To the Forum regarding the XMTSAS Saltire

**ForresterModern** · 22nd January 11, 06:06 PM

Toronto Sept 2009 SOKS welcomes the ForresterModern family:

**Zardoz** · 22nd January 11, 10:48 PM

Jamie, and all,

I got my first kilt in October 2005, and found this forum about a month later. I'm glad I did too, because my early attempts at Highland wear were pretty woeful, and the advice and photos I found here were invaluable to me.
And yes, I recall fondly the story that inspired the wee airship, and the days of Hank and the "mod squad" as well!

I'm glad I was able to host the Saltire on her trip to Texas, on what turned out to be one of the last legs of her round the world journey.

Here's me sporting the XMTS tartan and original kilt pin, with the Saltire, my wife Shelley, and the San Jacinto Monument. A number of relics in one shot!

I hope that our airship will find a permanent home at Bicknell Grange, I always found Hamish to be a voice of calm dignity and polite evenhanded advice on the forum, and I think his photos set a standard of sartorial polish unparalleled by anyone.

It's sad that times change, but remembering the past is a part of what we do when we strap on the kilt, and the wee Saltire is part of that now.

Mark :ootd:

:blimp:

**Downunder Kilt** · 23rd January 11, 12:44 AM

Originally Posted by Zardoz

I'm glad I was able to host the Saltire on her trip to Texas, on what turned out to be one of the last legs of her round the world journey.
:blimp:

Zardoz and to all fellow Xmarkers, whilst the Saltire was a fine and unique idea it was never an around the world journey, in fact it never made it any further than North America, Great Britain and a couple of other western euopean countries (a quarter of the world might be more accurate)

Yes I was waiting for it to come down this way, but it always seemed to be on either side of the Atlantic, not quite in my area to pm the holder to send it across

I realise that this is a North American based web, but I thought that the kilt was truly international and broke through all international boundaries.

I have read the "Flight of the Saltire" thread and the posts expousing the international togetherness that the Saltire was to bring and bringing

For all those who will post in this thread, I urged you to refrain from using adjectives like, round the world travels and international. In my opinion it is an insult to those of us in countries that have been forgotton or ingnored

The purpose of the wee airship, as far as I could see was to bring us together and allow us to see other bits of the world that we had read about on the forum, but in the end has it done that?

**Zardoz** · 23rd January 11, 12:57 AM

Wow, lighten up! Maybe it's not "Around the World" but I'm pretty sure going from the UK to Texas is "International"! Something international mostly means that it involves more than one nation! (I consider crossing the Texas border 'international' travel too though)
When I received the Saltire from Jock Scot in Scotland, the mailing label even said international.
The LZ127 Graf Zeppelin managed to fly around the world in 1929 without touching down in Australia either.

**Downunder Kilt** · 23rd January 11, 01:29 AM

Originally Posted by Zardoz

Wow, lighten up! Maybe it's not "Around the World" but I'm pretty sure going from the UK to Texas is "International"! Something international mostly means that it involves more than one nation! (I consider crossing the Texas border 'international' travel too though)
When I received the Saltire from Jock Scot in Scotland, the mailing label even said international.
The LZ127 Graf Zeppelin managed to fly around the world in 1929 without touching down in Australia either.

As I said Zardoz, this in suppodedly a fully international forum not just North America, and Western Europe. Sorry if I have to spell it out but the flight of the Saltire was not truly international, just selective. It's about time some people realise the forum has members around the globe, not just their "backyard".
Pity that 3/4 of the world was missed by the "International Around the World" Flight of the Saltire

**JSFMACLJR** · 23rd January 11, 05:48 AM

With posts like some of these , I can see why Panache decided to retire the Saltire. See how divisive things become?

**English Bloke** · 23rd January 11, 06:12 AM

Just let it go folks, no point in falling out over it.

For reasons best known to himself, Jamie has decided to retire the saltire before it has had a chance to complete the trip it was supposed to do. That's his prerogative it would seem. It was fun while it lasted for those who got to play but I don't think it was prevented or excluded from getting to Australia, Asia or Africa, it just ran out of time.

I also think, the symbol of unity it carried, sadly retires with it so it doesn't really matter anymore.

I still think it was a fantastic idea but I don't think we should have a replacement for the saltire either. It just makes for disappointment when an individual decides to take their ball home and ends all the fun for everyone else. In fact, I can feel the tension in the air right now...

**artificer** · 23rd January 11, 07:04 AM

Zardoz, Downunder Kilt,

I think that we're all a bit disappointed right now. It's easy to let things irritate us at times like this.

It's true that our little blue blimp DIDN'T get round the whole world (it didn't even get to all areas of the US). I think it probably would have, if it hadn't dropped anchor permanently.

Originally Posted by JSFMACLJR

With posts like some of these , I can see why Panache decided to retire the Saltire. See how divisive things become?

People get mad, even impolite. It doesn't mean they're not united. It's just that right now we're united in disappointment

I don't know Jamie's full reasoning for his actions, but it's obviously not been an easy decision for him. I doubt a little squabbling amongst the rabble is the cause.

Originally Posted by English Bloke

Just let it go folks, no point in falling out over it.

For reasons best known to himself, Jamie has decided to retire the saltire before it has had a chance to complete the trip it was supposed to do. That's his prerogative it would seem. It was fun while it lasted for those who got to play but I don't think it was prevented or excluded from getting to Australia, Asia or Africa, it just ran out of time.

I also think, the symbol of unity it carried, sadly retires with it so it doesn't really matter anymore.

I still think it was a fantastic idea but I don't think we should have a replacement for the saltire either. It just makes for disappointment when an individual decides to take their ball home and ends all the fun for everyone else. In fact, I can feel the tension in the air right now...

John,
I agree with everything you said, apart from the last bit (unity, and replacing the Saltire). The problem exists that any replacement would have to be something NEW, not a pale, synthetic substitute.

The Saltire was born from Jamie's love of the forum and stories. I think we CAN develop a new 'traveler', but the process should be organic, not an "OK, so whadda we use in place of the blimp" type reaction.

On a more general note:
As far as X-Marks not being 'the same' as it used to be... nothing is. People come, go, change. New members add a new spice, the departure of others changes the flavor as well. The focus may change (lots of questions have already been answered and stickied). It's not BAD, it's life.

My thoughts on X-Marks and my time so far on the forum were recently posted HERE.

Should any of you show up 'round my deep frozen area of the world, the first round on me.

ith: