Petrofac Training Cup 1^st Round, Saturday 26 July 2014 – Tynecastle

After a season when the club was traumatised by administration and suffered relegation from the SPFL Premiership as a consequence, Hearts ended their first competitive fixture of the new season with a comfortable victory over League Two side Annan Athletic in the first round of the Petrofac Training Cup at Tynecastle on Saturday.

That Hearts are in this competition is directly because they are no longer in the top flight of Scottish football. Thus, they faced Annan Athletic for the first time and the outcome of the game was never seriously in doubt.

Billy King was the tormentor in chief in the early stages and he opened the scoring after just eight minutes with a brilliant effort, dancing past a bewildered Annan defence before blasting the ball into the net beyond Annan keeper Mitchell.

It was, as you might expect, mostly one-way traffic towards the Annan Athletic goal. However, the visitors did have a free-kick from Hopkirk which Hearts keeper Neil Alexander dealt with comfortably.

After 20 minutes the home side were 2-0 ahead. Dale Carrick flicked a pass towards Osman Sow and the former Crystal Palace striker used his experience to outfox an Annan defender before slipping the ball beyond Mitchell from around 16 yards.

Sam Nicholson was proving a handful for the visitors hard-pressed defence and the youngster had two efforts on goal, one which went just over the crossbar and the other which was directly at keeper Mitchell.

Hearts did get the third goal their play richly deserved just before half-time. Billy King’s corner from the right was powerfully headed home by Callum Paterson. Sadly, the right back suffered an injury just before the interval and was replaced by Jordan McGhee for the second half. Half-time: Hearts 3 Annan Athletic 0.

The second half followed the same pattern as the first with Sow, King, Carrick, McHattie and Nicholson all having decent attempts on goal. Credit to Annan Athletic, though, who worked incredibly hard, particularly in defence, to keep the Hearts team at bay. There was only one more goal in the second half – but not at the end most people thought it would be.

In the final minute Annan substitute Davidson scored with a fine finish which went beyond Neil Alexander from the edge of the box.

Overall, it was another decent performance from Hearts and one can see the way Robbie Neilson wants his young team to play. Possession is the name of the game these days in Gorgie and the ethos seems to be if the opposition don’t have the ball then they can’t do you any damage. It’s certainly pleasing on the eye.

With several new signings it’s going take a little while for this new-look Hearts team to gel but some of the football they played on Saturday and last Friday against Manchester City has been delightful. If I’m being picky I could say that Hearts need to be more ruthless in the opposition penalty box. It could and indeed should have been 6-1 to the Maroons today. And new recruit Alim Ozturk will need to be told that the Scottish Championship is not a league where he will be able to dwell too long on the ball!

That aside, the early signs look promising for Hearts.

Hearts: Alexander, Paterson, McHattie, Wilson, Ozturk, Gomis, Sow, Nicholson, King, Buaben, Carrick.

Annan Athletic: Mitchell, Watson, Chisholm, McNiff, Black, Swinglehurst, McStay, Flynn, Todd, Hopkirk, Carcary.

Referee: Callum Murray

Att: 6,708

Top Man: Billy King. The youngster made a blistering start, then faded before coming back into the game again. A real prospect.

Help!!! Actress Needs Cast!

One way to save on Fringe costs is to bring a small cast but one actress has taken things to a new extreme by expecting her audience to play the parts for her…

Brooke’s cast will be the children and she simply won’t have a show if no-one comes.  Brooke is calling all aspiring child stars and everyone who simply loves a good story.

The children will step into a world of imagination so no script is required which is lucky especially as most of Brooke’s audience won’t be able to read yet!

Creative Director and Adventureteller Brooke Laing, performs and delights children in an interactive action-packed adventure through an enchanted forest where a miserable witch has been up to mischief.

Can we save Bottom and his fairytale friends from the witches spells before Big Ben chimes midnight or will we be trapped in the enchanted forest forever?

Venue details

ZOO Southside

venue 82

117 Nicolson Street

Show 7^th 8^th 9^th August 11-11:50am

One of the youngest companies at this years fringe! Curet Performance Project in their second year and part of this year’s NYC Dance Week Festival journey over from the Big Apple to bring you film, movement and the femme all in one form: DANCE.

Portrait Femme Unveiled embarks on a journey into the inner landscape of the female identity. As the show progresses we travel with the performers through dance work onstage and on film. Each playing an equal part of the show’s connection to both worlds on stage and off.

Curet Performance Project is one of the youngest emerging dance companies on the New York City dance scene.  Coming out of their second year together and season at Triskelion Arts in Brooklyn, they are primarily known for creating and performing provocative works that inspire and entice. In Portrait Femme Unveiled specifically, striving to bring light on all the elements of the inner workings of the female being.  Using dance and media to come to one conclusion, no one woman is the same but all women embody the same avenues: Love, Faith, Loss, Fear and Hope.

Venue: Greenside at Royal Terrace venue 231              Tickets: Tue-Sat £9full/£8 concession/£7 student/£6 family

Date: 19th-23rd August                                                        Box Office: 0131 557 2124

Time: 21:55 (45 min)                                                             Website

The LipSinkers

When it comes to meeting in person, two young men soon discover that they have conflicting agendas: Grey’s keen to shag while Duncan’s planned for a lifetime of cuddles. Their three-year digital romance falls flat as the two are forced into the awkwardness and tenderness of a real-­life meeting, separating what’s real from what’s been imagined. After so much digital courtship, how could they possibly know so little about each other? And is anything or anyone on the Internet ‘real’?

Hormones and emotions run high in this hard-hitting and darkly funny two-hander. Newly graduated from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama with an MFA in Writing for Stage and Broadcast Media, Daniel Huntley Solon directs his acclaimed US play in a new version for its European Premiere in Edinburgh.

Sex, With Benefits is a remarkable play, analysing the challenging world of modern gay relationships with humour and sensitivity. Two young men, with completely different agendas, finally meet in person after years of communicating online. Duncan is completely in love and ready to settle down with the man who he sees as his soul mate, while Grey is simply anticipating a long-overdue shag. The pair, having previously only communicated on websites and apps, is forced to navigate the awkwardness and tenderness of a real-life meeting, while confronting their own prejudices around their sexuality. This is heart-breaking and challenging theatre, performed by a newly-graduated talented cast.

Produced alongside Jake Miller of My Mate Dave by seasoned Fringe Producer Chris Snow, and performed in Sweet’s most intimate venue, Sex, With Benefits is a hidden gem at this year’s Fringe.

Performing at Sweet Grassmarket: Apex International Hotel, 31-35 Grassmarket (Venue 18)

July 31^st – August 10^th at 20:25 (1hr)

Tickets here.

Soweto Afro-Pop Opera, has Toured across Europe. Showcasing light Opera,
Classical Standards with African flair and Township Acappella.
Steadily building International reputation for presenting exceptional
musical standard and versatility.

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

At Underbelly Bristo Square Venue 300

July 30 -31 August 1-11, 13025

Tickets here.

The council has put up three kinds of on-street cycle storage for cyclists to trial across the city. This newly-installed secure bicycle parking will soon be open for use in a cycling first for Scotland.

Police report that a Bonnyrigg man has been missing since 17 July and there are concerns about his welfare.

They are appealing for information on the whereabouts of Andrew Durie, who is 28 years old, was last in Ferry Road around 2.30pm on 17th July on a number 21 bus.

Andrew is described as 6ft tall, well built, wearing glasses, and was last seen wearing a Rangers football top. It’s thought he may be with a as yet unidentified woman.

Inspector Alan Hogarth said: “We are appealing for Andrew to get in touch with police, as his family are worried that they haven’t heard from him for a number of days.

“Similarly if anyone has seen Andrew or has information that can help us trace him, they urged to contact police on 101 and quote incident 307 of 14th July.”

Local MSP Malcolm Chisholm and Aamer Anwar the leading Scottish advocate with a particular interest in human rights attended the protest in Edinburgh’s city centre earlier, but there were many ordinary people there too.

We asked Mick Napier Secretary of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign why the organisers felt this march was necessary which he explains in our video report.  There was no one group protesting today, rather a collection of different people who all felt moved enough to come along.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbv89l9cnQE]

A march through central Edinburgh by a couple of thousand people brought the public transport system in the city centre to a halt, but it was nonetheless a peaceful show of support for those in Gaza caught up in a crisis situation who they wish to help.

The protesters marched from The Mound along Princes Street to the First Minister’s residence at Bute House in Charlotte Square. There was a temporary delay on Princes Street as it was hoped the protesters would be persuaded away from Princes Street to George Street, but they pressed on to the West End, causing all public transport to be diverted or brought to a halt.

Human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar and Malcolm Chisholm MSP both addressed the crowds from the back of a pick-up truck outside Bute House.

If they had found the First Minister at home they would have had some support from him as he called only yesterday evening for the UK Government to do more to help those caught up in Gaza.

Today, the protest in Edinburgh which had been promoted on Facebook here.

Ahead if the event Mr Ali said: “We are expecting over 2000 people to attend this demonstration with many people who are not connected to social media also attending. ”

Port of Leith Housing Association’s (PoLHA) St Nicholas Court sheltered housing complex is hosting its annual summer fayre next Saturday  2 August 2014.

The complex, on Leith’s Ferry Road, will have stalls including a raffle, tombola, home bakes, bric-a-brac, books, DVDS and toys. There will also be a BBQ and face painting for children.

Admission is 50p and all funds raised will support activities for residents including day trips, theatre trips, exercise classes and lunch clubs.

Maureen Tait, Sheltered Housing Services Manager manages the complex. She said: “This is our 17^th summer fayre and it’s one of the highlights on our social calendar. Many of the residents really enjoy it as they get to interact with the local community and we’re hoping this great weather we’ve been experiencing continues.

“We normally raise over £1000 at our summer fayres and we’ll be looking to achieve the same, if not more, this time as the money goes towards enjoyable and interactive social activities for the residents.”

The summer fayre will run from 12pm to 2pm at St Nicholas Court on 74 Ferry Road.

Mikaeel Kular

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Craigmillar Survey

Dancing Teacakes

At the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival today

The mother of three year-old Mikaeel Kular whose disappearance sparked a community response in North Edinburgh of monumental proportions in January appeared at the High Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to killing the toddler.

She will be sentenced next month Read more here..

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Even if you live in Edinburgh it might be fun to stay in a hotel for a night in the city centre? VisitScotland and Edinburgh Fringe have teamed up to offer you just that along with £100 for tickets.

Entry details here.

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The council voted in favour of funding for their Connected Communities projects in North Edinburgh to help the North Edinburgh News and in Craigmillar to set up a news offering of some kind.

The local neighbourhood office would love to hear from you if you live or work in the area and have any views on what would be the best way to inform locals of news in their area. They have set up a survey and you can take part in that here. 

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The chocolate snack, which had a starring role in the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games, has enjoyed an unexpected sales surge.

Tunnock’s teacakes – with their distinctive red and silver foil wrappers – were one of a number of Scottish landmarks and products to feature in the celebration at Celtic Park on Wednesday evening.

In the 24 hours following the ceremony, Waitrose’s sales of the chocolate-coated marshmallow treats leapt by  62 per cent.

Waitrose is attributing the sudden spike to the product’s high profile role in Wednesday’s spectacle.

David Jones, Supply Chain Director, Waitrose said: “We usually expect to see people marking major sporting events with a barbecue or a beer with friends and family – but the sudden demand for  Tunnock’s teacakes, isn’t something we anticipated. We will certainly be stocking up to meet customer demand.”

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Today’s pick of the Festival has to be the Commonwealth Orchestra tonight at the Festival Theatre.

In 1965 Britain’s leading jazz musician, Tubby Hayes, put together an Orchestra to play at the time of the Commonwealth Conference. With the Games in full swing in Glasgow, we present an updated band that plays some of the music of the mid-60’s – by Tubby, Jimmy Deuchar, and John Dankworth, and brings it up to date, with music by a host of great Commonwealth composers. The band is packed with top Scottish and Commonwealth musicians and led by the brilliant pianist, bandleader and ex-Mercury Prize nominee, Zoe Rahman. We also take the opportunity to present our finest young stars – Edinburgh’s own Schools Jazz Orchestra – finally making it to a major stage in the Festival. And to make it all the more appealing we’re making every ticket £10!

Director and pianist: Zoe Rahman
Trumpets: Lorenzo Blignaut, Kevin Ferris, Ian Smith, Gavin Spowart
Trombones: Kenny Hamilton, Keith Hutton, Rick Taylor, Fayyaz Virji
Saxes: Graeme Blevins, Keith Edwards, Bill Fleming, Lucien Johnson, Cassie Kinoshi
Bass: Dave Young
Drums: Terry Clarke

Part of the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme

Tickets here.

SATURDAY 26TH JULY 2014 

Meet the Gruffalo!  The Gruffalo is in Scotland and he’s coming to visit! Wish him a happy 15th birthday in person at 11am or 2pm (if you’re brave enough…) Fun activities in the store from 11am to 2.30pm. Waterstones West End, Princes Street. Details on 0131 226 2666.

National Gallery Highlights Tours: An introduction to and tour of the gallery’s permanent collection, focusing on key paintings. 2-2.45pm and 3-3.45pm, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free, no booking required.

Medusa Madness: for ages 5-11.  2pm, Blackhall Library, 56 Hillhouse Road. Part of the Mythical Maze Summer Reading Challenge.

GENERATION tours at Modern ONE: free, discussion-led tours of the GENERATION exhibition, focusing on key themes and artists. 11-11.45am and 1-1.45pm, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art One, Belford Road.  Free and unticketed.

Out of the Blue Flea Market: over 45 stalls bursting with clothes, jewellery, bric-a-brac, small furniture, music, books and much more. Coffee and cake available to purchase in the Drill Hall Cafe. 10am-3pm, today and last Saturday of every month, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street.

Family Fun Garden Session: come and learn about herbs – taste them, smell them, and learn how to use them. Find out how to get new herb plants for free and make herbal delights to take home. For all ages, mid-morning snack provided. Wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and wet!  In very bad weather indoor activities will be provided. 10am-12noon, North Edinburgh Arts (next to Muirhouse Library.)  Children must be accompanied. Pop-in cafe also open 10am-12noon.

The Modern Gaelic Collections: a curator’s choice of intriguing and unusual modern Gaelic material, illustrating Gaelic literature and learning as well as the work of An Commun Gaidhealach. Enjoy an afternoon of discovery, from Shakespeare to Sorley MacLean, Ladybird to An Leabhar Mor. An event presented in English, with an opportunity for browsing and discussion in Gaelic and English.  Suitable for Gaelic learners and speakers.  2.30-3.30pm, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge.  Free.  Book via website or by calling 0131 623 3734.

Muirhouse Photography Group: Would you like to learn how to take better photos? Muirhouse Photography Group can help you to gain new skills and give you the chance to exhibit your work. For more information call in to Muirhouse Library or call them on 0131 529 5528.

The Lost Gardens of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh: discover the stories of the lost gardens from over 300 years ago, including Holyrood, Trinity Hospital and Leith Walk. What were they like, who worked in them, and why did the gardens disappear? 1-4pm, Real Life Science Studio, John Hope Gateway, Royal Botanic Garden. Free, open to all, no booking required. Also available on Sunday 27th July.

A psychology and sociology student for Queen Margaret University (QMU), Edinburgh, has begun a world-class communications internship with global healthcare company, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), thanks to the Saltire Foundation.

The prestigious Saltire Foundation programme, ‘Saltire Scholars’, opens the door of the world’s leading companies to some of Scotland’s most talented students and provides them with an unparalleled chance to engage with global thought leaders and entrepreneurs.

Peter Jacobs, 22, will spend nine weeks as part of the communications team at GSK in Worthing, West Sussex, where he will be working on internal communication and community engagement projects.

Record numbers of ambitious young Scots have been attracted to this year’s cohort of Saltire Scholars, the internship programme run by The Saltire Foundation, Scotland’s world-class entrepreneurial leadership programme.

The number of Scholars has risen by nearly a third, with 132 undergraduate students taking part – up from 103 in 2013, which itself was a record-beating Undergraduate Programme. The cohort will be working amongst 44 host companies and over 5 continents across the world.

Professor Petra Wend, Principal of Queen Margaret University, said: “The Saltire Scholars programme provides students with global business experience and we are delighted that one of our top students has been able to benefit from these outstanding learning opportunities.

“It’s very rewarding to see QMU students like Peter creating their own goals, rising to the challenges set by high profile businesses like GSK, gaining exposure to a corporate environment and being able to offer their own ideas and solutions to business issues.

“There is no doubt that the skills, knowledge and life experience gained during Peter’s internship will give him a competitive advantage when entering the jobs market.”

Professor Wend continued: “Queen Margaret University is committed to enhancing the student experience. As a direct result of Peter’s positive experiences with GSK we’re continuing to strengthen our Saltire Foundation University Partner status. This should open up more world class placement and networking opportunities for future QMU students.”

Commenting on his communications internship experience with GSK so far, Peter Jacobs said: “I’m very grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given by the Saltire Foundation. Before my internship I had no idea of what to expect and generally had very little idea of what happened within GSK. Being honest I was slightly nervous about the idea of working for a company as big as GSK and the thought had crossed my mind that I would end up as an office coffee boy, as many of my friends are currently experiencing.

“However, I can say now that my experience at GSK has fully exceeded every expectation that I had. It’s been a personal journey for me and has been great to work with so many nice people who are willing to take time out of their day to help me with my project even when they all had a million and one other things to do.”

“Overall, it’s been a great journey for me. Working for a company that saves lives has really opened my eyes to the world of pharmaceuticals. It has given me a lot to think about for the future and what career path I would like to follow. The internship has allowed me to learn new transferrable skills and make new connections.”

Sandy Kennedy, chief executive of the Saltire Foundation, said: “It’s very gratifying to see such a surge in the numbers of young people, including students from Queen Margaret University, who are keen to build their confidence, skills and ambition.

“Scotland’s commercial reputation in the global arena can only be enhanced by this fantastic response, which beats all previous years, and we are delighted to welcome these confident, entrepreneurial and driven young potential executives.”

Peter hopes to pursue a career in events after completing his degree at QMU.

Peter has already started blogging about his internship experience with GlaxoSmithKline on the Saltire Foundation website. You can follow Peter’s journey here.

The four-star hotel in Charlotte Square has been sold in what is described as ‘the largest single asset hospitality transaction in Edinburgh since 2007’.

The Roxburghe, which is owner operated under an IHG franchise as part of the Crowne Plaza group of hotels, has been sold to US based investment management firm Starwood Capital, following a competitive process managed by JLL’s Hotel & Hospitality Group in Scotland and London. Starwood Capital’s Global Real Estate portfolio includes more than 2,200 hotels.

Keith McBain, Director, JLL, said: “This is a landmark deal for the Edinburgh and Scottish market, underlining its status as a hugely attractive destination for investors. The hotel, which has 199 guest rooms, has seen continual investment to improve the facilities for visitors since it was purchased in the late 1990s and we expect the new owners to continue that trend.”

George Nicholas, Executive Vice President, JLL, said: “Similar to the sale of Turnberry, we placed this off-market opportunity with a small number of capable investors who had recently expressed strong interest in Scotland, and as such were able to transact the hotel with minimal disturbance to the business or attention to the owner.  Many owners and investors prefer this method of transaction.

“We see this interest in Scotland as an increasing trend, with money from domestic and overseas sources – particularly North America, China and elsewhere in the Far East. There is real appreciation of the added value, compared with London, and Edinburgh along with a few other Scottish cities are best placed to benefit from that sentiment.”

The Georgian properties in which The Roxburghe is situated date back to 1791, although the hotel has grown into adjoining properties through the years.

A major refurbishment was undertaken in 2013, which marked the introduction of an Intercontinental Hotel Group franchise and the hotel was rebranded as Crowne Plaza Edinburgh – The Roxburghe.

Charlotte Square is an historic capital location and is home to the First Minister’s official residence, Bute House, as well as a number of National Trust for Scotland properties.

A mother has today admitted responsibility for the death of her three-year-old son.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Rosdeep Adekoya pled guilty to the culpable homicide of Mikaeel Kular after his body was discovered in Fife earlier this year.

The 34-year-old also pled guilty to a charge of attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

Mikaeel was originally reported missing from his home in Ferry Gait Crescent by his mother on the morning of Thursday 16th January.

His body was later recovered in a wooded area of Kirkcaldy. Adekoya, 34, was subsequently charged with causing his death.

She will be sentenced later.

Police Scotland launched a major search operation and investigation after Mikaeel was reported missing.

Assistant Chief Constable Malcolm Graham, Major Crime and Public Protection, said: “Mikaeel’s disappearance and death deeply impacted on his family. It also resonated across the community in which he lived.

“During the initial stages of the inquiry we appealed for information about Mikaeel’s whereabouts as concern for him grew. The local community assisted us greatly in that search. What followed was an incredible level of support and assistance to one of the biggest missing person inquiries Police Scotland has undertaken.

“Resources from across Police Scotland were deployed in the search for Mikaeel. These resources included specialist investigative and search support to local officers from Edinburgh and neighbouring divisions. Over two days officers were joined by members of the public in trying to find any trace of him.

“Sadly our inquiries led us to Kirkcaldy the night after he was reported missing and the discovery of his body.

“I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the public for all of their help during the search efforts and the continued support provided to police and Mikaeel’s family during the course of this investigation.

Incidents such as this are thankfully extremely rare and I would like to assure the public that whenever we receive reports of concern for children we investigate the matter thoroughly and should any criminal offences be detected, then those responsible will be brought to justice.”

Advocate depute Alex Prentice told the court: “The basis for the plea tendered being accepted is that the Crown accepts that the accused had no intention to kill Mikaeel and that the assault perpetrated upon him, although severe, fell short of the wicked recklessness required for murder.”

Speaking after the plea, a Crown Office spokesperson said: “Today Rosdeep Adekoya has pled guilty to the culpable homicide of her three-year-old son, Mikaeel Kular. She has also admitted attempting to defeat the ends of justice by concealing his body in Fife and falsely claiming that he was a missing person, instigating a large scale search.

“It would be inappropriate for us to comment further until the case has concluded and sentence has been passed.”

Later today Edinburgh’s five star visitor attraction Our Dynamic Earth is going digital, with the launch of a new multimedia guide which can be downloaded as a free app.

Available in French, German, Spanish, Italian and English, the visitor companion provides foreign language translations for each section of the attraction, while also offering audio tracks, providing more in-depth knowledge. It is broken into over 20 ‘tracks’ with each one representing a particular gallery or feature in a way that is easy to understand, interesting and fun.

The new guide will further enhance the experience for guests and make Earth’s extraordinary history even more accessible to visitors from all around the world.

Eilidh Massie, marketing manager for Dynamic Earth commented: “These guides are not just helpful for our foreign visitors, but will also add a new dimension for English speakers too. We’re especially excited about the app, as it will make the attraction more interactive than ever before, and gives visitors access to even more information, right in the palm of their hand.”

As well as being available as a downloadable app for smartphones and tablets, the guide is also available as a hand-held device which can be borrowed free of charge from reception. The Our Dynamic Earth Multimedia Guide app can be downloaded from www.dynamicearth.co.uk

The fund manager Martin Currie has agreed this week to become a wholly-owned affiliate of  US firm Legg Mason.

The transaction has been approved by the boards of both companies, and is expect to be completed during the final quarter of 2014 subject to regulatory approval.

Legg Mason says that it needs the Edinburgh-based firm’s expertise in active equity strategies. The terms of the transaction have not been disclosed but the Edinburgh investment house has just under £10billion of assets under management employing just under 50 in a team much depleted from that of 20 years ago.

A senior figure in the industry said: “It is enormously sad to see a once proud independent business capitulate in this fashion: an admission of failure presented as a good deal.

An unorthodox one-person show about a slam poet’s real-life arrests at environmental protests has been shortlisted for the Edinburgh Fringe Sustainable Practice Award. The award, supported by the Centre for Sustainable Practice in the Arts and Creative Carbon Scotland, aims to highlight and celebrate artists who are engaging with the topic of climate change in creative and innovative ways.

Have you ever climbed up a power station, D-locked yourself to a construction company’s staircase or been sued for £5 million? Until recently, slam poet Danny Chivers certainly hadn’t. So how did a quiet boy from Bristol end up being spied on by undercover cops, battling criminal charges and trying not to thump Richard Madeley, all in the name of a safer planet?

Obviously, the only sensible way to stand up to oppressive police tactics is to turn them into an Edinburgh Fringe show. So now storytelling meets poetry in this darkly funny true tale of rhyming and rebellion, featuring insider stories from anti-fracking protests, outrageous mass arrests and a close encounter with notorious police spy Mark Kennedy.

Danny Chivers has been performing stand-up poetry since 2006. He’s an Oxford Hammer & Tongue Slam Champion, and was a semi-finalist in the BBC Radio 4 National Poetry Slam. In his first full-length stage show, Danny weaves together lively, humorous poetry with real-life tales of the strange events surrounding his four arrests at environmental and social justice protests.

Danny’s show, “Arrest That Poet!” is part of the PBH Free Fringe.

Venue: The Stafford Centre, 103 Broughton St

Date: 2^nd  – 13^th August (not 7^th)

Time: 6.15pm (60 mins)

Entry: free, unticketed (PBH Free Fringe)

In the solo exhibition, Until Now, London-based Taiwanese artist Ting Tong Chang presents five pieces of kinetic sculpture. By delicately utilizing explosives, light and smoke as sculptural elements, these works evoke religious notions of magic, miracle and resurrection to address ideas of success and failure in political speech.

Chang takes inspiration from Hugo Chavez’s failed 1992 coup d’état (Operation Zamora) in which, angered by the acceptance of the Washington Consensus and implementation of neoliberal reforms by President Carlos Andres Perez of Venezuela, Lieutenant-Colonel Hugo Chavez launched an attempted coup with the mission of overwhelming key military and communications installations. Due to numerous betrayals and errors, Chavez’s forces were unable to seize power and subsequently, Chavez and a small group of rebels were surrounded in the Military Museum and forced to surrender in front of the national TV channels.

The resulting speech immediately brought Chavez into the national spotlight, as many Venezuelans, particularly those from the poorer sections of society, came to see him as a figure who stood up against government corruption and kleptocracy.

Chavez, driven by a mystical sense of authority, remarked that he had failed only for now (por ahora).

To Chang, a coup is not just a sudden and violent deposition of a government, but through new technology, it also becomes a form of expression—a play of rhetoric, religious rituals and the situation at hand.

In the 21st century, where the revolutionary subject is digitalized and mediated by technology, any coup has the potential to remain open ended…until now.

TING-TONG CHANG Until Now

Minto House, Matthew Gallery,
20 Chambers St Edinburgh EH1 1JZ,
(opposite the National Museum of Scotland)

25 July – 8 August, 2014, Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm
opening: 6-8pm, Friday, 25 July

Submitted by Alice Klarr

Capability Scotland Musicians hit the right note

Fifteen talented musicians from Capability Scotland services across the country, have created their own song to celebrate the ‘friendly games’.

The disability charity received £10,000 from the Big Lottery CelebrateIt fund to write, record and film their own song to celebrate the upcoming Commonwealth Games. On Saturday, the first live performance of ‘When Your Voice Is But A Whisper’ took place at Upper Springland in Perth, and today a music video to the accompany the potential hit has been released online.

The song gave fifteen Capability Scotland musicians, from Edinburgh, Perth, Dundee, Fife and Elderslie, an opportunity to go in to a recording studio for the first time and receive the full superstar treatment.

John McGloughlin, an enthusiastic musician from Wallace Court in Elderslie, said “they will think we have been hired by Simon Cowell.”

The writing of the song has been a collaborative project, connecting people that use Capability Scotland’s services across the country. ‘When Your Voice Is But A Whisper’ is themed around friendship and having your voice heard, two themes customers felt were very important to them.

The project has used sound beam technology, an inclusive tool that allows users to choose their desired musical instrument and control the sound through movement. The project has been a great example of collaborative and inclusive work across Capability Scotland services.

Dana O’Dwyer, Capability Scotland Chief Executive, said: “The fifteen musicians have put in a phenomenal amount of work to get to today. The project has been a great opportunity for customers to get involved in something they are passionate about; it has given our musicians a platform to express themselves in a way they truly enjoy. We hope everyone else likes the song and the video as much as we do. ”

Capability Scotland worked closely with LA Media UK to produce the video and with Loopmaniac recording studios to record the song.

You can watch the video on the Capability Scotland website – http://www.capability-scotland.org.uk

Follow Capability Scotland on Twitter: @Capability_Scot, or like them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapabilityScotland

 Submitted by Lauren Pluss

Edinburgh’s Worst Drivers catches council vehicle on pavement

Digital Treasure Hunt

Playday

Edinburgh Weather

Bill McLaren Trophy

Edinburgh’s Worst Drivers has caught a council community safety van parked on a pavement in Cockburn Street.  Read more here.

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Details of a new app to keep the kids happy this summer developed by University of Edinburgh can be found here.

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Edinburgh has not been experiencing the same balmy sunshine as Glasgow has this week. Some of our evenings have turned quite foggy as we know. Here is an example from Twitter

Thick haar over Musselburgh, taken from Prestonpans. pic.twitter.com/gaP4FFRtyG

— Del Edmond (@evil_del) July 24, 2014

Now it’s your turn. Send us your photos or videos showing off Edinburgh’s varied and unpredictable weather for showcasing on our EdinburghReportage storyboard here. 

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LORETTO School has announced its inaugural Under 10 rugby tournament in partnership with the Bill McLaren Foundation.

The ‘Bill McLaren Foundation and Loretto School Under 10 Rugby Tournament’, to take place on Sunday, 28^th September at Newfield playing fields at Loretto School, has already attracted a large number of teams from all over Scotland – from Perthshire, East Lothian and Edinburgh to Fife and the Scottish Borders.

Bill McLaren was a Scottish rugby union commentator, teacher, journalist and one time rugby player. Until his retirement in 2002, he was known as ‘the voice of rugby’ and he was renowned throughout the sport – his enthusiasm and a memorable turn of phrase endeared him to many.

Following Bill McLaren’s death in 2010, The Bill McLaren Foundation was set up in Bill’s name, with the support of his family, to serve three purposes :

• To develop and promote the sport of rugby union and its values
• To encourage and provide sporting opportunities for young people
• To create an educative centre which will include the Bill McLaren Archive

Jonathan Hewat, Director of External Affairs at Loretto School said, “Bill believed passionately in encouraging children, all shapes and sizes to get involved in sport and to do their best for themselves, for their team and at the same time to honour the game. He believed that sport and rugby in particular was a great way of helping youngsters develop life skills. We are thrilled to be working in partnership with the Bill McLaren Foundation to ensure that this Under 10 rugby tournament instils respect for team mates, for the opposition and for the officials which was central to Bill’s teaching as were discipline, sportsmanship and developing the concept of team and ethos.

Linda Lawson, Foundation Trustee and Bill’s daughter, added, “The Bill McLaren Foundation is delighted to be associated  with Loretto School with its wonderful rugby heritage and fine tradition of playing sport and in particular with this under 10 Tournament to be played at Newfield. Fun and friendship are at the heart of the rugby game and these two elements aligned with a controlled physical contest makes this game so relevant for youngsters as they prepare to face the many challenges and demands of the modern world.”

The tournament, sponsored by Savills, takes place on Sunday, 28^th September at Newfield Playing Fields at Loretto School and starts at 10:30 a.m.

Teams confirmed include:

Galashiels Mini Maroons

Heriots

Howe RFC

Hawick Minis

King’s Meadow Primary School, Haddington

Loretto A

Loretto B

Musselburgh A

Musselburgh B

Perthshire

Prestonpans

Portobello Minis

St Andrew’s Madrascals

FRIDAY 25TH JULY 2014

Digital Sentinel: Digitalsentinel.net is an emerging community news site for Wester Hailes. Are you local to Wester Hailes?  Would you like to capture local news events and transform the site into a vibrant community resource? No experience necessary, all training in journalism and the use of technology will be provided. 11am WHALE Arts, 30 Westburn Grove. Free. Email digitalsentinel@whalearts.co.uk for more information!

Make your own Mythical Creature Puppets and a Shadow Puppet Theatre: for ages 7-11. 2-3pm, Central Children’s Library, George IV Bridge. Part of the Mythical Maze Summer Reading Challenge.

How to Be a Good Wife: Emma Chapman launches her new book. ‘A creepy little chiller…a much bigger, equally disconcerting story about the nature of feminine experience’ (Hilary Mantel.)  A staunch supporter of independent bookshops, Emma is visiting as many as she can in a month, travelling from Land’s End to St Andrews. Golden Hare Books, 102 West Bow. Call shop for time: 0131 629 1396.

Mermaid Magic: add some glitter to the mermaid’s tail. For ages 4-12.  2-3pm, South Neighbourhood Office & Library, 40 Captain’s Road. Part of the Mythical Maze Summer Reading Challenge.

A Walk on the Wild Side: July’s Literary Salon explores wild Scotland and nature writing across fiction and non-fiction. Hosted by Scots environmentalist and nature writer Clifton Bain. Bring your own stories, views and opinions, share recommendations of nature writing and nature trails. 6.30pm, Golden Hare Books, 102 West Bow. Free but limited places: book via eventbrite or call into the store to reserve your place. Refreshments provided.

Mystery Monsters: drawing activity for ages 4+.  2.30-3.30pm, Stockbridge Library, Hamilton Place. Part of the Mythical Maze Summer Reading Challenge.

Gallery Social – American Impressionism: a New Vision. Join artists for relaxed guided tours for anyone affected by dementia, their friends, relatives and supporters. Very informal tours exploring highlights from the permanent collection and special exhibitions, beginning with refreshments in the learning centre. Meet at the main entrance. 10.30am-12noon, Scottish Gallery of Modern Art TWO, Belford Road.  To book a place call 0131 624 6560. Free.

Monster Crafts: for ages 5+.  2.30-3.30pm, Oxgangs Library, 343 Oxgangs Road North. Part of the Mythical Maze Summer Reading Challenge.

Basil Zaharoff – the wickedest man in the world? Writer and lecturer Robin Barnes discusses the murky life of Anatolian-born Zaharoff, who gained noteriety as an international arms dealer, but was also a linguist, arsonist, pimp, friend of royalty and honorary Knight of the British Empire. It has been suggested that Zaharoff not only helped to instigate the Great War but also assisted in bringing about its end. Event for adults. 10.30am, Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South. Tickets cost £8 and must be booked via the Usher Hall box office, either in person, by phone or online – see website.

Arts and Crafts: come along to these inspiring arts and crafts sessions to get creative and learn some new skills. Work with a range of different artists to create mini artworks using recycled materials. 10-10.50am for ages 9-12, 11-11.50am for ages 5-8. 50p per session. North Edinburgh Arts (next to Muirhouse Library.)

Dance and Movement: a chance to work with different dance tutors to get active, play group games and have fun learning some dance styles. 10-10.50am for ages 9-12, 11-11.50am for ages 5-8. 50p per session. North Edinburgh Arts (next to Muirhouse Library.)

Art Week: if you love all things arts and crafty, come along to a wonderful Create session. Plenty to try, from portrait painting to animal mask making and everything in between, each day this week. 10am-12 noon for ages 5+, 2-4pm for ages 10+.  WHALE Arts, 30 Westburn Grove. Free, drop-in, no booking required.

Mythical Maze Activities and Events: 2.30pm, Currie Library, 210 Lanark Road. Part of the Mythical Maze Summer Reading Challenge.

Friday Bookbug: for pre-school children and their parents or carers. 11am, Fountainbridge Library, 137 Dundee Street.

Tesco Bank staff have raised over £60,000 for Edinburgh based children’s charity CCLASP,  which they have put towards summer holidays for the children.

Our photos show the children at Ocean Terminal on the ‘beach’.

A new app deveoped by Desgin Informatics researchers at the University of Edinburgh aims to challenge children to track down some of the city’s most valuable artifacts in a digital treasure hunt.

Utilising GPS technology the app, Treasure Trapper, tasks players with finding thirty scattered objects such as Greyfriars Bobby’s collar, Robert Louis Stevenson’s ring, and Robert Burns’ swordcane, which are transported virtually on tour buses around the city.

Pictured treasure hunters try out the app left to right Amber Webb age 6, Sam Webb age 7, Amy Crummey age 8 and Aoife Sharkey age 6.

Photos by

Morningside optician Catriona Hastie has only just returned from India on a charity trip to help with an outreach programme to help those needing eye care, but she is already fundraising for the next time. She has described the recent journey as “awe-inspiring and emotional”.

The 23-year-old, who works at Specsavers in Morningside, went to the Indian city of Chennai earlier this year to help eyecare practitioners in district hospitals. The trip was organised by Unite for Sight, a charity which supports eye clinics worldwide.

The majority of Catriona’s travel was funded by the store, while kind-hearted custom  ers, friends and family donated funds towards life-saving cataract surgery which was performed during Catriona’s mission.

The optometrist, who lives in Murrayfield, said: ‘My trip was amazing and I had a chance to see first-hand the huge differences between the eyecare we have here at home and the limited facilities available to those in Chennai.

‘A typical day involved three hours of observing cataract surgeries between 6am and 9am – the charity likes to have independent observers who can confirm the money is being put to its intended use.

‘Then I’d go out as part of the outreach programme which sometimes meant driving for three hours into the suburbs to do eye checks, setting up our equipment anywhere we could be accommodated, from disused dentists’ waiting rooms to school classrooms.

‘The number of people who came out to see us was unbelievable and some had walked for half a day just to get to see us for two or three minutes. On one occasion the people were so grateful for our help that that they crowded around us until we couldn’t move, and were trying to thank us and touch us – it really was overwhelming and one of the most memorable moments.’

The conditions which Catriona came across most were cataracts (an opacity/haziness in the lens of the eye), diabetes-related eye problems and even a surprisingly high number of unusual ‘eye trauma’ conditions which had never been treated.

When cataracts begin to affect vision, surgery is often needed to replace the eye’s lens – however most of the people Catriona met either did not have access to doctors who could perform the surgery, or were wary of getting help.

Catriona explained: ‘At home cataract surgery is often regarded as relatively routine but this wasn’t the case on my trip. For a start people just don’t have the luxury of the type of eyecare that we take for granted.

‘There were also huge cultural differences which really surprised me – I saw a lot of people who were convinced their deteriorating vision was some kind of divine punishment. The on-site ophthalmologist had to spend a lot of time convincing them that they could be helped and poor vision wasn’t simply something they had to accept.

‘I saw a lot of people who were only in their 40s or 50s and had cataracts that, without treatment, would ultimately render them blind and leave them struggling to work and provide for their families.

‘When people were eventually treated their gratitude was unbelievable. People were bowing to the doctors and crying on the floor because they were so grateful which was extremely emotional.’

During her outreach clinics, some of which she set up and operated on her own, she would see as many as 100 people.

Catriona was shocked by living conditions in the slums which were polluted, over populated and badly affected by poverty.

She said: ‘Elderly people were living in the streets with no pension and nobody to take care of them.  I gave one man a pink beach towel that I’d planned to leave behind, because he seemed to like it, and he was just so happy.  He had such little money that this was a huge gesture to him. Small things like that were incredibly humbling.’

Catriona reiterated her thanks to the Specsavers Morningside store which helped to cover her travel costs, and to Morningside customers and friends and family from Edinburgh and beyond who generously contributed to make the charity trip possible.

She is now continuing her fundraising with a view to doing another mission with the same charity in future, with her sights set on Honduras next time.

Scotland under-21 internationalist Scott Allan has signed a two year contract with Hibs and could potentially make his debut against his old club Dundee United at Easter Road on Sunday (27 July, kick off 2pm).

Allan, 22, returns north to Scotland after spending two-and-a-half years with English Premier League club West Bromwich Albion, during which time he experienced loan spells with Portsmouth, Milton Keynes Dons and Birmingham City.

Head Coach Alan Stubbs says he is delighted to be able to add Allan to his squad and believes the signing is a real coup for Hibernian.

Stubbs told the club website: “We’re delighted that we’ve been able to add Scott to our squad – he is a top-quality player with immense potential.

“He’s an outstanding young player with a bright future, so the fact he has agreed to come here to Hibernian is a tremendous coup for everybody at the club.

“Scott will add something different to what we already have within our squad – he is an attacking midfielder, who can both create and score goals.

“He’s young, but has already gained a lot of experience from his time at Dundee United and also down south, so he will be equipped for the demands of the upcoming season.

“We’d like to thank our supporters for their patience shown over the past five weeks; hopefully they’ll be hugely excited by Scott’s arrival.

“We’re pleased with the signings we’ve completed so far with hopefully some more to come in the near future.”

Allan, who began his career with Dundee United, says he instinctively knew Hibernian was the right move for him at this stage in his career.

Allan said: “I believe I learned a lot from my time down south – both personally and professionally – but I had my mind set on a move back home to Scotland.

“At this point in my career, I want to play football as regularly as possible and be closer to home and the move here to Hibs ticks all the boxes.

“I’m an ambitious player and I want to achieve success here with Hibs.

“I’ve been impressed with what the manager has said and I want to help the club get back into the Scottish Premiership.

“I’m really excited about what we can achieve – it will be a really competitive league, but it’s a challenge that I’m looking forward to.”

Police Scotland have released the names of the family of four who died in the fatal collision on the A801 near to the Lathallan roundabout yesterday at 2.20pm.

Graham Lockhart (23) and Shauna Robb (20), from Bathgate, were killed in the collision along with their two children, Tyler David (2 1/2 years) and Arianna Rose Sheryl (11 months).

Their families have released tributes through Police Scotland.

The family of Graham Lockhart said: “The Lockhart family are devastated at the loss of their son, daughter in law, and two grandchildren and wish to be left to grieve in peace.”

The family of Shauna Robb said: “The Robb family are devastated at the loss of their daughter, her partner and their two grandchildren and wish to be left alone to grieve.”

Sergeant Andrew Thomson from Forth Valley Road Policing said: “We are continuing our appeal for anyone who witnessed this tragic collision or who saw a black Fiat hatchback in the area prior to the incident at 2.20pm.  We are particularly keen to trace the driver of a silver people carrier, which was seen in the area prior to the crash. Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”