Gregor Steele
@gregorsteele.bsky.social
Retired physics teacher and education support officer. Some writing in Scots and English (Mrs Nae Offence is one of mine). Can be found cycling slowly around Lanarkshire and beyond when not doing family stuff. https://walkridecarluke.wordpress.com/
Lovely, bright, frosty day. I went to Trackside Cycles in Shotts for a couple of inner tubes and had a good blether with the guy there. Unfortunately, the back road from Allanton wasn't gritted. I dropped my guard at one point and ended up on the deck.
(It was actually quite funny)
(It was actually quite funny)
November 17, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Lovely, bright, frosty day. I went to Trackside Cycles in Shotts for a couple of inner tubes and had a good blether with the guy there. Unfortunately, the back road from Allanton wasn't gritted. I dropped my guard at one point and ended up on the deck.
(It was actually quite funny)
(It was actually quite funny)
Cyclists - here's a tale of a well-known Scottish climb. walkridecarluke.wordpress.com/2025/11/16/t... Do you think a climb has defeated you if you take a rest on the way up or push for a while, or is geting to the top with your bike all that matters?
Tak Ma Doon
One of my Sprocket List rides was to do a climb called the Tak Ma Doon Road which runs from Kilsyth towards Carron Bridge. I put it off for a long time because I was pretty sure it would defeat me,…
walkridecarluke.wordpress.com
November 16, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Cyclists - here's a tale of a well-known Scottish climb. walkridecarluke.wordpress.com/2025/11/16/t... Do you think a climb has defeated you if you take a rest on the way up or push for a while, or is geting to the top with your bike all that matters?
Here's a description of a literary tour along the Clyde Valley, mentioning books by Walter Scott, Robert Maclellan and Ethyl Smith: walkridecarluke.wordpress.com/2025/11/10/a...
A literary tour along the Clyde Valley
Let’s go on a virtual ride along the Clyde Valley from Garrion Bridge to Kirkfieldbank. I say ‘virtual’ because, although I have ridden all the sections I am about to describe, I …
walkridecarluke.wordpress.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Here's a description of a literary tour along the Clyde Valley, mentioning books by Walter Scott, Robert Maclellan and Ethyl Smith: walkridecarluke.wordpress.com/2025/11/10/a...
When I was wee, I thought the rhyme went:
Remember, remember the 5th of November,
Gunpowder, trees and a plop.
Remember, remember the 5th of November,
Gunpowder, trees and a plop.
November 5, 2025 at 6:19 PM
When I was wee, I thought the rhyme went:
Remember, remember the 5th of November,
Gunpowder, trees and a plop.
Remember, remember the 5th of November,
Gunpowder, trees and a plop.
Visiting Couthally Castle near Carnwath - not my finest hour on a bike: walkridecarluke.wordpress.com/2022/03/20/c...
Couthally Castle Hassle
In August 2020, I decided to visit Couthally Castle near Carnwath. To be honest, alliteration was about the best thing it had going for it. Not that the place doesn’t have an interesting history. I…
walkridecarluke.wordpress.com
October 30, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Visiting Couthally Castle near Carnwath - not my finest hour on a bike: walkridecarluke.wordpress.com/2022/03/20/c...
Muirkirk Heritage Layby. Hae a read at the poem by Thomas Floyd. #Scotstober #glabber
October 30, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Muirkirk Heritage Layby. Hae a read at the poem by Thomas Floyd. #Scotstober #glabber
The Rubbish Patter bins stert a rammie wherever they're pit. Read mair Eejit Street comics here: www.scotshooseyaldi.com/primary/comi... #Scotstober
October 27, 2025 at 7:23 AM
The Rubbish Patter bins stert a rammie wherever they're pit. Read mair Eejit Street comics here: www.scotshooseyaldi.com/primary/comi... #Scotstober
Not very warm, a little breezy but dry and sunny. A loop around Forth, Climpy and back through the wind farm, with a detour to Winnyknowe Woods and Aitken's Pond. The woods always look lovely at this time of year.
October 25, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Not very warm, a little breezy but dry and sunny. A loop around Forth, Climpy and back through the wind farm, with a detour to Winnyknowe Woods and Aitken's Pond. The woods always look lovely at this time of year.
Aye passin through Brocketsbrae on the ither side o the Clyde Valley. And if Ah tak the back road tae New Lanark, Ah see a muckle picter o a brock. #Scotstober
October 25, 2025 at 6:51 AM
Aye passin through Brocketsbrae on the ither side o the Clyde Valley. And if Ah tak the back road tae New Lanark, Ah see a muckle picter o a brock. #Scotstober
Puir gran wis puggled climbin doon the stairs. This is whit she did... Poem frae Itchycoo's Blethertoun Braes. Braw drawin by Bob Dewar. #Scotstober
October 23, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Puir gran wis puggled climbin doon the stairs. This is whit she did... Poem frae Itchycoo's Blethertoun Braes. Braw drawin by Bob Dewar. #Scotstober
A wee me up on ma grandfaither's shooders. Fowk say a look like him noo. #Scotstober
October 19, 2025 at 8:32 AM
A wee me up on ma grandfaither's shooders. Fowk say a look like him noo. #Scotstober
Rode to the Edinburgh Bike Cooperative to spend a voucher that I won in a @spokes.org.uk 'favourite bike ride' competition. Used part of the route I described for the comp. Got some gear for the winter months. Home by train.
October 18, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Rode to the Edinburgh Bike Cooperative to spend a voucher that I won in a @spokes.org.uk 'favourite bike ride' competition. Used part of the route I described for the comp. Got some gear for the winter months. Home by train.
Ah ken the day's #Scotstober word (warp) has naethin tae dae wi faster-than-licht space travel. In ony case, We hae wheech drive instead. See www.scotshooseyaldi.com/primary/comi... fur mair o the Major Tam story.
October 17, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Ah ken the day's #Scotstober word (warp) has naethin tae dae wi faster-than-licht space travel. In ony case, We hae wheech drive instead. See www.scotshooseyaldi.com/primary/comi... fur mair o the Major Tam story.
A wee nyaff cried Sandy gets a skelf... read mair in the Eejit Street comic: www.scotshooseyaldi.com/primary/comi... #Scotstober
October 16, 2025 at 7:00 PM
A wee nyaff cried Sandy gets a skelf... read mair in the Eejit Street comic: www.scotshooseyaldi.com/primary/comi... #Scotstober
Unambiguously autumnal at the pond near Craigenhill, Kilncadzow. Old maps show a building called Cleekimin near the pond. There's a similarly-named place in the Motherwell area. It's at the top of a steep hill. A 'cleek', in Scots, is a hook. 1/2
October 15, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Unambiguously autumnal at the pond near Craigenhill, Kilncadzow. Old maps show a building called Cleekimin near the pond. There's a similarly-named place in the Motherwell area. It's at the top of a steep hill. A 'cleek', in Scots, is a hook. 1/2
The bad news- Loanhead Farm Tearoom is closing, though it's hopefully a temporary shutdown.
The good news- there's a community cafe in Coalburn. I tried it today and it's great. Ideal if you're trying out the new paths.
The good news- there's a community cafe in Coalburn. I tried it today and it's great. Ideal if you're trying out the new paths.
October 14, 2025 at 3:41 PM
The bad news- Loanhead Farm Tearoom is closing, though it's hopefully a temporary shutdown.
The good news- there's a community cafe in Coalburn. I tried it today and it's great. Ideal if you're trying out the new paths.
The good news- there's a community cafe in Coalburn. I tried it today and it's great. Ideal if you're trying out the new paths.
Frae The Pizzenous Pet Shop:
The Slevverin Slug is sleekit,
It plans oot its attack,
It slides up yir shirt tae the collar,
And dribbles doon yir back.
Read the hale poem here, or hear it frae actor Katya Searle:
www.scotshooseyaldi.com/primary/poem... #Scotstober
The Slevverin Slug is sleekit,
It plans oot its attack,
It slides up yir shirt tae the collar,
And dribbles doon yir back.
Read the hale poem here, or hear it frae actor Katya Searle:
www.scotshooseyaldi.com/primary/poem... #Scotstober
The Pizzenous Pet Shop – ScotsHoose Yaldi
www.scotshooseyaldi.com
October 14, 2025 at 6:40 AM
Frae The Pizzenous Pet Shop:
The Slevverin Slug is sleekit,
It plans oot its attack,
It slides up yir shirt tae the collar,
And dribbles doon yir back.
Read the hale poem here, or hear it frae actor Katya Searle:
www.scotshooseyaldi.com/primary/poem... #Scotstober
The Slevverin Slug is sleekit,
It plans oot its attack,
It slides up yir shirt tae the collar,
And dribbles doon yir back.
Read the hale poem here, or hear it frae actor Katya Searle:
www.scotshooseyaldi.com/primary/poem... #Scotstober
A misty day, so I headed off road. Waste of time putting the washing out...
October 13, 2025 at 6:24 PM
A misty day, so I headed off road. Waste of time putting the washing out...
A wee plooter aboot at the seaside in Leven wi ma granny (1963 or thereaboots). #Scotstober
October 13, 2025 at 11:44 AM
A wee plooter aboot at the seaside in Leven wi ma granny (1963 or thereaboots). #Scotstober
Half birthday for this beastie - I bought it six months ago. We've enjoyed a fair number of miles together in that time.
October 11, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Half birthday for this beastie - I bought it six months ago. We've enjoyed a fair number of miles together in that time.
Hoo dis Mrs Nae Offence ken whit a monkey's oxter smells like? Read mair braw ScotshooseYaldi comics here: www.scotshooseyaldi.com/primary/comi... #Scotstober
October 11, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Hoo dis Mrs Nae Offence ken whit a monkey's oxter smells like? Read mair braw ScotshooseYaldi comics here: www.scotshooseyaldi.com/primary/comi... #Scotstober
One from the archive - a visit to the site of Couthally Castle near Carnwath goes a bit wrong: walkridecarluke.wordpress.com/2022/03/20/c...
Couthally Castle Hassle
In August 2020, I decided to visit Couthally Castle near Carnwath. To be honest, alliteration was about the best thing it had going for it. Not that the place doesn’t have an interesting history. I…
walkridecarluke.wordpress.com
October 9, 2025 at 10:18 PM
One from the archive - a visit to the site of Couthally Castle near Carnwath goes a bit wrong: walkridecarluke.wordpress.com/2022/03/20/c...
The Drookit Doo’s a daft yin,
And no that guid at singin.
It stauns up on the auld belltooer
In rain, its feathers wringin.
Read aboot mair Fykie Fleein Things here: www.scotshooseyaldi.com/primary/poem... and listen tae actor Michael McHardie read the poem oot. #Scotstober
And no that guid at singin.
It stauns up on the auld belltooer
In rain, its feathers wringin.
Read aboot mair Fykie Fleein Things here: www.scotshooseyaldi.com/primary/poem... and listen tae actor Michael McHardie read the poem oot. #Scotstober
Fykie Fleein Things – ScotsHoose Yaldi
www.scotshooseyaldi.com
October 8, 2025 at 6:46 AM
The Drookit Doo’s a daft yin,
And no that guid at singin.
It stauns up on the auld belltooer
In rain, its feathers wringin.
Read aboot mair Fykie Fleein Things here: www.scotshooseyaldi.com/primary/poem... and listen tae actor Michael McHardie read the poem oot. #Scotstober
And no that guid at singin.
It stauns up on the auld belltooer
In rain, its feathers wringin.
Read aboot mair Fykie Fleein Things here: www.scotshooseyaldi.com/primary/poem... and listen tae actor Michael McHardie read the poem oot. #Scotstober
Exploring the area around Kirk o Shotts and Kate's Well: walkridecarluke.wordpress.com/2025/10/05/k...
Kirk o Shotts and Kate’s Well
The Kirk o Shotts If you’ve ever travelled along the Lanarkshire stretch of the M8 motorway, you have probably noticed the Kirk o Shotts. I’ve enjoyed riding to the Kirk and I’ve …
walkridecarluke.wordpress.com
October 5, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Exploring the area around Kirk o Shotts and Kate's Well: walkridecarluke.wordpress.com/2025/10/05/k...
There's a richt scunner oot tae dwang the peacefu craiturs o the planet Tunnix. But Major Tam the Space Polisman is on the case. #Scotstober Fu Eejit Street comic here: www.scotshooseyaldi.com/wp-content/u...
October 4, 2025 at 4:54 PM
There's a richt scunner oot tae dwang the peacefu craiturs o the planet Tunnix. But Major Tam the Space Polisman is on the case. #Scotstober Fu Eejit Street comic here: www.scotshooseyaldi.com/wp-content/u...