Two conversations during the past fortnight have sparked this plea. One was in Burnley, East Lancashire when a student mentioned to me that she had never been to Scotland. “You must visit”, was my hospitable suggestion. “But it’s very cold up there isn’t it?” she asked. Now there may be the occasional variation in temperature between the North West of England and my home city of Edinburgh, but that is usually almost negligible. It’s certainly not worthy of mention. Yet, this image of a land of persistently darkened skies, snowclad streets and a thriving warm-wear industry persists. Just for the record, I think she has now been sufficiently persuaded to take the plunge and make her first foray north of the border – I am confident she will do so without any wardrobe extremities. (more…)