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Happy New Year from The Edinburgh Reporter! – Happy New Year from the First Minister – Scottish Independence Referendum 2014 – Getting fit in 2014 – Giving blood

Happy New Year to all of our readers. We hope 2014 is the year that you achieve your dreams.

To help us achieve ours please submit your best photos to our new EdinburghReportage website. We have put out calls for photos on a variety of subjects. Have fun today while you recover from your Hogmanay celebrations! Click on the link below.

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The First Minister has used his New Year message to urge the people of Scotland to wake up on the morning of 19th September 2014 “filled with hope and expectation” after voting for independence in the referendum.

Mr Salmond said 2014 would be a “truly amazing year” during which the eyes of the world would be on Scotland, with the Commonwealth Games, Ryder Cup and the historic independence vote all to be held within the next 12 months.

During the message – filmed at the National Library of Scotland – the First Minister said the forthcoming year offered a chance for Scotland’s modern achievements to be showcased to the world as well as an “opportunity of a lifetime” for the people to build a “just and prosperous nation” using the country’s natural resources and talented workforce.

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There are 259 days left until the referendum on Scottish independence.

Here is the campaign video from the Better Together campaign:-

And here is the latest message from the Yes Scotland campaign:-

We think it is now time to have more debate on independence and hope to bring you more information about both sides of it in this New Year. If you have a particular stance then please feel free to send us an article by using our Submit your Story feature here.

We have room for all kinds of opinions and look forward to hearing from you.
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January is the month when thousands of Scots resolve that this is the year they will get fit, lose weight or just get out more. Unfortunately, New Year’s resolutions are as notorious as Hollywood marriages as far as lasting commitment goes.

That’s why this year Edinburgh Leisure, the not-for-profit company which manages 30 venues across the capital, is to launch a January promotion which offers new members a cash reward for sticking to their resolution.

The Cashback promotion, which will run throughout January, promises new members their full £35 joining fee back after they have attended an average of twice a week in their first eight weeks.

The promotion has been developed based on research by Edinburgh Leisure that reveals those who attend regularly in the first two months of membership are significantly more likely to sustain the fitness habit.

Edinburgh Leisure staff will be on hand to offer new members support and advice to help them enjoy increased physical activity in the long term.

Kevin Johnston, Commercial Director at Edinburgh Leisure, said: “Edinburgh Leisure’s January promotion is universally popular amongst our customers and staff because we go beyond the traditional industry approach of simply looking for members; we’re incentivising them to actually use our facilities and working with members to help them achieve their fitness goals.

“The £35 Cashback after eight weeks will be a nice treat to start spring with – but it’s just an added bonus to the real lasting rewards of a healthy, active lifestyle. We hope this campaign will inspire more people than ever to get active, stay active and achieve more.”

For further information visit www.edinburghleisure.co.uk

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Is it your New Year’s Resolution to become a blood donor? This month and next there are several opportunities to give blood in Edinburgh.

 

21 January 2014 – Carrickvale Community Centre, Saughton Mains Street, EH11 3HH
16 January 2014 – Rannoch Community Centre, Rannoch Terrace, EH4 7ES
5 February 2014 – The Parish Church, Frogston Road West, EH10 7AA
7 January 2014 – High School, 136 Lasswade Road, EH16 6TZ
26 & 27 January 2014 The Quay, 131New Street, Musselburgh EH21 6DH
20 January 2014 – Loanhead Miners, The Loan, Loanhead EH20 9AQ
29 & 30 January 2014 -The Masonic Hall, High Street, Bonnyrigg EH19 2DB
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Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.

1 COMMENT

  1. It will be an interesting year leading up to the Independence referendum indeed. I note that you say we now need more of a debate, of course that all depends on whether we can now expect balanced and fair coverage from the mass media, something which has been criminally lacking so far and instead the people of Scotland have been subjected to ridiculous scare stories from the no campaign with the bbc and popular media denying people the truth. If anyone wishes to gain the info needed there are plenty of opportunities with sites like Wings Over Scotland, Newsnet Scotland and Yes Scotland, and more. These sites use evidence based information to get the info out to people and to do their utmost to enable the man and woman on the street make an informed decision on 18th Sept this year. D Cameron has refused to debate with our first Minister and instead A Salmond is ridiculed and belittled by him, his cabinet and perhaps more importantly, in the MSM. The lack of debate is coming from the anti independence side, lets hope that changes in the coming weeks. I wouldn’t hold your breath though.

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