Normally, I get positive comments from friends and strangers alike when I go kilted. Unfortunately, it is my own family that make it hard.

I went kilted today on the 7 Bridges Walk in Sydney. Warm day. Lots of walking. I knew from experience that jeans are too heavy a garment for that -- and I would be annoyed in shorts, too. The kilt was a modern kilt, a black Union Kilt (the pockets are wonderful!) and my mother manages to tolerate it. The snow-camo NeoKilt, she doesn't like.

I met my brother and his family partway around the journey for lunch, and about as far as I was really willing to go after stopping . He didn't say anything, and neither did his wife, but I found out later she didn't like it. However, their kids were not so circumspect, as kids are often wont to be. Two girls, aged 6 and 8. Neither appreciated the kilt and I was told the youngest was avoiding me at first for that reason. The oldest had to be encouraged to ask why I was "wearing a skirt" - I gently corrected her on what it was called and said it was more comfortable than trousers for all the walking I've been doing. She immediately got that (she likes skirts herself). But it was a moment of understanding, not a convert.

Now, this may be because they know me a whole lot better than J. Random Stranger on the street, so still I wonder at the general attitude. But it is disheartening. Especially at all the other stories of people's general approval. I had two people say to me this morning that it was a good choice for the weather...

I do have some traditional kilts on the shopping list, but it will be a while. Earnt funds have been spoken for for quite some months yet.

Wade.