Why the cryptic title?  This is the name of Dumfries Poet Hugh McMillan’s blog. http://drumsleet.blogspot.co.uk/

Join is this Friday as reviewer Fiona Blackwood interviews Hugh about his poetry, influences, awards and shares a laugh or two.

Hugh launches the “Thin Slice of the Moon” at Gracefield Arts Centre next Wednesday but you can get a generous insight into his life and writing at 1.30pm on Friday 27th April. 

Many thanks to Bibliographic Data Services based at the Crichton Business Park in Dumfries for arranging Hugh.  It’s a fun interview and we know you will enjoy hearing “life and Poetry”, the McMillan edition!

Shortly after broadcasts the podcast will be available for download on www.aliveradio.net

Moniaive’s internationally famous Folk Festival is back and as big and bold as ever.

Enjoy Cairn Chorus, Siobhan Miller, Michelangelo the stilt walker,

Tony Bonning storyteller, Cape Breton Step Dance

Fiddle, harp, accordion, guitar, flute/whistle, slow sessions

Plus the awesome Andy Irvine and the splendid sound of Galloways own “Dangleberries”

Click on the Folk festival icon on the right hand side and find out more

Sessions in the Craigdarroch and the George all weekend, and probably elsewhere.

Weekend pass covering all events and camping £40/ £25.  All tickets available online www.moniaivefolkfestival.co.uk or from Wendy Stewart on 01387 820 241.

Today Pauline was speaking about space.

In the city, space, is a precious and expensive comodity while in the country space can be more or less taken for granted.

No matter, if we have little or a lot, we have to make the most of it.

Consider teh space at your disposal, both inside and out.  Appreciate how each room relates to the next, no room exists in isolation.

Before making any (often) expensive changes ask yourself, how the space makes me feel? Is it comfortable? What do I tolerate but not exactly like in the room?  Finally what do I dislike?

If you cannot answer those questions simply take everything out of the room and reassess it in that state.  Note however different times of day and night and even weather can make a difference.

If you have  a big room or want to separate space up, you do not need to build a wall!  You can use free standing folding screens which may be plain or themed.

Decorative tricks are good to amend space or give an illusion.  For example use stripes and patterns to create larger or smaller spaces.

The most important thing to remember is to be aware of what is appropriate to you.  Be independent of style and fashion norms.  Everyone loves a home that is unique!

I’ll be back in a fortnight talking about large spaces.  Join me then.

Pauline x

The Prime Minister David Cameron visits Dumfries today. He is due to deliver a speech to party activists before of next months’s elections. Speaking ahead of his visit Prime Minister David Cameron commented:

“This is an important fortnight for devolution. Last night the Scottish Parliament agreed that the Scotland Bill should proceed. We’ve seen all four main parties working together for Scotland. I promise that I will deliver on devolution and next week should see the Bill pass through Westminster”

 

 

Robin Braidwood, Solicitor will be in the studio speaking to Mark Smith this at 4.20pm today. 

Why not listen again to acclaimed Dumfries & Galloway author Liz Niven being interviewed by Cameron Murray.

Liz talks about the river Cree, planes, beaches, granite and Chinese Radio.

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Liz Niven is an award winning Poet with a great catalogue of work.  Like many excellent writers Liz lives and works in Dumfries & Galloway.  Many thanks to BDS in Dumfries for organising this great interview.

Find out all about Liz and her work at 1.30pm today on the Friday Magazine Show.

After the interview is aired it will be available as a Podcast to listen to again.

Liz Niven is one of Scotland’s most popular poetry facilitators. She is a poet writing in English and Scots and has published  several poetry collections, including The Shard Box, Burning Whins, Stravaigin

She has written and edited texts to support Scots and English language work in  Education and appeared in Literary and Language events in Europe, Scandinavia and the Far East.

 Her collaborative work includes various projects with artists, photographers  and sculptors.

The public  art work Cree Lines in South West Scotland was a text-led collaboration with Scottish Natural  Heritage, but there is a lot…lot more!

Sunlight Productions invites young people aged between 10 – 18 to learn new and develop on old theatre skills in a free Theatre Skills week held in The Convent on Maxwell Street, this Easter Break. The course will run from the 9^th-13^thApril between 9:30 am and 4:30pm.

Theatre skill development workshops will be run in acting, dance, stage design, musical theatre, directing and Script writing by practitioners skilled in their field.  This is a rare opportunity to explore more than one specific area of theatre and learn how all filed intertwine into a final performance on the last night.

The structure of the week allows each participant to choose two out of the six options to explore in more detail after the initial taster workshops on the Monday.

To register for the course please contact info@sunlight-tae.co.uk or download the registration form from www.sunlight-tae.co.uk and email it to the above address. The closing date for registration is the 6^th April.

Tune in to the Friday Magazine Show at 1.30pm. Local author Margaret Elphinstone, one of Scotland’s most highly regarded writers is on air.  Alive’s Fiona Blackwood caught up with Margaret to speak about her ground breaking novel “The Gathering Night” and more.

Margaret comes to us thanks to Bibliographic Data Services, an information rich data supplier based in the Crichton Business Park in Dumfries.

Set in the Mesolithic “The Gathering Night” sets the scene for Scotland in a near unknown age and even gives a fictional account based on archaeological facts known of a real Tsunami that struck Scotland in that misty far past time.  It is a gripping read from start to finish. 

You can visit Margaret’s website http://www.margaretelphinstone.co.uk/ 

If you miss it do not worry we will be podcasting the interview for you to enjoy again.

http://www.bibliographicdata.co.uk/

 This week is Dumfries and Galloway’s local Sexual Health Week – ‘Let’s talk about Sex – what’s new 4 u?’

 Alive radio is working with NHS D&G to encourage you to consider your sexual health and what could be new for you.

 Don’t be afraid to talk about it, it’s your body and you must always be happy and safe in how you approach sex and relationships.  Check out what is new in contraception and STI testing on http://www.c4urself.org.uk/