Falkirk man Kevin Kotrys who was reported missing earlier this week has been found safe and well.
The 40-year-old was traced by the Metropolitan Police in the London area.
His family have been informed.
Police Scotland have thanked the public for their assistance during this enquiry.
Musselburgh Racecourse kicks off the Scottish Flat season today and creates history as the first UK course to stage turf racing on Good Friday.
The track’s 17 fixture season features prize money of £1,170,000 – an increase of £100,000 on the previous season – and Good Friday has a bumper prize pool of £156,000.
The Grade 2 feature race, the £50,000 Totepool Royal Mile Handicap Stakes (3.50), for three year olds only, has attracted a strong field. Mark Johnston, whose three year olds have started the season in fine form and Musley Bank’s Richard Fahey go head to head for this valuable prize.
Neither of Fahey’s two runners, Roachdale House nor Ventura Quest, have raced this Spring so the fitness advantage would seem to lie with the Johnston pair of Almargo, the mount of Silvestre de Sousa, and Bow Creek who will be partnered by Franny Norton, happily back in action after a six month lay-off through injury.
Bow Creek made all the running to land a three horse listed race at Lingfield earlier this month but Almargo has demonstrated real potential by rattling up an impressive three timer on the all-weather and will be preferred.
In the £25,000 totepool.com Borderlescott Sprint Trophy (2.40) the Robin Bastiman trained Borderlescott has carried the colours of owners James Edgar and William Donaldson to multiple Group victories in his long and distinguished career.
A dual winner of York’s Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes, Borderlescott has also won the Stewards Cup at Goodwood and is a course and distance winner at Musselburgh. The veteran, who turned 12 in January, is set to run in his own race and will be ridden by Neill Farley.
Bastiman reports that Borderlescott is in great spirits but at his advanced age it is hard to see him coping with the speed of either William Haggas’s classy top-weight Heeraat, or last season’s course and distance winner Kingsgate Choice. Herefordshire trainer Ed de Giles has a profitable strike rate at Musselburgh and Kingsgate Choice ran a promising sixth in a listed race at Linfield on his seasonal reappearance late last month.
The East Lothian course was buoyed last week with the announcement that its 10th anniversary Stobo Castle Ladies Day on 14 June has sold out in record time, a full nine weeks ahead of the prestigious event.
During the close season the racecourse management have invested £250,000 in facility upgrades, which includes a refurbishment of the popular Pinkies Bar, a new landscaped raised viewing area in front of the grandstand and improved access roads. Other changes which will enhance the visitor experience include improved signage and a new “fast track” entrance which will minimise queuing for race goers who have booked in advance.
Musselburgh Racecourse general manager, Bill Farnsworth, said: “We are starting the Flat season on a high with Stobo Castle Ladies Day already sold out and a 9000 record attendance guaranteed.
“We are also creating a historic first by staging the first turf racing on a Good Friday and we expect a healthy crowd which we can build on over the next 2-3 years in the same way we have done with our Easter Sunday meeting.
“It’s a new fixture and like anything which is new it will take time to establish its credentials but we believe we have the makings of an excellent Easter Racing Festival with two days of quality and family racing.
“Record prize money over the season will continue to attract the leading trainers and jockeys but equally important is the significant investment we are making in improving the facilities at Musselburgh. We are focussed on maintaining our five-star visitor status and reputation as one of the UK’s most forward thinking racecourses.”
Flat season highlights at Musselburgh include the £60,000 Edinburgh Cup on Saturday 7 June and Musselburgh’s first ever £100,000 race, the William Hill Scottish Sprint Cup which is the feature race at Stobo Castle Ladies Day a week later and also features a special after-racing party hosted by Radio One breakfast show presenter Scott Mills.
Bill Farnsworth added: “With Ladies Day sold out we believe those disappointed at not getting a ticket will turn their attention to the Edinburgh Cup meeting and we would advise people to book early to avoid a second disappointment.”
The 5 furlong totetrifecta handicap race has been divided so there are now eight races with the first race off at 2.10pm and the last at 6pm. Musselburgh is back racing on Easter Sunday with its traditional Easter Sunday Family Day.
To find out more about the two day Totepool Easter Festival and details of all Musselburgh’s fixtures visit www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk
Time is running out as entries close on Wednesday 23 April 2014. The Edinburgh Junior Golf Festival is being held at Swanston Golf Club on Sunday 27 April from 12 – 6pm. All juniors are encouraged to go along and join in the fun. More details on how to enter are here.
There will be Skills Challenges on the practice area for everyone which will be supervised by Professionals and some of the Main Squad. The organisers say that it doesn’t matter if you haven’t played golf before so bring along your little brothers and sisters.
A Stephen Gallacher 9 hole competition will be held on the Templar Course for those with and without a handicap which can be entered through the Stephen Gallacher web site here.
There will also be an 18 hole Junior Open on the Swanston New golf course and all juniors with a handicap are urged to enter. Details on the poster too.
The Kelpies – Soundhouse fundraiser tonight – New arrangements for buses at ERI – Information Fair at Heriot-Watt – Fundraiser for MS
And now for The Kelpies. Sit down with a cup of tea this Good Friday and watch this. You will love it.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NCgzTqH4GI]
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Tonight the first fundraising gig for Soundhouse will take place at EUSA Pleasance.
The line up includes Adam Holmes and Cera Impala. Soundhouse will be the new incarnation of the House @42 owned and run by Douglas Robertson. The new venue will according to the organisers be ‘the best venue on the planet right here in Edinburgh.’ More details here.
Not sure if this is your kind of music? Listen up below and book your tickets here.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia4OlITn4uU?list=UUK0jYsMuHa574u-DfewzsYA]
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Lothian Buses have a new bus terminus at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary which they will begin using on Monday 21 April 2014.
This will affect services 7, 8, 18, 21, 24, 33, 38 and 49 and has been brought about by the redevelopment of the new Royal Hospital for Sick Children. The bus company produced a map for your information.
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The MS Therapy Centre latest fundraiser – the Mad Hatters’ Tea Party which had the support of local MSP Jim Hume – has raised nearly £4,500.
The Centre, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, called on locals to host a tea party and wear a crazy hat last month to help raise much needed funds and make a difference to all those in the Lothians living with multiple sclerosis.
Nancy Campbell, Operations Manager at the Centre, said:-“Hitting nearly £4,500 is a fantastic sum of money and will make such a difference to those attending the Centre. Nearly 2,500 people in the Lothians live with the debilitating condition and our Centre provides a life line for many. We are there for practical and emotional support and only exist because of the generosity of others.”
“I would like to thank local residents, businesses, community groups and schools who took time out of their busy days to bake and host tea parties.
Jim Hume, Liberal Democrat South Scotland MSP, said:-“I was delighted to have visited Nancy and her team at the MS Therapy Centre Lothian again and to celebrate their 30th anniversary at the mad hatter tea party. The Centre provides a range of therapeutic and peer support to people living with multiple sclerosis, all the while improving the quality of life for its users.”
The Centre is hoping the tea parties become an annual event and will be looking for tea party hosts again in 2015.
The MS Therapy Centre is a charity providing help and practical therapies such as physiotherapy, complementary therapies and oxygen therapy as well as emotional support and advice.
Police are appealing for witnesses after a cyclist was injured during a hit and run collision which happened around 9.30am today in the Liberton area of the city.
A 33-year-old woman was riding north along Liberton Gardens when she reached the traffic lights at the junction with Liberton Drive.
At this time she was involved in a collision with a silver/blue hatchback car, which caused her to fall to the ground.
The driver failed to stop at the scene and continued on towards the Braid Hills.
Ambulance staff responded along with police and the woman was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh where she is being treated for injuries to her neck and shoulder.
Anyone who can assist officers with their investigation into this incident is asked to contact police immediately.
Constable Joe Kennedy said: “The female cyclist suffered some very painful injuries to her upper body, which will require several months of recovery.
“Despite being fully aware of this collision, the driver did not stop to check on the woman’s welfare or to speak with police upon their arrival.
“As such we are keen to hear from members of the public and other motorists who were in the area at the time and witnessed what happened.
“In addition anyone with information that can help trace the driver is also asked to come forward.”
Those with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or alternatively, the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
A man has died in a fire which broke out in a flat in Gordon Street yesterday afternoon.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was called to the fire this lunchtime.
Crews from McDonald Road, Tollcross and Marionville were quickly sent to the scene by Operations Control Edinburgh. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the property and extinguished the fire using a high pressure hose reel.
Tragically a man has died following the fire and a joint Police and Fire Investigation will now take place to establish the cause.
An SFRS spokesperson said:- “The tragic loss of life must always bring home the importance of working together to prevent fires and raise awareness of how to be safer from the risk of fire. Join Scotland’s Fight Against Fire, if you or someone you know may be at risk please get in touch and arrange a free home fire safety visit with local firefighters by calling 0800 0731 999, text “check” to 61611 or visit www.firescotland.gov.uk.”
On 23 April 2014 Edinburgh libraries will be celebrating World Book Night in partnership with The Reading Agency by hosting free events across the Capital to champion reading in local communities.
The celebrations will be led by the Central Library, which will be welcoming visitors to attend a debate with world leading psychology writer Richard Wiseman, whose book ‘59 Seconds’ is one of the top 20 titles being celebrated through Community Book Giving on World Book Night.
The event, which will be chaired by journalist Claire Black, will look closely at the modern day mind myths promoted by the self-help industry, and outline quick and quirky ideas to help people achieve their aims in minutes not months.
Elsewhere in Edinburgh, Oxgangs Library will be hosting a free World Book Night Quiz and Book Swap, while Leith and McDonald Road Libraries will be inviting visitors to discuss their favourite books with staff. Staff from Wester Hailes Library will also be visiting Tynecastle boys Football Club to hand out books and promote Edinburgh libraries’ teenage reading programme.
Councillor Richard Lewis, the city’s Culture and Sport Convener, said: “World Book Night is a great opportunity for everyone in Edinburgh to share or even start their love of reading and encourage others to get involved. It is very appropriate that Edinburgh, the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature, are hosting this event to get people excited about reading, writing and literature.”
Sue Wilkinson, CEO of The Reading Agency, said: “World Book Night is one of the highlights of the year for us and for all our partners; this year it promises to be more exciting than ever. All over the country people are coming together to celebrate and share their love of reading. The generous tradition of volunteer book giving inspired and supported by publishers is being extended this year to include community book givers all of whom will give away a book of their own to inspire someone in their community to love reading. We hope that this, together with the events taking place in libraries across the UK, will ensure that April 23rd is an evening we will all long remember; the night when many more people realise that everything changes when we read.”
On World Book Night, 250,000 titles will be given by a network of volunteer reading enthusiasts and institutions focusing on reaching the 35% of the population who don’t read for pleasure. As World Book Night plays out, strangers will become friends, colleagues will pause and reflect, libraries and bookshops will go the extra mile to ‘stay up late’, and authors of all genres will share their writings and love of the written word with audiences of all ages.
Since it began in 2011, World Book Night has created an extraordinary group of 46,000 volunteers, giving books away to over 2 million people. This will be a landmark year for World Book Night which has recently come under the guardianship of The Reading Agency: the charity with a mission to give everyone an equal chance to become a reader.
This year for the first time, The Reading Agency is launching Community Book Giving, a new way of getting involved in World Book Night which will widen the opportunity for volunteer participation further than ever before, allowing even more people to spread a love of reading to those who don’t normally read for pleasure or own books.
Community Book Giving means that anyone can take part in the annual gifting of books on April 23 without applying to give away copies of the official books donated by publishers for the occasion; anyone can sign up, and they will be responsible for giving their own book, which can be anything they choose, either taking it from their book shelves, or buying it new or second-hand. Special World Book Night branded stickers and bookplates will be available from libraries, participating bookshops – including Waterstones and independents – or available online to download so that books can be officially branded as part of the celebrations.
As in previous years, World Book Night will be celebrated on UNESCO International Day of the Book with many experiences unfolding simultaneously across the UK, the USA and Ireland. In the UK flagship events will be held in Birmingham and London.
The titles for World Book Night 2014 are
BREAKING THE VESSEL – AN EVENING WITH MARK Z DANIELEWSKI
‘All writers are control freaks’
– or so says Mark Danielewski. He should know – last Hallowe’en he orchestrated a performance of his new novel The 50 Year Sword, with five actors not only reading the text but also completing one another’s sentences. Danielewski ‘musically stitched together their voices’, seeing himself as ‘Harry Potter in a different way’ and says that the read-through showed him just how the parts of the book fitted together.
On Monday, Danielewski was at Blackwell’s for the UK launch of this, his third novel. In conversation with Mark Buckland of publishers Cargo, Danielewski explained that each of his works is an attempt to ‘remediate’ a different subject. A previous book, Only Revolutions, looked at music, whilst his current work-in-progress will remediate the TV series. The 50 Year Sword takes as its subject the classic ghost story, the story told around the camp fire. Chintana, a Thai seamstress who is getting over a failed marriage comes across Belinda Kite – her husband’s mistress – at a party. She thinks of leaving but stays, and the consequences of her decision form the book’s story, one involving some orphans, a storyteller, and of course, a magic sword.
Danielewski wants the book to be read straight through: with just a few words of text on each page, it should only take an hour. He thinks a great deal about how text will look on the page, and is much influenced by William Faulkner and Laurence Sterne, both of whom played with the colour and form of text. Danielewski sees himself as part of this experimental tradition, and explores the effects on his characters of changing colours, fonts and even margins. For him, image and text become one, the shape and colour of a letter or word having as much influence as its meaning. He talks about ‘breaking the vessel’ (of traditional forms) to allow language and meaning to pour out. This can liberate meaning, freeing the words and allowing them to grow.
He sees language as ‘oscillating on the page’ – it is integral to our lives but also mystic, and he has come to realise that even language is small compared to the world around us, and only one of the tools we can apply to try to comprehend that world. One part of our minds processes text, another images, and for Danielewski the best way to understand the world is to look between the two. This, he says, leads to new experience.
Danielewski is interested in the tradition of oral storytelling – one that is of course still strong in Scotland. Voices, he says, come together like ghosts within the speaker, so that sometimes a different story emerges. He seeks to show that different voices will tell different versions of the same story. We present ourselves as complete beings, but we are the product of many influences and experiences. The 50 Year Sword includes many images of a butterfly; these were sewn with thread onto paper, then scanned. The stitches were snipped out then re-sewn, to show how we cut our experiences apart and sew them together. We need to take things apart to create a new whole.
E-books initially appealed to Danielewski , allowing as they do the use of many colours and fonts, but he found that after initial enthusiasm, sales have flattened out – there is a resistance to them, a failure to deliver something that readers still get from a traditional book. He’s also tried an animated version of The 50 Year Sword for i-Pad, but this has also had only limited success. The book is clearly here to stay, though Danielewski will continue to push the boundaries, to investigate its potential, and to explore that exhilarating space between our senses.
The 50 Year Sword by Mark Danielewski is published by Cargo Publishing and available from Blackwell’s, Edinburgh
Submitted by Rosemary Kaye
MALMAISON HOTELS ANNOUNCE THEIR SUPPORT OF THIS YEAR’S NICU SUPPORT FUNDRAISING BIKE RIDE.
NICU Support is an Emergency Hospital Courier Service that helps premature and sick babies by collecting mother’s milk from Donors and delivering it to Special Care Baby Unites.
Malmaison is the official sponsor for the NICU Support annual bike ride, and to coincide with Malmaison’s 20th Anniversary each hotel has put together a team who will be taking part in all 12 days of the ride.
The ride is from Aberdeen to Bristol linking up all 12 Malmaison Hotels and Neonatal Intensive Care Units nationwide.
Malmaison Aberdeen will start the challenge by cycling with their baton from Malmaison Aberdeen to Malmaison Dundee on Monday 5 May.
The Malmaison Edinburgh team will be cycling the 105 miles on 8 May 2014.
Malmaison and NICU Support are teaming up to raise enough to fund the latest all-purpose electric BMW i3 vehicle for their latest service which transports mums into hospital to visit their premature and sick babies whist in Neonatal Intensive Care.
Race dates:
Mon May 5 Aberdeen to Dundee – 70 miles
Tue May 6 Dundee to Glasgow – 80 miles
Wed May 7 Glasgow to Edinburgh – 50 miles
Thu May 8 Edinburgh to Newcastle – 105 miles
Fri May 9 Newcastle to Leeds – 95 miles
Sat May 10 Leeds to Manchester – 50 miles
Sun May 11 Manchester to Liverpool – 50 miles
Mon May 12 Liverpool to Birmingham -90 miles
Tue May 13 Birmingham to Oxford – 70 miles
Wed May 14 Oxford to London – 60 miles
Thu May 15 London to Reading – 40 miles
Fri May 16 Reading to Bristol – 80 miles
Submitted by Jarrien Philip
THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT STANDING BY
Writer John Connolly on moral heroes, mixed genres – and middle-aged men.
John Connolly has updated his image. He’s even bought a new waistcoat – ‘the middle-aged man’s gastric band’ – and this week he was at Blackwell’s to show it off, and to discuss his new novel, The Wolf in Winter, the thirteenth in his series about Charlie Parker, former detective and anti-hero. In a hugely entertaining and fast-paced talk, Connolly switched effortlessly from jokes about failed Irish criminals to thoughts on the moral themes that inform his writing.
Connolly is Irish, but sets these books in Maine. He says it’s because Ireland has little history of crime fiction – but he also likes the US state’s environmental extremes; its vast forest; the contrast between its wealthy coast and less affluent interior. Many US crime writers set their books in states other than their own, and Connolly feels that looking at a place from the outside ‘allows you to see the oddness of it.’
Rejecting the received opinion that crime writing is plot-driven, Connolly sees readers as far more interested in characters. He challenged the audience to recall the plots of the last three thrillers they had read (I couldn’t, but proving his point, I could remember Hercule Poirot, John Rebus and VI Warshawski.) Our affection for crime writing is, he says, tied up solely with its people, especially as it’s one of the few forms that allow a writer to return to the same characters time and again. He admires the work of Ed McBain and Ross MacDonald, and sees James Lee Burke as the greatest living crime writer.
Connolly writes in a variety of genres, including ghost stories and children’s books – he is all too aware that some crime writers trade on the affection for their characters by simply churning out the same book every year, good or bad; he likes Parker, and doesn’t want to waste his readers’ time, so he takes a break from the series to work on other projects and keep his Parker novels fresh. He is also keen to thank his loyal followers; one way that he does this is to include a CD with each book – music that seems to match the story, either lyrically or musically. He says only men define themselves through music: ‘it’s a fan boy thing.’ Ideas, he says, can be expressed through many different media – indeed, after having written another of his novels, The Book of Lost Things, he noticed that its story was mirrored in the film Pan’s Labyrinth. ‘We are all pulling from the same pool of ideas, the same cloud of inspiration.’
Asked why his novels are bleak, Connolly replied that he did not see them as such. Raised a Catholic (although no longer practising), he grew up with strong values of morality, justice, compassion and empathy. His characters are all in search of redemption, and their stories offer the reader hope. Parker is a moral being, this is his strength and his weakness, and for Connolly the books are about the importance of ‘not standing by.’
Breaking away from the purely logical traditions of classic crime writing, Connolly has now started to introduce a supernatural element to his writing. Younger readers, he says, have grown up with fantasy and graphic novels and are far more open to experimentation: the genre advances only by people pushing the boundaries. He is letting Parker age through the series because he hopes this will allow the character and the novels to develop; he is not interested in writing ‘rote books.’ He resisted hopeful questions about the plot of the next book, but said that he already has the series’ conclusion worked out.
A character who cares about his characters – and his readers – Connolly was a deserving hit with Tuesday night’s enthusiastic audience; the queue for the book signing afterwards showed that his books are every bit as popular as his banter.
The Wolf in Winter is published by Hodder & Stoughton and available from Blackwell’s, Edinburgh.
Submitted by Rosemary Kaye
Police carrying out enquiries into the whereabouts of missing Falkirk man Kevin Kotrys have reason to believe he may have travelled to London.
Kevin Kotrys from Seaton Place, Falkirk, was last seen outside Cash Converters on Renfield Street, Glasgow, at 3.40pm on Sunday (13th April).
It is believed he travelled from Glasgow to Edinburgh on April 15th and indications now suggest he may be in London.
He has had no contact with family or friends and has not called into work since this last sighting, which is considered out of character.
Kevin is described as white, 6ft tall, large build, short dark hair. He was last seen wearing a black t-shirt under a red hooded top, blue jeans, black boots and possibly carrying a white carrier bag.
Inspector Paul Rollo from Police Scotland said: “We are continuing are appeal for anyone who may have seen Kevin, or has information on his whereabouts.
“We have reason to believe he may have travelled to London, via Edinburgh. Kevin’s friends and family are very concerned about him as this is unusual behaviour for him.
“Anyone who believes they have seen Kevin, or may have information on his whereabouts, are urged to contact police immediately.”
Those with information can contact Police Scotland on 101.
Edinburgh Zoo has unveiled its new responsive website created by digital communications agency Rippleffect.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) appointed the agency last year with a remit to create a multi-channel strategy for inspiring and engaging new and returning visitors to the Zoo.
The website represents the first phase of the strategy, with a cross-platform mobile app due to launch this spring.
The new platform is fully responsive, meaning the Zoo’s wide variety of content naturally degrades depending on the size of the visitor’s screen to offer a fun and user-friendly experience across any device. Features include a full animal glossary, a range of rich media content about key animals and rare insights into zoo life with ’Meet the Keeper’ stories.
Meanwhile, the Zoo’s new mobile app – which will be available for Apple and Android smartphones – will incorporate an interactive map with real-time location tracking, a day planner for events and the Exploration Quiz, which lets users test their knowledge of the animals as they go.
The Zoo’s popular live webcams for visitor favourites – including penguins and pandas – have been integrated into both the site and the app.
”We are delighted with our new website and believe that it will not only help to entice new visitors but also provide a great resource for members of the public to engage with and learn more about our animals.” commented RZSS digital manager Jon-Paul Orsi.
”As well as being a great showcase for our digital content, there are now opportunities for visitors to share their own content through integrated social media channels. The new site will make it easier to discover more about the zoo and our conservation work, and make a physical visit the natural next step”
Hayden Evans, creative director of Rippleffect, added: ”Our aim was to create an engaging and user-friendly platform that would capture the hearts and minds of Edinburgh Zoo’s visitors.
”We incorporated modern design and free-flowing architecture on fully responsive templates to ensure the platform offers the ideal experience on every device, including mobile and tablets. Exciting new features have been added too, including the dedicated kids’ zone and a full events calendar that features integrated user-friendly online booking.”
Discussing the legacy of the project, Orsi said: ”The Rippleffect team has done a great job in understanding the needs of our audience and has delivered two digital platforms that will help our audience get more from their Edinburgh Zoo experience – before, during and after their visit.”
Submitted by Keith Price
The Basement Bar is widely thought of as a bit of an Edinburgh institution and after its recent make over, Celia and I were looking forward to our dinner.
Situated at the top of Broughton Street this bar has fun quirky decor where Florida seems to meet Mexico.
The Basement Bar serves predominantly Mexican food, a firm favourite of mine, so I was keen to try the dishes they had on offer. Choosing from a selection of ‘small plates’ ranging from cheesy tacos to ceviche, Celia and I opted for empanadas and quesadillas. The empanadas are light puff pastry parcels filled with a yummy mix of aubergine, spinach and coriander. These are served with a refreshing tomato salsa and for those meat eaters amongst you they also offer a chipotle chilli beef option too. The quesadillas are warm tortilla filled with sweet potato puree, Mexican chorizo and crumbly feta cheese. If you are after a quick snack or a kind of tapas sharing selection, these small plates offer the perfect option.
For main course we chose fajitas and the Chicken Tinga Enchilada. Ordering fajitas at a Mexican is a bit of a sell out for me as it is one of my favourite dishes to make! That said I do LOVE them and can never resist especially when restaurants offer a rump steak option! The fajitas were authentically presented with some fresh guacamole and yummy sour cream. I thoroughly enjoyed these and the staff were only too happy to keep my guacamole and sour cream topped up! Celia opted for the Chicken Tinga Enchilada. Though there was certainly plenty of meat, Celia felt this dish was a bit dry and needed some sauce to jazz it up a bit.
As usual we had to have a pud. I am abstaining from chocolate due to Lent, (what?? Ed) so Celia tried the Chilli Chocolate Pot and I went out of my comfort zone with the caramelised pineapple and warm chilli syrup. Celia liked her chocolate pot but unfortunately it didn’t seem to rock her world and my pineapple proved to be an odd mix of sickly sweet and fiery chilli sauce – not for me – but if you want something totally different, give it a go.
Though we didn’t sample any of their cocktails we have it on good authority that they not only serve a mean margarita but have a fab cocktail menu too. So whether you are after a bite to eat or to catch up over some cocktails The Basement Bar offers a relaxed and funky atmosphere right in the heart of Broughton.
The Basement Bar, 10a – 12a Broughton Street, Edinburgh 0131 557 0097
Over £40 Million goes up in smoke each year due to outdoor fires, many of which result from careless or irresponsible behaviour, with the Easter Weekend one of the busiest of the year for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).
Firefighters attend over 22,000 calls every year to fires involving rubbish bins, refuse skips and grass or heathland. The incidents can spread to homes and business properties, placing people at risk.
Commercial skips, household waste bins and illegal dumping of waste materials provide a ready source of combustible materials for opportunistic fire setters and as the weather improves increasing numbers of people are accessing the countryside during the Easter Holiday period.
At this time of year – before new green growth appears – grass, heather, and forested areas are at particularly high risk from fire. SFRS is asking people to be aware of the heightened risk of fire and to act safely and responsibly if they visit the countryside this weekend.
Pro-actively supporting the Clean-up Scotland Campaign, the service is constantly working to protect communities from fire related antisocial behaviour and fire vandalism. It is keen to highlight the success of neighbourhood environmental clean-up activities, together with high profile fly tipping and enforcement campaigns which have resulted in the identification and prosecution of offenders.
Keeping the public safe is the main concern of SFRS officers, who are reminding anyone involved in deliberately starting fires or in the illegal dumping of domestic and commercial waste that they face tough penalties. Householders and local businesses are being urged to manage and dispose of ‘waste’ safely and responsibly as many refuse fires involve skips, waste containers or illegally discarded domestic and trade waste.
Firefighters are working with communities, local authorities, businesses and the police to minimise the opportunity for deliberate fire-setting and see those responsible held to account for their dangerous, criminal actions. As well as risking lives, deliberate fire-setting wastes public money and also causes significant health and environmental risks.
To protect communities throughout Scotland, SFRS is asking communities and businesses to join Scotland’s fight against fire by safely managing and disposing of waste to prevent fires and by helping identify and report offenders.
The public are asked to report any fly tipping or accumulations of rubbish and refuse to their local authority or to the national ‘Dumb Dumpers’ stopline – operated by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency – by calling 0845 230 4090.
Anyone who has information on people involved in deliberate fire setting should contact the police via the non-emergency number 101. Information can also be given anonymously by calling Crimestoppers Scotland on 0800 555 111.
If you’re lucky enough to be going to Brazil for the World Cup, you might be in a state of feverish excitement by now – and rightly so, whether you’ve got tickets for any of the games or not. Brazil 2014 promises to be the biggest party of all time, and in this article we look at some of the highlights any trip to this amazing country should include.
Keeping Up To Date
The atmosphere in the host cities promises to be extraordinary, and even watching games in the local bars should be an experience to remember. Whether you’re seeing games on TV or you have stadium tickets already, remember you can still have a flutter on the results using a UK betting site. Keep up to date with Germany vs Brazil world cup news, for example, at Coral while you’re away; odds on all matches will be regularly updated.
Brasilia and Manaus
Twelve cities will host matches – assuming construction goes to plan – but Rio de Janeiro will be the hot destination for many foreign visitors. If you get a chance to visit Brasilia, you should; it’s an extraordinary mid-20th century modernist vision created by architect Oscar Niemeyer, who was still working from his Rio beach-front office after his 100th birthday!
Travellers to Manaus (where England are playing) will be amazed by this city carved out of the rainforest, on the back of the profits of the rubber trade. The fantastic Teatro Amazonas, an opera house that opened in 1897, has been restored to its former glory since 1990.
Rio
Rio is a dream destination for anyone who enjoys travel, and the beaches alone are reason enough to go there. Ipanema is the preferred spot for Cariocas – Rio residents – but don’t miss the coconut stalls along Copacabana beach. The views from Sugar Loaf Mountain and the statue of “Christ The Redeemer” are hard to beat; if you have a head for heights, take the cable car to the former. There’s a cog-driven train that makes a steep ascent to the statue.
Eating
Brazilian cuisine is fantastic, especially for meat lovers. Try feijoada, a beef, pork and black bean stew; tradition dictates that it’s only served on Saturday, but the Casa de Feijoada in Ipanema will serve up this delicious, filling dish any time you like.
Finally, for serious carnivores, a visit to a churrascaria is a must. Seemingly endless helpings of top-quality barbecued meats are brought to your plate, from huge steaks to chicken hearts. One of the best is Barbacoa in Sao Paulo. The waiters here will not stop bringing you fabulous meat until you tell them to, and all for a fixed price!
Language
And how do you say hello? Bom Dia!
(Images courtesy of futbolita.com, wikipedia, globorati.com, cucabrazuca.com)
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A 15 year old boy has been found dead at his home in his home in Balerno.
Emergency services were called to a house in Balerno’s Lovedale Road just after 9am on Tuesday.
The youngster who was a pupil at Balerno High School has not been named.
It is not known at this time how the teenager died but a police spokesman said the death was “unexplained” and being treated as “not suspicious”.
The police spokesman added: “Police in Edinburgh were called to an address in Lovedale Road, Balerno at around 9.05am on Tuesday 15 April following the sudden death of a 15-year-old boy.
“Enquiries are at a very early stage and the death is being treated as unexplained.”
The funeral of 12-year-old Keane Wallis-Bennett who died after a free standing wall collapsed on her at Liberton High School on 1 April is due to be held later today.
A revision programme has been cancelled on Thursday to allow pupils to attend Keane’s funeral at Mortonhall Crematorium and her family has asked mourners to wear bright colours at the service and it is understood that many of her friends will wear onesies.
The service will take place at 11am in the main chapel and Head teacher Stephen Kelly will attend, along with other representatives from the City of Edinburgh Council.
The school has been closed since the incident with counselling available for pupils and revision for upcoming exams going ahead.
It is due to open on 22 April following the Easter break but the gym building where Keane died will remain closed, and could be demolished following the completion of a police investigation.
Sam Stanton has signed a new deal, which sees him commit to Hibs for four years after agreeing to extend his contract until the summer of 2018.
The 19-year-old midfielder who graduated from the club’s Academy joined the youth set-up when he was 12 and this season he has emerged as a first team regular as well as gaining international recognition with Scotland under-21s.
Now the lifelong Hibs’ supporter says he is looking forward to continuing his development at Easter Road.
He told Hibernian TV: “I’m very excited about the future here at Hibs and I’m delighted to have agreed an extension to my contract.
“It was a really easy decision for me to make; I’ve always wanted to play for Hibs and everything that has happened so far has been like a dream come true for me.
“There is a lot to look forward to and I’m pleased to be on board for the next four years; to get that recognition from the club was a great feeling.
“Right now though, we’ve got to make sure we finish this season positively.
“We’ve got five games left and if we stick to our task then the wins will come and hopefully that’s exactly what will happen.”
Manager Terry Butcher says he is aiming to make Stanton a key part of his long-term plans at Hibernian and is delighted with the teenager’s progress so far.
Butcher said: “Sam’s new deal is great news for everybody connected to Hibernian Football Club; he is a talented young player with an incredibly bright future.
“When I first arrived here Sam wasn’t part of the first team squad, but now he is probably one of the first names on the team sheet – that underlines the progress he has made in a short space of time.
“He is eager to learn and continue to develop into becoming a better player and that augurs well for Hibernian in the future.”
Photo by John Preece
http://www.photoboxgallery.com/jlp-photography
Nairn’s Oatcakes Ltd., has secured a new unit in Prestonfield Park to the south east of Edinburgh city centre, adding to their existing 6,004 sq ft facility within the estate.
The company has agreed a deal for a six year lease at an annual rent of £33,170 with landlord Prestonfield Development Company, a joint venture company between J. Smart & Co. (Contractors) PLC and the Walker Group, for Unit 3, Block F – a 4,914 sq ft end-terrace unit. The new unit will be used for Raw Material Storage and the manufacture of Gluten Free cereals.
Pritchard Property Consultants represented Nairn’s, with Burns and Shaw and JLL acting for the Prestonfield Development Company.
Comprising a total of 10 industrial units, Prestonfield Park currently has a range of tenants including PTS Building Supplies, St Andrews Timber Limited, Howden’s Joinery and the City of Edinburgh Council. Access to the park is via Peffermill Road which connects to the A7 – one of the main arterial routes in the city – and the A1 lies approximately 2 miles to the east.
Kirsty Palmer, Associate Director, Industrial and Logistics, for JLL, said: “Over the past year, Edinburgh has witnessed more sustained demand and dwindling industrial stock in key strategic locations offering good quality accommodation. Nairn’s decision to expand on a site which has served it very well to date made good business sense.”
Niall Burns, Partner at Burns & Shaw, commented: “Nairn’s expansion at Prestonfield Park is testament to the quality of accommodation on site, which is supported by excellent links to Edinburgh and the wider area. Prestonfield Park offers modern, accessible and flexible space to occupiers and this is reflected in the range usage including trade, storage, distribution and manufacturing”.
Bruce Walker of Prestonfield Development Company, explained: “We are delighted to see the final unit let at Prestonfield Park. It is encouraging to see existing tenants enjoy business success providing them with the confidence to expand. The units are high quality and this is reflected in the Tenants we have secured.”
Ken McGarrity, Group Finance Director of Nairn’s Oatcakes, said: “The rapid growth in Sales of our Gluten Free product range has brought about this expansion. We are delighted to extend our working relationship with Prestonfield Development Company, and the use of this new unit for Storage and Gluten Free Cereal manufacture enables us to significantly expand our capacity for the manufacture of Gluten Free Oatcakes and Biscuits in our current unit.”
To mark the mention of Edinburgh’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Ian Rankin’s ‘Saints of the Shadow Bible’ the author was invited to help create a cocktail in the style of the iconic Rebus.
Ian Rankin spent time with Caley Bar Manager, Michael Nawrot, finessing the taste which Rebus would enjoy and The Rebus Rob Roy is the result!
Ian Rankin said: : ‘Rebus is in many ways a complex character, but not when it comes to drinks. He’d want beer and whisky, so we’ve given him the best of both! He’d also want something redolent of Edinburgh – able to warm a body when the weather outside is dreich. This is a full-blooded drink, to be sipped slowly, maybe while enjoying a good read…’
Dale MacPhee, General Manager of the luxury five star hotel, said: ‘I was engrossed in Ian’s book when I came across the reference to our hotel, what an amazing honour! Ian’s books sell internationally and I’m sure that many of our guests from home and abroad are also avid readers. I was keen to develop the association and after chatting with Ian himself, agreed that the addition of an exclusive Rebus cocktail on our list in The Caley Bar was a perfect fit.’
The cocktail which features 50ml Monkey Shoulder Blended Whisky is stirred with 10ml of Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, 15ml of Martini Rosso and topped with a head of Innis & Gunn Lager. The Cocktail is a twist on the classic Rob Roy cocktail, conceived at Waldorf Astoria New York, tailoring to serve Rebus’ simple tastes.
The Rebus Rob Roy is available in The Caley Bar now priced at £10. The Caley Bar is open from 4pm – Late Monday – Thursday, noon – late Friday – Sunday.
Edinburgh Airport on the telly – Book Groups – Funding advice Open Day in Corstorphine – British Academy Big Debate in Edinburgh – Scottish Secretary in Murrayfield
A new two-part documentary, filmed over the course of a year, will give viewers a unique insight into the operations of Scotland’s busiest airport and what it really takes to make Edinburgh Airport tick.
The first of two hour-long programmes will air tonight at 9pm on BBC One Scotland.
The film crew followed individuals and teams from around the Edinburgh Airport for almost 12 months and captured some of the most exciting and stressful times the airport has ever seen, including the busiest day on record last summer where over 40,000 passengers travelled through the airport and the arrival of Suzie, the first Highland cow to set foot in the terminal.
No stone was left unturned as the film crew delved into the nitty gritty of airport life. From recording the day-to-day workings of the busy airport control centre, following an Airport Duty Manager as they oversee the entire airport operation armed with nothing but a mobile phone, and following the airline business development team all the way to Budapest for the annual Routes Europe Conference where airport and airlines forge new and exciting partnerships.
Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport, said: “Although a little daunting at first, I’m delighted we decided to take the leap into the unknown and allow the BBC into the airport.
“Having already seen a sneak preview of the final programmes, I believe this is an honest, no holds barred, portrayal of our airport with the team following us during the busiest year we have ever known.
“As I’m sure many of my colleagues in aviation will agree, ours is an industry where we like to be in control and having a film crew capture you at your busiest, and potentially weakest points, can be a nerve-wracking experience.
“However, I believe we’ve helped make a programme which will provide an interesting insight into the daily operations of our airport and showcase the vibrancy and personalities of the people who work here.”
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Needing some Easter reading inspiration? The book groups across all Edinburgh City libraries are reading a wide selection of novels and non-fiction. You can read more here.
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British Academy Big Debate: The Best Years of our Lives? Body, Brain and Well-Being
Assembly Hall, Mound Place, EH1 2LU
Tuesday 29 April 2014 at 6pm
This debate will discuss the true consequences of an ageing brain and body, how our genes, environments and lifestyles affect our older selves and whether it is time to rethink what we perceive an older person is capable of.
Speakers include Professor Ian Deary (University of Edinburgh), Professor Catharine Ward Thompson (University of Edinburgh), Sally Magnusson (BBC Scotland) and Professor James Goodwin (Age UK)
The event is free to attend, please register on the British Academy website.
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The news all Hearts supporters have been hoping for came tantalisingly closer today with the news that Edinburgh’s most successful football club moved a step closer to coming out of administration after creditors of the now defunct Lithuanian bank Ukio Bankas approved the sale of shares in the club.
Ukio Bankas is Hearts’ biggest creditor and owns 29% of the club’s shares as well as holding a security over Tynecastle Stadium, Hearts home for the past 128 years. However, these shares will now be sold following agreement at a meeting of the bank’s creditors committee in Lithuania on Wednesday.
Ian Murray MP, who has fronted the Foundation of Hearts, the fans group who hope eventually to run Hearts, said: “Ukio Bankas creditors met this morning and approved the deal. Sale and purchase agreement needs completed, but we can say deal done. It is absolutely fantastic news.”
Following the agreement last week with the bank’s parent company, UBIG, to buy the investment company’s 50% holding in Hearts, it seems almost certain Hearts will exit administration in a matter of weeks, thus enabling businesswoman Ann Budge to complete a £2.5m takeover of Hearts before transferring ownership to the Foundation of Hearts within five years.
Budge gave a brief statement to the media following the announcement:-
“This is the beginning of a new era for Heart of Midlothian Football Club,” she said. “I would personally like to express my gratitude to the fans for their support and I am confident that together we can rebuild Hearts to once again become one of the greatest clubs in the country.
“I’m very much looking forward to the beginning of this new chapter in the club’s history. We’re not across the line just yet but this is a very positive step and we are almost there. The fans have been magnificent throughout but I would urge them to keep backing the team in their numbers during the last few games to ensure we get to the end of the season.
“The end is now in sight and together I am confident we can achieve our target.”
Hearts can now begin exiting administration after 27 April – following a 20-day ‘cooling-off’ period for the UBIG share deal. Administrator Bryan Jackson said: “This is one of the final hurdles in the transfer of ownership of the club. I would like to thank the creditors of both UBIG and Ukio Bankas for agreeing to this deal and also the patience and forbearing of Ann Budge and the Foundation of Hearts.
“There is still some work to be done to conclude proceedings, but we are now very close to a successful conclusion.”
The City Art Centre will be showing off a new painting by Scottish artist Wilhelmina Barns-Graham (1912 – 2004) in A-Z: An Alphabetical Tour of Scottish Art, a free exhibition which opens on 26 April 2014 to launch the City Art Centre’s newest permanent gallery space.
The major new painting has been acquired through the Art Fund and Barns-Graham Charitable Trust.
Visitors to the City Art Centre will get their first opportunity to see the newly acquired Untitled – Firth of Forth Series, an abstract canvas inspired by the experience of crossing the Forth Rail Bridge, in the upcoming exhibition A – Z: An Alphabetical Tour of Scottish Art, which opens its doors in a newly refurbished gallery space on 26 April.
The City Art Centre holds one of the finest collections of Scottish art in the country including two other artworks by Wilhelmina Barns-Graham: the oil painting Rocks, St Mary’s, Scilly Isles (1953), and the smaller gouache Seaweed and Stone, Skull (1988). Until now, the City Art Centre collection has not included any examples of work from Barns-Graham’s late period (mid 1990s onwards), which is often considered one of the strongest and most experimental stages in her career. The acquisition of Untitled – Firth of Forth Series which was painted while the artist was in her late 80s, allows the City Art Centre to better represent this Scottish artist.
A – Z: An Alphabetical Tour of Scottish Art is the first exhibition to be staged in the City Art Centre’s newly refurbished lower ground floor gallery. This exciting space has now been redeveloped to create a dedicated area for showing the permanent Scottish Art Collection. In the coming years, visitors will be able to see more of this collection than ever before, through a changing programme of temporary displays.
Scotland has been the home and inspiration of a stunning array of visual artists for generations and the new A -Z exhibition introduces some of the men and women whose work makes up this rich collection. Painters, sculptors, photographers and printmakers from the 17th century to the present day will all be featured, representing the key movements that have shaped Scotland’s artistic identity.
The Scottish Art Collection, cared for by the City of Edinburgh Museums and Galleries, is a Recognised Collection of National Significance to Scotland. The refurbishment of the lower ground floor gallery has been undertaken with the support of Museums Galleries Scotland through the Recognition Capital Fund.
Councillor Richard Lewis, the city’s Culture and Sport Convener, said: “We are delighted to be displaying for the very first time this exciting new acquisition by Wilhelmina Barns-Graham during a very exciting season for the City Art Centre. The upcoming A-Z exhibition will shine a light on Scottish art through the ages and I can’t think of a more appropriate launch for the collection than the centre’s beautifully refurbished gallery space.
“The curators at the City Art Centre have worked closely and tirelessly to line up an exhibition and collection that will do justice to the great work of artists from across the country and the centuries.”
Joanne Orr, chief executive officer of Museums Galleries Scotland, said:
“Museums Galleries Scotland is delighted to have supported the refurbishment of the City Art Centre through the Recognition Capital Fund.
“The redeveloped space will feature a new home for The Scottish Art Collection, which is comprised of historic and contemporary artists and consists of around 3,500 works of Scottish art in the form of paintings, watercolours, drawings, prints, photographs, sculpture and tapestries. The Collection is a Recognised Collection of National Significance to Scotland.”
Jupiter Artland opens on 17 May this year and runs till the end of September with a huge programme of installations, daily performances and solo shows by contemporary artists.
This will be one of the venues for GENERATION and the Edinburgh Art Festival and will feature a gallery with 40 kgs of chocolate and popcorn kernels.
Never scared to be different the edge of town art park will surely grab your attention with the wide range of works about to be installed there. It is more than just a place to go and have a look at some art however. There is a cafe, it is accessible to those with limited mobility and best of all perhaps, through its interactive Education Foundation it invites many schoolchildren to come along and work alongside the artists working on commissions there.
The Edinburgh Reporter was very lucky to get a glimpse of Artland during its preparation phase and speak to owner Nicky Wilson there about the plans for this summer.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P54togdJ20M]
Highlights for 2014 include a new illuminated text commission by Turner-prize nominee Nathan Coley for the artland; a gallery displaying 40 kilograms of chocolate by artist Anya Gallaccio; daily performances throughout the summer of Katie Paterson’s Earth-Moon-Earth (Moonlight Sonata From the Surface of the Moon) and Tessa Lynch’s Raising, enacting a Medieval-style ‘barn raising’. 2014 will feature solo shows by artist Mick Peter who brings together concrete wall reliefs and popcorn kernels in Popcorn Plaza, Silvy Weatherall’s exhibition in the Tin Roof Gallery of framed works made from feathers, bones and skulls, and Jessica Harrison’s macabre Broken ceramic figurines. Jupiter Artland is a continuing partner of Edinburgh Art Festival and is delighted to be part of GENERATION 2014, celebrating 25 years of contemporary art in Scotland across 60 different locations.
This year, Jupiter Artland will announce a new interactive audio-visual App, enhancing the on-and-off-site experience for visitors. This summer also marks the opening of Jupiter Artland’s re-designed shop, boasting a new range of merchandise including artist prints and editions by Jupiter Artland-commissioned artists, including Anya Gallaccio, Sara Barker and Jessica Harrison.
May marks the premiere of a new large-scale illuminated text work by Glasgow-based artist Nathan Coley (b.1967), with You Imagine What You Desire which will first be presented in the Steading Gallery before being permanently re-sited in front of Bonnington House this summer. The work is inspired by George Bernard Shaw’s quote, “Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will”.
British installation artist Anya Gallaccio (b.1963) will also be presenting STROKE in May – a work on show for the first time since 1994. This exhibition will see the Turner-prize nominee coat the walls of the Goldsworthy Gallery with 40 kilograms of rich Belgian Callebrutt dark chocolate, exploring how what is beautiful over time becomes putrid and decayed.
Silvy Weatherall (b.1968) will present her studio collection of skulls, feathers and bones, among other intriguing objects in the Tin Roof Gallery this summer. Adopted from her family’s game-hunting business, Weatherall collates and collages the found objects into framed artworks.
Jupiter Artland will also present Katie Paterson’s (b.1981) celebrated Earth-Moon-Earth this July. In this, Paterson sent Beethoven’s ‘Moonlight Sonata’ in Morse code to the moon. Played on a Grand piano in daily performances, the keys seeming to ghostly move of their own accord, composed from the subtle flaws and changes absorbed in the process of transmission, reminding us with every key the incredible journey that the sonata has taken.
Glasgow School of Art graduate Tessa Lynch (b.1984) will be enacting daily performances of a ‘barn raising’ in Jupiter Artland’s orchard throughout the summer, where the artist and a team of volunteers will construct and de-construct a platform structure based on a modern home, adhering to the concept of a medieval barn raising. Concluding the sculptural performance with a lit fire each afternoon, Raising inspires questions about home ownership and modern-day communities.
The Steading Gallery meanwhile will play host to fellow GSA graduate, Mick Peter’s (b.1974) dramatic exhibition, Popcorn Plaza, with the gallery being transformed into a cement wall relief environment strewn with enlarged ‘popcorn’ kernels, referencing the powerful contrast between formal civic architecture and the unruly nature of the popped form.
At the Tin Roof Gallery, Scottish artist Jessica Harrison (b. 1982) will be showcasing her most recent ceramic sculptures in Broken. Harrison re-works ready-made found figurines, unravelling the complex relationship between the body and objects by enacting grotesque transformations.
This week’s photo is from Col Walder, who visited Dalhousie Castle just outside the city.
The Stockbridge Photography Club is a non profit community club. We don’t have any joining fees, and provide aspiring photographers with education and experiences to help them get the best from their camera.
We’re about to announce a calendar of events for the next few months. More information can be found on Facebook or our website, where you can sign up to receive email alerts when we add new events.
Submitted by Stockbridge Photo Club
Research reveals what your sleeping position says about your relationship
Research carried out at the Edinburgh International Science Festival has discovered what people’s preferred sleeping position reveals about their relationships and personality, in the first survey of its kind to examine couples’ sleeping positions.
The work, carried out by University of Hertfordshire psychologist Professor Richard Wiseman, involved asking over 1000 people to describe their preferred sleeping position and to rate their personality and quality of their relationship.
The research revealed the most popular sleep positions for couples, with 42% sleeping back to back, 31% sleeping facing the same direction and just 4% spending the night facing one another. In addition, 12% of couples spend the night less than an inch apart whilst 2% sleep over 30 inches apart.
‘One of the most important differences involved touching,’ noted Wiseman, ‘94% of couples who spent the night in contact with one another were happy with their relationship, compared to just 68% of those that didn’t touch’.
In addition, the further apart the couple spent the night, the worse their relationship, with 86% of those who slept less than an inch apart from their partner being happy with their relationship, compared to only 66% of those who slept more than 30 inches apart.
The work also revealed that extroverts tended to spend the night close to their partners, and more creative types tended to sleep on their left hand side.
‘This is the first survey to examine couples’ sleeping positions, and the results allow people to gain an insight into someone’s personality and relationship by simply asking them about their favourite sleeping position’ noted Wiseman.
Professor Richard Wiseman is the author of Night School, which examines the science of sleep and dreaming after a 2-year study into dream control which was launched at the Edinburgh International Science Festival in 2012.
He returns to the Science Festival on Thursday 17 April, 2014 to talk about his findings in Richard Wiseman’s Night School, sharing with the audience insights into the power of the sleeping mind, and how they can improve their quality of life through sleep. The event involves live EEG projection, a demonstration of mass suggestion, and several pairs of yellow glasses.
The Scottish SPCA is appealing for information after up to 21 pet rats were abandoned in two separate incidents in West Lothian.
Scotland’s animal welfare charity was first alerted at around 2pm on Saturday afternoon when a group of female rats was discovered huddled by the side of the B8084, a single track road just off North Street in Armadale leading to Eastoun Road in Bathgate.
The charity was then called to rescue 13 male rats found loose in the garden of an empty property at 3.30pm on Dean South Road in Livingston.
The rats are now in the care of the Scottish SPCA’s Edinburgh and Lothian’s Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre.
Inspector June Chalcroft said, “We believe these abandonments may be linked given the close proximity of both locations and the fact all the rats are white with grey markings.
“Although eight rats were initially reported in Armadale, when I arrived they had scattered and only three remained. There was woodland nearby so, sadly, it’s possible they have run in there and likely they will never be found.
“We are very keen to trace whoever is responsible for these cruel and irresponsible abandonments and we would urge anyone with information to contact us.
“All the rats are friendly and in good condition and we’ll soon find them loving new homes with responsible owners.”
Abandoning an animal is an offence under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 and anyone found guilty of doing so can expect to be banned from keeping animals for a fixed period or life.
Anyone with information is being urged to contact the Scottish SPCA Animal Helpline on 03000 999 999.
A 21 year old man has been sentenced to 10 years six months in prison for culpable homicide following the death of a 28 year old man in Mayfield, Dalkeith in November last year.
Dean Williams, who was sentenced at Glasgow High Court today(16th April), also received a further three years on licence.
28-year-old Craig Don Essen, also known as Craig Don Klark, was fatally stabbed following a disturbance outside The Rowantree Inn on the evening of Sunday 24th November 2013.
Following extensive inquiries, Dean Williams was arrested and charged with murder. He pled guilty at Glasgow High Court on Friday 21st March 2014.
Detective Inspector Scott Cunningham from the Major Investigation Team, who led the investigation, said: “I acknowledge this sentence which has been handed down to Dean Williams.
“My thoughts are with Craig’s family and I pay tribute to them for their dignity and strength shown throughout this tragedy and I sincerely hope this brings some form of closure to them.”
A man has been arrested and charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act as part of a Police Scotland investigation into the importation of cannabis into the UK.
Detectives in Edinburgh seized over 8.2kg of cannabis from two parcel delivery depots in February and established the drugs had been shipped from Canada.
Further enquiries were carried out and revealed that similar packages had been sent to other depots across Britain.
Officers from the Capital then travelled to London on Friday 11th April and detained a man at a hotel in the centre of the city.
At this time a further 15kg of cannabis was recovered from a parcel depot in the Soho area.
In total, cannabis worth over £100,000 was seized along with around £2,500 in cash.
The 49-year-old was transferred back to Edinburgh and was due to appear in court yesterday.
Detective Inspector John Kavanagh said: “As this arrest demonstrates, Police Scotland are committed to tackling drug crime wherever it arises and however far it stretches beyond our borders.
“Anyone responsible for the production or distribution of drugs in and out of Scotland will be robustly pursed by our officers.”
Police in the north east of England are appealing for the public’s help in finding a missing man who may have travelled to Scotland.
Richard Bennett was reported missing on Wednesday 9th April after not being seen by his neighbours on Lumley Court in Hebburn, South Tyneside, for more than a week. Officers have carried out enquiries and believe he may have gone to Scotland.
The 44-year-old, who had been expected to return home on Friday 11th April, is described as 5ft 8 to 5ft 10, stocky build, with dark short hair and facial hair. He may have been wearing a red waterproof jacket, dark walking trousers with green gaiters and walking boots and carrying a rucksack.
Anyone with information on Richard’s whereabouts is urged to contact Northumbria Police on 101.
