Monty, Auld Castles and Politics (and HAGGIS)

[Marty Bonnar]

Historic Scotland once again clashes with golf development. Monty's (IMG-EGD) design for Rowallan Castle Course looks like it's set to open amidst controversy. Nothing to do with the golf, but shambolic nonetheless.

How tiresome it has all become, that apparently the longer we have a supposedly 'Socialist' administration in this country, the deeper the Big Brother effects of the Nanny State strike.

Independence or Toryism next for Scotland, I fear.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6274961.stm

Try the video link. May or may not work for all you furriners...

FBD

[peter_p]

And are you looking forward to the SNP May referendum on Scottish independence?

[Marty Bonnar]

And are you looking forward to the SNP May referendum on Scottish independence?

Peter,
would that the SNP were even a viable alternative! The thought of Wee Ecky Salmond and his delusional acolytes governing this fair land fills me with deepest dread (even more so than the current Heid-Bummer and his Eedjits).

In this, the 300th year of this Union of England and Scotland (actually yesterday!), I find myself wondering what an independent Scotia might be like.

I actually considered asking this Board if they would consider this possibility:
Scotland rescinds the Act of Union and applies to the United States to become the newest State in that Union.
Just think - no more passport control, no currency nonsense, we'd change to driving on the RIGHT side of the road. Bliss!
Of course, you'd have to learn to enjoy deep-fried mars bars and drinking Buckfast, but also gain duty-free Laphroaig!

FBD.

[Bill_McBride]

If you think it's hard for us to drive on the left side with a right hand drive car, you have no idea how hard it would be for us to drive on the right side with a right hand car!

 

The reason I mention that is I know the Scots are far too thrifty to replace that fleet of rental cars!

Otherwise it sounds like a great idea that has much merit.

Do you think the Poms/Brits would agree?  

[Marty Bonnar]

Uncle Wullie!
Stuff the Poms/Brits as you so charmingly (wrongly!) appelate our Southern Brothern.

We shall do as we choose. 'They cannae take oor freedum...! and all that.!

By way of a first example of common identity (think of the gifting of trinketry to native Americans in exchange for real estate...), here is a link to the splendid MacSween's Site for the recipe for - YOU AND TOMMY, PLEASE SIT DOWN! - Haggis Lasagne...



http://www.macsween.co.uk/index.asp

ENJOY!

FBD.

[Doug Braunsdorf]

Martin-

  Ugh...please remember it's dinner time in the Eastern time zone!  (And I'm Scottish on my mother's side, Bisland/McMahon family from Paisley)

Best,

Doug

[Marty Bonnar]

Then, mah fine Paisley Buddie (and ye should ken whit ah mean by thon!),
you should be aware that the combo is delicious!

Seriously, lightly spicy Haggis merged within the tomatoey, creamy chewy pasta-ey layers is actually rather 'toothsome'!

I'll have a batch prepared by my personal chef for Reverse TOC.

FBD.

[John Goodman]

The Scots that they and we Southerners have something big in common:  only part of the Union by force of arms . . .

[Bill_McBride]

Uncle Wullie!
Stuff the Poms/Brits as you so charmingly (wrongly!) appelate our Southern Brothern.

So where did I go wrong(ly)?  

(Naturally no offense was intended for any of my British friends).  

[peter_p]

Bill,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_words_for_British

[Brian_Ewen]

Even after all these years , the EBC still cant spell Montgomerie  

[Bill_McBride]

Bill,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_words_for_British

So I proposed #2 and #8!

[peter_p]

they refer to all of (Great) Britain, not specifically to England.

[Bill_McBride]

Bill, how could you not pick "les g*ddams"? Classic...

The English response would be "frog!" or "Msieu Crapeau."

I didn't have the list before I picked #2 and #8.  Just plucked 'em out of the air.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Well if Monty girl aka Mrs. Doubtfire is designing the course there will be nice collection of pimple mounds or even a bit larger pairs scattered throughout the property.

[Bob Jenkins]

Martin,
\
Never fear. Those of us, home to "Nova Scotia", Stanley Thompson and many Robbie Burns day celebrations, will take your kind in to our society.

Also, we are short on castles, especially in the west. Bring it over and build the course.

Regards and thank all of us that you continue to reside in Fife.

[ForkaB]

Independence is such an obvious way forward for the Scots that it will never happen.  It's so much easier to say:

Ach aye, that'll nae never work...

than:

Let's just do it!

It is all just a century-old parody oif Yeats:

"The best lack all conviction and the worst are filled with passionate intensity."

Maybe, however you (we?) can someday get a result even half way as good as Ireland's, once they finally bit the bullet and went their own way?

[Ed Tilley]

Independence or Toryism next for Scotland, I fear.

I thought the lesser spotted Tory was now extinct north of Hadrian's Wall (and west of the Severn).

If you're going for independence, do you think you can do it before May so we don't get Gordon Brown as PM.

[Jack_Marr]

Maybe, however you (we?) can someday get a result even half way as good as Ireland's, once they finally bit the bullet and went their own way?

I don't think it was a matter of biting the bullet. People for centuries fought for freedom, and the result wasn't all that satisfactory, particularly for the original natives of Northern Ireland.

[ForkaB]

Jack

Sorry for being unclear.

By "Biting the bullet" I meant Ireland's finally putting their lot with Europe rather than the English.  Once they joined the EU and unlinked their currency from the pound (mid-late 80's?) Ireland became a real country, and noit just some ex-colonial vestige.  I think it really pisses off the English (and the other Brits) that the Irish GDP/capita exceeds (and has so done since 1997 or so) that of Britain.

As for the Northern Irish, they have the best of both worlds--vast UK AND EU subsidies, great golf courses, and they are Irish, to boot!

[Jack_Marr]

Sorry, Rich, I misunderstood.

I'm delighted with the euro, but on the scale of things, Ireland doesn't matter as much as Germany and France, so we're depending on them to make the real decisions on interest rates. That said, it's unlikely we'll see the huge interest rates of not so long ago.

And, call me a curmudgeon, but I'm not sure money suits us Irish!

Do they like Gordon Brown in Scotland? I know he keeps the duty low on whisky, so that's one good thing.  

[Ed Tilley]

I think it really pisses off the English (and the other Brits) that the Irish GDP/capita exceeds (and has so done since 1997 or so) that of Britain.

I think you'll find that the vast majority of Brits don't know this. Plus, the British economy has widespread disparity in economic strength. The South East of England, for example, is one of the richest areas in the World. Two of the top 10 GDP/capita regions in Europe are in England (Inner London (no. 1), and Berks Bucks and Oxfordshire(no.7)). Only France also has 2, and Ireland has none. I can't imagine anyone in these areas being pissed off at the financial might of the Irish.

Also, people in the North of England are far too busy being pissed off at the nancy boy southerners to have any anger left for the Irish.  

[ForkaB]

Well said, Ed.

[Jack_Marr]

Yeah, that's for the cash, by the way

[Marty Bonnar]

Finally getting round to playing the Rowallan course. Got some tix so probably next month sometime.
Heard good things about it from an, ehm, friend of mine
Will try to post some stuff afterwards. Anyone else been? Bueller? Bueller??

F.