Selkirk Grace 2.0 Albert Kirk Jr Some hae scran an cannae tan An some wad tan that want it; But we hae scran an we can tan Sae let the Lord be thankit! #BurnsNight #RobertBurns #BurnsSupper #RabbieBurns

I’m gey prood o the fact that, like Burns, I’m a lad that wis Born in Kyle. (thanks for the title, Rabbie) This is fae a chapter on the guid Scots words we yaised ilka day that dated back tae afore Burns’ time. Lug in tae me readin mair like this on Audible. Ye’ll fair enjoy it.

It's Rabbie Burns day the day! Howp youse'll aw be champin doon on haggis, neeps an tatties the nicht an gettin hauf wey shroo Tam O'Shanter afore giein up an readin a shorter yin. Hae mind but: thare ither Scots scrievers an aw... #BurnsNight #BurnsSupper #RobertBurns #RabbieBurns #BurnsDay

If you’re enjoying Burns this week, make it permanent by constantly using the language of his greatest work, Scots. I was lucky to belong to a family that cherished it and gave me pride in speaking it. “Thaim wi a guid Scots tongue in their heid are fit tae gang ower the warld”

That's me by wi the auld cuttin aboot. Didnae see ony o youse. A willnae tak it personal but.

Aff tae cut aboot. See youse oot err.

Here the #FitbaSpaeman patter for the weeken: Sheep 2 - 1 Livi Arabs 1 - 1 Buddies Bairns 2 - 1 Hibees Well 3 - 0 Killie Jambos 0 - 1 Bhoys Teds 3 - 0 Dee Aye. Herts tae wabble.

Ooft. Forgot aboot the #FitbaSpaeman agane. Scores the noo efter twintie meenits ur: Livi 0 - 0 Buddies Stranraer 0 - 1 Spiders Sae A'll gang wi Livi 1 - 0 Buddies Stranraer 1 - 2 Spiders

Fower scores BANG ON! Kelty gemm, Herts gemm an baith gemms the day. No bad at aw. An A'd say the maist wrang A wis wis Stenny v the Ton. MON EH WARRIORS! Clay Davis'll be chuffed the nicht. An a derby gemm in the neist roond an aw! Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeit.

A joke for the history buffs: Germany’s satirical newspaper @der-postillon.com titles: “Vienna Academy of the Arts offers Trump admission as a student — They don’t want to get blamed again“

I'm also chuffed to have been asked to write the introduction to Gentlemen of the West. The new Polygon editions of her books are gorgeous with art works by Joan Eardley on the front. Here's a preorder link for them all. birlinn.co.uk/contributor/...

It's the centenary of the wonderful Agnes Owens' birth this year. Her books are being reissued & a satellite archive has officially opened within the Alasdair Gray archive. I spoke to her son, John, & wrote about this "most unfairly neglected of Scottish authors" in the @heraldscotland.bsky.social.

Jings! Late wi the #FitbaSpaeman patter agane. Didnae ken thare wis a gemm the nicht: EFTER 90 MEENITS Teds 4 - 0 Annan Pars 1 - 3 Hibees Airdrie 1 - 2 Lichties Camelon 2 - 1 Elgin Arabs 2 - 1 Err Kelty 1 - 1 Cove Killie 2 - 1 Dee Livi 1 - 0 Buddies Well 3 - 0 Staggies Magyars 1 - 0 Montrose ...

Who here used to follow me on Twitter? 🐦

"It's not the same as Twitter", friend Twitter isn't the same as Twitter. Old Twitter died years ago, we need to accept that almost no-one under 30 is interested in joining text-based social media - the format will die with us, like floppy discs, Mars Delights, and the concept of hope for the future

Even wi a heid stert A got yin o the results wrang! Ach weel. Forrit tae the tassie gemms at the weeken!

Jings! Forgot tae dae the #FitbaSpaeman patter the nicht. It's HT wi the follaein scores: Bairns 0 - 1 Bhoys Jambos 0 - 0 Buddies An the Terts ur doon tae ten men. Sae A'll gang wi FT scores o: Bairns 1 - 2 Bhoys Jambos 0 - 1 Buddies

www.scottishbooktrust.com/authors/Hann... Delighted to be able to tell you all that @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social have now added me to their Live Literature Database 🥳 I am available for a wide range of literary events so head to the link in my bio if you'd like to book me.

"Doric was a dialect of ancient Greek, whose rustic strength contrasted with the sophistication of the literary language of Athens. In the 18th century Scots writers like Alan Ramsay justified using Scots by comparing it to the use of Doric by Theocritus." The book is on Amazon, Kindle & Audible

I’m sorry that the writing content has slowed down a wee bit. Currently in the middle of sorting my life admin so that my stories can get 100% of me going forward! Speaking of which, my braw publisher @luathpress.bsky.social currently has a 3 for 2 offer on! luath.co.uk/products/the...

No the warst bit spaein ye'll get fae me. No the bestest aither but. Got the tap shree's results richt, an the dowp twa an aw. No a richt score tae be haed but. Twa gemms on Wednesday an syne it's gemms for the muckle siller tassie at the weeken!

Lourd on my hert as winter lies The state that Scotland’s in the day. Spring to the North has aye come slow But noo dour winter’s like to stay For guid, And no’ for guid! —Hugh MacDiarmid, “Lourd on My Hert” SELECTED POETRY (New Directions, 1993) #BookWormSat #poem www.ndbooks.com/book/selecte...

If you’re interested in Scots, Scottish identity - political and cultural - the Scots abroad, the auld alliance and wine, you’ll enjoy this conversation with @paulmalgrati.bsky.social and I. Lug in when ye can. open.spotify.com/episode/2wjK...

"Cauld blaws the wind frae east to west, The drift is driving sairly; Sae loud and shrill's I hear the blast I'm sure it's winter fairly." - Robert Burns This painting by Joseph Farquharson is called 'Cauld Blaws The Wind From East To West' in reference to the poem #BookWormSat #ScottishArt #poetry

I see Morrissey’s got a new tune out

ERRAFITBASPAEMANPATTERFOREWEEKEN! Bhoys 2 - 1 Arabs Hibees 1 - 2 Well Livi 0 - 0 Killie Buddies 1 - 1 Bairns Dee 1 - 3 Jambos Sheep 1 - 2 Teds #FitbaSpaeman

The Scots Language Publication Grant Deadline: 25 Feb Administered by @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social, the grant supports publishers to publish & promote work written in Scots, both new (including translated texts) & historical or culturally significant work www.scottishbooktrust.com/writing-and-...

Exciting announcement from Birlinn today - we are proud to be collaborating with them and @agnesowenslitest.bsky.social on centenary plans across 2026 and to bringing Agnes Owens work to a wider audience 💫

Asked if I could find a copy of my tv series on Scots I came across this powerful comment for the first time. I had a wee greet. What a tragedy though that so many generations of Scottish bairns were deprived of their culture. youtu.be/9XkSlE9sO-A?si…

That's me been BANG ON aboot the Teds twa gemms in a raw. Gin ye'r hot, ye'r hot! Gin Rangers win the league daes Russell Martin get a medal? 😮 An A'm siccar the Dandies'll be wantin a new gaffer toot bluidy sweet. Ithergates they'll be gawpin ower thir spauls at Killie & Livi.

Juist the yin bittie o #FitbaSpaeman the nicht: Teds 2 - 0 Sheep Cannae see ony manager loassin thir job efter the gemm the nicht. Awtho gaun by the reaction o a wheen Killie fans, they wadnae grummle gin McCann wis awa by the morn's morn 😮

A date for your diary if you live in East Ayrshire. As part of the Irvine Valley’s Lace 150 celebrations the great traditional singer Robyn Stapleton and I will be together for a special Born in Kyle event in Darvel Town Hall on the evening of Friday, April 24. More details to follow.

Criticism Is Literature. Why Is It Vanishing?, by Adam Morgan worldliteraturetoday.org/2025/septemb...

Every time a pished scotland fan sings 'no scotland no party' in america this year a scottish person here dies of long distance cringing.

If ye're a Scots speaker wi kennin o education, schuils an ootreach, ye micht be interestit in wirkin wi @scottishbooktrust.bsky.social an Scots Hoose Yaldi as a Scots Language Ootreach Co-ordinator. www.scottishbooktrust.com/about/vacanc...

I have annexed The country Whose resources I wanted And which you Were probably Hoping I could identify a giraffe It was the best clock Anybody drew I like McDonald's Hey look, a bird

Weel, whit can A say. Twa evendoun BANG ON. An shree oot o the lave wur richt results. Aiblins ma best yet. An A reck baith gemms that A got BANG ON will see the loassin managers loass thir jobs.

THREAD. Every year, I tell the story of Ezell Gilbert. It's the story of one of the most remarkable cases in U.S. history, and you’ve probably never heard of it. The story of what the U.S. government did to him is vital for understanding the current moment we are in.

Richt, here the first #FitbaSpaeman patter for 2026. Bhoys 1 - 3 Teds Arabs 2 - 2 Dee Bairns 1 - 0 Sheep Jambos 3 - 0 Livi Killie 0 - 2 Hibees Well 2 - 1 Buddies Snash incomin, nae dout 😀

And yet, an incredible number of our academic, policy, and media colleagues continue to spend all of their time there, every day. One cannot but help draw conclusions.

Yes I’m sorry about the child porn but some of my professional network are there and I’ve a Substack to promote and the sports is good and a lot of people laugh at my jokes over there….

The nichts forecast

A Scots version of Green Eggs and Ham - entitled Roast Spuds an Beef. I accept that "spuds" isn't a Scottisism but it scans, and that was more important to me.

Shree appreciation post. Not, as far as I can see, in the SND but used in Kirkcudbright and (I think) Upper Nithsdale

Gaed a daunder alang the braid Tay watter tae handsel in a guid new year. Founerin cauld oot there sae I needit tae hae ma heid, hauns, lugs an thrapple weel happit tae thole the snell wind. Houever, the gaein doon o the sun wis gey braw, as ye can see. Tak a glisk an feast yer een.

A poyum fir ye.

Ma faither wis in Gawston Burgh baund and efter a nicht’s carousin wad rise heroically on New Year’s mornin an play this tune as they mairched ahint the muckle drum wi their heids gowpin fae the nicht afore. Heroes ane and aw.