Life, the Universe and Everything

Glasgow where the guy pointed out that a return ticket to Mallaig was cheaper than the single I'd asked for. Dublin where the clerk asked if the two of us were married? Anxiously, we told him "No" (this was 1980's Ireland), He said, "Look, say you are married and I can sell you a 'Family Ticket', it's cheaper". He sold us a "Dog, Bicycle or Pram" ticket for the tandem too. Just today, in Cheltenham , I went to buy a ticket for a trip to Exeter . The guy cheerfully offered me a ticket to Exmouth via Exeter for £6.50 less.

Lucy finished changing out of her dancing clothes into her warm tracksuit and wandered back into the main hall. She looked around hoping to see the tall man who was a newcomer to the class. After all it was only polite to be welcoming to a stranger! She found him buttoning himself into a very substantial winter coat. "Good coat" she said, "especially with all the snow that's fallen this evening" "Thanks!" he replied, "I did come prepared - very prepared" And with that, he took her hand and walked her out into the car park to his car and opened the boot. Lying there was large sledge. "Help me lift it out!" he said and the next thing she knew they were trudging up the slope at the back of the hall dragging the sledge behind them. At the top of the slope, they both got on the sledge and rode it down the hill in great style finally hitting a large snowdrift. Lucy allowed him to brush the loose snow off her before helping him put the sle...

It wasn't really light when Bob awoke. He rolled over and was relieved to find the airbed had stayed up. Peering out of his sleeping bag at all the other sleeping bodies in the church hall he decided it was much too early to get up. Besides, he'd done a lot of drinking in the student bar last night. Then his knees reminded him about the dancing. It was his first time at any sort of festival and he'd had a lot of fun. Then he noticed a girl of about his own age holding a coffee-pot. Seeing him she shook it and mouthed "Do you want a cup?" He nodded and she gestured to an older guy who added an extra scoop of coffee beans into a grinder. Then Bob noticed the two camping stoves - one with a kettle and one with a frying pan. A little later he was breakfasting on bacon, eggs and fresh coffee with his new friends. Suddenly, a nearby heap of blankets disgorged a white haired lady "I've got the strawberries somewhere" she announced, "and the bubbly...

Quite pleased with this picture of snow on the lawn taken with my mobile phone.

A woman I dance with quite lot said to me last night that one of the great things about dancing with me was that I was unpredictable. Quite a relief really because I sometimes worry that I don't use a big enough variety of moves. Years ago, I had a boss who complained I was unpredictable. Can't please everyone!

Stroud is not a place that does "smart". Steep streets remind me of the hill towns of Provence yet the place is where five Cotswold valleys meet. The Town Council is run by the Green Party and every Thursday, the Mayor sits on bench in the town centre and talks with anyone who happens by. This is not some centuries old tradition or even compliance with a European policy on "Open Government" - the current Mayor just thought it was a good idea. Political parties need money and the Green way is to put on a dance and by luck or good judgement they booked the Horsley Band from the nearby village of the same name. That choice is why I passed up the opportunity of a dance nearer home because this band play the finest, the most exciting and most beautiful dance music. Their tunes for English Ceilidh dances are joyous with a raw edge but are never coarse. Dark tunes for French traditional dances are silky smooth… There is a pause and Caroline has transformed herself into a ...

"I'm sorry," said Bruce into the phone, "could you speak up, please? There's a lot of noise in here today!"  The client hung up. Bruce cursed and turned to glare at Damien who was standing by a new machine.  "What the hell's that noisy monstrosity and what is it doing in the Counselling Centre???"  Damien smiled.  "It's the new card printer and it wouldn't fit anywhere else"  "What do we want a card printer for?"  "It's a vital part of the new "People Care System" - and you've already benefited from it yourself!"  "I have?"  "You got a Christmas card signed by the Chair of Trustees"  "It came from that machine?"  "Yes, it even did the personal signature!"  "Fantastic"  Damien, missing the sarcasm, ploughed on.  "It does birthdays too and when a Counsellor or Client is sick, it automatically sends out a 'Get Well Soon' card!...