Day: June 21, 2012

Tension mounts as ‘Oh-Limp-Nix’ training gets underway!

Tension is mounting as residents at St Nicholas Court Sheltered Housing Complex are gearing up for a four-day ‘Oh-Limp-Nix’ tournament, bringing their own touch of the Olympics to Leith!

With just over a month until the games begin, the sporting pensioners are taking part in twice-weekly training sessions, brushing up on their skills for the for-day, four-round event.

Four teams, each with four people, will represent the UK, USA, South Africa and Australia. The countries were picked by the team members through personal connections to those countries. Dubbed ‘Oh-Limp-Nix’, the tournament will kick off on July 30 as the London games get underway. Each day, the theme for food and fun will represent each of the countries taking part.

St Nicholas Court, on Ferry Road, is owned by Port of Leith Housing Association and Chief Executive Keith Anderson will bring the week of fun to a golden finale with a  medal presentation ceremony on August 3.

Maureen Tait, who manages St Nicholas Court, said: “The training sessions are going very well and there is already a fair bit of friendly rivalry building between the teams. It’s nice to be able to celebrate in our own way what is going on in the country and creates a real buzz amongst the residents.”

The teams will have four different rounds to complete. The first round is archery and bowling on the Wii, before playing ‘triominoes’, which are triangular dominoes. Contestants will then have a shoot out, standing on the spot throwing a ball into a net and hoopla, throwing a hoop onto a pole.

Keith Anderson, Chief Executive at Port of Leith Housing Association, said: “It’s fantastic that the residents at St Nicholas Court are really embracing the sporting and competitive spirit of the summer and I look forward to watching the competitions. In the meantime, I wish them luck in their training regime!”

The event is being held as part of St Nicholas Court’s support of Active Ageing recognising the importance of exercise, fitness healthy eating has on the physical and emotional wellbeing of older people.

 

 

Poverty? We're not having it!

Maybe it was the lure of Euro 2012 football on TV, or maybe it was the draw of the Olympic torch up at Edinburgh Castle, but whatever the reason there was a disappointing attendance at North Edinburgh Fights Back’s public meeting held in North Edinburgh Arts Centre last week.

Despite the draw of advertised speakers from the Poverty Alliance and Shelter Scotland, only a dozen people came to hear NEFB plans to fight back against poverty and social injustice.

The sparse attendance did provide NEFB members an opportunity to rehearse speeches before next week’s Full Council meeting, however. North Edinburgh Fights Back plans to present individual Community Charters to all 58 councillors during a delegation to the 28 June meeting, urging councillors of all parties to commit to a series of anti-poverty measures.

A group spokesperson said: ‘We would like more people to have been at the public meeting but it is always difficult to get people out to attend meetings. However we are sure that many more members of the community will be supporting us when we present the charter at the council meeting, and we would urge local people to join us to let the councillors know ‘Poverty – we’re not having it’!”

The Full Council meeting on Thursday 28 June is open to the public and begins at 10am.

You can find out more about North Edinburgh Fights Back by visiting their website at  www.northedinburghfightsback.org.uk

 

Poverty? We’re not having it!

Maybe it was the lure of Euro 2012 football on TV, or maybe it was the draw of the Olympic torch up at Edinburgh Castle, but whatever the reason there was a disappointing attendance at North Edinburgh Fights Back’s public meeting held in North Edinburgh Arts Centre last week.

Despite the draw of advertised speakers from the Poverty Alliance and Shelter Scotland, only a dozen people came to hear NEFB plans to fight back against poverty and social injustice.

The sparse attendance did provide NEFB members an opportunity to rehearse speeches before next week’s Full Council meeting, however. North Edinburgh Fights Back plans to present individual Community Charters to all 58 councillors during a delegation to the 28 June meeting, urging councillors of all parties to commit to a series of anti-poverty measures.

A group spokesperson said: ‘We would like more people to have been at the public meeting but it is always difficult to get people out to attend meetings. However we are sure that many more members of the community will be supporting us when we present the charter at the council meeting, and we would urge local people to join us to let the councillors know ‘Poverty – we’re not having it’!”

The Full Council meeting on Thursday 28 June is open to the public and begins at 10am.

You can find out more about North Edinburgh Fights Back by visiting their website at  www.northedinburghfightsback.org.uk

 

Stockbridge hosts rugby festival on Saturday

If you’re a fan of the oval ball game – or just enjoy a sociable day out – Stockbridge is the place to be this Saturday when Edinburgh Accies’ Raeburn Place ground hosts the Edinburgh 10s Rugby Festival.

Tens rugby is very popular and this years’ event sees ten local teams being joined by two international sides for the first time – Stockholm Exiles from Sweden and Les Kebabs from France!  Rugby aside, there will be lots of entertainment on offer for all the family and the event, sponsored by Hunters Residential, promises to be a lot of fun and a great day out.

Former British Lion and 61 times Scotland cap Dodie Weir said: “I’m pleased to support the Edinburgh Rugby 10s Festival at Raeburn Place this year – whether you are a rugby enthusiast or just looking for an entertaining day out it promises to be a fantastic spectacle”.

June NEN is out

NEN’s  June issue is out now and is being distributed as we speak. We hope you enjoy the latest issue – let us know what you think.

As the latest NEN drops through letterboxes we are already working on the next one – a ‘Summer Special’, no less!  The deadline for that one is 15 August, so put the date in your diary now – no excuses for late contributions!

If you can’t wait to see the printed version, here’s an electronic copy of June NEN:

NEN_FINAL_JUNE12