Police are appealing for information to help trace Skye Fraser, a 13 year old girl ale missing from the Ferry Road Avenue area.
Skye was last seen around 4pm yesterday (Thursday 8th July) and her family are concerned as they have not heard from her since then.
She is described as 4’0, slim build with blonde hair, usually in a ponytail. She has blue eyes and was wearing a black jumper when she was last seen.
Inspector Forrester, Drylaw Police Station, said, “We are concerned for Skye’s welfare, therefore if anyone has information that could help us find her, please call us on ‘101’, quoting reference 0078 of 9th July 2021.
“Likewise, if Skye sees this appeal, please call your family or police on ‘101’ to let us know you are safe, thank you.”
Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festivalis back for 2021 with an exciting programme showcasing the amazing music coming out of Scotland! We can’t wait to welcome you online and in-person at Assembly Roxy.
Live Assembly Roxy
We are delighted we can welcome some small, socially-distanced audiences to Assembly Roxy over the ten days of the festival. We have 20 concerts with live audiences. Tickets are priced at £20 per person and are sold in bubbles of 1 or 2 people to allow us to seat you safely. Please note that our capacity is very limited so book early!
All of our live concerts will also be live-streamed so, if you can’t make it in person, you can buy a digital ticket for £10.
20 pre-recorded concerts
In addition to our live concerts, we also have 20 pre-recorded online concerts, each costing £10. All our online content is available for 72 hours so you can watch at your leisure!
Concerts will be sold individually, but you can buy a Festival Passgiving access to all 40 online concerts, plus a few exclusives, for just £40!
Barratt Developments East Scotland, which includes both Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, has donated £5,000 to local elderly care charity, LifeCare.
Following its success in Barratt Developments’ company-wide virtual 500k challenge for the Prince’s Trust, the Barratt East Scotland team, which walked a combined total of 1,721km, was awarded £5,000 to donate to a charity of its choice.
It selected LifeCare, a renowned local charity which offers registered care, outreach activities and help at home services for older people living across the North of the city.
Established in 1941, the organisation supports hundreds of elderly clients a year, including those suffering with dementia, mobility issues, those experiencing isolation and loneliness, food poverty and mental health problems, and offers dedicated support for carers.
The charity also runs the successful community café, CafeLife on Cheyne Street.
The donation from Barratt East Scotland will help LifeCare’s ongoing efforts to support those who have shielded during the duration of the pandemic to return to life beyond their own four walls and back to the communities they hold dear.
Alison Condie, managing director at Barratt East Scotland, said: “LifeCare carry out incredible work supporting those vulnerable and in need of care.
“We’re pleased that our employees nominated the charity and we hope that our donation will help them to continue to provide these crucial and important services.”
Claire Montgomery, LifeCare’s Trusts Fundraising and Communications Manager added:“A huge thanks to everyone at Barratt East Scotland for this terrific award – it’s truly appreciated. As a registered charity, LifeCare is reliant on the generosity of our funders to enable us to deliver quality care that our older population deserve.
“We have supported over 770 local older people through the pandemic, many of whom had no other available support. We have offered safely delivered care in the home, remote support by phone and doorstep visit, shopping and prescription deliveries, and we have set up our brand new meals on wheels service which has already served up over 9,000 hot meals to doorsteps.
“Our continued care has supported isolation issues and enabled people to remain living independently in their own homes. We look forward to fully opening all services again as soon as we are safely able.”
As part of its community benefits programme, the five-star housebuilder works with a wide range of local causes, and has continued to step up its efforts through the Barratt and David Wilson Community Fund.
Now in its third year, the Community Fund pledges to donate £1,000 each month to a charity or organisation in the east of Scotland. Charities are nominated by and voted for by employees of Barratt Homes and the focus for the fund continues to be on organisations that improve the quality of life for those living in the area.
The team is also committed to providing assistance to groups that contribute to the communities it serves in many other ways. A recent benefactor was Rosslyn Bowling Club, which Barratt East Scotland supported with the donation of a new notice board.
Jim Hiddleston, Club President of Rosslyn Bowling Club said:“We’ve been working towards a new noticeboard for quite some time as our location is quite hidden, so we are delighted with our new signage kindly donated by our new neighbours, David Wilson Homes.”
Slow computers top the list of the UK’s ten most Googled computer problems
Forgotten passwords are second, and the “blue screen of death” is third
Top tips on how to solve the five most commonly searched issues
The UK’s most searched computer problem is how to speed up a PC or laptop, with Google logging more than 57,000 queries every month related to slow computers.
The study by online security experts PPC Shield found that terms such as “how to speed up laptop” or “speed up Windows 10” accumulated the highest number of average monthly searches in the UK – 57,950 in total.
In second place were forgotten password searches, as an average of 44,050 searches are made each month to change a forgotten password to access a service such as Gmail or Facebook.
In third place is the Windows “blue screen of death”, which appears following a fatal system error to indicates a system crash, and generates 32,590 searches on average each month.
The UK’s fourth most-Googled computer problem is based on problems with Windows updates, with 21,050 monthly searches for terms like “Windows update fix” or “Windows 10 update problems”.
Fifth on the list is another speed-related query – people hoping to find ways to speed up their internet connection, which sees on average 20,850 searches per month.
The sixth and seventh most commonly searched computer issues relate to recovering Windows (19,100 monthly searches), and the more drastic option of resetting Windows (12,150), while number eight in the ranking is the problem of the computer not even starting, which is Googled 11,850 times a month.
Problems with peripherals, such as the keyboard and mouse, are ninth on the list due to 10,760 searches each. In tenth but by no means the least infuriating, are printer problems, which generate 10,350 monthly Google inquiries.
Commenting on the study, a spokesperson for PPC Shield said: “Society relies on technology more than ever before, so it’s fascinating to see which technical issues are the most common, and our research reveals that computer speed is of paramount importance. Whether we’re working, or browsing for leisure, everyone is so used to the lightning quick speed of modern technology that even small delays can feel like an age.”
The study used a search analytics platform to analyse more than 400 different terms related to computer problems and grouped together similar search terms to find the most common issues. It also found that the single most searched term is “how to speed up laptop”, followed by “change google password”, with “speed up windows 10” in third.
The analysis was conducted by PPC Shield, which enables brands and businesses to optimise their online ad campaigns by filtering out and blocking fraudulent clicks to ensure an advertising budget is not wasted.
Problem rank
Type of problem
Average monthly number of UK searches
1
Computer is too slow
57,950
2
Forgotten password
44,050
3
Blue screen of death
32,590
4
Windows 10 update problems
21,050
5
Internet is too slow
20,850
6
Windows 10 recovery
19,100
7
Reset Windows 10
12,150
8
Computer not starting
11,850
9
Mouse and keyboard not working
10,760
10
Printer not printing
10,350
The UK’s top five most Googled computer problems – and tips on how to solve them:
Computer is too slow
Uninstall unnecessary software
Limit the programs that run at startup
Add more RAM to your PC
Check for spyware and viruses
Use Disk Cleanup and defragmentation
Consider a startup SSD
Take a look at your web browser, consider clearing out your cache
Forgotten Password
If you’ve forgotten your password to Gmail or Facebook, you can usually choose to reset the password and gain access to your account. Many security experts recommend using a password manager to create complex unique passwords for each account you create.
If you’ve forgotten your password for Windows, it can be slightly trickier:
Password reset options are available by answering security questions (if you completed this when you first set up your PC)
It is possible to create a “password reset disk” using a USB stick
If all else fails, reinstalling windows will reset your password, but it may also cause you to lose your files
Blue Screen of Death
This can be caused by numerous things, including corrupted apps that need to be reinstalled or incompatible hardware/peripherals. These are easily fixed, but sometimes the “BSOD” will not allow you to even access your desktop. You can boot up your PC in “safe mode”, however, and perform some changes from there – namely, reinstalling windows.
Windows 10 update problems
Along with more advanced fixes, some of the most basic ways you can troubleshoot problematic Windows Updates includes:
Looking for volunteers? Why not book a stall at our Volunteer Recruitment Fair?
The largest of its kind in Scotland, our annual fair is a fantastic opportunity to meet face to face with hundreds of potential volunteers from across the city. The fair will also feature access to volunteering and employment specialists and a friendly café to relax and refresh in.
“Great event, environment, and lay-out. Great Opportunity to not only meet potential volunteers but network. This is not common. Thanks.”
When? Wednesday 22 September 2021 from 11.00am until 7.00pm.
Where? St Paul’s and St George’s Church on York Place. Click here to view this venue on a map.
What does is cost? The event is free to visitors. Bookings for stallholders are charged and we have a number of payment options available. You can find out more and book here or by clicking on the purple button below.
The Fair will showcase the wide range of ways that people can get involved in volunteering with organisations big and small, local and national, who serve a diverse range of communities and causes all coming together with the common aim to attract new volunteers.
“Really impressed with how many people attended today, we had to replenish our information packs as we underestimated the demand. I would definitely come again as it was very worthwhile.”
Entry is free to the public, and more than a thousand potential volunteers are expected to visit and experience the diverse range of ways they can become involved. So what are you waiting for? Book now before you miss out!
If you have any questions about booking a stall or being a stallholder please contact Jason McCann from our events team at events@volunteeredinburgh.org.uk.
Additional resources for stallholders including an FAQ, an exhibitors guide, a stallholder map, a venue risk assessment, and promotional material will be made available on our website as soon as they are ready.
Head berry breeder Lucy claims Scots should ditch cream and sprinkle parmesan over strawberries
A berry breeder has suggested that Scots should ditch the cream on their strawberries and instead sprinkle PARMESAN CHEESE over them.
Lucy Marie Slatter claims that the hard cheese, usually scattered generously over pizza and pasta dishes, is the perfect pairing as it is known to bring out the berry’s unique flavour characteristics.
In fact Lucy, who is head breeder at AVA Berries, says firm favourite pouring cream should be kicked to the kerb as it does nothing to enhance flavours.
Apparently, it’s not just the Italian staple that goes well with strawberries, with herbs and spices such as basil, mint, black pepper, and chilli pairing well too – along with balsamic vinegar and even crab.
And it seems it’s not just the toppings where the public are going wrong to get the best out of their strawberries.
Research commissioned by AVA Berries revealed that nine out of ten Brits are storing and preparing their strawberries wrongly. More than a third (37%) remove strawberries from the fridge and wash with cold water, which Lucy says drastically reduces the sensory experience.
The study found that only one in ten Brits remove strawberries from the fridge and leave to reach room temperature before tucking in. Lucy says that leaving strawberries to come to room temperature for at least an hour is crucial as warmer temperatures allow taste buds and nose sensors to take full advantage of the complex flavours and aromas in strawberries.
Brits should also treat whole strawberries as though they’re an expensive whisky and ‘nose’ the fruit, according to Lucy. Smelling your strawberries helps you to pick out flavours and aromas that you wouldn’t be able to detect through eating alone.
Lucy said: “It may seem a little eccentric to top strawberries with parmesan cheese and pass on the cream, but if you’re adventurous enough to give it a go, you won’t regret it.
“By choosing this cheesy topping, and allowing your strawberries to sit at room temperature before serving, you’ll have a delicious bowl of strawberries that will be the envy of everyone – including those munching on them at Wimbledon.
“Smelling them is an important part of getting the most out of strawberries.
“Strawberries have incredibly complex flavour profiles and the act of nosing allows you to get a much fuller flavour on the palate.
“Serve them too cold and washing them with cold water right before eating them is not going to get the best flavour out of them.”
AVA Berries offer the best flavour, sweetness and quality and are grown by an exclusive group of growers in the UK to produce exceptional strawberries every time.
The survey also revealed strawberries top the list of fruits most likely to be used to woo a potential partner with 44% choosing them, while 12.57 is when the nation is most likely to eat strawberries.
Of the 2,000 Brits surveyed, many said they’d tried the berries with traditional pairings including chocolate, cream and yoghurt.
A quarter (25%) admitted they paired their strawberries with ‘unusual’ ingredients including black pepper, balsamic vinegar, and even peanut butter.
It’s not just the experts who have some left-field suggestions of what to serve alongside the red berries. Adventurous foodies listed nettles, mustard, beans, haggis sausages and fish fingers as pairings they’d given a go, with one revealing they’d even rustled up a strawberry and anchovy milkshake!
To help consumers navigate all these different pairings, AVA Berries has developed a strawberry flavour wheel that shows the different flavour characteristics of this deliciously complex berry and which recipes would be worth giving a try.
AVA strawberries are currently sold as premium lines in some of the UK’s top supermarkets, find them in M&S stores and Aldi’s Specially Selected, Morrison’s The Best, Co-op’s Irresistible, and Sainsburys’ Taste The Difference ranges.
For more information and to try out the AVA Berries flavour wheel, visit:
Scotland’s Test and Protect contact tracing system will see its workforce bolstered with the deployment of additional staff over the coming week to help address a rising number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said recent changes to the system are helping its performance and the way it operates will continue to evolve as vaccination levels rise.
Ascensos, one of Test and Protect’s existing commercial partners, has agreed an arrangement with Barrhead Travel to accelerate and augment the capacity they are providing to the contact tracing system by 100 staff. Additional contact tracing bank staff continue to be brought on board and existing bank staff mobilised.
Recent changes to the system have also been implemented aimed at ensuring a growing number of cases are closed by contact tracers and that high risk cases are prioritised. These include greater use of text messaging to contact lower risk index cases and digital self-tracing forms.
Mr Yousaf said: “Our Test and Protect workforce have played a vital role in the battle against this pandemic. We owe these contact tracing teams a huge debt of gratitude for all their efforts over the past year.
“The Test and Protect system has continued to operate well as case numbers have increased in recent weeks, contacting unprecedented numbers of people.
“This agreement to bring in additional staff follows our ongoing efforts this year to ensure commercial partners were on board in preparation for potential increases in demand on the contact tracing system.
“This extra workforce is important, but the success of the system going forward will not simply be about staffing numbers.
“Test and Protect will change as the population becomes more protected by vaccination and it will still play a key role in mitigating clusters and outbreaks in high risk settings, slowing infection spread and protecting populations at risk.
“As we announced last week, we are now using a variety of methods to contact people, including using digital methods like SMS messages for lower risk cases and prioritising calls for higher risk cases. These changes, along with extra staffing, will ensure that people are contact traced, and begin self-isolation, as quickly as possible. I’m confident that the performance of Test and Protect has started to improve in recent days.
“The majority of people comply when asked to self-isolate and we are thankful for the important role they are continue to play in stopping transmission of COVID-19.
“We will have to manage living with COVID-19 for some time to come, even when we are able to move beyond Level 0. While we hope we are in the process of emerging from the pandemic, case rates at the moment underline the fact that this virus is still with us.”
Recently announced measures have been implemented to streamline the contact tracing system to manage pressure on the system and ensure it is more efficient.
These include greater use of text messaging to contact lower risk index cases and digital self-tracing forms.
Test and Protect is an NHS-led service which works with commercial partners to help augment capacity when required.
Contact tracing capacity in Scotland is split between the National Contact Centre operated by National Services Scotland (NSS) and the daily contact tracing workforce provided by territorial Health Boards.
If you’re seeking inspiration for outdoor activities this weekend, during the holidays or on your next day off, the John Muir Way may have the answer. A selection of one-day and half-day routes has been created across central Scotland, to be explored on foot or by bike.
Each is based around a part of the longer John Muir Way coast to coast trail and is designed to offer a micro-adventure in a local area, on a route that will get you back to your starting point.
Using the John Muir Way and local paths, you’ll find everything from big loops to short strolls, taking in castles, beaches and often the option of public transport home for tired legs.
The day trips have all been graded according to difficulty and distances range from a family-friendly 4.5 mile walk up to a 27 mile cycle. You’ll find maps and a wealth of information on recommended places to visit on each route on the John Muir Way website at: www.johnmuirway.org/day-trips
‘Hidden Treasure’ to be Found
To celebrate the launch of the Day Trips and provide a little extra incentive to get out exploring, there will be ‘treasure’ of John Muir Way merchandise – including water bottles, caps, badges and route passports – stashed at a selection of attractions, cafes and other businesses along the route.
Goodies can be claimed by visitors doing any John Muir Way Day Trip or coast-to-coast route section.
To claim a prize, walkers and cyclists just need to take a photo of themselves next to a John Muir Way signpost or waymarker and show it at one of the participating treasure locations. Each location has prizes for the first ten treasure hunters, so there are plenty of chances to claim a souvenir of your trip.
The development of these day trips was boosted by funding from several sources, including VisitScotland and the ‘Scotland Loves Local’ Fund administered by Scotland’s Towns Partnership.
Scotland’s Town’s Partnership Chief Officer Phil Prenticesaid: “These day trips along the John Muir Way sound brilliant – with something for everyone. I am delighted that we have been able to support them through the Scotland Loves Local Fund.
“They are a great example of ways in which people are being encouraged to embrace and enjoy our brilliant countryside, supporting all kinds of businesses and attractions as they do. It’s a boost for our health, local communities and the economy.”
Neil Christison, VisitScotland Regional Director,said: “With so many people staying in the UK this year there has never been a better time to appreciate all the wonderful locations and attractions we have on our doorstep.
“Whether it’s discovering somewhere new or experiencing an old favourite in a completely new way, now is your time to enjoy the unique experiences that a holiday in Scotland offers.
“These new one day and half day routes on the John Muir Way provide a great option for making the most out of holidays at (or close to) home in a responsible and sustainable manner.”
There are John Muir Way prizes to be claimed at locations across the route.
The John Muir Way Day Trips launch has been funded by the Scottish Government ‘Scotland Loves Local’ Fund administered by Scotland’s Towns Partnership; by the Scottish Government and the European Community through the LEADER 2014–2020 Programme; and by the VisitScotland Sector and Destination Operational and Market Readiness Fund.
A number of community centres will be providing a variety of children, youth and adult work next week as part of a phased approach by the City of Edinburgh Council to opening up more public services.
The centres at Jack Kane, South Bridge, Royston Wardieburn, Ratho, Clovenstone, Pentland and Goodtrees will be open in a limited way from Monday 12 July.
More community centres will have limited opening over the coming weeks as management committees liaise with the Council over what services can be provided in line with the latest health advice.
Up to now community centres had only been accessed to support essential services such as food poverty programmes, support for vulnerable groups and regulated childcare. From Monday there will be access for key youth groups and other children and adult activities.
The activities being provided are in addition to the Get into Summer programme of events which aims to children and their families to play, socialise and re-connect over the summer holidays.
Councillor Donald Wilson, Culture and Communities Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “It’s absolutely vital for our citizens that our community centres are able to welcome them back as soon as possible so it’s welcome that we’ve been able to accelerate their opening.
“They’re a focal hub for our communities and you can’t underestimate the positive effect they have on people of all ages who benefit enormously from using them.”
Councillor Amy McNeese-Mechan, Culture and Communities Vice Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “I’m sure people will be pleased to hear that essential services such as youth work along with other activities will soon be resuming in our community centres.
“These buildings are much-loved local spaces, like our libraries and sports venues, and the important role they will play in the city’s recovery from the pandemic is immeasurable.”
