Rapper, Rapper and More Rapper

Had our first tour of the year on the 8th (and in fact out first time dancing out in quite some time given all the cancellations due to snow!)
Because of the threatened snow, we decided to hold it in Leith as opposed to Glasgow as originally planned. We started off in Mathers on Broughton Street to a very good reception despite out distinctly shoddy footwork (although, to be honest, we were just greatful taht we all remembered the dance!). Then we set off down Leith Walk and let me just sat that smooth soled rapper shoes, polished sheet ice on the pavements and copious amounts of alcohol make for a somewhat exciting tour. For the life of me I can't remember where we danced but we got a good reception everywhere we went. I got recognised as being from The Council by one of the bouncers outside Priscilla's which threw me for a moment until he reminded me that he used to work in the newsagents along the road and I did like the other bouncer telling us that we could leave our swords with the DJ while we were dancing. Took us 3 goes to tell him that we actually needed them during the dance! Saw an amazing dancer in Priscilla's who was dancing to 'All That Jazz' and she seemed to be really interested in coming along to have a go at rapper. She seemed to be worried as to whether she would be good enough and she's right to be. It's a long way down to our standard from where she's at!
We started getting free Aquavit when we hit the run of Swedish bars halfway down the road which actually seemed to help with balancing on the ice. We got approached by a very enthusiastic fiddle player in one of them who was asking if she could come and play for us so we were only too happy to give her our card. Itwas also in one of these pubs where we discovered that it might have been a bit too long since we danced in a really tight space as we found it really hard going. We got through but it was probably the weakest dance of the evening (even including the one at the end where Trina lost her shoe!)
Anyhow, then it was back to Trina's and Rapper Central for Suspicious Slivovitz and Vimto cocktails, lasagne and crumble (not together!).
Absolutely brilliant evening and I'm going to miss Mons Meg soooo much!

Monday's practice was good fun since we had a new lad along who's just moved up from Oxford (we seem to be doing an exchange programme!) and, while he's not danced rapper before, he seems to have done a lot of Cotswold so he picked things up very quickly. I hope he comes back.

We've got our first workshop on Friday at Tollcross Community Centre at 7pm. No idea how many people will turn up but am a little nervous as I can suddenly no longer remember how to do any of our figures which, I suspect, will not help anyone. Must remember not to be too enthusiastic at people in case I scare them...again...