Police have issued advice to supporters attending Sunday’s Scottish Cup tie between Hearts and Hibs at Tynecastle.

The game kicks-off at 12.30pm and those attending are asked to plan their journey in advance and arrive at the stadium in plenty of time.

An appropriate police presence will be in place in and around Tynecastle to keep the public safe and deter criminal activity.

Officers, including police dog handlers, will assist stewards in carrying out searches outside the ground to prevent illegal or prohibited items being brought inside the stadium including flares and other pyrotechnics.

Superintendent Lesley Clark said: “We are committed to ensuring the safety of everyone on Sunday, like every other day. I hope that those attending and supporting the match can respect our city and take pride in their team, and not behave in a way that may spoil it for others.

“I want to make clear that anyone committing antisocial behaviour will be pursued by police and may be arrested on the day, or following subsequent post match investigation.

“With all the above in mind, I wish you a safe and enjoyable match.

“Operation Rebound is an ongoing specialist operation, regarding football related disorder and there has been significant progress made in relation to bringing recent offenders to justice.

“There have been a total of seven arrests in Edinburgh city centre, Fife and Glenrothes following disorder at the Hearts and Motherwell match on the 16th of January.

“Enquiries will continue and we will work alongside Hearts FC to ensure those responsible for fan disorder are held to account.”

Anyone with information that might assist officers with their ongoing inquiries can contact police on 101 or anonymously through the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police have charged three teenage girls with culpable and reckless conduct after a seven-year-old boy was struck on the leg by a cone that was dropped from outside the Pure Gym on the second floor of Ocean Terminal on Boxing day.

The child was unharmed  and local officers have been carrying out various inquiries in an effort to trace those responsible,

The three 13-year-old girls have been reported to the Children’s Reporter.

Constable Nicole Napier who is based at Leith Police Station said: “This was a senseless act that had to potential to seriously injure or worse.

“We have now charged three teenagers in connection with this matter and I wish to thank everyone who assisted throughout the course of our investigation.”

A police enquiry is underway after a 12-year-old boy was struck by a car on Craiglockhart Loan around 8.20am this morning.

The boy was taken to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh following the collision and his condition is not thought to be life threatening.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Police in Edinburgh were called to Craiglockhart Loan around 8.20 am on Friday after a collision between a pedestrian and a car.

“The 12-year-old was taken to the Sick Kids Hospital for treatment for his injuries, which are not thought to be life threatening. Inquiries are ongoing into the full circumstances.”

We are bracing ourselves for the next storm of the winter. Last weekend we endured Storm Gertrude with her 105mph winds. Then on Tuesday we were battered by Storm Henry with his 100mph winds. Both brought with them a good deal of rain and the usual road, rail and school closures.

“No real surprise,” the former head of the Environment Protection Agency told us. Professor James Curran spelt out the reasons for our increasingly violent storms –  global warming causing clouds to hold more moisture and ice-melt from Greenland causing sharp differences in temperature over the Atlantic, giving the storms their force.  And there was news this week from the Antarctic, via Edinburgh University, that things are to get much worse. Researchers say the ice-melt there may have reached the point of no return and that sea levels are due to rise by three metres.  Not tomorrow maybe, but soon.

One effect of the stormy weather has been to delay repair work on the Forth Road Bridge. The bridge had to be closed for three weeks at Christmas time while urgent repairs were carried out. It has re-opened for cars but full access for heavy vehicles has been postponed till March. Meanwhile, the new bridge is taking shape beside it and is expected to open on schedule at the end of the year.

In a curious way these two bridges over troubled water symbolise our current political debate. We’ve battered our old system to bits – the public services, local government, the devolution “settlement”, the taxation system – and we are waiting for a new structure to open up. Taxation is key to it. And finally we are getting a real gutsy debate over this issue as we go into the campaign for the May elections.

Labour have joined the Liberal Democrats in calling for a 1p rise in income tax to raise £480m for public services, mainly education. They say they are turning their backs on “austerity” and finally giving local councils enough money to stave off the next round of cuts from Westminster, in the Scottish councils’ case, an estimated 15,000 jobs.

At First Minister’s Question Time Nicola Sturgeon looked shaken by Labour’s bold move. But she wasn’t stirred. She claimed a 1p rise in income tax was an attack on the poor. It would leave every worker earning over £11,000 a year at least £100 worse off.

The Labour leader Kenzia Dugdale explained that the poorest taxpayers would be compensated with payments from their local council.  The Conservatives, by contrast, want to cut income tax “as soon as possible” and their leader Ruth Davidson wondered what the SNP tax plan would be next year, when still more powers over tax are due to be devolved to Scotland.

Of course, all this talk of tax in Scotland may well be overshadowed by the impending referendum on Britain staying in the European Union. It certainly was this week when David Cameron waved a slim volume of papers at the TV cameras saying he had the basis of a deal with the EU over reform.

Nicola Sturgeon, and indeed the other leaders of the devolved administrations, again urged Mr Cameron not to hold his referendum in June.  It would be “disrespectful,” they said, to the voters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland who were trying to concentrate on their own domestic issues in May.

Meanwhile out at sea, the struggling oil companies have come up with yet another proposal to carry out ship-to-ship oil transfers, this time in the Cromarty Firth. In 2008 a similar plan in the Firth of Forth had to be dropped when environmentalists mounted a long and detailed campaign against the danger of an oil spill. The local community council and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society are leading the opposition this time.

It seems the pursuit of ever lower costs makes companies blind to the damage they are causing to the world’s oceans. Oil is one issue, plastic is another. I’ve just been reading Tony Juniper’s recent book “What has Nature ever done for us?” which reports that for every square mile of ocean there are nearly 50,000 pieces of floating plastic doing untold damage to the eco-system. Perhaps it’s time for a tax on firms which produce plastic to pay for the clean-up.

It’s usually Christian churches which suffer from internal schism but news has emerged from Scotland’s largest mosque, the Central Mosque in Glasgow, that seven leading members of its governing body have resigned saying a “backward minority” will not allow them to carry out reforms.

The issues at stake seem to be transparency over money matters and the representation of women.   I guess the whole Muslim world is in turmoil as traditionalist and modernisers fight it out, but I hope this little local difficulty in Glasgow doesn’t end in a Free Presbyterian-style battle in the courts.

Finally, spare a quizzical thought for wildlife enthusiast Geoff Sample who is planning to spend three weeks this summer in a tiny hide in a remote part of Sutherland listening out for golden eagles. Apparently golden eagles are normally silent creatures, going about their business with only the slightest of murmurs.  But occasionally they will let out a couple of yelps and it is these that Mr Sample wants to sample and record for the first time.

He says it will be the “ultimate prize” in a lifetime of recording some 30,000 birdsongs.  Hail to thee blythe spirit!

A new attraction was unveiled this morning at Ocean Terminal. Jim Mcdonough has spent the winter months creating a scale model of the Royal Yacht Britannia in LEGO®.

He used 40,000 pieces and has dismantled it three times!

The Chief Executive of Britannia Bob Downie commissioned the Arbroath scallop fisherman to create a replica model of the yacht for display in the entranceway to the Visitor Centre.

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The Edinburgh Reporter News from Phyllis Stephen on Vimeo.

Bob said he was thrilled with the result: “Jim has produced an outstanding replica model of the ship which will be on display during The Queen’s 90th birthday year and this unique piece is sure to be a highlight for LEGO® fans, young and old.”

Jim told us that he had built the model in his kitchen from plans and had not actually seen the Royal Yacht till yesterday! He said: “It was an honour to be asked to build this. It is one of the most exciting projects I’ve ever undertaken, and being able to refer to the original plans, kindly supplied by Britannia, allowed me to produce this replica.”

The Royal Yacht Britannia lies alongside Ocean Terminal and has been voted Scotland’s Best Visitor Attraction for 10 years in a row and in TripAdvisor’s top 3 UK landmark attractions for two years.

The model will be on display now to coincide with VisitScotland’s Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design,

Hibs have announced the ticket sales arrangements for the Final of the Scottish League Cup presented by Utilita.

The club have been given an initial allocation of 25,800 tickets, with more available should there be demand.

Season ticket holders, half season ticket holders and regular attendees will be given priority access to tickets in the first wave of sales, which is set at 90 loyalty points. Supporters are able to purchase two tickets per client reference number to facilitate group purchases.  In order to ease the purchase process for groups and families, loyalty points will not be awarded for this match.

Ticket Waves

10am Monday 22 February: 90 point or more

10am Thursday 25 February: 1 point or more

10am Monday 29 February: General sale

Subscribers to Hibs TV and Kick for Kids holders will also be given access to tickets in the second wave of sales – Hibs will be in touch with those supporters separately.

The Hibs’ Ticket Office are currently processing the loyalty points for HSL members for whom they have a client reference number for. Any questions relating to HSL loyalty points should be directed to info@hiberniansupporters.co.uk.

Tickets will be available in all four stands at Hampden, and are priced at £25 for adults and £10 for juveniles (15 and under).

Tickets will be available online, at the Hibernian Ticket Office and through the Hibernian Call Centre.

Tickets for the Disabled Sections are limited therefore that club have asked that any supporter in the 90 points or above threshold that wishes tickets for this match apply no later than Thursday 11th February.

North Stand Wheelchair/carer – £20 Adult,  £5 Juveniles

East Stand Wheelchair/carer – £10 Adult,  £3 Juveniles

South Stand Wheelchair/Carer – £15 Adult,  £3 Juveniles

South Stand Ambulant/Carer – £15 Adult,  £3 Juveniles

Where a carer is required their seat is provided free of charge.

Disabled car parking is very limited at Hampden Park and will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis. At this time Hibs will not be able to confirm if parking can be provided until they  have received confirmed numbers of disabled parking passes being made available.

A rabbit with “horrifically overgrown teeth” was discovered  at a block of flats at Chalmers Buildings in the Fountainbridge area on 29 January.

The female rabbit is now in the care of the Scottish SPCSA’s  animal rescue and rehoming centre in Edinburgh, where she has been named Danni.

Inspector Jennifer Surgeon said, “Danni was found in a cage with a bag of shavings and hay on top.

“Her front teeth were horrifically overgrown and she had a dirty back-end.

“Thankfully after a visit to the vets she is now doing well and we are hopeful we will be able to find her a loving new home once she’s made a full recovery.

“We are keen to identify the person who abandoned Danni and would ask anyone with information to call our animal helpline on 03000 999 999.”

Abandoning and causing an animal unnecessary suffering is an animal is an offence under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.

Anyone found guilty of doing so can expect to  be banned from keeping animals for a fixed period or life.

This is Edinburgh the marketing campaign that cost the city £1 million has been declared a success fifty times over.

During the two years that the campaign has been running average footfall in the city has grown by almost 3% which they say equals £50 million in economic impact for Edinburgh.

The campaign was launched in February 2014 following a disastrous first go which resulted in the Chief Executive of Marketing Edinburgh being replaced. Under the new boss, John Donnelly,  who came to the job full of enthusiasm after his involvement with the Commonwealth Games, marketing the city suddenly worked.

Many factors had led to fewer people visiting the city centre, but the main reason was down to the disruption caused by the tram works. The new initiative This is Edinburgh appealed to locals who showed their love for the city by signing up on social media and responding to the online campaigns. But not only that, the numbers of people who came back to the city centre businesses increased above the national average.

Some of the highlights included #ThisisEdinburgh24 when locals shared their knowledge of the city throughout one 24 hour period. There are now around 250,000 people following the social media accounts which Marketing Edinburgh believe gives them a solid base from which to promote the city worldwide. In addition 40,000 people attended Edinburgh Restaurant Festival, Fashion Week, Spa in the City or Film in the City all run in the city centre with the purpose of attracting footfall.

John Donnelly told The Edinburgh Reporter: “After two years of making the £1m investment work very hard, we are incredibly pleased with these results.  This is Edinburgh was about bringing a fresh approach that put the real city, its personality and hidden gems at the heart of the campaign, reigniting residents’ pride for their home.  Throughout we have been firm believers that Edinburgh is the greatest city in the world and it’s fantastic to see the people at the heart of this success enjoying their city again.”

Roddy Smith, Chief Executive of Essential Edinburgh said: “This campaign has shown how having a varied and exciting schedule of events created for locals can hugely benefit businesses within the city centre, reminding locals of everything that is great about their city and providing a tangible reason to come in. We’re thrilled to be building on that success with Edinburgh Fashion Week kicking off this year’s programme of events again in March.

“The success of the campaign shows the importance of cross agency partnership working, and illustrates the huge benefits that can be had from working together towards a common goal.

Councillor Frank Ross, Economy Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council,said: “Marketing Edinburgh is at the heart of the Council’s ongoing strategy to promote the Capital, attract city and town centre footfall and build support for local businesses.

“To have had such success with the ‘This is Edinburgh’ campaign is proof that city marketing brings real economic results. This campaign has gone above and beyond target, with footfall growth in the city centre almost 50% higher than we anticipated.

“It’s no secret that Edinburgh is one of the world’s best cities to visit and live in but I’m proud that together, we have been able to shine a light on some of our hidden local gems.”

Photo Jon Savage

• New Town Community Cinema
• Sheraton Grand offers library concierge
• BUILD IT!
• LOVE YOUR LIBRARY – with Michelle McManus
• Saying I Love You on Valentine’s Day 

Next Friday night at the New Town Community Cinema they are showing Amelie.

More information on how to get tickets here.

The cinema is at 33 Barony Street and in case you don’t know about it here is what the group behind it tell us:

The Glasite Meeting House is the former place of worship of the Edinburgh branch of the “Glasites”. The Glasites were a small Scottish sect named after their founder Rev. John Glas an ordained minister in the established Church of Scotland. However, gradually he began to question the spiritual nature of the Church and as a result he left the Church and established an independent ministry.

The building is the largest and most elaborate of the Meeting Houses in Scotland. Graceful architectural details on the interior soften the general plainness. The building was complete on 26th December 1835. The building features Alexander Black massive moulded mantelpieces, cast iron railings for the main stair, and the pulpit, designed by David Bryce in 1873, and the two circular windows added for ventilation in 1890 by James B. Dunn. All carpenter work is of Miramuc yellow pine, and the pews have no space for kneeling since the Glasites used the ancient method of uplifted arms. External specifications were that the walls of the chapel were to be hand finished with ashlar, the blank windows on the exterior are filled with best Arbroath pavement, and the windows of the feast room (now the McWilliam Room) were of polished brown glass, to avoid being overlooked. Two clocks original to the building are still functioning today.

The Screening will take place in the main hall under the spectacular Georgian glass cupola and guests will sit on the padded pews (feel free to bring additional cushions).

The Glasite Meeting House is run by the charity the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust. The trust is paying for the hire and license of the cinema equipment and films. All profits from the running of the cinema goes towards saving Scottish historic buildings and giving them a future use to be used by the community.

The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa has launched a Book Menu giving its guests the unique opportunity to purchase signed copies from some of Edinburgh’s most celebrated contemporary authors including Ian Rankin, Alexander McCall Smith and Kate Atkinson, directly from their bedroom.

The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa is the only hotel in the city to offer the “Books in Bedrooms” room service. The Book Menu, which is present in all 269 bedrooms, also features a carefully selected range of classic Scottish books, locally-written children’s books and hand-picked guide books to the city that can be delivered to the room in minutes.

The hotel has worked in collaboration with a local independent bookshop owner Gillian Robertson and has been supported by the Literary Tourism Innovation Fund, created by the Edinburgh City of Literature Trust and Edinburgh Tourism Action Group, with a key aim to develop new literary tourism experiences across the city.

Tristan Nesbitt, the General Manager at the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa said: “The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa has a close connection with Edinburgh’s cultural quarter which is right on our doorstep. Within a day of launching, guests have already purchased several books from our legendary authors and have been thrilled by the opportunity to embark on a literary connection with Scotland’s capital – the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature”

Director of the City of Literature Trust, Ali Bowden commented: “The Book Menu is a fantastic opportunity to bring literary Edinburgh to tourists and enrich their visit to our city. Reading about Edinburgh when staying in Edinburgh can turn a holiday into a captivating experience as the voices of Edinburgh authors lead the way along the wynds and closes in the footsteps of their characters.”

Live Build at the National Museum of Scotland

3 Feb – 15 April 2016

Every Wednesday & Friday from 11:00-16:00

Grand Gallery, Level 1

Free

Watch Warren Elsmore’s team create a large LEGO® brick model of our very own museum.

BUILD IT! is part of the Festival of Architecture 2016, which will celebrate Scotland’s fantastic built environment, as a key part of the 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design celebrations. #IAD2016

If you live in Wester Hailes then you could bump into Michelle McManus at the library there tomorrow afternoon.

She will be there to do a special reading event at 2:00pm  for National Libraries Day. The campaign is called Love your Library and it hopes to inspire you to take your family to your local library and enjoy the range of free services that are on offer to help with reading writing and counting.

The singer said she is going to read The Gruffly by Julia Donaldson and Winnie-the-Pooh. She added: “I love spending time with my nephew and godson and we have a good giggle when we read books together. Libraries are great places to visit.”

The Scottish Government has put aside £198,000 for partnership work in libraries. So every library will get a pack with library card holders, posters, activity sheets and stickers.

At the launch event earlier this week Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Angela Constance was joined by Michelle, at the launch of the campaign. She said:

“The Scottish Government is proud to have partnered with libraries for the next phase of the Read, Write, Count campaign.  We know learning doesn’t stop at the school gates and libraries play a crucial role in supporting early learning in communities across Scotland.

“During children’s critical first years of school reading, writing and counting together can support their learning and help with their concentration, behaviour and making friends. It can also boost their confidence and happiness.

“I want to support parents and make it easier for them to be involved in their child’s learning outside of school.  Libraries don’t just provide reading material, they offer a welcoming environment for families to enjoy time together and help develop children’s literacy and numeracy skills.”

Diane Yule, Team Leader at Wester Hailes Library said: “I think ‘Read, Write, Count’ is a great initiative and really ties in with everything we are doing in libraries across the city.

“We are delighted to be involved with the Love your Library campaign on National Libraries Day.”

Not to put too much pressure on you but it is Valentine’s Day next week. If you have someone you want to spoil then we have a few suggestions for you over here. But Gardening Scotland have an idea that might have you coming smelling of roses. Tickets are now on sale for this summer’s floral fair and the organisers think it would be a good idea to buy a couple of tickets and take your Valentine with you.

For more information and to book tickets visit www.gardeningscotland.com

They also offer some gardening advice on how to look after your roses at this point in the year when a fragrant rose is a long way off.

• Roses are hungry plants, so make sure you add plenty of organic matter, such as well-rotted manure or compost, to the soil before planting.
• Newly-planted roses will need to be kept well-watered when they are trying to establish.
• Add rose fertiliser in March or April, at the start of the growing season, and again in June to repeat-flowering varieties.
• When flowers are ready, cut them regularly to encourage further growth.

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The Space Between (2015 Losen Records)

Haftor Medboe (Guitar), Espen Eriksen (Piano) & Gunnar Halle (Trumpet)

Originally from Norway, Haftor Medboe has made his home in Edinburgh, he’s Jazz Musician in Residence at the city’s Napier University and actively participates in Scotland’s ever expanding Jazz scene. I’ve known Haftor as long as I’ve stayed in Edinburgh and I’ve always paid attention to his projects, because I’ve learned that he is never involved in anything lass than brilliant and inspiring and ‘The Space Between’ is no exception.

So, speaking to Haftor about the project I asked him how it all began?

Haftor said : “I’d  originally played with Espen Eriksen (Piano) & Gunnar Halle (Trumpet) and two Danish singers in 2012 and with the help of Expo Funding I arranged for Espen and Gunnar to play with me at the 2013 Edinburgh Jazz Festival, where we had so much fun and had an obvious chemistry that I really wanted to keep things going.”

The reviews for this spirit and originality saw them inspire everyone they played to, so they were asked to return to the Festival in 2015 again to more fantastic reviews and even more accolades.

“So this time I really had to record something so I organised a time for recording and in a state of abject panic gave myself a week to write the tunes. I must admit I spent a month panicking with no writing.”

“I suppose I wanted the challenge of writing with no Bass or Drums and I wanted to produce, tunes that you could whistle, sing-able, no not sing-along, but melodies, and not set in the normal Jazz workings. I really wanted to explore the idea of space. Musical space that you don’t always get with the standard instrumental line-ups, so the ‘The Space Between’”

“So with it all written, we had some rehearsal time in Oslo, one gig then off to Pencaitland for two days recording, which was freezing!”

Well the temperature didn’t affect the quality, this album is simply quite stunning and one of the most beautiful pieces of music you will hear in a long time.

It starts with ‘East Pier”, which is a simple evocation of the view from St Monan’s Pier looking out to sea, where there’s nothing until you hit Norway. This track lets you drift away on a beautiful melody, with enough space around it to really hear it. Then you’re on “Bell Rock”, a spiraling melody that sits on top of a simple piano motif that emphasise the beauty of the tune, again simple and all it needs.

It just keeps going, it just keeps giving you simple stripped down melodies supported with simple stripped down backing, from “Utsira High”, “Forty Mile Ground” to “Skagerrak” yet another beautiful, melancholic tune, that if Haftor gets his way, will have you whistling it without noticing you are.

For me the highlight track is “Fladen” where we hear Haftor intermingling with piano and trumpet, simple and beautiful. The final track had me wondering what the title was all about, so I had to ask and I must admit it had me laughing.

“No we got into an argument while recording as to who was the most Viking? Now I’m half Danish so it had to be discussed and that turned into a harmonious discussion in the studio.”

What about the other titles that had me laughing as well?

“Well I started looking at a fishing maps and I just read the names out in the space between the East Pier and Norway and that was the names.”

I suppose the titles had to be simple and well thought out too and that sums up the whole album, a definite musical space between genres and something you’ll be whistling along to before you know it.

If you want to see Haftor, Espen & Gunnar they’ll be appearing at The Edinburgh Jazz Festival in July and at the Islay Jazz Festival in September. They also have some dates in Norway later this year.

The Horseshoe Restaurant and Rooms looked like something from Tolkien’s Hobbit as it appeared out of the darkness on our afternoon approach on a chilly January day. The building was originally built as a blacksmith’s smiddy and has large, round windows which glow softly into the night to welcome its travellers.

Arriving a couple of hours before our dinner reservation, we were greeted warmly at reception and escorted out to the Lodge, a separate building at the back of the property, where the eight guest rooms are located. A teapot, selection of teas and coffee, fresh milk and fresh-baked cake awaited us,  a thoughtful and welcome treat after our journey down. The room was clean and orderly and tastefully decorated, with plenty of hanging space in the wardrobe and the essential fluffy robes.

We had been informed that we should arrive at reception half an hour before our meal. We were shown to the lounge area in the bar, which was cosy with candlelight and a glowing fire, set to the quiet tinkle of background piano music.

The wine list was extensive (it is highly commended by the AA Restaurant Guide), grouped by grape variety, and had helpful guide notes. We opted for the Chef’s Aperitif with canapes, knowing we would be getting the wine pairing with our meal.

Tangy-sweet traditional lemonade was served up alongside two beautifully presented appetiser platters featuring a mushroom cream, brown shrimps, pheasant sausage and an anchovy fritter (batter-free for me, still delicious). If the flavour of these four little delights was anything to go by, we knew we would be in for a treat with the six-course tasting menu created by Head Chef, Alistair Craig.

Once seated in the restaurant we were quickly brought a substantial cut of home-rolled butter flaked with sea salt, and the most convincing gluten-free loaf I have had the pleasure of eating. The attention to quality here, as with all the dishes, was exceptional. Having been informed of my gluten-free diet in advance, the chef was well-prepared. The whole menu was gluten-free in fact. (We asked for more bread after swallowing the first few slices almost whole!) Light, airy and peppered with pumpkin seeds – this bread was unlike any other gluten-free I have tried and my partner (a gluten eater) couldn’t get enough either.

The setting was intimate, elegant, yet relaxed enough that we fell into easy conversation and forgot about the other diners. Seating only fourteen, the restaurant keeps its numbers small to allow the chef to focus on getting the best from the locally sourced produce for the impassioned diners.

Starting with a smoked salmon tartare with yoghurt and oats, before a fresh crab salad starter, adorned with pickled cucumber, the chef was keeping it clean and fresh. He was clearly preparing the palate for the delight that was to come.

Next up, the pumpkin risotto – and it was champion risotto! Creamy, savoury, slightly sweet and incredible moreish, it was hard to take our time with this one. Bright orange in colour and topped with glistening daubs of beer-vinegar jelly and shaved parmesan. The risotto alone was heavenly – but take a bite topped with that marvellous little morsel – and I challenge you not to dissolve into a puddle of pure, unadulterated joy.

The wines were excellently well-paired and every dish became more varied in the depth of flavour as we sipped. Presented by the general manager, Mark Slaney, who is clearly enthusiastic about the production of each wine – he informed us about each region and why it was selected (no surprise as he has worked in five-star hotels and Michelin Restaurants for thirty years). The wines were absolutely essential to the meal as they added another lip-smacking dimension to every mouthful. Mark has 30 years of experience so really knows his stuff, but he was formerly a commercial wine buyer and wrote a book on the subject (‘Tasting Notes’).

Courses which followed were halibut with chickpeas and chorizo, with roast breast and confit leg of Mallard duck. We were not of the same opinion about the halibut – cooked to perfection and presented on a bed of chickpeas and fried chorizo, it was “too plain” for my partner, but for me it was the simplicity of the execution that allowed the fish to truly shine.

The wine lifted the salty kick from the chorizo beautifully. The duck was just what it should be – rich in flavour and melt-in-the-mouth in texture. Beautifully complemented by the dark, syrupy cherries and tangy pickled cabbage. The Cabernet Sauvignon which accompanied the dish started off a bit on the woody side for me, but it quickly mellowed into a deep sweetness that brought out the richness of the dish.

On to the cheese – and more of that fabulous bread. A hearty goats cheese for me: with honey and pickled walnuts; and a strong cheddar for the other half –both of which went equally, and unsurprisingly, well with the two very different flavours and textures.

A decadent baked chocolate mousse finished our meal. The sharp tang of high-quality cacao was balanced with the gooey, toffee-like centre. We were served a sharp cleansing sorbet  between mouthfuls. The dessert wine was too sweet for me (most are) however my partner with his sweet tooth very much enjoyed it and thought it eased the sharpness of the chocolate.

Full to bursting, it was on to coffee and petit fours to undo some of the (good) damage from the six wines. Beautifully presented and just three mouthfuls: the perfect amount.

After a restful sleep on our duck-down bed, we awoke feeling surprisingly fresh (not a smidge of a headache – a nod to the wine) and ready for a cup of tea. Neither of us was feeling remotely hungry however a perusal of the complimentary breakfast menu tempted our taste buds at the thought of fresh-squeezed orange juice and crispy bacon. We started with juice and yoghurt for me, granola and tea for him. More lovely gluten-free bread, toasted and smothered with butter, was munched before settling down to a hearty plate of bacon, eggs, mushrooms, beans, sausage and black pudding.

The staff could not have been friendlier or more attentive and the food was superb. This kind of quality would only be found in the likes of Martin Wishart or Castle Terrace in Edinburgh’s City Centre – and for a much higher price.

If you want a true fine-dining experience, where you can also stop for the night in style, then the Horseshoe is the place to go.

KEYFRAMES is the newest light show in town. This is nothing like the Virgin Money Street of Light. It has slightly discordant music accompanying stick men who appear to run around the square doing some acrobatics as they go.

The installation has been produced by Curated Place and French visual artists Groupe LAPS. This has been named a key event in the 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design.

It will be exhibited until 28 March 2016.

Light sculptures shine in sequence to an original musical composition to create the illusion of movement. The installation has been conceived to create an immersive experience, and you are invited to wander through St Andrew Square to experience the space from different angles and in a new light.

KEYFRAMES is brand new in Scotland, following a UK debut in Durham at the 2013 Lumiere Festival and has delighted thousands of people across the world from Singapore to Jerusalem, France, Spain and the Netherlands.

The exhibition is free to view and is funded by The City of Edinburgh Council and EventScotland with the support of Marketing Edinburgh and Essential Edinburgh.

Follow #EdinLights on social media to find out more.

by Councillor Joanna Mowat Conservative councillor for City Centre

Raising residents issues

Today saw a small step forward in the long process of trying to achieve a better quality of life for the residents of the Grassmarket. 

Many people aren’t aware of the diverse and settled community who have lived in the Grassmarket for many years, along with more recent residents, and who struggle with the changing nature of the area which has gone “from a sleepy backwater” to the centre of a “vibrant and diverse events space”.  This has had a huge impact on the residents and has been largely inflicted on them by the Council.

Having raised these matters regularly over my eight years as a Councillor I don’t think the Council can be unaware of these concerns which are frequently and fluently articulated by the residents.

However, today the Administration of the Council responded to my motion with a positive amendment which commits to putting measures in place to manage amplified noise, busking and events in time for the Summer Festivals this year.  There’s a deal of work to do to make sure that a sensitive management scheme is put in place but this is an important first step in improving the management of this space for the residents and businesses who use this space all year round.

A separate, but related matter which has filled my inbox is how events in the city are managed.  There are over 800 events which take place in the city every year and for the most part these are well managed, the process that goes on behind the scenes works like a charm and many of the promoters bringing events have nothing but praise for officers involved.

This makes it particularly disappointing when the process breaks down and goes wrong.  Last year saw three high profile examples of this which raised important issues about the use of public space and who decides how it becomes private space for the duration of an event.

The three events which caused most correspondence were the partial closure of George Street between Castle Street and Frederick Street for the Fringe Festival, the restricted access to the High Street during the Street of Light and the closure of Calton Hill at Hogmanay.

The Administration has committed to reporting why these instances happened, how the process is working and what lessons can be learned.  The report will be discussed at the Corporate Policy and Strategy Meeting in April which will allow councillors to have a free debate on the principles behind the process.  I believe it is important that Councillors and the public have an opportunity to consider how these decision are taken to ensure that the process is transparent and understandable.

Both the motions I presented for debate today are symptoms of a glaring hole at the centre of the city’s decision making.

I am not convinced that the Council has a clear understanding of its purpose and vision and without such a clear framework to hang our decision-making on it sometimes goes off at a tangent.

I’m clear that the city defines where we came from – it is written in the stones and tells us a lot about the people who shaped our city, both physically and culturally and we should use this as the foundation of our decision-making.

Using your heritage as the foundation for building the future is not backwards looking but shows us how to play to our strengths – the other key driver of our decision-making should be our residents – it is their city, it is they we serve.

I could try and find a third leg but feel it is unnecessary and dilutes the message – heritage and residents – respecting and serving them will guide us in the best way to build the future of the City.

Councillor Mowat’s motions to the meeting of the City of Edinburgh Council earlier today were as follows:

To contact Councillor Mowat : T 0131 529 4077 E joanna.mowat@edinburgh.gov.uk

As we mentioned earlier there was a team of cyclists riding around Holyrood this morning to deliver their election manifesto to those standing for election later this year.

The team from Stop Climate Chaos Scotland rode around the capital earlier delivering the campaign’s Scottish Parliament manifesto to all of the political parties.

The team delivered copies of their manifesto to the Scottish Conservatives, the Scottish Greens, Scottish Labour, the Scottish Liberal Democrats, and the Scottish National Party at their respective offices.

The group had to postpone a planned journey last week because of Storm Gertrude. Gail Wilson, Campaigns Manager at Stop Climate Chaos Scotland said: “We weren’t immune to the exceptionally bad weather many Scots have been experiencing recently and last week it wasn’t safe for us to be out in the strong winds. Climate scientists have linked the changing weather patterns to climate change, and these links are becoming clearer.

“People are also making the connections and with more flooding and increasing storms predicted for Scotland and the UK we want to see urgent action from political parties of all stripes.”

Stop Climate Chaos Scotland has also launched an online campaign at stopclimatechaos.org/election-2016, asking members of the public to write to the political parties, urging them to support policies that will secure a low carbon Scotland by 2020.

On Tuesday of this week Jim Eadie SNP MSP for Edinburgh Southern secured a debate on the reintroduction of the South Suburban Railway.

The railway line is already in existence but is only used for freight traffic. The motion before Parliament was to talk of the possibility of reinstating it for passenger use. As it was a members’ debate there was no question put to the Chamber, so this is just one way of highlighting the issue.

Here is a short video of a train travelling along it:

Jim Eadie mentioned the fact that the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Deal, which is currently working towards an autumn sign off, mentions the fact that existing transport infrastructure needs to be upgraded. He also proposed that reinstatement of the line would bring economic and social benefits to Edinburgh.

During the members’ debate Mr Eadie said: “The south sub route has endless possibilities and potential. Reinstating the south sub could act as a catalyst for an integrated transport plan for Edinburgh that is truly fit for the 21st century. Our capital needs and deserves it.

“The station at Gorgie could serve Heart of Midlothian Football Club, Craiglockhart could serve Edinburgh Napier University, and Blackford and Newington could serve the University of Edinburgh. A new link to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary that stems from the current south sub station at Cameron Toll would vastly improve the transport options for patients and national health service staff, and it would serve the ever-expanding Edinburgh BioQuarter.”

The MSP reminded Holyrood that three politicians who supported the plans organised a trip on the line with Lawrence Marshall of the Capital Rail Action Group in 2000. The three politicians were Margo MacDonald, David McLetchie and Robin Harper.

Eadie said: ” I cannot be alone in thinking what a fantastic journey that must have been, in the company of three of the best politicians that the Parliament has produced. Who knows whether their journey that day was on track or whether it went off the rails? I am pleased that the cross-party consensus that was alive that day has continued to the present day.”

Sarah Boyack Labour MSP for Lothian said during the debate: “The south sub has never been the top priority; it has never been straightforward, as Jim Eadie outlined. I believe that it could be a game changer if we have a partnership with SEStran, look at the city deal options, bring the rail partners into play and look at the connections between tram, bus, rail and active travel.”

Cameron Buchanan Conservative MSP for Lothian urged that a feasibility study is conducted on the possibility of reinstating the line. He said: “I want to touch on a possible benefit of which my Conservative colleague Miles Briggs has been raising awareness; there is the potential for an Edinburgh south suburban railway to serve as a university line. As we have already heard, a fast link between the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Napier University and Queen Margaret University would be a great boost for our city’s students, staff, businesses and the wider higher education sector. To date, that has not been mentioned in cost-benefit debates around the ESSR, so we should certainly continue to raise awareness of that positive aspect in partnership with the relevant stakeholders. As we have heard, that is a rather new line to take.”

Most who spoke in the debate agreed that this is an idea whose time has come, and Green MSP for Lothian Alison Johnstone was one of those. She said that she has visited Morningside Station not too long ago. She commented: ” I am Edinburgh born and bred—I have spent my life in the city—and there is no doubt in my mind that it is becoming increasingly gridlocked, so we must look at opportunities and alternatives. We must also consider issues including climate change, which affects us daily.”

The Transport Minister Derek Mackay already has his hands a little full at the moment with the closure of the Forth Road Bridge but he spoke in the debate to say that he would happily have a meeting with Jim Eadie but would also require the City of Edinburgh Council Leader Andrew Burns to be at that meeting.

The Council Leader has already responded using Twitter:

@TransformScot @DerekMackayMSP @Edinburgh_CC would be more than happy to discuss this issue with Derek.

— Cllr. Andrew D Burns (@AndrewDBurns) February 3, 2016

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The Minister also said that there are many calling for investment in the railways across the country because it is more sustainable.

Although the Minister thought he did not have sufficient time left in the allotted slot to answer Stewart Stevenson MSP who thought he had the answer to cutting the cost, the Presiding Officer was prepared to allow him as long as he wished.

Mr Stevenson explained: “…the ingenious engineering solution that was associated with electrification on the Paisley Canal railway line where the price was brought down to about a third of the original budget by putting in a dead section that was unpowered. Does the Minister agree that there is a lot of great engineering out there waiting to be applied to getting the price of some of our infrastructure developments down to affordable levels, although it is not in and of itself a magic wand?”

The Minister concluded that he would need commitment from Sestrans and The City of Edinburgh Council that this was a priority issue for them, but that given the points which  Jim Eadie had raised he would be  happy to pursue it further.

Well what do you think about the South Suburban Railway? Would it be a good idea?

Contributed by Councillor Chas Booth Green councillor for Leith and Green spokesperson on the environment.

City Council Complacent on Air Pollution

Air pollution is one of the biggest silent killers in Scotland. An estimated 2,000 early deaths a year are attributed to pollutants in our air, and the biggest cause of this is traffic.

Because of the seriousness of this public health crisis, I raised two questions at a meeting of Edinburgh Council today (Thursday 4 February 2016) to ask what the council is doing.

In answer, the council placed the blame on the Scottish Government. This simply isn’t good enough – while we do need stronger action from Scottish Ministers, the council could also be doing far more.

We need more proactive action from the council. I’ve blogged in more detail about this issue here:

http://www.edinburghgreens.org.uk/site/blog/air-pollution-blog/

Councillor Booth’s question posed to Councillor Lesley Hinds the Transport and Environment Convener and her answer read as follows:

 

QUESTION : By Councillor Booth for answer by the Convener of the Transport and Environment Committee at a meeting of the Council on 4 February 2016

What progress has been made in considering the introduction of low emission zones as a means of improving air quality in the city to within statutory limits?

ANSWER: On 4th November 2015 at Scottish Transport Emissions Partnership (STEP) Annual Conference in Edinburgh, Scottish Government launched its national strategy “Cleaner Air for Scotland – The Road to a Healthier Future” (‘CAFS’ – formerly known as Low Emission Strategy).

This strategy includes developing a National Low Emission Framework (NLEF) to guide the type of measures introduced by local authorities, across Scotland, needed to improve air quality. Clean Air Zones / Low Emissions Zones are measures to be considered and it is a key objective of the framework to ensure that consistent and robust assessment processes are available to Councils.

It is clear that if we decide to promote Low Emission Zones in Edinburgh that this will require close partnership working with the Scottish Government. This will also include a requirement for appropriate funding to be made available and I have already fed this message quite clearly to Scottish Government Senior Civil Servants.

On 11th December 2015 in Edinburgh, the Scottish Government hosted the third of three elected member stakeholder events to update Councillors and seek their guidance and input on the best way forward to implement the strategy, which I attended along with Cllr Rose. The other two events were held in Dundee and Glasgow.

It is anticipated that the NLEF will be finalised by April 2016 and a report will be sent to the Transport and Environment Committee, in summer 2016.

Deidre Brock MP has marked World Cancer Day today by calling on all eligible women to participate in the Scottish Breast Cancer Screening Programme and go for a routine mammogram. All women in Scotland aged 50-70 are invited for a check every 3 years, while women over 70 are encouraged to self-refer to their local centre.

Deidre spoke of her own experience of a screening and urged all women over 50 to take the opportunity to get checked.

Deidre said:- “Breast cancer affects more women in Scotland than any other form of cancer – so I was worried to read there was a slight downturn in the number of women going for a routine NHS Breast screening.

“I had a mammogram recently at the screening centre for south east Scotland, Ardmillan House. I was really impressed by the set-up there; the staff were incredibly nice, and made the process as simple and stress-free as possible. The whole thing was finished in less than half an hour.

“I was obviously relieved when I received the all-clear letter but I wanted to share my experience so people realise it’s not a scary process. While the majority of women who are screened will receive positive news, for those who don’t it’s better to be diagnosed as early as possible.

“According to Breast Cancer Now, for every 200 women screened, one fewer woman dies of breast cancer. It’s tragic to think that any woman’s life could be lost for the sake of a routine screening.

“I urge everyone over 50 to take up the chance to get checked.”

Hibs’ Head Coach Alan Stubbs has praised his players and is delighted to have picked up a valuable three points against Morton on Tuesday even though he admitted the performance was not the best.

After Saturday’s League Cup semi-final victory over St Johnstone and with next Sunday’s derby on the horizon, Stubbs knew it would be difficult to keep the team focussed on what he described as the most important game of the three.

He also revealed that he will have to assess the extent of the injuries to Liam Fontaine and Fraser Fyvie before selecting his team the Hearts’ game.

Speaking immediately after the game to Cliff Pike of  Hibs TV he said: “You’re never comfortable, but I feel that the pressure we were under was caused by ourselves which was the frustrating thing for me.

“In general terms our usage of the ball in the final third, not so much the middle third, but in the final was a little bit sloppy and we didn’t take advantage of the positions we were in at the time. I’ve got to be honest, the game should have been more comfortable than what it was.

“The goal will do Anthony (Stokes) the world of good to get a game under his belt tonight and he will improve a lot for it, but I’ve got to say that coming up to this week, a lot of people were focussing on the fact that we only had two games this week and not three.

“This game was the most important because the league is our priority and this is what we want to achieve most.

“The fact that we have got the three points is great and I am delighted. We’ve got minutes under players belts but it wasn’t the fact that we made a few changes that was the reason for tonight, but we just should have been a bit better.

“There were some individual performances that were very good tonight. I thought Darren McGregor was very good and I thought Dylan (McGeouch) was very good and then when Paul (Hanlon) came in stepped in and  did his job but overall I can’t have anything other than praise for the players. I knew it would be difficult tonight after the highs at the weekend and they have done it again.

“Fonts (Liam Fontaine) felt a little bit of tightness and with him knowing his body he stopped right away which from our point of view is a real positive because if he had carried on you are probably looking at 4-8 weeks out but now we will just see how it is and he’ll have a chance for the weekend.

“Fraser is more of a concern as we don’t know with him.  He got a knock on his knee and he is a it sore at the moment.”

The City of Edinburgh Council meets today to discuss its latest business.

You will find the council papers here and you can follow online below and if you wish watch the council webcast here.

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Police  are appealing for witnesses following a housebreaking and theft which took place around 2.30am on Wednesday morning at a residence on Eskdale Road Dalkeith.

Entry was forced to the rear of the property and a two-figure sum of money was stolen from inside along with a car key which was used to steal a  white BMW X4, registration SK65 WSU.

Sergeant Stuart Aitcheson of Dalkeith said: “We’re eager to reunite the car with its rightful owners and would ask anyone who may have seen the vehicle since this morning, or has information regarding its whereabouts, to come forward.

“I’d also ask everyone to remain vigilant in reporting suspicious activity to police via 101, always dialling 999 when a crime is in progress, and ensure their house and car keys are kept secure overnight.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101 or make an anonymous report through the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A 20-year-old man has been charged under the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act by officers from Police Scotland’s  East Lothian Community Action Team (ELCAT) following a report of hare coursing at farmland near Longniddry on Tuesday.

Police have appealed for help to  trace two other men who were seen in the area around the time of this incident.

Sergeant John Forrester who is part of ELCAT based in Haddington said: “It is completely unacceptable to use dogs for hare coursing and I can assure the public that we will do everything in our power to trace those who participate in this illegal act.

“It is thanks to the information passed to us by the public that we were able to detain and then charge a 20-year-old man under the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act and he is expected to appear before the courts at a later date.

“We will always act on intelligence that has been passed to us and I would urge anyone who has information on hare coursing to please contact police as soon as possible on 101.”

Stop Climate Chaos Scotland

EIFF 2016 to begin with ET!

Sport Relief Mile

Granton Youth Centre

Friday night at the Queen’s Hall 

Later this morning campaigners from Stop Climate Chaos Scotland will be riding bicycles around the city to deliver the campaign’s Scottish Parliament manifesto to the five parties at Holyrood.

Cyclist and Stop Climate Chaos Scotland campaigner Jim Densham said: “People in this country want change. Communities across Scotland are coming together to create their own clean energy, to build green transport systems, and to adopt low carbon lifestyles. Before the UN climate talks in Paris, thousands of us marched in Edinburgh as part of a global movement for real climate action. Now is the time for the political parties to match that commitment and enthusiasm.

“During the last Scottish Parliament, we repeatedly failed to meet our climate targets. That simply can’t continue.”

In an ironic twist the group had planned to hand in this manifesto last Thursday but were thwarted by Storm Gertrude.

Stop Climate Chaos Scotland has also launched an online campaign at stopclimatechaos.org/election-2016, asking members of the public to write to the political parties, urging them to support policies that will secure a low carbon Scotland by 2020.

EIFF & RSNO will present the UK Premiere of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial with a Live Orchestral Score

Dedicated, hardworking individuals are needed to join the volunteer crew for Sport Relief Mile on Sunday 20 March 2016. Taking place at West Princes Street Gardens it hopes to attract participants walking or running for charity. You can volunteer for around 4 hours and gain valuable experience, make friends and help participants have a great time!

To get involved email Annika: annika@raremanagement.co.uk by 22nd February.

Participate:

The Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile in Edinburgh will be held on Sunday 20 March 2016.  People of all ages and fitness levels can sign up to run one, three, or six miles. There’s still time to bag a place, don’t forget that fancy dress and enter the fun and games!

Organisers, The City of Edinburgh Council, are encouraging as many people as possible to enter now and get sponsored and help transform the lives of people living in Scotland, the rest of the UK and in some of the world’s poorest countries, while being part of an incredible nationwide event.  More information from www.sportrelief.com.

Life seems full of petitions at the moment and yet another has sprung up, this time in response to a cut in funding for Granton Youth Centre.

The petition reads:

Granton Youth Centre will experience 90% financial cuts from City of Edinburgh Council for its valuable work with young people aged 11-26 years living in Granton and throughout the North Edinburgh communities.

Previously receiving £185,000 and now only receiving £18,500 for financial year 2016/17, this may mean that Granton Youth Centre will close, stop services and make redundant staff who have long-established and trusted relationships with young people.

Please support us by signing our petition to stop these cuts and for Council to open up communication with the organisation to resolve its closure.  If you have experienced our services, please also make comments in support of the valuable work done in your community.

You can support the petition if you wish by clicking here.

Mo Kenney never had that archetypal I-want-to-be-famous moment, but somehow she was always going to make albums, play live and get noticed in her native Canada and way beyond.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10J38fxgpNE?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-GB&autohide=2&wmode=transparent&w=696&h=392]

Her brilliantly accomplished album In My Dreams was one of Canada’s most acclaimed records of 2014 and 2015 has seen her win four Nova Scotia Music Awards, plus ECMA’s Pop Recording of the Year for In My Dreams. Mo is already no stranger to international audiences and has played Iceland Airwaves, The Great Escape and Green Man festivals in the UK, plus touring for six weeks with her good friend RachelSermanni.

Tomorrow night she will appear at the Queen’s Hall and you can book tickets here.

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Just over 30 per cent of Scottish adults mainly between 16 and 29 have said that they would be more likely to use public transport than they were before the closure of the Forth Road Bridge.

The ESP Group conducted research into what transport in Scotland will look like in future and presented their findings at a parliamentary reception at Holyrood last night.

The results are interesting, particularly the fact that half of the respondents said they use public transport more than they did five years ago since it is cheaper than driving. (With diesel prices currently at 99p a litre we suggest that this view may be subject to some change!)

People who like to take their cars with them say that they like the independence of it over using the bus or train.

In the next ten years half of those asked said that they would expect to have one virtual ticket on their phones to allow them to travel seamlessly across all forms of public transport. In addition about a quarter thought that they might need to travel less as home working becomes more common.

The ESP Group produces travel passes for bus and train passengers across Scotland and has a call centre for travel enquiries in Arbroath.

Dr Steve Cassidy, Managing Director of Viaqqio, the future mobility company within ESP Group, said: “Whilst being disruptive, the closure of the Forth Road Bridge may have prompted travellers to discuss home-working opportunities, to change their work times and use other transport options. The introduction of a ‘new normal’ way of getting from A to B may have emerged which better suits people’s lifestyle choices resulting in more people now exploring public transport options.

“When major road closures happen traffic does often subsequently ‘disappear’ as people make a range of behavioural responses just as was seen in London during the closure of the Hammersmith Bridge in the late 90s. This can be positive for the environment and the economy as people find more efficient ways to travel and people who have not tried public transport for years realise it really can work for them.”

Edinburgh’s libraries are getting ready for National Libraries Day this weekend.

One of the events taking place this Saturday is a visit by singer and TV presenter Michelle McManus to Wester Hailes Library where she will read from The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson.

In addition Central Library are staging music and spoken word from #artcore. There is also a chance to see some selected items of Japanese art from the Henry Dyer collection.

Last October the Edinburgh Quartet launched Intimate Voices, the first mini-series in its 2015-16 programme, with a fabulous Rush Hour concert of music by Leos Janacek, enhanced by Ron Butlin’s readings of the composer’s letters. More concerts followed throughout Scotland, including a triumphant performance of works by Sibelius, Schubert and Shostakovich at the Queen’s Hall in November. You can read The Edinburgh Reporter’s review of the Rush Hour concert here and the Queen’s Hall concert here.

The quartet’s aim in performing this year’s Creative Scotland funded programme is to define what is special about chamber music groups. For spring, the quartet moves on to Storm/Stress, a project showcasing the emotional power of the quartet repertoire. Borrowing its title from the Sturm und Drang literary movement in eighteenth century Germany, the concerts will include not only Haydn’s typical Sturm und Drang work, String Quartet Op 76 No 2 but also Grieg’s String Quartet No 1 in G Minor and Bartok’s String Quartet No 3 – both of which were written at a high emotional temperature!

Four voices, all string instruments, may at first seem to be a limited musical resource for powerful emotional statements, but the Edinburgh Quartet will show audiences that some of the stormiest and most striking music is often written for the string quartet.

The Edinburgh Quartet will perform at the Queen’s Hall, Clerk Street at 7.30pm on 17^th February 2016. Tickets are available from the Box Office (0131 668 2019) or online here and cost £15/£12/£5 (students), accompanied children admitted free.

One new mum in Edinburgh is well on the way to regaining her fitness after winning a competition!

Jennifer Barclay, 30, from Edinburgh, received the surprise of her life when a state-of-the-art health, fitness and beauty haven was Fast Tracked to her doorstep by former Olympic athlete Iwan Thomas, courtesy of Argos.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoSrcuyvITY]

Jennifer was one of many to share a 140 character health and fitness ambition for 2016 as part of a #FastTrack Twitter competition, inspired by the exciting upcoming year of sport.

Jennifer Barclay, said: “I can’t believe Iwan Thomas and the Argos team turned up at my doorstep – it’s not every day that you have an Olympian in your living room giving you fitness advice!  I only Tweeted when I was getting baby Alexander ready in the morning and my prize arrived when I got home that very same day. I will definitely be using the Fast Track delivery service this year.”

A team of expert Argos stylists kitted out Jennifer’s home with an exclusive #FastTrack package with everything from dumbbell sets and a sparring kit, to Babyliss hair styling tools for a top-to-toe transformation, right through to a Nutri-Bullet and Fitbit gadgets for tracking her fitness progress along the way.

Argos’ pioneering Fast Track delivery service launched earlier this year, the first service by retailers to offer over 20,000 products for same day delivery nationwide (by 10pm if ordered before 6pm), seven days a week, for just £3.95.

Andy Brown, Central Operations Director at Argos, added: “From the RBS Six Nations, to UEFA Euro 2016 and of course, the Olympics in Rio, 2016 is set to be an exciting year of sport. As the games calendar gets underway and sporting fever begins to spread across the nation, we launched the #FastTrack surprise and delight Twitter campaign to give people across the UK the motivation, and tools, to stay active and healthy. Today has demonstrated the benefits of our Fast Track same-day delivery service perfectly. It’s a first for customers across the UK and means there’s no excuse to let resolutions and momentum slip!”

We seem to recall it was ladies of a certain age in the snug area of a bar who would order a pink gin. Well that is all behind us now as gin has come of age and is now a trendy drink, certainly here in Edinburgh where it is distilled in the city centre.

Edinburgh Gin proposes that all you need is love – and Valentine’s Gin this February. Here is what they say:

Hopelessly devoted to handcrafting memorable gin, this very limited-edition batch has been distilled with chamomile, lemon balm and lemongrass – herbaceous plants known for their soothing, amorous properties.

These Eastern exotics are married with our signature Scottish botanicals and juniper, creating a bursting bouquet of Valentine’s Gin. Best of all? Each batch has been gently infused with hearth-throbbing hibiscus and macerated rose to give it a pretty-in-pink, naturally passionate hue.

You can pick up a bottle of Valentine’s Gin exclusively at the Edinburgh Gin Distillery or order online.

VALENTINES AT DINE
3 COURSES & GLASS OF PROSECCO
£69.95 PER COUPLE

Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking, is asking lovers to nominate their favourite romantic walks before the finalists are put to the public vote ahead of February 14.

The walk can be a trip down memory lane to loves past or present and people entering the competition are being given the chance to share their reasons for their nominations.

The competition is also designed to inspire people to revisit their favourite city walks and perhaps relive the memories.

The competition is open to all, with the winning entry featured on the Living Streets website as part of the drive to make Britain a walking nation.

Living Streets Scotland Director Stuart Haysaid: “This competition is open to all – whether you want to fly the flag for your own city, or chose another that has been the setting for a romantic break. We would like to know the story behind each nomination and will be holding an online vote to let the nation decide the winner.

“The competition is light-hearted but we want to get across the simple message that just going for a walk a few times a week is enough to help people enjoy noticeable mental and physical health benefits. Hopefully couples will be inspired to explore their city looking for the winning entry.”

Please submit your entry to henry.ellis@livingstreets.org.uk

Dine at Kyloe to celebrate your love!

Save over £700 in Val d’Isère this Valentine’s Day with VIP SKI
Chalet Farmhouse, a spectacular farmhouse conversion, is bursting with character and boasts a fabulous location in the very heart of Val d’Isère’s cobbled old town. Sleeping 12-14 guests this is a great choice for larger groups.
Priced from £2,000 (down from £2,729 saving £729) for a week’s stay beginning 14^th February. Price includes catered accommodation, return flights from London Gatwick, coach transfers and VIP SKI’s chalet service.
VIP SKI (0208 875 1957; www.vip-chalets.com)

There are direct flights from Edinburgh to Geneva with easyJet.

Romance your other half throughout February at The Bonham, a beautiful 4-star boutique hotel in the heart of Edinburgh – one of the UK’s most romantic cities.

Take time out with a 1-night stay in a luxury bedroom, white rose petals, chocolates, fizz, and breakfast from just £125 per room per night.

Or join us for dinner and fizz at the Restaurant at Bonham and dine from an exclusive menu of locally sourced seasonal Scottish produce or enjoy cocktails in The Consulting Room.

So whether it’s your first mini-break or a second mini-moon, we’ve got the perfect location for a love affair in Edinburgh.

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Valentine’s Day at Premier Inns across the UK

Treat your loved one this Valentine’s day to a romantic getaway at some of the UK’s top destinations.

Whether it’s seeing the sights during an action-packed city break, or relaxing on a countryside retreat, Premier Inn has something for everyone this February with over 700 hotels up and down the country.

On Valentine’s weekend (Friday 12^th – Sunday 14^th) there will be 20,000 Premier Inn rooms available to book from just £35, with another 10,000 up for grabs on the evening of Sunday 14^th. *

Recently named the UK’s top rated hotel chain by Which? in their UK Hotel Chains 2015 Report, Premier Inn is guaranteed to offer you quality, comfort and a great night’s sleep. Guests can enjoy sampling the new breakfast menu while making use of the free Wi-Fi to post their romantic getaway memories online.

Top Valentine’s Day picks:

Brighton City Centre: From £39 on 14^th February

Take a romantic stroll through Brighton’s famous pebbled lanes and enjoy a fun night out along its buzzing promenade with a loved one this Valentine’s Day.

London (Tower): From £59 on 14^th February

Celebrate this special day in spooky style at the centre of London’s gothic history and explore the ghost stories of the Tower of London with your partner by your side. Or, if romance is more your thing, take a stroll along the banks of the River Thames with a stop off at the majestic St Paul’s.

Durham City Centre: From £35 on 14^th February

Culturally and historically rich, Durham’s Premier Inn is a perfect destination for Valentine’s Day with the hotel just half a mile from the World Heritage Centre by the River Weir. Other cultural activities include the famous Durham Cathedral and the city’s Norman Castle. Then, end the day with a tasty meal and bottle of wine in the lovely on-site restaurant, Thyme.

Edinburgh Central: From £39 on 14^th February or Edinburgh City Centre (Haymarket): From £35 on 14^th February

Take a romantic trip to the buzzing Scottish Capital and enjoy a wide variety of activities on offer in the city to keep your loved one happy this February; a stroll up the Royal Mile, ending with a visit to  Edinburgh Castle. Or if you are feeling energetic, walk to the top of Arthur’s Seat with its spectacular views over the city.

Norfolk: From £35 on 14^th February

Stay in the heart of historic Norwich for just £35. Take your loved one to see some drama or comedy at the Theatre Royal, or catch your breath by the sea amongst Norfolk beach’s beautiful sand dunes.

Whitstable, Kent: From £29 on 14^th February

Life’s a beach at this picturesque seaside town in Kent. Celebrate in romantic style with fresh seafood and bubbly overlooking the sea while watching the sunset over the English Channel from the warmth of a seafront restaurant or cafe. Or take a trip into Canterbury and explore the Cathedral, home to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

North Wales, Hotel Llandudno (Glan-Conwy): From £29 on 14^th February

Enjoy the beautiful Welsh scenery this Valentine’s Day, with effortless access to Snowdonia National Park. The hotel offers an amazing starting point to explore all the natural beauty, making it a Valentine’s to remember.

Inverness Centre (River Ness): From £29 on 14^th February

Get a taste of the Highlands this Valentine’s Day. Go wildlife spotting along the Caledonian Canal, or hire a boat on Loch Ness in an attempt to find Nessie.  Boasting amazing panoramic views of the River Ness, your Premier Inn getaway is is sure to set the mood for romance. 

£35 rooms are exclusively available when you book direct at www.premierinn.com. The room price includes the Valentine’s weekend (Friday, Saturday or Sunday nights), but don’t wait around, the earlier you book, the better your choice of fantastic locations!

Guests are advised to book 21 days in advance of the reservation date to take full advantage of Premier Inn offers.

For further information, full terms and conditions or to book visit www.premierinn.com (Rooms at this price are subject to availability).

Fancy something a bit further afield?

Head to Buenos Aires for Romance and Tango this Valentine’s Day with Rickshaw Travel
Travellers on this trip will explore sexy and sophisticated Buenos Aires, a city of steamy tango, sizzling steaks and a nightlife that never stops. They will take an eye-opening tour with a local Porteño (resident of the city) for an edgy glimpse into behind-the-scenes life and soak up the totally seductive atmosphere. They’ll stay in happening Palermo, one of the most popular barrios in Buenos Aires with wide streets lined with historic houses, lots of outdoor cafes, leafy parks and plenty of designer boutiques.
This 3-day ‘bite-size’ trip is priced from £218 and includes accommodation, breakfast, return airport transfers, private city tour and public transport tickets during the city tour.
Rickshaw Travel (01273 322399; www.rickshawtravel.co.uk)

And here’s a ‘love’ story for you:

Records of births, marriages and deaths, which are now published online by National Records of Scotland, reveal the start of civil marriages which ended Gretna Green-style marriages in 1940.

Among the marriages is the extraordinary story of a dashing Scottish actor–turned soldier who married an actress an hour after being divorced in a Scottish court on St Valentine’s Day 1940.

Captain Bruce Seton, a well-known leading man in films, married his second wife, Antoinette Cellier, in a special ceremony in Edinburgh on 14 February 1940. Only an hour before, he had been granted a divorce in the Court of Session from his first wife Tamara Desni, a glamorous actress of Russian descent. This may be the shortest time ever between a divorce and remarriage in Scotland.

Seton’s marriage was one of 53,522 that took place in Scotland in 1940, and all are being made available online through the official website ScotlandsPeople.

Bringing together some of the finest young players in Scotland, FORUM, Friends of Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, University of Edinburgh, and St Mary’s Music School, will hold their inaugural concert.

A spokesman said : “We are delighted to be joined by Dara de Cogan, a founder-member of European Community Youth Orchestra, and a former Principal Second Violin at the Hallé Orchestra.”

Programme:
Mozart Symphony No. 24 (9 mins)
Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 (25 mins)
Interval
Beethoven Symphony No. 2 (33 mins)

Conductor: Toshi Ogita
Soloist: Dara de Cogan

14th February 7.30pm Reid Concert Hall. Doors open at 7pm.
Free Admission (suggested donation £5/£3)

Submitted by Toshi Ogita

World Wide Wrestling League – Wrestling Showdown 13 February 2016 at Southside Community Centre, Edinburgh

Doors: 2:30pm Bell: 3pm

Tickets: General Admission £13, Concession £11, Family of Four £37 – Available @ www.W3Lwrestling.com, Ripping Records or Soutside Community Centre Cafe.

Southside Community Centre is about to set to host the stars of the World Wide Wrestling League (W3L) as wrestlers from around the world bring action packed wrestling matches featuring the very best in wrestling.

Matches will be filmed for the weekly internet show “Wrestling Showdown” which is downloaded by wrestling fans across the world weekly.

Heavyweights will collide as Mike Musso takes on Timm Wylie in one on one action.

Masked sensation El Technico will leave you in awe at his wrestling prowess as he battles it out in the ring.

Wrestling fans will be excited to know the former Heavyweight champion Nathan Reynolds will be there to show them just how he became W3L’s longest reigning champion.

All this and more for the wrestling fans fans in Edinburgh and so much more!

• The Campbell Sisters
• The Big Lottery 
• Big Debate
• Barnardo’s
• Legion d”Honneur

Our photo shows Adeline Amar who works at the National Gallery of Scotland posing with the newest sculpture on display there.

The life-size group portrays Emma and Julia, the two youngest daughters of Lady Charlotte Campbell, in the act of dancing a waltz. Unusually for a sculpture of this period, The Campbell Sisters is an action piece as well as a double portrait.

The marble piece is remarkable for the energy and vivacity of its portrayal of the elegant dancers. According to notes made in Bartolini’s studio, the group was commissioned by the sitters’ elder brother, Walter (1798-1855). On completion it was shipped to Scotland and apparently soon installed at Inveraray Castle on the West coast, seat of Lady Charlotte’s brother, the 6^th Duke of Argyll.

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The Edinburgh Reporter NEWS from Phyllis Stephen on Vimeo.

Jim Eadie MSP for Edinburgh Southern has lodged a parliamentary motion at Holyrood to highlight the £11 million which the Big Lottery Fund has provided to local community projects and organisations in the last 9 years.

Mr Eadie said: “It is fantastic to hear that the Big Lottery Fund is applying their funds to those most in need and that the funds are going to groups and projects positively impacting health, education, environment and charitable purposes.

“I am pleased that the people and communities of Edinburgh Southern have benefited from the £11 million awarded. This funding will support a range of valuable community projects and local organisations such as the Mirror Images project and the Seamless Transitions project.”

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE PART OF THE BIG DEBATE WITH GORDON BREWER IN EDINBURGH?

St Kentigern’s Church Hall, 26-28 Parkgrove Avenue, Edinburgh, EH4 7QR, Friday 19th February, 2016.

Doors open at the venue at 11:15am, show is on air from 12pm – 1pm – webpage link to booking form: http://bbc.in/1Al9Rpx , phone 0141 422 7773.

Former Newsnight presenter Gordon Brewer is the host of The Big Debate. But they want you – the audience – to pose the questions.

Questions should be brief and to the point if possible and should be on something that’s been reported in the news. As the programme broadcasts to a Scotland wide audience, they look for issues that raise matters of genuine national and international interest and you are asked to remember to keep an eye on the newspapers.

Once you know what you want to ask, email your question to us at bigdebate@bbc.co.uk by 5.30pm, Thursday 18th February.  Please be aware They are not able to guarantee that all questions will be used.

On 12 February 2016 there is an event for your diary a the newly opened Barnardo’s Scotland store.

Children will be kept entertained with a free goodie bag including balloons, colouring book and crayons, leaving parents free to browse the selection children’s items. With toys from just £1.99 for the duration of the event, families are sure to pick up a bargain!

Store manager Kellie Roberts said: “We’re hoping this event will attract the local community and showcase the great deals we have in-store. All children’s toys will be just £1.99 during the event so while the children enjoy the entertainment, adults can enjoy the bargains!

“While picking up new toys for your children, you can help vulnerable children across Scotland. With Barnardo’s marking its 150^th year in 2016, funds generated from the event will help us to be there always for children and young people throughout the country.”

For more information regarding the event or to find out about volunteering opportunities, please contact Kellie Roberts on 07810152195 or drop into the Musselburgh Store at Unit B, Moray Way, EH21 7QY.

Five World War Two veterans, including Edinburgh Award winner Tom Gilzean, have received France’s highest honour for bravery, in a special ceremony in Edinburgh.

The Scottish veterans were presented with the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur medals, in a reception held by the Lord Provost Donald Wilson in the City of Edinburgh Council City Chambers.
Read more here.

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