Gaelic in the Borders 'Taste o' Burns' Ceilidh on 24 January in Maxton Village Hall

Gaelic in the Borders has a 'Taste o' Burns' ceilidh on Friday, 24th January 2014 in Maxton Village Hall starting at 7.45pm - cost £5 including haggis supper but bring your own drinks - glasses are available at the hall.

This is a ceilidh in the original sense of the word, not a dance but a convivial get together where people can perform if they wish by reading a story, playing music, singing, etc.

It's an ideal chance to read out or recite one (or more) of your short stories or poems to an audience, play an instrument or sing, though there's no compulsion - if you just want to eat and listen, that's OK.

In spite of its name, most people sing or read in English or Scots, not in Gaelic, though there will be some Gaelic spoken (with translation into English).

In the past there has always been a very good haggis supper (both  meat and vegetarian) and a raffle.

Poetry Competition -Closing Date 25 January

Bard of the Borders ?
How unlike Burns.
An unfriendly comp
to celebrate our
national poet, no
details of prizes, just
pick up a form
at your library.

Eildon Tree submission date

A reminder that the submissions for new writing for the next issue of the Eildon Tree Spring 2014 are invited. Deadline is 31st January 2014. Poems, short stories and non fiction articles of local and national literary interest, as well as short novel extracts are all welcome for considertion. Guidelines: A maximum of 4 poems, stories or articles up to 3,000 words. Electronic format: Ariel 12pt, single line spacing, unjustified margin. Book titles are quotes should be italicised, but without speech and quotation marks, unless specified in the text quoted. Include a brief biography up to 40 words. Please do not submit work which has been seen previously by the Editors. For an informal chat please contact the Arts Development. Tel: 01750 726400 By post: The Eildon Tree, Arts Development, St Mary's Mill, Selkirk TD7 5EW By email: artservice@scotborders.gov.uk

Session 6 Finding a Theme

Our new session starts again on Tuesday 21st January. At the Abbey Row Community Centre, Kelso downstairs as before in the Computer Room. Session 6 will look at the problems involved in finding ideas for stories. Finding a theme helps writers to focus on what they are writing. Short stories fall into clear categories and we will discuss these further. Some new exercises and some tried and tested ones to help get the creative talents working after the Christmas break. Beginner writers are very welcome to come along. People can join at any stage of the 12 week course. We are a very flexible group. New session commencing: Tuesday 21st January 2014 And fortnightly afterwards 2.30 pm – 4.30 pm Abbey Row Community Centre, Kelso Enquiries:  Tel: 01573 410277