I left Scotland in 1989 after my daughter was born wanting her to have a chance in life and not be judged by where she was born or how she spoke.
I emigrated to New Zealand and settled in quick enough but still kept my broad accent, which in New Zealand was a novelty and loved by those whose ancestors came from over seas.
5 years later I was working in a hotel and we had a new General Manager who arrived from Edinburgh, Scotland ( my home town ). The rest of the staff saying I’d be okay with the new boss but I had my doubts.
True enough, on the morning we were introduced to the new boss, he made his way along the line till arriving at me.
“ I hear you’re from Edinburgh”, he said
“ Aye”, I replied
“ what part?” He enquired.
“ Leith”, I replied.
“ I’m from Corstophine ( well off part of Edinburgh)”, he paused “ we have absolutely nothing in common do we?”
I just shook my head letting him walk away and we never spoke again.
Thanks for sharing your father's life and putting a voice it. He's right you know. If Donald Trump wins this 2024 election in the US the world will spin into authoritarian hell. Ukraine will be lost to Putin, NATO may fail and wwIII will surely begin. The writing is on the wall. Little Israel is conducting a genocide in Gaza, Hungry, and tens of other nations are falling victim to the same kind of mad men. I do want to be wrong. I'm old and sick, like you Mr. Smith. I don't want to draw my last breath thinking of leaving my son's to face a world like the one I fear. God help us all🙏
And nothing has changed.
I left Scotland in 1989 after my daughter was born wanting her to have a chance in life and not be judged by where she was born or how she spoke.
I emigrated to New Zealand and settled in quick enough but still kept my broad accent, which in New Zealand was a novelty and loved by those whose ancestors came from over seas.
5 years later I was working in a hotel and we had a new General Manager who arrived from Edinburgh, Scotland ( my home town ). The rest of the staff saying I’d be okay with the new boss but I had my doubts.
True enough, on the morning we were introduced to the new boss, he made his way along the line till arriving at me.
“ I hear you’re from Edinburgh”, he said
“ Aye”, I replied
“ what part?” He enquired.
“ Leith”, I replied.
“ I’m from Corstophine ( well off part of Edinburgh)”, he paused “ we have absolutely nothing in common do we?”
I just shook my head letting him walk away and we never spoke again.
Thanks for sharing your father's life and putting a voice it. He's right you know. If Donald Trump wins this 2024 election in the US the world will spin into authoritarian hell. Ukraine will be lost to Putin, NATO may fail and wwIII will surely begin. The writing is on the wall. Little Israel is conducting a genocide in Gaza, Hungry, and tens of other nations are falling victim to the same kind of mad men. I do want to be wrong. I'm old and sick, like you Mr. Smith. I don't want to draw my last breath thinking of leaving my son's to face a world like the one I fear. God help us all🙏