Christmas is coming ...

...and as well as corpulent poultry, our thoughts turn to the subject of how to celebrate advent here on the blog. Last year you got a bit of random festivity every day and so we suspected you might be disappointed with anything less this year. 

Welll dear readers, we thought long and hard about this and have decided that this year what we needed was a theme, and what could be more appropriate than a bit of festive literature? But wait there is something better - a festive quiz.  So we thought, why not combine the two? 

This year, every day during advent, we will publish a short extract with a festive flavour and your task is to identify the title and author - some will be obvious and others less so.

Submit your answers in the comments for each day and the person with the most correct answers will win a fabulous mystery prize*! 

The closing date for entries will be January 1st - the winner, and the answers, will be revealed when we open again on Friday 3rd January. 

Good Luck!

*don't get too excited, this is a public library remember.

Book Week

 Book Week Scotland 2013  is a celebration of books and reading and it starts tomorrow, Monday 25th November. There will be a series of events at the Orkney Library and Archive featuring local and visiting writers as follows:

Monday 25th November  - Alison Miller in the MacGillivray Room at 7pm

 Wednesday 27th November - Bloody Scotland on Tour in the MacGillivray Room at 6.30pm 

 Thursday 28th November - Denise Mina in the MacGillivray Room at 7pm

These events are all free but ticketed so please ring the Library on 01856 873166 to book a space. 

There will also be be the following free family events in the Orkney Library and Archive,  which do not need to be booked in advance - just turn up on the day:

Friday 29th November - Book Week Scotland Bookbug session at 10.30am in the MacGillivray Room - Dress up as your favourite book character

Saturday 30th November - Winter Storyblanket session at 10.30am in the Carnegie Room

In Stromness we'll be hosting our regular Reading Group meeting on Wednesday 30th November but tomorrow we'll be doing something really special by combining all our favourite things at once - we're going to have a Book Week Tea Party! 

Come along between 3-5pm and join us for tea, coffee and cake! 

There's no charge, but if you would like to make a donation to the Scottish Spina Bifida Association there will be a collecting tin on the table and all donations will be gratefully received. 

So come along to the library and enjoy a cup of tea and something yummy - Carol is bringing her famous meringues so come early to avoid disappointment!  And remember to bring your knitting so you can stay on for Yap and Yarn, which will meet upstairs from 5pm - 7pm. 

Happy Book Week to you all!

Scottish Book Trust

Swants

"Swants?" I hear you ask dear readers - "what are they?" Well let me tell you, they are about to be the next big trend on the Stromness fashion scene. 

We came across the wonderful Swants Dance video from the talented knitting designer Stephen West via his Westknits Facebook page. Stephen has kindly provided a free Swants tutorial on his blog so you too can make your very own pair of Swants. 

As the cold November days set in we predict these will be the 'must have' item in every wardrobe this winter. By the time all our Yap and Yarners have made theirs, and are strutting their stuff down the street in Stromness, there won't be a jumper to be had at the Cats Protection or Red Cross charity shops. You may even glimpse a pair in action behind the desk here at the library! 

What we can't promise is the same standard of Swant dancing as performed by the Westknits  Fun Squad - enjoy!

We would love to see your Swants (ooh errr) so do please email your photos/ dance videos to stromness.library@orkney.gov.uk and we'll share them here - we might even show you ours too ;-) 

Remember, remember ...