It’s amazing I’ve been playing the Uilleann pipes for over twenty years now and I have never in all that time pulled a muscle by pumping the bellows too hard. That is, until last night.

I’ve been playing a lovely gig on Sunday night with two friends of mine in a small place called Kents Town.

I always like good strong reids in my pipes. They sound nice and bright and they’ve a nice bit of volume as well as a result.

Last night I thought they were a little harder to pump than usual but I thought nothing of it.

I’m telling you, I feel it this morning though. I’ve pulled a muscle in my chest or something and I can feel it in my shoulder and right down to my wrist on my right arm.

It’s not like it’s all that painful or that I’m complaining. It’s just that I’m so surprised! In May, I played the pipes for 14 hours straight and I didn’t have a problem. I do one good gig on a Sunday and I pull something! It’s ironic!

I can’t wait until the next gig. I would do every gig for free. Seriously. I just love the buzz I get from them so much!