Can you, Glenn, even stop for a moment and consider the people north of the border (the Scots!).

It was clear to us from an early age that we Scots would never fit into an Englishman's expectations. For a start we spoke imperfect English which meant we were taught even before we started school, what was acceptable and what not, in terms of speech.

And that permeated across everything we did. We were an imperfect people.

Maybe it's why, poor or not, my mother was determined we'd eat gracefully, and correctly when we ate. Table manners were paramount in our home.

Now this is not apropos, but it's funny.

We always had to ask if someone would please pass the whatever (butter, jam) when we ate together.

We were at my aunt's and my brother asked if someone could please pass the margarine ( my mum would never have bought margarine, always butter).

There was stunned silence at the table. This was a faux pas nobody could have prepared for ... and then we all laughed.