So this Thursday we missed our regular social dance at Saltney Social Club. It  was a shame , but with having people here until seven-thirty and not yet eaten. It was nearly nine by the time we were ready to go out. For those who do not know, it goes something like this; Eight thirty, start dancing, Nine thirty break, Ten start again and eleven finish. We would have missed the first half completely and for just an hour of dancing, well I could not be bothered.

We had had a good day of classes here and some tango practice of our own, so we were not devoid of dancing all together. But by the time it was all over we were probably too tired anyway. So I finished off a bottle of Bailey’s and we had an early night.

We got some tango in over the weekend though. We had arranged to take our caravan to a local Rally that was mainly about dancing. Local, really is the word here, it was across the road from my workplace.  They had asked us to give them a demo on the Saturday night, so only too pleased, I agreed.

We had the opportunity to practise in the afternoon, so we knew the floor and what we could do. Viv, who really is coming out, spoke to them about what tango is and why it is so different from Strictly Come Dancing. We gave them a Tango (Champagne Tango, Di’Sarli) a vals (Pobre Flor, De Angelis) and , my favourite milonga (Yo Soy de San Telmo, Di’Sarli, again). In the end they gave us rapturous applause and everyone seemed to enjoy our little demo.

Hopefully we can get a  few converts from this sequence crowd, if not, at least they now have an idea of how they tango in Buenos Aires.

Women just kept arriving but no men. By the time the numbers had settled we had about three times the number of women than we had men, and one of those a complete novice. This left me with a duty, to just keep dancing.

Unfortunately I was not on hand to pass out the wine, so that did not get drunk until well into the night, and theChampagne we had on ice, is still there.

Still everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and at least the women could socialise without me mythering them too much. Our neighbour brought a cake, decorated with shoes, much to Viv’s delight, and various bottles of wine and other food items arrived as well.

My playlist was well received although there were one or two comments about my Christmas tandas. Fortunately no body noticed my one mistake (A Vals in a Lomuto tanda of tangos). I have now altered the Genre in my library so that it will not happen again.

For once though most people stayed to the end and were treated to La Cumparsita followed by  Jose Feliciano singing Feliz Navidad.

Nobody ate much so Viv and I have a surplus that will keep us going for a few days to come, and, of course, we still have the Champagne. I keep trying to pass it off at our practicas but somehow it never happens, our stock of about half a dozen is still running at three bottles after the first year.  Still there is always next year, I am sure we can find something to celebrate.

So to all my readers Feliz Navidad y Prospero Año Nuevo, Hope you all have a happy and relaxed Christmas. My Christmas wish? More men next year please.

So it soon became a talk, and then a demo, after that it was a simple case of leave the line dancing to Viv.

Our day started late (because of a night shift the night before) with a practice, our small dance room gives us only enough room to warm up. If we had a choreographed routine, it would either not fit here or it would be lost in any decent sized room. So we warmed up and Viv worried that I would miss out all our best moves. For me though it is better that I just relax, nobody knows all our moves and they probably would not care.

Viv was also worried about the music, she changed her mind daily. I had to put my foot down on Saturday and say “whatever we choose today, that is it” In the end we settled for Champagne Tango By Carlos DiSarli, Corazon de Oro and El Portenita by Angel Vargas. I wanted Café Dominguez, but Viv did not like the talking at the start. I held it in reserve anyway.

We also had to rearrange the music systems. The speakers from my power amp are large, to say the least, so in order to save space they have taken over in the dining room. They look less conspicuous when in use and my usual speakers can be hidden away.

Everything had to be restored to working order for the night’s practica after the speakers were removed, so there was much cable pulling and reconnecting to be done.

Finally, with everything set up at home and all the show gear in the car we set off for our venue. When we arrived they were already setting up the tables in a ring around the room. “We thought you wanted the middle of the room” they said. Trouble was, with the sound gear on the stage, set at a volume we could work at, the people at that end of the room would have the backs of their heads blasted off.

They were very accommodating and soon things were arranged to please us. Next problem was the floor, it was a school hall you see. There was a tile missing in the middle, that was bad enough but worse there were two Comme Il Faut heal size holes in the floor. I figured out that these were bolt holes for the wall bars when they were swung out.

We needed a practice to find ways of avoiding the obstacles. Finally set, we then waited for the crowds. A few of the ladies came over and asked some awkward questions “are you the man who teaches on Tuesday?” “Do you teach in the church hall?” It took me some time to realise, they thought I was a line dance teacher. The Suit, tie and Oxford shoes should have given it away. Line Dancers wear jeans and boots, and I had no hat or sixguns.

Viv gave a very good talk, with me interrupting where necessary, hopefully the ladies of Rossnesni WI now know the difference between salon and show tango. They were very attentive, and even had a few questions for us afterwards.

Our demo went off well, as always I forgot some of our signature moves, but we kept it moving and stayed with the music. So in my eyes anyway, it was a success. The ladies seemed to enjoy it and thanked Viv profusely when she finally left.

Me? I had to rush off, someone to pick up for the practica and I had one very helpful neighbour, who was attending the house, in case anyone arrived early. Anyway there was no point in me being late as well.

We had a great practica, numbers were up and just one extra female. Viv finally managed to arrive in time for a last couple of dances.

So we had another great practica, enjoyed thoroughly our demo and on top of that we were rewarded for our efforts.

I guess that now make us professional Dancers. Bookings are now being taken.

So it just goes to show even a frustrated old milonguero like me can learn something new, and enjoy the experience at the same time.

The Friday night class was all about milonga. We learned a spin move and a wide choice of endings. Jenny was lovely, as always, and struggled to teach us while Ricardo spread his own kind of anarchy. At least that is how it appeared to me, but in fact they worked together as a team and managed to make the difficult simple and the mundane entertaining.

Saturday night was the big milonga; Now as many of you will know, I take the music seriously. Argentine tango, to me, is not Argentine tango without Argentine Tango music. It seems an obvious thing, but a knowledge of the music is often lacking this far north. Well tonight we had a treat at a stratospheric level.

Mabel from Cardiff was doing the music, she displayed an understanding of the music that I have not seen before outside of Buenos Aires, it was an absolute joy to dance every tanda. It is not the normal custom here, but after La Cumparsita I started clapping and as if to prove that I was not alone in enjoying the evening soon everyone was clapping with me. I thanked Mabel before I left and I want to thank her again here. Thank You Mabel!

Jenny and Ricardo did a wonderful demo for us which everyone enjoyed so much they were called back for an encore. Unprepared Mabel was asked to choose anything, were I not already married I would have proposed on the spot, she chose Angel D’Agostino, Cafe Dominguez.

Frambuesas con nata played some wonderful music in their interlude, Hotel Victoria, Poema, and then Percale I was in heaven. They really do get better every time I hear them, expect the Argentine tour sometime soon.

Sunday was about colgadas, now old traditionalist Bob doesn’t approve of colgadas. Anything that breaks the connection should not be in a milongueros repertoire. But again I went with an open mind and at least we could learn some teaching techniques. Well the first thing we learned was to forget all that hanging outside the frame we have seen before, this was to be colgadas in the close hold. (You speeky my language). By the end I think we had the basics, a long way from perfect but I can work on it.

Often at these weekends, we have been given that many moves that it all blurs into a kind of fog, but Jenny and Ricardo gave us just enough to work on and that my small brain can hold.

So, in summary: Great classes. awesome music and we caught up with many old friends that we have not seen for some while. Despite missing the “most important class where I named my toes” and if you know what on earth Ricardo was on about, please tell.

Quarter past eight arrived and there were only three of us, then, suddenly they all started arriving, all our friends from the past and irregular visitors.

Things were going well and then we got the trick or treaters. Perhaps we should have all gone to the door and given them a trick, but the blood soaked corpse that met me at the door was just another of our old friends. He had brought with him a birthday girl and two bottles of sparkling wine. OK so lets party.

I have just one complaint however; Viv was still cleaning up blood a week later.

In the end we had a dammed good night and for once some stayed for La Cumparsita (even though I had miscalculated somewhat and it was twenty minutes late).

We had a similar story last week, all the regulars could not attend but we still ended up having a great night.

It just shows, you can never tell. On a normal week we have less than a third of our dancers turn up. We have come to rely on the same few people coming every week, but somehow when they cannot be here others turn up as if by magic.

My pessimistic view that we will be all alone somehow never happens, but by the same token, they never all turn up together. Each week we have a manageable group, somehow, just enough for a party but never too crowded.

Just for a change I organised the music in milonga format. It posed quite a challenge organising the sheets to announce the oquestas but it was worth it for some variety.

The cortinas of “Thriller” and “monster mash” went down well as did “The Adams Family” and “Munsters”. These were all changed for last week but some, who have not been to a milonga before were puzzled by Nat King Cole in the midst of tango music.

Hopefully now educated they will return for more milonga fun, or even come with us to some far flung dances as we venture out to distant pastures.

You just never know.

All this happens on the day of the moon-god each week, at a cost of only forty shillings. (All profits returned to the cheese and wine fund).

As each week passes more dancers learn of this great gathering and flock to the village-dwelling house now known as “La milonga” or “Numero Uno”. It can be easily recognised as it is bedecked in wondrous lights and the melodies of tango can be heard caressing the ears of all who pass.

A friendly greeting is offered to all who wish to attend. From the great to the total beginner all are welcomed.

This is no fairy tale, but a true event that anyone, who dances tango, can attend, every Monday until Christmas except the 14^th November from eight o’clock.

I have often been asked why I write these articles, it is something I find difficult to answer. Well today’s ramblings have in some way answered the question.

It is not always possible for me to travel to Argentina twice in a year; getting Viv motivated can be difficult, releasing myself from work, makes the rest of my year arduous, and often finding the money for the ever increasing air fares causes near insolvency. So this year I have had to stay home from May until next April.

The stress of my working life is starting to get to me, finding time to go dancing (especially as I have to travel far and wide for any tango) is difficult, and on top of all this, I miss Buenos Aires with an almost unbelievable aching.

This is where my old blog posts come in; I have spent the afternoon reading my old posts, times in Buenos Aires and the article  Me and Buenos Aires (The reply).

I sat there with a smile on my face. I really do not know if others view these articles as I do, after all they are just my reminiscences, but for me they are just a joy to read.

Times with my friends; Jantango, Pericles, Luba and Phillippe are there again on the page. Old haunts; Fulgor, Canning, Viejo Coreo, Ideal, are suddenly real places and not distant memories. Trips to the shops, struggling with my castillano, navigating the busy streets, all now brought back to life for the short time that I can spent by my computer before I am off to work again.

Life there is a struggle; I cannot just jump in my car, as I am about to do and just drive, I must use the Subte or navigate the mysterious Collectivo routes. Taxis, if taken, must have a pre planned route, if I am not to be fleeced. No freezer or garden for my fresh veg, so every meal must be planned and shopped for.

But all these things just serve to make life interesting, and then, we can dance every night and every afternoon if we wish. The very pace of life prevents me having time to mope and the only free time I get is writing my blogs while Viv gets ready for the evening.

A struggle? Yes, but a very happy one, and one I would gladly put up with just for the joy of being again in the city of tango.

I have often thought that the very act of putting my thoughts on paper was in itself a type of therapy.  Now I realise that apart from this they are a reminder of good times and the act of reading them back is as much therapy as writing them down in the first place.

So by all means check out the articles under the category “Argentina”, I certainly will, and if they bring you even half as much joy as they bring me, then we will surely be meeting up in Buenos Aires at some future date.

We men dance away, and when we reach a certain level, it becomes a given that the ladies will follow whatever we do. We need to take care of this, of course. It is not always a given. At some point, we could become so vague or indecisive that the lady will take over and just do her own thing; this happens all the time to me, by the way, when I try to salsa.

Back to last weeks dance. I am still not sure if I was taken to task or given a vote of thanks. You see some time ago I wrote a blog about this milonga, I wrote it with the full intention of never going again. I later met Jo in Wilmslow and she definitely took me to task.

I have the greatest respect for Jo, she came straight to me and told me that she did not like what I had written and said we should talk about it. She never held a grudge and has helped me see how far I should go. Not only that, but she took on board what I had said and she would, in future vet all playlists at her milonga.

So now there I was at last weeks milonga being thanked (or taken to task) for writing that blog and setting in motion the events that now allowed Andrew and Carole to regularly host this wonderful event.

Well, I cannot take any of the credit, for what is after all a great milonga. It is all down to Jo, Andrew and Carole. I am just a blogger, who stirred things up a little. You three did all the work.

So a week later we returned to the afternoon dance. It was a different DJ and a different feel. Still we enjoyed the afternoon although we did not stay for the “fish and Chips” afterwards. I find it a bit heavy on my stomach and the grease does me no good at all. Viv has had me on a low fat (low everything) diet for so long now, that I have lost my tolerance.

On the way out I joked that I would be slagging off the DJ here, he responded that he did not care as he does not read blogs. I was worried by this, as I still have memories of the last time someone said this to me. People do care; we all care what is thought of us. So if anyone reads anything here they do not like, tell me, comment, email, or confront me if it is that bad. I am not an ogre and have been known to pull a whole post when asked.

Who knows after a confrontation things could turn out as well as they have for Jo and the Croft milonga.

When we arrived there were not many there , but we had friends who would soon join us, so not too down hearted. Marie Louise plays an eclectic mix and the dancing ranges from salsa to sequence dancing.

There was no time when I had to sit down, because we did not know a dance.We danced Ballroom, Sequence, latino and even Tango.There was no interval so by the end of the night I was well and truly knackered.

We had some wonderful tangos and even milongas. Trouble is the only tango dancers were Viv and I. We left the floor each time to applause. Viv is not happy being the floor show but I am just happy to dance.

Bob (the guy who complains about dancing tango to non tango music) now has a new moan. Have you ever tried dancing sequence to Carlos DiSarli? OK not a moan, I loved it, but it did things to my head. You simply cannot go into a giro halfway through the Tango Serida.

We thouroughly enjoyed the evening and look forward to the next time. Well not the next one on 29th October as I am on nights again. But I will definitely attend on 26th November and 17th December.

It all started with Viv saying “It is all getting too serious, we should have some other music”. So we decided to do a Club Fulgor and have a “Tropical” section in the middle.

I chose a variety of music, Cha cha, Salsa, meringue, just something lively to ring the changes.

We had takers for the cha cha, but no one for the meringue. So Bob the hero got up and said “I will show you”. “Just step, one, two, three, four, and I will lead you around”. It all went very well until; I had the lady behind me and spun her around. Her shoe flew off. She lost balance and I attempted to keep hold.

I suspect I saved her from injuring her wrists by keeping hold of her arms, but it did nothing to save her from the fall. Then ignominiously I crashed down besides her.

Fortunately we did not have a big crowd this week, so my embarrassment was not too great.

Fortunately we have not joined the litigation culture and we had a good laugh about it, but meringue is off the play list for a while.

Today we compared bruises, well I kept mine hidden. I am not exactly a Chippendale and my bruise is in a place reserved for Vivs viewing only.