Monday 24 September 2012

First post the past

As I mark leaving the UK behind for the next 11 weeks , I first want to celebrate the best of British, so to summarise, I'm using the example of Tom Daly. A super young man who, for anyone that doesn't know, passed his A levels this summer as well as winning a bronze medal for diving at the London 2012 Olympics! Again, if you don't know his story, you may not know his father passed away to cancer last year and so didn't live to see his son accomplish these great achievements. Toms dedication, good humour, sheer tenacity are an example to everyone. And quite frankly, I'm going on the record to say he clearly is an example of pure greatness - inside and out.



0635 hours I departed the UK with a stopover in Brussels and what do you know, we had a female captain piloting the plane. I don't think I've experienced that before, so right on sister! I arrived in Chicago after a 99% very smooth transatlantic flight, and approached border patrol with my passport, ESTA, and a smile. My i94  was unfortunately incomplete as I couldn't remember my hosts address, despite having stayed with her 2 years previously! This did not please The border patrol representative, so for the first time in my life I was asked to "step this way please...."



Of course I just knew that everything would turn out fine, I could prove with whom I was staying very easily, I had their details on my iPad.  I could show proof of my financial outlay to participate in the various weekenders on my itinerary and most importantly, I had a flight home booked! The experience did remind me that the dancing community sits apart in a way that most walks of life mingle and accept each other within seconds.. You dance?cool, let me know if you ever need a play to stay. #MyKindOfPeople. 



Still, after probably half an hour in the waiting area, various thoughts had of course begun to cross my mind. Such as, IF they refuse me entry, that's a £1436 flight down the drain... Another $1000 or so of entry fees spent. And the real killer: people are going to think I was so unprepared or stupid to risk such a trip without making a note of my first destination! 

Lo and behold, I chatted with a lovely, if slightly perplexed border agent about my plans as he desperately scrolled down the drop down menu, scratching his head and exhaling, looking for an appropriate status to select and confirm my legitimacy. Soon though, he dispatched me on my way with a wave and a faint have a nice trip may have passed across the air. I wished him a "nice day" too.

And so, legally allowed to enter, I began a series of firsts that will define my United States adventure. Having  come from 10 or so months living out of my boot I had finely honed my packing skills and so was prepped to endure lots of walking with my own bags should the need arise.   


 Central Chicago was a super as I remembered. Fabulously imposing architecture, at once somewhat familiar and yet strikingly large compared to my native Mancunia. The sheer scale of the  buildings relative to the narrowness of the streets here is in stark contrast to anything we have back in my hometown!

My first day passed in somewhat of a fuzzy and happy state. My first full day entailed walks through what can only be described as, "this is where we'll film where they torch the getaway car"! Make no bones about it, I mean no insult to the city of Chicago. I had a very positive welcome everywhere & completely understand that the hustle needed to survive on the mean streets are way beyond the comprehension of most people. So I leave that subject there.

My first night of dancing followed at Untitled: a fabulous venue. If you are ever in Chicago I urge you to check it out. The fact that my dancing companion & I accidentally crashed a networking party with free booze, snacks and great banter, that was also dance floor adjacent? #coincidental. 

Other firsts followed: My first all American birthday blues jam. 
My first all American roadtrip: we took Highway 55 out of the city & joined the 80west.... Route info here:  
My first truckstop!

The firsts continue and I will be back soon, reporting on my first ever dance weekend in the US! Dear Off Grid Blues, in the words of Jimi Hendrix: here I come baby, comin' to getcha!

Monday 10 September 2012

North Sea Spoiled!

Forgive me, dear reader, for the delay since last we conversed, the parting I admit though, has been such sweet sorrow.

This blog dates from a way back but was thwarted just before posting by lack of proper pc access. I'm posting it after a challenging month with phone only access because I like writing and sharing  & I hope you enjoy it. ... Take yourselves back to PreOlympiad times when this was written....

I've been filling my time with dancing (newsflash), this time in Paris, Amsterdam, Rotterdam & The Hague. Made an appearance at a fabulous new venture recently launched in my home city, the Whim Wham cafe). Gin Saloon & fine dinery, the Bullet (their take on gimlet, but with Bulldog gin), touched the spot & I was informed the mojitos were up to scratch too. Live music accompanied a fine friday night's banter & 'twas fortunate we'd already eaten as the joint was fully booked. So let's give a "Hurrah!" for one of Manchester's finest vintage traditions, the Whim Wham Club remains splendidly full of dancing frolicks.



As I put fingers to keyboard, Mr Murray was playing in an historic Wimbledon men's final. He is the first Brit to make it (remember, he's a Brit, not just a Scot, now, you know) since 1937.

Whilst Roger & Andy (went) at it, I filled you in on happenings since last I blogged. I took to the skies to spend a few days visiting one of my old stomping grounds: Paris. That's Paris, France (as the Americans have been heard to say). After all these years the city felt strangely familiar: Twitter entry: #Paris is how I remembered! Faint whiff of gitanes never far away, #efficienttransport, & #goodnosh. 
My host was, as they always are (love to you all!) fabulous. I had 2 touristy days & 2 working days - if you call, lounging on a balcony in 25 degrees whilst typing, munching & supping, work. The last night in Paris was spent at La Defense at a rather fabulous outdoor Swing & Rock & Roll party. Danced with the lovely locals & grabbed the lovely Phillipe to finish out the shim sham. Jean-Luc I think it was, from a local swing dancing organisation was a superb DJ and host. Must pick up flyers to stay in contact next time! #StillARookieAtNetworking! Great Balboa too & we all quite literally roasted as we danced away what my host reckoned was the hottest night of the year.

North Sea Swing summer party - not my crutches this time - sorry Hans!
Next day: a 7 hour roadtrip from Paris to Amsterdam. My longest in years - when I'm the driver, I always split journeys over 4 hours with a stop on the way, but my lovely Parisian host & chauffeur did great & we arrived in time for plenty of dancefloor frolicks at the Amsterdam Lindy Exchange Friday night. Really great band, & though tight on space, the room was high on atmosphere & camaraderie.

Days in Gouda, night in Amsterdam, Rotterdam & The Hague - can think of worse ways to spend a week. In my own summer house no less! Or backhaus as the locals call it. At any rate, the exchange passed well, plenty of dancing, & fun music. The saturday late night was my favourite part, my dancing had actually 'arrived' by then, (it feels like it's in baggage claim at first sometimes when I get to a new place, particularly if I've not social danced in a while (FYI anything more than 2 days is a while!) Iwas completely spoiled and reminded of the power of great food, lovingly prepared. NB: I've since had many more reminders in the UK, thanks to you, you know who you are!

FB post: Mmmmemories of Holland! Still fresh! Been teaching a lovely couple for their first dance this afternoon, always think of you two when dancing, surrounded by love & eating well :D — with Katja Winzeler and Hans Vd Horst. 

The Sunday before the summer party, we dined at a fantastic family-owned restaurant, regular subscribers to this blog will note my fondness for grills or in this case mini stoves on tables. Finest thick slivers (misnoma?) of steak, special sauce (was it? yes it was!) and mega fondue. Terrific food, wine, great people. What's not to like?

The fact that Rog now has had the title for almost 48 hours shows you how you can't rush perfection. In other words, I write these things, then sleep on them, then spend about an hour, sometimes more, attaching all the links to support it. It's not fast work but serves as reminder in my time to come of what the hell *that year* was all about...

Chin chin!