20 Blackpool Rules
Rules they don't tell you in the rule book.

Getting there

Rule 1 Packing Light is not possible.
Despite the very best intentions of only taking the bare minimum to Blackpool, each year you will end up taking enough to mount a Polar expedition.

Rule 2 Setting off on time is also impossible
The gods will conspire to prevent leaving on time. Don't fight it, it will just happen that way.

Rule 3
No matter how hard you fight the temptation eventually one person in the car will say "we're making quite good time". At which point the driver should start to slow down because a 12 mile traffic jam is inevitable within the next 2 minutes.
This is of course true of any long journey.

Rule 4
The hotel room is always up one more flight of stairs than you would really like. (please note rule 1 )

Rule 5
When taking your luggage from the car to the hotel room - No matter how you divide the load, how high you pile up the bags on your husband like the donkey in a game of Buckaroo - there will always be the need to make one extra journey for one small bag, box, coat etc. (please refer to rules 1 and rule 4)

Rule 6
When heavily laiden with cases in both hands, the first door you come to will be a pull door. Also, when loaded like Buckaroo (see 5) the only way to go up stairs is sideways (see 4)

Rule 7
You will have forgotten to bring something. Which is astounding given Rule1.

Practice

Rule 8
Blackpool "Starts" when you walk down the stairs into the ballroom.

Rule 9
In the programme there is a request that reads: "Will all dancers please practice on the Ballroom floor only the dances relevant to the music being played"
Despite this it is a universal truth that during the Ballroom practice you will get one selfish half wit couple doing Latin, and during Latin, one that will be doing ballroom.
I would personally like to thank the couple that danced quickstep into me during a Rumba and managed to tread on my ankle. Gee .. thanks.

The competition
Rule 10
You would much prefer to be in either the heat before or after the one you find yourself in.

Rule 11
The floor will be nothing like the way it was during practice.

Rule 12
The part of routine you were worried about will go without a hitch.

Rule 13
Something you least expect to go wrong - will go wrong.

After the competition

Rule 14 Blackpool time
The Blackpool festival functions in its very own time zone divorced from hum drum reality.
For example, the competition ends at 1.30 am, you will then want lunch
At some point over the festival, you will find yourself saying 'no' to another drink at 3 am because you want an early night.

Rule 15
Someone you don't know will complement you on your dancing after the competition.

Rule 16
Attending the AGM after 2 hours sleep is not a good idea.
Trust me on this. (see rule 14)

Rule 17
Packing the car for the return journey, Rules 4 5 & 6 still apply

Rule 18
Although the luggage all fitted for the journey to Blackpool, it wont go back in the same way.

Rule 19
On packing the bags you will find the item you thought you had forgotten to bring (see rule 7)

Rule 20
At some point on the journey home, you will be counting the days for the next festival. And you promise yourself that next time, you wont take as much luggage.