indyref 14 - the one with the polling day

[StatisticallyChallenged]

Come on in, sit down, and chew your nails with us.

Thanks SC. Actually, I've used quite a few of your facts and figures (and Santana's but I don't think she's here at the moment?) when we've been discussing the vote. It's helped level the playing field as he is generally a bit sharper and quicker than me on political issues. So for that!

I don't want to make too much of it, but it has been an eyeopener really. We're usually more or less on the same page but being on opposing sides has highlighted some of the differences between us.

I do think it must be just as difficult with a best friend, possibly more so because I know that I kind of expect a level of loyalty from close friends that I might not even expect from a partner. But I hope she recovers herself once this whole fevered atmosphere has passed.

Just back home. Another 3 votes cast for No, I can only hope it's enough.

Also quite quiet at my polling station, people in and out but no queues etc.

at Wildthong

Your queen pic that is - not the post just above mine!

Very true OneNight. I believe there is a referendum party being planned. There was a post the other day about how amazing and inclusive and nice Yes voters are and how miserable and dull the Nos are. She knows fine well where I and several other long term friends stand.

Sadly I don't think it will be limited to the older generations - maybe the teens will escape but I've seen plenty strains emerging amongst the 20s age group

Queenie does love a wager!

I think this is a vote like never before. I have often dithered in the ballot box about who to vote for, but my mind was made up at the outset of this one and DH cast my vote for me so I didn't have to face that very physical feeling of going in and looking at the paper.

Still, I totally sympathise as the vote does really count. I heard trains up to Scotland were rammed and so many people at the airport queuing for flights to Scotland. Everyone I have spoken to has travelled back and are No.

It is a momentous occasion where the vote does really count. I really hope as many people turn out as possible. Imagine if it was a low turnout and a narrow win for either side? It's not really conclusive is it.

I don't know where you're located Igneococcus but if you're from one of the local authorities with islands I would almost bet on it. There is often a 'race' among the LAs to declare on time and this is an important vote so practices would probably be taking place although given their size and if I recall their positions in the sequence it might be a bit of a Dutch auction between Glasgow and Aberdeen.

squoosh : That was me being interrupted on my trip out to buy the Bakewell slices.

I'm glad we were able to help a little wearenotinkansas

Huddled in the airport at the moment wishing it was this time tomorrow. I'm so tired. It's been all consuming.

Tension that comment you made is yours own, and is not correct. (About people who leave having less say). They won't have less say, they will have plenty of say. What Scotland won't have is their tax. Less tax, not less say.

There are all sorts of ways of moving out and still having a say. We live in an interconnected world. And I should imagine any disposed Scots, forced to move out of their country by people sacrificing them at Salmond's alter, will have plenty to stay.

Sadly, I can't say I would think the people of an independent Scotland would get much say at all.

Extra special celebratory bakewell slices I hope BardarbungaBardarbing.

SC - if you do need to get another job in iScotland you could do become a political adviser! You certainly have the experience.

I just wish it was 10pm livingzuid because that bottle of good whisky is practically doing hula dances at me from across the room.

I too feel very hurt by some FB posts and will be reassessing some friendships. But rather than say anything I regret I've hidden people and kept quiet because once you say something, you can't unsay it.

The one who has pissed me off the most is not a grass roots yes-er, as many of my friends are. Those folk, I don't agree but I know they are good people who genuinely care about Scotland and are voting yes because they have a deeply held conviction that independence is the right decision.

This was an undecided (very well off ) who has switched to yes and has been making the most awful tub-thumping aggressive posts along with a gaggle of hangers on.

Anyway enough about my social media grievances :)

Other folk have commented on here that they feel the weight of this vote very heavily. All I can say is me too. It's been playing on my mind very heavily all week.

Like most of the rest of you, I just want Friday morning to arrive so that we know and can get on with it, one way or another.

Just going back on an early point re Scotland ridding itself of "London rule" and "Westminster elites": the basis of a representational democracy - which is what we are in the uk - is that each constituency elects an MP and represent them in parliament. Government is drawn from the parliament, by convention the queen asks the leader of the party with the most seats to form a government. Parliament is in Westminster, that much is true, but it is made up of people from all corners of the UK.

England actually has less representation given we don't have a regional parliament / assembly. And London contributes more than it gets back... Should we go independent too?!

But all this misses the point, when you work together as friends the strongest help the weakest, and together we are greater than the sum of our parts.

Daughter This referendum is nothing to do with business, economics or finance, it is about democracy, royalty, loyalty, history and governance. If people only see things through the pennies in their pocket anything that is not finance related will wither. All the innovation, education, voluntary work, decent services count for nothing if all we care about is money

You write some of the most of the wall posts I've ever read, and much of this is nonsensical. But you do highlight the most important reasons that I would leave an independent Scotland - democracy (not royalty or loyalty, I aint 100% Scottish and don't give a fig about nationality), history and governance. Particularly governance.

Scotland had a chance to set up an exemplary parliament from scratch and instead created a unicameral chamber which already abuses its committee system. It produces dubious legislation with insufficient scrutiny aimed at unnecessarily controlling people's lives. Its First Minister tries to exert his influence on academics and not on people who try to stifle democracy. If you are taken in by that, then that's your problem, but not a lot of people are, and of those, some of them will wake up one day. And possibly blame people like you for trying to ruin their lives.

I too am not a Scot, but part English (with a bit of Irish) and half Welsh. I'm very uneasy that only 4% of the UK are voting on an issue that may have huge effects on ALL of us.

I think the thick fog could delay the count from the islands. Seems to be getting worse.

wearenotinkansas SC - if you do need to get another job in iScotland you could do become a political adviser! You certainly have the experience.

I agree, SC's posts, particularly on economics at the beginning, are outstanding.

But I doubt the Scottish Government really wants people that are too talented and knowledgable about what they are talking about. That's the impression I get anyway. Certainly most of the top jobs in the public sector and quangos are not filled with people like that. eg. quite often the Heads of Depts on £120,000 plus have people with no relevant qualifications, never mind experience.

e.g. I see Mark Turley, who was dismissed as Head of Property from City of Edinburgh Council on a secret package that the council refused to reveal to its Council Tax payers, had a degree in psychology. Not law, not surveying, not planning.

Mind you, I guess having a degree in something bucked the usual trend!

Just cast my vote.

My polling station was fairly busy but got in and out quick. Now just to wait for the result!

I hope, whatever the vote, that the referendum doesn't destroy relationships and set up divides that will last a long time in Scotland. People should be proud to live in a nation where such important decisions can be taken at the ballot box.

The signals from the FTSE and exchange rates seem to suggest that the city is confident of a no. Which is a bit confusing, since most recent polls have given the difference as within their own margin of error, but the markets suggest some level of certainty. I wonder if it isn't going to be as narrow as people think?

wearenotinkansas and chelsyhandy. I don't think I'd be much good at politics - I'm rather too blunt in real life!

I think the YES voters have been far more vocal, made the most noise making it appear that there are more of them than there actually are. Some of those YES voters are also quite aggressive with their views making NO voters keep their cards closer to their chests. I think it will be a NO but worried there will be riots to follow.