Hello folks,

I'm Michael. Scottish, 26 years old and i've had the pleasure of living in Switz since Oct 00. I like it here.

I live in Luzern (which is a great wee place for us foreign folks) with Sarah, my English lass. I cook food for a living and detest it, although i'm good at it. My biggest aim in 07 is to escape the kitchen (anyone with advice, please fire away!!).

I'm interested in travelling, reading, writing, meeting new people, fitba, music, concerts, having a positive attitude. etc etc.

This forum looks like a great wee discovery and i look forward to sharing in the wealth of advice and experiences of fellow expats.

Good luck with getting out of the kitchen! BTW, what is fitba?

Arright pally!

Welcome tae englishforum, likesay. Ah'm hopin' yus'll be enjoying yerselves, here, ken?

Jest a wee word o' warning likes, yus can spraff Scottesh all ye want, but if yus wan' the wide-o foreigners tae understan', then plain english will be more useful.

Cheers

hmmm, lets play "Spot the Irvine Welsh Wannabe" Thanks for the welcome.

Worry ye not, i have other forums to use as an outlet for my mother tongue, and being in my 7th year in CH i've come to learn that if i communicate with folks in Scotish i'll get a blank stare and a dozy comment like "That's really cute, are you from Holland?" ... so, i'll be sticking with English >>> Nae worries, ken?

FITBA ... That's a suffering interest in the disasterous Scottish Premier League (football)

SPL? What's that then? Conference football?

What's wrong with Irvine Welsh wannabes? Isn't he, like, the best Scottish dude there is???

Hey Psyk! Welcome to the mothership! Be a champ and post some links to those Scottish forums sos I can have a looksie one day!

Cheers,

Bravefart
an avid Scots reader

The green Oirish ones, and blue Proddy ones, and, er, that's it really...

Hi
och aye the noo, welcome
jo

Welcome to Lucerne, mate. Are you in Pickwicks from time to time?

why not set up a fast food Haggis place in Lucerne? the Jap tourists would love it and you could franchise the operation in the same way as that other famous international Scottish food chain McDonalds

LOB ROCKSTER >>> SPL, yes... it's a laughing stock, but it surely is not Conference level. (although i will not argue that, you are entitled to your opinion)

GBN >>> Those are the two teams that spoil it all for the other ten. (again, i will not get into a discussion over that)

CARRIE >>> Indeed, there's nowt wrong wi' Irvine Welsh. He's one of my favourite authors (currently reading 'The Bedroom Secrets Of The Master Chefs' and it's typical I.W. ) What other Scots do you enjoy reading? I like Ian Rankin and Christopher Brookmyre. www.thetroops.co.uk/forum is a site i use now and again in various schizophrenic guises along with a few mates from the motherland.

JOJO >>> Yes, Tally Ho. Thanks for the welcome.

EVOLVER >>> Been in LU for a good few years now. Definately a good place to be living as a foreigner. I have been known to frequent the PW (and the Roadhouse and Billy's). Our paths may have already crossed and we don't know it. Is there a lady by the name of Joanne involved in your Britshop enterprise? If so, she knows me. I live next door to Anne.

RICHARD STREET >>> Thanks for the input, but ah jist canny see it happenin'. I'm looking to escape the kitchen. Cooking crap for Jap tourists is not something in the masterplan.

I'm definitely a fan, but not a wannabe - the research must be rather taxing,.

I also read "Master Chefs" last year, which prompted me to re-read Porno (uh oh, now that's going to show up on google ) and most recently The Acid House. I prefer his older stuff, as I found the stories had a more raw edge.

Although you asked Carrie about other Scottish authors, I used to read Christopher Brookmyre but I got fed up of Parlabane, because he was simply too good at everything. I prefer characters with many flaws, which Irvine Welsh does brilliantly (or did).

Cheers

To answer the question about Scottish authors, I've only read IW. I am an "if-it-ain't-broke-why-fix-it?" kind of girl, so I have yet to explore the rest of the world out there that is Scottish authors. Unless Marian Keyes counts for something. She be Irish! Never mind, I know that she doesn't count.

I've been lazy about reading for quite some time now, so actually I'm glad Diem chimed in with something!