An Englishman, a Grenadian and a Slovenian.

Picture the scene. A 6' tall 'black' man. A 6' 1" tall 'Latino' looking Englishman and a 6' tall, pale, red headed, Slovenian guy.Not something you see everyday, granted.

What do they have in common? I wish I could hear you cry.....

Height? yes. Skin colour?  Not really.  Hair colour? Noop! They're all men? Yes again. They are all having a night out together in Slovenia's capital, Ljubljana...Wow, you're getting good at this guessing game!

Ah.....They're all wearing kilts. Well done you.

Earlier on in the year, my friend John from Grenada, in the Caribbean came to visit my wife and I in Slovenia. John is an. Athletic, flamboyant funny guy and a  dancer. One of the straight ones!

He lives and works in the USA, but we met in Spain, where we lived and worked at that time. when my wife introduced us. She had worked with John and they were friends. We naturally got on well and kept in touch. John went to work in America, while my wife and I left for Slovenia, to have our 1st child.

We hadn't seen him for several years, until one day, he called and said he was coming to visit us. He had air miles to use. A few days later, he arrived, bearing gifts and making us laugh, just like old times. On seeing me in a kilt, He reminded me, that he'd once said that "some day, he'd love to go out in a kilt". I'd agreed, but forgotten about his request.

John wanted to visit some salsa clubs. I am not a dancer of any calibre, so he went out with my wife and some other friends, one Mexican lady and a guy from Martinique. They danced salsa and john made a great impression, as he does, on the patrons of the salsa club. They couldn't get enough of his moves.

Now Slovenia is predominantly a white, European country. Apart from a few foreign students, a black face is quite rare to say the least. In fact, between him and our black friend, who was visiting from Martinique, we joked that they had doubled the black population of Ljubljana in one night. True!

The following night, it was my turn to have the pleasure of John's company. What to do? Where to go? He suggested the Centre again. It's a great little capitol city. Nice bars, great atmosphere. I had also planned to meet a Slovene friend of mine the same evening. " Two birds and one stone", sprang to mind. It was agreed. We'd all make a night of it.

Then of course, John remembered about the kilt. OK by me. I have several to choose from. Pick which one you prefer and there we have it.

I got dressed into my kilt. Very casual, Douglas tartan. It was cold out, so I suggested underwear. Not very Scottish I know, but my Scottish blood is so diluted, so I do feel the odd chill in the nether regions and even though Johns surname is very Scottish, starting with a 'McQ', I'm pretty sure Caribbean blood doesn't contain anti-freeze.

John chose the plain, black casual kilt. No Sporran. He had difficulty with the long, tricky, black, awkward and heavy thing, but once he'd got 'that' strapped down, it was on with the kilt. (Stereotyping..Me)! He looked great. Very masculine. Not since Samuel, L Jackson sported a kilt in the film 51st state, had I seen a more striking black fellow in a skirt.

I called my Slovene friend, explained what we were doing and asked if I should bring him a kilt of his own to wear, "Just in case". He agreed. I am not local to Ljubljana and my friend is. He may get spotted out in a kilt and have some explaining to do. I on the other hand, couldn't care less. "Not to worry", I said. After all, "there's safety in numbers". John, speaking with a strong Caribbean accent said, "Why draw attention to yourself, by not being in a kilt". Baring in mind that the two had only minutes ago just met. But John had convinced him. The Royal Stewart tartan kilt went on, 'minus' Underwear. They're a hardy bunch, these Slovenes.

We painted the town red that night. And several other colours. We looked like an ad for 'Benetton'. I only wish I had a photo. John is now a regular visitor to Slovenia.

After that night, I gave My (commando'd) Slovene friend the kilt, for him and his wife to enjoy.....

...Well, it was dry clean only!