We went that sunny day, us grandchildren
With collecting jars.
Bees droned from flower to flower,
Moths flushed from disturbed grasses.
Rail tracks glistened as the smell of
Tar-oil oozed from driven key blocks.

A war torn world boomed its weariness
While we filled jar after jar
With plump wild strawberries.
We never knew of danger
Though the world floundered in it.

Look we cried, showing him our gathered treasure
Having picked the fruit all along the cutting
Fanning out over the soft wide grass banks
Where, looking back, saw her there waiting
Knowing we would return to her with bounty.

Grandfather claimed miracle,
That such sweetness prevailed
From cinder and crushed slag.
Under his feet timber sleepers
In the heat, sweated their creosote.

We stood by as wagon loads of coal
Clicked their way along the straining tracks
Shepherded by the common shunting pug.
The great mouth of an iron works waited.

© Alex Laird

Alex Laird is a member of the Biggar Writers' Group

23rd March 2008

Mummy Said the F-word (Extract)

A copy of Bambino magazine lies on our kitchen table. I pick it up, idly flicking through it, about to fling it bin-wards. Britain’s weekly parenting bible, reads the line beneath the shimmering pink logo, as if no parent could possibly consider raising a child without it.

The magazine falls open at the problem page. ‘When Daddy Strays,’ reads the headline above one of the problems.

These are the first paragraphs of an extract from Fiona Gibson's latest novel, just published by Hodder. Fiona writes for many publications including the Observer, Red magazine and the Sunday Herald. She has written three previous novels, Babyface, Wonderboy and The Fish Finger Years. To read the whole of this extract click here and the document (in Rich Text format) will download and can be opened in a word processor program.

14th February 2008

How the Beetroot blushed and the Artichoked,
While the Cauli gloured and the Cabbage croaked.
The little Swede turned up his nose,
And the Onions became quite lachrymose.
The Ghekins courgetted in consternation,
While Lentils pulsed in indignation.
Celery blanched in dismay,
When Brussel sprouted in disarray.
Cucumber's 'coolness' was no longer valid,
So he threw in his lot with a mixed-up Salad.
Potatoes gnashed, bubbled and squeaked,
Pepper reddened as the Fenugreeked.
Olive oiled her dressing and prepared to leave.
The Shallots, shocked, commenced to grieve.
Carrots capered in a nervous scurry,
And Radish repeated in a state of worry.
Celeriac rooted for strike action,
But Garlic weakened not a fraction.
Morelles mushroomed in mortification
Petit Pois popped in agitation.
The Herbs (who were in Mint condition)
Favoured the Sage's wise decision.
'Some other Thyme' they reason,
(Others' dishes they will season)
To rude explosions the Peas resorted,
As Tomato saucily retorted.
Rosemary,Parsley and Rue,
Fainted in a Feverfew.
The Marrow moaned,
'To think he could be so fickle'.
(He was, by now, in quite a pickle!)
How the Veggies weep and wail,
'Lettuce leave at once!' cried Curly Kale,
'In a vegan restaurant you'd expect
Some T.L.C. and due respect'.
Even the Pecans became quite nutty,
When the chef scoffed a BACON BUTTY'

© June Ritchie

June Ritchie is a member of Biggar Writers. This poem was Runner Up in the ‘Nourishment for your Mind’ poetry competition launched by Arts Council England, South West last autumn.

13th February 2008

Dawn on the Clyde

© Edwin Willis

Edwin Willis is a member of Carluke Camera Club. You can see more images taken by members of the club by visiting their website at www.carluke-cc.org.uk.

10th February 2008

Mother and Baby

© David Gemmell

This photograph of 'Mother and Baby' outside Woodstock Medical Centre, Lanark was taken during rather frosty weather in late December 2007 by David Gemmell. David is a member of the Lanark Camera Club. Why not visit their new blog at http://lanarkcameraclub.blogspot.com/ ? You will be able to enjoy this and many more photos taken by club members.

22nd January 2008

I'd Write You a Song

This song is a track from his new album Child of My Time, which contains 10 new compositions featuring himself on vocals, guitar and other instruments.This track is just about 3.5 minutes long.

The song is stored in mp3 format which will download and play on most computers. The download time may be quite long (many minutes) over a slow connection and most computers won't begin to play the song until it has downloaded completely. But it is worth waiting for. Click here to begin the download. You can also listen to a short extract of around 1 minute.

© Chris Rogers

19th January 2008

Corra Linn, December 1995

© Veronica Liddell

oil, 16"x20"

Veronica writes - "My neighbour Ian McCulloch kindly gave me permission to base my painting on a photo he took in 1995. He thinks that the last big freeze was sometime in the late 1800's and we probably won't see the falls like this again thanks to global warming. Faye Craig of Craig Publications
scanned the painting for me and I've produced prints and cards some of which which were adapted for use by New Lanark Conservation Trust as their official Christmas card."

7th January 2008