Duncan isn’t the only member of the Scottish Roundup team who’s been a little introspective recently. 2009 has been a bit of a milestone for me in many ways, so even if it hadn’t been for a good few changes in my own life (some positive, some negative, some negatives I’m determined to turn into positives) the fact that it has been ten years since I left school, started blogging, met my best friend and all sorts of other things would still have struck a chord.

As we head into the year’s final stretch, many bloggers find themselves getting a little reflective. “List Season” tends to be a big deal for the music blogs I read a lot of in particular – it seems that, no matter how many times we tell ourselves we don’t see the point, we just can’t help it. With it being the end of the “noughties”, as well as the end of another year, thoughts are turning to the best albums of the decade – as well as the best albums of the year. For Matthew at Song by Toad though, it isn’t really possible:

[W]hat a task. I mean, I was a totally different person back in 2000. And again in about 2002, and 2004. I moved up here halfway through the decade and suddenly became not just a fan but a reviewer and a promoter as well – my whole relationship with music has been completely changed over the course of the decade… Imagine comparing Withered Hand’s superb Good News, which has been in existence for a mere handful of months, to a record like And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out by Yo La Tengo, which I have listened to in good times and bad for the last ten years.

It’s a post which has generated some interesting comments, as well as this riposte from Euan at The Steinberg Principle:

I fear that in dismissing end of year lists you might as well dismiss the whole exercise of reviewing music and having an opinion on music full stop.

Incidentally, I wouldn’t be taking full advantage of this week’s guest editing slot if I didn’t point out that my own Best of the Decade series reaches its conclusion this Thursday. Alternatively, two of my favourite London-based Scots Lolie Smith and slideintomyhand are ahead of the curve; and Under the Radar’s Nick Mitchell has contributed his own Top 5 to Scrawls and Bawls.

Our own Duncan has taken a slightly different tack, concluding his fantastic series on twenty years of Warp Records.

It’s been a while since I’ve contributed one of these Roundups, but I believe I commented at the time on the launch of Glasgow PodcART as a team of passionate local scene enthusiasts. Now on their 40th podcast, and with an impressive lineup of gigs and showcases already behind them (the most recent being at the 13th Note last week featuring Beerjacket and the Kays Lavelle, the team continues to grow and to support Scottish independent music.

Beerjacket in session for Glasgow PodcART at the 13th Note

[Incidentally, if you are looking for a quick primer on all things Scottish music blogosphere, The Pop Cop has a conveniently-timed primer.]

On the political side of things, Amused Cynicism discusses Highland and Islands MSP David Thompson’s call for drink-drive laws to be devolved to Scotland as recommended by the Calman commission:

Overall Calman has been very timid and unambitious in recommending more powers be devolved. If Scotland is going to re-visit the devolution settlement, and devolve more powers to the Scottish Parliament, then it must be realised that changing the settlement isn’t something that happens often, so each time Scotland seeks to change the settlement, it might as well have a big shopping list of new powers, rather than just a few. Just as if going to the supermarket was a long journey, you wouldn’t just buy one item.

On a day when the SNP have once again been urged to drop the independence debate and concentrate on getting the country out of recession, Three Thousand Versts of Lonliness points out that Scottish support for the Union is actually on the rise, according to YouGov.

Jonathan Calder of Liberal England recounts a trip to Edinburgh on the Caledonian Sleeper, with accompanying photography:

Sometimes with the rocking and lurching you feel that you are on board a ship rather than a train. Sometimes, as you feel every bolt in the train straining, it is like being on board a jet as it comes in to land. All this is compounded by the anonymity of election traction: you never hear the locomotive straining as you would with a diesel.

“Belle de Jour is the new Pretty Woman,” claims Nine, in a brilliantly-written riposte to tabloid handwringing following the “outing” of Dr Brooke Magnanti as the pseudonymous London call girl turned blogger, for The Rumpus.

Do Some Damage is a collaborative crime fiction blog by seven writers, one of whom is Scottish and one of whom isn’t Scottish, but who’s sitting on the sofa opposite me just now. Full disclosure, that.

…waves in Warsaw is musician, photographer and DJ Neil Milton’s blog on his upcoming move from Glasgow to Poland.

And that’s it for this week! John Ault’s up next Sunday, and I know he’ll appreciate your suggestions for what we feature. Get in touch either by using the handy form on the top-right of this webpage, or by emailing us at scottishroundup@gmail.com. You can also follow us on Twitter @ScottishRoundup.

A break from the politics then, with your monthly round-up of the other bits and pieces that have got Scotland’s ever-passionate bloggers talking. I’m Lis, or Last Year’s Girl, behind the scenes at Scottish Roundup for the first time.

Starting on a serious note this month, Jamie Ross was a teenage English student until he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. His blog, in his words, is “a reading experience that will make you laugh, cry and possibly physically sick as I mention my testicles more times than social convention deems acceptable”. It’s extremely well-written, and we wish Jamie all the best.

If February 2009 was memorable for one thing, it was as the month that the increasingly popular microblogging service found itself smack in the mainstream media spotlight. Cue lazy features supplement roundups of the latest celebrity users, a link on my mobile internet homepage to “the latest social phenomenon sweeping the nation” (?!) and a barrage of irritating made-up buzzwords beginning with the letters tw. The most worthy of these? Twestival – combining the traditional web meetup with the chance to raise money for a good cause. Scottish Roundup’s own Duncan Stephen made it to the Edinburgh event – an evening that was not without incident. “It felt a bit like a gig really — just one where people were staring into their iPhones a lot,” he reports.

February’s other big topic was the snowy weather, and Scottish bloggers collectively rolled their eyes at the London media’s overreaction to a bit of nasty weather. Something I missed out on because I, er, was stuck in London with my Tube-driving best friend who was able to explain in excruciating detail just why the trains couldn’t run.

Sharing Experiences is a great photography/travel blog from Edinburgh-based writer Andy Hayes, who recommends “Scotland’s Waterfall Walk” by New Lanark. If the thought of all that walking makes you hungry, Wendy’s got a delicious-looking recipe for vegetable biryani – and Europe a la Carte will feed your wanderlust.

Back on home shores, Colonsay Brewery has jumped on the blogging bandwagon, bringing an interesting insight into the brewing process. Whisky Guy Rob has also been going behind the scenes at a distillery these past couple of weeks.

It’s On It’s Gone tracks the best of the off-the-beaten-track in the Edinburgh arts scene, with an emphasis on film and theatre.

Amy Palko has some stunning photographs of a frozen waterfall; while there are great new shots at Islay Photography Gallery and Gasoline Rainbows.

18 Saughton Mains is an Edinburgh allotment, which Alex documents.

The Ben Lomond Free Press calls Scotrail out on its cutting down of trees on railway embankments. Silversprite isn’t impressed with big corporations either this month, after spotting a strange sign in the window of Domino’s Pizza.

As a music blogger you get used to junkmail, but sometimes the odd gem catches your attention. Glasgow PodcART is just such a worthy contender, showcasing Glasgow-based art and writing on the site along with a weekly podcast featuring the best in local music. Well worthy of your time.

Neil at Notes From A Toy Piano is creating a weekly playlist at HMV’s “Specialities” department – and he’s posting the results for readers of the blog to enjoy.

There’s a lively discussion going on already at Bigmouth Strikes Again, where Gary is looking for your maddest Bella-magazine-meets-The Dangerous Book For Boys-style Top Tips.

Anas has a thought-provoking post about tracking down old friends online.

Confessions of an Ambulance Man has an embarrassing moment with a patient. And a happy 3rd blogging birthday to Stuff On TV!

Everyone I Ever Kissed is an intriguing and beautifully-written project, if a little racier than the sort of content usually featured on Scottish Roundup – but I figure that’s why they let me do these things for a change!

And finally, just to prove nepotism will get you everywhere: Marah Chase is a fun adventure serial in the style of old pulp novels, with new chapters every Sunday.

I hope this has been an interesting read, or has maybe even turned you onto something new – but please, keep sending your links to scottishroundup@gmail.com or use our handy form on the right. Cheers!