I’m not long back from the Green Party Conference where I was working as an exhibitor this weekend. Jeff wonders how people travelled to Dumfries without driving. Well, we took the car I have to admit. No other way to really lug the banners and boxes of leaflets I’m afraid. But I can report that lift sharing was encouraged, and there was a pin board to arrange this.

Another Conference taking place this weekend was the Scottish Liberal Democrats who met in private yesterday. What kind of secret spooky mojo were they getting up to? Caron reveals all - some tidying up of their constitution, and the small matter of whether to support an independence Referendum. The result? Computer says no. They will not back the current proposed referendum, raising concerns at the wording of the questions. A missed opportunity? But maybe things will be different in 2012, the year the Mayans propheised the world will end. (Also the subject of upcoming disaster flick 2012, which I will not miss due to my love for John Cusack, but I already know it’ll be terrible).

Elsewhere in Scottish Politics the Labour team at Holyrood had a shuffle this week. Calum pits the shadow cabinet and Ministers against their SNP counterparts. Yousuf talks about the changes and future challenges from the Labour end, while Mr Eugenides has a, well lets say less charitable, take on the swaps. Lallands Peat Worrier plays particular attention to the promotion of Des McNulty to the Education gig.

Campaigning continues in the battle for Glasgow North East as the by election draws ever closer.  A Labour Party member of staff in the Scottish Parliament made a bit of an error with the DL email function when trying to drum up some campaign workers. Andrew brings you the ‘oops!’  moment in full. Some may believe the SNP will sweep to victory following last years win in Glasgow East but Eddie Barnes says there is much work to do. Chris from Leaves on the Line ponders the large increase in registrations for postal votes and whether sopmething is amiss. Speaking of the Nats, turns out they are shapeshifter-esque and adapt to fit into their surroundings – who knew!

If you want to familiarise yourself with the runners and riders, including Smeato, Sheridan and the lad from Big Brother Rab McNeil and Andrew have detailed profiles.

At the UK level, the Governments chief drugs advisor, David Nutt, was sacked (by e-mail! Harsh, relationship breakups should be done face to face, not by phone/text/email) for comments he made about cannabis being less harmful than nicotine and tobacco. Two advisors also quit in protest at his treatment. A Place to Stand comments on Nutt not being prepared to lie about the science as most such “advisors” do & why legalisation is the sensible answer.   Tom Harris has a different take.

Moving on up to the European level and Tony Blairs bid to become president of the European Council. But should a Brit be in the top job given our record of working with the EU?

As I type this the X Factor results are coming in and the Irish twins, Jedward are safe. Hurrah! In a moment the complaints will start to pour in on Facebook and Twitter. The Twitterverse may have lost such top tweeters as Miley Cyrus and Lily Allen recently, but its proving to be a powerful force in fundraising according to Brian Inkster. Of course  you can follow us on the little blue bird @ScottishRoundup

So thats your lot for this week – please keep blogging and nominating the best of Scottish blogs, political or not. Whether you want to highlight a post by yourself, a friend, colleague, neighbour,neighbours cat. Especially if its by your neighbours cat, there aren’t enough felines blogging these days. Those pesky lolcats, they steal all the thunder on the interweb. Theres a box to the right to pop your suggestions in or you can email scottishroundup@gmail.com

Check in again next week when Andrew Reeves will be in the hotseat. Night!

As Scotland’s year of homecoming kicks off, why not head over to Aye We Can!  which aims to “capture the creative and satirical spirit of Robert Burns though the creative potential of the net”. A more traditional take on the bard can be  found at Robert Burns’ letters

Talking of “home”, Silversprite is interested to hear your views and also notes the point of the winter solstice from the Outer Hebrides.

Elsewhere in the country, why not take a gander at The Islay Weblog  or if you are the twittering type discover what Islayers (?), Islayites (?) are saying by visiting Islayblog.com

 You could also take a peek at  Inveraray (and indeed other gorgeous pictures from around the country) in the Gloaming

Heading back down to Scotland’s Second City head over to the blog and podcast from For the Love of G…lasgow

Further Glasgow banter comes courtesy (or should that be with a lack of courtesy?) of Limmy

So has anyone made any new years resolutions? Anyone wondering about finding love online should perhaps have a look at TheCatGirl Speaks or there’s always Mike Smith’s Easytoplease Computing Dating Agency

Perhaps you have an urge to travel – so you could read the adventures of Edinburgh couple Neil and Gwen or perhaps see what Jeff and Ann are up to overseas.

My resolution is to cook proper meals (my eating habits are now worse then when I was a student) so I’ve been looking for inspiration from domestikate  and  Wendy at A Wee Bit of Cooking. Twice-baked potatoes, yummy.

In other assorted news, Duncan provides a comprehensive history of the highs, lows and demise of his former employer, premier purveyor of pick n mix, Woolworths.   What will become of all those laundry hooks?

The Beeb announced the new Doctor Who this month. As most of us were going ‘who he?’ Stuff on TV considered some possible lady companions for Hot Scot David Tennant’s replacement. Please god not Lily Allen. 

 …and finally a post to brighten up your day from Nintendo and Chocolate: Why do men have nipples? 

Well, that’s it for this roundup, thanks for reading, it’s been a pleasure, tip your waitress, try the veal etc (by the by, is it still not ‘politically correct’ to enjoy veal? Because I think it’s delicious). The next non political roundup will be on Wednesday 18^th February and we need an editor. If you can oblige or would like to nominate some posts, please do so by emailing: scottishroundup@gmail.com