Neil was organising

a food and nutrition event in Ayrshire, and I offered to help. There were all sorts of governmental agencies and voluntary groups involved, with a varied list of possible activities.

“And, of course,” he said, “we’ll see what different things the New Scots bring to the table.”

I was confused, but I simply assumed he had some new volunteers, all called Scott.

“No, no, no,” he said, laughing. “The New Scots... the Syrians, the Ukrainians, and others.”

I’d never heard the phrase before, but I liked it.

I heard the Collins Dictionary have published a list of words and phrases that became so popular in the last year, they were worth including in next year’s dictionary. “New Scots”, “New Welsh”, “New English”, “New Northern Irish”. How long until those words make the grade?

So much more future-affirming than “refugee”.