just to say hello, again! Back to the pipes after seven years of hardly any playing at all. In case you wondered what happened, see included picture. A week after we emigrated to Armagh (for the music) we found out Thirza was pregnant, which changed the plans somewhat. The subsequent years we actually had less music than at the time we were still living in The Netherlands. Starting a new life also took a bit more time and energy than we had anticipated.
But, we're still living happily in Armagh. The girls are both singing with the Armagh Pipers Club and Thirza is now teaching a singing class for the third year at the club. I've been involved with the club from the sideline: website, photography, posters etc. but haven't really played much. Which changed at the start of last month (September 2010), when the youngest (a boy, yes, I know, he's wearing a dress in the picture, but trust me, it's a boy) started going to playgroup! Finally, ME time! And there's only going to be more of it!
My set at the moment is just a practise set, Eamonn Curran bag and bellows, Joe Kennedy B chanter and the old Kevin Thompson concert pitch chanter. Sold the C half set because I like B better and sold the Kevin Thompson full set (minus the chanter which is absolutely brilliant) because I didn't like it. Both chanters are reeded by Joe and playing wonderfully. Had a wonderful Dutch tionól last weekend and am looking forward to the William Kennedy Piping Festival and I'm actually planning on participating in this Monday's Family Session...
Cheers!
Paul Eliasberg
It's great. Rusty, but great.