- - seems to be evident. I just don't understand the venom and how quickly it appears over on the other side. I'm fully convinced it's down to untraceability (if that's a word) and anonimity - those who use their own names, or one that's easily traceable do not seem to descend to the insults, name calling and general abuse that occurs from to time. 

I keep trialling forums of the more modern type where registration is required, but folks seem so distrustful of registering - could that be because they "could" be traced by the forum owner and blocked from nasty postings?

Enough already = move on!

Another three new dances on the horizon from Blackpool (UKA) - we'll be there watching and learning, - - - Oooh! yes, and there's the TWO night time dances this year, Big Band and all! Can't wait to dance on a BIG floor to a BIG Band

- - since I posted here, things been busy with my "commercial" websites that I do for other folks, so haven't had the time. Also I'm not posting on Sylvia's forum at all now, if you want a discussion, lets do it by all means, but over here rather than there. 

Noticed though that overall, postings seem to be down, just as attendances at SD seem to heading. Social and popular sequence seems to be the only thing that's showing an increase or maintaining good numbers as folks get a tad fed up with 40 plus dances each year, and currently 9 dances in a six week period

The bunch up seems to happen with the time Easter is in the year, since Easter is a movable date, Competitions that have fixed dates seem to get scrunched up immediately afterwards. Of course, if there's no Central governing body or guidance, then promotors could in theory run a competition any time with little or no regards as to the "next" promotor's dates.

I have felt for some time now that dances which win immediately before "fallow" periods - at the year end and just before the summer period - seem to hang about longer - I'd guess partly because folks have more time to learn, dance and grow to like them better.

Enough musings, posting this on both the SDO forum and blog in the hopes some discussion may result.

- - we'll get in the next crop of dances? 

Can't help but think some sort of regulation is needed - - what if - (in cloud cuckoo land) - from the first comp of the year at South Shields, let's say the winners were a Saunter, a Modern Tango, and a Rumba, - then for the next three comps none of the next three winners could be any of those dances?

Since we've around 15 comps per year, in theory we would end up with a more even spread pf dances right through the year, and none of this "four Rumbas and three FT's" in a row?

It's a simplistic scheme that would need refined, but easily administered even at short notice, like when there are two or more comps in quick succession, and inventors always seem to have a good few dances and ideas under development at any one time anyway.

- - can't quite see how a battle about where music tracks come from qualifies as a sensible comment on Modern Sequence Dance?

More like the sort of thing that's dragging MSD down, jealousy about music, venues, poor communications, lack of advertising and the rest.

If you don't tell folks where you are and what you do, don't complain when they don't come!

Without exception, all of the Ballroom teachers in our area will help and advise potential pupils to the point of recommending other teachers who may be more suitable for that pupil for wqhatever reason. The pettiness that seems to exist in some MSD leaders is part (if not a big part) of why MSD is quietly fading away.

2c worth!

Off we go on Sunday for a four week sojourn in Spain. Everything will be running on auto pilot, this blog, the forum, the Dance Events page.

Back in April, and then will likely re-launch the forum with a proper one (trialling elsewhere at present).

Take care, E N J O Y  and Keep on Dancing

Finally cleared off the last thirty BROKEN LINKS and the pages should all be working and crosslinked to each other right through the site and web. Outside links have all been checked and updated, so just new ones queued to be added in different sections. 

The new (Snowden) Foxtrot seems OK, danced it over yesterday morning, the Gavotte will probably last as long as Gavottes usually do? (which around here is three weeks if lucky - don't know if the Classical aficionadoes will want to keep it running or not! )

Lots to do, off soon for a month to sunny Spain away from the gloom and SAD needing the light!

Back soon with more

Discovered to my horror, there was a massive downtime with my site, caused it myself with pressing the wrong buttons, so I had to retrieve all the pages from storage, update them to match the last known version, and then upload them to the website again - - then I found there were 487 broken links on the site which I've had to trace and rectify, and that's now down to 33 broken links gthat I should be able to sort shortly, although these are the "ekusive" ones hidden in text and images. 

Nightmare - - and two new dances to learn. Will the Gavotte last?

- - - sitting down like on "Fame" and banging the floor a bit! 

But Ooooh! shattered this morning. Couldn't cancel, for they were First Wedding Dance running up to a mid February deadline. Definitely not going to manage to the Inventive at South Shields on Sunday, it's a five hour round trip for us, and would be a very long day to be under par!

Ballroom and Latin classes restart Monday as well, so "the show must go on" and I'm saving myself 

- - after New Year.

Went to Doc, came out with:-

Ear Drops,
Eye Drops,
Anti-biotics for Chest Infection,
Change of Meds for Hi-Blood Pressure,
Cough Linctus
Pain Killers
and Tummy Tabs to take 'cos Doc says all this stuff WILL hit the tummy, and that's when and not "if".

Ho Hum, welcome to the New Year - -  and two sets of lessons to take to-morrow   The Missus is going to be working hard then?

- - and I'm finding a moment to update the blog a bit. No dancing right now, we head off for New Year and may get some in whilst we are away.

Busy updating, and more updating on the website, lots of pages to do! Weather quite warm for this time of year upo here, and no work to do to-morrow, we're off to number one daughter for Christmas Dinner and stuff! Pressies under the tree and everything.

Season's Greetings to you all, see you in the New Year!