Welcome to what is for me,  a particularly exciting round up. Why the excitement? Well the blogosphere has sent me a sign that I am not be alone in my loathing of Adrian Chiles. He is a man simply designed for slapping yet he peers from our televisions five nights a week and no one does anything. Please do take the time to read this splendid rant from Mr H  which actually deals with Chiles fairly quickly before getting to the chief source of his rage  -  a particularly offensive cover of Countryfile magazine.

On a calmer note The Ill Man strums his ukelele whilst wearing shorts. I have known the Ill Man for about fifteen years and I’ve never known him to make an exhibition of himself by wearing shorts. I suspect it’s a cry for help.

Elsewhere Dumbarton High Street  remains ‘vibrant’ and ‘interesting’. Do I detect despair behind the chuckles? If the state of Dumbarton High Street leaves you tired of the grind and aching to be far  away but the credit crunch has left you stranded try Biking The Great Divide and marvel at corners of the world free from running potato battles.

Another wonderful find is Scotland in the Gloaming. This and this are the  lucky nominees in this round up but please have a look through the whole blog for more breathtaking pictures taken all over Scotland. Staying with fine Scottish photography flickr-Scotland treat us to this dramatic image.

Islay blog treats us to some views of Islay from old Ordnance Survey maps. Pray that Mr Clairwil never finds out these maps are available online. He’s a pleasant chap but there are only so many times one can have ones street pointed out on a map before becoming a wreck living in terror of the phrase ’shall I get the map?’ Don’t let that put you off reading Islay blog, it really is a fascinating post and I promise you, it won’t haunt you just waiting to hear the words ‘I’m not sure where that is’ before pouncing.

I’m afraid I  have lowered the tone somewhat over at my blog by posting not once but twice on matters related to sex. I don’t make a habit of it but sometimes events provoke a response. I shall endevour to find new topics for the rest of the month.

In light of what I learned during my research for the above posts I worry about this Edinburgh bike dolled up like a strumpet. Oh I know it’s just thinks ‘I’m worth it’ and ‘it’s the fashion’ but there are some funny folk out there. Stay safe bike -that’s all I’m saying.

Speaking of funny folk the mind boggles into what goes on in some parents minds as they redefine the word inappropriate using their own children.

Returning to more wholesame fare, a rather silly newspaper article causes Jay Jay’s mother to become alarmed. She has my sympathy. There is nothing worse than an alarmed mother. My life has been a living hell since mummy started taking the Daily Mail.  There is no reasoning with a mother who has read something in the papers, they’ll take the word of hack they’ve never met over their child every time. All one can do is keep a low profile until it blows over.

John Connell has some wise words on the subject of CCTV in the classroom. I don’t know if the modern child is a better behaved beastie than those of my generation but I can’t help but think that the presence of CCTV in the classrooms of my youth would have encouraged obscene gestures and showboating on a grand scale. Quite how that would ‘assist teacher training’ is beyond me.

Sticking with technology I’m not altogether sure what an HD box is, other than it’s something to do with telly. This chap seems to know his onions though so I’d ask him if you have any questions. I’d only palm you off with something I’d made up about magic and chips. It’d be bollocks and we’d all end up thinking less of each other afterwards.

Crying is nothing a quick skelp with a wet tea towel can’t sort but should the men be getting more practice in? I don’t mind a chap showing a bit of emotion as long as they don’t kick the arse out it. We don’t want men carrying on like those funny women who occasionally turn up at parties monopolise the bathroom for a tear fest.

Finally let me draw your attention to a chap who could be forgiven for crying, having decided to undergo a frightful ordeal for a good cause. Malc in the Burgh has embarked on a fundraiser for the MS Society Scotland and is going to run a marathon to loosen your pursestrings.  Give generously folks.

That’s all for this round up. Keep your eyes peeled for news of the BBQ and call back on Sunday for the political round up hosted by an as yet unconfirmed guest.

Welcome to the first non-political blog round up. If you’re sick of the elections then you’ve come to the right place. So sit back relax and enjoy some of the more personal corners of the Scottish blogosphere.

First up we have The Ill Man pondering Jesus’ noughts and crosses technique, office bores and chocolate.

Bawbags wonders if the end is nigh, whilst Kim Ayres treats us to his pirate look.

Some fine snaps over on one of the internet’s great undiscovered gems This Moment.  

The Flying Rodent destroys our wholesome memories of Friends.

A Bhoy From Leith says something about Celtic winning an important game against St Johnstone and for all I know about football he might very well be right.

Hurtling Towards Obscurity has moved but where to?

Speaking of moving the hoors have moved, though happily there are still enough tales of their comings and goings to keep the nosy neighbour in us all suitably scandalised. 

West Coast Ramblings makes one of his all too infrequent postings to contemplate the foundation of a Lawerance Donegan fan club.

Marginal Walker stares death in the face and lives.

Teaching and Learning and a Wee Bit of Cooking terrifies me with a vast crab. It might only be a picture but it has a face! Oh and they’ve also got a tasty looking recipe for roasted peppers. 

An unexpected sight on the Hillington Industrial Estate brought to us by Beware of Open Spaces.

Getting Over Getting Dumped, get’s over it in a traffic jam. 

David Bamford relives The Glasgow Garden Festival. Phew what a year 1988 was.

So that’s it for this apolitical stoat round the net. Happy reading. 

Hello and welcome to this rather late edition of the Scottish Blogging Round Up. In my defence all technology hates me and I had rather a time joining up. Still I’m here now, my name is Clairwil. Now lets get down to business.

On almost every blog I’ve visited this week someone seems to be hopping mad about something or at least a bit cheesed off. Shuggy has had his fill of ‘Braveheart shit’ for a good decade or so, Osama Saeed  finds the Tories wanting and Tartan Hero  is gnashing his teeth at the Lib Dems.

The other constant trial of modern life that we laughingly to refer to as a public transport ’system’, has Caron of West Lothian despairing. Incidentally are railway staff trained to be so hostile to the idea of customer service or is it mere coincidence that led Scotland’s rudest people to seek employment on the railways?

Still on travel, Scots and Independent brings us disturbing news of our rulers latest plans to stick their beaks into our business. Is nowhere and nothing private?

Bloody travel has Mr Eugenides shaking his fist at the sky. Not his own travels mind, but those of one Eric Joyce MP who has clocked up an impressive £44,985 in travel expenses last year. I hesitate to chip in with my own opinion but as one of the mugs paying the tab for this, might I suggest that Mr Joyce checks out the great deals on the Easy Jet website, before there is a bloody uprising. A most impressive rant, with a special mention to the first comment beneath the post.

Mike Power  seethes as his his new Mac languishes in a parcel depot in Edinburgh. Why? Oh it’s just that UPS have trouble delivering to that remote and inaccessible third largest city in Scotland, a mere 170 miles from Edinburgh. One wonders if they made their difficulties getting north of Edinburgh known when bidding for the delivery contract. Somehow I doubt it.

Dave Farrer has more about The Sunday Times website and the absence of it’s Scotland section. Perhaps the person running the Times website is my childhood pen friend who expressed total amazement that we had electricity in Scotland. I do hope not, the shock of finding out we have internet access could kill them.  

You might of noticed we have an election coming up this year. Several blogs have been looking at one of the few candidates engaging with the ‘netroots’ . SNP Tactical Voting is impressed and suggests he might be the ideal protest vote. Scottish Political News doesn’t rate his chances much, arguing that his campaign is unlikely to catch on with the public. Deacon Barry see’s the May elections and his campaign as an interesting test of Scottish Bloggers muscle.  You might be wondering who ‘he’ is, let me introduce you to one Mr Duncan Thorp. Drop in on him and make your own minds up.

Still keeping a beady eye on the May elections, Will P gives us his assessment of the independent candidates standing for election, including the aforementioned Duncan Thorp.

Now for the funny lighthearted bit at the end or near it. Go marvel at World Of Jack’s hat trick, here, here and here.  A Bhoy in Leith  treats us with his take on the comic genius Vladimir Romanov’s latest routine. I have little interest in football but I do like a character and our Mr Romanov is fast replacing Mr Mourinho in my affections. Perhaps they could co-host a chat show once they retire from football.

Finally, the Flying Rodent brings disturbing news of Britain’s spreading stupidity epidemic. We must treat this disturbing news as a joke to avoid mass suicides.

To nominate the top stuff for next week email scottishroundup [at] gmail [dot] com.

Toodle pip