40 years kilted!

[OC Richard]

Derek's thread "where has the time gone?" made me realise that 2015 makes it 40 years kilted for me!

Where indeed has the time gone??

I don't know that I have a photo anywhere of that first kilt, which my Grandmother made for me out of random plaid wool I got at an ordinary fabric shop.

My attempt to recreate that first 'tartan' from memory is here http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...0-years-83387/

This is the earliest photo I can find of myself kilted, taken in 1976 or 1977. It's my second kilt, likewise made by my Grandmother, from real fabric got from Scottish Shopper in Seattle (MacDonald of the Isles Hunting).

We had never seen a real kilt in person, and had to make up the pattern based on photographs.

The doublet I made myself, converted from a Navy Blue blazer got for a couple dollars at a charity shop, every stitch hand-sewn.

I was in the process of making my own feather bonnet when I won an art award, $250, which I promptly spent on a real one.

The dirk and sporran were picked up fairly cheaply at a gun show. The sporran took much work, Wa Paste and Brasso.



and this December... not that much has changed, in some ways!

[Stitchwiz]

Congratulations Richard!

Your quest for knowledge and excellence is reflected in your appearance, a fine looking man indeed.
IMHO, you are like a fine malt whiskey, improving with age!

[Couper]

Congratulations. I thought Derek's accomplishment was unique. But 40 years of wearing a kilt daily is amazing.

[Derek]

Great pics Richard ..
Iechyd Da
Derek

[GMan]

Very nicely done.

[IsaacW]

Brilliant!

[OC Richard]

Congratulations. I thought Derek's accomplishment was unique. But 40 years of wearing a kilt daily is amazing.

Sorry no! Not daily! Sorry if I gave that impression. Merely 40 years of regular kiltwearing as a piper (though it does sometimes mean a few days on the bounce kilted)

[tulloch]

Wonderful to hear. Congratulations. My how the time flies!

[Mike_Oettle]

Ah, if only I had had the courage to wear my army kilt with civilian garb, and purchased one for myself at the time. That would have meant that I would now have been kilted for 45 years!
Instead I bought my first civilian kilt as recently as 2011.
But I do have a memorable recollection of 1976: my wedding. The wife and I are still together after all this time.
Also in ’76 I went to a regimental camp not dressed in a kilt: regimental uniforms had been barred, and I had to wear field dress.

So, Richard, my heartiest felicitations to you on your being kilted for these past four decades, on your continuing practice of the bagpipes, and on your smart wedding garb (I had to make do with a white suit, which caused my missus enough panic until I found an off-the-peg one that fitted).
My best regards to your good lady, too.
Mike

[Angela Kaye Bodine]

OC Richard , Thank you so much for sharing your pictures.. Very cool.. you still look great...Angie