Anent an article in todays Herald claiming that the Universities in Scotland are being swamped by staff from outwith the country, a spokesperson, whose name would suggest they are one of the incomers, states we must not be parrochial and inward looking but must accept what in their view is good for us.
The spokespersons statement reminds me of an overheard conversation in McTears salesroom one Friday morning just before the present economic slump took place:---two ladies with very loud english accents met and exchanged greetings [they always are loud and seem to think that what they have to say is so important that the whole world must hear it,interestingly, Elizabeth Grant in her early 19th C. diary comments on this trait]
1st lady--tell me Mrs Brown how does your sister like New Zealand?
2nd lady--oh they just hate it, they have been there 10 months and have not been able to get onto any commitee and no one but no one will take any notice of what they say must happen in the community.
1st lady--I am sorry to hear that Mrs Brown but I am sure their superior knowlege and breeding will soon prevail and they will be accepted.
2nd lady--they would return home tommorow but will never be able to come back as they have lost their place on the housing ladder [loud comment from one of the 100plus audience---they could not have had much of a grip on it before they left.]
This comment silenced the pair.