Heath, thanks for adding the photo--



Although this doesn't show off the jacket and waistcoat to their best advantage, it does give you an idea as to how one dresses when the occasion calls for something a tad more formal, like taking your wife to dinner on your anniversary or -- dare I say it -- having to meet and greet a VIP.

To begin with, my mantra in dressing is "Have what you need, and go with what you've got." So--

The bonnet is at least 20 years old and has two tiny moth holes near the toorie. I think the original colour was tan, or maybe duck's egg blue, although to be honest I really can't remember. Yes, it's seen better days but then so has my dog, and my car, neither of which I'm planning to replace anytime soon.

Under the jacket and waistcoat I'm wearing a white shirt with French (double) cuffs and cuff links, and my tie is in my school colours-- cardinal and gold. The kilt (ancient MacMillan-- just like me) was made by our own Barbara Tewksbury, and sports three straps and a "horse blanket" kilt pin almost half way up the apron.

I purchased the brass cantle sporran 40 years ago at the Braemar Games and it is now on its second strap, made locally by a Mennonite harness maker. Although you can't see them, I'm wearing dark burgundy hose with brick red flashes that I bought from Matt Newsome several years ago. The sgian dubh has an antler hilt and is tucked down in my right sock.

The shoes are low cut black oxfords and are really shiny. At least that's what I thought until HRH stepped onto the reviewing stand. WOW! The shine on his shoes looked better than the paint on my Bentley. I really must try harder...

And that's it. Everything, with the exception of the jacket and waistcoat, came out of the tin trunk in the box room at home. I made no special effort to coordinate my ensemble, I just wore what I felt to be appropriate; in other words I wore the Highland equivalent of a dark suit.