Wanganui Police Area Commander Duncan MacLeod is piping hot and raring to go.
He's about to fulfil a dream of a lifetime and play at the prestigious Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Since the invitation six months ago asking him to play again with his old band, the Auckland Police Band, life had been
hectic, Mr MacLeod said yesterday.
Even though he had played with the best, in front of the finest judges and was pipe major it was a very long 23 years ago.
And being part of the Edinburgh Tattoo was serious work for a band, he said.
The tattoo runs for the month of August, starting with a week of rehearsal then three performances a day as well as street parades through Edinburgh and Glasgow.
The gruelling schedule has meant it has taken him six months to get his breath.
"I've had to practice at least two hours a day to get piping fit, get my breath up to performance level again."
He admitted he'd been shutting all the doors and windows at home while he practiced in deference to his neighbours.
"They're pretty good and I usually practice on my chanter which is pretty quiet really."
The Tattoo is the pinnacle for any member of a pipe band, he said.
"I'm just thrilled to be going. I didn't have to think about it, not even for a minute - I was going."
Mr MacLeod, who started learning the pipes when he was 10, and was playing with the City Of Rotorua Pipe Band by the time he was 11, said piping was definitely in the blood.
"It's my Scottish heritage from the MacLeods of the Isle of Skye."
At the close of the tattoo, together with his two daughters, he will be taking a three week holiday through the Scottish Highlands and, of course, a trip across to Skye.
And he'll be sure to have a wee dram or two of the amber stuff, he said.
