the times they are a changin

Gourock once again stuck up two fingers to the rain clouds and chill winds of yore. For years Gourock Highland games was a byword for cold, dreich and soggy, we now have players who have never known anything but sunburn and blue skies.

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Brief Encounter

One of the things I enjoyed of late was playing my friend John off the hill on his last Munro. I’d promised to play him to the summit about 5 years ago but my debauched lifestyle and close personal relationship with pies ruled that out as an option.

Spring has sprung

With nothing pipe bandy happening until late March and a hankering for a bit of a social interaction that didn’t involve me remembering musical phrases the announcement that your man Stuart Liddell was playing a solo gig in Kilbarchan hit the spot.

Winter Statement

That’s us well into February and although we have given ourselves a mountain to climb in learning 30 odd tunes for Music Show Scotland and perfecting the new MAP set we can still be seen out and about at shows, concerts, gigs, Burns suppers and well mostly Burns suppers. James the Hat and I would like to have a Pipe Band Burns supper some year because three in three weeks isn’t enough.

Hello 2019

It’s customary to do a review of the past 12 months and a wee bit of scrying about the coming year. A grim tale of torment and disappointment I hear you call yet for all the friction we picked up a load of trophies  and some recognition for the hard work being done.

It’s yir culture dafty!

Finding something interesting to write about in the closed season should be the reason for long gaps between blogs but being unable to find the time due to socialising is inexcusable.

The End of Season Takeaway

It would be too easy to say that the end of season party always gets out of hand. We honestly try every year to add a bit of gravitas and decorum, even going to the extent of inviting church elders, Session Clerks, youth leaders, teachers, wives, Scouts and even a Basset hound to keep it ‘grown up’ but still, as predictable as winter, it gets messy.

Winning in Cowal

I don’t want to start sounding like a broken record but; early, early, early. The bus left at 6:16, IN THE MORNING! Thankfully the guys at Bobbins were on hand to provide breakfast rolls, sausage, bacon and scrambled egg. It was a long time till lunch so I tried all three and they were delicious, I tempered mine with Laphroaig sauce. James the Hat had some whisky but he didn’t inhale because he’s been drappt from the Drappt and is helping out the band with his keen sense of timing and strong right hand.

Thon Worlds

It begins early; uniform on, shoes polished, urns filled, car loaded and everything double checked lest we get a visit from the Idiot Box. It’s World Pipe Band Championship Saturday, the weather is just the good side of rubbish and we are on when God fearing people should be in bed.

Late Worlds Week

After apologising to James the Hat for traducing his name by association it’s time for a wee report on Piping Live and the influx of pipers and drummers to Glasgow.