About Me.

At the Scandinavian School of Piping and Drumming, 2005.

 

I am a 41 year old man, living in the northern part of the danish island of Sjælland (Zealand), together with my (very patient) wife, three children (third and last boy, 4545 gr., 56 centimetres, arrived end of march. Life is great  :-)  and the family dog.

I left public school in 1984 and joined the navy at the age of 17. I was first educated as a communications operator and served as such until 1987, when i switched for service with the Royal Navy Military Police. I left the navy late 1992 to pursue a career in a major security company.

My interest in the Great Highland Bagpipe has been with me for as long as I can remember. From being a little boy, watching every second of the televised Edinburgh Millitary Tattoo, and up till today, I remember the thrilling feeling I got, and still get, from the sound of the bagpipe. Something I have never experienced with any other instrument.

While in the navy, one manoeuvre went to Scotland, giving me the opportunity to buy my first practice chanter. That was to be my first tiny step on a long, long journey.

Except from having children (and being married....), it is propably one of the most emotionally challenging experiments I have ever involved my self in. From sky high excitement when something, after what feels like years of practice,  finally works out, to the very deepest puddle of frustration on that particular day, when absolutely nothing works out. But even though I sometimes feel like throwing the lot out of the window, I have a strong feeling this interest will stay with me for the rest of my time. The urge to play and improve just keeps groving and groving, and the more I read and hear about bagpipes and bagpipe music, the more I want to know.  I am very well aware, that starting as a 37 year old, I will never be a threat to any gold medalist or publish any records. But that wont prevent me from having a lot of fun. And isn't that what life should really be all about?

Blaw Awa'

Hamish.