Post Cowal

Well, the results didn't go our way - qualifying for the final and 12th in the final itself. Well done to everyone that competed the conditions weren't brilliant. I think I can speak on behalf of most that attended to say overall it was a cracking weekend. The venue for the competition was spot on - although someone forgot to book the weather!

The march down the main street was absolutely mental - with it's fair share of mentalists joining in - who was that nugget that marched in front of the band half way down the street? I thought everyone felt slightly deflated by the overall competition result but this was soon rectified by the amber nectar and a few renditions of 500 miles!

Other highlights of the weekend involved Tom forgetting where the toilet was (and Terry redirecting him!), Davey's tangle with the wrong type of Gillette and a visit by none other than the worshipful Pope-ness!

Oh and how could I forget Thomas claiming he'd rather be a mackem than a Chanter!!!! Priceless.

Bottom line we are booked up for next year!

Davey mixes the cans up again!!!!!

Aaaargh me eye!!!!!!!!

Gillette the best a man can get!

Who is Sylvester McCoy?

Answers on a postcard.....

Well it's off to Cowal pretty soon - looks like there's going to be a pretty good turn out from the band yet again. Got to hand it to us with the exception of Dunbar (that place would still be cold and foggy if the whole area was lifted and dropped on Egypt!) we have had very good turn outs this year - long may it continue.

Seems as though there will be a few more piping additions stengthening the band - welcome to Darren, Graham (bit of a trickster here - I noticed last night not really playing the band tunes but a whizz at the jigs!! - Anyhow he's signed up with us now and I'm sure we'll get to see the real side of him!!).

Also, little Thomas is now in the huff cos he didn't see Jim Kilpatrick's impromptu drum salute at the Worlds (I did!) and he's now thrown his drumsticks in the bin and swapped it for a chanter!!!

Anyhow there's 34 of us off to Cowal as it stands - all of the rooms are allocated and I've asked the Hotel to ensure they have plenty of Beer and Horlicks for Billy Ince.

This could be hard reed moment but what the hell....Has anyone seen Niall since the Worlds by the way or is he in hiding? When he gets back I dare the whole band to play an early E when we strike up the competition set - Joking aside I suppose this can happen to the best of us - I listened to the set and they sounded fantastic! (creeping now).

Sylvester McCoy by the way pictured above who used to be Doctor Who (and a poor one at that - not in the league of Christopher Ecclestone or David Tennant) He's the cheiftan at Cowal next week -

KNOWLEDGE!

Post Worlds.....

Well - A bit disappointing in terms of the result. Fifth in the heat when we needed fourth to go into the final - It was a good performance by the band all round so it was hard to take the result. It seems like coming 5th is worse than being last (quote by Darren)....so close but no cigar!

And another thing why did we have to wait a ridiculous amount of time to find out the qualifier results (smells a bit!) and why don't the organisers use the big screens to announce qualifiers. It looked spectacular so why not use it to inform the lower grade bands - gives them a bit of boost as well as informing the crowd - sounds too easy to be true!

Well after the dust settled - nice speech by Tom and Davey to rally everyone on the bus (before popping off to top up the ethanol levels!).

Knew it would happen eventually (revealed on the bus going home caught playing chanter!)....

SHOCK BREAKING NEWS ******THOMAS BARNES LOVES THE BAGPIPES*******

(Thomas read this line 100 times each night before you go to bed!!)



In conclusion all I can say is

'Father Abraham had seven sons, Seven sons had Father Abraham.............'

The Worlds

Looking forward to The Worlds this weekend - a bus has been provided to take everyone up! Mick Barnes has the details - As far as I know the pick up will be at about 6am with a late return with the obligatory stop at Brampton planned - (Thomas and Morgan's pocket money???). Good luck to everyone competing.

I have had contact with the owners of the hotel at Cowal and I'll need to give firmer booking details probably next week - I have the room plan and these need to be allocated so please get your confirmations to Billy or myself as soon as possible