Piping has gotten a bit bumpy these days. First, I'd taken off & set aside the chanter, then managed to knock it onto the floor with the bass drone while setting my pipes down--after which the damaged chanter reed wouldn't play! Missed a session before our PM got to look at it. Immediately discarding the reed, he took some time selecting a replacement. But now he discovered that the blackwood chanter itself was warped! Maybe I left it in the sun too long. He quickly found a plastic "band" version to substitute for it. Then he declared that I ought to look into acquiring a smaller bag. We knew this one was big, but I hadn't realized how much of a hindrance it was. Our PM himself--who, in his own considered opinion, is probably the best piper within 100 miles or so--said he wouldn't be able to play this instrument for more than ten minutes because of the awkward angle it forces the arm into--unless you're tall & thin with long arms, which none of us guys is. He had me try out his pipes--OK, I'm convinced!

On the other hand, memorizing repertory has gone better than I'd realized.