• 22 January 1998 - Foot up at St Kilda Esplanade and Market and afterwards at “The Espy”. Dancing occurred eventually in spite of the Foreman's hangover, and men choosing the less obvious place to meet up.
• 22 March 1998 - Invitation to the Apple festival at Templestowe, Petty's Lane. Dancing in 40 degree weather! The crowd were impressed.
• 29 March 1998 - Invitation to the Mullum festival. Pity Gary only made it for the last dance!
• 4 April 1998 - Dancing at Brighton's St. Andrews Church 'Gourmet' fete, and in Church Street, Brighton. Much disappointment that Sam Newman didn't come over and make a few wisecracks. After all, men will go to any lengths to get on the T.V.
• 9-13 April 1998 - The National Folk Festival, Canberra.
• Practice at “The Homestead” in Fitzroy on 30th April.

Men decided an extra practice would be good in preparation for Kelly Brook winery this Saturday. Accordingly, Richard B, Derek, Tom, Julian, Wayne, Greg, Gary O and Geoge turned up with varying degrees of enthusiasm. The landlord as usual was his genial self, and pleased to see us back, since we moved practice to St Kilda. Maybe a footup or something there in the near future?

For the record, we danced Upton Stickie, Young Collins Bledington, Constant Billy Adderbury, Country Gardens Fieldtown. Richard's box playing was marginally preferred to mouth music. We did it in the road, after collisions with pillars. (How's the finger, Wayne?) George and Gary danced Princess Royal Fieldtown, and very well they did it too. Pam, we miss you at practice... men were wittering about Richard's non standard tempo on the box. Still, its got to be better than mouth music in Upton Stickie.

Some discussion about Mumming..the consensus was  yes we should do some.Please could we have the traditional script, so it can be stuck onto backs of shields in the traditional manner! Wayne offered to arrange costume, with some help.

Kellybrook Cider Festival, 3 May.

An excellent day, and for once, warm sunny weather. It must have been a good day, as the landlord was even more fulsome in his praise than usual, suggesting it was high time Britannia put their prices up next time! Our heavy practice program meant we were somewhat more confidant than usual of putting on a good show. In spite of the Squire's instructions from India to be there at 11.30, most men meandered in at 11.55. However, we were soon in action, with the foreman frantically juggling our dance repertoire to take into account experienced dancers disappearing for more cider at the crucial moment. First bracket had Old lags doing Bampton sidestep with their usual confident economical style (exception Richard!). Young Collins Bled, and Jockey “Ein,zwei, get 'em high” Brackley followed. Balance The Straw after Pam's “How does that one go?” Then back to the cider tasting. Okay so far, although we wondered whether Pam's lead tankard was having its effect on Pam. Maybe it was the cider...

3 more brackets followed before lunch. Vandals was interesting, the audience wondering whether stick clashing was supposed to be that random. The Litchfield hey was done twice for obvious reasons. Rose tree followed, and a cooperative Rose was found, and a clean lift effected.

Upton, William & Nancy, Landlord (Adderbury), Step and Fetch 'er, Country Gardens, Constant Billy, Step Back followed in a blur of sticks, hankies and cider. George and Gary performed an excellent 2 man Princess Royal, Longborough which was well appreciated by the crowd, and especially the hard pressed men. Finally, BGG.

Channel 31 was there in the shape of “John”, an amateur looking videocam, and a couple of camerapersons. Pam managed to get in a plug for her barndance band, Julian managed to get a plug in for his barndance on May 30, and the foreman just wanted to get on T.V. For those in the Melbourne area, watch Tuesday, 12 May 8.00 pm “Eastern News”. (What did I say ...?)

• Saturday, 30 May at St Peter's Hall, Box Hill (with “Fine Fettle”)

Julian's do for the Greens. Men wandered in at 8.00 ish to see Gill instructing hundreds of small children in the mysteries of bush dancing. Resisting the temptation to run out again, men were soon polishing off Julian's 5 litres of Becks. No matter, there was plenty of homebrew to keep us going...

All too soon we were on. Jockey, Balance The Straw and Rosetree were performed with vigour. One of the audience were heard to remark, “Would'nt like to meet that lot on a dark night...”

Fine Fettle played some great music, and most of the general public seemed to figure what was going on in spite of ignoring the stern admonishing remarks from the stage. Much against the older members of the side's inclinations, another bracket was performed later, with a double jig from Gary and George (Princess Royal, Longborough), and it was received with enthusiasm. Some juggling from a band member had the children fascinated, Richard called a couple of dances, and a few people had sore heads in the morning...

• 9th August. Much excitement in the local press caused by Julian's letter (4th August) to “The Age” concerning the proposed closing of the Bowls club to make way for Victoria Car Parks. All of a sudden, the phones are hot, and they want to interview/photograph us.

Accordingly, Dirty, Julian, Wayne, Greg and George dragged themselves out to the aforementioned club at the ungodly hour of of 11.15 am, in kit. We were met by a photographer who had us doing all sorts of unnatural things in the name of The Philip Bay Leader. She was particularly taken by Wayne's “eggs” and his sideburns, but was having nothing of sunglasses, whether prescription or not. A tricky moment was averted as we stepped onto the hallowed turf. The custodian clearly saw months of careful grooming of the turf going up in clods. However, we had not all got up here to be turned away, and he was somehow persuaded that no harm would befall the wondrous surface.

This was followed by an article in “The Age” by Penny Fannin. The result of this article was unexpected. Denis (ex-Chelmsford Morris) realised he was living near a Morris side, and promptly came to practice.

• 19th September. St Andrew's Market. Saturday morning, crack of dawn, and the rain is coming down in stair rods. Still, this is Spring in Melbourne. Is that some blue sky there? Lets hope so... We arrive in dribs and drabs, and thank God there's a hostelry to while away the damp moments. We have our best turn out for a while, in spite of the weather. Richard and family, Greg & Kath, George, Dirty, Pam, Wayne & Penny, Julian & Jo, Tom, Doug, Drafty, and Denis, Janice and family. Its a place for ageing hippies (like us?). Our first Sidestep in the mud during a brief clearing spell is rapturously received. And so the mystery of the Morris weaves its familiar magic. Julian steps into a flowerpot during Balance the straw, but recovers well. Derek manages to become embroiled in Dirty's stick during Lads, no harm done. Doug plays his recorder in unlikely places. Greg slips downhill among the old garden instruments. Denis puts Chelmsford behind, and embraces what he can from the diverse style of the Men. $70 richer, men retire into the pub to drink on the bag. Later, Tom leads us into a strange out of the way ditch along a dirt track in order to cut hawthorn sticks. Enough to last another 3 years!

The Ale - 4-6 December

Friday 4th December. Men from Adelaide Morris arrive at Long Greg's at some ungodly hour, and prepare for the weekend's hectic program.

Saturday. Dancing in Bourke St Mall started promptly at 11.00, causing a few chaps to be caught out. A fire eater seemed determined to keep his spot opposite the post office, and men decided as it was early in the piece, to give way gracefully, and move down the street a bit. The newly invigorated Britannia traded one for one with a depleted but nevertheless vigourous Adelaide, ending with some jolly massed dances. As it was damned hot, men soon were drifting off to the Charles Dickens, where the landlord was doing the decent thing and buying us a round and providing sandwiches and fishy things. Eventually, we danced at Flinders St station. A very long trek to the Botanical Gardens, only Wayne being sensible enough to take the tram. It was made worse by the fact that no one who lived in Melbourne seemed to know the way, yet were determined to impress Adelaide with fruitless forays down dead end tracks. But it was all worth it... tea was refreshing in the scenic gardens, and there was only a small amount of wittering about the cost. An expectant small crowd had gathered, and in spite of our footsore state, we rallied for a few dances.

7.30 pm East Brunswick Hotel. The highlights of the evening were the Mummers play, and the Adelaide men bringing out many obscure dances. I recall Old Man's Morris and some 3 man Litchfield? Sorry, my memory fails me... or was it the drink.

Sunday. Recovery at St Kilda market and afterwards at “The Espy”. Well done everybody, and thanks to Adelaide for turning up and dancing with such energy and enthusiasm. Hope we can see a few more next year.

Finally, in 1998...

10th December, at “The Homestead”, Fitzroy. The AGM, and the first 'public' performance of the Mummers play. Present Officers re-elected, the bag stumped up a plate of chips or two, and weighty matters were discussed. Meanwhile, the regulars were getting going with the Irish band in the public bar. All of a sudden...

“In comes I, Old Father Christmas...” and we were away! A great end to a busy year.