Ten Years On

Ten years ago, on a damp and foggy day, the people of Scotland voted No to independence. The victorious campaign's warnings of what independence would bring ironically came to pass anyway. Prices are higher, the standard of living worse, and we are out of Europe, with foreigners and career politicians increasingly getting the blame for our troubles. The union is broken, and nobody seems to have any idea how to fix it.

Meanwhile the devolved Scottish government limps on, still in power but stripped of purpose, waiting in vain for someone more convincing to come along and put it out its misery.

It's easy to be world weary about the state of things, but ten years on, one thing is much better than 18 September 2014. This week's weather has been glorious, a much needed burst of warmth at the end of six months of humidity and dampness. From up the Pentlands at sunset, here's to Scotland in all its many aspects.