NOTES FROM PIPEY'S CORNER

Volume VIII Number 5 - November, 2001

STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS....

Results are in from the Angus MacDonald Memorial OPEN held on the 13th of October - John Partanen took second in the Piobaireachd. The event was won overall by Ken Sutherland, with details below from Black Part.

STOP PRESS! STOP PRESS!

JUST IN FROM JIM McGILLIVRAY - HIS NEW 'PIPES UP' TUNING VIDEO - IN STOCK - $49.95 + shipping

Let's see, so, reviewing the last three months - hmmm...lost a wife (hey, thanks for all the completed projects....NOT), almost lost a brother (he's not out of the woods yet, but we're hoping he'll pull through); saw the World Trade Center destroyed; played a bunch of funerals, including two WTC memorials in SF; and wrote three new piobaireachd. So, we're batting twenty-two for six in two overs at this point and hoping for the best. We now turn things over to the estimable Ms. Fraser:

Oooh, well, if THAT'S the way it is, then ... ummm, let's see, new espresso machine, so, caffeine units, a jillion (pity you can't make tea with it), alcohol units - nil (don't even THINK about it!), cigarette units - nil, and just what AM I doing in this cramped basement office with this randy old sod I'll never know, but it has been rather depressing around here lately and so I'll try to provide a small Ray of Sunshine for the Boss and all of you out there. BTW I am NOT a figment of someone's imagination, as has been claimed recently.

In that vein, then, I must say that for the first time in over two months Iain looks like the cat in the cream, for, whilst things around here are a bit down due to loss of Mizz Boss & serious family illness, he's extremely chuffed because he got his first ROYALTY (NOT reality) CHECK from BMI for his Nash Bridges appearance last spring - now I know why TV and films are so costly! I understand Iain spent the whole day waiting for the STAR to get over his hangover (or whatever was wrong with him), and then he spent two hours on the set shooting two minutes of film, but really, when they only used fifteen seconds of playing in the final cut, one really must wonder about Hollywood efficiency...!

Speaking of Mizz Boss - or. rather, now, EX-Mizz Boss, she seems to have left us in the lurch regarding some important bookkeeping problems, so, here I am on this dank and dingy basement floor, trying to sort out invoices and make some sense of this hash. Not to mention having four hungry cats giving me the eye like I'm a tin of tuna fish - or a large mouse (at least they play with me and don't try to have me for lunch!). Must say I'm V. miffed about all this, and won't let it happen again....hopefully Iain's next relationship will have a better attention span AND not flake out on responsibilities (!). On top of everything I've just been handed a box full of garter material and patterns, all of which looks like some Chinese puzzle game, that the Ex was supposed to complete but did a Brodie on. As I am all thumbs with needle and thread he can't look to me for alterations or other 'domestic' assistance - I'm STRICTLY an office type. Am leaving self-help books around the office and chanting canntairreachd mantras to find him a new lady friend...and, no, it WON'T be me!

Now, if I can only figure out this espresso machine....

BLACK PART SPEAKS:

Here's my take on the recent Angus Macdonald Memorial Contest in San Diego, October 13th, 2001. This was an extremely well organized event. Attendance was up slightly, as was the level of performances. Judging the event this year was Mr. Andrew Wright, who also put on an excellent seminar at the dinner. Always a pleasure to see Mr. Wright. Also to be singled out is Mr. Robbie MacKnight, who's efforts to keep this contest going are no less than courageous.  I understand that up to the night before the contest Robbie was on the phone contacting potential competitors and twisting birl fingers to make sure a great contest was offered. Thanks Robbie, Thanks!

Results:Grade I Piobaireachd:1st Ryan MacConnell; 2nd Jerry Pickering (Broke down)

Professional Piobaireachd: 1st Ken Sutherland; 2nd John Partanen; 3rd Nigel Forrest; 4th Jeff Hendersen

Grade I MSR:1st Ryan MacConnell 2nd Evan MacKay; 3rd Jerry Pickering

Professional MSR: 1st Jeff Hendersen; 2nd Ken Sutherland; 3rd Nigel Forrest; 4th John Partanen

I'm looking forward to a rematch at the Queen Mary Festival. Everybody keep practicing. And Jerry and Evan, lets see you both up on the "boards" at the boat as well. Black Part

and, yes, ANOTHER piobaireachd, this time - CUMHA CHATTANACH (Lament for the Cats), for Andrew Wright

As a new feature on the site, you can now go to a list of Iain Sherwood compositions, on our TUNES page. Just remember, these are all BMI registered, so, make sure those big royalty checks head our way!

until next month....