The chanter and the tea cup....no, not really but have a listen anyway!

Thanks for coming along last Thursday and hope you found the company of the pipe band useful. It was great to see everyone together in "the circle" and marching so well done as its always an experience to play the pipes when there are many other pipers around and drummers marking the beat and rhythms of the tunes. All in all we sounded OK. In an attempt to help you with the two new tunes, Green Hills and the Battle is O'er, I tried to upload them but the system crashed so I will try again later. See you all on Thursday 26th...

Calendar-notes for your diary please

• 10th June 2011 piping at Government House (HM Queen's Birthday)
• 21st June-Howard Davis Park 7.15 pm for 8 pm (TBC)
• 12 July   -Howard Davis Park (Ditto) (TBC)
• 26th July -Howard Davis Park (Ditto) (TBC)
• Sat 17th September - Play at an evening wedding reception & to play at the Scottish Society of Jersey's Family Ceilidh at St Brelades Social Club

The band turned out for the Liberation Day parade on 9th May 2011 and the photo below shows the band marching the dignatories from the Churches and the States of Jersey down to Liberation Square in St Helier.

 

 

I can see wee Malcy popping his head ooot from behind the Pipe Major to make sure he is making the right moves....well done Malcy!

It looks as if there is a feather cap in the band but surely just a trick of modern photography.....or maybe a come back from the Bass Drummer.....

See you all at practice next Thursday at the hall!

Forthcoming Events

Well, back from the north and looking forward to the Academy on Thursday 12 May. I was at Cullen one night with my bruv and he did some rock climbing...I acted as balast! Hence the shot below of "some steel". I returned with a very rare thing....a Scottish sun tan. Brilliant!

Please note some other interesting dates for your diary as you may well be called upon so would be great to see you "as part of the circle":

9th May 2011 From West Centre to pipe at 9.30 am
10th June 2011 piping at Government House (HM Queen's Birthday)
21st June-Howard Davis Park 7.15 pm for 8 pm
12 July   -Howard Davis Park (Ditto)
26th July -Howard Davis Park (Ditto)

Next practice night

There will be a full uniform practice next week on either Wednesday 4th or Thursday 5th May. Usual time at 7 p.m. but the P/S will keep you informed depending on whether big G or Big R can play. The holiday season is throwing some doubt on things. The aim of the practice next week is to have a good run through of all tunes and of course check the kit in advance of the Liberation Day parade.(see Blog below for overveiw etc)

Please turn up, and check your emails, texts etc to get the last minute news updates, and make sure you arrive with pipes, drums and memories in working order. (That guy in the back has a gun...scary man...so better make sure things are in order) Oh happy days!!

9th May 2011: Liberation Day Parade

Planning is well underway for this annual Jersey celebration and the practice tonight was useful as the band will be turning out on May 9th to lead parade 2 & 5.

The POA (plan of action) is to park at Sand Street Car Park at 9.00 a.m. for a "muster" and general tune up then leave there at 9.15 a.m. to head up by "shank's pony " to West Centre for 9.30 a.m. sharp. The route will be: West Centre; Bath Street; Queen Street; Halkett Place;Hill St; and then peel off to Church Street to take up position in the Royal Square. In truth, we will follow a bobby with a big yellow jacket and he will guide us quietly to the Royal Square!

From there, after a wee breather, we will lead Parade 5, namely The Dean, Clergy, The Mace Bearer, H.E and the Bailiff and other dignatories at about 11.00 a.m. down to Liberation square where we end and retreat for a tea/coffee and optional bacon butty. (Photo: 2010 entrance by Royal Yacht of parade 5) 

At 11.20 a lone piper is needed to be ready to play( The P/S knows where and what to play!)

at 12 noon we then set off on our final pass to take the salute from H.E. and proceed to Liberation Square  where no doubt a beer will be taken.

The tunes will be the ones we have been practicing and the day should be enjoyable enough, and an occasion for some young pipers to make their first appearance.

A good evening with the pipes

Well, it was all quiet then "wee James" popped in and before I knew it that bottle of McAllan that was lingering in the cupboard for a day or so was opened! The music came out too. There was a pibroch run through, with a dram, and then a tune or two on the pipes and then another "wee dram". The big pipes were foresaken for the "wee pipes" and yes, another "wee" dram. The chat, the music and the company was marvellous then McAllan decided to run out! So, it was homeward bound by chaffeur driven cab-an attractive blonde! It was a while since we had met but we picked up where we left off and the only loser was the bottle of McAllan. Brilliant! Now, that's surely why we all learn the pipes!

The run up to Easter has disrupted access to the Thursday night sessions but all will be back to normal next week, so see you all then. If you come accross a bottle of McAllan it appears to help oil the fingers and mind pretty well but the reality might be that you just become a shadow of your former self !

It's coming together

Well I missed last week but the news is good as it appears that things are all coming together. Unfortunately the Berni hall is unavailable to us this coming Thursday so why not come along to the Wednesday evening session instead? You are all very welcome so come for 7.30 p.m. and be ready to play.

   

See you soon