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.

Here’s our list of events through the Lothians.

Edinburgh
Leith Library will be going back in time to 1932 – the year the library opened. See how things have changed – and how some things haven’t!
At Craigmillar we’ll be looking backwards and forwards. We’ll have a video diary camera to record your memories of the current library and we’ll be asking what you would like to see in the new Craigmillar library.
Elsewhere Piershill and Currie Libraries will erect ‘why I love libraries’ walls and on the day before National Libraries Day visitors to Oxgangs Library will be able to take a tour behind the scenes of the mobile library service.
There are more tours, this time at Central Library, at 10.30 and 11.30 on the 4^th, and Saturday’s 11am storytime in the Central Children’s Library will be performed by the brilliant Lari Don, author of ‘Rocking horse war’, ‘The big bottom hunt’ and ‘First aid for fairies and other fabled beasts’.
Live guitar and fiddle music is the order of the day at Morningside Library, where you’ll also be able to meet local authors and be shown round the recently refurbished building.
And there’s more, lots more. Contact your local library to find out what’s happening.

Midlothian’s Library Service have also organised a spectacular range of free events and activities to celebrate the occasion, with all nine Midlothian libraries taking part. Midlothian Libraries are also offering a special, one-off fines amnesty for overdue items, which will take place from Saturday 4 to Saturday 11 February. People with overdue items are encouraged to return them to their local library, at which point their fines will be wiped clean.

Every library in Midlothian will have events and activities taking place on 4 February, including:

*     Bonnyrigg Library will hold Family Bookbug sessions at 9.45am and 11am on Friday 3 February, aimed specially at babies and toddlers. Scottish crime author Caro Ramsay will pay a visit and speak about her work on Saturday 4 Feb from 11am-1pm. There will also be a ‘Love your Computer’ drop-in session from 10am-12 noon on Sat 4 Feb.

*     Dalkeith Library is holding an afternoon gig featuring Glasgow comedian Frankie Boyle and television star Miles Jupp, taking place at 2pm.  Entrance will be by free ticket – tickets will be available from Dalkeith Library from Friday 20 January.

*     Dalkeith Library are also holding a ‘hide and seek mystery walk’ around the library at 10am with support from Ageing Well – everyone welcome. At 10.30am you can get creative and join in the making of a Mad Hatter’s Hat with support from our Arts & Creativity team.

*     Danderhall Library will open specially from 11am to 3pm on Saturday 4 Feb. They’ve challenged the local community to try to ‘empty the library shelves’ by borrowing every book available. People who borrow 4 books for children and 6 books for adults will even be given a special Book Tombola ticket, with great prizes on offer.

*     Danderhall Library is also celebrating with live music at 11am and an exciting book sculpture workshop at 1.30pm. Learn how to alter the character of a book by using folding, cutting and mixed media techniques – suitable for all ages. There’ll also be a fun ‘Children’s Crafternoon’ with funky crafts for kids from 1.30pm.

*     Gorebridge Library are holding a family Bookbug session at 10am, followed by a jewellery-making workshop at 11am. At 3pm the library will welcome much-loved Scottish writer Lyn Anderson for a free event including wine and nibbles.

*     Loanhead Library have a special family Bookbug session at 10am, followed by craft-making from 11am onwards with Loanhead SWRI and LCLC Craft Club. There will also be a special advice session from 11am-noon about how to research your family tree online.

*     Mayfield Library is getting into the 2012 Olympic sporting spirit by hosting a table tennis tournament from 10am-noon using books in place of the net – but thankfully not in place of the bats! Mayfield will also be welcoming top Scottish writer Tony Black at 6pm for a free event with wine and nibbles.

*     Newtongrange Library: Try your hand at painting and collage with local artist Linnette Kelly from 10am-12.30pm. Historian Jim Green will be on hand to answer questions about local history from 10.30am. There’ll also be a special Bookbug session (including face painting) from 11am-noon, along with free coffee, cake and mystery book parcels all morning. Newtongrange will also host an exhibition of local photographs by photographer Yvonne Rollert.

*     Penicuik Library is hosting a special afternoon concert from 2-4pm featuring two exciting up-and-coming Edinburgh-based bands Matt Norris and the Moon and The Last Battle – entry is free and everybody is welcome.

*     Penicuik Library are also holding a special ‘Love your Library’ family Bookbug session at 10.30am, followed by tea and cake with best-selling Scottish crime writer Aline Templeton at 12.30pm. They’ll wrap up the day with a story-telling session at 4pm, featuring a selection of short fiction read aloud by Edinburgh authors Lynsey May, Helen Jackson, Catherine Grosvenor and Caroline Von Schmalensee.

*     Roslin Library are inviting everyone to come along to their Read to the Rhythm Musical Jamboree from 10.30am-1pm – featuring local musicians and free coffee.

East Lothian Libraries are offering a generous Win a Kindle Challenge.
The challenge begins on Monday 30th January 2012. Entry forms containing the questions can be collected from all our libraries. The challenge involves answering questions using some of our online services as well as visiting at least 3 of our libraries over the week. Entrants must be library members to access the online resources.

Design a Mobile Library
All libraries will have a stock of templates for children to collect and design their own mobile library. There will be a prize in each library for ages 5-8 and 9-12.

I Love Libraries because…
On Facebook, Twitter and in person, we’d like to know why you love libraries. Adults and teens can tweet us, post on our Facebook wall or hand in a note telling us why they love libraries. Our favourite in each branch will win a prize.

Specific Events at libraries are as follows:
Headquarters
Library and Museum Headquarters, Dunbar Road, Haddington, EH41 3PJ
Open Day – Friday 3rd February 12-5
Timed guided tours at 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm. Visitors are asked to arrive for one of these time slots and will be given information about what we have at Library HQ and what we do for the lending branches, schools etc. followed by a cuppa. This is a chance to see what happens behind the scenes to keep your library service going.

Dunbar
Come in from the Cold: Saturday 4th February from 10-30am – 12-30pm for Coffee/Tea and yummy cakes.

East Linton
Brew, Browse and Blether coffee morning: Saturday 4th February 2012 10-1

Gullane
Chat and Choose session with tea/coffee on Saturday 4th February 10-1

Haddington
Find Lennox! Pictures of Lennox will be hidden round Haddington in the week beginning 30th January – return one to the library for a prize.
Storytime – Friday 3rd February at 10.30am

Longniddry
Empty Longniddry Library: Saturday 4th February – a challenge to as many library members as possible to visit Longniddry and borrow their maximum number of books to see how bare our shelves can get.
Love themed Bookbug – Thursday 2nd at 10am
Love themed Storytime – Friday 3rd at 3pm

Musselburgh
Brew, Browse and Blether: Saturday 4th February – cakes available to purchase.
Mugshot Reviews: we’ll be asking staff and readers to have their photo taken with a book they’ve enjoyed and displaying the results.

North Berwick
A Book and a Bake: Thursday 2nd February – cakes available to purchase.
Mugshot Reviews: we’ll be asking staff and readers to have their photo taken with a book they’ve enjoyed and displaying the results.

Port Seton
Literary Quiz for adults and a Word Search for children will be available to collect from the library.

Prestonpans
Coffee Morning: Monday 30th January 2012 10.30-12.30

Tranent
‘Woman on the shelf’ a display of good female writing
Find Lennox! Pictures of Lennox will be hidden round Tranent in the week beginning 30th January – return one to the library for a prize

Catherine Rayner studied Illustration at Edinburgh College of Art, fell in love with the city and still lives there with a small menagerie of creatures: Shannon the horse, Ena the grey cat, goldfish Sheila and a speckly black and tan guinea pig called Marvin. She finds huge inspiration in her pets and often uses them as models.  As well illustrating her own work, Catherine has recently illustrated the 40^th anniversary edition of  The Tales of Olga de Polga (the story of a guinea pig) by Michael Bond, creator of Paddington Bear.

But it was a wilder creature by far which inspired her own first picture book, Augustus and His Smile.  Catherine spent countless hours watching and sketching tigers (in freezing temperatures) at Edinburgh Zoo.  The result was a tiger with a name, an appearance and a smile which were all truly imperial and who appears, perhaps the star of the show, in the present exhibition.

The skilfully-produced silk screen prints, liquid acrylic paintings and multi-media works have one universal effect, whether observed by children or adults: they bring a huge smile to the face of the viewer.  The laconic, loping hares are full of life and energy; the highland cattle are knowing and contented; the pig inquisitive.  Yet this is no pathetic fallacy.  These are not romanticised creatures.  What Catherine Rayner, with a rare intelligence, has glimpsed are the connections which draw humans, instinctively, to animals, the behaviours and the vitality which are common to all creatures.

In most cases, each piece shows one creature, in a few two.  The main subject or subjects stands alone without landscape, against a clean white background.  In a very few, there appears also a tiny complementary creature, a bee, a mouse, but the focus is the main subject, made sharp and dominant by the pristine and handsomely proportioned backdrop.  These are works for generous sized, well lit spaces.

Do you want to reconnect with nature or even with your childhood, or simply put a smile on your glum winter-face?  Drop into the Line and engross yourself in Catherine Rayner’s exhibition.  And don’t go alone: take the children or the grandchildren.  Introduce them to the joys of a delightful writer and to the pleasures of observing art.

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.

The result of this new treatment is a production which is full of vitality and colour. The settings are imaginative, think classical and 1940s somehow successfully juxtaposed. There is beautiful traditional formal ballet dancing and later in Act III a version of   ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ complete with cocktails. In this scene one of the dancers, for example is wearing a Princess Beatrice style hat in the shape of a shoe at the wedding reception for Princess Aurora and her chosen Prince. The first performance in this country was at the then embryonic Sadler’s Well Theatre Ballet (later The Royal Ballet) and much of this modern production has echoes of that one, particularly in the later scenes with Art Deco styling.

On particularly enchanting scene in Act II, The Enchanted Forrest has our Prince coming across Snow White, Belle, Cinderella and Red Riding Hood, who are all searching for their true loves! As in all the best fairy stories Sleeping Beauty has the traditional happy ending.

The dancing is so good it appears faultless, the energy and enthusiasm of the cast and orchestra entranced the audience so ably conducted by guest conductor Dominic Grier. We all left with smiles and a feeling of light. The picture attached to this review is of Claire Robertson dancing as Princess Aurora and was taken by Andrew Ross.

To stage a touring production of this magnitude requires immaculate planning and Production Manager Tim Palmer ensures the whole operation for the tour fits into four 40ft articulated lorries. Everything goes on tour, from sets and scenery lights, cables, spare bulbs, a microwave, washing machines, costumes and makeup right down to spare tights and needles and thread. Tim jokes “Everything but the kitchen sink goes on tour!”

The production move to His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, Wednesday 18 to Saturday 21 January, www.hmtaberdeen.com, Eden Court, Inverness Wednesday 25 January to Saturday 28 January, www.eden-court.co.uk and then to the Theatre Royal, Newcastle Wednesday 1 to Saturday 4 February, www.theatreroyal.co.uk. So if readers have friends in these towns and cities do tell them about this great ballet.

The Director is Paul Kerryson, Choreographer, David Needham, Musical Director, Julian Kelly, Designer, Sara Perks, Lighting Designer Philip Gladwell, Sound Designer, Ben Harrison, Associate Director/Choreographer, Deborah Kate Norris, Video Designer Dick Straker and Puppet Designer, Sue Pyecroft. John Stalker, former Chief Executive of the Festival Theatre is responsible for bringing this great show to Edinburgh. From this illustrious catalogue of names it is easy to see from the start the very high standards bringing this production to the stage.

Paul Kerryson is taking the production on tour to 50 venues throughout the United Kingdom. The musical is based on the true story of the volatile relationship between Anna, a British schoolteacher, who has come to teach the many children fathered by the King of Siam, at a point where he was coming to understand some of the benefits of Western ideas and science but equally didn’t want to be colonised or lose the beautiful identity of his country. The story explores their relationship and growing understanding against the background of political intrigue and, of course, the large family of children and wives.

If this begins to sound like a history lesson it is, instead, a colourful, fast moving and glorious evening of entertainment with 16 children taking part as well as experienced artistes. For many of these children it is the first time they have been on stage. We hope at least some will go on to be actors, dancers and singers as they grow up. The ballet, the puppets, the sheer fun and exuberance of the cast and musicians hold the audience in wrapt attention for almost two hours.

The King is played brilliantly by Ramon Tikaram and Anna by Josefina Gabrielle. The orchestra which plays on stage and not in the pit, enhancing the quality of the music, is conducted by Julian Kelly. Space does not allow me to list all the participants. I can only urge you to book soon, go along and see, hear and hum for yourselves.

Booking Information: Box office 0131 529 6000, groups of 8 or more 0131 529 6005 and website www.festivaltheatre.org.uk

Trees that lose their leaves in winter offer least resistance to high winds so it’s evergreens and conifers that are most likely to be blown down in the gales. This was a cedar tree, a large branch of which provided us with a real Christmas tree. The branch on its own wasn’t an ideal shape so a few more branches had to be stuck into the sand base and woven into place to give it enough substance for decorating.

An alternative, if you don’t have a lot of space, would be to forget the idea of a tree altogether and to simply create a massive flower arrangement from the smaller branches. There are plenty lying around just now but if you don’t find enough and you do have access to hollies and conifers of various kinds, think of it as pruning and be careful to leave a nicely shaped tree for the rest of the year.

Another option if you are short of space, is to consider an upside down tree. Perhaps not for the traditionalist, but love it, or hate it, the upside down tree saves space, has more room for placing presents at the base, allows decorations to hang freely, keeps delicate baubles out of reach of small children and pets – and what a conversation piece!

The upside down Christmas tree became popular amongst New York apartment dwellers because it frees up floor space with a smaller ‘footprint’. The ‘upside down tree’ actually has its roots (pardon the pun) in the Middle Ages, coming from the pagan tradition of spreading evergreen boughs across the floors, windows and hearth in order to keep evil spirits from invading the home. Again, this can be accomplished with ‘bunches’ of storm-broken branches.

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.

Those wishing to take part ask the children to choose a particular book or subject they would like to read about. We write these requests on Christmas tags and hang them on the ‘Book Tree’ in the Children’s department of the shop.

Members of the public can then pick a tag from the tree and buy a book for one of the children. We gift-wrap the books and send them out to the organisations who pass them on to the children in time for Christmas.

This year we are working with Edinburgh Young Carers, Edinburgh Women’s Aid, Barnardo’s and many projects run by the City of Edinburgh Council. We will also have a tree at the council offices at Waverley Court. But hurry, you only have until Sunday 18th December.

Attributes – Where do we start? It has attractive small leaves divided in three being one of the maples that are classed as trifoliate. These appear in the spring, copper in colour,fading into a bluish green tinted with red then explode into a magnificent orange to crimson in autumn. This attractive foliage would be reason enough to grow this tree, however it is the ornamental bark that makes it stand out. Its bark is cinnamon in colour which peels back (exfoliates) and, as it matures, it turns to more of an intense rich red-brown. Written descriptions don’t do this plant justice and I highly recommend a visit to Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden where an exceptional mature specimen exists opposite the Palm House. You will also pass a good specimen between there and the East gate, a site that is guaranteed to cheer you up on any winter’s day.

Cultivation- This plant performs well in a variety of different soils but it is best to avoid poorly drained,exposed sites as establishing the plant in those conditions may be very slow. It may in time achieve 10m in height but this will only be after many years. Many of the original plants introduced by Ernest Wilson from China are only just achieving this now. The specimen I planted 20 years ago is now approximately 4m in height.

Acer griseum is not the easiest plant to propagate, its viability from seed being very low – rarely more than 5%. Certainly don’t expect to find large specimens of this tree in garden centres or nurseries, I did say you would need some patience. Acer griseum is a magnificent specimen tree for all seasons that will add class to any garden. I guarantee if you have the patience it will be worth it and be enjoyed for many years to come.

However for those that are not gifted with patience or have more challenging locations, such as the exposed higher sites of West Lothian, then the Tibetian Cherry (Prunus serrula) is another option. Its alternative common name of poor mans Acer griseum is very unfair because it is a cracker of a plant in its own right. It does share a wonderfully ornamental bark of similar colour to Acer griseum but is quicker to establish and more robust in heavier soil and more exposed locations.

The book is full of entertaining and informative details so should satisfy buyers looking for a ‘worthy’ educational read. But it’s more than that. The narrative features Edda, a shy, thirteen year old who allows herself to be bullied by another pupil in her class. Everyone tells her she should stand up for herself but of course it’s not that easy. When her house is burgled, her imagination runs wild and she lives in a constant state of fear.  The arrival of a geeky new boy who befriends her, appears to offer help in the form of a golem who will protect her; but in order to create the golem, Edda must perform certain tasks. (I won’t spoil the book for you!)

Yes, the bully gets his come-uppance but the conclusion is more interesting than that, as the golem, as Edda was warned, obeys her every wish – literally – and becomes a threat in itself. While legends describe the destruction of golems who become troublesome, Willis instead turns her golem from destructor to pacifier and, with victim and bully forming an alliance to neutralise the golem, it’s a much nicer ending.

I just wonder if 240 pages of first person narrative by a self-obsessed teenager isn’t a bit much to offer 10-ish year olds. The style makes it difficult for an author to inject much life into the supporting characters. However, the themes of bullying, being the new girl and the loyalties and insecurities of best-friendship are all themes that demand sympathy. The author doesn’t talk down to her readers and I’m sure the added frisson of a local interest story will particularly attract Edinburgh readers.

All in all this is a thoroughly attractive story and a worthy winner of the 2011 Kelpies prize.

The boots are based on the original 1982 award winning Wilderness range, once voted Backpacker Magazine’s ‘Best boot in the world’, launched now to celebrate Merrell’s 30 year anniversary.

The boots have a traditional no frills appearance and are the first pair of boots which were instantly comfortable and did not give me any discomfort as I broke them in. In fact, I took the bold step of wearing them on the hill after only a couple of hours’ wear in the house and did not regret the decision.

The Vibram sole is broader than you would get on a modern boot which may, over time, result in separation from the upper after hours of tripping over boulders and stubbing toes but in the present adds to the feeling of stability and provides good grip.

They are made of good quality supple leather and provide good ankle support and padding.

I have two gripes, one of which is easily fixed. To customise the boot you receive red, blue and black laces. It’s not the colour choice which upsets me but the fact that they are the modern plastic things which don’t grip and spend more time flailing around un-done that holding the boot on your foot. This is easily fixed by a trip to Timpson’s.

The other problem is more fundamental and limits their seasonal use. They are not waterproof. It appears that in their ode to 1980’s design Merrell have reverted to 1980’s technology, ‘dubbin’, to keep your feet dry. With that in mind I can thoroughly recommend these boots for one to two season use for those who like a boot that looks and feels traditional. A Goretex lined version of these boots would turn a good boot into an excellent one.

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Lyceum Theatre until December 31st

As well as the creative work the pupils must learn about their ‘set’. Sandra Morrison Learning Manager for the Trust said: “This is a rare opportunity for any theatrical practitioner, to have the ‘real thing’ as the set, and a very exciting prospect for the pupils.

“They must also remember the purpose of the National Trust for Scotland is to conserve and promote our heritage so it is vital that the artistic element in no way compromises the conservation of this wonderful place and its collection.  That is why we had Pat Wigston, Collections Care Officer on hand to ensure the pupils understood the challenges of working within an historic setting and guide them in their interaction within the house.  Having seen a couple of snippets from the plays, I think we are in for a real treat from these youngsters.”

Why not join us at The Georgian House, 7 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh for an evening of historical drama and intrigue. Performances are Wednesday 7, Thursday 8 and Friday 9 December at 19.00. Tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance at www.nts.org.uk/events. They cost £5 which includes a glass of wine.

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

All the Midlothian Sure Start Centres are based in areas of deprivation and are run by a Board of Directors. During their ten years, they have tackled an impressive range of issues, from art therapy courses, to groups for estranged Dads and teenage Mums. It has helped parents and children through referrals from health professionals as well as self-referrals, often providing sophisticated levels of counselling and support but often also simply company, when single parents feel isolated and trapped.

If parents need to develop their home-making skills, there is help with understanding healthy eating and making clothes. The list is too long to feature here but the book includes paintings by children, poems and testimonials from beneficiaries. Given the focus on families with young children, most of the users are young women but the most moving to me was one written by a father whose behaviour had seen him separated from his children. With support he was able to stabilise his life and have access to his children again.

A Ten Year Triumph is written by Jacqueline McDonnell and can be ordered directly from the publishers, Yellow Magnolia Press where it costs £6.99 plus £2.50 for postage and packaging = £9.49 or through any bookshop quoting ISBN number 9780956680419.

Sadly, some areas of the country don’t appear at all, as restaurants and hotels don’t crack a mention unless they offer exceptional quality. Given that inspectors apply the same criteria throughout the world, you can see that it would be inappropriate to break this rule simply to provide a listing in every town. So, if you just want somewhere handy to eat, this is not the guide for you. Rather, you find the places you want to eat and plan your travels around them.

The guide also has a stab at suggesting a few tourist attractions and travel facilities but really has little space to do anything useful in this regard. Its value lies with the unbiased assessment of hotels and restaurants, vetted by secret inspectors. Who will have gained a prestigious Michelin star and who will have lost one? Who will have earned an esteemed Bib Gourmand or Bib Hotel accreditation?

There are almost 100 pages of mouth watering inspiration but our patch fares poorly with Edinburgh producing just 5 single stars (Castle Terrace, Number One, 21212, Kitchin and Martin Wishart). Congratulations to those who did make it into the Guide. And if you feel your favourite restaurant is worth a mention, the editors would love to hear from you.

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 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.