After this it was back to the autumn practice season. Not many takers for this year’s October taster evening (but really well done, Sarah!), but before we knew it we were into November’s Bunfight spot practices. The Bunfight this year was on 26th November, and once again another really great evening with lots of the team contributing in different ways to make it happen. Jameson was the most worried beforehand – he had a phone call at lunchtime on Bunfight day to say there was an electrical problem with lighting at the hall, and if it wasn’t fixed the evening would have to be cancelled. After spending the afternoon as a nervous wreck, and rehearsing exactly what to say to everyone when they turned up (“Sorry, it’s off – quiet night down the pub?”) he was relieved to find out late afternoon that all was well. This year’s theme was France, so inevitably there were plenty of stripy jumpers on show, many with matching dodgy moustaches. But we also had (amongst many others) some frogs, some French flags, a Tour de France cyclist, some musketeers, an artist(e), some Resistance, mime artists, several waiters (some directly from ‘Allo ‘Allo) and the odd footballer. But respect to Jerry and Shirley for their very convincing Inspector Clouseau and Pink Panther outfits – for which, for added authenticity, Jerry had shaved off his 25 year old beard…. This year’s band was the excellent loud and proud Tickled Pink, and once again ‘Mr. Marvellous’ (a.k.a. Nick Walden) called some marvellous dances. The first interval spot featured 2 BB sets doing competitive Jolly Jockey sticks, the aim being for each set to drop fewer sticks than the other one. However against all expectations, and despite not having practiced for several weeks, rather disappointingly neither set dropped any. A swift Irish Bingo followed, after which it was back to the dancing before the 2nd interval which featured our main spot. This year we had developed further the Charleston routine first performed at Jameson’s wedding, but then only by 4 dancers. This time we had 12, including Sue and Bob, and had added more choreography as well as on and off routines. It remained though fast and frantic (just occasionally a little too fast for some) but overall highly entertaining. And without having to try too hard, Nick was able to get the audience to applaud loud enough for us to come back and do it again…
The next day we were in attendance again at the Wokingham Winter Carnival, along with Borderline, Customs and Exiles, and Fools Gambit. The recent spell of fine autumn weather was still with us, giving a mild and sunny day (unlike some of the bitterly cold Carnivals of recent years) making good dancing conditions, and also bringing large crowds to the town. During the day we danced with all the other teams on and off, before the now traditional procession through the main part of town, watched by spectators packed several deep along the pavements. BB’s standard of dancing was surprisingly good considering there had been no practices for several weeks while we concentrated on rehearsals for the Bunfight spot. This point was made several times during the day to foreman Roy ….
