It's just soooo nice!

[Barry]

I moved house last year and now live ib East Dorset (near the sea, hurrah!). I have been amazed by the positive reactions I have received to my kilts.

Christmas day I went to church and wore my posh kilt, shirt & Tie and jacket. The Vicar greeted me warmly and said how nice the kilt was. After the service, while waiting outside, a young woman smiled and said "Love the kilt. Well done".

At New Year a (new) neighbour and his wife called in for a drink. "Aha" said he "A man in a skirt - very smart" [this was not sarcastic]. His wife asked some of the usual questions about my scottish links - there are none- but was quite OK that I wore a kilt because that's what I wanted to wear. Incidentally, all the near neighbours in my road, and also the postman, have seen me in kilts assorted and all just happily accept me.

Yesterday I was fixing my wife's car in the front drive, wearing my everyday Black Watch kilt and a sweater. I female voice came from behind "You look good, its lovely to see". I turned around to face a forty something delivering flyers. "Don't you find it a bit cold" she asked "I don't wear skirts in this weather anymore". I told her it was really quite warm. We chatted for a while and then she left with a parting good comment.

Wow, I felt 10 feet tall!

Its kinda interesting that my kilts are quite often called skirts (which they are) but not in a derogatory sense. It seems that women generally don't have a problem with a man in a skirt as long as it is one purpose made for men i.e. the man is not attempting to cross dress. In that regard the kilt is king.

[Graham]

Hello Barry, I've been away for two days and missed a lot!

Nice to see a southern UK lad (I'm from Portsmouth). Thanks for sharing such a positive experience.
What was the posh kilt you wore to church? Kilts are great for church, I mean, Jesus never wore trousers now, did He!

I love Dorset, beautiful part of the world, happy to see a kilted man pioneering the way there.
Keep up the good work, fight the good fight, show England that kilts are for men!

[GMan]

Barry,

You have encountered the joy of kilting. It sure is great isn't it? Glad to hear the acceptance of your kilt in your new house. Well done.

[Hamish]

Hi Barry,

Now is this the Barry who was previously in/near Southampton, I wonder? Well, no matter really - just trying to place you in the great scheme of kilted things! I am in accord with Graham (when am I not, since we are both Portsmuthians?!) and believe Dorset to be one of England's most beautiful counties, especially the coastline. My mother was a Dorset girl, I was christened near my grandmother's home in Lytchett Minster and my last relatives all lived in the Wareham/Corfe Castle area of Purbeck. I guess you are now near Poole Harbour or Swanage. I have revisited that part of the world several times, and always (in latter years) of course, kilted.

I am pleased to learn that you are settling in down there, and that your kilts are being well received - but then, I cannot imagine that they would not be!

[michael steinrok]

Welcome and cheers

Slainte

[NewKilt]

Welcome, Barry. Glad your kilted experiences have been positive. You're correct, It does make you feel 10 feet tall when you get those positve comments.

Darrell

[Blu (Ontario)]

I moved house last year and now live ib East Dorset (near the sea, hurrah!). I have been amazed by the positive reactions I have received to my kilts....

I would gather that you've had some 'not so positive' reactions around your former domicile.

[Barry]

Hi Blu

I used to live in a town/area with a sizeable "blue collar" population. It was from this group that I tended to get the catcalls, "Och aye the noo" comments and laughter. The perpetrators of the comments were invariably teen "clones", you know the sort - trainers, jeans, sweatshirt, baseball cap, or the Adidas sports look. Yes, both sexes. There was never any hint of aggression, but it does get tiring when these boneheads feel the need to shout at anyone who is anybit different. It has made me appreciate just a little of what ethnic minorities face on a daily basis.

Having said that I did get positive reactions. The checkout girl in Asda-Walmart was very enthusiastic, for example.

Having moved I am a lot happier, because I can now don my kilt and go out without thinking about it. Its all just natural. (which is how it should be)

To Graham - Ahoy there me hearty! I lived in dear old Pompey for 16 years - happy days. The posh kilt is a 13oz made to measure one from A.S. Campbell.

Thank you all for the kind comments.

Slainte!