It’s got best education, food security, top ten income equality, more saunas & cooperative memberships than saunas. No wonder Finns are worlds happiest people 8 years running. How have they done it? Film plus Q&A Glasgow this Weds: Musselburgh Thurs. Info lesleyriddoch.com/events

Cheerio stranger. See you the morra 🙏

It's a massive victory - for solidarity with Gaza, democracy in UK & sheer tenacity. Some brave folk dared to defy the craziest, most indefensible ban on the truth. Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza & West Bank. No govt or person with conscience should suppress or deny it.

Finland; the happiest country - chuffed to announce new screenings in Dumfries, Stirling and Arran. Next week Glasgow and Musselburgh. All details here. lesleyriddoch.com/events

Despite its freshly polished nameplate Scottish Labour is still a branch office. Maybe different if Sarwar had completed his Starmer attack & announced a new Scottish party that dares to back indy/indyref2. But two tribes have gone to war & there are no winners www.thenational.scot/politics/258...

Is Scottish Labour led by Anas Sarwar or Keir Starmer? A moot point until the two worlds collided so publicly yesterday. How will the Holyrood election campaign go - run by Starmerite Douglas Alexander to elect Starmer-sceptic Sarwar? Whit a guddle. Listen lesleyriddoch.com/podcast

Great @EdenCourt event with Finland film last night. Great to have filmmaker, local lad & Helsinki resident Gavin Hanigan back from Finland for the Q&A. More screenings next week Glasgow/Musselburgh & then 12 others. lesleyriddoch.com/events

Inverness screening of Finland film sold out tonight. Huzzah. Looking forward to meeting folk & Q&A with filmmaker & local lad Gavin Hanigan who’s come back from Helsinki specially. More screenings next week Glasgow/Musselburgh &12 other venues. lesleyriddoch.com/events

Keir Starmer is obstacle to Scottish Labour winning this May says Anas Sarwar (in so many words). ‘My first loyalty is to Scotland.’ Too many mistakes - he’s a distraction.’ Hmm. Sounds like Anas is trying to seize agenda & get excuses in early ahead of likely election defeat.

Great Sat afternoon in Nairn with Finland film. Next Eden Court Monday 7pm; Glasgow Adelaide Church Weds 18; Musselburgh Ravelston Hotel Thurs 19 Feb. Details lesleyriddoch.com/events

Heading up the sodden road for Finland film screening at Nairn Community Centre 2.30pm. Still a few tix. Also Eden Court Monday 7pm - Q&A with filmmaker & local lad Gavin Hanigan back specially from Helsinki. Details lesleyriddoch.com/events

Still tickets for film Finland: the happiest country - showing in Nairn tomorrow (Saturday) and Eden Court Inverness on Monday. Booking details here lesleyriddoch.com/events

Mandy quitting Lords lets Starmer back-pedal on promised reform. He won't axe 92 hereditary peers, start 80 age limit or make Lords prove activity. So 6 peers are blocking Right to Die Bill with amendments. Is this OK?https://www.thenational.scot/politics/25826970.house-lords-evades-attempts-reform/

Still a few tickets left for tonight's screening of Finland; the happiest country at AK Bell Library, Perth 7pm. See you there. lesleyriddoch.com/events

What would happen if society-sapping privatisation & shoddy short term planning were reversed? We cd have a country as equal, happy & successful as Finland. Tx to Finno-Scot Mikko Ramstedt. Film on TOMORROW Thurs Perth; Nairn Sat; Inverness Mon. Details - lesleyriddoch.com/events

Tories forcing publication of vetting procedure that made Lord Mandelson US Ambassador. But they obstruct all attempts to reform world's second largest unelected chamber. Can Labour throw Mandelson under the bus yet hope Starmer will be spared?

New Finland film screenings in Ullapool, Largs, Prestwick & Dumfries - plus Edin date shifted. This week Perth, Nairn & Inverness. First big screening at Tayport filled to capacity. A big relief - few have visited so I worried folk wouldn't be able to relate. All details at lesleyriddoch.com/events

Congrats to all who have worked hard over 25+ years to make Celtic Connections a success - despite lack of early funding & doubters who said folk would never come to a music gig in midwinter. Especially well done Donald Shaw. Proof positive some artists are also modest, knowing, respected leaders.

How did remote, ice-locked Finland become world beaters in education, trust, income equality, homelessness & ship-building? Tx to Finno-Scot Mikko Ramstedt for the explanation. Finland; the happiest country film - this week Perth, Inverness & Nairn. Details lesleyriddoch.com/events

Everybody to Kenmure Street has won an international award at Sundance Film Festival. Well timed, cos it will remind doubters, haters & sceptics that neighbours will protect one another against an authoritarian state - in Glasgow 2021 or Minneapolis today. www.thenational.scot/news/2581367...

In Denmark, Canada & Oz, standing up to Trump has become electoral rocket fuel. Why does Reform think it can buck that trend in Scotland, praising wildly unpopular Trump and modelling its mini-ICE and mini-DOGE ideas on dystopian America? www.thenational.scot/politics/258...

Finland- the happiest country. Feb 20th screening at Edinburgh Cameo is MOVED to Sun March 22nd 5.15pm due to double booking. Ticket-holders will be refunded automatically but must buy new tix for March event. Sorry about that. New booking link online lesleyriddoch.com/events

Can Reform win by aping Trump despite ICE assassinations, DOGE etc? Can Palestine Action win in Scottish courts? Will Andy Burnham take his rejection like a good little King of the North? Plus Burns Night & the Mamdanifcation of Scots Labour. Listen lesleyriddoch.com/podcast

Spot on by Ricky Ross after millionaire yacht owner Malcolm Offord quoted Deacon Blue hit Dignity at launch. "Perhaps he overlooked another song Loaded: ‘It’s just you laugh, ‘cause you’re loaded. And things are different from there’. Best riposte yet to Reform. www.thenational.scot/news/2580040...

Thanks for a great chat gals! Finland proves Scots needn't apologise for being a small-medium sized, northern, progressive, peaceful state. We just need the tools to the trade - control with independence - to start motoring.

Finland is the perfect antidote to Trump's America. Equal, relaxed (despite Russian threat), well educated, trusting & united as a country. New film 14 screenings with Montrose, Ullapool & Dumfries coming soon. Tx to Scots Indy Podcasters for this great chat; www.youtube.com/watch?v=avF6...

No podcast this week. Fraser is on anniversary holiday. But there's an extra podcast about the Assisted Dying Bill with sponsor Liam McArthur MSP. Final vote likely in March. 76% public & MSPs support him but not some party leaders. So decision time ahead for us all. lesleyriddoch.com/podcast

Great moment when Dick Gaughan sang at his fabulous tribute ⁦‪Celtic Connections‬⁩ concert. Spectacular line-up delivering songs of defiance & optimism. Love & respect - not ‘deals’ & lies. Total Trump antidote. Moving to see frail Martin Carthy singing with daughter Eliza. Night full of legends..

Glasgow. Ya belter.

Fairness in Finland means wealthy pay x10 more for speeding fines, if couple splits, rent halves & child poverty is 3.7%. It's 22% in Scotland - best in UK. No wonder Finland's topped world happiness rankings for 8 years. Finland; the happiest country film screenings; lesleyriddoch.com/events

Finland is world's happiest country for 8 years with best education system, third highest trust levels & child poverty at 3.7% (Scotland = 22%) Why do frozen Finns excel? New film screening just added at Cameo, Edinburgh & Dunfermline Carnegie Centre. Booking details lesleyriddoch.com/events

Aberfeldy screening plus Q&A just added to the line-up for Finland; the happiest country. March 5th. lesleyriddoch.com/events

Scotland rightly prides itself on having the lowest levels of child poverty in the UK at 22% – in Finland it's 3.7%. So, in the dog-eat-dog, adversarial days of Donald Trump, the world might want to know more about the happy, equal & educated Finns. thenational.scot/news/2576280...

A brilliant @ccfest concert amongst so many others the same night. But this Dick Gaughan tribute looks really special. www.celticconnections.com/event/1/true...

Tayport, Dunfermline, Nairn, Inverness, Edinburgh, Dundee, Perth, Glasgow, Musselburgh, Greenock, Stonehaven. Venues for Finland film screening with Q&A. Why are they world's happiest country? Well, Finns trust ranking is 62.8%. UK 30%. Yes. Details here lesleyriddoch.com/events

Why the digital ID card u-turn? Starmer's personal unpopularity, it's use to catch illegal migrants or because trust in British Governance has totally evaporated? Was the Scotgov budget a success, can Plaid win in Wales & are Greenland, Iran & Minneapolis safe tonight? lesleyriddoch.com/podcast

Podcast will record tomorrow Weds 14th to let The Coach and myself hear the Holyrood budget debate.

New Year blues? Watch; Peat and Diesel trying to make a living on @bbcalba Totally uplifting. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Craig Murray will be at the Court of Session in Edinburgh 9am tomorrow (Monday) to fight the proscription in Scotland of Palestine Action. You can watch via livestream. www.scotcourts.gov.uk/livestream/?...

Finland has risen from 7th to 5th in Global Reputation rankings. Trump's USA has dropped from 30th to 48th place. Key to Finnish success? The political courage to develop equality and trust not hostility & division. More in new film - 12 screening dates. lesleyriddoch.com/events

Finland hugely relevant now as Trump/Putin destroy trust & democracy. Finns have world's highest trust ratings between citz and govt, while USA has almost lowest. And Russia's constant threat means Finns have developed world's best food security too. youtu.be/jWzgG9q27d8

Orkney and Shetland performers take over Aberdeen during Feb in #Delve - a wee festival curated by @ChrisStoutMusic at the Lemon Tree. Great chance to sample brilliant artists normally a Pentland Firth away. www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/delve/

Denmark owns Greenland cos it landed a canoe there 500 years ago? Like everything Trump says, the truth is far more complex. This video - posted after his first bout of sabre rattling last year - delves into the history of Greenland, Denmark and the US. youtube.com/watch?v=lYfS...

Maduro was kidnapped, so is the rule of international law now officially over? If Trump invades Greenland is NATO over too? Can Scot Labour avoid 4th place with a Holyrood campaign based on Anas not Keir? And the importance of Hogmanay. Scotrail take note. Listen lesleyriddoch.com/podcast

Can communities take control of renewables in Scotland? Celtic Connections event fronted by Pat Kane & interesting speaker list. Sun Jan 18 3pm. spring.site/blog/power-s...

America threatening to act with total impunity in Greenland? They've been at it since WW2 when plans to store nuclear weapons below the Greenland ice-sheet almost went ahead. Time for Europe to draw a red line. Short film with Danish academic @kh_nielsen www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIw8...

Stunning scenery crawling along at 30mph from Ullapool to Garve after fabulous traditional Hogmanay at @TheCeilidhPlace. Now for the A9 south and the Slochd. 🥶

Scotland is first UK nation to make residential outdoor education a legal requirement for all pupils, after MSPs backed landmark legislation guaranteeing every child access to a week-long outdoor learning experience. Well done Liz Smith MSP plus all campaigners. www.thenational.scot/politics/254...

Will the BBC fight or fold over Trump's absurd legal challenge? Is Europe facing civilisational erasure? Will the appalling murder of Jews in Australia silence protests over Israel's Gaza genocide? Why did Angela Constance not just apologise to MSPs? Listen lesleyriddoch.com/podcast

The Netherlands 🇳🇱 WITHDRAW Spain 🇪🇸 WITHDRAWS Ireland 🇮🇪 WITHDRAWS Slovenia 🇸🇮 WITHDRAWS Belgium 🇧🇪 WITHDRAWS Iceland 🇮🇸 WITHDRAWS All because Israel’s in Eurovision. It’s the end for the contest. But couldn’t these broadcasters create an #AlternativeEurovision? They’d have half world watching.