There isn’t a critics circle or academy around that have doubted the heart rending latest performance from Julianne Moore. The American actress has, deservedly so, spent the past few months picking up award after award for her role as Alice Howland – a woman slowly facing her worst fears as she develops Alzheimers.

A linguistics professor with three children has began to slowly lose her vast memory of words for seemingly unknown reasons. After neurological tests, she faces the reality of a life with early on set Alzheimers; a hereditary form that is set to destroy her children’s lives as much as hers.

As someone who has witnessed first hand the effects of a neurological disease, Julianne Moore creates her character in a movingly authentic manner. A fully formed professional woman in the film’s initial scenes, her degradation is depicted with irrefutable authenticity. Directors Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland have moulded a woman; not a subhuman creature, and so watching this devastating disease truly take hold is even more heartbreaking.

It has been a year of great work for supporting actress Kristen Stewart. Playing Alice’s independent actress daughter who, through her own lack of life commitments, is brought home to care for her slowly disintegrating mother. Following on from her versatile approach as a Guantanamo Bay prison guard in Camp X-Ray, she remains a vision of her usual self here; the beer drinking, sulky aging teenager. Her ability here is seen through her settling into this potentially rather shapeless character. Stewart provides a beautifully understated performance as a young woman with an all too clear understanding.

Still Alice has the room to be expansive, complex and soul shatteringly emotional, and yet decides to hold itself back perhaps a little bit further than it should. Although effective, its simplicity sometimes translates into safety. It holds itself back and refuses to truly let go; ending dignified rather than the somewhat distraught nature Alzheimer’s sufferers experience.

There is no doubt that the highlight of the simple, inspired Still Alice is the remarkable central performance gifted to the audience by Julianne Moore. Often sombre and filled with a humanistic loss of yourself, this is a testimony to Moore’s great talent.

Still Alice plays at the Glasgow Film Festival on February 21st. It opens nationwide on March 6th.

Hibs’ captain and darts fan Liam Craig met Gary ‘The Flying Scotsman’ Anderson at yesterday’s William Hill Scottish Cup quarter final draw at Hampden and handed the PDC World Champion a personalised ‘180’ shirt.

Hibs’ fan Anderson helped to conduct the draw at the home of Scottish football and coincidentally handed his favourites a home tie against either Berwick Rangers or Spartans.

Afterwards the ‘Flying Scotsman’ told the Club website: “Thanks for the shirt – I will make sure I wear it at an upcoming event that will be full of Jambos!

“To be honest, I’m not a massive football supporter, but Hibs have always been my family’s team and it was good talking to Liam (Craig); he is from Chirnside which is near to where I first started playing darts.

“I would like to wish Hibs all the best for the quarter final and, hopefully if my schedule allows me to, I will be free to go and support Hibs if they get through to Hampden.”

Craig said: “My Dad is a big darts fan and he and Gary have got a mutual friend in common, so it was really good to be able to meet him.

“In actual fact, in one of the pubs back in Chirnside there is one of my framed shirts alongside his framed shirt, so it was good to chat to him about the connection.

“We always said in the build-up to the draw that we wanted a home tie, so to get one was absolutely perfect.

“We’ve got strong connections with both Berwick Rangers – the local club to where I grew up – and Spartans, where we regularly train and where the Development team play their home games.

“It promises to be an exciting game and a great advert for the William Hill Scottish Cup – we’re all really excited about it.”

Head Coach Alan Stubbs said: “We’re absolutely delighted to get a home draw – thanks to Gary Anderson for that!

“We will thoroughly prepare for the tie and the homework started seconds after the draw – we will compile a detailed dossier on both teams and ensure we’re fully equipped for the match.”

The tie will be played on the weekend of 7/8 March with the replay between Spartans and Berwick Rangers – following Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Ainslie Park – will take place at Shielfield Park next Tuesday.

Ticket information for the William Hill Scottish Cup quarter final tie will be confirmed as soon as possible here at hibernianfc.co.uk

Hibs’ Development squad striker Lewis Allan has extended his contract with the club until the summer of 2018.

The 18-year-old centre-forward made his first team debut at Falkirk in December and has scored nine goals so far this season in the SPFL Development League.

Allan says he is thrilled to have agreed the extension and eager to progress – during his first full season as a full-time player.

Speaking to hibernianfc.co.uk, Allan said: “This is absolutely brilliant and I’m excited about the future – I’m delighted about agreeing the extension and it came as a bit of a surprise.

“I’ve been involved with Hibernian’s Academy since I was eight or nine and I’ve played for every age-group team.

“During all that time, all I ever wanted to do was get the opportunity to play for the first team and luckily I’ve now done that.

“Hopefully I will earn a lot more opportunities to play for the first team and repay the faith the manager has already shown in me.

“I appreciate this is just the first step in a long journey towards trying to establish myself as a first team player at the club and I want to give it everything I can in order to make that happen.

“Since the start of the season, I believe I’ve learned a huge amount and that my overall understanding of the game has improved massively.

“My parents were great taking me to and from training two times a week last season, but since I’ve gone full-time I feel I’ve started to mature as a player.

“I’m keen to learn as much as I can and Hibs is a great environment in order to be able to do that with Joe (McBride) and the gaffer (Alan Stubbs).”

Development Coach Joe McBride said: “I’m delighted for Lewis and I hope he continues to work hard during his development because he has already seen that he will be rewarded.

“The Academy’s main objective is to develop players, who will be ready to contribute at first team level and Lewis has already certainly make progress on that front.”

Head Coach Alan Stubbs said: “I’m delighted that Lewis has committed his future to the club by signing his extension.

“The fact that we are producing players through our excellent Academy into the first team is something that we’re incredibly proud of and long may that continue.

“Both Joe (McBride) and Eddie (May) deserve enormous credit and the fact Lewis has already made his first team debut underlines my philosophy that if players merit selection then, irrespective of their age, they will get the opportunity.”

Allan scored his opening goal at senior level, albeit in a friendly, against our potential William Hill Scottish Cup quarter final opponents Berwick Rangers at Shielfield Park in pre-season.

Allan is back in competitive action today in an SPFL Development League match against Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Ainslie Park – home of Hibs’ potential quarter final opponents, Spartans – kick off 2pm (admission is via donation to the Transition Academy).

Tiny Tales: Snowdrops and Daffodils. The first signs of spring are in the air, with dewy snowdrops in the garden. Join storyteller Tim Porteous for a fun morning of story and song for little ones aged 1-3 years. 10am or 11.30am (40 minute sessions), Storytelling Bothy, Scottish Storytelling Centre, High Street. Tickets cost £5 per child, accompanying adult free; please book in advance, either online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579.  Please remember to book a free adult ticket as well as the ticket for your child.

Jo Caulfield Presents….. The Speakeasy: a relaxed evening that packs in the entertainment, mixing comedy, poetry, stories and songs with an occasional dash of the unexpected. Uncover true stories, from the haunting to the hilarious, live on stage…This month: comedian Bruce Devlin, musician Andy Tucker, columnist and author Julie McDowell, actor and writer Michael Daviot, stand-up Gareth Waugh and writer Laura Guthrie. For ages 16+. 8pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre, High Street. Tickets cost £7 and can be booked online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579. These events usually sell out in advance, so you are advised to book as soon as possible. The next Speakeasy will be on 10th March 2015.

2015 Iranian Film Festival: a season of classic and contemporary films from Iran, including a number of Scottish premieres, shown as part of the Edinburgh Iranian Festival. Today: Downpour (12A) 5.45pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets can be booked online here or by calling the box office on 0131 228 2688. Prices vary: there are deals for purchasing multiple tickets for this season. The 2015 Iranian Film Festival is curated by Dr Nacim Pak-Shiraz and sponsored by The Sutton Gallery, Arts & Business Scotland, the School of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies of the University of Edinburgh, and the Filmhouse.

Edible Gardening: Seasonal Advice. Drop in to find out how to grow your own food, and take a look around the productive garden with the Edible Gardening Project team. 1-3pm, Demonstration Garden, Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, Inverleith Row.

Stems: a solo show by Jamie Johnson, who will be presenting a selection of recent and unseen prints, collages and drawings. Jamie’s work explores non-linear, imagined landscapes through elements of primitivism and folk culture. 11am-5pm Tuesday to Saturday, McNaughton’s Bookshop and Gallery, 3a & 4a Haddington Place. Closes 28th March 2015.

LGBT Art Therapy: Doll Making. Facilitated by art therapists, be guided through techniques to make your own doll, in order to explore elements of self-expression in a therapeutic group setting. No experience or skill in art required. Please note this is the second of a two-part group, the first session having taken place on 3rd February. 6.30-8.30pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. Places are limited so booking is essential: contact Alison Wren on 0131 652 3283 or email alison@lgbthealth.org.uk.

Meet The Author: Grahame Howard. The Portobello writer talks about his third novel The Euthanasia Protocol, which offers ‘a frightening but credible insight into what might happen if people stopped thinking for themselves’. The book will appeal to those who question the role of religion in society and are concerned about the increasing use of technology in government. 6.30-7.30pm, Portobello Library, Rosefield Avenue. Free tickets can be booked via eventbrite here.

Homework Club: No more excuses! Get your homework done and have fun! Practice your reading – book a paired reading slot. 3.30-4.40pm today and every Tuesday, Sighthill Library, 55 Sighthill Road. Contact the library to book a slot for reading.

Lunchtime Concert: The Edinburgh Quartet plays Haydn Quartet Op 17 No. 4 and Quartet Op 54 No.2. 1.10pm, Reid Concert Hall, University of Edinburgh, Bristo Square. Free and unticketed.

Alcohol and the elderly

International Rugby

Golfing medal to be sold in Edinburgh

Tour the Talbot Rice – in Italian – this lunchtime

Devil’s Advocate is shortlisted for Best Bar Award

A successful pilot scheme which helps frontline staff identify problem drinking amongst elderly people in the west of Edinburgh is set to be rolled out.

An advice toolkit was drawn up after alcohol-related harm was identified as a significant concern amongst those aged 65 years and over and living in the Almond and Western Edinburgh areas of the city.

A report about the scheme will be made to members of the Communities and Neighbourhoods Committee when it meets today. You can watch the proceedings live from 10am by clicking here.

Staff training and the toolkit, which includes a unit measuring glass, phone numbers and information leaflets has been well received and it is anticipated that similar training may be received by Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue and third sector partners in the future.

Details of the report – called Prevention and Early Intervention through Partnership Alcohol Awareness Pilot – will be given to the committee today.

The report is reproduced for you here.

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The scheme was created by the joint Almond and Western Edinburgh Neighbourhood Partnership Health and Community Care Sub-Group in collaboration with NHS Lothian who had concerns about drinking habits; these were supported by local health care partners and local GPs.

The next step is to roll the training programme out to third sector partners, equality groups and local businesses. Information sessions are also planned for GP surgeries, pharmacies, libraries and shopping centres.

Councillor Maureen Child, Communities and Neighbourhoods Convener, said: “Many elderly people enjoy the occasional tipple, and there is nothing wrong with that. This toolkit is aimed at those whose drinking habits are causing harm to their health and are in need of advice.

“Staff have been very positive about the pilot scheme and have welcomed the support it gives them to approach residents who may be struggling. It makes sense to roll it out to other areas of the city, and it’s fantastic that other organisations are also interested in using it.

“The health and well-being of our residents is the most important factor, especially with our ageing population. Anything that helps to reduce health inequalities should be welcomed.”

Lesley Taylor, Neighbourhood Support Service Manager for the Council, has taken part in the training. She works with vulnerable adults through the housing support service.

She said: “Our priority is to support the people we visit to make the best choices regarding their health and lifestyles. This toolkit has been extremely helpful by giving staff the confidence to talk to clients where there is a concern about their drinking habits. We’ve found that people are open to the advice and have been able to dispel some of the myths surrounding alcohol use.”

Eleanor McWhirter, NHS Lothian Lead in Alcohol Brief Interventions, said: “This pilot is a great example of community groups, NHS Health Promotion Service and the Council working together to promote the health and well being of the local population.

“It revealed that intervening early and focusing on the needs of local people can be effective in reducing alcohol consumption. We look forward to potentially expanding this work to other areas of the city.”

***

If you’re a real fan then you might already have your tickets for the rugby this Sunday but if not there may be some left over here.

Our John Preece will be at the match and will have a report and photos shortly afterwards in our Sport section here.

Sign up here for a daily email from The Edinburgh Reporter !

***

The Open Golf Championship medal won by ‘The Coronation Champion’, Scottish golfer Sandy Herd (1868 –1944), in 1902 at Royal Liverpool in Hoylake is to be offered for sale at Bonhams Sporting Sale in Edinburgh on Wednesday 13 May 2015.

The medal, which is approximately two inches across and made from solid gold, is estimated at £35,000-50,000. Read more here.

***

The Talbot Rice Gallery is offering a guided visit of their present exhibition in the language they practice with Yakety Yak Language Cafe.

The tour lasts up to an hour with the opportunity of questions and answers to follow again in the target language. The events are free of charge and there will be no more than 15 places per event. In order to book contact Yakety Yak here.

***

The Devil’s Advocate is shortlisted for the Veuve Cliquot GQ Best Bar Award and is the only Scottish bar in the list.

While the judges will decide in April which bar wins the results will not be announced until the June issue of GQ.

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School of Hard Knocks is a social inclusion charity that delivers contact sports-based interventions to ‘hard-to-reach’ members of society to tackle issues associated with unemployment, crime and poor mental/physical health. You may have seen some of our work documented on Sky Sports, or watched the Glasgow show in 2013.

Following this programme in Glasgow, SoHK-Scotland has developed alongside community partners ng homes (the largest community based social landlord in Glasgow), and has delivered rugby and boxing interventions in community and prison settings throughout north Glasgow. Our programmes focus on enhancing skills, community ties, and support entry into positive destinations such as college, employment and/or voluntary work.

SoHK-Scotland is starting a new course in Edinburgh for unemployed men and women on Monday 16^th February 2015. On this course, participants will receive fitness and rugby coaching from professional rugby coaches and players, as well as dedicated 1:1 personal and employability support. At the end of the course there will also be a ‘jobs fair’, giving participants the opportunity to showcase themselves in front of local employers.

Interested in finding out more about the School of Hard Knocks and our Edinburgh programme?

• Are you aged 18+, currently unemployed and would like to take part in our Edinburgh programme?

Contact Kate on 07542 506 130 or email kate@schoolofhardknocks.org.uk

• Are you an employer who could support our jobs fair and employ/give work experience to one of Edinburgh programme graduates?

• Do you have the skills or expertise to help us on future courses?

• Would you like to fundraise for us?

Contact scotland@schoolofhardknocks.org.uk or call Kate on number above.

Health Secretary, Shona Robison, has confirmed that NHS Lothian will receive an additional £37.7 million in 2015-16.

This brings NHS Lothian’s general allocation increase to 3.2 per cent on 2014-15, bringing the board’s general allocation to more than £1.22 billion.

In addition to this, the Government’s announcement of £4.3 million for NHS Lothian in 2015-16 to tackle delays in discharging patients from hospital will be added to the board’s budget, bring the total uplift to 3.5 per cent.

Ms Robison said:

“The Scottish Government’s commitment to increasing NHS Lothian budget demonstrates our continuing investment in frontline health spending.

“This comes as Scotland’s total health spending reaches more than £12 billion for the first time ever.

“We’re clear that all patients in Lothian should be treated as quickly and as effectively as possible, with the right care, in the right place, at the right time. With this increase in funding, health boards are being given more support to achieve this.

“We know there is still pressures on the NHS and this Government is acting to deliver record funding and robust policies needed to support the hardworking and dedicated staff of our NHS.

“Tackling delayed discharge is an absolute key priority for this government and the £4.3 million for NHS Lothian in 2015-16 is crucial to this effort.

“Reducing delayed discharge not only helps individual patients, who benefit from getting home or to a homely setting as quickly as possible, but also helps ease pressure across the system.

“As we head towards the integration of health and social care this additional funding will also support work underway to transform care services which will get people who may be unnecessarily staying in hospital home or into a homely setting.”

MONDAY 9TH FEBRUARY 2015

Edinburgh College of Art: Illustrating the last great voyage of discovery. Illustration students recently took a creative journey across Antarctica in an exciting collaboration with the National Library of Scotland; they were tasked with responding to the story of Shackleton’s Endurance Expedition, and each created an illustrated map of the journey. They were also asked to create an artefact that illustrated an element of the narrative. This exhibition displays the results of this project, results which vary from personal and poignant accounts of the harsh experience to a ‘scratch and sniff’ scented map and a board game design. 10am-8pm Monday to Friday, 10am-5pm Saturday, 2-5pm Sunday, until 19th February 2015, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge.

Joseph Pearce’s Book Group: first meeting of this new group tonight. The book to be discussed is Nathan Filer’s Shock of the Fall – but even if you haven’t read it, you are very welcome to come along to this informal meeting. ‘Think coffee, cakes, books and beer’. 6.30pm, Joseph Pearce’s, 23 Elm Row. For more information email jp@bodabar.com or see Joseph Pearce’s Facebook page.

Darkness Visible: a series of feature films selected to accompany Christopher Orr’s exhibition The Beguiled Eye at the University of Edinburgh’s Talbot Rice Gallery. Each film reflects different elements in Orr’s work, from the enchantment and terror of the Ozark mountains in Winter’s Bone to the barren, ominous desolation of Tarkovsky’s ‘Zone’ in Stalker, and the unearthly mystery and sense of adventure in Super 8. Each film will be introduced by an assistant curator from Talbot Rice. Today: Winter’s Bone (15). 6pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets can be booked online or by calling the Box Office on 0131 228 2688: prices vary. Read The Edinburgh Reporter’s review of The Beguiled Eye here.

LGBT History Month: Human Library. Learn about living history through the lives of LGBT people contributing to the richness of cultural diversity in Scotland – please come and interview a LGBT ‘human book’. All welcome! 5-7pm, McDonald Road Library, 2 McDonald Road. For more information contact nigel.chipps@lgbtyouth.org.uk or call 0131 555 3940. For more about  LGBT History Month, read The Edinburgh Reporter’s article here.

Blind Poetics: open mic session of performance poetry. February’s feature is poet Amanda Baker. If you would like to sign up for a 5 minute slot (there will be 8 for women and 8 for men), email blindpoetics@gmail.com. Hosted by Alec Beattie and Roddy Shippin. 8-11pm, The Blind Poet, West Nicolson Street. Free, but Amanda Baker is kindly donating her fee to Crisis, so bring money!

Edible Gardening: Seasonal Advice. Drop in to find out how to grow your own food, and take a look around the productive garden with the Edible Gardening Project team. 1-3pm, Demonstration Garden, Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, Inverleith Row. Also at same time on Tuesday 10th February.

Cafe Histoire: Camille Desmoulins. Camille Desmoulins (1760-1794) perfectly illustrated the often confrontational relationship between French journalists and politicians. His writing made him one of the most influential characters of the French Revolution. Historian and librarian at the French Institute in Glasgow Patrick Landri will talk about the fabulous destiny of a man who fought for freedom and human rights. 5.30pm, Institut francais d’Ecosse, 13 Randolph Crescent. Please note that this talk will be in French only. All welcome: £5 (members), £8 (non-members).

Emily Young: Stone From The Mountain. A new exhibition of work by internationally renowned sculptor Emily Young; head sculptures, torsos and discs. 10am-6pm Monday to Friday, 11am-2pm Saturdays, Fine Art Society of Edinburgh (formerly Bourne Gallery), 6 Dundas Street. Closes 14th March 2015.

Edwin G Lucas(1911-1990): an exhibition of the work of the Scottish Surrealist painter. ‘Thank God we have at long last discovered him – he is a great, great enormous talent’ (John Byrne), ‘They are impressive because they are inexplicable’ (Patrick Elliott, NGS). 10am-6pm Monday to Friday, 11am-2pm Saturdays, Fine Art Society of Edinburgh (formerly Bourne Gallery), 6 Dundas Street. Closes 26th February 2015.

Broughton History Society: Peter Stubbs will talk on Old Photographs and Recollections of Broughton. 7pm Drummond Community High School, Bellevue Place. Members and non-members all welcome!

Edinburgh Iranian Festival: Blood Oranges Dipped in Salt. Family history and an extensive photographic archive are used as principal resources in this new work by Dr Karen Babayan, a collection of fictionalised ‘hand-me-down’ family stories and the end of a long and very personal project for the author. Dr Babayan grew up in the Armenian community in Tehran until she moved to the UK with her family at the age of 16. She is now a visual artist living in Cumbria and explains that the stories are woven around family photos and recollections that have assumed a mythical quality for her over the years. The stories occupy a time period of over 400 years to the present day, and the events cover a geography of three continents, moving from Armenia to Iran, then to the UK and Canada.The stories bear witness to a minority culture with a monumental history that has experienced generations of loss, displacement, migration, immigration and assimilation. Dr Babayan hopes that her book will capture these stories before they are lost, and will be passed on through generations of families as the stories themselves have been passed down through her own family. The talk will be followed by a Q & A session and signing by the author prior to the official publication of the book on 29th February; there will also be a drinks reception courtesy of the School of Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies, University of Edinburgh. 5.30-6.30pm, Lecture Theatre F.21, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square. Free admission.

New Town & Broughton Community Council. 7.30pm, Broughton St Mary’s Parish Church, Bellevue Crescent. All welcome.

LGBT Support Services Open Evening: do you know where to go for support if you experience domestic abuse, sexual abuse or want to access couples or individual counselling about a relationship? LGBT-inclusive organisations from across Edinburgh will visit LGBT Health & Wellbeing for this drop-in event during LGBT History Month.  6.30-7.30pm (within Drop In, which runs 5.30-8pm), LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. No appointment needed; contact George Burrows on 0131 652 3281 or george@lgbthealth.org.uk for more information.

God, Science and Faith: Richard Dawkins v CS Lewis on the meaning of life. The Heriot Watt University Chaplaincy Annual Public Lecture will be delivered by biophysicist and theologian Professor Alister McGrath (University of Oxford). Refreshments will be served  after the lecture at 7.45pm. 6.30pm, James Watt Centre, Heriot Watt University Edinburgh Campus, EH14 4AS. Please register your intention to attend on 0131 451 4508 or m.boulogne@hw.ac.uk.

2015 Iranian Film Festival: a season of classic and contemporary films from Iran, including a number of Scottish premieres, shown as part of the Edinburgh Iranian Festival. Today: Taboor (15) 8.45pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets can be booked online here or by calling the box office on 0131 228 2688. Prices vary: there are deals for purchasing multiple tickets for this season. The 2015 Iranian Film Festival is curated by Dr Nacim Pak-Shiraz and sponsored by The Sutton Gallery, Arts & Business Scotland, the School of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies of the University of Edinburgh, and the Filmhouse.

TUESDAY 10TH FEBRUARY 2015

Tiny Tales: Snowdrops and Daffodils. The first signs of spring are in the air, with dewy snowdrops in the garden. Join storyteller Tim Porteous for a fun morning of story and song for little ones aged 1-3 years. 10am or 11.30am (40 minute sessions), Storytelling Bothy, Scottish Storytelling Centre, High Street. Tickets cost £5 per child, accompanying adult free; please book in advance, either online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579.  Please remember to book a free adult ticket as well as the ticket for your child.

Jo Caulfield Presents….. The Speakeasy: a relaxed evening that packs in the entertainment, mixing comedy, poetry, stories and songs with an occasional dash of the unexpected. Uncover true stories, from the haunting to the hilarious, live on stage…This month: comedian Bruce Devlin, musician Andy Tucker, columnist and author Julie McDowell, actor and writer Michael Daviot, stand-up Gareth Waugh and writer Laura Guthrie. For ages 16+. 8pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre, High Street. Tickets cost £7 and can be booked online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579. These events usually sell out in advance, so you are advised to book as soon as possible. The next Speakeasy will be on 10th March 2015.

2015 Iranian Film Festival: a season of classic and contemporary films from Iran, including a number of Scottish premieres, shown as part of the Edinburgh Iranian Festival. Today: Downpour (12A) 5.45pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets can be booked online here or by calling the box office on 0131 228 2688. Prices vary: there are deals for purchasing multiple tickets for this season. The 2015 Iranian Film Festival is curated by Dr Nacim Pak-Shiraz and sponsored by The Sutton Gallery, Arts & Business Scotland, the School of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies of the University of Edinburgh, and the Filmhouse.

Edible Gardening: Seasonal Advice. Drop in to find out how to grow your own food, and take a look around the productive garden with the Edible Gardening Project team. 1-3pm, Demonstration Garden, Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, Inverleith Row.

Stems: a solo show by Jamie Johnson, who will be presenting a selection of recent and unseen prints, collages and drawings. Jamie’s work explores non-linear, imagined landscapes through elements of primitivism and folk culture. 11am-5pm Tuesday to Saturday, McNaughton’s Bookshop and Gallery, 3a & 4a Haddington Place. Closes 28th March 2015.

LGBT Art Therapy: Doll Making. Facilitated by art therapists, be guided through techniques to make your own doll, in order to explore elements of self-expression in a therapeutic group setting. No experience or skill in art required. Please note this is the second of a two-part group, the first session having taken place on 3rd February. 6.30-8.30pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. Places are limited so booking is essential: contact Alison Wren on 0131 652 3283 or email alison@lgbthealth.org.uk.

Meet The Author: Grahame Howard. The Portobello writer talks about his third novel The Euthanasia Protocol, which offers ‘a frightening but credible insight into what might happen if people stopped thinking for themselves’. The book will appeal to those who question the role of religion in society and are concerned about the increasing use of technology in government. 6.30-7.30pm, Portobello Library, Rosefield Avenue. Free tickets can be booked via eventbrite here.

Homework Club: No more excuses! Get your homework done and have fun! Practice your reading – book a paired reading slot. 3.30-4.40pm today and every Tuesday, Sighthill Library, 55 Sighthill Road. Contact the library to book a slot for reading.

Lunchtime Concert: The Edinburgh Quartet plays Haydn Quartet Op 17 No. 4 and Quartet Op 54 No.2. 1.10pm, Reid Concert Hall, University of Edinburgh, Bristo Square. Free and unticketed.

WEDNESDAY 11TH FEBRUARY 2015

Creating A Portrait Head: considering Alexander Stoddart’s Making History exhibition as a reference point, sculptor Deidre Nicholls will talk about the creation of a portrait head, covering techniques and also the creative process. 12.45-1.30pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free: no booking required.

Blackwell’s Edinburgh Presents Doug Johnstone and Helen Fitzgerald. Glasgow-based Helen Fitzgerald is the best-selling author of Dead Lovely and nine other adult and young adult thrillers: her latest novel is The Exit. Edinburgh-based Doug Johnstone is the author of five novels including the acclaimed Gone Again, and is also a freelance journalist, musician, songwriter and has a PhD in nuclear physics: his latest novel is The Dead Beat. 6.30-8pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. Free tickets can be obtained from the shop’s front desk, or by calling 0131 622 8218 or emailing events.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk.

Wiff Waff Wednesday: a monthly ping pong night for all ages, with music, drink and great food available at the Drill Hall Arts Cafe. ‘Friendship first, competition second’. 6-10pm, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street. Free entry: all welcome!

Beyond The Rage: Scottish author and poet  Michael J Malone launches his compelling new crime thriller in conversation with Lin Anderson. Kenny O’Neill is on a dual mission to hunt down his girl’s attacker and find out the truth about his Dad…instead he unravels disturbing family secrets and finds that revenge is not always sweet. 6.30pm, Looking Glass Books, 36 Simpson’s Loan, Quartermile.  Free but please email laura@saraband.net to book your place, or book via eventbrite.

Kirill Sokolov Documentary and Lecture. The premiere of Benjamin Sadd’s documentary about the life and work of the major contemporary Russian artist Kirill Sokolov (1930-2004), looking at his work in depth, from his early life in Russia to his emigration to Berwick-On-Tweed and then Durham in the 1970s. The film will be accompanied by a lecture on The Concept of Tragedy in Russian Silver Age Thought by Professor Avril Pyman. A leading translator of Russian poetry and a biographer of Aleksandr Blok and Pavel Florensky, Professor Pyman has also written the major text on the Russian symbolist movement and is a Fellow of the British Academy. 6.30-8.30pm, Project Room, 50 George Square, University of Edinburgh. Free but booking is essential: please email Dashkova.Centre@ed.ac.uk. This event is presented by the Dashkova Centre in partnership with The Sutton Gallery.

2015 Iranian Film Festival: a season of classic and contemporary films from Iran, including a number of Scottish premieres, shown as part of the Edinburgh Iranian Festival. Today: A Few Kilos of Dates for a Funeral (15) 8.45pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets can be booked online here or by calling the box office on 0131 228 2688. Prices vary: there are deals for purchasing multiple tickets for this season. The 2015 Iranian Film Festival is curated by Dr Nacim Pak-Shiraz and sponsored by The Sutton Gallery, Arts & Business Scotland, the School of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies of the University of Edinburgh, and the Filmhouse.

LGBT: Just for Men. A relaxed social opportunity for men who want to meet other gay, bisexual or transgender men in one of Edinburgh’s newest LGBT- friendly bars. For ages 18+.  6.30-8.30pm, Woodland Creatures, 260-262 Leith Walk. For more information contact LGBT Health & Wellbeing at admin@lgbthealth.org.uk.

Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp, Dominic Waxing Lyrical and Howie Reeve: featuring Wilf Plum on drums, this 7-piece group from Geneva also manage to squeeze a marimba, a double bass, a violin, a trombone and an electric guitar onto the stage at Henry’s. Tropical post-punk/afro-avant pop/mediaeval prog/bass.With support from Edinburgh’s own Dominic Waxing Lyrical and Howie Reeve from Glasgow. 7.30-11.30pm, Henry’s Cellar Bar, Morrison Street. £6

Edinburgh Iranian Festival: Xerxes Cabinet of Curiosities – exotic animals and royal authority in Achaemenid Iran. The Achaemenid dynasty (559-331 BC) ruled the largest empire the ancient world had ever seen. By examining a variety of sources – iconographic and literary, Greek, Indian and Iranian – Dr Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones (University of Edinburgh) will explore the rich variety of exotic wildlife imported into Persia to satisfy the monarch’s pleasure and his public image, wildlife that included Asiatic lions, Bactrian camels, zebu, wild asses, Arabian horses, parrots, peacocks and wild jungle fowl. How were these animals perceived by their Persian viewers, how were they displayed, and what do we know about their treatment? Dr Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones specialises in Achaemenid Iran and ancient Greek socio-cultural history, and in the reception of antiquity in popular culture. 5-6pm, Lecture Theatre F.21, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square. Free.

Colinton Library presents an afternoon concert with the pupils of Merchiston Castle School. A range of classical and easy listening tunes for all to enjoy. 2.30-3pm, Colinton Library, Thorburn Road. All welcome.

Independence and Interdependence: The Dynamics of Scottish Self-Government. Professor Nicola McEwen, Professor of Territorial Politics, University of Edinburgh, delivers her inaugural lecture. The Scottish Independence Referendum may have resulted in a No vote, but it has reignited debates over Scottish self-government: Nicola McEwen’s lecture will put these debates into context. 5.15-6.15pm, Business School Auditorium, University of Edinburgh Business School, 29 Buccleuch Place.

Queer History: An Introduction. Dr Carole Jones (University of Edinburgh) will construct a brief history of the evolution of the discipline of queer theory – the ‘why’ of queer theory. She will then go on to look at definitions, some attempts to pin down what is meant – the ‘what’ of queer theory. Along the way she will explore examples of the work of one or two landmark queer theorists – the ‘who’ of queer theory, and will finish off by looking at the emergence of trans* theory and its implications for thinking about identity. 6pm, Lecture Theatre 1, Appleton Tower, Crichton Street. Free and open to all.

The Old Edinburgh Club. Jamie Pearce: Healthy Places? Environmental conditions and public health in Edinburgh over the last 100 years. 7pm, Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge. £5/members free.

THURSDAY 12TH FEBRUARY 2015

Cafe Voices: Journey Through Love. At the Centre’s monthly storytelling session Wendy Woolfson leads  a journey through the stages of love, inviting the audience to feel  their own connections, and share in the familiar feelings that love can evoke. Including traditional tales alongside true stories and songs, this promises to be an entertaining, thought-provoking and uplifting evening. The evening will be split into two halves with an open-floor section for storytellers to tell their own tales in the second half, all in the relaxed setting of the Storytelling Court. 7pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre, High Street. Tickets cost £5 and can be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579.

Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop Artists’ Talk: Jean Philippe Dordolo and Kadie Salmon. Two Sculpture Workshop Micro Residents discuss their practices and the work they have been developing over the course of their residency. 6-8pm, Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, 21 Hawthornvale. Admission is free.

Edinburgh College of Art Thursday Research Seminar Series: Shadows of Herself: Lee Miller’s Collage. Chaired by Dr Patricia Allmer (ECA). 5.15pm, Lecture Room 1, Minto House, University of Edinburgh, Chambers Street. Free and open to all.

The Thursday Club: A Musical Afternoon with George Ross and friends. 2pm, Upper Hall, Mayfield Salisbury Church, West Mayfield. All very welcome: contact Florence Smith on 0131 663 1234 for more information.

Easel Sketching in the Gallery: led by artist Damian Callan, with a different subject every month and sometimes a model. All materials supplied. 2-4pm, Main Gallery Floor, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free: no booking required. Also at same times on Friday 13th February 2015.

2015 Iranian Film Festival: a season of classic and contemporary films from Iran, including a number of Scottish premieres, shown as part of the Edinburgh Iranian Festival. Today: The Prince (15) 6.10pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets can be booked online here or by calling the box office on 0131 228 2688. Prices vary: there are deals for purchasing multiple tickets for this season. This screening will be followed by a Q & A session with the director. The 2015 Iranian Film Festival is curated by Dr Nacim Pak-Shiraz and sponsored by The Sutton Gallery, Arts & Business Scotland, The School of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies of the University of Edinburgh, and the Filmhouse.

Ecumenical Friends at St Cuthbert’s: Simon Barrow – Ekklesia: Christian Political Think-Tank. 12.30pm, St Cuthbert’s Parish Church, 5 Lothian Road. All warmly welcome: £1.50 per person, tea and coffee provided, bring your own packed lunch. These events are organised by Edinburgh City Centre Churches TOGETHER.

LGBT History Month: Out There Anthology. Writers Zoe Strachan, Roy Gill  and Janette Ayachi present readings from Out There: An Anthology of Scottish LGBT Writing, which includes contributions from Scotland’s leading and emerging LGBT writers. 6pm, Waterstones West End, 128 Princes Street: free tickets are available from the shop. Please contact the store or www.lgbthistory.org.uk for more details. For more about  LGBT History Month, read The Edinburgh Reporter’s article here.

The Friendship Club: a friendly meeting place for senior citizens – all very welcome, with or without any church connection, and whether you would like to attend every week or just occasionally. Tea, home baking, board games, card games, sometimes live music – and lots of chat! The club’s aim is to provide a relaxed friendly and welcoming meeting place for senior citizens: ‘There is always a smiling face waiting to welcome you’. 2-3.30pm, Ground Floor, Annan House, 10 Palmerston Place. Contact Palmerston Place Church for more information.

Portrait Gallery Curator’s Talk: Beauty By Design. A chance to chat to Gallery curators about the current exhibitions: this month Tricia Allerston, Deputy Director of the Scottish National Gallery, talks about Beauty By Design. 5.30-6pm, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free and unticketed.

The Drawing Room: informal, artist-led drawing sessions, each developed by a contemporary artist and reflecting concerns within that artist’s work. All materials supplied, no experience necessary. Please note: this month’s session takes place at Modern TWO in the Two Roberts exhibition. 5.30-6.45pm, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art TWO, Belford Road. Free but booking is required: please contact the Education Department on 0131 624 6410 or email education@nationalgalleries.org.

Getting Started at the National Library: learn how to register as a reader (please bring ID if you wish to register after the workshop), find your way around the Library, request materials and find out about other services. The workshop includes a short tour of the Reading Room and will last about 90 minutes. 2.30pm, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Booking essential, either online here or by calling 0131 623 3734. The next workshop will be held at 6pm on 11th March 2015.

The Jonathan Mills Lectures: Curating in Time. In this age of information and the internet, does the idea of curating become fixed on objects, or in space, or time? Jonathan Mills, composer, festival director and Visiting Professor at the University of Edinburgh, proposes that we consider the temporal as well as the spatial – the musical as well as the visual – potential of the acts of keeping, preserving, archiving, curating. 5pm, Hunter Lecture Theatre, Hunter Building, Edinburgh College of Art, Lauriston Place. This is the second in a series of lectures: the next one Ethereal Eye – a musical meditation for an unbuilt city will take place on 19th February 2015.

Reid School of Music Research Seminar Series: Hitchcock, Psycho and the Aesthetic of ‘absolute music’. Chaired by Professor John Butt (University of Glasgow). 5.15pm, Lecture Room A, Alison House, University of Edinburgh, 12 Nicolson Square.

eBook Surgery: find out how to borrow eBooks, emagazines and audiobooks for free. 2-5pm, Leith Library, 28-30 Ferry Road. Please contact the library for more details and to book a 30 minute appointment.

FRIDAY 13TH FEBRUARY 2015

Snowdrop and Early Spring Walk: join a Garden Guide on a walk to discover the Garden’s wonderful collection of specialist snowdrops. You can also see other early flowering plants that herald the onset of spring. For ages 14+. 11am-12.30pm, John Hope Gateway Reception, Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, Inverleith Row. Also at same time on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th February. £5 per person, no advance booking required.

Creative Release: a multi-media exhibition of new works by SmART CRAFT from WHALE Arts Agency. Open preview 6-8pm tonight, then 11am-5pm Tuesday to Saturday, Gallery On The Corner, Northumberland Street. Until 28th February 2015.

Easel Sketching in the Gallery: led by artist Damian Callan, with a different subject every month and sometimes a model. All materials supplied. 2-4pm, Main Gallery Floor, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed.

Mr Wuffles Crafty Friday: part of Mr Wuffles Week with Corstorphine Primary School. 2.30pm, Corstorphine Library, 12 Kirk Loan. Free and open to all.

Storytime: for ages 4+. 2pm, Blackhall Library, 56 Hillhouse Road. Free but please book on 0131 529 5595 or by calling in to the library in advance.

Son et Lumiere: enjoy two hours of sound and silence, light and darkness. Space and time to sit, to wander, to think, to be. 6-8pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. £3 on the door.

2015 Iranian Film Festival: a season of classic and contemporary films from Iran, including a number of Scottish premieres, shown as part of the Edinburgh Iranian Festival. Today: Kami’s Party (15) 6.10pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets can be booked online here or by calling the box office on 0131 228 2688. Prices vary: there are deals for purchasing multiple tickets for this season. The 2015 Iranian Film Festival is curated by Dr Nacim Pak-Shiraz and sponsored by The Sutton Gallery, Arts & Business Scotland, the School of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies of the University of Edinburgh, and the Filmhouse.

Karlheinz Stockhausen: Hymnen Electronic Music. Stockhausen’s 1967 4-channel tape piece uses many different national anthems as base material with all manner of electronic transformations, re-interpretations and manipulations to create an epic and intense two-hour electronic and concrete work. With sound projection by Sean Williams. 7.15pm, Playfair Library, Old College, University of Edinburgh, South Bridge. (There will be a pre-concert talk at 7.15pm.) Free but booking required via eventbrite. Supported by the Leverhulme Trust.

Edinburgh Iranian Festival: Persian Music – Lecture, Performance and Workshop. Dr Parmis Mozafari is a research fellow at the Institute for Iranian Studies, University of St Andrews; she is a Santur player who has taught music in Iran and ethnomusicology and Persian music in the UK. Today she will give a historical overview of female musicians and dancers in Iran, followed by a short performance on Santur and an introductory workshop on traditional Iranian instruments, including an opportunity for participants to get hands-on experience. There will also be a drinks reception courtesy of The Sutton Gallery. 8-9pm, The Sutton Gallery, 18a Dundas Street. Free admission.

Poussin’s Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church: Poussin’s Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church is a group of complex paintings displayed as a self-sufficient installation within the Scottish National Gallery, and undoubtedly represents one of the outstanding masterpieces on show. Many viewers, however, find them austere, even somewhat forbidding, images. Art historian Andrew Paterson will give an introduction to the erudite but passionate world of Poussin’s art. 12.45-1.30pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free: no booking required.

Lunchtime Concert: Kist of Musick – the 2015 Reid Memorial Concert. Hector Scott (violin) Alastair Hardie (violin) Tim Paxton (cello) and James Hardie (harpsichord) play 18th century Scottish instrumental music, including works by General Reid, James Oswald and the Earl of Kelly. 1.10pm, Reid Concert Hall, University of Edinburgh, Bristo Square. Free and unticketed.

Pancake Weekend at Joseph Pearce’s! Stacks of them every day for three days, with more toppings than you can shake your golden syrup at! Children welcome every day till 5pm, Joseph Pearce’s, 23 Elm Row. For more information and to book a table, call 0131 556 4140.

Greenpeace Edinburgh – Make Love Not War! Go totally hippy and embrace the Greenpeace message at a 70s Disco for Valentine’s Day. Get your funky thread on – Greenpeace will paint your face with rainbows, flowers and hearts so that you can strut your funky moves with the polar bear. 8pm, The Counting House, West Nicolson Street. £5 per person on the door or in advance from eventbrite.

LGBT History Month: Dive Presents Broken: a Valentine’s ball complete with caged bar, visual art, performance, blood artistry and burlesque. Strictly for over 18s only: includes strobes, nudity and body art. ‘It’ll break your heart to miss it’. 9pm-3am, Small Animal Hospital, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Tickets cost £12/£10 and can be booked online here or by calling the box office on 0131 560 1581. For more about LGBT History Month read The Edinburgh Reporter’s article here.

Satellites Programme: Georgia Horgan. An exhibition developed from a research programme about the proliferation of the textile industry in Scotland and how this affected patterns of witch-hunting in the 17th century. The exhibition takes the form of a workroom containing writing, images and artefacts; the space will be used to house a series of events and screenings discussing how women, the body and labour are implicated in contemporary capitalism. Preview tonight 6-8pm, then 10am-4pm Tuesday to Sunday, Collective Gallery, 38 Calton Hill. Closes 19th April 2015.

Kalopsia and BeFab Be Creative present Printed & Co: a showcase exhibition evoking questions, answers, thoughts and discussions on the place of material within our history and even more importantly within our culture, and how we value its worth. Preview 6pm tonight, then 10am-6pm Monday to Saturday, 11am-5pm Sundays, Kalopsia, Ocean Terminal, Ocean Drive. Kalopsia is a creative agency and textiles collective, now operating as a social enterprise.

Holocaust Memorial Day Concert: Artisan Trio plays Messiaen Quartet for the End of Time. Featuring Jean Johnson (clarinet), Aisling O’Dea (violin), Clea Friend (cello) and Ed Cohen (piano). 6-7pm, Sanctuary, St Andrew’s & St George’s West Church, 13 George St. Free: donations welcome.

Portobello Open Door Silent Movie Weekend: tonight The Black Pirate with Douglas Fairbanks, tomorrow One Week and Seven Chances with Buster Keaton. The films will be accompanied by music from The Jane Gardner Trio. 7.30pm, The Wash House Community Centre, 3 Adelphi Grove. £6/£4: tickets are available from Popeye’s Sandwich Bar, 132 Portobello High Street, and advance booking is recommended. You are welcome to bring food and drink, and children can bring bean bags, but please note all under-12s must be accompanied by an adult.

SATURDAY 14TH FEBRUARY 2015

Leith Creative Bruncheon: Leith Creative is a cultural mapping research project, currently being co-delivered by Leith Late and Citizen Curator, looking at cultural resources and creative industries in the Leith area. They are asking local creatives to feed into the research by completing a survey about themselves. Locals and creatives will get a chance to hear more about the Leith Creative project from Morvern Cunningham (Leith Late) and Duncan Bremner (Citizen Curator). There will also be an opportunity to submit information to Leith Creative and to network. Music will be provided by local musicians, curated by William Douglas, and as always the cafe menu will include kippers, scrambled eggs and lots of tasty treats. 11.30am-3pm, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street. Free entry.

Edinburgh Iranian Festival: The Most Famous Persian Vizier – The Career of Nizam al-Mulk. Professor Carole Hillenbrand (University of Edinburgh and University of St Andrews) talks about Nizam al-Mulk (1018-1092) the vizier of the Seljuq empire in Iran. His truly awesome achievement in staying in power for over thirty years was made possible by a combination of subtlety and ruthlessness, extraordinary stamina, personal courage and a formidable intellect. He was a numinous figure whose memory was cherished by many generations. 3-4pm, Lecture Theatre F.21, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square. Free.

Tiger Tales: stories and craft for chldren aged 4-8 years old and their parents/carers. 3-4pm, Fountainbridge Library, 137 Dundee Street. Free: all welcome!

Nothing But The Poem: Alastair Reid. A poetry reading session with Kate Hendry: please note that Alastair Reid will be present on paper only. No previous knowledge or experience necessary. 11am or 2pm, Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close. Tickets cost £5/£4 and can be booked via eventbrite.

The Edinburgh Iranian Festival: Nima Yushij. An evening of poetry, music and visual art in conjunction with an exhibition of Hassan Meshkinfam’s mixed media art works, which interpret Nima’s poetry through arresting, dream-like imagery. Musician Majid Mokhberi will perform songs that take Nima’s verse as their lyrics, and members of the Edinburgh Iranian Festival Committee will read poems in Persian and English. Internationally acclaimed poet Nima Yushij (1896-1960) is often regarded as the founder of modern Persian poetry. 8.30-10pm (to include a Drinks Reception courtesy of the Gallery), The Sutton Gallery, 18a Dundas Street. Free but please book by contacting info@ediranfest.co.uk.

Pancake Weekend at Joseph Pearce’s! Stacks of them every day for three days, with more toppings than you can shake your golden syrup at! Children welcome every day till 5pm, Joseph Pearce’s, 23 Elm Row. For more information and to book a table, call 0131 556 4140.

I’m Game: a playful programme for half-term, all about games. Today there are two drop-in events: (1) Crafty Character Cards: design and make a pixelated Valentine’s, greeting or picture card, inspired by the Game Masters exhibition. 12 noon-4pm, Grand Gallery Level 1 (2) Replay Events: video games. Join in two Gaming Zones run by Replay Events. 11am-4pm, Grand Gallery and Hawthornden Court, Level 1, National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street. Free. Also at the same times on Sunday 15th February 2015. There is a full programme of games-related events throughout the rest of half term – see the NMS website for details. ‘You’ll never be board this half-term’…..

Serenity Valentine’s DJ Night: 70s and 80s old school disco with DJ Mario McMuriel and guest DJ Karen Stevenson, and live performance and singalong with the Serenity Singers. 8pm-12 midnight, Serenity Cafe, 8 Jackson’s Entry, The Tun, 111 Holyrood Road. £4 per person. Serenity is Scotland’s first recovery cafe, run by people in recovery for people in recovery, and for public customers who want good value, good quality food in a relaxed space. All events are drink and drugs free.

Portobello Open Door Silent Movie Weekend: tonight One Week and Seven Chances with Buster Keaton. The film will be accompanied by music from The Jane Gardner Trio. 7.30pm, The Wash House Community Centre, 3 Adelphi Grove. £6/£4: tickets are available from Popeye’s Sandwich Bar, 132 Portobello High Street, and advance booking is recommended. You are welcome to bring food and drink, and children can bring bean bags, but please note all under-12s must be accompanied by an adult.

Snowdrop and Early Spring Walk: join a Garden Guide on a walk to discover the Garden’s wonderful collection of specialist snowdrops. You can also see other early flowering plants that herald the onset of spring. For ages 14+. 11am-12.30pm, John Hope Gateway Reception, Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, Inverleith Row. Also at same time on Sunday 15th February. £5 per person, no advance booking required.

Edinburgh Iranian Festival: Edinburgh Persian School. Meet organisers and pupils of the Persian School during an open day, and get a taster of the Persian language. Dr Golnaz Nanbakhsh and teachers from the school will provide a half hour introductory workshop in Persian: Persian language classes are available on Saturday mornings throughout the year for children and adults. The pupils will exhibit their artwork about Iran; this year’s special project is Wotjek, a brown bear born in the mountains of Iran who lived alongside the Polish II Corps as they moved through Iran, Iraq, Syria, Palestine and Egypt; he died in Edinburgh Zoo in 1963. 11am-1pm (language taster class at 11am), Liberton High School, 328 Gilmerton Road. Free admission.

Ruff Cuff Sale: beautiful home-made cushions, jewellery, ruff cuffs to grace your neck and wrists, shopping bags and plenty more. 12 noon-3pm, Serenity Cafe, 8 Jackson’s Entry, The Tun, 11 Holyrood Road. The cafe will be open as usual for delicious food and drinks. Ruff Cuff is a Serenity Cafe Woman Zone By Comas event: Woman Zone is a community of women in recovery.

Raoul De Keyser: Paintings 1967-2012. The first major UK exhibition in over a decade of works spanning the career of the late Belgian painter (1930-2012). De Keyser’s paintings combine aspects of both abstract expressionism and figuration inspired by the natural world. Open preview today 12.30-3pm, then 10am-4.30pm Tuesday to Sunday, Inverleith House, Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, Inverleith Row. Free. Exhibition closes 12th April 2015.

Gin and Piano Evening: celebrate Valentine’s Day with cupcakes, piano and Daffy’s gin. 7pm, Sofi’s Bar, 63 Henderson Street.

2015 Iranian Film Festival: a season of classic and contemporary films from Iran, including a number of Scottish premieres, shown as part of the Edinburgh Iranian Festival. Today: Parviz (15) 6.10pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets can be booked online here or by calling the box office on 0131 228 2688. Prices vary: there are deals for purchasing multiple tickets for this season. The 2015 Iranian Film Festival is curated by Dr Nacim Pak-Shiraz and sponsored by The Sutton Gallery, Arts & Business Scotland, the School of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies of the University of Edinburgh, and the Filmhouse.

Scottish Beavers: find out how the re-introduced beavers are adapting to life in Scotland. Meet the Scottish Beaver Trial education team, who will be bringing games and activities, as well as pelts, skulls and video footage. 1-4pm, Real Life Science Studio, John Hope Gateway, Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, Inverleith Row. Free, no booking required. Also at same times on Sunday 15th February 2015.

Tom Watt: a new exhibition. 11am-6pm Monday to Friday, 10.30am-4pm Saturdays, The Torrance Gallery, 36 Dundas Street. Exhibition ends 7th March 2015.

Think Twice! Valentine’s Party, with Lay-Far, Craig Smith and Gary Sbr Ellis. 11pm-3am, Cabaret Voltaire, 36 Blair Street. Tickets £7/£5.

St Bride’s Family Cinema: see your favourite film for free! Juice and choc ices available to buy in the interval at 50p each. This week: Shrek 2 (U). 10.30am-12.30pm (includes interval), St Bride’s Centre, Orwell Place, Dalry. Please note all children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Next week: Lady and the Tramp (U).

Edinburgh Iranian Festival: The Jewel of Persian Architecture – The Friday Mosque of Isfahan. The Friday Mosque of Isfahan has a continuous history of over a millennium. None of the major ruling dynasties of Iran has failed to leave a mark on it, so it is a museum of structural and decorative techniques, a prism through which to recognise the identifying traits of Islamic architecture in Iran. Professor Robert Hillenbrand FBA (University of St Andrews), former Slade Professor of Art at the University of Cambridge and the author of nine books and numerous articles on Islamic art and architecture, will give an insight into this famous edifice. 4-5pm, Lecture Theatre F.21, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square. Free.

A Magic Forest with Lucy Roscoe: in this fun, papery workshop you’ll create a forest of trees inspired by the wonderful book tree in the Central Library. All abilities welcome. For children aged 7+. Please note that all children must be accompanied by an adult. 2-3.30pm, Children’s Library (next to Central Library), George IV Bridge. Free but please book via eventbrite here.

Edinburgh Society of Musicians: The Tunnell Trust Concert. Ishizuka-Lin Duo (piano and violin) play Debussy, Beethoven, Messiaen and Brahms. 7.30pm prompt, Edinburgh Society of Musicians, 3 Belford Road. Free and open to all. The Tunnell Trust is a charity creating opportunities for talented young musicians.

Robert Sarazin Blake ‘The Beloved and Beardy Troubadour of the Pacific North West’, with guests Billy Liar and Faith Elliot, plus The Lonely Hearts Club Jam and an installation,  All The Lonely People,  by Suky Goodfellow upstairs.  7pm, Forest Cafe, Lauriston Place, Tollcross. Free admission: BYOB.

SUNDAY 15TH FEBRUARY 2015

Amnesty International Concert for Captured Hearts: Stop Human Trafficking in Scotland. Orchestra of the Canongait plays Dvorak’s New World Symphony and Strauss’s Don Quixote. Conducted by Robert Dick, with soloists Lindsay Martindale and Asher Zaccardelli. 8pm, St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Palmerston Place. Tickets cost £10/£8 on the door, or in advance from www.skiddle.com here. All proceeds will go to Amnesty International.

Introduction to Veganism Workshop: Edinburgh’s Vegan meetup.com group is holding a workshop for anyone interested in veganism or wanting to know more about becoming a vegan. There will be many experienced people present to answer questions. 1-3pm, ACE (Autonomus Centre of Edinburgh), 17 West Montgomery Place. All welcome.

The Big Screen Movie Day: Up (PG). 3pm, Boda Bar, 229 Leith Walk. Hot chocolate and snacks available. Free for all the family: dogs welcome too!

Hearing Impaired Tour: The Two Roberts – Robert Colquhoun and Robert MacBryde. A free tour, with portable loops, led by Tessa Asquith-Lamb. 11am-12 noon, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art TWO, Belford Road. Free but booking is required: please contact the Information Desk on 0131 624 6560.

Bags of Art – February. Cool and creative fun with artists Tessa Asquith-Lamb and Louise Fraser. For ages 4-12 years. 2-4pm (drop-in), Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art ONE, Belford Road. Free and unticketed. Supported by the Friends of the National Galleries of Scotland.

Filmhouse Junior: Annie (PG)).  Annie is a young, happy foster kid who’s also tough enough to make her way on the streets of New York in 2014. Originally left by her parents as a baby with a promise they’d be back for her someday, it’s been a hard knock life ever since with her mean foster mum Miss Hannigan. But everything is about to change…  11am, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets cost £4 per person, big or small, and can be booked online or by calling the Box Office on 0131 228 2688.

Scottish Beavers: find out how the re-introduced beavers are adapting to life in Scotland. Meet the Scottish Beaver Trial education team, who will be bringing games and activities, as well as pelts, skulls and video footage. 1-4pm, Real Life Science Studio, John Hope Gateway, Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, Inverleith Row. Free, no booking required.

Pancake Weekend at Joseph Pearce’s! Stacks of them every day for three days, with more toppings than you can shake your golden syrup at! Children welcome every day till 5pm, Joseph Pearce’s, 23 Elm Row. For more information and to book a table, call 0131 556 4140.

2015 Iranian Film Festival: a season of classic and contemporary films from Iran, including a number of Scottish premieres, shown as part of the Edinburgh Iranian Festival. Today: My Name is Negahdar Jamali and I Make Westerns (12A) 6pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets can be booked online here or by calling the box office on 0131 228 2688. Prices vary: there are deals for purchasing multiple tickets for this season. The 2015 Iranian Film Festival is curated by Dr Nacim Pak-Shiraz and sponsored by The Sutton Gallery, Arts & Business Scotland, the School of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies of the University of Edinburgh, and the Filmhouse.

Friends of the Water of Leith Basin Clean-Up: FOWLb are organising a clean-up of the paths beside the Water of Leith today. If you would like to help, you are welcome to meet them at the Coalie Car Park, just off Coburg Street, at 10am (the event will last about two hours). For more information contact the Secretary at fowl.basin@gmail.com.

I’m Game: a playful programme for half-term, all about games. Today there are two drop-in events: (1) Crafty Character Cards: design and make a pixelated Valentine’s, greeting or picture card, inspired by the Game Masters exhibition. 12 noon-4pm, Grand Gallery Level 1 (2) Replay Events: video games. Join in two Gaming Zones run by Replay Events. 11am-4pm, Grand Gallery and Hawthornden Court, Level 1, National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street. Free. There is a full programme of games-related events throughout the rest of half term – see the NMS website for details. ‘You’ll never be board this half-term’…..

Edinburgh Iranian Festival: Children’s Book Reading. Meet authors Azita Pourghasem (Persian Nursery Rhymes) and Mahdi Ziae (The Adventures of Sohrab and the Genie), who will read from their books and answer your questions. Persian Nursery Rhymes is a collection of 29 Persian Rhyme songs by Hengameh Yashar from 1960s Iran, complete with English translation and CD; The Adventures of Sohrab and the Genie explores a boy’s journey from boyhood to maturity through a series of adventures which teach him about life, kindness and friendship. 3-4pm, Word Power Books, West Nicolson Street. Free admission.

Snowdrop and Early Spring Walk: join a Garden Guide on a walk to discover the Garden’s wonderful collection of specialist snowdrops. You can also see other early flowering plants that herald the onset of spring. For ages 14+. 11am-12.30pm, John Hope Gateway Reception, Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, Inverleith Row. £5 per person, no advance booking required.

Talking Trees: let the RBGE’s volunteer storytellers grow your imagination with tall tales from around the world – and then why not visit the Little Free Library beside the Glasshouses and the Dell area in the John Hope Gateway? For ages 4+. 2-2.45pm, John Hope Gateway Reception, Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, Inverleith Row. Free: no booking required.

St Giles’ At Six: the choirs of Heriot Watt University – Great British Choral Music, conducted by Steve King. 6pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free: retiring collection.

The ‘Spartan Army’ are dreaming of an Edinburgh derby in the quarter final of the Scottish Cup but first they have to see off Berwick Rangers on February 17th.

After the draw at Hampden Park this afternoon Spartans Manager Dougie Samuel told the club website: “It’s a fantastic draw on so many levels, it’s a chance for the Spartans family to come out in force at Easter Road if we can win the replay. Of course, everyone associated with Berwick will also be dreaming too. Next week has the makings of being a great game. We know it will be extremely tough and that Berwick will be most people’s favourites, as the league side they are expected to win. We can go there with nothing to lose and so much to gain”.

The quarter finals will be played on 7th and 8th March.

Full Quarter Final Draw:
Inverness Caledonian Thistle vs Raith Rovers
Queen of the South vs Falkirk
Hibernian vs Spartans or Berwick Rangers
Dundee United vs Celtic

Robert Buczek has today been found guilty of murder following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

The 24 year old was found guilty of murdering 85 year old Eleanor Whitelaw at her home in Morningside Grove on the afternoon of Friday 11th July. ​​​

After Mrs Whitelaw was found seriously injured at her home, a major investigation was launched by Police Scotland to find the perpetrator.

Following extensive work by the Major Investigation Team, including the gathering of hundreds of witness statements and detailed forensic examination, Robert Buczek was arrested and charged.

Mrs Whitelaw passed away in hospital on Monday 28th July and Buczek was subsequently charged with murder.

Detective Chief Inspector Keith Hardie said: “This was a brutal and sustained attack on an elderly lady in her own home and our dedicated enquiry team worked tirelessly to trace the perpetrator. Now that Robert Buczek has been convicted, I hope the family of Eleanor Whitelaw will be left with some closure.”

Two people were rescued by firefighters after a fire in a kitchen in Dalkeith early this morning.

Crews from Dalkeith and Musselburgh fire stations were mobilised by Operations Control Edinburgh at 3.45am to a smell of burning at Bruce Gardens and on arrival found the property smoke logged.

One adult and one child were rescued by firefighters and passed into the care of the ambulance service.  They were taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for slight smoke inhalation.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the small fire and ensured the area was safe.

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “The property had a working smoke alarm that alerted the occupants to the danger.  Smoke alarms give the vital early warning to fire and it’s essential every home has them.

“Many kitchen fires happen when people are not paying attention or they leave things unattended but there are several things you can do to prevent fires in the kitchen.

“Don’t leave pans unattended and take them off the heat if you have to leave the room. Fire starts when your attention stops. When you have finished cooking, make sure the cooker or oven is turned off.

“We also want people to take action to prevent fires from happening in the first place and the fact is more house fires start in the kitchen than anywhere else. Fire can cause damage not just to your property, but more seriously can put family at risk.

“SFRS crews routinely conduct free home fire safety visits to help householders identify risks and take the simple steps needed to reduce the chance of fires.

“People can arrange a free home fire safety visit and join Scotland’s fight against fire by calling SFRS on the freephone number 0800 073 1999 or by texting ‘FIRE’ to 80800, which is also free of charge.

Alternatively, visits can be arranged via the SFRS website www.firescotland.gov.uk.”

Hibs will meet either Spartans or Berwick Rangers at Easter Road in the quarter final of the Scottish Cup.

The draw was made by World Darts champion and Hibs’ fan Gary Anderson at Hampden Park earlier today.

With the two favourites, Celtic and Dundee United facing each other at Tannadice, Hibs could be in line for their third Scottish Cup Final in four years.

The full draw is as follows.

Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Raith Rovers

Queen of the South v Falkirk

Hibernian v Spartans or Berwick Rangers

Dundee United v Celtic

Dates and ticket arrangements will be announced in due course.

Hibs fan Gary Anderson will help make the draw for the quarter-finals of the William Hill Scottish Cup this afternoon.

The current PDC World Champion will be joined by the Scottish FA First Vice-President, Alan McRae, and Joe McCallum from competition sponsors William Hill.

Hibs will be joined in the draw by The Spartans who produced a late equaliser to gain a replay with Berwick Rangers along with Celtic, Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Dundee United from the SPF, Raith Rovers who beat Rangers at Ibrox, Queen of the South who knocked out holders St Johnstone and Falkirk.

The draw will take place at 2pm and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports News.

Edinburgh College of Art: Illustrating the last great voyage of discovery. Illustration students recently took a creative journey across Antarctica in an exciting collaboration with the National Library of Scotland; they were tasked with responding to the story of Shackleton’s Endurance Expedition, and each created an illustrated map of the journey. They were also asked to create an artefact that illustrated an element of the narrative. This exhibition displays the results of this project, results which vary from personal and poignant accounts of the harsh experience to a ‘scratch and sniff’ scented map and a board game design. 10am-8pm Monday to Friday, 10am-5pm Saturday, 2-5pm Sunday, until 19th February 2015, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge.

Joseph Pearce’s Book Group: first meeting of this new group tonight. The book to be discussed is Nathan Filer’s Shock of the Fall – but even if you haven’t read it, you are very welcome to come along to this informal meeting. ‘Think coffee, cakes, books and beer’. 6.30pm, Joseph Pearce’s, 23 Elm Row. For more information email jp@bodabar.com or see Joseph Pearce’s Facebook page.

Darkness Visible: a series of feature films selected to accompany Christopher Orr’s exhibition The Beguiled Eye at the University of Edinburgh’s Talbot Rice Gallery. Each film reflects different elements in Orr’s work, from the enchantment and terror of the Ozark mountains in Winter’s Bone to the barren, ominous desolation of Tarkovsky’s ‘Zone’ in Stalker, and the unearthly mystery and sense of adventure in Super 8. Each film will be introduced by an assistant curator from Talbot Rice. Today: Winter’s Bone (15). 6pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets can be booked online or by calling the Box Office on 0131 228 2688: prices vary. Read The Edinburgh Reporter’s review of The Beguiled Eye here.

LGBT History Month: Human Library. Learn about living history through the lives of LGBT people contributing to the richness of cultural diversity in Scotland – please come and interview a LGBT ‘human book’. All welcome! 5-7pm, McDonald Road Library, 2 McDonald Road. For more information contact nigel.chipps@lgbtyouth.org.uk or call 0131 555 3940. For more about  LGBT History Month, read The Edinburgh Reporter’s article here.

Blind Poetics: open mic session of performance poetry. February’s feature is poet Amanda Baker. If you would like to sign up for a 5 minute slot (there will be 8 for women and 8 for men), email blindpoetics@gmail.com. Hosted by Alec Beattie and Roddy Shippin. 8-11pm, The Blind Poet, West Nicolson Street. Free, but Amanda Baker is kindly donating her fee to Crisis, so bring money!

Edible Gardening: Seasonal Advice. Drop in to find out how to grow your own food, and take a look around the productive garden with the Edible Gardening Project team. 1-3pm, Demonstration Garden, Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, Inverleith Row. Also at same time on Tuesday 10th February.

Cafe Histoire: Camille Desmoulins. Camille Desmoulins (1760-1794) perfectly illustrated the often confrontational relationship between French journalists and politicians. His writing made him one of the most influential characters of the French Revolution. Historian and librarian at the French Institute in Glasgow Patrick Landri will talk about the fabulous destiny of a man who fought for freedom and human rights. 5.30pm, Institut francais d’Ecosse, 13 Randolph Crescent. Please note that this talk will be in French only. All welcome: £5 (members), £8 (non-members).

Emily Young: Stone From The Mountain. A new exhibition of work by internationally renowned sculptor Emily Young; head sculptures, torsos and discs. 10am-6pm Monday to Friday, 11am-2pm Saturdays, Fine Art Society of Edinburgh (formerly Bourne Gallery), 6 Dundas Street. Closes 14th March 2015.

Edwin G Lucas(1911-1990): an exhibition of the work of the Scottish Surrealist painter. ‘Thank God we have at long last discovered him – he is a great, great enormous talent’ (John Byrne), ‘They are impressive because they are inexplicable’ (Patrick Elliott, NGS). 10am-6pm Monday to Friday, 11am-2pm Saturdays, Fine Art Society of Edinburgh (formerly Bourne Gallery), 6 Dundas Street. Closes 26th February 2015.

Broughton History Society: Peter Stubbs will talk on Old Photographs and Recollections of Broughton. 7pm Drummond Community High School, Bellevue Place. Members and non-members all welcome!

Edinburgh Iranian Festival: Blood Oranges Dipped in Salt. Family history and an extensive photographic archive are used as principal resources in this new work by Dr Karen Babayan, a collection of fictionalised ‘hand-me-down’ family stories and the end of a long and very personal project for the author. Dr Babayan grew up in the Armenian community in Tehran until she moved to the UK with her family at the age of 16. She is now a visual artist living in Cumbria and explains that the stories are woven around family photos and recollections that have assumed a mythical quality for her over the years. The stories occupy a time period of over 400 years to the present day, and the events cover a geography of three continents, moving from Armenia to Iran, then to the UK and Canada.The stories bear witness to a minority culture with a monumental history that has experienced generations of loss, displacement, migration, immigration and assimilation. Dr Babayan hopes that her book will capture these stories before they are lost, and will be passed on through generations of families as the stories themselves have been passed down through her own family. The talk will be followed by a Q & A session and signing by the author prior to the official publication of the book on 29th February; there will also be a drinks reception courtesy of the School of Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies, University of Edinburgh. 5.30-6.30pm, Lecture Theatre F.21, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square. Free admission.

New Town & Broughton Community Council. 7.30pm, Broughton St Mary’s Parish Church, Bellevue Crescent. All welcome.

LGBT Support Services Open Evening: do you know where to go for support if you experience domestic abuse, sexual abuse or want to access couples or individual counselling about a relationship? LGBT-inclusive organisations from across Edinburgh will visit LGBT Health & Wellbeing for this drop-in event during LGBT History Month.  6.30-7.30pm (within Drop In, which runs 5.30-8pm), LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. No appointment needed; contact George Burrows on 0131 652 3281 or george@lgbthealth.org.uk for more information.

God, Science and Faith: Richard Dawkins v CS Lewis on the meaning of life. The Heriot Watt University Chaplaincy Annual Public Lecture will be delivered by biophysicist and theologian Professor Alister McGrath (University of Oxford). Refreshments will be served  after the lecture at 7.45pm. 6.30pm, James Watt Centre, Heriot Watt University Edinburgh Campus, EH14 4AS. Please register your intention to attend on 0131 451 4508 or m.boulogne@hw.ac.uk.

2015 Iranian Film Festival: a season of classic and contemporary films from Iran, including a number of Scottish premieres, shown as part of the Edinburgh Iranian Festival. Today: Taboor (15) 8.45pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets can be booked online here or by calling the box office on 0131 228 2688. Prices vary: there are deals for purchasing multiple tickets for this season. The 2015 Iranian Film Festival is curated by Dr Nacim Pak-Shiraz and sponsored by The Sutton Gallery, Arts & Business Scotland, the School of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies of the University of Edinburgh, and the Filmhouse.

St James Quarter

Government proposed Cities Convention

Whisky Tasting at The Balmoral

To Kill a Mockingbird

EdinburghReportage

The development at St James Quarter is still awaiting planning permission. It is a major £850m reworking of an old shopping centre which is past its sell by date.

This development is possible thanks to an innovative funding agreement between the City of Edinburgh Council, Scottish Government and TIAA Henderson Real Estate (TH Real Estate) announced at the end of April last year.

The Cockburn Association, the group which campaigns to promote the conservation of Edinburgh’s heritage, has something to say about this as it does on the other developments in town. In this case they like it and here is why:

The Association has studied this application in detail.  We are supportive of the redevelopment of this site which will see the removal of what many consider to be one of the ugliest blots on Edinburgh’s urban landscape. The introduction of a bold gallery design in a geometrically pure crescent shape linking Multrees Walk to Waterloo Place is welcome as is the new emphasis given to the approach from Little King Street and potentially in the future from Register Place.

We are supportive of the urban design improvement of narrowing Leith Street to something resembling its original building line and with this removing the pedestrian barrier and traffic island down the centre of the street.  We welcome the removal of the pedestrian bridge to the Greenside car park, which though of an interesting modern design does considerably impede views up and down Leith Street as well as segregating pedestrians from the street, causing loss of vitality.

We would strongly suggest that these improvements are linked by a planning condition to the narrowing of the street which brings about considerable development gain for the applicant to ensure that they do take place and would hope that as part of that the redundant bridge structure might be relocated to provide a crossing point in another part of the city, such as over the Water of Leith or in Leith Docks.

***

In an address to local authority leaders from across the UK later today Infrastructure, Investment and Cities Secretary Keith Brown will propose creation of a Cities Convention to bring people and policy makers together, enable better understanding, improved policy and greater empowerment of communities.

As well as highlighting new powers for local authorities to reduce business rates in and tailor skills training to their local needs, Mr Brown will tell the Core Cities Summit in Glasgow that the Scottish Government’s approach to devolution does not stop at local authority level and through, for example, the Community Empowerment Bill, that the Government wanted to see the balance of power move towards communities.

Speaking ahead of the speech, Mr Brown said:

“The Scottish Government’s approach is one of partnership with local government – it is an approach that varies substantially from that taken in some other parts of the UK and is based on a shared vision of strengthened community planning, engagement and empowerment.

“But our approach to devolution does not stop at local authority level and through, for example, the Community Empowerment Bill, we want to help shift the balance of power more towards communities.

“Initiatives such as the Scottish Rural Parliament, which met for the first time last November, and our action to ensure island communities benefit from the revenue of the Crown Estate demonstrate our commitment to subsidiarity. I want to see our cities engage too and creation of a Cities Convention would bring people and policy makers together. It’s about enabling better understanding, improved policy and greater empowerment of communities.

“Scotland’s cities are already leading the UK on devolution – already in possession of powers their English counterparts are fighting for.

“For example, local authorities in Scotland already have an enshrined legal power to advance wellbeing – a wide-ranging discretionary power, set out in the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003. I would like to see every local authority in Scotland using this in the way it was intended, to listen to their communities, understand their priorities and use their power effectively to promote wellbeing.

“Devolution is not just about devolving from Westminster to Holyrood – or from Holyrood to the City Chambers. Democracy is not about parliaments, councils or governments, it is first and foremost about people and communities.”

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Still time to get booked up for a whisky tasting this Thursday at The Balmoral.

Post by The Balmoral.

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To Kill A Mockingbird begins tonight and runs for the whole week at the King’s Theatre.

More information here.

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Have you noticed the cranes going up around the city? We have and that is why we have set up a storyboard over here to collect photos of all the cranes you spot around the city.

Add your photos or videos here.

Sign up here for a daily email from The Edinburgh Reporter !

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Gutsy Scots come up short in Paris.

Scotland suffered an agonising defeat to France for the second year in a row, after five Camille Lopez penalties earned the French a 15-8 win, at the Stade de France on Saturday.

Having failed to win against ‘Les Bleus’ in Paris since April 1999, and having lost consecutive opening weekend 6 Nations fixtures since 2006, Scotland Head-Coach Vern Cotter was keen to turn the tables and produce a memorable night – in what was his first 6 Nations match in charge.

A wonderfully worked Dougie Fife try gave Scotland a real chance and reduced the deficit to one point just before half-time, but constant French possession and force in the second half proved too much.

There was a sense of extra motivation from the French players and atmosphere from the fans, in the first match since last month’s terrorist attack on Paris.

After a good line-out steal from Jonny Gray (who was making his first 6 Nations start), Scotland flanker, Blair Cowan, was penalised for holding onto the ball.

From the resulting penalty, Lopez opened the scoring for France on 3 minutes, when his kick deflected off the right-hand post and went over.

Despite France enjoying the lion’s share of early possession, Scotland were awarded a penalty on 14 minutes when the French forwards collapsed the scrum. Laidlaw split the uprights with the resulting strike from the left-hand side, to get his team on the score-sheet and level the game.

France restored their lead with 17 minutes on the clock, when a straightforward Lopez penalty from a central position, sailed between the sticks. (6-3)

Scotland were forced into an early substitution, with Glasgow Warrior’s winger Tommy Seymour (an influential figure during the Autumn Tests) picking up a knock. He was replaced by Edinburgh’s Dougie Fife.

French full-back Scott Spedding enjoyed a lot of powerful runs as his team put the pressure on mid-way through the first half. However, the Scottish defence held strong and prevented any deep breaks.

On 24 minutes, Scotland had the chance to draw level again, when Pascal Pape was ticked-off on half-way, for an offside offence. Full-back, Stuart Hogg, attempted the long-range kick from fully 50 metres – his effort had the distance but drifted wide of the posts.

Just minutes later, a fantastic break from Scottish centre Mark Bennett, gained his side a good 20 metres. Hogg then split the French defence and brought play just five metres from the try line. After a few phases of play, Finn Russell made a drop-goal attempt, which was sliced wide. A really poor execution, which was a missed opportunity for the Scots.

On the half-hour mark, Scotland were putting continuous pressure on France. An interception from Alex Dunbar, allowed him to kick up-field for Hogg to chase. Deep into the French 22, the home side were then awarded a penalty, when Hogg illegally tried to strip the ball. Lopez cleared the danger.

For the next 5 minutes, it was ‘Les Bleus’ who were enjoying the vast majority of possession and territory. Quick hands from the ruck created a 3 on 2 opportunity, but thanks to a remarkable double-tackle from another Six Nations debutant Finn Russell, France were forced into a handling error, relieving the pressure.

An offside from a Scottish forward on 37 minutes enabled Lopez to convert his third penalty of the half to extend his sides lead to six points.

Just a minute later, arguably Scotland’s 1st half Man of the Match, Stuart Hogg, made significant ground again, within the French 22. Both Hogg and Dunbar came inches from the try-line, but were unable to ground the ball. The ball was then shipped out wide and following good hands from Bennett and Euan Murray – Dougie Fife dived into the corner to score his first Scottish try.

What has become known as the “whitewash fever” has troubled Scotland in the past – with the ability to score tries eluding them in recent 6 Nations campaigns. It was therefore a crucial score for the team, not only in this match, but for their overall confidence in this year’s tournament

Greig Laidlaw’s conversion attempt was desperately unlucky. From the tightest of angles, his right-footed kick bounced out from the left-hand post. Half time: France 9-8 Scotland.

With France gaining the ascendancy, a cross-field kick ten minutes into the second half, was caught by Scotland’s Fife, who then slipped out of play. In frustration, he threw the ball into touch, forcing Nigel Owens to award a penalty to the French, which Lopez duly dispatched, increasing the lead to 12-8.

As both packs were slightly reshuffled, France put the pressure on yet again. Just metres from the Scottish line, a careless knock-on gave Scotland a scrum. From the following set-piece, Euan Murray was punished for dropping to his knees. Lopez’s resulting penalty bounced off the post and the deficit remained at four points.

Mid-way through the second half, Scotland were dealt another blow. The referee invited number 8, Johnnie Beattie, to spend a 10 minute break in the sin bin, after an infringement in the ruck. With a man advantage, the French smelled blood.

Sterling defence from a gutsy Scottish pack, helped them survive wave after wave of French attack. After 65 minutes, the game was really starting to open up – it was end to end stuff.

Scotland had two chances which would have allowed them to score a try in the last 10 minutes. On 71 minutes, along pass out towards France’s Yoann Huget in the middle of the park, was travelling through the air, when Scottish winger, Tim Visser galloped on at speed and came desperately close to an interception. With no-one at home for the hosts, you have to feel that if Visser had managed to gather that ball, it may well have been try time.

On 74, Finn Russell scooped up a knock-on and set off on a counter-attack. He chose to kick and chase, and looked in pole position to retrieve the ball, only for it to bounce awkwardly and straight into opposition hands. In what proved to be a match of narrow margins, it has to be said that the luck wasn’t with Scotland in the closing stages.

With the Scots desperately searching for a way into French territory, they were awarded a penalty, with only four minutes remaining. Russell kicked for touch, and following the line-out, the ball was put through the hands, but one stray pass out-wide, gave France the chance to hack the ball down field.

A good counter-attacking ruck from the French forwards, enabled substitute second-row, Eddy Ben Arous, to get his hands over the ball and secure the penalty.

In a very tense atmosphere, Lopez continued his accurate kicking performance, to increase the gap to seven points and surely put his French side out of reach.

From the kick-off, France saw out the remaining minute, by going through the phases, before match-winner Lopez sent the ball high into the Paris sky and out of play, to confirm a hard-fought win for Philippe Saint-André’s men.

It was a very important triumph for the French, who will aim to avenge their fourth-place finish in last year’s Championship. They will now travel to Dublin, to face an Irish side who enjoyed a comprehensive win on the road earlier today, when the beat Italy by 26 points to 3. In next weekend’s match, France will have to be more clinical with their finishing and will have to try and make all their attacking pressure pay dividends, in what will be a gruelling fixture.

As for Scotland, they will head back home and get ready for a match next Sunday in Edinburgh, against the Welsh. The 2013 champions, will be desperate to get their campaign back on track, following last night’s narrow 21-16 defeat to England at the Millennium Stadium.

Despite the defeat tonight in Paris, and the succession of penalties given away – Scotland have many positives to take into the encounter at Murrayfield. They can take heart from their strong, resistant defence and the fact that they did not concede a single point whilst outnumbered, during the second half.

Furthermore, the six players making their first Six Nations appearance coped extremely well with the pressure and atmosphere. Replacements, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and Fraser Brown, who came on at scrum-half and hooker, respectively – gave a solid performance.

Of the four starters both Jonny Gray and Blair Cowan were instrumental in putting in crucial tackles and gaining turnovers, with Mark Bennett and Finn Russell breaking France’s defensive line on numerous occasions and providing attacking opportunities for the Scots.

This Weekend’s Results:

WALES 16-21 ENGLAND

ITALY 3-26 IRELAND

FRANCE 15-8 SCOTLAND

Next Weekend’s Fixtures:

ENGLAND v ITALY (Saturday, 2.30pm)

IRELAND v FRANCE (Saturday, 5pm)

SCOTLAND v WALES (Sunday, 3pm)

Photograph courtesy of Away From the Numbers

We live in an age where communication is instant. Indeed, we demand it to be so. Satellite technology and the advance of the internet and mobile phones means that no matter where you are in the world you can have almost instant access to any sporting event worth its salt. It’s a far cry from when I first began going to football back in the late 1960s.

Back then, satellite technology was in its infancy. Yes, the USA were putting men on the moon but life in Scotland was literally more down to earth. Football was different five decades ago. There were only two divisions, First and Second with eighteen teams in the top flight. Teams would play each other just twice a season in the league and if my team Hearts were playing away – always on a Saturday afternoon in the days before games were covered live on television – the reserve team would be playing our opponents reserve team at Tynecastle.

Hearts struggled throughout the 1970s and attendances at Tynecastle were about half what they are now. On cold winter afternoons with a biting wind and lashing rain fans would huddle in the old Tynecastle shed urging on the likes of Rab Prentice, Drew Busby and Donald Ford. Unless you had a transistor radio with you – it’s a seventies thing, younger readers – getting the half-time scores from other games usually meant forking out a shilling (five pence) for a programme (in the days before they were called match day magazines). The other fixtures would be printed with capital letters next to them and a man would climb the half-time scoreboard on the Gorgie Road terracing slotting numbers on the board. For example, next to the letter A he would place 1-1. A quick look at the programme would show Aberdeen were drawing at home to Hibernian…

I was living in Aberdeen in 1971 when Partick Thistle recorded their famous League Cup Final triumph over Celtic, who were then one of the best clubs in Europe. I was at Pittodrie with a friend and there were huge hoots of derision when the fella on the half-time scoreboard on the then wide open Pittodrie terracing put 4-0 next to the letter A. The silly man must have got the score the wrong way round we assumed. As if Thistle would be four nil up against Celtic at half time we chortled. Astonishingly, it was true…

Back in the 1970s, the term mobile phone meant someone picking up their old dialling contraption and throwing it across the living room on discovering on BBC1’s Grandstand results service that their team had lost at Arbroath. In fact, a good many households didn’t even have a telephone – we didn’t get one in our house until 1976. The internet was something connected with the space agency NASA. The radio was the main source of getting updated football scores and tuning into Radio Scotland was a challenge in itself. No digital radio then, of course. It was VHF and medium wave and I seem to recall Radio Scotland being an extension of BBC Radio Four. So much so, that Sportsound – or Sportsreel I think it was called back then – didn’t start until 3.30pm on a Saturday afternoon. When I lived in Aberdeen as a child I used to spend an anxious half an hour from three o-clock on a Saturday wondering how the mighty – okay this was the 1970s so not so mighty – Jambos were getting on. It was at this time my pessimistic streak developed and has remained with me to this day. Hearts away to Dumbarton? Ach, they’ll skoosh it. By half past three, we’re bound to be at least three goals ahead. Then the dulcet tones of presenter Brian Marjoriebanks would come on and after updating us on Celtic and Rangers first – some things never change – eventually he would advise ‘and the latest from Boghead is that Dumbarton lead Hearts by a goal to nil…’ I soon learned to accept crushing disappointment as a way of life. As my father used to say to me ‘well, son, you chose to follow Hearts…’

Those of us who grew up in the 1970s and were avid football fans will remember the magnificent David Francey as Radio Scotland’s commentator supreme. Francey sounded like a loveable granddad, someone who would offer you sweets when you were expressly forbidden to have anything to eat before supper. ‘Oh and there’s a drive from the edge of the penalty box which has just whistled past the left hand post of Jim Cruickshank’ – his commentary often gave us better pictures that Archie Macpherson did in the edited television highlights on Saturday evening. Having said that, taking a radio to the game to get the other scores was often fraught with danger. When Hearts needed just a point from that game at Dens Park on the final day of season 1985-86 and hoped Celtic wouldn’t get the avalanche of goals they needed at St. Mirren to address their inferior goal difference the fella standing in front of me at Dundee dared to relay the news that The Hoops were four nil ahead at half-time. He was either very brave or very stupid depending on your view…

When the dust had settled on a Saturday afternoon and all the results were in the Hearts result would determine whether I nipped down the road to the local newsagent for a copy of the Saturday sports paper which was rushed out shortly after five o’clock and had all the results and brief match reports from the top games. Nearly every city had one. In Edinburgh it was the Pink News, printed on horrendous pink paper; in Aberdeen it was the Green Final printed on – well, you get the picture. After scouring through the paper to get scores and reports your hands were usually black with newsprint. I still recall the air of anticipation waiting in the newsagents for the screeching sound of the delivery van whose driver would lob a freshly printed batch of papers toward the door of the shop with the accuracy of a Roy Kay throw in.

50 something fans are often accused of looking at the past through rose-tinted – or in my case maroon-tinted spectacles. However, I can’t deny there were some truly awful games at Tynecastle four decades and more ago. Moreover, it’s difficult to imagine going to games now without having instant access to other scores through mobile phone and satellite technology.

However, there was an innocence about the days before mass technology I miss. The days before everything was sponsored, strips were emblazoned with names and most of us actually stood on the terracing for ninety minutes. On the other hand I don’t miss standing on the wide-open terracings in the middle of winter with the rain running down the back of your neck; the drunks who stumbled through the turnstiles at 2.55pm having been in the pub for the past three hours and who would urinate down the back of your leg; or the ever present threat of violence that meant when you wore your team’s scarf walking down the road you were asking for a kicking.

Something I’ll hang on to next time Osman Sow’s attempt on goal knocks a Blackberry from the hands of a fan in row 25 of the Gorgie Stand…

The Open Golf Championship medal won by ‘The Coronation Champion’, Scottish golfer Sandy Herd (1868 –1944), in 1902 at Royal Liverpool in Hoylake is to be offered for sale at Bonhams Sporting Sale in Edinburgh on Wednesday 13 May 2015. The medal, which is approximately two inches across and made from solid gold, is estimated at £35,000-50,000.

Alexander ‘Sandy’ Herd was born in St Andrews and by his late teens had become a proficient golfer and caddie. Turning professional in 1890 he moved to England and in 1892 was appointed the golf professional at Huddersfield Golf Club, Yorkshire where he stayed until 1911. 

Herd’s triumph in the 1902 Open at Hoylake came despite trailing by four strokes after the first day. Competitors in those days played four rounds over two days and Herd had clawed his way into the lead going into the afternoon session of the final day. He was three up over Harry Vardon and eight up over fellow Scot James Braid. In a tense round, the pursuers got to the final hole needing to make their final putts to force a play-off.  Both missed and Herd became Open champion for the only time in his career, winning £50 and the gold medal which is being sold.  As 1902 was the year of King Edward VII’s Coronation, Herd was known as ‘The Coronation Champion’.

Herd used a newly invented type of ball from America introduced to him a few days before the Championship by John Ball, the man who partnered him in third round at Hoylake. Unlike the standard ball of the time which was made from solid rubber, the Haskell golf ball was made from wound rubber threads which improved the trajectory and the distance it could be hit. The Haskell was the forerunner of the golf ball used today.  

Sandy Herd is considered unlucky to have been playing when the game was dominated by three outstanding competitors, Harry Vardon, James Braid and John Henry Taylor.  Known as the Great Triumvirate, they won the Open 16 times between them from 1894 until the outbreak of war in 1914 and although Herd came close on several occasions he never repeated his 1902 victory.

Bonhams Golfing Memorabilia specialist Kevin McGimpsey said, “Open winners’ medals very rarely come onto the open market. In fact, the last one sold in the UK was at Bonhams, Edinburgh in 2007. While there are still a few in private hands most are held by Golf Clubs associated with the winning player or the venue for that year’s Championship. They have either bought the medals themselves or hold them as gifts or loans. Harry Vardon’s six medals, for example are on display in a museum in Jersey, his birthplace.”

Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health, has today called for key sporting events to be guaranteed for broadcast on free to watch terrestrial channels.

His call – which includes demands for Scotland’s international football matches to be available – follows the announcement last week that live coverage of The Open Golf Championship will only be available on pay-per-view television from 2017.

Mr Hepburn said:

“I am extremely disappointed that the Open Championship, arguably the world’s greatest golf tournament, will no longer be available on free-to-air television.

“It is hard to quantify how many young people, watching thrilling contests on the greens of St Andrew’s, Turnberry or Troon, have been inspired to pick up a club for the first time. Welcome though the evening highlights package will be, there is no substitute for being able to watch the action unfolding as it happens.

“Of course, governing bodies must consider the financial health of their sports, and it is understandable for them to choose the most rewarding contracts on offer. But the announcement simply highlights the wider issue of access to some of the biggest sporting events on terrestrial TV.

“It cannot be right that an event as prestigious as The Open is not on the so-called ‘crown jewels’ list of protected sporting events. The Scottish Government has consistently argued that The Open, The Ryder Cup, and Scotland football internationals, should be guaranteed as terrestrial events. I also have concerns about the Rugby Six Nations Championship, which ends its BBC contract in 2017 and could potentially shift to a pay-per-view broadcaster.”

Mr Hepburn added:

“A UK-wide independent advisory panel, set up to review the crown jewels list, reported to the UK Government in 2009. It recommended an extended list of events protected for live transmission on free to air television, including home football internationals and The Open.

“The Scottish Government contributed to that panel’s review, and we supported its findings. I am therefore very frustrated that no progress has been made on extending the list of protected live events. I am now calling on the UK Government to act swiftly to extend that list so that Scotland’s young sports fans, regardless of background, can continue to be inspired by these great sporting moments.

“They should either give increased protection to major events, or devolve this element of broadcasting law to Holyrood so we can make these decisions in Scotland for the benefit of Scotland’s sports fans and Scottish sport.”

Scottish Labour’s Shadow Business Minister, Ian Murray MP, is calling on MPs from all parties to back the immediate devolution of job creating powers to the Scottish Parliament.

Ian Murray will present his Job Creation Powers (Scotland) Bill to the House of Commons on Wednesday. The Bill would immediately devolve the Work Programme and Work Choice to the Scottish Government.

Scottish Labour has set out a plan to transfer these powers to communities across Scotland, so that more decisions about getting young people back into work are made locally. The proposal has been backed by the leaders of Scotland’s three largest cities – Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

Speaking ahead of the debate, Edinburgh South Labour MP Ian Murray said:

“Labour will send our Home Rule Bill to Parliament within 100 days of forming the next Government, to pass more powers over jobs, welfare and tax to Scotland. But this week we need all of Scotland’s MPs to get behind this Bill to get job creating powers to Scotland now. We all signed up to devolve these powers in the Smith Agreement. Instead of waiting until after the election, it’s time to pass these powers now. Young unemployed people in Scotland can’t wait any longer.

“When it is published next week MPs from all parties should back this Bill to get young Scots back into work.

“The Tory’s Work Programme has failed Scotland. Only 1 in 5 people end up in a job at the end of the programme, and Scotland has a lower success rate than any English region. We need to take these powers and transfer them to communities across Scotland so we can use to get our young people back to work.”

2015 Iranian Film Festival: a season of classic and contemporary films from Iran, including a number of Scottish premieres, shown as part of the Edinburgh Iranian Festival. Today: The Desert Fish (12A): a young boy wants to unravel the mystery of his dead mother, who comes to him in dreams. He undertakes an incredible journey to find out where he came from and the secrets his father never told him. The screening will be followed by a Q & A session with the director, arts director and editor. There will also be a drinks reception and live music from Edinburgh Youth Gaitherin at the Traverse Theatre Bar, Cambridge Street, 8.30-9.30pm (after the film). 6.10pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets can be booked online here or by calling the box office on 0131 228 2688. Prices vary: there are deals for purchasing multiple tickets for this season. The 2015 Iranian Film Festival is curated by Dr Nacim Pak-Shiraz and sponsored by The Sutton Gallery, Arts & Business Scotland, Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies of the University of Edinburgh, and the Filmhouse.

Portrait Detectives: Collect your kit, follow clues and solve a mystery from history! For ages 4-12 years. 2-4pm (drop-in), Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free and unticketed. Supported by the Friends of the National Galleries of Scotland.

Edinburgh Iranian Festival: Persian Calligraphy. Meet painter and printmaker Jila Peacock whose work, based on the elegant and dynamic forms of Persian calligraphy, creates a beautiful fusion of art and language. Listen to Jila talk about her work and create your own calligraphic art. 2-3pm, Nomad’s Tent, 21 St Leonard’s Place. Free admission.

Darkness Visible: a series of feature films selected to accompany Christopher Orr’s exhibition The Beguiled Eye at the University of Edinburgh’s Talbot Rice Gallery. Each film reflects different elements in Orr’s work, from the enchantment and terror of the Ozark mountains in Winter’s Bone to the barren, ominous desolation of Tarkovsky’s ‘Zone’ in Stalker, and the unearthly mystery and sense of adventure in Super 8. Each film will be introduced by an assistant curator from Talbot Rice. Today: Stalker (PG). 2.45pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets can be booked online or by calling the Box Office on 0131 228 2688: prices vary. Series concludes on Monday 9th February 2015. Read The Edinburgh Reporter’s review of The Beguiled Eye here.

Filmhouse Junior: The Wind Rises (PG). A decades-spanning epic from master filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. Jiro dreams of flying and designing aeroplanes; he studies hard and joins a Japanese engineering company in 1927. His bright intelligence and dedication will lead him to create the Zero fighter, a bomber put into service just as Japan is contemplating war with the US. 11am, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets cost £4 per person, big or small, and can be booked online or by calling the Box Office on 0131 228 2688

Blackwell’s Edinburgh Teenage Book Group: if you love to read or just want to read more, join the group to talk about the latest teenage fiction and your favourite books. The group reads anything from classics to contemporary and historical to dystopian, and is currently reading Alex Bell’s Frozen Charlotte. 2-3pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. To join (it’s free!) just email your details to schools.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk.

Edinburgh Iranian Festival: Fashion Sale. A second chance to see the pieces displayed at the Persian Chic Fashion Show at the National Museum of Scotland on Saturday, with an opportunity to purchase. 10am-5pm, Nomad’s Tent, 21 St Leonard’s Place.

Edinburgh Iranian Festival: Beyond the Chador – Iranian Dress for Women. Dr Gillian Vogelsang-Eastwood talks about Iran’s centuries-old production of intriguing textiles and beautiful garments, especially for women, and how urban and regional dress have responded to each other over time. 11am-12 noon, Nomad’s Tent, 21 St Leonard’s Place.

Drawing From Nature: design and print greetings cards with a springtime theme, using handmade paper and plant-based inks. For all ages. 1-4pm, Real Life Science Studio, John Hope Gateway, Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, Inverleith Row. Free: no booking required.

Heriot Watt University Anniversary Service: a Town and Gown event to celebrate the 49th anniversary of the granting of the university’s charter. Excelsior Per Cantum, the university’s chamber choir, will perform at the service. 10am, Currie Kirk, 156 Lanark Road West.

Edinburgh Iranian Festival: Iran and Tourism. If you have ever wondered about travelling to Iran, this is your opportunity to learn about the country’s history and cultural heritage from the experts, and to find out more about where to go and how to get there. Dr Laurent Galbrun (Heriot Watt University) will give an insight into the people, culture, art and architecture of Iran from a European perspective, illustrated by his photographs of the architectural gems of Esfahan, Shiraz, Kashan Qazvin, Qom and Tehran. Dr Masood Khodadadi (University of West Scotland) specialises in cultural tourism, tourism marketing, destination branding and destination image formation process; his recent research has focused on how institutional/popular discourses of Iran/Persia are constructed and perceived in Britain. Warwick Ball has 20 years of experience in operating tours to Iran and over 40 years of personal travel in the country as an archaeologist and historian; he will take the audience through an amazing journey. UK-based tour operators Persian Voyage will also attend to provide visa and travel advice. 3.30-5pm, Nomad’s Tent, 21 St Leonard’s Place. Free admission.

St Giles’ At Six: Edinburgh Napier University Composers Concert with The Edinburgh Quartet. New compositions for string quartet by student composers Jason Sweeney, David Paton, Linyi Tam, Jonathan Grant, Ian Sutherland, Robin McLeish and Alexander Vella Gregory. 6pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free: retiring collection.

Preston Street Primary School

Edinburgh is in the top 50

Annual Potato Day

Black Diamond FM

Barnardo’s

Pupils at an Edinburgh primary school are aiming high in their quest for new sports equipment.

Preston Street Primary School have set an ambitious target of collecting 10,000 Sainsbury’s Active Kids vouchers – enough to provide the school with new badminton and tennis equipment for pupils to use during lessons and after school clubs.

And the school have enlisted the help of local businesses in an attempt to reach the magic total.

Principal Teacher Simon MacLean said: “In our local area we have a high student population and several big local employers. Lots of people don’t collect the vouchers for a variety of reasons – perhaps they don’t have kids of their own and don’t know where to hand them in, or they don’t think a handful of vouchers will make much of a difference. If they send them to Preston Street then we guarantee they will be used for a very worthwhile cause.”

“Anyone who lives or works in the local area can hand vouchers in at the school office and they will go towards our total”.

The school launches its appeal at their annual house cross-country event on the Meadows on Tuesday 10 February 2015 where all the P5, P6 and P7 pupils will participate in a running competition.

And staff from Sainsbury’s Local on South Clerk Street will be on on hand to provide refreshments to the 110 thirsty runners.

Store manager Calum Gillies said: “This year will mark 11 years since Sainsbury’s began the Active Kids drive in which we have provided over £150 million of equipment and experiences to schools, nurseries and sports clubs across the UK. I am delighted to be working with the school to raise awareness of this fantastic opportunity to introduce new badminton and tennis equipment for pupils to use during lessons and at after school clubs. We have been working hard in store to ensure we can do all we can do to ensure we help the school reach their goal. “

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Edinburgh has been ranked in the top 50 in the list of 100 cities which ranks global destinations according to the reputation of their hotels according to Trivago the online booking website.

Each destination is given a rating according to hotel reviews and ratings from over 200 booking sites worldwide and the capital came in at number 45. London meanwhile did not feature in the top 100.

Guests in Edinburgh praised hotels for their location and spacious rooms.

You can read the full list here

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Do you listen to Black Diamond FM? If not it is on 107.8FM
We presented a news bulletin for the community radio station which they played yesterday.
You can listen again here:

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Barnardo’s are holding two open sessions at their office at 17 Claremont Crescent, Edinburgh EH7 4HX on 9^th February 6-8pm and on 15^th February 2-4pm.

They are recruiting ‘Supported Carers’ through their Lothian Supported Carers Scheme. This scheme aims to raise awareness of the needs of young people, those who have left the care system or those who do not have a family home they can stay in. Supported landlords act like landlords or hosts and offer a young person a room in their home.

If you would like to be part of a young person’s journey contact the Lothian Supported Carers Scheme; visit www.barnardos.org.uk/lscs or call on 0131 556 4583.

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Today the number 35 bus will be unable to access Chambers Street westbound owing to the street being closed between 8am and 4pm.

Instead the bus will be diverted by Nicolson Street, Nicolson Square and Potterrow.

Keep up to date on this and any other diversions by checking the status of the buses and trams on Edinburgh Trams website here.

Graphic courtesy of Edinburgh Trams

Radio Forth has kicked off its 40^th birthday celebrations in style, with Forth 1 and Forth 2 combined enjoying increased weekly reach and market share – and new station Forth 3 joining the family.

The legendary Edinburgh radio group became Radio ‘Forty’ recently as it celebrated the 40th anniversary of its first ever day of programming, having first stormed the airwaves back in 1975. At the same time brand new station, Forth 3, was introduced to the marketplace.

Now, Radio Forth has received a further boost following the release of the latest figures from RAJAR (Radio Joint Audience Research), the official body in charge of measuring radio audiences in the UK.

The figures for the last quarter of 2014 show that, for the Total Survey Area Radio Forth’s average weekly reach was 363,000 listeners,  representing a total Radio Forth increase of 5.5%.

Cathy Kirk, Station Director at Radio Forth, said:

“Forth has got 2015 off to an absolute flier with our 40^th anniversary and the introduction of Forth 3, and now this latest news from RAJAR the icing on the cake.

“The increases in weekly reach and market share in the region are all down to our wonderful teams at Radio Forth who continue to deliver the very best and most engaging content to our incredible listeners.

“We are so proud that Radio Forth has reached the fantastic milestone of 40 years and these results show that we can all look forward with excitement and optimism too. Not only do we have Forth 1 and Forth 2 performing so strongly, but we now have our new station Forth 3, which will help Radio Forth maintain its relevance with the younger generations, on air, online and on mobile.

“We couldn’t do any of this without our brilliant listeners and we’d like to thank each and every one of them for continuing to tune in to Radio Forth.”

SPFL Championship, Saturday 7 February 2015 – Energy Assets Arena

Two days after Christmas, Hearts edged a tight encounter against the SPFL Championship’s bottom club thanks to a solitary goal from James Keatings. Six weeks later, Robbie Neilson’s table-toppers were back in West Lothian and, again, their promotion credentials were put to the test. And, again, Hearts proved they have what it takes by winning another close affair.

Neilson made three changes to the team that hammered Alloa Athletic seven days go with Jordan McGhee, Sam Nicholson and Genero Zeefuik replacing the injured Adam Eckersley and Osman Sow and the suspended Prince Buaben.

Hearts have scored early in their last two games and they did so again today. Jamie Walker took the ball from Jacobs before it landed at the feet of Genero Zeefuik. The big Dutchman powered away from Sives before firing a low effort beyond Jamieson to give Hearts the lead after just four minutes.

Buoyed by this early goal, Hearts took command of the game and Miguel Pallardo, having scored his first Hearts goal last week, almost scored his second when his effort from the edge of the box went narrowly over the bar.

Livingston are fighting for their lives at the bottom of the league but they took this metaphor a bit too far with some brutal challenges which saw referee Brian Colvin reach for his yellow cards six times in the first half. The most shocking of these challenges was the one from Talbot which saw his studs catch the face of Sam Nicholson. This became the home side’s fifth yellow card when it really should have been red. Nicholson had to be replaced at half-time by Hearts new Dutch signing Kenny Anderson.

Half-time Livingston 0 Hearts 1

The home side equalised in the 52^nd minute. Former Jambo Craig Sives was all alone to fire home even if it did appear he was in an offside position. This wasn’t what the Maroon Army expected but the visitors pressed to regain their advantage. The impressive Zeefuik tried his luck from distance, Callum Paterson came close with a header and Jamie Walker also had a chance but saw his effort go wide.

It was beginning to look like the Maroons would drop two points which might have had the doubters out in force again. However, with eight minutes to go, substitute Billy King delivered a fine cross into the penalty area where debutant Kenny Anderson dived to head home. Jubilation among the Hearts support and the Dutchman couldn’t contain his delight – nor should he!

Just a couple of minutes later, the impressive Billy King sent Jamie Walker through with a sublime pass and the youngster fired beyond Jamieson to seal the points.

Well, I say seal the points – there was a late scare when Hearts Brad McKay – who this week agreed to join St. Johnstone in the summer – pulled down Hippolyte in the penalty box and was show a red card. Jacobs fired home the resultant penalty kick but Hearts held on for a 3-2 win – and stretch their lead at the top of the SPFL Championship table to 19 points.

Second placed Rangers may have three games in hand but even if they win all three – and this is not certain by any means – they will still be ten points behind Robbie Neilson’s impressive side. And this Friday evening Rangers face Hibernian – who have beaten them twice already this season…

Livingston: Jamieson, Sives, Talbot, Fordyce, Kyle Jacobs, Keaghan Jacobs, O’Brien, Gallagher, White, Mullen, Sekajja.

Hearts: Alexander, Paterson, Wilson, Ozturk, Gomis, Walker, Nicholson, Pallardo, Keatings, Zeefuik, McGhee.

Referee: Brian Colvin

Att: 5,352

Top man: Genero Zeefuik – what a powerful fellow he is!

Local Clan events to benefit from over £26,000 in funding.

Local clan events across Scotland are to received £26,000 in funding support from the Scottish Government.

Applicants to the Scottish Government’s Clan Event Fund have been offered grant support to stage seven clan events across the country in 2015.

In 2014 people from across the world attended clan events in Scotland that were supported through the Clan Event Fund. Attendance at these events was estimated at 7,700 with almost 4,000 international visitors, from 18 diaspora communities, joining the festivities.

Enterprise and Tourism Minister Fergus Ewing said:

“I am delighted to announce this second allocation of funding through the Clan Event Fund, which will support seven Clan events taking place across Scotland in the year ahead.

“This includes a number of international Clan gatherings that are expected to bring thousands of visitors to Scotland, generating income and providing a colourful spectacle in those communities where they take place.
“Not only will the Scottish Clan Event Fund help support activities during this year’s celebrations, but will help to provide a legacy of Clan activity through to our planned Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology in 2017.”
Hector Munro commented about the positive effect support provided through the Scottish Clan Event Fund had on the 10th International Clan Munro Gathering held in 2014:
“The Gathering was a huge success and without the assistance of the Clan Event fund we would not have been able to give the participants anything like the experience they had. It was an enormous amount of work for a dedicated few but we have been inundated with enthusiastic ‘thank you’ letters, emails and telephone calls ever since and we even made it on to the main news on the French TV channel TF1.

“So I think we have won a great many potential return visitors for Scotland.

“I cannot emphasise enough the importance of the part played by Clan Societies over the past 100 plus years in attracting visitors to Scotland, often working unseen below the radar of the main agencies promoting Scotland. It doesn’t matter which Clan, it is always just a band of loyal volunteers who put on these events taking considerable risks on small budgets.”