Hark, when the night is falling...

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Hear, hear the pipes are calling
Loudly and proudly calling down through the glen
There where the hills are sleeping
Now feel the blood a-leaping
High as the spirits
Of the old highland men


Ah, yes. Who would have thought!! Way back in 2002 as I was marching off the Edinburgh Castle esplanade for the last time, sad that the trip had come to an end, who knew I would be back this year.

It was my first day back in Adelaide late last year after the 10 month super trip, I was in the bar at Adelaide oval watching the Ashes, feeling rather jetlagged and after a few beers a bit sad that I had finished travelling. It was then I ran into Alf, a friend from waaaaaaay back, who said "Hey, our band is heading to Scotland in 2007 for the tattoo, do you still play?? We're looking for an extra!" I thought to myself, Well, I haven't played for a long time but for another trip away, I sure could try!!

So--play what??-- I hear you ask.

Well, unknown to many, BAGPIPES were my instrument of choice when I was 10 yrs old and started playing with the Noarlunga City Pipe Band. I left at 17 to join the army band and I thought I had given up the pipes forever for the world of oboes, cymbals and euphoniums. But, as fate would have it, that wasn't to be and in January this year I rocked up to a rehearsal with the Royal Caledonian Society Pipes and Drums ready to see just exactly how much I remembered.

Funnily enough all the old tunes came flooding back. Must have been locked away in my practice chanter that had been sitting on a shelf for nearly 18 years!! The powers that be deemed me ok to join the group, maybe through regular appearances at the pub after practice than any newly remembered playing ability, and so there I have been since January. New music, new marching signals and after a few months the realisation that actually keeping a set of bagpipes going whilst trying desperately to get some resemblance of a tune happening is a LOT harder than I remember!!!

Anyhow, after 7 months of twice weekly practices, plus sunday morning marching rehearsals, we all gathered at Adelaide airport at the end of July to head off for sunny Edinburgh, Scotland.

5 weeks followed living at Redford Barracks, just south of the city in Colinton. (small village with a few very nice local bars). We stayed here with a variety of local army pipe bands, all the dancing girls, Trinidad steel orchestra, the artillery guard, as well as the Blues and Royals. For those of you not aquainted with army living arrangements, think school trip for adults. 17 in our room, all bunk beds--yes I got the top,always interesting after a few pints in the mess!!--the usual line ups to get food with the food nazis only handing over 'one piece of bacon' or 'only one scoop of yukky instant mashed potatoes each', an inside bar that noone went to coz you can't smoke inside (and it seems everyone in the army in scotland smokes), and an outside bar in a converted stable (by converted i mean swept out with some chairs scattered around) that everyone went to coz you could smoke in there! Actually the rooms weren't too bad-especially when involving impromptu parties/singalongs with lots of whiskey (mainly in the boys room!). After an initial 'turf war' when we discovered we had to share our room, things quickly settled down. And apart from it being probably the noisest room I've ever stayed in with the outside bar just outside the window and up on the third floor so we had millions of stairs to climb, after a few weeks was fondly referred to as "home" by almost everyone.

Our first few days were spent in rehearsal at the barracks for the combined marching display with the local army pipe bands plus others from overseas (a band from the Oman army, and the Auckland police), with a special run through on the wednesday that was attanded by Princess Anne. After this some rehearsals at the castle- and then- showtime!!

After a dress rehearsal, and a charity performance we were ready. The announcer started-we all lined up- the smoke started-the gates opened- and we were off marching over the drawbridge for the first time. After that -26 shows followed, once a night, 2 shows on a saturday, as well as marching parades through the streets of both Edinburgh and Glasgow. TV crews turned up in the second week to film the show for the BBC (for those in Oz look out for us when it's screened on New Years), and by the third week we were well and truly entrenched in Groundhog day. We had three sundays free, the first taken up by a street march through Glasgow, the second with a mini-tattoo in Aberfeldy. Not too bad the second one as it was at the Dewars distillery, which made for a very joyfull trip home with singing, music and the odd shot glass passed around.

Third sunday I opted out of the sightseeing bus trip to catch up with little-sis who drove up for a weekend. Happy I managed to get her a ticket to the show although on probably the wettest night. It chucked down rain for about 4 hours that saturday, all the way through both shows. Good thing you don't get very wet underneath a kilt and plaid, but up in the stands another story entirely. At least Shani took her rain cape, smarter than the man sitting next to her without one! And spent a lot of time giggling over how drenched we all looked. Next day we managed a very big pub crawl, I say very big as was after a big night in the mess and I only made it back to my room for a quick change and to grab some money before heading back into town for breakfast. Then Shani made us do ALL the pubs on the list not just 8 to get a t-shirt, then she made me go to another bar till closing- yes I'm blaming it all on you dearie!! Next time we go out i'm booking myself a week off afterwards to recover.

So-it's been a challenge but a very successful trip. The weather was pretty good to us with only one bad night rain wise. There were lots of really interesting new people to hang out with and also a chance to catch up with some fellow travellers from the super trip last year. It really is a small world. Soo...

2002- Military Band

2007 - Pipe Band

20??- Maybe I'll go back as a dancer next time - he he he he he...




Bad Things About The Trip::

Airline food - especially when woken up to eat it!

Not enough time to really get out and see the countryside with really only the one day off once the show started.

Third floor rooms- why does the army always put the girls on the top floor??

When there's 17 people in a room and one person gets sick- everyone gets sick.

Not all performers staying in the same place. We were spread out over about 4 different locations and it would have been so much more fun had we all been staying together. (I say this coz i'm told the Russian band brought lots vodka)

Needing to detox my liver once I get home!!!



Good Things About The Trip::

A new group of people to travel with who were all a lot of fun.

Enough time to get into the festival spirit of the city and I did find time to climb Arthurs Seat this time, even managed to slide halfway down the other side on my ass.

After spending every night during the finale standing amongst the lower brass section of the Royal Artillery Band I have a new found inspiration to get stuck into playing some concert band stuff now that i'm back-Thanks to Chris and Lauren for that..


Oh, and I think i'll probably stick with the pipes for a while too..





Towering in gallant fame
Scotland my mountain hame
High may your proud standards gloriously wave

Land of my high endeavour
Land of the shining river
Land of my heart forever
Scotland the Brave

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