January  2006

by Jo Elliott

It’s so good to see everyone again. It has been a long month since the Christmas party early in December, and so much has happened. Everyone has news to share, about family and friends, gifts welcome and unwelcome, epic journeys. Mo scoops the pool: both her daughters are engaged and getting married in the next year. Congratulations, Mo, and good luck with all the sewing!

“My mother gave me two boxes of chocolate. My mother in law gave me chocolate. I won a tin of Quality Street in a quiz. I’ve eaten so much chocolate I don’t know if I can move!”

That was Chrissy. Mind you, she was telling us this while leading the warm-up, so she can’t be as unfit as she thinks she is. The point about large amounts of chocolate, we all agree, is that you have to eat it as quickly as possible, then when there isn’t any left you can go back to not eating chocolate again. Women have no trouble understanding this, but men can’t seem to get their heads round it.

This first dance session of 2006 wasn’t a time for learning anything new, more of a chance to remind us of what we knew already, to get moving again, to start working off the mince pies, the pudding, the many chocolates and all the other good but fattening things. I’ve put on about 5 pounds during the Festive season, which is actually good news. I’ve lost far too much weight recently completely by accident, and Christmas has restored the balance. I’m glad to have my hips back, I missed them.

The Christmas party (now so long ago!) was all good fun. There was lots of showing off of costumes, tying of turbans, henna painting, hair and makeup, eating good food, oh and yes, even a bit of dancing. I think everyone enjoyed it. I specially enjoyed the CD of carols played Arabic style on Middle-Eastern instruments. I bought a copy and sprang it on my family on Christmas Eve, causing much amusement.

It feels good to be moving again. The warm-up was accompanied by the usual groans, creaks and cracks, but after some fifteen minutes of increasingly vigorous movement, it all began to get a bit easier.

“Everyone feeling warmer now?” asks Chrissy. I would answer yes, only I don’t have enough breath!

Besides reminding ourselves of our techniques and going through our Saiidi choreography again, we need to prepare for the workshop with Michelle next week. It promises to be a lively one. Michelle’s workshops are always good fun. I’ll need to remember to bring some money for the bazaar. Not that I actually need more hip scarves or jewellery, but they all look so beautiful, brightly coloured and glittering. The magpie instinct takes over.

There is so much to talk about, so many arrangements to make. There is the near-impossible task of finding an evening when all four committee members are free, to hold a meeting. There are arrangements to discuss for those of us who are going away on courses. There is transport to arrange for the workshop -anyone else need a lift from Douglas? There is food - “Ann will make some couscous, you do a ratatouille, I’ll make something with chickpeas and I’ll tell Den to bring some pitta bread.” Sounds good already. I’m really looking forward to next weekend.

We have made a good start this year. The hall was full. When we took our places for the Saiidi dance, we had six rows of six people plus Chrissy. Small steps please everyone!

Look out, 2006, here we come!

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