I love how "inclusive" the dances here are. The ones on Graemsay have slowed down a bit due to the age and incompetence of a number of the participants! We do a very slow motion version of most of the traditional dances, but I love it as for the first time in my life I can keep up with folk! My favourite party in the season is the Children's Christmas Party where party games are played - of course. Due to the lack of children to play the games ALL the adults are expected to join in. My favourite game is "Musical Arms" - this is an Orkney tradition based on "musical chairs" but in many of the old halls there were no chairs, only benches so it was more difficult to play. So instead half the folk stand in a line and are instructed by the game leader to put a hand on either the left or right hip, drop their arms etc and we all have to run round in the same way you would for musical chairs. It is so hilarious to see the rufty tufty crofters trying to remember which hand to put on which hip! There is a children's version of pass the parcel, and an adult variety where the sweeties are chocolate liquers and the prize is a miniture of whisky! At the end of the games Father Christmas appears - each year we try and get someone the kids (particularly the youngest) won't recognise, although the older boys generally twig but know to keep quiet because once they no longer "believe" in Father Christmas they get less presents! The evening is then finished off with a supper, and a bit of community singing to various Christmas songs on tape. Incidentally in the photos of the Mock Wedding you can see our hall - it's a tin hut (only we frown on that description) and is completely wood lined. The hall was built by the "men of the island" just after WWII using materials from the old wartime huts etc on the island. We have just secured a grant to get electricity installed, but we still have no running water and er - no toilets. Officially it doesn't meet any building standard these days but as it is just for private use we carry on using it. But we can't have functions where we sell tickets or hire it out etc. But it still suits our purposes and we love our old hall! Sian ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bruce Fletcher (Stronsay)" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 12:27 PM Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Ship Plotter - Orkney > > Whenever there is a wedding on Stronsay there is a dance in the > Community Centre to which everyone on the island is invited. Young and > old dance together without a trace of self-consciousness, no > "wallflowers" or moody teenagers. > And there is at least one blackening during the week before the wedding > <g> > -- > Bruce Fletcher > Stronsay, Orkney > <www.stronsay.co.uk/claremont> > "Do you get virgin wool from ugly sheep?" > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >