The Unbearable Whiteness of Being

[macausland]

Procopius called Britain Brittia and claimed that the souls of the dead were transported from Europe to the island.

Perhaps 'Brittia' might also mean something like Bright Island?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittia

[Boreades]

Chalk is brilliantly white, some people claim that Albion or the old word for Britain means white land or somesuch, perhaps from the white cliffs on the south coast, a major landmark for travellers from the Continent.

It's not well known, but Vera Lynn was a clairvoyant.

Recently, our police have been flying helicopters over the ports looking for illegal travellers from the Continent.

But as Vera said 70 years earlier -
"There'll be blue birds over
The white cliffs of Dover"

I'll get my hat.

[TisILeclerc]

That's typical of the police when they know they're all coming under the tunnel, on the ferry or flying into Heathrow.

Funny thing though, the Indians called England Blighty. Was that for Whitey, the White Island? And where did the Isle of White come from?

[Boreades]

My children's grand-godmother (from India) says Blighty mean "Bloody ignorant hoity-toity"

I know nuffin.

[TisILeclerc]

Grand godmother? By, you're pulling rank aren't you?

[Boreades]

Grand godmother? By, you're pulling rank aren't you?

Tha's nuthin, her daddy ran the whole of the Indian State Railway (back in the steam days) - but he studied Engineering in Scotland!

[TisILeclerc]

Beam me up Scotty

[TisILeclerc]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k11z1ghxpus

And here's one for landlocked sailors

[Boreades]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k11z1ghxpus

And here's one for landlocked sailors

Excellent! Can you find me a link to Whisky Galore?

I've been extolling the benefits of the Scottish NHS, as evidenced by that lovely scene in that lovely film where the local GP still visits sick patients, and makes sure they have enough whisky and baccy.

Some people here in the south don't believe such things ever happened.

[TisILeclerc]

It was on youtube once but it seems to have been hijacked by pirate companies now.

I had a gaelic teacher from South Uist who said that they still ploughed up bottles that had been hidden and forgotten.

I would suggest trying youtube every now and again just in case one gets past the money men.