Once a symbol of unity and hope across Europe, the Eurovision Song Contest has been turned into a pink-washing front for war criminals in Israel. After today's decision, there must be a global boycott of Eurovision.

I got married in 1996 with just two witnesses in attendance: a photographer and a friend of a work colleague - contacted the latter (a stranger) via email prior to the event and they showed up on the day. The marriage lasted less than a year. But this wedding was arranged via Reddit 💚

By the cauld #riverTweed #river

My uncle used to tell folk that I explained the World Wide Web to Bill Gates. Bad luck #RachelReeves new low from #DailyFail

Ukraine could have surrendered in 2014. But we didn’t. Ukraine could have surrendered in 2022. But we didn’t. And we could surrender now. But we will not. We. Are. Ukrainians. We will not surrender.

Only a few days left to enter the Cafe Writers poetry competition. Our sole judge is Jessica Mookherjee. First prize is £1000 and there are other prizes too. #poetry www.cafewriters.co.uk/home/poetry-...

Callum James' South Downs: Paths of the Dead is partly a grimoire of the walk, partly a linear topography, partly a treatise on necromancy. Subverting the expectation that books on landscape are divorced from folklore, spirits & the magic of a place. @brokensleepbooks.bsky.social 🔥

Coming in 2026 #coverreveal & yes it is fiction

Okkkkayyyyyyyy 🔥

Thank you @bordertelegraph.bsky.social for your support for Exact Colour of Snow #poetry #saltires www.bordertelegraph.com/news/2551344...

Honoured to be included on the #poetry longlist for the Scottish National Book Awards with #ExactColourOfSnow

Anas Al-Sharif “killed in what appears to be a targeted Israeli attack on a tent housing journalists outside al-Shifa hospital.” What are they hiding? This removal of witnesses wasn’t accidental. www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/202...

SOME NEWS: Dust will open for submissions 20th August - 20th September. This will be for our fifteenth issue which will have the title and theme ‘Dear World’. We can’t wait to read your poems 💛 (Poems sent before 20.08.25 won’t be read)

It’s real privilege to be reviewed alongside the much missed #GerryLoose & the Leaving Songs of Donald S Murray - you can find all three of us including #ExactColourOfSnow critiqued by Lewis poet Ian Stephen in the new & lovely issue of #northwordsnow #poetry www.northwordsnow.co.uk/issue46/enti...

The Eildon #hills and #trees

“I was going to tell you… I saw a fox in the hospital grounds when I was orienteering & that the sky was very blue & fine &” The closing poem of Issue 14 is ‘I was going to tell you…’ by Bridget Khursheed @khursheb.bsky.social Read it here: www.dustpoetry.co.uk/post/i-was-g...

Thank you for publishing my poem in this beautiful issue #poetry @dustpoetry.bsky.social 💚

NEW: 18,500 children have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza. The Washington Post has just published every single known name. A seminal moment.

Make this a black and white picture and these children could be in Belsen #CeaseFireNow & let aid in www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Beautiful #NorthwordsNow #poetry out now. It's a great pleasure to have some poems included in such good company - thank you Kenny Taylor! plus a review of #ExactColourOfSnow from Ian Stephen. Proud to be reviewed alongside our much missed Gerry Loose 🔥 www.northwordsnow.co.uk/issue46

A bit of #turf #turfgame #galashiels #galawater

Gaza's largest functioning hospital facing disaster, medics warn, as Israel widens offensive #Ceasefirenow where is the humanity? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

There are now no functioning hospitals in the north Gaza governate, according to the UN. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Epic Tour of Britain Women #ScottishBorders @tourofbritain.bsky.social

Delighted to have a poem in the beautiful new issue of Dust poetry - packed with goodies - enjoy!

At least 27 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire at food point, Gaza officials say

Palestinians gunned down while trying to reach food aid site in Gaza, hospital says

Issue 14 is shaping up beautifully, and once again a serendipitous theme running through its poems has revealed itself. It’s such an honour reading your poems and working on these issues. We can’t wait to share this one with you! 💖

No water in #Gaza stop this now #ceasefire “…desalination & hygiene plants are running out of fuel.” Desalination plants are a vital source of water for Gazans. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Let the aid in now #ceasefire #Gaza www.bbc.com/news/article...

Oxfam's Ghada Alhaddad spoke to News Hour on PBS about the catastrophic conditions she is witnessing and the devastating impacts of Israel's total siege, blocking food, water, medicine, and aid, while trucks filled with live-saving supplies wait at the borders of #Gaza.

“It’s the worst I’ve ever seen it in Gaza.” British surgeon Dr Victoria Rose tells @vicderbyshire.bsky.social about the current situation at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, adding: “there are more patients coming through the door than I have ever witnessed before.” #Newsnight

Children pay the highest price in war and violence. #ForEveryChild, peace and protection.

“With each passing day of the aid blockade, they face the growing risk of starvation, illness and death – nothing can justify this.” Full statement from UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell on the situation for children in the Gaza Strip after two months of aid blockade: unicef.link/3EBWsS5

What is the exact colour of snow? #poetry #newpoetry

One of the greatest networks on here is the #POETRYCOMMUNITY This thread includes starter packs featuring some terrific POETS and supporters of #poetry. Please follow and repost if you can. Here's starter pack one (full). Thank you! #booksky #poets

Peaceful dawn on the #river #riverTweed

Clown chair

Night walking towards the light #chain #bridge #riverTweed #river

The #portal #tree on the walk back from the #Fairy Bridge of Glen Creran

At Kelly’s Pier, Loch Etive

Ceasefire in Gaza now www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

“It appears that this man writes rather good revolutionary poetry […]. He is a rabid Scottish Nationalist, but is in close touch with the [Communist] Party” —British Security Service report, 1931 Scott Lyall: Hugh MacDiarmid & the British State #WyrdWednesday www.thebottleimp.org.uk/2015/06/hugh...

Any guesses which scene from #MissBunclesBook #DEStevenson #DES this 1938 image from The Philadelphia Inquirer is illustrating? @deanstpress.bsky.social @wedale-bookshop.bsky.social @suzeclarissa.bsky.social

Lights over the #river #Tweed

Banks supporting war crimes machinery? The usual suspects figure. www.ethicalconsumer.org/money-financ...

"We have to make impossible choices. Everything is needed" - @oxfaminternational.bsky.social's #Gaza response lead speaking on Israel's aid blockade. www.newarab.com/news/gaza-ba...

Researching #DEStevenson - overlooked multi-million selling Scottish author - for a talk I am giving this month

Booking is now open for MAIDEN MOTHER MAGE at Culross Abbey, Fife: 17-19 July. A poetic reimagining of Thaney (St Teneu / Enoch) - princess, outcast, legend... www.rebeccajoysharp.com/maiden-mothe... Heaven is a group project. 🎟️ www.eventbrite.com/e/maiden-mot... @creativescots.bsky.social

A real delight on here is the vibrant #poetrycommunity I've made a series of three starter packs of members of that community: poetry advocates, journals, competitions & above all #POETS. Here's PACK ONE. It's full. Please follow the great people inside & repost the pack if you can #booksky #poetry