Keep The HEAD
Three Ps, Wish you were here
Five
The Scottish Referendumb
Seven The Lingo
Eleven A Day In The Life
Whit’s fur ye’ll no go by ye!
Two
PS, wish you were here...
Every year, hundereds of different people travel to Scotland to live. All are drawn here for different reasons. Let us explore why.
Three
Family Different Culture
A Good Education My Dream Job
Adventures
Love
The Scottish Referendumb Let’s just put down the Irn bru, pause Braveheart and discuss something important. In less than a year’s time, we will be facing the Scottish Referendum. The people of Scotland will vote whether they believe Scotland should be independent from the rest of the UK and I certainly hope I’m not the only one who finds this terrifying. I can only cross my fingers and hope that the shell-suit clad, “I hate England” minded people of Scotland do not come out in the swarms on that day, and contribute to what will undoubtedly be an enormous mistake. Let’s examine for a moment the UK: One of the strongest and most powerful countries in the world; something which is impressive for being so small. We have long established traditions and inventions that we should be proud of. Harry Potter, the monarchy, literature, and so many more. Our comedy is like no other and I for one am proud to call myself British. Why then, does it make sense to tear apart something that is working so well? Any common sense would surely show that by uniting, we are thereby stronger in numbers. A country with so many wonderful traditions should not be ruined in a frenzy of power and delusion.
Five
show that by uniting, we are thereby stronger in numbers. A country with so many wonderful traditions should not be ruined in a frenzy of power and delusion. The British Military are some of the best in the world. This is a factor of a potential independent Scotland that still has a large question mark over it. Scotland would have to have its own military, and this would lead to huge complications regarding to soldiers who have already enlisted in the British Army. By hindering our forces then it should be argued that you are creating a weaker and more vulnerable country and defence system. Something that the current UK defence secretary describes as “laughable.”
None of this fish business, Salmond.
Next we turn to one of the main issues surrounding the independence debate: Our currency. With such uncertainty surrounding the issue it is unclear exactly what will happen to the countries’ currency.
Whatever numbers, figures and estimations are thrown around, whether it be from the gaping gills of Alex Salmond, or by the Prime Minister, the fact remains that the future of Oil is unclear and most certainly unsteady to build a country on.
Despite Alex Salmond claiming that Scotland will still use the Pound Sterling, there is much debate over whether that really is the best thing.
Long gone are the summer days where Union Jack’s emblazoned the street and Team GB support was everywhere.
With the Bank of England overseeing the Pound, our interest rates would effectively be set out by a foreign country. And let’s face it; nobody fancies the look of the Euro.
If only the fickle voters could cast their minds back to only a year ago, to the pride they felt watching their country compete and do them proud. A sense of harmony filled the United countries, and I only hope that people make an informed decision next year, and aren’t too mesmerised by Alex Salmond’s enormous chin.
It would be hard to forget one of the SNP’s oldest arguments. The old debate of Scotland’s oil. The SNP believe that Scottish Oil is going to keep us afloat and keep the country booming. However is it really sensible to plan an independent country to be so reliant on a resource that is without a shadow of a doubt going to run out?
Six
Fit?
One of Scotlands trademark qualities is it’s notorious slang. Here are a few favourites...
Crabit
Pronouned: kra-bit Meaning: Grumpy
Sleekit
Pronounced: Slee-kit Meaning: Cunning/ Sly
Seven
Shuftey
Pronounced: Shuff-tee Meaning: To have a wee peek.
Numpty
Pronounced: Nump-tee Meaning: A bit of an idiot
Ye Sayin? Eight
“Oh ye cannae shove yer granny aff a bus”
Nine
Our Favourite True: It’s ginger, it’s fizzy, it’s phenomenal. False: It is not made from Girders (unfortunately.)
Ten
A Day In The Life. Don’t let the bastards get you down.
A nervous looking bar man is determinedly avoiding the eye of the man across from him. Seemingly engrossed in refilling an ice well, he busies himself from serving.
“Bastard!”
Andrew Clark hisses as he drums his fingers impatiently on the bar. He wears fingerless leather gloves, a worn blue T Shirt with the RAF logo and eyeballs the bar man over dark black sunglasses. After a few moments, Andrew admits defeat and limps in retreat to his table in the darkened corner of the bar, muttering furiously under his breath as he is reunited with his half empty glass once again. It is Thursday night and the bar has only a handful of customers. Andrew throws a withering glance towards the jukebox, where an anorak-clad man is playing a collection of Elvis’ greatest hits for the second time that evening. In the opposite corner, a group of men bicker loudly over a football score. Originally from Argyle, this bar is one of Andrew’s favourite haunts in Aberdeen. Quite content with a darkened room and a drink nearby, he leans back in his seat, happy in his setting A self confessed loner, Andrew prefers to spend his time away from the company of larger groups.
Eleven
This has always been the case, despite growing up as part of a large family. When the subject of family is raised, Andrew is cutting:
“There’s not much to say. My dad didn’t fancy the look of me – bastard, and left my mum and sisters. Bastards, the lot of them. I started smoking when I was ten, drinking when I was twelve, and let’s just say I haven’t ever stopped. “
A cold smile curls on his lips as he is momentarily lost in nostalgia. With a childhood worthy of an article in Take a Break, it would be unsurprising for Andrew to have gone down a less desirable path, but he made the decision at the age of sixteen to join the Air Force and used this choice as his escape from Argyle, from his family and from the path he was on. “Andy? Thought I saw you!” A man with astonishingly blonde hair is approaching the table, hand raised in recognition. The man is called Stu, an old school friend of Andrew’s. Andrew half shrugs in recognition, as though his old friend is a stranger, looking for directions to the nearest bus stop.
online gaming mission. Andrew offers an occasional grunt in response when required but suddenly snaps out of his disinterest as Stu describes a recent bout of painful headaches.
“Headache? Well at least you weren’t shot in the head ten times! Bastard.” As it approaches 8pm, Andrew excuses himself from further conversation and bids Stu goodbye, leaving the bar to collect a letter from work. After spending nearly eight years as a Sniper in the Royal Air Force, Andrew now works as a bar man at a nearby restaurant in the centre of the city. At only the age of 26, he has no solid plans for the future. “What is there that I can do? I can shoot someone a mile away but I can’t work in an office. I’ve got no qualifications that those bastards want. The Air Force broke me it did.” He pauses and smiles bitterly before laughing: “Two tours of Afghanistan and what is it that does me in? I parachute and hit a bloody oak tree in England. Finished.” Andrew has a list of injuries from his time in the Air Force that would give any doctor nightmares, and he needs only the slightest of invitations to expand on them.
The polite conversation soon becomes more of a monologue, with Stu chatting mindlessly about his new cat and latest line gaming mission. Andrew offers an occasional grunt in response when required but suddenly snaps out of his disinterest as Stu describes a recent bout of painful headaches. online gaming mission.
Twelve
He lists almost gleefully: “So I got shot when I was on my first tour, that was pretty rough. My back is messed up as well so sometimes I use a wheelchair – that makes work fun.” He snorts.
A woman in a suit rolls her eyes as she watches him take the customer lift up towards the office instead of the staff stairs.
“I’m pretty convinced I’ve still got shrapnel in my face too, plus it doesn’t help that when I hit the tree I got partial Amnesia, so I don’t remember half the shit that happened to me anyway.”
“Bloody drama queen he is. Did you hear he apparently went blind on Saturday halfway through his shift? Shrapnel, my arse. “ She says to a giggling girl beside her.
These injuries are clear as he struggles down the street.Occasionally wincing he hobbles towards his destination.
“Vietnam Tam, what a guy.” The girl plies, before the two dissolve into fits of hysterics
In a flash he is knocked by a stranger rushing by.
replies before the two dissolve into fits of hysterics.
Weighed down by a huge ruck sack on his back, he looks in danger of toppling over. His face flushes and his arms flail as he struggles to regain his balance. Finally standing and panting slightly, with sunglasses askew, he shouts in no apparent direction “BASTARD!” Andrew reaches the restaurant and reluctantly enters, sighing to himself. He nods to colleagues in greeting as he clumsily weaves his way through the busy waiting area.
Thirteen
w
The place is packed and workers dash back and forth with plates piled high with food and trays laden with cocktails.
Andrew returns once again, awkwardly avoiding hitting people with his rucksack, and staring pointedly at the floor as he slowly makes his way towards the front door. “Lets get out of here.” he mutters.
“Bastards!”
“Ye dancin?” “Ye askin?”