Reflections on 2019

2019 began with bagpipes, dancing and camaraderie and looks set to depart in a similar manner. There have been huge changes to the social fabric of the band with new characters arriving and some well loved friends departing. I’m told this is the way in the world of Pipe Bands, it’s transitory and people move between bands looking for something fresh.

Dancing in the Dark

The autumn fancy dress ceilidh has drifted further towards the back of the year and morphed into the Christmas ceilidh. Dress kilts and posh frocks is just another form of fancy dress after all. Although the Unelected Social Committee are constantly beavering away at the fund raising this is a ‘Social’, dancing taking precedence over raffling. 

Winters Traditions

30^th of November marks the switch from autumn to winter and start of the Season of Lights. We as a band have traditionally stood or marched at these sparkly events dressed in festive black and scowling. This year is different. Pipey, still hallucinating from the Benylin™, has insisted we wear Christmas jumpers and smile.

Quality Man

Wow! Where did October go? I’ve decided to go for a truncated report on the tail end of the season and tie in a few of the other things that have been going on while I’ve been distracted and otherwise engaged.

Rossie A’hoy

After the Worlds we begin our overseas tour with a voyage to Bute, with points to prove. It was not a notably early departure but just late enough to miss the ferry and force us into local cafés for bacon rolls and strong coffee.

Where Worlds Collide

Friday of Worlds week used to be the Grade 1 qualifiers when bands from the Antipodes played twice then went home but this year there have been changes and all the bands will play four times over two days and all the results get tallied up. This means a lot of hard work for the Pipeys as they try to hone their sound and keep it. I, however, am in the house waiting for a furniture delivery and looking at the rain glad to not be out in it.

Live Piping in Glasgow

Everyone should take a weeks holiday in their home town. It’s amazing the things you see when you aren’t rushing along head down with places to be. It’s a real eye opener to see Glasgow as a tourist; the splendid architecture and friendly people, the spectacle and drama a big city and the concerned folk talking to street sleepers. Even the Polis seemed friendly.

Wasperry Ripple

Due to ongoing ferry inefficiencies we’d decided to get to Ardrossan harbour early to avoid disappointment. The weather forecast was grim but hopefully clearing later so we had braced ourselves for a cruel crossing with a dispirited march at the other end then damp splashing through the park.

Scottish Squelching Competition

This report is concerned mainly with the Scottish Championships but before I get into that I’ll have a quick canter through another driech day; The Europeans in Inverness.

Helensburgh: Debt Free

Last year was a mission to get a lift to Helensburgh so this year I took my car, I was in my guise as Band Photographer and whisky taster. It was the anniversary of me stupidly saying I owed Big Gordy a pint.