I'm back !

[Ranald]

Well yes as you've read already I'm back and I missed coming here to our wee bit of the web.
I've moved to a place called Inverurie in Scotland which is about 16 miles or so outside Aberdeen.It's a small town but not as small as others that we've visited! and there are the normal shops that one expects these days.

I have to let you know that since leaving Croydon England two weeks ago I've worn the kilt.The people here just don't seem to get it, i've been greeted with everything from compliments to downright hostility, when I'm walking about to town or taking the kids to school the drivers on the road always stare or rubber neck it.
Still Inverurie is a beautiful place and I think everyone here has talked about the new guy in the kilt by now! gives them something to talk about!
I have been following Hamish's advice on colour co-ordination and think for me this is a whole different way of dressing, more care with ones choices of clothes is in order here.But saying that the people of Scotland that I've encountered seem to hold the kilt in a revered state, like funerals dancing nights out etc you know like special occasions.
Cold ? no I'm naa cald. In fact I've never felt more comfortable with myself.
I did however buy some gaiters from a walking shop, and they are the gortex type, I bought them to keep my socks clean when I go walking in the fields, I highly recomend any of you out there who feel the cold to get some.
The television programes are different also as you would expect, there was this comedian on called Graig Hill who's very funny he also is kilted and was a welcome sight for me, but I've not seen anyone at all other that the Inverurie pipe band wearing the kilt yet, one lives in hope! and I wonder what they'll make of my solid colour (navy blue) kilt.
BTW up here in Scotland it's not wear a kilt but wear the kilt! go figure.
Anyway enough rambling, Im glad to be back and i've missed you all.
My best wishes from bonnie Scotland.
Richard D. Reynolds.

[starbkjrus]

Welcome back Ranald. I've missed reading your posts.

While I don't expect Reston, Virginia (my current residence) to be a hot bed of all things kilted I would expect Scotland to be a bit different. :confused:

Perhaps you should move to Denver or Vancouver.

[Hamish]

Richard, glad to hear that you are settling in up there, and Good Luck for the future.

I get up north of the border a couple of times each year, always in THE kilt of course, and I have yet to encounter any resistance to my plain coloured and 'alternative' kilts any more than I have to the tartan ones.

Several years ago, when I first took a Utilikilt to Edinburgh, my B&B host advised against wearing it in the city after dark, so I took his advice. However, I have worn them on several occasions since then and have received only compliments - even in the pubs late in the evenings! The general consensus seems to have been that it is a brilliant idea to have large pockets on kilts!! My plain kilt suits have also met with the approval of the populace up there.

As for there being very few other obvious kilt wearers: well, I am now used to my kilts being almost the only ones I see in Scotland!

[Graham]

Welcome back Richard, I'm glad the move went well. I've been looking forward to your report on the kilt in Scotland.
It's strange that the kilt should be seen as unusual there, but that's the way it is.
In the weeks I was there I didn't get any hostile looks or remarks, they just figured I was a tourist, which was true.

Well done! for wearing the kilt there, it's good to be know right from the start as a kilted man. The English stopped the wearing of tartan in Scotland, so it might be up to us to get it going again. It will be our 'penance'.

I look forward to further reports, when you can.

[Robin]

Welcome back!

Errr...you don't know me because I'm new inhere and waiting for my 1st kilt to arrive, but still :grin:

I'm sort of baffled by your "Kilt in Scotland report"
I know the streets are not filled with Scots wearing the kilt, but I didn't expect people look at it as something odd...rest of the world...yes, sure, but in Scotland?

Overhere you hardly see anyone wearing the kilt (obvious), but when someone wears it...people just take notice of it "Oh...a kilt" and respect the person who's wearing it. The Dutch probably have an open mind or just don't care ("pff....seen weirder things").

I'll wear my kilt(s) with pride and I'm not concerned about what others think of it, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea for me to wear it when I visit Scotland next summer.

Advise will be appreciated...

[GMan]

Richard my friend, I am so glad to hear that the move went well! You were definetly missed. Really looking forward to reading your posts about kilt wearing in a different environment. Glad that you are able to do that.

How are the wife and kids adjusting?

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Ranald,

Welcome back! Glad that the move went well, and more importantly that you were able to get back on the Net so quickly!

[Derek]

Ranald .. I’m delighted your move went smoothly and that you’ve settled in ok safe and sound. Hope things go well for you and the family. With regard to your Kilt .. We have spent a few 10 day tours with the band in Scotland over the years. I never saw another Kilt other than myself and one elderly chap in a bank in Inverness at anytime. Not even a kilt at any of our gigs and were a Celtic Folk/Rock Band. And yes, unfortunately, I was looked upon with some slight distain by the locals wherever we went and were playing, although they always spoke and treated me ok. I had always imagined being in Scotland Cilted/Kilted where ‘everyone one else would be the same so to speak, but alas, unfortunately it wasn't. I never encountered any hostility other than what appeared to be strange or disapproving looks from people. You just gotta go for it!. Why it should be that way I don't know. Maybe someone on X Marks can explain why that is the case.
Robin … I would certainly wear your Kilt when you go to Scotland. Just go for it .. you'll be fine. We might be doing a few gigs up there in the spring of 2006 and I will be certainly wearing my Cilt (all the time) when we go.
Iechyd Da
Derek

[Ranald]

Many thanks my friends for the replies, it's good to know one is not alone.
As for visiting Scotland kilted I also say go for it, I'm here to show that the kilt is not just for those special occasions but for any time one chooses, my choice is to wear it for as long as possible.It's a case of someones got to show or lead the way to make it happen and I appreciate I am not the only one, so I say good luck to us all.
I only have two regrets on leaving England behind and they are I never got to met my friends Hamish or Derek..sorry. But saying that when they visit I hope to recrify that.
I do know what you mean Hamish about the kilt in a big city, I feel similar about visiting Aberdeen, a bit apprehensive but saying that I have to go because that's where my father comes from.
I'll keep you posted on Scotlands reactions to a man wearing the kilt with a English accent and playing the pipes!
All the best from bonnie Scotland.
Richard D. Reynolds.

[Derek]

Well done Ranald! Just keep flying the flag of the Kilt/Cilt. Yep, it was a shame we could not meet up. But I'm sure we can rectify that sometime in the future. Yesterday was another first for me by the way .. I had to go with my pal to a garden centre (which is privately owned by an ex landscape gardener) to buy some plants for a client of his, so I decided to keep me Cilt on and take a chance I did'nt get it grubby. I did'nt as it happened and when the owner took my mates money off him at the end, he said in all his 27 years of being there I was the first Cilted guy he (at least) had seen there. Again, the place was busy, but everyone was to wrapped up in their own business to be bothered with the 'guy in a Cilt'. Strange how that might/could be different if I had done it in Scotland.
Iechyd Da
Derek