Quote Originally Posted by Jock Scot View Post
Worry not AA, that is not what I am thinking and never have. Thus far today, my thoughts are concentrated on; "I am not sure that I like this new marmalade and should I have some more toast to confirm my thoughts?"

Decisions decisions, oh what to do?
Wonderful Jock, you are a fine, reasonable and apparently very patient, sane, generous and understanding man. I was not going to put up any further posts in this thread because for me it could have (and for me, should have) ended back on page 11 when you kindly responded to my queries and clarified -- and I must say excellently -- what you have been trying to say all along, except perhaps in words some of us Yanks just didn't understand. No doubt I pressed you as hard or harder than any; after all, I belong to the profession whose founder was executed for asking too many pointed questions! I hope you know that my only motivation was to try to better understand (rather than misunderstand) you. No offense was either implied or taken for my part in any of it. In that kindly given response it seemed to me that you made it perfectly clear that you are not saying, and never have said, that you can't understand why someone who is not now living in the highlands would ever want to -- and should not -- wear a kilt. In fact, you gave (and have given) plenty of examples to the contrary (I think I like the "pulls" the girls and "comfort" ones best, but that's just me). You even said you'd lend a kilt of your own to an Australian who might have been invited to "play at" being a Scot at a Scottish themed "fancy dress" "affair." Yet, some of us "Yanks" just didn't seem to "get it." Language can be a slippery thing. While in the Navy I had several occasions to go on "liberty" with sailors from other English speaking nations (Australia, Canada, UK) and though we all got along famously for the most part (who wouldn't out drinking beer?), we sometimes had difficulties communicating. For example, in the sentence above words like "play at" "fancy dress" and "affair" are notoriously ambiguous and open to many interpretations which might lead to someone taking offense -- or a good laugh! Personally, I prefer laughing much more than being offended. As far as I can tell, the only thing you "don't get" is someone who is not a highlander (i.e., someone not actually living in the highlands) wearing a kilt as though it were their national/cultural dress. Quite frankly, I don't get that either because that would either be a flat out contradiction or an example of deceit. All the other stuff about personal tastes etc. is just good fun to which I certainly do not, and would hope others would not, take offense. Oh yea, buy the way, I don't much like marmalade at all although I'm rather partial to apricot jam. I'm pretty sure you're not offended by that! Off now to drink coffee and eat a blueberry scone; Cheers! Affectionately, Paul -- [P.S. I'm not much one for participating in invasions but if you'd like some help defending your castle, I'd be honored to help man the parapets.]