Greetings from Toronto.

[JohnH]

Hi to All,

Been lurking for a while and finally decided to join. There is a lot of interesting information here.

What to say?

I'm an old fart & "vertically challenged", (5' 4") however, my weight has not changed for 40 years!!! Pure luck I guess! My commiserations to those less fortunate. (OK, I'll rub it in. I still have my hair! And it's long.)

One of lifes strange coincidences is that Hamish lives on top of a hill in Sussex, UK. (In the village of Storrington. (I grew up in Chichester.)) My High School was at the bottom of that hill. (Worthing Tech.) I am pretty sure that we have never met, but that can be corrected, should we find a need to do so!

I trained as an electronics engineering officer (Weapons & Radar) with the RN, (short service commision,) & later with the BBC. Then I emigrated to Canada to carry on as a TV (Television!!) engineer until 1990. Since then I have been working with my brother on typesetting books on my computer and making custom lighting solutions for museum photographic purposes.

I am also a certified welder & a Mercedes diesel mechanic. One of my friends once described me as a Renaissance Man, but I don't think he meant it as a compliment.

I built my first kilt by reverse-engineering an ex army Seaforth kilt. The pleat tapers were a disaster, but it looked OK if I wore it with an Aran sweater. (Well at least my Mum was pleased!) So, I looked on the web for help & ended up buying Barb's book. I will have to read it several times before I can figure out how to do it properly! My plan is to build a kilt or two in solid Navy first (OK, I know the RN isn't kilted, but maybe they should consider it.) & then try one pleated to the sett. (My apologies to the other bidder who wanted the Hunting Rose off eBay!) Then, KiltKamp 2007 in Victoria BC, to make a full-blown 8 yard 16 oz Strome kilt in "Maple Leaf" tartan. (Which I already have; 283UK Pounds! (Approx. $US 550) Eeek!)

JohnH. (Former Naval Person.)(Ancestors : English, Irish, Scottish, German & Swiss. (So far!))

OK. How do I sort out the avatar & the signature?

[Mike1]

OK. How do I sort out the avatar & the signature?

Easy-peasy.

Scroll up and you will see a Navigation Bar with several options on it. Click on UserCP.

When the new page opens, you will see some options available to you, in the left-side column. You will want to Edit Signature and Edit Avatar. Any changes you make in the UserCP will require that you Save Changes when you are finished.

If you have any questions or problems, let a staff member know and we'll be happy to help you.

[McMurdo]

From due east of your current location, Whitby Ontario.

[scoutniagara]

Is the "short service commission" in the RN because of your "...vertically challenged, (5' 4")" ??? ;)

Welcome from a younger ex-RCN and RCA man (reserve),

Happy Hogmanay!

John M. Glennie
Niagara Falls, ON

[cessna152towser]

from the Scottish Borders.

[LoftGuy]

Hi,

Welcome from Columbus, OH USA; I'm sure you'll enjoy the Forum.

Best wishes for the New Year.

Bob

[MrLion]

Welcome from the Great Northwest of the USA, Oregon.
I lived in Port Huron, Michigan a few years as a lad, and remember visiting "Storybook Gardens" in London, Ontario.... ages ago.
Enjoy the rable here!

[Splash_4]

Welcome aboard from Snellville, Georgia!

[JohnH]

[QUOTE=scoutniagara;308672]Is the "short service commission" in the RN because of your "...vertically challenged, (5' 4")" ??? ;)

Good guess! Actually, my lifelong ambition was to follow both of my parents and join the Navy. (RN & WRNS) (The original plan was to join as a Navy fighter pilot, but the glasses put paid to that, although short pilots are preferred because there is not much room in the cockpit). Ended up as an engineer.

The worst vertical challenge is that kilt suppliers sell stuff for blokes 5' 10" and up. (The eBay auction I mentioned in another thread states that this kilt would be perfect for a young boy/teenager!) So, buy the book and make it yourself.

JohnH

[starbkjrus]

from Northern Virginia.