On Thursdays I often lead a Health Walk (a UK scheme to encourage more people to walk for exercise) round our town and am always kilted for this. Quite apart from the comfort I thus enjoy it makes the Walk more noticeable to those we pass and may help to recruit new members.

So this morning I am striding down to town to start the walk when I meet a bunch of builders. One of them is clearly poised to make some devastatingly funny comment on how I'm dressed for the amusement of the others. But all he can come up with is "Hi mate! Have you dropped a chicken? Oh no, it's your wee baggie!" (My sporran I presume.) I am so disappointed with the banality of this that I can't be bothered to reply so I give him an ironical "Ha, Ha" and an ironical thank you.

As usual, round and about in the town I get a few complimentary remarks starting with a Scottish couple I'd never met before who tell me that "it fair cheers them up to see the kilt being worn" and several "You look very smart. What's the special occasion?"

When I first got the "smart" remark (it happens regularly) I was puzzled since I was in casual mode (as I was today): open necked short-sleeved shirt, kilt, black belt with very plain brass "horse bridle" buckle, plain black day sporran, hose flashes and black casual shoes. So I wasn't even trying to look formal or smart. It is mainly (but not always) women who make the "smart" remark and I reckon this is just because I have taken the trouble to match the colour of my shirt (solid colour not striped or checked) and hose to one of the colours of the tartan I'm wearing to create a much more co-ordinated appearance than your average male. And that surprises them. They reach for a word, and "smart" is the first one that strikes them. When I look at some of the guys in scruffy shorts or those terrible calf-length pants or jeans or normal trousers I can see that there is usually no sense of colour co-ordination (or any other sort, usually). So us kilties automatically stand out.

Well that's my explanation. Maybe you think it all down to the allure of the kilt itself. I was wearing a 5yd wool Hunting Stuart casual kilt today, the cheapest kilt I have ever bought but looking fairly good, even if I say so myself. But I still think maybe other factors are involved in people's reactions.

Walking home after my morning's exertions I meet a trio of youngsters (late teens or very early twenties), one girl, two boys. It is obvious that one of the boys wants to comment so I prepare for the worst. "I like your kilt," he says, "That's just awesome!"

It really made my day.