As a few of you hear know Im just getting my feet back under the table so to speak after a 10 year absence! My fingers werent really an issue but my blowing was!!!! My hide back decided to morph into a tea bag and was replaced with a Bannatyne synthetic hide with drier system a absolute great investment!! Now when the new bag came along I decide to get a set of Bannatyne reeds, to try and help with my blowing or not so much blowing but stamina! I dont know why as my pipes were gowing braw with the hepburns in, but I did any way! That was perhaps 4 weeks ago in that time Ive went through 3 week shepherd reeds all ending life with top hand issues. On sat my mate popped a med Ross into the chanter now blow my I thought my butt was going to fall out but he asked me to percivere with it so I did! As of today no better except when the drones were shut of! Ah I thoguht lets try summit today, in went the hepburns I then reduce the amount of drying beads in the canister, a blow for 1/2 hour this afternoon went resonably well, then a blow this evening blow me Ive been playing for an hour almost non stop!!! Yes my at the end I was begining to blow over the top of the blow stick but a brief rest and through a set. Now my wife was out whilst I was playing just round the corner she couldnt believe what she heard from yesterday going to light my fire with the pipes to the sound I was producing tonight it was chalk and cheese. I felt happier more comfy playing which in turn alowed me to consentrate on what I was playing and it payed dividends. I know there are a few out there who are know going to say what an Idiot trying to fix what wasnt broke dont waste your words lads I know! This post is just incase there is a young lad or a lad who is struggling thinking about mucking about to fix it. My word to you is stop take a deep breath and think you well may make it worse like I did.