Ceilidh Dance Newsletter – 2021-2022 #8

The January Ceilidh dance scheduled for this Friday (January 28) has been CANCELLED due to Covid.

January Jig       David Cunningham & his SCDB         Silver Collection

 

Burns in shortbread

Biggar

Well with the rampant spread of the Omicron variant of Covid what could we do but cancel the January 28 Ceilidh Dance.  There really was no choice as the restrictions prohibited such events and it does not look like they will be lifted any time soon.  All RSCDS dance classes are cancelled until the end of the month and the Love to Dance Workshop and Dance in February has also had to be cancelled.

As almost all Burns Suppers have had to be cancelled again the United Scottish Cultural Society has arranged for a Virtual Burns Supper on January 22.  See under the “Events” tab for full details.  It was a fun show last year and there are prizes to be won.  

The 2021/22 season for Ceilidh Dances are scheduled (all on Friday evenings) as follows:-

February 25
March 25
April 29
Mark your calendars now!

All those attending will have to have a BC authorized vaccination passport showing you have had two jabs plus proof of identity and masks will be mandatory to enter the building and must be worn in the common areas such as corridors and washrooms.  We will be taking your names & contact info so you can be reached in the unlikely event that there is an outbreak.  You will be required to put on your mask when not dancing and wherever possible keep 6 meters apart.  

The dances will be held at the Scottish Cultural Centre, 8886 Hudson Street, Vancouver but, there is a slight change of time.  The class will be held in the large hall from 7;00 – 7:45 then we will all exit to give the band a chance for a sound check etc. and the dance will run from 8:00 – 10:30 with live music by Calanais.  Alison will continue to be your teacher/caller so you are guaranteed to have a great evening.  No change to the admission – still $15 with students $10.

Let us all hope that we are getting back together for dancing and fun again.  Any questions?  please contact me – ceilidhmackenzie@gmail.com

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http://www.flixxy.com/black-and-white-tights-dance.htm?utm_source=nl#.UUk9GY

MEN ARE JUST HAPPY PEOPLE This needs no explanation – and is a fun read, no matter your gender. Men Are Just Happier People! What do you expect from such simple creatures? Your last name stays put. The garage is all yours. Wedding plans take care of themselves.  Chocolate is just another snack.  You can never be pregnant. You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park. You can wear NO shirt to a water park. Car mechanics tell you the truth. The world is your urinal. You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky. You don’t have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt. Wrinkles add character.  Wedding dress – $5,000. Tux rental – $100. People never stare at your chest when you’re talking to them New shoes don’t cut, blister, or mangle your feet. One mood all the time. Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat. You know stuff about tanks. A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase. You can open all your own jars. You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness. If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend. Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack. Two pairs of shoes are more than enough. You almost never have strap problems in public. You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes. Everything on your face stays its original color. The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades. You only have to shave your face and neck. You can play with toys all your life. One wallet and one pair of shoes – one color for all seasons.   You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look. You can ‘do’ your nails with a pocket knife.   You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache… You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.

No wonder men are happier!

http://www.wimp.com/brassband/

 

Scottish Country Dance classes have started up again in various places across the Lower Mainland and beyond but check first as Covid may have temporarily stopped some.
Check www.rscdsvancouver.org for updates.

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Caerlaverock Castle

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FROM ONE FRIEND TO ANOTHER

Written by Andy Rooney, a man who had the gift of saying so much with so few words.

I’ve learned….

That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

That when you’re in love, it shows.

That just one person saying to me, ‘You’ve made my day!’ makes my day.

That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

That being kind is more important than being right.

That you should never say no to a gift from a child.

That I can always pray for someone when I don’t have the strength to help him in any other way.

That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.

That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

That money doesn’t buy class.

That it’s those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

That under everyone’s hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

That love, not time, heals all wounds.

That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

That life is tough, but I’m tougher.

That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.

That when you harbour bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

That I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away.

That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, you’re hooked for life.

That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it.

That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

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The chorus is beautiful.

Le èiginn ar n-èirigh às ar suain Le èiginn ar n-èirigh às ar suain An Gaidheal ‘sa leabaidh An Gaidheal ‘na shuain Le èiginn ar n-èirigh às ar suain

It is with difficulty that we will rise from our slumber. It is with difficulty that we will rise from our slumber. The Gael has gone to bed.  The Gael is asleep. It is with difficulty that we will rise from our slumber.

http://youtu.be/z39yiPUfh1k> http://youtu.be/z39yiPUfh1k

 

[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[

Caledonian Canal looking to Ben Nevis

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Three contractors are bidding to repair a fence at the Parliament Buildings. One is from Montreal, another is from Winnipeg and the third is from Vancouver.  All three go with a public works official to examine the fence.

The Vancouver contractor takes out a tape measure and does some measuring, then works some figures with a pencil .”Well,” he says, “I figure the job will run about $9,000. That’s $4,000 for materials, $4,000 for my crew and $1,000 profit for me.”

The Winnipeg contractor also does some measuring and figuring, then says, “I can do this job for $7,000. That’s $3,000 for materials, $3,000 for my crew and $1,000 profit for me.”

The Montreal contractor doesn’t measure or figure, but leans over to the government official and whispers, “$27,000.”

The official, incredulous, says, “You didn’t even measure like the other guys. How did you come up with such a high figure?”

“The Montreal contractor whispers back, “$10,000 for me, $10,000 for you, and we hire the guy from Winnipeg to repair the fence.

“Done!” replies the government official.

And that, my friends, is how Government contracts work for SNC Lavalin.

Calgary Bay, Mull

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Unbelievable camera work….

The hummingbird doing rolls chasing a bug is neat!!! The imagery of the bee hives and wasps are amazing!
This is beautiful……be sure and watch closely (around 2 min 40 sec) and check out the baby bat clinging to its mother as she flies and feeds. The gent who caught these pictures is a real master at what he does! Unreal. The combination of time-lapse and high-speed photography is only possible with digital imagery.

http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/xHkq1edcbk4?rel=0

 

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Carbisdale Castle

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Carse of Gowrie.

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GLASWEGIAN GRACE BEFORE DINNER

 O Lord heap blessings on the soup,
Heap blessings on the stovies,
Heap blessings on the Papes and Jews,
The Moslems and Jehovies.
Heap blessings on all gathered here,
On absent friends and strangers,
And if you’ve any blessings left,
For G……’s  sake bless the Rangers.

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BAXTER’S ODE TO A HAGGIS

The haggis is a wondrous beast
It neither walks nor waddles,
But frenzied by the mating urge
It cannot fly, but toddles.

It toddles through the glens and heath,
It toddles through the heather
A singin’ o’ it’s mating choon –
“Ach jings whit awfi weather!”

 

Quite clever editing – hope you enjoy it.

> https://biggeekdad.com/2019/02/im-gonna-be-dancing/#.XF4Uo7kUqn4.email

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Castle Stalker

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WHY GOD SENDS RAIN TO MEXICO & NOT THE MIDDLE EAST