Apple
Greater Grassmarket prize draw
Jake Bugg
The midwife who writes!
Queen Margaret student launching studio
The Edinburgh Apple store is now a definite. We all knew this, but it is nice that it is confirmed!
***
July is Independent Retail Month – a nationwide campaign to get people shopping locally and independently. The Greater Grassmarket is full of independent businesses.
To get you eating, drinking & shopping Indie in the Greater Grassmarket, they are running a Twitter prize draw, during July, to win £250 to spend on a day there doing just that.
To enter, all you need to do is tweet at the businesses along with the campaign hashtag (#IndieGrassmarket).
Example Tweet:
Loving the uncommon fashion @justgboutique #indiegrassmarket
For T&Cs and information about the businesses in the area, visit Greater Grassmarket or pop by one of the independent retailers in the area.
***
Jake Bugg is coming to the Usher Hall. Tickets go on sale at the Usher Hall box office in person or online on 18 July at 9am. www.usherhall.co.uk | 0131 228 1155
***
A semi retired midwife has taken the literary world by storm for the sixth time with the launch her new book, “Do Birth”.
Caroline Flint, who lives with her husband Giles at Bield’s John Ker Court in Edinburgh, is celebrating after completing her latest book- a guide for expectant mothers.
Flint is a freelance Midwife who works approximately 20 hours a week, mostly providing antenatal classes for pregnant couples all over the UK in locations such as Edinburgh and various boroughs of London.
This is Caroline’s first book aimed at expectant mothers and includes her extensive experience as a midwife of more than 37 years delivering babies in homes, Birth Centres and hospitals.
But it is also the service that she receives within her owner-occupied Bield home that the 73-year-old credits her success. Since moving to the retirement housing development three years ago,Caroline has been able to place more emphasis on her passion for writing.
The service means that she owns her own property but still has access to the care facilities that are provided by Bield.
She said: “I cannot thank Bield enough for the support I receive while living at John Ker Court.
“It has allowed me to stay independent and live a full life but also gives me that peace of mind that I’m living in a safe and secure environment with professional assistance if I need it.
“I might be partially retired from the job as a midwife but I am determined to pass down all my experience and continue writing to new mothers, giving them the best advice possible.
“Writing books keeps me very busy and the best part is knowing that I am helping to put a lot of expectant mothers’ minds at ease.”
Caroline wrote the majority of her book at her Bield home where she has great support from the community within the service.
With regular coffee and cake mornings, Caroline feels the social side of the development has helped keep her focused and enabled her to write her latest book.
She added: “My husband and I are free to do what we want, when we want but have such a great network of friends and family close by, that we always feel safe.
“As we get older we knew we wanted to live somewhere that we can be independent but still get assistance should we need, which is exactly what this Bield service provides.”
A book signing for the launch of “Do Birth” took place at The Edinburgh Book Shop on May 31st giving fans a chance to meet and greet the midwifery heroine.
Caroline was extremely grateful for the stellar turnout which included a variety of guests from expectant mums and midwives, to Caroline’s friends from John Ker Court.
Aileen Morton, Bield’s Business Support Officer, said: “Caroline is a true testament to being able to achieve what you want at any age.
“At Bield we aim to promote quality care whilst maintaining individual independence and Caroline is the perfect example of our ethos in action.
“We look forward to helping Caroline celebrate the success of her book and continue to support her as she writes using her years of invaluable experience.”
Caroline’s book has not only had support from her friends and family but has already received great reviews from The Guardian and Take a Break Magazine.
The book has also been a hit across the pond with a major American book retailer, Barnes and Noble, now stocking “Do Birth.”
Bield – a registered charity in their 41st year of business – has grown from humble beginnings, opening its first housing development in Bo’ness to become a major provider of a wide range of housing and care services for around 20,000 older people across 22 local authorities.
***
A Queen Margaret University (QMU) student is launching his own recording studio company in Leith, following earlier success as a band and signer-songwriter signed to EMI Records.
31 year old mature student, Lewis Gale, graduated from QMU earlier this month with a BA (Hons) Business Management.
The star student was also presented with a prestigious Atholl Crescent Award for Personal Development. The Atholl Crescent Award is presented annually by the Queen Margaret University Graduates’ Association (QMUGA), to a final year student who has successfully completed their studies despite challenging personal circumstances. The Award is named after the QMU’s original location on Edinburgh’s Atholl Crescent. Lewis was presented with his award by QMUGA President, Maureen Paterson.
Commenting on his Award from QMU, Lewis said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at QMU and would like to thank all of the teaching staff for their support over the past couple of years.
“The business management degree has helped me to consolidate on past experiences in the music industry while giving me the knowledge and confidence to move forward with my own recording business in Leith, Edinburgh.”
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
