A proposal for a new SI unit of measure for kilt addiction.

[sjrapid]

In a post elsewhere in this section, Hamish reveals how long it has taken him to build up his internationally famous Kilt Kollection...

The kilt first came into my life when I was 14 and developed an almost fanatical love of Scottish Country and Highland Dance - a love which has remained with me for 57 years. For 47 of those years, I looked upon the kilt as nothing more than a costume or 'uniform' to be worn when dancing ........ it never ocurred to me to wear one at other times. Then, the comfort, freedom and joy of the kilt hit me (hard) and I began acquiring more than the one kilt I had owned for years and, eight years ago in ten days time, I started wearing them full-time and rid myself of all the trousers I owned.

The rest is history, and I have never been more comfortable or happier.

Now that Hamish has kindly posted these figures (thanks Hamish!) it is possible to use them to form the foundation for a new SI unit of kilt addiction to be called (of course!) the Hamish.

We have long known the number of kilts that Hamish owns (displayed here on XMarks) but until this recent post, we haven't had accurate information on how long it has taken Hamish to acquire them, from which we can calculate an average rate of acquisition.

We know that Hamish has 76 kilts - one of them was a kilt for Scottish Country Dancing and predates the addiction - therefore 75 have been acquired in a period of 8 years less 10 days (2910 days [(365*8)-10] so thats one kilt every 38.8 days or 5½ weeks, or alternatively, 9.4 kilts/year.

Wow Hamish! That's quite a rate!

It is therefore respectfully proposed that this rate be adopted as the standard unit of kilt addiction - 'the Hamish'.

However, now we have this figure, and a new standard unit, any kilt-wearer can calculate their own relative additiction level, and take appropriate action.

For example, my own paltry collection of two kilts acquired over 140 days (5.2 kilts/year) means that my own addiction score comes out at approximately 533 milliHamish.

However, the imminent arrival of the next run of XMTS tartan, and the fact that I expect to have two more kilts in hand before the end of the summer will lift my addiction to approximately 675 milliHamish.

Like all standard measures, the Hamish will be periodically re-calibrated back to the original source to ensure accuracy. Any significant change in Hamish's purchasing habits will therefore influence future values of the unit. Suggestions that a 'reference standard' platinum-iridium kilt be placed in the international bureau of weights and measures in Paris are under active consideration.

What score do other members calculate for their own addiction?

Best regards