Great Excitement!! We have tickets for the Andre Rieu concert. After watching a TV programme showcasing the violinist and conductor, I was thrilled when Colin suggested we go. We are both excitedly counting down the days!
We discovered from the programme that members of the audience are encouraged to enter into the spirit by waltzing in the aisles. This gave me the opportunity to suggest that Colin and I learn the basics of a Waltz. According to ‘Nigel and Jacqueline’ (our YouTube instructors) The Waltz is one of the easier ballroom dances to master.
With Colin having two left feet, me having two right feet and the free space in our lounge being the approximate size of a Monopoly board, Colin and I don’t even seem to be on the same springboard. I actually believe he is attempting the Quick Step – while he is convinced I am attempting a Fox Trot! But we persevere. We are determined not to let Andre down. If he wants dancers, he will have dancers!
Every afternoon we find time for our lesson. After about six days we manage to move on from the “at arms length” stance that ‘spoil-sport’ Nigel recommends and get close to each other in a professional looking clinch. After a further seven days, we stop counting out loud and progress to an under our breath mumble.
The day of the concert is fast approaching and we both feel rather pleased with ourselves. Don’t get me wrong – we’re no Fred and Ginger – but we feel that if the aisles are wide and the concert hall is crowded we may be able to shuffle our way around.
But when Colin fails to push back the furniture, as is his usual afternoon routine while I’m busy washing the pots, I suspect something is wrong. Unfortunately he has received an email. Our fear is confirmed. The concert is postponed until the Covid restrictions are fully lifted.
We don’t feel too disappointed because at least we have put some of our newly acquired spare time to good use and have taught ourselves to Waltz – our first big achievement in retirement. Oh, I know I had promised to get into a daily housework routine, but give this girl a chance! I can’t be expected to manoeuvre a vacuum cleaner around the room when I’ve enough on at the moment just manoeuvring my Colin around!
Lynda Taylor
