Despite the tendency of this website to focus on whinges and moans, I think that Seil is a brilliant place to live - great scenery and nature, a distinctive history, modern facilities and comforts nearby, very friendly people, a great shop, good pubs, traditional and modern cultures, a multi-skilled multi-aged population combining many nationalities and experiences, workers and retired, a micro island university of life and of achievement with a set of inhabitants who are drinkers, thinkers and proud to be Seilichans. Anyone agree??
This forum is hardly representative of life on Seil - the few posters on here don't even represent themselves most of the time
Despite the moaners and whingers, quality of life is the thing, and we have it in pretty good measure, and if push came to shove I think you would find that we are all Seileachan. Those who had no option but were born as such, and those who are by choice.
Yes, Herby, the quality of life is great on Seil but a problem is that, as you imply, whenever this chat site is mentioned in public places, folk shake their heads, say how sad it is, wonder what kind of unrepresentative nutters contribute to it and condemn it for giving such a twisted negative view of the community and of life on Seil. This thread was intended to reverse the trend but, as you can see from musclehead ultra's entry, it's probably not going to be easy!!
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My wife and my kids are Scottish by birth whether they want to be or not. I am Scottish by choice, as are many.
The anachronistic ramblings of the tiny minority of would-be ethnic cleansers on this forum can safely be ignored by incomers prepared to fit in - their bark is infinitely worse than their bite. In reality Seil is a friendly low aggro high tolerance community full of interesting individuals who by and large get on well together.
Actually this "by choice" concept is quite amusing. For example what nationality does it appear Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Kelvin MacKenzie have chosen?
This week I'm French by choice; I wonder what nationality NickMcB will choose this week?
Fun this, being able to choose your nationality irrespective of ancestry, cultural background, accent, birth and upbringing. It opens a whole new world for the plastic paddies too.
I suspect that Erik will claim that, as far as the UK is concerned, the Vikings came up with this idea first, though the Irish have a good claim too.... The good thing about Longshanks changing nationality weekly of course is that noone gets stuck with him for too long!
"I can't claim credit for the idea - America came up with it quite a while ago "
Ah, but America is sovereign state (and is recognised as such by the community of nations by membership of The United Nations). Its not a matter of you choosing to be American; you have to apply, you go through a vetting procedure and, if successful, you then have to attend a ceremony to swear your allegience to the State.
Any chance of NickMcB posting a copy here of his "application form" to become Scottish.
I think, in reality, that NickMcB is an English member of the the United Kingdom who happens to be living in part of that soverign state; namely Scotland.
Spiderperson is so pleased that I intend to choose a new nationality weekly that I've decided to do it daily now.
Shanks is always wong...............................................................
.............................................and a pedant................................
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Why not try being Palestinian for week shanky? Or any other nationality without a country!
As for Andy Murray - well done.
But as for the crowd - yes they got behind Andy Murray in a jingoistic, frog hating sort of way. But hardly very sporting when 15 000 people boo the french lad every time he made a challenge ( which I believe you're allowed to do) or cheer when he missed a shot ..............
......And how long are they going to call it Henman hill????
Om jeg hamrer eller hamres,
ligefuldt så skal der jamres!
Well, I fear, there's a touch of the NickMcB syndrome where Master Murray is concerned. For a start he has changed his voice so a Scottish accent is no longer discernable - he sounds mid-Atlantic now. Second he has stopped wearing his trademark saltire wristbands.
Yesterday, during the match, John McEnroe was asked if it is hard to play on Centre Court if the crowd is vocally behind your opponent. His reply was "Yes, especially when your opponent is English" (!). Later, the BBC Scotland sports wally ended his summary of Murray's match by saying "Well done Henman" (!)
So, probably the answer to SpiderPerson's question is that he's English (by choice: his and others).
Its good to be a pendant SP, you hang around a lot and can sometimes be a swinger.
Don't get me started on Al Gore, Shanker, coming as he does belatedly from the land of the generally unconverted and guilty to preach in the land of the relatively innocent and converted
Despite the tendency of this website to focus on whinges and moans, I think that Seil is a brilliant place to live - great scenery and nature, a distinctive history, modern facilities and comforts nearby, very friendly people, a great shop, good pubs, traditional and modern cultures, a multi-skilled multi-aged population combining many nationalities and experiences, workers and retired, a micro island university of life and of achievement with a set of inhabitants who are drinkers, thinkers and proud to be Seilichans. Anyone agree?? 
