Wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle, jump jump jump jump

Wow. So many blog posts in just one day. I guess everyone can tell we've had some free time.
We went to a medieval dinner tonight in Houghton-le-Spring. We gathered in St. Michael's church, which was rather newer than some of the others we've visited. This one's only 900 years old, but there are foundations under the church that date back to Roman times.
Dinner was roast pig with stuffing and veggies and was yummy. For pudding we had rhubarb pie. All before and during dinner were musical acts: a female choir and a guitar ensemble. We had a raffle and they passed out tiny samples of mead.*
Then came the folk dancing. The troupe who did the dancing started out with dances done at court, which were slower and more poised and required fancier clothing. Once they were done with the court dances, there was a brief intermission as they changed into peasant's clothing.
The peasant dances were more fun, IMO. They were faster and involved more jumping. They also involved audience participation.
That's right. Vickey and I got up to dance, because we have a sense of adventure and a lack of shame. The boys and Terry stood on the sidelines. Tim, of course, took pictures.
We did two dances, one called a Farandole, which was as simple as linking our hands together in a chain and following the leader. That was fun. Next up came the Hermit Troll (which had nothing to do with a plastic figurine with long colorful hair and a gemstone for a belly-button), which was supposed to be a dance about the life of a hermit. Hermits are committed to a life of seclusion, which makes any kind of group dances about their lives somewhat incorrect, but it was a fun little dance anyway.
Three steps to the left, and kick.
Three steps to the right, and kick.
Three steps to the left, and kick.
Three steps to the right, and kick.
With hands together like you're praying, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle.
jump, jump, jump, jump.
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle,
jump, jump, jump, jump.
And repeat.
It's a shame (or blessing, depending on who you ask) that we didn't have video. Just still photos, which I'm sure will be posted here in due time.
G'night all.
Amy

*Mead is a kind of "wine" made from a mix of water and honey that is left to ferment. It's sweet, but not in the way wine is sweet. It gave me a real hot rush almost as soon as I swallowed it. It wasn't bad, per se, but I've had better.