Jim McGinn competition - St Albans

The full band competition in St Albans...

we could scrape together enough to make it (from a piper point of view) after the defections, retirements and job related moves.

we entered the G4b - Marches, G4a - MSR, and G3 (with the MSR again). We were not playing our best but it did help the team gelling and good practice for the following weekend in Paisley (or so we thought).

we came 3rd, 3rd, and 2nd ...  that is the positive spin ...  the problem was we were last in them all, and mainly where we had let ourselves down - no big mistakes, but lots of niggles that did not separate us from the others.

the day was another long one..  starting from home at 7:30 to get to Billy's for breakfast then up to St Albans for 10am ..  as we were sharing a room we could not get in and had to practice outside..  then in and warmup followed by tuning ..

after lunch 3 performances

 

2nd pipe band away weekend - Bowles outdoor centre

2nd away weekend with the Gatwick Caledonian pipe band ...  back at the Bowles outdoor centre ...  only this time there was no snow, and plenty of sunshine.

Similar theme to last time, gently gather around 9am, and start with separate sessions, before joining together after the beak for a chanter and pads session.

Pipe and drums after lunch.

After we finished we headed for the Crowborough Weatherspoons for dinner and a drink.

Most of them went by car, but I headed out on foot over the fields ...  a footpath that lead to the main road then a break through the bushes along an animal track as the road had been sunken down and this was easier.
The follow the road to the main cross roads.

A repeat even in reverse after we had finished ...  navigating the bushes in the dark was interesting but the est was aided by streetlights or the moonlight in the open fields.

Next day .. more of the same, only this time some drill so we could all experience the mistakes before they happen for real in the arena.
More practice with full band inside and out -repetition, then time to go home.

Mini band competition, St Albans

RSPBA London competition in St Albans ... we entered into the G4 Marches and G4 MSR

we did not do very well ///  blame it on the piping judge not liking our chanter reed sound.

Lindesfarne, Horsham arts centre

As a part of my birthday present Steph had bought me tickets to see Lindesfarne who were on a "pension raising" tour. As with a lot of the "old" bands there was a mix of original/ long term members and "young guns brought in to deliver a good sound. The difference here was that one of the latter was the son-in-law of Alan Hull ...  a great voice and multi instrumentalist with the direct connection. Rod Clements being the only remnant from the glory days.

They played all the old favourites and pleased the audience predominately from grey vote lobby.

Set 1

1. No Time to Lose
2. All Fall Down
3. Song for a Windmill (Alan Hull song)
4. Lady Eleanor
5. United States of Mind (Alan Hull song)
6. Why Can't I Be Satisfied (Jack the Lad cover)
7. Never Miss the Water
8. Road to Kingdom Come
9. Whisky Highway
10. January Song

Set 2

1. Alright on the Night
2. Wake Up Little Sister
3. City Song
4. Don't Ask Me
5. Love Lasts Forever (Alan Hull song)
6. One World
7. Winter Song
8. We Can Swing Together
9. Fog on the Tyne
10. Meet Me on the Corner
11. Run for Home
12. Clear White Light, Part 2

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.

Remembrance day parade, silvertown

 The band led the remembrance day parade in Silvertown, once more this year ...  a Longer march with the bridge being out over the railway, and an extremely bitter wind blowing.

After the service and before the tea and cakes  ...  posing with the mayor at the memorial

Copthorne Carnival

After the dash over from Crawley we all gathered in the hall for a cup of tea, and await for the best time to go down to the field.

A short tune up and more waiting in the school yard before we did out set in the parade ring.

Then back home