It’s been five months since I ordered my first practice set from Ray Sloan. The suspense is killing me. Killing me so much that I decided to rebuild the bag and bellows for the set I built a couple years ago. Testing for leaks in my bellows I discovered a smell. Being that I was intent on replacing the damaged, cheap vinyl, I sliced 'er open and discovered a nice little garden of mold. So I’m completely rebuilding the bellows now. Boy, am I WAY too antsy. Tell me there’s hope and the waiting time passes quickly. 
Nope, really good things take time… sniff 
no, really . . . I am looking forward to it. I’ve just been crackin’ away at whistle and learning tunes, handling ornamentation, listening to piping to get the blood going for the day when I finally receive the pipes, I’m somewhat prepared. (, er, pipe. Only one pipe with this one. 
Meanwhile I’m going to see what I can resurrect of my homebuilt one so I can get some piping practice, too.
Have patience, Grasshopper. When you can take this reed from my hand…