INDEPENDENCE is a funny thing, isn’t it?

When I finished school, I couldn’t wait to leave home. Growing up in a small seaside community was pleasant, but hardly what you’d call exciting. Locals often call my home town God’s rest home. That should give you some idea of the demographic.

So, at 18, off I went to Reading. It was a far cry from what I was used to. The malarkey of cooking for myself took a lot of practice. In my first term at university, I put on nearly a stone. Funny how a diet consisting of beer, pasta and kebabs can make you pile on the pounds.

Before reality hit, I thought living independently would be a doddle. It isn’t. I can still only cook grilled fish and rice.

Scotland will face a similar epiphany if Alex Salmond’s vanity project comes to fruition. Despite his nationalistic bluster, the “yes” campaign is losing momentum. Salmond has a serious problem. Under close scrutiny, once you strip away all the flag waving bravado, the finer economic details appear to be severely lacking. Scotland’s First Minister is looking like he’s heading up the proverbial creek without a paddle.

Cameron and his chums produced their trump card last week. If Scotland becomes independent, it might not be granted use of the pound. Oh dear. Salmond was not a happy chappy. It poses quite the economic conundrum for the Scottish National Party. Previously, they’d been tediously smug about European Union membership. Unfortunately for Salmond, the Spanish quietly crushed that little dream. Under no circumstances will they back Scottish membership into Europe. Hardly surprising, given their own historical issues with regions jockeying for independence.

So, if Scotland can’t use the pound or the euro, what is an independent Scotland going to trade with? Deep fried Mars bars and magic beans?

Cameron’s quite right to play hard ball. The SNP can’t have it both ways. At some point you have to decide whether you truly want to be independent. If you do then you have to take the good with the bad. The UK stands to lose a lot if Scotland goes solo. It’s a bit like leaving home. You can enjoy partying when you like, staying up late and making your own rules. However, at some point, you have to stop asking your mum to iron your shirts every time you visit.