Greetings Friends and happy Beltane,

The cherry blossom is a radiant pink and the hawthorn is in bloom.

It hasn't rained for at least 2 days in Scotland, so maybe summer is on its way?

Beltane is a time of fire, frolicking and faeries, a time of ceremony and festivities. Alas, this year, no ritual fire and drumming for me as I'm knee-deep in admin, organising a storytelling tour in far off lands. It's a mighty logistical stretch, but very exciting.

Before I set off I have a little raft of things to share, with a new podcast episode, tour update and a live event in Edinburgh Next week.

Culture Making with Tad Hargrave

The man responsible for my trip out west is friend, hippie marketing guru and culture maker, Tad Hargrave. We had a great time road tripping around Scotland last year, tuning in with storytelling elders and hosting the Basket of Stories workshops.

We discuss that trip, the bone yearning that can exist in North Americans for real culture and some excitement around the tour in my latest podcast episode. I think it's a belter. Find Tales for our Times in your favourite podcast app, or...

Listen here

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Planning for the Tour is in Full flow, with dates lined across Vancouver island and into Washington State, and the buzz growing by the day.

It's all self organised, and a mighty task, so if you feel to share in your socials or with folk you know in that part of the world, that'd be much appreciated.

Details and ticket links can be found via:

storyconnection.org/bctour/

And a rather dashing poster which might look cool on your instagram. (just saying)

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If you're more local, I have a final gig before I'm overseas for a month-

the second Hearth Fire Session at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on May 9th. The first one was a cracker and this one should be too.

I'll be joined by elder storyteller Jess Smith, musical troubadour Sam Gillespie, and elegant basket weaver Katie Warner.

Hearth Fire Tickets

There are a few more announcements to come in the next week or so, so bear with me as a share a little wave of developments ahead of my trip.

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Scottish Tales for Telling is good to go, and I've been invited back for Songs and Stories of Scotland online as part of Weaving Remembrance:

https://weaving-remembrance.mykajabi.com/a/2147834107/EiCWvZ7T

It's all go here as the Beltane energy is rising!

Wishing you a magical May

Dougie