Five things you need to know today Edinburgh!

They are dancing in Leith

Dine at Holyrood tonight

Bruntsfield Christmas lights

Safety in stairwells

Your Happy Holidays message!

A book has been launched recounting the dancing memories of seven very special Leithers.

‘Dancing Days’ has been produced by the Citadel Arts Group and tells the stories of Port of Leith Housing Association’s (PoLHA) Hermitage Court residents.

A launch event was held at the complex, with musician Laure Paterson entertaining the residents and Gina Martorelli, one of the contributors to the book, singing Ave Maria.

Suzie Connery who manages the complex, said:

“It brought back happy times for so many residents who like to reminisce and it’s lovely getting to hear their stories.”

‘Dancing Days’ is a collection of memories, not only about going to the dancing in the 1940s, but of school days, work memories and travelling abroad, collected by Citadel Arts Group living memory workers, Laure Paterson and Liz Hare.

The book stars Hermitage Court tenants Irene Graham, Sally Kyles, Robert McCauldlin, Isa MacKenzie, Gina Martorelli, Babs Russell and Chris Whelan.

Liz Hare from Citadel Arts Group, said:

“The residents kindly shared their memories and we have collected them into this book which will be a resource for the whole community.  Copies will go into local libraries and PoLHA’s other sheltered housing complexes – Jameson Place and St Nicholas Court.”

The project is supported by Tesco Community Awards.

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If you fancy a wee dinner out this evening, then for £18 you can book a table at the Members Dining Room at Holyrood from 7:00pm.

For your opportunity to dine there contact Jennifer Bingham, Hospitality and Tourism Academy Coordinator, Queen Margaret University, E: jbingham@qmu.ac.uk

School students from our pioneering academy project will take over the running of Parliament’s Members’ Restaurant tonight, giving them the chance to feed the country’s top politicians. Thirteen students from the Hospitality and Tourism Academy will run the kitchen and front of house at the restaurant, offering a three-course meal to paying MSPs and their guests.

The MSPs and other diners will get the chance to enjoy pan-fried pigeon breast with parsnip puree and nasturtium salad; pork fillet in pinwheel oat crust with champ mashed potatoes and haricot verts; and white chocolate cheesecake with passion fruit jelly and passion fruit curd, as well as vegetarian options.

The students were invited to cook at the Parliament as part of a project led by MSP Colin Beattie to give college catering students experience of working in such prestigious surroundings. These students, however, were not as old or as experienced as most students studying cookery and hospitality at college.

The students are all studying at the Hospitality and Tourism Academy, a partnership between Edinburgh College, Queen Margaret University, local authorities and schools in Edinburgh and the Lothians. The academy is part of the South East Scotland Academies Partnership, which began with the Hospitality and Tourism Academy in 2012 and expanded last year to introduce three new academies, the Creative Industries Academy, the Health and Social Care Academy and the Food Science and Nutrition Academy.

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This evening the Bruntsfield Christmas lights will be switched on. Santa will appear from around 5.30pm. There will be late night shopping till around 8pm, lights on the Links, musical entertainment and a big switch on by someone famous…..Actually we can tell you who it is now!

Edinburgh-born TV nutritionalist, author and broadcaster Amanda Hamilton will be switching on the Holy Corner Christmas Lights this evening.

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Scottish Fire and Rescue Service would like to remind tenants to keep their stairwells clear especially in the run up to Christmas.

Group Manager Steve Gourlay, the City of Edinburgh Prevention and Protection Manager, said: “We would urge people not to leave rubbish or bins in the common stairwells of tenement blocks. This can be very attractive to fire setters and increases the risk of a fire. Discarded items of furniture and rubbish can produce large amounts of toxic smoke and also impede access for emergency responders. In Edinburgh, roughly 100 deliberate property fires occur every year with many of these involving combustibles in stairwells and the casualties and damage caused are preventable and we need to reduce them.

“You can reduce the risk of fire for yourself and your neighbours by keeping common stairs clear and free from obstruction and making sure main doors are kept locked.  Steps should be taken to ensure the door entry/intercom system is working.

“I would like to stress the importance of having a working smoke alarm. Every household should have working smoke alarm and test them every week.  We provide free home fire safety visits and fit smoke alarms where required.  If you know someone who can benefit from our service, why not get them to give us a call? It is important that you know what to do if a fire does occur in the stairwell and how to keep safe. We can advise on this as part of the visit.

 “If you or someone you know could benefit from a visit, please  join Scotland’s fight against fire and request a visit by calling the SFRS freephone number 0800 0731 999, or by contacting their local fire station.”                            

A wide range of tips on how to keep yourself and your home safe from fire are available on the SFRS website: www.firescotland.gov.uk

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Please send us your Happy Christmas, Happy Holidays or Happy New Year messages so that we can collect them and embed them on the website nearer Christmas Day.

Your team at work, your fitness group, your book club or your sewing club could be the stars of the show sending Christmas greetings to your friends.

Find out how to add your videos here! 

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