Today is Finland's Independence Day. Along with most Finnish households, we celebrate by lighting special blue and white candles. This is the only day on which they are used. Like the other Nordic countries, candles play a more prominent role in everyday life than in the UK.

A man looks up at the snow-covered statue of King Robert the Bruce in Bannockburn, as Storm Bert hits Scotland

𝘐𝘔𝘈𝘎𝘌: 𝘙𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘵 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘺/𝘗𝘈 𝘞𝘪𝘳𝘦

It's a winter wonderland here this morning. Just like being back in Finland...

Spain said it could give residency and work permits to about 900,000 undocumented migrants in the country over the next three years to help address a growing need for workers, even as other European countries embrace tougher stances on immigration.

It's the Feast of St Cecilia today. She was an early Roman martyr, and is venerated as the patron saint of music. Cecilia is often depicted carrying or playing a small portable organ. This window in the cathedral dates from the 1910s and was designed by Oscar Paterson.

You can now also follow the President of the European Commission on Bluesky ↓

@vonderleyen.at.ec.europa.eu

St Columban (Columbanus) is celebrated today in the SEC - 21 November. (Not to be confused with St Columba of Iona). Sounds like a bit of a difficult and mercurial character, but on the plus side he was fond of squirrels. I reckon I would have got on with him.

The Scottish Episcopal Institute seeks to appoint a Director of Contextual Formation, overseeing formation-led placements and contextual training.

You can find more information, and details of how to apply via our website here: www.scotland.anglican.org/vacancy-dire...

Two undersea fibre-optic comms cables in the Baltic Sea, including one linking Finland and Germany, were severed, raising suspicions of sabotage by bad actor

www.reuters.com/business/med...

-5° in rural Stirlingshire this morning. It's like being back in Finland, only without the triple glazing and minimal cost heating (in Finland heating costs are included in your rent).

A while back, a neighbor in the glen contacted me and asked if I'd attend church. She said that if they can't get at least three people, the Church Of Scotland will close the church down. I'm an atheist, but I'm also a good neighbor. I went. I love our wee church and its idyllic setting.

“I’ve noticed I’m not in your starter pack. Any particular reason for that?”

En route to a meeting in Glasgow. One of the few benefits (there aren't many) of being a wrinklie, is cheap travel. A return train ticket from Stirling to Glasgow is £6.90.

Sainte-Chapelle Paris. Extraordinary.

Got stopped today by a Moscow traffic policeman. Our conversation:
"When did you last have a drink?"
"I haven't had a drink."
[Policeman sticks head into car & sniffs.]
"Is that your eau de cologne I can smell?"
"I haven't put on any eau de cologne."
"No drink? And no eau de cologne?! Drive on."

I am doing a series of gigs from Edinburgh to Yeovil in autumn 25...dates, places and times announced here.

Today is the feast day of Margaret of Scotland depicted here in the Lady Chapel of Rochester Cathedral

Shameless self-ad coming up. On Gladiator Day, if you want some myth-busting, try the book on the Colosseum I wrote with K Hopkins tinyurl.com/bdscsmbn And there is plenty in my Emperor book too. Why are emperors so keen on gladiators? tinyurl.com/3ubeax86

Doing my good deed for the day. Have taken my elderly neighbour to the next village for her flu and covid vaccinations. Just waiting to take her home again. This is my serious face. 🤣