The charm of the presents under our Christmas tree lies partly in their very different shapes and sizes. Perhaps the same could be said of our own families. None of them look the same.
Take 12-year-old Hawa – she lives with her granny, an aunt and four cousins in Liberia. Often there is not enough food for her family to eat.
Mary’s Meals serves nutritious food at school to children living in some of the world’s poorest countries, attracting them into the classroom where they receive an education that can, in the future, be their ladder out of poverty.
More than two million children receive our life-changing meals every school day – including Hawa.
I am pleased to tell you that, until 31 January 2022, donations made to our Double The Love campaign will be matched, up to £1.6 million, by a generous group of supporters.
Those children receiving Mary’s Meals might not have a pile of presents to unwrap on Christmas morning, but their dreams are alive and well, thanks to those who share our belief that every child should have enough to eat and go to school.
Combining flavours of the wild with some of our seasonal favourites, Scottish alchemists, Buck & Birch, have launched an innovative and indulgent spirit just in time for Christmas. A wild sipping rum, Rum & Cake, will warm the cockles and tease the tastebuds, as it quickly becomes your go-to drink for the cold winter nights.
The finest dark rum is infused with the incredible Buck & Birch Hogseed Parkin, then cold-filtered to ensure a sumptuous sipping sensation, laced with molasses and Scottish spice. And what is hogseed we hear you say? A lesser known but fantastic spice that grows abundantly in Scotland and enlivens this rum with the heady scent of orange peel and warming spice on the palate.
Offering a fresh, but heady scent of orange peel with a spicier kick on the palate, the Hogseed Parkin adds a snappy taste note to make this luxurious liquor unmistakeable.
Big, bold and well-rounded, Rum & Cake is rich, buttery and full bodied in your mouth. With notes of warming ginger and clove, orange zest and a touch of caramelised fennel, this is a spirit to sip
Creative Director and co-founder, Tom Chisholm on the creation of this new taste sensation: “Rum in cake works a treat, but cake in rum – even better! No tricks or fancy science. We don’t rely on over complicated techniques or any other chemical wizardry to capture this unforgettable flavour. Instead, we rely on good old-fashioned methods of infusion and patience.
“Newly baked parkin is added to rum and left to macerate, slowly imparting all of those beautiful flavours into the liquid. The finished spirit is then cold filtered for clarity whilst the all-important flavonoids are kept intact. Basically, it’s what Santa will want you to leave out for him with the mince pies this year.”
Decadently seasonal when served with ginger ale or apple juice, it is just as much at home neat and over ice with a twist of orange. Salivating yet?
Rum & Cake – go on, name a better duo …we’ll wait!
RRP: £32.99. 700ML. 39.6% ABV.
To view a full selection of drinks and gifts available or to book a distillery tour in The Tasting Room, visit www.buckandbirch.com
Stylish Scottish eyewear brand IOLLA has teamed up with leading calligrapher, Laila Lettering to offer a complimentary personalisation service on products at their Edinburgh St James Quarter Showroom this weekend.
Taking place in-store for one day only on Saturday 4th December from 11am until 4pm, IOLLA customers can enjoy complimentary hand-drawn case customisation on any purchases from their special guest, Laila Lettering. This is an exclusive opportunity to add a luxurious personal touch on thoughtful gifts for your loved ones and friends this Christmas.
Available on a first come first serve basis to guests on any off-the-shelf purchases including their range of stand out sunglasses, contemporary cases and modern accessories, you can watch Laila Lettering add the magic to gifts live in store.
Laila Lettering is a luxury creative calligraphy and stationery company based in Scotland. Founded by Christina Lessani, she prides herself on crafting bespoke drawings in her own unique style that have seen her work with MTV and Jamie Genevieve’s VIEVE to name a few.
Festive fun at IOLLA doesn’t end there. Shoppers and passers-by can also enjoy their newly decorated storefront adorned with colourful yuletide illustrations by local artist Katie Smith. Katie’s designs can also be found on IOLLA tote bags, complimentary with any Festive Gift Shop purchases including gift cards and cases designed to keep your IOLLA frames snug and in-style.
Christina Lessani, owner at Laila Letteringsaid: “I’m so excited to be working with IOLLA again. I’m a huge fan of their collections and it’s such an honour to be asked to collaborate with them again.
“Personalisation is at the heart of what I do, and I know these customised cases are going to make the most perfect gift this Christmas.”
Kirsty Humpherson, Marketing Manager at IOLLA said: “Christina’s work is incredible and we love collaborating with her company to pull out all the stops for our customers this Christmas.
“Our brand identity and showroom experience is deeply personal, and the luxurious final touch added by Laila Lettering is a great fit for customers looking for exceptional gifts this festive season.”
IOLLA launched in 2015, introducing a better way to buy eyewear with their offering of complete prescription glasses and sunglasses for £75. Their mission is to help people look and feel great, empowering glasses wearers to build an eyewear wardrobe thanks to their diverse range of unique frame designs and affordable price point. Making them the perfect gift this Christmas.
For more information and to keep up to date with all things IOLLA check out their website and follow them on Instagram:
Jordan Young reads bedtime story for young children and families
River City and Edinburgh Christmas panto star, Jordan Young, has recorded The Last Wolf by Mini Grey – a powerful and funny story that reimagines the classic Little Red Riding Hood in an entirely new way.
The reading is in support of the partnership between charities Children 1st and the Dollywood Foundation UK, which are working to spark the love of reading in every child in Scotland.
Children and families can enjoy Jordon’s reading of the Penguin book on the Children 1st website.
Jordan is the latest in a series of well-known book lovers to record children’s stories for the campaign, including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, actor and musician Tom Urie, radio presenter Katy Johnston, actor Sanjeev Kohli and singers Michelle McManus and Eddi Reader.
Jordan commented: “I’m absolutely delighted to read this month’s bedtime story to support Children 1st and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. I really enjoy reading to my two young children every night and sharing the joy of stories together.
“My children love them – it lets them use their imagination, helps them get to sleep and provides a time we all look forward to every evening. I hope my reading of The Last Wolf inspires other children to develop a love of reading too.”
As well as encouraging families to enjoy the celebrity videos together, the charities are also encouraging avid readers to donate to the campaign, to help share their love of reading with children in Scotland who may not have access to books at home.
With public support, the charities will deliver a free book to children who might otherwise go without, every month from birth to their fifth birthday. Alongside the books, children and their families are also offered practical and emotional support to keep their children safe and to support their wellbeing and development.
A parent, whose young child has been receiving books, said: “I think all children should get to have a story at bedtime. Getting books in the post addressed to my son is really exciting for him.
“Having a new book keeps it fresh and stops him getting bored listening to the same story all the time. It’s been great for my son and even for his older siblings too, as they’re enjoying reading the new stories to their little brother.”
Gary Kernahan, Children 1st Director of Fundraising, said: “We’re delighted that Jordon is supporting this campaign and helping to pass on his love of reading and stories to other children across Scotland.
“Stories are an important part of childhood and Children 1st wants to ensure that all children get to experience the joy of books.
“If you would like to help support this important campaign and help more children who don’t have access to books at home to develop a love of reading, please donate today at www.children1st.org.uk/imaginationlibrary.”
£5 Christmas Dinner and a Festive Afternoon Tea for Two
Let the festive feasting commence with the launch of Morrisons new limited edition Christmas café menu – now available in all 406 Morrisons cafés nationwide – which includes a full Christmas dinner for just £5.
Start the day right with our Pigs Under Blankets Sandwich for £2.95, which has succulent pork sausages, nestled in a Morrisons Market Street ciabatta roll.
And for lunch, customers can tuck into our new Brie and Cranberry toastie – an ultimate flavour mash-up, made fresh to order and served with a side salad – you can also add crispy bacon for just £1. Or for something a little lighter, there’s The Best Festive Parsnip Soup. A true winter warmer priced at £3, it’s served with a Market Street ciabatta roll and butter.
For the main event we’ve got our Christmas Turkey Lunch with all the trimmings for just £5. Succulent hand carved Morrisons deli turkey is served with roast potatoes, carrots, brussel sprouts, stuffing, yorkshire pudding, pigs in blankets, cranberry sauce and gravy.
Burger fans can enjoy a festive twist on a classic with the new Morrisons Chickmas Burger for £5, which includes our Market Street Southern Fried chicken fillet topped with brie and cranberry sauce stacked in a brioche bun with coleslaw and chips.
Not forgetting the all important Christmas pudding for dessert, which is packed with raisins and sultanas and served with custard – for £3.
Or why not try our Festive Afternoon Tea for Two? For just £12, it includes a selection of sandwiches, cakes, mince pies served with British clotted cream – all served with proper Yorkshire Tea.
Ali Lyons, Morrisons Head of Café, said:“We know customers are embracing Christmas early this year, so we hope this menu will give all the flavours of Christmas, without breaking the bank!
“To help customers in the run up to Christmas, we’re also offering £5 main meals on a selected number of delicious Morrisons café dishes. Customer favourites include our Best Beef Burger which is stacked in our The Best Brioche Bun with cheese, salad and burger or a Crispy Chicken Burger using Market Street Succulent chicken.
“For Pie lovers there’s our Market Street Chunky Steak Pie which is served with mash, mushy peas and piping hot gravy.”
Ahead of Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022, decorations have been recycled from the pages of children’s storybooks. The museum will be open throughout the festive period and entry is free.
Gail Thow from National Museums Scotland puts the finishing touches to the Christmas tree at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.
To discover more about upcoming exhibitions and events at National Museums Scotland, visit nms.ac.uk
There’s a distictly Drylaw flavour to next week’s Inverleith Neighbourhood Network meeting.
Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre will be giving a presentation to the meeting in a ‘Getting To Know You’ session and Easter Drylaw Park has also been tabled as an agenda item.
The meeting, which will take place online using TEAMS, will be held on Monday 6th December from 6 – 7.30pm.
New figures published by the National Records of Scotland show an estimated 256 homeless deaths across Scotland in 2020, with 33 estimated homeless deaths in Edinburgh.
The figures show the need for urgent change according to Lothian Scottish Greens MSP Lorna Slater.
Lorna Slater MSP said: “These shocking figures reveal the tragedy of homeless deaths in Edinburgh and across Scotland. There can be no doubt that change is urgently needed.
“As part of our cooperation agreement with the Scottish Government, we have committed to ending homelessness and protecting the rights of tenants. With these vital changes, I am confident that we will see these unacceptable figures falling in the years to come.
“A new deal for tenants will deliver a private rented sector regulator, place restrictions on evictions over winter, introduce penalties and compensation for illegal evictions, and see a national system of rent controls introduced.
“Rolling out the housing first approach is a key part of tackling homelessness. This approach recognises that housing is a human right and focuses on finding people a settled and secure home. It is a model that is specifically tailored for homeless people with complex and multiple needs.”
This December many of us will be making up for lost time and celebrating the festive period with friends and family across our major towns and cities, after being unable to get together last year.
With the nightlife scene working its way back to a sense of normality, this Christmas will see work parties, reunions with friends, and family gatherings taking place across the UK and Ireland.
Whilst it will be great to see people enjoying the festivities this year, it also brings back the risks of individuals falling in the water after a night out whilst drunk making their way home.
Young people across the country are working with the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), the charity which enhances communities so everyone can enjoy water safely, as they fear that this time of year will potentially see people like them unexpectedly falling into the water after enjoying their night out.
The RLSS UK launches its annual Don’t Drink and Drown Campaign this month, which will run from 6 – 12 December, in a bid to encourage public safety with its key messages of:
look out for your friends and make sure they get home safely
if you’ve had a drink, stay away from the water
find an alternative route home away from water, and
stay away from water in winter, cold water shock kills.
With alcohol impairing our judgements, limiting muscle ability, slowing down reactions and numbing our senses, this can mean that even for strong swimmers, entering the water after drinking can be extremely dangerous. On average 73 people lose their lives each year through a substance-related drowning, this is over 20% of the annual accidental drowning fatalities.
A number of young people who are working with the charity are spreading the word and offering safety advice in and around our major towns and cities this festive period.
The Youth Leadership Team at RLSS UK have been visiting popular nightlife destinations within their own local areas to deliver the message and asking people to Be a Mate over the coming months to ensure everyone can enjoy their Christmas.
James Cossons, Youth Advisor at RLSS UK, said: “As part of my role in the Youth Leadership Team at RLSS UK, the team and I have been spreading the message of our Don’t Drink and Drown campaign to improve people’s knowledge around water safety.
“It is really important for members of the public to understand the dangers, especially at this time of year, of being around the water after drinking. We want to ensure everyone enjoys the festive period safely and we encourage everyone to be a mate this Christmas.”
Drowning is a significant issue all year-round and one which needs caution this Christmas. The charity is urging people to be mindful and plan their safe routes home away from water.
For further detail on RLSS UK’s Don’t Drink and Drown campaign visit www.rlss.org.uk/dont-drink-and-drown where you can also download resources to spread the word and help keep your friends and family safe this Christmas.
A £13 million investment has transformed services for blood cancer patients across South East Scotland at the newly opened Edinburgh Haematology Centre.
Located at the Western General Hospital, the centre has been rebuilt, expanding and improving day ward facilities, and enabling a major service redesign to enhance the range of treatments on offer.
Now patients can benefit from intensive chemotherapies and innovative treatments, such as outpatient bone marrow transplants saving them up to a three week stay in hospital. A new relatives’ suite and buddy beds also help to better support inpatients.
The majority of funding (£12.3 million) was gifted by a private donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, to significantly improve the experience at the centre for patients, carers and staff.
“This was an amazingly generous donation which will benefit patients and staff for many years to come”, explains Dr Peter Johnson, a Consultant Haematologist who led on the refurbishment.
“The vision was to create a welcoming, calm, clinically excellent and aesthetically pleasing environment that would help patient wellbeing and was representative of the quality of healthcare being delivered. We are extremely grateful to the donor for this exceptional donation.”
NHS Lothian, and its official charity – Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation (ELHF), worked with patients and staff on the redesign and to develop an inspirational arts and therapeutic design programme.
A series of bespoke artworks and installations made by specialist artists and makers are displayed throughout the centre, helping to create a sense of calm and visual interest.
Jane Ferguson, Director of Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation explains: “We can’t thank the donor enough for their generous charitable donation, which has enabled us to take forward creative and innovative techniques to enhance and really elevate the space.
“Being diagnosed with a serious illness is a traumatic experience so we wanted to create an environment that was warm and comforting and would help reduce some of that anxiety and stress. The end result is truly beautiful and the difference in experience for patients now and in the future will be transformational.”
Fiona Smith, Senior Charge Nurse of Haematology Day Treatment added: “The changes have really made a huge difference. Care is much more than treatments and medicines.
“Being able to provide privacy and a calming environment helps to relax patients and having more space and cutting-edge equipment helps us to do our job even better.”
Neil Clifton is one of the patients benefitting from the new centre. He recently received a stem cell transplant as an outpatient for treatment of Myeloma. He says: “It really doesn’t feel like going into a hospital anymore. The centre is much brighter and more pleasant.
“Having a private room for my treatment in the day unit really helped to make me feel safe and comfortable and being able to receive it as an outpatient is much more convenient.”
The Edinburgh Haematology Centre forms part of a wider masterplan at the Western General Hospital site to improve patient services including significant investment in cancer care and facilities.
NHS Lothian also has a vision to build a new Regional Cancer Centre at the hospital site designed to be a world leader for cancer research and innovation.
