What I Thought About on a Day Off
This week we cancelled band practice so that members could find a screen and watch the Canada-USA gold medal hockey game, which we now know to be Canada's 14th gold medal at the Winter Olympics, and a record for any nation. A few band members gathered at O'Hanlon's, and others watched from home. One member claimed he was going to watch in his underwear, like a "true Canadian." OK, if you say so.

The Olympic story that caught my attention in the last day or two was that of the skier Petra Majdi, who was injured in a bad fall during a training run, and despite broken ribs and a punctured lung, went on to race two heats, and then the final, where she finished 3rd. She was helped out of a wheelchair onto the medal podium, and then straight back to hospital after.

I love those kinds of stories because they illustrate what might be possible for the highly committed person, and they help us put our own competitive challenges in perspective. This was brought into sharper focus for me as I pondered next steps in improving the pipe band's on-field performances. Pipe bands put stress on people in ways they might not experience in other aspects of their lives, and especially in competition. Blowing pipes, carrying drums, wearing wool, in high temperatures [or low] while focussing enough to deliver tuned and well-expressed music. It's not easy.

It is, however, quite a bit easier than completing three ski races with broken ribs and a punctured lung. So for those of you who find it really stressful and maybe don't play your best under those conditions, start thinking about the alternatives. Would it be better if you didn't play? Would you have more fun doing something else? Or, maybe it's time to really address the issue in a concrete way. Start by reading this, and I think that you'll recognize bits of yourself in there. Who is this about? It's about us all. We all experience this from time to time, and at every level, you HAVE to be a little nervous to really perform your best. However, the key is to learn how to channel that energy into the right things. You learn that by thinking about it, and by practising it a lot, and developing confidence in your ability to play well.

I hope the Olympics were inspiring in terms of the possibilities, and the message that with a lot of hard work and a great attitude, a lot can be accomplished.

Another Great Weekend for the Books
The 18th annual Alexander Keith's Mid-Winter Celtic Festival came and went over the weekend, and it was a great time. It started Friday night with music in O'Hanlon's, and then the afternoon session there 12-4 on Saturday, followed by the sold out and packed-to-the-rafters Ceilidh. A highlight for me was the band's performance of the medley.

With a packed hall and a healthy interest in the bar, food and silent auction it was a great fundraiser too, and special thanks go to Alexander Keith's for their support. They were there all weekend, looking after the performers, making sure lots of Keith's was enjoyed, and helping to make it a great event. Also thanks to Niall O'Hanlon for his support, and to all the perfomers. It was great having Gord Fisch in Regina to play with the Scott Benson Band for the Ceilidh.

Sunday morning at 10 it was back to the scene of the crime, I mean, Ceilidh for a two-hour practice before the out-of-town guys left the scene. We had a very goo practice. Making strides on new music, and starting to put together a better sound than we've had in a few weeks.

Thanks to all the band members for their commitment over the weeks leading up to the MWCF. There is real excitement building as we start to make firm plans for Scotland this summer, and a great fundraising and performance weekend is just what we needed.