The Plough at Long Whittenham is another of our regular summer stops, and it was great to be back in their garden. There were a goodly number of locals there, enjoying a warm late July evening. Unusually, not many of them ran away the minute we got going.

We’d been hoping some of Towersey Morris might also turn up, but in the event we were undisturbed.

We did our usual thing – some dances followed by some tunes and songs as night fell.

In truth, we remain a bit rusty and unpractised. But after the last 18 months, we’ll settle for being rusty and unpractised but out dancing again.

In those long-forgotten ‘normal’ times, we made an annual visit to the Fox at Denchworth as guests of Icknield Way. Perhaps the world is slowly getting back to rights again.

It was a warm evening, and the garden was packed with diners. Ah-ha! A captive audience.

Icknield had brought alone their youth division. I believe it was their first public appearance. They did very well.

As ever, we finished the evening with some tunes while the light faded. What can I say? It’s nice to be back.

July dawns, and with it a summer evening with our old chums Old Speckled Hen. They were feeling short of match practice, so just came to watch.

It was one of those evenings rare in an English summer, where it was not only warm but the half-promise of some rain did not materialise.

Our new recruit, Josh, has only had a limited opportunity to practice. But by heck, he’s learned quickly – and looks the part, too.

With the help of a dancer borrowed on the spot from Headington Quarry, we danced into the dusk, and finally managed to entice the assembled Hens into an impromptu dance.

When we’d all finished with a mass Bonny Green, time for tunes and songs as the sun set. Oh, summer dance outs. We’ve missed you.