Ducks, built originally in 1638, sits at the heart of a sleepy village of Aberlady near a wildlife reserve on the East Lothian coastline near Edinburgh. It is, according to the website, recognised as one of the leading providers of accommodation with gracious East Lothian hospitality.

It has 22 “cosy” rooms – more about them later – and there is no doubt that the bar has atmosphere, so does the restaurant.

The lunch menu is good. Breaded haddock (£12.95), beef burger on Brioche bun (£12.95), chicken breast, tomato and mozzarella (£12.95) or minute steak baguette, caramelised onion, mustard mayo (£12.95) as well as other tasty treats including full breakfast (£10.95). Vegetarian full same price.

There are sharing platters as well plus vegan pancakes, sliced banana, seasonal fruit compote and maple syrup (£5.50). Basically, something to suit most.

Surroundings are light and airy and the bar had three real ale pumps on the day we visited like Landlord as well as keg beer. There is also a wine list and the staff are friendly and most accommodating. We had youngsters with us and the staff were most attentive.

We stayed overnight. That’s where the hotel needs to sharpen up. A wee bit of TLC would not go wrong. White pebble dash wallpaper, old-fashioned wood cabinets in the hall along with spare lights and heaters.

There are pictures of golfers – this hotel is on what is tagged Scotland’s golf coast, hence the link – but our room was in desperate need of a facelift and certainly a wee dab of Pledge.

There was dust on most of the dated furniture and tops of mirrors, and you could not miss the dust on the TV remote. Inexcusable really.

Threadbare carpets and window frames in need of paint were also evident. Small things perhaps but they do affect the look of the place and it was difficult to work on a laptop in the room. The wi-fi was easy to access, however.

The bathroom shower was a feature, pumping out lots of hot water at the touch of a button, and the cupboard space was adequate. The bed was a tad hard but we slept well ahead of a hearty full Scottish breakfast which included some fresh, succulent raspberries, packed with flavour.

This hotel caters appears to cater for tourists and walkers on the John Muir Way, plus, from the evidence of our stay, a number of parties of male golfers. They might not have been so critical of the dust deposits or the dated furniture.

Staycations are still in this Autumn and word-of-mouth is an important part of marketing. We left disappointed that something so elementary and noticeable had been overlooked. Sadly, we found the actuality did not live up to expectations created by the stylish website.

On a walk over the Eildon Hills in the Borders last week, I came across a smart modern memorial to a very old poet, Thomas the Rhymer (1220-1298). Tom was not just a poet, he was supposed to have the gift of prophesy. He correctly predicted that James VI would also rule over England, three hundred years before it happened. 

But his most celebrated prophesy at the time was that a great storm would engulf Scotland on 19 March 1286.   “On the morrow, afore noon, shall blow the greatest wind that ever was before in Scotland.”  There was however no storm and people began to laugh at Tom. But what did happen that day was that King Alexander III was killed falling off his horse and, with no heir to take over, Scotland was plunged into years of chaos which led eventually to war with England.  

If Thomas the Rhymer was alive today, he would probably join the chorus of politicians, campaigners and think-tankers, telling us that we face an autumn of discontent, followed by a winter of hardship beyond measure. There may  be a fourth wave of the Covid pandemic, the NHS is under strain as never before, inflation is up at 4 per cent, energy prices are soaring, there’s no one to drive our lorries to the supermarkets or the petrol stations or to take in the fruit harvest or prepare turkeys for Christmas.  And the UK government, for good measure, has added its Brexit poison to the mix and the end to the jobs furlough scheme, and the £20 boost to welfare benefits. We’re all doomed.

What will probably happen is that none of these “great winds“ will be as bad as we feared and, like Tom the Rhymer, we’ll be engulfed by a totally unexpected disaster.  Such is the danger of prophesy and the danger of living.  For the moment though we must struggle on.

The Scottish Government is pressing on its Covid passports for entry to certain venues, like football stadiums and night clubs.  The trouble is it’s hard to see how it can be enforced, indeed venues have been given another fortnight before they have to implement the scheme. Perhaps by then, the number of Covid cases will have dropped further. They’ve now fallen to around 3,000 a day, though there is a backlog of a thousand hospital cases and 20 deaths a day.

You would think in such a time of disaster, most of it caused by poor government, that opposition parties would be on the attack and winning support in the opinion polls.  But not so, the SNP enjoy over 40 per cent support, twice the level of Labour or the Conservatives.  And, across the UK, Boris Johnson’s Conservatives enjoy a five percent lead over Labour.  That’s largely due to the one thing  governments have got right, managing to vaccinate 80 per cent of the population in less than a year.

Anas Sarwar the leader of the Scottish Labour Party, in his first speech to the UK Labour Party conference in Brighton, said the “red wall” of Labour support in Scotland had to be rebuilt with a new vision of Britain.  He said the SNP were giving Scots a false impression of England: “England isn’t Boris Johnson, Jacob-Rees Mogg, Pritti Patel and Nigel Farage, it’s Marcus Rashford, Gareth Southgate and Emma Raducannu.”

The former Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has been asked to lead a new Commission on the Union for the Labour Party which will be seeking all-party support for a new home-rule settlement, stopping short of full independence.

An example of the issues involved might be this week’s news of record job vacancies in Scotland but not enough workers to fill them.  The Scottish finance secretary Kate Forbes told parliament that even if all the 118, 000 Scots on the unemployment register (4.3 per cent of the total workforce) were to get a job, Scotland would still need foreign workers, especially in the care and hospitality industries. It was an argument she said for a separate immigration policy for Scotland.

Finally, I prophesy rain this weekend, which will perhaps persuade many Scots to return to the cinema, after a year away, to see the latest Bond movie. Daniel Craig is reported to have “loved filming in Scotland” and there are, apparently, scenes from Glencoe in the film and 90 mile-an-hour car race across Scottish fields.  The staff of the Mclaggan ceramics factory in Jamestown, Dunbartonshire, are particularly looking out for one scene in which their distinctive drinking mugs appear. 

“Tea sir, shaken, not stirred?”   

The creative team behind Castle of Light has unveiled this year’s show at Edinburgh Castle, as general tickets go on sale from 9.30am on Friday 1 October. 

Celebrating ‘hidden treasures’, the 2021 show is set to put a spotlight on the less well known stories from Scotland’s history. Projections unveiled today show the rediscovery of the Honours of Scotland, the return of Rex the lovable lion rampant and a first look at some of the secrets of St. Margaret, and the treasures within her chapel, ahead of the show launch in November.

10-year-old Robert Lauder, from Balerno, took to the grounds of Edinburgh Castle after-dark for a first glimpse of the light spectacular.

Tasked with uncovering stories, old and new, Castle of Light promises to bring tales to life with the use of stunning visuals, state-of-the-art projections and captivating storytelling. 

Creative Director Andy McGregor, who is working alongside Double Take Projections, NL Productions and War Productions Ltd, in partnership with Historic Environment Scotland, on this year’s event, said: “We are hugely excited to be back with a new show for 2021. The fact that we couldn’t make it last year has given us 2 years to develop HIDDEN TREASURES and we truly believe it will be worth the wait. 

“There will be new takes on popular family features plus a whole lot more in the way of legend, light and sparkle – all inspired by the lesser known stories of this incredible site. Edinburgh Castle is a magical place at any time but a visit by night with over a dozen unique light and sound experiences to enjoy really makes it Scotland’s unmissable winter experience.”

Heather Soutar, Head of Commercial Development at Historic Environment Scotland (HES), which operates Edinburgh Castle, said: “We are thrilled to welcome back Castle of Light this year, especially following the success of our last event in 2019. 

“This year, we are inviting visitors to explore Scotland’s untold history as we take them on a journey using state-of-the-art projections at Edinburgh’s iconic landmark. Prepare to be amazed by the biggest light experience the capital has to offer, we can’t wait for everyone to experience it.”

Edinburgh Castle will be home to the immersive walking tour for eight weeks throughout the festive season, from Friday 19 November 2021 to Sunday 9 January 2022. 

Tickets are also available for an Access night taking place on Thursday 25 November, designed to cater for people with additional support needs, including autism and dementia. Ensuring as many people as possible can experience the animated storytelling tour, the evening will feature a range of specific support, including British Sign Language interpretation and audio described tours, as well as a designated quiet space and ear defenders to help manage noise.

Adult tickets cost £20, with concession rates, family tickets and discounts for Historic Scotland members available. For more information and to get your tickets, visit CastleofLight.scot

Third meets fourth at Tynecastle this weekend as Motherwell travel to Gorgie hoping to stretch their unbeaten league run to six games. 

On the other hand, Hearts have an unbeaten run of their own to maintain. The Jambos are seven games without defeat in the league and have already played Celtic, Hibernian and Aberdeen. 

Hearts brushed aside Livingston with ease last weekend and while many people would argue those types of games should be routine victories for Hearts, especially at home, they have not been for some time. 

That result in particular highlights how far this Hearts squad has come in the last 18 months, but especially in the last two to three months, with Sporting Director, Joe Savage, and manager, Robbie Neilson, deserving huge credit for the upturn in Hearts’ performances. 

Motherwell have arguably been the dark horses in the top flight so far this season, after an uninspiring ninth placed finish last season, the Steelmen have responded well to their opening day defeat to Hibs, and Neilson says he’s looking forward to facing off against Graham’s Alexander’s side. 

“The players have trained well, there is good competition for places here, and we need to try and get to that level again. We played well against Livingston but this will be a different game. Motherwell are on a very good run at the moment, so I expect it to be a good one. 

“For us it’s just about not getting too far ahead of ourselves, we’re a promoted team. We’ve got some good players but we’re taking it week by week. We had a great result last week and are now playing against a team that is flying at the moment as well.

“Motherwell have had a great start after a difficult campaign in the League Cup, the league campaign has been very good and they’re pretty consistent with their team and formation. I think it will be two teams that are out to win the game.”

Hearts will assess John Souttar on Friday, after the defender picked up a knock in training last week and missed the match against Livingston, but Neilson will welcome back Josh Ginnelly to bolster his attacking options, after he was rested last weekend.

“Souttar trained a bit today and we will make a decision tomorrow, Halkett is ok, he trained all week, Gino is fine as well, we just gave him an extra week’s rest.”

It’s easy to forget that this Hearts side is a newly promoted team, especially when you look at the way they’re playing. Most supporters wanted the club to be aiming for a European spot on their Premiership return and in such a competitive league, that should be seen as a successful season. 

Before the season got underway, Neilson admitted he felt the league was one of the strongest top flights in recent years, and it shows when you see a top four that doesn’t even include Celtic and Aberdeen, separated by just two points. 

“It’s tight at the moment but we are only seven games in,” Neilson explained. 

“The key for all teams is consistency and picking up points. Historically it’s always been that and it’s not the big games it’s the smaller games you need to win. Rangers went last week and won 1-0, it comes to the end of the season nobody cares how they got those three points. That’s the attitude every other team has to have – you have to win almost every game. Whether teams can do that or not is a different story because it’s easier said than done.”

Neilson was at Parkhead last night to watch Celtic take on Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League, and he said that European nights under the lights at Tynecastle is the goal for Hearts. 

“That’s the ultimate aim for Hearts – to get to that level, but we are not there yet,” he admitted. 

“We are a team that’s been promoted, we have had a good start to the season. It’s where we want to be, but you only get there by winning on a Saturday. So, we can’t take our eye off the ball. 

“It’s about winning on a Saturday and then the next Saturday and the next one. If we can do that consistently then we will deserve to be in that position, but you will have Motherwell, Hibs, Aberdeen wanting to be there. St Johnstone have been there and will want to get there again. It’s up to us to get there.”

Reports earlier in the week revealed that Hearts and Motherwell have both written to the SPFL regarding the lockout of away fans at Ibrox and Parkhead. Hearts have already played at Parkhead this season with no away fans present and will travel to Ibrox in the middle of October. 

Neilson admitted to not knowing the full story but highlighted the great atmosphere at the Edinburgh earlier in the season, where both sets of fans were present, and believes it’s an important issue that needs addressed. 

“It’s really important. You saw the atmosphere at the Edinburgh derby was absolutely brilliant because we had 16,000 home fans and 3500 away supporters.

“It’s really important for the game. I don’t know the ins and outs of it or the reasons why we are still not getting them in. But the sooner we get them all back in the better because it’s what football is all about.

“We have fans who have been going to every single game for 30-40 years. Now they can’t go. Which is very difficult for them after 18 months when they couldn’t go to any and now for some reason they can’t go to some away games.”

‘Where Angels Rest,’ the latest book in the popular Detective Grace Macallan crime fiction series is out this week.

Once again, former Lothian and Borders Police officer Peter Ritchie draws on his extensive experience as an investigator to try and draw an authentic picture of how detectives, criminals and their victims think and feel.

The arrest of a Finnish contract killer and the subsequent murder of an Edinburgh reporter seem unconnected – until a ghost from the past appears in the investigation.

The horrors of past misdeeds in Northern Ireland, contract killers, military secrets and organised-crime feuds collide on the streets of Edinburgh and the Irish Republic, drawing Macallan into brutal score-settling on Dublin’s streets and a life-or-death race against time.

When he’s not penning novels, Peter also writes plays, poetry and short stories.  He also enjoys painting, walking, gardening and various volunteering roles, including at St Columba’s Hospice and the Bethany Christian Trust in Edinburgh

Yesterday he kindly took time from his busy schedule to tell us about the book.

He said: ‘I had thought about retiring Grace and felt the poor woman had suffered enough for one career. I had so many people asking to continue the story and quite a few ideas cropped up plus I was spending a lot of time in Dublin and near one of my favourite spots – Glasnevin Cemetery which really is quite something.

“Of course Dublin has its OC (Organised Crime) problems as well and I wondered if I could broaden the canvas and link Edinburgh to Dublin. I wanted something different this time so I started to form the story starting in Scotland and finishing in Ireland.

“I managed to bring an old adversary into the story which takes place as the pandemic starts to sweep across Europe. I really enjoyed writing it and the reason it took so long was I was involved in writing a couple of plays which I loved and hope to do more. Anyway this case stretches Grace and brings in some new characters.”

Peter joined the police service moving swiftly through the ranks of CID, Murder, Serious Crime and Regional Crime Squads.  He was involved in some of the biggest investigations encountered by Lothian and Borders Police (now Police Scotland), like the tragic Caroline Hogg and World’s End murders. 

Peter became Head of the Organised Crime Unit in the National Criminal Intelligence Service in London where he developed and ran a multi-agency team made up from various branches of law enforcement and the security services.  His unit became a model for other organisations involved in tackling serious and organised crime as well as producing major reports for Ministers advising on issues like illegal immigration and human trafficking. Peter was a regular speaker at high profile, international crime conferences.

So, after London, Peter was subsequently appointed as the UK Liaison Officer to Europol in The Hague, Netherlands – where he spent five years coordinating international intelligence operations against groups involved in cross border organised crime and terrorism.

He returned back to his Scottish homeland to Lothian and Borders Police (now Police Scotland) heading the Major Crime Team, covering covert operations against organised criminal activity before taking on an advisory role for the Croatian Ministry of the Interior to review intelligence systems for organised crime and intelligence.

Following his retiral he worked on a number of private investigations before spending the next few years as part of the public inquiry team looking into the murder of the Loyalist Volunteer Force leader Billy Wright in Northern Ireland’s Maze Prison.  Peter also worked on a public inquiry into the death of 18 patients in the Vale of Leven District General Hospital in West Dunbartonshire from a hospital acquired infection.

Charities in Scotland are urged to apply for a share of £3.5 million to bring their dream project to life thanks to support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

The Dream Fund which launched on Friday tries to forge collaboration between charities and good causes by bringing them together to apply for funding for what they might regard as their “dream project”. This year’s fund is the biggest ever with a top award of £1.25 million possible. The funding will be offered over three years from 2022.

Applications are encouraged from projects which will develop innovative solutions and will deliver systematic change in environment and conservation, social inequality or pandemic recovery.

More than £16 million in funding to 32 projects across Britain has already been awarded, with a list of previous winners which includes Wheels of Change, a joint project between Whizz Kids, Duchenne UK and The University of Edinburgh.

The Wheels of Change project developed a wheelchair for disabled children that is technologically impressive, modular, and affordable.

Malcolm Tyndall, Director or Strategy and Innovation at Whizz-Kidz said: “The £1 million received from the Dream Fund gave us the unique opportunity to work closely with world leading partners and other charities, forming lasting relationships we still benefit from today. Kids in wheelchairs are usually the last to make friends, the last to have fun and the last to find jobs. Thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery, kids in wheelchairs are starting to come first.”

Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “This announcement marks the start of an exciting process which will see £3.5 million raised by our players awarded to truly inspirational projects.

“The Dream Fund has made a remarkable difference to so many projects over the last nine years, and I have no doubt that we’ll see many more bold and courageous ideas submitted this year.”

Applications to the Dream Fund can be made from Friday, 1 October until Monday, 1 November. Winners will be announced in March 2022. 

www.postcodedreamtrust.org.uk 

At this Saturday’s opening ceremony for the sixth session of The Scottish Parliament a shopkeeper from Oxgangs will join other local heroes invited to the event.

MSPs from other parts of Scotland have invited their own local heroes, but Linda Williams was invited by the Presiding Officer, Alison Johnstone MSP. Linda set up the coronavirus hardship fund at the Premier Broadway Convenience Store in Oxgangs. Having raised over £10,000 to help her local community, it helped hundreds of locals pay for essentials such as utility bills and food.

Alison Johnstone MSP, Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament said: “Our local heroes initiative is all about celebrating people from across Scotland for their contributions to their communities throughout the pandemic and beyond. The many actions and achievements of those nominated are truly inspiring. So many of our local heroes have put others before themselves, for the good of others.

“I am proud the Scottish Parliament will recognise people like Linda and that our local heroes will play a part in our 2021 opening ceremony.”

Linda Williams said: “I am very happy to have been nominated, although I certainly wasn’t looking for any thanks or recognition.

“It has been such a hard 18 months for everyone, and I think we played a small part in making life a bit easier for our customers and neighbours by setting up a free same day delivery service and starting a hardship fund to help those who slipped through the cracks of the financial help that was available.

“Our community rose to the occasion magnificently; people were incredibly generous with their donations, and the whole experience became a shining light of hope during a hard time.”

Ahead of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow from 31 October to 12 November 2021, the leader of Glasgow City Council, Cllr Susan Aitken has released a video welcoming delegates to the conference.

The UK is the host nation and Alok Sharma MP for Reading West has been appointed as full-time President of COP26, and today just one month from the start of the important conference in Glasgow, Pre-Cop began in Milan.

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A post shared by COP26 (@cop26uk)

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In addition the council has issued a Glasgow Broadcast Guide to help all visiting journalists and has set up a Destination Media Hub in the city to host members of the press which will open on 28 October just ahead of the conference beginning.

The ‘Made in Glasgow’ showcase will highlight the city’s innovative approach to sustainability – particularly through circular economy principles – and also profile its creativity across art, architecture, design, film, fashion, food and drink.

Cllr Aitken said: “We are very much looking forward to welcoming the world’s press and broadcasters to Glasgow for COP26 and understand their need to access vital information on the city quickly and efficiently.  

“We hope that the creation of these bespoke resources will not only assist media in their reporting from Glasgow during COP26 but also contribute to the conference’s legacy by providing inspiration and story ideas for future coverage of the city’s climate change ambitions as we work towards achieving our goal of being carbon neutral by 2030.”

The council is working with groups and organisations including Bloomberg, C40 city network tackling climate change, Core Cities UK, Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, faith and third sector groups to work up a programme of policy meetings, receptions and events that will complement the main COP26 programme.

This activity will not only be an important legacy opportunity for Glasgow but it will also help reinforce the city’s position as a “world leader in the race to net zero and a place where green business can be done”.

The A9000 Forth Road Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic from 6am on Friday 1 October until 6pm on Saturday 2 October 2021, as part of the ongoing project to replace the main expansion joints.

The closure will allow contractors American Bridge International to position a crane on the carriageway so that footway joints can be reinstalled following remedial works.

Motorway traffic will be diverted via the M90 Queensferry Crossing. Non-motorway traffic will be required to divert via the A985 Kincardine Bridge.

The Forth Road Bridge will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists through this period by way of the west footway/cycleway.

Chris Tracey, BEAR Scotland’s South East Unit Bridges Manager, said: “It’s essential for the safety of workers and road users that we close the bridge to vehicular traffic during these works, as a crane will be positioned on the carriageway.”

Real time journey information is available from Traffic Scotland on www.trafficscotland.org, twitter at @trafficscotland or the mobile site my.trafficscotland.org.

Following an attempted robbery at Claremont Court, just off East Claremont Street, on 28 September, police are seeking the public’s help.

The incident took place at 10.50pm on Tuesday 28 September 2021 at a property in Claremont Court where the victims, a couple in their 60s were approached and threatened by three males who arrived and then left on a motorbike..

The suspects are described as follows:

Suspect 1
Male, Asian appearance, with Scottish accent, around 6ft tall, of medium build and clean shaven. He was wearing dark clothing and possibly wearing a hat.

Suspect 2 
Male, described as either Asian or African appearance, with a Scottish accent, around 5’10, of medium build and possibly clean shaven. He was wearing dark clothing and possibly a hat.

Suspect 3
Male around 6ft tall, of medium build. He was wearing a dark coloured motor cycle helmet, dark coloured clothing and dark coloured gloves.

Detective Sergeant Oliver Healy, from Edinburgh CID, said: “It is thankful that the victims were not injured as a result of this incident, however they were left badly shaken.

“We are appealing for anyone who was in the Claremont Court, Claremont Street, Broughton Road or Logie Green Road areas on the evening of 28th September, and believes they may have seen the suspects in question to please come forward. We are also keen to speak with any motorists with potential dash cam footage from the area at that time.

“Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting incident 3657 of 28 September 2021. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, if you wish to remain anonymous.”

Now available at city jeweller, Chisholm Hunter, Omega debuts the No Time To Die 007 limited edition timepiece as the 25th James Bond film opens in cinemas on Thursday.

For one of the most anticipated film releases of the year, Swiss watchmakers Omega have created a limited edition of Seamaster 300m Divers (so called as it is waterproof up to that depth). Brushed Grade 2 Titanium is used as opposed to the more common polished titanium as it tends to reflect light.

Surrounding the dial on this watch is a uni-directional rotating bezel, commonly used with divers across the globe. Its hands and markers are filled with Super Luminova, which glows blue in the dark, a feature that has become a standard for Omega watches. A 42mm case is included with the lug to lug size coming in at 49mm.

With a power reserve of 55 hours, at the core the timepiece is kept ticking by a fully automatic Omega Master Chronometer Calibre 8806 rendering regular winding unnecessary. Special features include a little arrow known as the ‘Broad Arrow’, traditionally used to identify British Government property and therefore a nod to MI6 (where Bond works as an operative in the films) on the dial and case back. Also on the case back is the number 62 which refers to the year 1962 when the first Bond film ‘Dr. No’ was released, spawning a cinematic franchise of 24 sequels. And ‘Never Say Never Again’.

Retired from active service, in ‘No Time To Die’ James Bond (Daniel Craig) is pulled back into a life of espionage after an old friend and CIA officer seek assistance to find a kidnapped scientist. Bond finds himself on the trail of a mysterious and dangerous new villain who is armed with deadly new technology.

Founded in 1857, Chisholm Hunter sells fine jewellery and rare gems sourced from all over the world. Referred to in the Victorian era as the

‘Store of 10,000 wonders”, its fortunes worsened with the Great Depression following the Second World War and remained a challenge until the late 20th century. 

In 1993, the gemmologist and current owner Harry Brown took charge, bringing with him more than 20 years of diamond industry experience.

A “full and engaging consultation” into the failings of new 20mph zones and  the Spaces for People (SfP) programme is to be carried out by West Lothian Council 

A composite motion agreed by the Conservatives and the SNP group was voted through after an ill-tempered debate, five hours into a meeting of the council.

A Labour amendment suggesting the immediate removal of the 20mph speed limits imposed last year was castigated by opposition as “making the same mistake all over again”.

The amendment also recommended that council officers consult within all nine wards and take findings back to local area committees.

The SfP roll-out has been slated for its lack of public consultation, and it is clear that there has been a lack of understanding of what was going to come with this agreement. The fallout has rumbled through the council corridors since last autumn.

A detailed motion put forward by Whitburn Tory councillor, Bruce Fairbairn, said a report to the council  on the SfP project earlier this year: ”confirmed the project had been bad for the county and had never been properly thought through, ie completely mismanaged by this administration”.

It detailed specific failures covering the imposition of 20mph zones, signage  and physical distance measure which increased the size of bus stop areas, often taking up narrow roads.

Cllr Diane Calder for the SNP said: “The Labour amendment is basically saying that they are looking to remove to 20mph and 40mph zones. Most councillors are just asking for consultation, and this has been the biggest problem.

“Neither the local councillors nor the population have  been consulted in any manner of means. I appreciate there were time limits on it but within these time limits surely the councillors, who at least know their own areas,  could have made a contribution to what they think was going to be effective or not effective in their areas.”

SNP group leader Cllr Janet Campbell said the suggestion of removal: “is making same mistake all over again. What’s being asked for is consultation with the communities we represent. What didn’t happen before was proper and through consultation.

 “Some communities we represent would be more than happy for these signs to remain, but for many more this has been a disaster.”

Cllr Cathy Muldoon defending the amendment, suggested that thorough consultation could only be done through the local area committees. “What works for Bathgate won’t work for Armadale or Fauldhouse”, said Cllr Muldoon.

“We have been hearing a lot about meaningful consultation. We need nine different consultations because one size doesn’t fit all.”

There were angry exchanges between Cllr Kirsteen Sullivan and Cllr Boyle who interrupted the deputy leader as she tried to address the meeting. He was ordered to be quiet by the chair, Provost Tom Kerr.

Railing against “the misogyny that had been pretty strong today”, she thanked Provost Kerr “for allowing the woman to speak.”

That did not deter Cllr Boyle who continued to interrupt, attempting to raise points of order and questioning the protocol of the meeting, as he had reserved the right to speak by seconding the motion.

Cllr Sullivan criticised the “continual deflection” of opponents citing that all parties had agreed to the SfP measures and the details of the initial surveys when they came before council in June last year.

“I find it a bit rich that people are trying to backtrack on decisions made. Let’s all be accountable  rather than backtrack when you don’t like what’s come back at you,” she added.

Calling on support for the motion Cllr Fairbairn said that what councillors, and anyone listening, must realise is “that local authorities of tomorrow will bear no resemblance to those of today.”

He added: “Expectations are higher, funding is tighter.”

He said it was no longer acceptable to reach the bar. Local authorities, to be successful, had to raise the bar higher.

“We have to forge working relationships. That is relations that work with communities. We need to work together with our communities, our statutory bodies and each other. We have the opportunity to raise the bar.  Let’s not waste that.”

The motion stating “Council therefore resolves to carry out a full and engaging consultation that will form a meaningful expectation of what is required by our communities”  was voted through by 14  to 11.

by Stuart Somerville

Local Democracy Reporter

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency : funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector, and used by qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.

Dylan Rigby (20) entered a guilty plea at the High Court in Edinburgh on Thursday to a charge of attempted murder, abduction and assault.

This plea relates to an incident involving a male victim on 21 March 2021.

Detective Inspector Jonny Wright of Gayfield CID, Edinburgh said :”This was a significant crime involving deplorable levels of violence committed by Rigby.  Thankfully, incidents of these nature do not happen often in Edinburgh.  My thoughts continue to be with the victim in the case.  Rigby will now face justice for his actions, which will hopefully contribute to bringing some closure to the victim.”

Falkirk and Linlithgow Hockey Club 1st team goal keeper, Kevin ‘Kev’ Cummings, and outfield player, Murray Paton, have ‘persuaded’ a few of their club mates to take part in the Edinburgh 10K at the end October, running for charity.

The team will be taking part in support of Down’s Syndrome Scotland, the charity that Kev works for, and Falkirk and Linlithgow Hockey Club. DSS are the only Scottish organisation currently providing advice & support to people with Down’s syndrome.

Kev was then ‘volunteered’ for a Q/A session with organisers GSi Marketing and Partnerships.

1. Could you tell us a little bit more about who your club are running for and why?

We’ve chosen to run the Edinburgh 10k (links at the bottom) for Down’s Syndrome Scotland, which is the only Scottish charity who provides advice & support to people with Down’s syndrome, their families and the professionals who work with them, such as teachers, midwives and health visitors.

Down’s Syndrome Scotland do excellent work listening to, and raising the voice of people with Down’s syndrome who are often overlooked in society, and particularly over the past 18 months or so. More information on the important work they do can be found here: https://www.dsscotland.org.uk/

A number of our club members have a personal connection to Down’s syndrome so we’ve chosen to raise their profile and give something back to a charity that provides support to those who need it, when they need it. And this is an opportunity to get club members together after such a long break from hockey.

2. Have you participated in any fundraising events as a group before?

Yes, I was involved in organising teams from our hockey club who took part in the Spartan Race events in 2014 at Winton House, near Pencaitland and 2015 at Nine Mile Burn, again to raise funds for Down’s Syndrome Scotland, and personally I’ve also abseiled off the Forth Rail Bridge in 2010 also for Down’s Syndrome Scotland.

3. How is the club’s training going for it?

Really well, our coach has been including extra stamina training exercises into our weekly training sessions at Grangemouth High School Astro pitch, which will undoubtedly help throughout the course of the season which is about to get underway after such a long period of inactivity, so taking on the 10k gives us a focus and motivation to work that little bit harder each week, and we’re always looking to welcome new players to the club whatever their ability, men, women & juniors, it really is such an inclusive club http://www.falkirkandlinlithgowhockeyclub.co.uk/

4. What are you most looking forward to about participating in the Men’s 10k Edinburgh?

Getting club mates together for a bit of fun and friendly rivalry with a common purpose. Not all of us have experienced the buzz of anticipation of the start line or have seen Edinburgh from the perspective of the runners, so it will be a first for some, and crossing the finish line at the iconic Murrayfield Stadium is unique too, there’s nothing quite like it!

Once the dust has settled and the sore feet are recovered, we’ll get back in touch with the guys to find out how much the club raised for Down’s Syndrome Scotland and Falkirk and Linlithgow Hockey Club.

FLHC’s fund raising is well underway, but should anyone wish to contribute further, then they have a JustGiving page where that can be done.

FLHC’s runners as we went to press are:- Laura Paley, Katherine Paterson, Tanith Jones, Kevin Cummings, Murray Paton, John Woods, David Ferguson, Michael Bunting, Kevin Squire, Barry Warner, Greg Warner, Ross McHarg, Martin Clarke (injury dependant) and David Fletcher.

And, should you wish to join these intrepid souls – Edinburgh Men’s 10K and Edinburgh Women’s 10K. Good Luck!

Our thanks to GSi Marketing and Partnerships for allowing us to use their Q/A interview with Kev Cummings.

In celebration of the life and works of Samuel John Peploe (1871 – 1935), The Scottish Gallery will be presenting a major exhibition of his paintings and drawings to coincide with his 150th anniversary.

Noted for his diverse oeuvre, Peploe transformed himself from a daring Edwardian portraitist and Impressionist landscape painter into Scotland’s first Modernist.

Marking a new contribution to his memory, this personal exhibition will showcase Peploe’s greatest works, including thirty never before-seen drawings from a family archive, and chart his extraordinary chronology; from his changes of studio, including his years in Paris, to his conversion to the way of colour and Expressionism.

This celebratory exhibition will include many of his greatest paintings with key loans sourced from notable private collections. It will be divided into four sections: still life works, Peploe’s best known and most successful genre; his paintings of his models including Jeannie Blyth, the gypsy flower girl who sat for him over a ten-year period.

Also in the exhibition will be his Fauvist panels which defined his arrival as a colourist form 1907-1912; and finally his drawings, which provide an insight into the artist’s mind and technical developments at key moments throughout his practice.

Guy Peploe, Samuel John Peploe’s grandson and curator of the exhibition, commented, “Today the qualities of Samuel John Peploe: the early achievements, the timelessness of his mature oeuvre, the seriousness of his quest for the masterpiece, the direct expressionist appeal of his first Modernist pictures, the subtle delivery of his emotionally laden palette, all identify a significant contributor to our cultural history; one of our greatest painters”.

During his lifetime, Peploe exhibited in Edinburgh, London, Paris and New York and his work was acquired by the Scottish and French National Collections. In the eighty-six years since Peploe’s death, his reputation has grown nationally and internationally and in recent decades many revered museums and art critics have highlighted his significant contribution to European Modernism, further cementing his legacy.

Title – Samuel John Peploe
Exhibition Dates – Thursday 30th September – Saturday 23rd October 2021
Location – The Scottish Gallery, 16 Dundas Street, Edinburgh, EH3 6HZ

Social Media – @ScottishGallery
Website – www.scottish-gallery.co.uk

If you wander along the Northern edge of the Meadows your ears may be accosted by rhythmic reggae beats. Their source is the Uplands Roast coffee van which has been in this site, near to the University Library, for just over a couple of years. In that period Uplands has already built up a considerable number of regulars and a reputation as a cool place to congregate.

As well as reggae played on DJ decks, Uplands offers excellent self sourced, single origin coffee. The coffee comes from Vietnam where one of its founders, Stuart Collins, has spent a lot of time. Stuart fell in love with the place. He said: “I have an amazing respect for the Vietnamese people…it’s a fabulous country…I’m also a big fan of their coffee.”

While in Vietnam he was inspired to set up a business that would be viable in the UK but would also offer locals a really good price for their excellent product. The aim was for the growers to achieve a considerably higher price than they were achieving previously. So the core of the business is buying beans directly from the growers, with no middle man.

Originally the idea was to take the van around various music festivals but now Stuart has instead brought the festival vibe to The Meadows -“‘blasting out cool reggae tunes all day is great fun!”. The beans are roasted in a Toper roaster in the van itself, ensuring peak freshness. Their ‘flagship’ coffee comes from Son Pacamara Coffee Farm, Da Lat, and has notes of chocolate, citrus and herbs. When we visited, Stuart was still waiting for a fresh shipment of beans, so was using a nice Brazilian Santu to tide him over. Uplands Roast also do tray bakes, Fentimans sodas, teas, hot chocolate and homemade ice cream.

While many businesses struggled during the Covid-19 lockdown, Uplands Roast had its busiest period. As Stuart said:”We were rammed for about a month…until other places started reopening.”

During the deepest part of lockdown Stuart said: “There was a dystopian vibe in the air with people visibly frightened as they walked their dogs or went for a jog…coming here for coffee was one of the few communal things people were doing… with people talking in the queue. For a lot of people, including myself, it was a new social interaction they had during that weird time.”

While Uplands Roast has been slightly quieter since lockdown, it remains a place that people gravitate to engage with Stuart on all manner of political and philosophical topics. While we were there a stimulating discussion on faith and religion was underway.

Stuart’s engaging and enthusiastic manner, the music and the single origin coffee make Uplands Roast well worth a wander across the Meadows, even on a dreich autumn day.

A new record crowd for a domestic women’s fixture in Scotland watched Hibs beat Hearts 3-0 at Easter Road last night.

The attendance of 5,512 almost doubled the numbers for Hibs’ Champions League tie against Bayern Munich in 2016 demonstrating the popularity of the women’s game right now.

Summer signing American striker Alexa Coyle opened the scoring after capitalising  on a poor clearance from the Hearts defence in the seventh minute.

Despite dominating the rest of the first-half there was no more scoring.

After the restart Scotland midfielder Rachael Boyle ran through on goal and fired past Hearts’ keeper Charlotte Parker-Smith.

Boyle then turned provider for lifelong Hibs’ fan  Eilidh Adams who wrapped things up with a simple tap-in.

The result sees Hibs move up two places to third in the SWPL1 table. Hearts remain second bottom with no points.

Afterwards Hibs head coach Dean Gibson told BBC Scotland: “It was a brilliant night all round.

“To have more than 5,000 at a women’s game was amazing, they showed a real appreciation of the quality that was on the pitch and I think a couple will have gone home with a different opinion of the women’s game and it will hopefully get them turning up at our other games.”

An online fundraising appeal has been launched to repatriate a Scottish mountain biker who was injured in a crash whilst competing in a world championship in Switzerland.

Darren Scott (50) is currently in hospital in Switzerland after suffering two broken ribs and damage to his back and pancreas in the smash which took place on 12 September.

The former Scottish masters champion was airlifted to the hospital and in addition to his injuries he is also being monitored for internal bleeding.

An issue with his insurance however meant that he wasn’t covered and £40,000 is required to pay for his medical costs.

Darren’s brother Stevie Scott is a former Scotland rugby international who played for and coached Edinburgh Rugby.

He told the Edinburgh Reporter: “Darren has competed all around the world and has always had insurance but the small print in his policy doesn’t cover four countries apparently and Switzerland is one. He has been in hospital for 17-days but needs an air ambulance to get home safely. I’d like to thank everyone who has donated so far.”

A charity set-up to support former international motocross racer Sean Doherty, who was paralysed following a crash six years ago has organised the appeal.

A statement on the 22 Foundation website reads: “The 22 Foundation was set up not only for Sean however to help other friends or like-minded sportsman. We now find ourselves in the unfortunate situation of having to raise money for Darren Scott who has been critically injured and needs repatriated from Switzerland back into a Scottish Hospital.

“Darren was sitting in the top three and was looking strong for a medal finish at the end of the world series. At over 50 years old he was managing to beat the 35-year-old plus competitors on his 2nd attempt of this World Enduro Series.

“We are looking to raise in the region of £40,000 to cover medical expenses and Air Ambulance. Due to an oversight it turns out Darren’s insurance did not cover Switzerland where he was racing and was injured.

“This cry for help is going out to Friends, Family, MXers, Scramblers, Mountain Bikers and everyone who wants to help.

“We so appreciate any donations and understand times are very tough at the moment.”

Almost £10,000 has been raised so far and anyone wanting to donate can do so at 

What the Fork Monarchs are through to the semi-final of the Knockout Cup after a 50-40 victory at Birmingham. Their opponents will be Glasgow Tigers.

Monarchs held an 18-point lead from the first-leg and romped over the line, winning by ten points on the night and 104-76 on aggregate.

On a track where passing was at an absolute premium, it was the Armadale men who lead from the start with captain Sam Masters and Josh Pickering (pictured) in blistering form, recording full maximums.

Jubilant team boss John Campbell said it was a great performance. He added: “Even if we didn’t gate first, we rode harder into the first corner and that was where it was won.

“Having two riders score maximums make’s it so much easier and they were superb.”

He felt the track was improved from their last visit two weeks ago and he said: “It’s been a great night not only to get through but to win which sets us up really nicely for the weeks to come.”

The only downside was Anders Rowe who felt pain in his knee but Dan Gilkes was an excellent guest, according to Campbell.

Monarchs lost by 14 points at the same venue two weeks ago so this was a big turnaround and the quarter-final was mathematically over by the end of Heat Ten.

The win sets Monarchs up well for their play-off quarter-final clashes against Redcar Bears this weekend but for the hosts it was an emotional night.

Club owners David and Peter Mason recently announcing they would be walking away at the end of the season with no buyers currently forthcoming.

Birmingham 40: Harris 9+2, Grobauer 7+1, Shanes 5+2, Morris 6, Riss 5, Ruml 0, Thomas 8+3
Edinburgh 50: Masters 12, Rowe 1, Thomson 9+2, Pickering 15, Worrall 7, Kemp 2, Gilkes 4+2

Dementia training sits top of the agenda at a bespoke care home in Edinburgh as it reveals over 80% of its staff have been provided with vital training.

As the home celebrates World Alzheimer’s Month throughout September, Cramond Residence has shared the ongoing work undertaken daily at the home to ensure top quality care is provided.

World Alzheimer’s Month is a month long celebration in September to raise awareness of, increase education around, and demystify dementia, which Cramond Residences supports.

The home has revealed 64% of its 80 staff have been provided with a skilled level of dementia training whilst 84% have undergone an informed level of dementia training as per the Promoting Excellence framework, developed by Scottish Social Services Council and NHS Scotland in line with Scotland’s National Dementia Strategy.

By the end of 2021, the home hopes to have 90% of staff informed and a further 80% skilled, with training offered to staff across all disciplines including the catering team and cleaners – with all new staff encouraged to undertake the training.

Family members and residents are also able to partake and learn more about caring for or living with dementia. Sessions are tailored to individual requirements ensuring even residents with early onset dementia can take part to ensure no one is excluded.

Clinical Care Manager, Ross Bijak, who facilitates the training at the 74-bedroom home said: “Every individual who interacts with someone who is living with dementia has a direct impact on their quality of life, so we believe it is essential as many of our staff have the correct knowledge and training.

“We facilitate dementia support programmes and look to train all members of staff in dementia care– even those who may not be providing direct care – as well as offering support and coping techniques to help family and friends.

“The framework used has been developed by NHS and Scottish Social Services Council as part of Scotland’s wider National Dementia Strategies which in simple terms is to help make people more informed decisions.

“The more people we’re able to help understand dementia, and how to interact and respond to changing needs of those living with the condition, the quicker it’ll become more manageable and less of a taboo subject.”

With more than 10 years of expertise in the healthcare sector, Ross is the key driving force behind dementia training at the home, working closely with the Centre For Excellence of Dementia Care and also recently completing a Master’s degree in Dementia Studies.

Ross added: “While it is mainly myself that is responsible for carrying out the training at the moment; we are in the process of upskilling other staff members so we are able to increase our training offering.

“Having worked in care of the elderly for over 10 years, it’s so refreshing to work somewhere as forward thinking as Cramond who enable progressive and tailored care for residents with dementia.

“Often those with the condition are placed within a ‘childlike’ environment and are segregated from others. We tailor our care to individual residents, and where possible will ensure all of our residents have access to as many of our activities and classes as we are able to offer while making appropriate adjustments.

“We strive to create as homely an environment as possible so as to minimize distress – which can be done via a number of ways, including neutral interiors and the removal of mirrors as some residents can get upset by their own reflection or startled by bright colours.”

Cramond Residence has a dedicated dementia floor, specially designed for those with dementia. However, residents still have access to all classes, facilities and activities to ensure all within the home live a live a fulfilled life.

The home provides a range of activities specially designed to give those living with dementia a richer and more satisfying life, with specialist facilities and trained staff on hand to provide support and relief.

https://cramondresidence.co.uk/

A Scottish artist has created a luxury hand-tufted rug worth up to £40,000 inspired by a sign made by a homeless man on a discarded pizza box.

Contemporary artist, Kevin Harman, used the hand-drawn sign made by Edinburgh homeless man Steven Jenkins as the design for the two-metre-square rug made by the capital’s Dovecot Studios.

The rug is now up for sale with a price tag of £35,000 to £40,000.

Harman hopes the rugs will prove popular with buyers and he will be able to be able to develop a range of bespoke rugs using signs from the collection.

He said: “I’m interested in the extreme distance between the cardboard sign, which is all about survival, and where the rug might end up, in a large, decadent dwelling.

“I was struck by the attention to detail in Steven’s signs. Although they were made with cardboard and felt-tip pens, I could see how long they had taken him, it made me think about the things people do to survive. 

“I’m interested in what happens when these designs are turned into art objects, how the object will resonate and react with other objects in a person’s house. It’s a reminder that you are in a position that another person is not.

“I wanted the rug to have a rough texture, so it wasn’t entirely comfortable underfoot. I want to have a conversation about how to help people in bad circumstances, and this gives us the floor, so to speak!”

Weaver and tufter at Dovecot Studios, Louise Trotter, carefully reproduced Jenkins’ design which had been made on cardboard from a discarded pizza box, copying his colours and even the stains on the cardboard.

She says: “This project is quite different from some of the other rugs I’ve worked on. Often they have a very rich velvety feel, but Kevin wanted something rougher, more like a doormat, so we used a mixture of jute, flax, nylon and really hard wools. 

“As well as the colours Steven had used, we wanted to replicate the corrugated texture of the pizza box and the way the lettering was scored into the cardboard, so we used loop-pile tufting for the words. Getting the textures right has been absolutely key.”

Harman was struck by the time that Steven had put into creating the sign. He has developed a range of high-end interiors products inspired by Jenkins’ signs called “Signs of Life”, with a significant percentage of the profits donated to homeless charities.

Celia Joicey, Director of Dovecot Studio, says: “Kevin Harman’s ‘Signs of Life’ is a fantastic commission for Dovecot.  Harman has used the Studios’ expert gun-tufted rug skills to create a work that feels at once compassionate and provocative.

“The scale and warmth of the new artwork are in direct contrast with its message, both the modest request for money and the visceral fear of what it means to be homeless. Dovecot exists to advance fine art textiles internationally and it has been a privilege to collaborate with Kevin Harman on such an inventive and high profile project to address homelessness.”

The Elvis Presley tribute artist, Lee Memphis King will appear at The Queen’s Hall on 3 November 2021 with his One Night of Elvis show.

This is the ultimate tribute to The King – celebrating the career of the musical legend.

During the last decade that Lee has toured he has picked up numerous accolades and headlined some of the most prestigious venues.

In this latest production, Lee Memphis King portrays Elvis Presley at his peak celebrating the “Vegas Years” from 1969 – 1977  when Elvis performed in Las Vegas and tour throughout the US and Canada – the definitive record of these performances are contained in the films Elvis- That’s the Way It Is, Elvis On Tour and the Aloha from Hawaii concert. 

Resplendent in authentic costumes from Elvis’s performance,  Lee brings the majesty of the voice and its electrifying power back to life. He will be accompanied throughout by his band and backing singers along with the Brass Monkeys. This latest production also features state of the art lighting and large screen projection making it the largest Elvis show to tour UK theatres.

Featuring hits such as The Wonder of You, Suspicious Minds, Bridge over Troubled Water, In the Ghetto and many more.. along with a selection of songs from the recent Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra albums.

To any Elvis fan this show is billed as “the only way to enjoy the music of the greatest, most celebrated artist the world has known”.

Go on a musical journey and spend one night with Elvis.

Tickets here.

The council is to take part in a new partnership set up to develop Edinburgh Bioquarter, as a shareholder in a new company, EBQ3 Ltd, with delegated authority to the Chief Executive, Andrew Kerr.

The company will decide the appointment of a commercial partner to develop the site and an announcement on that is expected to be announced by late 2022. The site is not expected to be fully occupied until around 2036, but already BioQuarter is the third largest UK Life Sciences site after Cambridge and the Newcastle Helix.

At next week’s meeting of Policy and Sustainability Committee, the outline business case will be set out under which a Private Sector Partner (PSP) will be appointed for the project. It is hoped that the PSP would have sufficient financial means and development experience to bring the whole vision to fruition much more quickly than the public bodies on their own. There is a procurement exercise already planned and which is awaiting the green light from all partners which include the council, NHS Lothian, Scottish Enterprise, and University of Edinburgh.

It is believed that investment of around £600 million will be required to develop the site to grow companies and businesses there. A new public private partnership will “bring the best of all worlds together”.

In the draft City Plan 2030, which has just been approved to move to the next statutory stage, BioQuarter is regarded as a site where living and working together in a 20 minute neighbourhood is very achievable. The new area will have housing, shops and hospitality all in the same area as places to work.

The site lies close to areas of the city which are the most socially and economically disadvantaged and BioQuarter will remain a significant development in the city in the years to come. The site has been developed in the last two decades, but the report prepared for the council states that some increase in pace and scale is now required, and without it BioQuarter will lose out on investment and people coming to work there. There is also a part of the £1 billion City Region Deal which will ensure that the University’s Usher Institute is at the heart of the new innovation district with 600 clinicians, researchers, students, data scientists and professional services all on hand.

BioQuarter is the life sciences campus at Little France lying to the south of the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh and the University of Edinburgh Medical School. An agreement was entered into in 2017 when the council agreed to become a formal partner, with £500,000 of council funding agreed for “development and procurement” in February 2020.

Council leader Adam McVey said: “Edinburgh BioQuarter is a driving force in Scotland’s thriving life sciences sector and is already a prime destination in the UK for healthcare delivery, ground-breaking medical research and health innovation.

“Its expansion is identified in our proposed City Plan 2030, which was considered by the Planning Committee this week, as an area earmarked for life science development supporting wider growth and regeneration in the south east of the city. The outline business case being considered by committee makes it clear Edinburgh Bioquarter has the potential to bring in billions of pounds for our economy with lasting benefits for local people, connecting in jobs and opportunities to nearby areas like Craigmillar, where we’re also making major investments in regeneration.”

Depute Leader Cammy Day said: “If our involvement in procuring a partner is approved by Council, we’ll contribute to a new long-term masterplan to expand the area into Scotland’s first health innovation district with an eventual community of 20,000 people working or studying alongside a neighbourhood of people who live there.”

The BioQuarter area is designated in the current Local Development Plan as an area for development of life sciences and it is mentioned in the City Mobility Plan as an area where further transport infrastructure is needed. In a growing global market it is considered important to the economy of the city.

The council’s Policy and Strategy Committee will discuss the outline business case on Tuesday when it meets.

The latest Euan’s Guide Access Survey is live and open to comments from the public from today.

The 7th survey will measure the impact of lockdown on disabled access provision in the UK. It will ask anyone who has had to consider disabled access to share their opinions.

It is considered by the charity to be even more important this year as the pandemic begins to pass.

This is the largest survey of its kind and is being supported by Motability Operations for the first time.

Euan MacDonald, co-founder of Euan’s Guide, said: “This survey is extremely important in establishing how the disruption of 2020-21 has affected disabled people, their families, friends and carers and whether the pandemic has pushed back the progress of accessibility.  It’s vital that anyone who has had to consider disabled access makes their voice heard on what the impact of Covid has been on accessibility.

“We are looking forward to working with Motability Operations to amplify the voices and experiences of disabled people.”

Delia Ray, Head of Marketing at Motability Operations, said: “We’re pleased to be working with Euan’s Guide to give our customers the chance to share their views on how accessible they find daily life. Since lockdown restrictions have eased, we all want to get out safely and having reliable accessibility information builds confidence and helps everyone to enjoy the benefits of getting out and about.

“We hope our customers will share their thoughts and feedback to ensure that accessibility continues to be a priority for venues across the UK.”

Previous surveys found that historic castles were more accessible than pubs and that an overwhelming 93% of people who replied said they had to get disabled access information before visiting somewhere new.

The Euan’s Guide Access Survey supported by Motability Operations is now live. Tell them your thoughts and take part now by visiting www.EuansGuide.com/AccessSurvey.

Euan’s Guide was founded in 2013 by Euan MacDonald MBE, a powerchair user, and his sister Kiki, after Euan was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease and a lack of disabled access made everyday experiences stressful. Having access to good quality disabled access information inspires confidence and removes the fear of the unknown. It breaks down the barriers of exclusion and makes it easier for disabled people to find great places to go.

LAST CHANCE TO VOTE FOR EDINBURGH HEROES IN MAJOR AWARDS 
 
There are just a few days left to cast your vote to help an Edinburgh homeless charity win the ‘Project of the Year’ trophy at this year’s National Lottery Awards. 

The National Lottery Awards celebrate the people and projects all over the UK who do extraordinary things with the help of National Lottery funding each year.

Turn The Tables is an Edinburgh-based social enterprise with a mission to use DJing to change the lives of people affected by homelessness.  The project provides training from beginner to professional, with the programme culminating in a live stream performance. Some recent graduates of the project have done so well they have been offered positions as Turn The Tables resident DJs and have been booked to perform at major events including the recent Riverside Music Festival in Glasgow.   

Since voting for The National Lottery Project of the Year category opened on 6 September, thousands of votes have been cast from across the UK for the 17 finalists to help decide this year’s winner. 

But the 4 October deadline for voting is fast approaching.

At the end of the four-week voting window, the finalist with the most votes will be crowned the National Lottery’s 2021 Project of the Year. 

The winning project will receive a £3,000 cash prize, along with an iconic National Lottery trophy to commemorate the achievement.  

Robbie Tolson, founder of Turn The Tables, said: “We are so proud of all the people involved in this project and the positive changes being made by so many.  To be recognised for that is an honour and we really hope people will get behind us and give us their vote.”    

Jonathan Tuchner, from the National Lottery, said: “The past 18 months have been tough for all of us, so it’s truly inspiring to see so many projects and volunteers still putting in the time to make a positive difference in their communities.

“Thanks to National Lottery players, more than £30 million goes to good causes across the country every week, making vital projects like these possible.  

“Don’t forget to make your voice heard by voting for your Project of the Year in the National Lottery Awards – with your help, they could be a winner.” 

To cast your vote, visit the National Lottery Awards webpage at https://lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards. Voting closes at 5pm on 4 October. 

The Cordis Prize founded by Miranda Harvey and Ian Rankin has announced the shortlist of artists considered for the 2021 price.

There are 20 artworks by 18 artists considered for the £8,000 prize which will be exhibited at Inverleith House Gallery from 23 October to 12 December.

Entries from Australia and Russia are included on the list with other renowned weavers from Japan, Iceland, Norway, Denmark and the UK. Some use traditional methods and fibres and others use found materials and unorthodox applications of the “Gobelin technique”.

The prize captures a snapshot of how this art form is developed today, and the works include those using second hand books, recycled plastic and cotton linen with wire. The message is a spotlight shone on social issues such as the refugee crisis, resistance to ethnic diversity and lockdown loneliness.

Speaking on behalf of the judging panel following the rigorous selection process Cordis Prize founder Miranda Harvey said: “This year, after a postponed deadline, we received a record high number of submissions from artists across the world. We were heartened to see an upturn in the number of young weavers, and in artists moving from different disciplines towards weaving as a medium for creating fine art. 

“The pandemic year has certainly exerted influence on the artists who submitted their work, through political critique, personal reflection, and in finding tapestry as a means of therapeutic making. The 2021 Cordis Prize boasts the most eclectic mix of artists, themes, and techniques to date, and we are pleased to present a broad reflection of the world of tapestry through our shortlist exhibition.”

The 2021 Cordis Prize shortlist is:  

Angela Maddock (UK) Cloth Body

“Cloth Body is a woven sculptural response to absence and hope. It brings together – through cutting, knotting and weaving – a collection of longed for bodies made absent by physical distancing. Four pairs of jeans, three dresses, two sets of pyjamas, six sweatshirts, three skirts, five pairs of leggings, eight pairs of pants and ninety-six t-shirts shared by friends and family – and others unknown to me – otherwise destined for the rag pile. Closely knitted garments cut adrift by a rotary blade and reassembled here through knotting and weaving.”

Anne Bjørn (Denmark) Combine II

“I use light as a tool to transform the textile from definite handmade craft into ambiguous space. By letting the tapestries cast a shadow, by doubling, reflecting, distorting and repeating the work, it becomes more a question of an actual evocation of the textile and the many different views contained in an image than a traditional artistic practise. I am preoccupied with the simple expression as a poetic force.”

Maija Fox (Finland) the socks of a companion that encourage me to notice

“The Socks Of A Companion That Encourages Me To Notice is a sculptural tapestry; socks for the table to somehow provide a more expansive and more complacent experience of the world. To think about what can be learnt from the things that exist around us, what they can tell and what they can teach. To re-discover and playfully reconfigure the ways in which we think about the modern world.”

Anna Olsson (Sweden) To Me You Are Valuable

“I received these selfies from young people I know who have been denied asylum in Sweden. Some of them now live hidden in Sweden, some have moved on to other countries and some have been granted a residence permit at a new trial.

It all started when I could not attend a demonstration and I asked someone to take pictures for me. I got, of course, a selfie sent to me. I decided to weave it as a documentation of the struggle, an ordinary selfie of an ordinary teenager in the middle of a fight for his right to asylum. When I start weaving the picture, an ordinary guy is still an ordinary guy, but now with a piece of paper that says he cannot be in Sweden. The Swedish Migration Agency says that he is not desirable here, not worth a life in safety. I say instead, you are so valuable that I portray you in a tapestry.”

Anna Olsson (Sweden) Helping Hands

“There is a closeness that we have not been able to give each other because of the pandemic. A closeness that is barely noticeable, but which is such an important bond between us; a pat on the shoulder, holding open a door, a quick selfie or a high five. Sometimes we talk to each other through the proximity of our hands and I understand the world through my loom where my hands work.”

Anne Stabell (Norway) – Under the Surface

“Under the Surface is part of a project named Slowly Through the Woods. With these

tapestries my intention is to bring the experience of being in the woods among

everything that grows, into the gallery in a woven form. The designs are made by

leaving parts of the warp unwoven, so that one can see through and between the

threads, almost like in a wood with leaves, branches and the air between. The visible

warp and the coloured weft are dyed with growths I have collected or grown in my

Garden.”

Chrissie Freeth  (UK) – Song of the Woods

“I approach tapestry as a storyteller, reshaping family myths and my own experiences into tales which form the basis of my tapestries. This process was heightened during the lockdown of 2020 when I began walking daily in a local ancient woodland. It quickly became an essential part of my artistic practice; somewhere to think about my work and to confront myself and my memories.” 

Ghislaine Bazir (France) – Alice et Anita 5

“I very often work from photographs, sometimes they are taken on the go of whatever catches my eye, and sometimes old ones.  Most of my work is about memory and family. From these old black and white pictures, I’m aiming to keep a woven remnant of people passed away, forgotten, often without a name. My family comes from a place and a story where images of the past barely exist, where memories are so hard to keep, erased by slavery, poverty and hurricanes.” 

Elaine Wilson (UK) – Blue Splash

“I started making this tapestry in April 2020 during the Covid lockdown, when I was furloughed for three months from my job as an apprentice weaver. The image that I chose to interpret for the design is one of my own paintings.  In my painting practice there is a frantic energy and I like to throw and pour paint, creating drips and pools of colour.  I thought it would be interesting to try and express these quite immediate marks in the much slower and considered medium of tapestry weaving by using texture and double weave.”

Fiona Hutchinson (UK) – Wall of Water

“Wall of Water evolved out of my interest in ocean plastic and my experiments with tapestry and re purposed plastic bail strapping. Developing techniques to pull and manipulate the warp and weft, leaving warps exposed and unfinished the tapestry became a 3D woven drawing of the sea. On the surface it has colour, movement and flow which conceals what is hidden within, fragments of plastic.”

Fiona Rutherford (UK) – Love is a Long Distance Dance

“The title of this piece comes from the last line of the poem New Era, written in the early days of lockdown by Jackie Kay. The sense of separation from all you know and love immediately resonated with me. I wove the tapestries over the course of a year from 2020 to 2021, in direct response to the isolation imposed by the worldwide pandemic. They are a visual diary of chaos contained.” 

Jo McDonald UK – Reconnections

“I construct my work using found objects, largely second-hand books. Their built-in history is the attraction for me. The objects contain traces of the past – fingerprints, skin, dedications, scribbled notes – which offer us a glimpse into their earlier life. I work alone, because personal handling of the materials is important to me and relates to the themes, I explore concerning the embodiment of history within objects

Katja Beckman – Little Black Dog

“Little Black Dog is one of a series of abstract portraits of my dogs. The motifs allude to the difficulty of photographing a black dog – they usually become blurred shapes. I have worked with a black pallete, a colour often linked to a void or lack of something. The tapestries are covered with a thin Rya, which has a unique quality to create a living surface. It has an inviting effect – you want to get close and touch it.” 

Louise Martin – Lifetime

“Broad areas of bold colour are woven in a dance of warp and weft, pass by pass. The language of compound colour, textural and structural qualities of yarn are given full rein, choices become almost unlimited. Here woven in large areas with subtle shifts of colour and tone there is new hum and complexity to the surface which on closer view reveals a multi-faceted light, a dialogue of warp and weft at times closely entwined, at others running in counter wise layers.” 

Martin Jørgensen – Bright Red

“Bright Red is a visual story without a beginning or an end. It is an experiment with depths and diverse colour symphonies within one piece. It is built up by multiple rhythms of shapes and colour. My intention was to create a composition on the verge of tilting, challenging the balance of the image. The weaving technique creates a tactility that captures the light and creates an abundance of small shadows in the surface. The result is an enhanced glow and a sense of depth. From a distance, the tapestry looks virtually three-dimensional.”

Misako Nakahiro – Fusion

“In the spring of 2020, when an unknown virus began to rage worldwide, I stayed at home and came across a book – The Devil’s Cloth. A History of Stripes,by Michel Pastoureau. As a result of reading it I created this striped tapestry.

Stripes are made up of parallel, non-intersecting lines.

Stripes of sin, stripes of celebration, stripes of cleanliness, stripes of chic, stripes of rest, people have found meaning in this simple pattern for centuries.”

Patrick Stratton – Things I do Sometimes: Put Toothpaste on Toothbrush

“My work combines weaving with mechanics to document micro social systems. Using systematized observation, I make pieces that try to highlight small human moments from a playful, existentialist viewpoint. Inspired by writers like Samuel Beckett, I try to do my best with what I have, reducing my experience in a time of overwhelming saturation. This piece, “Things I do Sometimes: Put Toothpaste on Toothbrush” is a continuation of this theme, each part has been hand woven, and then assembled using electronics and wood. The purpose of this is to heighten an uneventful moment in life, by blowing it up to a grand scale and by referencing pop art motifs.” 

Rachel Johnston (Portsmouth, UK)  – Blackthorn

“‘Blackthorn’, arises from the experience of being in a specific place at a particular point in time. It combines visual and textural cues from two contrasting environments: a common by the sea in Portsmouth, an unapologetically urban space, and from the landscape around the River Eden in Cumbria. The blackthorn tree is a point of reference in the landscape, connecting the two.”

Tanya Nonthando Wilson (UK) – Entering Eden Triptych 

“Entering Eden is a triptych depicting the temptations we face while journeying into the

unknown. This is an autobiographical piece taken from my own lived experiences. It

explores wonder, identity, other-worldly environments and the intense contrasting feelings of

uneasiness vs tenacity and doom vs ecstasy. I use drawing as a visual diary so by

converting my drawings into tangible woven chronicles that come directly from my own

experiences, I can communicate my existence to the wider world.”

Zhanna Petrenko – Shroud of insecurity

In a world of digital everything, what value does the physical hold?

“The tapestry was created during a residency at the Startup Depot Incubator (Lviv, Ukraine) from October 2020 to January 2021. The work took close to 514 hours to complete, from a sketch developed using digital media. The weaving of computer graphics has been an ongoing experiment.” 

Public Health Scotland publishes the latest data on Covid-19 in Scotland each day. The figures are reproduced in our table below.

These continue to show a downward trend since the highs of August and the numbers of those who have just received their first dose of the vaccine are starting to rise again, perhaps showing the take up by the young people in the 12 to 15 years old age group who have just become eligible.

From last Monday 12 to 15-year-olds are able to obtain the first dose of vaccine at drop in clinics across Scotland.

Letters have now been sent out to all eligible young people, but it is open to all people over the age of 12 to attend a drop in clinic to obtain the free vaccination. There are mass vaccination sites at Gorebridge Vaccination Centre, Pyramids Business Park, and Lowland Hall at Ingliston. Full details of how to get there are on the NHS Lothian website.

If you wish to see the figures up to 31 August for each day (with some highs and lows from the past few months) then please read below and also read this article here.

Scotland has now moved beyond Level 0 but the legal requirement for wearing masks in indoor settings is to be retained largely as it has been.

Any figures marked with * are affected by IT or other reporting issues.

Deaths involving COVID-19 Week 38 – 20 to 26 September

As at 26 September, 10,991 deaths have been registered in Scotland where the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) was mentioned on the death certificate, according to statistics published today by National Records of Scotland (NRS).

In the week 20 – 26 September, 165 deaths were registered that mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate, 30 more than last week.

28 deaths were of people aged under 65, 28 were aged 65-74 and there were 109 deaths in people aged 75 or over. 76 deaths were male, 89 were female.

Glasgow City (23 deaths), South Lanarkshire (14 deaths) and Renfrewshire (11 deaths) had the highest numbers of deaths at council level. In total, 27 out of 32  council areas had at least one death last week.

124 deaths occurred in hospitals, 21 were in care homes and 20 were at home or in a non-institutional setting.

Pete Whitehouse, Director of Statistical Services, said:“The latest figures show that last week there were 165 deaths where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate. This is 30 more deaths than last week, and represents the highest weekly total we have seen since late February.”

“The number of deaths from all causes registered in Scotland in this week was 1,212, which is 205, or 20%, more than the five year average.” 

Beyond Level 0

The legal requirement for physical distancing and limits on gatherings has been removed from Monday 9 August when all venues across Scotland are able to re-open.

Some protective measures will stay in place such as the use of face coverings indoors and the collection of contact details as part of Test and Protect. Capacity limits of 2000 people indoors and 5000 people outdoors will also remain in place although some exceptions may be possible on a case by case basis. These will be reviewed on a three weekly basis to ensure they remain proportionate.

Adults identified as close contacts of someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 will also no longer be automatically required to self-isolate for 10 days from 9 August. Anyone who is double-vaccinated with at least two weeks passed since their second dose and who has no symptoms will be able to end self-isolation if they return a negative PCR test. The same conditions will also apply to anyone aged between five and 17 years old, even if they have not been vaccinated. The requirement to take a PCR test will not apply to children under the age of five.

Test and Protect will also implement revised guidance for under 18s. This means that the blanket isolation of whole classes in schools will no longer happen and a targeted approach, that only identifies children and young people who are higher risk close contacts, will be adopted. Fewer young people will have to self-isolate, and most will be asked to self-isolate for a much shorter period of time. To allow time to monitor the impacts of these changes, the majority of the mitigations that were in place in schools in the previous term will be retained for up to six weeks. This will help support a safe and sustainable return to education after the summer break.

While the gateway condition on vaccination has been met, with 92% of those over the age of 40 protected by two doses of the vaccine, there are still many more people who have not had the vaccine, cannot have it, or are not yet eligible for it. Invitations for vaccines are now going out to 12 to 17 year olds with specific health conditions that make them more vulnerable to Covid. This follows the recent advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. The government expects to have offered first doses to this group by the end of August.

The JCVI has now recommended vaccination to young people aged 16 and 17.

Although there were some smiles evident on the final whistle, all in good sporting spirit, they were undoubtedly masking great disappointment and frustration as SM were pipped at the post by a physical PL side who just never gave up. The usual suspects lined up alongside the abrasive new start Brendan Scott on the left wing.

PL got things going playing towards Ferry Road however SM started well. A probing kick by Fraser Strachan, chased down by Scott Alldritt and with Darren Miller rumbling into the visitors 22′, ultimately led to a penalty allowing Euan Bowen to slot home the first three points of the afternoon. Five minutes in SM 3 – PL 0.

Pressure continued as James Ferguson, with what now is a familiar sight, made inroads giving SM good field position although PL’s resilience prevented anything more. With around 12 minutes played, PL grabbed the opportunity to field a loose pass and, perhaps against the run of play, were in for the first try of the afternoon. SM 3 – PL 5.

As the game became more balanced, with both teams making incursions into opposing halves, it was PL that eventually won a penalty taking the three points on offer. 20 minutes SM 3 – PL 8. The deficit in the score line seemed to motivate SM once more and were soon back on the front foot. The first yellow card came, with PL the recipient, and another break by Ferguson in the midfield forced play into PL’s 22′.

Unfortunately, a knock-on resulted in another scrum. A kick into SM’s half was retrieved well by George Lee who then made the yards and space before off-loading to Sean Murchie for his first try of the afternoon. 30 minutes SM 8 – PL 8.

The score line would suggest possession and territory were fairly equal even although SM’s line- outs were not functioning too well. Coupled to that the PL pack were starting to put considerable pressure on their hosts at scrum time. The second yellow of the afternoon came, this time to SM for a high tackle, and with 35 minutes played it was 14 pts a piece.

Some good hands and width with Brendan Scott showing his promising capabilities, eventually allowed Scott Alldritt to touchdown. 36 minutes SM 13 – PL 8. As half time approached another penalty was conceded as a PL player was adjudged to have been taken out in the air.

From a significant distance the successful kick was slotted over by the PL flyhalf. At half time the score stood at SM 13 pts – PL 11 pts.

The start of the second half was almost a repeat of the early stages of the first as SM were putting phases together, retaining possession, keeping play in PL’s half. The pressure resulted in a penalty and the intent to get more was evident as the kick to touch, a good line-out followed and Danny Morrison was over.

Prior to this Jamie McGurk unfortunately came off injured to be replaced by David Hodge. 50 minutes SM 20 – PL 11. Another strong period followed and, with quick hands in the backs, Ferguson was once again giving Murchie another opportunity to run in for his second try of the afternoon. Euan Strachan was, again, successful with the conversion. 55 minutes SM 27 – PL 11.

The physically impressive Max Hancock had now entered the fray replacing the influential Scott Alldritt who had clearly been struggling with a hamstring injury. Alldritt had continued bravely on contributing gallantly to the cause but more damage to his hamstring would have been inevitable had he stayed on. With a 16-point advantage, and around 20 minutes left on the clock, perhaps the foot came off the gas and at the same time PL upped their game.

Their dominance in the set piece was beginning to show with too many penalties as a result conceded. A somewhat disjointed 5 minutes followed, accompanied by some frayed tempers, resulting in a brief chat from the referee with the captains. Normal play soon resumed as PL continued where they had left off and were over the line once again. 65 minutes in SM 27 – PL 18 with a sense of unease being felt both on and off the park.

Jamie McGurk was back on as Brendan Scott came off after a fine display however PL were beginning to look particularly dangerous once more and, despite good defensive work by the SM forwards and backs, they broke the deadlock once more with another converted try with around 5 minutes left. SM 27 – PL 25. The unease was now palpable.

PL were then awarded the inevitable penalty and, from an almost unmissable kicking position, the game was over.

Full time SM 27 pts – PL 28 pts

Losing is losing but by a single point is tough. Credit to PL who kept the pressure on for 80 minutes which ultimately paid dividends. Not all is lost however as SM head south on Saturday to Bonnie Galloway, and in keeping with the Van Morrison theme, in this league, they “just have to roll with the punches”.

Match report courtesy of Stewart’s Melville RFC

Images courtesy of Jackie MacKenzie

Edinburgh Monarchs could add to Birmingham Brummies misery on Wednesday (7.30pm) by dumping them out of the Knockout Cup.

Skipper Sam Masters (pictured) aims to lead Monarchs to victory and the Scots have an 18-point lead from the quarter-final, first-leg at Armadale.

This could be the club’s last meeting as Brummies owners David and Peter Mason are walking away and there is no firm offer on the table to take over.

David Mason, a former rider, said: “It’s been so tough for us this year and we are deeply saddened that the situation has come to this where it looks like the chequered flag will fall for the last time on racing in Birmingham.

“We have given our all and at times my father has been badly affected with his health because of the stress we have been under this season with everything that has been thrown at us.

“I would urge everyone to come along and there will be an opportunity to walk the track after the final race to say farewell.

“Naturally this will be delayed if the team can pull off the comeback of all comebacks and I really hope they can, but there’s also a sense of reality in our preparation.

“With no firm offer on the table to take on the club, this is a very sad situation.”

MB Media will proudly feature on the front of shirt for Hibernian Women for the 2021/22 Scottish Women’s football season.

MB Media, a marketing agency based in the heart of Edinburgh, is one of Scotland’s hottest creative agencies, supporting many of the Capital’s biggest names with their digital marketing, branding and events.

The sponsorship deal will make history, as it’s the first time Hibernian’s Women’s Team have had an official front of shirt sponsor, which will be seen for the first time at the Women’s Edinburgh derby, taking place at Easter Road tonight.

Hibs Women, managed by Dean Gibson currently sit 5th in the Scottish Women’s Premier League this season, scoring an incredible 32 goals in their first six league and cup games, whilst Hearts sit in 9th.

On the deal, MB Media’s Marketing Director, Barrie Wilkins said “It’s a proud day for us to see our logo on the front of the Hibernian Women’s shirt.

“To make history as the first ever official shirt sponsor is really special to us and it’s great to see what it means to the team too!

“This was something I was especially keen to support due to my long affiliation with the club and I hope this is the start of an exciting partnership.

“We’re looking forward to seeing the strip debut at Easter Road on Wednesday and we’ll be there cheering on the team!”

Stewart McGuire, Executive Director for Hibernian Women Football Club, said “Firstly, I would like to thank MB Media for their support, it’s something which we are extremely grateful for and to see the shirts with their first ever sponsor on today is such a big and special moment for us all.

“We can’t wait to walk out of the tunnel at Easter Road in our new look shirts tonight and hopefully the result goes our way on what will be a momentous day.”