SeascraperThomas lives a slow, deliberate life with his mother in Longferry, working his grandpa's trade as a shanker. He rises early to take his horse and cart to the grey, gloomy beach and scrape for shrimp, spending the afternoon selling his wares, trying to wash away the salt and scum, pining for Joan Wyeth down the street, and rehearsing songs on his guitar. At heart, he is a folk musician, but it remains a private dream. When a striking visitor turns up,

and finds a piece of notepaper with just one name: Cal McGill

His time spent undercover with a gang making and distributing LSD

Can Mai survive in a dangerous world where speaking her mother tongue might be deadly

When editor Susan Ryeland is given the tattered manuscript of Alan Conway's latest novel

Many cultures have centuries-old traditions of insect poetry

After-school television meant a choice of 'Blue Peter' or 'Magpie'

weekends and every eventuality in between

Her professional and personal nemesis

And how is it that they're also able to channel so much joy and laughter while serving others

On the battlefields of the Donbas

we just need to ensure that our interactions have a positive impact

to remember it as it was