Carinish Village North Uist

Scottish Country dance classes are starting up again so check which classes fit your schedule and come along – many first nights are free.

Do not forget the Ceilidh Dance on Friday September 30 (that is next Friday) in the Scottish Cultural Centre, 8886 Hudson Street, Vancouver.  There is a free class at 7 pm then the dance follows from 8 – 10:30 pm with live music by Calanais.  All easy dances that are taught and called and everyone has lots of fun and great exercise.  Tell your friends and make it an outing – it only costs $15 ($10 for students) and there are refreshments (including cider & beer) for a donation.  Mark your calendars now and make plans to join the fun.

Here is some cheery upbeat Scottish Dance music to enjoy.

Gates of Edinburgh      John Ellis & his Highland Country Band    A Reel Kick

A late afternoon view taken from the old bridge on the edge of Aberfoyle

The weather has been amazing with sun most days, at least until today, and quite warm too.  We have been to busy to get much done in the garden.  We welcomed a Ukrainian family to our home – mother and 2 children (the father is still in Ukraine) so they have taken up much of our time with getting into schools, vaccinations, form filling etc. etc.

They are very nice but  we have a lot of laughs trying to communicate.  The Mum doesn`t speak or read English however both her children understand and speak it so we have to use them as interpreters but if they are not around then it is sign language or SIRI on the cellphone.  It is hard for them, not that they need anything, but just that everything is different and not easy to understand and I am sure they are worried about their father in Ukraine.

Our  little are only seats 4 so we all cannot travel together.  I have to switch cars with my son for Sunday when we are all invited to the Ukrainian Cathedral in New Westminster for lunch.

The 2022/23 season for Ceilidh Dances are scheduled (all on Friday evenings) as follows:-

2022
NEXT FRIDAY September 30
October 28
November 25
2023
January 27
February 24
March 31
April 28

Mark your calendars now!

The dances will be will be held at the Scottish Cultural Centre, 8886 Hudson Street, Vancouver.  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 class 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.

Help us spread the word – I am not into social media but I am sure somebody can promote the Ceilidh Dance(s) there for me especially out at the Colleges and Universities.  Tell all your friends to come along – it really is a fun (and cheap!) evening.

Ceilidh dancing is training for this too!!

I think this is beautiful. Listen to the reaction of the film makers at the end

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a beach on the Isle of Iona

If you’re not familiar with the work of Steven Wright, he’s the famous Erudite (comic) scientist who once said: “I woke up one morning, and all of my stuff had been stolen and replaced by exact duplicates.”

His mind sees things differently than most of us do. Here are some of his gems:

1 – I’d kill for a Nobel Peace Prize.

2 – Borrow money from pessimists — they don’t expect it back.

3 – Half the people you know are below average.

4 – 99% of lawyers give the rest a bad name.

5 – 82.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

6 – A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel so good.

7 – A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

8 – If you want the rainbow, you got to put up with the rain.

9 – All those who believe in psycho kinesis, raise my hand.

10 – The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

11 – I almost had a psychic girlfriend, ….. But she left me before we met.

12 – OK, so what’s the speed of dark?

13 – How do you tell when you’re out of invisible ink?

14 – If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something.

15 – Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.

16 – When everything is coming your way, you’re in the wrong lane.

17 – Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy.

18 – Hard work pays off in the future; laziness pays off now.

19 – I intend to live forever… So far, so good.

20 – If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?

21 – Eagles may soar, but weasels don’t get sucked into jet engines.

22 – What happens if you get scared half to death twice?

23 – My mechanic told me, “I couldn’t repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder.”

24 – Why do psychics have to ask you for your name.

25 – If at first you don’t succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.

26 – A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.

27 – Experience is something you don’t get until just after you need it.

28 – The hardness of the butter is proportional to the softness of the bread.

29 – To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research.

30 – The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard.

31 – The sooner you fall behind, the more time you’ll have to catch up.

32 – The colder the x-ray table, the more of your body is required to be on it.

33 – Everyone has a photographic memory; some just don’t have film.

34 – If at first you don’t succeed, skydiving is not for you.

And the all-time favorite

35 – If your car could travel at the speed of light, would your headlights work?

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Balmaha, Loch Lomond
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In order to keep the Ceilidh Dances running it takes a number of volunteers to do various jobs such as: –
  • getting the liquor licence
  • re-stocking the supply of drinks and refreshments and getting them to the hall
  • Filling the water jugs before and during the dance
  • Collecting the entrance fees, keeping track of the number of dancers, reconciling the funds collected, adding the donations, paying the expenses
  • Calculating the cost of the drinks used 
  • Etc.
  • Etc.
These duties are not necessarily for one person.  Is there anyone who would like to volunteer to help at the Ceilidh dances?   If so please send me an email – duncanmackenzie@telus.net   There will be a meeting of all interested people at the Ceilidh dance on September 30 at 7 p.m. 
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Thieves at work

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She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still.

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Here is another tune;

Gaelic Waltz      John Ellis & his Highland Country Band        Fire in the Kilt

from Saltcoats looking Westward towards Arran

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No matter how much you push the envelope, it’ll still be stationery.
Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root canal? His goal: transcend dental medication

Amusing circus act with surprise ending……………………….

https://biggeekdad.com/2011/03/amazing-live-circus-act/#.WnDUCgGjO7c.mailto

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looking up Lochbuie on the Isle of Mull the islands in the distance from left to right are Jura, Islay and Colonsay.
and another great tune
Fraser`s Fiddle      Muriel Johnstone     Dancing Fingers 3

Two of the most overlooked virtues in life are patience and wisdom:

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Castlelaw

Portpatrick harbour 

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NEXT CEILIDH DANCE IS ON Friday, September 30, 2022 which is just a week away!!  Get busy and alert all your friends and acquaintances.
Hope to see many of you there.

 

May your troubles be one, may your blessings be more,
and may nothing but happiness come through your door.

Duncan MacKenzie
ceilidh@rscdsvancouver.org