At getting from the bus, I was immediately pounded by the storm, and lashed by the terrible rain. I could hardly stay on my feet. I could only stand there, not being able to move, my raincoat bulging frantically about me, the skirt whipping violently at my legs. Holding onto my collar with one hand, with the other I tried to hold down the skirt of my coat. Despite this ordeal, I was enjoying myself tremendously, my raincoat, an enormously wide Windermere, despite being soaked at the outside, still was dry inside. For years now, I like to be out in wind, rain and cold, I like the feeling being battered and maltreated by the weather. I do not know exactly where this feeling comes from, I would like to know whether there are more people who do the same. At this moment, it is absolutely freezing outside, with a gale-force wind, despite this I found myself dressed in my raincoat on a bicycle, shivering and shaking all over, but somehow also enjoying myself. Looking and feeling vulnerable seems to be the reason for my mackintosh-liking. I remember liking this even as a young girl. My parents were not very wealthy, did not have enough money to buy us an appropriate winter coat, so I had to make do with a very wide short beige-coloured raincoat with an enormous collar, which was always blown about me. I have memories going to school on the bicycle in the worst weather. I borrowed gloves from my brother, putting up my collar was my only other defence against the cold and the wind, holding it with one hand over my nose and ears. It did not help, but somehow even then I enjoyed the feeling of both agony and humiliation, but also of feeling comfortable in my raincoat. I do not know where this comes from. I like dressing in a "ladylike" manner. I feel good and very feminine, and yet very fragile, especially when I bend down against the wind and tuck away in the collar. That is why I do not dress myself in a parka or a rain suit. Besides finding them so ungainly, my daily clothes, skirt, blouse, a normal coat, make me more conscious of my vulnerability. Having read on the site the letter of "Morag", I also understand her feeling. Despite the punishment I receive from the weather, I also enjoy very much huddling in my coat and feeling how it tries to protect me. It somehow makes me feel small, with only my coat as my best friend to protect me. I also use to protect my face with scarves against the cold, buttoning my coat up to the neck and putting up my collar, holding it with one hand. Cold and wind make themselves even better felt on a bicycle! Wrapping myself up in a raincoat, shawls etc. gives me tremendously secure and protected feeling. I wonder if Morag also likes to expose herself to stormy and icy-cold weather like I do, seeking protection in her coat. I think there must be a number of reasons why people like to wear rainwear. I have noticed on the website hints of quite a variety of factors, some of which seem to be in contradiction. Despite this, one feeling is prominent: I enjoy what I do.
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