Scottish independence? I beg to see the funny side

Don't worry, I'm not going to add to the millions of column inches that have been devoted to the referendum.

Nothing I say will make any difference. I tend to agree with an old schoolfriend from St Andrews (who now lives in Oban) who posted this comment on Facebook:

"As polling day is almost here I won't miss the opinionated amateur rantings of far too many people trying to ram their opinion down my throat on this medium."

Ironically he then subjected us to his own opinionated amateur rantings, including the information that he intends to vote 'yes'!

Anyway, what will be will be. That's my position.

Not everyone in my house is taking the matter so lightly, however. My wife – born and educated in Glasgow – is one of 800,000 Scots denied a vote because they live in England.

That annoyed her and when the Sunday Times published the poll that put the 'Yes' campaign in the lead for the first time a couple of weeks ago she was genuinely upset.

Meanwhile my 19-year-old son – currently in China but born in Edinburgh – texted:

"Saw some stuff on Facebook about a day of unity where towns across UK going to hold rallies which looks like a good idea. Bit pathetic saying 'show Scotland we care' though. Embarrassing. Maybe the Scots should care more about the English - fact they seem to only care about being a bit better off says it all."

I agree. Worse, why beg the Scots to stay? Even the battle hardened Daily Mail was at it yesterday – "We beg you to stay".

There's a Scottish expression for my reaction to this sort of thing and it's 'boak'. (Look it up.) So if one tweet sums up my feelings today it's this:

Don't "beg" Scotland to stay. You're making a scene. You're embarrassing yourself. You're embarrassing everyone watching.

— Craig Drake (@csdrake) September 18, 2014

It's far more serious than than, of course, but when you can't do anything about it why get your knickers in a twist. Far better to laugh, which is why I'm indebted to the Daily Mash for this post:

Salmond votes ‘No’ http://t.co/z3CGq6lm5S

— The Daily Mash (@thedailymash) September 18, 2014

And this:

Andy Murray offers to fund Scottish pension system http://t.co/3gQemnAZIa

— The Daily Mash (@thedailymash) September 18, 2014

You can read the relevant posts here and here.

If that's too flippant I recommend you read 'The end of Great Britain as we know it' by Brian Monteith on ConservativeHome.

Spoiler: if you're a monarchist Brian has some bad news.

Update on Thursday, September 18, 2014 at 19:20 by Simon Clark

Andy Murray's support for independence hasn't gone down with my daughter, 17, who was also born in Edinburgh.

Daughter: "Hope Andy Murray doesn't represent Britain at any more tournaments."

Me: "He lives in Surrey too!"

Daughter: "Such a joke."

Comments

[Joyce]

Haven't heard any of those slebs who begged Scotland to stay thanking her for doing so.

Ominous that, five minutes after the vote, moves seem to be afoot not to honour The Vow and, as Salmond said, those who voted No on its basis will be a tad outraged. There seemed to be a veiled threat in his resignation speech...