It’s been a while since I sat in this comfy chair but it’s nice to be back.

For me one of the great joys of rounding up the pick of the blog posts is discovering new (to me) bloggers and reconnecting with the one’s I haven’t visited for a while. With this in mind I make no apologies for a self-indulgent Scottish Roundup.

As the way to one’s heart is proverbially via one’s stomach so let’s start with tasty stuff.

Farmer’s Girl left her kitchen to head south to the Marmalade Awards.

A Wee Pinch of Sugar is celebrating British Pie Week and the work of a Scottish talent, Acanthus Pies

I know it’s old news, but Toad and Feather tells of her first foray to the famous American donut shop.

Scottish Mum has some sensible thoughts about buying and storing food.

Muriel – of Muriel and Jasper fame – has some sage words in a post entitled How To Give Pleasure To Your Husband. Read it and laugh.

A good read? Well old chum Suzanne Egerton sheds some light on her Next Big Thing.

And while we’re on about reading, Dorky Mum gets nostalgic for her days at The Edinburgh Student.

Walking down a sunlit Edinburgh street, Audrey Birt finds herself doing her bit for the Baby Boomers and still finding reasons to be cheerful.

Misssy M Martin went to cinema and saw Les Mis so we don’t have to. Even (perhaps especially) if you’ve seen it, this is for you. Comes with a coffee snorting warning.

There are a couple of new bloggers’ babies to announce. Both Susan K Mann and Daft Mama are telling their birth stories. Awwww. Many congratulations to you both.

Continuing the spirit of celebrating the new, it only remains to welcome four new bloggers to the scene. Jane Galbraith talks about Choice, Chance and Change, Lindsay is Naturally Inside Out, It’s No Laughing Matter finds life full of surprises and St Vincent’s Hospice has a blogger.

And finally, I’ve been busy this week, but still trying to find time to be mindful.

The last time I was invited to compile the roundup it turned out to be a week of heart-string pulling, rage inducing tears and weeping. If it’s okay with everyone else can we switch it up and have something a little more light-hearted and fluffy this time around?

Excellent.

There is no better place to start than with Dorky Mum. With the turn of the year the blogosphere is awash with resolutions, 365 challenges and good intentions. This isn’t one of those (although, in truth, I am partial to them). This is an alternative take on those “bucket lists” it is a wonderful list of things to get rid of, things that would be better being buried with a shovel. Brought a smile to my face and I have agree with her on many points.

Books and reading is always high on the list of resolutions. I’ve enjoyed this rather dangerously freeing take on book ownership from Sarah Rooftops, it’s a challenge I face and one I’m beginning to get better at- although I’m a long way off from this kind of mastery. And new-to-me blog Foof and Faff delights in the wonder of the library. I do love a library.

And on that note Loons and Quines have a new post on rhymetime for babies- with a Scottish alternative to an old favourite, just in time for Burns Night. Which reminds me that we are in the midst of Celtic Connections a wonderful celebration of folk, roots, acoustic and generally brilliant music and other events for 18 days, the perfect cure for the dark, cold and damp January. It’s probably the kind of place you will find Kerry of music road in the next few weeks, she discusses the new music from Matheu Watson this week.

And while we are on the subject of all things celtic, there is a flurry of rage and posturing about Peter Rabbit getting his own tartan. I fear for his safety, run Peter, before Mr McGregor gets you for sully-ing the good name of all things Scottish. I can’t get myself in a tiz about something so whimsical, but maybe I’m missing something?

And before you think us Scots are all getting a bit introverted and need a bit of perspective on the world you need not worry. Caron has been amusing herself on a free morning in London with some of the most beautiful views the city has to offer before heading off to do some more serious work. Going even further afield is Little Grumpy G who has returned to Uganda to volunteer. It sounds like the views are stunning and the experiences will last a lifetime.

It seems I’ve went from fripperies to something a little more important. Which is handy, as I can’t finish this roundup without telling you about the best serious post I read this week. Beauty from Pain talks openly and honestly about supporting someone who is suicidal and gives some sage advice. This time of year can be hard on most of us, with less sunlight, the cold and the never-ending month at the end of your pay following the Christmas overspending but for those who struggle with suicidal thoughts daily it may be the words of support you could give them that will get them through today.

Darn it, I really really meant to keep it light and fluffy. Oh well, if I’m allowed back, there is always next time.

I can picture the scene. It’s early on a Sunday morning. You went back to work last week, having accidentally altered your genetic makeup to consist almost entirely of mince pie and brandy. You’re beginning to realise you have to go to work again tomorrow. You need a pick-me-up, and fast. Never fear, Dr Roundup is here! I prescribe a healthy dose of this week’s Scottish blogs. So open up and say aah…

With the holidays out of the way, constitutional debates are once again raging across the blogosphere. Irvine Welsh, writing on Bella Caledonia, posits the interesting theory that an independent Scotland might pave the way for a new kind of Britishness, based on identity and values rather than structures. He also sums up the feelings of many when he expresses the hope that we can “dispense with all this shite in the run-up to the 2014 referendum, and consider the real issues.” Hear, hear.

Undaunted by Irvine Welsh’s perception of a preponderance of poop in political debate, Jeff at Better Nation has gone looking for an opportunity to get involved with the Edinburgh branch of Yes Scotland. Sadly, it turns out not to have a functioning website, contact person or any future events. He does manage to follow the branch on Twitter, but they haven’t tweeted since November, so they don’t seem to consider this independence business to be very urgent.

But politics does often fuel passion: sometimes too much. Ellen at In a Bun Dance cries shame on those who are gearing up to dance on Thatcher’s grave, reminding us that humanity ought to trump political ideology. Raymond Weir worries that the Department of Health thinks parents need legislation to stop them stuffing their kids with burgers. Caron at Caron’s Musings takes exception to the Sottish Government’s tactics to put women off alcohol. And Kate at A Burdz Eye View argues that recent events at both Westminster and Holyrood will confirm the views of those who think politicians are all the same.

Meanwhile, Katie Grant at the Scottish Review admirably demonstrates that deeply held views can be explored without dogma or vitriol, as she considers the views of the Catholic church on gay marriage.

Finally, we all know that some things matter more than either religion or politics. And nothing is more important than a child’s most beloved cuddly toy. Is There a Plan B? pays tribute to Bunny, a honourable old rabbit still operating on the front line of toddler support despite terrible war wounds.

And that’s it for the week. Hopefully that has made you feel a bit better. Dr Roundup will see you again next week: make an appointment on your way out.

It’s the burd here with the round-up this weekend.  The observant among you will have noticed that I took a bit of a blogging holiday this summer.  Partly it was down to there not being all that much to blog about, but also because I couldn’t quite get round to blogging on topical issues timeously.

No such problems with this week’s batch of bloggers, who’ve been scribbling and tapping furiously on a host of topical issues and themes.

Well done, then to the Ben Lomond Free Press for being quick off the mark and acknowledging the passing of Neil Armstrong by resurrecting the moon landing hoax theory.

Scots Whay Hae has been submerged in all things book festivaly – and has the podcasts to prove it.  While Song, by Toad has been helping out at Fresh Air Radio in their Fresh Fringe Friday slot and kindly posted a top class playlist from the final show.

Elsewhere, it seems everyone has an opinion on the Julian Assange case.  Including the lawyers:  Love and Garbage’s post prompted quite the debate.  Bright Green Scotland, tried to steer a middle course, while Another Side of Lesley Riddoch demonstrated that little has changed in relation to the wider issue of rape since Ken Clarke’s controversial remarks last year.  And Caron’s musings highlighted the hitherto-unknown situation in the US whereby men who rape can claim access to children conceived as a consequence.

Ian S Smart attempts to shine some light on to what has been a far too heated debate on what constitutes rape.  Proving this point, here’s The 21st Floor highlighting the ongoing  internet war with hacking and vandalising of people’ s sites by Assange supporters.  How mature.  But there was room for humour: Love and Garbage made a second post this week having a wee pop at some of the more censorious attitudes prompted by George Galloway’s distasteful fulminating.

On the domestic political front, Labour Hame prepared for Better Together’s weekend of campaigning with a post by Jim Murphy MP in which he explains why, for the first time, he was preparing to join forces with the Tories.  In the interests of political balance, you understand, Stop the World, Scotland wants to get on (a newbie on the political blogging front, hurrah!) sets out the problem with said campaign.

Meanwhile, in the week a Unionist expert panel presented its referendum option, Calum Cashley ponders the difference between a statement and a question on independence.  Malc Harvey also blogged on its pros and cons.  Just to show we’re all still obsessed by the question or questions, Scot Goes Pop! takes a Scotsman columnist to task for his opposition to there being a second question.

There were lots of headlines about university places and whose students were getting their fill:  Tim Haddow helpfully outlined who wasn’t getting the places in law.  Clue – not young people from working class backgrounds.

The decision by Aberdeen City Council to overturn the local referendum result on the refurb of Union Terrace Gardens prompted Basedrones to suggest that a new proposal, complete with acronyms, will be along soon. Though Lena the Hyena - a long time chronicler of this issue – celebrated this week’s decision with a delightful visual blog. Urbanity…history runs the runes over Scottish Government proposals for community empowerment and renewal.

Some have taken the inspiration of the Olympics and turned it into action.  Whatever next?  So here’s the Jimmi Henshite Experiences taking part in the Springburn Harriers Canal Canter, and here’s In a Bun Dance investing in some new pants to assist her cycling schtick.   If you really are missing the Olympics – keep up, Paralympics coming soon! – follow the Absurdist’s advice and try not to laugh out loud.

And finally, not everyone’s being doing topical.  In fact, here’s the rather lovely 6 Oxgangs Avenue devoted to the history of the development of the area, this week highlighting how the block of flats came into being.  Could have been prompted by Who do you think you are?  Or just a timely reminder that not everything worth blogging about is in the here and now.

When I put my hand up to edit this weeks roundup I was keen that it introduced me to a wider blogging world in Scotland and I do think it has. I like to think there is some thing here for everyone, thanks to the talent that is out there in the blogosphere.
Its impossible not to mention the Jubilee so I want to open with reflections on how the PR machine worked  for the Royal this week of the Jubilee from That Guy from Easterhouse offering a new reflection on the events and also how the Jubilee concert triggered my own pondering what the Queen and Kylie have in common, yes really! And staying on the theme of women EK McAlpine does a great job of myth busting when it comes to feminism.
There has been a growing call for politicians to up their game and Caron saw this through the eyes of her own children, in the school play written and performed by the children themselves. Also Lesley Riddoch looked at the effectiveness of the respective messages delivered by Ed vs Allan as the independence debate moves into a new faze. Meanwhile Dorky mum invites us to engage with a discussion on democracy, devolution and the constitution to encourage more active engagement with policy and politics. And I think there was mention of pandas too?
Staying on politics I was keen to find some wider issues and the Burd opens the discussion around teachers pensions, with the question of whether the EIS are picking the right fight. And reading this next blog on Todayoutoften teaching schoolchildren about sex, gives an insight into how teachers are challenging themselves to get it right, in a sensitive environment.
But this week it’s been so much more than politics.My final mention of the jubilee is a fabulous wildlife blog from the May Island on June 6 on what jubilee celebrations meant to them in a remote island….I wonder where they found that bunting, don’t miss the pics.  In poetic mood the Shequeen blogged from Arthur’s seat about a natural gem in the middle of a City. And Ian Smart showed that even lefty lawyers can have artistic sides;-).

The Burd also knows her football and politics and blogs on the challenges of Euro 2012.  But if you need respite from the football, a spine tingling blog by Rose Garnett takes us into the Meadows,to get all you can eat, not for after dark!  Gluttons for Punishment also takes us into the dark arts, this time its of of cake eating….be warned there are tempting cake photos in this one. This week the transatlantic blond shows us how to go viral on twitter and how a private conversation can find you out, it’s a morality tale really….
And finally the Edinbra Moonwalk is in town and Ellen treats us to how she got to the finish line last time she did it. Interesting choices Ellen! Last nights rain will mean the walkers will have needed every hint to survive.And if you want to understand why women from all over Scotland and beyond trail the wet streets of Auld Reekie at midnight. Here’s one from my archives, it’s from the heart.