SATURDAY 2nd JULY 2016

Edinburgh Pride Breakfast: another year and another glorious breakfast event for the whole community; fill your bellies with delicious cakes and continental treats and enjoy music, live performances and some pre-Pride face painting. Good vibes and a safe, inclusive environment await you at this annual, family-friendly gathering; whether you’re with friends or coming by yourself, you’re very welcome. LGBT Age will also be meeting up at the breakfast at 11am (see LGBT Health & Wellbeing website here for more information). 9.30am-12 noon, Serenity Café, The Tun, Jackson’s Entry, 111 Holyrood Road. £2.50-£5. For more information please contact Jules Stapleton Barnes on 0131 523 1104 or email jules@lgbthealth.org.uk. For more information about Pride Edinburgh see below.

Craigmillar Library Breakfast Club: meeting fortnightly to provide children with a free healthy breakfast and an audio book. Parents welcome too! 11am today, Craigmillar Library, 101 Niddrie Mains Road. All welcome.

Laura Gill Artwork: Solo Performance. A new exhibition by the Edinburgh artist, whose paintings, drawings and digital images are concerned with the timeless quality of movement, primarily of the human figure. 11am-6pm (4pm on Sunday), Whitespace, 25 Howe Street. Ends 7^th July.

It’s In The Bag: an award-winning company that delights in taking children’s imaginations on a storytelling adventure. Rhymes, drama, creative games and puppets bring the story to life, with lots of well-loved songs throughout! Today there are two shows: (1) In the Jungle (for ages 0-2): puppets Sam & Rosie are off on their holidays. Pack up your suitcase with them and journey across the Ocean to the Jungle… Sam’s pet frog comes too, but escapes – oh no! What animals will you see on your adventure to rescue him?  Lots of well-known songs and rhymes for little ones. In the Jungle is on stage at 10am and 2.15pm; (2) Princesses & Knights (for ages 3-6): let’s turn a traditional tale on its head. We’ll keep the dragon, the wicked wizard and the good fairy of course, but how about the frog princess and our heroine Rosie galloping across the magical kingdom to rescue the ensnared sleeping Knight Sam? Solve the riddles, sing the songs and play the games to help rescue the Knight! Princesses and Knights is on at 1pm (morning show already sold out), Storytelling Court, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 45 High Street. Tickets cost £6 per child, accompanying adult free, and are available from the Box Office in person, by calling 0131 556 9579 or online here. Please remember to book a free adult ticket as well as a ticket for your child.

Bookbug: songs and rhymes for young children (0-4 years) and their parents and carers. 10.30am today and every Saturday, Corstorphine Library, Kirk Loan. Free. Also at 10.30am every Tuesday.

Vega: an new exhibition of works by the Lewis-based artist. Opening with drinks 10am-1pm today, then 11am-6pm Monday to Friday, 10.30am-4pm Saturdays, Torrance Gallery, 36 Dundas Street. Ends 23^rd July.

Scottish Parliament Big Day Out: to mark the official opening of the 5th session of the Scottish Parliament, a host of events will take place at Holyrood today. From 12 noon to 1pm around 2000 people will take part in a colourful, historic Riding procession down the Royal Mile, including Local Heroes nominated by their MSPs in recognition of the important work they do to help others or their community. From 2pm to 6pm there will be a fun-packed afternoon for all the family; the gardens and doors of the Scottish Parliament will be open to everyone to explore, with seven ‘zones’ in which you can enjoy dance and music from around the world, learn about Scottish history, dress up in period costume, try arts and crafts, meet a beekeeper who will tell you all about the Parliament’s bees, find out about owls and other nocturnal birds, explore the world of science with experts from Heriott Watt and Abertay universities, visit the Debating Chamber, and hop on board the Wild About Scotland bus.  All events are FREE and there is no need to book – just come along for the afternoon and enjoy! For details of the programme click here. The Scottish Parliament, Holyrood, EH99 1SP.

LGBT Pride Edinburgh: today’s events begin outside the City Chambers on the Royal Mile at 1pm, with speeches followed by the Pride March (leaving promptly at 1.45pm). Other events include a Health & Community Fair at Omni, Greenside Row (top of Leith Walk) 12.30-4.30pm, a Music Festival at the Jam House, 5 Queen Street, from 3pm, Pride Youth Space at Broughton St Mary’s Parish Church, Bellevue Crescent 1.30-5pm, a Family Zone outside Omni with the Play Talk Read Bus, Trans Space at the Wallace Room, Holiday Inn Express, Picardy Place 1.30-5.30pm, a Tea Dance at Chalky’s, 4 Picardy Place, from 5pm and live entertainment into the night at Habana (Greenside Place), Chalky’s, The Street (Picardy Place), and Edinburgh Playhouse. For full details of the day’s programme click here or visit Pride Edinburgh’s Facebook page here.

Edge Textile Artists Scotland: Strands of Time. An exciting new exhibition focusing on ‘past, present and future’ and encouraging us all to be inspired by the past, excited by the present and intrigued by the future of this group of professional contemporary textile artists, who have studied or are based in Scotland and who exhibit regularly throughout Scotland and the UK. Having all three galleries on the 3rd floor of Edinburgh Palette has provided the starting point for the notion of examining the whole story of Edge – three galleries, three points in time, curated by three teams from within the group. Opening today 12 noon-2pm (galleries open till 6pm), then 10am-6pm daily, Third Floor, St Margaret’s House, 151 London Road. Ends 23^rd July 2016.

Here Comes Summer 2016! Fun activities for all the family: climbing wall, gladiator & surf simulator, ponies, bungee run, circus skills, archery, sand sculptures, face painting, music, arts & crafts challenge and lots more! – plus a market place for local agencies and info. 1-4pm, Portobello Promenade & Beach. A £1 wristband allows access to all activities. You can collect a free copy of the location map from Portobello Library, Rosefield Avenue. Hosted by Porty Events.

Queen Margaret University: Are You There? An exhibition showcasing the work of new qualified art psychotherapists from the MSc Art Psychotherapy programme at QMU and including a video addition from students graduating from the MSc Music Therapy programme. This event brings together a wide range of artistic styles and media, with each student contributing their own creative practice and perspective; it intends to shed light on the practice of art psychotherapy and the benefits of creative expression, as well as presenting the artistic talents of the therapists themselves. Visitors are invited to be part of the exhibition by contributing to the wish tree. The butterfly is used as a symbol of change and growth, and staff will be on hand to help you design a butterfly onto which you can write a wish and hang it from the tree. The tree will continue to grow and change throughout the exhibition. 10am-6pm daily, Gayfield Creative Spaces, Gayfield Square. Ends 5^th July 2016.

Off The Record – Edinburgh: music industry advice from those in the business. Off the Record is for young musicians and those who want to work in the music industry, and is open to anyone aged 14-25. The event will feature key figures from the music business taking part in seminars, workshops and advice sessions (including Organising & Getting Gigs, Promoting Your Music, Working In Music and Releasing Music) – all geared to demystifying the industry and providing knowledge to get started. Under 18s must bring a completed parental consent form; this can be downloaded from the Eventbrite page, which also has full details of all speakers. 10.30am-5pm, Out of the Blue, 36 Dalmeny Street. Tickets cost £2 and must be bought in advance via Eventbrite here. If you are unable to purchase online, contact emily@widedays.com. Off The Record is supported by the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative (YMI) programme, which is administered by Creative Scotland.

Norman Gilbert: an exhibition of paintings by the renowned Glasgow-based artist. Norman Gilbert was born in Trinidad to Scottish parents in 1926 and attended the Glasgow School of Art. In 1967 the Upper Grosvenor Gallery staged his first exhibition and in 1974 Gilbert’s work was the subject of a BBC film as part of ‘SCOPE’, a series of arts programmes presented by the critic and writer W Gordon Smith. Gilbert’s paintings depict his family and friends, seizing on the vitality of the young and their modes. His highly structured images are given form with the use of decorative pattern and vivid colour, creating a synthesis between figure and space. Opens today 4-6pm, then 11am-5pm Tuesday to Saturday, The Sutton Gallery, 18a Dundas Street. Ends 23^rd July. Image: The Coal Cellar © Norman Gilbert.

Tiger Tales: stories and crafts for ages 4-7. 11am today and every Saturday, Currie Library, 210 Lanark Road. Free.

Surrealist Saturday Family Day: enjoy a weird and wonderful spectacle at Modern One! An afternoon full of free activities for children inside and out – be transformed into a real-life Dalí or Magritte with surreal face-painting, invent new colours with the Colour Collectors, marvel at the roaming circus performers or have a Surreal Adventure in the exhibition themed play area. Inside, join storytelling duo Louna Productions for a surrealist spectacular! Listen to tales about awesome artists and explore the exhibition in a fun and interactive way. Try your hand at surreal costume making with a difference; you’ll be designing using a game of chance – roll the dice to see what costume you’ll make!  You can also become a surreal collector using the gallery’s trail. Picnic lunches will be available from the café to enjoy in the sculpture garden. Modern One is also offering a special family ticket with exhibition entry (see website for details). 1-4pm, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art ONE, Belford Road. Free, drop-in, no booking required. Image © Spudd Connor.

Portrait Gallery Thematic Tours: The William Hole Murals. Freelance lecturer Susanna Kerr looks at William Hole’s mural scheme for the Portrait Gallery, focusing on the artist’s career, driven by his passion for history, astronomy and a deep religious faith. 2-2.45pm or 3-3.45pm, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free, no booking required.

Saturday Session: Rob Senior. Rob plays a unique and rare percussion instrument, the Handpan. Handcrafted out of steel with a striking ‘UFO’ shape, the Handpan creates soft beautiful tones comparable to a harp and is, unlike most modern musical instruments, fully acoustic. It is a melodic instrument which has a peaceful yet dynamic sound. 3.30pm, Sofi’s Bar, Henderson Street.

Creating Forms: taking inspiration from work by Antony Gormley involving cast forms, explore your creativity by making a sculpture from wire and clay. For families. 2-4pm (drop-in – you can stay for the whole two hours or just part of the session), City Art Centre, 2 Market Street. Free – a donation of £2 per person would be appreciated.

Byre Opera: Turn of the Screw. The University of St Andrews’ resident opera company performs a semi-staged, concert version of Britten’s chamber opera. 3pm (doors open 2.30pm), St Andrew’s & St George’s West Church, 13 George Street. Free admission.

Picturehouses Culture Shock: the best in cult and genre films. Today: ET The Extra-Terrestrial (U). A little lost alien, three million light years away from home. A lonely ten-year old boy willing to take him home. Perhaps the best-loved family film of all time, Steven Spielberg’s hugely influential 1982 tale of a stranded alien still strikes a chord with audiences everywhere, and is both an exciting sci-fi adventure and a remarkable and moving portrait of childhood. 3pm, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0871 902 5723 or online.

Annie Fletcher: as part of Method Maker (a week-long collective enquiry considering different research methodologies and how they inform artistic production), Annie Fletcher (Chief Curator of Exhibitions at the Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven, and tutor at De Appel, Amsterdam) will discuss her curatorial practice in relation to observation, artistic practice and knowledge production. 3pm, Collective Gallery, City Observatory and City Dome, 38 Calton Hill. Free: open to all.

On Root: Travelling Identities in Colombian Cinema Presents Bogotá, Bacatá, Who Knows + The Wind Journeys (Winner of the City of Rome Award at Cannes Film Festival 2009). Go on a journey along the musical territories of the Caribbean coast, down to Cali’s underground culture, up again onto the Andean mountains and back to early twentieth century Bogotá. On Root: Travelling Identities in Colombian Cinema is a showcase of recent film productions from Colombia. By looking away from the stereotypes that still constitute much of our knowledge about Colombia, this film programme, curated by MSc students in Film, Exhibition & Curation at the University of Edinburgh with the support of the Colombian Embassy in the UK, aims to help in shaping an informed and enriched image of this nation. 6pm, Grassmarket Community Project, 86 Candlemaker Row. All welcome, free admission: donations very welcome!

Happy Birthday Olivia! Special screenings to celebrate the 100th birthday of the wonderful Olivia de Havilland – star of stage and the Hollywood Golden Age, whose outstanding career spanned over 50 years in some truly memorable and important roles. Today: Gone with the Wind (PG): David O Selznick’s production of Margaret Mitchell’s best-seller remains the pinnacle of polished Hollywood storytelling, successfully balancing an American Civil War backdrop with the more intimate story of Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh), a petulant belle wreaking havoc on others in her pursuit of Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard) and her dealings with Rhett Butler (Clark Gable). 3.30pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online. The next film in this short season is The Adventures of Robin Hood (U) showing at 6.10pm on Sunday 3^rd July.

https://youtu.be/kq31yXOcOEw

Men with Coconuts: Harry Gooch and Steve Worsley from Scotland’s foremost musical improv comedy troupe present 90 minutes of improvised games and scenes, with live piano accompaniment. Unplanned, unscripted and unbelievable! 8pm, Netherbow Theatre, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 45 High Street. Tickets cost £8/£6 and are available from the Box Office in person, by calling 0131 556 9579 or online here.

Architecture Fringe: Power. As part of this year’s Architecture Fringe programme, this special event will investigate where power lies within our architectural environment. Tackling a series of significant industry issues head-on, speakers will lead discussions on the concept of power within the context of Scottish architecture. Who has the clout and control within the industry, and how does this affect architectural output? With responses from Scotland and beyond, Architecture Fringe presents an evening of 7- minute motions, focusing on the relationship between architecture and the various forms of power that surround it. With contributions from Euan Leitch, Malcolm Fraser, Grace Mark, Lee Ivett and Sarah Drummond. 7-9pm, Out of the Blue, 36 Dalmeny Street. Free but ticketed; please book via Eventbrite here.

Neu! Reekie! Summer Squeeze: Scotland’s ‘favourite avant-garde noisemakers’ present Law (Lauren Holt), Rebecca Perry, Alan Bissett (The Moira Monologues) and Kevin Williamson (Louis MacNeice: Triumph of The Will). 7.30-11pm, Pilrig St Pauls’ Church, Pilrig Street. Tickets £8/£6 + service fee from Brown Paper Tickets here. Advance booking is highly recommended.

The Choir That Rocks Live:  an uplifting and exhilarating performance by the UK’s favourite contemporary choir. Over 200 Rock Choir members from Edinburgh led by Rock Choir Leader Elaine Williamson will be performing a selection of fun, upbeat, feel-good songs from the Rock Choir repertoire. Rock Choir has over 20,000 members in more than 300 local communities nationwide. It offers an alternative experience to the traditional classical or community choir, pioneering a new approach to vocal training and entertainment. It offers the general public the chance to sing pop, rock and chart songs with no entry audition, no requirements to read music or to have any previous singing experience. New members are always very welcome. 7.30pm, Assembly Rooms, 54 George Street. Tickets £11 (+ booking fee) from The Queen’s Hall Box Office on 0131 668 2019 or online here.

Scots Music Group Ceilidh with Ceilid Caleerie Dance Band. 7.30pm (doors open), dancing from 8pm, St Bride’s Centre, Orwell Terrace, Dalry. Tickets cost £9/£7 in advance from the Scots Music Group here or St Bride’s Box Office on 0131 346 1405, £10 on the door subject to availability. Advance booking is highly recommended.    

Linlithgow Jazz Club: Janet Seidel Trio. ‘Australia’s first lady of Jazz singing’ (Penguin Guide to Jazz UK) vocalist/pianist Janet Seidel is a seasoned live performer and has 18 CDs to her name. Janet has been performing jazz oriented material, and the Great American Songbook in particular, since her High School and University days in South Australia in the 1970s. Her brother David worked as bassist and guitarist with a great variety of local and world renowned artists in his own right before forming Janet’s first trio, along with Adelaide’s legendary drummer Billy Ross, in the early 1980s; subsequently they have been fortunate to work with some great Australian jazz musicians. 7.30pm (doors open 7pm), St Michael’s RC Church Hall (Queen Margaret’s Hall), Blackness Road, Linlithgow. Tickets £12. The club provides tea and coffee (donations welcomed) and you are free to bring your own drinks (alcoholic or non-alcoholic), glasses and snacks. Bring your dancing feet and come prepared to quickstep, foxtrot, jive or swing or just do your own thing – or if you prefer, just relax and enjoy some great music.

Carbona Not Glue: Ramones tribute band. Come along to get bopping to some great Ramones tunes; as it is 40 years since the first Ramones album was released, the band will be doing a special set – which will be the first album, all 29 minutes of it. They promise a very special second set too! 8pm, Leith Depot, 138 Leith Walk.

SUNDAY 2nd JULY 2016

Fruitmarket Book Group: an informal Sunday morning group, this month reading Bret Easton Ellis and Other Dogs by Lina Wolff. At a brothel in Caudal, Spain, the prostitutes are collecting stray dogs, each named after a famous male writer: Dante, Chaucer, Bret Easton Ellis. In Barcelona, a teenage girl is endeavouring to trace the peculiarities of her life back to one woman: Alba Cambó, who left Caudal as a girl and never went back. Bret Easton Ellis and Other Dogs is a black and Bolaño-esque take on the limitations of love in a dog-eat-dog world – come and discuss it over brunch or coffee from the Fruitmarket Café. For ages 16+. 10–11am, Café, Fruitmarket Gallery, Market Street. Free but please book via Eventbrite here.

Filmhouse Junior: films for a younger audience. This week: Who Killed Nelson Nutmeg? (PG):  Four bright, mischievous kids – Billie, The Colonel, Woody and Shiv – go on their annual summer holiday to a rather disappointing family camp, the only highlight being its costumed squirrel mascot – the hyperactive and unpredictable Nelson Nutmeg. The game is afoot in this funny and charming family adventure when Billie witnesses Nelson Nutmeg being pushed off a cliff by a mysterious assailant, and the four children set to out to investigate…11am, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets cost £4 per person, big or small.

Art Explorers: Rain Forest Orchestra. Be inspired to make your own work of art, using a wide range of colourful and tactile materials, as you explore the beauty of the Garden. Create rain sticks and shakers from amazing plant materials. With Greengage Arts. 1-4pm, Real Life Science Studio, John Hope Gateway, Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, Inverleith Row. £3 on the door, no booking required.

Picturehouses Vintage Sundays: classic films back on the big screen. Today: Delicatessen (15). In this post-apocalyptic black comedy, the landlord of an apartment building occasionally prepares a special delicacy for his odd tenants. 1pm, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0871 902 5723 or online.

Scotland’s Gardens: Tyninghame House and the Walled Garden. 17th century pink sandstone house; gardens include herbaceous border. formal rose garden, Lady Haddington’s Secret Garden, and extensive ‘wilderness’ spring garden, and a one mile beech avenue to the sea. The formal walled garden combines the lawn, sculpture and yew hedges, an ‘apple walk’, extensive herbaceous planting and an informal arboretum. Refreshments available. 1-5pm, Tyninghame House, Tyninghame Village. Admission £5 (children free) of which 40% goes to The Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research (University of Edinburgh) and the net remainder to SG beneficiaries. For more information and directions click here.

Joe Gilhooley Photography: amateur photographer Joe is based in Loanhead and has a keen interest in all areas of photography, from landscapes to fireworks. Opening – to which all are welcome, and at which you can meet Joe – 2-4pm today, then 10am-4pm Monday to Saturday, Penicuik Community Arts, 4 West Street, Penicuik. Ends 6^th August.

Imperial College Big Band: yes, there’s more to Imperial College than science (!) – this 17-piece student Big Band regularly performs top quality jazz in and around the capital, as well as special appearances in the London Jazz Festival, and tours to Prague, Budapest and Bucharest. This year they are travelling the length and breadth of the UK, showing off their great repertoire of swing, jazz and funk. 3-5.30pm, The Jazz Bar, 1a Chambers Street. £3; please note that this venue is strictly cash only.

Discover Arts: Leonardo Da Vinci: The Genius in Milan. In Spring 2015, Milan paid tribute to Leonardo Da Vinci by holding an extraordinary exhibition event at the Palazzo Reale. Leonardo Da Vinci: The Genius In Milan explores his work as never seen before, telling the story of the artist’s world and the treasures he left us. Pietro Marani, curator of the 2015 exhibition, and some of the world’s leading experts on Leonardo tell a story that could open new perspectives and reveal extraordinary things about Leonardo Da Vinci the painter, sculptor, scientist, anatomist, botanist and architect. 4pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online.

Meet Ted Brack: Time for Heroes. The author will sign copies of his new book, Time for Heroes: A Celebration of Hibs Glorious 2016 Scottish Cup Victory, in which he relives the events of a tumultuous campaign, from the agony of a League Cup final defeat and the race for promotion to the ecstasy of Scottish Cup glory on a day that will never be forgotten. 2-3pm, Waterstones Ocean Terminal, Ocean Drive.

Art Maker – July: join the Art Maker Club and make your own masterpieces with artists Tessa Asquith-Lamb and Louise Fraser. For ages 4-12. 2-4pm, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed. Supported by the Friends of the National Galleries of Scotland.

St Giles’ at Six: The Fourth Presbyterian Church Chicago Touring Choir: Sacred Choral Music of America. An a cappella programme with music by Stephen Paulus, René Clausen, Dave Brubeck, Moses Hogan and many others. Director: John Sherer. 6pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free: retiring collection.

Happy Birthday Olivia! Special screenings to celebrate the 100th birthday of the wonderful Olivia de Havilland – star of stage and the Hollywood Golden Age, whose outstanding career spanned over 50 years in some truly memorable and important roles. Today: The Adventures of Robin Hood (U): dashing Errol Flynn is the definitive Robin Hood in the most gloriously swashbuckling version of the legendary story. Decadent Prince John (Claude Rains) takes advantage of King Richard’s absence to tax the country into poverty, but meets his match in rebel Robin Hood and his Merry Men, who are on a mission to steal from the rich and give to the poor. 6.10pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online. The last film in this short season is The Snake Pit (12A) showing at 6pm on Monday 4th July.

Nitekirk: one evening each month, Nitekirk provides a creative, drop-in experience of church. This ministry, rooted in Greyfriars Kirk and supported by its local ecumenical partners, seeks to create a welcoming sacred space for all. The church will be lit with candles, the atmosphere contemplative. There will be a time of reflection, gentle music and, throughout the sanctuary, places of activity – pictures to consider, Scripture, prayers and poems to read, something to feel with your hands, art supplies to focus your creativity. People come and go as they like, joining in songs and quiet conversations or sitting in silence and enjoying the space. 5-8pm, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. All welcome. ‘A place of welcome, a space for stillness, a pause on your journey, an open door’.

Singers Night with Maria Speight: great jazzy, Blues/Gospel/Swing vocals from the effervescent ex-Alabama songstress, backed by a top-class piano/bass/drums jazz trio, with Huw Rees (piano), Iain Harkness (bass) and Dave Hunter (drums). 9pm (entry from 8pm), The Jazz Bar, 1a Chambers Street. £5/£4; please note that this venue is strictly cash only.

Earlier today The National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCoS) performed at Edinburgh Airport just ahead of their US tour.

The performance, in Edinburgh Airport’s Plaza, which featured 77 male and female singers, was a double birthday celebration as it also marked Edinburgh Airport’s ongoing centenary celebrations.

Christopher Bell, NYCoS Artistic Director, said: “We’re celebrating our 20th anniversary in style. Invitations from the world’s leading festivals and conductors to perform internationally cannot be bought; they are based on high quality and reputation. NYCoS is privileged and honoured to be regarded on such a professional level.

“It is a joy to share a double birthday celebration with Edinburgh Airport on the first day of so many people’s summer holidays.”

Gordon Dewar, Edinburgh Airport’s Chief Executive, said: “The talented young men and women of NYCoS are a credit to the country and I am delighted that Edinburgh Airport is the point where they depart Scotland for their US tour.

“It is has also been a real treat for everyone here – including our unsuspecting passengers – to be sung to on our 100^th birthday by this internationally acclaimed choir.”

The choir is artistically led by Christopher Bell of Festival Chorus fame and membership is open to all of those under 25 who want to sing.

Find out more about the NYCoS here.

A 32-year-old motorcyclist suffered serious head injuries after a collision with a Nissan Qashqai on Ferry Road Drive, Edinburgh, at around 5pm last night.

The drivers of both vehicles were taken to hospital.

A police spokesman said: “Police responded to a road collision involving a motorcycle and a Nissan Qashqai car in Ferry Road Drive.

“The incident happened around 5.05pm on Thursday and resulted in the 32-year-old male rider sustaining significant head injuries.

“He has been taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh where he is in a serious condition.

“The 58-year-old driver of the Nissan was also taken to hospital for treatment to minor injuries.

Approval was given for the King’s Stables Road development earlier today at the end of the council’s Development Management committee meeting which went on for three hours.

Councillors voted 11-3 in favour of the proposals to transform part of King’s Stables Road with what is called a ‘landmark development’ by the joint venture group behind it.

Cllr Alex Lunn said: “There are a couple of aspects that I am not so happy with. My fear would be that if we were talking about 3 and 4 bedroom houses down there then this would turn into HMO territory. I am glad that there is enough wiggle room for the developer to turn the studio flats into bigger units. I am relieved that the gates are going. It is not something I am particularly keen on.”

Cllr Joanna Mowat objected to the development and the housing mix, seconded by Councillor Nigel Bagshaw.  She said:  “I think the developers have come a long way, but the use is heavily weighted towards commercial. Looking at this, and speaking to the residents there are too many things where it is on a knife edge. This is a very sensitive part of town.

“These are small dark single aspect studios, and they are against everything we try to do in providing high quality housing. What would be of real value here is the courtyard which is a quiet area. The residents will not have a quiet side to their property which can make for stressful living. I think there have been welcome improvements but I still think there are too many compromises. Some of the design decisions made here are not in keeping.”

Cllr Bagshaw said that the objectors were wrong about the adverse impact of student accommodation, but agreed with Cllr Lunn that it would be an improvement that the gates are removed.

Cllr Perry the Planning Convener insisted that the question of affordable housing must come back to the committee in respect of this development.

The developer is Peveril Securities alongside Campus Development Management who propose to build student accommodation, a hotel, residential units, and a range of commercial units on the ground floor of the scheme.

The area outside the development will also be improved by using the courtyard to form new routes through the development and improvements to the setting of King’s Bridge.

There will be 59 residential units, a 92 bedroom boutique hotel, 167 student flats, an arts facility, and a range of commercial units.

This site is one of the 12 priority sites identified by the council as one of the dozen priority sites across the city which will be vital to its economic future. The site is owned by the council and has been vacant since 2009. It has been used by Hidden Door as a site for their week long arts festival in the last couple of years, and clearly that has been a good way of showing the council what could be done with the area. The developers say they want to make it a destination in its own right which will benefit the neighbouring businesses and help the council’s hopes for a new cultural quarter in this area.

Charles Vyvyan from Campus Development Management, said: “We are clearly delighted to have received the green light for our proposals.

“This is an exciting mixed use development which is proving very attractive to potential residents and occupiers alike, and will revitalise this neglected part of the City Centre.

“This part of the Grassmarket is not viewed in a particularly attractive light and our exciting proposals will breathe much-needed life into this part of the Old Town providing residential flats, a hotel, student accommodation, and facilities to accommodate and promote the arts.”

You can see all the planning information about this development here. 

As always The Queen’s Hall has a wide range of music on offer this August.

All bookings can be made online or by telephone 0131 668 2019

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Jonelle Caraballo launches Edinburgh’s 2016 Festival Carnival.

Details of this year’s programme will be announced on the afternoon of 1st July.

This year’s Carnival will feature over 700 performers from all over the world with drummers, pipers, jugglers, marching bands, dancers, costumes, circus acrobats, giant puppets, and face painters, creating a unique spectacle in the centre of Edinburgh.

Organisers are also looking for a host of people to get involved as costume wearers, dancers, stewards, photographers, tweeters and more.

For up-to-date news and more information, visit http://www.edinburghjazzfestival.com./

Following a police operation on Thursday 30 June 2016, officers have arrested a further four people in relation to the alleged violence and disorder at the Scottish Cup Final on Saturday 21 May 2016 when Hibs won the Scottish Cup.

After the victory there was a pitch invasion which appeared to involve fans from both sides.

During Thursday 30 June, officers attended a number of addresses in the Glasgow, Renfrewshire and Edinburgh areas.  Four men, aged 23, 24, 46 and 50 have been arrested and are presently detained in police custody.

This latest operation brings the total number of arrests to 38. The men have been arrested for alleged assaults and disorder.

Detective Superintendent Kenny Graham who is leading the investigation, said:

“This investigation is extensive and involves a significant number of people. My officers remain committed to identifying and arresting those involved in the violence and disorder that occurred on 21 May.

“As our investigation progresses, there will be further arrests and continued police action to track down those responsible. I would ask if anyone has any information or knowledge about people involved or for anyone with information, including footage or images, to contact us.”

Anyone with information can link in with the inquiry team on 0141 532 5457 or by emailingscottishcupfinalpitchinvasion@scotland.pnn.police.uk.

Alternatively, members of the public can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, where information can be provided anonymously.

• Edinburgh Leisure want you to JOIN IN! 
• Blind and partially sighted people to join Edinburgh Riding tomorrow
• Breakfast ice-cream proves popular for Mackies
• New coffee shop for New Waverley
• Ian Murray mentions Contalmaison at Westminster

Today in The Meadows there will be one almighty sports day courtesy of Edinburgh Leisure who are putting everything on for free.

At the free ‘Join In’ event, children can kick off their summer with American Football, or get into the swing of things with tennis. Old favourites like football, gymnastics and cycling will also be available for youngsters to try as well as football speed shot, tug of war, volleyball and much more. Sport experts will also be present to help them get the most out of their day in the beautiful green setting of the Meadows.

More information here. 

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Twenty blind and partially sighted people are to take part in the Riding procession to mark the opening of the Scottish Parliament tomorrow.

They are all members, volunteers or employees of RNIB, the charity which campaigns for those with sight loss. There will be around 2,000 people in the riding including community groups, MSPs, musicians and entertainers.

This modern version of the Riding is based on that which first took place in the 17th century held at the opening of each opening of the Scottish Parliament until 1707.

Sandra Wilson, chair of RNIB Scotland, said: “It’s great to be part of the Riding and look forward to engaging with the Scottish Parliament in this session as constructively as we have in the past.

“It’s apt than one of the campaigns we are pursuing just now is on the need to keep our streets more free of clutter, which can often pose a real hazard to people who have difficulty seeing.”

Last week at the Royal Highland Show the ice cream company Mackie’s sold out of their breakfast flavour ice cream. Flavoured with chunks of bacon the treat sold out in two days.

But the black pudding and apple version proved a little more difficult to get used to, although with a further 30 flavours on offer there was plenty to choose from. Some of the freshly made ice cream included Gin and Tonic, Toffee Fudge, Rocky Road, Banana and Smarties, Blue Bubblegum and Scottish favourite, Cranachan.

Mackies have invested in a state of the art gelato machine in their development kitchen which makes all the different flavours easy to produce.

Cathie Fraser, who has been with the family-owned business for 28 years, said she was amazed by the public appetite for the bacon, maple syrup and pancake ice cream at the event which ran from Thursday to Sunday.

The sales and events manager added: “We know visitors are happy to taste test small samples of just about any interesting flavour, whether they think they will love it or loathe it.

“But what amazed us about the bacon, maple syrup and pancake flavour was that people loved it so much they were then ordering tubs or cones of it. In fact we sold hundreds of scoops and were completely sold out by the Saturday.

“Of course, the maple syrup made it a sweet ice cream while pancakes are very trendy at the moment, so it went down much better than we could have expected.”

Despite the range of unusual flavours treat-loving Scots still stuck to the reliable favourites which Mackie’s is renowned for, with sales of its Traditional flavour outselling everything else. The next most popular flavours were Honeycomb, Scottish Tablet, Salted Caramel and Lemon Meringue.

Another Costa outlet has opened in Edinburgh, this time in the newest development in town at New Waverley. The £150 million reworking of the Old Town includes a Premier Inn, and an Adagio Aparthotel with 400 rooms between them, the Waverley Arches which are converted into shops, cafes and restaurants, comprising mainly independent little businesses and plans for 220 flats.

Now Costa is being added into the mix.

Artisan’s project Direct Clive Wilding added: “Costa Coffee is the biggest coffee shop name in the UK right now. To have a hugely popular brand like that in the heart of our development is yet another endorsement of the potential for New Waverley to build a thriving and sustainable destination right in the heart of the city centre, linking Waverley Station with the iconic Royal Mile.”

For more information, visit costa.co.uk and www.newwaverley.com

Ian Murray Labour MP for Edinburgh South mentioned Contalmaison in Westminster on Wednesday evening in this speech:

I apologise to the House for not being present earlier, but I had other commitments. Will the Minister join me in congratulating McCrae’s Battalion Trust, which built a cairn in the French village of Contalmaison in 2003 to commemorate the deaths of the Edinburgh men and women killed on 1 July 1916, and whose members are going on their annual pilgrimage this week? We owe a great deal of respect to the people who continue to make these pilgrimages to the Somme to remember those who fought and made the ultimate sacrifice.

Councillor Norman Work who is a Bailie in the city has gone to Contalmaison to represent the city at the commemorations there later today. A street just next to the Usher Hall was renamed McCrae’s Place, and a commemorative flagstone was laid there in November 2014.

The Sportsman’s Battalion, as it came to be known, included 800 men from Edinburgh, some of whom were professional footballers with Hearts.

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The centenary of the Battle of the Somme will be commemorated at Edinburgh Castle overnight with a vigil in the Scottish National War Memorial there.

There are further remembrance events at Contalmaison in France where so many men from Edinburgh died. More than a million men were wounded or killed during the battle there, and almost half of those were in the British Army. On the first day 57,470 casualties fell and 19,240 of those died.

The First Minister, who will be attending the remembrance event at the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing in France, said:

“It is now exactly one hundred years since the start of the Battle of the Somme – the opening day of which has gone down in history as one of the bloodiest in the history of armed conflict.

“Fifty-one Scottish battalions were involved, and the losses suffered by those units – and those from the other countries involved – were on an almost unimaginable scale.

“Barely a single community in Scotland was left untouched by the battle. Across Scotland communities are now remembering those who gave their lives, and a whole century on from the devastation and suffering of the Battle of the Somme, we should all reflect on the horrors of the Great War and give thanks that our continent now lives in peace.”

Commemorating the first day of the Battle of the Somme in Contalmaison, where the 15th and 16th Battalions of the Royal Scots fought, Veterans Secretary Keith Brown said:

“The courage and sacrifice of those who fought in the Battle of the Somme should never be forgotten. The McCrae’s Battalion Trust is to be congratulated for its commitment to and dedication in honouring those of the Edinburgh 15th and 16th Battalions of the Royal Scots who fell in the battle. Today we reflect on and remember the supreme sacrifice of McCrae’s Battalion and the others who lost their lives at the Somme.”

Heart of Midlothian 2  FC Infonet 1

Europa League First Qualifying Round, First Leg – Thursday 30 June 2016 – Tynecastle

Such is Scottish football’s standing in Europe, two of this season’s Europa League participants – Hearts and Aberdeen – found themselves beginning their 2016/17 campaign in the month of June.

Hearts welcomed Estonian side FC Infonet to Tynecastle on Thursday evening. Initially, Hearts weren’t expecting a big crowd and had planned on opening just the Wheatfield and Gorgie stands but such is the demand to watch the Maroons these days, the huge interest in the game meant Hearts opened most parts of the ground.

Hearts Head Coach Robbie Neilson gave debuts to new signings Faycal Rherras and Conor Sammon with 22 year old Jack Hamilton at last getting the chance to establish himself as a goalkeeper of some standing, maintaining a Tynecastle tradition of producing high quality goalies.

Despite the club’s initial fears of a small attendance, more than 14,000 Hearts fans headed to Gorgie on the eve of the Edinburgh Trades Fortnight – with the away support numbering just two (but kudos to those two individuals who made the trip from Tallinn)

It has to be said the anticipation of the fans was not matched by the display on the field. This was Hearts first competitive match of the new campaign and, boy, did it show. The Maroons looked edgy and out of sorts from the off with misplaced passes and half-hearted challenges aplenty. A mistake from Callum Paterson gave Harin an early chance but he snatched at the ball and the chance was gone.

It was an early warning sign that Hearts failed to take heed. After Juanma headed Paterson’s cross from the right just inches wide, the Estonians, rapidly gaining in confidence, took the lead in the 20^th minute. A cross into the Hearts penalty box found the dangerous Harin on his own and his brilliant finish eluded Hamilton to give FC Infonet a shock lead.

The home support were stunned. However, six minutes later, Juanma’s chip into the FC Infonet penalty box was handled by Avilov. Prince Buaben made no mistake with the penalty box and Hearts were level.

Ten minutes later, the home side were in front. A corner from Jamie Walker was turned across goal by Paterson and was deflected off Kalimullin and the ball trundled into the net. The relief around Tynecastle  – bar two hardy souls in the Roseburn Stand – was palpable.

The visitors had a chance to equalise when Kruglov unleashed a ferocious effort on goal which Jack Hamilton did brilliantly to keep out.

Half-time Hearts 2 FC Infonet 1

The second half was, to be frank, poor fayre. FC Infonet were dangerous on the break and, worryingly, looked to have more ideas than Hearts with what to do with the ball.

The Estonians are midway through their season and were considerably sharper than their hosts. Hearts can perform so much better and they will need to in next Wednesday’s return leg in Tallinn if they are to progress in the competition beyond the Edinburgh Trades Fortnight.

Hearts Head Coach Robbie Neilson was in typically philosophical mood after the game.

“They sat in and made it difficult for us,” Neilson told BBC Scotland. “We were just wee bit off it, but it will come and we’ll be another week stronger and hopefully ready to go over there and take advantage of the lead we’ve got.

“To go one behind, it shows good character to come back again. It took the players a wee bit to get that competitive edge, but second half we were better.

“People look at these teams and say, ‘it’s Estonia’, but they’re tough teams, they’ve got good players, international players. It’s going to be a tough game over there.

“We’re ahead in the tie, it’s halfway and we’ve still got a lot of work to do. We’ll have another week’s pre-season under our belt and we’ll be another week sharper.”

Hearts: Hamilton, Paterson, Ozturk, Souttar, Rherras, Nicholson, Djoum, Buaben (Kitchen, 76′), Walker, Juanma (King, 64′), Sammon.

Infonet: Igonen, Kalimullin, Avilov, Appiah, Volodin, Voskoboinikov, Harin (Kulinits, 82′), Mosnikov, Kruglov, Dmitrijev, Mashichev (Haminu, 60′).

Referee: Vilhjalmur Alvar Thorarinsson

Att: 14,417

Top man: Jack Hamilton

A man responsible for the distribution of Class A drugs throughout the Lothians and Scottish Borders has been convicted.

At the High Court in Livingston today, George Thompson was found guilty of offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act after police recovered large quantities of cocaine and amphetamine in 2014.

On Friday 20th November, the 59-year-old’s Transit van was stopped on the A7 near to Heriot village, where a half-kilo of cocaine was found within.

Several addresses within West Lothian, which were linked to Thompson, were subsequently searched resulting in the seizure of three further kilos of cocaine along with dealer quantities of amphetamine.

The total value of the recovered drugs was in excess of £500,000. Thompson is due to be sentenced on 5th August.

Detective Chief Inspector Kenny Gray from the East Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit said: “There is no doubt that George Thomson was heavily involved in the distribution of drugs throughout the Lothians and Scottish Borders, given the significant quantity of Class A drugs we seized from vehicles and properties linked to him.

“The cocaine was of a very high-purity and we are delighted to have recovered it before it could cause untold harm to our communities.

“Tackling drug crime is a priority for Police Scotland and we robustly gather and investigate all intelligence from the public relating to those involved in offences of this nature.

“If you wish to report ongoing criminal activity in your area then please contact Police Scotland on 101 or make an anonymous report via the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Police are searching for a missing 14-year-old boy, Kaylume Ramage, who was last seen on Telford Road in the north of the city on Wednesday, June 22, at around 11.30am.

He has not returned to his home in Howdenhall and police are growing concerned for his welfare.

Kaylume has a fair complexion and a shaved head. He has a slim build and is 5ft 9in. He was last seen wearing a black beanie hat, white T-shirt, a grey tracksuit top that was tied round his waist, grey tracksuit bottoms and dark trainers.

The teenager frequently visits Drylaw and Muirhouse in the north Edinburgh and is believed to have travelled to these areas.

Anyone with information about Kaylume’s whereabouts is urged to contact Police Scotland on 101.

Police are appealing for information to help trace a 62-year-old woman reported missing.

Christine Thomson, who lives in Niddrie, was last seen by family in the Dunbar area around 7.15pm on Wednesday (June 29).

Christine has not been in touch with her friends or family since and concern is now growing for her welfare.

Officers are currently looking into reports she may have been within the Nicolson Street area of Edinburgh at around 2pm on Thursday (June 30th).

Anyone who believes they may have seen her, or knows her current whereabouts is asked to come forward.

Christine is described as white, of medium build, 5ft 6inches tall, with grey/white hair in a short bob, brown eyes and glasses. She was last seen wearing a pink shirt, black ¾ length raincoat, black trousers, black patent shoes with a bronze buckle and carrying a black handbag.

Inspector Norman Towler of Craigmillar said: “We’re conducting a number of enquiries in Edinburgh and East Lothian in an effort to trace Christine

“We’d appeal for the public’s assistance and ask anyone who believes they may have seen Christine since Wednesday evening to get in touch.

“If Christine hears this appeal I would urge her to contact us or her family, who are very worried about her, and let us know that she is safe and well.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101″

SNP Councillor Frank Ross represents the Corstorphine and Murrayfield Ward and he is also Deputy Leader of the council.

He writes:

“Over recent years there is evidence to indicate that Scotland has become more accepting of the diversity of individuals and communities, and that in many areas citizen’s rights and equality of opportunity are being enhanced and advanced. Evidence also indicates that discriminatory attitudes have not reduced consistently and that some citizens and communities still experience inequality.

There have however been reports since the  EU referendum result last week of an increase, in different parts of the UK, of incidents of alleged racist abuse or hate crime many citing anti immigration rhetoric.

The effects are most often felt in the BME (black or minority ethnic) and migrant communities but affect all of us who live and work here in the capital, and can have a devastating impact on those on  the receiving end of this type of crime.

This is totally unacceptable and I take this opportunity to reiterate the SNP Group’s view that racism and hate crime are completely unacceptable. We are determined to do all we can to eliminate these and will continue to work in partnership with Police Scotland and other relevant agencies to provide reassurance to ALL Edinburgh citizens.

All Council departments alongside many third sector bodies work tirelessly to combat hate crime, as and when it is detected, and we continue to partner with Police Scotland in this regard especially through the many community officers funded by the Council.

Edinburgh is a vibrant, multicultural capital city. We learn and broaden our experience from the different cultures which live and flourish in this city. Race and hate crime have no place in Edinburgh and we will continue to take all necessary actions to reassure all local communities that their diversity and contribution to our society is as valued as ever.

This weekend at Summerhall there will be wizards and wizardry on display!

The Edinburgh International Magic Festival 2016 starts off with  a weekend of magic at Summerhall including mini magic workshops, mentalism set to hijack your brain and late night magic parties. In this the 7th year of the festival they have even more to offer with Magic School and a Magic A La Carte Dinner, a show by forensic mindreader Colin Cloud and debut performances from those just starting out.

Kevin Quantum, Artistic Director of MagicFest, commented… ‘This year we have arguably one of the greatest living legends in magic, Juan Tamariz, and one of the greatest up-and-coming stars, Hector Mancha, both featuring at the Festival. It’s our biggest line-up to date with the launch of MagicFair, free entry for under 7s, and the addition of a matinee performance at the Gala Show, allowing us to share magic and its top stars with more people than ever before. Watch out for surprises around the city too!’

And if you go to Krispy Kreme you might see some Close Up magic there too!

Here is the full list of what’s on:

MagicFair: 1st – 3rd July | Summerhall | From £12 | Morning – all ages | Afternoon 7+ | Lates 16+

This year’s MagicFest launches with a brand new MagicFair at Summerhall – a weekend-long programme of 20 minute shows and entertainment. This ‘One Ticket In’ event grants visitors entry to up to 10 live magic shows at either family-friendly morning (10am-2pm), afternoon (2-6pm) or Lates (7.30-11.30pm) sessions.

Family oriented morning sessions offer free entry to under 7s, who can enjoy mini magic workshops, wand-crafting, treasure hunts and six different magic shows between exploring a Ribbon Maze and Circus Shop.

Afternoon sessions provide entertainment for everyone aged 7+ with performances from Vincent Gambini, Patrick Lehnan and Lewis Barlow, while Lates sessions are more adult themed with horror magic from Luke Eaton in the Anatomy Room and mind-experimentation from sell-out Scottish mind-reader Colin Cloud. The open-air courtyard becomes the hub of this late night magic party, where guests can soak up the atmosphere and enjoy street food, pop-up bars, music, comedy and impromptu magic until 11.30pm.

Magic and Variety Gala Show: 8th July | Festival Theatre | From £14 | Age 5+
Due to incredible popularity, a matinee performance has been added to this year’s MagicFest Gala, which brings the festival to a splendiferous finale at the magnificent Festival Theatre on Friday 8th July.

Believers and sceptics will be blown away by this two and a half hour variety of breath-taking performances from world champion illusionists, mindreaders, masters of the impossible and confounding magicians from Scotland and around the world. Highlights include South Korean Digital Time Traveller Hun Lee; Alchemist Young Min Kim, who deconstructs matter with the touch of his hand; Scotland’s mindreading equivalent to Sherlock Holmes and sell-out act Colin Cloud; Spanish magic world champion Hector Mancha; and mind-dizzying hula hoop artist Miss Polly Hoops. Funny, heart-warming, thrilling and always delivered with forensic attention to detail, visitors will leave feeling befuddled yet satisfyingly amazed!

The recipient of the Great Lafayette Award 2016, which honours magicians who have excelled in live stage performances, will also be announced during the evening Gala.

 

Magic School & Workshops: 4th – 7th July | Quaker Meeting House | £80/18| 7-10

The most mysterious summer school in the world! This 4-day course or 2.5 hour workshop will bring-out the inherent magic talents of budding young wizards, under the supervision of Head Master Gary James. Magic School students will learn, create and perform their own magic tricks, with each day focussing on a different area of magic and performance, from levitation to vanishing card tricks, with a graduation ceremony and magic show for family on the final day.

Magic à la Carte: 7th July | Tigerlily | £50 | Age 16+

Diners with a taste for the unexplainable can whet their appetite for mystery with a delicious three course meal in the glamorous setting of Tigerlily on George Street, complimented by private table-side performances from TV magic consultant Lewis Barlow, former Scottish Close-up Magician of the Year, Billy Reid and four times Scottish champion Chris Dinwoodie leaving guests’ brains baffled and taste buds tickled.

 

Secret Room: 5th & 6th July | Lauriston Castle | £20/£18 conc | Age 10+

Returning to Lauriston Castle after three years of sell out shows, The Secret Room transports its guests back in time to explore hidden passages and clandestine laboratories with three of Scotland’s finest magicians – Chris Dinewoodie, Drew McAdam and Michael Neto – as they animate the castle’s mysterious and colourful past with stories, performances and illusions.

Special Performances and One-Off Events:

Juan Tamariz: 9th July | George Square Theatre | From £16 | Age 10+

Renowned Spanish magician Juan Tamariz (nicknamed El Maestro for being arguably the most influential contemporary magic magician in the world) joins MagicFest to perform a live public show for the first time ever in Scotland. Juan, who has appeared on the biggest stages around the world, will seduce the audience into his world of wonder through misdirection, manipulation and befuddling card tricks, for which he is best known.

Kevin Quantum: 4th July | Scottish Story Telling Centre | £13/£11 conc | Age 7+

Magician/scientist hybrid Kevin Quantum presents his brand new show “Illuminations” – a showcase of stunning light-based illusions, including the slowing of time using flickering beams, floating will-o’-the-wisps above audience members’ heads and, for the first time ever, the creation of a rainbow live on stage! The Magic Circle magician tutored by Penn & Teller will leave onlookers questioning… where does science end and magic begin?

Colin Cloud: 1st – 3rd July | Summerhall Dissection Room | £18/£16 conc | Age 12+

Showgoers are advised to not think about anything they wouldn’t want Colin to know or reveal as the 5-star forensic mindreader attempts to survive a lethal injection, inviting the audience to join him after the show on the streets of Edinburgh in search of the life-saving antidote.

Colin commented… ‘Every year I work incredibly hard to write, create and perform the most astounding and impactful experiences I’m capable of and, after six successful years, I’m looking forward to sharing what I believe is my strongest and most daring work yet. I’m am also truly excited to have the world debut of my brand new show ‘Exposé’ at the Edinburgh International Magic Festival.’

Tom Gilzean is a charity fundraiser and you will all have spotted him on the High Street or one of his other favourite spots outside Jenners, sitting on his electric scooter shaking his collection tin.

He is 96 years old, but until recently he was out in all weathers raising money.

Councillor Steve Cardownie mentioned him at the Council meeting this morning, as Tom recently had a fairly serious fall at home. He is now in hospital and Councillor Cardownie wanted the Lord Provost and the Council Leader to know about this and perhaps go and visit him.

The Lord Provost will indeed go to see Tom and so if you have a Get Well Soon card then you may drop it off at the Reception at the City Chambers for the Lord Provost to take with him on his visit.

The Lord Provost the Rt Hon Donald Wilson said: “We are all wishing Tom well and hoping he has a speedy recovery. The Royal Mile is a much quieter place when he’s not out there shaking his tin raising thousands for charity!

“He is such a loved character and I’m sure cards and gifts from all over the city would bring a smile to his face. If you would like to send your well wishes – and I urge you to do so – I’d ask you to drop them off at the City Chambers. I’ll hand deliver them to Tom.”

Tom was a recipient of The Edinburgh Award in March 2015, and you will see his handprints in the quadrangle at the City Chambers. He is also a  Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur, an honour bestowed upon him earlier this year. He also received the British Empire Medal in 2013.

Edinburgh cyclist Andrew Dickson has completed two fifth of his 5000 Canadian adventure.

The former Lothian and Borders Police officer is cycling, unsupported across Canada to raise money for the Craig Gowans Memorial Fund, FACE (Fighting Against Cancer Edinburgh) and the Friends of the Sick Kids Foundation.

To donate to these worthy causes click here.

This is Andrew’s story in his own words:

“I called in at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum ‘T.Rex’ Discovery Centre in Eastend. This has the world’s biggest TRex fossilised remains yet discovered. One evening a few days after the scientists realised what they had found, it was felt the specimen should have a name but there was initially no agreement. However as they were celebrating with a bottle of Scotch they all agreed on ‘Scotty’. It’s the truth. The specimen is female and this is the 25 anniversary of the find which occurred about 20 miles from the Centre.

“Yet Another glorious day but in the evening a very active lightning storm could be viewed just to the south.Camped at Cadillac where met a lad Ben Gardiner with Scottish connections. Ben has just inherited his father’s motorcycle and is taking his ashes on a final biking trip across Canada before the scattering somewhere in British Columbia. How nice is that?

“Called into the library at Kincaid and while there was invited to have lunch at the home of Rose and Don Ross. Arrived at their place just before noon and left at 3.30 having been plied with food and coffee. “Thank you for being so kind and hospitable. It will be a pleasure to follow your instructions concerning the gift. Please take care”.

“Was sitting having evening meal in Lafleche when a lightning storm, with accompanying thunder and rain decided to show face. Lasted about 3 hours and luckily I was in a little wooden shelter so was able to view the spectacle

“Called in at the Southern Prairie Railway Preservation Museum (www.southernprairierailway.com) in Ogema. While there a group of dedicated supports and volunteers arrived to give part of the old wooden station some TLC and I was invited to help. Couldn’t turn down that offer.

“Most of Friday was spent on Hwy 13 but at Carlyle decided on a detour north on Hwy 9. Camped beside White Bear Lake and spent a while watching a group of adult geese being very attentive and protective of their young and I couldn’t get anywhere near them.

“If that’s The original Kelso I’ve taken a wrong turn again!!!!! Still, if I am in the Scottish Borders I can always cycle the few miles and stay at the Friends of Nature and SYHA affiliated Kirk Yetholm Hostel and receive the customary warm welcome from owners Simon, Maureen and 4 legged Barney.

“Arrived in Winnipeg on Tuesday to stay with Sharon & Eric (originally from Linlithgow) for a few days.

“Toured the lovely ‘Downtown’ area on Wednesday and saw a few Scottish connections with Winnipeg & Manitoba, including the Selkirk Settlers 1813 monument. By chance the Scottish Diaspora Tapestry is on temporary display in the Manitoba Legislative Building before being returned to Scotland.

“Spent Thursday cycling round Winnipeg before calling in on a social evening with Sharon, Eric, Scott, Megs, Kevin, Mary Agnes and Lloyd. To Llody, “Thanks for your generous donation to the children’s charities involved with my trip. It is really appreciated by all”.

“Left Winnipeg on Friday morning. To Sharon & Eric, “Thank you so much for your kindness, hospitality and generosity. I’m very grateful. I know your donation will be put to good use by the charities involved. Please take care”.

“Followed Highways 15, 11 & 44 to Rennie in lovely weather and camped by the Rennie River just on the edge of town. The most dynamic lightning storm I’ve encountered this trip arrived early evening and it didn’t stop raining until 6am. I was lying in 2″ of water but luckily the tent’s groundsheet wall is 3″ high. Close to 5″ of rain fell in Rennie but another local community received 9. The river went from a small stream to a torrent.

“Visited the Trappers Museum and Alfred Hole ‘Goose Sanctuary’ nearby before heading out again on Hwy 44 but didn’t get far due to flooding. Because of the flooded Hwy 44, on Sunday I had to backtrack 25 miles to Elma before going south on Hwy 11 and east on the Trans Canada Highway.

“Left Manitoba and entered Ontario meaning the same road changed from Hwy 1 to Hwy 17

“Just east of the border I reached the 2000 mile point of my cycle. Just 3000(ish) to go.”

Deputy Chief Constable Ruaraidh Nicolson QPM has issued a statement to reassure Scottish communities following the terrorist attack at Ataturk Airport.

He said: “The events unfolding at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport, Turkey overnight once again demonstrate the indiscriminate manner in which criminal groups attack communities in an attempt to cause division and fear in society. We are shocked by this attack our thoughts are very much with the victims and their families. Police Scotland strongly condemns such atrocious acts of violence.

“I would take this opportunity to reassure Scottish communities that while the threat level for the United Kingdom has been at severe since August 2014, at this time there is no known threat or link between Scotland and these latest events. Police Scotland is committed to keeping people safe and whilst we understand that the public will clearly be appalled by these events, I would urge each and every member of our communities to continue to work together in ensuring that no person or group in Scotland feels marginalised or isolated.

“It is an unfortunate reality that Police Forces around the world often witness an increase in Hate Crime in the immediate aftermath of terrorist attacks; however Police Scotland will continue to work in partnership with all communities to ensure no incident goes unchallenged. It is important to remember that those promoting hatred are in the minority, and we must not allow them to detract from the fact that Scotland is a diverse, multi-cultural and welcoming country, where people are tolerant of each other’s differences. I would urge anyone who has been the victim of, or witness to any Hate Crime to contact Police Scotland and report the incident.

“Please rest assured, Police Scotland continues to work with law enforcement partners around the world to counter the threat from terrorism and we will take all necessary steps to keep Scotland safe.

“I would therefore ask communities across the country to remain alert but not alarmed and to raise any concerns about suspicious activity with Police Scotland on 101, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or in an emergency dial 999”

Police are appealing for witnesses after a pedestrian was struck by double-decker bus in Duddingston yesterday.

The incident happened at around 6:10pm on Duddingston Row near to its junction with Bingham Avenue.

A 33-year-old man was involved in a collision with the Volvo bus as it pulled away from a bus stop on the southbound carriageway resulting in serious leg injuries.

The male driver of the number 4 Lothian Bus service immediately stopped at the scene and the injured man was transferred by ambulance to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh where he remains in the care of medical staff in a stable condition.

Officers from the Road Policing Unit are today urging anyone who witnessed the collision to come forward if not already done so.

Sergeant Kos Papakyriakou of the Road Policing Unit said: “As part of our ongoing inquiries we are keen to hear from any bus passengers, motorists or other members of the public who witnessed this incident and I would urge them to contact police immediately.”

Those with information can contact police on 101 or via the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Christians Against Poverty which has three debt centres in Edinburgh is warning against getting into financial difficulties by spending too much this summer.

And it offers ten tips to help you get through the holidays on a budget. (And if you have others then please put them in the comments section below!)

Staff and volunteers want to remind families of the free or low-cost activities that can be enjoyed instead of putting family finances at risk.

Edinburgh Central Centre Manager Mairi Giles said: “It’s easy to overspend to keep children entertained so we’ve created a few ideas to hopefully give parents a head start.”

Many local councils have activities on offer for children in parks, libraries and sports centres while most museums are free and may have special summer events on offer.

Parents are urged to do their research before the children break up from school.

Mairi said: “Be smart about the summer holidays. Ask yourself are there any free festivals or free sporting events locally? Do your research and make a plan. Decide how much you can afford each week and create a ‘treats fund’ – however small – and talk about it with your children.

“Involve them in how you will spend it – they will appreciate what happens so much more and it’s a great lesson for them.”

Christians Against Poverty has a wealth of knowledge in helping families overcome spiralling debts and encouraging them to live to a budget.

To find out more, visit www.capuk.org or call 0800 328 0006.

 

CAP’S TOP TEN TIPS:

 

1. Make sure you have other parents’ phone numbers before the children break up from school. A play date is the easiest way to entertain – and if the favour is returned, you might win yourself a quiet afternoon!
2. Remember treasure hunts as a kid? Geocaching is the updated version and is the sort of technology that gets you outside and exploring. All you need is a smartphone. Find out more: geocaching.com
3. Looking for a fun and educational trip out? Many of Edinburgh’s castles, museums and galleries are free and put on extra activities for children during the summer holidays. For example, the National Museum of Scotland has craft sessions and opportunities to handle objects from the displays:  nms.ac.uk
4. If you are planning a family day out, avoid expensive cafes by taking your own sandwiches and drinks.  Try a picnic in Princes Street Gardens or down on Portobello beach.
5. Why not visit one of Scotland’s many free and low cost festivals, this summer? Even the Edinburgh Fringe and Edinburgh International Book Festival offer free entry to many events and shows that suit all ages, so it’s worth checking around.
6. Put together a craft box and hide it until you hit a rainy day. Fill it with magazines to cut up, glue, paper or card, string, sweet wrappers, milk tops or anything else you can think of. Get creative!
7. Get baking! It doesn’t have to be expensive. Buns, flapjacks, biscuits – they are all fairly easy and will brighten up a dull afternoon. If you don’t want to put the oven on, find a recipe online for a ‘fridge cake’.
8. Visit someone together – a relative, friend or neighbour who’d like some company. It will brighten their day and give you a change of scene.
9. Become a nature detective! Lots of free work sheets, ideas and venues to discover from the Woodland Trust via naturedetectives.org.uk/summer
10. 10. Competitive child? Check out free 2k runs for children between four and 14 at http://www.parkrun.org.uk/events/juniorevents/

Don’t beat yourself up about not spending all you have on providing holiday for your family.

Even if it’s washing the car together and getting soaked, the most valuable thing you can do is spend time with them.

App-ealing to those who want to use swimming as part of their fitness programme, Edinburgh Leisure is piloting ‘Lane Fit,’ which is their new lane only swimming sessions. And the best way to book your session is by using their app!

The activity is being rolled out at six Edinburgh Leisure sites initially from 1 July, providing more lane swimming opportunities every week across the city.

At the ‘Lane Fit’ sessions, the pool is exclusively programmed for lane swimming  offering slow, medium and fast lanes, making them suitable for all fitness levels and swimming abilities. To enhance the experience, each session will provide floats and pool buoys for swimmers to use and Edinburgh Leisure will be providing guidance on how to use lanes effectively, including lane etiquette.

Shelagh Jackson, Aquatics Manager at Edinburgh Leisure said: “Our customers have told us they’d like more opportunities for lane swimming, whatever their level of fitness and swimming ability. Lane Fit provides this and we’re delighted to offer this pilot in so many of our venues across the city.”

Swimming is an excellent whole body workout and an all-round wonder sport, whatever your age or ability. It improves muscle, tone, strength and improves flexibility. Taking part regularly can reduce your risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and stroke. The support of the water makes it low impact on joints, and done regularly it will improve flexibility and strength.

Edinburgh Leisure offers a swim membership for £33 per month, which gives unlimited swimming across all Edinburgh Leisure pools and access to all of our aquatic fitness classes. Joint, student and 65+ memberships are also available.

For more information:www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/memberships

And if you use the app you will be entered in a competition to win something from Speedo!

• Edinburgh council meeting today
• Edinburgh International Fireworks poster
• Edinburgh International Festival 2016 opening event
• At the Out of the Blue Drill Hall till tomorrow – Lost Spaces
• Scottish PEN event at Holyrood for Raif Badawi

The council will meet this morning at 10am. On the agenda today there are nine questions from councillors, and the council is also set to approve progressing plans for the replacement of the Ross bandstand in Princes Street Gardens.

Mr Norman Springford, founder of Apex Hotels, has indicated that he will donate up to £5 million towards the project.

It is recommended that the council move this project forward, which will incorporate a visitor centre with the new bandstand.

You can watch proceedings from the City Chambers here.

Ailsa Morrison, aged 12 from Edinburgh, Carlotta Ecks, aged 8 from Dunbar, and six pupils aged 5 to 8 from the Language and Communications Class at St Cuthbert’s RC Primary School,  also from Edinburgh, will see their poster designs across Edinburgh in the months leading up to the Virgin Money Fireworks Concert.

The entries from Ailsa and Carlotta, plus the joint design by Jack, Jamie, Basia, Fletcher, Milosz and Cameron from St Cuthbert’s, were praised by judges for capturing the spirit and character of the Fireworks Concert, which forms the spectacular finale to the Edinburgh International Festival, and the city’s summer festival season.

The competition, supported by Virgin Money and Fireworks Concert broadcasters Forth One, is now in its fifth year, and attracted hundreds of entries from children across Edinburgh, the Lothians and Fife.

The winners were announced in a special unveiling at the Virgin Money Lounge, Edinburgh. Forth One DJs Boogie and Arlene from the Breakfast Show judged the entries on their bold, bright colours and shapes.

As well as seeing their designs throughout the city, the winners will enjoy an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the Fireworks set-up site at Edinburgh Castle and win a family ticket to the spectacular concert in Princes Street Gardens on Monday 29 August at 9.30pm.

On Sunday 7 August thousands of people will gather to watch Standard Life Opening Event: Deep Time in the city centre.

Edinburgh’s iconic Castle Rock becomes a window to the past as the city’s dramatic 350 million year history is captured through a kaleidoscope of animation by 59 Productions and the apocalyptic forces of Mogwai’s music.

The event will conclude the first weekend of the International Festival and is free to the public. Tickets are required, however, and will be available from July 11.

At the Out of the Blue Drill Hall they have an exhibition which finishes tomorrow so hurry to catch a glimpse of the work by third and fourth year Architectural Design University of Edinburgh students.

The work has a design reflection of the lost spaces around Easter Road and Leith Walk all in a bit of decay. This is part of the Archi-Fringe Festival which opens tomorrow with a launch party in Glasgow.

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It has now been four years since Saudi Arabian blogger Raif Badawi was imprisoned for questioning the state, and there are still six years left on his sentence. Scottish PEN, the Scottish branch of PEN International, are marking the anniversary of Raif’s sentence by hosting an event this evening in the Scottish Parliament.

Raif is a human rights campaigner from Saudi Arabia who has often spoken out about free speech and secularism. He was charged in 2012 for insulting Islam on his blog, and in 2013 was sentenced to seven years in prison and 600 lashes. This was later increased to 10 years and 1000 lashes. He has so far received 50, and carried out multiple hunger strikes. His family have been forced to seek refuge in Canada, where his wife has been tirelessly campaigning for his release.

The event will contain a series of readings of Raif’s work by valued Scottish writers. We will also hear extracts from other imprisoned writers sponsored by Scottish PEN, including Ashraf Fayadh, the Palestinian poet also based in Saudi Arabia. Liz Niven, Regi Clare, Ron Butlin, Drew Campbell (Scottish PEN president), and and Michael Russell MSP (sponsor of the event) are due to read, with introductions from Jean Rafferty (head of Scottish PEN’s Writers At Risk committee).

This event will highlight Raif’s struggle whilst also amplifying his voice that Saudi Arabian officials have sought to suppress. PEN International, Amnesty International, and many other human rights organisations are campaigning to secure Badawi’s release, and will continue to do so until he is free.

If you are reading this article in print and would like to visit The Edinburgh Reporter website then simply scan the QR code here with a smartphone or tablet.

Deliveroo has struck a new partnership with PizzaExpress which will allow you to have your pizza from any PizzaExpress in Edinburgh delivered straight to your office or home.

All PizzaExpress outlets across the city will be part of the new arrangement, and we are told that the pizzas will cost you the same as they do in the restaurant.

In the first month there will be no delivery charge.

Each order will be made fresh and will then be brought to you by Deliveroo riders within 32 minutes from the time it leaves the kitchen.

Richard Hodgson, CEO, PizzaExpress commented: “It’s been our long standing ambition to deliver our much loved pizza to customers at home; however the challenge has been to find a way to deliver our products nationwide, to restaurant standard.

“Deliveroo is a perfect fit for us, as they are dedicated to providing excellent delivery logistics to the restaurant industry. They can deliver our hand-made pizzas and other dishes quickly and to an excellent standard; ensuring that our customers experience the same dining experience at home as they would in our restaurants.”

Will Shu, Deliveroo co-founder and CEO, said: “PizzaExpress is one of the biggest and best loved restaurant brands in the UK and one of our customers’ favourites. We’re thrilled to be working with them and bringing their delicious food to hungry customers across Edinburgh.”

This is the biggest restaurant partnership which Deliveroo has entered into, and the service will be available across the UK by the end of July.

Deliveroo will send your food order between 12 noon and 11pm. You can order using their App.

A large crowd of demonstrators gathered outside the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday evening to protest against the European Referendum result and show support for Scotland to remain within the EU.

Those attending the event heard from several speakers, including Green MSP Alison Johnstone, spokespersons from Friends of the Earth and the Young European Movement on the lawn outside the Holyrood building.

Estimates by Police Scotland officers on site suggest there were 1500- 2000 people in attendance, a turnout that the organisers called “absolutely incredible”.

Throughout the event many of the speakers echoed the First Minister’s line that “all the options” to keep Scotland within the EU should be explored, although there were a number of applause breaks at any mention of a second Scottish Independence Referendum.

The event was organised by the Edinburgh branch of the Young European Movement, an organisation which seeks to promote pro-Europe sentiment across the UK.

Chief organiser Johnney Rhodes said of the event:

“I’m so proud of the people of Scotland who came out here and are standing up for their European future. What we want now is more marches, more demonstrations and more forums and a noise so loud that no one can ignore that Scotland is European.”

This event is the third of its kind to take place outside Holyrood in the six days since the EU referendum results. There was a twin event, also organised by the YEM, taking place simultaneously in Glasgow’s George Square.

YEM Vice President Liam Beattie described last week’s referendum as “some kind of catalyst” for political engagement for the Scottish public’s interest in Europe, saying:

“Europe is a part of all of us and I think the common bonds we have are on display this evening with all the people of different nationalities who came.”

Asked what he hopes will come from the evening’s demonstrations, Beattie said:

“The overwhelming majority of people in Scotland have expressed that the (EU referendum) outcome is not satisfactory. We’ve given the politicians a mandate and they need to act on it and ensure Scotland can get a better deal out of this.”

Over 121 million passengers travelled on Lothian Buses services in 2015. This is a rise of 3 million on the previous year and bucks the downward trend of bus journeys elsewhere in the country.

The company’s annual report has now been published showing that from its annual income of £142 million the company invested £7.6 million in 20 new low emissions buses which use diesel and electric, and 12 new Euro 6 low emission vehicles for the 100 route to the airport. The operating profit was slightly down on the previous year, but still allowed the bus company to provide a dividend of £5 million to the City of Edinburgh Council who are the main shareholder.

Jim McFarlane, Chair of Lothian Buses, said: “The accounts show that we continue to buck the national trend, once again increasing our passenger numbers and revenue on the strength of the safe, reliable, efficient and highly regarded service that we provide. Our strong performance and effective management of cost pressures also mean that we can again return a £5.5m dividend to the shareholders while also investing more in the next generation of environmentally friendly buses as we aim to reduce our carbon footprint further and improve local air quality. I must commend the whole team, including our drivers, engineers and management, who continue to deliver one of the best bus services in the UK year after year.”

Richard Hall, Managing Director of Lothian Buses, added: “This is a business that has a long track record of delivering high quality services on a foundation of continuing investment and innovation. We need to go forward with this model to maintain our position as one of the country’s leading bus operators. This is important not only for the thousands of customers who use Lothian Buses network of services every day but also for the city as a whole. Our services are essential for the health of both Scotland and Edinburgh’s wider economy.”

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Three designs have been chosen as winners of the Edinburgh International Festival Fireworks Concert Poster competition.

At the Virgin Money Lounge yesterday evening the three winners were announced and their designs unveiled.

The winners are :

Ailsa Morrison (12) from Edinburgh

Carlotta Ecks (8) from Dunbar

Six pupils between the ages of 5 and 8 from the Language and Communications Class at St Cuthbert’s RC Primary School Edinburgh.

All three poster designs will be exhibited across the city in the run up to the Virgin Money Fireworks Concert on 29 August 2016.

This year is the fifth year that Virgin Money have sponsored the event and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra conducted by Estonian conductor Kristiina Poska will perform music inspired by Shakespeare. It is 400 years since William Shakespeare died and this will be yet another celebration of that. The music will include Prokofiev’s ballet music for Romeo and Juliet and the Symphonic Dances from Bernstein’s West Side Story. All 400,000 fireworks are choreographed to go off in time to the live music lighting up the sky over the capital for the 250,000 or so who are expected to come and watch.

Brian Giles, Head of Communications at Virgin Money said: “The world famous Edinburgh international Festival and the Fireworks Concert are fantastic community events in the city of Edinburgh and Virgin Money is incredibly proud to sponsor both of them. We have supported the Fireworks Concert for the past five years and its popularity continues to grow, with an estimated 250,000 people now coming together to make it a truly special evening. Our congratulations go out to the winners of the poster competition – Ailsa, Carlotta, and everyone from St Cuthbert’s RC Primary School – for their fantastic designs, which will become a symbol of this year’s event.”

Roy McEwan, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra said: “Many congratulations to everyone who took part in the poster competition, and well done to the winners! We look forward to seeing their posters across Edinburgh and welcoming the winners to the Virgin Money Fireworks Concert, which the Scottish Chamber Orchestra has performed throughout the event’s 34-year history. We are delighted with the continuing support of Virgin Money in their fifth year as event sponsors. They are a strong brand in Scottish corporate life providing an impressive level of engagement in Edinburgh’s cultural life.”

Fergus Linehan, Edinburgh International Festival Director said: “I’d like to thank Forth One for its involvement in this key Edinburgh event and its support of the Poster Competition. It’s great that so many children across Edinburgh and the Lothians have joined in by getting the glitter out and producing great designs for this year’s event posters. The Fireworks Concert is an incredibly popular event with Edinburgh residents and visitors and will once again provide an extraordinary finale to the city’s summer festival season. We are also delighted to be staging for a second year, the Edinburgh Schools Concert, which takes place in Princes St Gardens on the morning of the main event. Last year nearly 2,000 school children came along and had a fantastic time, so it’s great to be able to build that success. Events like these – and the Poster Competition – give many more young people the opportunity to play their part in this spectacular event”.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was in Brussels today garnering support for Scotland in the aftermath of the EU Referendum.

She had an early start:

4.15am on day 1 of fight to protect Scotland’s place in Europe – off to Brussels.

— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) June 29, 2016

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There then followed several meetings with EU officials all evidenced by tweets with photos of the First Minister alongside each one:

Meeting Scottish First Minister @NicolaSturgeon in my office in Brussels to discuss #EUref #Brexit pic.twitter.com/Pvk2X1iERM

— Guy Verhofstadt (@GuyVerhofstadt) June 29, 2016

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Latest round of talks for @NicolaSturgeon with @RebHarms and @ph_lamberts from @GreensEP lovely to meet her! pic.twitter.com/L0w9KQ2C7J

— Chris Jones (@cjbxl) June 29, 2016

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FM @nicolasturgeon meets leader of @Europarl_EN S&D group @giannipittella in Brussels pic.twitter.com/6LYo0srbSu

— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) June 29, 2016

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Then the most important meetings:

FM @NicolaSturgeon also this morning met President of the @Europarl_EN, @MartinSchulz in Brussels. pic.twitter.com/tWfw9AANoQ

— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) June 29, 2016

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And she met European Commission president Jean Claude Juncker too who changed his mind from yesterday. 

.@JunckerEU now: “I’ll listen to @NicolaSturgeon. #Scotland won their right to be heard in #Brussels“.

— Margaritis Schinas (@MargSchinas) June 29, 2016

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Speaking during a press conference of international journalists after a round of meetings, the First Minister said:

“Last Thursday, Scotland spoke clearly and positively for the European Union.

“I have found huge interest here in the referendum result, and a sympathetic response to the position Scotland finds itself in – a position not of our making, and not one we wanted.

“I’m not here to reach conclusions or press for decisions or commitments. I’m here to ensure that Scotland’s voice is being heard – and that Scotland’s position is being understood. It is.‎

“I have found open doors.

“I met President Schulz this morning and then met the leaders of several of the groups in the European Parliament, before meeting with President Juncker, where I received a very sympathetic response.

“In my discussions during the day, I’ve heard, as you would expect, deep concern about the impact of the referendum not just on the Scotland, the UK and the European institutions, but on people in all our countries and on the EU itself.

“For my part, I’ve emphasised that Scotland voted to remain part of EU.

“If there is a way for Scotland to stay, I am determined to find it‎.

“We are in uncharted territory, and none of this is easy. My task is to bring principles, purpose and clarity to the situation, and to speak for all of Scotland.

“We are early in this process. The referendum is not yet a week behind us – a long week for all of us.

“My concern at this stage is to ensure that once the UK negotiation with the EU starts, all the options are on the table‎. I don’t underestimate the challenges but I am heartened by the discussions. Here, I’ve found a willingness to listen: open doors, open ears and open minds.”

An investigation is underway after a 50-year-old man was robbed by two teenagers on BMX bicycles as he walked home from work in Pennywell Gardens around 1.10am this morning.

One of the youths made aggressive comments as he approached them, so he ignored them and walked away however on turning round he saw the boys approaching on BMX bikes and wearing balaclavas.

The pair then punched the victim in the head and repeatedly kicked him while he was on the ground, before stealing his rucksack and other personal items.

The pair made off towards Pennywell Road after being disturbed by a taxi as it drove past.

The shocked victim went home before calling police.

Both suspects are described as white, and both with local accents.

The first suspect was aged around 18, about 5ft 6in tall, with a slim build and short black hair.

The second suspect is believed to be as young as 15 with a medium build and fair hair.

DC Ross Nicol said: “Fortunately the presence of a taxi prompted the suspects to halt their attack and flee the area.

“Today I urge anyone who witnessed this incident or the suspects to come forward. In particular, I would be interested to hear from the taxi driver who was travelling on Pennywell Gardens in the early hours of Wednesday.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Grant Holt has signed for Hibs on a one-year deal, subject to international clearance.

The 35-year-old striker has extensive experience in football having plied his trade in Australia, Singapore and England – where he played in all four divisions in the Football League set-up.

Holt, who has previously played for clubs such as Nottingham Forest, Norwich City, Wigan Athletic and Aston Villa, says that being from Cumbria saw him read Scottish newspapers, which helped him gain knowledge of football in Scotland and Hibernian.

Speaking exclusively to Hibs TV, he said: “I knew quite a lot really, when you’re from Carlisle on the border then you predominantly pick up the Scottish papers more than the English ones.

“I spoke to the gaffer and I said that I’m not here just to sit and help the young lads along. I’ve come to play football.

“I’ve been out a long time with my knee, I’ve come back and I’m fit and I want to score goals and enjoy football – that’s the reason I’m here.”

Lennon says that he is pleased to add Holt into his squad, which bolsters his striking options ahead of the pre-season friendly fixtures beginning next week.

The Head Coach said: “We’re delighted to be able to secure a player of Grant’s quality.

“He’ll bring good experience to the group but he’s here to play and has plenty to contribute on the field.

“The fact that he has chosen to come here over other clubs who were interested in him speaks volumes about his commitment and desire to do well here.

“He’s exactly the type of player we were looking for and I am sure he’ll prove to be very valuable to the team.”

Deidre Brock MP for Edinburgh North and Leith met with women from across the UK, including Edinburgh, who attended a mass rally outside Westminster for the WASPI (women against state pension inequality) campaign earlier today.

Ms Brock said:- “The UK Government cannot ignore the voices of these amazing women fighting simply to get the pension they are owed. It’s inspiring to see such a huge turnout, including many who’ve travelled from Scotland.

“We all support the equalisation of pension ages, but the burden of bringing in this change must be spread across society, not placed on the shoulders of women who have been misled about the age they could retire.

“Women born in the 1950s saw their plans shattered when the age was raised more quickly than promised and without due warning. Many have been left in severe hardship as a result.

“Fair transitional state pension arrangements for the women affected is not only affordable, it is the duty of the UK Government to do so – it’s time to get this sorted.”