6 months evaluation

[Robin]

3 months ago I celebrated my 100th day kilted and posted this:

Today I celebrate my 100th day kilted.

29 years ago...I was 17...I first visited Scotland, love at first sight.
The landscape, the people, the history, the whisky and the tartan.
I went to a kilt shop, but didn't had the money to buy myself a decent kilt.

Visited Scotland over and over again and surprised my wife and all our wedding guests with a piper at our wedding...needles to say we celebrated our honeymoon in Scotland (Isle of Skye and western Highlands).

Visited another kiltshop, but buying a kilt was still no option

The "kilt idea" faded away until...november 5th 2005...on a golfers forum my wife more or less challenged me to get a kilt...



I ordered my 1st kilt the same day...a 16oz 8 yards Caledonia (modern).

I sort of panicked....kilt ordered, but not a clue about how to wear it properly.
In search for more information I stumbled upon this forum (thank God!!!!!) and spend days reading and learning.

When I received my kilt I was thrilled...removed the basting threads and put it on and spend over an hour in front of the mirror. My wife sitting in a chair looking at me..."You look great, but get some sun tan on those knees darling" (taken care of).

My thoughts..."WOW!...just..WOW!...this is it!"

Of course I was uncertain and afraid about what others would say about it, but I was pleasantly surprised...most like it (women really do!).
I started to wear my kilt as often as possible and started to wear it regimental when I figured out even the meanest wind gusts can't beat a tank.

I now have 5 kilts...the Caledonia, MacLaren Muted, MacLaren Ancient, Isle of Skye and a charcoal Freedom Kilt.

Number 6 will be the XMarks...made by Barb.

I'm now a (almost) full time kilt wearer...got rid of most of my trou@&#s and I dare to say my life changed. I'm no longer just one of the 16 million Dutchmen...I'm kilted and I'm aware now. I no longer take anything for granted...I'm proud of myself and I enjoy life much more.

This is the power of the kilt...the kilt itself is beautiful and comfortable and more important...those who wear it (with great pride) show the world they're individuals...not afraid of what others think of them. It makes perfect sense the English banned the tartan after Culloden....a guy wearing a kilt is a rebel and potentially dangerous (prolly more potent also ).

I told my boss to sod off after 14 years...the kilt and my 2 drops of Scottish blood helped me to take this step.

A day kilted is a day well spend....thank you XMarkers!

I'm alive now.

Was funny te revisit this topic and read it again. I must have been very excited when I posted it

Did anything changed the last 3 months? Well...not really. I'm still excited about kilts, maybe I grew up a bit...kiltwise.
I hear less remarks and I hardly notice people looking at me anymore. It's probably still the same, but I'm no longer focussed.

I quit my job and I'm now busy with my online shop (will open in August).

I now have 2 more kilts...the MacLaren modern and the XMarks.
I also ordered an ("the") Ebay Black Watch, but I guess I'm spoiled...I was shocked by the quality...or better...uhm...worse...the complete abscence of quality. I'm not a hiker and I never crawl in the mud, so I have no purpose for this kilt.
Quality has a price tag...it will take a while before I can order a new kilt...I hope Santa sees my wish list (*note to self: "be a good boy"):rolleyes:

-MacLaren weathered 8y 16oz, pleated to the stipe.
-MacLaren modern 8y 16oz, pleated to the stripe.
-Another sporran.
-Black casual belt.
-Hose....lots of them!

We go on vacation to Scotland (after visiting The Open near Liverpool).
Will "meet and greet" P1M and visit Rab Gordon in Drumnadrochit.
Furthermore: We'll visit Balquhidder (MacLaren clan seat), Loch Lomond, Loch Ness, Culloden, Speyside ("burp!"), St Andrews, Edinburgh (Geoffrey Taylor, Kinloch Anderson), Galashiels (Lochcarron Mill) and Hadrian's Wall.

Oh darn! all the temptations I must resist!

[Pour1Malt]

a guid lot o' truth in yur post there Robin!

guid oan ya....

we are luekin forward tae meeting ya!

ai, tae, am proud tae be a kilt wearin, self-employed, rebel!

slainte!

[Chris Webb]

The newness wears off of everything in life ... we've got to encourage new kiltmen to relish that newness and make sure that each one of us 'experienced' kiltmen enjoy that newness vicariously every chance we get.

Kilt On.

Chris Webb