The "real cold question" season

[string]

I get asked if I'm too hot at reenactments a lot, I always say, aren't you? Invariably they just look surprised and say yes. I mean, I'm sitting there in 3 layers of clothing including a 1/4 inch thick set of leather stays (18th century version of the corset) of course I am! But no hotter than they are, it's what you are used to.
At cold events I'm always warmer than they are, but they haven't learned that I keep a steaming hot cup of tea nearby to stay warm with at all times, if you keep it just under your hem where you are sitting it's like having a little heater warming the pocket of air.
I would assume a Kilt, being wool would have the same effect, although I am pretty sure I'd freeze from ankle to knee (my feet do not become cold, ever)

[emolas]

I get asked that a lot. It happened today as I was out shovelling snow in my driveway. Somebody walking by just had to stop and carry on a conversation with me

Stranger: "Aren't you cold in that?"
Me: "In what?" Knowing damn well what he means...
Stranger: "In that kilt."
Me: "I have 25 feet of fabric wrapped in layers around my waist, how about you?"
Stranger: "What about your legs?"
Me: "Thick wool socks and these snowboots keep my legs toasty warm."
Stranger: "What about your knees?"
Me: "There isn't a lot of skin showing and I don't notice the cold much there."
Stranger: "What about wind?"
Me: "What about it?"
Stranger: "I mean isn't it cold when the wind blows up your kilt?"
Me: "I suppose it would be if it blew UP but in my experience wind generally blows horizontal."
Stranger: "Oh... Umm... What kind of dog is that?"

Funny how quickly he changed the subject. No segue or anything, just a new line of questions. He asked so many questions I was wondering if he was a 2 year-old trapped in a man's body. I was kinda hoping he would ask THE question because I already had "snowballs" in mind as an answer.

I do get a few comments from women asking if I'm cold because they say if they were in a skirt they would be cold. I just let them feel the thickness of the fabric and tell them about the 25 feet of it wrapped in layers and they understand. The "What about your knees?" question never comes up from women for some reason.

[Dalmore]

During our stroll up to Rockefeller Center and back on our NYC kilt night last week were repeatedly asked if we were cold.

More often people don't ask but rather insist. They usually say something like "you must be cold" when they pass you on the street.

Good thing I'm immune to suggestion.

[macwilkin]

I get asked if I'm too hot at reenactments a lot, I always say, aren't you? Invariably they just look surprised and say yes. I mean, I'm sitting there in 3 layers of clothing including a 1/4 inch thick set of leather stays (18th century version of the corset) of course I am! But no hotter than they are, it's what you are used to.
At cold events I'm always warmer than they are, but they haven't learned that I keep a steaming hot cup of tea nearby to stay warm with at all times, if you keep it just under your hem where you are sitting it's like having a little heater warming the pocket of air.
I would assume a Kilt, being wool would have the same effect, although I am pretty sure I'd freeze from ankle to knee (my feet do not become cold, ever)

That brings back so many memories.

I remember one lady at a living history event back in March, 1993 at Pea Ridge National Military Park in Arkansas asking me if the fire I was standing next to was a "real fire".

Todd

[davedove]

That brings back so many memories.

I remember one lady at a living history event back in March, 1993 at Pea Ridge National Military Park in Arkansas asking me if the fire I was standing next to was a "real fire".

Todd

Why no, it's a sophisticated holographic system set up to simulate the real fires of the time. We've also installed thermal projectors so that it even gives off heat. We spare no expense to make these recreations realistic.

[macwilkin]

Why no, it's a sophisticated holographic system set up to simulate the real fires of the time. We've also installed thermal projectors so that it even gives off heat. We spare no expense to make these recreations realistic.

Funny, but that was almost word-for-word how we responded.

T.