Where to start with this topic is difficult as I am still quite emotionally worked up after yesterday. For those who don’t know, it was Wales last match in the Six Nations Rugby Championship yesterday and we were playing Ireland at home at the Millennium Stadium Cardiff. So far during the championship Wales has won every match , which has been against so far, Scotland, England, France and Italy. If you win every match you win what is known as The Grand Slam. That does not necessarily mean you win the championship itself as that is worked on a points system. Anyhow if we were to beat Ireland we would get the grand slam and as it happens win the championship as well. Last time Wales won the grand slam was back in the seventies. What's this to do with kilts you may well ask …. well I have never worn my kilt into the city centre on an international rugby day …. Its standing room only in all the pubs, plastic glasses and beer being spilt everywhere .. A fabulous recipe for having a good time but also a very good recipe for getting an expensive kilt ruined. Yesterday though was different. I just had to wear it. The whole of Wales must have turned out in Cardiff … well it certainly seemed like it. The stadium, as it normally does, was a sell out with 74,000 and a further 150,000 were in the city centre to support the boys. Cardiff was nothing but a sea of Red absolutely everywhere. Extra roads had to be closed to allow for all the people. In all my years I have never witnessed anything like it before. The city council had erected giant screens around the place and were pulling out all the stops out for this historic match. Incidentally Wales have not beaten Ireland since 1973. The atmosphere was absolutely superb. You cannot put it into words. Incidentally I better mention now, Wales won!!!! 32 / 20. Most people were extremely emotional when the last whistle blew… brought many men to tears. Back to my kilt … we had a few beers in a few pubs although it took eons to get served .. Not one glance, comment or kilt lift all day… and with just as many women in red swigging the pints back and in very joyful spirits I thought a kilt lift might have happened at least once. I only saw another two guys in kilts, but I’m sure there were more floating around. Took a picture in the kitchen before I left. The celebrations in Cardiff are still going on today, so me (kilted of course) and the wife are returning to the city centre to join in. Sorry to have gone on a bit .. but you have one very proud Welshman here.
Derek.