A couple of days ago Angella and I got home from the most wonderful weekend spent meeting friends, shopping, and dancing to some of the best dance bands on the vintage scene, I have to admit I am still in a state of excitement just thinking about it.

The weekend started on Wednesday when we drove to Devizes staying at the Bear Hotel and taking the opportunity for some clothes shopping which I have to say proved a little fruitless this year but knowing what lay ahead we were optimistic we would make up the shortfall over the weekend.

We checked into the Imperial Hotel on Thursday and were pleasantly surprised to be upgraded from our usual sea view to a suite with a sea view. The Imperial is a beautiful hotel with plenty of character and massively high ceilings which may explain why it’s always on the chilly side.

Quite a nice photograph only slightly marred by the plastic bag which for some reason the computer wouldn’t let me crop! This is also the only shot of any of our daytime outfits which as you can see, if you look very closely is a combination of pink/red trousers, white blouse and a red snood, although my description may not be that accurate as like 9 out of 10 men I am slightly colour blind.

The next day we left early and drove the short distance to the Victoria Hotel in an attempt to bag a sufficiently large car parking space for the car, which I’m glad to say we managed, a word to management I’d like this spot again next year!

I then went for a walk to have a coffee and to check out the carpark at the Premier Inn which I’m pleased to say looked suitable so I’m thinking for next year we may be joining those who stay there as I suspect it may be a tad warmer than the Imperial.

My next job was to pick up a very nice valve wireless which I purchased from Alan Axon who had refurbished it and fitted a bluetooth connection and is as I write playing a rather catchy Jack Hylton tune from the playlist I have on my telephone. Blimey, I’ve almost dragged myself into the 20th century and may be bracing myself for the final plunge into the 21st, you never know.

The bands are always good at Riviera Swing but this year was superb from The Big R Band, The Pasadena Roof Orchestra and possibly everyone’s favourite 32 piece band, The Sleepy Lagoon Orchestra.

I have to say a big thank you to Mark and Hoc for their brilliant dance classes during the day, it’s quite amazing how much they can teach in such a short time, which meant together with the lessons from our ballroom teacher Cheryl enabled Angella and I to dance considerably more than we did last year.

The following are just a selection of our outfits for the evening from Friday to Sunday, which arrived far too soon, although with all the dancing my feet were glad of a rest.

And finally, an image which reminds me of some years ago when I first came across a photograph on Facebook of a large group of chaps on a staircase at a previous Riviera Swing in white tie and tails and I called Angella to come and look, “Angella, you’ve got to see this, it’s absolutely barmy we have to go.”

What a fabulous time we had, Riviera Swing gets better every year. Thank you to all those involved who make it such a wonderful event. Roll on next year!