Last week, a group from Tenby and District U3A took off to Swansea for an evening of ballet at the Grand. A minibus swept us all up efficiently at our various rendezvous and whisked us to the front door of the theatre.

Time had been allowed for a welcome meal (all of generous proportions, some more than others - you know who you are...) in the theatre's bar, then we headed for our seats. A big thank you is due to the very helpful theatre staff.

The overture began. This romantic opus from Tchaikovsky was performed by the Russian State Ballet and Opera House, and was a delight. Indeed, the whole theatre appeared to be thrilled, judging from the fervid and frequent applause.

In addition to the fabulous dancing and evocative, familiar music, there were ingenious sets, rich colours, stunning costumes, toastings of raised gold goblets, long trailing capes and dramatic billowing waterscapes to keep us enthralled.

The classic tale of good versus evil portrays a good Prince Siegfried at his 21st birthday celebration, dismissing his mother's pressing for a marriage of convenience. Instead he goes off hunting. At the enchanted lake (the backdrop for all the world reminded me of Azay Le Rideau on the Loire), he encounters and falls for Odette, a beautiful maiden bound as a swan under the spell of the bad Baron von Rothbart.

But Siegfried is then duped by the sorcerer into falling for his daughter Odile in the guise of a black-version Odette, and swears undying love. Heartbreak for the real Odette, who witnessed the tryst from close-by, as indeed for Siegfried when he realises his error. All is resolved when... well, you know the story (though that said, the ending has many variants).

The evening was simply lovely, and I'm sure we'd all like to raise our own goblets to Margaret RG, who organised the evening, and even got us all home (courtesy of Narberth Minibus Travel) by midnight before our carriage turned into a pumpkin.

Susan Biggin