Brown's Resignation?

Well it's a fair question isn't it? Surely after solving the world's financial crisis the last time by telling the world what to do, and it not working here in the UK, then maybe he should just go. This idea that he's the only man that can save us seems increasingly hollow. Is the rest of the world really in the kind of hole that we in Britain are? Somehow it doesn't seem like it. Yesterday Brown kept thundering on about it being everyone else's fault but his.

Just remember we didn't elect him; he's not there by right. He's a bit like a caretaker manager at a football club – the only difference is he hasn't had that lucky 'Brown bounce' where there's an upturn in the results.

Owl Watch – Winter Edition

After a torrent of emails, well actually one, and in my capacity as Mrs. H's conduit to the blogosphere, here's an owl update.
The owl box has been improved with the addition of a rooftop patio; this is designed to avoid them falling off as easily as they did last year. This is, of course, assuming they return. Last night when Mrs. H returned from Edinburgh at about 9.15 pm she saw one of the owls fly out from beneath the barn; we know they've been in there a lot during the cold weather as they leave their droppings.

Mrs. H also suggests a visit to Jim Wilson's web site. Jim lives in the Lammermuir Hills and has to be one of the best wildlife photographers in Britain; his owl photographs are both staggering and beautiful.

The Great Bookshops Blog

I've started a new blog about great bookshops – the independent kind, not the chain variety. You can read more on the Great Bookshops Blog.

I'd love to hear from people who can offer information on where to find great book shops. Far from a dying breed there are even two new ones that have opened in the last year here in the Scottish Borders

VisitScotland have done it again

Blimey....he's woken from his Christmas slumbers! Well actually I've been up to my neck in writing and barely had time to think of anything bar the day job. However, I did come across yet another of example of visitScotland's wonderful (?) out of date rubbish on their web site.

Under literary events in Scotland on visitcotland.com the most recent date for anything happening is 2002. They talk about signings in book shops, including Ottaker's. Well Ottaker's were swallowed up by Waterstone's 3 years ago and there are no longer any of their outlets on the high street.

They really are such a dim organization that are all flash and totally lacking in the basic tools to do the job.