Drinks dropped from on high.

I was sat round a dinner table, the other night, here in France exclaiming how a glass of Cremont de Limoux had gone straight to my head. A discussion ensued about fizz getting into your blood stream faster etc

It reminded me of a time in San Marino this time with the band I was in called Scarp.

If you’ve not heard Scarp here’s a link to a strange TV thing we were asked to be part of in Wales. I think the focus was on the poetry but we were there playing away – in a factory. A great fun band to be in and always musically challenging which I like a lot The tune is Le Pont by Patrick Bouffard the hurdy gurdy player. https://youtu.be/-uCyKE6TS-oScarp had been asked to play at the San Marino festival. Our drummer couldn’t make it so we spent some time rehearsing with an Italian drummer who is now in ‘Evening Star’ I believe. Unusually the concert was due to take place in a theatre. I say unusually because in summer in Italy I have played on outdoor stages 95% of the time. Maybe rain had been forcast, who knows?

The concert was hot and steamy but seemed to go well and go down well and after the concert we were ready for a wind down. We headed out into the square in front of the theatre and had a few beers. Meanwhile a dance group, who I think were Spanish, were getting ready, in full costume to put on a display.

Little did we know that this was going to turn into audience participation.

Our one member of the band at the time was an astonishing musician. I love him dearly. He’s a well turned out guy with a good hair cut and nice glasses. Due to the heat that night he’d changed out if his stage gear into a pair of khaki shorts which, despite his usual good taste, would not have stood out on a set of ‘It ain’t ‘arf ‘ot mum’. With his glasses the name Billy Bunter kept popping in my head…although he would be a slender version and not at all comparable especially not in his usual garb.

The other thing about him is he doesn’t dance – unless drink has been taken occasional and these days I do hope he’s embarrassed his lovely kids with ‘dad dancing’ at least once.

The dancers had shown some of their repertoire and then invited the audience to get up for a dance. Everybody had to get in two lines. Men on one side women on the other.

I don’t know what possessed me but I asked him to dance and I don’t know what possessed him but he said yes.

Up we got.

Well there wasn’t really much of an explanation. It seemed a case of follow the dancers in costume as best you can. Most of you probably know I love dancing and have been involved in traditional dance of one form or another since the age of twelve. That makes certain traditional moves easy to follow and the steps too. The dance partner – well he didn’t stand a chance quite frankly.

The moment it started I was in hysterical laughter from beginning to end. Billy Bunter the slender looked demented . His chic spiked up hair was having an evening all of it’s own and so were his baggy shorts. He was doing his best dance wise but went consistently wrong again and again.

You remember I said that drink had already been taken? That side of the evening did not stop whilst dancing. oh no!

The dancers had brought gallon after gallon of sparkling cider with them. There was a cast off where everyone went under an arch and followed the leader up to the top. Once at the top each couple had to tip their heads back and cider was poured in … from a height. To stay relatively dry you had to swallow. Then they launched you as a couple galloping down the centre. Despite the length of the set we passed the cider imbibing three or four times. Each time it goes to you head and adds to what has gone before and then you have to gallop – hopefully in a straight line.

It is categorically one if the funniest dance experiences I have ever had and I have to thank that lovely man for looking so whacky and joining in so badly but with great gusto . That image still makes me smile to this day.