Pic by At Least Daddy Can Cook.

This week’s roundup falls naturally into Four parts: Aberdeen, politics, Scotland and nostalgia.

Aberdeen

I’m going to start with Aberdeen out of fondness for my years in the Granite City. While the rest of us are vaguely aware of a bit of a to-do over plans for the city’s Union Terrace Gardens anyone with an AB postcode is likely to have his or her weapons at the ready.

Aberdeen Voice has reproduced much of a letter from Shakhaf Barak to a friend. It is entitled “Letter To The Sane World”.

Billy The Kid chips in with, well, considerably more than tuppence worth. He thinks “it feels wrong”.

The Daily Liam is “slightly in favour” of the transformation.

And Writing From Scotland takes her mind off the whole thing with some fabulous post boxes.

Scotland

Perceptive Travel has a particularly moody time in Glencoe

And Bairds Travel hits the road north.

Politics

Bloggers put their questions to Willie Rennie and Priggy reported.

Meanwhile, Caron was getting ready for the Lib Dem conference with her pick of the conference agenda. Obviously by now, it’s mostly a done deal. If you are interested you could do worse than check back at Caron’s blog to see how it went.

And elsewhere and with other parties, SNP’s pledge over Glasgow City.

Nostalgia

Musicfootnotes reports on the gig for the late Gerry Rafferty. It’ll help if you play the video while reading the post.

The Absurdist remembers her gran in a wonderfully evocative post.

Sticking with grannies. Scottish Mum has a moments musing over photos of three generations of women.

And finally, while not strictly nostalgia, A Wee Bit of Cooking, has me hankering for brighter weather and the time (and inclination) to cook something spectacular. It’s a beautiful blog and I can’t think why I haven’t come across it before.

Enjoy what’s left of your weekend and if you see any posts worth sharing, please let us know.

Pic by Sunrise in Inverness by Dove via flickr from Scotland in the Gloaming

So 2012 is a week old already. Apparently this means most resolutions have already been broken and we have passed the most depressing day of the year. That out of the way we can get on with business as usual.

But before we get back to covering familiar ground I’d like to introduce LegaleagleMHM’s post about staring death in the face and how every moment is precious.

If that sounds like an epiphany, it probably was. Kelvin Holdsworth has an uplifting prayer for the original epiphany.

Resolutions, in the main, are bunk, but Wee Red Squirrel suggests one that might just catch on (or at least I hope it does).

Which I suppose brings us back to matters political. Caron Muses on the Wikio list of political blogs and finds the top Scottish ones. Well done all and, as Caron says, there are other contenders bubbling under.

As an aside, does anyone know if there is a Wikio (or similar) ranking for non-political Scottish blogs? There are so many startlingly good bloggers North of the Border, they deserve a section.

One of Caron’s bubblers, Nicola Prigg wades into the storm that began with a tweet from Diane Abbott. Tory Hoose joins the discussion with a little reminder of Ms Abbot’s past. Meanwhile, Caron wonders what all the fuss is about.

Subrosa argues that Scotland needs a new national anthem and that the First Minister should turn to the pipers for inspiration.

Before we leave the realm of politics, can I bring a post by Calton Hill to the table? The blogger goes “where angels fear to tread” and wonders if Jackie Baillie as a health spokesman should do more to lead by example. Fair comment or not?

Even assuming you still have a full complement of roof tiles, you can hardly have failed to notice that Son of Bawbag blew into town this week. Greener Leith takes stock of the storm.

If that’s all a bit, well, normal for January, never fear, there are some blogs that go aroving. Abyssinia, Henry’s Gumboot stamps through memories old and new.

Music Road shares Traiveller’s Joy by Emily Smith – simply lovely.

Arguably less sublime, The Perceptive Travel Blog highlights the Scotsman’s annual online haggis hunt. (Of course, it was in Delhi when I looked). And and a similarly archetypal vein, World Whisky Day is coming up.

And finally… the only post this week funny enough to make me snort coffee onto my keyboard. Shequeen the Absurdist on what memories are made of.

Sunset and Moonrise by Cupar, Fife

There was strike on Wednesday – and for many people the most pressing outcome was a day of childcare troubles and more evidence that Jeremy Clarkson is a pillock, if that were needed.

But the bloggers were troubled. Caron takes a look at the attitude to those on strike, and those at work. Nic Prigg does an eloquent job of explaining the position of fence sitter.

Meanwhile, drawing attention to the creeping sense of outrage the cuts are causing, Clinically Fed Up leads us to a new blog for the frothers (those frothing mad at it all) and as she says she’ll follow with interest “just in case the Independence referendum doesn’t go the way I want and I have to live with Westminster rule for another generation”.

At Bella Caledonia (recently included in The List’s Best Scottish Websites) , Andy Wightman ponders what will happen to the land under independence.

On current affairs told differently, Haunted by Music recounts the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes in ballad form.

Susan K Mann has also found a new way of telling stories, but, for her, social stories are helping her family.

Tartan and Turmeric is all stories too – her second novel launched this week. It’s set in Glasgow and Mumbai and looks at the business of medical tourism.

About a City is on a quest for a book, The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist. Can you help?

One of my favourite stories this week was of something found… an old car reunited with its owner and given a new life.

And on the subject of blogging – Miss Smidge takes a moment to look at how much has changed – and stayed the same – during the life of her blog.

Meanwhile, there’s a blogging pledge at All Things Cuteable. It might be enjoyed by all those who find that the blogosphere can be a little intense occasionally.

This week’s photo comes from Scotland in the Gloaming.

Walking Wild's photo

A blogger who is familiar to regular readers, Lallands Peat Worrier came out of the shadows this week and appeared on the BBC’s Politics Show Scotland. Caron’s Musings has the video. How interesting to see someone you only imagine and find out how wrong you were.

Among her own highly recommended posts, Caron is also casting the spotlight on a campaign by BurdzEyeView to buy books for vulnerable kids. It’s shocking that in Scotland there are children who don’t have access to books – let’s do something about it.

Sticking with children’s books. Hestia’s Larder visits an exhibition of illustrations for children’s books that looks at the work of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler of Gruffalo fame.

Meanwhile, on equally tasty matters, a new shop opened this week in Glasgow causing much excitement in some circles. Julie Scrumptious talks about the new Wholefoods Market in Giffnock. She considers whether this temple for foodies can survive in an economic downturn.

Also seeming to buck the financial downturn in the retail market, H & M launched their Versace range. Transatlantic Blonde was there and used the post as part of her What I Wore Wednesday series.

Given that I’m not particularly interested in what I wear on any given day of the week, why do I find this so fascinating? It’s that thing about bloggers getting out from behind the keyboard and showing their faces. Joining in Transatlantic Blonde’s theme was Glasgow Mummy.

Getting away from the glitz, BigRab has an entertaining collection (I’m struggling for a suitable collective noun) of toilet humour.

Blogger Iain Hepburn now has a regular slot at The Drum. This week he looks at the role of key bloggers in the news.

With less than a month to go, you may as well give up attempts to ignore Christmas coming at us like a juggernaut. Rookie Oven announces a festive special for startup entrepreneurs.

Aye Tunes is after the quintessential Christmas song and Subrosa reckons she knows who’s going to be number one.

Yes, I agree this roundup is definitely more froth than dark, bitter coffee. No apologies though, it’s down to the editor of the day – and today it’s me.

If you want more gravitas and some proper political hard-hitters slugging it out, then step forward to take a turn at editing and make the roundup your own.

Meanwhile, still unapologetic – a plug. My book, Blogging For Happiness is published this week and you can get it at Amazon. Mental health charity SANE said: “Ellen offers a convincing argument for the benefits of blogging for good mental health”

The picture comes from Felicity Martin’s Walking Wild blog.

Every week, what gets rounded up depends on who has said what and who is doing the rounding up. This week’s offering is a harmonious medley of female voices.

If you’re feeling peckish or nostalgic, or both, Stephanie at Is It Just Me takes us back to her granny’s kitchen.

Then Fiona MacInnes writing at Bella Caledonia revisits Orkney in the 1970s in her piece Ghost Fishing.

Having a look at her girlhood is Kirsty from A Safe Mooring. She addresses the issue of her disinclination to practice her cello and other matters.

On the Plesirblog, the author reflects on the lessons learned in life and how to acquire resilience in the face of crocodiles.

And a woman’s life from childhood is where the girl effect takes place Sara at Saja Ltd is product of it.

Caron at her musings has a measured look at the case of one women accused, convicted and cleared of killing another and how the media treated it.

Waiting politely, but not in a chauvinistic way, for the women to finish, Mike Ritchie from Comes A Time has plenty to say about Theresa May, The Simpsons and Primal Scream.

For a little levity, Lena the Hyena has a collection of painted buses - much more fun than they sound.

At the Thumbcast, Iain Hepburn reviews Ewan McGregor’s new film Perfect Sense parts of which he saw being filmed in Glasgow.

Here’s a new section I’ve decided to call Blogs People Write For Their Jobs But Are Nonetheless A Good Read Anyway.

On Oxfam’s Scottish blog is a look at the Welfare Reform Bill

On the Archibald Photography blog there’s a look at taking pictures of kids.

Michael Hayes on Rookie Oven looks at the Twitter people new business start-ups should follow.

If you think the roundup should have looked different or missed something out, then let us know. Better still, get involved we’re always looking for guest editors.

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