enough of cinammon buns and coffees in the sun. My chief raison d'etre, after all, was to write and to explore Finland's children's literary scene.

   My findings? Many written books, not so many oral stories.

   In terms of book publishing this side of the Baltic there is a refreshing state of…

Thought it might be good, to give a Finnish glimmer, images that make an impression, that touch me. Been on this island for three weeks now. Every day is lighter. Now it is hardly dark. I thought having lived in Caithness for five years I knew what this seasonal huge outbreathing was like, but…

I met with Linna from the finnish International Literature Institute. We had an interesting discussion, over herb tea in a rather funky little Helsinki cafe. WE spoke about stories and self esteem. Finland has its national epic - The Kalevala. What's your Scottish epic story, she asked. I didn't know. Adam and Eve?

The Kalevala is interesting on lots of levels - not least of all because it is fairly new as far as creation myths go, and was in itself created. A folklorist, Elias…

Second week begins on this small strange island where my windows were built two hundreds years ago to shoot an arrow out and avoid any fired in, where when I run - yes run! in the morning.

I run over bomb shelters, whizz past canons, give a passing nod to prison cells and bunkers and here I am, spending a month in the barracks. Not what you might imagine floats a writers boat, but then again why not? I am learning to draw it out from within, rather than gather like a butterfly or bee…