Crofters show

Mark MacDonald

One sunny, August day my family and I went to Lairg for me to go and play my pipes with the pipe band at the Lairg Crofters Show. I had to get into my kilt before we left. We left at 10 am so we could get there in plenty time for me playing at 2:30.We got there at 11:30 and some of the main ring events where starting. The sheep racing started at 1pm. Just after the sheep racing finished there were some races. I was too old for most of them but for the half-mile race it was any age. I came second last and after that finished it was time for us to play.

I was very new to the pipe band then, and it was only my fifth outing. We played for about half an hour then we got told we were going to play at 3:30. I didn't do much in that time. I was hanging about with my mates from Lairg and by the time we had had a walk about and played a couple of stalls we had to get ready to play again.

When we went to tune up half the band was in the beer tent. By the time we had got the entire band ready it was 4:15 and we played for half an hour again. We thought we had to play again but the pipe major decided we wouldnt have to because it was nearly time for the show to finish. ... (continues)