Many is the time that I am asked to explain just what it is about rubber, plastic & PVC rainwear that attracts me so.

I sometimes wonder if they go on to regret asking me, because once I start talking macs, depending on how carried away I allow myself to become, I tend to use a lot of words & even then, I'm not sure that I put my meaning across fully.

Those who have explored the "Lakeland Elements" web-site recently will have noticed the "Keital" CD. The picture displayed on the front of the CD case is in fact a part of a much larger photograph. Take it from me, mackintosh & rain lovers who have missed this particular picture, really have missed something.

Now they say that a picture is worth a thousand words, or some such figure, so I think that when I am next asked the above question, I will just point to that photograph & let the young lady in it do the talking for me.

Her face alone tells so much, obviously enjoying herself thoroughly as the torrential rain, or as I suspect, the product of a hose pipe, beats down on her mac. She is, just as I do, enjoying the complete protection of her waterproof SBR mac, (which incidentally has an additional rubber lining) her sou'wester & rubber gloves. Not only is the mac tightly belted around her waist, she also enjoys the added security of a tight neck strap, so I think that we can safely assume that she is dry inside. In fact I know we can, having seen other pictures taken in the same photo shoot I can tell you that this girl is also wearing a tight rubber suit beneath that mac, & calf length tight boots to finish of with.

Back to her face though, a lovely smile, a knowing smile, she knows that you know just what she is going through. The shivers running up & down her spine as she hears the roar of the falling water on her mac & hat, her tingling body as she feels the cool water trying to strike cold through the layers of rubber, the unbelievably warm & beautiful feeling inside as she knows that only her lovely rubber stands between her & all that water, her mac, protecting her, defending her against the onslaught. She waits with almost bated breath, will she feel a sudden, cold dribble of water inside, that would signify that her defences had been penetrated? Surely not, her mac would never let her down, it holds her, protected in its spell, she is the mac's slave, but the mac repays her, it looks after her, keeps her safe & secure, no matter what they do with that hose pipe.

Anyway, I must stop going on so, I said that I would let the picture do the talking. It says to me just what I feel about my macs. What does it say to you?

Barbara.