So Liz Lochhead is our new Makar. Her appointment wasn't a surprise, she's a well-loved, well-known public figure. Her poems have been on the school syllabus since I was a school (how long is that...eek!!!), so she's as much a house-hold name in Scotland as any living poet can expect. It'll be interesting to see how she defines the position/title of Makar which is yet really to be properly marked out.

I'm pleased to see Pascale Petit and Robin Robertson on the T.S Eliot shortlist, you can hear all the short-listed poets read their poems here. The Robin Robertson reading is a must-listen, especially the second poem he reads 'By Clachan Bridge', spine-tingling!