The last time I went to a ceilidh it was our Christmas party at the design agency I used to work at. Everyone got a bit drunk and over zealous and I woke up with bruises all up my arm. So I was a bit tentative about this event.
and 'Folk of The Wood' events
With Katya Postlethwaite
Katya is one of my besties, she's always up for trying new things, is hugely supportive and the most fun. I met her through a past relationship and i'm so grateful that she's stayed in my life, I genuinely don't know what i'd do without her. Kat has the longest arms i've ever seen, we call it her 'wingspan', and loves a dance so she was the perfect +1 for this.
I needn't have worried, it was one of the loveliest things i've ever been to. It's bizarre but I've never been to West Norwood and I only knew the person I took with me but stepping foot in the Portico gallery felt reassuringly familiar. I'll sound twee so don't judge me but it was a welcoming space filled with a friendly, warm community of people and it felt like somewhere from my childhood. Since my neck started playing up i've felt more and more ill at ease in large groups of strangers, especially one as energetic as a ceilidh. But I didn't feel that for a second.
We only actually took part in 2 dances but absolutely loved watching everyone else doing it and no one put pressure on us to join in with any more.
We left feeling like we'd been part of something magical.
The gallery and Folk of The Woods hold regular events and i'm keen to do more in this fantastic community.
'I don't like change. I don't like being out of my comfort zone. Who does? When it comes to learning something new I often have to push myself into it and inevitably end up loving it. Really what's the worst that could happen? At least it'll be another story to tell the grandkids.' Katya