Scottish Scenes

Saturday morning found me being dropped off at the bus at the very civilised time of 10:30 full of croissants and coffee but sans hat or sunscreen as it transpired. The search for a Bluetooth speaker began almost the minute we started moving but wasn’t resolved until we reached Dumbarton and Tiny Bubbles erupted from the bus PA, we know the words now so joined Steak and Kidney for a wee warble. As we approached Dumbarton, under a lowering sky, the DJ had the wheels of steel turning way before we had anyone to intimidate. The phrase, “He got aff at Dalreoch!” sprang to mind.

Renfrew (inaugural)

As this was a local competition there was no need for a bus and the attendant hilarity that entails. 2022 is the inaugural Renfrew competition and the first thing to say is where has Renfrew been hiding Robertson Park, even in the Scottish summer dreich it was awesome. 

Red Hot Pipers

Another sign of life returning to normal is the return of pipe bands playing for the lucky passengers of cruise ships visiting Greenock, I’m sure it sounds very upmarket in foreign tongues, Ockverdé?

European Champs

Going by the last report of a Major competition this is going to be a short read.

Stewarton Bonnets 2022

Stewarton Bonnet Parade is a three-day event that involves the Corsehill Queen and her attendants, street marches, floats and an act of remembrance. It’s a big deal in this small Ayrshire town. If you own a Glengarry bunnet check inside, there is a good chance it was made in Stewarton. Normally boring old Kilbarchan Pipe Band fill the piping slot but this year multi championship winning Kilbarchan Pipe Band rocked up and did the honours.

Oirland 2022

This blog will be full of second hand stories, supposition and stuff I made up. So nothing new there then. I was booked on the bus , boat and accommodation and had even paid the pennies and put my name on the list but a family tragedy engulfed me and I had to step back as some things just take precedence.

2022 British Championship

Very small children could be forgiven for thinking all pipe band events happen in Gourock. In the spirit of deja vu were are back in Battery Park for the 2022 British Championships, the first major Championship for 3 years.

Gourock, finally

For two years we have tried to put some sort of competition season together; single grade, locked venues or God help us Zoom but the gregarious nature of the participants and the pandemic’s not caring about good intentions closed every avenue. I was looking forward to the Gourock games but I had no idea how much.

One more sleep

The pipe band competition season gets underway tomorrow and KPB will be the first band to play in competition in the west of Scotland for two years. No pressure then.

Covid Strikes Back

Praise where it’s due, we have not had a major Covid outbreak in the band even though we have been meeting regularly indoors for ages. I think we can thank everyone for taking it seriously and to Ma McGeachy and Little Boots for coordinating the checking and recording of tests.