Only In Scotland?

[Lucycat]

Today I went for a walk with a friend, as we often do at the weekends. Rory was already away fishing with his pal.

I knew I would be gone for a couple of hours. I have a history of losing keys so I locked only one door of the house and left the other unlocked and my keys safely at home.

While we were out a neighbour let herself in, helped herself to Rory's poker chips for her husband to borrow & left a note to say what she had done. Here that is perfectly normal, acceptable behaviour! As a born-again Scot ( from England!) I still find this a bit bizarre.

I love the fact that we have such a low crime rate that trust prevails. That we can go out and leave the place unlocked. That people still leave cars parked with keys inside ( not with children in though!).That reports in the local paper include ' a group of youths was seen hanging round a bus stop' .... er yeh, they were waiting for a bus! ( It merited a flollow up report to clarify that).That people here still go hitch-hiking. That whenever someone has a problem all the neighbours rally round to do whatever they can. That odd job men expect to be paid in eggs,potatoes or fish.

It is like living in a bygone era - except with the benefit of the internet.:)

 

[Mercy]

H-m-mm, Cultures sure do have different ways of being. We never locked up when I was young either. The plant nursery never brought their flowers in. No one would think to help themselves. I think this is still true in more rural areas of the USA. It is common to see a farm stand with corn unshucked for sale and a small box with a slot to put money in. The farm stands don't need to be manned. I like it like this. It helps me to develope trust.

 

[Lucycat]

Well. I take it all back. I surrender. Scotland is not so great after all.

Here we are in May, for goodness sake. The beginning of Summer - and it is hurricaine season. WTF? We don't get weather like this. We have had a powercut most of the day. So I'm typing this very quickly before it all goes off again.

Trees down all over the place. Roads closed. Radio mast down. The sea is about to come across the high street in the nearby town.

Still as I write this, I have just seen on the TV ( first contact with the outside world today) that Tornadoes have hit the US, with multiple fatalities. So I do apologise to anybody affected by that, for having the audacity to moan when they have it far worse.

 

[cherryblossom]

Yep - weather is pretty rubbish, "down south" (England :lol:) too.

But I guess we shouldn't complain when others have things much worse.

Worrying about whether my little veggies will survive being battered by the wind and rain certainly does pale into insignificance when I see the pictures, and hear the news reports.

Please keep safe if you affected by the tornadoes, my thoughts are with you :hug:

 

[Mercy]

From the USA

You guys in Tornado Alley, Please don't stand by the window and watch. Go straight to your storm cellar if you have one. If not, Please go to your bathroom and, with all of your family together, get in the tub with something thick over you. Most fatalities come from the things that are flying around in the wind, trees, cars, sticks of building wood, roof tops. Stay safe and wait until all the noise is gone before coming out. My prayers are with you all. God is always near to you, whatever the outcome.

 

[aditi]

Take care everybody in dangerous weather situations.

BrucieLucy, I've been to Scotland twice: once to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and once to Blairgowrie, to stay on a farm for a fortnight, which was the best holiday I ever had. For some reason I have a feeling I should go back and live there one day. There's something about the place ... *sigh* Considering I am a sun-lover this is a bit bonkers.:p

 

[ClairBear226]

Didn't realize you were in Scotland, Brucie. I'd love to see it someday. I'm a bagpiper, so it's sort of the mother ship that calls us all home! Have been to Ireland, but Scotland is still on the bucket list.

 

[leanne1321]

Lucy, I get the whole 'it's safe to leave everything unlocked' as you're supposed to be able to do that here because the penalty's are so harsh, yet (as you know) only a few weeks ago, I had a break in!

Back home in Yorkshire, I lived on a street where everyone knew each other, the type where if you had a break in, the whole street would help out. There were a few people who I wouldn't mind if they let themselves in to borrow something, but there are others who I would feel uncomfortable with. So maybe you should let them know that you don't feel comfortable.

 

[Lucycat]

Midgefest!

Please can someone invent a midge repellent that actually works.