I spent part of Easter in a Scottish spa

[stollen]

While in the jacuzzi three Scottish guys, hearing my accent, asked me how long I’d be travelling for. I said we were away until T passed on, at least. Their attitude toward T was the same as everyone else’s in the UK, except for the visiting American oil and gas guys. They tend to say, “It is what it is.” Profound.

I apologized for T’s Easter outburst and said that his profanities and lack of decorum this a.m. were embarrassing. One of the guys told me he didn’t have an issue with swearing per se, but…

I said, “Then you’d have no problem in the US. ‘What the fuck’ is our national motto. And btw,
‘GO SCOTLAND’ for the World Cup!”

The Scots are salt-of-the-earth easy going, but they’re curious about our views; there aren’t many Americans around here. We don’t want T to drive the discussion, but he can be an ice breaker so no one has to ask where we stand.

Yesterday I heard a guy at the Morrisons coffee shop speaking the ancient language of Doric. I invited myself into that discussion because I’m always excited about remote languages and know the Doric word “dreich,” which means “dreary.” (It was raining.)

Once you get into a discussion with a Scotsman, you’re in it for at least 30 min….the friendliest people on the planet, can’t relate to T or his particular culture at all, and always provide the makings for a National Geographic moment. A fun discussion ensued, drifting to the old Jimmy Stewart movies.

We try to make up the difference for the American image T is perpetuating stateside by creating connections on our travels. Our bp has been quite low on this trip, learning about others’ cultures rather than threatening to bomb them into oblivion.

Anyway, Happy Easter!

[BaronChocula]

1. You shouldn't have to apologize for Pedo Shortfingers

But it was a kind gesture of a good guest.

[stollen]

3. Scots tend to feel they play "second fiddle" in the UK

I hear you, but I’d wanted to apologize because it is something the Scottish are not accustomed to hearing, especially from their own govt when laws are passed that hurt their trades. My implied message was, “It matters to Americans how we’re viewed. If our leadership is behaving like uncouth adolescent assholes, we want to make amends.” It’s best to do that while we’re still seen, at least in some countries, as having an ounce of self respect.

[IcyPeas]

4. I hate when I hear of JD Vance, Kash Patel, trump visiting Scotland.

And this week 30 Republican officials were seen touring Edinburgh Castle.

I feel like they are trying to plant their maga seeds in people's minds. And the likes of Nigel Farage have some supporters there. Was he mentioned in your conversation?

(Also, in the photographs of the magats at Edinburgh castle, i noticed none of them were wearing their red maga hats. Wonder why?)

I hate that he has golf resorts there too.