The bus pulled into the Glasgow green car park at about 9:15 which gave the band an hour to find its bearings before tune up and practice. During this time the band was relieved to see the beer tent was already being set up for the after play drink.

At 10:30 things were going ominously well for the drum core, 6 side drums and 6 top heads still intact! Practice itself also was sounding good and at 11:00 am the band started out on the long hike over to the green. This hike was made a little more troublesome by the safety crew not allowing bands to cross the road but instead telling them to take the stairs that lead under the bridge, but we were informed that this was at our own risk as the stairs were all broken, to which one piper replied that’s ok we can sue!!!

The bass drummer also had a little problem on the aforementioned stairs. With the bass strapped to his back, a drummer called something out over his left shoulder. The bass drummer then whipped round to the left to see who had shouted causing him to hit the railings on the right with the bass drum. He then whipped round to the right to see if there was any damage and hit the piper on the left, again with the bass drum. It wasn’t until they got the bottom that it turned out the drummer had said “be careful”!

Arriving at final tuning an hour early was one advantage of being drawn first in our grade, meaning the next band wouldn’t jump us as was the case last year. Final Tuning went well, with the band drawing a crowd everytime it played. By this time the day was very hot and it was decided that jackets would not be worn, much to the relief of the band.

Arriving on the line at exactly 12:30 and 37 seconds (drones have to be tuned after all) the band was fired up to give the judges something to remember. It would seem that any nerves had all but vanished.

At approximately 12:31 it happened, a years worth of work came to a head when the Pipe Major shouted “BAND, QUICK MARCH………….”

At approximately 12:45 all players had a grin on their face and a beer in the hand. Deeside had done what it set out to do, play a good controlled selection and gave the judges something to remember.

Although Deeside didn’t get placed the band was more than satisfied with itself for being first on. The drumming had done particularly well getting its best place in years and managing to outdo the pipers.

Pete, one of Deeside’s junior sides, also had a very fruitful day after managing to talk Premier out of a wallet, a bag and a drum pad!! The senior band members have much to learn from this one!!!!!

Although the bus ride home was a little more sober and a little less loud than usual, it was very enjoyable, involving a race with ASCO Buchan’s bus and the band descending on an unsuspecting Chinese Restaurant in Forfar.

The day on a whole was very enjoyable, coupled with some hot weather and some cold beer it gave the band a lot of optimism, and all we have to say is…..