THOUSANDS of Scottish expats from Canada to Cambodia have been toasting the referendum at parties across several time zones.
Scots in Los Angeles knew the political fate of their homeland around 9pm local time on Thursday, while on the opposite side of the globe, in Sydney, Scots knew the outcome as they returned from their lunchbreaks at 2pm local time on Friday.
In Cambodia, expat Scot Rebecca Thomson was preparing to host a Scotland-themed house party with friends and colleagues.
The 31-year-old said she was inviting people from other countries to the party.
"I'm inviting a random range of people, they're not all Scottish. They're expats from all over the world," she said. "I'll do it regardless of the result. I'm against independence, but my friend is coming and she's pro-independence, but I'm going to have the party either way and everyone knows that."
Ms Thomson, a public health worker who moved to Cambodia three months ago having previously worked in Tanzania, said she was trying to make the party as Scottish as possible.
"I was inspired by an article I saw on the news about the woman in Edinburgh who decorated the cupcakes with Saltires and Union Jacks. So I went to a cupcake shop here [on Wednesday] and ordered cupcakes with the Scottish and British flags on.
"I'm going to try and make shortbread as well, and I'm attempting to find haggis which may not work - so I might have to substitute it for something else. And potatoes and turnip - and lots of whisky. Everyone is looking forward to lots of whisky." In Manhattan, a "Scotland Decides" party was being held a stone's throw from 7th Avenue and Times Square at the Scottish-themed St Andrews bar.
In London, members of the Caledonian Club in upmarket Belgravia savoured a late night as the society extended its hours to allow members to follow the pundits' analysis after polls closed. Complimentary haggis and neeps were served up from 10.30pm as guests followed developments on television screens in the venue's library and Oval room.
Thousands of miles away and seven hours ahead in Hong Kong, the Canny Man whisky bar and restaurant was the place to be for expat Scots to celebrate or drown their sorrows, depending on their view of the result.
The bar, a popular watering hole for expat Scots located in downtown Wanchai, is also the venue for the monthly 'Chieftain's Bottle' meetings of the St Andrew's Society of Hong Kong, a club which dates back to Hong Kong's days as a British colony in 1881.
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