A Couple of Stories

These are without dates or photographs.

1. A while ago Irene and I were working together on the allotment. We were working on the same task of moving 'mare's tails'. They had grown under the path from our neighbour's overgrown border and were taking over the raspberry patch. This involved much digging and pulling in a confined space. It was a hot day and we were in shirt sleeves. At one point my phone fell out of my shirt pocket. We carried on working. A particular tough weed suddenly came free and I fell over into the neighbour's patch. We carried on working.

Later, at home I realised that my phone was missing. So, I got in the car and started to head for the allotment. I had not got out of the drive when I had a brilliant idea of taking Irene's phone with me. At the allotment I dialled my own phone. (Have you noticed it is at times like this when low-flying helicopters hover overhead.) When I did hear the phone; Irene's phone; the mechanical voice said, "You do not have sufficient credit to make the call." Brilliant. I tried digging where I had dropped my phone. Not there. I walked halfway back - drove around - walked halfway back.

The solution was for Irene to ring from home at 4.50 and 4.55. The first call was too short, but gave a rough location - dig again. The second call revealed my phone lying on the neighbour's plot. Reunited. I like my phone number.

2. This was Friday night. Both the regular guy and his usual deputy had been hospitalised the day before. Derrick was still there. For a while it looked as though I would be D.J. However, David turned up.

I am not quite the youngest person at the sequence dance evening and was quite surprised when a couple in the twenties entered the hall. They were tall and elegant and danced at a standard above the average. As I standing in for the hosts I decided to speak to them. They were called Chris and Julie. Chris had come from Sheffield and Julie was local. Apparently they had seem the blog of Tony in which he mentioned sequence dancing at the centre. They had known each other for some time and decided to have their first dancing date in NSCC., having decided only a week ago to spend time together. I joked that they might soon be considering marriage. Chris said that was just what they had been talking about.

It get better. Both of them are dance champions. Chris holds the title of British Dance champion in modern and old time ballroom. We always have a request time and, surprisingly, they asked that we do an 'Engagement Waltz'. Un/fortunately, no one else could do it. And so, we were treated to a magnificent performance. (Their first public performance dancing together.)

I wondered that after slightly embarrassing them that they would come again. Apparently they did on the following Friday, with two friends.

I did get to be D.J. the following Friday. I was forced into doing it as training to be the back up guy.