Independence Referendum: Five Things to Love About Scotland and Five Things to Love About Britain

Whether we go independent or not on Friday, the majority of us will see what we love in Scotland and what we love in Britain. I've compiled a list of five things that I love about Scotland and five things I love about Britain.

Scotland

1. Irn-Bru

Goes hand in hand with a bacon sanny

The drink of a nation. The taste that you can't describe but you love. I was on holiday in Zante for a week last year and I drunk it more than I would in a couple of months back home. I think this is because Irn-Bru is such an important part of our national identity that we sometimes need it when we are abroad! And it cures hangovers. 

2. The Patter

Scottish people are just brilliant at comebacks, chants and talking shite. I went to T in the Park and Leeds Festival this year. Leeds was better, but it lacked the sort of patter that you heard first thing on a Sunday morning when you got out your tent. From the slightly cheesy "here wi fuckin go" to the 12 year old brilliance of "yir maw", we have some of the best patter in the world.

3. Scots 

Both in the meaning of the language and the people. We seem to be generally nice and a good laugh. We can be a bit dour, but that is our charm. Plus, the Scots language has been something of national pride. If you're Scottish and you've never started tae type like yir fae Scotland, yir missing oot.

4. The Commonwealth Games

Fachie and McLean winning the tandem cycling at the Games

I have never been so proud of my country than I was at the 2014 Games. There was something amazing about it. There was hardly a yes or no shout during the whole thing and it was just crazy to see our nation get behind the athletes. I heard Flower of Scotland a few times over the space of the games and cried a bit. I even had a wee greet whilst working at the games. Very professional Housty.

5. Nature

This picture still doesn't justify Loch Lomond's beauty

You don't need to go far in Scotland to witness some beauty in bonnie Scotland. On the west coast there is the amazing Loch Lomond with hills up at Arrochar and the Highlands. The Western Isles, the Orkneys and the Shetlands are isolated, but they show a completely different side to the busy central belt. I could go on forever of what beauty we have.

Britain

1. The Music

The Clash in their prime

We have arguably the best music culture in the world. The only one which is possibly better is the US, but then again - we created rock. The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Who, The Kinks, The Clash, Oasis, Blur, Pulp, The Libertines, Arctic Monkeys I could go on...We have some of the best lyricists and Britain still has a huge underground scene. It's probably the thing that makes me feel the most British.

2. Film Industry

The frightening Alex in Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange"

It's the same as the music. We have such a great film industry which includes some of the best directors of modern times such as Shane Meadows, Richard Ayoade and Danny Boyle. Then you have to look to the likes of Ridley Scott, Stanley Kubrick and Alfred Hitchcock who directed some of our best films such as Alien, A Clockwork Orange and Psycho. 

3. London Olympics

Mo's win was one of the most memorable

Before the Commonwealth Games, there was London. The 2012 Olympics were incredible and the Super Saturday at the athletics was an amazing couple of hours of golds for Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis and Greg Rutherford. London Olympics was the first time that I experienced proper national pride. 

4. The British Empire

(In red) how much land Britain conquered

Even Russell Brand said the other day whilst talking about independence that whilst he wanted to see an independent Scotland, he had a sense of not wanting to let it go. And I agree. Growing up in Britain you celebrate the Empire in school and how powerful we used to be. We know that it was bloody, murderous and pretty much invasion (especially of countries like India, USA and South Africa) yet we don't want to let go of the idea of Britain. Certainly nothing wrong with that. I'll miss England, Wales and Northern Ireland if we go independent and I hope that they'll miss us.

5. The British Battles

UK, England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland

This one is a little closer to me than most, but when Scotland faces England, Wales and Ireland in any competition (whether sports, arts, academics etc) it's always really good fun to watch or take part. I wonder if we will continue this if we go independent? Some may argue that if we're on the same island, surely we will, but then would we compete in things like British championships? If the answer is no, I'll be pretty sad.

This post was nothing more than a bit of fun, if you have anything that you'd like to add, feel free to comment below.