a child from scotland

“A fair bit apart, yes. It’s just… A much more relaxed court that what I grew up with. I suppose it is something all woman dream of with marriage; a new home.”

"Scotland is much like that, everything relaxed an’ easy on tha formalities. A was never much good with them, too afraid a’d make a mistake to speak. I think so, but am always worried it’d turn out to be just a dream.

“i really do enjoy france…. it’s more peaceful than switerland. it has more cultural value, also. it will spark more ideas.”

"i’m not sure about ‘cultural value’ but it really is quite lovely here! Everything is so pretty and  France is closer to home than Switzerland”

“That’s quite interesting, them being alike. Is there not a country between Scotland and Ireland? As well, I probably have had more use of the languages than yourself.”

“No, there’s only the North channel, bu’ that’s only between south-west Scotland an’ Ireland. Tha’s the part of Scotland where those dialects are from. Yes am never really tha one going off on visits”

“Quite a few differences, yes. But I would not dream of changing anything. When I think of home it is the Netherlands that comes to mind, not Sweden.”

"Are tha counties quite far apart then? Or are things done very differently ? A’d hope that’d that’d be the case if I get married, that’d ad find a new home” 

“Danish, it is almost understandable to Norwegian ears. I have never Scottish Gaelic, but am more than familiar with both Latin and French.”

"That a never knew. An that’s understandable no many outside of Scotland know it, bu’ some dialects are very similar tae Irish. Well I’m sure yer much better than me.”

“I understand that, I don’t think many of us have had a chance to travel. I had not left my home until shortly before my wedding. It is nice to see a bit more than our corners of the world.”

"A should no have liked tha, it combines tae much exitement. Where they very different? Your home country and your new one a mean?”

“I don’t think they’re all so different; my wife’s native language is not so different from Norwegian. Do you know many?”

“Oh, that is interesting. Could a ask, what is your wife’s native tongue? Oh no many, I speak a bit of Scottish Gaelic, that’s fae the north of Scotland, and tutors a’ve tried to teach me Latin and French but a could only stumble through them”

“Had you ever left your country before all this?” She knew war made any travel difficult. “It must all be new and exciting.”

. “A’ve been out Scotland before, no for long but. Am the baby of the family and the war...” she trailed off not wanting to state the obvious, “Oh yes it is, very much so!”

“Your language is curious to me, it is only right that mine is to you.”

“Languages are always fascinating, they’re all so different but all so lovely”

“It’s the straight between us and the Danish peninsula. Connects the North and Kattegat Seas. Like the triangle of sea between Scandinavia.”

"It’s a curious name, so’s tha other ‘kattegat’ but their nice, nicer that plain old north sea. S’more like the names we have at home.”

“Norway and Scotland are alike then; other than Sweden and Finland we must cross the Skagerrak or North Sea to get anywhere.”

“More alike than a thought, Norway always seemed a far of place ta me but a guess its only the North Sea between us” she said with a pondering look “Wha’s the Skagerrak?”

“Understandable, I don’t suppose you get much outsider influence on an island like Scotland?”

“No really. Unless ye count tha English all our other interactions are across the sea”

“Do you not like your own country’s food?”

“Oh I do, I love it! It’s just good to try new things - especially if they’re nice”

“I wouldn’t say everything is perfect; though compared to what happened in Switzerland anything would appear that way.”

“Oh"  Ellie said in a slightly disheartened voice “Still it’s nice to see new places especially after Switzerland”

“I must admit, the French have more beautiful chapels than I was expecting.”

“Am no surprised by that! Everything here’s so perfect! I’s no wonder that churches are tae”

“At least the French can cook better than the Swiss.”

"A think its all been lovely! It's so very different from home!”

“It probably was. This is a country with many different vineyards, I probably shouldn’t judge too harshly without trying more samples. A good reputation can’t be built solely on lies, except for ones that involve the sexual prowess of a man.”

"Ye could try some of mine if ye wish?" she offered pulling out a lace handkerchief to clean the rim of the glass "Though a suspect ma brother has told the servants to water down all of ma wine" she bit her lip at the others final words glancing away awkwardly.