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Football challenge to raise money for MND

Police Boxes

50^th Anniversary Sparkling Scottish Fundraiser

Send us a postcard!

Dads Rock

A football challenge involving members of both the Yes and No camps will take to the pitch at Ainslie Park on Wednesday morning to raise some money for Motor Neurone Disease.

Read more here

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Got an idea for using a police box? Now is your big chance. There are 23 which are on sale in the latest list of commercial property produced by the council. Although the council does not own the boxes which are being sold by The Scottish Police Authority it does often own the land on which they are situated.

More details here.

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Join Michael Laing OBE and Carina Contini for drinks and canapés £25 ticket + raffle donation on Wednesday 8 October:  6.30pm-9pm at The Scottish Cafe & Restaurant, The Scottish National Gallery, EH2 2EL

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It’s September already. You may have had your holidays or you may be waiting for an autumn break away from the peak times when schoolchildren are on holiday.

If you have a favourite view from your holiday destination then please send us a virtual postcard to share it with us and our readers.

You can upload your image or video here.

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Contributed Article by Charles Whitworth

Dispelling the Energy Comparison Myths

Comparison sites seem to divide opinion here in the UK. Whether it for insurance, energy or even mobile phone contracts, there seems to be an element of distrust in services which are fundamentally there to save consumers time and money. So, what is stopping people from using these websites and lowering their monthly outgoings? We decided to take a look at a sector where there is a significant amount of distrust, energy.

Having done some delving, we realised that there were three core factors stopping home and business energy customers from using the impressive array of energy comparison sites available.

Lack of Power…

Interestingly, it seems that many people are not comparing energy prices and then proceeding with their switch to cheaper tariff or provider because they think that they will lose their gas and/or electricity supplier. This could not be further from the case as all the suppliers in the UK share the same tubes, wires and cables. If you decide that you can get a better deal for your energy, you will never be left in the dark or the cold, you simply get your bills from somewhere else!

No Strings Attached…

Secondly, many customers seem to be under the impression that they will get a more expensive rate if they decide to use an energy comparison site. This is also not true, any charge is negotiated between the energy supplier and the comparison site in question, the whole point of these services is to pass the savings onto the customer in question.

Independent Energy Suppliers…

Lastly, and perhaps most intriguingly, a lot of customers seem to think that they need to stay with a member of the Big Six energy suppliers to get the best prices. Although it may well be the case that one of the larger companies could represent the best value, there is now a lot of choice available to customers whether it is domestic gas or even commercial electricity. A recent probe from the regulator Ofgem has put even more pressure on these larger firms and allowed what is being labelled as the “rise of the independent energy supplier” to emerge. Using an energy price comparison site could well help your household or business to ascertain which provider is ideal for your specific needs and requirements.

With energy very much on the political agenda, there may never have been a better time to assess your situation. It is thought that as many as 70% of businesses have never switched their supplier and that homes across the UK are simply throwing money away.

Charles Whitworth is a journalist and energy enthusiast. As well as being the editor of www.youngacademic.co.uk, he helps to promote energy saving for Bolton based energy comparison site Love Energy Savings. You can follow @youngacademic on Twitter to stay right up to date on the energy industry.

The 2014 Edinburgh International Festival came to a close tonight with the Virgin Money Fireworks Concert, performed by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, marking the final event of Sir Jonathan Mills’s eight year tenure as Festival Director.

2014 has been acclaimed as an outstanding year for the International Festival, with critical and popular successes across the board, including The James Plays by Rona Munro, Inala featuring Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Pina Bausch’s Sweet Mambo, Back to Back’s Ganesh versus the Third Reich and a much lauded Usher Hall concert series, playing to an 80% capacity overall.

Audiences have packed theatres and concert halls across the city, with the Festival taking more than £3.15 million in ticket sales income, passing the £3million mark for the first time.

Jonathan Mills said: “The true measure of success is the audience’s experience and we’ve received so much great feedback. There has been a fantastic atmosphere at shows across the Festival. I’m really delighted that the James Plays have been such a hit, and wish the National Theatres of Scotland and Great Britain, and the other shows now transferring from the Festival to London and around the world, the very best of luck.

“Our audiences from Scotland, the UK and 75 other nations around the world have greeted our artists with huge warmth, with so many of those artists telling me how exciting it is to play to such enthusiastic and knowledgeable audiences, and enjoying their visit to Edinburgh immensely.

“Once again we’ve been treated to the world’s finest artists sharing their creativity and their work, which has ranged from the epic to the intimate, from east to west and everywhere in between. I am thrilled that we are able to offer a wide range of ticket prices to our Festival goers for such wonderful experiences, and make it something everyone can get involved and immersed in.

“I am also delighted with our work this year on extending the Festival’s reach, making us even more accessible both to those already here and further afield through media and digital partnerships. We created over 50 podcasts and films with Sinfini Music, offering people exploring our music programme the richest possible information, which has attracted  over 8,000 listens from over 50 countries. We also streamed beautiful intimate rehearsal moments with Patricia Kopatchinaskaja, Kronos Quartet, Michael Houstoun, and Collegium Vocal Gent in association with the Guardian; while BBC Radio 3 broadcast live from The Queen’s Hall each weekday morning and will also broadcast a week of concerts recorded during this Festival from 15 September.”

Since his first Festival in 2007 Jonathan Mills has presented Festival programmes with themes ranging from the Scottish Enlightenment to the influence of the cultures of Asia on western artists, presenting new and unfamiliar ideas and artists to audiences whilst also ensuring the Festival continues to feature the world’s leading artists and companies.

He has also initiated a strategy to capitalise on and build on the huge international reach and influence of the Festival, forging formal links with a wide range of international organisations and encouraging cultural, civic and business exchange. Under his leadership, the Edinburgh International Festival has organised international launch events in more than 35 cities, from Sydney to Sarajevo, and Beijing to Warsaw.

The Edinburgh International Culture Summit was also the brain child of Jonathan Mills, bringing together the British Council, the UK Government, the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament in a partnership with the Edinburgh International Festival, to debate the importance of culture and the arts with Culture Ministers from around the world in 2012 and 2014.

Jonathan Mills commented: “It has been an incredibly exciting and challenging eight years in the one of the best jobs in the world. The audiences, the stakeholders, the artists and the staff have made it such a pleasure. I wish Fergus Linehan, my successor the very best in taking the Festival forward into the future.”

We’ve had the TV debates and now Better Together and Yes Scotland are uniting to take the debate to the football pitch with a penalty shoot-out to raise awareness of and fund a cure for Motor Neurone Disease.

“Scotland United Against MND” will see Yes Scotland and Better Together’s finest football talent taking each other on from the penalty spot on Wednesday 3 September 2014 at Ainslie Park Stadium in Edinburgh.  The event will be invitation only.

The shoot-out is being held to help raise awareness and money to fund a cure for Motor Neurone Disease.  Better Together’s director of research, Gordon Aikman, was diagnosed with the condition just over 12 weeks ago and has already raised over £60,000 and launched gordonsfightback.com – a campaign to fund a cure and fight for better care for MND sufferers.

Trade Union “Community” have also thrown their weight behind the shoot-out by supplying the teams’ strips.

Better Together research director and MND sufferer, Gordon Aikman, said:

“This is the penalty shoot-out Scotland has been waiting for! It’s amazing that Better Together and Yes Scotland have put aside their differences and come together to do this. It shows that no matter what your politics, Scotland is united against MND.

“MND is a death sentence for me, but if we keep raising money we can find a cure for future generations.”

Better Together’s Campaign Director Blair McDougall, said: “This is a cause that is close to our hearts at Better Together. Gordon is a committed and talented campaigner, but most of all he is a great friend to all the team and so many people across politics.

“Blair and I clearly have different visions for Scotland’s future, but we both have the same vision to stop MND and the suffering it causes once and for all.”

Yes Scotland Campaign Director Blair Jenkins, said: “Many of us at Yes Scotland know Gordon and his diagnosis shocked us all. His determination and courage in fighting back against MND is inspirational.

“Both Blair and I are united in helping fund a cure for this terrible disease.  No matter what the referendum result, Scotland should stand united against MND.”

Iain McWhirter, Head of Fundraising and Volunteering at MND Scotland, said: “I’d like to thank both Yes Scotland and Better Together for coming together to support efforts to fund a cure for MND.

“Whatever your view on the referendum this is a cause that needs your support.  Scotland can and should unite to fund a cure for MND.”

Assistant General Secretary of Community Trade Union, John Park, said:

“It’s great to be involved in Scotland United Against MND.  The penalty shoot-out will be good fun, but most importantly it will raise awareness that we can and we must stop this terrible disease in its tracks. It’s really positive to see both sides putting aside their political differences to focus on something that unites us all; the commitment to fund a cure for MND.”

Holyrood Park will be closed to vehicle traffic this evening to accommodate expected large numbers congregating in the park to watch the annual end of the Edinburgh Festival Fireworks Display.

All roads in Holyrood Park with the exception of the loop road between Horse Wynd and Holyrood Gait/Holyrood Road, will be closed to traffic between 18.00 and 22:30 on Sunday 31st August 2014.

Park Rangers will also be on duty throughout the duration of the firework display.

Martin Gray, Historic Scotland Visitor Services Manager for Holyrood Park, said: “Due to the expected high volume of pedestrians who gather in Holyrood Park to view the fireworks, we have taken the decision, as in previous years, to close the Park to traffic, so that the public can take advantage of the spectacular views and enjoy the fireworks, free from traffic.

“For any visitors planning a visit to the park to watch the fireworks, limited parking will be available at Meadowbank Car Park, at the Meadowbank entrance to the park.

“We would strongly encourage however that visitors leave their cars at home, and come on foot to enjoy the fireworks in the stunning surroundings of the park.”

The start-up costs for an independent Scotland would run to nearly £2.5bn with another £2bn costs because of the need for new currency arrangements, according to the Better Together campaign.

A new paper from the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) said that if Scotland walked away from the rest of the UK it would cost ten times what Alex Salmond has previously suggested.

Alex Salmond described £250m as a “reasonable” figure for start-up costs. However, the CEBR report indicates that it would cost £1bn alone for new tax and welfare systems with £400m for a Scottish defence force and £450m for a Scottish foreign office’s real estate and offices around the world.

The cost of replicating the government bodies and IT systems we already have as part of the UK works out at £1,000 for every Scottish household, according to the expert report.

Previously, Professor Patrick Dunleavy estimated that costs could run into the billions, with £200 million needed to create new government departments and potentially £900 million required for a tax and welfare system. Iain McLean, Professor of Politics at the University of Oxford,  has set the start-up costs at around £2bn.

Better Together have said that this money would be better used on schools or hospitals instead of replicating what we already have.

Commenting, Anne McGuire MP said:

“This latest expert analysis confirms what we already know: independence isn’t a price worth paying.

“The SNP are asking us to take on all these extra costs to try to replicate what we already have today. Where is the sense in every Scottish family paying through the nose for something we already have today as part of the UK?

“Any money spent on start-up costs is money that could be spent on schools or hospitals.

“We can have the best of both worlds for Scotland within the UK. That means more powers for Scotland guaranteed, without taking on the risks and costs of independence. We should say No Thanks on 18 September.”

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The Edinburgh Reporter produces a selection of remarks and comments and pointers to articles about the Scottish Independence Referendum whenever we can.

People living in Scotland are invited to vote in the referendum on independence from the United Kingdom on 18 September 2014. The referendum question is “Should Scotland be an independent country?”

Whether you intend voting Yes or No to that question, your views, and those of others, have a place here. We invite comments and we also invite you to write about what you think by using our Submit your Story feature here.

Over the weekend rickshaws took over The Meadows. Members of the public were invited to ride with volunteers from Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) and Restless Development. The volunteers’ stories help disprove the myth that international development isn’t working and that ‘nothing ever changes’.

Even dignitaries, such as the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Rt. Hon. Donald Wilson, Lothian MSP Sarah Boyack and MP for Edinburgh North and Leith, Mark Lazarowicz, took rickshaw rides. They also heard volunteers’ experiences of positive change and why international development requires continued public support.

MSP Sarah Boyack, who volunteered with VSO in Bangladesh in 2011, said:

“The work of aid organisations and charities makes a real difference. When I visited Malawi, I was struck by the huge progress being made to tackle maternal mortality and the increase in young girls getting access to education – that’s real change happening on the ground”.

Jess Carmichael, 25, from Uddingston, who volunteered with VSO in 2013 helping to tackle poor sanitation in southern India, said:

“A lady I spoke to didn’t know what aid money was doing to deal with poverty overseas. After her rickshaw ride hearing about my experiences in India and speaking to other volunteers from Restless Development, she commented that global poverty was sensitively and intelligently tackled.”

The rickshaws and rickshaw drivers’ shirts had facts about global poverty printed on the back, and distributed to members of the public, including this information:

• 77% of the UK public think that our efforts to tackle global poverty over the last decade have made little or no difference. However extreme poverty has been halved since 1990, a girl born in Sub-Saharan Africa will live on average 16 years longer than in 1960, AIDS-related deaths have dropped by almost a third since 2005 and many countries who used to depend on aid now receive hardly any and even donate to other countries.
• Over half (59%) of people Scotland think that the UK spends more on overseas aid than we actually do: 0.7% of Gross National Income. Asked how much we should spend, almost three-quarters (74%) suggested more than 0.7%.

An assault on a woman which is alleged to have taken place yesterday at about 6.30pm was reported to police who are now looking for witnesses. The woman said that she was assaulted by a man on Longridge Road.

Detective Inspector Paul Carroll, of Livingston CID, said: “We are keen to hear from anyone who was in, or driving through, Longridge Road on Saturday evening and who saw a man in his early 20s, approximately five foot nine inches in height, and was wearing blue clothing.

“If they were in that area at the time saw anything suspicious, they are asked to to come forward. We are following a positive line of enquiry, however still need to hear from anyone who may have witnessed this incident.”

Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101, or through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111″

A fire broke out at Ikea at Straiton this evening around 5 pm. All shoppers including one of our readers and staff were evacuated.

Two fire appliances at Ikea now and a police car. Shop evacuated. pic.twitter.com/ZqSsJ9tInI

— Edinburgh Reporter (@EdinReporter) August 31, 2014

@EdinReporter yes, i was directed out of #ikea at the fire exist next to the fire! Saw it clear as day! Huge!

— STEVEN COX (@stevencoxart) August 31, 2014

 

Later the store manager issued a statement: “We can confirm that earlier this evening a fire was found in our self-serve warehouse.

“As soon as we were made aware we safely evacuated all co-workers and customers from the store and the fire services arrived on site shortly after.

“The fire was quickly brought under control and we are now in the process of assessing the damage and investigating the cause.

“The store remained closed for the rest of this evening, however we hope to open for trading as normal tomorrow. We apologise to customers for any inconvenience caused as a result of the early closure of the store today.”

As we told you in May this year the Scottish Police Authority took a decision in January to put the remaining police boxes up for sale.  They are now on the open market and the closing date for offers is 8 October 2014.  The council state that all boxes have to be painted a different colour within a month of purchase and that preference will be given to offers which do not have any conditions attached. As for the price?

Well we know that the box at Middle Meadow Walk which is used for a Brazilian takeaway is up for sale by the owners for £20,000. We were advised that the box at Magdala Crescent changed hands on the occasion of the first sale by Lothian and Borders Police for £2,000, so it is anyone’s guess how much they are worth on an individual basis. Of course the old saying ‘Location Location Location’ does not matter much as the boxes are moveable subject to having a site to put them on.

The box at Lochend has just been bought by Friends of Lochend Park and we are looking forward to hearing from them what they are going to do with that one.

The City of Edinburgh Council is helping to market these 23 iconic structures which are on its latest property list. (See below for the full list of all commercial property currently on sale)

The Edinburgh Reporter would like your help. As we have said all boxes will be changed from their original blue colour to a colour chosen by the new owner after they have completed their purchase. Would you take a photo of any boxes you come across now or after 8 October and submit them here? This will give us a complete record of what they all look like both now and later.

The boxes can be viewed from outside at any time but anyone wishing to see the inside is advised to contact Craig Lamont of Services for Communities. It is only possible to view the inside of the Cowgate/Pleasance box as there are so many up for sale.

We already have some photos of the boxes as they are at present but we think that it would be a real piece of history to have a complete set! Then we can start working on the way they look when they are in private ownership. Will you help us?

The boxes now being sold are at

Cambridge Street, Canongate, Canonmills, Cowgate/Pleasance, Craigentinny Road, Dean Terrace, Drummond Place, Duddingston Crossroads, Grassmarket, Heriot Row, Jock’s Lodge, Lanark Road, Leamington Terrace, Marchmont Crescent, Market Street, The Mound,

Murrayfield Avenue, Pier Place Newhaven, Princes Street (West End), Quality Street, St John’s Road, Tollcross, Whitehouse Loan

Add photos of your favourite police box to our storyboard here!

http://www.theedinburghreporter.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/current_property_list_28_August_2014.pdf

The zoo confirmed a few weeks back that Tian Tian the female panda is pregnant, but panda pregnancies are difficult to achieve in the first place and it is even more difficult to predict when the panda cub might be born.

All we can tell you is that there is a likelihood that the cub might be born soon. Will it be today? We have no idea! STV tell us that the birth is predicted by an expert to be today, but the Zoo is keeping Mum.

You can watch the male panda Yang Guang on the Pandacam but if you visit the zoo the pandas are currently off view meantime.

In the meantime amid rising hopes of a cub here is Iain Valentine of Edinburgh Zoo explaining the work and science behind it all.

GENERATION Tours at the Academy Building: free, discussion-led tours of the exhibition, focusing on key themes and artists. 11-11.45am or 1-1.45pm, Royal Scottish Academy, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. No booking required.

Rebuilding the Past: come and discover the traditional building skills being used to reconstruct the Botanic Cottage and the challenges that have been encountered on the journey to rebuild this special house. 1-4pm, Real Life Science Studio, John Hope Gateway, Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row. No booking required.

Magical Birds: make exotic bird sculptures from modroc and paint and decorate them in vibrant colours and patterns. A family event with Margaret Findlay. 11am-3pm, Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South. £5 per person: bookings must be made via the Usher Hall Box Office, in person, by phone or online.

St Giles’ at Six: Veronica Henderson (cello) and Veronica Wilson (piano) play Beethoven Sonata for Cello and Piano in A Minor (Op 69), Bosanquet Elegie (in memoriam Joan Dickson) and Cassado Sonata in the Old Spanish Style. 6pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, Royal Mile. Free: retiring collection.

Weekend Story Time: enjoy a journey through one of the wonderful children’s titles on the shelves via role play, dance, music and song. 11am-12 noon every Sunday, Looking Glass Books, 36 Simpson’s Loan. Free.

Virgin Money Fireworks

Airport drop off charges increased

Edinburgh Art Festival closes today

Football and cricket news

Forth Bridge 50 years on

The Virgin Money Fireworks Concert brings Edinburgh’s summer festival season to a spectacular conclusion, celebrating courage, heroism and struggles for freedom through stirring, uplifting music and a breathtaking fireworks display specially choreographed by international fireworks artists Pyrovision.

Alongside the majesty of Wagner’s ‘Ride of the Valkyries’ from Die Walküre and Debussy’s rousing March Écossaise, the concert takes in the stormy passions of Beethoven’s Egmont Overture and the memorable ‘War March of the Priests’ from Mendelssohn’s Athalie.

Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, written to celebrate Russia’s deliverance from Napoleon’s invading armies, brings the evening to an electrifying conclusion, accompanied by a glittering display of pyrotechnics from the Edinburgh Castle ramparts.

You can buy tickets for Priority Entry and standard Princes Street Gardens here. The Ross Theatre is already sold out.

Scottish Chamber Orchestra will play the music.

Garry Walker Conductor

Wagner Ride of the Valkyries
Beethoven Egmont Overture
Mendelssohn War March of the Priests from Athalie
Debussy Marche Écossaise
Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture

If you get any good photos of the fireworks display then do add them to our fireworks storyboard here on EdinburghReportage!

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The Edinburgh Art Festival finishes today, but before it does you may just have time to catch some of the brilliant exhibitions which are dotted across the city.

Today at the Royal Scottish Academy building there will be FREE discussion-led tours of the GENERATION exhibition focusing on key themes and artists between 11am and 1pm.

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Hearts won yesterday to continue their unbroken run since the beginning of the season by an amazing 4 goals to 1 against Falkirk at Tynecastle. Mike Smith was there to capture all the action for you. Match report here.

Meanwhile Hibs continued their poor start to the season according to John Hislop with his match report on their defeat by Alloa Athletic here.

Today Heriot’s U-18 cricket team have qualified for the finals day in Linlithgow for the second year running.

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This week marks 50 years since Her Majesty the Queen opened the Forth Road Bridge on 4 September 1964.

Tonight the BBC will show a programme devoted to the construction of the bridge and this is a trailer:

By Gail Hutchison ANutr – Food and Health Development Worker

We all know that a healthy balanced diet is key to maintaining optimal health, so it’s unsurprising that newspapers, magazines and the internet latch onto stories of miracle foods which claim to have extraordinary health benefits. But how much of this is actually true? And do we really need to spend a fortune on specialist foods which claim to ward of illness and increase longevity?

Almost all foods contain nutrients, but a ‘superfood’ is essentially something which has a high amount of a certain nutrient and supposedly exerts certain positive health benefits. It is a term which has become trendy in the last few years and often products will be marketed in this way in order to get us consumers to buy them. Unfortunately a lot of what is reported in the media can either be contradictory, inaccurate or unhelpful for the general public, with foods often being labelled as healthy one minute and then unhealthy the next.

In the case of certain superfoods, often the media fail to recognise and report on limitations of research carried out on certain individual foods, making the results inapplicable to everyday diets. For instance, very high levels of a certain nutrient may have been used in a study, levels which are usually not realistically attainable for those eating a regular diet. This means that people would need to consume large amounts of these foods frequently in order to gain the alleged health benefits, something which may not always be appropriate. For example, regularly consuming cocoa in the form of chocolate would not only increase the health promoting benefits of flavonoids but also increase sugar and saturated fat intake which in the UK – given our high levels of obesity and type 2 diabetes – we should be significantly reducing. Another aspect to consider is that a lot of research done on superfoods is conducted in laboratories involving cells or animals rather than humans, making it difficult to assess the effects and impact in people. Often those which have been done in humans have not had conclusive results or the effects have been relatively short term.

Labelling foods as ‘super’ in the media also gives consumers the impression that some foods are more healthy or valuable than others. In reality, items we might commonly find in any kitchen cupboard or fridge often convey the same health benefits as these foods, but without the marketing hype or added expense. For instance, wholegrain varieties of starchy foods such as rice, pasta and bread are high in vitamins and minerals plus dietary fibre, which can prevent bowel cancer, lower cholesterol and keeps us fuller for longer. These also have the advantage of being cheap and readily available and therefore can be consumed regularly and in high enough quantities to get the most of their nutrient content. Despite media coverage of exotic (and expensive) products such as goji berries and wheatgrass, other more commonly purchased and affordable fruits such as apples, oranges and berries and vegetables such as broccoli and spinach pack a similar nutritional punch.

These are high in vitamins A, C and E, minerals such as iron, and dietary fibre, all of which vital for good health. Another food often overlooked is the humble egg. Eggs are a cheap alternative to costly superfood grains such as quinoa, are a complete source of protein and are perfectly fine to consume daily – contrary to popular belief they have no effect on cholesterol! A healthier and cheaper alternative to coconut oil is rapeseed oil (most supermarket own brand oils are now rapeseed) which is lower in saturated fat, higher in the good fats, and costs a fraction of the price. Tinned oily fish, such as sardines and mackerel, are much cheaper than fresh salmon and still contain much more of the essential polyunsaturated fatty acids EPA and DHA, plus loads of calcium, iron and some vitamin D.

The bottom line is that yes, some so-called superfoods can be good for us as part of a healthy balanced diet. However, eating healthily needn’t break the bank. The majority of items on the shelves deemed as ‘super’ are labelled as a marketing ploy to get consumers to spend more money. There is almost always a cheaper alternative with the same health benefits. It is also important to add that no one food in isolation contains all of the vital nutrients needed for overall health, nor will it ward of illness or prevent disease if we otherwise lead an unhealthy lifestyle. Essentially, the focus should not be on a handful of foods deemed as ‘super’ but on upping our intake of a wide range of fruit and vegetables, increasing wholegrain starchy carbohydrates, and reducing sugar, fat and salt in line with Government recommendations (as seen in the Eatwell plate).

Submitted by Gail Hutchison

Even before the shattering moment hits, Night Moves carries a startling, eery silence with it. Kelly Reichardt has returned with this daunting, eco-terrorism thriller with a beautiful cast and script behind it.

In an effort to create a striking ecological statement, three eco-activists plot to blow up a hydroelectric dam.

You fall into the sombre, inky surroundings displayed by cinematographer Christopher Blauvelt, and drown in it. It’s Oregon setting is rather bleak and icy, in turn slowing the film down to a gorgeous stasis. These moments let you appreciate every minute detail of Reichardt’s work, including her tantalising, sharp script. Using very little to evoke thick emotion, she crafts a marriage between the images on screen and the words spoken over them. They are one and the same, sweating brows and lumps in your throat.

As for her cast’s affecting performances. Jesse Eisenberg takes the reins for the second time this year after his efforts with Richard Ayoade’s The Double. He plays the tormented man very well, but is overshadowed by the performance Dakota Fanning has been growing into since she was a young girl. Playing the headstrong Dena, Fanning embodies female strength and empowerment just as well as she presents her own degradation.

When the moment of destruction hits in Night Moves, the tables turn in a dramatic fashion that would be unethical to spoil. It’s a sombre beauty, often vast and destructive and yet still something you can hold close to your heart. Very few thrillers evoke feelings with so little, quite like Night Moves does.

The end of the Festival is always a sad time for me. It marks the end of the summer. On Sunday night I’ll be climbing Blackford Hill as usual to watch Edinburgh Castle being “blown up” by 400,000 fireworks. Goodbye to all the fun of the fair, all those sunny days – especially this year – and all the triumphs of the summer; the Homecoming, the Bannockburn celebrations, the Commonwealth Games and the Festival itself.

This year, the 67th, looks like being another box-office record. The Fringe broke the two-million ticket barrier, with over 3,000 shows. The official Festival staged over 50 concerts and the money is still being counted. The Book Festival hosted over 800 authors. The Jazz Festival saw ticket sales soar by 40 per cent. Even the Festival of Politics, with more than 60 speakers, had a good year, as well it might with only a few weeks to go before D-Day, the big Decision Day.

And so we turn to serious September. The Prime Minister came north on Thursday to remind us how serious this referendum is. He spoke about the importance of “the single market” …not Europe, the United Kingdom. But as he was speaking at a business dinner in Glasgow, prominent Scottish business leaders – on opposite sides of the independence debate – were trying to out-do each other at letter-writing.

The No side produced a letter with 130 signatures. The Yes side followed the next day with 200 signatures. Business folk, academics, actors, footballers, even church ministers have been “coming out” all week on one side or the other. The nation is in fervent debate with itself.

On Monday evening, Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling staged the second of their live television debates – this time with the help of the BBC and the echo-chamber at Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow. It turned out to be even more of a shouting match than the first debate with both men speaking over each other a lot of the time. In the circumstances, there could be no clear winner, though for some reason the media declared Mr Salmond the victor on points.

What did emerge was that both men had an answer of sorts on the key questions. Mr Salmond gave us the clearest account so far of his plan B for the currency in an independent Scotland. It is to use the pound sterling without any formal currency union and not shoulder any of the accumulated UK government debt. Mr Darling admitted he couldn’t go any further on more powers for the Scottish Parliament in the event of a No vote because the political parties differ on the details. But he said they would include more tax powers and more control over welfare payments.

On the NHS, Mr Darling seemed fairly relaxed about the privatisation of the service in England – saying it could not happen in Scotland because health is already a devolved issue. But Mr Salmond insisted a smaller public sector in England would cut Scotland’s budget and put pressure on the NHS here.

On the slippery question of oil, the two men traded various expert estimates of what tax revenues would be in the future and both quoted selective years of what they had been in the past. But to Mr Darling’s question of what happens to Scottish government spending in the bad years for oil revenues, Mr Salmond said he would establish a stabilisation fund.

Both men declared they wanted the same “ fairer, more prosperous Scotland ” but, curiously, neither brought any new announcements – or even catch phrases – to the debate. The star of the show was a man in the audience who asked Mr Darling: “ If we’re better together, why aren’t we better together now ?” It’s an intriguing question, rather like the question – is the glass half full or half empty ?

Mr Darling could have replied; “We ARE better together now”, only that would not have sounded too convincing in this age of austerity with public service cuts and standstill wages. Wisely, Mr Salmond just let the question hang in the air – happy to let the referendum campaign sound more like a general election in which everyone is against austerity and the parties that promote it.

In short, there was a kind of fishy air that surrounded the debate. And the image that unfortunately remains with me as I look ahead to 18th September is of the load of fish heads and guts that spilled onto the road in Peterhead on Tuesday. A stomach-turning 11 tonnes of codswallop were left lying on the pavement when a lorry turned over and lost its lid.
Let’s hope the referendum campaign doesn’t turn any dirtier that this.

Photo- Mike Smith

SPFL Championship, Saturday 30 August 2014 – Tynecastle

Hearts maintained their 100% record so far in the SPFL Championship this season with a comprehensive victory over Falkirk at Tynecastle on Saturday. Having already defeated Rangers, Hibernian and Raith Rovers, Robbie Neilson’s men were anxious to avoid the fate of their city rivals Hibernian who lost to The Bairns last week at Easter Road. In truth, there was never any likelihood of this happening in Gorgie as The Maroons produced a display full of skill, free-flowing football, energy and goals to increase their lead at the top of the table. 

Neilson made eight changes to the side that knocked Stenhousemuir out of the League Cup on Tuesday evening with Osman Sow, having served his suspension, returning to link up with the hat-trick hero from last week’s 4-0 win in Kirkcaldy, James Keatings.  

In front of Scotland’s  second biggest crowd of the day – more than 16,000 were inside Tynecastle at kick-off, another hugely impressive turn out from the Maroon Army – Hearts began the game brightly. After just five minutes, Billy King’s corner was headed on by skipper Danny Wilson. McCracken cleared but only to the feet of Prince Buaben. However, the former Dundee United player pulled his shot wide.  

A magnificent tribute from the Hearts support to Robbie McDonald, the 14 year old Hearts fan who lost his life during the week, came in the 14^th minute and the crowd’s rousing applause seem to inspire the players. Falkirk keeper Jamie MacDonald – a hero from Hearts Scottish Cup winning team of 2012 – was the busier of the two keepers and it was no surprise when he was finally beaten in the 17^th minute. King’s corner from the left was headed home by young Jordan McGhee although Jamie Mac may have felt he should have done better with the cross.

Falkirk threatened on the counter-attack but all they had to show for their efforts was a free-kick from Alston which went wide. Hearts were looking hungry for more goals and they were handed a golden opportunity to double their lead in the 24^th minute. Sam Nicholson displayed some wonderful footwork to get the better of former Hearts full back Alan Maybury who brought the Hearts youngster down in the penalty box. James Keatings took the subsequent penalty kick but his effort was saved superbly by MacDonald. However, the former Hearts custodian could only push the ball back into Keating’s path; the ex-Hamilton forward saw his second effort pushed away by MacDonald only for the ball to fall to Billy King who drove the ball home to put Hearts two goals ahead. 

A Keatings effort was then brilliantly saved by MacDonald before Danny Wilson headed over the bar from just six yards when it seemed easier to score. The hard-pressed Falkirk defence were struggling to contain this marauding Hearts side and seven minutes before half-time the Maroons scored a third goal. The impressive Keatings delivered a delightful cross into the penalty box for Billy King to score his second goal and put the home side on easy street. There was no stopping Hearts now and it should have been 4-0 on the stroke of half-time but Osman Sow, having done the difficult part in collecting a loose pass and taking the ball round MacDonald, then contrived to fire his effort into the side net to the relief of the travelling support in the Roseburn Stand. Half-time Hearts 3 Falkirk 0 

The second half began in a similar fashion to the way the first period ended – with Hearts on the attack. MacDonald was again the hero for the visitors when he pulled off yet another fine save to deny a brilliant half-volley from Sam Nicholson. Billy King and James Keatings also had chances with the home team in total ascendency. This was until the 72^nd minute when Prince Buaben was shown a red card for a lunge on Durojayie and this seemed to give Falkirk a spark of hope. It was a spark that was quickly extinguished six minutes later when Sow was brought down in the penalty box and while the award seemed of the softish variety, the big Swede took the kick himself, sending his effort past  MacDonald to put Hearts 4-0 ahead.

The Bairns did pull a goal back five minutes from the end when Bia-bi scored following fine work from Loy but it was too little far too late for the visitors who were outplayed on their second visit to Edinburgh in a week – unlike last week’s affair across the city.  

Hearts are now three points ahead at the top of the SPFL Championship table. In particular, their first half display was as good as anything I’ve seen from a Hearts team since the Hearts side of 2005, under George Burley, made a storming start to the season. Robbie Neilson has his players playing neat, possession football with the accent on passing rather than the aimless punt up the park that was has been all too familiar in the last couple of seasons.  

‘I thought we played really well in the first half’ Neilson told the Hearts official website afterwards, ‘although the players did get a wee bit sloppy in the second half. The boys did a lot of the things we’ve been working on in training, particularly in the first half. They didn’t do it so much in the second half and that’s something we’ll all need to work on in training’ 

Rest assured, Robbie Neilson will not let his players rest on their laurels. The future looks brighter in Gorgie than it has for some time.

Hearts: Hamilton, McHattie, Wilson, Ozturk, Gomis, Nicholson, King, Buaben, Keatings, Sow, McGhee.

Falkirk: MacDonald, Durojayie, McCracken, Vaulks, Taiwo, Alston, Sibbald, Dick, Maybury, Cooper, Loy.

Referee: Kevin Clancy

Att: 16,369

Top man: At the risk of sounding like a stuck record, Morgaro Gomis was again the man who made Hearts tick. His influence in the middle of the park is a huge factor in Hearts impressive start to the season.

Hibs’ poor start to the season continued this afternoon with a 2-1 defeat to part timers Alloa Athletic which leaves them in an embarrassing eighth place, nine points behind leaders Hears after only four games.

Head Coach Alan Stubbs made three changes to the team that beat Dumbarton in midweek. Lewis Stevenson replaced Callum Booth, skipper Liam Craig took over from Scott Robertson and Jason Cummings replaced Danny Handling.

Hibs started brightly and opened the scoring when Sam Stanton sent a fine cross into the near post and Jason Cummings headed in from close range.

Alloa fought back and Edinburgh born Liam Buchanan went close and Mark Oxley did well to deny Kevin Cawley and Ryan McCord.

Just before the break, on form striker Farid El Alagui landed awkwardly on the artificial surface and had to leave the field on a stretcher. He was given a standing ovation from the travelling support and Paul Heffernan took his place.

Alloa continued where they left off in the second half and grabbed a deserved equaliser when Oxley saved from Daryll Meggatt and Hibs’ supporter Buchanan swept in the rebound.

Alan Stubbs then made two changes, bringing on Alex Harris and Danny Handling for Matt Kennedy and Jason Cummings as Hibs looked to grab the three points.

New signing Liam Fontaine, Jordon Forster and Scott Allan all spurned chances to score, but with five minutes remaining Fontaine gave away a free kick on the edge of the box which substitute Iain Flannigan curled over the wall into the top corner of the net to secure the three points.

Alloa Athletic: McDowall, Doyle, Gordon, Meggatt, Docherty, Simmons (Flannigan 84′), Buchanan (Hetherington 90′), Holmes, McCord, Cawley, Spence. Substitutes not used: Couser, Marr, Tiffoney, Ferns, Asghar.

Hibernian: Oxley, Gray, Fontaine, Forster, El Alagui ( Heffernan 40′), Craig, Stanton, Stevenson, Allan, Kennedy (Handling 65′), Cummings (Harris 65′). Substitutes not used: Perntreau, Robertson, Hanlon, Booth.

Referee: Stephen Finnie.

Police are appealing for witnesses following a hit and run incident in the city centre.

Enquiries are underway after a 20-year-old man was struck by a silver car while crossing the road at South Bridge, near to the junction with High Street.

The car, which is believed to have been a Peugeot and will now be missing a wing mirror, failed to stop and instead drove off towards North Bridge.

The man received only minor injuries in the incident, which happened at around 4am on Friday 22nd August.

Police Constable Vicky Henretty, who is based at Gayfield Police Station, said: “This was a frightening experience for the victim, made worse by the fact the driver of the car failed to stop.

“I am trying to find any witnesses who may have seen the registration number of the car, and urge him  to come forward.”

Anyone with any information which may assist the investigation is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101 or, alternatively, phone the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Frisky Ducks and Other Poems and The Lucky Charm of Major Bessop: Mario Relich and Tom Hubbard launch their new works. Relich was born in Zagreb, grew up in Montreal and has lived most of his life in Edinburgh: he is an Associate Lecturer for OU Scotland and has also taught at the Edinburgh College of Art, the University of Ife in Nigeria and Napier University. Relich’s poems, articles and reviews have been widely published in reviews, periodicals and newspapers: Frisky Ducks is his first collection. Hubbard is a novelist and poet and has been a visiting professor at European and US universities: The Lucky Charm of Major Bessop, Hubbard’s second novel, is subtitled ‘a grotesque mystery of Fife’ – Tom is a Fifer. 12 noon, Word Power Books, 43-45 West Nicolson Street. Admission free! Donations welcome!

National Gallery Highlight Tours: an introduction to and tour of the National Gallery’s permanent collection, focusing on key paintings. 2-2.45pm or 3-3.45pm, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed.

GENERATION Tours at Modern One: free, discussion-led tours of the exhibition, focusing on key themes and artists. 11-11.45am or 1-1.45pm, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art ONE, Belford Road. No booking required.

Rebuilding the Past: come and discover the traditional building skills being used to reconstruct the Botanic Cottage and the challenges that have been encountered on the journey to rebuild this special house. 1-4pm, Real Life Science Studio, John Hope Gateway, Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row. No booking required. Also available at same times on Sunday 31st August.

Where Do I End and You Begin: discussion and tour with Richard Hylton and some of the UK-based artists taking part in the exhibition. 12 noon, City Art Centre, 2 Market Street. Free, but tickets should be booked in advance via eventbrite. Part of Edinburgh Art Festival.

Stop Thief! Commentator, activist and author (The Poor Had No Lawyers) Andy Wightman will discuss the ideas and observations captured in his audiovisual presentation, which was commissioned by Emma Rushton and Derek Tyman as part of their installation Flaghall.  2pm, City Art Centre, 2 Market Street. Free, but tickets should be booked in advance via eventbrite. Part of Edinburgh Art Festival.

Out of the Blue Flea Market: rummage for treasures at this monthly flea market. Over 45 stalls selling clothes, jewellery, small furniture, music, books, bric-a-brac and more. Arts Cafe open for sale of refreshments. 10am-3pm, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street.

Lunchtime Concert: Nick Wearne and John Bryden Duo. 1.10-1.50pm, St Mary’s Cathedral, Palmerston Place. Free: retiring collection.

Big Beach Busk

Edinburgh Mela

Today at the Edinburgh Art Festival 

Free classes at Craigroyston

QMU Open Days

This weekend in Edinburgh you are really spoiled for choice. The Big Beach Busk is on today and tomorrow on Portobello Beach. The poor organiser was clearly having a sleepless night last night!  There’s going to be food and folk music, buskers of all kinds, fun – and apparently sunshine!

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The Edinburgh Festivals are not yet over. This weekend it’s the Edinburgh Mela. Get down to Leith Links for some multi-cultural music, food and fun today and tomorrow.

We interviewed the man behind the Mela some time ago to find out what might entertain you this weekend. More information here.

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The City Art Centre is the focus of the Edinburgh Art Festival which is however spread across many venues from one side of the city to the other.

Explore the exhibitions at City Art Centre with the help of their Visitor Assistants. Each day there will be a different tour relating to the varied exhibitions. There’s no need to book: please meet at reception.

City Art Centre 2 Market Street, EH1 1DE T0131 529 3993

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The Big Beach Busk takes place today on Portobello Promenade from noon until you simply cannot sing or dance any longer.

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There are some free classes at Craigroyston Community High School starting soon.

“Small steps = big changes! This practical maths course takes everyday situations and shows you how to make the maths work for you! Work out the running costs of many household appliances, decipher your energy bill, compare special offers while out shopping and even find out how to make the most of a square foot garden! Don’t worry if you didn’t get maths the first time round, this course allows you to start small and build up at your own pace. It uses examples from everyday life that affect everyone, from recipes to recycling and will help you quickly gain confidence in handling your finances! Not only that, we are running this course in partnership with Edinburgh’s very own Science Museum at Dynamic Earth and several sessions will take place there (all transport & entry fees provided).”

 More details here.

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Campus tours, university application advice and course talks are just some of the things on offer at Queen Margaret University’s up and coming open days.

The open days, which will take place on Thursday 4th September and Saturday 4th October, will give visitors a chance to find out about a wide range of undergraduate courses. The event, which is suitable for individuals looking to start university in September 2015, will offer visitors the opportunity to meet academics and students, view accommodation and hear about student life. A range of presentations will provide helpful tips for applying through the UCAS system and understanding student funding.

The University offers a niche range of undergraduate degree courses in the areas of Health Sciences; Business, Enterprise and Management; Media, Communication and Performing Arts; and Social Sciences. To help visitors get a better insight into these areas, academics will present subject talks on, for example, Performing Arts, Costume Design and Construction; Business & Management; Media, Film and PR; Nursing, Podiatry and Physiotherapy. Visitors will also be able to find out about new degree programmes which the University will offer in 2015. These include ‘Public Sociology; Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing; and Nutrition & Food Science.

In addition to course information, visitors can take organised tours of the campus to view teaching, learning and clinical areas, as well as accommodation and sports facilities.

The event will run from 11am – 4pm on Thursday 4th September and Saturday 4th October.

Register for the event via the QMU website http://www.qmu.ac.uk/marketing/bulletins/opendays.htm#UG

(Registration is not compulsory. You are welcome to attend either of the days without registering but in order to speed up your arrival at the university it is best to register at: http://www.qmu.ac.uk/marketing/bulletins/opendays.htm

 The public is asked to come forward with information about three fires which police believe could be linked. All fires happened this week.

The first incident happened around 10.30pm on Monday night on Pilton Avenue when a suspect was seen vandalising a garage with graffiti and attempting to set fire to the garage.

The second incident happened on Monday around 10.50pm at a property on Crewe Road West, when a male was seen entering the driveway with a can of petrol and setting a car alight. He then made off in the direction of Crewe Road Gardens.

The suspect is described as white, late teens/early 20s, wearing grey hooded top and trousers.

The third incident occurred just after midnight on Wednesday (27^th August) in Boswall Gardens when a car was also set alight.

Police are carrying out an investigation and are appealing for any witnesses to come forward.

PC Joanne Robertson said: “We are linking these three suspicious fires and are looking to trace the suspect who we have a more detailed description of during the incident on Crewe Road West on Monday evening. Anyone who has information that can assist with our enquiries is urged to contact police on 101.”

A woman was assaulted in Broughton Street Lane on Wednesday evening and police are appealing for witnesses.

The incident happened around 9.45pm when the 20 year-old woman was approached from behind by a man, grabbed and forced to turn around. The woman managed to break free but suffered soreness to her arm.

The suspect is described as white, around 30 years old, 5ft 9in to 5ft 10in tall, average build, cropped dark hair, round face, wearing leather gloves and a dark jumper.

Detective Sergeant Lynsey Thomson said: “The suspect did not make any demands or speak to the victim, so we are carrying out enquiries to identify the suspect as well as his motive. Anybody who noticed a man acting suspiciously in the area of Broughton Street Lane on Wednesday night around 9.45pm is urged to contact police immediately.”

Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

UPDATE MAN has now been traced.

Police Scotland is appealing for information to help trace a 68-year-old man who has been reported missing from Edinburgh.

Dennis Scott, who is 68 years-old, was last seen at his sister’s house in Adelphi Place in Portobello at about noon on Thursday 28th August, and concern is now growing for his welfare.

Dennis is described white, 5ft 1in, of slim build, with short grey hair, and he wears glasses. He may also have bruising to his face that was sustained around a week ago.

It is unclear what Dennis was wearing when he went missing but he often wears dark coloured dress trousers, a polo shirt, a woollen jumper and a black waterproof jacket.

Sergeant Gordon Duff, who is based at Craigmillar, said: “Dennis has been missing for almost 24 hours now and our officers are working hard to try and trace him as soon as possible.

“He is known to frequent the Promenade and Figgate Park areas of Portobello, and anyone who has any information on his whereabouts is urged to contact Police Scotland on 101.”

Police are today (Friday 29^th August) making a fresh appeal for information, exactly one week after a man was murdered in Wester Hailes.

Robbie Morrison, who was 31-years-old, was the victim of a serious assault in Dumbryden Gardens at around 4.30pm on Friday 22^nd August.

He received hospital treatment at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, before succumbing to his injuries in the early hours of Monday morning.

Police Scotland has been carrying out extensive enquiries to trace the person responsible for the attack, and this afternoon high-visibility officers will patrol the area and speak to local residents in an attempt to glean some vital, new information.

Detective Chief Inspector Gary Cunningham said: “A week has passed now since this horrific attack on Mr Morrison, and while our officers are making progress with the investigation, we would urge anyone with any information to come forward. It is clear from our ongoing enquiries that the community holds vital information that would assist us.

“Seven days on, our officers will today have a very visible presence in Wester Hailes and will be asking members of the public if they saw anything suspicious or individuals in Dumbryden Gardens last Friday afternoon or, indeed, if they have heard something which may prove key to our investigation.”

Chief Inspector Mark Rennie added: “Since Robbie Morrison was attacked and subsequently died, we have been keen to reassure residents in Wester Hailes that this appears to be an isolated incident.

“Our officers are doing everything they can to trace the person who carried out this murder and we will continue to carry out patrols in the area.”

Anyone with any information on this incident should contact Police Scotland on 101 or, alternatively, phone the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

An Edinburgh Tram and a First Bus X38 have been in collision this morning on West Maitland Street at the city’s West End.

Trams were stopped at Haymarket and buses were diverted via Palmerston Place, Chester Street, Walker Street, Coates Crescent onto the route at Shandwick Place.

A spokesman for Edinburgh Trams said: ‘One of our trams was hit by a First Bus in West Maitland Street at 0743 this morning.

‘After recovery of the bus by a tow truck, engineers were able to assess the tram on street and drive it back to the depot where a full damage assessment  was carried out.

‘We’ve reviewed our cctv footage and are satisfied that our driver was not at fault and that our procedures for handling an incident like this were followed appropriately.’

Services resumed on the full line at 1038 and are now running normally. We’d like to apologise to any passengers affected by the incident this morning.’

These photos are courtesy of Alan Rudland

 

This photo is from Mark Tee

 

Bach Before Breakfast: John Bryden plays Bach and Shostakovich on the Cathedral Steinway. Coffee and croissants follow. 8.05-8.35am, St Mary’s Cathedral, Palmerston Place. Free: retiring collection.

Mythical Maze Ceremony: have you completed the Challenge?  Come to the ceremony to collect your certificate, medal and prize! For ages 4-11. 2-3pm, Central Children’s Library, George IV Bridge. Part of the Mythical Maze Summer Reading Challenge.

Be A Legend! Stockbridge Library Summer Reading Challenge Closing Party. Fancy dress competition – come dressed as your favourite hero, heroine or mythical creature; design your own coat of arms and collect your Reading Challenge awards! 3-4.30pm, Stockbridge Library, Hamilton Place. Part of the Mythical Maze Summer Reading Challenge.

Isa Genzken: Botanical Garden Curator’s Tour. Inverleith House Curator Paul Nesbitt and Exhibitions Officer Chloe Reith present an insight into the artworks presented in Botanical Garden, focusing on the last 15 years of Genzken’s artistic practice. 2-2.45pm, tour begins from Reception, Inverleith House, Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row. No booking required. Inverleith house is currently hosting Botanical Garden, the first Scottish exhibition of Genzken’s work, featuring sculptural assemblages and wall and floor based photographic collages. The exhibition is open 10am-5.30pm, Tuesday to Sunday, until 28th September as part of the Edinburgh Art Festival 2014.

Easel Sketching in the Gallery: inspired by the Titian exhibition and working from a costumed figure. 2-4pm, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free; no booking necessary.

Self-Portrait, aged 51 by Rembrandt: Art historian Andrew Paterson will discuss Rembrandt’s possible motivations for making this and his many other self-portraits, and ways in which the painting might be interpreted in the light of the artistic and religious culture of 17th century Holland.  12.45-1.30pm, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed.

Scotland The Brave: A Graphic History of Scotland 1514-2014: Portobello-born Martin Fowler launches his new book, which is available in a limited hardback edition of 500. This history of Scotland in visual form contains highly detailed and dramatic ink drawings which appropriate the formal style of the 18th century political cartoons of James Gillray. ‘They present an accessible and dynamic aide-memoire for those interested in Scottish history, while serving as a timely comment on ideas of nationhood and identity.’ 6.30pm, Word Power Books, 43-45 West Nicolson Street. Admission free! Donations welcome!

Lunchtime Concert: Ivor Clayman (baritone) and John Bryden (piano.) 1.10-1.50pm, St Mary’s Cathedral, Palmerston Place. Free: retiring collection.

20mph consultation

TRIM toy collection for Gaza ends today

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Craighouse Planning next week

New Sainsburys store

A consultation is now live to help draw up plans for new 20mph speed limits across the Capital.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

A series of drop-in sessions and public meetings has been organised through the Neighbourhood Partnerships. Council officers will be available at these events to answer questions.

West:

Drop-in session on Tuesday 26 August, 4.30 to 6.30pm, Drumbrae Library Hub followed by a presentation on 20mph proposals at the Western

Neighbourhood Partnership Meeting at 7pm.

Drop-in session on Monday 8 September, 2 to 4 pm, South Queensferry Community Education Centre, Kirkliston Road.

All-day roadshow on Sunday 21 September at Gyle Shopping Centre, Gyle Avenue.

North:

Drop-in session on Wednesday 3 September, 10am to 1pm, North Edinburgh Local Office.

South West:

Drop-in session on Thursday 18 September, 2 to 4pm, Edgar Hall, Stenhouse St Aidan’s Parish Church.

Drop-in session on Monday 22 September, 2 to 4pm in Oxgangs Library.

East:

Public meeting on Wednesday 10 September, 7pm, Portobello Town Hall.

City Centre:

Public meeting on Tuesday 16 September, 7pm, City Chambers.

Roadshow on Thursday 25 September, 10 – 1pm, St James Shopping Centre.

South:

Public meeting on Tuesday 3 September, 7pm, City Chambers.

Leith:

Drop-in session on Wednesday 24 September, 6pm, Business Centre, McDonald Road Library.

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Tenants and Residents in Muirhouse (TRIM) have been collecting toys and other essential items for Gaza and so you have until today at 5pm to drop off any toys for the collection.

• Email them at Muirhouseresidents@hotmail.com
• Pop in to the shop and leave your address
• Text or call them on 07914 942 026
• Facebook or Tweet us

More details here

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Here is a very short but completely whole Tattoo for you to enjoy.

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The path towards planning permission for Craighouse which was owned by Edinburgh Napier University and sold to a developer for £10m continues.

The Prime Minister David Cameron has been in Scotland all day today, visiting Scottish business ahead of attending the CBI dinner tonight.

Tim Reid from the BBC has been at the dinner too and has reported briefly on what the Prime Minister’s speech has contained:

PM: Our solidarity in the UK remains a great advantage in good times and in bad and it is the great unknown that would put that at risk.

— Tim Reid (@TimReidBBC) August 28, 2014

Pm:"So in three weeks’ time, let’s choose openness over narrowness our great advantages over the great unknown and let’s stay together"

— Tim Reid (@TimReidBBC) August 28, 2014

In CBI President Sir Mike Rake’s speech this evening, he said that he firmly believes that the UK is and always has been greater than the sum of its parts and warned that the risk of a yes vote for Scotland and the UK is enormous.
On the Scottish referendum, Sir Mike said:

• “Undoubtedly, the decision on Scotland’s future is ultimately one for the voters here in Scotland.
• “In three weeks’ time, a yes vote based on so many substantive questions unanswered, will be a binary decision – a one way ticket to uncertainty with no return.
• “Currency union is an example. The liability, exposure and lack of control such a union would levy on the UK taxpayer makes it an obvious non-negotiable position for the UK Government. It’s why we wanted to see what the Scottish Government’s alternative plan would be.
• “The goods and services from key sectors in Scotland like finance, energy, and defence thrive by virtue of being part of our internal market of 60 million consumers, as well as being linked to a network of regulation, investments, and support. We should have no fear of drawing strength from what is achievable as one state. Scotland also benefits from the gifts of our shared institutions: the NHS, the BBC, the Royal Mint, the Armed Forces …200 bodies in all. But there is a profound difference between how we share them now, and the sharing of them with a neighbouring but separate nation state. Nothing can be taken for granted, and there are no guarantees.
• “As a new state, Scotland would have to leave and reapply to join and negotiate the terms of its EU membership. And to achieve this may well mean signing up to the Euro and Schengen. So, the question is whether all this negotiation would match the favourable terms established by the UK? Nothing can be taken for granted, and there are no guarantees.”

Sir Mike also raised the UK’s global future and made clear that open markets are an essential part of an open economy. He went on to highlight his concerns about the impact a possible EU referendum has on investment.

On Europe, Sir Mike said:

• “We accept that calling a referendum on EU membership is a constitutional issue for government, but the ambiguity has already, and is increasingly, causing real concern for business regarding their future investment. Business is in no doubt that we must retain and secure our country’s global future. If we’re isolated, we cannot be our best.
• “The growth and jobs we need depend on our external relationships, and it’s our membership of the European Single Market which is crucial. The EU isn’t perfect. The CBI’s Global Future report looked at other options and concluded that we are best served by remaining in the EU and seeking reform. We don’t want a special deal to satisfy narrow measures for the UK alone, but we do want Europe to become a more efficient place to do business – Lisbon Agenda, not Lisbon Treaty; for Europe to be more adventurous, open and competitive, and for its activities to be rooted in the priorities of member states.
• “With a new Commission and Parliament there is a window of opportunity to establish the building blocks of reform. We need our MPs and MEPs of all colours building helpful alliances in the European corridors of power.”

In his concluding remarks, Sir Mike focused on the great lessons of our Unions, national or international; that they reinforce our determination to drive forward towards prosperity and a better future for all our citizens. He shined a light on just how much there is still to achieve, the importance of minimising uncertainty and maximising our collective strength and the need to balance the challenges we face with a vision of the sort of country we all want to live in. He also stressed that this demands strong and pragmatic leadership from politicians and support from the business community.

Sir Mike ended by stressing his personal belief that we will remain a United Kingdom, within a reformed European Union, focusing on what’s important; growth, jobs and prosperity for all.

Commenting on these remarks Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

“This is a humiliation for the Prime Minister on the same day one of his MPs has defected to UKIP, exposing the deep Eurosceptic seam running through the Tory Party which is dragging the UK ever closer to the exit door of Europe.

“For David Cameron to be lectured by one of the UK’s most senior business figures about the dangers of his in-out referendum on EU membership shows just how worried companies are about the prospect of the UK being taken out of Europe.

“For Scotland, the choice is clear – a Yes vote which will protect our place in the EU as an independent member, or a No vote which could see us dragged out of Europe against our will, shutting us off from a single market of more than 500 million people with potentially devastating consequences for jobs and investment.”

Meanwhile the Prime Minister said that if there is a No vote then the UK will devolve more powers to The Scottish Government ‘soon’. See Nick Robinson’s interview with David Cameron by clicking here.

Photo of David Cameron courtesy of Number 10

A Lamborghini sports car crashed into a bus stop on Pennywell Road earlier this evening. The Edinburgh Reporter has seen this car on many occasions in the city centre being driven by a middle-aged man but tonight there are unconfirmed reports that the car was being driven by teenagers at the time of the crash.

@edinburghpaper @EdinReporter car crash on Pennywell Road tonight pic.twitter.com/2A0WxPuSy8

— barry dickson (@radiobasher) August 28, 2014

Need for Speed hit a bus stop on Pennywell Rd pic.twitter.com/ECa1OWzQDq

— Muirhouse+SalvesenCC (@MuirhouseSalvCC) August 28, 2014