Two quick updates.
- I've decided on my competition tunes for the year. I decided to go with two old favorites - Fraser of Cairnie (2/4 March) and MacKintosh's Lament (Piobaireachd) - and a new tune I learned for the season - Bruce Gandy's Farewell to the Iron Horse (6/8 March). I'd forgotten how quickly I can memorize a tune. It took about 20 minutes to pick up, and about a week to refine.
- New pipes! I've been keeping an eye out for a second (good) set of pipes for a while. I've inadvertently managed to pick up two instead of one. The first set - 1990s Naill DN3s. I got a screaming deal on them - less than $400. The second set is a set of 1987 plastic and nickel Kintails purchased from Ringo Bowen. I played a borrowed set of 1984 Kintails that looked identical for two years when I was a brand new piper. I remember liking the sound, but they were impossible to tune due to something wonky with one of the tenors. I could sort of get them going by playing all cane. I should receive the Kintails this week, but it'll be at least another week until I have a chance to start breaking them in. Here's hoping I can tune them!