MELS

I buy records to play; not to sell, not to dj with. To quote Richard "I think the 'gift' limit is GBP £40 and for commercial items it is GBP £18." So if I buy a moderately priced record for £20 from an American dealer, theoretically I could be charged tax plus £10 handling charge from the carrier? A hefty percentage on a not so high priced single. If I'm an MP fiddling expenses and can afford a flight to the States and a fortnight in a penthouse would I be able to carry the record through customs as part of my duty free allowance or would I just escape the carrier charge?

Despite the grey hair, I was just too young to go to Wigan. I came to Northern Soul late and it has been a wonderful voyage of discovery. Personally, I have found most people to be great and happy to share knowledge about the music, although in the past, I have had a couple of dismissive comments from obviously self-appointed, superior authentic soulies due to my lack of pedigree or experience. I still get the rush when I hear a great 'new' sound. Do they? Just enjoy the music with the majority and pity the bigots in the minority - they lack soul

TWO COPIES ON GEMM ONE OF WHICH IN UK. STILL KEEP TRYING TO GET MY OLD MAN TO PLAY THIS OUT.

TO ME IT ISN'T SO MUCH ABOUT TECHNIQUE. WHETHER YOU INCORPORATE BACKFLIPS, SHUFFLE FROM SIDE TO SIDE OR TAPDANCE IN A CIRCLE, THE DANCERS I MOST LIKE TO WATCH ARE THE ONES WHO OBVIOUSLY FEEL THE URGE TO MOVE, RATHER THAN FEEL THE URGE TO BE SEEN. NORTHERN SOUL IS A WAY OF LIFE. MY WAY IS NOT A DUPLICATE OF SOMEONE ELSE'S WAY. A GREAT DANCER IS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO DANCES HOW THEY FEEL AND WHO WEARS WHAT THEY WANT TO WEAR WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT CONFORMITY TO ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL'S IDEA OF WHO THEY SHOULD BE. ME. I'M A SHUFFLER AND PROUD. GOOD ONLY BECOMES GREAT WITH INSTINCT.

GO OUT EVERY WEEK NOW THE SPROG IS GROWN UP. BONUS IS HEARING SOMETHING UNDERPLAYED OR NEW (TO ME) AND LIKING IT. I HAVE NO MATES AND I DON'T CARE WHOSE THERE, AS LONG AS THE PLACE ISN'T SWAMPED WITH PISSHEADS LOOKING FOR A LATE-NIGHT DRINK WHICH CAN BE THE DOWNFALL OF SOME INNER CITY VENUES. NOT OFTEN TRAVELLED 50 MILES PLUS TO HEAR A DJ. EXCUSE IS I WORK EVERY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. I'M GOING TO AN ALLNIGHTER IN OCTOBER AND WILL BE PROPPED UP WITH CAFFEINE THROUGH THE WEEKEND AS MY BOSS WON'T ALLOW ME TIME OFF. WOULDN'T HAVE THE PATIENCE TO DJ. PREFER VENUES THAT MIX IT UP A BIT. NOTHING WRONG WITH THE OLD FAVOURITES, BUT EVEN YOUR FAVOURITE, YOU HEARD FOR THE FIRST TIME SOME TIME. SOMETIMES I LISTEN, SOMETIMES I DANCE. SOMETIMES MY JOINTS DON'T LIVE UP TO MY APPRECIATION OF WHAT IS BEING PLAYED. TOO MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE "SAME OLD" BUT VOTE FOR IT WITH THEIR FEET EVERY TIME. IF YOU WANT IT, ADMIT IT BUT DON'T STROKE YOUR CHIN IN THE CORNER PRETENDING YOU WANT MORE. BAH HUMBUG.

We go every March and October and love it. The annoying thing is, I rang Pontins, Prestatyn not so long ago and they assured me that the October event was definitely on. I am capped on the number of weekends I can have off a year and I needed to know. Thanks to John for all the superb effort over the years. I have memories and photos to cherish. I would never otherwise have had the chance to meet so many legends who sang the songs I listen to every week.