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English Woman

We moved up to Scotland to escape. For us it was a way to escape the rat race of southeast England, and to return to the countryside, which is where we were both raised as children, albeit in England.

We were most shocked and hurt to find the racism so rife against us; we previously had no idea that the English were so hated by many Scots. I have never been racist.

Until now I thought I understood how it must be to be hated for your skin colour or accent, as often happens in England, but never expected to be on the receiving end.

We have been ignored in shops, pubs and had rude comments made about us and to us. There have been times when I have deliberately not spoken so that my accent was not noticed.

I did not know before how hurt and angry it can make you feel to have this abuse, for a history we cannot change, were not involved in, and often that the abusers do not even understand themselves.

And as for football, I found that my lack of interest in the game, so boring watching a ball bouncing around a field, has been beneficial!

We are quite happy also when England are out of the cup as we can then stop hearing about this boring game on the news!

However, we are staying here and will continue to rise above this, because:

1) It is a beautiful country
2) We have some wonderful friendly and helpful neighbours, who are Scots
3) We have some wonderful friendly and helpful friends, who are Scots
4) We love the peace and solitude and respect this wonderful land
5) We cannot afford to move back (despite some believing we are loaded with money, because we are English? I may work that out one day!)
6) We don't want to move back
7) The racists are a small minority and we can tolerate them too
8) There are many, many Scots who are fair and not racist
9) We love the Scottish culture and roots that the Scots are aware of and care about
10) We love it here and most Scots are so lovely and friendly, it is how I remember England as a child