Ashbourne, Lizzy and Jimbo

Another great evening in Ashbourne with Moody Food celebrating the wedding of Lizzy to Jimbo. A hot air balloon floating above the town guided us on our journey there, but it didn't stop us from getting lost once we arrived. We went around the outskirts about three times before we found the secret lane up to the Bowling Club high on the hill above the town – a perfect spot to watch the sun set. Thanks to everyone who danced through the night in spite of the heat and sorry about the Les Dawson moment at the end – Sue broke a string.

Sylvia's dances for your Moody Food Dance Card:

The Snowball
Goatland Square Eight

Strip the Willow

Discouraging Waltz / Ragtime Annie

Polka Off

Circle Waltz

Postman's Knock

The Siege of Ennis

The Gravel Walks / Crowley's Reel

Waterloo Dance

The Siege of Delhi / The Earl's Chair

Old Swan Gallop

Circassian Circle

The Cock 'o the North / 100 Pipers

Who caught the bouquet?

Only phenomenal self-control prevented me from helping myself to the top cake.

Checkley Community Centre

This was our first time at Checkley with Moody Food and in spite of the power cuts we had a great time. The dance floor was packed right up until the witching hour and we also had some impromptu line dancing and a freestyle version of the Gay Gordons to top and tail the evening. No ceili seems to be complete without a hog roast these days – someone needs to create a vegetarian version for me. The auction raised around £1400 for the charity Breakthough Breast Cancer.

Sylvia's dances for your Moody Food Dance Card:

Cock 'o the North / 100 Pipers
The Snowball
Circle Dance
The Holly Bush
Discouraging Waltz / Ragtime Annie
The Siege of Ennis
Goatland Square Eight
The Siege of Delhi / The Earl's Chair
Polka Off
The Dashing White Sergeant
Cornish Six Hand Reel
Swedish Masquerade
The Willow Tree
Circle Waltz
The Old Swan Gallop
Circassian Circle
Cock 'o the North / 100 Pipers

Aim High, Breakthough Breast Cancer.

St Peter's Methodist Hall, Newcastle

Back on home territory for a retirement party after last night's fun up in Manchester – great dancing, great food, and back home before midnight – perfect!

Sylvia's dances for your Moody Food Dance Card:

Cock 'o the North / 100 Pipers
Dorchester Caper
Circle mixer
The Siege of Ennis
Discouraging Waltz / Ragtime Annie
Strip the Willow
Goatland Square Eight
The Siege of Delhi / The Earl's Chair
Circle Waltz
Waterloo Dance
Old Swan Gallop
The Willow Tree
Circssian Circle
Southern Flavor

English Martyr's Parish Centre, Manchester

Happy Birthday Sharon!

You never really know what to expect when you turn up for a gig. As this was at the local Irish centre we were expecting an evening of Riverdance but found ourselves in the the middle of the OK Corral – pistols, cowboy hats and straw bales everywhere.

Sylvia's dances for your Moody Food Dance Card:

Cock o' the North / 100 Pipers
The Flying Scot
Sylvia's Simple Longways Set
The Oxo reel
Discouraging Waltz / Ragtime Annie
Happy Birthday Sharon
The Siege of Delhi / The Earl's Chair
Circle Dance
Caerphilly March
The Snowball
The Gravel Walks / Crowley's Reel
Heel and Toe Polka
Circassian Circle
Big Maggie's Set

The Moathouse, Stephanie and Richard

A ceili to celebrate the wedding of Stephanie to Richard at the Moathouse on Festival Park in Stoke. This was the site of the old Garden Festival back in 1986 where I was one of the musicians – I wonder how many are still performing. It makes a change to have a decent sized dance floor in a hotel – they're usually just big enough for a couple of bridesmaids to shuffle around their handbags and despite it being a very hot evening we all danced the night away under a starry ceiling.

Sylvia's dances for your Moody Food Dance Card:

Cock o' the North / 100 Pipers
Glasgow Gallop
The Snowball
Discouraging Waltz / Ragtime Annie
Goatland Square Eight
Clopton Bridge
The Siege of Delhi / The Earl's Chair
Sylvia's Simple Longways Set
Circle Waltz
Cumberland Square Eight
Circassian Circle