Strictly Come Dancing

How nice that we have someone to cheer on.

Maybe we should have a glitter ball emoticon?

GrandmaMiney I am sure you are bursting with pride at how brilliantly your girl did - I know I would be! I can also understand how nerve wracking it must be for you to watch.

I hope GNs will vote en masse for her - she's almost one of us after all!

Susanna certainly was impressive, and I enjoyed Mark Benton's performance - I bet he'll be a shadow of his former self by the time he leaves the show!

Sophie Ellix-Bextor certainly looked lovely and danced well, but I thought there was a distinct lack of 'spark' between her and Brendan!

Wow GrandmaMiney I know who my favourite is now!

GrandmaMiney, I too am rooting for Susannah....had no idea we had a Gransnet connection but I've warmed to her over the last few years of watching BBC Breakfast, her natural enthusiasm for everything is such a tonic.

The ones I'd like to see make an early exit are, Vanessa Feltz, The Hairy Biker and Julien whoeverheis.

We thought the Coundown girl was lovely.

I think a blog/diary from a Granseye view would be a brilliant idea - please do it GrandmaMiney. Your girl did really good (I can write proper Engish, but sometimes prefer the cliche) no wonder you were in tears!!
Please, please do write a blog diary - it would be fascinating to read.

Ditto merlot. However, I suspect that Tony will be on his way next week, much as I would like to see the back of Vanessa. Dave was quite amusing but that Julien was simply irritating!

I think Vanessa had a cheek announcing that as she is soon to be a grandmother she was doing it so people would recognise that grannies can get out there and have fun (or words to that effect).

Phew! Where would we be without her?

I recorded last night's and watched Artem twice [drooling smiley] the scarlet sash did it for me - I just have this thing about men and scarlet (not cardinals, obviously)

I'm afraid I'm already finding Tess irritating, with her posturing and awful dresses!
But......(ducking under the table now), I thought Brucie was ok tonight, not too cringeworthy.

I think Bruce is now rather sad; but I agree - that really was an awful dress that Tess was wearing.

I think Bruce is much better when he just talks seriously about the dancing and doesn't try to be funny. Not really sure what Tess is for, apart from simpering and wearing horrible frocks. When there are four judges to talk about the performances why do you even need two presenters?

Well, now we've seen them all, and given the underwhelming reaction when this year's 'celebs' was announced I thought the standard of dancing/performing was actually pretty good.

Entertainment looks certain to come from Mark Benton (who also showed signs of dancing ability). And from Hairy Dave. Not sure about his dancing ability, but his enjoyment and down to earth cheekiness definitely has appeal.

I admit I hadn't been too impressed by willowy WAG Abbey Clancy (and felt footie hubbie Peter Crouch was trying extremely hard to not show his anxiety when her professional partner was announced at the launch show). But Wow, she definitely did the best waltz of the openers. In my very humble opinion.

Ok, ok so you all know, now, that I have a vested interest in this year's SCD, and it was great to see the energy that Patrick Robinson put into his Jive.
In my next life I shall definitely have to have a go at this--preferably before I'm 20, while knees and hips are in good flexy-flicky-kicky condition.
[Thank goodness for glucosamine for us Grans with the hippy twinges--or twingey hips].

Before I say goodnight, I'll just say: ^"thank you so much"^ to all of you who have made favourable comments on daughter dearest's performance on Friday night.
It would be great to adopt her as the Gransnet vote-for when voting starts next Saturday.
She would be so honoured (and I'd be so grateful!)

She definitely has a connection with all us Grans...
My user name came from Susanna's name for her much loved grandmother (my mum) who, for the usual oddball family reasons, was know as Mine ever since my elder son got muddled by the use of personal possessive pronouns.
Do any of you remember those 'Poppit beads' of the 1960s? My mum used to take hers apart to play games with her grandsons-- saying "that's yours, and that's mine" as they sorted them into little piles. No.1 son, aged 18 months took the 'mine' bit to be her name. That was nearly 50 years ago, and the name stayed right up until his sister--daughter dearest-- bid a devastated farewell to her beloved 'Miney' on the day she died, 5 years ago.
Hence GrandmaMiney became my user name, so her name could live on.

Sleep well, all you lovely dancing Grans (and Grandpas) out there or

GrandmaMiney

Lovely post, lovely name, will defo be rooting for 'daughter dearest'. My lovely Mum was 'Naini' from the Welsh Nain but sounding more 'friendly'.

I would love to see the back end of Vanessa next week but not her partner whose name escapes me temporarily. Is he James Jordan?

I think someone can count on lots of support here!

I'm pleased to see that it's going to be possible to vote on line. You just have to go on here and register to vote, if you haven't already got a BBC i.d. I usually couldn't be bothered to keep on re-dialing an engaged phone line. This is going to make it easier.

I think so, Charley. Yes his rear is much more appealing than Vanessa's.

Strangely enough I did not find Vanessa quite as annoying as I thought I would - perhaps besides Bruce and Tess she pales a little. Also, being a tad sturdy myself and learning to dance I can empathise a little, heaving ones size 16 derriere on hockey player legs around a dance floor IS exhausting. In fact I was dead impressed she was wearing such dainty shoes. I have to use what they call 'practice' shoes which are black and lace up.
No I'm sorry to say I found Tony Jacklin's performance embarrassing and although I adore the Hairy Bikers and Mike's 'Dad at a Wedding' dance might have been funny, he too is difficult to watch.
I think my favourite bit so far was the look of sheer pleasure on Anton's face when Craig smilingly commented on how nice it must be for him to have a partner who could actually 'put one foot in front of the other'.

Oh! Yes! HildaW that was sheer delight, wasn't it Anton's face? He seems to be such a NICE (awful word) person, did you notice the way he stood back and let his partner go first up the stairs, then gently held her arm - no racing away for him. At least he has a chance this time, he has had such AWFUL partners in the past, I was sure he was going to get Vanessa!

Yes I noticed that too Printmiss and agree that he seems a really nice chap. He was the only pro dancer invited to Len's wedding - I think they are friends and he plays golf with Brucie. All his previous partners have said how lovely he is and how he looked after them. He would be my choice of partner - can you imagine being whisked across the floor in his arms, wearing a gorgeous gown? Hmmmmmm! [grn]

should be

I had almost decided not go bother to watch this series, but had recorded the programmes. Since reading about Susanna I decided to have a look today. She is fantastic, Sue, you must be so proud. It was such a difficult dance for a first one. I don't usually vote, but will make an exeption.