Over the Waves

The Catamaran Club of Moratuwa had organized the dance and on Friday evening (11^th May 2007) I get a call inviting me along to the dance. Even though it was pretty short notice… I had a look at my ‘busy schedule of events’ of Friday and found that I was free! (what a surprise huh?). Anyway I was picked up a bit past ten and we made our way to Waters Edge. The band was already in full swing when we arrived. The customary entrance bag was a little bag holding a moisturizer from Natures’ Secrets and a few sample sachets of Comfort fabric softener. Then we noticed the photographer at the entrance as with all other dances and immediately posed for our pictures only to be told that we need to pay for the photograph! Rs.200/= for an unframed one and Rs.450/= for a framed picture…. Well that was a first! Anyways we took our picture and went in.

The ever critical me had loads of fodder.

1) The tables were arranged quite badly and the people had to squeeze past chairs to get to their seats

2) The buffet was served at the farther end of the hall … once again one had to wind oneself past chairs holding the plate practically over other peoples heads hoping that no one seated behind would suddenly push out their chair causuing you to tip the contents of your plate on the person seated in front

3) The dance floor was opening up in several places with cracks appearing to catch the ladies stiletto heels

4) There were absolutely NO PRIZES!!!!!! Apart from the entrance draw, raffle draw and a few table draws (bottles of beer). That was it!!! Nothing else. What a drastic difference from many dances I’ve been to.

On the good side … yes there was a good side too of course… the music was fabulous. Misty and Super Pink & Purple were the two bands and they played some great music. The only bad bit with the music was when the bandleader of Super Pink & Purple invited his niece (I think) Dilrukshi from the now defunct bad (I’m didn’t think much of their band anyway) gave a few nasal renditions which left many ears feeling sad. It got even worse when some guy and Dilruskhi TRIED (please note the emphasis on tried) to sing ‘Red Red Wine’. Oh me gosh!!!! That was horrible. Many people walked off the floor with pained expressions on their faces. HORRIBLE! Thank goodness someone had the consideration to notice the rapidly emptying floor and oust the two and continue with the original band music.

The food was really good. Waters Edge had done a great job with the menu. I enjoyed every morsel. Everything from the soup, salad, main course and desserts, they were all excellent.

Another fiasco was the raffle tickets. A book was Rs.500/= and held 5 tickets. When the usher came selling the tickets we inquired whether we could buy just one….NO! she said. We had to buy the whole book for Rs.500/= or nothing. Almost to contradict her it seemed that the announcer kept saying that we could buy a ticket! Perhaps the poor thing was deaf! Just then the other members of the table were buying books and I noticed that she gave them the counterfoils and removed the tickets and held them with her. I heard many a protest correcting her that they should hold the ticket which had the details of ALL four or five prizes offered for the raffle. Still, she insisted on giving them the counterfoils. I had a niggly little feeling that when she discovered that she had done the wrong thing, she didn’t put the tickets in the barrel, cos the draw only pulled out the counterfoils which held the name, address and telephone numbers of the winners!!!

Apart from all the niggly little things… I did enjoy the dance … like I said the music was good, the food was good and the company was good too.