In a relationship with Scotland
It’s not complicated.
Alexander McCall Smith said of Edinburgh, “This is a city of shifting light, of changing skies, of sudden vistas.” I think this also applies to all of Scotland, a country of ever shifting, dramatic light.
This weekend I’ve crossed the Firth of Forth, the Firth of Clyde and the Firth of Lorne. The North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. I have been reminded how lofty our mountains are when experienced in real life, the drama and scale highlighted by scudding cloud shadows. Our lochs sparkle in sunshine one moment and then instantly turn moody in the haar or rain. I have driven through verdant tunnels, bright beech leaves, fluttering in the breeze and dappling the winding road. I have skirted wheat fields that just beg to be brushed by a hand over their soft tops. I’ve admired expanses of rich earth, ploughed into tidy stripes. Deep peaty rivers, so many lochs and all that coastline, so much water and air! Scotland is as rugged as it is wild, earthy, natural and bold. Just my type.
One of the reasons for this trip was to attend my daughter’s graduation from the Glasgow School of Art. As I was thinking about Charles Rennie MacKintosh’s beautiful building and the red sandstone of Glasgow University, I was reminded of Scotland’s academic track record and the inventions that Scots have brought to the world; penicillin, kaleidoscopes, television, modern geology, the steam engine, the refrigerator, golf, tyres, chicken tikka masala (!) colour photography, the telephone, Grand Theft Auto, the hypodermic syringe, (based on a bee’s sting, who knew?!) The BBC, Sherlock Holmes, finger printing, tubular steel, the mackintosh, tarmacadam, Peter Pan, Long John Silver, Dolly the sheep, sticking plasters, disposable contact lenses, the Bank of England/France and the deep fried mars bar. (Sorry about that last one)
The people of Scotland are the most highly educated in Europe. Results of the project by Eurostat show that 50.4% of 25–61 year olds were educated to degree level. This is more than a 20% increase since 2000. So, Scotland is smart. (If he wasn’t, I couldn’t even consider being in this relationship.)
I don’t need Scotland to be rich, though him being solvent would be a plus. The Office of National Statistics, examined the value or profit provided by natural resources such as wind, water, oil and gas, and how they are used. The partial-asset value of Scottish natural capital was estimated to be £273 billion — 34 per cent of the UK as a whole — in 2015. Not bad for a nation of 5.5 million people. Of course oil has to be replaced with wind and other renewable sources of energy. Scottish floating technology developer Orbital Marine Power has launched what is claimed to be the world’s most powerful tidal turbine from the port of Dundee. With Scotland being rich and fertile, with abundant water and wind, a greener future seems easily possible. Scotland has the Green Party as part of its government which is also promising.
I laughed a lot this weekend, met new people and saw old friends, all were warm and funny. Scotland has a great sense of humour. That’s another big box ticked. I’m pretty certain this is the relationship for me.
