Writers’ Perennial Porridge Pot: Recent Episodes
Roger Meachem
Writers of the Scottish Inverse-Diaspora (those from the four corners of the world who work or live in Scotland) and Native Scottish Writers share their work and also nuggets of information about the Land, its Arts, Science, Myths, Languages, Scenery, Wildlife and Politics.
Memories and family stories In this Podcast Mary Cane sets the scene for a her short, darkly humorous, autobiographical piece ‘Anxious Leaning.’
A true tale from Cornwall. Mary Cane is an artist and writer, presently a PhD researcher at the Elphinstone Institute, (Ethnology and Folklore) looking at how grandmothers are passing on family story and knowledge to families, especially those who have settled far from home. See marycane.uk. for more information.
In this personal tale Mary tells how the loss of her father for the first time was followed by a second loss - the theft of the tree around which his ashes had been scattered.
In the brief discussion that follows, tree-sprites, Cornish Arsenic, tin and gold, the Wesleyans and the first steam-powered passenger 'train' are all mentioned.
Go to Lemontreewriters.co.uk for script.
A Corona-Virus orphan tells her tale. Brenda Conn's novel-writing aspiration started in her twenties and continues, as yet unfulfilled. Some 80,000 words, from a novel begun in her forties, linger in print-outs, gathering dust, awaiting an ending that may never be written. Now, when inspiration strikes, Brenda concentrates on short stories and poems – these have a much better chance of being finished.
Brenda describes herself as 99% Scottish, though Maths was never her forte. Aberdeen has been her home, apart from a spell in Wales, since arriving at 18 to study English Literature at Aberdeen University. Travels abroad have taken her to many fascinating, far-flung places, most recently, pre-Covid, Japan, Vietnam, and Peru, as well as regular trips to the USA to visit her son.
Brenda’s poetry has appeared in Poetry Now, Pushing Out the Boat, LTW publications Frost on the Tassie and Lemon Zest, and the newly published Doric Poetry Board anthology The Hail Clamjamfry.
Fragments from a Journey In 1967 a cobbled-together Land-Rover is journeying across Africa. This chapter, told from the point of view of Carrie one of four occupants of the vehicle, recounts their meeting on the very edge of the boundless Savannah with a nonchalant Samantha and her broken-down car. crocodiles are mentioned.
The True Story of the Marie Celeste After an introduction explaining that the Perennial Porridge Pot is an ongoing collection of tales from Scots and those living in Scotland, Roger Meachem gives a short account of how storytelling aids writing.He goes on to tell the 'true' tale of the Mary Celeste. This is a comic version involving wash-tubs, pulleys, Moby Dick, great Great Grandad Grizzle, a very clean crew, Angel Island and a surprise invention.
When Cheese Goes Bad Rik Gammack reads his short story.
Rik is presently working on a Sci-Fi novel that he is also illustrating. Roger Meachem asks where his ideas spring from and how he plans his writing.
Go to lemontreewriters.co.uk and follow podcasts for the full script of Cheddar Gorging.
Burnin Bush Lesley talks about her new collection, Fessen and tells us a little about herself and her thoughts on inequality and injustice, before reading Burnin Bush a poem about the Australian Bush fires of 2019.
Stone Code The true history of Scottish Oatcakes is divulged. It appears that they originated in the Six Towns in Staffordshire. The secret of Rosslyn Chapel is explained and the story of the search for the Knight's Templar treasure, its finding and loss is told.
Scots Dialect - Doric Fit passing-bells fir them fa vote lik cattle
Deein fit the tabloid papers say
Fa jine the high-class racist's rabid rabble
Tae sneer at fowk fa'f forrin, Scots or Gay?
Jist mockeries fir them fir lass an deals
Nor any soond o mournin save the choirs
The blin dementit choirs o swicket feels
Fa folla yon Pied Piper fae sad shires.
Nae cannnel sial be lit taw cal them hame
Lik yon fir burns fir Scotland in the fauld
O freens fa wilnae leave us in the cauld
Nae warmth sall win intae their herst o stane
Their epitaph the void o peer, teem minds
An fan hope fades. the draain-doon o blinds.
Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island begins to be re-told Lesley Benzie from Lemon Tree Writers reads Roger Meachem’s adaptation of a short story by Scottish author James Robertson. Set in the Fife coastal village of Anstruther this is the opening of Treasure Island as you’ve never heard it. Roger goes on to discuss how there’s Writers’ treasure to be found - or rediscovered all around us. A few Scottish facts are added, but this not being too serious a podcast there’s always one fib thrown in for good measure.