Finally I met a bagpiper friend of the forum!

**elrond** · 30th March 08, 07:17 AM

On wednesday I received a pm from the well known Ancienne Alliance (Robert Amyot out of the forum) a french/canadian piper (I should better say musician...) who lives on the french Alps, few hours far from my house.
He wrote: "I'll be in Savona on friday saturday and sunday to play with "A Brigà", a celtic band of Savona."
To cut along story short, I answwered Ok! And on friday night I decided to go with my girlfriend to the "raindogs pub" in the port of Savona, to hear Robert and A Brigà.
Finally I could have had the occasion to meet a forum member! I could have met a forum friend "live" and not only virtually! and after all we could have been "two tanks dressed" as I'm always alone, because here no one else is use to wear the kilt!
Finally friday night I met him and it has been a wonderful surprise! A simple, smiling and funny friend, abel to let me feel good since the first moment we met. My english it is so bad that I was afraid of being unable to let him understand me!

We spent some words before the concert and it was as if we knew each other a lot of years ago! Yes, a realy good person!

After he had to go on the stage for the concert and I sit down and took some beer and whisky to let my ears ready for the concert!

and it was really great! good musicians, good music, different songs, sung in english, gaelic or celtic (I think), our Ligure slang (the slang of our city) and they played even some traditional songs of different parts of Italy re arranged in a really fine way!

Robert played two different kind of bagpipes, some flutes, drums and he has also sang some times wih a really good voice! as he say "the only thing I don't do on stage ir is to dance!"

(you do better to visit his website on Myspace!)

After the concert we had a drink together and after we left with the promise to meet again as we invited each other for a dinner in our houses as there are only few hours of car drive from each others.

In conclusion I opened this thread to say to everyone that I'm really happy to have met a man as Robert and that I'm proud to be his friend and remember men, if you have an occasion to hear him play or sing, don't loose it even if it is on stage or on a CD!!

My first meeting with a kilt forum memeber could have not been better!!

If some friend of the forum will come to Italy I ask you to let me know this some weeks before, to allow me to be free from work and spend some time dirnking and talking as I did with Robert. it will be a pleasure to me!

Ciao!

Roberto

**Livingston** · 30th March 08, 08:14 AM

Great to hear you had a good meeting. Every time I've met with another XMarks member has been great. It seems that no matter how different we are from each other we always have something in common besides the kilts.

Next time, don't forget to take a camera and post some pics of the two you you together.

**elrond** · 30th March 08, 09:11 AM

You're right Livingston!
I tried to do it with camera of the cell phone of my girlfriend, but the pub it was really dark and so no one was good.
But I'll do in the next meeting! I don't have kilted photo with other kilted frineds and I want it!!

**mbhandy** · 30th March 08, 10:11 AM

It has always been great to meet other members of the forum for Marilyn & myself did Robert get any Pics? I always forget to bring my camera

LOL

MrBill

**McFarkus** · 30th March 08, 10:33 AM

Very cool. My first live encounter with an XMarker (other than my brother Turpin and my nephew Seamus) was at a toll plaza in northwest Illinois. I was heading back to Chicago and stopped to get some food. As I was waiting for my order I looked over and saw a guy in line wearing a kilt in the XMarks tartan (which led to my jaw dropping, because the tartan hadn't been out that long). It was H. Hastings on his way back to Wisconsin from Chicago wearing his new Barb Tewksbury kilt he'd just received. It's a lot of fun.

**Macman** · 30th March 08, 10:52 AM

That's a very cool story, Roberto. It's great you could meet up with Robert and see him perform. You look like a musician yourself!

**michaelbeeman** · 30th March 08, 11:41 AM

That is a wonderful story, thank you for sharing it Roberto! I myself am rapidly becoming a fan of our friend Robert as well, I've just ordered a cd from Japan so I can have some of his music to listen to.
I haven't met any members of the forum in person yet, that will change come Tartan Day!

**BEEDEE** · 30th March 08, 04:28 PM

Great story! One of the pleasures of this rabble is the opportunity to sometimes meet others. My few encounters have all been positive, and I look forward to future opportunities to meet others.

Brian

**starbkjrus** · 31st March 08, 10:48 AM

Sounds like an excellent evening out. I've had meet-ups with other XMarkers in four countries now and without exception they have been a great time. Make sure you do it again soon.