Kevin's Watch

Today marks the 300th anniversary of the Treaty of Union with our neighbours England.

A sad day for many Scots who are campaigning for a referendum to break this Union and be an independant nation again.

One of the things that led to this Union was The Darien project

The Darien Project 1698
The Darien Project was a business venture aimed at setting up a new colony in Panama, or Darien, as it was known. Many Lowland Scots invested in this, buying tracts of land unseen. The actual colony was a disaster, as the rain forest was impossible to clear, and most of the settlers died of disease. The company collapsed with huge debts, leaving many Lowlanders ruined. Many historians suggest that this crisis in the Scottish banks was a precursor to the Act of Union as a way to save the Scots economy.




So, on this sad day, I will be raising a glass of Scotlands finest product (Malt Whisky), and toasting to a swift end to this travesty.
I only hope that this Act is repealed in my lifetime so I don't need to have a passport which says I'm british - Iwant one which states my true nationality - SCOTTISH

Phantasm, my love. You will never be ANYTHING but a studly sexy SCOTSMAN to me no matter what it says on your passport. I too will tilt a glass of fine whiskey from Scotland in your honor this evening!

Amen brother.

Yes Jenn, it really does matter.

I know it matters to him and it's important. I wasn't disrespecting him. I was just trying to convey that in MY mind they are completely different countries and I would never mistake him for being anything but full of Scottish pride....sheesh.

Thanks Jenn (and Cail, I think )

The difference in being called British or Scottish is, in my mind, immense.

I would liken it to asking a Canadian you have just met "Where in teh USA do you come from?" - Light blue touch paper and stand well back.

Absolutely man. I think it sucks that Scotland doesn't have self-rule, and it's gotta blow for you guys to have to look at British passports.

Amen.

(And - by the way - my in-laws out in California think that Michigan is part of Canada. They cannot get it through their heads that it is part of the US that borders Canada I know it off the subject, but your post about people mistaking Canadians for Americans reminded me of the first tiME they asked my husband - in front of me - why he had married a Canadian girl AND MOVED OUT OF THE COUNTRY .).

Cail wrote:Absolutely man. I think it sucks that Scotland doesn't have self-rule, and it's gotta blow for you guys to have to look at British passports.

The stench of sarcasm is vaguely annoying

I honestly didn't know that Scottish passports said Britain. I just assumed they would say Scotland. That sucks Phantasm. I hope they reverse it soon. Wanna recommend me a good bottle to get on my way home? I think this occasion deserves a virgin bottle of expensive good stuff.

Phantasm wrote:

Cail wrote:Absolutely man. I think it sucks that Scotland doesn't have self-rule, and it's gotta blow for you guys to have to look at British passports.

The stench of sarcasm is vaguely annoying

No sarcasm, I'm half-Scot (Father's 1st generation US-born).

Being of Scottish ancestry himself, I do not think that Cail is being sarcastic. I think he is saying that he thinks Scottish people should be free to have their own country if that is what they wish.

It is certainly the way I feel - why cannot Scotland be independant of Britain if that is what the people who live there want?

Exactly.

Over here there's a fair amount of talk about freedom for Ireland, but no one talks about Scotland.

Ooops, sorry Cail.


And well done on the Lion Rampant.

S'OK, I thought you knew I was Scottish given all my pro-Celtic posts in the Football topics.

Cail wrote:S'OK, I thought you knew I was Scottish given all my pro-Celtic posts in the Football topics.

Thought that would have made you Irish

and now playing, in your honor, Scotland the Brave from the Gordon Highlanders.

onewyteduck wrote:and now playing, in your honor, Scotland the Brave from the Gordon Highlanders.

Thanks, I've got a few Scottish tunes playing in the background too.

Phantasm love, what's your malt whiskey recommendations.

Phantasm wrote:

Cail wrote:S'OK, I thought you knew I was Scottish given all my pro-Celtic posts in the Football topics.

Thought that would have made you Irish

Ouch.....


Glenmorangie 18 if you like it smooth, Macallan 18 if you like a peppery, casky taste.

Talisker if you like it a little peatier.