Monthly Archives: July 2021

Dusk

At the Plough, late on in June

The Plough at Long Whittenham is another of our regular summer stops, and it was great to be back in their garden. There were a goodly number of locals there, enjoying a warm late July evening. Unusually, not many of them ran away the minute we got going.

About to Constant Billy
About to Constant Billy

We’d been hoping some of Towersey Morris might also turn up, but in the event we were undisturbed.

Sticking
Sticking

We did our usual thing – some dances followed by some tunes and songs as night fell.

Musicians
Musicians

In truth, we remain a bit rusty and unpractised. But after the last 18 months, we’ll settle for being rusty and unpractised but out dancing again.

Icknield. And some mugs.

An evening at the Fox with Icknield Way

In those long-forgotten ‘normal’ times, we made an annual visit to the Fox at Denchworth as guests of Icknield Way. Perhaps the world is slowly getting back to rights again.

It was a warm evening, and the garden was packed with diners. Ah-ha! A captive audience.

Balance the Straw. Dancers excused waistcoats.
Balance the Straw. Dancers excused waistcoats.

Icknield had brought alone their youth division. I believe it was their first public appearance. They did very well.

Icknield's Youth Programme in action.
Icknield’s Youth Programme in action.

As ever, we finished the evening with some tunes while the light faded. What can I say? It’s nice to be back.

Summer evening at the Eight Bells in Eaton

No, we don’t restrict our outside-Botley dance outs to pubs named ‘The N Bells’. Really.

The Eight Bells at Eaton is an old favourite of ours, and while they were still restricted to largely outside activity, the weather was up to allowing us to mildly disturb those enjoying a summer evening with food and drink.

A rest between dances.
Taking a breather.

We also took a good look at the pub sign. It’s relatively new, and painted by our very own BarberaP. It looked quite magnificent in the evening light. She’s also restored the predecessor sign on which it’s based, which now hangs inside the pub.

Balance the Straw.
Balance the Straw.

We weren’t overflowing with dancers, and were interrupted by the arrival of spring rolls and chips that required attention, but as a way of losing a bit more of our dance rust, it was very just what we needed.

Highland Mary finishes
Wait, was that Highand Mary?

The Six Bells, Warborough

A summer evening at the Six Bells

July dawns, and with it a summer evening with our old chums Old Speckled Hen. They were feeling short of match practice, so just came to watch.

It was one of those evenings rare in an English summer, where it was not only warm but the half-promise of some rain did not materialise.

Finishing our first dance
Barbara giving her hankies a bit of extra air.

Our new recruit, Josh, has only had a limited opportunity to practice. But by heck, he’s learned quickly – and looks the part, too.

Josh, our new dancer
Our new dancer

With the help of a dancer borrowed on the spot from Headington Quarry, we danced into the dusk, and finally managed to entice the assembled Hens into an impromptu dance.

Old Speckled Hen in disguise
Old Speckled Hen in disguise.

When we’d all finished with a mass Bonny Green, time for tunes and songs as the sun set. Oh, summer dance outs. We’ve missed you.

Steve and Audrey sing in the gloaming
Steve and Audrey sing in the gloaming.