Macs I miss

Dear Lorraine,

I have liked the sight and feel of rubber rainwear and sheets for as long as I can remember.

These are mackintosh reversibles known as "Friesennerz". See the great little Friesennerz site, to whom Thanks for the pic. Here is Dannimac's version. Though these I think date from the 80s?

When I started school I had for a time a rubber-proofed mac a grotty green one not a favourite colour in my special world. (My favourites are blue, white, red, yellow, and pink, and finally in second place black.)

However I soon saw for myself that I wasn't the only one with a mac, and the girls looked great in them. One girl, Teresa - I remember her name! - had a lovely blue one and it never failed to thrill. (Interestingly my sister had one just like Teresa's and had the same effect on me.)

Macs of more recent times that I miss are those reversible jackets of the 70's. For some silly reason I did not like the look of them at first, and would try to keep clear of them. Which was impossible! When the style was new they were everywhere, even on quite sunny days.

Then one Saturday I went up to London (leisurely). I was crossing London by Underground and had taken special lengths to find a section of the train where there weren't any of these disgusting- looking macs ( as I thought of them then). Silly me, not that I need have bothered, because a very nice-looking young lady got on at Bank and yes, she had on one of these reversibles.

I resisted as long as I could. But eventually I couldn't stop thinking it looked terrific! I decided not to be silly any more...

One of my best experiences of those reversibles had to be a few years later, in Princes Street, Edinburgh. I was there on holiday. A lady wearing one (dark blue/light blue) stopped just in front of me to tie up her shoelace. She had long straight hair just how I like it.

Another style I remember then and miss were the full length rubberised cotton macs in plain blue, brown, and green. (I was most attracted to the blue ones) I was once making my way back to work after lunch when I happened to catch up with a lady wearing a lovely blue one: very exciting!

I am 47 years of age now. How quickly the years wizz by.

Back in 1982 I got to know a quite nice lady named Dawn, she was always complaining about getting caught in the rain and getting soaked so I arranged that we met at Fenchurch Street Station the one Saturday. After spending most of the morning in the Natural History Museum, we went on to Oxford Street to one of the C&A stores. I encouraged her to select one of those reversibles. Tthe yellow ones were too loud for her liking and there wasn't a blue one that fitted her. She went for one in dark blue/white.

The sight of her in it made me more excited than I can remember!

Then blow me down she hardly wore it! I thought that bit much... At last she asked me what it was about her mac that I so liked so I told her (I had been on to her about it quite a bit).

All my sheets and pillowcases are now made of rubber, all from Kastley (they are a very good firm), some in light blue, some in white, and some in yellow. It took me a lot of courage and careful saving to order them I doubt I would have done it had it not been for a friend of mine encouraging me.

It really annoys me that there are still many people who would think that there is something wrong with a person who has a special interest such as mine. As long as it doesn't involve children or four-legged friends why complain? That would be unnatural!

Your sincerely

Paul

SHOP | CLUB FOYER | CHILLOUT ROOM | ASK LORRAINE