Absence and Box Pleated skirts

[Gregg1100]

Hi,
I've not been here for a good while. Retiring, prostate big C and treatment, motorbikes and delving into mobile phones seems to have kept me busy. Still wearing skirts all the time I am at home. I wear pants as a sufferance, hate them with a passion.

Regarding Holy Pleats, Batman,
I have 7 of these skirts. I seem to have expanded a bit round the middle, so when last time I looked at a tape measure, it said 39". Ooops.
Anyway, I have a skirt with a 16-17 schoolgirl size- the elastication is such that it fits well, with even bigger sized waists accommodated for. A blue one, with a size 15, (33" waist unstretched) still fits well, with again being able to stretch further, without going out of shape.
Throw then in the wash and they dry back into shape- no ironing needed. I have two adult sized ones too, again a great fit and stretch( size 14 UK). One colour I can't get hold of is a brilliant red. I have seen pictures of oriental girls wearing that colour, but all we get is Maroon. Probably an Alibaba job, but don't need to buy 500 in one go. I have loads of pleated skirts, mainly pull on, but a couple with back button and zip. These I have to get in my size-16/18 UK- or I can't get them to do up. Again different manufacturers have different size 14, 16 etc to others. Matalan is always a small fit- having to go up a notch on the size scoreboard, lol. Asda(George) or Wal-mart skirts seem to be about right.
Greg

[Gregg1100]

Thought somebody may have said something.

[crfriend]

Thought somebody may have said something.

Gregg -- I read your missive and quite honestly didn't know what to say other than I'm sorry for your brush with the "Big C" and to wish you a speedy recovery or good long-term prognosis, any of which tend to sound hollow.

It's good to know that you still carry on with wearing skirts and that you are still with us, unlike some of the voices we have recently seen stilled.

Be it known that every voice here matters. Don't doubt that for a moment. But, sometimes folks can't find worthy words.

[dillon]

Not quite sure what to say, Gregg, except glad to have you back with us, and still with us. Life deals us crappy hands at times, and you seem to have gotten yours, no question. I am dealing with a serious health crisis currently affecting one of my siblings, so I can only apologize for not attempting to comment on your health crisis. My silence was simply an escape from my own family concerns by sticking to the lighter and less consequential topics. Best of luck and health to you.

[Gregg1100]

Hi,
I wasn't after sympathy for the C stuff- I don't give it a thought. I do what I want, like riding my two Kwak 500's (one at a time though- I may be good, but not that good, lol). Plus the other things mentioned in first post.
Thanks for good wishes anyway. Appreciated.

I meant about the degree of elastication on the box pleated skirts, lol. I have a black and white check box pleated skirt on now- it says L on label, but the Ebay ad said it was a 14/16 UK, £8.99, but it would swallow a 44"-46" waist with ease I will find out the Ebay item and post it here in a day or two. Struggling with carburation problems on my En 500 at the mo, plus my Galaxy S3 is freezing up. No more Samsungs for me.
Greg

[crfriend]

[...] I do what I want, like riding my two Kwak 500's (one at a time though- I may be good, but not that good, lol).

If you can ride more than one bike at a time you're a vastly better lad than I! I suppose I should take up motorcycles someday as they offer things that even a convertible automobile cannot. Unfortunately for me, if I so decided my wife would almost immediately scream, "MID-LIFE CRISIS!" (which happened 20 years ago, without much notice).

I meant about the degree of elastication on the box pleated skirts, lol. I have a black and white check box pleated skirt on now- it says L on label, but the Ebay ad said it was a 14/16 UK, £8.99, but it would swallow a 44"-46" waist with ease I will find out the Ebay item and post it here in a day or two. Struggling with carburation problems on my En 500 at the mo, plus my Galaxy S3 is freezing up. No more Samsungs for me.

Worry about the fuel problems first. If the outside world cannot bother you by way of the mobile device then so be it! (Dratted 20th century inventions.)

On the sizes of skirts as advertised: Take anything you see with a grain (no, a block) of salt; expect deviation from the norm; expect outright lying in some cases. That's the way it works in the skirt-world (at least if you're going for gal-sizes). Physical measurement of the article is the second-best tactic; trying the thing on is the best.

[Milfmog]

Hi Gregg,

Good to read you again and to know that you are still out and about doing your thing.

If you can ride more than one bike at a time you're a vastly better lad than I! I suppose I should take up motorcycles someday as they offer things that even a convertible automobile cannot. Unfortunately for me, if I so decided my wife would almost immediately scream, "MID-LIFE CRISIS!"

Carl,

Given your love for getting the best out of a machine I am surprised you have not got into motorcycles; it is the closest you will ever get to the old Ford Sierra ad of "Man and machine in perfect harmony".

I am struggling to decide what's wrong with a mid-life crisis at 50+... that tends to imply that you have 50+ years left to enjoy yourself so no problem there

Have fun,


Ian.

[Sinned]

I like the old saying that I was reminded of yesterday "Growing old is compulsory, growing up is an option". The former is happening to me every day - the latter has still to occur for me. I have always said that if growing up meant facing the real ( whatever that may mean? ) world then I would rather live in this little world of my own.

Funnily enough after 50 odd years of showing no interest in motor bikes I have an interest in learning to ride one not that I expect to own one but just for the challenge of learning. But if I were to covet a two wheeled machine I think that I would like an old BSA or Norton and reject all the Japanese machines, not because they aren't good but just because I am older in life and hanker after the simpler things in life now.

[Milfmog]

...if I were to covet a two wheeled machine I think that I would like an old BSA or Norton and reject all the Japanese machines, not because they aren't good but just because I am older in life and hanker after the simpler things in life now.

I still miss my 1974 Triumph T120V (650cc Bonneville built with a bottom end and primary drive from a 750cc T140). It was not fast and handling was a little quirky though pretty good once I got the measure of it. The main reason I miss it though was not the performance, handling, image or exhaust note, but the simplicity of something I could strip down to main bearings and reassemble in a day. Of course a modern bike would not require that, but there was a real buzz in putting it back together, priming the carbs, giving the kick start one quick prod and rattling every window within 200 meters.

Sadly it died proving that an ageing T120 was stronger than a new Ford Cortina Ghia; I darn near cut the car in half and managed not to sustain so much as a bruise in the process but I have no plans to try to repeat that feat.

Have fun,


Ian.

[Uncle Al]

Hi Gregg

It's great to read you again

I fully understand about health problems as have had a few myself.

All this talk about motorcycles tends me to look harder at the
new "Autocycle" as it has great gas mileage and good looks

Uncle Al

[Sinned]

Sorry I forgot to include the Triumph in my list of desired. I guess that you can see that I have a lot of affection for the English makes. Like n it's not the performance - I wouldn't be racing the thing and I wouldn't want too much power anyway. Just the ability to transit safely and have a little fun in the process. Hmm, my mind is ticking along. Not sure if I could afford an old machine.

[Gregg1100]

It certainly is easier on the maintenance and wallet to have an old Brit bike. A set of points, magneto and not much else is easy---the ignition timing is no adjustable on both GPz and EN 500---all done by throwaway black boxes. A new igniter for the bike is £460+. Same as the cars and trucks now- unless you have £300 to £500 pounds worth of electronic test equipment, probably a lot more, the average bloke is stuffed when trying to sort out a fault. A bit of silver paper to adjust points and away you go on an old bike.

When I was going to purchase my first box pleat skirt, I had contacted the ebay seller and she asked me what size I was around middle, so she suggested a 17-18 yr old gals skirt. When it came, I ordered another, but she only had a 15 yr old one left, but would probably be ok. I took the chance and it was a great fit. The elastication on these skirts is pretty big, so I now knew what sizes to go for. At about £7.99 plus little postage, they are a fine buy. Unfortunately, the seller, Old School Yard, is no longer in business.

[skirtyscot]

I know nothing about motor bikes, so I'm glad we're back on skirts!

I have no elasticated-waist skirts. One of these things I can't explain, but I just don't like the idea of them. So I'm afraid I can't compare notes about stretchiness. Your skirts do seem to be very accommodating: do you find that they are pretty tight at full stretch?

Does anyone else share my little foible?

[crfriend]

I have no elasticated-waist skirts. One of these things I can't explain, but I just don't like the idea of them.

Elasticised-waist skirts have many charms, but, like everything else, a few downsides. On the positive side, if your midsection has a rather dynamic range, the elastic-waist skirt is your friend. My midsection can easily grow by an inch or two following a large meal; with an elasticised waist I don't need to be worried about letting a belt out. A downside is that if the skirt in question has pockets -- and you tend to stuff them full of weighty objects, then the skirt will want to fall down. Without large hips to stop that from happening, the ground's the limit!

I have skirts of both types, and actually seem to prefer (as in wearing more often) the elastic-waist designs -- but, I don't carry a lot of stuff in the pockets (at least in the skirts that have pockets).

On tightness: The thing needs to be snug enough so it won't go anywhere of its own volition or even with some "encouragement" from outside forces (e.g. a snag if you're wearing a long one), but it shouldn't be so snug as to make one uncomfortable. It's a balancing act.

[dillon]

I am generally a size 14, but a 16 fits in certain styles, albeit loosely. But for elastic waist skirts, I always go to the smaller size, perhaps even down to a 12. I wore a blue Lole mini tonight to see a Canadian film, a size 14, and it was barely tight enough to stay up, especially with the bustless shaping slip beneath it being of a very low friction fabric.