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Scots gloomy? You can't be serious. I always found them cheerful and fun loving, particularly with a pint or two in them. Besides, if it's 59 degrees it sounds like it's unseasonably warm. I'm sure the Scots are loving it today. On a day like that I guarantee you half the population of Glasgow's West End is crammed into Kelvingrove park kicking a soccer ball around.

Easy, lad. No offense meant to our noble ancestors.

The word usually applied to the Scots is dour. Google "dour Scots" and you get thousands of hits.

Of course, that's playing off a stereotype. It's not at all true, I'm sure.

Although the weather is bound to make you a wee bit grumpy now and then.

Yes, "dour Scots" is the condescending term often used by the English, which actually is somewhat ironic. I'm not offended for my ancestors, but for all the Scots I personally know. Particularly among my generation, you would be hard pressed to find a "dour" one among them. The bad weather is better at causing grumpiness among tourists than Scots. Scots tend to be so used to it that the only (arguably) negative effect it has on them is giving them an excuse to stay in the pub.

The gloomy weather also may have had a negative impact on the Scottish diet, namely in the form of the fried candy bar. These are all the rage back in our ancestors' homeland.

I guess the idea of a deep-fried Mars bar might sound good on a cold, rainy day, but they sure aren't good for you. Here's a recent story:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000102&sid=at5oj64DsQek&refer=uk

Thanks heaps, Bruce. You've ruined my appetite for supper.

Andrew, did you eat any deep-fried Mars bars in your Glasgow days?

Aye, Bruce has certainly done his share to place the "dour" on the Scots today. Bruce, me lad, don't you ever lighten up a wee bit and just enjoy life without finding some bit of negative to take away some of lifes small enjoyment?
Too many drams of fine Scotish necter can be far worse for you than an occassional fried Mars bar.
I suppose if one decided to partake of a the smooth necter and eat fried Mars bar's at the same time it could have dire results.

No, never did. That was a bit too much. In fact the diet of the Scots is pretty bad. In fact, I read an article in the Glasgow Evening Times talking about how bad the obesity problem in Glasgow is. What made me laugh was that they said it was that obesity levels were so atrocious they were approaching those of the United States.

By the way, one can buy deep fried Milky Way bars at the state fair.

Deep-fried pickled eggs? Exactly how Scottish are you, Doug?

I've eaten haggis.