WORRIED about your energy bills?
Find out about help you can get to heat your home more efficiently and reduce your heating bills at: http://homeenergyscotland.org
You can find local support and advice at:
http://edinburgh.gov.uk/costofliving
Advice on welfare rights, housing, rent arrears, debt and money.
Call 0131 551 2459 or 0131 552 0458
Email info@gic.org.uk
Your First Footin’ lineup is here! 
Enjoy a trail of FREE entertainment in Edinburgh venues on New Year’s Day, embracing Hogmanay traditions of friendship, food & drink, and live music.
Explore the city, discovering (and rediscovering) some of Edinburgh’s incredible venues, landmark attractions and independent pubs alongside a feast of Scottish artists including Callum Beattie, Swim School and many more! 
See the full schedule and line up at www.edinburghshogmanay.com/event/first-footin/
Rob Wainwright is a farmer on the Island on Coll who helps to protect his local community in his role supporting the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. He’s also a former Scottish rugby captain, British and Irish Lion, and teammate of rugby legend Doddie Weir.
Three years ago, Rob founded Doddie Aid. To date, the mass participation event has raised around £2m for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, with the Foundation itself ploughing around £8m into MND research in the last five years.
Rob and Doddie remained close after their days on the field finished. Sadly, Doddie passed away last month following a battle with MND.
Rob said: “We are going through a period of sadness, but Doddie would not want us moping about. He would want us getting on with it – fundraising and trying to find a cure – and that’s what we will do.”
Rob said: “It’s a huge legacy and it’s for nothing if it doesn’t continue. It falls upon us that are left to carry the flame for Doddie and carry on his determination to find breakthroughs in the science and treatment of MND. Doddie may be gone but he is still leading us and driving us onwards.”
The last time Rob saw Doddie was when Doddie made a flying visit to the Island of Coll around two months ago.
Rob said: “When you play rugby with someone you are bound together by being part of a team. Doddie was a country man, a bit like myself and we shared the same kind of humour. We just hit it off.
“He came up for a visit and it was great to see him. We had lunch at The Coll Hotel and went on a distillery tour at Ardnamurchan. He needed things like that to look forward to. That was the last time I saw him.”
When Doddie passed away tributes poured in from all around the world and Rob wasn’t surprised by the amount of love felt for Doddie.
Rob said: “He was an extremely warm character, wonderfully friendly, with the perfect blend of humour and compassion. He was just a really good people person, with a really attractive personality that people loved, and he was very giving of his time.
“There was a lot that happened behind the scenes. Doddie was introduced to people who had just been diagnosed with MND. He was able to give them guidance and he in turn got guidance from other people.”
Rob has been putting plans in place for Doddie Aid. The mass participation event starts on January 1, 2023, and anyone can sign up and set their own challenge and fundraising goals.
Doddie Aid also includes a cycling event where hundreds of cyclists will leave from Cardiff’s Millenium Stadium on Thursday February 9, to arrive at Murrayfield in Edinburgh for the Scotland v Wales Six Nations match on Saturday February 11. The 555 mile cycle will be a continuous ride throughout the 48 hours.
And next year’s event is set to be even more emotional.
Rob said: “Everything will be a lot more poignant. It’s emotional anyway – when you get tired and you’ve been at it for a day and half, you’re running out of energy, haven’t eaten properly or slept and then the amazing welcomes at some of the rugby clubs.
“This year there’s even more determination, to make it even bigger and channel that love for Doddie now that he has gone.
“I’ve set myself a target of having 50,000 people signed up to Doddie Aid and to raise £2m for MND research.”
As well as organising Doddie Aid, Rob helps to keep his local Coll community safe as a volunteer on call firefighter – a role he’s held for nearly 20 years.
His colleagues from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) have rallied to submit a cycling team for Doddie Aid. Rob’s fellow volunteer on call firefighters from the island’s fire station will be joining a 13-strong team from the SFRS East and West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute area.
Rob will be cycling as part of a British and Irish Rugby Lions Team.
He said: “I’m wishing luck to the SFRS team. I know they’ve been in training. Winter cycling in February might sound like a stupid thing to do but it’s overcoming these challenges working as a team – it will be a very uplifting experience.”
Area Commander Joe McKay is SFRS Local Senior Officer for East and West Dunbartonshire, Argyll and Bute. He said: “We’ve seen first-hand the huge amount of effort it takes to organise Doddie Aid and we’re delighted to support Rob’s determination and importantly to support Doddie’s mission to raise money to help find a cure for MND.”
Jill Douglas, CEO, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, said: “We’re incredibly appreciative of all that the SFRS do, and to have them joining the Doddie Cup 555 ride is great!
“The ride is a gruelling challenge, but made easier knowing that each push of a pedal and mile covered takes us closer towards finding a cure to motor neuron disease.”
And that’s Rob’s goal – to keep fundraising to try to help others.
He said: “This is a call to arms. Please get involved, download the app, sign up, encourage people to join and spread the word.
“We have come a long way, but the journey needs to be pushed on. Doddie was defined not by what he did in his glory days on the rugby field, but by how he coped with his ultimate challenge, how he attacked it and the momentum he created to find solutions for MND.
“There’s lots of people out there with MND. Many of them don’t have the platform that Doddie had but he had that platform, and he used it. He had an amazing energy and determination to find a solution to this disease and to help others. He’ll keep pushing us on even though he isn’t here.
“We’ll keep funding research and hopefully there will be a breakthrough that will really make a difference for sufferers of MND. It’s what Doddie would have wanted.”
A service celebrating the life of rugby legend Doddie Weir is due to be held in the Scottish Borders today.
The former Scotland international died last month at the age of 52, six years after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND).
The event takes place at Melrose Parish Church at 13:00 with anyone attending encouraged to wear tartan – a request made by Doddie Weir himself.
The service will be live streamed on Scottish Rugby’s website.
It’s Trinity Academy’s Christmas Concert tonight at 7pm.
Parent Council volunteers will be raising money with a hamper raffle and soft drinks bar. It’s cash only, so remember to bring some change if you can.
Higher Education and Further Education Minister Jamie Hepburn has welcomed figures showing the proportion of college leavers going on to positive destinations is at a record high.
Figures from the Scottish Funding Council show that 91% of those completing college courses and leaving the college sector in 2020-2021 were in positive destinations, including further study, training, or employment, within three to six months.
That is an increase of 6.6 percentage points on the previous year.
Of those leaving the college sector, almost half (49.3%) gained employment within three to six months, with over two-fifths (41.7%) going on to further study at university.
The proportion who were unemployed or unavailable to work fell to a record low of 9%, down from 15.6% in 2019-2020.
Higher Education and Further Education Minister Jamie Hepburn said: “It is fantastic that nine out of 10 full-time college leavers are going on to positive destinations.
“These figures clearly show the crucial contribution that Scotland’s colleges make to equipping their students with the skills and training they need to take their next steps.
“The growth in the proportion of college-leavers securing employment, as the job market continues to recover following the pandemic, is an important sign of progress in strengthening Scotland’s economic prosperity.
Figures from the UKs largest veterinary charity, PDSA, have revealed that more than a quarter (28%) of owners in Scotland are worried about affording vet bills – leaving them facing potentially heart-breaking decisions should their pet become ill or injured.
We are a nation of animal lovers – 83% of owners in Scotlandi say their pet makes them feel less lonely. But, as the cost of living crisis continues to hit households hard, stats from PDSA show that 7% Scotland-based pet owners would consider rehoming their pet if they were unable to afford the treatment needed should they become ill or injured.
PDSA has cautioned that these concerning findings reflect the forgotten victims of the cost-of-living crisis, as prices for essentials such as fuel (diesel – 26%, petrol – 13%), energy (80%) and food (17%) increase. This is only at risk of worsening as we head further into the frosty winter months.
Increasingly stretched finances could be putting UK pets in a potentially fatal situation, with a staggering 930,000ii pets at risk of being put to sleep if their owners were hit with unexpected veterinary bills.
Research found that a third of owners (33%) turning to PDSA for help in October this year said that the cost-of-living crisis was a key factor in registering their pet with the charity, and an overwhelming are 98% concerned how the crisis will affect them and their family.
For many, the vital services provided by PDSA are the only difference between keeping their pet with the family, rehoming or euthanising; as owners struggle to choose between eating, heating their home, or treating their pet.
When surveyed, 81% of PDSA clients said they would prioritise paying for their pet’s emergency veterinary care over household bills should the situation arise. Meanwhile, 85%vi would put their pet’s need for things such as food and veterinary care over their own needs, such as food or heating.
This comes as the number of people claiming Universal Credit soared by nearly 100,000 between August and October, reaching its highest level of the year in October 2022 – more than 5.7 million people – and the highest number of claims this year.
PDSA Veterinary Surgeon Lynne James said: “The rising cost of living is a cause of real concern for Scotland families, but even more so for the most vulnerable, who often rely on the companionship of a pet – particularly during what can be the coldest and most lonely time of year.
“More than half of those who rely on PDSA services are aged 55 and over, and 37% are disabled or living with a serious health condition – making our Pet Hospitals a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable owners and their pets.
“In 2021, we treated over 370,000 pets and saved the lives of 134,000 animals – ultimately keeping furry family members united with their owners, which we know is a lifeline for many. As families continue to be stretched financially, demand for our support shows no signs of abating.
“Sadly, it’s not always possible to predict when a pet might become unwell or injured, making it extremely difficult for owners to prepare for such an event – especially for the 19% of Scotland-based owners already living in poverty[vii].
“It’s PDSA’s mission to keep families together. We would encourage anyone who is struggling to afford the cost of veterinary treatment to find out if they are entitled to access our services by visiting the eligibility checker on our website. We also have lots of free advice on how to reduce the cost of caring for pets, while ensuring they remain healthy and happy.”
PDSA relies on donations to deliver vital treatment to hundreds of thousands of pets across its 48 Pet Hospitals in the UK. To keep families together this winter, the charity is urgently calling on the public’s support more than ever to prevent vulnerable people having to make a truly heartbreaking decision.
To find out more about PDSA’s vital work during the cost-of-living crisis, or to donate, visit www.pdsa.org.uk/costoflovingcrisis.
According to recent studies, the right background music can increase our enjoyment of food by up to 60%. If you’re busy preparing a festive feast and want to make sure everything goes smoothly, picking the right music is key!
Cooking Christmas dinner can be a stressful experience, even for the most accomplished chefs! You might have picked up the best ingredients and got your timings perfected, but you probably haven’t given as much thought to what music you’ll be listening to when you sit down to eat?
So, which songs should be on your playlist for the perfect Christmas dinner? Lakeland analysed over 2,000 playlists on Spotify, containing almost 250,000 different tracks to find out – https://www.lakeland.co.uk/inspiration/the-ultimate-dinner-party-playlist/
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the number one spot went to the undisputed Queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey, with her hit song ‘All I Want for Christmas is You’ appearing in 104 Christmas dinner playlists.
Following closely behind is Michael Bublé, with his version of ‘It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas’ coming in second place, with 79 appearances.
Frank Sinatra and Michael Bublé share the title of most popular Christmas artists, with each having 6 songs in the top 100, including both of their versions of ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’.
There were 5 different versions of this festive classic in the top 100, with other versions from Sam Smith, Ella Fitzgerald and Charles Snyder also making appearances.
To find out more, including the most popular songs to cook to, head over to the Lakeland website – https://www.lakeland.co.uk/inspiration/the-ultimate-dinner-party-playlist/
Winter is here and that means Scotland’s 111 service sees an increase in calls relating to muscle aches, as well as joint and bone injuries.
As part of the national winter ‘healthy know how’ campaign, NHS 24 is advising people how to safely treat common musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions such as back pain, wrist ache and twisted ankles so they can still enjoy the holidays with family and friends.
Dr Ronald Cook, NHS 24’s Associate Medical Director says: ‘During winter, we always see an increase in calls relating to muscle, joint and bone injuries – often because of slips, trips and falls in bad weather.
“People can suffer a wide range of symptoms from minor discomfort right through to severe pain but a lot of the time these types of injuries will naturally heal and with safe treatment at home, don’t need a trip to the hospital.
‘We have recently updated NHS inform’s MSK pages with the most up to date advice on how to look after this type of injury, and also when and where to seek further help if the issue needs urgent attention or symptoms are not improving. It’s a fantastic resource and I would recommend anyone with an MSK issue to visit NHS inform first to help them get the right care, in the right place.’
Dr Cook’s advice compliments the national winter health campaign ‘Healthy Know How.’ The ‘Healthy Know How’ campaign provides advice on how to stay well and enjoy the festivities, avoiding the need to get medical help over the holidays.
Tips include:
Advice on musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions and treatment advice can be found here – nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/muscle-bone-and-joints
More details on the Healthy Know How campaign can be found here – nhsinform.scot/winter
Cash strapped Brits are being advised to freeze certain foods ahead of Christmas to help spread the cost of the festive holiday.
The penny-pinching pros at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk are advising Brits on eight of the lesser-known food items that can be safely stored in a freezer, to help households save money and prep ahead.
Storing food below zero degrees preserves the conditions of food by freezing potentially harmful molecules, so they die or enter a dormant state.
Most foods will last at least three to four months in the freezer, giving cooks a much wider timescale to add items to a meal.
Consumer expert Rebecca Bebbington from NetVoucherCodes.co.uk said: “Christmas has always been an expensive time and this year a lot of families will be feeling the pinch more than usual due to the cost of living crisis.
“The Christmas dinner shop can be an expensive one which is why we’re encouraging people to spread the costs by buying certain foods now and freezing them until they’re needed.
“Meat and veggies are just some of the items you can freeze to help you save money and if you’re worried about storage space, take the items out of their original packaging and pop them into some freezable food bags.”
NetVoucherCodes.co.uk’s list of festive food items you can freeze:
Many stores are already speaking up over concerns over Christmas stock levels. To guarantee a prize turkey or a joint of roast beef, buying and freezing these staples ahead of time might be the way to go. Before making any big purchases, make sure that the food will still be in date and good to defrost by December the 25th.
Some people love them, others hate this festive member of the cabbage family. These can be easily grown at home to really save on money, or shop bought ahead of the Christmas price hike. To really capture them in full flavour, blanche or roast them before freezing.
This honey covered Christmas staple will stay good to eat for around nine months. You can freeze them in small cubes, or chunks. Blanching parsnips before freezing them will lock in their flavour and texture. They will be right at home in the same draw as frozen carrots, peas and all of the other festive vegetable staples.
Wanting to get prepped for the perfect cheeseboard or stock up This can be frozen as a full block, or if you mainly use it grated, you can grate the block and freeze it, meaning you can grab handfuls of cheese as and when you need it. Anything from mozzarella to parmesan can cope with being put in the freezer, but be warned, cottage cheese may react badly.
With more people in the house or more time spent having a cuppa, milk is a must-have around the home over the festive period. Frozen milk must be fully thawed before use and give the carton a big shake before pouring, to ensure all the solids and liquids have been fully mixed. Milk expands when frozen, so don’t put it in a tight container.
This should be frozen when fresh otherwise it will be slightly stale once defrosted. You can freeze it as a full loaf, or in individual slices if this is easier. You can then leave your bread to thaw naturally or pop it straight into the toaster.
The shell of eggs can’t be frozen, but everything else can. Crack the eggs into a muffin tray, then place these into the freezer. Once fully frozen they can be transferred into a plastic container, creating even more space.
Chocolate doesn’t contain much water, meaning it won’t change as much as other items when frozen or defrosted. Put the chocolate in the fridge for a few hours before placing it into the freezer, as this will help bring the temperature down slowly, reducing the risk of the flavour or appearance changing.
For more information on foods you can freeze visit NetVoucherCodes’ blog here:-
Members of the public are being asked not to visit NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde hospitals if they are displaying symptoms of COVID-19, flu or Norovirus.
Those who plan to visit loved ones in hospital should only do so if they are not displaying any symptoms and all visitors should wear a mask, if eligible, during their time on site.
Symptoms of Norovirus include:
Symptoms of COVID-19 include:
Symptoms of flu include:
Taking precautions against viral infections have become part of our everyday life in recent years and we can all continue to help each other by following guidance around slowing the spread of the viruses and practicing good hygiene.
You can protect yourself and others by:
Morag Gardner, Deputy Nurse Director for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Acute Division said: “During the winter months viral infections, such as COVID-19, flu and Norovirus, can further add to the pressures hard-working staff are facing across our sites.
“Our dedicated members of staff are working around the clock to continue to provide the highest standard of patient-centred care possible. To help protect yourself, your loved ones and our services, we are asking members of the public not to visit our hospital sites if they are displaying symptoms of any of these viruses. We are also asking anyone who does attend the site to follow infection control guidance, such as washing your hands regularly and wearing a mask during your time at the hospital.”
NHSGGC is urging people to only attend Emergency Department (A&E) across its sites if their condition is very urgent or life-threatening.
Any patient unsure of who to turn to has a range of options available to them:
1. Visit the NHS Inform website: https://www.nhsinform.scot/
2. Call NHS24 on 111
3. Visit the NHSGGC website: https://www.nhsggc.scot/your-health/right-care-right-place/
For very urgent or life-threatening emergencies, the public should continue calling 999 or attending A&E.
