pipe band away weekend - Bowels outdoor centre

The Pipe band had set aside two weekends this year to prepare positively for the competitions, and build up the band. After much looking around and not finding much suitable or affordable we settled on the Lodge at the Bowles outdoor centre ...  a common haunt of mine over 30 year ago

The week before it had snowed over the South East UK and the back roads were covered, but the main roads cleared by the weekend.. typified as Steve, in his car,  and I in the van, passed a car in the hedge where it had missed a 90 degree turn..

Slow start as we all arrived and settled in with a brew and much chat. I was sharing a room with Steve.. Followed by some sessions on the practice chanter and Billy's theory of musicality.

Lunch was a selection of sandwiches .. random from the order but still sorted.

then back to the practices and theory sessions.

Evening out was provided courtesy of David N ..  a visit to the pub then dinner round his house ..  lasagna and a multitude of puddings


Sunday started with an early walk around the grounds for me ..  followed by the complexities of breakfast where communication of requirements failed and we had a curtailed options.
However all being adults lead to a satisfactory end.

Then it was back to the practice  ... I started off in the headmasters study providing the tunes for the drummers ...  my favorite reel (not!) again and again- but it did help my confidence in it

then  back with the rest for pipes ... most of the morning tuning and setting drones/ chanters etc.

The afternoon was full band practice on the competition tunes but especially on the M.S.R.

3:30pm and time to pack up for home ... lungs fit to burst after stretching through the M.S.R. so many times.