where you can watch a short video of a Ceilidh Dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MvUwZnY9Ms and here is a link to the Facebook advert: https://www.facebook.com/events/597360563665264/597360566998597/ 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.
They are all held at the Scottish Cultural Centre, 8886 Hudson Street, Vancouver. The price is only – $12 or $10 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.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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
Loch Melfort
Scottish Country Dance (SCD) classes are in full session so plan to join a local class or one that suits your schedule. Check out the class locations and come along – see the “Classes” tab.
Come to a class – 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 in September. 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 (much better and lots more fun than golf!!) and 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 learn the basics 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 is also a Branch in Seattle).
There are a great many classes and the ones in the Vancouver area are listed on the website. 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, Sunshine Coast, 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
“`~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Loch Muick
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
==========================================
For upcoming events see www.vancouverceilidh.org and www.rscdsvancouver.org.
Other announcements etc:
Seattle Branch
– info at www.rscds-seattle.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next regular monthly Ceilidh Dance will be held on Friday, November 24th, 2017 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 8 or more and we can give them a discount!!!
We Really NEED YOUR HELP to advertise the Ceilidh Dances!!!! It only costs $12 ($10 for students) – 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 https://www.facebook.com/events/597360563665264/597360566998597/
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.
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 of 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 2016/17 season shapes up as follows:
All on Fridays of course and, except for January, it is the last Friday of the Month —
2017
November 24
2018
January 12
February 23
March 30
April 27
Come along and get some great exercise while also having lots of fun. We hope to have lots of new Ceilidh dancers. Remember to bring your smiles and wear flat shoes.
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 would like to attract more young adults and students from Universities and all the colleges. Somehow we have to get word out to these students etc. 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 ($12 or $10 for students.)
Loch Shiel & Glenfinnan viaduct
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.
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. 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 376 subscribers 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.
==============
“““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`
Loch Torridon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Enjoy yourselves – come Scottish Country Dancing – for it is good for your health and you never know you just might …..!
See Coming Events on the website for info – www.vancouverceilidh.org
May your troubles be one, may your blessings be more,
and may nothing but happiness come through your door.
Duncan MacKenzie ceilidh@rscdsvancouver.org