The Bluebells of Scotland

The Bluebells of Scotland - Sung by The Corries

These are technically the bluebells of New Zealand, and in fact are probably Spanish bluebells in any case, but it's the best I can do today as an expatriate Scot on the other side of the world when Scotland is voting for or against Independence.

I'm sad that my maternal grandmother, a Drummond by birth; a McIntyre by marriage and a lifelong supporter of Scottish independence, did not live to see this day. She died in 1986 but was the first campaigner that I knew personally on the subject of devolution, tramping around Oban in the 1970s with a sticker on her tartan shopping trolley proclaiming "It's Scotland's Oil!" And when there was talk of piping Scottish water down to England during the drought in the summer of 1976, she was having none of it. I feel sure that if she had still been alive today, her house would have been festooned with banners, saltires and YES! posters.

I know that much has been written on blip about this subject, so I won't say more here other than that anyone who finds it difficult to understand the history behind the 'Yes' movement, certainly in the Scottish Highlands, should read the Fire and Sword trilogy by the popular historian John Prebble. Memories are long and passed on in the genes. There is a NZ chain of hardware stores that uses the slogan 'DIY - It's in our DNA!' and I sometimes think that a Scottish slogan might be 'Grievance - It's in our DNA!'

In the 21st century, it's a different story. Like many Britons, I have both Scottish and English ancestry ("3/4 Scottish, 1/4 English" I used to say) so it's a hard call. The economic ramifications of an independent Scotland are huge - this is a decision for future generations and right now, it might be hard for those that have to live through the change, if it happens. Whatever the outcome, the bluebells will still be carpeting the Scottish woodlands next May….