Friday and Saturday nights are my curfew-free days, when I don’t have to work the next day. Friday had proven a washout, as my afternoon nap lasted until 11pm, and failed entirely to make a 1am visit to La Discépolo – but tonight I danced until 3am.

This was a return visit to a milonga I really enjoyed – and again with a live orchestra, this time La Juan D’Arienzo, who I’d really loved at La Viruta …

I’d intended to start the dance day with another visit to El Abrazo, but in the end tiredness won out, so I spent the afternoon relaxing and napping.

That left De Querusa, a milonga Steph had loved before and Diego said would also be suitable for the rest of us …

Private and video interview complete, it was playtime! I’d had a great time at Sueño Porteño last time, and was looking forward to a return visit. Steph was skeptical about the milonga demographic, claiming it was too old for her, and became even grumpier when she saw we’d been given a table behind the front row, but fortunately changed her mind after experiencing the milonga.

There was a small administrative matter to take care of, and this didn’t prove easy …

I’m now halfway through the three-week period in which I have to work as well as play, and I’ve more-or-less settled into a pattern:

• Wake at 6.30am, make coffee, make tea, set up my office
• Work from 7am to noon
• Relax in the apartment
• Nap for a couple of hours mid-afternoon
• Do one or two afternoon/early evening* milongas from 6-7pm to 11pm
• Aim to be in bed before midnight

In my quest for afternoon milongas which run some way into the evening, I seem to be sampling every milonga El Beso has to offer! Today it was Tango Camargo, which was very much like El Abrazo: older crowd, relaxed, friendly, simple dance.

Antonio wanted to ease himself in gently with a group class and practica, but as this was also at El Beso, I persuaded him to come with me to at least watch and soak up the atmosphere …