Good Personal Hygiene is not just for the Holidays!

The holiday season is upon us once more and the dance parties will be in full swing.

I just read my post on personal hygiene and feel it is as relevant now as it was two years ago when I first published it.  Apparently it is one of my most popular posts. 🙂

If I have anything to add, it would be this:   Men, if you are the type who will drench a T-shirt after a couple of dances or a tanda, please bring plenty spare.  I recently had the displeasure of dancing with a man who knows he perspires.  I suggested that he brings some spare ones and he replied that they would only get wet too!   Oy vey!  As far as I’m concerened, bring your whole wardrobe, because at least you might be dry for a dance each time you change your shirt!    To be equal to both sexes, I think the women should be just as prepared.

Saying all that, I hope that everyone has a wonderful time wherever they are dancing and whatever style!

Happy Dancing to All!

 

 

Ask Arlene…About Food at The Milonga

Dear Arlene

I often get a bit peckish during the milongas and I really wish that someone could come round selling those delicious Argentinian pasties known as Empanadas. I have tried the tea and cakes at the crypt and I find it’s all a bit WI – a bit at odds with the exociticsm of the dance and more in tune with pensioners Old Time dancing on a Thursday afternoon. I have looked up the recipe for beef empanadas on the internet and theres a great one on the bbc website. Could you organise this Arlene ? (sssh! A woman called Tina who helps out at the Crypt knows how to make them)

Todo Bien

Dear Todo Bien,

If you haven’t already, I suggest you read my first post on Personal Hygiene.

We are not in Buenos Aires where you can order a meal and have a dance.

I personally have never found the dance to be exotic and at odds with cake.  I love cake and am particularly fond of the tea and cakes at The Crypt.  On the El Once nights, Paul’s bakes the cakes himself and they are very yummy, a good source of carbs for all the dancing, and most importantly, they don’t give you bad breath like an empanada would.  You all know how I feel about BB and smells!

Every once in awhile the organisers of the Milongas have food for a special event, which I think is great.  I always pack my toothbrush anyway so if I am eating something I wouldn’t normally eat on a Milonga night, I make sure I use the facilities to clean my teeth and have the breath mints or chewing gum at the ready, but I still worry about being offensive.  My big issue is when the organisers leave flavoured crisps on the tables.  Why can’t they use plain, salted crisps?  I think I may have unintentionally insulted someone a couple of years ago when I asked him if he tucked into the crisps, as all I could smell was cheese and onion!  He hasn’t danced with me since.

So, the answer to your question is ‘no’.