From what I have seen, life abroad tends to produce two contrasting types of Scot. There's the Extremely Scottish Person, proud of the accent, the kilt, of Not Being English. And there's the Blend-Right-In Cosmopolitan, who feels increasingly like a stranger on visits home. Speaking for myself, as i sit here in Prague and watch from afar, the Scottish devolution referendum has made me more of both.

For a start, the referendum has pushed Scots' profile here a wee bit higher. Up to now, Czechs have known that Scots are mean (they're calling next year's austere budget 'Scottish') and that men wear skirts. Now, however, some Czechs are under the impression the Scots are on the verge of gaining independence. So these days I don't have to just field stingy jokes: I'm now a member of a plucky little nation and my wee Scottish heart swells (unappropriately) with Caledonian pride.

On the other hand, the longer I'm here, the less Scottish I become. I don't get the Scottish papers here. Life in general and my new job in particular tie me almost completely to Prague. Also, to my shame, I'm not even registered to vote (a glitch that I haven't got round to clearing up). It all adds up to my feeling a bit detached from it all. I'm not there hearing the devolution debate every day, listening to family and friends' opinions, watching the news. Fifteen minutes of 'Britain Today' on the World Service is my fix of news from home on an average day.

So next time I'm in Scotland, I'll have increased my oddity rating. I'm already probably the only Scot not to have played the National Lottery. Now I'll be one of the few not to have taken part in possibly the most important vote in modern Scottish history. It's a sair fecht.