R.S.C.D.S.
LIVERPOOL branch
"on-line" NEWSLETTER.
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R.S.C.D.S. |
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Venue; Christ the King School, Childwall.
Time; Wednesday evenings (school terms) |
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Newsletter; Vol. 1, No. 1.September 2002.
President's Message
This is our first newsletter Congratulations and many thanks to Brian for editing it. I hope all our members are refreshed and ready for the new -Dancing season. We look forward to being taught some new dances and being reminded of those we have already learned.
Please do try to encourage some new members to come along we will be delighted to welcome them.
Imust thank all our Committee members who work so hard for our enjoyment. I ask you to give them your full support — particularly attending the dances in the season's programme.
Enjoy your dancing! Ethel Griffin Hon. President.
Chair's Message
Another September has arrived and the start of our dancing year begins again. I hope you all enjoyed a relaxing summer and are ready to begin classes once more.A warm welcome to any new members who have joined us, the next few weeks will give you an insight to the world of RSCDS. I hope you enjoy it and will dance with us throughout the seasonThis latest venture, the Dancing News, promises to be very popular.
Everyone on the Committee are keen to see it succeed and we thank Brian for his work in bringing all the "news" together. So, now it's over to you the members, we need your contributions on any subject you care to write about, give them to Brian and he will do the rest. So not only do I wish you happy dancing but also busy pen pushing. Good luck to everyone!!!
Hazel Astle Chair
Summer School 2002
Ann Smith has passed me this item about the Summer School held at University Hall, St Andrews. Bob and I went for one week this year for what can only be described as a week of pure enjoyment. Meeting old friends from around the world, dancing tuition from talented and enthusiastic teachers, music supplied by some of our favourite musicians, including Marian Anderson who played for our annual dance. Lessons for all levels of experience, are held each morning in various halls in the town and then there is social dancing each evening. Afternoons are for paddling in the sea (to soothe the feet!), relaxing or exploring St Andrews and the Kingdom of Fife.
The week draws to a close with a ceilidh on the Friday evening, with members volunteering to entertain everyone. This year we had a member from Taiwan performing a traditional dance in National costume. Two French ladies demonstrated Line Dancing! A small group formed a choir and sang, then eyebrows were raised when a young lady performed a belly dance!! An evening of good fun.Summer School is a very enjoyable and rewarding experience and if you have never been, it is well worth considering.
Jean Baker has passed me these two pieces for inclusion in the newsletter.
We will be holding our Day Course at St Hilda's High School, on Saturday 8 March 2003. If you do not want to take part in the classes, would you be able to give up a few hours (approximately 11 am to 2.30 pm), to put out the food for lunch and clear up afterwards? We will be using disposable plates and cups so there will not be masses of washing up. If you can help us in this way, it will release those who want to take part in the classes. If you are able to help will you give your name to Margaret Palmer.
We need ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS for the table decorations at next year's Annual Dance. If you are about to throw some out, think again! You may feel they are past it, but we can use them. Jean is the person to give them to.
Where did you go this summer?
Tell us in the 'Dancing News" so we can share your experiences, good or bad (Where to go and where not to go, Ed)
Hazel starts this off with the following piece
We went to Skiathos, a small very hot Greek Island (they had a heat wave 120; in the shade!!!). Skiathos is a beautiful, green island in the Aegean sea. The water was crystal clear, deep green and warm. The food was delicious, Eric enjoyed every imaginable seafood possible. I am more conservative, and enjoyed the local cuisine especially the "lamb in a bag". This consisted of a piece of lamb (neck end I think) cooked in a creamy stock with green beans carrot and onion, it was delicious, all the more enjoyable because we ate on the edge of the sea, under the stars and by candlelight. We have many happy memories of a quiet, relaxing holiday, our first m Greece but we shall go again, next time to enjoy the culture as well as the food, weather and laid back atmosphere only to be found in these lovely holiday places; (and to see if the bread man always delivers to the local shops wearing his bread round his neck, over his arms, on the handlebars of his moped or was the one we saw quite unique.
Margaret Palmer has passed me this item about one of her bobbies, it is headed:-
Sallys and Bobs
It all began with a visit to the Craft Exhibition at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral. I had wandered around looking at the Woodtuming, the Stained Glass, the Organ Building, etcetera, and eventually came to the Bell Ringing stand. I had often enjoyed the sound of Church bells while walking in the park and wondered what it would be like to ring them, so I asked the question "How does one become a bell ringer?" The answer seemed simple enough — "Turn up at you local tower on practice night". This I did and soon discovered that bell ringing, like Scottish Country Dancing, has a language all of its own.
The first rule of the Ringing Chamber was in ordinary English and easy to understand — keep both feet on the floor at all times, even when sitting down. Contrary to popular images on Christmas Cards, people do not go up to the ceiling on the end of the rope, but they might if a rope hooks round the foot of someone sitting with crossed legs! The next step was to learn the names of the parts of the rope.
The Sally is the coloured woollen piece part way up the rope, the Tail-end is the part of the rope that hangs below the Sally. Now came the exciting part — how to actually ring the bell. This also introduced Ringing Chamber rule two:-0bey the tower captain's instructions as soon as they are given. Ringing the bell consists of two movements, the Hand Stroke and the Back Stroke. each of which moves the bell through a complete circle, causing the Clapper to strike the bell. The first step was to learn to ring the Back Stroke. The bell was already balanced with the mouth uppermost ("Upside down"). The tower captain showed me how to hold the Tail-end then he pulled the Sally down and released it. The rope went up taking my arms with it, my job was to pull the rope down again — the Back Stroke. When the back Stroke had been mastered the roles were reversed and I leamt to ring the Hand Stroke.
This meant that I had to wait for the Sally to come down at the Back Stroke, catch it as it started to go up again then pull it to send the bell back in the other direction. Eventually the time came to combine the two movements and ring the bell on my own (with the tower captain hovering at my side in case of problems).
Bell ringing, again like Scottish Country Dancing is a team effort, so when I could handle the bell, the next step was to ring with the other bells, most ringing starts with Rounds when the bells ring in order, starting with the lightest, the Treble, and finishing with heaviest, the Tenor. The gap between the sound of each bell should be constant so ringers have to learn to listen for their bell and adjust the gap as necessary. The moment of truth arrived when I realised the tower captain was taking one of the other ropes thereby leaving me in total charge of my bell. My ringing was not marvellous but at least nothing drastic happened.
Ringing Rounds becomes monotonous so variation is introduced by ringing Methods in which the bells change places at every stroke according to a known pattern. This gives the name Change Ringing which is the type of ringing heard in Great Britain, mainly in England. Each Method has its own name, for example, Grandshire, Plain Hunt, and the oldest dates from about 1650. The basic method can be extended by calling of a "Bob" which instructs each ringer to change the order of the bells whilst keeping the Methods pattern. Learning to ring new Methods is a bit like learning new Scottish Dances, the difference being that if you go wrong when bell-ringing the whole neighbourhood hears it. There are commitments attached to becoming a bell-ringer, attending the regular practice and, when competence is achieved, ringing for the Sunday services. Some towers ring only for the morning service, others ring morning and evening. So, no more lying in bed on Sunday mornings! There are also requests for ringing at weddings, both before and after the service. Bell-ringing, like Dancing, can take over your life with regular monthly meetings, study days, outings and visits to other towers, but it is not necessary to participate in all these to gain enjoyment and a sense of achievement. Bell-ringers are friendly group, but if you do decide to join them make sure you go to a tower that practices any night except Wednesdays!
Sign seen recently in a Shoe Shop Window "Buy one get one free!"
Eric Astle has passed me this little snippet. I wonder does it apply to Scottish Country Dancers?
How to know when you are getting old.
Everything hurts What doesn't hurt, doesn't work.
The gleam in your eye Is the sun shining on your bifocals.
You feel like the morning after But you haven't been anywhere.
Your children begin to look middle aged.
You join a Health Club but you don't go
A dripping tap causes an uncontrollable urge.
You have all the answers But nobody asks you the questions.
You look forward to a dull evening.
You need glasses to find your glasses
You turn out the light for economy Instead of romance.
You are in a rocking chair But you can't make it go.
Your knees buckle but your belt won't
Your back goes out more than you do.
Your house is too big, Your medicine box is not big enough.
You sink your teeth into a steak, And they stay there.
Your birthday cake collapses From the weight of all the candles.
Here are a few funnies to fill up the last page. These have been taken from the Journal of the Health Services Chiropodists Association. They are guaranteed genuine and are headed by:-
You want transport to the clinic because, of what?
I'm under the doctor and can't breathe.
I can't walk to the bus stop and my wife is bent.
I can't breathe and haven't done so for years.
I live five miles from the clinic and the postman says I should have it.
I have got arthritis and heart failure in both feet and knees.
I am unable to walk now as my dog has died.
I cannot drive a car because I haven't got one.
My husband's dead and won't bring me.
I need transport as I have funny feet.
If mum goes out alone she gets into trouble.
I must have your man as I cannot go out or even do up my suspenders.
When your man brings me back will you ask him to drop me off at the White Swan?
I hope you will send your man as my husband is quite useless.
My wife must have transport as she is over 80 and drives me mad.
I cannot walk up a hill unless it is down and the hill to your clinic is up.
I want transport as bus drivers do funny things to me and make me feel queer.
I can come any time to suit you, but can't come on Monday or Wednesday as my home help comes and not on Friday as the baker calls for his money. I can't come on a Tuesday as my sister calls. Thank you.
This then is the end of our first newsletter. I would welcome your comments regarding the layout or content. Should there be a call for a page of 'Letters to the Editor' I would be only to happy to include them. If you have a leisure activity which you think might interest members, like Margaret Palmer's, then as Hazel says put pen or pencil to paper and let me have it for the next edition, do not worry about the English or Grammar, that can be taken care of very easily, just put it in your own words.
Back to the top of the page.
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ISSUE NUMBER FOUR; SUMMER 2003.
Demonstration Team at Fulwood Home.
Margaret Palmer has passed me this account of the visitin February:
On Wednesday 12 February this year the Demonstration Team were invited
to dance for the residents of the Methodist Home for the Aged in Fulwood
Park. We decided to dance two groups each of four dances, each dance to be
danced three times to avoid monotony and keep to the allotted time schedule.
The dances chosen were The Sailor, St Andrews Fair, Wisp of Thistle, Wee
Cooper of Fife and the Wild Geese; Neidpath Castle, Highland Rambler and
Mairi's Wedding. As we required a bit of breathing space between the two
groups we asked Gerry Jones to come along with his accordion,
to play some Scottish music during the interval. His music was much appreciated by the residents. (It was also appreciated by me, as he played "The Dark Island" - one of my favourite pieces of music).
When the music and dancing were finished we were invited to join the
residents for a cup of tea and a chat, then it was back to Christ the King
School in time for the class. I think the people in the Home enjoyed themselves,
we certainly did, and our thanks go to Jean Baker for arranging the visit. (We
have since learned that one of the ladies in the photo has unfortunately died, Ed).
=====================
A week in Cornwall;
Here's an item about a trip to Cornwall by Brian Manley and Margaret Mills.
Margaret's sister and brother-in-law (Dorothy and Evan) invited Margaret
and I to spend a week with them at a timeshare in Cornwall. The
location was to be the Glowance Estate and Country Park at a small village
called Praze-an-Beeble, about five miles from Cambome. I checked the route
and time it would take on my computer using Autoroute Express, which gave
me a time of 5 hours and 38 minutes for a distance of 349 miles. So allowing
for comfort breaks and feeding and watering I was anticipating a seven hour
journey, hopefully. Although looking forward to the holiday, I wasn't looking
forward to the journey down the M6, M5 and A30 and the possibility of long
delays due to roadworks. In the event it turned out to be a very easy and
enjoyable journey with no hold-ups whatever. We left Liverpool at 9.45 am
on the Saturday morning and arrived, sound in wind and limb, at 5.10 pm.
Sunday saw us doing our own thing. Margaret and I went to St Ives for a
look around, it was rather breezy and cold but the day was bright with a
bit of sunshine. Having toured the town we travelled to Marazion to look at St
Michael's Mount. We had been advised to do this by Gill Laycock. Unfortu-
nately the tide was in so we couldn't walk across to the island. Monday saw
us along with Dorothy and Evan travelling to the 'Lost Gardens ofHeligan' at
Heligan near St Austell. What a fascinating place to visit, we had a little
difficulty finding the place but when we got there what a delight. Not so much
the gardens which had been reclaimed and made to look so good but also the
reclamation work being carried out all around. There are two mud sculptures,
one of a head and one of a lady lying on her side, both are difficult to see until
you stand away from them and then they become obvious.
Tuesday saw us on our way to the 'Eden Project' which again after a bit of
difficulty we found, today it rained although not enough to worry us.
Another fabulous place to visit and even though it was wet and out of season
(as it were) it was well supported by visitors. We parked up at the appointed
place and were taken by 'bus to be picked up by the road-train and taken to the
entrance. We walked round the Warm Temperate biome and the Humid
Tropics biome. It is unbelievable what they have achieved here in what was
originally a clay pit. We had a very nice lunch in one the many places for
eating and drinking. By the time we had finished lunch the rain had eased
enough for us to walk round part of the Outdoor Landscape.
Unfortunately it started to rain again so we decided it was time to return to
Glowance.
Wednesday saw Margaret and I travelling to Trerice which is a National
Trust property and well worth the visit. The weather had now turned back
to dry and fine, but with a cool breeze to keep the temperature down. On
Thursday we decided to try our luck and travelled back to Marazion to walk
across to St Michael's Mount. You shouldn't attempt to walk across unless you
are wearing good footwear as the causeway is rather uneven and the climb up
to the entrance of the castle is very uneven. We decided to have the usual cup
of coffee before attempting the climb. Having made the gradient to the entrance
it was amazing the view from the castle of the surrounding area. We were
amazed at the state of the ground underfoot and wondered what happened if the
occupants were in a hurry when going out for the evening in all their finery. On
Friday Margaret and I decided to go to Lanhydrock which is another National
Trust property with beautiful gardens, it was another dry, fine and quite warm
day. We did our usual thing of seeing round the shop, and having lunch in one
of the small cafes' in the grounds. We returned to Glowance and we all had a
meal in the restaurant.
Saturday saw us packing up and making ready to return to Liverpool. The
journey was again very easy and enjoyable with no hold-ups at all. All in all a
very enjoyable holiday to somewhere I had not been before.
=========================================
Here's something to make all you computer buffs out there smile, it has been
passed to me by Margaret Parry, and I defy you to find a spelling mistake in it,
it is headed:-
The Spell Cheque
Eye halve a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea
It plainly marques four my revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.
Eye strike a key and type a word
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the error write
Its rare lea ever wrong
Eye have run this poem threw it
I am shore your pleased two no
It's letter perfect awl the weigh
My chequer tolled me sew
===========================================
Here's an item from Gerry Jones which you might find interesting,
it is headed:-
Home thoughts from the Band.
Gerry Jones loves to go to the Europeade Festival - 20 countries send 150
groups making 5,000 folk-dancers and their musicians, all in costume, for
four days of adrenalin, in a different European city each July. The only UK
groups who attend are Scottish, and he can neither dance to "team" standard nor
play bagpipes, the only way he can get there is by banging a tenor drum.
When taking part in festivals abroad, the MacLennan Scottish Group tend
to do a lot of walking, in street parades, and between billet and venue,
and this naturally means "Follow the band". As one of the band rather than a
dancer, I have a different perspective on things - usually the back ofHughie's
neck - and very little knowledge of what is going on behind me. While the
dancing is "folklorico", albeit as strictly codified as ballet, a Pipe Band works
in a very military way, most members having come from the Armed Forces or
Cadets thereof. If you have any doubt about this, you just need to watch Hughie
cleaning his boots, literally spitting onto his polish. So the bandsmen see
festivals, shows and parades from quite a different point of view from the
dancers, and as someone relatively new to both groups, my vision is different
again as I have more to learn.
Starting with names and ranks, there is a whole system and hierarchy, which
does not apply at all among dancers. There can be a Pipe Major, Drum
Major, a Drum Sergeant, a Leading Tipper, and maybe others that don't apply
in a small band for dancing such as ours. Bill McKay explained to me that the
Pipe Major is the senior, the equivalent of Director of Music, and out ranks the
Drum Major - or at least until the show goes on the road. Then it is the Drum
Major who is in charge. Pipe Major decides what they will play and how to play
it, but Drum Major decides exactly when they will play or stop. For this reason,
if someone is at the front swinging a Mace, then this will usually be the Drum
Major. His place and role inside the band then falls to the best/most senior
player of the Side Drum/Snare Drum, usually referred to as the "leading
tipper", with the rank of Drum Sergeant.
A drummer will normally be seen with a sgean dubh down one sock and a
drum stick (or two) down the other one. This is because of the permanent
danger of a drum stick or beater taking to the air and disappearing into the
hands of a souvenir hunter. It is an ABSOLUTE that the drummer may NOT
recover it, not even stoop to pick it up, let alone chase after it -keep on playing,
with one stick (or biro?). My most spectacular loss of stick was in Belgium, as
we went on stage for the final show before the fireworks. "Scotland the Brave",
with bags of swank. Give the tenor drum beaters plenty of twirl in the air for
visual effect - and one went flying, up and behind me - it must have gone thirty
feet or more. Spectacular. Ooops. Face the front and carry on; all the dancers
need is a steady beat, nothing fancy or complicated; we'll get through it. As it
happened, one of the Tenerifeans came round with my beater and things were
soon back to normal. Afterwards, I awaited some comments from other musi-
cians - but the expected "fizzer" did not arrive. Instead there came the general
comment of "we've all done that" and a string of anecdotes about drummers
and their airborne sticks. Hence sticks down socks.
On the march, my place is behind Hughie. If he goes to the left of that
lamp-post so do I. If he goes into single-file behind Tom, so do I. This is
so Paul can keep me in sight, and prevent me from wandering off-line, mini-
mising the times he needs to shout "Gerry! Get back!" We also aim to keep the
same distance behind the pipers, and in line with each other front-wards and
sideways. As a result, the pipers can set their own pace, but the drummers have
to measure and match the distances constantly. After a long time, this can be as
automatic as steering a car, but this, and military discipline, precludes our
turning round. As a result, I see nothing of the dancers during a march, I have
no idea what they are doing. Presumably they are waving and smiling and
chatting. Paul and I chat very little on the march; I can spare little thought for
talk, still having to measure my distance from the piper in front and from the
drummer alongside, ready for signals from the Pipe Major, and quite often
playing drum items with Paul while the pipers get their breath back. Paul
concentrates as much as I should. Eyes front, and never mind waving to friends
in the crowd.
When there is no piping or drumming, Paul marches "at the tap", a single
hit every time the left foot strikes the ground, so we all keep in step.
This can be a sensitive matter, and is also used when passing hospitals, exam
halls if known about, churches when services are on and other musical activi-
ties that we are passing. Tom and Hugh seem to find plenty to chat about,
especially on informal marches. One favourite topic of theirs is bag-pipe reeds,
who makes them, what they are made of, how reeds need looking after, reeds
they have owned. This leads to the endless problem of getting pipe in tune.
Apart from finding somewhere that will disturb the least number of people -
mindful of all old "bag-pipe" jokes - this usually means finding a suitable spot
to tune up. Each piper needs a wall of his own to bounce the sound off. Tom
explained to me that you take up your pipes, have a go at tuning them, then
blow them for about 15 minutes, until they reach operating temperature, which
will have put them out of tune, so you need to tune them again, and only then
will they be ready for playing seriously.
After a break of two hours or more, they will probably need tuning again.
As well as that, it has to be remembered that although the pipes usually
sound Bb, which means they can fit in with Bb brass and reed instruments quite
well, the pipers are not working with pitch-pipes, or fixed-pitch comparators,
so they need to tune again to get each of them in tune with each of the other
bag-pipes. This is tricky enough for two or three pipers in MSG, but with a full
band of a dozen or more pipers, the task must be horrendous. A constant worry
for the musicians is "Have I got everything?" Apart from the different uni-
forms that may be required, there is a long list of items that need to be gone
through. Tom has developed the habit of thinking from toe to head, starting
with brogues and socks, and ending with bonnet and hackle, not forgetting the Inverness Cape on the back of his belt. Putting on the Number one uniform -
"the full sweat-suit" - is quite a performance. As well as ordinary socks and
ghillie-brogue shoes, the next item is hose-tops - expensive hand knitted
footless socks in tartan - covered by the spats, formerly requiring about eight
buttons to be fastened on each one. Thank God for velcro. Garter tabs and
sgean dubh, and then you are done as far as the knee. Putting on my Plaid is
still a mystery to me. Paul and Tom do mysterious things out of my line of
sight, and eventually the magic is done. Four metres of tartan cloth wound here
and there and up and down, pulled very tight ("You're not a piper, you don't
need to breathe" says Sheila, consolingly), and then it is skewered by the
vicious spike of a plaid brooch. But as Hughie says, "It's so lovely when you
take it all off afterwards."
So, in many respects, the musicians have a different life from the dancers,
and I hope this article has given some insights, provoked a bit of thought, and
been of some interest.
Gerry Jones.
==============================
The next item is from Eddie Andanar and should provoke some interesting
discussion, especially among the ladies, it is headed:-
How to look after your husband.
Tips for a wife and mother
(Extract from 1950's Home Economics textbook)
Have dinner ready:
Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal on time. This is the
way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are
concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and
the prospect of a good meal is part of the warm welcome needed.
Prepare yourself:
Take 15 minutes to rest so you will be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up
your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. He has just been
with a lot of work weary people. Be a little gay and more interesting. His
boring day may need a lift.
Clear away the clutter:
Make one last trip through the main parts of the house, just before your
husband arrives, gather up school books, toys, papers, etc. Then run a dust
cloth over the tables. Your husband will feel he has reached haven of rest and
order, it will give you a lift too.
Prepare the children:
Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small),
comb their hair, and if necessary change their clothes.
They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.
Minimise the noise:
At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise from the washer, dryer, dish-
washer and vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet. Be happy to see
him, greet him with a warm smile and be glad to see him.
Some dont's:
Don't greet him with problems or complaints. Don't complain if he is late for
dinner. Count this as minor compared with what he might have gone through
that day.
Make him comfortable:
Have him lean back in a comfortable chair. Suggest he lie down in the
bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow and
offer to takeoff his shoes. Speak in a low, soft, soothing and pleasant voice.
Allow him to relax and unwind.
Listen to him:
You may have a dozen things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not
the time. Let him speak first.
Make the evening his:
Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other places of
entertainment. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his
need to be home and relax.
THE GOAL
Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can
renew himself in body and spirit.
============================================
So I said "Do you want a game of darts?" He said "OK then" I said "Nearest
bull starts." He said "Baa", I said "Moo", he said "You're closest."
Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly; but when they lit fire in the craft,
it sank, proving once and for all that you can't have your kayak and heat it.
But I'll tell what I love more than anything: trying to pack myself in a small
suitcase. I can hardly contain myself.
The old ones are the best ones,
=====================================
Dancing in the Palm House
This account of the day of dance is given by Hazel Astle.
Saturday 14 June dawned bright and warm, and promised to be hot by
mid-day.
The Branch were dancing in Sefton Park's Palm House to celebrate 'The
Day of Dance', and occasion when all Branches worldwide were
invited to dance set dances plus others of their choice, for one hour, from
12 noon to 1 pm. (I wonder if those "Down Under" got up at some ungodly
hour to join in?)
Our Members turned up bright eyed and bushy tailed, we were joined by
some of the Cheshire Branch members and general members of the
public , these brave souls joined in some of the dancing and didn't seem to
mind being guided verbally by their partners and other in the set. The
music, provided by Gerry Jones and Charlie Mullard was an added extra,
much better than recorded music and played really well by these two
musicians.
The temperature rose considerably during the hour, but everyone joined
in with good humour. Our President Ethel, though still unwell, made
a valiant effort to support us, lovely to see her there, and Margaret Hughes
whose broken foot is mending but not ready for dancing just yet. The time
passed quickly and soon the dancing was over and people made their way
to the ice-cream van waiting outside, cooling down with an ice-lolly or ice
cream was a pleasant way to finish an unusual way of spending a Saturday
lunch time.
Many thanks to Ann Smith for her excellent organisation, and to Bob
Smith as M.C. Maybe a repeat performance in the future, who
knows!
===============
Here's a little rhyme which Irene Lunt passed to me, I think quite a few of us
can relate to it, it is called:-
I'm fine, thank you.
There's nothing the matter with me
I'm as healthy as can be
I have arthritis in both my knees
And when I talk I talk with a wheeze
My pulse is weak and my blood is thin
But I'm awfully well for the shape I am In
Arch supports I have for my feet
Or I wouldn't be able to be on the streets
Sleep is denied me night after night
But every morning I find I am alright
My memory is failing my head's in a spin
But I'm awfully well for the shape I am In
The moral of this as my tale I unfold
That for you and me who are growing old
It's better to say "I'm fine" with a grin
Than to let folks know the shape we are In
How do I know that my youth is all spent
Well my "get up and go" has got up and went
But I really don't mind when I think with a grin
Of all the grand places my "get up" has been
Old age is golden I've heard it said
But sometimes I wonder as I get into bed
With my ears in the drawer, my teeth in a cup
My eyes on the table until I wake up
Ere sleep overtakes me I say to myself
Is there anything else I could lay on the shelf
When I was young my slippers were red
I could kick my heels over my head
When I was older my slippers were blue
But I could still dance the whole night through
Now I am old my slippers are black
I walk to the store and puff my way back
I get up each morning and dust off my wits
And pick up the paper and read the "Obits"
If my name is still missing I know I'm not dead
So I have a good breakfast and go back to bed
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Here are one or two funnies to fill the page, they are taken from the answers
to History tests for 6th grade students. No I haven't misspelled some of the
answers they are genuine. Some of the best humour is in the misspelling:
1 Julius Caesar extinguished himself on the battlefields of Gaul. The
Ides of March murdered him because they thought he was going to be made
king. Dying, he gasped out: "Tee hee, Brutus"
2 Socrates was a famous Greek teacher who went around giving people
advice. They killed him. Socrates died from an overdose of wedlock. After his
death, his career suffered a dramatic decline.
3.In the Olympic Games, Greeks ran races, jumped, hurled biscuits and
threw the Java.
4.Solomon had 300 wives and 700 porcupines
5 Ancient Egypt was inhabited by mummies and they wrote in hydras
lies. They lived in the Sarah Dessert. The climate in the Sarah is such that all
the inhabitants have to live elsewhere.
More next time.
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Forthcoming Events
10 September 2003 Start of Dancing Year
Saturday 13 September 2003 Tattoo Philharmonic Hall, Hope Street
3 December 2003 Christmas Party
Saturday 28 February 2004 February Hop
Saturday 3 July 2004 Annual Dance
END OF ISSUE NUMBER FOUR; SUMMER 2003.
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our Annual Dance programme.
Our "New Year" began on WEDNESDAY 11th September.
