Hi Nigel,

>The UK has always been separate countries - there have been inter-country wars since time began.

Thankfully only on the football pitch or rugby field, these days.

>Similar to what is now the European Union - a union of different countries.

Yep.

>There has been much more emphasis in recent years on using the original flags instead of the Union Jack. Watch any international soccer match and you will see the individual flags there. A lot of cars have the scottish flag in their windows over here (maybe more than those with the Jamaican flag!).

Surely not ! ;-)

>There's even a wall across the north of England to keep those 'men in skirts' from getting here (doesn't work and you can't understand a single word).

Hmm, I think you'll find that wall is across the South of Scotland, to keep you lot at bay ;-)

>The Scottish and Welsh even have their own languages. I'm not sure of the Irish (who is!).

Yep, there is Irish Gaelic as well.

Best.

Matt.