Missed kilted opportunity at Papal Mass, Glasgow

[Jimmy]

What a great time at Bellahouston Park, Glasgow yesterday, the sun shone and the sky was blue all day. Our family in Zone 4 were literally only feet away from the Popemobile, what a great close up of Benedict

Unfortunately, I missed the opportunity of being kilted yesterday as I believed this would not be a day to wear the kilt. How wrong was I, there were many men in kilts of all ages ranging from young school children in organised outings from schools all over Scotland to some of the participants in the mass and many of the organisers as well as many pilgrims.
I cannot believe that I misjudged the national fervour of Benedict's visit

[Chas]

Hi Jimmy,

Ignoring any political or religious overtones, it is a State Visit. The official welcome was in Scotland, not in England. The outpouring of national pride is truly justified.

Although I am neither a native of Norfolk, nor a Roman Catholic, if the Pope had landed at Norwich Airport, I would have been so bursting with pride I know that I would have been insufferable for weeks.

Anything that re-awakens national pride and identity can only be a good thing. I think that you are a lucky man and will have a story to tell your grandchildren in time. Not everyone gets the chance to be as close to a world leader as you were.

Regards

Chas

[Urchurdan]

Och Jimmy, you let your Pontiff out do you, he had on the tartan...That was a nice touch that I am sure all our fellow Scots were proud to see. It was Matt's tartan I believe, how proud must he be???

[Jimmy]

Hi Jimmy,

Ignoring any political or religious overtones, it is a State Visit. The official welcome was in Scotland, not in England. The outpouring of national pride is truly justified.

Although I am neither a native of Norfolk, nor a Roman Catholic, if the Pope had landed at Norwich Airport, I would have been so bursting with pride I know that I would have been insufferable for weeks.

Anything that re-awakens national pride and identity can only be a good thing. I think that you are a lucky man and will have a story to tell your grandchildren in time. Not everyone gets the chance to be as close to a world leader as you were.

Regards

Chas

You are so right most people in Scotland are now looking at his visit to Edinburgh and Glasgow with a tremendous amount of national pride. On the TV and Radio today, there has been great coverage of the Pope with his St. Ninian tartan scarf, this always appeals to Scots when a visitor to our shores embraces the tartan. Matt should be so proud

[Mike_Oettle]

Definitely a kilt opportunity missed! A State visit is a State visit, and as Scotland is the host country, tartan is exquisitely appropriate.
And again salaams to Matt for his work on designing the St Ninian tartan.
Regards,
Mike

[pipesndrumsnun]

Even though you were not kilted, what an amazing experience! Congratulations to you! I got to see Pope Benedict as part of a young adult pilgrimage when he was in NYC a couple of summers ago and also when staying with Sisters of St. Joseph in Rome...once in a lifetime event TWICE!

Surely you will remember & treasure this wonderful experience all your days!

[McClef]

Any day is a good day to be kilted!

Often, even if we think that we may be the the only one, so attired, should that stop us?

I learned a lesson in Cyprus a few years ago when I said to myself "what the heck, why bother taking one, nobody else will be kilted there."

Only to go on a dining cruise out of Paphos when a guy in a kilt got all the attention from the Greek dancing troupe...

Today I was kilted in the presence of Pete Waterman who is a big steam buff who had come to officially open the new stretch of our railway line, OK he is not quite the Pope, but he still seemed pleasantly surprised to see someone in a Kilt and we chatted pleasantly. I also got him to sign our visitors book.

I am sure you enjoyed the day anyway and you can always make up for it by being kilted in Rome if you visit there.

[Inchessi]

Alas, hind sight is 20/20. I do hate the realization of "I could have..."

I do feel for you, if that is any consolation.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Jimmy,

I was at that Mass, as well, and though I had on a tartan tie (St. Ninian tartan, of course!) I was not kilted either. Part of that was down to the fact that the one kilt I had with me on the trip was embarrassingly wrinkled by that point. But part of it was also because I did not want to be "the American tourist in the kilt."

However, like you, I soon saw how wrong I was -- there was no shortage of men in kilts at the Mass, from young to old, there to celebrate the occasion. Afterwards, I was invited by several people to a nearby hotel pub to relax a bit while the crowds dispersed (so I could make my way back to my hotel in the absence of traffic), and I noticed at least half a dozen men in the pub had come from the Mass in their kilts, including one young lad who looked about 8 or 9 years old.

One thing I did not notice much of.... white hose! :-)

[Jimmy]

Yes, a great day Matt, and Cardinal O'Brien done the trick for you by smuggling the St. Ninian scarf into Holyrood Palace and then on to the popemobile before placing it across Benedict's shoulders.
Believe me Matt, what that gesture done to embrace the people of Scotland, of all creeds, towards the Papal visit was incredible, the national papers as you saw had a field day with the Pope in tartan, unbelievable, magnificent!

I was at Pitlochry the previous weekend but we were delayed going and arrived to late in the afternoon for the games which you attended, we were spending the night there and attending the local theatre showing their production of ' Kiss me Kate', pity I missed you