On my holiday in Sidmouth, Devon, England at the Folk Week (held every year at the beginning of August) I expected to see kilts - there were four or five last year - but this year, for 'normal' wear, not one!!

There was a small contingent from a pipe and drum band - I saw about 6 of them - but other than that it was just me.

I wore my kilts almost every day, and I did get a few comments, but everyone thought that they were Utilikilts - particularly the latest black one and the DPM - and one person said that they were looking to buy a black kilt for some special event, but then wandered off whilst I was busy playing for the dancing on the sea front.

The only time I changed out of a kilt was for a couple of hours on a very windy afternoon on the fifth day - I had forgotten to wash my petticoat from the beginning of the week so that morning had washed both the ones I took with me - they were dry by the evening but I didn't think even the heavy black kilt would be sensible in a Force 5/6 with showers.

I was very disappointed at the lack of other kilt wearers.

I did see a man in a skirt - but it was just a skirt.

Unfortunately the professional photos - which have been very good in the past, were dreadful. There were several with me in, but the wide angle lens distorted my shape, and the colours were most peculiar - I had legs a foot wide with a dark purple colouration of the skin which made me look as though I was in the last stages of dropsy or maybe elephantiasis.

If any good ones turn up on the web with me in then I will direct interested parties to them.

I thought I looked quite good, anyway.

For the torchlit procession which always closes the event I wore black kilt hose and shirt, a bowler with a red band, red shoes and a red velvet - duh - forgot the name - piece of cloth over the shoulder. I use a rectangle, so I can put the rolled up top right side edge under the drum's shoulder strap, to protect my neck and bring the lower part of that edge around at waist height to shield the kilt from the metal bits of the drum. The finishing touch was black and white badger stripes of face paint. The Border Morris men traditionally blacked their faces as a disguise.

Ah well - there is always next year.