I've recently restarted going (although not last night, because I had too much to do and was tired (and still overslept. Sigh)), and I know what you mean. It's been a little odd for me, because the vast majority of the people I knew who used to go have left Cambridge; having taken a year away after the smoke got unmanageable, there are two years' worth of students I don't know -- I felt as if I knew about half a dozen people there last time. Being quite shy, I find it difficult to break into groups that I don't know, without some kind of introduction.

I have to admit to finding it a bit difficult last time -- the music was good, but being on the dance floor when the next oldest person there is (if I'm lucky) 15 years younger than me makes me feel really rather ridiculous, and to be utterly paranoid that everyone's just laughing at the ugly old bat trying to be a teenager for Way Too Long. It was a little ironic to be feeling that while actually realising that I was dancing competently for the first time in ages...

I've actually taken to going to B-Movie more than the Calling this year, at least when it ties in with child-care arrangements. I think I'm a lot closer to average age there, and probably look rather less than average, which makes it a lot easier to relax and not be self-conscious about it. And it's a really friendly crowd, and a very relaxed atmosphere (not that it isn't at the Calling, but mostly for people in established groups there). Of course, it means going to London, but on the other hand it's on a Friday, which makes recovering afterwards much easier!

I didn't know anyone at the last calling, because lots of my friends were going to whitby the next day and hence didn't want to go. Everyone seemed really young to me - since there were so many freshers and few people that I knew! But I doubt it was like that last night and I doubt it will be like that next calling!

Sorry, I meant the calling before last. I wasn't at the one last night!