Ashton Lane, Hillhead near the University of Glasgow. 2019. [Photo by Bruce Connolly/chinadaily.com.cn]

It was noticeable how far fewer people were using smartphones or pads when together in company compared to what I see daily in China. It was very rare to go into a restaurant or cafe-bar and watch people 'glued' to their phones or talking on them while at a table or in company. People in Scotland tend to chat much more with each other, indeed I was the person who tended to be using portable technology more frequently than my fellow Scots who were often curious about what I was doing, particularly about 'WeChat'?