Sunday, July 26, 2015

Thanks to the lone piper

Though I don't have any direct Scottish ancestry as far as I know, there's nothing quite like the bagpipes for stirring my musical blood.
Today I heard strains blown clear across the Hutt River/Te Awa Kairangi, from Strand Park on the opposite bank, to our suburban street - probably a kilometre's distance. A norwester helped the music along. It seemed to be a lone piper out for a practice in plenty of space - I think I've heard it before around here.
I went down to the water's edge to hear with clarity - and within a natural setting as I stood beside the mud-exposed streambed: flax blowing in the gusting wind, ducks on the water and seagulls buoyed southward. It was a marvellous way to say goodbye to the light at the end of this grey, windy, dampish day.
With the sound of the bagpipes stirring in my blood, and a need for courage and strength in my own life, I leave you with Scotland the Brave: