August NOVERSEAS

If there is one thing that is known to people who know things it’s that August goes; Brodick, Worlds, Rothesay, Cowal. Other competitions are available, we went to Bridge of Allan once but that’s another story. Under normal circumstance we’d have stood in the hissing rain in a damp kilt and wet shoes while Pipey set the tempo and I glanced longingly at the Rothesay beer tent just over the barrier through the puddles and up the greasy hill.

Practice Revisited

I joyfully predicted a return to practice at the tail end of lockdowns one and two and was proven hopelessly wrong on both occasions.

The Drummer who came to Tea – one for the kiddies

One pleasant afternoon Pipey and Wee Mel were sitting in the second best living room arranging their sheet music into Gaelic order when the doorbell rang unexpectedly.

“Who could that be?” asked Pipey

Lockdown denial

I don’t believe in lockdown. I see no evidence of it in my day to day life. This is not going to turn into a Thought for the Day homily that turns that statement on its head, I see little evidence, during the week, that we are in lockdown.

Onward and Upward

Rumours are rife, planning is underway for competitions across Scotland this summer. Gourock are hopeful to host a games and the RSPBA have mooted five major championships in five weeks. If it all comes to fruition August is going to be a very busy month.

2020 in perspective

2020 started respectably enough, then the Aircraft of Normality roared across the deck of the Aircraft carrier of Life and plunged straight into the briny deep of Lockdown. I’m paraphrasing Humphrey Littleton here.

Jangling all the way

So it seems the other side of Tier 3 was Tier 4 and now we’re the other side of Tier 4 which is Tier 3 and thankful to be let out to the shops. I can see this being a festive season that’s talked about for years to come, ” Mind thon time we had a valid reason to no invite your brother for Christmas dinner?”

IV- A Newish Hope

What a difference a week makes. Suddenly the world isn’t looking as dreich and gloomy, the longed for return to practice and socialising is now very much on the cards for next spring; earlier if we can convince Boris that bagpipers are key workers.

All quiet on the piping front

It’s been six months since the pipe corps met and we now look at the NHS mini marchpast with the wry grin of someone doing something they know they shouldn’t have. The tuition of pipers and drummers continues via t’internet and just when it looked like a return to practice with caveats could possible, maybe, just about happen the portcullis slams down and we’re back to square one.

An end of things

It all went a bit quiet in the last few weeks, you can only pretend that everything is getting back to normal soon for so long, the rich vein of creativity that kept our Facebook timeline a must visit page seems mined out. The nights are fare drawin’ in.