New writing

A Year and a Day

By this time next year the Orkney 2025 Island Games will have had its first day of competition. There will already be winners and losers, moments of success and disappointment will have passed. After observing many hours of youngsters playing sports, primarily football, I feel that while winning is the aim, losing really is where […]

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Carduelis carduelis

Carduelis carduelis ‘All of life is sacrament.’ I was told this central tenant of Quaker belief by a fellow poet and past pupil of catholic school. ‘I love that,’ I replied, and took a sip of the newly sacramental coffee in the cup before me. I felt glad for this small revelation, it chimed with […]

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Hampden Park – BRAW WORDS

Braw Words – The Hampden Park Collections I’m delighted to be the new Maker of the Braw Words collection at the Hampden Collections where football and poetry link up. I can’t wait to cheer on all the youngsters who have a shot at writing or finding poems and submitting them to Braw Words. Football and […]

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SHIPS – launch day huddle

  Saturday was a gala day for the newly formed Scottish Highlands and Islands Poetry Society with successful launches on-line and at Waterstones Inverness. This week has been full of ‘feel good’ satisfaction at two events that both sailed smoothly. Just as ‘chance favours the prepared mind’ I think any successful endeavour requires a large […]

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Guesting on Cal Flyn’s writers’ blog

A couple of weeks ago Cal Flyn generously invited me to be on her writers’ blog for Stromness Books and Prints. Stromness Books and Prints is a unique bookshop that is stacked from floor to ceiling with excellent publications. See the photo below – yes, it is packed with books. I warn you, this is […]

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Gabrielle Barnby