Friends of the Earth have organised a fun bike ride from London to Edinburgh to raise funds for the fantastic work they do. The ride will take 6 days and you can join for the whole trip or just a day. Lothian Life readers will probably prefer to opt for the last day, May 11th, which takes you from Alnwick to Edinburgh.

The ride will start in London on Sunday 6 May 2012. We’ll cycle almost 500 miles through breathtaking scenery, arriving in Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh, six days later.

The route will take us from the hustle and bustle of London through rolling countryside, around river estuaries and across stunning moorland. We’ll visit historic cities and picturesque market towns as we wind our way north.

Entries close 26 February - register now to avoid disappointment

There’s something for everyone

You can ride for all six days or join for a day along the route.

We’ll take care of you

The route will be fully marshalled and a support team, including medics and mechanics, will be on hand to help.
For riders doing all six days, tents will be ready and waiting at the end of each day. Relax and unwind with a hot shower and chat to other riders over a meal of freshly prepared organic food.

The route

Our experts have designed a route that will take us along quiet roads through some of the most breathtaking scenery the UK has to offer. And we want you to enjoy it.

Your part is to pay the entry fee and raise a minimum amount of sponsorship, then get your cycling helmet on!

Around 98 per cent of all donations we receive are from individuals and trusts.

• 89p goes directly to research and campaigning.
  Getting to the root of problems and identifying the best solutions. Pooling the knowledge and resources people need to take action and get results. Being the campaigners that put your concerns to key decision-makers and arguing passionately for change on your behalf.
• 10p helps generate more funds.
  Fundraising is crucial to ensure Friends of the Earth remains a free agent. We don’t take money from any source that might try to influence our work. Almost every penny for our vital campaigns comes from people like you.
• 1p covers the costs of governance
  and meeting charity and company regulatory requirements, including: audit fees, preparation of accounts and senior managers reporting to Board meetings.

In Steinbeck’s gripping masterpiece, two migrant field workers travel through California in search of their very own piece of the American Dream.

Armed with nothing but hope, and the dream of one day living and working on their own land, George and his childishly innocent companion Lennie start work on a ranch.

New friendships are made and at first life looks good, until gentle Lennie, unaware of his own immense strength, unwittingly shatters their dreams in one disturbingly tragic act.

This is theatre at its most powerful.

Lyceum Associate Artist John Dove (A View From The Bridge,The Price,The Man Who Had All the Luck, Living Quarters) returns to direct a timely revival of this story of how the vulnerable fare when society has no safety net and economic hardship bites hard.

His new production features a strong cast with first time appearances at The Lyceum for two well known faces from televison William Ash and Steve Jackson.

William Ash most recently played Chris Mead in the popular BBC series Waterloo Road. He has also been in many other popular dramas including Shameless, Casualty, Doctor Who and Lapland and was recently on stage in The Globe Mysteries at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. Steve Jackson has also been in many popular TV series – Casualty, Doctors, Extras, Dalziel and Pascoe to name a few, but he is best known for his fairly recent appearance in Coronation Street as bin man and Janice Battersby’s lodger Trevor Dean.

Making a fond return to The Lyceum stage are actors Greg Powrie who has been a stalwart of John Dove productions over the last few years (The Price, The Man Who Had All the Luck) , Liam Brennan (Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth) , Peter Kelly (The Winter’s Tale, Monks, If Only ), Melody Grove (The Importance of Being Earnest), Garry Collins (My Romantic History, Comedy of Errors, Romeo and Juliet) , John Macaulay (To Kill a Mockingbird, Still Game, River City) , Mark McDonnell (Beauty and The Beast ,The Importance of Being Earnest and soon to be seen in the film Electric Man ).

Cast:
George William Ash
Lennie Steve Jackson
Candy Peter Kelly
The Boss/Whit Greg Powrie
Curley Garry Collins
Curley’s Wife Melody Grove
Slim Liam Brennan
Carlson Mark McDonnell
Crooks John Macauley

Creative Team:
John Dove Director
Colin Richmond Set and Costume Designer
Jeanine Davies Lighting Designer
Lynn Bains Voice Coach
Malcolm Shields Fight Director

LYCEUM TICKETS & PERFORMANCES:
Booking Office 0131 248 4848 or online at www.lyceum.org.uk
Performances: 17 February – 17 March
Evenings: Tuesday – Saturday at 7.45pm
Matinees: 22, 25 and 29 February and 3, 7 and 10 March at 2.30pm
Curtain Raiser: Tuesday 21 February at 6pm ( £5, Under 18’s FREE ) with Dr Ken Millard, Dept of English Literature, University of Edinburgh
Theatre Class Wednesday 22 February at 10.30am with Owen Dudley Edwards
Post-show discussion with members of the cast: (FREE) Tuesday 28 February after performance
Matinee Discussion Group Wednesday 29 February , after matinee (FREE but ticketed)
Touch Tours for the visually impaired: Thursday 1 March at 6.15pm & Saturday 3 March at 1pm
Audio described performances: Thursday 1 March at 7.45pm & Saturday 3 March at 2.30pm
BSL Interpreted performance: Wednesday 7 March at 7.45pm
Captioned Performance: Saturday 10 March at 2.30pm
Evening performances (full price): £13 – £29
Matinee Performances: Wednesday and Saturday Matinees £13 – £16
Over 60’s /Concessions: £2 off full price for all Tuesday – Thursday shows
School Groups: £8 (stalls & grand circle). £7 (upper circle). Matinees – all seats £7. One teacher FREE with every ten pupils.
Registered unemployed: (Tues – Fri evenings: all seats £10); Wed matinees: all seats £5; Tue-Thur: £1 Stalls tickets available on the day (max 20 per show, stalls only). ID required.
Students/ people with disabilities/Under 18s: Sat evenings :all seats £15; Tue-Fri evenings : all seats £10; Sat matinees :all seats £10 and £5 for Wed matinees. Wheelchair spaces are available in the stalls boxes. Students – full time only – ID required.
Groups discounts for 8 or more people:
Evenings: Stalls/Grand Circle £5 off and Upper Circle £3 off full price tickets plus one FREE ticket for every 20 paid for.
Matinees: £3 off full price tickets plus one FREE ticket for every 20 paid for.

Welcome to an evening of magic and illusion with the infamous brothers, Willie and Ira Davenport. Inspired by the Davenports’ ‘Spirit Cabinet’ act, this exciting opening show of 2012 is a co-production with Vox Motus of The Infamous Brothers Davenport. It promises to be a true theatrical treat.

Join us to witness the wonder and mystery of the Davenports’ dramatic demonstration. In their presence, furniture dances, bodies levitate and the voices of the dead resonate through the theatre.

Discover the dark undercurrent to their Victorian world as the showmanship and drama of the brothers’ onstage presence contrasts with their cruel and curious childhood.

The Infamous Brothers Davenport is inspired by the brothers Willie and Ira Davenport who convinced Victorian audiences of their inexplicable commune with the ‘spirits’. Visually spectacular with beautiful and confounding illusions, it is an exploration of imagination, loss and the search for the God-like in man during the Age of Reason.

The full cast is Ryan Fletcher (Ira Davenport), Scott Fletcher (Willy Davenport), Gavin Mitchell (Mr Fey/Papa), Anita Vettesse (Lady Noyes- Woodhull/Mama) , Kirsty Stuart (Katy Davenport). This will be the first time the Fletcher brothers have appeared on stage together and they have enjoyed a great time learning the magic tricks that will be performed during the show.

Original live music from internationally renowned Edinburgh composer Phamie Gow will add to the excitement of the show. Vox Motus is a Glasgow-based company creating vibrant narrative theatre. It was founded by Artistic Directors Jamie Harrison and Candice Edmunds in 2003.This is their first collaboration with the Lyceum.

Please note that this show is recommended for ages 14+ due to strong language and adult content.

LYCEUM TICKETS & PERFORMANCES:
Performances: 19 January – 11 February 2012
Evenings: Tuesday – Saturday at 7.45pm
Matinees: 25, 28 January and 1, 4, 11 February at 2.30pm
Box Office: 0131 248 4848
OnlineTickets
Evening performances (full price): £14.50- £29
Matinee Performances: Wednesday and Saturday Matinees £16
Concessions: £2 off full price for all Tuesday – Friday shows
Under 18s: Saturday Evenings £15/Tuesday – Friday evenings and Saturday Matinees £10/Wednesday matinees £5
School Groups: £8 (stalls & grand circle). £7 (upper circle). Matinees – all seats £7. One teacher FREE with every ten pupils.
Registered unemployed: Tuesday – Friday evenings all seats £10 Wednesday Matinees all seat s £5 Tuesday – Thursday £1 Stalls tickets available on the day (max 20 per show, stalls only). ID required.
Students/ people with disabilities: Saturday Evenings £15/Tues – Fri evenings and Saturday Matinees £10/Wednesday matinees £5
Groups and Schools – Call 0131 248 4949
School Discounts: Wednesday matinees £5/Tuesday – Thursday evenings £8.50 (Stalls),£7.50 (Upper Circle)/Friday/Saturday evenings £15 and Saturday matinees £10/One teacher FREE with every 10 pupils
Groups discounts for 8 or more people: Evenings: Stalls/Grand Circle £5 off and Upper Circle £3 off full price tickets plus one FREE ticket for every 20 paid for/Matinees: £3 off full price tickets plus one FREE ticket for every 20 paid for.

This has resulted in the desirable Dik Geurts Instyle range. These are built-in wood fires from a modest 400 mm to a spectacular 1000 mm wide. The range also includes some trademark Dik Geurts designer models, such as 3 sided, corner and ‘see-through’ tunnel variations. All of these Instyle models add sparkle and flair to traditional or contemporary homes.

The Instyle 400 and 550S models are both compatible with Class 1 UK and Irish chimneys. This means that they can be installed in your existing chimney in less than one day, with minimal building renovation.

They are adjustable wood fires with easy to use controls. The Instyle 400 has heat outputs from 2 to 5.6 kW and the Instyle 550S from 4 – 7 kW. In addition, they both have DEFRA approval, so they can be used in smokeless zones in major cities.

The Instyle 400 and 550S have an efficiency rating of 78.5%. This is an exceptional performance for wood burning fires. It means that, as well as being beautiful to look at, they are economical to run and safe for the environment.

Dik Geurts wood fires and stoves are available from exclusive fireplace retailers throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland. To see the full range and to locate your nearest dealer, visit www.dikgeurts.co.uk

This is the message being relayed by health and body professional, Maria Jevtic, who has just written a book entitled ‘DIY Health Guide’. Maria is urging people to get their health bank accounts topped up now by following her 12 Days of Christmas Detox Guide – an easy to follow plan that will get your mind and body in shape for Christmas.

She explains: “Your body works like a bank account. Just as with money, you can pay in and you can take out. The way to stay in credit is to pay in more than you take out. So to get ready for all the partying which goes on over Christmas and New Year, it is important to get your mind and body in credit now, as we all know the holidays can be a very taxing time of year!

“My 12 Days of Christmas Detox Guide is an easy to follow plan to get in shape for the festivities. Even if people do not follow every one of the 12 steps, they will still notice a massive difference in how they are feeling. Little changes to your routine can have a huge impact on how your body feels and operates.”

12 Days of Christmas Detox Guide:

On the first day of my pre-Christmas detox, my health bank account wants from me:

Too Much Sugar Does Not Make You Feel Sweet
Save the sugary and starchy treats for the holiday period. Too much sugar and too many sweet bakery goods will end up on your waistline and can leave you feeling lethargic and bloated. Enjoy a few treats at parties and perhaps on a Sunday with the family, but otherwise look forward to having your share during the holiday period. What you save now, won’t have to come off later! Sugar also reduces the efficiency of the immune system, which is not something you want to happen during the cold and flu season.

On the second day of my pre-Christmas detox, my health bank account wants from me:

Ban the Booze
Stop drinking alcohol on a daily basis. Save up your alcohol allowance for the festive period, this way you will feel better and enjoy the parties more when they come. Even then, it is a good idea to follow every alcoholic drink with an equally large non-alcoholic drink, your body will thank you for it later. An overworked liver will make you feel ill-tempered and sluggish, not what you want during the holidays. In addition, alcohol robs your body of valuable nutrients such as magnesium, zinc and the B- vitamin group. These are hard to replace and might tip your health bank account off balance which will increase the risk of winter infections.

On the third day of my pre-Christmas detox, my health bank account wants from me:

Gym Will Fix It For You
It is important to keep up your exercise routine even in the colder and rainier weather. This will do wonders for your mood, self-image and general well-being. Every time you exercise, you reduce your stress levels. Stress levels reduce because stress hormones can only efficiently be broken down during exercise. If you do not exercise, these hormones keep circulating in your body inducing feelings of anxiety long after it has been initially triggered. When you exercise you also pay in bonus points towards a faster metabolism, lower blood sugar and improved cholesterol scores. Just in time for the holiday period when all three of these areas are likely to become rather overtaxed! If you exercise regularly now, taking a few days break over the holidays will not do you any harm. So get moving now.

On the fourth day of my pre-Christmas detox, my health bank account wants from me:

Hibernate For Happiness
Sleep more now! The darker months naturally make us more inclined to turn in early. This is because, to some extent, our bodies rely on daylight intensity to feel awake. Use this feature wisely and build up your sleep credit now, whenever you can, instead of keeping yourself up artificially just because you feel silly going to bed early. Every hour of sleep before midnight brings immense anti-aging benefits to every single cell in your body. This is because the most intense maintenance is carried out during sleep! People who sleep more, have fewer infections, have more energy and generally feel in a better mood.

On the fifth day of my pre-Christmas detox, my health bank account wants from me:

D – estroy The Bugs
Increase your Vitamin D intake. Vitamin D is needed to fight infections and inflammation anywhere in your body, but especially in the airways. Since it is normally produced when natural sunlight hits your skin, there is naturally less available in the winter months and most people become deficient by December. Vitamin D is not naturally plentiful in foods, so it is worthwhile consulting a qualified nutritionist to find the correct amount for you and your family to take.

On the sixth day of my pre-Christmas detox, my health bank account wants from me:

Hydrate To Feel Great
Our bodies are around 80% water. Water is a prerequisite of staying healthy, and we need to consume enough to stay hydrated. Coffee, tea and alcohol as well as fizzy drinks (stimulants) are all dehydrating and should be exchanged for good quality bottled water. Or even better, invest in a good quality water filter. Tap water is, unfortunately, full of toxins such as chlorine and pseudo-estrogens and these add to the daily burden of detoxification our bodies have to handle. So in order to make a splash this Christmas, take a dive into lots of water sooner rather than later.

On the seventh day of my pre-Christmas detox, my health bank account wants from me:

Everyone Can Share The Fresh Air
It might be colder outside, but it is still vital to get out in the fresh air. The air that we breathe indoors is not as fresh as we need it to be. Dust collects on every surface, and as we try to get rid of it, the dust swirls around us and makes its way into our respiratory system via the nose and mouth. Other fumes, for example from burnt food, also get inhaled which can also affect our breathing. Fresh air cleans our lungs. It allows us to get rid of the impurities that we inhale on a weekly basis. The fresh air also allows us to breathe deeper which brings more oxygen to our cells. The increased oxygen brings increased energy levels and also brings greater clarity to the brain, which needs twenty percent of our body’s oxygen to function. Our health bank account will start to feel refreshed, and we will look forward to the holidays with renewed vigour.

On the eighth day of my pre-Christmas detox, my health bank account wants from me:

A Sweet Alternative
We are all told to eat more fresh fruit and vegetables, but this is even more important at this time of year. So if you feel like something sweet, chose some lovely satsumas or fresh grapes in season, and leave the treats for Christmas. Fresh fruit and vegetables are full of bug-fighting vitamins and antioxidants which will help you stay in good health. This is a great way to ensure your body stays in credit, and will mean a more relaxed diet over the holidays will not do too much damage.

On the ninth day of my pre-Christmas detox, my health bank account wants from me:

Cut Down The Coffee
Try and reduce the amount of stimulants you take. Stimulants, such as tea and coffee, rob us of minerals and vitamins and also cover up how tired we actually feel. This can result in overwork, overplay and quite possibly induce burn out. If you listen to your body now, you will begin your Christmas holiday well-rested and sparkling.

On the tenth day of my pre-Christmas detox, my health bank account wants from me:

Slow Down You Move To Fast
Avoid racing around as much as you can, and try to spend more time at home. I recommend you spend some time at home every weekend, as this will allow you to unwind and your brain to switch off. Your health bank account will become refreshed and reenergized and you will feel fit, healthy and raring to go. Kids also love being at home with their toys and with their parents. So engage with the other members of your family at home and do not feel like you have to go out to spend ‘quality time’ with your loved ones.

On the eleventh day of my pre-Christmas detox, my health bank account wants from me:

Switch-Off
Switch off your TV and computer and make a change to your daily routine. Gadgets are a part of our life nowadays, but in order to truly get a break, we need to know when to switch off to give our eyes and nervous system some relief. In addition, watching TV and staring at computer screens causes a release of cortisol (a stress hormone) that in turn prevents us from sleeping properly and – oh no! – encourages fat-gain! So get off Facebook and find a real book.

On the twelfth day of my pre-Christmas detox, my health bank account wants from me:

Supplement Your Smile
Build up your immunity and detoxification systems now to be in credit for those taxing holidays. We can all set-out with the best of intentions, but even the strongest willed people need a little help every now and then. Therefore, to ensure that your body gets everything it needs I recommend you take some good quality and well-selected supplements. These help your body to make-up any deficiencies that may have built up over the past months or years. They will also add some extra to your bank to help combat those delicious nutrient robbers in the shape of sweets and alcohol that we all consume at Christmas. The B Vitamins, Magnesium and Zinc as well as some omega 3 fatty acids are most important, plus the already recommended Vitamin D. If you have stocked up before, you will be laughing all the way through.

This workshop is touring around primary schools throughout Scotland teaching children how electricity is generated. To do this they are manipulating the Hexbug Nano (see picture attached) so that it can be powered by a hand held generator. Schools in the area can book a workshop with them in the coming months. The cost for a tour is £160 and is aimed at pupils aged 7-11.

If you’d like to know when new articles appear on Lothian Life, sign up here. If you’d prefer a monthly newsletter, sign up here. Articles on Lothian Life are free to read and we hope you enjoy them. However we do pay our writers and have other expenses too, so if you feel like making a contribution to keep things going we’d be very grateful. As my mother used to say, “Mony a mickle maks a muckle”.

The luxurious event, which is sponsored by the Scottish Daily Mail, 5pm.co.uk and Hamleys is set to run over the weekend of November 26 and 27, 2011 at the Royal Highland Centre in Ingliston, Edinburgh. The show will bring over 100 niche exhibitors together to make it easier than ever to find the perfect Christmas gifts for loved ones… or a festive treat for yourself.

Whether you’re looking for delicious seasonal produce, fine wines, quality beers, the perfect weekend getaway or even a gift with a difference, you’re guaranteed to find something that ticks all the boxes at the Indulgence Christmas Show.

If you’re shopping for ladies who love their beauty treatments, or if you’re in the market for a little indulgence yourself, you can expect to be spoiled for choice with the fantastic host of specialist brands offering treatments, products and exclusive offers. There will also be lots of quirky jewellery brands showcasing their handcrafted pieces at the show.

It’s not all about bling and beauty though. Foodlovers are in for a real treat with the Arran Cheese Shop, Chocolati’s handmade chocolates, Devenick Dairy, Galloway Fudge, Chilli Papas, Gordon & Durward and a Taste of Bute all on hand over the weekend. There will also be a host of tastings taking place over the course of the weekend giving shoppers the chance to sample suppliers’ culinary delights, while those who enjoy a fine dram will appreciate the Tullibardine Distillery stand and Scotland’s oldest whisky merchant, Robert Graham.

The Indulgence Christmas Show promises to be a great day out for the entire family and in addition to the fantastic range of exhibitors, shoppers can expect to find a host of live interactive demonstrations with high profile Chef Nigel Brown as compere at the Chef’s Theatre where they’ll be able to learn a few tips for preparing the perfect festive dishes.

Even Santa Claus will be getting in on the fun at the Indulgence Christmas Show – for £5 per ticket, little (and big kids) will be able to meet Santa Claus at the Hamleys Santa’ s Grotto event and take a home an early Christmas present.

For further information, please visit www.theindulgenceshow.com

A merchant who has fallen on hard times stumbles upon a castle and angers the beast who lives within.

He is duty-bound to return or send another in his place and, though she’s scared, brave Beauty vows to honour her father’s word and face the terrible monster.

As the pair gradually overcome their differences and become friends, the malevolent witch Crackjaw plots and schemes to defeat all that is good and pure.

Can Beauty and the Beast stop her evil plan, and prove that love really does conquer all? To find out, Book tickets for this show online now

Runs from 25 November – 31 December

Great Group Rates
We’ve got great group rates if you’re bringing a large party this Christmas!

Book 10 seats or more and you can save £4 per ticket in the Stalls and Grand Circle and £3 per ticket in the Upper Circle. Plus children pay half the discounted adult rate, and for every 15 tickets you book we’ll give you one free!

There’s no booking fee and no deposit required – just reserve now and then pay two weeks before the show.
Call our dedicated Group Sales Line on 0131 248 4949.

Family Tickets
Book four Stalls tickets for just £60 as long as at least one of the seats is for an Under 18.

Family Tickets are available for all performances, subject to availability. Maximum of two Family Tickets per customer. Book now on 0131 248 4848.

The Snow Leopards of the Sacred Himalayas adoption pack is the perfect Christmas gift idea for family and friends. For as little as £3 a month, you can support a group of 10 individuals, located in the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area in the Himalayas. When you sign up, you will receive a snow leopard toy and a welcome pack. You will also receive updates three times a year. The snow leopard adoption is also available as part of the new ‘Snow Pack’, a triple adoption package, which protects snow leopards, Adélie penguins and polar bears and their habitats. Click here to find out more.

Honest & Sensitive Skincare
The beautiful new Senzimi range has been created specifically for sensitive skin. The range includes a Sensitive Daily Moisturiser, a Sensitive Cleanser, a Sensitive Shampoo and a Sensitive Conditioner. The whole range is free from artificial parabens and uses natural active ingredients to create gorgeous yet effective skin care products. For more details visit www.senzimi-skincare.com or call the team on (0)1392 202 285

Jameson Irish Whiskey – The Smoothest Present this Christmas

Jameson, the UK’s No 1 selling Irish Whiskey, is triple distilled to deliver an exceptional smoothness making it the perfect drink to complement the festive season and an ideal Christmas gift for long term whiskey fans or those new to the spirit. Available in a sleek, modern gift box for the festive period, Jameson will be available in leading grocers and smaller, local outlets from October. Versatility is at the heart of Jameson Irish Whiskey, which can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks or mixed in a long drink or cocktail such as the Jameson Whiskey Sour. Mixologist and Jameson brand ambassador Ed McAvoy has designed a number of mixers and cocktails, all of which can be found  if you log on to www.facebook.com/jamesonwhiskey.

The first natural energy breakfast cereal has been launched in the UK.
FUEL is a delicious chunky breakfast granola packed with toasted oats which launches exclusively in 459 Tesco stores. FUEL is aimed at time-starved people pursuing busy, active lives. It comes in two varieties: 70% Cocoa Chunks and Fruit Loaded. Containing only natural ingredients, FUEL, whose brand strapline is “One Life – Live It, is rich in Vitamin B and E, high in fibre and contains guarana extract. Look here for more information.

The Indulgence Show will bring over 100 niche exhibitors together to make it easier than ever to find the perfect Christmas gift for loved ones…or a festive treat for yourself! Held at The Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th November 10am to 7pm. Adult day tickets are only £10 and under 16s go free.  Buy tickets at www.theticketfactory.com or by calling 0844 338 7770.

Premiership stars bare all for the armed forces

This is the launch of the Rugby for Heroes 2012 calendar. The charity was established earlier this year.The Patron of the charity is England Rugby International, Mike Tindall. Mike has endorsed the charity since its inception along with several other Premiership team players who have all kindly supported the charity. Premiership players featuring in the charity calendar include Mike Tindall, Tom Croft, Delon Armitage, Charlie Sharples, Nick Abendenon, Topsy Ojo, Tom May, Noah Cato, Ugo Monye, Marcel Garvey, Dan Bowden and Miles Benjamin. The calendar is available to order from the Rugby for Heroes website www.rugbyforheroes.org.uk

We are excited to introduce our newest Kindle – the smallest, lightest, fastest and most affordable Kindle ever – only £89. Kindle Keyboard 3G, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 3G Works Globally, 6″ E Ink DisplayKindle is the #1 bestselling, #1 most-wished-for and #1 most-gifted product on Amazon.co.uk. We kept everything readers love about Kindle, and made it even better. Our all-new Kindle features a new, compact design that is 30% lighter at just 170 grams and 18% smaller – small enough to fit in your pocket. Kindle features the most-advanced 6-inch E Ink display that reads like real paper, even in bright sunlight.

The one night of the year when ghosts, witches, and fairies are especially active, is best celebrated in Edinburgh and with hundreds of activities going on around the city you can find plenty of events to attend. Whether you are a fan of the holiday or not Edinburgh classified ads will be bursting at the seams with things to do on the day. Here are a few of the many events going on around the city on the 31^st of October.

Whenever you walk around Edinburgh, even in the summer, you will see hundreds of adverts for supernatural history tours. But like many of the people who live in the city you will have never been on a tour, Halloween is your chance to see the city as masses of tourists do and with Mary King’s Close on your doorstep you no longer have an excuse. The site is famous for unexplained paranormal activity and with centuries of fascinatingly you might even learn something about the city you call home. For more information visit www.realmarykingsclose.com.

As many of you may know the city attracts many artists, and in the region we have some very famous art schools. The first event from illustration collective Gossip Wolf is an opportunity to see some of this talent and the exhibition comprising of suitably spooky screenprintsmight be the best way to spend Halloween.  For more information visit www.eca.ac.uk.

If music is your thing then head down to Henry’s Cellar Bar for the Hallowe’en Damn Fine Jamboree. with live performances from The Lovely Eggs, Heats!, Vienetta, Rascals DJs Joel, Kieran and Marcus.For more information visit www.henrysvenue.com.

Under the façade of the Canongate side of the parliament building is the Canongate Wall. During the construction of the parliament buildings a blast wall was incorporated into the design. The 39 metres long and 6 metres high wall, at its highest point, is set with a selection of Scottish rocks, some of which have Scottish texts carved onto the face. These texts were selected by a panel of MSPs, together with a literature expert, and include suggestions submitted by the Scottish people.

In all 24 pieces were chosen for the original design, ranging from Sir Walter Scott to Alasdair Gray. In 2010, to mark the tenth anniversary of the Scottish Parliament in 2009, two more stones were added. In total there are 28 panels of Scottish rocks; from red sandstone from Dumfriesshire, formed when Scotland was a desert, to volcanic grey granites from Aberdeenshire.

Mike Browne of Lothian and Borders GeoConservation Group, who co-ordinated the leaflet project said: “The rocks come from all over Scotland and include very ancient rocks, as well as geologically young ones. Also incorporated are ‘Brewery Stones’ recovered from the former brewery building which was demolished to make way for the new parliament. We hope the leaflet will help people understand a bit more about this important building and the geology of Scotland.”

The new leaflet about the wall, published by Lothian and Borders GeoConservation in association with Scottish Natural Heritage, explains where the rocks are from and how, and when, they were formed. It also includes the quotes inscribed on the rocks, who wrote them and where they can be found in print.

Iain Rennick, SNH’s area manager, said: “The wall is a fascinating mix of art, history and science. Scotland is the ‘home of geology’ and we have some of the oldest rocks in the world. The modern Scottish Parliament is one of the newer Scottish institutions, so it is fitting that the concrete blast wall is set with Scotland’s ancient rocks – a marriage of old and new which this new leaflet reveals.”

The overall design of the Canongate Wall was by Sora Smithson and the Scottish rocks were carved by Gillian Forbes and Martin Reilly. As well as the Scottish rocks and carved text, there is also a reminder of the design of the building. At the eastern end of the wall is a townscape, based around the sketch by parliament architect Enric Miralles, of Edinburgh’s Old Town as viewed from a room at the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh.

Gordon Stewart, head of visitor services at the Scottish Parliament said: “Everyone interested in literature, geology, art – or just those wanting to know what the stones are and where the quotes are from – will hopefully find the leaflet interesting. I hope it will encourage people to come and have a look at this unusual bit of the building – and also come inside and see Scottish politics in action.”

The free leaflet is available at the parliament and can also be downloaded at http://www.edinburghgeolsoc.org/r_download.html. It is one of a series of leaflets published by Lothian and Borders GeoConservation covering interesting aspects of local geology.

Dr Richard Garfield has given Ursula a difficult choice. She is the mother superior in-waiting of a convent that has been given the opportunity to take part in his revolutionary scientific study.

Ursula must weigh up the value of preserving her faith, versus embracing science.

27 is an important and human play about loneliness, ageing, science and the loss of our sense of self.

By Abi Morgan
Directed by Vicky Featherstone
21 October – 12 November

A co-production with the National Theatre of Scotland www.nationaltheatrescotland.com

Bookings 0131 248 4848 or online at www.lyceum.org.uk

From the beginning of January to the end of June 2011 there were over 12,000 properties sold across Scotland through the network of Solicitors Property Centres (SPC) Scotland – with a total value in excess of two billion pounds.

Malcolm Cannon, chairman of SPC Scotland, and Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Solicitors Property Centre (ESPC) said: “This is a huge number of properties and a significant amount of money. These figures clearly indicate that the Scottish housing market is continuing to function. It is the first time that these figures have been collated and they show the high value of property moving throughout the country. While there is no denying the levels are below those seen prior to the credit crunch, it’s clear that there is sustained activity – especially where sellers are setting realistic asking prices and are open to negotiation.

“One factor helping the market is the Scottish approach of missives.  This places the solicitor at the heart of buying and selling property by creating a binding agreement between buyer and seller as early as possible once a price has been agreed. It prevents the long property chains experienced in other regional markets.”

Of all the properties sold in Scotland through SPC Scotland, the Edinburgh Solicitors Property Centre handled over 25% of those, amounting to over 30% of the total value.  The ESPC covers the East Central Scotland geographic area.

Considering the way ahead, David Marshall business analyst at the ESPC commented: “It’s a tough market for sellers just now as there are more properties for sale than you would normally see, and the number of people looking to buy is relatively low. Buyers have more homes to choose from and are generally looking around to get value for money, so it’s important for sellers to get the presentation and pricing of their home right.

“Over the remainder of the year we should see a continuation of recent trends with the number of homes selling relatively unchanged, and prices around three to five per cent lower than at this stage last year. The market for quality family homes is likely to perform slightly better, whilst the sellers of smaller properties are likely to face the toughest conditions”.

The ESPC provide a financial advisory service for clients. Money Management financial adviser Douglas Turnbull added; “A discussion that is becoming ever more common with clients is the one about the financial implications of falling property prices. Most clients cannot get past the idea that falling house prices are a negative thing, but that’s not always the case. Of course it depends on their personal circumstances; their current level of borrowing and amount of equity in their home, but in many cases clients can use the current market conditions to their benefit – especially those looking to upsize. Many clients could be missing an opportunity.”

Perhaps you were a student at the Bathgate campus? Or perhaps you studied alongside some interesting characters? Either way, West Lothian College are keen to share in your success stories.

Whether West Lothian College was where you honed your skills for future employment, or it was the place that you delivered an education to students across the region, if you have a story to tell, the College would love to hear from you.

Were you one of the first students to graduate on the College’s Almondvale Campus? Have you gone on to achieve something extraordinary since leaving? Or did you find a lasting friendship or relationship that blossomed during your studies? Whatever your story, please do get in touch to share it with your fellow former West Lothian College students.

And, of course, a compilation of stories would be nothing without a few pictures. So, with that in mind, we are urging you to dig out your old photo albums and look out old pictures from your time at the College. Whether it be a memorable occasion, staff night out or class photo, please share your memories with us.

West Lothian College has had many successful students, with university lecturers, dentists, business professionals and even ministers of the Scottish Parliament all coming from the College. What is your story? Where are you now? And how did West Lothian College help shape your future?

The College is just waiting to hear your stories and would love to share in your successes.

For more information, or to send your story to West Lothian College, please e-mail lmackay@west-lothian.ac.uk or call 01506 427926  direct. Alternatively, you can send your story and pictures by post to Marketing Dept., Almondvale Crescent, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 7EP.

Clippy’s Apples
Jam Week is brought to you by Clippy’s Apples, the award winning home of British-apple based preserves that are simultaneously indulgent and healthier due to their higher fruit content compared to other brands!    Although they contain tantalisingly tasty ingredients such as ginger, chilli, figs and cinnamon, Clippy’s Apples products have over 55g of fruit per 100g, compared to the 35g that the EU states as the minimum fruit content.

Clippy’s Apples founder and Master Preserver Michelle McKenna (aka Clippy) has already been ‘pimping’ her jam and has come up with some delicious new recipes to get your creative jam juices flowing: Raspberry Ripple Jam and Cheeky Chocolate & Banana Jam.  With an orchard of opportunities Clippy is encouraging the nation to get in the kitchen, roll up those sleeves and get preserving!  Clippy’s ‘Pimp My Jam’ recipes can be downloaded from www.jamweek.org.

A brief history of Jam
The precise origin of jam remains a matter of historical debate; however, jams have a rich history and are appreciated worldwide for their fragrance and fruity taste. Jam-making probably began in the Middle-East where cane sugar grew naturally. The first known book of recipes, “Of Culinary Matters”, written by the Roman gastronome Marcus Gavius Apicius in the first century, includes recipes for jams.

It is believed that returning Crusaders first introduced jam to Europe; by the late Middle Ages, jam had become very popular. Jam-making in Europe can be traced back to the 16th century following the arrival of the Spanish in the West Indies who had been preserving fruits for generations.

Jams were a kingly delicacy and many a royal sweet tooth demanded an array of fruit flavours preserved with sugar. Chroniclers of more regal eras describe the magnificent feasts of Louis XIV, which always ended with fruit preserves served in silver dishes. Each delicacy served at Versailles was made with fruit from the king’s own gardens and glasshouses.

In Britain, jam’s origins are in Tudor times. The food historian Ann Wilson records that there was a wide range of jams available; for example, quince and medlar. There was also a highly prized Tudor preserve called a sucket, a cross between candied peel and jam. It is still produced in Chios in the north Aegean (allegedly Homer’s birthplace) and is known as ‘spoon sweets’ because they are served on silver spoons. They can be made with green figs, baby aubergines, unripe walnuts, green pistachios, strawberries, berries and stone fruit.

As if to celebrate Jam Week, this Tala jam making set from Tesco includes all the instruments required to make your own! The set includes 6 glass preserving jars, thermometer, funnel, 24 decorative covers and labels, 24 wax discs, 24 rubber bands and 24 transparent covers. Was £25.00 now £17.00.

This year Jam Week has launched a fabulous competition that invites the nation to ‘Pimp My Jam’ and submit funky jam recipes to www.jamweek.org.  The winner with the best ‘pimped’ jam recipe will get the chance to take part in Clippy’s ‘Preserving the Nation’ UK tour. Not only will they learn the tricks of the trade from Clippy herself at a Preserving Masterclass at Bristol’s prestigious Cookery School at Bordeaux Quay (www.bordeaux-quay.co.uk) but they will also be provided with an overnight stay at foodie hotel Brooks Boutique Guest House in Bristol and travel.  The winner will be chosen by celebrity judge Amy Lamé - writer, TV and radio broadcaster, performer and lover of all things jammy! But be quick  - entries close on 24th June.

Bringing together carefully selected award-winning Scottish produce to complement the Hopetoun product range, the Farm Shop will feature more than 100 food and drink signature brands in addition to a butcher, bakery and greengrocer offering.  A large cookery theatre will also facilitate demonstrations.

With a focus on traceability and terroir, its vision is to encourage consumers to make informed food choices safe in the knowledge that each product selected is among the best as judged not only by Hopetoun, but also by organisations such as Scotland Food & Drink and the Guild of Fine Food.

The aim is to source over 80% of the product range from within fifty miles of the estate.  All of the produce on offer, apart from tea and coffee, will be sourced from Scotland.

Lord and Lady Hopetoun have been closely involved in the project.  As a result, the Farm Shop is very much in keeping with the Hopetoun ethos of quality, sustainability and provenance.  The Farm Shop is designed to celebrate, protect and preserve Scotland’s heritage for producing the finest foods.

Along with meat, game and poultry from the Hopetoun estate, there will also be a select range of quality prepared meals using Hopetoun produce.  The range includes Fish Pie, Lasagne Verde, Beef Curry, Shepherds Pie, Lamb Tagine and Beef Meat Balls.

Fiona Richmond, Access to Markets Executive at Scotland Food & Drink said:( “Scotland Food & Drink very much welcomes the launch of Hopetoun Farm Shop. All involved should be congratulated on their staunch commitment to featuring the very best that Scotland has to offer and supporting our flourishing food & drink industry. “With such a fantastic range of quality products available under one roof shoppers will be in no doubt that Scotland is indeed ‘A Land of Food & Drink’.”

Hopetoun Farm Shop – near Newton Village on the A904  - will open seven days a week from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday.   Log on to www.hopetoun.co.uk/farmshop for further information.

For people in poor communities, a hole in the ground is quite literally a life saver – protecting women from the risk of attack as they find somewhere private to squat, and shielding children from preventable diarrhoeal diseases. By twinning a toilet you’ll be helping those who most need it access safe sanitation, clean water and hygiene education.

Since the launch of Toilet Twinning in 2009, more than 1,600 latrines have been built in Burundi – providing safe loos for nearly 10,000 people! Tearfund and Cord will use the money raised to help households have their own loo; enjoy better health; go to school and work; and fund other projects to alleviate poverty around the world.

Norman Colville, a retired Marine Engineer from Edinburgh, twinned his toilet earlier this year.

Find out how to twin your toilet here!

Adam Wilkinson, Director of Edinburgh World Heritage said, “I am delighted to see this treasure fully restored and back in its rightful place at the heart of the city. This has been a very worthwhile project and I would like to thank all the donors, whose contributions have been vital to this project. The conservators have done a marvellous job, and everyone can now appreciate this sculpture in its original condition. This statue has seen many changes in the 300 years that it has been watching over Parliament Square and I am glad that we have been able to ensure its future for many years to come.”

Funding

The total cost of the project is £59,255, funded by the City of Edinburgh Council and Edinburgh World Heritage, but donations from organisations and private individuals have also been vital, raising a third of the total required. Donations were received from:
The Charitable Trust of the Society of High Constables, including generous bequest of the late James Carmichael of the Society’s Ward X1, The Scottish Court Service, The Faculty of Advocates, Veneziana Fund, Manifold Trust, Society of Writers to Her Majesty’s Signet, Old Town Association, The Sir J.D. Pollock’s 1936 Trust, Miss C H Cruft, The Society of Solicitors in the Supreme Courts of Scotland, Mrs J Zeigler, Mr John Knight, The 1699 Club, Ms Elaine Morris, Ms Fiona Pearson, Ms Jessie Anderson.

Timeline
16 April 1685 – erected by the Provost, Magistrates and Council in Parliament Close at a cost of £2,584 Scots. The statue depicts Charles II as a laurelled Roman General.
1689 – Latin inscription penned by William Clerk (advocate) who later sued for payment!
1732, 1785, 1817 – minor repairs and in 1786 ‘three coats of strong paint’ were applied, apparently white and at a cost of three guineas. The condition of the horse was not helped by the tradition of young Edinburgh lads climbing up on it to nail garlands to it annually on June 4 to mark the birthday of George III.
1835 2nd Restoration – After removal from Parliament Square in 1824 “in a state of decay” horse and rider languished in the yard of Calton Jail for 11 years. In 1835, following repairs costing £30 6s 6 1/2d, Charles was placed upon a new plinth of Craigleith stone which included two inscriptions from the original pedestal.
“I saw today for the first time the second Restoration of Charles II – I mean of his statue, which has been replaced in the Parliament Square after a sleep in the prison for eleven years. A very respectable piece of art. The horse had cracked at the fetlocks, but his legs are now mended, and his other frailties soldered, and his inside is sustained by a strong muscular system of oak. So he is expected to defy the weather and remain sound for another century. The little Parliament Close is now the most Continental looking spot in Edinburgh. Lord Cockburn’s, Journal 12 May 1835
1843 – Magistrates had the statue painted white.
1922 – Some repairs undertaken with the statue suspended from a scaffold.
1952 3rd Restoration – Following removal from Parliament Square in 1949, storage at Russell Road yard for two years, and repairs at a Lambeth foundry in 1951, Charles was yet again restored to Parliament Square in February 1952.

At Balerno Community High from this Thursday the 24^th March there will be an introduction to planting your garden. The course is called ‘Planting Your Dream Garden’. During the course there will be presentations on how plants can be used in various ways in the garden. Everything from hedges to the pretties in the borders will be covered. Workshop style periods will be part of the course as well. During these sessions you will work up your very own planting plan. This will be a well thought through plan for your own garden – expressing all you’ve learnt from the presentations. There is loads to cram into the 5 lessons and there will be homework between classes too! So get set for the coming season with a unique plan for your garden.

To book contact Balerno Community High Community Education, see their brochure here for a booking form and contact details: www.balernochs.edin.sch.uk/communityeducation/community%20brochure1011.pdf .

If you can’t commit to all those evenings and have a spare weekend on the 9^th and 10^th of April then Plantforms is also running a weekend course. This is a more rounded garden design weekend with the Saturday looking at garden design generally and the Sunday looking at planting design. The course will be run in collaboration with Carol Gallagher McCulloch. She will lead the design day on Saturday and John from Plantforms will take the Sunday. The cost is £195 for the weekend and lunch is included. The venue is not in Lothian but the Rapha Centre near Braco in Perthshire. To book contact John or Carol, the details are below. Or see www.hortocalluna.co.uk for more details.

It is a great time of year in the garden and as the sun comes out no doubt you will be thinking about yours. If you can’t make it to either of these courses and you are interested in having your garden re-planted then do get in touch. Plantforms is offering a 20% discount on all design fees up to the end of April. Planting up your garden in the spring or early summer is really the best time to do it. This way you get to see the plants establish and enjoy them over the whole of the season. It will be here and gone before you know it so get those boots on and have a good look around. If you need help or want to learn get in touch with John Frater of Plantforms.

Website www.plantforms.co.uk : e.mail john@plantforms.co.uk : phone 07732169351: Carol Gallacher McCulloch 01786880784