At the 24th Australian Winter School in Perth in September/October 1999 I was in the Nullagine Class. Derek Haynes taught his dance “<<ddd:Black Donald>>” which has the figure Allemande Right and Allemande Left, which is described in the dance “<<ddd:Not I>>”, R.S.C.D.S. Book 28. I like this figure and other dances, “<<ddd:Peterhead Lassies>>” by Roy Goldring and “<<ddd:The Bluebells of Scotland>>” by Iain Boyd, which contain it. It occurred to me that I did not know of any strathspey containing the figure (although Alastair McFadyen in New Zealand had taught a version of <<ddd:Sandy O’er the Lea>> with that figure from an old book). This was the inspiration for the dance. To the Allemande figure, I have added other of my favourite strathspey movements - the progression, dancing through the ends and the hands across flowing into right hand turns.  

Nullagine is a town in Western Australia which is famous for its amethyst production. We were
pleased to learn that amethyst is said to protect from intoxication!