Food For Thought

[kilted scholar]

An Coigreach Albannach:Correct me if I am wrong but is there not more gaelic(of the Scottish strain) speakers in Canada than in the highlands just now?

From another angle, the last time I was in the Highlands - in the Gairloch area - around 90% of the accents I heard were Dutch or German, or from the south of England, and the latter were evidently residents rather than tourists, as the Continentals probably were. I imagine that a large proportion of younger people raised in the Highlands move south in search of work.

[Jock Scot]

From another angle, the last time I was in the Highlands - in the Gairloch area - around 90% of the accents I heard were Dutch or German, or from the south of England, and the latter were evidently residents rather than tourists, as the Continentals probably were. I imagine that a large proportion of younger people raised in the Highlands move south in search of work.

An interesting observation there and had you been a fly on the wall the other evening you would have had to listen very long and very hard to detect even a smidgen of a Scots accent.

[Christo13]

Thanks to Mrs. Jock for taking some time to ask the old friends about kilts, and thank you for sharing the answers. I wear my kilt here and there each month, mainly when Cynthia and I are enjoying a drink, or when cooler weather hits and I wear it for the occasional stroll.

It's great to hear how the kilt is viewed by people who have worn it for some time over there.

I hope all is well with you and your family,

Christopher

[Jock Scot]

Thanks to Mrs. Jock for taking some time to ask the old friends about kilts, and thank you for sharing the answers. I wear my kilt here and there each month, mainly when Cynthia and I are enjoying a drink, or when cooler weather hits and I wear it for the occasional stroll.

It's great to hear how the kilt is viewed by people who have worn it for some time over there.

I hope all is well with you and your family,

Christopher

Hello Christopher, nice to see you here! Yes all is well here thank you.

Do you know, Mrs Jock really hit on a winner there, we all had great fun and it was well after 1.30 in the morning before we could get the questions answered. It is something of a shock, to those that do not spend time on here, that there are things about Our national attire that the locals have never heard of. And explaining a civilian box pleated kilt , for example, particularly as I have never seen one was hilariously tricky! Also the blank looks on the faces when district tartans were mentioned was a wonder to behold!

[Sir William]

Do you know, Mrs Jock really hit on a winner there, we all had great fun and it was well after 1.30 in the morning before we could get the questions answered. It is something of a shock, to those that do not spend time on here, that there are things about Our national attire that the locals have never heard of. And explaining a civilian box pleated kilt , for example, particularly as I have never seen one was hilariously tricky! Also the blank looks on the faces when district tartans were mentioned was a wonder to behold!

Jock,

This is great! Not sure how I missed this and didn't see it earlier!

I would have loved to have sat in and seen their expressions to the questions (and the answers).

I found the question about where their kilt length to be interesting given a current thread on that topic elsewhere.

[Mark Stephenson]

Jock,
Thanks to you and the Mrs. for this most interesting post. What great fun! Of course, I compared my answers to those of your friends, except for those questions that reflected issues discussed on this forum, I was surprised at how my answers would have fit in with those of your friends. As was discussed above, this probably reflects the fact that my military background and age are similar to those of some of the men in your group. I do have one question: do you think these gentlemen would "understand" that those of us with a strong Highland heritage wear the kilt to acknowledge that heritage and to honor our forefathers?

[Jock Scot]

Jock,
Thanks to you and the Mrs. for this most interesting post. What great fun! Of course, I compared my answers to those of your friends, except for those questions that reflected issues discussed on this forum, I was surprised at how my answers would have fit in with those of your friends. As was discussed above, this probably reflects the fact that my military background and age are similar to those of some of the men in your group. I do have one question: do you think these gentlemen would "understand" that those of us with a strong Highland heritage wear the kilt to acknowledge that heritage and to honor our forefathers?

I don't honestly know Mark as we have never discussed that point. They must be well aware that parts of the world are clinging to their Scots(others too)roots. The impression I get, is just like I was when I found this website, I think that they are somewhat confused and ammused-------not upset in any way-------that the USA the land of the free seems to have taken to Sottish kilt, however we all are aware that the civilian Scottish culture is celebrated fervently in Countries of the Commonwealth. After all we ALL have roots wherever we live in this world. In a nutshell, I think it is the degree that these Scottish roots are celibrated outwith Scotland that causes confusion amongst some of us.

If you note the answers given about "where they wear kilt " from the "survey", it does seem to indicate that there is a reluctance to wear the kilt outwith the UK, but it would be unwise to conclude from that too much I think, other than its just one of those "conventions".