Accies retain their Premiership status at Hawthornden’s Premiership play-off match 

Despite a stiff wind, Edinburgh Academy and Stewarts-Melville played out an exciting match at Bonnyrigg on Saturday with the final place in the RBS Premiership as the prize.

Accies had the majority of the early possession and, with just over 10 minutes played, crossed the line for the first touch down. Unfortunately, No. 10 Alex Blair, had made a ‘double movement’ reaching for the line and a penalty was awarded to Stew-Mel, allowing the ‘visitors’, to clear. However, it wasn’t too long before Accies were pounding on the door of Stew-Mel’s defence once more and, this time, the try stood. Quick ball through the hands put No 12, Iain Berthinussen, outside his opposing centre and across the line for the opening score. The wind drifted Blair’s kick wide, but the score was 5-0 to Accies.

The wind had played against Stew-Mel early on with a couple of clearing kicks clearing Accies dead ball line, but once they got in their stride, they advanced upfield and put Accies under some pressure. A powerful run by Mike Hanning put the ball in the hands of Scott Brewster and in the ensuing ruck, Stew-Mel were awarded a penalty, which No 10, Nick McCashin knocked over to bring the scoreline up to 5-3.

For the next ten minutes, or so, the match swung back and forth, with Stew-Mel coming closest to their opponents line and puting them under some pressure. This period of play ended when another ruck infringement gave McCashin a second pot at goal. Kick over, score 6-5 to Stew-Mel. Accies then managed to get the lead back before half time, from a successful Blair penalty shot at goal – which he had been avoiding for most of the half – which put the half time score at 8-5 to Edinburgh Academy.

Within two minutes of the second half starting, Accies had increased their point tally to 13 with a fine try in the right corner. Blair got round the outside of the defence and set up a passing move which reached across the field to No 11, Nyle Godsmark, who crashed through two defenders to cross the line for Accies second try. With the wind still playing its part, Blair’s kick was wide, but the score was now 13-6 to Accies, augmented a few minutes later by another successful Blair penalty, which stretched the score out to 16-6.

It was now Stew-Mel’s turn to dominate the possession and territory battle with a fine display that was finished off with a try near the posts. Forwards and backs combined well to move the ball to within a few metres of the Accies line, and almost puting centre, Neil Bowie through, but again, quick recycled ball had Accies defence scrambling and a maul down the left put McCashin over for their try. Photo and witness ‘evidence’ suggested that he might have been short of the line, but, as soon as the referee put his hand up and blew his whistle, the try was scored. No arguments. McCashin then kicked the conversion to pull Stew-Mel up to within three points at 16-13.

From here on, however, the superior game play of the Edinburgh Academy players took over and the rest of the match was largely played deep in the Stew-Mel half. Their reward came with just over five minutes left. A succession of rucks and passes set up the final ruck which, No 8, Callum Reid, took advantage of to burrow through and score the decisive try. With Blair’s kick going over, the 23-13 scoreline put the match beyond the reach of Stew-Mel and the clock finally ticked over to full time.

The game was ended with the ball being fired high into the stand from Accies to call time on a match worthy of the reward on offer.

With this match, the RBS Leagues were drawn to a close and next season sees Boroughmuir return to the top flight after their brief sojourn in the National League, to join Heriots, Currie and, of course, Edinburgh Accies as Edinburgh’s representatives at the top table of Scottish club rugby.

Images from the match will appear here over the next few days.

Police officers in Edinburgh have arrested three people, following a racially-motivated attack in the city in the early hours of this morning.

The incident happened around 2am when a group of men allegedly attacked an Asian man in the Downfield Place area of the city.

Two of those who were arrested are due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court tomorrow (Monday, April 7, 2014) with the third expected to appear at a later date.

The victim remains seriously ill in hospital.

Detective Sergeant John Graham, who is leading the investigation, said: “The incident took place around 2am this morning in the Gorgie/Dalry area of the city. We are currently conducting door to door enquiries and have Downfield Place taped off while forensic enquiries are carried out. I would appeal to anyone who witnessed this attack and who has not already spoken to police officers to call us on 101 or contact us through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Eleven football fans were arrested in the Grassmarket this morning prior to the football match played at Easter Road this afternoon.

Fans attending today’s Ramsdens Cup Final between Raith Rovers and Glasgow Rangers were nonetheless commended for their behaviour by the officer leading the policing operation.

Chief Superintendent Mark Williams said:- “The vast majority of the 20,000 fans behaved themselves and had a great day out. Unfortunately, a number of supporters did engage in disorder prior to the kick off and my officers dealt with this swiftly and robustly. As a result, 11 were detained and will be kept in custody. Within and around the stadium itself a further 10 persons were detained for a variety of minor offences and they will be reported to the Procurator Fiscal.

“Today’s policing operation was designed to keep people safe, get fans to and from the stadium with a minimum of disruption and ensure that law-abiding fans enjoyed the cup final. I am delighted to say that the vast majority of supporters co-operated with officers and I would like to thank them for their support.”

Earlier reports had exaggerated the numbers a little but nevertheless out of 20,000 fans this was a small number of arrests.

Disturbance in Grassmarket ahead of Cup Final sees 13 detained http://t.co/pIOf2uEDN5 pic.twitter.com/WB0DH4zvzf

— Terrace Life (@TerraceLife_) April 6, 2014

Thirteen fans detained in the Grassmarket in Edinburgh before the Ramsdens Cup final http://t.co/Iaxsc7wYDY

— BBC Scotland News (@BBCScotlandNews) April 6, 2014

Police Scotland are maintaining their watchful presence over the capital this evening following reports of 11 arrests before the Ramsdens Cup Final this morning in the Grassmarket. The match between Raith Rovers and Rangers FC was won by the Fife side after extra time.

Police are appealing for information to help trace a man who has gone missing in the city.

Josh McNeill had been last seen at Hunters Square, Edinburgh on Saturday about 7pm however police enquiries have established a confirmed sighting this afternoon in Stenhouse Drive at 1.20pm.

Josh is described as 6ft tall, slim build, now clean shaven, dark hair, wearing dark green/brown jacket, light brown jeans and brown trainers. He has with him his Rhodesian ridgeback/boxer mix dog.

A police spokesman said: “Josh was seen at Hunters Square with his dog and we are keen to trace him as soon as possible.

“Members of the public are asked to contact police immediately if they can assist officers with their investigation to trace him.

“Anyone with any information can contact Police Scotland on 101, or the charity Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.”

This competition ends on 11 April 2014.

Earlier this week The Edinburgh Dungeon showed off its first new show for two years to the press. The Street Of Sorrows has been in development for some time,  so the launch was understandably quite an exciting event. The new show is graphically described:-“It’s a dangerous time; people are dying and housing is in a perilous condition. Tenements stretch upwards blocking out the light and the closes are lined with sewage, rats, and who knows what else! Whatever happens, don’t breathe too deeply…”.

We were led through some of the best-loved shows (which have also had some tweaks in recent times) and then met “the foul clenger” or the plague cleaner.  We were led into an authentic recreation of a 17th century street affected by the Plague and the “foul clenger” offered some insight as to what he would do in the street to try and drive out the plague.

Without offering any spoiler it can be reported that the “Street of Sorrows”  gives an insight into a part of Edinburgh’s history that the Dungeon could have been accused of overlooking for too long. However it appears to be worth the wait as the time and money spent on producing this new show can be seen in all of the detail in the recreation.

After the tour of the new show we retired to The Devil’s Advocate  where we were offered complimentary drinks and a chilled out atmosphere where a real buzz about the new show was obvious among those attending.  The continued success of the Edinburgh Dungeon appears to be assured. Merlin Entertainments who run The Edinburgh Dungeon also operate Legoland and the London Eye.

The Edinburgh Dungeon’s new show the Foul Clenger opens to the public today. With 11 live-actor shows, state of the art special effects, 360º theatrical sets, two heart stopping rides along with gripping storytelling by hero characters, visitors can be sure to experience an unforgettable 80-minute interactive journey through 1000 years of Scotland’s gruesome history.

For more information or to book tickets please visit www.thedungeons.com/edinburgh

Now The Edinburgh Reporter can offer you the opportunity to win a family ticket for two adults and two children worth £39 to The Edinburgh Dungeon so that you can experience the show for yourselves during the Easter break.

Enter below simply by providing your email address. Good luck!

The competition ends on 11 April 2014 at 5pm and the winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries received by then.

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Botanic Garden – Football – Science Festival  – EdinburghReportage – Spring Fling

If you are reading this before 11 today then all is well. BUT GET UP AND GET OUT NOW! The best of today’s weather is due before noon according to the BBC weather which you will find here.

So if you’re quick you will be able to go and see Le Bateau at the Botanics before it gets too wet and you have to go and find somewhere to have brunch.

Le Bateau is an outdoor exhibition on display till June this year in the Chinese Hillside and was remade for the Edinburgh Art Festival exhibition Franz West & Artist Collaborations at Inverleith House.

We are deliberately not going to give you any photos of it. Go and have a look and tweet some photos to us!

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There is a big match on today at Easter Road so best avoid that area if you are not heading to the match which begins at 4.

To ensure the game is enjoyable for fans, officers and stewards will be undertaking searches in and around Easter Road stadium to make sure alcohol isn’t brought into the stadium and that supporters who are under the influence of alcohol are not allowed entry.

Specialist search dogs like Harvey who we met the other day with his handler will also be working to detect anyone in possession of fireworks or flares, and those found to be in possession of such items will be stopped from entering, arrested and may be subject to a banning order.

In recognition of the impact the final will have across the city centre, a strict no public drinking ban will be in force supported by local bye-laws.

Licensing officers will also be carrying out inspections of pubs and clubs across the city where crowds gather to watch the game.

Teams from Police Scotland’s Operational Support Division are also working with local officers and the City of Edinburgh Council to minimise any traffic impact as a result of the estimated 30,000 fans arriving in the city on public transport and coaches.

Police officers will be directing coach traffic carrying Rangers supporters to the Regent Road and London Road areas, and Raith Rovers coaches are being directed towards the Leith Links area.

Many fans however are expected to make their own way to the match and drivers are being warned that there are no parking arrangements near the stadium.

Watch Chief Superintendent Mark Williams explaining the way the operation will work today:-

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Edinburgh International Science Festival continues today at Summerhall with a food related event beginning at 11am.

Their Facebook page explains who will be there:-

A day long farmers’ market with a scientific twist, SciMartbrings together food producers, researchers and chefs to reveal the fascinating science behind some of our favourite foodstuffs. With stalls, demos, talks and tasty treats, SciMart brings you a packed menu and food for thought in the form of cooking demos from top Edinburgh chef Mark Greenaway and free, drop in talks from food experts.

• Ali Gower, The Chocolate Tree – The Science of Chocolate: From Bean to Bar
• Christine Knight, University of Edinburgh – Scottish Nutrition in the Newspapers – Stalking the Deep-Fried Mars Bar
• Craig Macfarlane, Bugs For Life – There’s a Fly in my Soup: Exploring Entomophagy
• Eva Schonveld, Transition Scotland – Saving the Planet Three Times A Day
• Shona Glancy, Scotch Whisky Research Institute –Detecting Aromas in Scotch Whisky
• Alan Park, Scotch Whisky Association – Global Protection of Scotch Whisky
• Simon Pampena, Stand Up Mathematician –Mathematical Food
• The James Hutton Institute – Whisky Making, the Science Behind the Art
• Ylva Hagland and Daniel Stunell, Zero Waste Scotland –Scotland’s Food Waste: Difficult to Measure, Easy to Fix?
• Pete Ritchie, Whitmuir Organics – Innovations in Vegetable Production
• Miles Irving, Forager – The Forager’s Handbook

In association with The James Hutton Institute.

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There are also many Science Festival events on at the National Museum of Scotland, until  20 April

We think it will be useful to list them all here for you. The Science Festival events always sell out quite quickly, and the boast at their opening party was that they have already sold more tickets ahead of time than ever before. 

This spring, Edinburgh International Science Festival returns to the National Museum of Scotland to bring science to life with a brand new interactive showcase: Making It… at the Museum and a series of engaging and entertaining workshops, talks, presentations and demonstrations which the whole family can enjoy. Visit www.sciencefestival.co.uk for the full programme of events.

Science Festival family events at the Museum

Making It… at the Museum

5 – 20 April, 10:00-17:00

Grand Gallery

Free

This brand new interactive display takes centre stage in the Museum’s Grand Gallery for this year’s Festival. Making It gives you the chance to immerse yourself in accessible technologies and discover the maker movement. And there are lots of demonstrations and things to do: from 3D printing to giant drawing machines, and from electronics to DIY biology.

Lab Rats: Mammoth Poo Detectives

7 – 11 April, 11:00, 12:00, 14:00 & 15:00 (45 mins)

Free – limited spaces, sign up on the day with your adult helper

Suitable for ages 4-7

The Lab Rats scientists are using poo clues to track down mammoths and mastodons. Explore Ice Age environments through demonstrations and hands-on messy challenges.

Ice Ice Baby

14 – 18 April, 10:30, 11:30, 14:30 & 15:30 (30 mins)

Free – limited spaces, sign up on the day with your adult helper

Suitable for ages 3 and under

Bring your little ones for sensory science story sessions inspired by our Mammoths and the Ice Age exhibition.

Family events from the University of Edinburgh

5 – 19 April, 10:00-16:30

Learning Centre, Levels 2 & 4

Free – some events require a ticket – visit www.sciencefestival.co.uk for further information

Discover science with real scientists from The University of Edinburgh. Visit the National Museum of Scotland’s Learning Centre for free, family-friendly drop-in activities, workshops and shows, covering subjects from chemistry, bio-sciences and maths, to engineering, medicine and computing.

Science Festival adult events at the Museum

Bruno Pontecorvo: Physicist and Atomic Spy?

8 April, 17:30-19:00

Auditorium

Cost: £8/£6/£4 students

Join acclaimed physicist Prof Frank Close of the University of Oxford to explore the life of Bruno Pontecorvo, a brilliant atomic physicist who defected from the West to the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War. Learn about the mystery that surrounded his sudden disappearance, and his immense value for the Soviet Union as Frank opens up a world of intelligence and counter-intelligence involving blueprints of a nuclear reactor, the theft of the materials for an atomic bomb and reveals for the first time the tipoff that led to Pontecorvo’s defection.

Extinct Mammoths, Endangered Elephants

9 April, 17:30-19:00

Auditorium

Cost: £8/£6/£4 students

What caused the extinction of the mammoth at the end of the last Ice Age – climate change, human hunting, or a combination of the two? Coinciding with theMammoths of the Ice Age exhibition, Prof Adrian Lister of the Natural History Museum in London asks whether understanding the mammoth’s demise can help us to conserve their close relatives, the living elephants.

Multiple Sclerosis: A Very Scottish Problem?

10 April, 13:00-14:00

Auditorium

Cost: £5

Scotland is recorded as having the highest prevalence of multiple sclerosis in the world, with around 10,000 people living with the condition. But why is this? And what might the sun (or lack of it) have to do with it? Researchers from the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic in Edinburgh explore the impacts, advances and future outlooks for this condition and Anne Brown, a Scots writer living with Multiple Sclerosis, reads from her informative and comical blog for the MS Society.

Part of Healthy Lunches

Spotlight On: 3d At The Museum

10 April, 14:00-15:00

Learning Centre, Level 4

Free (ticket required)

Meet National Museum of Scotland curator Klaus Staubermann and Tom Seatter from Heriot Watt University and discover how the Museum is using 3D printing technology to find new ways to engage with the National Collections, from archæological artefacts to working machinery and modern jewellery.

Lol-garithms!

10 April, 17:30-19:00

Auditorium

Cost: £8/£6/Student offer – £4

Logarithms are turning 400 so it’s time to party! First introduced by Edinburgh’s John Napier in 1614, the scale of their importance cannot be underestimated. Navigators used them during the age of discovery; scientists built theories with them in the scientific revolution and modern applications range from measuring earthquakes to forensic accounting – logarithms are everywhere. Learn how to spot one with stand-up mathematician Simon Pampena as he celebrates the 400th anniversary of the logarithmic scale. This event will be an order of magnitude more fun than you might imagine!

Supported by Edinburgh Napier University

Choosing a Healthy Future?

10 April, 20:00-21:30

Auditorium

Cost: £8/£6/Student offer – £4

On 18 September Scotland must make a decision: remain part of the UK or chose independence. Our Scotland Decides series asks what this might mean for some key science related issues and the first topic under the microscope is healthcare. Broadcaster Lesley Riddoch is joined by Dr James Mittra of the Innogen Institute; Dr Richard Simpson MSP and Dr Jean Turner, former independent MSP and Chair of the Scottish Patients Association along with policy makers and health professionals, to consider the health challenges faced by the population. They will examine how the people of an independent Scotland might want their healthcare to be provided, discussing the future of free prescriptions, medical training and hospital services.

Richard Wiseman’s Beginners’ Guide to… The Earth

11 April, 13:00-14:00

Auditorium

Cost: £8/£6/Student offer – £4

Prof Richard Wiseman’s entertaining and informative guides are back for another year… Join Richard in discussion with earth scientist and broadcaster Hermione Cockburn (BBC, Coast) as they travel back through geological time to find out about our planet’s fascinating past. Along the way discover how geology began here in Edinburgh 200 years ago, what it takes to become a fossil, who found the first dinosaur and why landscapes look the way they do.

Mammoth Poo Detectives: Lab Rats for Adults

12 April, 14:00 & 15:30 (1 hr)

Learning Centre Level 4

Cost: £3

Why should kids have all the fun? Explore Ice Age environments through demonstrations and hands-on messy challenges, and use poo clues to track down mammoths and mastodons.

Face Off: Man vs Machine

12 April, 14:00

Grand Gallery

Free – drop-in

Artist and designer Dominic Wilcox’s powerful and imaginative design projects provide inspiring new perspectives on the made world. In his spare time he likes to battle against 3D printers in real-life man vs machine challenges. Watch live as Dominic and his hand-picked team of artists & designers take on three 3D printers. Can a 3D printer challenge man’s natural making skills?

In Two Minds?

12 April, 17:30-19:00

Auditorium

Cost: £8/£6/Student offer – £4

As Scotland prepares for September’s referendum, this fascinating event, the second in our Scotland Decides series, explores the psychology of decision-making and uncovers the factors that influence our choices. Dr Tiffany Jenkins is joined by speakers including John Curtice, Professor of Politics at the University of Strathclyde, and Dr Jan Eichhorn of the University of Edinburgh, to reveal how campaign strategies influence voters, the impact of 16 year old voters, the relationship between informed choice and unconscious bias and how our socioeconomic background can affect our decisions.

Barbed Wire Between Cultures?

13 April, 17:30-19:00

Auditorium

Cost: £8/£6/Student offer – £4

Fifty years on from CP Snow’s (in)famous Rede Lecture, comedian Robin Ince asks if barbed wire still separates the ‘two cultures’ of the sciences and humanities. While both art galleries and science museums are packed every weekend, science is under-represented in mass media, but aren’t both disciplines united by their desire to explain and express the world? Arts graduate turned science enthusiast, Helen Keen, makes one woman shows about space and robotics while Matthew Cobb is a Professor of Zoology who both studies gene evolution and paints with maggots. They join Robin to explore how art and science can together convey cosmic ideas, and plot how to tear down the barbed wire once and for all.

Stroke: Information and Rehabilitation

15 April, 13:00-14:00

Auditorium

Cost: £5

Around one in six people In Scotland will have a stroke, with about 12,500 having one every year. The damage caused by a stroke can be widespread and long lasting, and rehabilitation can be slow but it is the topic of much on-going scientific research. Join Dr Nick Ward from UCL Institute of Neurology as he explores the reorganisation of brain networks to support recovery; Lorraine Ayres, Group Developmental Manager of national charity Different Strokes and Dr Gillian Mead from The University of Edinburgh who will discuss the importance of exercise after a stroke.

Part of Healthy Lunches

Exploring Alzheimer’s Disease

17 April, 13:00-14:00

Auditorium

Cost: £5/ Student offer – £2.50

Healthy Lunches continues with an exploration of Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, and one for which there is as yet no cure. Little is known about its causes but we do know that Alzheimer’s disease has far-reaching impacts on patients, their families and carers. Dr Gayle Doherty from the University of St Andrews gives an insight into recent research on the origins and ways to treat this disease while Puppetry in Dementia Care author Karrie Marshall explains her belief in the role of creativity in caring for people with dementia.

Part of Healthy Lunches

Spotlight On: Minerals and Mobile Phones

17 April, 14:00-15:00

Learning Centre Level 4

Free (ticket required)

Did you know that mobile phones contain a small amount of almost all the chemical elements? Sourced from rare earth materials, their extraction and production has serious human and ecological impact. Join curator Dr Rachel Walcott and Prof Simon Harley from the University of Edinburgh to find out more.

Behind the Scenes in Science Publishing

17 April, 17:30-19:00

Auditorium

Cost: £8/£6/Student offer – £4

Join Michael Rodgers, editor of science writing classics including Richard Dawkins’ The Selfish Gene, and author and academic Prof Peter Atkins for a glimpse behind the scenes of the world of science publishing. Discover the challenges of writing about science, the workings of the world of publishing and the process of collaboration between writer and editor that lies at the heart of a successful science book.

The Perfect Mix?

17 April, 20:00-21:30

Auditorium

Cost: £8/£6/Student offer – £4

With September’s referendum drawing ever closer, there are some big questions to be asked about the future of Scotland’s energy in the next of our Scotland Decides series. What is Scotland’s perfect energy mix? Would independence help us to make the most of the nation’s renewable know-how? Could the lights stay on in a nuclear-free Scotland, and the economics add up? Broadcaster Lesley Riddoch is joined by Dr David Toke, Reader in Energy Politics at the University of Aberdeen; Dr Paul Harding, Executive Director of URENCO; Marco Biagi MSP (SNP) and other politicians and key thinkers for a vital debate on how Scotland plans to power its future.

Supported by The Scottish Oil Club

The Blight of Ersatz Neuroscience

18 April, 20:00-21:30

Auditorium

Cost: £8/£6/Student offer – £4

The ‘neuro’ prefix is nowadays very fashionable. The growing interest in applying our knowledge of the human brain to different fields has resulted in the development of a number of new practices – some good, some bad, and some just crazy. Join The University of Edinburgh’s Prof Sergio Della Sala as he explains how some enthusiastic scientists have over-simplified the findings from neuroscience and over-interpreted the outcome, giving rise to a number of tall tales on how the brain works.

Choose Your Scotland

19 April, 17:30-19:00

Auditorium

Cost: £8/£6/Student offer – £4

Whatever the outcome, Scotland’s independence referendum will have a significant impact on Scottish life science research and innovation. The final event in our Scotland Decides series is an interactive ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ style event will let you choose your own Scotland. Starting from the referendum, the audience will select a series of options, by popular vote, that will affect science, innovation and our everyday lives.

Presented by Innogen

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We have seen the trams on our city centre streets quite often in the past few weeks. We have also spotted all of you out there taking photos of the trams. So please share some of your photos with us here on our Edinburgh Trams storyboard.

You can upload photos or video here.

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Smash-hit Australian literary salon Women of Letters comes to Edinburgh on 7 April 2014 for the very first time, immediately after their second critically acclaimed US tour.

On the night the letter writers will include Regi Claire, Jenny Lindsay, Rachel McCrum, Lake Montgomery, Katrina Bryan, Sian Bevan and Katharine Grant who will all read out their letters bearing the title ‘A letter to my missing piece.’

Guests for the UK and Ireland dates include Katy Brand, Andy Zaltzman, Glen Duncan, Aisling Bell, Peaches Geldof, Isobel Davies, Bec Hil, Regi Claire, Jenny Lindsay, Rachel McCrum, Lake Montgomery, Katrina Bryan, Monica McInerney, Sinead Desmond.

Co-curated by writers Marieke Hardy and Michaela McGuire, the bestselling events revive the lost art of letter writing. In 2013, Women of Letters staged shows in Los Angeles, Austin, New York and Indonesia to huge acclaim.

Their international stages have included some incredible women sharing their stories – including acclaimed author Susan Orlean, Grammy award-winning musician Martha Wainwright, ukulele queen Amanda Palmer, author of We Need to Talk About Kevin Lionel Shriver, actress and founder of Rookie Magazine Tavi Gevinson, plus some highly esteemed gentlemen including author Neil Gaiman, troubadour Buck 65, musician and producer Moby, comedian Tim Minchin and many more.

The basic premise involves five or six female (or male for People of Letters) writers, performers, actors, politicians, and artists joining together to revive the lost art of letter writing. Each guest is given a topic in advance (‘A letter to the night I’d rather forget’ ‘A letter to my unfinished business’), they write a letter and read it aloud on the night. The Australian shows have been such a literary phenomenon that three collections have been published by Penguin – the most recent released in November 2013.

Edinburgh, 7 April 2014

The Voodoo Rooms

19a W Register St, Edinburgh EH2 2AA, United Kingdom

7pm-9pm

£10

www.thevoodoorooms.com/

Nico Rosberg grabbed pole position for Mercedes for the second year in a row, while team mate Lewis Hamilton had to settle for 2nd on the grid after a mistake on his second flying lap.

The Mercedes duo have dominated the early stages of the 2014 season, with a race win each and three pole positions between them. It was Hamilton who was the fastest in qualifying for the first two races in Australia and Malaysia, but despite topping the timesheets in all the practice sessions this weekend, he couldn’t match Rosberg’s time on his final run. A mistake by locking up going into the first turn meant that Hamilton’s flying lap was over before it had really begun, and in the end Rosberg didn’t have to put in a second time to ensure pole position.

Final pic… Pole man @nico_rosberg in full flow on @bbcf1 #bbcf1 @therealdcf1 pic.twitter.com/kJY6oxYInD

— suzi perry (@suziperry) April 5, 2014

Sebastian Vettel was the big-name casualty to go out in Q2, as the four-time champion was outqualified by his new team mate Daniel Ricciardo, who claimed third place. However due to a ten-place grid penalty for the Australian driver, handed out because of an unsafe release last weekend, Vettel will begin the race in 10th place, ahead of Ricciardo who moves down to 13th.

Ricciardo’s demotion means that Williams driver Valtteri Bottas moves up into 3rd, equalling his best qualifying result in Canada last year, while Force India’s Sergio Perez also managed to equal his best qualifying with 5th place on the grid. He will start the race comfortably ahead of team mate Nico Hulkenberg who lost out in Q2, finishing 12th.

It was good news for Kimi Raikkonen, who seemed to struggle with the car but managed to outqualify Fernando Alonso for the first time since joining Ferrari. The Finn took 6th place while Alonso only managed 10th after a power loss issue during the session.

Jenson Button managed to outqualify rookie team mate Kevin Magnussen for the second race in a row, while at Toro Rosso teenager Daniil Kvyat starts one place ahead of his team mate Jean-Eric Vergne.

Full Qualifying Results

1 ROSBERG 1:33.185
2 HAMILTON (+0.279)
3 RICCIARDO* (+0.866)
4 BOTTAS (+1.062)
5 PEREZ  (+1.161)
6 RAIKKONEN  (+1.183)
7 BUTTON  (+1.202)
8 MASSA  (+1.326)
9 MAGNUSSEN (+1.527)
10 ALONSO  (+1.807)

11 VETTEL (Q2)
12 HULKENBERG (Q2)
13 KVYAT (Q2)
14 VERGNE (Q2)
15 GUTIERREZ (Q2)
16 GROSJEAN (Q2)

17 MALDONADO (Q1)
18 SUTIL (Q1)
19 KOBAYASHI (Q1)
20 BIANCHI (Q1)
21 ERICSSON (Q1)
22 CHILTON (Q1)

*10-place grid penalty for unsafe release in Malaysian Grand Prix, will start 13th

Partick Thistle 2 Heart of Midlothian 4

SPFL, Saturday 5 April 2014 – Firhill

Hearts SPFL life support machine, which had been threatened to be turned off by Hibernian and Aberdeen in the last six days, finally had its plug pulled in Glasgow despite Hearts producing, ironically, one of their best performances of the season to defeat Partick Thistle at Firhill.

The Maroons were faced with a scenario where they had to win each and every one of their remaining six SPFL Premiership games while hoping St. Mirren would lose all of theirs. There was as much chance of that happening as Leigh Griffiths signing for Hearts in the summer and so Hearts were mercifully relieved of their duties and will play their football next season outside the top flight of Scottish football for the first time since 1983. Whether that will be in the Championship or League Two may well be decided next week after yet another meeting of creditors in Lithuania. The earnest hope is a deal will be struck for the shares of the club meaning Ann Budge can take control and the Foundation of Hearts can lead the way forward – and crucially see Hearts only dropping down one division next season.

Yet again there was a sizeable support from Edinburgh whose devotion to their team this season has been nothing short of remarkable. Those who travelled to Glasgow were ‘rewarded’ by seeing their team go a goal down after just five minutes. A long ball forward reached Doolan who fired past Hearts keeper Jamie MacDonald to put the hosts a goal up and invoke the predictable ‘Hearts are going down’ chant from the home support.

Hearts, with Brad McKay, Dale Carrick, Scott Robinson and Billy King replacing Danny Wilson – who was suspended following his red card against Aberdeen on Wednesday – Paul McCallum, David Smith and Sam Nicholson, fought back but nearly went two goals down when Taylor fired over the bar from 18 yards. Doolan then had a chance for his second goal after fine build up play but his effort was saved well by Jamie Mac.

Hearts then almost grabbed the equaliser when Scott Robinson got on the end of a Kevin McHattie corner only for Thistle keeper Gallacher to produce a superb save. Billy King then had an opportunity to level the scores when he latched on to Dale Carrick’s through pass but the youngster fired his shot wide and it began to look as if it would be one of those days. However, the Maroons would not be denied and three minutes before half-time, King turned provider when he crossed for Carrick to head home the equaliser. 1-1 at the interval.

While it took Thistle just five minutes to score in the first half, it took the Jambos just four minutes of the second period to go in front. Billy King collected the ball 25 yards from goal and unleashed a superb shot which flew past Gallacher and into the net to put the visitors in front. 12 minutes later, Scott Robinson’s corner found the head of Ryan Stevenson whose header found the corner of the net to put Hearts 3-1 ahead with less than half an hour to go.

Hearts were rampant now – something that hasn’t been said too often this season – and six minutes later they scored a fourth goal. The hard-working Robinson raced down the right wing before crossing to Stevenson. ‘Stevo’ turned and fired in a brilliant shot which was beyond Gallacher and, astonishingly, it was now 4-1 to Hearts.

With the news that St. Mirren were losing at home to Motherwell, it seemed Gary Locke’s side were about to survive for another day, even when McMillan pulled a goal back for Thistle with two minutes to go. However, any thoughts of the ‘Great Escape’ faded with the news that St. Mirren had equalised against Motherwell – then disappeared entirely when news filtered through that the Paisley Saints had scored twice in two minutes to win the game. Hearts relegation, therefore, was confirmed despite a superb second half performance in Glasgow – and a result which puts Partick Thistle in the dreaded play-off place.

Defiant Hearts supporters chanted ‘we’ll support you ever more’ as the emotional Hearts players left the field at the end of the game. With performances like this, surely it will be only a matter of time before Hearts are back in the big time.

Partick Thistle: Gallacher, McMillan, Taylor-Sinclair, Bannigan, Gabriel, Mair, Higginbotham, Fraser, Taylor, Doolan, Erskine.

Hearts: MacDonald; Paterson, McGowan, McKay, McHattie; Robinson, Hamill, Holt; Stevenson, Carrick, King.

Referee: Stephen Finnie

Att: 4,262

Top man: Billy King

Looking Glass Books recently hosted an evening to launch Uuganaa Ramsay’s book, ‘Mongol’ and to celebrate World Down’s Syndrome Day on 21 March.

We’ve all heard the saying ‘I might as well be in Outer Mongolia’, and we’ve probably all heard people with Down’s Syndrome referred to as ‘Mongols’ – in my far off childhood, this was the usual way to refer to someone with Down’s; now it has become a term of abuse, ‘hate speech’ bandied about like ‘gay’, ‘spastic’ or ‘lezzer’. Uuganaa Ramsay is in a unique position to talk about both aspects of the word, and this has inspired her to write ‘Mongol.’

Looking Glass Books, surely the cosiest bookshop in Edinburgh, was packed with an enthusiastic audience for this event– from members of the Mongolian community in Edinburgh (some in national costume) to representatives of Down’s Syndrome Scotland, whose CEO, Pandora Summerfield, introduced the evening. Mongolian vodka and a very beautiful cake were served, and added still more to the happy atmosphere.

Uuganaa grew up in a yurt in Mongolia – but not any old yurt; her parents were professionals (her father a vet), and their home was a cut above the rest, with elaborate decoration and many comforts. Nevertheless, they lived the traditional nomadic lifestyle, herding their cattle as generations before them had done. Uuganaa came to the UK on a teacher training scholarship, where she met and married her Scottish husband and had three children – the third was Billy, a child with Down’s.

Uuganaa knew little about Down’s before Billy arrived; within three days he was diagnosed, and she and her family’s lives changed forever. Uuganaa and her husband were devastated by the news. Help came in the form of Down’s Syndrome Scotland, who put Uuganaa in touch with Jackie, a mother who had experienced her situation – this led to a friendship that is still strong today.

Tragically, Billy died after only three months. Uuganaa wanted to keep his memory alive, and also to investigate the use of the ‘mongol’ term, in the hope of raising awareness and acceptance of people with the condition. She also realised that there were few books written from the ‘inside’ of modern Mongolian society, or about Mongolian history. She decided to put this right.

As well as telling the story of Billy’s short life and her subsequent work to educate people about Downs, Uuganaa read some very funny anecdotes from her book. Her parents, visiting the family to offer support in the days after Billy’s birth, disappeared upstairs and were found in bed -they had no idea that it was ill-mannered in the UK to leave the room without saying goodnight. The first time that Uuganaa’s husband complimented her on her tanned skin, she was affronted – in Mongolia a pale skin is a sign of affluence, and as a child she was not allowed to go out into the sunshine when her parents were tending to their animals – she was even given powder to keep her face white.

Uuganaa’s book has been hugely successful, winning her the Scottish Association of Writers Non-Fiction Janetta Bowie Chalice and the Scottish Asian Women’s ‘Achievement Against All Odds’ award. She has appeared on Good Morning Scotland. She speaks from the heart, and her natural warmth and charm ensure that anyone who hears her will not only never use the term ‘mongol’ in a derogatory way, but will also remember the short but precious life of her little boy Billy.

Submitted by Rosemary Kaye

Yes it has started again. Following the delivery of the two giant pandas to Edinburgh Zoo there were high hopes that they would produce a cub. Sadly the first year that they were in residence this did not happen. Last year it appeared that the pandas had been successful following an artificial insemination procedure. Now Edinburgh Zoo’s giant pandas are one step closer to the anticipated 36 hour annual breeding window, with experts confirming a crucial hormone crossover in female panda Tian Tian has now taken place and that she should come into oestrus within the next seven to 14 days.

Working with endocrinologists from the Queen’s Medical Research Institute (QMRI) at the University of Edinburgh, who analyse daily urine samples taken from Tian Tian, the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) panda experts have been able to confirm the all-important crossover of hormones took place on Tuesday 1 April. The crossover occurs when oestrogen levels rise higher than progesterone levels.

The team will continue to closely watch Tian Tian’s behaviour over the coming days to gauge when her 36 hour breeding window begins, and this behavioural monitoring will be backed up by further hormone analysis which will show a sharp rise then sudden drop in oestrogen levels when Tian Tian comes into oestrus. In her first year at Edinburgh Zoo, this occurred on day eight after the hormone crossover, while in 2013 it occurred much later on day 14.

We visited the Zoo this week and spoke with Professor Chris West the CEO of RZSS about the pandas and their importance to the zoo and to conservation. We also asked him the all important question about the probability of an Edinburgh born panda cub.

Much like last year, RZSS is working with a large team of international experts on the science behind giant panda breeding. Panda behaviour expert Professor Wang Chengdong, from the China Conservation and Research Centre for Giant Pandas (CCRCGP), flew into Edinburgh yesterday to assist in decoding Tian Tian and Yang Guang’s behaviour in the run up to the breeding window.

In 2013 Tian Tian fell pregnant after artificial insemination, carrying almost to full term. This was ground-breaking science and the first time such a procedure was performed on a giant panda in the UK. Her 36 hour breeding window showed she wanted to mate, but her behaviour suggested she would not be responsive to our male panda, Yang Guang; putting them together potentially posed risk of injury. In the wild this would not be a problem as she would find and mate with multiple partners during this short time. In the Zoo however, this means they used artificial insemination, the recommended method by the Chinese.

Iain Valentine, Director of Giant Pandas for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said:

“Panda breeding season is progressing nicely and over the coming days, both Tian Tian and Yang Guang’s behaviour will become much more pronounced as we get closer to the breeding window. They will become more restless, scent-marking will increase and they will call to each other. Now that we have seen the hormone crossover we will begin enclosure swapping more regularly, which encourages breeding behaviours. Panda breeding season remains a delicate and complex affair, which takes in cutting-edge science from not only within Scotland but also abroad.”

When Tian Tian is in oestrus, keepers will attempt natural mating as well as artificial insemination. Artificial insemination and reproduction specialists Professor Dr Thomas Hildebrandt, Dr Frank Göritz and Dr Joseph Saragusty, from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) in Berlin, will once again oversee the procedure. Finally, Dr Forbes Howie at QMRI who has been leading on the hormone analysis of Tian Tian’s urine, will continue to play an important role post-breeding season in looking for signs of pregnancy.

The science behind panda breeding season forms just one of many aspects of RZSS’s giant panda conservation and research project. As well as assisting with genetic and ecological research, RZSS also provides funds for work in the wild, such as the construction of bamboo corridors which allow many species, including pandas, to cross into previously isolated reserves.

Iain Valentine continued:- “The survival of the giant panda is crucial. Firstly, the species does not live in a vacuum and a lot of panda conservation resources go towards managing and protecting a large amount of reserves in China, which also directly benefits other species living within these areas. Secondly, giant pandas act as ambassadors, raising awareness about conservation in general; when visitors come to see Tian Tian and Yang Guang they also learn about the plight of many other animals, the importance of preserving ecological diversity and how they can help.”

DESTINATION RUTLAND PLACE

A new destination for open air performances and attractions is on the cards for Edinburgh’s West End thanks to a Council project which will create a brand new event space in the area.

A project to brighten up Rutland Place is scheduled to begin this Monday following detailed consultation with the local community council and local businesses.

The first, preparatory phase will involve decluttering of the space in accordance with the desire to make it a more accessible and attractive for pedestrians, shoppers and workers.

Three trees which have struggled to flourish due to a lack of natural light outside the Ghillie Dhu will be felled and the planters removed in this initial phase, with Caithness stone slabs replacing them.

Meanwhile, designs are being finalised for the principal phase of the project with an aim of completing the area’s streetscape improvements in time for the busy summer festivals period if not sooner.

In sprucing up Rutland Place, the Council hopes to see this area and other nearby West End and city centre locations become popular destinations for cultural and festival events, such as Fringe performance spaces or locations for activities during the winter festival period.

Other areas earmarked for events and performances are the Frasers’ corner, which will host part of the Spa in the City festival next month and parts of George Street and South Castle Street.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “We’ve been pleased to work very closely with the local businesses and community council to develop a scheme for this under-used area in Rutland Place and we’re confident the project will make it much more attractive and accessible for pedestrians, shoppers and workers.

“It would be great to see this and other parts of the City Centre become popular new event spaces, particularly those in the West End. Sometimes it can feel as though the excitement at busy festival times is concentrated more at the East End of the centre, so we want to make sure we ‘share the love’ more fairly across the City Centre.”

Councillor Steve Cardownie, Festivals and Events Champion, said: “With so many fantastic events and festivals drawing crowds into the heart of town all year round, it’s great to see more new spaces opening up. We’re very much looking forward to seeing different cultural activities adding to the vibrant mix on George Street this summer and these additional new event spaces such as Rutland Place will help attract even more people into the city centre.”

The Rutland Place worksite from 7 – 11 April 2014 will be accessed via Rutland Street at the junction with Lothian Road. The works will not encroach on to the carriageway at Shandwick Place and pedestrian access will be maintained around the site, adjacent to the Ghillie Dhu and The Huxley buildings.

Edinburgh Central Library hosted Damian Barr, author of the memoir ‘Maggie and Me’, in conversation with Richard Holloway, former Bishop of Edinburgh earlier this week.

Richard Holloway opened the evening, describing Damian’s book as ‘beautiful, moving and funny.’ It is the story of Damian’s childhood, and of how Mrs Thatcher and her policies coloured his early life – but it is also the story of a young boy growing up in the shadow of Ravenscraig, child of a ‘mixed marriage’ (his mother is Catholic, his father Protestant) in a part of Scotland where these things matter, a marriage that ultimately fell apart, leaving Damian and his siblings at the mercy of a violent, abusive stepfather. Meanwhile, his father took up with ‘Mary the Canary’ an auxiliary nurse and country and western singer, a woman whom his mother described as a ‘whore’s handbag.’

Damian vividly remembers the day his mother left home, taking him and his sister with her. In a grim and empty flat, they huddled together watching the news on a portable TV (back at home, his father had retained the colour set.) The news on every channel was the same: it was the night that the IRA bombed the Brighton hotel at which the Conservative party conference was taking place. Feeling almost sorry for the indomitable Mrs T, Damian soon realised that in his home the only acceptable emotion was hate – ‘Shit doesn’t burn, Maggie won’t,’ said his mother, and young Damian was amazed to learn that when he – more out of conformity than true feeling – called the Iron Lady a bitch, he didn’t get in trouble:

‘I’m allowed to swear about Maggie, that’s how bad she is.’

Terrified of his appalling stepfather, Damian spent more and more time away from home – at his then girlfriend’s house, in the local library, or even with various evangelical Christian groups. The current campaigns to save our libraries may talk about ‘life enhancement’ and other middle-class ideals, but the teenage Barr saw them more as safe, warm places where no-one was trying to kill him.

Sectarianism was a part of Barr’s childhood, although neither of his parents were interested in its prime focus, football. Constantly taunted about his parents’ religions, and asked which side he was on, he was told by his mother to reply ‘I support my legs and my legs support me’. It didn’t work. As a child, he thought the Orange marches exciting; as an adult he sees them as a national disgrace.

Eventually, with the help and support of two of his teachers (who even bought him towels and crockery to take to university), Damian got away from Lanarkshire and, via Edinburgh, Lancaster and Texas, became a successful London journalist – he now also runs a celebrated literary salon in St Pancras, hosting the likes of Armistead Maupin, Patrick Gale and Kirsty Wark.

Damian came out some years ago, and now says that he always knew he was ‘different.’ He lives in Brighton, but explains that even this famously liberal town is sometimes a focus of homophobia – the English Defence League will march through it next weekend. On the subject of gay rights, he says that although things seem to be ever-improving in the UK, there is no room for complacency – it is all too easy for prejudice and bigotry to reassert themselves, and it is essential to remember what is happening to gay people in places like Uganda. Richard Holloway calls them ‘former colonies to which the UK exported its homophobia together with a Biblical justification’, but Barr says he is heartened by the Scottish Government’s agreement to accept gay people from these countries as refugees. He has recently married his long-term partner. Of his own wedding, Barr says that he felt a physical surge of love coming towards him as he entered the room in which the ceremony was held.

Barr’s book has been read (by him – though he had to audition for the part) on Radio 4 and is now to be serialised for television. Next week he will be touring the US and Canada. He was delighted when an audience member told him that Armistead Maupin had recommended ‘Maggie and Me’ as a book to give to a young gay man living in small town Scotland. The wheel had turned full circle.

Submitted by Rosemary Kaye

At the outset of this campaign people were commenting that they did not know who to believe. Now the point more often commented on is that they know who they cannot believe, and that is in my view a key factor in the momentum swing to Yes.

As the weekend of the third Yes Edinburgh Super Saturday takes place, much has changed in the last month. Much of the fear-factor spell that is being cast over voters has been blown away in a cruel wind for the Better Together campaign.

For so long we have heard what a phenomenal asset the North Sea oil is for the UK yet it somehow seems to be a weight around the neck of an independent Scotland. Oil is still in plentiful supply despite belief that it will run out soon. It will run out one day but if the revenues are invested and not squandered there is enough to secure funds for Scotland for generations to come. There is also the not-so-small matter of development of fields up the west coast. These of course are off limits currently due to the weapons of mass destruction housed at Faslane and permission is refused on the MOD´s advice. As technology advances and fields previously inaccessible become realistic more licenses will be bought, more exploration carried out and more oil will be reached.

Additionally this week saw the announcement there are new coal and gas sites being accessed and even a tiny percentage of them would fuel the UK for generations. There is no shortage of energy to access without the need for the Westminster fracking projects – and this does not begin to cover the benefits of the renewables sector in Scotland where we are a world leader and the most energy rich country in the EU, thus becoming a net exporter. Scotland will benefit from the revenues and spend the money in the best interests of Scotland, houses and hospitals versus Trident and weapons of mass destruction – it´s not a difficult choice really. Feed our vulnerable or wage illegal wars? Regeneration of the construction industry with our own money or pay for PFI projects lumbering generations to come with debts due to interest rates that would even make Wonga blush.

The currency scare stories have been a long time in the news but of late there is a more open dialogue happening. We now know that Better Together came up with a strategy of simply misleading the public and keeping their fingers crossed they do not get sussed. They adopt a bullying stance of ”ít´s ma baw an ahm goin´hame wi it if ye dinnae play ma rools”. It is long since established in respected financial quarters that there will be a currency union despite the bullying threats to the contrary. Only this week we heard from a UK Minister that Westminster know there will be. When asked, more than half the respondents in Scotland stated they did not believe George Osbourne and thought he was lying. That is a really damning indictment on the man supposedly in charge of the purse strings. Strangely the same man blames Alistair Darling saying he told him to publicly rule out a currency agreement! This has left AD standing alone and isolated. When BT felt they were on the front foot there was simply no currency union and Scotland could lump it – even though it is as much our pound. Now that they are backtracking suddenly there could be a currency union if the ´English´ voted to share the pound in another referendum – no mention from Alistair Darling initially for the thoughts of the Welsh or those from Northern Ireland. Even this rapidly peddled yarn of another referendum was immediately distanced by Westminster.

A few months back a posse of Westminster MPs, fronted by MPs Alistair Carmichael (Lib Dem) and Ian Davidson (Labour), took great pride in telling Govan dockyard workers that they would be out of work if there was a Yes vote, thrown on the scrap heap, with no chance of Scottish yards carrying on building warships. This week we heard from the MOD that Scotland would continue building the ships as we have the only workforce skilled in these tasks and assembly.

Angus Robertson, the SNP’s leader in Westminster and defence spokesman, said: “These are welcome comments, and put to bed the scaremongering from the No campaign about Rosyth.”

However, Alistair Carmichael, the Secretary of State for Scotland, said that he would check the terms of the aircraft carrier contracts. ”Check the terms”? In what sense? To see if he could stop it happening? This is the man whose remit is supposed to be defending Scotland´s best interests at cabinet level in Westminster. What will Ian Davidson, Labour MP, be thinking now? After all, he was the most disparaging about the Govan work force not deserving their jobs if we vote Yes and that he thought to work should move south. And yes, this does apply to part of his constituency!

Further controversy was caused by Bill Munro, founder and director of Barrhead Travel. Mr Munro chose to email every member of staff with what amounted to an instruction to vote ´no´. This was sent using the company system, to company emails on the staff work emails – it was not simply a personal email and for Barrhead to pass it off as such, saying that so many staff wanted to know Mr Munro´s opinion on the referendum, is laughable. His instruction on how to vote in itself is undemocratic, but to compound the error it was based upon an out of date and dispelled report. Not dispelled by the Yes campaign, but by the Westminster Government. Even more ridiculous was the claim that they could not trade with England for three years after independence. Now there is the very real chance that the people who suffer are the staff given the rumblings of boycotts against the company for the conduct of someone who is now simply a non-executive Director. These are intelligent people so I find it hard to believe they have simply misunderstood how independence will work.

Most disappointingly for the voters this week, and I base this on the communications I personally have had, was the decision of 30 Scottish Labour MPs to vote with the Conservatives to introduce a welfare cap. If a welfare cap policy is in a manifesto and people vote for them at the election then fair enough, but for the Labour Party to vote this way on welfare issues is unimaginable to many and quite galling as to how far removed they are from being the party of the people, and from being the party many people wrongly presume they still are. That is changing one the doors though. In the week when a Labour Lord is proposing 10gbp/month NHS fee to access services and additional 20gbp/night for overnight stay we find a poll showing that huge numbers of historically Labour voting people will vote Yes.

We saw the LibDem conference where their hierarchy criticised Better Together demanding a more positive campaign. Indeed, much the way Labour has gone some of their stalwarts and elder statesmen have declared their intention to vote Yes. Unfortunately the day after the conference closed Alistair Carmichael MP was back to peddling negative myths at the behest of the London paymasters – the positive change didn’t last long.

This has left Better Together somewhat bereft of ideas to scare with and so the EU question came out again. But it was only recently that the Danes said they would warmly welcome Scotland and we would be of great benefit. Indeed, Mr Jens Nymand Christensen, Director of the Secretariat-General of the European Commission and Mr Romero Requena, Director General of the Legal Service in the European Commission went to lengths to confirm the EU have no view nor will they speculate. Even Sr Barrosa has gone rather quiet since he was not given the NATO job he coveted, despite the UK keeping their promise to stand in his corner – who knows, maybe it was because the UK were proposing him. Who did get that job? Jens Stoltenberg, former Premier of Norway. But how can this be? A small nation like Norway at the ‘top table’ of NATO? But we have been told such things are simply not possible and that Scotland would never be allowed to access such dizzy heights outwith the Uk set up.

Again, for some time now we have been told that the referendum is causing business uncertainty and holding Scotland back. That does not stack up either given that the latest figures show a 15 year high for inwards investment.

Lastly, remember when NO were telling us our mobile bills would rocket as call roaming charges would apply? Well, as was already known would happen, the EU have passed the legislation banning any such charges across Europe. Another fear shot down.

I could go on…….

As I always try to do, I will post up the events both Yes and No have running in the near future.

There is one of particular note in that Jim Eadie MSP and Alistair Darling MSP will speak at Craiglockhart Parish Church on May 8th (the details are in the Yes events link)

Yes have talks from cabinet ministers, business leaders, the launch of Scots Asians For Yes – Edinburgh, speakers from the arts, from sport and from various political parties and none. Also Stalls, canvassing, leafleting, door to door surveys.

This weekend is the third Edinburgh Super Saturday and focusses on Wester Hailes and Sighthill area.

Edinburgh Southern Yes activity & Edinburgh-wide.
http://us3.campaign-archive1.com/?u=21ed0fd903266f1bb83ce0e63&id=669f0784ae&e=3682918c65

http://yesscotland.nationbuilder.com/join_an_event?address_changedistance=5&address_changesubmitted_address=eh2+2er&commit=Search&email_address=&page=1

Link here for some No events – Better Together events Inc Door knocking and Blether Together
http://bettertogether.net/page/event/search_results?orderby=zip_radius&zip_radius0=EH104df&zip_radius1=5&country=GB&radius_unit=mi

Hopefully Better Together will offer up some speakers as to date they are not forthcoming, sadly. I have asked on a few occasions, by various mediums, but to date I have no volunteers from them. The ’undecideds’ events are provoking good open debate but it really would be good to have main speakers to represent No too.

So after all that, did you actually fall for an April Fools joke this week? No? Well don´t fall for the scare stories that are being spread to try to mislead you.

Submitted by Neil Hay

Margo MacDonald – Farmers Market – Easter Bunny – Radio 4 show – Free swimming this Easter for schoolchildren

The papers are full of the sad news about Margo MacDonald MSP who died yesterday afternoon at home in Edinburgh. Her position as an MSP will remain unfilled until the next election.

Some fine tributes to Margo in today’s papers, including @edinburghpaper “fearless, independent, our champion” pic.twitter.com/JzceYzffjo

— Andrew Picken (@andrewpicken1) April 5, 2014

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The Farmers Market  is on this morning on Castle Terrace until 2pm. Remember you can go and get a roll and coffee in the fresh air!

A list of the exhibitors is here.

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From today until 20 April 2014 you can go down to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and find a gold Lindt bunny…

You collect a trail map at the Visitor Welcome Desk at the gates and you will actually be given a chocolate rabbit at the end of your search.

More details here but no booking required.

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A Radio 4 show on Monday has a couple of Edinburgh connections – firstly it is made by the guys behind Absolutely some of whom come from Edinburgh, and secondly it is about Edinburgh. Listen in on Monday at 11.30 for the first in a six part series!

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Free swimming for Primary School children this Easter break: from Saturday 5 – 21 April (inclusive), we are once again running free swimming sessions for primary school children at three of our pools across the City, supporting the City of Edinburgh Council programme to get even more people in our capital swimming. This April, Primary School children can swim for free during ANY listed Public Swim session.

Venues and Public Swim session start and finish times can be viewed online via the links below.

Ainslie Park Leisure Centre (0131 551 2400): pool programme

Dalry Swim Centre (0131 313 3964): pool programme

Gracemount Leisure Centre (0131 658 1940): pool programme

Free swimming is also available as part of the scheme at Wester Hailes Education Centre: http://www.whec.edin.sch.uk/

Margo MacDonald was a force to be reckoned with. As an independent MSP she was very effective in the debating chamber, and well able to tell the Presiding Officer and MSPs across all parties that they were behaving badly and that Holyrood deserved better. She was well-respected across all parties, not just because she had been there since the beginning, but because she was good at her job.

Recently she had been campaigning for the introduction of the Assisted Suicide Bill which she introduced to Holyrood for the second time in November last year and which is currently at Stage 1 in its parliamentary progress. A former member of the SNP party she was behind the idea of independence, though she had been officially ousted from the SNP some time ago. One of the reasons for backing the Assisted Suicide Bill was that she herself had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in the late 1990s, and she became pretty skilful at using her motorised scooter around the corridors of Holyrood.

The MSP spoke to The Edinburgh Reporter shortly before being returned to Holyrood in May 2011. As the only Independent MSP at Holyrood at the time she felt that The Scottish Parliament would have benefitted from more MSPs who did not have to tow the party line. We felt honoured that she also wrote an article for us about what she wanted for Edinburgh – in her usual forthright tone!

She was proud to live in Edinburgh with her husband Jim Sillars who is a former politician. She told The Edinburgh Reporter:-“I have lived in Edinburgh for over 30 years and I love it. You couldn’t get me out of here with a knife and fork. I am genuinely proud that I live here and represent the people here.”

Councillor Andrew Burns, Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council, has paid tribute to the MSP.

He said:- “I’m sure I speak for everyone at the Council when I say that Edinburgh and indeed Scotland have today lost one of our finest public servants following this very sad news. Margo MacDonald was a principled and committed politician who worked tirelessly to champion the Capital’s interests at a national level.

“She was truly one of a kind, both passionate and courageous. She will be very much missed and our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with her family and friends.”

MacDonald had a brief stint as an MP, only lasting there for 112 days where she said she learned the difference about power policies and politics.

The world of politics will be all the poorer with the loss of Margo MacDonald.

Scottish Green MSPs paid tribute :-

Patrick Harvie, Green MSP for Glasgow, said:

“I have felt deeply privileged to work with Margo MacDonald on many issues in my time as an MSP, particularly in recent years through forming the Green/Independent Group and working together on the Assisted Suicide Bill. I’ve always enjoyed the wit and sparkle she brought to debates in the Chamber, but she could also offer a formidable challenge when it was needed, and showed long term dedication to the causes she chose to work for.

“Margo won’t now see the culmination of two debates she was deeply involved in; the referendum on Scotland’s independence, and the Assisted Suicide Bill which she introduced last year. But as both these debates continue, I am certain that campaigners on all sides will recognise Margo MacDonald’s contribution to Scottish public life, her vibrancy and her passion. I know I’ll miss her every time I walk into the Chamber.”

Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian, said:-“Margo MacDonald was a one-off. Compassionate and brave, she was a role model for new and experienced politicians alike.

“Her no-nonsense approach was massively popular with the people in Lothian she represented so well. Regardless of party affiliations Margo’s star quality was indisputable. She will be much missed.”

Bruce Beveridge, President of the Law Society of Scotland, has today paid tribute to Margo MacDonald.

He said: ” Margo MacDonald has been a formidable figure in Scottish politics for over 40 years.  She was hugely influential  and committed  to the causes she passionately believed in such as Scottish independence and assisted suicide legislation and she will sadly now not see the outcome of these two debates.

“She was a vibrant and important figure in Scottish public life and a staunch  supporter  of the Scottish legal profession, shown by being a judge for many years for the Scottish Legal Awards.   She will be very sadly missed and her loss will be keenly felt across the political spectrum.

“We extend our thoughts and sympathies to her family, friends and political colleagues.”

Margo MacDonald MSP is survived by her husband Jim Sillars and her two daughters Petra and Zoe.

Industry experts award Scotland’s finest workplaces –

UK Green Investment Bank honoured at the British Council for Offices’ annual Regional Awards

The UK Green Investment Bank headquarters in Edinburgh’s Atria One has today been recognised as one of Scotland’s five finest workplaces at the annual British Council for Offices (BCO) Scottish property sector awards.

The Scottish leg of the BCO’s respected awards programme recognises top quality office design and functionality and sets the standard for excellence in the Scottish office sector. Over 280 of the country’s top designers, developers, architects and occupiers attended today’s awards lunch, all of whom were competing for a coveted BCO regional award.

The UK Green Investment Bank headquarters won the category of best Project up to 2,000msq for creating a flexible, open-ended, sustainable workspace that creates both a welcoming experience for visitors and meets current and future occupier requirements. Located in the Council’s development in Edinburgh’s financial centre, the judges felt the design utilised an excellent combination of branding, technology and staff engagement to create a positive environment for occupiers, all with spectacular panoramic views over the Edinburgh skyline and Firth of Forth.

Other winners at the ceremony included the Scottish Crime Campus in Lanarkshire for Best Corporate Workplace, plus three developments in Glasgow, which took home Best Commercial Workplace, Best Fit-Out of Workplace and Best Refurbished/Recycled Workplace.

All eyes are now on October 7^th when the winners from the Regional Awards will compete in their categories at a national level and also bid to win the property sector’s respected BCO ‘Best of the Best’ award.

Judging Chairman, Bill Ritchie, of Atelier Ten said: “This year’s winners of the Scottish Awards are all projects that have delivered excellence from an often challenging and unique brief. Judged on a number of different factors, including efficiency, sustainable development, architectural flair and of course their effectiveness as a workplace, the winners all demonstrate how good office design can enhance wellbeing and productivity.”

Richard Kauntze, Chief Executive of the BCO, commented: “This year’s awards are testament to the quality and distinction of new office development in Scotland. With the Commonwealth Games only months away, the winners of the Scottish Awards have set an outstanding standard for commercial development and place Scotland firmly at the heart of innovation and design.”

For more information on the awards visit the BCO website (www.bco.org.uk).

Gambado Fountain Park, Edinburgh’s biggest indoor soft play and party centre is set to host a special Easter Eggs-travaganza in aid of SiMBA, Simpson’s Memorial Box Appeal, with highlights including a Forth One Disco with DJ Mark Martin and a commemorative balloon launch.

Various fun and exciting fundraising events and activities will take from 7 to 11 April 2014.  There will be a play about little parachutes, songs and storytelling sessions by Lea Taylor who created and directed the first Young Storytellers Festival in Scotland in 2013 and who is also known for her work at the Edinburgh International Book Festival and the Fringe. Children are invited to dress up in their favourite costumes on the day.

Other activities include a magician, face painting, arts and crafts, ceramics workshops, competitions, a sponsored slide, Easter egg hunt and musical parades with Gambado’s very own Tiger and surprise guest visits by his friends.

The fundraising week culminates with a disco by Radio Forth’s very own Mark Martin from 12-2pm on Friday, 11^th April and a sponsored balloon launch at 5pm.

Nikki Jacobs, General Manager, said:  “We are really looking forward to our special Easter fundraising event this year.  We have really pulled out stops to make it    ‘eggstra-special’ with some great activities planned for children of all ages to join in and have fun and at the same time help us raise money for a very worthy cause.”

Further Easter activities will continue from the 14 – 18 April, including a Teddy Bear Picnic, where children are invited to bring their favourite teddies along for a spot of lunch and a run around on the adventure play frame.

Gambado Fountain Park boasts everything from slides and ball pools to an imagination station and gated sensory area for toddlers. It also features an innovative climbing wall for young daredevils.

Gambado is open from 9.30am till 5.30pm Monday to Thursday, 9.30am till 6pm on Friday, and 10am till 6m on Saturday and Sunday. Prices start from £5.95 per child and all adults are free.

Check out Gambado Facebook for more details and timings for all of the Easter Eggs-travaganza events and activities.

Police in Edinburgh are appealing for information after a man was found dead outside a city pub.

Officers attended at Bert’s Bar in William Street at around 1.40am today after the 46-year-old’s body was discovered within the outside basement area.

The Scottish Ambulance Service was also in attendance and pronounced the man dead at the scene.

Enquiries into the full circumstances surrounding this death, which is currently being treated as unexplained, are ongoing and anyone who can assist police with their investigation is asked to come forward.

Detective Sergeant Neil Spowart said: “We know that the male had been within licensed premises in the area earlier that evening before later being found in the external basement of Bert’s Bar.

“Our enquiries are now trying to establish his movements prior to his death and we are keen to hear from anyone who remembers seeing him on Thursday evening or the early hours of Friday morning.

“In particular, we would like to trace a male and female who are believed to have spoken with the man outside of the pub at around 12.30am.

“These individuals, and anyone else with information relevant to this investigation, are asked to contact police immediately.”

Those with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or alternatively, the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police Scotland is appealing for witnesses following an attempted armed robbery in Edinburgh.

Officers were called to Broomhouse Mini Market in the west of the capital at around 7am today (Friday) after two men, wearing masks and armed with a bladed object, entered the shop and ordered a member of staff to open a safe.

The member of staff sustained a serious wrist injury during the incident and has been transferred by ambulance to St John’s Hospital in Livingston.

Detective Sergeant Graham Grant said: “The thieves left empty-handed from Broomhouse Mini Market but this was a very serious incident and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full extent of what happened.

“We believe that the men left through the rear door of the shop into Broomhouse Place North and urge anyone who knows something that might assist with our investigation to get in touch straight away.”

Anyone with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or, alternatively, the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

SCOTT VS THE ZOMBIES – a celebration for World Autism Day

Ever been to an auction curated by a zombie? Thought not – but you’ve missed out;this week’s event at Stockbridge Library was quite something.

To mark World Autism Awareness Day the library and Artlink Edinburgh hosted an evening for Scott vs the Zombies, a new comic created by Scott Davidson, an autistic young man working together with celebrated comic writer Allan Grant and outstanding artist Robin Smith. The story is set in Edinburgh – in such familiar locations as the Castle, Waverley Station, and even on a Lothian bus. Scott battles the zombies in every scene, eventually saving his Mum and the rest of the capital from doom.

The library was packed with an enthusiastic audience, including everyone from comic art collectors to members of Scott’s drama group. After short introductions from Cllr Ricky Henderson and a member of the Artlink staff, Scott’s Mum Liz explained that as a child, Scott had dealt with the world by ‘becoming’ various superheroes – assuming their characters helped him through each day. An autistic teenager finds it even harder than others to find his own identity; Artlink helped Scott to tell his own story, a story that would illustrate his troubles, challenges and worries through his favourite medium.

Artlink is a charity striving to increase participation in the arts for disadvantaged and disabled people, and thereby bring about personal and social change. It encourages its clients to find and tell their own stories – making something uniquely about them. At first, Scott wanted to create a new superhero to star in the comic, but Artlink persuaded him to be the hero himself, to show himself and everyone else how much he was capable of. They introduced him to Allan Grant, who helped Scott come up with his own ideas.

Scott’s confidence has grown immeasurably through his involvement with the comic. He is already thinking about ideas for Part Two. He has more self-belief – and others have belief in him. Liz said the experience had been brilliant for both of them.

The real fun began with the auction of the original art work from the book, all of it signed by all three creators – after a communal zombie dance, the bidding was fast and furious, with as many of the pictures going to wildly enthusiastic schoolboys (with some pretty generous Mums and Dads in tow) and to slightly more mature collectors. Scott wielded the gavel with great panache and a constant stream of witty asides; it was sometimes hard to hear the bids for all the laughter. A good sum was raised for autism charities, and everyone had a fantastic, illuminating and uplifting evening.

Scott vs the Zombies is available from Forbidden Planet, Artlink and Autism Network Scotland for £1.99

Submitted by Rosemary Kaye

The Edinburgh International Science Festival – Advice for football fans this weekend – Last chance to go behind the Hidden Door – Noah – Fun fair at Ocean Terminal

The Edinburgh Reporter is off to have a word with Yang Guang and Tian Tian this morning at Edinburgh Zoo. In what has become an annual media frenzy the zoo is keen for the Giant Pandas to mate and have a baby panda. Watch this space.

Meantime while you are waiting for that to happen you can take the children to The Edinburgh International Science Festival. There are also adult only evenings. We were at the opening party last night and made a norovirus. NHS Lothian came back with the best reply….

@EdinReporter very nice, but please keep it away from our hospitals.. 🙂 http://t.co/5OHnGu9uHb

— NHS Lothian (@NHS_Lothian) April 3, 2014

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This weekend there will be thousands of football fans going to the Ramsdens Cup final at Easter Road. Chief Superintendent Mark Williams has this advice for fans:-

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Hidden Door Festival has been delighting audiences all week (see our photo today for the contents one of the vaults) and this is now your last chance to go along and have a look at all the different exhibits on view in the vaults in Market Street. This is our preview video which will give you a taste of what you might see or hear.

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We were delighted that Russell Crowe jetted into Edinburgh last week to introduce the fans’ premiere of Noah. We were even more delighted when he spoke to The Edinburgh Reporter!

The film opens today – here is the trailer.

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Ocean Terminal have a fun fair for the Easter holidays! from Friday 4th – Saturday 12th April 1pm – 8.30pm daily

All rides £1.50 (excluding bomber)

Wednesday 9th April – Unlimited ride wristband only £9.99 (height restrictions apply: Above 1.2m).  Session Times: 1pm – 4.30pm & 5pm – 8.30pm

Come along on Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th April, 1pm – 5pm, to see your favourite look-a-like character including Buzz Lightyear & Woody from Toy Story and Hello Kitty!

Following Tuesday’s tragic incident at Liberton High School, the Council has taken immediate steps to visit and inspect its school estate in order to provide reassurance to parents, pupils and teachers.

From 7.30am yesterday teams, including facilities managers and building surveyors, began inspecting all Council primary, secondary, special and nursery schools, focusing on free-standing walls. These inspections have now concluded.

Nine similar walls were identified in changing rooms and toilet facilities in two secondary schools: Castlebrae High School and Leith Academy. The inspections also identified a number of smaller free-standing walls in 11 primary schools, some of which support wash-hand basins.

No concerns were identified with the structure of any of these walls, although some areas have been cordoned off as a precaution until the end of term.

The Council will use the Easter holiday period to determine what, if any, further action is required.

Chief Executive, Sue Bruce, said:- “This has been a dreadful incident and my deepest sympathies, and those of my colleagues, are with Keane’s family and friends.

“I would like to thank head teacher, Stephen Kelly, and his staff for all they have done, and continue to do, during this incredibly difficult time.

“The Council has taken immediate action and we are determined to provide reassurance to parents, pupils and the people of Edinburgh that we will do everything in our power to prevent anything like this happening again.

“It is vitally important that we understand the cause of this tragedy and we are continuing to work closely with Police Scotland as part of their ongoing investigation.

“I have been in regular contact with the Scottish Government and have highlighted to them the course of action we are taking.”

Generous Hibs’ fans from the supporter’s messageboard hibs.net have joined forces with supporter’s initiative ‘Leith Links’ to raise money to enable local children to attend games at Easter Road.

All the money raised will be pooled and put towards buying ‘Kicks for Kids’ season tickets, which now means that fans who want to support the initiative don’t have to donate the full price of a ticket.

Each ‘Kicks for Kids’ season ticket costs £75 and over the years the generosity of supporters has enabled thousands of children to attend a match at Easter Road Stadium.

The minimum donation is £5 which means that everyone that puts money towards the scheme, no matter how big or small the contribution, is playing a part in paying for the ‘Kicks for Kids’ season tickets and helping to provide local children with access to the Hibernian match day experience.

So far 48 Kicks for Kids Season Ticket Memberships have been secured for the 14/15 campaign; already an impressive effort and that’s just the beginning. The aim for this year is to raise enough to be able to purchase 100 tickets.

Susan Linn, treasurer of Leith Links, praised the efforts of the fans, who make such schemes like this possible: “This new development is a testament to the generosity of the Hibee family in helping children who wouldn’t normally be able to attend games at Easter Road.

“It now means that many more people will hear all about this excellent scheme and therefore hopefully we will be able to increase the amount of tickets we can buy.  Supporters can now set up a monthly donation, which will directly enable local children to watch football – the Hibs fans of the future”

For more information visit:

Hibs.net http://www.hibs.net/showthread.php?280410-Kicks-For-Kids-Fundraiser-2014-15-6-Season-Tickets-Bought-So-Far

Leith Links http://leithlinks4kids.com/

Or email leithlinks@live.co.uk

But Chief Superintendent Mark Williams is keen to get the message across that the fans should also behave sensibly, otherwise Police Scotland will take swift action.

Chief Superintendent Williams, who is leading the policing operation at Sunday’s Ramsdens Cup Final match between Glasgow Rangers and Raith Rovers, spoke to The Edinburgh Reporter about the police presence on Sunday at Easter Road – complete with Harvey the Police Scotland sniffer dog!

He explained that one of the more troubling offences which has occurred in football grounds in recent years is the use of flares and pyrotechnics, but fans will be searched at the entrances and police dogs will help find anyone carrying such devices.

Edinburgh Community Food debate the effect of the TV chef on ‘us mere mortals’.

Television chefs constantly enjoy telling us that cooking is easy and fun, with some trying to encourage us to cook with exotic ingredients, that we may have never heard of before and have complicated recipes which seem to take hours to cook. I study Food, Nutrition and Health at University and I am on a ten week placement with Edinburgh Community Food to see what work they do on a daily basis. The main thing I have learnt while on placement is that cooking can in fact be cheap, easy and fun while tasting delicious and simple recipes can be used time and time again with little changes here and there.

Television chefs encourage many of us into our kitchens which is ultimately a good a thing but lose us when the recipes seem more complicated and hard than they did on the television. The truth is a recipe never has to be followed word for word. Chefs seem to have a fancy name for normal day to day techniques for example Sauté usually means to fry and dicing is chopping, chefs also tend to know fancy names for mundane ingredients like a cornichon-it’s just a Gherkin. When on television they seem to live in an ideal world with an immaculately clean giant kitchen (the kind that you see on the adverts), freshly grown herbs and vegetables with free range chickens in the back garden. While working out in the community with colleagues from Edinburgh community food it’s clear to see that even the most basic of kitchens will still allow you to cook an enjoyable meal.

Herbs from a jar still season your dish and you can source your vegetables from the local supermarket. Television chefs aren’t bad but they tend to aim their dishes to culinary experts and not for us mere mortals. Their recipes can be simplified and additional ingredients can be missed out or changed which can make a dish taste better depending on personal taste. Techniques do not have to be as flamboyant as they appear on the television, the way you chop an onion will have no great effect on the finished product.

Cooking something fancy for family or friends? Excellent! But don’t tie yourself in knots about whether you have a heavy based saucepan or chef knives your equipment will be just fine. Using your own equipment means you’ll have cooked it in your own way and it will still be tasty. Steps within a recipe should be followed but not necessarily to time for example many recipes ask you to wait for the onion to soften before doing anything else, however, an onion will soften while it is cooking so if time is short then it isn’t a necessary step in creating the dish.

With so many cooking television shows now on our screens is this putting us off getting into our own kitchens? Are we worried about having to do everything as perfect as it appears on television? Cooking is a great skill to have as it can keep us eating healthily, can be an activity for the children to get involved with or can become a social event. There is also no greater feeling of accomplishment than seeing other people eat a meal that you have cooked and enjoying it with a massive smile on their face. Cooking can also be passed down through generations with children learning from their mothers keeping everyone in the family healthy which can help us all to curb the world phenomenon of obesity. Home cooking can also be tailor made to preferred tastes, can be cheaper than eating out or getting takeaways and you know exactly what’s in your food.

No two final dishes will be the same even if they follow the same recipe as everyone views measurements and techniques differently, so unfortunately no matter how hard you try to be the next big chef your dish won’t be the same, similar, but not the same. So get inspired by your favourite television chef and get into your kitchen and give cooking a go! Even the simplest recipes will show you that cooking IS easy and fun.

Oven Baked Salmon
Now that the weather is getting warmer why don’t you try something a little lighter! Salmon is a good source of Omega 3.
Ingredients
400g small new potatoes (washed)
1 tbsp olive oil
8 asparagus spears, trimmed and halved
2 handfuls cherry tomatoes
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 salmon fillets
Method
1. Heat the oven to 170◦C.
2. Put the potatoes in an oven proof dish and pour over the oil.
3. Roast in the oven for 40 minutes.
4. Add the tomatoes and asparagus and return to the oven for 10 minutes.
5. Remove from the oven and stir making sure any crispy asparagus gets coated in oil. Add the salmon and drizzle over the balsamic vinegar.
6. Return to the oven for about 20 minutes, then serve.

Submitted by Katie Ditchfield

This week’s photo is by Michael Bulman, taken from our recent ”Light Trails” session.

The Stockbridge Photography Club is a non-profit photography club that aims to operate in a different way from the traditional photography club mould. They have informal monthly meetings where they discuss their photos over a cup of coffee and learn about the month’s theme.

Outside of this, they arrange photowalks and trips to various locations and landmarks in and around Edinburgh, providing their members with something interesting to photograph, whilst always having someone on hand to answer any questions.

Visit their website for more information.

Submitted by Stockbridge Photo Club

We were called to Gorgie City Farm this morning to watch some scientific experiments, but nothing to do with the animals!  It was a bit rainy so we retreated to the comfort of the stables where the goats live.

‘Busking Bikes’ demonstrated some weird and wonderful street science to Councillor Frank Ross, Economy Convener and a few school children from Dalry Primary School.

Spectacular street science is expected to attract large crowds from this weekend to Edinburgh’s town centres.

The ‘Busking Bikes’ project is part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival and the City of Edinburgh Council is supporting seven performances from 5-12 April.

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Each trike carries a box full to the brim with impressive, explosive, messy, and down-right weird science experiments. From the power of friction to finding out how carbon capture could save the planet, each demo will explain some of the most interesting science happening today.

As well as watching expert performers do some unforgettable demos, the audience can get stuck in too and learn their own science tricks, from gravity defying water to inflating a marshallow man.

Cllr Frank Ross, the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “This is a really exciting project as we expect the bikes to draw large crowds to each area creating a vibrant atmosphere, colour and life where ever they go.

“The ‘Busking Bikes’ project is being funded as part of the Council’s Town Centre Strategy to build stronger town centres by driving up footfall to support local businesses.”

Dr Simon Gage, Director of the Edinburgh International Science Festival, said:- “Thanks to the support of the City of Edinburgh Council, the Science Bikes can be found across the city in the run up to the Science Festival. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to bring some science out onto the streets, and to get everybody involved in some mind-boggling experiments and dazzling demonstrations. So if you see a Science Bike, come on over and watch out for explosions, weirdness and, of course, plenty of mess.”

Heart of Midlothian 1 Aberdeen 1

SPFL, Wednesday 2 April 2014 – Tynecastle

(Photo by John Preece)

Like a champion boxer knocked to the canvas but crawling back up the ropes for one last punch, Hearts refuse to accept the inevitability that is relegation without putting up one hell of a fight. Having thwarted their city rivals and spoiled the ‘relegation party’ by defeating Hibernian on Sunday, Hearts refused to let even a numerical disadvantage get the better of them by storming back for a well-deserved draw against high-flying Aberdeen at Tynecastle on Wednesday evening.

The consensus was that, while taking great delight in denying Hibernian the opportunity to demote them, Hearts plight was irretrievable, and defeat from a team who lifted the League Cup a couple of weeks ago would confirm relegation. When the Dons took the lead in the second half and Hearts skipper Danny Wilson was sent off, it seemed that was that. However, there is no team in Scotland with more spirit than Gary Locke’s Hearts and, like they did in August, they denied Aberdeen victory with a late goal and one that means the Boys in Maroon are still clinging on to the lifejacket tossed from SS Relegation.

One of the heroes from Sunday’s Edinburgh derby victory – Dale Carrick – was injured meaning on-loan striker Paul McCallum was leading the line.

Aberdeen brought a sizeable travelling support to Scotland’s capital city and the Dons wasted little time in posting their intentions. After just five minutes, good play from Pawlett set up McGinn who brought out a fine save from Hearts keeper Jamie MacDonald. The ever-dangerous Rooney then got away from his marker only to be thwarted by the Hearts keeper before McGinn followed up his blocked free-kick with an effort from 20 yards which went perilously close. It was all Aberdeen in the first half although their fine play seemed to lack a cutting edge. They almost paid for this just before half-time when Ryan Stevenson failed to connect properly with David Smith’s cross and a rare chance for the home side was lost. Right on half-time, Paul McCallum had the ball in the Aberdeen net but his challenge on Dons keeper Langfield was deemed illegal by referee Kevin Clancy and the Englishman received a booking for his trouble. Perhaps if he had been a Rangers player the goal would have stood, bearing in mind the Ibrox side scored from a similar situation against Albion Rovers in the Scottish Cup a few weeks back.

McCallum was replaced by Scott Robinson at half-time with both sides looking to make the breakthrough after an entertaining but ultimately goalless first half. The change seemed to energise Hearts with Stevenson and Smith both having ambitious efforts on goal. Midway through the second half, Hearts almost took the lead. A superb pass from Jason Holt found Calum Paterson on the right. The big man surged past two Dons defenders before firing in a ferocious shot from more than 20 yards which Dons keeper Langfield did well to save.

Hearts were now in the ascendency and for the first time in the evening it was the Dons who were on the back foot. However, with 20 minutes to go, Hearts were deflated when captain Danny Wilson pulled back a Dons player on the edge of the penalty box and received his second yellow card of the evening. An early bath for the skipper and things went from bad to worse for the home side when Flood fired home the resultant free-kick to give the Dons the lead, much to the delight of the travelling support in the Roseburn Stand.

Hearts though, as so often this season, refused to throw in the towel. With seven minutes left they were handed the chance on a plate to equalise when Ryan Stevenson pounced on an error from the Dons defence in the penalty area but, with an open goal to aim at, the former Ayr United player failed to hit the target. Stevenson fell to the ground with his head in his hands and the home support wailed in anguish. That seemed to be the final nail in Hearts relegation coffin. However, this battling Hearts team had other ideas.

With just four minutes to go, the tireless Calum Paterson ran through the Aberdeen defence only to be brought down by Logan in the penalty box. Penalty said the referee and Jamie Hamill, who had driven his team on all night, coolly sent the ball past Langfield to give Hearts a deserved share of the spoils.

The atmosphere at the end of the game was one of high emotion. Hearts aren’t relegated yet – but they can only match St. Mirren’s 28 points. Gary Locke’s side must win all of their six remaining games while praying the Paisley Saints lose all of theirs. As Locke said in the programme prior to the game this isn’t going to happen. But Hearts are at least going down fighting.

Locke was proud of his players afterwards. “First half I thought Aberdeen played well” said the manager. “I felt we had to make the change at half-time to get ourselves back in the game because we weren’t getting enough of the ball. But, credit to the boys again. I thought they were absolutely brilliant, every one of them.

“While we’ve got Partick Thistle on Saturday, the main focus for the club is Monday.”

Locke was referring to the potentially crucial creditors meeting between Ukio Bankas and UBIG, where it is hoped a deal will be agreed to save Hearts from liquidation. Locke, like every other Hearts fan, is keeping his fingers crossed. “We just hope that we can get a good result Saturday, then Monday’s the big day for us and hopefully all goes well there as well,”

Hearts: MacDonald; Paterson, McGowan, Wilson, McHattie; Hamill, Stevenson, Holt; Smith, McCallum, Nicholson

Aberdeen: Langfield, Logan, Anderson, Reynolds, Considine, Jack, Flood, Robson, Pawlett, Rooney, McGinn.

Referee: Kevin Clancy

Att: 13,913

Top man: Jamie Hamill – he may not be the most gifted of footballers but no one can beat his sheer drive and determination.