Letter 27
15/03/23 14:36
My Dearest Bunty,
What a carry-on seems to be developing in the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh! The population is shrinking in Scotland and no one seems to know what to do about it. I am sure that First Minister McConnell has his eye on the ball with this, as it seems that Ireland will be bigger in population in the next twenty years or so if the outflow of people of working age from Scotland is not stopped. I put this down to a lack of love and understanding of the scenery and traditions of Scotland by those youngsters in the Central Belt. I would ensure that there is a strong sense of national pride instilled in them whilst still at school. I know that in the past Scotland had faults and in the main that women were not appreciated for their economic and social contribution, but times have changed and the young people have more opportunity now in Scotland than at any time in the past. Do you know what I would do? I would create a Scottish passport, and only those who have worked in Scotland for fifteen years would be able to get one. Naturally the Scottish Parliament would have to oppose applications for a UK passport for those who have not met this criteria. Is that too strong? Something has to be done to stop the 'brain-drain' to the South East of England and beyond, and drastic measures are required now to stop this getting worse. Not only that, but the numbers of children being born is decreasing as well, but there is one good thing on the horizon and that is that numbers of marriages are increasing after those dreadful years when it was common to be 'living together'. How I hated those days as it smacked just a little of 'taste and try before you buy'. I know we are of a generation where divorce rates rocketed once the Sunday papers stopped being interested in the latest divorce 'scandal' and we have seen marriage slip in popularity, but it is such a wonderful event for a girl to experience. Possibly the only day in her drab life where she is truly a 'princess' and looked at in awe. I know that is how I felt on my wedding day to Sir Hector, and remember it with much fondness and humour! What parties there were on the Estate for our nuptials! I am sure the locals still talk about it.
We had an application to the Registrar General of Scotland approved last year as you know and now can host weddings on the Estate in the Great Hall, but so far these have been few and far between. I have had an approach from a rather shady character in London who suggested that we combine our licence and his bridal carriage business, which he is hoping to expand to the North East. My dear, what a fright I got when I looked into his operation on the internet! One of his coaches is straight out of Walt Disney's 'Cinderella' and is a confection of the most questionable taste. On seeing it, Sir H was heard to mutter 'It looks good if you are a Southern Sharon' and I have to agree, although I secretly laughed at the idea of the pumpkin coach negotiating the cattle grids that are all over the local area! Can you imagine anything in poorer taste? I would fine those people who see that as a mark of class for a wedding day! What is wrong with a Bentley?
What a shame it is that you never had the opportunity to marry. You would have been an excellent wife, what with your cooking skills and home economics, but I guess that Mr Right walked Right On Bye in your case. Still I hope you are able to rejoice and celebrate in my successful marriage, which is coming up to forty years soon. Can you believe it? Where has the time gone? Sir H is now in his seventies, still looking sprightly but I wonder what will happen to him as age and infirmity grow? There are some good homes run by the Kirk I know, and some very expensive ones in the private sector, but I cannot imagine putting him in such a place, however good and cheerful. I think I will have to keep looking after him in his dotage - may that be a long time off!
Yours as always, Flora
This story first appeared on www.panetwork.co.uk in 2005
What a carry-on seems to be developing in the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh! The population is shrinking in Scotland and no one seems to know what to do about it. I am sure that First Minister McConnell has his eye on the ball with this, as it seems that Ireland will be bigger in population in the next twenty years or so if the outflow of people of working age from Scotland is not stopped. I put this down to a lack of love and understanding of the scenery and traditions of Scotland by those youngsters in the Central Belt. I would ensure that there is a strong sense of national pride instilled in them whilst still at school. I know that in the past Scotland had faults and in the main that women were not appreciated for their economic and social contribution, but times have changed and the young people have more opportunity now in Scotland than at any time in the past. Do you know what I would do? I would create a Scottish passport, and only those who have worked in Scotland for fifteen years would be able to get one. Naturally the Scottish Parliament would have to oppose applications for a UK passport for those who have not met this criteria. Is that too strong? Something has to be done to stop the 'brain-drain' to the South East of England and beyond, and drastic measures are required now to stop this getting worse. Not only that, but the numbers of children being born is decreasing as well, but there is one good thing on the horizon and that is that numbers of marriages are increasing after those dreadful years when it was common to be 'living together'. How I hated those days as it smacked just a little of 'taste and try before you buy'. I know we are of a generation where divorce rates rocketed once the Sunday papers stopped being interested in the latest divorce 'scandal' and we have seen marriage slip in popularity, but it is such a wonderful event for a girl to experience. Possibly the only day in her drab life where she is truly a 'princess' and looked at in awe. I know that is how I felt on my wedding day to Sir Hector, and remember it with much fondness and humour! What parties there were on the Estate for our nuptials! I am sure the locals still talk about it.
We had an application to the Registrar General of Scotland approved last year as you know and now can host weddings on the Estate in the Great Hall, but so far these have been few and far between. I have had an approach from a rather shady character in London who suggested that we combine our licence and his bridal carriage business, which he is hoping to expand to the North East. My dear, what a fright I got when I looked into his operation on the internet! One of his coaches is straight out of Walt Disney's 'Cinderella' and is a confection of the most questionable taste. On seeing it, Sir H was heard to mutter 'It looks good if you are a Southern Sharon' and I have to agree, although I secretly laughed at the idea of the pumpkin coach negotiating the cattle grids that are all over the local area! Can you imagine anything in poorer taste? I would fine those people who see that as a mark of class for a wedding day! What is wrong with a Bentley?
What a shame it is that you never had the opportunity to marry. You would have been an excellent wife, what with your cooking skills and home economics, but I guess that Mr Right walked Right On Bye in your case. Still I hope you are able to rejoice and celebrate in my successful marriage, which is coming up to forty years soon. Can you believe it? Where has the time gone? Sir H is now in his seventies, still looking sprightly but I wonder what will happen to him as age and infirmity grow? There are some good homes run by the Kirk I know, and some very expensive ones in the private sector, but I cannot imagine putting him in such a place, however good and cheerful. I think I will have to keep looking after him in his dotage - may that be a long time off!
Yours as always, Flora
This story first appeared on www.panetwork.co.uk in 2005