So, as a Scot, do you think the whole thing was a success. Were you disappointed? Elated?
My personal view is that overall Homecoming Scotland 2009 has been a huge success for Scotland's economy with many more visitors from overseas throughout the season. Also it has re-kindled old family ties and friendships and brought new bonds of friendship.
As individual events go I felt that the Edinburgh gathering was an embarrassment and a disappointment, the fact that it was widely hyped overseas duped a lot of people into thinking this was the one must do event of the Homecoming year, personally I felt that the North Berwick Games in August and the Muster of the Clans in September were better showcases for what Scotland can do, fortunately these also attracted significant numbers of overseas visitors.
My first real sense of elation for Homecoming was the Muster of the Clans in September, I got a real buzz out of this event and because it was happening in my home area of Scotland I was very much aware of the big influx of North American accents on the streets.
California was undoubtedly the highlight of my year, my first visit to the USA and a trip which I had not envisaged at the start of the year and which only came about as a consequence of new friendships made through Homecoming Scotland 2009.