St Andrew's Day 2025

Things have been rattling on. Winter is upon us, but luckily it's been mostly rain which I can cope with. I don't mind the darkness if I'm not shovelling snow three times a day just to be able to get out my front door. 

With returning to school, I just haven't had the energy to write this blog. To be honest, I haven't felt like I've done much on the writing front to write about. I still write as regularly as I can, mostly on the weekends, but I haven't really been submitting or trying to get published. I've lost my enthusiasm for that. I can't seem to get a book published, so I just cherry-pick the magazines I want to try for and even that I barely look into. 

I missed Scotstober where I usually try to use a Scots word a day to write some poetry. I have the list of words on a post-it, but haven't even tried to use them. I need to on days when I pull them out on days when can't think of how to start my writing practice. 

The highlight of my writing year has been this week and has nothing to do with my own writing. I was invited to the St Andrew's Day Ceilidh hosted by the Scottish Government's Nordic Office, a well-kept little secret. I was invited through my connection with the Finnish Scottish Society who I help out every year with their annual Burns Supper and a ceilidh. We had no idea of what to expect, but it was the most amazing night. The guest stars were former Scotland Makar Jackie Kay and current Edinburgh Makar Michael Pedersen and the presenter and cultural commentator Ally Heather. I thought it might be a formal affair but it was far from that. 

It was introduced as a Highland lock-in with music and poetry and tons and tons of whisky which is exactly what it felt like. Ally welcomed us in and spent the evening wandering around topping up everyone's glasses. All three were delightful to talk to. The musicians and poets on stage kept it casual and fun and joined in with the drinking and chat off. My mate even had to eject a too-drunk Finn during the first session by Scotland's 2025 Young Traditional Musician Ellie Beaton. Had to happen at a Scottish event. Michael and Jackie's performance were fun and full of energy. I've read books by them both this year including Michael's amazing Muckle Flugga which is a rollercoaster of a read. And listening to him perform you understand why. I wish I had taken photos, but to be honest, I was a bit star-struck. Luckily, my friend was thinking on his feet. 

Unfortunately, the lock-in didn't happen, but we decanted to another pub down the road. I couldn't stay as long as I'd like as I had work in the morning and kids waiting at home, but it was an absolute blast. It really made me miss the Scottish literary scene I used to dip my toes into. The mild hangover I took to school the next morning was totally worth it.

The Finnish Scottish Society are my Scottish lifeline here and I was so happy to be able to actually spend some time in a drunken blether with them rather than running around peeling neeps and making pies during an event that we never get to enjoy. We need more events like this that we aren't organising.

On the publication side I've only a few publications since the summer. My poem 'Explode the Monstrous' has been published in The Storms and I read the poem for the accompanying poetry podcast Eat the Storms with many of the other talented contributors. And I'm very excited to have my poems included on Sixty Odd Poets which is such a fun site to explore. 

I can't promise to be any more regular with keeping this blog up during term time, but hopefully I'll manage a new post during the Christmas break. I just need to do something interesting again. 

I hope your winter isn't too dark and cold. 

Burns' Night 2020

I'm recovering from a Burns' Night blast, so this will be short, but sweet. 

Bindweed has published two of my poems in their 10th online issue. Lovely issue, check it out. 

Burns' Night was so much fun. For those of you who don't know, it celebrates the poetry and life of Robert Burns, Scotland's bard. The Finnish Scottish Society here in Finland have an annual event, this year held on Suomenlinna, Finland's fortress island just off Helsinki. I was involved with the creating and cooking of the haggis from scratch and the kitchen is such a good place to be.

We had the traditional 'Address to the Haggis', bagpipers, a musician singing Burns' songs, a game where guests are invited to read selected lines of the poems, either those a bit racy, with a touch of Scottish humour or those a that might be difficult for the non-Scots speaking. It's was a great laugh and there might have been a bit of drinking. No whisky for me though. 

Sunset on Suomenlinna.

I'll leave you with a Burns song I particularly like. Here's a link to a version that explains some of the Scots words. 

A Man's A Man For A' That

Is there for honest Poverty

   That hings his head, an' a' that;

The coward slave—we pass him by,

   We dare be poor for a' that!

For a' that, an' a' that.

   Our toils obscure an' a' that,

The rank is but the guinea's stamp,

   The Man's the gowd for a' that.

What though on hamely fare we dine,

   Wear hoddin grey, an' a that;

Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine;

   A Man's a Man for a' that:

For a' that, and a' that,

   Their tinsel show, an' a' that;

The honest man, tho' e'er sae poor,

   Is king o' men for a' that.

Ye see yon birkie, ca'd a lord,

   Wha struts, an' stares, an' a' that;

Tho' hundreds worship at his word,

   He's but a coof for a' that:

For a' that, an' a' that,

   His ribband, star, an' a' that;

The man o' independent mind

   He looks an' laughs at a' that.

A prince can mak a belted knight,

   A marquis, duke, an' a' that;

But an honest man's abon his might,

   Gude faith, he maunna fa' that!

For a' that, an' a' that,

   Their dignities an' a' that;

The pith o' sense, an' pride o' worth,

   Are higher rank than a' that.

Then let us pray that come it may,

   (As come it will for a' that,)

That Sense and Worth, o'er a' the earth,

   Shall bear the gree, an' a' that.

For a' that, an' a' that,

   It's coming yet for a' that,

That Man to Man, the world o'er,

   Shall brothers be for a' that.