³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

The most extraordinary thing about the whole Susan Boyle story is surely the fact that it's so ordinary.

From the woman in the church choir with the fabulous voice to the shy boy who's the leading light in the local am dram society, we are surely a country of Susan Boyles.

A report from the Scottish Arts Council a few years back confirmed what I'd always known, that three out of five of us are budding performers (try it on your social circle next time you're out, it's surprisingly accurate.) We just don't often make a song and dance out of it.

The only difference with Susan - and I wish her the very best in Britain has Talent, especially if it means I can continue to watch her progress without enduring the rest of the show - is that by stepping onto national television, she's unwittingly stepped onto the international stage.

Everyone from Demi Moore to Oprah Winfrey has been weeping into their cornflakes, Susan can't even go to the shops now without reporters asking her how she's coping.

And the council has apparently had to come and reinforce her garden fence, thanks to the truckloads of American TV crews who've been tramping across her lawn.

Meanwhile, thousands, nay millions of web-users are glued to their computer screens waiting for the next email alert about whether Susan's bought a new frock/vowed to keep her West Lothian accent/been back down the pub for a burst of karaoke. (and yes, I'm aware this will just add to the paper trail!)

While Susan lives life in the limelight, the rest of the country - at least those three in five - continue quietly performing as before.

But never underestimate the power of performance. This week, in Edinburgh, the very first Polish Cultural Festival got underway. The number of Polish people in Scotland has been increasing year on year, and must now come some where close to those arts council figures for the number of performers.

And there are clearly plenty of people keeping the culture alive here in Scotland. The whole festival has been organised entirely by volunteers who've raised much of the money themselves - no mean feat in the middle of a recession.

Among those appearing at the festival over the next few days, jazz musician Jarosław Śmietana, famous film director Krzysztof Zanussi, and mountaineer Piotr Pustelnik.
The offical opening ceremony takes place at the Queens Hall in Edinburgh on Thursday with the St. Nicolas Orkiestra and folk group Krakowiacy and organisers are confident it'll become a regular part of the cultural calendar.

And for the judges of Britain's Got Talent, a reminder perhaps, that we all always had.