Published: Friday, 5th February, 2010 10:29am

Shanghai'd in Shanghai.

by Across the Pond

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Scots are very far flung, or should be, as an Englishman once remarked. Far flung meaning of course there aren't many countries in the world where you won't find a Scotsman. We seem to take delight in straying far from home in some obscure and exotic places. Political, social and economic changes resulted in emigration of Scots all over the globe. I always take a special pleasure in meeting a fellow Scot no matter where I go.

Driving to work this week I felt in a really 'heavy rock' mood and I slipped in a CD from one of my all time favourite bands - Nazareth of course. My subject line this week is one of my favourite tracks. I forgot I had the CD and it was wedged between Creedence Clearwater and an Edith Piaf concert. Whenever I want to feel nostalgic and remember the 'Good Old' days, I just play Nazareth full volume in my car.

I've never seen The Skids play, although I would like to. I've heard a lot about them. My good friend, Pano was their first promoter and I believe gave them their first start. I'm too old to have taken part in the punk-rock revolution. I wasn't invited anyway. I still play Stairway to Heaven on my guitar even though it is pretty much outlawed in most music stores. I'm from the Disco era generation and I am really happy that period is over.

I was lucky enough to grow up watching original 60s bands in Dunfermline Ballroom, when I could still find tickets. I don't go to concerts anymore. Most of the musicians I really admired are either dead, retired or have given up playing, or in some cases, should (Bob Dylan). Somewhere I think I have a coupon to have Three Dog Night play at my next barbeque. I'll really have to look.

Like most Across the Ponders I watched President Obama's State of the Union speech recently. I didn't have much choice as it was on every channel. He talked for forty five minutes and I have no idea what he was talking about. Many people applauded, so I am really hoping it was good news.

President Obama has made some mistakes while in office, but as Winston Churchill remarked, "people who don't make mistakes usually don't make anything else".

We could do worse….

Across the Pond