Not as many vans as last week, but we really did have a good time! The school was a great venue. The previous week they had a Western day, and left all the decorations up.

The entrance foyer was decorated with bald headed eagles, huge cacti, rocks, skulls of buffalo, and tombstones. It was very well done, and couldn't have set the scene better. Even the backdrop to the stage was painted as a desert.

We were entertained in the evening by Phil T Williams, who sang a real mixture of old and new Country, something for all tastes. At the end of the evening he sang a duet with Vanessa, giving our new friends a taste of what was to come at our next rally!

Our Trilogy for the evening was carried out by Mick Boyce, Charles Taylor and Bob Jones. It was the first time they had done this, and they carried it off very well. Thank you to them.

For the first time ever, we had everybody up on the floor at the same time, at some point both nights running! - So well done everyone.

It was nice to watch John & Rona Smith do partner dances we had not seen before. They have agreed to teach the dance to "Copper Head Road" to us next time we see them, which would be brilliant. Thank you to everyone who donated raffle prizes, your kindness is really appreciated. If you were lucky enough to win one of the embroidered "Home Sweet Motor home" plaques they were made by Beryl Dacombe.

Saturday got off to an early start, with the committee making the dance floor bigger by moving a few tables, before Lesley held a beginners dance class, going over the basic steps, as we had many ralliers new to western partner and line dance. We then swung into dance class proper, learning "1,2,3 Waltz" for those who had not done it before, "County Line Cha Cha", "Crystal Chandeliers" (an easy partner dance). Bryan & Jean Wright then took over and taught us "Ziggy" and "Elvis Charleston". This was followed by "Blue Rose Is" a partner dance taught by John & Rona Smith. Meanwhile, Ann Dilley, Jeane & Mike Boyce served us with wobbly coffee and biscuits.

Sunday morning we had coffee and held our raffle, as one or two ralliers had to go home. Thank you to all our friends who so generously donated raffle prizes. The table was groaning! Following this the committee had a meeting, finishing just in time for dance class. Thank you to Ann McEvoy who made Lesley a sandwich while she walked her dog.

Dance class got underway, going over the dances taught the day before, and adding "Speak to the Sky" ~ the words were in keeping with it being Sunday, and "Cowgirl Twist".

Monday morning came too quickly, another few hours in bed would have been nice! Coffee was served, and the answers to the "Brown Paper Cowboy" quiz were given, and it was won by Barry & Debbie Groom.

We signed up 6 new members this weekend, so an extra special welcome to Bryan & Jean Wright from Leicester; Andy & Sue Riddex from Bracknell; Glenda & Stan Green from Kent; Vic & Sharron Mitchell from Bracknell; Patrick and Jean Habbishow from Dorset; Ann & Harry McKenna from London, and Norman & Marge Smith from Surrey.

The afternoon of party night saw a group of us painting wall paper stapled to 7 trestle tables. What fun we had! Some of us wnt back to the vans with as much paint on us as on the table! We set the scene for "our party" by painting a river from the Klondike "Gold Rush".

Mel Harvey had made log cabins out of bamboo, and also some picks and shovells from lolly sticks. - Thanks Mel, a great effort!. Paper tents soaked in tea for the aged dirty look completed the scene. Some of the paint was still wet when we sat down 2 hours later so we were busy dabbing it off with paper towels. It was a good night though, and we managed to cut the cake from the group competition entry into 48 peices, so we all enjoyed some.

Thank you to Brian & Ann Dilley who both entered cakes in the individual competitions. Lesley also entered the design a t shirt competition, Crewel work cushion and Yarn Wrapping. Our group competition entry was stunning. Thank you to everyone who joined in. We weren't placed as Gwen Farler's self hardening bowl of flowers were so good that the judges thought they weren't made of clay! (They did apologise when Gwen corrected them). Well done Gwen, they were beautiful. John Rickards painting got top marks and was brilliant, Thank you John. Thank you also to Sharon Carter who made the florentines; Geoff Ingham who made the snail; Gwen for the card, Mick Boyce for the very tasty cake.

The marks per item were as follows:

Cake (Mick Boyce/Gwen Farler) 6

Painting (John Rickard) 9

Card (Gwen Farler) 3

Snail (Geoff Ingham) 5

Stained Glass Circle (Lesley Dempsey) 9

Flowers (Gwen Farler) 0

Florentines (Sharon Carter) 5

Gift (Lesley Dempsey) 5

Overall Total 54

A great weekend was had at Yaxham. The weather was mainly dry, enabling those of us who wished to, to sit outside, or venture into Dereham by bus. Dave our DJ, arrived on the Friday in a panic as he had crawled around the M25 for ages and was 3 hours later than planned. However, we started on time, and had a great Friday evening with Dave, dancing until 11pm. On Saturday, Claire Blewett and Jean Clark served coffee when dance class started early for friends new to dance ~ and there were quite a few ~ We went over some of the easy favourites such as 1,2,3 Waltz; & County Line Cha Cha, before learning “Keepsakes”, a new partner dance which Lesley & Mel taught. Brian & Jean Wright then taught a fun Minuet, which most of got right, however, there is always one, and on this occasion there were two! – Dave & Mel went off on a tangent waltzing their way across the floor (or was it a polka?)
In the evening we were treated to the lovely Natalie Diamond, who sang many old favourites as well as some new songs, ensuring she sang the tunes for the dances we had covered during the afternoon. It was great to see so many people up dancing, and giving it a go even if they weren’t sure. Thank you to Jean & Brian who prompted us as to which dances we could do, your help is greatly appreciated; - we even remembered the Elvis Charleston which they taught at Lamborne!
Then raffle was drawn on Saturday night to enable those who travelled a long way to get off a bit earlier. Thank you to everyone who so generously donated prizes to the raffle and helped set up and clear away. The music quiz was won on just one answer! – We must make them a bit easier next time!