This Week:

• Charles decides to take a stand.
• Malcolm provides Sykes with critical evidence.

This Week:

• Harald learns the truth about his father’s legacy and the involvement of Eremon.
• The truck carrying the remains of the Merk arrives at its destination with an extra passenger.

This Week:

• Calum shows Sykes his research and how it affects the case.

This Week:

• Charles learns more about the mysterious parchment from his jacket.
• Erica keeps guard, but must act fast.

This Week:

• Razer gets to work on Baikbe‘s plan.

This week’s news story:

Conker competition cancelled

changed to the alternative:

Conkers enter protected category
A combination of factors, including disease and a lack of pollination has led to the horse chestnut tree being added to the list of protected plant life. Recent surveys have shown only a few hundred of the trees had given fruit this year, in comparison to thousands only three years ago. This has already resulting in the cancellation of the Scottish Conker Championships, due to be held in Peebles this year.

Further Information

BBC News – Read the original story.

Since it is set around the performance of his set of classic Scottish folk songs, I also recorded some backing music for the performance: an acoustic guitar rendition of ‘Sound The Pibroch’. This is a lament to those who lost their lives in Culloden and throughout the Jacobite rebellion of 1745.

This Week:

• Sykes arrives at the scene of a battle.
• Razer and Baikbe walk the moor.
• Harald uses the keystone.

This week’s news story:

Arts group attacked by artists

changed to the alternative:

Artists attack bias in funding decisions
A group of Scottish musicians, artists and writers has written a strongly worded letter to the main funding body for the arts in Scotland, in which they raise concerns about the choices made when deciding on which groups will receive support. They claim that worthwhile artistic endeavours which would bring education and business into certain areas of the country are being overlooked in favour of projects that would appear to have little merit or in some cases would actually cause offence. Creative Scotland, the body at the centre of the complaints, has responded that the allegations will be fully investigated.

Further Information

BBC News – Read the original story.

This Week:

• The Merk is on the move.
• Sykes finds a disturbing new link.
• Erica and Tania reach the Merk.

This week’s news story:

Supermarket building on Roman forts

changed to the alternative:

Roman fort under supermarket hides deeper secret
Recent excavations for a new supermarket in Camelon, near Falkirk, revealed a series of Roman forts believed to be a centre of commerce in Scotland from the first century AD. Many of the items dug up from the site have been put on public display in a temporary cabin beside the building site, but one item is causing some confusion amongst archeologists. A petrosphere, or stone ball, believed to date from the neolithic era, was found in what appears to be a kitchen area. Similar items have been found in various locations across Scotland in the past, but this is the first time one has been found in the middle of a Roman site.

Further Information

BBC News – Read the original story.

This Week:

• Burnard makes some discoveries.
• Charles spots a face from his past.
• Arthar receives a distress call.

This week’s news story:

Violent deaths of Stirling skeletons

changed to the alternative:

Skeleton answers lead to new questions
A series of tests on a group of five skeletons found buried under the Royal Chapel at Stirling Castle have shown they were victims of violent deaths. Scientists reported a number of fractures, stab wounds and broken bones that would have proved fatal, but have been unable to explain the injuries inflicted on one of the male skeletons. One archaeologist stated “it was as though he had been sliced in two with an angle grinder, not a sword or an axe”.

Further Information

BBC News – Read the original story.

There are only two polls left, so take the chance now to have your say on the future of the plot and watch out for new episodes in December. I will be working on the second half of the story during NaNoWriMo this year and you can find more information about my progress at my own blog.

This Week:

• Razer completes his task in time for an unexpected visit.
• Harald searches for the keystone.

This week’s news story:

Commonwealth Games evict grandmother

changed to the alternative:

Commonwealth Games eviction properties still standing

Questions have been asked of Glasgow City Council as to why some buildings emptied for the construction of the Commonwealth Games athletes village have yet to be demolished. Local people who campaigned against the eviction of tenants in the area have complained that certain houses and larger buildings have been sitting empty for at least a fortnight after the date they were due to have been demolished. The council refused to comment, other than to confirm that it is investigating the complaints.

Further Information

BBC News – Read the original story.

The Podioracket team have started to release their second anthology series and the first story is a new SOS spin-off called “Conclave”.

Scotland, 2000 BC – Three men and a polar bear meet in a cave to change the world, but can they overcome their personal agendas and preconceptions of each other for the greater good? One petty squabble triggers a chain of events that will build over the following four thousand years, culminating in the story that takes place within “Some Other Scotland”.

Watch for more episodes coming up! New stories from Arlene Radasky, Darusha Wehm, Gloria Oliver, Casey Townsend, Keith Hughes, Dave Donelson, Emerian Rich, Katharina Maimer, and more!

This particular podcast series features short stories set in the worlds of each author included, so is a great way to sample a cross-section of writers from podiobooks.com.

Like all the SOS spin-offs, this is another stand-alone story that you don’t have to listen to in order to follow the story, but ‘Conclave’ does supply some more background to the first meeting of the two clans and the Sidhe, so if you have never listened to a SOS short story, this would be a great place to start. https://someotherscotland.com/2011/07/conclave/feed/ 0 294 Mick Bordet https://someotherscotland.com/2011/06/ghost-spin-off/ https://someotherscotland.com/2011/06/ghost-spin-off/#comments Tue, 14 Jun 2011 14:03:49 +0000 http://someotherscotland.com/?p=289
Two new SOS spin-off stories have been completed recently. ‘The Castle Wall’ appears at Every Photo Tells…. It tells the story behind Harald‘s discovery in Episode 13 ‘Ghost’. As with all the spin-offs, it is a stand-alone story, but does give a little more insight into the characters. It is unusual in that it was co-written with Katharina Maimer, telling the story from two different perspectives.

The other spin-off is called ‘Conclave’ and will be released soon as part of a new podiobooks.com anthology. More details will follow, but it is effectively part 2 of ‘The Cave’ and could act as a prologue to the whole story.

This Week:

• Craig seeks advice about the Keystone.
• Harald heads for a confrontation.

This week’s news story:

Forth Bridge vandals stop trains

changed to the alternative:

Forth Bridge disaster claims twenty lives

A large section of the Forth Bridge was destroyed and a train carrying at least twenty passengers fell into the river in a tragedy that is being compared to the Tay Bridge disaster of 1879. Investigators are still looking into the cause of the collapse, though the driver of the train has been quoted as saying that the rails just split apart in front of him. A small number of local fishermen and residents of North Queensferry also reported seeing something flying up the side of the bridge shortly before the damage occurred, but nobody has any evidence of what the unidentified object might have been. The bridge was completed in 1890 and is one of Scotland’s most recognisable landmarks.

Further Information

BBC News – Read the original story.

Promo for View from Valhalla.

This Week:

• Sykes visits the Merk.
• Charles climbs the Wallace Monument.
• Razer is put to work.

This week’s news story:

Strange-tasting water is still safe

changed to the alternative:

Tap water ban announced

People in certain areas of Dundee and the Carse of Gowrie have been advised to stop drinking their tap water for a period of at least a week, following an investigation into an unusual taste that was reported coming from the Clatto Water Treatment Works. A spokeswoman from the plant has confirmed that they have evidence of raw sewerage having being dumped into the reservoir at Linthrathen Loch, though they have assured residents that it was a small amount and steps have been taken to disinfect all affected supplies.

Further Information

BBC News – Read the original story.

This one, ‘Waxing On’, is set in 1745 during Charles’ march towards London. It is a light-hearted view of the prince from the perspective of two local tradespeople.

The previous spin-off was called ‘Near Missing’ and provides some background to Calum Hayston‘s character. It is set over a number of years, but ties in directly with episode 20.

This Week:

• Erica and Tania arrive in New York.
• Harald finds the message.
• Andy‘s gig is cancelled.
• Craig gets no chance to relax.

This week’s news story:

Swine flu postpones Singing Kettle visit

changed to the alternative:

Kettle affected by quarantine

The West Coast town of Dunoon has been officially quarantined this week, as one of two hotspots for swine flu in Scotland. The local hospital has already been supplied with a large quantity of flu medications and local politicians are stressing that people should not panic. The quarantine prevents people entering or leaving the town for the next week, initially. The Singing Kettle show at the Queen’s Hall has been postponed and all schools in the area closed. The situation will be reviewed at the end of the week and the quarantine extended if necessary.

Further Information

BBC News – Read the original story.

Promo for Wiener Blut.

This Week:

• Harald takes drastic steps to collect his prize.
• Craig starts a fire.
• Razer gets a history lesson.

This week’s news story:

Villagers agree to buy forest

changed to the alternative:

Villages buy forests

A number of community groups across Scotland are in the process of bidding for local woodland areas to be owned by villages as part of the Forestry Commission’s National Forest Land Scheme. Residents of Closeburn in Dumfries and Galloway were amongst the first to take advantage of the scheme, with several other villages in the Borders and across central Scotland starting the process of community ownership.

Further Information

BBC News – Read the original story.

This Week:

• Charles finds music and a lift.
• Razer picks a side.
• Erica and Tania find a clue to Sengar’s whereabouts.

This week’s news story:

Human race could perish without bees

changed to the alternative:

Bee disappearances a growing threat to Human Race

A debate in the Scottish Parliament has raised concerns about the rapidly declining bee population in the UK and beyond. A number of reasons, including the increase in the population of the Varroa mite ongoing use of pesticides in farming and even the prevalence of mobile phone masts, have been attributed to the fall in numbers, but scientists have yet to identify a means of reversing the trend. Agricultural experts have highlighted the impact on crops that is already being seen, due to the lack of cross-pollination by bees.

Further Information

BBC News – Read the original story.

This Week:

• Calum researches the list of unmarked graves.
• Sykes follows the new lead.
• Calum discovers unexpected links in his list.

This week’s news story:

Investigation into stolen baby records

changed to the alternative:

Decades of baby records stolen

A hospital in Aberdeenshire has confirmed that birth records dating back over twenty years have been stolen. The files contained details of parents’ home addresses as well as details about each birth, blood types and dates of admission. NHS Grampian have instigated a full investigation of how the records were taken and have issued a statement of apology to all affected patients.

Further Information

BBC News – Read the original story.

First of all, Rich at Random Pimpage has a series called “8 Questions”, where he asks 8 simple, if sometimes a little bizarre, questions to a number of people from the world of podcasting. Since this tied-in with the launch of Every Photo Tells…, you’ll find Katharina’s and my answers together at the site.

On the subject of Every Photo Tells…, we’re now into our third month of photo-inspired stories and already up to episode 8. So far there have been tales of love, assassins, pirates, monsters and even a classic whodunnit, with plenty more to come! Look out for some ‘SOS’ spin-offs potentially appearing there in the future, too.

More recently, a more detailed set of questions were put to me about writing and podcasting by Odin at his View From Valhalla blog. His questions go into depth about writing podcast fiction, techniques and equipment for recording and the goals of podcasting. Since he has had a number of people answering his questions in this “How I Do It” series, I would recommend it as a great introduction for new podcasters to pick up tips from those of us who have been through the learning experience already. My answers can be found right here. Incidentally, Odin also runs a regular review of podiobooks, so if you are enjoying ‘Some Other Scotland’ and would like to delve into other podcast fiction, he has some good recommendations for you to try out.

Interlude 03:

• New website location.
• Introducing the Wiki

The new website address is www.someotherscotland.com

The ‘Some Other Scotland’ Wiki can be found at www.someotherscotland.com/wiki

Thanks go to Katharina from the Luscious Leftovers podcast for her amazing work in bringing the wiki to life.

The next spin-off story to feature at Some Other Scotland is a little different.

This is a variation on the popular fairytale ‘The Three Billy Goats Gruff’, but this is as told by Razer, so it has a little more local flavour.

It was inspired by odin1eye from the View From Valhalla blog. That is a good source of reviews of other podiobooks you might want to investigate if you are enjoying SOS.

This Week:

• Harald moves in closer to Charles.
• Razer deals with a sinking feeling.
• Charles starts to hatch a plan.
• Erica and Tania assess the Merk damage.
• Sykes’ suspicions are confirmed.

This week’s news story:

Peter the Great’s right-hand Scot

changed to the alternative:

Pages missing from diary of Peter the Great’s Scottish General

Scholars have announced that they believe several pages have been removed from the diary of Patrick Gordon, a Scot who held a senior rank in Peter The Great’s army. They claim inconsistencies in the text suggest that up to a month’s information may have been replaced by a series of paragraphs indicating the soldier was offered work in Vienna, only to be told shortly afterwards he was no longer required. The diary was published in full for the first time in the UK this year.

Further Information

BBC News – Read the original story.

Promo for “Luscious Leftovers” podcast.

This Week:

• Razer meets his kidnappers.
• A bid for freedom ends in disaster.

This week’s news story:

Radioactive leaks from submarines

changed to the alternative:

Leaking submarine disappears

Following the release of a report on safety issues at the Faslane base, it has emerged that a submarine identified as having leaked radioactive material on three previous occasions, has disappeared. The last known contact with the vessel was as it left the East Coast of the USA on a return trip to Scotland. MPs have called for a full investigation into why a ship with a poor safety record was released for travel in international waters.

Further Information

Promo for The Gearheart.

This Week:

• Tania and Erica visit the Merk.
• Calum notices a disturbing pattern.
• Sykes is alerted to more symbols.
• Harald finds what he’s searching for.
• A haggis supper leads to trouble.

This week’s news story:

Lunacy Board buried thousands in unmarked graves

changed to the alternative:

Thousands named in Lunacy Board Service

A memorial service has been held for people buried in unmarked “pauper’s graves” in Churches around West Lothian. The graves belong to patients of Bangour Village hospital and are located in numerous sites in the local area. The Lunacy Board, who until recently were responsible for all psychiatric hospitals in Scotland, had a similar policy across the country and it is anticpated that many more unmarked graves such as these will come to light in the future.

Further Information

BBC News – Read the original story.

Mur Lafferty, author of “Playing for Keeps” and the “Heaven” podcast series amongst other things, has recently posted an article written by me on her “I Should Be Writing” blog.

The blog is the companion to her regular podcast aimed at new and aspiring writers, one that has provided a great deal of help and inspiration to guide me on my way. The article deals with the particular challenges of writing an ongoing piece of interactive fiction like “Some Other Scotland” and how I keep track of where it is going and ensuring it stays on course.

It is aimed at fellow writers, but if you are interested in a behind-the-scenes look at the SOS podcast, you might well find it interesting even if you’re not a writer. Do take the time to check out Mur’s own podcasts at the site; they are quite different to SOS, but you’re sure to find something of interest.

My Podcast Alley feed! {pca-95be1cad0136b93c3d1db90745f840ca}

I’m doing a live chat and interview with PodioRacket‘s Rhonda Carpenter on Monday 31st August at 2:30 pm PST / 5:30pm EST / 10:30pm UK (BST) and there will be prizes:

1. Name a character – we’ll be taking suggestions for names of some of the new characters introduced in the last week or so of the podcast.
2. Call with a question or ask in the chatroom – the best one will receive a signed copy of the SOS short stories.
3. Twitter about the show to receive a free copy of the music from SOS.

Full details of the competitions can be found at the BlogTalkRadio PodioRacket website.

This Week:

• Erica works on changing the tunnel.
• Razer seeks a way out of New York.
• Disturbing news rocks the Traigh.

This week’s news story:

Putting the brakes on cancer

changed to the alternative:

Evidence found of cancer brakes

Scientists from the University of Edinburgh believe that a body donated for medical science may hold the key to a cure for cancer. They say that a range of genetic differences in the body may effectively slow the effects of the disease if replicated. The circumstances of the death and identity of the body are kept strictly secret.

Further Information

BBC News – Read the original story.

Promo for “Jack Wakes Up” by Seth Harwood.

The second and third of the spin-off stories to feature at Some Other Scotland are both set in the past.

The events in “Mist” take place in 1919 on a secluded beach in the North of Scotland. This story was originally posted for the 100 Word Stories prompt “Shrouded in mist”. It can be found along with others of the same theme at 100 Word Stories #168.

The second short tale, “Shelter”, was also written for the 100 Word Stories podcast, but was not recorded in time to be included, so this is its first appearance. It is set in 1940 and has a close link to Episode 15 of ‘SOS’.

Further Information

Merkland Street Subway station, the scene of the attack.

This Week:

• Razer reacts to the damage he has done.
• Erica reaches the Traigh.
• Malcolm recognises unwelcome faces.
• Harald searches for Charles.
• Inside the Traigh.

This week’s news story:

Acid left in Glasgow street

changed to the alternative:

Acid corrodes through Glasgow street

The Fire Brigade were called in to deal with a chemical spillage at Hayburn Street in Partick that has left a hole in the residential area estimated to be over fourty metres deep. A local residents has reported seeing several large canisters being left at the site in the early morning, but by noon the liquid inside, believed to be a highly concentrated acid, had corroded through the containers and into the ground below. The close proximity of the incident to the Glasgow Subway system meant that services on the line were cancelled for most of the day until safety checks could be completed. Police are investigating the incident and are currently gathering footage from CCTV cameras in the area to identify the truck that left the containers. Firefighters are still clearing the area, removing contaminated soil and corroded rocks from the scene for further analysis.

Further Information

BBC News – Read the original story.

Interlude 02:

• Listener feedback and questions.
• Mapping the story.
• Twittering characters and other extras.
• Podiobooks version of the podcast.
• Promoting SOS – StumbleUpon, iTunes, etc.

Get a reminder of the Podioracket interview/chat.

Great Hites can be found at greathites.blogspot.com.

Follow characters Erica Wallis, Razer and DC Eddie Lake on Twitter.

Google Map of SOS locations.

Promos for Arlene Radasky’s “The Fox” and PodioRacket.

The first of the spin-off stories to feature at Some Other Scotland is about Craig’s sister, Sarah. It is set shortly before the events of Episode 2.

This story was originally posted for the Great Hites prompt “Self pity”. It can be found along with others of the same theme at GH #58.

This Week:

• Razer chooses his hideaway.
• Malcolm receives an unwanted visitor.
• Razer settles in the USA.
• The destructive force of the ‘torch’ is demonstrated fully.

This week’s news story:

New York parade sets Scotland Week in motion

changed to the alternative:

Tartan Week parade ends in disaster

On a day when New York should have been celebrating its ties with Scotland as part of the traditional parade along 6th Avenue, it has instead been reeling from the attack on the famous Empire State Building. The top five floors of the building were demolished in what is believed to be a terrorist attack, though no evidence of an explosion has yet been found. The estimated death toll currently stands at over two hundred people, including several killed by falling debris. The building, opened in 1931, was for many years the world’s tallest skyscraper. It became New York’s tallest building once again following the destruction of the World Trade Centre in 2001.

Further information

With special guest, Philip ‘NorvalJoe’ Carroll as Kyle. His website can be found at norvalsoutlook.blogspot.com or follow him on twitter as @PhilipCarroll.

BBC News – read the original story.

Promo for Great Hites, soon to feature on podiobooks.com in a new anthology called ‘Greatest Hites’.

We are pleased to announce that ‘Some Other Scotland’ is now available at Podiobooks.com

First of all, welcome to any new listeners from Podiobooks.com. This is the official home of “Some Other Scotland” where you will find extras that won’t appear at Podiobooks.com

Regular Listeners:

The podcast feed at Podiobooks.com is a little different from the normal ‘SOS’ feed. Their focus is strictly on telling the story, so you’ll find no news items, interludes or spin-offs there. If you don’t like the newscast at the start of SOS, then try subscribing to the Podiobooks.com feed where it has been removed. It’s also a good source to go to if you want just the story, maybe to put onto CD or to pass to friends. They also offer a custom feed that lets you decide how often you want each episode delivered.

New Listeners:

If you have listened to a few episodes of the story and want a little more, don’t worry! You can subscribe to the podcast with extra news items here OR just download extra episodes as they appear (using the little ‘play’ arrow to play directly or right-clicking on the episode title).

There are occasional ‘Interludes’ where I discuss feedback and new ideas for the podcast, as well as short story spin-offs that are not essential to enjoy the main story, but often provide a little more history to certain characters.

The weekly poll to influence the plot of the story is found at this site, as well as extra links in the episode show-notes. To the right of this page you’ll also see links to other sites of interest and other ways to interact with us via Twitter and Facebook.

This Week:

• Sykes receives information about Charles’ attempted abduction.
• Harald realises he has missed something for the past 90 years.

This week’s news story:

Prize-winning ghost of Tantallon Castle

changed to the alternative:

Tantallon ghost opens floodgates

A picture taken of a ghostly image in Tantallon Castle, located on the North Berwick coast, has won a competition for the most convincing supernatural picture, inspiring a number of people to come forward with other photographs taken in the same place over the last fifty years.

Further information

Tantallon Castle on the North Berwick coast.

BBC News – read the original story.

Promo for Archangel: Legion by Scott Roche.

This Week:

• Erica keeps attention away from the village.
• Razer comes to a decision about his future.
• Tania takes Erica on an unusual trip.

This week’s news story:

Pitlochry’s UFO taken seriously by MOD

changed to the alternative:

Harrier pilots didn’t see UFO

Documents about UFO sightings, recently released by the Ministry of Defence, include details of photographs showing a large diamond-shaped UFO hovering above a harrier jet. Commenting on the released information, the MOD clarified their earlier statement by saying that although jets were operating in the area, the pilots saw nothing and flight records showed no unusual activity was encountered.

Further information

The Kitchener Memorial on Orkney.

Read the copies of the UFO reports released by the MOD (see p157 for the Pitlochry incident).

Find the short story spin-off from SOS about Sarah Fullarton (from episode 2) at Great Hites #58.

Everybody has their own preferences for communication, whether it be phone, email, twitter, or something else. You can already leave feedback for us in the comments of each week’s postings or by emailing me direct, Twitter is one of our most important ways of letting you know that there is a new episode or poll available or something unusual is about to happen, as well as being a way to bring some more of the story in the form of character tweets.

However, I know plenty of people who would never use Twitter, but use Facebook regularly, so for their benefit I have set up a ‘Some Other Scotland page on Facebook. There’s not a lot there so far apart from a couple of pictures, but there is plenty of new material to come that will appear there, so you can follow that page for more details. There are spaces for discussion and special events too, so you can let us know your thoughts on the plot, the characters or where the podcast is going.

We hope you can join us and bring the Facebook page to life!

This Week:

• Tania and Erica work on a plan.
• Sykes and Hayston visit Charles and make another link.
• Razer causes a little more than a shaving cut.

This week’s news story:

Demands for return of letter to Wallace

changed to the alternative:

Wallace letter taken

The letter of Safe Conduct, sent to William Wallace by the King of France, has been stolen from the National Archives in London. Scottish MPs had recently been calling for the return of the letter to Scotland, as one of the few remaining possessions of Wallace in existence. The letter was found on him when he was captured at Robroyston and taken to London.

This Week:

• Tania lets Erica in on some ancient secrets.
• Malcolm has to clear the tracks for his train .
• Razer comes across an unusual item in the tunnel.

This week’s news story:

Cracks in the underground

changed to the alternative:

Disrupted subway service resumes

Normal service has been resumed on the Glasgow subway system following the discovery of a body in the tunnel between the West Street and Bridge Street stations. Damage to the tunnel wall has now been repaired and clearance of rubble from the tracks completed. Police have not yet identified the dead man.

Follow our new character, Razer, on Twitter.

Short promo for ‘Heaven’ season 5: WAR by Mur Lafferty.

Interlude 01:

• Answers to common questions about the podcast.
• Great Hites link to Some Other Scotland.
• Twitter stuff – Erica and Lake.

Great Hites can be found at greathites.blogspot.com.

Follow characters Erica Wallis and DC Eddie Lake on Twitter.

This Week:

• Harald has a mid-air collision.
• The hunt for Charles begins.

This week’s news story:

North Sea black box found

changed to the alternative:

Helicopter black box destroyed

Investigators who retrieved the tail section and black box flight recorder from the Super Puma helicopter which crashed in the North Sea last week, have been disappointed to find the recorder damaged beyond repair. Passengers in the aircraft reported feeling an impact shortly before it hit the surface of the water and it had been hoped that the black box would have helped to explain the cause of this. All 18 people on board survived the crash.

Promo for Great Hites Podcast.

This Week:

• Sykes questions Charles.
• The secret beneath Skara Brae is revealed.
• Charles is abducted.

This week’s news story:

No to cloned Scottish polar bears

changed to the alternative:

Cloning returns polar bears to Scotland

Researchers in Edinburgh have successfully cloned a pair of polar bears using DNA extracted from a skull found in a cave in Sutherland in the 1920’s. The skull belonged to a bear believed to have lived over 4,000 years ago, left in Scotland following the last ice age. Using the same processes used to clone Dolly the sheep, the DNA was combined with the egg of a female bear and grown to cubs. The two cubs were shown off for the first time today, now aged 6 months, and reported to be healthy.

This Week:

• Harald Grant buys an island.
• Familiar symbols turn up in a peculiar place.
• Erica confronts the intruder.
• We discover who is using the hidden cameras.

This week’s news story:

What is Uri planning for Forth Isle

changed to the alternative:

Geller Outbid for Forth Isle

Uri Geller’s bid to purchase a small island of the coast of North Berwick, known as the Lamb, failed this week as a last-minute buyer stepped in to the negotiations with a higher offer. The island, home to a number of rare birds, is too small to build on, but Geller claimed he was interested in the layout of the islands which mirrors that of the great pyramids of Egypt. The identity of the buyer was not made public.

This Week:

• The Sleeper, Charles, flees the scene.
• Sykes learns more about the hidden cameras.
• Something unexpected happens at Skara Brae.

This week’s news story:

No takers for silent Beatles film

changed to the alternative:

Money CAN buy silent Beatles film An auction of 8mm footage showing the Beatles on their visit to Loch Earn in 1964, resulted in a bidding war raising over £5 million. It was expected to fetch around £12 thousand, so the final sum raised was a surprise to all involved.

Promo for Personal Effects: Dark Art by J.C. Hutchins.

This Week:

• Sykes learns that deaths at the Scottish Parliament may be linked to the Palace mystery.
• Erica’s team discover some unexpected features of the buried wall.
• The Sleeper finally escapes and his identity becomes clear.

This week’s news story:

Parliamentary disease cover-up

changed to the alternative:

Parliamentary disease deaths cover-up

It has come to light that two members of staff at the Scottish Parliament building died seven months ago during an outbreak of Legionnaires Disease. The site has been decontaminated and a spokesperson confirmed that the building is now safe and that the legionella bacterium was found only in two seldom used water outlets, but nowhere else in the complex. MSPs have claimed that they felt no need to raise the issue publicly as it had been dealt with quickly and appropriately at the time, taking into account the feelings of the families of the administrative staff members who died. It is not clear why the incident has now been made public.

This Week:

• Archaeologist Erica Wallis returns to Skara Brae, where new buildings have been uncovered.
• The Sleeper makes a bid for freedom.
• Craig stumbles across something unusual.

This week’s news story:

Sea threat to Neolithic village

changed to the alternative:

New find at Neolithic Village

Work due to start to improve protective sea walls near the neolithic village of Skara Brae has been put on hold due to previously unidentified signs of human settlement being found at the site. Experts have been called into the monument site in Orkney to examine the find and alternative plans are now being drawn up to protect the village.

This Week:

• A dusty figure wakes in a sealed room after years of sleep.
• Jim Sykes gets a disturbing update about the cameras found at the Palace.

This week’s news story:

Community hit as island mansion burns

changed to the alternative:

Island mansion avoids mystery blaze

Raasay House, near the isle of Skye, was apparently subject to a fire which mysteriously disappeared. The fire broke out some time during the night, with workmen who are currently renovating the building discovering the lower floor full of smoke. They raised the alarm, but a thorough search of the building revealed no source of the smoke and no fire damage.

This Week:

• Craig Fullarton’s trip to his mother’s grave takes an unsettling turn.

This week’s news story:

Graveyard ghouls stealing wreaths

changed to the alternative:

Graveyard ghouls stealing wreaths

Grampian police have appealed for information about a series of thefts from graveyards in the Moray area over the course of the week. A number of people have reported stolen wreaths as well as damage to headstones.

This Week:

• Edinburgh cop Jim Sykes is called into a puzzling case.

This week’s news story:

Palace plans found in park

changed to the alternative:

Palace plans found in park

A set of architectural drawings of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen’s official residence in Scotland, have been found on a footpath in the Roseburn area of Edinburgh. Security around the Palace has been increased and a full investigation has been launched into the source of the document. The plans were found by a journalist who was walking her dog along the path leading to the Water of Leith. The plans appear to show the whole of the Palace, including the private quarters of the Royal family, and have now been returned to security staff. A spokesperson said “We acknowledge this has been a security breach which we are taking very seriously and are currently investigating.”

Polls will normally be posted on Sunday nights at the end of the news week.  You have one week to vote, but early voting gives me advance warning of the final outcome which means more time to write!

Podcasts will be available up to one week later, by Sunday night at the latest.

Feedback about the podcasts or ideas for involving listeners other than the polls are welcomed.  Please contact me either by leaving a comment below or emailing me at mickbordet @ gmail . com.

I have kept this introduction short so that, if you want to build up the story over the weeks as a collection of mp3 files, you can quite easily leave this one out without losing any of the story or having this background detail included in your collection.

I hope you enjoy the journey through an alternative Scottish 2009, starting with the first full podcast very soon.

The music for this podcast is from the track “No Strings Attached” by The Lunacy Board, who can be found at www.lunacyboard.com

Some Other Scotland by Mick Bordet is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License.