UK in the UK

[cessna152towser]

Great pics; you must have been agile to get atop the triangulation post on the hill near Caerphilly. In the London photo the kilt looks a darker shade of tan but maybe its the same kilt, and just the light playing tricks.

[Presuming Ed]

Second- I have learned that "Jock" is a derogatory term for a Scot, and if you happen to wander into a pub mere moments after England is eliminated from the World Cup in a kilt, you can expect to hear the term and risk a beating. Apparently there is not a lot of love between the Scots and the English when it comes to football, and just after a defeat it not a good time to walk into a room full of drunken fans in a kilt. I am firmly convinced had my wife and kids not been with me I would have been in trouble.

Err...yes. There is a fair degree of animosity between English and Scottish sports fans - traditionally, a true Scot supports whoever England is playing - the saying is "Anyone but England" and the accompanying ethos is alive and well. For example, the First Minister, Jack McConnell said that in the recent world cup, he would be supporting Trinidand and Tobago rather than England.

[Valencian Kilted]

Hehehe.... then i see one more connection between Iberia and Caledonia.... we will never support "the perfid Albion" as well! :mrgreen:

By the way I also experienced the same rejection here with some english mates that came here to live. They simply can't accept that I'm so much linked to Scotland. They don't see a reason and they don't accept my explanations, while their arguments are full of topics and silly stereotypes...

When I want to cut that I simply say a phrase that (even not being so real, and I know that maybe some of you here will feel as well hurted by this) always works... I say that if I like Scotland is because there I still can find the pride and the essence of scottish people, and if I don't go to England is because if I want to look for pakistanis I would prefer to go to Pakistan, but if I wanted to look for english, I don't need to move really far from home!

Usually this is hard enough to make them shut up, as all of them have to agree they went off from UK looking for a better welfare and quietness... and they always come here complaining about immigration... so... they put the weapon in my hands!

I never like to finish a discussion in that way, but at the moment this seems to be the only that worked always!

Anyway, after reading ur comments, I think I'll have to resign to wear my jeans during my two days in London this summer....

¡Salud!

T O N O

[Paco500]

Great oics; you must have been agile to get atop the triangulation post on the hill near Caerphilly. In the London photo the kilt looks a darker shade of tan but maybe its the same kilt, and just the light playing tricks.

No tricks- one is tan, the other is olive.

I can't wait to get home so I can bring my wool kilts over. I've been wearing out the UKs.

[Pour1Malt]

...



Anyway, after reading ur comments, I think I'll have to resign to wear my jeans during my two days in London this summer....

¡Salud!

T O N O

yin maire reason tae skip London and spend twa maire days in Scotland!

[Paul Henry]

I'm surprised that you have so many negative comments about kilt wearing in london
I usually visit once a week or so, and almost always in a kilt, and have received many comments, as expected ,but no actual negative ones, often cheeky and provocative, but I just smile!

If you would like someone to go visiting some of hte sights, I would be more than happy to meet up.
But please don;t let any of the comments get to you, those people jsut don't know any better

[Paco500]

I'm surprised that you have so many negative comments about kilt wearing in london
I usually visit once a week or so, and almost always in a kilt, and have received many comments, as expected ,but no actual negative ones, often cheeky and provocative, but I just smile!

To be fair, I haven't heard any negative comments in London- all of them have been in Reading and the surrounding areas.

As for meeting up, that would be fantastic. I'm flying solo for a few weeks as my family is in the states getting packed up. Perhaps we could arrange a mini-meeting of xmarkers somewhere in friendly territory?

As an interesting note, I have only had one positive comment in Reading, from someone who told me he had a Black Survival UK- but the comment was a bit blunted by his further comment that I had a lot of guts wearing it around here as he gets a lot of flack.

In Wales, however, I got quite a few nice comments.

[Kilted KT]

that first pic ( with the clouds ) is fantastic...and should be framed!

[Paco500]

that first pic ( with the clouds ) is fantastic...and should be framed!

My wife takes amazing pictures.

And when I am shot from a distance, I don't mess them up!

[Hamish]

I am currently staying at a corporate flat in Reading (perhaps that's part of the problem with the comments?), but will be moving to a house in Upper Basildon in August. I just did a google map for West Sussex and it would appear I'm not that far from you and would be honored to meet you.

Thanks for the kind comments all.

I'd say that living in Reading IS part of the problem, but from what I remember of Basildon (that's the Essex one), I'd imagine you'll get much the same reactions there. I used to live just north east of Chelmsford and we'd avoid going anywhere near Southend or Basildon at all costs! Not that I want to put you off living there, of course!! It is, however, a great kicking-off point for exploring some of England's prettiest villages in North Essex and Suffolk.

Yes, a meet-up, possibly in London (and with Paul Henry, whom I was going to meet and never did), would be great.

Any chance of your making it to The Harpenden Highland Gathering this coming Sunday - we're hoping for a reasonable turn-out of X Markers and their pals (but I've already had a few drop out)? Harpenden is in Hertfordshire, between Luton and St.Albans, north west of London. Details in the 'Highland Games and Celtic Events' section. You'd be more than welcome, as would anyone else who fancies a day out with the elite!!