Hello from Melbourne, Australia

**cmacld** · 16th May 11, 08:30 PM

Hi just a quick hello from Melbourne, Australia.

There may be the opportunity shortly for the quaich to participate in a local celtic festival in Victoria.

Slainte for now.

cmacld

**McElmurry** · 16th May 11, 08:57 PM

Welcome from California

**Jock Scot** · 16th May 11, 09:52 PM

G'day, and welcome from Inverness-shire.

**Downunder Kilt** · 16th May 11, 11:09 PM

Hello and welcome to XMarks, great to have you aboard. Guess you maybe the man Graham was telling us about? Cheers to you

**Graham** · 17th May 11, 12:19 AM

Yes he is the man I spoke of, and a fine lad he is too, who has the good sense to be in Tassie this weekend

I know the quaich has been in Melbourne but Colin has agreed to carry it on back from Tassie and on to the National Celtic Festival in June.
Is that ok with everyone?

I plan to attend the festival to make sure Colin doesn't drink too much from the quaich

Nice to see you here sir, I look forward to your music this weekend.

**billsides** · 24th May 11, 04:29 AM

Originally Posted by Graham

Yes he is the man I spoke of, and a fine lad he is too, who has the good sense to be in Tassie this weekend

I know the quaich has been in Melbourne but Colin has agreed to carry it on back from Tassie and on to the National Celtic Festival in June.
Is that ok with everyone?

I plan to attend the festival to make sure Colin doesn't drink too much from the quaich

Nice to see you here sir, I look forward to your music this weekend.

I spotted your message on X marks the Scot. We danced together at Tallebudgera in class a few years ago so you may recall me and I think you arrived with a different kilt for each day and I arrived with one! I am from Melbourne and had two left feet but I have improved significantly since then having been to numerous schools both here and in NZ and even danced in Scotland. Not like you 100% kilted, I am about 50% and wear one as I write this. I dance 3 to 4 times weekly so wear kilts on those days, two classes are afternoon so that always means most of those days I am kilted. At other times I will wear tired old cheapies around the house on most nights and often when working in the garage. I wear a kilt with the slightest of excuse and even do on things like on old car runs, Rotary picnics and at old school and formal functions. Since I saw you, I have had three made to measure in Scotland and bought a couple more cheapies off the hook, and I have several quite old wool ones of various ages and weight that I got for free but one at 9 oz is very poor if outside and windy which makes me wonder about the similar weight Utilitikilt and Sportkilt American offerings. I am looking at trying out a very cheap Pakistani work one that looks to my eyes far better looking than Utilitikilt and has much heavier construction at 16 oz yet is miles cheaper than all the American offerings, most of which look positively weird with snaps and flaps all over the place and horrible creases abound even when new and they only get worse. An old acrylic cheapy from the same Pakistani outfit has withstood enormous abuse and remains 100% intact and it still looks in better shape straight out of the washing machine than those Yankee things but it is now badly pilled. It is only thrown in the washing machine when filthy from oil etc in the garage but it always cleans up perfectly which I find remarkable compared to all other clothing. I am however very concerned about its high flammability. I cannot say my expensive Kilts are all perfect, mills seem to be patchy in fabric quality, especially along the selvedge but my most recent kilt is perfect demonstrating that it can still be done properly. It is in the relatively new RSCD tartan. I am not sure if I will make Portarlington but it is my intention. I have danced in Tassie at Ross and Launceston a couple of times and toured and danced in Scotland twice since I saw you and will again be there in two months when I will probably buy yet another made to measure kilt. My kilt usage is ramping up now that I am retired. It is amazing how cheap decent kilts can be made for you in Edinburgh if you bargain enough as their economy is poor but much being sold over there is not even good for rags so you have to be very careful. I have seen some shockers at Gatherings and on the dance floor and seen many an expensive hand sewn kilt fall to bits after limited use and need to be resewn.

Anyway I thought I would touch base, I know how involved you have been with this group, I have long watched it but not participated.

Regards

Bill Sides Wheelers Hill Victoria

**Graham** · 25th May 11, 01:16 AM

Hello Bill, just noticed your message, how great to see you here.
Tallebudgera was great, it gave me much more confidence in dancing. Yes, I'm looking forward to meeting the quaich at Portarlington, also planning to go to Summer School in NZ in December, will you be there?

Re. kilts, I understand what you mean, adjusting to the idea of non-tartan kilts took a while for me. I was "converted" by Robert Pel - RKilts in Canada who sent a green wool kilt which I instantly loved.

I'm not fond of Utilikilts either, I've tried twice to buy one, both times they just didn't fit, they don't measure their kilts like most kiltmakers do.
For work I mostly wear RKilts hemp kilts, they are tough as well as comfortable. Hemp is an amazing material, much better then the duck cotton that some kiltmakers use. I love natural materials, but if you want a cheaper kilt, poly viscose is nice in tartan. I've bought a few of these from USA Kilts.

Keep in touch, must catch up soon.