Warwick University

Ceili Crystallographers (part two). You can run but you can't hide from the Moody Food Ceili Band. Last year's conference ceili up at Keele was obviously a success and the format was repeated at Warwick with the addition of a crystallographic dance floor. Thanks to Hipswing for arranging the gig. The food for the band was a little disappointing though – not as good as Keele and a long way behind Nottingham who are in a catering league of their own.

Sylvia's dances for your Moody Food Dance Card:

Behind the Haystack / Merrily Danced the Quaker's Wife
The Old Swan Gallop
Clopton Bridge
Discouraging Waltz / Ragtime Annie
Jack's Alive
Circle Waltz
Waterloo Dance
The Gravel Walks / Crowley's Reel
Polka Off
The Willow Tree
Circassian Circle

Hamps Hall, Waterhouses

Happy Birthday Steve!

Up to Hamps Hall with Sylvia and Moody Food for a birthday ceili. What a great idea to hire an old converted barn high up on snow-speckled moors and party the whole weekend with your mates.

Now that the evenings are becoming lighter we get to enjoy the scenery on the way to gigs and so at Waterhouses we crossed one of those old fashioned hump-backed bridges, passed Mrs Tiggy-Winkle's cottage on the left and followed a single-track lane so narrow that both hedges brushed the sides of the van as we slowly made our way up to the barn.

The dancing was pretty wild as well with the youngsters literally swinging from the rafters and some very enthusiastic flying baskets from everyone else. A special thanks to Katie for leading the band with her melodica – good luck with the cornet!

Sylvia's dances for your Moody Food Dance Card:

The Cock o' the North / 100 Pipers
The Snowball
Goatland Square Eight
Strip the Willow
Discouraging Waltz (part one)
Happy Birthday Steve
Discouraging Waltz (part two) / Ragtime Annie
Cumberland Square Eight
Postman's Knock
The Flying Scot
Clopton Bridge
The Willow Tree
The Gay Gordons
Southern Flavor

Katie takes a solo.

A flying basket.

Every birthday needs cake!