Literature Network Forums - Blogs - Exiled in a kilt by kilted exile https://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?2292-Exiled-in-a-kilt The largest classic literature discussion forum on the Internet. Read Write Teach Share. en Fri, 05 Jun 2026 09:12:00 GMT vBulletin 10 https://www.online-literature.com/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg Literature Network Forums - Blogs - Exiled in a kilt by kilted exile https://www.online-literature.com/forums/blog.php?2292-Exiled-in-a-kilt Home https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?10489-Home Wed, 02 Jun 2010 13:46:53 GMT So I have arrived home to dublin with niamh and couldnt be happier. Everything just feels so right and she did such a wonderful job of getting... So I have arrived home to dublin with niamh and couldnt be happier. Everything just feels so right and she did such a wonderful job of getting everything feel like home.

I got here on saturday morning and went round to meet her family that evening where we got chinese food and I was greeted with a leprechaun in the window and a tricolour lai around my neck. I had met her parents last year but I got to meet 2 of her sisters and her niece which was nice everyone was down to earth and really friendly.

On the sunday we went to a new outdoor market that has started. It was fun wandering round with niamh it was this kind of thing I have missed not being able to do. We got some nice lemon curd, a couple of kinds of ghee butter, some summer fruit berry tea and a jar of the best pesto I have ever tasted. Niamh made it into a mushroom pasta last night.

We spent the last couple of days going through dublin handing out cv's (keep calling them resumes) and are spending today relaxing and enjoying being together.

The weather has also been fantastic for my arrival , the sun is shining and it is a wonderful day. ]]> kilted exile https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?10489-Home Moving away https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?10437-Moving-away Fri, 21 May 2010 21:41:13 GMT So I am one week away from being on a plane to dublin (stupid ash cloud permitting) I have sorted everything for the journey and just need to go... So I am one week away from being on a plane to dublin (stupid ash cloud permitting) I have sorted everything for the journey and just need to go through my clothes and whittle it down to one case of not more than 20kgs.

I finished work one week ago, and it hit me for the first time how close I was to leaving on monday when I woke up and found I didnt have a job to go into. That was a wierd feeling. I enjoyed my job, it was the best job I have ever had - but I am ecstatic in the knowledge that I am trading a job for a life. Getting to know niamh over the past year has been wonderful, every day I find another reason why having her in my life is such a better proposition than the alternative.

Still though it is with some sorrow that I leave this country for a while. I may be Scottish by birth and heritage and spent my formative years there, but this country (and this town in particular) feels more like home to me than glasgow did on my last visit. Glasgow is now just a stepping stone from my past where family are but Kincardine will be the place I have pangs in my heart for.

A return here in a few years would be brilliant and is the current plan. I daydream on a regular basis of me and niamh together here. However, life has a way of changing and turning, so long as I am with niamh I could live in a cave for all I care. ]]> kilted exile https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?10437-Moving-away Big News https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?10025-Big-News Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:58:33 GMT So I had been trying to keep quiet about this until after I give my notice at work etc but....... I AM MOVING TO DUBLIN TO BE WITH... So I had been trying to keep quiet about this until after I give my notice at work etc but.......

I AM MOVING TO DUBLIN TO BE WITH NIAMH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!

I am going over there at the end of May. It is a huge step but one we are ready for. Her leaving at the end of January was the hardest thing I have ever gone through. I feel like I am missing a limb. Making do with talking over skype pales in contrast with being with her. ]]> kilted exile https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?10025-Big-News collected thoughts https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?9448-collected-thoughts Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:13:21 GMT So the SNP want to put out their white paper (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8385425.stm) It is with a great sense of worry that I... So the SNP want to put out their white paper

It is with a great sense of worry that I contemplate the future of my country. Long time readers may recall my previous entry on the thistle tinted specs brigade. We are far too good at blaming others for our problems and not accepting the duty we bear instead to fix our country. We can be successful as an independent country yes, but if we go into it thinking everything will be rosy because we've finally carried through the declaration of Arbroath there will be plenty sorely disappointed and with a lot to answer for.

We are a small country with delusions of grandeur. I have long held the belief that the only reason the scottish economy did not go the way of Iceland and Irelands is because of the ability of the UK as a whole to absorb some of the assumed debts.

We have a life expectancy in glasgow of around 10 years less than in the south of england - some would point to this and say "see thats cos those [epletive deleted]s in westminster are too concerned with england and dont care bout us!" actually it is because we have our heads in our rear ends and dont realise we are happilly killing ourselves due to a steady diet of deep fried pizzas and Irn-Bru by an IV drip.

Dont get me wrong though - I do love Scotland with every fibre of my being. It's just I think we can be so much more than what we are and that wont start so much by independence as much as having a proper look at the state our country is in.

EDITED TO ADD

Whilst I am on my rant, one other thing has bothered me greatly the last couple of days:

(taken from belgian beer thread)

Neely:
Tennants Extra??? Now I know you are joking, do I sound like some amateur Scottish drunk?
Brian Bean:
Now, now, Neely, you should know that there are no amateur Scottish drunks: only professionals.
Neely:
Yes professional drunks, but not professional drinkers...
I am quite frankly livid at this. The insinuations that :

A) youd need to be a drunk to drink Tennants Extra

B) All Scotsmen are drunks

C) No scotsman has a clue about anything and only cares about getting hammered

really have annoyed me to the extreme. If I was to stereotype other nationalities in similar fashions it would quite rightly be pilloried but it has become acceptable to classify the Scot as a drunkard (something which to an extent we have ourselves to blame for) but all the same it is frankly completely out of order and has me very upset ]]> kilted exile https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?9448-collected-thoughts An Update https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?9107-An-Update Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:41:42 GMT So I realised earlier I hadnt made an entry in a very long time. However any reader expecting any profound thought here will be sorely dissappointed... So I realised earlier I hadnt made an entry in a very long time. However any reader expecting any profound thought here will be sorely dissappointed I have no profound thoughts this is just another entry on life as it occurs in my little corner of paradise.


This past year has been really the best of my life. Everything seems to be going really well currently. I have a great girlfriend, I am healthy (other than a cough/cold) and I have a job that if I dont love at least enjoy and dont get miserable at heading off to there in the morning.

I have moved upwards on the ladder at work and am now "logistics manager" I get to impact more the customer experience when they come into the store which is good. Also I get some more responsibility

I got a new medicine ball and ankle/wrist weights and have incorporated that now into my rowing regime also. ]]> kilted exile https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?9107-An-Update who said it https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8730-who-said-it Fri, 14 Aug 2009 21:37:28 GMT So I heard a quote on the radio earlier, and I have no idea who it was originally but thought I'd share it anyway:

"everything will be ok in the end. If its not ok, its not the end."

anyone have any ideas? ]]> kilted exile https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8730-who-said-it <![CDATA[Poked & prodded]]> https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8660-Poked-amp-prodded Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:28:16 GMT So I have spent the morning at the hospital getting poked, prodded, hooked up to machines and vial upon vial of blood taken. With the final result... So I have spent the morning at the hospital getting poked, prodded, hooked up to machines and vial upon vial of blood taken.

With the final result being:.............................
I am perfectly healthy (ecept of course for my BP which is always a bit on the high side).
They are putting the dizziness to dehydration and have warned me to make sure I drink plenty of fluids.

so fit as a fiddle is me. ]]> kilted exile https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8660-Poked-amp-prodded <![CDATA[Dizziness & other meaningless nonsense]]> https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8648-Dizziness-amp-other-meaningless-nonsense Wed, 29 Jul 2009 20:51:16 GMT I dont know what is wrong with me. Over the last month now I have been getting these dizzy spells & I am begining to get a little concerned - they are getting more frequent & severe.

I dont have a doctor so on saturday I will drag myself to the hospital to wait till someone can see me. I originally thought it might be an ear infection just as they affectbalance and my ear had been sore, but the ear doesnt hurt now. I had one when I got up this morning and had to go lie back down again before going into work. Then I had another in the afternoon when I was moving sheds. The nearest thing I can compare them to is when you are drunk and cant walk straight.

If it wasnt for the fact I have always had high blood pressure I might think maybe my blood pressure was low. Someone at work suggested diabetes, but I had had lunch fairly recently before the one in the afternoon - so surely my blood sugar levels must've been ok?

I hope I am fine tomorrow it is my busiest day of the week & I need to be on top of my game.


In other news: I am probably at some stage going to be changing my job at work - moving out of the warehouse. This will be good.

Also, I am being made enter a writing contest (some folk are under the rather large misapprehension that I have some degree of talent) ]]> kilted exile https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8648-Dizziness-amp-other-meaningless-nonsense home https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8620-home Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:54:38 GMT This is home now. It feels good being here. I know nobody in scotland anymore except family. My friends are here, my life is here, I am no longer an... This is home now. It feels good being here. I know nobody in scotland anymore except family. My friends are here, my life is here, I am no longer an exile I am a citizen. ]]> kilted exile https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8620-home Trip to Ireland https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8509-Trip-to-Ireland Wed, 08 Jul 2009 07:33:22 GMT Day 1: Due to excitement get to airport super early ( had to wait an hour before the check in desk even opened). Change money to Euros and become... Day 1: Due to excitement get to airport super early ( had to wait an hour before the check in desk even opened). Change money to Euros and become upset that I didnt have as much as I wanted. Arrive in dublin and keep an eye out for a beautiful woman. Find my woman. Jump on bus to her home stopping in dublin centre for some groceries. Give her the gift I brought for her, and am seriously shocked by her gift to me - most thoughtful, laborious thing anyone has ever given me.Have some home-made potato and leek soup then head off to get ready for a night on the town. Start off with dinner in a great italian restaurant ( where I am almost constantly holding her hand across the table - didnt let it go much the entire trip) then off to the abbey theatre to see the premiere of a play, where I injured my shoulder but didnt let on. Then a quiet drink and back home.

Day 2: Up and off out to Glendalough and Powerscourt gardens on the tour bus. Will post pics at later date of this cos my descriptions dont do it justice. Ate our junk food picnic, read niamh her poem and some burns (apparently I am good at that). Came back to dublin and went to meet her parents - was meant to be a small snack before heading home where niamh was gonna cook dinner. But her mother had a huge spread laid out. Drank more tea this day than in the last 5years combined. Went to her old room to grab some books to give away (stole a kiss while her folks werent about). Went home where niamh cooked a wonderful shrimp and vegetable risotto then we watched A streetcar named desire and toddled off to bed

Day 3: headed into dublin in the morning. Went to the jameson whiskey distillery then on a walk around. Almost got trapped in a mass when we went to try and see St Valentine's shrine. Went to see the mummified corpses in St Michan's vaults. Headed to Jimmy Chung's chinese buffet for lunch, then back home and changed for heading off to Howth to see the sunset and get some chips (fries to you north americans). Shoulder finally gave in. Came home and went to sleep.

Day 4: A horrible day. Came back to glasgow :(
niamh was able to stay with me till I boarded the plane because of her security clearance for the airport. Didnt want to leave. Cried on the plane coming back. ]]> kilted exile https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8509-Trip-to-Ireland <![CDATA[how i've stayed sane]]> https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8471-how-i-ve-stayed-sane Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:50:15 GMT my sanity has been kept by the most wonderful woman in the world - niamh. I have loved being here. a couple quick photos:... my sanity has been kept by the most wonderful woman in the world - niamh. I have loved being here.


a couple quick photos:


]]> kilted exile https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8471-how-i-ve-stayed-sane back in glasgow https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8433-back-in-glasgow Sat, 27 Jun 2009 13:13:47 GMT A short entry. I am back in glasgow for my brothers wedding. This place has too many bad memories. I am only staying sane by thinking of being in... A short entry.

I am back in glasgow for my brothers wedding. This place has too many bad memories.
I am only staying sane by thinking of being in dublin very soon.
I dont think I'll ever come back to this city again ]]> kilted exile https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8433-back-in-glasgow 2 weeks https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8376-2-weeks Mon, 15 Jun 2009 22:23:39 GMT So in 2 weeks time I will be wandering back from the abbey theatre after watching a play with a person who has become a very important part of my... So in 2 weeks time I will be wandering back from the abbey theatre after watching a play with a person who has become a very important part of my life. We speak daily and have been doing so for the past 3/4 months now for hours on end each day.

I am in love with her, something I dont think I have ever been before & am very, very excited to be going to see her. It is however only for 3 days which is too short but there will be more visits & times ahead for us.

2 weeks from tomorrow is glendalough & 2 weeks from wednesday is exploring dublin & then howth where we will be watching the sun go down. ]]> kilted exile https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8376-2-weeks finishing off https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8310-finishing-off Sat, 30 May 2009 21:43:24 GMT So just finishing off the entries on this subject.
I decided to be open & honest. then she was - she couldnt be with someone like me. Meh ok fine so be it.

I am actually happier now than then though for reasons I cant yet disclose. Will say however that life is wonderful & I am walking tall.

On another note, I am back to 183 again. This is the weight I played rugby at when I was 17. havent seen it since end of high school. I balooned for a period - heaviest I ever got to was 286. I am ridiculously happy now. Still to work on conditioning though as the current specimen has flab where the 17yo was toned. Need to go 20lbs more then put it back on as muscle again. Gonna be in the best shape of my life. ]]> kilted exile https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8310-finishing-off Sense of Wonder https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8253-Sense-of-Wonder Thu, 21 May 2009 01:59:25 GMT Ok, a warning before folk start reading: This entry may ramble, jump from topic to topic, be graphic in places & possibly leave some of you thinking you want nothing else to do with a jackass such as myself. Of course, then again it may not - just depends where the fingers lead my words.

So I am just back from watching the sunset over the lake & the incredible blues & greens created in the sky above it. I was watching it & trying to figure out where on earth my sense of wonder, beauty, mystery went & whether I ever had one to begin with. I think I remember being amazed when I was young, but cant be sure if I just want to remember it & have tried to build that feeling into a false memory. I cant see anything now without thinking about the physical reasons why it happens which is sucking part of the joy out of my life.

While I was watching it I was talking to the girl on the phone. She has left the guy. I am nervous now & am thinking it may have been better if she had just stayed with him & saved herself from the possible heartache I may end up causing - she has given something up for me, and that makes things difficult. I know YOU are more concerned about me getting hurt, but YOU know I always deal & always will & besides. I am terrible at relationships, a few times I have led girls on knowing I am only interested in getting laid.

This is not the case with this girl but there are other issues too:
1) the more minor problem: I enjoy some degree of physical pain, it gives me an adrenalin rush & gets me off. (yes I know - I'm sick, depraved, twisted, I've heard all the adjectives from other women I've been serious about, but who've run a mile when they discovered this)

2) I am scared I am like my father. My father left my mother for another woman when I was 4 years old & the younger bro was about 4months. It is marked in the family photo albums "alone from here on out B says he's leaving" I used to spend hours looking through those albums as a kid, dont think the mother ever knew that I understood what that meant. I am like my father in almost every other respect (other than I cant stand classical music & opera) I worry every day that I am like him in that respect too.

For this reason every time I get in too deep in a relationship I get worried - its best the relationship ends before we get really serious & things go to the next level - so I become distant, cold & "not the same guy" she started dating, it always brings about the desired effect & she dumps my sorry ***.

There is one person on here who knows all this stuff in my head already, and much to her credit she didnt get freaked out & abandon me when she found out - like has happened in the past. She is a truly wonderful human being & is probably going beet red just now while she is reading this, but she is the reason I now have the confidence to make this entry.

I am now ready I think to open myself to the new girl, but I do worry every minute about my failings, faults, and detrimental behaviour patterns. I may lose out but **** it I'm 27, its about time I took responsibility for my actions in a relationship and stopped acting like a scared piece of ****.

(It is possible I may re-think the idea of posting this & delete the entry tomorrow) ]]> kilted exile https://www.online-literature.com/forums/entry.php?8253-Sense-of-Wonder