I've just finished this book which is a great checklist of how we Scots have been running the world for generations

Gardyloo, you get a mention. I never heard it said as "regardez l'eau".

Essential reading for those intending to visit God's country.

Regard it all you want.

L'eau est polluée; buvez du vin.

For those wondering, the book is entitled <i>How the Scots Invented the Modern World</i> by Arthur Herman.

Sheila...if we come visit can Gardyloo come too?

But didn't you think it was an inferior knock-off of &quot;How the Irish Saved Civilization&quot; by Thomas Cahill? (written six years before Mr Herman)

And how very Scots that they had to get an American to write it for them...

I rather think most Scots assumed that the rest of the world did as they do, and took it as read that the Scots were in charge; and that it needed an American to 'state the bleedin' obvious' and write a book to tell his compatriots they weren't.

(adjusts tin hat and retires immediately)

Sheila, it looks like we'll need at least two stools to fling.

(I believe Mr. Herman's current project has as its working title <i>How the English Invented Whingeing</i>.)

Actually, althought I've got &quot;How the Scots...&quot;, (indeed, it was a gift from a Fodorite) it's actually called &quot;Scottish Firsts&quot;.

I'm with Patrick.

Gardy, Jody and her husband are coming to visit next year. Would you care to meet up?

Dunno. Ms. Loo has her heart set on a freighter cruise round the Indian Ocean. Adding Aberdeen to that might be too much of a good thing.

Patrick, I got confused about who the &quot;they&quot; referred to. I assumed you meant the Scots, but in re-reading it I gather you were referring to Americans. So the stool is being stored for future use.

FYI, Mr. Herman sits on the Scottish Arts Council.

Yes, Gardyloo, I was teasing (not whingeing: I'm part Scots by descent myself). I plead pure ignorance about Mr Heman, but I wouldn't mind betting there's a few Scots who would still sniff and say 'I kent his faither'...

Thanks for the mention, Sheila. I can't imagine what the world would be like today without the kilt and the caber.

or the television, bicycle, MRI scanner, phone, most of the people in Canada, a significant number of Americans, and Australians, tea.. (I could go on- the book is 274 pages long)

I think, Gardy, that Jody was probably thinking of lunch in Edinburgh? Mrs G (Mrs L?)would be welcome too.

Incidentally, drop me an email. Maybe I kent yer faither

Sheila, what mischief. Here we're all (okay, me) going off on the ramifications of Mr. Herman's masterwork, whilst you were referring to Elspeth Wills' tome. Which I haven't read. So herewith I shut up on the subject. Another first.

And, to change the subject, have you read &quot;No Great Mischief&quot;? One of the best books I've read in years. About Scots in Canada