Usually I go out in rain and wind with a Gortex cape but I was caught out by a brief interval of bright sunshine between weather fronts. I should have checked the forecast but decided to venture out.

I was wearing my almost 8 yards of black peached cotton kilt - with the soft side inside, and a woven cotton liner, a short jacket over a knitted jersey, with a beret and hose, all wool, with leather shoes.

The wind must have got up to force 6 gusting 7 or more, and the rain was lashing down - it came through the jacket in no time and I could feel the water running down to my waist, but I was quite surprised that it got no further, it was collected by the kilt and every fold was dripping from the lower edge.

The kilt fabric was clinging to itself and the liner and had formed a solid bell of fabric which remained wind proof, and inside which I could walk freely, unlike the restricting grip of wet trousers or shorts.

I was far warmer than I would have been in jeans, and having hung up the kilt to dry I find it is very soft - the tap water round here is full of minerals which clog the pipework, kettles etc, and as I don't like the smell of fabric conditioners I supose that the mineral deposits build up in fabric - obviously the rainwater has rinsed them out of the kilt and restored the original softness.

I would have been far more uncomfortable in trousers - particularly jeans, and although cotton is considered an unfortunate choice for cold and wet weather clothing, it seems that when in kilt form it is not so bad as all that.