Edinburgh Parks are green – The Nice Way Code – Sarah Boyack MSP holding event about payday loans- Today at North Edinburgh Arts – Edinburgh Festival Fringe pick of the day

An array of public gardens in Edinburgh are flying the flag after winning national environmental awards.

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The Nice Way Code has crept in by stealth over social media channels in recent days although the TV advertising campaign is not due to start until 5 August 2013. This apparently encourages all road users to be nice and considerate to each other. The organisers admit it may not work on its own:-“We’re not under the impression the Nice Way Code is going to make the roads a wonderful place free of accidents or road rage overnight. It’s intended as the start of a conversation about how we treat our fellow roads users. It is there to support infrastructure and enforcement measures.”

The Transport Minister Keith Brown MSP has endorsed it by sanctioning funding from Transport Scotland along with endorsement from Cycling Scotland and the Institute of Advanced Motorists, Sustrans, Paths for All and the AA. There is a website here, you can follow the initiative on Twitter and on Facebook.

All that is missing then is the code itself.

Since we have not yet seen what it says we cannot comment in any meaningul way, but we are repeating for you here the comment from Pedal on Parliament who have organised two cycling demonstrations in Edinburgh to highlight the need for better cycling infrastructure throughout Scotland.

Pedal on Parliament (POP) is disappointed by the latest government sponsored campaign ‘Nice Way Code’. This year, 4000 people cycled to the Scottish Parliament in support of the POP manifesto, which among other things calls for a ‘step change’ in funding for cycling infrastructure. Research shows that the most effective means to reduce road deaths are changes to the road environment and lower speeds. Education campaigns, especially where not backed up by visible enforcement, do very little.  Spending nearly £500,000 asking drivers, cyclists and pedestrians all to be nicer to one another offers poor value for money on its own. Coming on top of the Scottish government’s last education campaign ‘Give me Cycle Space’, which did little to reassure parents that their children would be safe on Scotland’s roads, this “words rather than actions” approach demonstrates  the government’s lack of commitment to saving the lives of cyclists and other vulnerable road users. It is particularly urgent in light of five years of rising cycling deaths, with nine cyclists already killed in 2013; the same total as the whole of 2012 with five months of the year still to go. In 2009 the total was just four.

Sally Hinchcliffe, one of the organisers of POP, commented ‘ While we don’t disagree that behaviour needs to improve between road users, simply asking us all to be nice to one another without backing it up with real changes and enforcement is a waste of taxpayers’ money. Most drivers don’t set out to harm anyone, whether they’re cyclists or not.  It’s the way our roads are designed and policed that put drivers and people on bikes into conflict. We’d rather see that money spent on cutting speeds, or improving known accident black spots. It’s a drop in the ocean, but it would be a start.’

David Brennan, another of the POP organisers added, ‘The government is keen to encourage more people on their bikes, and yet they are putting no effort into making the roads safer for these prospective new cyclists.  I know of no country in the world where cycling has become safer and more common place through advertising alone. There are however, many examples of countries with excellent road safety records for all road users where they have invested in cycling infrastructure.  With the government pushing on with a number of very expensive road projects with billion pound price tags, is it too much to ask for £100m a year to be spent on saving cyclists lives and on investing in a healthier more environmentally friendly Scotland?’

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Lothian MSP Sarah Boyack is hosting a free event to help constituents worried about payday loans and debt.

In June the Office of Fair Trading referred the payday lending market to the Competition Commission amid ongoing concerns that firms are offering unaffordable loans to vulnerable people with limited access to other forms of credit.

The event will offer a range of advice on coping with debt along with information on alternatives to payday loans.   On the day representatives from Citizens Advice Edinburgh’s Gorgie Dalry Bureau, the Money Advice Service, Shelter Scotland and Capital Credit Union will be on hand to speak to local people.

The event will take place on Friday 2 August from 12:30 – 2:30pm at the Gorgie War Memorial Hall, 338 Gorgie Road. The session will be run on a drop-in basis and no appointment is necessary.

Speaking ahead of the event, Sarah Boyack MSP said:- “Over the last few years, the number of organisations offering payday loans has expanded rapidly.

“People are taking out these loans to pay for the basics like energy bills and rent and outrageous interest rates make it easy for debt to quickly spiral out of control.

“I have organised this surgery to give people information on affordable alternatives to payday lenders and to provide advice to those who are struggling with debt.  I hope that constituents who are worried about debt will come along or get in touch.”

Barbara Swann, Manager of the Citizens Advice Edinburgh Gorgie Dalry Bureau said:- “We are delighted to take part in this surgery which seeks to offer practical advice and support to local residents. We can help – whether you are looking for information on how to make ends meet without resorting to high interest loans or help in dealing with existing debts – come along and speak with our friendly advisers in complete confidence.”

Lisa Bayley of Capital Credit Union said:- “Come visit our stand to find out more about saving and borrowing from an ethical, fair, not-for-profit organisation.”

Gordon MacRae, Head of Communications and Policy at Shelter Scotland, said:- “A growing number of families are living on a knife edge, with only a couple of pay-cheques standing between them and major financial difficulty.

“Many of them feel they have little choice but to take out a payday loan to support their families. But it’s far from a solution. All such loans do is make the problem much worse in the long run.

“We urge anyone who is experiencing problems in paying their bills to seek advice sooner rather than later by coming along to the free event on Friday 2 August, or by calling our free national helpline on 0808 800 4444 or visiting our website shelterscotland.org.”

by Kate Smith

Kate Smith is Nieman Foundation Fellow 2013 at Harvard University, Boston. She is Programme Leader for the BA Journalism in the School of Arts and Creative Industries at Edinburgh Napier University.  Prior to joining the University Kate worked at Stirling and Sheffield Hallam Universities and was a freelance journalist and columnist writing regularly for The Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday, the Sunday Herald, the Herald, The Guardian and a wide range of magazines.  Before that Kate ran her own international magazine publishing company with offices in Edinburgh and Moscow.  Kate was nominated for a British Press award in 2008 for an article on the 2008 Global Food Crisis.

As I prepare to leave Harvard this week, one of the big ideas that I will take with me is educational opportunity, one of the key debates following the Trayvon Martin tragedy.  The fact that the US discusses and promotes educational opportunity so carefully and seriously gladdens my heart. Harvard publicly asks itself the tough questions: can they do more to widen access (which they do through summer schools for High school students and financial scholarships)?   How can any class, colour or religious barriers to accessing education be removed?

One of the reasons I was delighted to be offered a Fellowship by the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard is that it gives me a chance to demonstrate aspiration to students and potential students.  Knowing what is possible is a large part of doing what is possible.  If, like me, neither of your parents went to university (despite their smarts) or you went to a school like mine, then Higher Education in Scotland alone is an alien world.  International education is for other people.  It pains me to admit I spent (squandered?) a good few of my undergraduate years trying to prove I was too cool for school, which was the learned behaviour of school.  When I see this in any new students, I smile.  Knowing that when the spark of a theory, an idea, a different perspective or their innate passion for justice ignites, cognitive change happens.  They start to take their learning seriously, engage and want to learn to see.  Knowledge enables them to see the world as it is and that another, better world is possible.  Education is emancipation and fair access to educational opportunities benefits everyone, not just the learner.  At this learning stage encouraging confidence and self-belief is so important to engendering aspiration but confidence alone is rarely enough to succeed.

University education in Scotland is good.  The Scottish Government’s commitment to no university fees has been key in continuing this.  But across the UK as a whole, one of the tough questions to ask ourselves is education fair?  Is educational opportunity class-based?  If so, then which measures should be taken to mitigate it?  Judging someone on their background is the same as judging them on their colour, creed, gender or sexuality.   Limiting access to all varieties of education on this basis is not only discriminatory but perpetuates elites, elite policy and erodes good society.  Rather than good governance, bad governance results, distracting the people with bread and circuses.  With riots as expressions of dissensus on the inequity.

Perhaps it is easier to ask the tough questions now: how can the full range of educational opportunities be more equitably accessed?  Inequity serves no one well, especially not the future.  Elite schools and universities need to open their doors wider and find the funding to do so.  One of the cornerstones of educational opportunity here in the USA is philanthropic giving which provides scholarships.  Changing the UK tax laws would allow more of this.  As also happens in some States here, the socio-demographic credentials of successful applicants to schools and universities should be openly disclosed.  Education is not only about employment but about altruism, participation and progressive change.  Not politely closing doors in the face of aspiration.  Not communicating by silences that someone does not fit or has been judged as not suitable.   Education is enabling the potential of people from all backgrounds.  Fighting for the plurality of good democracy.  As America knows, this is the way forward.  The UK needs to start a BIG honest discussion about the class barriers to education which blight our youth. For the stakes are high.

Martin Luther King Jr, who got his PhD from Boston University said:- “The saving of our world…will come, not through the complacent adjustment of the conforming majority, but through the creative maladjustment of a nonconforming minority.”

A new exhibition opens on Friday 1 August 2013 of works by Orozco. This is part of the Edinburgh Art Festival but will  continue long after that has actually finished.  The exhibition is sited at the Fruitmarket Gallery on Market Street where you can also get a lovely cup of coffee or a bite of lunch when you have wandered round the art on show and the bookshop.

Gabriel Orozco (born Jalapa, Veracruz, 1962) is one of the foremost international artists of our age. Rising to prominence in the early 1990s, he has developed a consistently innovative practice, making work which not only captures the imagination but also powerfully engages with key material and conceptual issues of what it is to make art.

This new exhibition takes the 2005 painting The Eye of Go as its starting point, and looks at how the circular geometric motif of this painting – part of a way of thinking for Orozco, a way to collect together ideas of structure, organisation and perspective – migrates onto other work, recurring in other paintings, sculptures and photographs.
A highlight of the exhibition is a series of large geometric works on acetate, made in the mid 1990s, yet never before exhibited. Rather than surveying the whole range of Orozco’s practice, the exhibition seeks to cut a conceptual slice through it, to look deeply into the mechanics of the artist’s thinking and working process. Not only does the exhibition propose a different view of Orozco’s major contribution to changes in art in the 1990s but it brings to the fore the urgent problem of art’s ‘makeability’ now.

There is a range of talks on the subject, and also a book which accompanies this exhibition. More information on the Fruitmarket Gallery website.

Fruitmarket Gallery

45 Market Street
Edinburgh, EH1 1DF
P +44 (0) 131 225 2383
F +44 (0) 131 220 3130
E info@fruitmarket.co.uk

Discovery of human remains, Edinburgh – appeal for witnesses

Police investigating the discovery of the remains of a baby in Edinburgh are appealing to the public for information that can assist their inquiries.

The remains were discovered in undergrowth around 5pm yesterday Sunday 29 July 2013, by a member of the public who was walking his dog in Restalrig Path, close to Seafield Cemetery.

Inquiries are underway in order to identify the remains and establish how they came to be located in the area, which has been cordoned off while forensic and other inquiries take place at the scene.

In addition to the activity at the scene, officers are carrying out inquiries in the local community to gather further information.

Detective Chief Inspector David McLaren, from Police Scotland, said:-“Our investigation to establish the identity of the baby and how it came to be on Restalrig Path is at a very early stage.

“However regardless of the circumstances surrounding this baby’s death there is clearly a mother out there who may be in need of either medical attention or emotional support.

“Our priority at this time is to locate her and provide her with all the help and support we can. If the mother reads this appeal then I would urge her to get in touch, and I want to reassure her that we have her welfare at heart.

“In addition, I would urge anyone who has used Restalrig Path in the last few days or weeks, who has seen something suspicious or unusual that may assist our investigation, to contact us.”

Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101, or make an anonymous report through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police in Edinburgh are investigating following an incident in the Hailes Quarry Park area of the city.

A woman in her 30s sustained injuries during an attack which occured around 11.20 this morning.

The suspect is described as a white male, around 5 feet 5 inches tall, of medium build. He had blue eyes, brown scruffy hair, wearing a brown hoody and loose blue denim jeans.

Inspector Chris Scobbie of Police Scotland said:- “Anyone who was in the area at the time of the attack, who recognises the description of the suspect or who has any information relating to this incident is asked to contact Police Scotland immediately.”

Anyone with information should call Police Scotland on 101 or the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

This article has been updated on 30 July 07.53am. The area has been changed from Hailes Park to Hailes Quarry Park following an amendment by Police Scotland. 

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TEA AND A TOAST TO CAPITAL’S UNSUNG HEROES

Some of Edinburgh’s finest citizens are to be honoured at the first ever Lord Provost’s Garden Party this summer.

Sponsored by Virgin Money, 500 people are expected to attend the celebratory event at Lauriston Castle on Saturday, 31 August 2013.

The guest list includes volunteers from the city’s third sector, community council representatives, Olympic and Paralympic athletes from London 2012, British Empire Medal recipients and past winners of the Edinburgh Award.

Guests can look forward to enjoying afternoon tea and a variety of musical entertainment laid on throughout the Castle’s magnificent grounds. Tours of the Castle will also be available courtesy of the Living History Group.

Lord Provost Donald Wilson said:- “I want to recognise and reward those who have made and continue to make a positive contribution to our great capital city – particularly the unsung heroes who give up their time tirelessly for others and for the good of their local community.

“Lauriston Castle is such a fantastic venue and one of Edinburgh’s best kept secrets. Its beautiful gardens with their stunning views over the Forth lend themselves perfectly to an event such as this and I’m sure that, with Virgin Money’s help, they will look splendid on the day.

“I am extremely grateful to Jayne-Anne and everyone at Virgin Money for their tremendous support and their ongoing commitment to their home city.”

Jayne-Anne Gadhia, Chief Executive at Virgin Money, said:- “Virgin Money is delighted to be involved in the first ever Lord Provost’s Garden Party. It is important to recognise the people that help knit the community together and make Edinburgh such a great place to live and work.

“Lauriston Castle will provide the perfect setting for such an occasion and I am looking forward to what should be a great event.”

EDINBURGH AIRPORT GIVES WARM WELCOME TO CAPITAL SPORTS CENTRE BID

Edinburgh Airport has given its backing to the Capital’s bid for the National Performance Centre for Sport (NPCS) as the battle to be named as the host city reaches its final stages.

Scotland’s largest airport has pledged its practical support for Edinburgh’s bid with a host of measures that will provide transport and logistical support for athletes and their teams passing through the airport.

These include meeting facilities for arriving and departing teams, priority check in and security processes, lounge access and facilitated business services support.

Less than five miles from the proposed site for the NPCS at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh Airport will ensure that athletes travelling to and from the centre will be given the best possible welcome to the Capital city.

Gordon Dewar, CEO of Edinburgh Airport, said: “Edinburgh Airport will be proud to contribute to the success of the National Performance Centre for Sport based at Heriot Watt University. We believe that the combination of location in the Capital City and the quality of the facilities and services set out in Edinburgh’s bid are second to none.

“Those visiting the centre from outside of Scotland can be assured of an excellent Scottish welcome at Edinburgh Airport and those leaving to compete can be assured of the best send-off and preparation as they go off to represent our country.”

Edinburgh has been shortlisted alongside Stirling and Dundee for the £25m centre, with a decision expected in late summer. The facility is intended to provide Scotland’s top sports men and women with the facilities, programmes and services that will enable them to excel on the international stage.

Heriot-Watt University’s bid provides an easily accessible site situated in the capital city of Scotland with good transport links to the rest of the country and the UK. The University already has a strong sports science programme and close links to community clubs, as well as a number of national organisations including Scottish Squash and Racketball.

Councillor Richard Lewis, the city’s Culture and Sport Convener, said: “Edinburgh Airport has an international reputation for excellence proven by the fact it has been voted Best in Europe three years running.  It is this ethos of excellence that we plan to bring to an Edinburgh-based National Performance Centre for Sport and having supportive partners, like Edinburgh Airport, help us to deliver on this.”

The services Edinburgh Airport would offer will be tailored and branded to the specific needs of the NPCS. These are well established proven services that the airport offers to their top quality partners, including Gleneagles Hotel, their international airline partners and civic and cultural leaders travelling through the airport.

Professor Steve Chapman, Principal of Heriot-Watt University, said: “We have a wide range of backing for Heriot-Watt’s bid to host the National Performance Centre for Sport, and it’s tremendous to see this practical support from Edinburgh Airport.

“Transport links are a key component of  the Edinburgh bid, especially given the importance for top athletes of travelling between training and international competition, and the practical, tailored  support offered by Edinburgh Airport will help to ensure that the Centre provides our athletes with the package they need in their drive to achieve sporting excellence.”

Back the bid at www.goedinburgh2016.com or follow Go Edinburgh 2016 on Facebook or Twitter for regular updates.

Photography in focus this August at Holyrood

Photography is firmly in focus at Holyrood this August as The Scottish Parliament becomes the first UK venue – and the only Parliament worldwide – to host the renowned World Press Photo Exhibition from tomorrow.

The World Press Photo Exhibition is free to visit and showcases some of the most moving and thought provoking images taken during the course of 2012. Photographs include the winning image by Paul Hansen, a haunting image of a group of men in Gaza City carrying bodies to a mosque for burial.

The Presiding Officer, the Rt Hon Tricia Marwick MSP said:

“Photo journalism helps us see the diversity of our world. While some of these images show human conflict and pain, others capture moments of great triumph and wonder in nature and sport. Whatever the subject, the quality and power of the images on display are second to none.

“It is this quality and the thought provoking nature of the images which attracts tens of thousands of visitors to come and see it here at Holyrood each year. We are proud to be the only Parliament worldwide to host the exhibition and to offer those in the UK their first chance to see these images.”

The exhibition runs from Tuesday 30 July to Sunday 25 August, with the Parliament open Monday – Saturday from 10am until 8pm (and Sunday 25 August), allowing visitors more time to come and see the exhibition. More than 34,000 visitors came to Holyrood in 2012.

It coincides with the Festival of Politics (Friday 23 – Sunday 25 August) which features a photography event: The Last Icon: The Impact of Imagery on the 20th and 21st Centuries. Panellists include Stephen Mayes, the former Secretary to the jury for WPP, Dr Martijn Kleppe, a former project worker at WPP and Olivier Laurent from the British Journal of Photography.

Maarten Koets, Deputy Managing Director of World Press Photo said:-“We are delighted that the Scottish Parliament will once again act as the premiere UK venue and give the opportunity for all those living, working or visiting in Edinburgh this August to see these wonderful photographs. With this powerful set of award-winning images we aim to inspire understanding of the world we all live in and the Festival of Politics session will help explore the important role of photography in all our lives. ”

World Press Photo Lecture: The Last Icon – The Impact of Imagery on the 20th & 21st Centuries

Sunday 25 August 10.30 – 12.00. £5.00/£3.50

Dr Martijn Kleppe of Erasmus University, Rotterdam and one time project worker at World Press Photo will present a lecture about how our history and contemporary life is portrayed in photographic images. Joining Martijn will be Stephen Mayes, former Managing Director of VII Photo Agency and Secretary to the jury for World Press Photo, as well as Olivier Laurent, Acting Deputy Editor of British Journal of Photography.

www.festivalofpolitics.org.uk

Discovery of human remains – Council consultation on housing – Lost Voices -Festival at Summerhall -Weather 

Police Scotland have confirmed that the human remains found yesterday evening in Seafield Place next to Seafiled cemetery are those of an infant child. More news is expected later today when the police call a press conference.

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The council want to hear from you on ways to encourage a cooperative approach to housing. The consultation ends on Wednesday 31 July and aims to find out more about ways to develop co-operative housing arrangements.

You can read the council’s draft framework and contribute by email or by completing a survey here.

This week the play Lost Voices will premiere at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Nothing unremarkable in that since we shall be inundated with theatre, music and dance over the next month.

But this play is partly the work of Leither, Alex Wilson, who has co-written a story about Pan Am 103 on the 25th anniversary of the plane crashing over Lockerbie, along with Lee Gershuny of Elements Theatre, and is now helping to bring the production to the stage.

Lockerbie: Lost Voices

Scottish Storytelling Centre Fringe – Netherbow Theatre at Fringe
Theatre

For the 25th anniversary of the explosion of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, this new play gives voice to six hypothetical passengers before and after the event. A US intelligence agent, a Scottish investigative journalist, a retired couple and a mother and her stepdaughter challenge each other with humour, love and courage to either accept the unacceptable or stand up for their personal truth. In poetic language and with original choral music, they speak from the neutrality of death and shed new light on the worst terrorist attack in the UK. www.the-elements.org.uk Age Category: 12+

Tickets here.

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Summerhall comes alive this Festival with a huge array of events for you to go and see from theatre to dance, visual art to talks, it all gets going this Friday and you can find your tickets here.

You can also just hang out in the cafe there… this might give you a flavour of what to expect:-

[vimeo 56101612 w=500 h=281]
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The weather is never far from our thoughts, and recently it has all been good thoughts. But today, sadly, it will all be about the rain it seems….

The Met Office has the following good news for you:-

• Today

  Early fog patches soon clearing to leave a day of sunny intervals and scattered showers. These showers will become heavy this afternoon with a risk of thunder. Best of the sunshine towards Dunbar and Berwick. Moderate southwesterly wind.

• Tonight

  Showers becoming lighter and less frequent this evening to leave most places with a dry night although a few showers are still possible around Edinburgh and the Lothians

// http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/pws/components/yoursite/loader.js

This weather forecast is generated by the Met Office Weather Widget

The death of Hibernian great Lawrie Reilly overshadowed everything else this week. His funeral will take place on Friday. We also look at Hibs’ European nightmare as well as Hearts’ latest financial situation and Spartans’ Ramsden Cup match in Dumfries. Congratulations go to Hibs Under-20s and Under 17s who both won silverware.

Elsewhere we cover Hockey, Rugby, Boxing and Speedway.

Football

Hibs

The week started with the sad news that Hibs’ legend Lawrie Reilly had passed away in the Western General Hospital after a short illness.

Lawrie played 355 times for Hibs in a twelve year career scoring an incredible 238 goals. He also represented Scotland 38 times, more than any other Hibs player and scored an impressive 22 goals, a better ratio that Kenny Dalglish and Denis Law. His performances at Wembley where he scored a record five goals in five games will never be forgotten by the Scottish fans.

In 2005 he was inducted into the SFA Hall of Fame at Hampden and in 2010 he was inducted into the Hibs’ Hall of Fame at a dinner at the Corn Exchange.

A celebration of his life will take place at held at 11am on Friday 2 August at St Andrews and St Georges West Church, George Street, Edinburgh where Ted Brack, Grant Stott and Pat Nevin will pay tribute to Lawrie’s life-time of achievements.

At the end of the service, the funeral cortege will travel to Easter Road Stadium where the cortege will travel up the walkway behind the East Stand to inspect the scarves, shirts, flowers and other tributes which have already been received in large numbers from supporters to mark the passing of a club legend.

The cortege will then travel on to Warriston Crematorium for a short service of committal at 1pm.

On Thursday night, over 16,000 turned up for the Europa League second qualifying tie against Malmo where a minute’s applause took place in tribute to the fans’ favourite.

Unfortunately Hibs lost 7-0 after goals from Magnus Eriksson, Emil Forsberg, Markus Halsti, Miiko Albornoz, Tokelo Rantie, Jiloan Hamad, Simon Kroon silenced the large crowd who had answered Pat Fenlon’s call to turn up in numbers and make the stadium bounce.

Afterwards Pat Fenlon said:  “First of all I want to apologise to the supporters. It’s difficult for me to make excuses; it’s just not good enough.

“It’s embarrassing more than anything else. We did all right at the start of the game then lost a goal and it fell apart. It was very disappointing. I have to look at myself and not just blame the players. We had a make-shift back four and James (McPake) going off didn’t help but Fraser (Mullen) came on and did all right to be fair. It’s difficult at this stage to be positive. The season starts next week and it’s a massive challenge to get things right.”

Meanwhile the club have not confirmed that Republic of Ireland Under-21 internationalist James Collins has signed a three year deal.

Media reports suggested that Swindon Town had accepted a £200,000 bid from Hibs, and Collins said on social media: “I’m happy to have signed for Hibs. It’s been a good couple of days in Edinburgh. I’m looking forward to the challenge of the SPFL and meeting up with the team soon. Thanks for all the welcome messages as well. Also a thank you to Swindon Town, I enjoyed my time there a lot, with the lads, fans and club, and I wish them all the best this season.”

Collins scored 18 goals in 51 appearances for Swindon last season, including a hat-trick in the 4-3 Capital One Cup victory over Stoke City in August and four goals in the 5-0 defeat of Portsmouth on New Year’s Day in League One.

Foyle Cup

Hibs Under-20s progressed to the final of the prestigious Foyle Cup in Northern Ireland, with a 1-0 win over Derry City. Jason Cummings scored the winner while keeper Dougie Horne produced a last-minute penalty.

The youngsters then beat Limavady United 2-1 after going behind. Jason Cummings equalised then Gareth McCaffrey scored a last minute winner to retain the trophy they won last year.

The Under-17s also rose to the occasion with a 2-0 semi-final win over Finn Harps with goals from Lewis Allan and Gareth McCaffrey. They were due to face Derry City, in the final however the game was cancelled due to the weather and the trophy was shared.

Hearts

On Wednesday, the Foundation of Hearts, HMFC Ltd and Five Stars Football Ltd all submitted improved bids to take control of the club and administrators BDO have discussed the offers with the Lithuanian administrators.

Later in the week it was reported that the Lithuanian courts had begun bankruptcy proceedings against UBIG.

UBIG now has a ten-day period in which to appeal the decision but, should the liquidation go through, it would mean that BDO can finally access the company’s   50 per cent shareholding in the club.

Since taking on Hearts’ affairs last month, BDO have been restricted in what they could do, but with the latest developments in Lithuania, they are now a step closer to agreeing a CVA.

On the field, Hearts beat Crusaders 2-0 in Belfast.  Goals by Ryan Stevenson and Jamie Hamill gave them a win in the first of their two pre-season matches.

Stevenson opened the scoring at The Oval three minutes after the break with a close-range header and Hamill rounded off the victory in injury time from the penalty spot.

On Saturday, Hearts lost 1-0 to Liverpool. The opener came on 64 minutes when Kris Petersen slotted past Jamie MacDonald to hand the Reds the lead. The referee then demanded Ryan Stevenson be subbed after the Hearts man reacted badly to a Jordan Rossiter challenge. Worryingly, Callum Tapping was stretchered off with a knee injury late on.

Ramsden Cup

Spartans travelled to Dumfries to take on Queen of the South in the Ramsden’s Cup, but the holder’s proved too strong for the Lowland League side.

Stephen McKenna headed the home side in front and Derek Lyle doubled their advantage from close range. McKenna made it three with a well-placed header from Chris Mitchell’s delivery, then Kevin Holt added a fourth on 68 minutes, with Kevin Motion spurning the visitors’ best opportunity.

Women’s Football

Hibs Ladies returned to action this weekend with a comprehensive 6-1 win over Aberdeen at Meadowbank. Goals from Lizzie Arnott (2), Susan Fairlie, Lucy Graham, Joelle Murray and Rachael Walkingshaw gave the Edinburgh side a 6-0 lead before the Dons grabbed a late consolation goal.

Spartans travelled to Lennoxtown where they lost 3-0 to Celtic.

Hockey by John Preece

After posting a 5-1 defeat to Spain in the U18 EuroHockey Championships in Vienna, Scotland’s U18 Boys kept their hopes of retaining their place with a 1-1 draw against Austria. In order to keep in the Championships, Scotland must not lose to Belgium in their final match. Prior to this, their chances are in the hands of Austria and France. If Austria lose or draw, then Scotland stay in regardless. Glad it was someone else who worked that out….

Scotland’s women were defeated 3-1 by Belgium in the first match of a two match series. 0-0 after 20 minutes, Scotland went ahead with a goal from Nikki Kidd, but two goals before half time and another nine minutes from time, left the Scots trailing at the finish.

(Photo – Kidd in action at Peffermill – J. L. Preece)

http://www.photoboxgallery.com/jlp-photography

In Spain, Scotland’s men went ahead twice in the first half from Kenny Bain, but Spain pulled themselves level both times. Scoring a third just on half time, the Spanish side slotted another three home in the second half to finish off the Scots 7 match winning streak 6-2 at the final hooter.

Rugby by John Preece

It was announced earlier in the week that Edinburgh would play their ‘home’ warm-up match against Newcastle Falcons at Mansfield Park in Hawick on the 30th August. Several former Edinburgh players are currently on the books at Newcastle and it will be a chance for the players to catch up with ex-teammates.

Edinburgh also announced that there would be free parking and travel for spectators travelling to the match from Murrayfield on a first-come first-served basis on the night.

Boxing

Congratulations go to Lochend boxers Stephen Tiffney and Lewis Benson for picking up medals at the 2013 Popenchenko Tournament held in Russia last weekend.  Seven boxers represented Team Scotland, 49kg – Aqeel Ahmed, 56kg – Stephen Tiffney, 60kg – Mark McKeown, 64kg – Jason Easton, 69kg – Lewis Benson, 75kg – Kieran Smith and  81kg – Tommy Philbin and a creditable 5 medals were won over the course of the three day tournament.

Lewis Benson won a bronze, Aqeel Ahmed & Stephen Tiffney both won silver and Mark McKeown and Kieran Smith won gold.  Tommy Philbin (Lochend) and Jason Easton (Craigmillar) also produced notable performances.

The final medal table was as follows:

RUSSIA 30 Entries, 5 Gold, 5 Silver, 15 Bronze

SCOTLAND 7 Entries, 2 Gold, 2 Silver, 1 Bronze

BELARUS 5 Entries, 2 Gold, 0 Silver, 1 Bronze

WALES 4 Entries, 1 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze

UKRAINE 4 Entries, 0 Gold, 2 Silver, 0 Bronze

TURKMENISTAN 2 Entries, 0 Gold, 1 Silver, 0 Bronze

CHINA 3 Entries, 0 Gold, 0 Silver, 3 Bronze

Well done to all boxers and coaches Mike Keane & Raymond Gibson along with Team Manager John McGuire and Norman Watt, who was officiating at the event.

Stephen Tiffany fought Akmalzhon Ormanov (Rus) in the final and lost the first round against the southpaw who landed some quality right hooks.

In the second round, Stephen imposed himself on his opponent from the first bell land with combinations to the head and body which forced the Russian back. Ormanov came back into it later in the round but it was he who looked tired at the bell.

The final round was a more evenly contested affair which saw the attacks ebb and flow from one to another. Unfortunately by the final bell it was the Russian who seemed to land the more telling shots which got him the nod from the judges.

Lewis Benson fought Sergii Bykov (Rus) in the semi-final and the first round was evenly fought and could have gone either way.

Round two was another evenly balanced round which saw Lewis start to catch the eye of the judges with the more accurate shots although the flow of the round was interrupted by the continued holding and clinching by the Russian.

Lewis started to gain the upper hand in the third round and Bykov was resorted to spoiling and fouling which saw both boxers in a heap on the canvas three times, however the decision went with the Russian.

Speedway

The Edinburgh Scotwaste Monarchs battled their way to a 51-39 win against Berwick Bandits in difficult conditions at Armadale on Friday.

Claus Vissing and Craig Cook were the star men with two vital 5-1s in heats 13 and 15.

Sunday evening’s scheduled Premier League clash between the Monarchs and Newcastle was postponed due to a waterlogged track. No restaging date has yet been agreed.

Queensferry RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew were called out to a report of a submerged van in Granton harbour.  

Queensferry lifeboat Jimmie Cairncross was launched and made best speed to Granton. On arrival, the van was located close to the slip-way in the eastern harbour. The lifeboat was taken alongside the van and crew members were able to establish that there were no persons within the driver’s compartment.

With the tide falling, it was decided that Coastguard teams using mud rescue equipment would be best placed to check the rear of the van. The lifeboat crew stood by until the search of the van was complete.

With the search complete and no persons found within the van, the lifeboat was stood down and returned to station.

Queensferry lifeboat Helmsman Mike Garfitt said: -‘We don’t know how or why the van ended up where it did. Our aim was to ensure there was nobody trapped or injured within the vehicle. Thankfully there weren’t.”

The other side of the Canary Islands

Do the Canary Islands conjure up images of cheap and tacky package holidays for you? Well, think again. It may be well known for the tackier type of holiday, but there’s actually a lot more to the Canary Islands than sun, sand and booze in resort towns. Try going off the beaten track and exploring some of the wilder sides of the islands, far away from the crowds.

El Hierro is the smallest of the Canary Islands and is thickly covered in forests of pine and beech. Right up until Christopher Columbus finally arrived in America in 1492, this small island was considered the edge of the very world. It’s not quite that remote today, but it is a real gem if you want a quieter and more idyllic getaway than the rest of the Islands. The islanders speak the purest form of Castilian and you can stay in hotels positioned on the coast at the amazing Roque de la Bonanza, where the volcanic mountains merge with the black sandy beach. It’s tranquil and beautiful, what more could you want?

If Tenerife is your island of choice, you could try a boutique hotel, housed in Garachico, a quiet and beautiful town of around 5,000 people on the island of Tenerife. The Hotel San Roque is a gorgeous 17th century house and it’s located a mere 100m from the sea. Staying here will give you the chance to explore the Lower Island (Isla Baja) area, which is a part of Tenerife that isn’t well known. You’ll find the towns and villages are much more authentic and that they’ve retained a lot of their original heritage – a welcome relief from the standardised tourist fare in other parts of the island.

Of course, you may not be bothered about being right in the centre of things in Tenerife – if you’d like to be in the thick of it you could stay at the lovely and very reasonably priced Sol Tenerife, a resort with a gorgeous view of the nearby beach (just a couple of hundred of metres away). If you go in the winter months it’s a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle but enjoy the beautiful weather and facilities on offer. There are also three golf courses really nearby if you fancied improving your handicap!

With volcanic stone as its foundation, perhaps you’d like to try the windiest of the Canary Islands – Fuerteventura. Islanders fiercely defend the island’s conservation as they fight the spread of homogenous tourism and there are plenty of gorgeous beaches at El Cotillo to explore, or you could visit the Natural Park and dunes of Corralejo.

If you’re after a bit of lush greenery with your gorgeous Canary Island, then you need to go to La Palma. You can find places to stay, including hotels and houses to rent near the La Caldera de Taburiente, one of the most important national parks in Spain. Plenty of beaches and lovely weather, as well as peace, quiet and nature mean you have the best of both worlds.

So, whether you’re after a busy tourist-filled holiday, a quiet, peaceful time with your family or a romantic getaway with your sweetheart, you’ll find a Canary Island perfect for you. Do a little research, you might be surprised what you can find.

Profligate Scots’ Secret Lives Revealed

A first-hand look into the outrageous life of luxury led by the east coast Scots in India – long after they should have all come home.

Max Scratchmann grew up between Dundee and India in the 1960s and 70s, and, in his new one-man-show, The Last Burrah Sahibs, (based on his popular book of the same title) he talks about the mansion-house lifestyle of his parents and their contemporaries – all tenement-dwelling jute mill workers from Dundee and other east coast towns – twenty years after Indian independence and the end of British rule.

Max Scratchmann is a humorous writer and illustrator as well as a popular Edinburgh performance poet, and this witty show provides the chance for an oasis of calm from the hustle and bustle of the Festival to a more gracious – if greatly more eccentric – bygone age.

Join Max Scratchmann for an evening of story-telling as he shares his memories of his 1960s childhood in Bengal when ordinary Scots from the east coast still worked in the jute mills along the majestic Hooghly river and lived leisured lives in lofty Downton Abbey-style mansion houses with fleets of servants to do their bidding.

Fridays 9th, 16th and 23rd August
5:15 pm – 6:15 pm
Downstairs at The Fiddlers Elbow
4 Picardy Place, Edinburgh EH1 3JT

EXTRA SHOW!
Monday 19th August  5-6 pm
Serenity Cafe, 8 Jackson’s Entry,
111 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh EH8 8PJ

Submitted by Max Scratchmann

The Scottish Defence League have been given permission to march from East Market Street and down the Royal Mile on Saturday August 17.

The application was approved by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Regulatory Committee last week after consultation with Police Scotland.

Assistant Chief Constable Mike McCormick wrote to the council saying, “There have been four, main, SDL events in the city over the last few years – February 2010, September 2011, May 2012 and September 2012.

“Although the February 2010 event was unstructured and required the attention of a significant number of police resources, the others have been more organised and there have been no significant public order issues at any of the events.”

ACC McCormick also stated that there is likely to be a counter protest, and other SDL events have seen the group United Against Fascism staging their own rally at the same time.

The council approved the group meeting at East Market Street at 2pm before making their way onto the Royal Mile and to a rally point outside the parliament which would end around 3.15pm.

Police will meet the SDL coaches on the outskirts of Edinburgh and escort them to the meeting point.

BUZZCUT/Escalator East to Edinburgh present: //Buzzcut//
Glasgow’s //BUZZCUT// bring some of Scotland’s most exciting experimental artists to Hunt & Darton Cafe

For the first time ever, //BUZZCUT// will be in residency at the Hunt and Darton Cafe, serving up a range of performances from some of Scotland’s most exciting experimental artists. True to //BUZZCUT//’s ethos, these events will be Pay What You Can and will celebrate risk-taking Scottish-based artists who have a radical approach to creating live performance.

//BUZZCUT// is a collaboration between Glasgow artists Nick Anderson and Rosana Cade who are dedicated to creating innovative events for audiences and artists to experiment with live performance, with a focus on accessibility for experimental work.

A number of artists are already confirmed including Louise Ahl who works with dance and choreography. Her piece Intercourse which previewed at //BUZZCUT// 2013, is a provocative performance that plays with the idea of the relationship between critic, performer and audience as a sexual act.

Also confirmed are powerful female duo I’m Not Her Sidekick (Kirsty Byers and Ellen Ling). Their bold imagery, brutal humour and pop references explore contemporary representations of femininity. They will be premiering a new performance that has been in development at a residency at The Basement in Brighton.

Thomas Hobbins, is one of Scotland’s most exciting new male solo artists. He will be premiering a new performance exploring anger and competitiveness. At the centre of Thomas’s practice is the ability to use humour and play in order to explore the darker areas of the human psyche.

‘Hobbins has the power, and the ability, to make us laugh and think…’ **** Mary Brennan Herald

//BUZZCUT// has been selected for Escalator East To Edinburgh. Each year Escalator, East to Edinburgh helps artists and arts organisations to raise their profile and perform to new audiences as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Submitted by Simon Franklin

Ours was the Fen Country takes as its inspiration the stark and beautiful landscape of the Fens in East Anglia.
Over the past two years Dan has been travelling through the Fens spending time with people who live and work there and recording stories and conversations. Over time, the focus of the research has led him to seek out those who are rare and uncommon – whose way of life is under threat. He has spoken with eel-catchers, farmers, parish councillors, museum keepers, molly dancers and conservationists.

‘It’s as if the deep, wise old roots of the earth are talking. A moving, rich and resonant piece of work’ Venue Magazine

It is these recordings and this landscape that form the bedrock of Ours Was The Fen Country. This moving and visceral ensemble dance theatre piece fuses powerful movement language, sound design, projection and spoken word to conjure the beauty and bleakness of a rural landscape through the memories and experiences of the people who live there. Ours was the Fen Country is located in the heart of the Fens but many of the reflections and contributions touch on wider themes of change, impermanence and loss that transcend the particularities of this singular landscape.

The Ours Was The Fen Country ensemble are a company of world-class artists who specialise in movement and devised performance and who together amplify the lyrical delicacy of this verbatim material with extraordinary physical rigour and style.

Through his company Still House, Dan Canham is developing a portfolio of visually poetic work within a variety of forms that includes dance-theatre, short film and audio-visual installation. Dan is Artistic Director and chief investigator of Still House and he works collaboratively with a diverse range of practitioners in both his solo and ensemble output. He has previously worked as performer with DV8 Physical Theatre (To Be Straight With You – National Theatre), Kneehigh (Brief Encounter, A Matter of Life and Death, Tristan & Yseult, The Bacchae), Punchdrunk (Faust) and Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre (Rite of Spring – Coliseum) among others. He recently collaborated with Tassos Stevens of Coney on RSVP and The Adventure Principle. His first piece 30 Cecil Street was met with considerable acclaim and continues to tour internationally.

‘Whatever it is that makes you want to watch somebody move, he’s got it’ Donald Hutera London Dance

Ours Was The Fen Country has been selected for Escalator East To Edinburgh. Each year Escalator East to Edinburgh helps artists and arts organisations to raise their profile and perform to new audiences as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It is Commissioned by Bristol Ferment, New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich and DanceXchange and produced by MAYK.

Ours Was The Fen Country will run at the National Theatre 16-18 September as part of Limited Editions, short runs from exciting new theatre makers in The Shed

Submitted by Simon Franklin

After phenomenal success at The Place Prize for Dance, winning the audience vote 7 nights running, h2dance bring their erudite look at relationships to the festival for 6 nights only as part of the British Council Edinburgh Showcase.

DUET investigates the two P’s: pairs and power. Fearing they are on the verge of a breakup, Hanna and Heidi have decided to take up couple therapy. After 13 years together the two choreographers take a brutally honest look at themselves revealing a confused and disillusioned relationship. The constant quest for power and admiration has taken its toll. Will they still be together after the Fringe?

DUET is a humorous and provocative investigation into life as a twosome.

h2dance (founded in 1999) presents the joint choreography of Artistic Directors Hanna Gillgren (Sweden) and Heidi Rustgaard (Norway). Together they produce provocative performance work that addresses political issues with humour and emotion. The company works in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams and local communities to create evocative performances that challenge and respond to the audience. Their work has been performed throughout England, Sweden, Norway, France, Germany and Belgium.

‘Both Gillgren and Rustgaard are naturally funny, at moments their delivery was downright hilarious’
Londondance

DUET has been selected for Escalator East To Edinburgh. Each year Escalator East to Edinburgh helps artists and arts organisations to raise their profile and perform to new audiences as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Submitted by Simon Franklin

Nottingham graduates Lawrence Bolton and Lauren Grant have teamed up with a group of university friends and formed a brand new theatre company called TwoBox Productions.

TwoBox are bringing their first show to the fringe this summer, and have been working incredibly hard to get themselves there. Their show ‘Timeline’ was shortlisted for the Les Enfant Terribles Award earlier this year at the Pleasance in Islington, where it received huge praise and encouraged the team to develop to show and bring it up to the fringe.

Timeline is a verbatim piece of theatre, taking personal social media interactions and bringing them to life on stage. Award-winning NSDF Director Peter Bradley has been working closely with the cast of 5 Nottingham students to create a new theatrical world, where social media is brought to life.

The story follows three male and two female students during their first year at university, and highlights the different issues every student faces – bad accommodation, making friends, falling in and out of love, exam stress, and so on. Bringing real social interactions and facebook conversations to the stage makes this an incredibly powerful and also humorous piece of theatre, and TwoBox have been very creative in bringing something very familiar to audiences at the fringe in a unique and innovative way.

Timeline is on at Greenside Venue, Studio 1 from the 2nd – 24th (excluding Sundays).

For more information and ticket sales please see: https://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/theatre/timeline

http://www.twoboxproductions.co.uk
@twoboxtheatre
facebook.com/twoboxproductions

Submitted by Rosie Cave

A 72-year-old man has been charged in connection with an alleged attempt to abduct a child in a supermarket car park.

The incident happened around 12.40pm on Friday outside Tesco Extra in Musselburgh.

The man, who was driving a red car, reportedly spoke to a 10-year-old girl near to the store’s drop-off zone before taking hold of her. According to police, he drove off after a member of the public intervened.

The man is expected to appear at Haddington Sheriff Court on Monday.

Detective chief inspector Kenny Gray said: “Thankfully the child was not harmed during the incident and we were quickly able to trace the individual who has been arrested and charged.”

Inquiries into the incident are continuing, and police are appealing for any witnesses to contact them on the non-emergency number 101.

Edinburgh Accies get the green light – Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival – Atria One gets another tenant – Seagulls – Foodies Festival

The proposal to develop the rugby ground in Stockbridge to form a 2000 seater stand and retails shops alongside is being recommended for approval at the council’s planning meeting next week.

Meanwhile the Save Stockbridge campaigners are planning a last ditch protest before the meeting on 31 July 2013 from about 8.30 in the morning to let the councillors know that they still have misgivings about the proposal. You can see all of the planning papers here on the council’s planning portal.

The campaigners remind everyone of their reasons for objecting to what they describe as a major development:-

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The Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival is drawing to a close. Tonight you can see the Neil Cowley Trio, if you are really quick and get some tickets. All tickets and other information here.

Just in case you don’t here they are doing their thing…

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6skQC4EGPI]

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Business 7 report that the whole of the fourth floor of the council’s office development next to EICC called Atria One has been let to PWC, one of the large accountancy firms on a 20 year lease.

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Our seagulls are still causing problems. So much so that one Leith resident has set up a Facebook group according to The Edinburgh Evening News.

We filmed the pests in Drumsheugh Gardens a week or two back….

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7-q1Qo0c3c]
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Foodies Festival is returning to Edinburgh’s Inverleith Park this August.  Foodies started in Edinburgh in 2007 and now hosts eight events across the UK which have attracted over half a million food-loving visitors.  This year’s new features include a Cake & Chocolate Theatre and BBQ Arena as well as many exclusive product launches including Pinkster Gin.

Top chefs from across Scotland, including Michelin-starred Jeff Bland from The Balmoral Hotel, Craig Sandle of The Pompadour by Galvin, Great British Menu contestant Mark Greenaway, Mattia Camorani of Cucina at Hotel Missoni, Neil Forbes of Cafe St Honoré, Graeme Pallister of 63 Tay St, Paul Wedgwood of Wedgwood, the Restaurant, Iggy Campos of Iggs and John Quigley of Red Onion will cook their signature dishes live in the Chefs’ Theatre and explain how amateur cooks can prepare the same dishes at home.  The theatre will be compered over the three days by Foodies veteran Jacqueline O’Donnell of The Sisters in Glasgow.

Jeff Bland commented: “I am thrilled to be demonstrating at Foodies again this summer, last year was a fantastic success, packed with people with a real passion for food. The event is a great opportunity to come together with friends, celebrate the extensive natural larder that Scotland has to offer and pick up some new tips and recipes from professional chefs.”

Mark Greenaway said: “There’s always a great crowd at Foodies, and a great atmosphere. This year I’ll be making one of the dishes from my appearance on Great British Menu and asking an audience member to help. I’m really looking forward to it!”

As well as culinary lessons from the experts, Fringe Festival acts Gyles Brandreth and Stephen K Amos, who has competed on Celebrity Masterchef, will be donning chef hats and giving comical demonstrations.

Gyles commented:  “I can’t really cook, but I can really eat.  I can’t wait for the Foodies Festival.  I think it’s going to get me sorted.”

And keeping with the comedy-theme, chef Mark Greenaway is hosting a ‘comedy cook-off’ in the Chefs’ Theatre where he invites two pairs of Fringe comedians to re-create a dish he prepares for them in front of the audience.  This will take place at 4pm on the Friday and Saturday, and at 5pm on the Sunday.

Now in its seventh year, Foodies Festival has introduced new features to all events in 2013.  These include a spectacular Cake & Chocolate Theatre in association with Electrolux.  The crowds can indulge in delicious demonstrations in chocolate truffle-making and chocolate tastings with Coeur De Xocolat, patisserie secrets with Edinburgh School of Food & Wine, sugarcraft and cookie decoration with Sucre Coeur, and flower infusions and botanical chocolates with Sciolti Chocolate.

This year Foodies is supporting Breakthrough Breast Cancer Scotland’s Great Pink Bake Off.  They will be at the event promoting this UK-wide campaign to raise awareness and encourage people to sign up to take part in the nationwide bake off on 18 October.

The specially-designed BBQ Arena features hourly BBQ classes and Man vs Meat competitions where contestants cook their own chicken wings, ribs, sausages and burgers and are then given 60 seconds to eat as much of their creations as possible with the crowd judging who made the best effort.

There is also a Wine Village, bringing together producers and wine regions from across the world including Shawbury Vintners, Discover the Origin, Bordeaux Undiscovered, Pieroth Wines and the Wine Spirit Education Trust.  The new market section Homeware Village offers visitors the chance to shop for kitchenware and gadgets.

In 2013, food-lovers can also enjoy the new dining and VIP area serving signature dishes from pop-up versions top Scottish restaurants.  The bar area has had a countryside makeover complete with hay bales and a focus on British cider and ale.  There is also a wide variety of tent and pagoda bars throughout the site selling cocktails, wine and champagne.  Foodies is proud to provide a platform to launch new drinks brands every year.  This year Pinkster Gin, a new raspberry-infused botanical premium gin, will be available by the glass or bottle exclusively at Foodies, before rolling out in bespoke bars and retailers across the UK.  Also launching this summer at Foodies is Ginger Grouse, a refreshingly zingy ginger beer with a splash of The Famous Grouse whisky.Joining Foodies in Edinburgh are top Scottish beer producers Stewart Brewing, who commented:  “We have taken part in Foodies every year since it started and it is always great fun.  We’ll be setting up a bar there with our specials, newest and favourite beers, draft and bottled.  It is a great opportunity to meet other local producers and sample their products too.”  And sure to keep the thirsty crowds satisfied are cider makers Thistly Cross who are bringing their core range of ciders and promise visitors some special cidery surprises, limited editions and collaborations between Thistly Cross Cider and other Scottish craft producers.

These new elements complement Foodies’ existing features including the Drinks Theatre where regular classes and demonstrations are given by some of the most talented sommeliers and mixologists and drink experts in the UK.  This theatre allows visitors to be amongst some of the first people in the UK to sample 100s of products as well as brush up on their knowledge at the daily wine, ales and spirits masterclasses with experts including beer blacksmith Melissa Cole and TV’s Charles Metcalfe who will be running daily sherry and food matching classes.  He commented: “Sherry has come out of the back of the cupboard into the bright lights of new wave Spanish restaurants.  Whether it’s bone-dry fino or manzanilla with smoked salmon, or decadently sweet Pedro Ximenez with chocolate, a new generation of drinkers is rediscovering sherry in all its wonderful variety. This tasting will show a range of different styles of sherry, with matching food nibbles”.  This year there will also be a Cocktail Theatre where top mixologists will demonstrate their skills with hands-on classes.

The extensive Producers’ Market sells a vast array of artisan produce from the local area and incorporates the Guild of Fine Food award-winning British produce.

Foodies will be showcasing local producers in Edinburgh including Summer Harvest Oils who will be selling their range of award-winning cold-pressed rapeseed oils, dressings, vinegars and mayonnaise.  Also exhibiting and selling their extensive range of organic pork, veal, lamb, mutton and charcuterie products are Peelham Organic Farm from the Scottish Borders.  Owner Denise Walton commented: “Foodies Edinburgh is in a classic location and has a terrific buzz.  It offers a real food experience with fun and we enjoy being part of it and providing our organic meat to appreciative customers”

Last year Street Food Avenue was introduced to all Foodies events.  In 2013 the Edinburgh crowds can again enjoy the huge selection of ready-to-eat hot and cold food from around the world including hog roasts, exotic meats, tapas, churros, burritos, Moroccan tagines, South American prime beef, sausages, pizza, Jamaican and Thai street food.

The Children’s Cookery Theatre, run by Edinburgh-based cookery school Chocolate Mama’s, gives youngsters the chance to get involved with hands-on daily classes showing them how to make a Bulgarian breakfast sandwich, Italian pizzas, Greek cuisine including feta salads and Spanish banana empanadas.

Relaxation in 2013 comes in the form of a City Beach where families can chill out on deckchairs with an artisan ice-cream or an afternoon tea whilst children build sandcastles.  Various specialist tea, coffee and fresh juice vendors can be found around the site.

The entertainment stage features live music acts performing every day until the later closing time this year of 8pm.

Independent television and digital media production company purpleTV this week launched a smartphone app celebrating Edinburgh’s status as UNESCO City of Literature.

The Edinburgh Book app is one of a suite of purpleTrails City Adventure Apps combining digital technology and creative content to celebrate cultural and sporting heritage.

Margot McCuaig, Director of purpleTV and a shortlisted author in the Dundee International Book Prize 2012, said,

“Edinburgh is a magical city. We have striven to create a fun and informative app that celebrates its unique literary place in the world. We’re sure users will be surprised, even amazed, at the remarkable narratives we’ve uncovered in our trails, and will enjoy the opportunity to leave their own literary legacy in the interactive game trail.”

We had a look to see whether it matched up to that description!

This review originally appeared on 12 Books in 12 Months.com

So, what are we talking about?
The Edinburgh Book Trails app, which you can download onto any iProduct to help you explore the Edinburgh literary scene.

What can you do with it?
Explore literary Edinburgh by geographical location, historical or modern Edinburgh, crime fiction, attraction, or writers and poets.  Follow interactive literary trails, including a mystery game.  Watch interviews with authors including Christopher Brookmyre, Joan Lingard, David Nicholls, Sara Sheridan and more.

Who is it for?
Literature fans, tourists, writers, explorers, pub quizzers (there are some pretty interesting facts in there), people who want to find out more about Edinburgh, families who want to do something interactive – in particular I think the literature mystery trail led by crime author Pearl Litspur (Julia Sutherland) could be completed with a bit of joint effort across the generations!  Assuming people take me up on that, keep an eye out for bickering families gathered round their iPads on the Grassmarket this summer…

Where did it come from?
purpleTrails, which is the digital arm of independent television and digital media production company purpleTV and one of the main sponsors of this year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival.  They also had support from the City of Literature Trust and Scottish Enterprise.

Anything else I need to know?
It’s well designed, intuitive to use and a good mixture of visual, audio and information.

Where can I get it?
The app store, for £5.99.

£5.99?  I’m a bit of a skinflint, is it worth it?

Short version: Yes.

Longer version: I’ll level with you – I don’t normally pay much more than about £1.50 for apps.  I’m a tight fisted hand at the grindstone, me – on which subject, did you know that the idea for Ebenezer Scrooge came from a wander Dickens took in the Canongate Kirkyard?  I didn’t, until I tested this app…  Anyway, the reason for my stinginess is that I once paid £3.99 for an interactive book that DIDN’T BLOOMIN’ WORK.  Apparently, at the tender age of two, my iPhone was too elderly to cope.  So y’know, I’ve been burned.

Saying that, I’ve also been burned for touristy trips that don’t really give me information I couldn’t get from Lonely Planet.  We’ve all done those bus trips round foreign cities, listening to facts and figures on headphones and retaining them for approximately ten seconds – but although a good way to get your bearings, they’re quite expensive and don’t necessarily give you a sense of what makes a city special.  You’re more likely to get that from wandering around and exploring – but the trouble with that is that you do miss things.  What I genuinely like about this app is that it gives a real sense of Edinburgh’s unique literary place in the world, along with the support to wander round and discover for yourself exactly why the city is like it is.  A lot of work has gone into giving users enough information to see Edinburgh through the eyes of different writers, and it shows.

Find out more about the app and purpleTrails on their website, or say hello on Twitter @purpletrailsTV.

A service in celebration of the life of Lawrie Reilly will be held at 11am on Friday 2 August at St Andrews and St Georges West Church, George Street, Edinburgh where Ted Brack, Grant Stott and Pat Nevin will pay tribute to Lawrie’s life-time of achievements.

At the end of the service, the funeral cortege will travel to Easter Road Stadium where the cortege will travel up the walkway behind the East Stand to inspect the scarves, shirts, flowers and other tributes which have already been received in large numbers from supporters to mark the passing of a club legend.

Until the day of the funeral, tributes to the greatest ever Hibee, Lawrie Reilly are being accepted at the West Stand reception on the railings provided.

The tributes will be placed near the Hall of Fame and memorial stones behind the East Stand next Friday. This would be a suitable gathering point for supporters who wish to pay their respects but prefer not to attend the service.

The cortege will then travel on to Warriston Crematorium for a short service of committal at 1pm.

Meanwhile tributes continue to flood in. A spokesperson for the Football memories Programme which helps people suffering from dementia said:  “We were all so sad to hear of the passing of our Football Memories ambassador Lawrie Reilly on Monday June 22nd. Many of the obituaries mentioned Lawrie’s role in the Football Memories project and he was an enthusiastic supporter of our work. He was one of Scotland’s greatest ever players and his stories held us all spell-bound. Modest and humble, he had a mischievous glint in his eye and how he handled the football journalists at the launch of the Scotland International Legends cards was a master-class. At the end of the interviews, one journalist thanked him and asked for his autograph. He will be sadly missed and our thoughts go out to his wife Iris and his family. We could not have had a better man to be the public face of Football Memories.

The project uses photographs of matches, players and programmes to stimulate the memories of men suffering from dementia with some quite remarkable results.

Top photograph courtesy of the Football Memories Programme

The City of Edinburgh Council has appointed a multi-disciplinary project team to start work on drawing up a range of options for Meadowbank Sports Centre and Stadium that will be put out to public consultation later this year.

Deloitte will be working with Edinburgh-based architects Reiach & Hall and The Sports Consultancy to draft up a variety of different options for the facility.

As part of this process the Council will be working closely with sportscotland, Edinburgh Leisure and Scottish governing bodies of sport to get their feedback on the proposals.

These will then be subject to an extensive public consultation that will aim to hear all views on the future of Meadowbank which will inform a future report to Council.

The options appraisal comes following a £60,000 commitment in the Capital Coalition budget to provide an assessment of the future of Meadowbank Sports Centre and Stadium.

Councillor Richard Lewis, the city’s Culture and Sport Convener, said: “We understand the important role that Meadowbank plays in the lives of thousands of people in the city and the significance of the venue in providing sports facilities in the east of Scotland.

“The project team has been instructed to look at all options and they will be doing this in a detailed and impartial way. The public will then have the chance to look at the proposals and give us their views.

“We are determined to involve as many people as possible in the assessment of Meadowbank’s future and together hopefully we can come to a solution that will provide top sporting facilities in Edinburgh while delivering best value for the taxpayer.”

Meadowbank Sports Centre and Stadium is a multi-purpose sports facility and is Edinburgh Leisure’s second most-used venue in the city.

There is an eight lane, 400m athletics track and a velodrome adjacent to the site. The venue also contains indoor facilities including squash courts, two sports halls, dance studios, an indoor football hall and gym facilities.

Louise Martin CBE, Chair of sportscotland, said: “sportscotland is developing a world-class sporting system at all levels and working with our partners in local government is key to achieving this. So we’re delighted to be collaborating with the City of Edinburgh Council to help examine the options for enhancing sporting facilities in Edinburgh.

“Such collaboration helped deliver the refurbishment of the Royal Commonwealth Pool, in which sportscotland invested five million pounds, and provided a tremendous venue for the diving competition in next year’s Commonwealth Games, and Edinburgh has also benefitted from the new 3G synthetic pitch at Meadowbank, in which we invested £300,000 through the Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities initiative.

“Sport is currently enjoying a very high profile in Scotland, so now is the time to do everything we can to encourage the people of Edinburgh and surrounding areas to participate in sports and physical activities.”

Festival Countdown begins with Fireworks Fridays at Edinburgh Castle at lunchtime today…..

This Friday, the Edinburgh International Festival, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and sponsor Virgin Money launch Fireworks Fridays, a weekly celebration leading up to the Virgin Money Fireworks Concert, the spectacular annual event which brings Edinburgh’s summer festival season to a close.

Today there will be a volley of fireworks released from the Castle ramparts as the One O’clock Gun fires.

A competition will also run on the Festival facebook and twitter profiles where the first people to send in photos capturing the display will win tickets to this year’s Concert. Entrants should post their photos on the Festival facebook page or use the hashtag #VMFireworksFriday on twitter.

Two more ‘Fireworks Fridays’ will follow on 2 and 9 August – the opening day of Festival 2013 – with further activity around the city and online competitions. Details of these will be available via social media and the Festival website at www.eif.co.uk/virginmoneyfireworks, where you can find comprehensive information on this year’s event, how to buy tickets and what to expect.

On Sunday 1 September at 9.00pm the Virgin Money Fireworks Concert brings Festival 2013 to an end in epic style. Over 400,000 fireworks choreographed to live orchestral music will light up the sky against the iconic backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, in what is the largest annual fireworks concert in the world. The Scottish Chamber Orchestra conducted by Garry Walker will perform Musorgsky’sPictures at an Exhibition, accompanied by an awe-inspiring display created by international firework artists Pyrovision.

Last year around 250,000 people gathered in Princes Street and at vantage points around Edinburgh, Fife and the Lothians, to share in the spectacle.

Details of the display will be revealed nearer the time, but Virgin Money Fireworks Concert fans will be delighted to know the much lovedWaterfall, when waves of fireworks cascade down from the Castle, will once again be a highlight.

Jonathan Mills, Director of the Edinburgh International Festival, said:- ‘The magic of the Virgin Money Fireworks Concert performed by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, continues to make it an unmissable part of the Festival and of life in Edinburgh. We want everyone to join in this spectacular celebration, especially stunning for those who snap up tickets to enjoy the event from Princes St Gardens. ‘Fireworks Fridays’ will count us down to Festival 2013 while heightening everyone’s anticipation for our very special grand finale’.

Roy McEwan, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra said:- ‘Fireworks Fridays provide a great reminder to the people of Edinburgh to mark the date of the Virgin Money Fireworks Concert in their diaries. It is always a hugely enjoyable event for our musicians and the audience alike and we are enormously grateful to Virgin Money for their continued support of this event.’

Virgin Money Marketing Director Paul Lloyd said: ‘Virgin Money is proud to be the official sponsor of the famous Fireworks Concert. It is the biggest event of its kind in the world and it brings everyone together, whether young or old and is enjoyed by the whole family. The Fireworks Concert is always a spectacular conclusion to yet another superb Edinburgh International Festival.’

Visit eif.co.uk/virginmoneyfireworks for up-to-the-minute news, features and advice on how to make the best of your evening at theVirgin Money Fireworks Concert.

Virgin Money Fireworks Concert

Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Garry Walker Conductor

Musorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition (arr. Ravel)

Sunday 1 September 9.00pm

Sponsored by Virgin Money

Man rescued at Dean Bridge – The Wind Surf in Leith – New hotel planned for Tollcross – New street lighting – George Street during the Festival

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The eye-catching luxury liner the Wind Surf arrived in Leith yesterday for her maiden call at the Edinburgh port. The Wind Surf is the flagship of the Windstar fleet and is a ‘motor sailing yacht’ – a unique ship in the cruise sector – and comes complete with five masts and seven sails.

Bringing over 300 passengers with her, the ship calls at Leith as part of her “Scandinavian Tapestry” cruise destined for Sweden.

The Port of Leith, owned by Forth Ports, is the gateway to Edinburgh for the cruise business and has been welcoming commercial liners to the Port since the mid-1960s. 2013 will be the busiest cruise season for the port operator with 80 cruise liners calling at the Scottish ports of Leith, Rosyth and Dundee bringing over 80,000 visitors to Scotland.

Commenting on the 2013 cruise season, Fiona Doherty, Port Manager at Leith said:- “We are delighted to welcome theWind Surf to the Port of Leith as the starting destination for her cruise around Scandinavia. Scotland is a world-class destination, and we are looking forward to the Wind Surf calling at Leith again in the future.”

The Wind Surf will return to Leith in August, and then again in July 2014 after having sailed around the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. The ship has 6 guest decks with a swimming pool and spa, fitness centre, casino, lounge, watersports platform and several luxurious bars and restaurants.

The liner is 187 metres in length and has 5 masts. The Wind Surf has the capacity for 310 guests in a variety of comfortable staterooms and deluxe suites.

The Cruise Terminal at Leith has facilities for visitors with easy access to the retail and leisure facilities at Ocean Terminal and transport links into the City Centre.

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A new 102 bedroom hotel is planned for 38 Gardner’s Crescent where the building next to the telephone exchange is to be demolished to make way for a modern 6 storey building. There are two interesting facts in the report which recommends that the planning permission is granted next week:-the first is that the developer, Croydon Hotels Limited, will be required to pay almost £50,000 in tram subsidy and the second is that the hotel will be required to retain all of its refuse in internal storage areas, and will not be allowed to site these on street as we see in so many other locations across the city.

Croydon Hotels run Hampton by Hilton hotels in the south of England.

You can see the plans for the new building along with drawings of its unremarkable facade here on the city’s planning website.

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Aged lampposts in Edinburgh will be replaced with more energy efficient equipment after an additional £1 million was sourced by the council this year.

Hibs were taught a footballing lesson last night by an excellent Malmo team in front of a packed Easter Road stadium.

Forty three years ago, Hibs beat Malmo 6-0 at Easter Road, but the Swedes finally got their revenge by going one better. Goals from Magnus Eriksson, Emil Forsberg, Markus Halsti, Miiko Albornoz, Tokelo Rantie, Jiloan Hamad, Simon Kroon silenced the large crowd who had answered Pat Fenlon’s call to turn up in numbers and make the stadium bounce.

The minute’s applause in memory of the great Lawrie Reilly added to the atmosphere, and the game kicked off to a wall of noise throughout the stadium.

Pat Fenlon made one change to the starting XI who lost 2-0 in Malmo last week, with Alex Harris replacing Owain Tudur Jones in midfield.

The makeshift back four of Lewis Stevenson, James McPake, Jordon Forster and Paul Hanlon remained in place, and Hibs started brightly, with new signing Rowan Vine causing the Malmo defence problems.

Before the game, McPake had highlighted the importance of scoring first, however it was not to be and Eriksson silenced the Hibs fans with a side-footed goal from a Rante cut-back.

Easter Road erupted a minute later when Vine smashed Liam Craig’s flick on into the net however he was correctly ruled offside.

Rantie, almost doubled the visitors’ lead soon after but he was denied by a fantastic save from Ben Williams.

McPake was flinging himself into every 50-50 challenge to keep the Malmo forwards at bay, but his efforts led to him picking up a back injury and he was forced to limp off. Fraser Mullen replaced McPake and moved to right back with Stevenson returning to his preferred left back slot.

Hibs were lucky to escape when Eriksson’s shot came back off the post and Hamad with unable to convert the rebound which was cleared after a stramash in the box.

The fans’ relief only lasted a minute however as Malmo doubled their lead through Forsberg, to effectively end the tie as a contest.

Any Hibs fan who thought that Malmo would sit back and defend realised that they were mistaken when the impressive Hamad found Halsti who curled the ball into the Hibs net.

Albornoz then added a fourth with powerful effort and only a last ditch tackle by Mullen prevented Hibs going in 5-0 down at the break.

On 60 minutes a powerful strike from Hamad was saved by Williams, however the ball squirmed away from his grasp and Rantie was on hand to knock it into the net from close range.

Four minutes later Jordon Forster was booked for bringing down Hamad on the edge of the box, and the striker smashed the resultant free kick past Williams into the net at the near post.

Malmo grabbed a seventh goal when Rantie’s cut back found Kroon and the substitute calmly slotted the ball into the net from close range.

In the final minute Liam Craig went close with a well taken free kick which the keeper saved.

After the game a shell-shocked Pat Fenlon said: “First of all I want to apologise to the supporters. It’s difficult for me to make excuses; it’s just not good enough.

“It’s embarrassing more than anything else. We did all right at the start of the game then lost a goal and it fell apart. It was very disappointing. I have to look at myself and not just blame the players. We had a make-shift back four and James going off didn’t help but Fraser came on and did all right. It’s difficult at this stage to be positive.

“The season starts next week and it’s a massive challenge to get things right.”

Hibernian: Williams, Hanlon, McPake (Mullen 23′), Harris (Stanton 74′), Vine, Craig, Stevenson, Handling, Taiwo (Robertson 54′), Forster, Thomson. Substitutes not used: Murdoch, Tudur Jones, Caldwell, Horribine.

FF Malmo: Dahlin, Albornoz, Ricardinho, Jansson, Johansson, Hamad, Forsberg (Kroon 46′), Thern, Halsti (Friberg 62′), Eriksson (Cibicki 59′), Rantie.Substitutes not used: Olsen, Konate, Helander, Fadi.

Referee: Sebastien Delferiere.

Attendance: 16,018

Lufthansa have announced that they are to double the capacity of their Edinburgh to Frankfurt service in a revamped 2013/2014 winter schedule.

The schedule  is due to start on 27 October 2013  with the usual Edinburgh to Frankfurt winter service of one return flight per day, doubled to two return flights, furthering a continuation of the increase in Lufthansa’s service in and out of Scotland.

The Edinburgh Reporter met with Luftansa’s General Manager of UK & Ireland, Christian Schindler.  Schindler was visiting Edinburgh as you can see from our photo!  He explained  that the changes have been sparked by a passenger demand from both sides, with Edinburgh and Frankfurt proving to be popular tourist routes and destinations.

“We are delighted with the new schedule. It’s a major step because by doubling the capacity we are providing more connectivity, opening up the network via Frankfurt and creating more options on where passengers can go.”

Lufthansa recently added Glasgow to their list of destinations in the 2013 summer schedule, and the Edinburgh to Brussels service which was brought in last winter, has also experienced a doubling of capacity, now offering two return flights per day.

Schindler explained:-” The additional capacity in and out of Scotland is working very well and actually moving above expectations.

“As the Lufthansa Group we have an overall enormous increase of capacity into Edinburgh and to the two hubs, Frankfurt and Brussels.

Frankfurt which is regarded as one Europe’s most punctual airports, is regularly used as a transit to other destinations, such as the popular skiing regions in Austria and Switzerland, and with Lufthansa’s recent Atlantic Joint Venture with Air Canada and United Airlines, North America has been opened up to their customers.

Schindler added that as well as the schedule changes, they are increasing the capacity of their short-haul services from 50 to over 90 passengers.

The Edinburgh to Frankfurt service will use two different types of aircraft, the A319 and the CRJ900, which will have respective capacities of 150 and 90 passengers.

Return fares from Edinburgh to Frankfurt are set to start at £99 which includes everything from baggage, checking in, and the provision of in-flight snacks and alcoholic beverages.

If you would like to find out more about Lufthansa’s routes and destinations you can visit the company’s website or alternatively download their app which is available on Iphone and Android.

Contributed article

CALLING all glasses aficionados in Edinburgh, now is your last chance to compete for the Spectacle Wearer of the Year 2013 title and a holiday to St Lucia, and attend the celebrity awards evening with Gok Wan and Melanie C.

A scouting team will be hitting the streets of Scotland’s capital today on the hunt for male and female specs wearing stars, aged 16+.

Aly Uka, store director at Specsavers in Shandwick Place said:- ‘Whatever your reason for wearing glasses, we want to meet you and get you in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize. There are five different age categories this year so something for everyone. And it’s not about modelling either; it’s about being a proud specs wearer from Edinburgh.

‘You can also drop into any of the seven Specsavers stores across the city to pick up an entry form.’

For every entry received Specsavers will donate £1 to charity partner Kidscape.

There are four age categories – 16-24; 25-39; 40-59 and 60+, plus a Facebook favourite voted for by the public. A winner from each category will win a VIP makeover and will attend the celeb-packed grand final at the Royal Opera House in London on 10 September where the overall Spectacle Wearer of the Year will be announced.

The awards will also feature an exclusive performance from Spice Girl and stage sensation Melanie C.

Competition entries can also be submitted online at http://www.specsavers.co.uk/loveglasses, via Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/specsavers or by picking up an entry form instore.

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Submitted by Lesley McIvor