A bit of fun on a miserable Monday. Tomorrow marks the death of Sweyn Forkbeard, son of Harald Bluetooth and Viking King of Denmark, Norway and England. They probably received their nicknames based on distinctive physical features or personal attributes. What would your ancient Nordic name be?

Today is Imbolc, an ancient Celtic festival marking the beginning of Spring and the return of light and life. Wouldn't this be the perfect time of year to have a festival to highlight Glasgow's fantastic architecture by lighting up as much of it as possible? #glasgow #architecture #imbolc

The Bowlers and the bunnets... Taken #OTD in 1927 - the Shipwrights of John Brown's, at Clydebank. Pic: WDC Arts & Heritage

How far would you go to right a wrong? ‘The House With 46 Chimneys’ is a spooky adventure story for younger readers about a haunting in central Scotland which features Rough Castle Roman Fort. Available as a paperback, Kindle, Kobo or Apple. Find out more: www.kenlussey.com/h46c/index.h...

The railway station in Ladybird Land - captured in Treasure magazine, 1963 (Artist: Don Harley)

Princes Street, From the Scott Memorial, Edinburgh, 1997 by 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗛𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗻 ( English, b.1955). Gouache and pastel | 26 x 21". Private Collection. #art #painting #artist #BlueSkyArt

Library Hall, Upper Lusatian Library of Sciences, Görlitz,2014. Reinhard Görner.

‘Friend or Foe?’ is a fast-paced new thriller set largely in south-west Scotland during World War Two. The two central characters visit Cairn Head in Galloway where this temporary harbour is being tested. Available as a paperback, Kindle, Kobo or Apple: www.arachnid.scot/book-fof/ind...

Shieldaig Village... looking very empty.

I once saw Staithes (which was locally often pronounced Steers) wonderfully described as a "jumble of whitewashed, pantile-roofed cottages clinging to the hillside, threaded through with narrow ginnels leading to the pretty harbour." and with the the Cod & Lobster, practically

Ok who do I have to bribe with stroopwafels to get access to this place? I promise I won't steal or even touch anything and will only be being weird and talking to the artefacts like a silly old history addict. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

How many deaths to end a war? ‘Eyes Turned Skywards’ is a thriller set mainly in northern Scotland during World War Two. Loch Ewe in Wester Ross is visited as the investigation gathers pace. Available as a Kindle, Kobo or Apple. Find out more: www.kenlussey.com/ets/index.html

Heading towards the Bealach na Ba.

Other work of the Ladybird artists. 'Hawk above the Downs' Artist: CF Tunnicliffe

Jupiter Artland sculpture garden, West of Edinburgh, Scotland. #PalacesAndGardens #Photography #Sculpture #Gardens #Scotland 📷

When the hunter becomes the prey. ‘The High Road’ is a fast-paced contemporary thriller set in central Scotland, including at the prehistoric henge and cairn at Cairnpapple Hill, and in the far north-west. Available as a Kindle, Kobo, Apple or audiobook: www.arachnid.scot/book-thr/ind...

Today is #NationalPuzzleDay and DID YOU KNOW that along with an extensive collection of loanable jigsaws we ALSO HAVE FREE ONLINE JIGSAWS you can solve at: jigsawplanet.com/OrkneyLibrary We started publishing them online during lockdown and we now have over 80 puzzles to solve! 🧩

This is the robotic book retrieval system at the Shenzhen Library north hall, it has millions of books and can retrieve the one you want i 10 minutes

First mentioned in Roman sources over 1,700 years ago as a collective name for troublesome, barbaric peoples, the Picts went on to become the dominant kingdom in northern Britain 💪 On 12 February, explore their southern kingdoms at this online event: www.digitscotland.com/events/east-...

‘Friend or Foe?’ is a fast-paced new thriller set largely in south-west Scotland during World War Two. Cairnryan in Galloway plays an important part as the search for a spy builds towards its conclusion. Available as a paperback, Kindle, Kobo or Apple. Find out more: www.kenlussey.com/fof/index.html

In Pictures: The day after: some highlights of Tuesday’s Lerwick #UpHellyAa celebrations More photos and video clips in the link here: shet.news/i5zio

Up Helly Aa in a storm. Finn's hat went on fire #UpHellyAa #Shetland

Just thought of another one - this fragment of Roman tile from Trimontium in Scotland has been nibbled by a mouse (although maybe not this exact mouse).

A game of secrets and lies. 'Bloody Orkney' is a fast-paced thriller set mainly in Orkney during World War Two. The military HQ in what is now the Stromness Hotel is visited as the story builds. Available as a paperback, Kindle, Kobo or Apple. Find out more: www.arachnid.scot/book-blork/i...

Two huge Scotland fan zones have been revealed for Tartan Army fans to watch the World Cup action 👀

Jan 27: Feast of Adamnán (7thC) of Coludaesburg (Coldingham). Irishman who ate only twice a week in penance for an unknown sin. He prophesied the burning of said monastery as divine punishment for the sins of its inhabitants. Also Jan 31. 📸DigVentures #medievalsky

The remains of South Clettreval Chambered Cairn in North Uist. The cairn dates to the Neolithic and is located on the southern slopes of Cleitreabhal a Dheas. 📸 My own. #TombTuesday #Prehistory #Archaeology #NorthUist

One broch, two millennia, three murders. ‘Thicker Than Water’ is a compelling murder mystery set in northern Scotland. The Emigrants Statue in Helmsdale has a part to play at the start of the story. Available as a Kindle, Kobo or Apple. Find out more: www.kenlussey.com/ttw/index.html

He was bound to drop that scarf in some time zone or other.

Most people remember Darth Vader saying: “Luke, I am your father.” But he never says that. 🎬 The real line is: “No, I am your father.” It’s one of the most famous misquoted lines in movie history — our brains filled in the name so the quote would make sense out of context.

One of the Lewis Chessmen which are a 12th century hoard of 93, mostly walrus ivory, gaming pieces discovered in 1831 on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland. They are split between the British Museum (82 pieces) and the National Museum of Scotland (11 pieces). #MedievalMonday

‘Friend or Foe?’ is a fast-paced new thriller set largely in south-west Scotland during World War Two. Wigtown plays an important role in the story as the hunt for a spy builds towards its climax. Available as a paperback, Kindle, Kobo or Apple. Find out more: www.arachnid.scot/book-fof/ind...

The story of Grade 1 listed Maister House, which has stood on Hull's High Street since the 1740's & is entering a new era as a music school. 👇 BBC News - Secrets of an 'opulent' Georgian house www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Not important in the grand scheme of things but the entire internet - from disreputable AI to what should be trustworthy - assert that "Address to a Haggis" was first published 20/12/1786 in the Caledonian Mercury. Except it didn't print that day, it was published 19th but nobody bothered to check

BBC News - 'We shouldn't take outdoor access for granted' - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The Commando Basic Training Centre at Achnacarry Castle plays a part in ‘Hide and Seek’, a fast-paced thriller set in Stirling Castle and more widely across Scotland during World War Two. Available as a paperback, Kindle, Kobo or Apple. Find out more: www.kenlussey.com/has/index.html

Scotland get late T20 World Cup call up to replace Bangladesh

Stepping into the light... The power of t'internet. After 44 years, the wee girl in my friend Jos Treen's picture now has a name - Angela Mackinnon recognised her younger self in Chancellor Street, Partick.

Nature at work, making an impressive cutaway visual. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

You can’t ask a dead man who pulled the trigger. ‘A Tangled Web’ is a fast-paced thriller set in northern Scotland. Lochinver’s busy harbour has a central role as the story builds towards its climax. Available as a Kindle, Kobo or Apple. Find out more: www.arachnid.scot/book-atw/ind...

BBC News - Energy park rejected over Flow Country impact concerns www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

When investigators broke through a pavement at Edinburgh Castle in 1912, they were amazed to discover the lost tower of King David II 🏰 Built in 1367 by Robert the Bruce's son, it still bore the dramatic scars from its final days under English bombardment: www.digitscotland.com/archaeology-...

NEW: A CalMac ferry which was built in Turkey has begun its journey home to Scotland

‘Friend or Foe?’ is a fast-paced new thriller set largely in south-west Scotland during World War Two. A relic of the D-Day harbour trials featured in the book can still be seen at Garlieston Bay in Galloway. Available as a paperback, Kindle, Kobo or Apple: www.kenlussey.com/fof/index.html

Ralph Headley (1848-1913) was born in Gilling West near Richmond but his family soon moved to the North East. He is best known for his depiction of everyday life. On his death the local paper wrote 'What Burns did for the peasantry of Scotland with his pen, Ralph Hedley

Edinburgh looking timeless in Black & White #Edinburgh #GreyfriarsBobby

When the past comes back to haunt you. ‘The Danger of Life’ is a fast-paced thriller set in Scotland during World War Two. The North British Hotel in Edinburgh, now the Balmoral, has a role in the story. Available as a Kindle, Kobo or Apple. Find out more: www.arachnid.scot/book-dol/ind...

Snowdrops pushing up through last year's fallen leaves on the Gascube Estate in the northwest of Glasgow. These are the first I've come across this year and are another sign spring is coming once again. #glasgow #snowdrops #spring #garscubeestate #glasgowuniversity

Free Dutch therapy. No wonder the old masters were painting skies so often, the sky is pretty stunning.