Janet Gogerty's Blog: Sandscript - Posts Tagged "scottish-referendum"
Sandscript Goes North
I was glad to be travelling on holiday around Scotland as the referendum took place; an event that had claimed attention well beyond these shores, as it began to look as if the YES vote would win.
Like many families we are a mixture of English and Scottish and goodness knows what else further back, but as none of us live in Scotland we had no vote.
Would Scottish residents vote yes to breakaway from the United Kingdom? Judging by what we saw, Yes... blue and white YES banners and Saltires were everywhere, while NO Thanks in purple was seen only in wheat fields or discretely in windows. In Glasgow and Dundee there was a buzz in the air, on Scottish television the sixteen year olds given a vote, for the first time ever, were enthusiastic. YES deserved victory for effort, I admired them, but united we stand, divided we fall and I hoped No would be the answer.
A record turnout of 85% voters was an achievement in itself. It was soon obvious that No had won in a close race, but Glasgow and Dundee were the two cities to vote Yes and it was sad to see heartbroken campaigners in tears on television.
But Scotland has always been a unique country in its own right and always will be.
As for our holiday; varied weather, wonderful scenery, lovely accents and lots of interesting people to meet. Strangely, the locals we chatted to in the most remote places were often not Scottish at all.
In a remote cottage I got more of my current novel written and plenty of inspiration for future settings.
Like many families we are a mixture of English and Scottish and goodness knows what else further back, but as none of us live in Scotland we had no vote.
Would Scottish residents vote yes to breakaway from the United Kingdom? Judging by what we saw, Yes... blue and white YES banners and Saltires were everywhere, while NO Thanks in purple was seen only in wheat fields or discretely in windows. In Glasgow and Dundee there was a buzz in the air, on Scottish television the sixteen year olds given a vote, for the first time ever, were enthusiastic. YES deserved victory for effort, I admired them, but united we stand, divided we fall and I hoped No would be the answer.
A record turnout of 85% voters was an achievement in itself. It was soon obvious that No had won in a close race, but Glasgow and Dundee were the two cities to vote Yes and it was sad to see heartbroken campaigners in tears on television.
But Scotland has always been a unique country in its own right and always will be.
As for our holiday; varied weather, wonderful scenery, lovely accents and lots of interesting people to meet. Strangely, the locals we chatted to in the most remote places were often not Scottish at all.
In a remote cottage I got more of my current novel written and plenty of inspiration for future settings.
Sandscript Stunned
Remainer or Leaver, In or Out? Facebook was awash with opinions in the lead up to June 23rd 2016; better informed opinions than our politicians were giving us.
We were in Scotland during the 2014 Referendum and there was a real buzz in Dundee and Glasgow. Banners on buildings, posters in fields – their choice was Yes or No – and all the signs were Yes to leave.
https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...
But No won by a narrow margin and I thought the same would happen in the European Union Referendum; Leave seemed to be winning, but surely not?
I’m not a farmer or a fisherman, I have never been in business or industry, so perhaps I was not as qualified as some to make a decision, but from the start my gut instinct was to stay in the European Union; peace, unity, the environment, there are bigger issues at stake than the tangle of bureaucracy we all dislike. It also seemed right that people should support the decision of the younger members of their family and fortunately our immediate family was of one accord.
We will never know how some individuals voted, it was a secret ballot, but there was a buzz in the whole country. People had a chance for their say which had nothing to do with political parties; the main parties were in disarray and disagreement, destroying what little confidence we had left in our leaders. Many Leavers were choosing Sovereignty, but others were taking the chance to vote against politicians and the establishment in general, while at the bottom of the pile were the racist bigots who just wanted to get out and keep everybody out. The intelligent Leavers have been furious to be portrayed as racists, while older Remainers do not wish to be lumped together with the senior generation accused of ‘stealing the future’ from the younger ones.
For writers, whether commentators or fiction authors, there will be great interest in how these new rifts will affect communities and individuals. The kingdom of Scotland voted to remain; one of the reasons they voted No to leaving the United Kingdom was so they could stay in the European Union; now there is talk of a second Scottish Referendum. Northern Island voted to remain, they don’t want to see the border that has gradually melted away, with the province and Eire both being in the EU, become a border again. But the principality of Wales voted to leave, though they have benefited more than many from money pouring in from the EU. Not surprisingly London, surely one of the most international and tolerant cities in the World, wanted to remain; how long before a novel is written about London becoming a city state?
Back down on the ground what were my observations? Nothing was simple, nothing could be assumed. The oldest chap in the office wanted to Remain while the young people all wanted to leave, a happily married couple, one on each side. The father who decided to consult his sons before a final decision; one was strongly for leaving, the other as fervent for remaining. Brothers and sisters divided.
Amongst friends whose opinions we are privy to there are more Remainers, but we have good friends who voted to Leave.
Meanwhile for writers the backstabbing amongst politicians is more dramatic than a Greek tragedy or Shakespeare; how delightful for the cynical to observe the wheeling and dealing ending in resignations and imploding of careers. Few authors would want to be in politics themselves, but I’m sure they will enjoy creating characters better able to run the country, or perhaps leaders even worse than we already have? Look out for some post European dystopian novels set in the 2020’s or 2030’s.
We were in Scotland during the 2014 Referendum and there was a real buzz in Dundee and Glasgow. Banners on buildings, posters in fields – their choice was Yes or No – and all the signs were Yes to leave.
https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...
But No won by a narrow margin and I thought the same would happen in the European Union Referendum; Leave seemed to be winning, but surely not?
I’m not a farmer or a fisherman, I have never been in business or industry, so perhaps I was not as qualified as some to make a decision, but from the start my gut instinct was to stay in the European Union; peace, unity, the environment, there are bigger issues at stake than the tangle of bureaucracy we all dislike. It also seemed right that people should support the decision of the younger members of their family and fortunately our immediate family was of one accord.
We will never know how some individuals voted, it was a secret ballot, but there was a buzz in the whole country. People had a chance for their say which had nothing to do with political parties; the main parties were in disarray and disagreement, destroying what little confidence we had left in our leaders. Many Leavers were choosing Sovereignty, but others were taking the chance to vote against politicians and the establishment in general, while at the bottom of the pile were the racist bigots who just wanted to get out and keep everybody out. The intelligent Leavers have been furious to be portrayed as racists, while older Remainers do not wish to be lumped together with the senior generation accused of ‘stealing the future’ from the younger ones.
For writers, whether commentators or fiction authors, there will be great interest in how these new rifts will affect communities and individuals. The kingdom of Scotland voted to remain; one of the reasons they voted No to leaving the United Kingdom was so they could stay in the European Union; now there is talk of a second Scottish Referendum. Northern Island voted to remain, they don’t want to see the border that has gradually melted away, with the province and Eire both being in the EU, become a border again. But the principality of Wales voted to leave, though they have benefited more than many from money pouring in from the EU. Not surprisingly London, surely one of the most international and tolerant cities in the World, wanted to remain; how long before a novel is written about London becoming a city state?
Back down on the ground what were my observations? Nothing was simple, nothing could be assumed. The oldest chap in the office wanted to Remain while the young people all wanted to leave, a happily married couple, one on each side. The father who decided to consult his sons before a final decision; one was strongly for leaving, the other as fervent for remaining. Brothers and sisters divided.
Amongst friends whose opinions we are privy to there are more Remainers, but we have good friends who voted to Leave.
Meanwhile for writers the backstabbing amongst politicians is more dramatic than a Greek tragedy or Shakespeare; how delightful for the cynical to observe the wheeling and dealing ending in resignations and imploding of careers. Few authors would want to be in politics themselves, but I’m sure they will enjoy creating characters better able to run the country, or perhaps leaders even worse than we already have? Look out for some post European dystopian novels set in the 2020’s or 2030’s.
Sandscript
I like to write first drafts with pen and paper; at home, in busy cafes, in the garden, at our beach hut... even sitting in a sea front car park waiting for the rain to stop I get my note book out. We
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