The Grosvenor Centre, Gnosall

Congratulations Storm on 'twenty-five wonderful years'.

Another gig, another guest caller. Tonight it was Jason who was wearing a very snazzy shirt which he bought in Nashville, which seems a very long way to go for a shirt. Anyway, we like Jason calling as we get to do the Salutation Square Dance which we think really ought to be danced to the Benny Hill theme tune Yakety Sax – we'll get around to learning it one day.

In fact there's more than a little of Benny Hill in Jason's style of calling. This is how he checks that the top and bottom couples know which is which – 'Hands up tops' followed inevitably by 'Hands up bottoms' – no sniggering at back please.

In spite of that it was another top night with lots of banter from the dancers, loads of posh nosh for the band and a hog roast which seems to be present at nearly every gig we do these days. There was also a very sweet moment whilst we eating together in an empty side room before the gig; a little boy came in looking worried and asked us in a very concerned way if we were feeling lonely eating on our own. We assured him that we were all OK, but it was nice of him to ask.

Here's a list of Jason's dances for your Moody Food Dance Card:

Behind the Haystack / Merrily Danced the Quaker's Wife
Jason's Big Set
Flying Scot
Salutation Square Dance
Barley Reel
Midnight on the Water / Waltz Vienna
Cumberland Square Eight
Stoke Golding Country Dance
Old Swan Gallop
Circassian Circle

On a sadder note, Gnosall is where our friend, the guitarist and singer, John Clifton came from; he wrote a lot of fine songs and we all miss him very much.