Posted By Crim
Good afternoon all,

I currently carry out site health and safety visits for an English company who will soon have a shop fitting operation start up in Scotland.

I have been asked by the CDM C if I am licensed for working in Scotland.

This is something I know nothing about therefore can anyone please enlighten me?

Posted By Colin Reeves
Ahh, but you do need your passport to come to Shetland (or other acceptable photo ID)!!

Colin

Posted By Crim
Thanks from sunny Liverpool. As for name calling I am a scouser so well used to it.

My boss once told me the lads on site are calling me a Tosser, he said that just proved I was doing my job properly.

(Mods I hope that one gets in OK?)

Posted By D H
Hi Crim - you need to be aware that Scotland is a wee bit behind England as far as the TV is concerned.
Enna Sharples died last week on Corrie Street yet in England I heard they showed her funeral.

Another problem is the gas TV we use up here - if someone opens the door quickly the picture blows out.(lol)

Welcome to Scotland Crim - come up and enjoy Gods own country.
Bet after a while if you got the choice you would stay.

Dave

Posted By willhiem
archie gemmill was british too!!

Posted By garyh
I have worked in Glasgae - I loved it, no probs whatever, cept that it seemed to rain every day in Winter......... I also have a static caravan in Scotland, get up there as often as poss. In 30 years of visiting I have never had a problem for being English. Mind I am from NE England so culturally the fit was there. Working in Scotland was fine, like everywhere else I have worked, you are judged on how well you do the job, and how good your advice is!

Scots have a great tradition of hospitality - contrary to jokes they are very generous when buying drinks etc.

One tip - Scots are always taking the mickey out of themselves and their traditions eg kilts - but tend to not like it if outsiders do!! So don't.

Final tip - in Glasgae make sure you have a waterproof smart jacket for those brilliant nights out in Sauchiehall Street. Ask the locals how to pronounce it!

Posted By willhiem
so that explains it!!!

Wouldnt mind moving to scotland myself, could be good for the golf game!

Posted By water67.
obviously postings are keeping the dreaded west coast midge as a wee surprise for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted By AMelrose
Most Scots are easy going (and contrary to belief - generous as another poster mentioned).

Here are a few things that annoy some Scottish folk ...

1) Calling every Scotsman a "Jock"
2) Talk about "if England had made the European Championships we'd have..." - You didn't so get over it and move on!
3) Only support Andy Murray as a BRIT if he makes the semi final but relish his loss as a SCOT if he doesn't.
4) Complain about the weather (only true Scots are allowed to joke about having webbed feet / not having a tan but rusting instead etc!!)
5) Joke about men wearing Skirts instead of the kilt...[we don't often make snide comments about Morris Dancers...].

Here are a few Scottish terms you might hear.

"Away fur ma tea" - I'm going for my evening meal

"Salt and sauce" in Edinburgh Sauce is Broon not BROWN ...a mixture of vinegar AND brown sauce. In Glasgow you'll only get the vinegar OR brown sauce (HP).

"blootered" - drunk
"howfin" - disgusting
"make me pure boke" - make me want to be sick
"knacked" or "Knackered" - tired or really tired.

"Mingin" - ugly / disgusting (as in "she's pure mingin" - she's not very pretty!).

"Och, ye ken?" - Oh, you know?
"aye, nae bad" - yes, not too bad.

"whar ye fi?" - Where are you from?
"weegie" - a person from Glasgow.
"Up the toon" - usually said by someone from the outskirts of a city as in "um goin up the toon at the wkend" - I'm going into Edinburgh / Glasgow etc at the weekend.

Numbers;
Yin, twa...hunner
one, two...one hundred

Then of course there is regional dialects which can confuse even more - Doric in Aberdeen for example. In full flow you'll maybe pick up one word in every 10!!

Should keep you going for a wee while
(oh aye, an we dinnae take oursel twa seriously LOL!!)

Posted By Colin Reeves
Oyyy, the west coast midge is nothing compared to the Shetland midge - but then Shetland ain't Scotland ;-)

Colin

Posted By MT
Fit's wrang wi the Doric?

Chris - ye obviously wirna spikkin tae a true Doric spikker if they asked ye far ye were "staying", as the richt word wid be "bidin", as in "far are ye bidin?" (where are you staying) or "far div ye bide?" (where do you live).

Onywye, them Aiberdonians are toonsers, an dinna spik Doric richt onywye. Ye need lessons fae a country quine like masel!

Willhiem - cost of living low? Have you been to Aberdeen lately? It's not cheap, and diesel is almost at the £1.35 mark, which is a problem when you work in an area like mine, where the geographical area I cover is vast, with not that much in it!

Posted By Colin Reeves
Just to confirm, Shetland is expensive on fuel - petrol around £1.30 a litre, diesel £1.42 per litre.

Oh, and public transport limited - population does not warrant more.

Colin

Posted By Crim
Hello again,

Many thanks for what has turned out to be a very informative and entertaining discussion.

I always did enjoy a conversation with Scottish firemen all those years ago when attending the fire service college at Moreton in Marsh. You guys are so funny! and patriotic when roused!

My work will involve inspecting a store refit in Oban next week, closely followed by a similar trip to Aberdeen in the near future.

I must remember to fill up with diesel and black pudding before I go! (Not all in the same tank)

Our Andew did well yesterday, wonder how much longer he will be ours?

Thanks again

Posted By Haggis JM
Yes, you're ever so slightly biased MT!!!

Is that you offering B & B? ;)

Posted By willhiem
I hope ye do a proper risk assessment before that outing takes place.

MT - cost of living remark was based on Edinburgh, I'd be there a lot, and yes there are a few things which are expensive, fuel being one there are some aspects that would be fairly cheap, example when i was last over there i was getting some grun in for a good sunday fry up - pudding, eggs, sausages, rashers, bread, sunday papers, milk etc. the whole lot came to about £8 or something, i was anticipating paying £15 or so, 2 weeks ago i was buying roughly the same thing (may i suggest you add in a similar list of shopping as a control measure for your night out, or morning after!!) and it cost €23 somethin, i was a bit shocked, but not suprised, cost of living here is pretty high, i spend most of my week standing in forecourts of pertol stations too!!

Posted By AMelrose
Probably not in Fort William - usually full of tourists. Aberdeen is full of students (though from all over the world!).

The last place I worked at (Scottish Company based in Edinburgh), I was the token Scot in my section for most of the time I was there! Boss = Englishman, two work colleagues = Irish and myself. Aye, we're a hard breed to find...usually we're off in some distant country trying to find the "happy ball"
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[sun in case you're wondering!!]

Posted By MT
Well, I would happily meet up with you when you're in Aberdeen, and I bet Haggis JM would too.

Posted By AMelrose
Um...I'm Scottish and knew about Andy Murray a few years ago when he was on the junior circuit. He's definately got talent (as has his brother who has actually won at Wimbledon but is quieter and more reserved than his sibling). Thing is, he's more Catalan now anyway!!