Notes and Errata

Notes and errata:
The British have a campaign for veterans here. I’m not quite sure if the yellow-ribbon campaign is the same for this. Several stores around here sell red poppy flowers “for the vets.” Apparently, the citizens are starting to realize their ex-soldiers’ pensions have been cut to save money in the national budget. They barely get paid as soldiers, and then when they’re finished in the service of the Crown, the only thing they may have when they leave is a job skill. Beyond that, they’re lucky to be average citizens. Sound familiar? Well, the Scots- the part of the UK that provided most of the soldiers for the first and second world wars- aren’t very happy about that. Wondering if people are trying something like that in America- but for the government to back it would be an admission that they’ve screwed up.
The British soldier- the ones that tried to prevent the Colonies from splitting, at least- had to buy everything they had, including their gear, weapons and ammo… and their uniforms. So they would typically wait until the battle was over, then they would get their soldiers- just so they could strip them of their gear. Think about it- how many “citizen soldiers” could afford a heavy red wool coat, a musket, etc.? They made less than prisoners of war did in some cases.
When I was at The Sheep’s Heid Inn, I remember that the soundtrack playing was the Best of Simon and Garfunkel. I found that funny, that in a pub as old as Scotland they were playing American music. Just a note.
Also, someone mentioned while there that their glass had no marks. It reminded me of an anecdote I heard, don’t remember where, where the person said that every drink was measured to get the exact volumes of alcohol, and to violate that is a crime. So, when wine is served, you get exactly 4 ounces; whiskey gets 1 ounce; beer gets ya 16 ounces.