Hello,

As some of you may be aware a massive march organised with about one and a half million people was made on Catalonia's National Day (the Diada) last September 11th. The Catalan politicians have now jumped on the bandwagon and have announced elections for next November 25th. Lets see what happens.

However, in this mad outburst of Catalan nationalism I was given a curious gift in the form of a modern adaptation of the traditional hat or barretina as worn for centuries by Catalan peasants. In red and with a strip of black at the base, as a barretina it fits snugly round your head and flops over to one side. Very odd, but very Catalan! However, the curious thing about this is that it has a multiple of uses as it is basically a hollow tube with black inside and red with a black strip at one end. One can feed it though to use either colour as one wishes. These can be used by cyclists to keep their necks warm and to cover ones head if it is raining bottles and stones. Sorry, cats and dogs! And formed in the proper way with the red and black of the anarchist movement visible it could be not only appropriate dress wear but also practical too.

To find out more go to the website www.bragatina.cat and see what it is. One can wear it round ones neck either black or red, but when you wish to show your true colours just show a bit of the Red and black and Bob's your uncle.

I believe it is made in Catalonia and is from a small group of enthusiasts. Though it is for a Catalan Audience, I think it could be the perfect dress wear for people in the UK!

Regards from Catalonia.

Alan