Jock's New Balmoral

**Jock Scot** · 8th March 10, 05:12 AM

Miracles do happen!My new bonnet supplied by our very own Redshanks who runs the "Dunad Trading Company" http://dunadtrading.co.uk. There is a story to all this, but first a picture or two.

To my non artistic eyes the colour is "duck egg green" to those that know, apparently the colour is "fawn". It does depend on the light a bit.

The front.

The back.

Right then the story. I had been searching for a new bonnet for a fair time now, but could I find the colour that I wanted? No way! Chris(Redshanks) who I had not met or even talked too before sent me a PM offering to help. Yes please was the reply and to cut a long story short, he took my old bonnet to Robert Mackie the hat makers to compare colours. It turns out that my old balmoral some thirty years old, was a Robert Mackie and once they had got over the shock of how abused the bonnet was, they offered to make one of that same colour. What service! I have now a personal and bespoke bonnet maker by the name of Paula! Thank you Paula, you have done a first class job.Thank you Chris(Redshanks) for the trouble that you taken over this for me. It is rare to find these days such attention to detail and service.

The build quality of these bonnets are just as good as they were 30 years ago, they are without doubt the "Rolls Royce" of bonnets and are worth every penny of the very reasonable price tag. Well done "Dunad Trading co."!

Watch this space, in the next few days I will take you through Jocks balmoral bonnet customizing process with some pictures. Paula, can I suggest you don't look!

**KFCarter** · 8th March 10, 05:29 AM

That is one very fine and handsome bonnet.

And I very much look forward to a pictorial guide to "Jock's Balmoral Bonnet Customising Process"!

**Jock Scot** · 8th March 10, 06:13 AM

Eyes shut Paula? Okay then the first thing I do is put a couple of discreet stitches through the bow just to the right and left of the bow knot. Having done that and I have decided that I don't like the lopsided "flying saucer" look, I proceed to the nearest burn(stream), fill the bonnet up with stones and throw it in!

Leave for a day, submerged, and then recover it and let it dry.

Knock it about a bit, and then drown it again.

More to come in due course.

**auld argonian** · 8th March 10, 06:20 AM

...and I've heard such horror stories about members of the US armed services soaking, shaving and flambe-ing their berets...obviously they can't hold a candle to this absolutely medieval treatment of a poor, innocent piece of headgear. What is this? The Inquisition?

Best

AA

**Redshank** · 8th March 10, 06:29 AM

please tell me that's you old bonnet Jock

if the reader only knew the amount of time, miles, stress and trouble I went through to get that new bonnet to match your old one they would be horrified

Way to go Jock, Give it a good kicking from me whilst your at it

**auld argonian** · 8th March 10, 06:41 AM

Originally Posted by Redshank

please tell me that's you old bonnet Jock

if the reader only knew the amount of time, miles, stress and trouble I went through to get that new bonnet to match your old one they would be horrified

Way to go Jock, Give it a good kicking from me whilst your at it

Well, he obviously doesn't want to show up wearing what looks like a brand new bonnet lest everyone thinks that he's suddenly come into some money and is putting on airs.

Best

AA

**CMcG** · 8th March 10, 07:52 AM

Originally Posted by auld argonian

...and I've heard such horror stories about members of the US armed services soaking, shaving and flambe-ing their berets...obviously they can't hold a candle to this absolutely medieval treatment of a poor, innocent piece of headgear. What is this? The Inquisition?

That description of Jock's method is hilarious!

**BoldHighlander** · 8th March 10, 06:38 AM

Originally Posted by KFCarter

And I very much look forward to a pictorial guide to "Jock's Balmoral Bonnet Customising Process"!

Be careful what you ask for...the horror, the horror!
Great thread Jock!

**Jock Scot** · 8th March 10, 06:53 AM

So why am I doing these unkind things to a brand spanking new bonnet? Firstly the bow. It is traditional up here to tie the ribbons, you don't have to and you can cut them off if you want to, but for me, they will remain in a bow. To keep the bow, I just put a couple of stitches in to keep it all up together,it saves all that bother of re tying the damn things.

Why drown the poor thing? Well it was intentionally a wee bit too big and now I am gently(?) shrinking it to size. If that does not work, plan B will be used--the warm (NOT HOT) water treatment will be used. If you get a bonnet that fits exactly it will shrink in the first storm of rain and then it will be too small! Cleaver eh? Also, as I mentioned earlier, I don't like the ironed lopsided flying saucer look. So to get the more used look and the way we wear them around here this is the way we do it. Also it is regarded as very bad "form" to have anything looking new!

**auld argonian** · 8th March 10, 07:09 AM

I quite understand the concept of things looking too "new". I got a new fedora recently and have been hoping for a good rain to wear it in so that it'll get a good soaking and look slightly less "respectable" than it does. I've even thought about putting unneeded patches on a new set of waders so that I don't look like a "weekender" when I show up fishing. (I wouldn't really do a thing like that but I have joked about it.)

Best

AA