Steve turns 50 and gets BAG PIPES

May the 7th bought a special birthday for Steve, he turned 50. The 3 of us continued with our normal family tradition of opening presents in bed, well on the bed as Steve was actually dressed as he had been outside to see to the animals. Steve had told me that there was nothing he wanted nor needed, however he had forgotten a comment he passed some months previous while watching the movie 'Amazing Grace'. At the end of the movie a group of pipers play the music at which point he stated 'I'm going get myself some pipes one of these days' and at that point I thought that is what I will get him for his 50th birthday.


So as we sat on the bed Beth and I presented him with gifts and cards from us and others and I commenting on the fact that I hadn't got much for him as he had said he didn't want anything and after all we had just had a holiday. So as we cleared away the wrappings Beth being prompted my me said 'oh there is one more gift here Dad' and handed him a wrapped box. It was so funny to watch him open this gift, trying to guess what it was as he seriously had no idea. After several minutes of unwrapping and feeling (it was wrapped really well) he realised what they were, his face was a picture as he exclaimed 'you got me bag pipes I have always wanted pipes and my Mum would never let me have any, i'm so excited!'


Beth was disappointed to be at school on her Dad's 50th birthday, so after she finished the 3 of us went out for a Chinese meal and to the movies, Steve said inspite of the rest of our family not being present he had a great day.


A few days later we had our dear friends David and June Jeppson visit us for the weekend, they were the mission president here in our mission the England Birmingham Mission 1993 - 1996 and Steve had the privilege to serve as one of David's counsellors. We have stayed with them in their St. George home on several occasions and it was just great to have them come and see us.


Anyway back to the pipes which I purchased from a guy on Ebay, a week later Steve excitedly joined the Leicestershire Caledonian Society (a group of somewhat older gentleman who have been playing the pipes for decades). However his excitment was soon dashed and he was soon very disappointed (but not as disappointed as I was) to learn that the pipes were rubbish, they looked good but that was it, he was told they were not good quality and would never give off a good sound. There must be a lot of people who buy pipes for display only as he had 100% feedback and had sold loads of them! So I returned them for a full refund and he is now the proud owner of a good second hand set, which one of the pipers was selling. He quickly exclaimed these must be the hardest instrument to play, but i'm going to learn to master this instrument and I have no doubt that he will, just like he has the piano, organ and other instruments.