Q

I finally managed to get to Bar Q last night despite having to come back the scenic route from Leicester, and danced with Sarah for the first time since March. Q is a really nice venue - decent sized dance floor with a good surface, enough light that you can see what you're doing and a nice crowd of people (including some of the old Wharf regulars). I'll be going whenever I can, and next time I'll try to get there in time for the lesson. The dance floor is a bit slippery in parts, but that's a minor issue. Really good to dance with Sarah again - looking forward to Thursday.

Palenke

Last weekend didn't quite go according to plan, and by the time I got to Monday night I could barely put one foot in front of the other, let alone dance. But I've been told it was a brilliant night with a fantastic atmosphere and the band were great.

Tired but happy

Not many people in Risa last night again, so I wasn't expecting a great night. But I had a really good time. Nice to have some different music, particularly those long salsaton tracks. At least, it's nice when you've got the right person to dance with - with some people I find I've 'said' all I have to say on the dance floor in three minutes, but I was lucky last night.

It was good to have an easy, gentle and relaxed proper dance, rather than rueda, with Kate. The other standout dance of the evening was Sally who I last danced with in Swansea months ago. I thought she was good then, but a ten-minute track last night revealed that she's a terrific dancer with bags of style and poise (and a sense of humour, necessary for some of the moves I tried out on her). She's someone you can have a dance 'conversation' with: doing the same move with different timing, exaggerating pauses and playing with the beat, and improvising.

I used to know several women who I could dance with like that, but one has retired with a bad case of NDB* and the other two haven't been out for months.

*Non-dancing boyfriend

Saturday at the Gate

Rohan Brown's teaching at the Gate on Saturday - more info on their website (click on the link above). These events finish relatively early (11pm) which is just time to get down to La Tasca and dance til 2.

Cold

All set to go to Bar Q on Sunday but a stinking cold intervened, and it stopped me going to O'Neills last night as well. Not happy, particularly as Sarah was going to come dancing for the first time in months. I hear that it was good, with a nice atmosphere and a good floor. I'm going to miss it next Sunday as well, unfortunately. Definitely planning to go to Palenke in O'Neills next Monday, though.

I'm going to be seriously fed up if I'm not better by Thursday...

Sunday

Just heard that it's fancy dress, and the theme is James Bond, Evil Villains and Bond Girls. As I look ludicrously old if I wear a tux I think I'll go as an evil villain. Fingers crossed that my favourite dance partner will be OK to come - she's been out of action for months but is hoping to make it.