Yesterday (2/12/11) was a very fun (but tiring) day. I have two nieces involved in Girl Scouts and they asked me to be the guest speaker at their World Friendship Day event. Being their uncle, I couldn't say no.

The saga began last fall when I was playing my pipes in the park while keeping an eye on my nieces. A woman walks up and explains that she's a Scouts leader and would I be interested in representing Scotland. My nieces put her up to it.

Anyhow, I prepared a rather long and involved presentation, covering history, culture, language, clothing, bagpipes and food. Sent it on to Mrs. Cassidy and was informed that the target audience was between 5 and eight years old. I threw most of it out and just went with Highland clothing, a few stories about Scotlands flag, the thistle and the ghost piper of Duntroon, then wrapped up with a brief explanation of how bagpipes work and a few tunes.

I must have pulled it off pretty well because one of the dads there walked up to me and complimented me on my dress and piping.. in a rather thick brogue. Turns out he came here from Aberdeen just over a decade ago.

So, for the curious, I was wearing an Argyl jacket, ghillies and Lovat green hose from J. Higgins, a Sgian from STM, red flashes and MacKay traditional kilt from USA Kilts, a white shirt and dark red tie from my closet, a leather sporran and glengarry from Celtic Croft. Kilt pin and cap badge also came from STM, if i remember correctly.

The pipes are Dunbar drones with EZDrone reeds, Gael 474 chanter from Jim MacGillvray with a Soutar reed, gore-tex bag with no MCS.

I should be able to link directly to the websiter for pictures in a few days.