Bringing in the New Year 2023

Thursday 29th December 2022 - Sunday 1st January 2023

David, Janet H, Trudy, Simon, Bob W, Penny, Janet F, Sandy, Ann, Roy, Bob F and Brian went up to Derbyshire to bring in the New Year 2023. On Thursday we stayed the night in Alfreton and went out to dinner together, returning to David and Janet's room for drinks and nibbles. Friday saw us travelling the last couple of miles to The Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick where we quickly set about decorating the hall in which the weekend's dancing was to take place. After everyone had checked in and unpacked it was time for the first Mainstream and Plus dance with alternating Rounds (cued by Judi Read). In the evening there was a competition for the best decorated hat with a nursery rhyme theme. Waggoners Sandy (Five Little Ducks), Bob (Humpty Dumpty), Penny (Mary, Mary Quite Contrary), Ann (Little Bo Peep) and Brian (Ann's lost sheep) all took part.

A very wet Saturday morning and saturated ground meant that Penny and Bob's guided walk through the Derbyshire countryside had to be altered to a "Quiz" walk around Swanwick. Meanwhile many of those not walking instead took part in a quiz devised by Janet and David with rounds including "Dad's Army", "Who do you remember?", "2022 and 2023" and "Name a song from the first lines of the lyrics".

On Saturday afternoon there was a Rounds workshop followed by a Squares workshop featuring "fractionalised" moves. After dancing through the evening, with a break for a supper of cheese and biscuits, we all toasted the New Year with a glass of bubbly before joining in the traditional singing of "Auld Lang Syne". The debris from the party poppers having been cleared, we danced our first tip of 2023.

Sunday morning there was an open invitation for guest callers and cuers to entertain the dancers and both Penny and David took part. All too soon it was time for the dancing to finish, take the decorations down, clear the hall, enjoy our final lunch and make our way back home.

Over the weekend it was announced that for various reasons this would be the last Swanwick New Year celebration organised by Trudy and Simon but those of us who have taken part will have fond memories.