Saturday started well

A spot at the Red Lion, under a blue sky - very promising.

Here we are, getting ready for our usual warm-up dance - Dilwyn

Newbies Linda and Carol have their backs to us - the 2nd and 3rd on the right hand side

More pictures from the same dance.

Barbara (ex Wicket brood) joined the music for this spot

This is Tide (Just as the tide was a'flowin)

IanP and Helen are at this end of the set

Tony announces the next dance, which is Much Gridlock

The sky is still blue, but MaryAnn has come prepared for adverse weather

Carol and Karen lead off the final figure

Saturday - The next spot on the sea front

The clouds have gathered, and the raindrops have appeared on the camera

But we're determined to continue until it becomes impossible

This looks like it may be a Hay-on-Wye, with Ian and Eddie facing us

This is Brimfield, with even more raindrops on the camera

By now, we had a fairly wet band Colin, Joe, Mark, Vera, Andy, Carol and Linda

Saturday - The Heritage Centre

For our third Saturday spot we were due to perform at the Heritage Centre with Marlings Morris, but by then the rain had become torrential. We went off to dance inside the Mowlem Centre where we had danced in previous years, only to encounter an irate jobsworth, who ordered us out as we were upsetting his dog.

As we didn't want to cause a sceneor to extend the pour creature's suffering, nearly 200 people traipsed outside to stand in the rain.

It's ironicthat John Mowlem donated the Mowlem Institute to the people of Swanage for forms of recreation and education and to improve their conditions of life. I can hear him turning in his grave.

I'll ask whether the festival organisers can come to some arrangement with the Mowlem Institute to permit use of this space in future. It was fun while it lasted. - here are some pictures of us dancing Brimfield

Saturday - The train to Corfe Castle

Next stop - almost literally - was a ride on the steam train up to Corfe Castle. The rain continued torentially throughout the journey, but we emerged into brilliant sunshine at the pictureque station.

We did an hour or so of dancing with Borderline Morris, Cornucopia and another team (who i think may be Cogs & Wheels) - then went off for cream tea or a pint before returning to Swanage.

On the return journey, the now-customary guards van dances were performed, with help from Andy's grandchildren. I haven't found any pictures of this part of the day yet, but if they emerge, I'll add them here

Sunday started with lovely weather

We created an imprompu spot on the sea front with Fox's Morris, Wicket Brood and Gong Scourers. As the weather forecast was dire, we took the opportunity to do a massed Worcestershire Monkey in case we didn't get another chance.

No pictures yet, but I'll put them here if they turn up.

Sunday - Lunch-time spot at The Red Lion

The weather held off for ourlunch-time spot at the Red Lion, dancing with our local friends Fleet Morris Andy's grandchildren again helped out, taking part in a Hay-on-Wye. No pictures yet, but I'll put them here if they turn up.

Sunday Afternoon - The Sea Front

Did I mention that it rained?

The last spot of the day started drizzly and quickly deteriorated.

Gong Scourers were due to join us but they announced they'd had enough and disappeared in the general direction of Kent.

We made the best of a bad job and did a bit of dancing - managing to complete at least one dance (Brimfield)

Our guest house's proprietors joined us for this part of the day and their daughter Freya helped wiith the collecting tin, charming donations from the remaining audience.

Sunday Afternoon - Dancing in the Sea

It was raining so heavily at this point that we concluded we'd be warmer, and possibly drier, in the sea.

Following our 20-year-old tradition we abandoned common sense and sploshed off into the water.

First, Ann provided some sticking practice for Freya.

The sea was behaving itself with an almost flat calm

So off we went.

Claire joined me to provide musical accompaniment

It was fine at first, with waves breaking only up to our knees.

Here we are, dancing Dilwyn

Then an improvised Hay-on-Wye, pat-a-cake style as we hadn't brought enough sticks with us.

But then the waves got a bit more frisky so it was time to abandon ship before my melodeon turned into papier mache.

And it all ended up like this (as usual!).

Some other bits and pieces from the weekend

Tony and Claudia celebrating their wedding anniversary

Chris in the late summer sunshine at the Red Lion

Andy, wondering where we'd all got to

But we soon arrived.

Vera and Colin at the Tourist Information Centre

These youngsters were very good.

I don't know who they were, but I think someone said they were from Barnsley

They were accompanied by these lads doing a "men in black" routine

Belthane are always worth watching.

If we wound our body clocks back 30-40 years and practiced incessantly, we could do this!

I'm not sure I'd look very good in holey tights though.