My problem is that it is plain wrong in places and quite out of date as it certainly doesn’t go far enough in proclaiming Scottish genius. I drink to the health of another, And the other I drink to is he In the hope that he drinks to another, And the other he drinks to is me.

Our Scottish theory … is that every country has need of Scotchmen, but that Scotland has no need of the citizens of any other country."Properly conducted the toasts at a Burns supper can save the day, but they must be entertaining otherwise the sated company will become somnolent. He was proud of his country and its traditions. However, Burns loathed the Jacobites who led the 1715 and 1745 rebellions. He had little respect for the "young pretender" Bonnie Prince Charlie, who died an alcoholic in France.

Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.While out on the boat he notices some geological formations, geology being one of the many sciences founded or developed by Scots, in this case James Hutton of Edinburgh, who was an acquaintance of Kirkcaldy-born Adam Smith, founder of the science of political economy, and Adam Ferguson of Logierait in Perthshire, the father of modern sociology. At the office he receives the mail bearing adhesive stamps first suggested by James Chalmers of Dundee, Scotland. His work involves calculations that use decimal points, first popularised by John Napier of Merchiston, Edinburgh, who also devised logarithms. Not being that comfortable with speeches, I’d probably keep it brief and maintain a whisky theme. It’s hard to beat: ‘Freedom an' whisky gang thegither! Take aff your dram!’ (Robert Burns).