Performance for Arthur, Coppice Lea Care Home

One of the pipe bands founding fathers is now in a care home in Merstham - Coppice Lea Care Home www.ariacare.co.uk). We arranged to play a small concert for him and the other residents. 

Luckily it was not as hot as previous days, and also it waited to rain until after we had finished.

Karl, Jim, Iain, David and I turned up for 10am to tune up - as usual all the reeds were different and Jim had to tinker. Everything was coming together as we played.

• My land
• Highland Cathedral
• Scotland the Brave
• Amazing Grace
• I see Mull
• Skye Boat Song

Then into the home for tea and biscuits. Arthur seemed happy for the performance.

Swedish Tattoo, 6th (final) Practice

 The last practice session in the UK ... I wont miss driving around to Henlow.

All the time walking through and then playing through the arena show. Still a challenge to play and march for some tunes, but I can hide in the general noise.

Swedish Tattoo, 5th Practice

More changes to the arena routing ...  but all on the pipes now ( I keep the stoppers in just in case). It is noticeable that with no pipe major for our small group, and as the only piper tuning is not really managed.

Swedish Tattoo, 4th Practice

 The long trapse around to Henlow for the next tattoo practice ....

All on the pipes ... the dance set has been removed. A change to the arena marching as well - the tunes tend to be Ok now apart from the reform to 10th batt.

Swedish Tattoo, 3rd Practice

 Back around to Henlow for my second practice ...  This time I borrowed Sue's car. 

Had to order & pay for a tour tee-shirt (a foul green colour), also had to take passport to provide details for the flight.

Practice all on the pipes ... still too fast for me and I pad to cork up so I could pretend for all but the march on set. We also had a walk through of some movements for the arena.

Burns Night, Three Crowns

I had a booking to play the pipes in the Three Crowns in Wisborough Green for their Burns night supper.

We arrived just before 6pm and after tuning up and testing the height we then waited until gone 6:30 for the first people to settle in.

Then played a welcome set - Kilworth Hills/ Scotland the Brave/ I See Mull/ Skye Boat song sets. I stood at the bar end as this gave height but also was not so loud for some of the participants.

When the Haggis came out I moved to the other end of the dinning room and piped the haggis through - it is just alight!

After the deserts started to come out I played a finishing set - Highland Cathedral/ Flower of Scotland/ Slaves/ and My Home sets. 

Finally I gave some intrepid people the opportunity to "have a blow" ...  a different blow stick and lots of wet wipes to sanitise after each go ...  we had 4 people try it ... Only one really go a sound out the rest I had to help ...  maybe next time I should cork up some drones to help out.

Swedish Tattoo, 2nd Practice

We have been asked to partake in a massed bands at the Eksjö (Sweden) International Tattoo 2024,

I missed the first practice, and this would be the first for me ... at RAF Henlow - a trapse around the M25 to Luton and beyond. This time I cadged a lift with James and Noeleen.

Canter practice in the morning - much argument about arrangements, but nothing special. then Pipes in the afternoon in the church. Everyone plays at full gas so not easy to keep up.

Home late after a painful return, but I could sleep around the M25.