Santa’s Christmas Wonderland Experience is now open in Perth following a launch night on Thursday which was enjoyed by hundreds of invited guests including St Johnstone legend Liam Craig.
Lighting up Perth’s riverside, the new experience throughout the Norie Miller Walk provides all the magic and merriness of Christmas, with interactive surprises throughout including naughty elves and, of course, Santa too.
Visitors on Thursday were the first to enjoy the wonderland’s toasted marshmallows, hot chocolate, mulled wine and more, all against the backdrop of a huge array of amazing, sparkling, joyful, Christmas-themed lighting installations.
Thanks to Perth Christmas Wonderland’s charity partnership, among those in attendance were dozens of guests connected to PKAVS, the first of a staggering 1600 locals who will benefit from free tickets over the next fortnight thanks to donations from Perthshire businesses.
Tickets are available for most dates between December 10 and 23 – available at:
Edinburgh Police Scotland and The City of Edinburgh Council’s Christmas wish is to #KeepXmasSafe for young people whilst online & keep parents & carers more informed.
Avoid Festive Season Accidents – Choose the Right Ladder for the Task
Don’t let your eagerness to get the Christmas decorations up cause an unwelcome trip to A & E with the potential to ruin your festive season.
Every year, hospital A and E departments across the country report a rise in the number of admissions during December after falling from steps ladders or trees. During 2019 – 2020, over 51,000 people went to hospital following a fall from steps, ladders, or trees.
Whilst not all of these will have been Christmas related, we know that putting up lights and decorations indoors and outdoors can be dangerous if you don’t use the right equipment when working at height and follow basic safety procedures.
Here’s their five golden rules for safe ladder use:
To use a ladder, you need to be physically able and have a good understanding of how to use it safely. You should avoid climbing a ladder if you’ve undergone a recent injury.
Before you climb your ladder, you need to check if it’s safe to use it for the job you have planned. Where possible always have another person with you when using a ladder.
Check the weather and the terrain. If you’re working outside, uneven, sloping, soft terrain requires equipment fit for purpose and poor weather can increase your fall risk. Avoid using ladders if it is windy, rainy, or damp.
Check the condition of the ladder, and do not use damaged equipment.
Always follow the instructions – they are there for your safety and vary by product and by application.
Henchman tripod ladders and High Step safety platforms are specially designed for safe working at height providing a stable footing on uneven ground for jobs ranging from domestic hedge trimming to a four-metre topiary sculpture – and putting up Christmas decorations!
Said Henchman managing director Tom Kitching: “Nobody ever thinks it will happen to them. How often have we heard people saying, ‘It’s OK I’ve done this loads of times – I know what I am doing’ as they balance precariously up a ladder or steps?
“The sad fact is that it can and does happen. Stretch out that little bit too far on an indoor step ladder or lean a ladder against a tree or bush outside that suddenly gives way, and you will fall, risking serious injury or even death.
“Following basic rules and investing in the right ladder for the job could save your life.”
The UK designed, and distributed Henchman lightweight aluminium ladders and High Step platforms are available in a wide range of sizes with prices starting at £249 including VAT and free delivery to UK mainland addresses.
For more details on the Henchman range of ladders and see safety videos visit:
A focus on adventure tourism is making the East Cairngorms one of the most popular destinations in the UK for mountain biking. The adventure tourism community’s best-kept secret, the area has seen a surge in people of all abilities, due to the surge in e-bike sales, taking to the trails to explore the best of Ballater, Braemar and the surrounding villages.
Boasting some of the best downward routes in the UK, the East Cairngorms, with its off-the-beaten-track, natural trails and long descents has seen a growing number of visitors to the area to experience the trails and stay locally.
Richard Watts, owner of Cycle Highlands based in Ballater, says that the appeal of the area being a “bike-in bike out” destination, and the increase sales of bikes during lockdown, has put the East Cairngorms on the map.
“During lockdown, our sales jumped nearly 40%, with half of all our retail now being e-bikes which has meant that it has really opened up the trails for all ability levels.
“What makes mountain biking unique in this area is that you have everything on your doorstep: quality accommodation, specialists services such as bike repair and maintenance, great hospitality, and the ability to get to a number of trails from your doorstep.
“The East Cairngorms is different to other mountain biking destinations as we have very long trails and can descend for 3-6kms close to, or straight into, a village centre. Our natural and hand cut trails sit amongst a stunning backdrop yet contain routes for all ability levels including families looking for that get-away holiday.”
Dominique and Daniel Drew-Martin took over the Ballater Hostel in 2016 and say that the demographics of people coming to mountain bike in the area has shifted: “There are so many mountain bike trails for all experience levels and, with the increased use of e-bikes, it really appeals to a huge range of people.
“We’ve had retired couples, families and new bike owners all come to spend time cycling and get to know the area which has been fantastic to see.”
Through a Scottish Government grant, Dominque and Daniel have invested in new tools and equipment to further attract outdoor adventurers to the area.
“We’ve always had a bike storage area, which is covered and dry, but this grant allowed us to buy additional items such as tools, bike locks and proper stands, that they can use. It means that after they’ve had a great day on the hills, they can then come to us and have an evening to dry off, chat with friends and then tinker with their bikes.”
Mountain biking has become an increasingly valuable part of tourism for Scotland. In 2020, according to Visit Scotland, 290,000 British residents took overnight visits to Scotland where adventure sports were part of the trip, contributing £112 million in spend.
To capitalise on this trend, a new campaign to promote mountain biking in the East Cairngorms was launched at the end of November by Ballater Business Association (BBA) and Braemar Tourism Group (BTG).
The campaign, which includes a website, promotional video, digital trail map, and trip planner, is the first in a series of five which aim to inspire visitors to explore the East Cairngorms as a year-round destination for outdoor activity.
For more information on mountain biking in the East Cairngorms, head to:
It’s that time again! Christmas tree expert Mary Dimitrova from Fantastic Services reveals the top tips for looking after your Christmas tree to keep it fresh all throughout the Christmas period:
What are some quick and easy insider tricks for knowing if a tree is fresh and will last long?
A healthy tree should have bright and shiny needles, not dry and dull. If you notice any grey sections, that’s a sign of dehydration, which means that the tree is not that fresh. If the tree is fresh, the needles should not break easily and should be hard to pull them off.
If the trunk is sticky and there is any sap residue the tree is fresh. Also, the tree should be heavy, which means the tree is freshly cut and still contain all the water.
What trees typically survive in houses for the longest?
A Douglas or a Nordmann Fir are the best options – they’ll last for about six weeks before withering, offering the best use throughout Christmas. Of course, that depends on how well you care for it but lowering the temperature in the room really slows down the drying process and keeps your tree fresher for longer.
What are your best watering tricks to help the tree last longer?
Your tree should drink one litre of water per three cm of the stem diameter. That means a fresh cut tree can consume 4-5 litres in 24 hours. Watering is critical, especially for Norway Spruce trees. Check the water levels daily and never let it go below the tree’s base.
Without water, to the tree’s base, it will dry out just in 7-8 days. The temperature of the water is not that important and no, you can’t overwater your tree, it will absorb only as much as it wants.
What are some ways to give a dead Christmas tree new life?
You can try to give your tree a good trim which will reduce the number of water-requiring branches. Keep the room as cool as possible and move your tree to the darkest spot of the room.
How do I select the correct height for a tree for my room?
You should measure the distance between the ceiling and floor, which is the vertical height limit. Include the height of the tree stand in the overall height. Doing this step before going to buy a tree will massively reduce the stress of picking the perfect tree.
An inquiry into the cause of increased excess deaths in Scotland since the start of the pandemic has been launched by the COVID-19 Recovery Committee.
Recent data published by the Scottish Government shows deaths in Scotland are 11% above the average for this time of year and have been above the average for the last 26 weeks. The Committee will investigate whether this rise in deaths is being caused by COVID-19 directly, or the indirect health effects of the pandemic.
The Committee is seeking views on the following questions:
• Has the public health emergency shifted from COVID-19 deaths to deaths from non-COVID-19 conditions? • Is there evidence that patients are now presenting with greater acuity? • What accounts for the deaths from non-COVID-19 conditions? • Is there enough of a strategic focus on the indirect health impacts of the pandemic? • What are the realistic options open to the government in addressing the indirect health impact of the virus in winter 2021/22?
Speaking as the inquiry was launched, Siobhian Brown MSP, Convener of the COVID-19 Recovery Committee said: “The latest data released by the Scottish Government shows an alarming rise in the number of excess deaths since the start of the pandemic.
“Recent media reports suggest the pandemic has led to delays and decreases in the number of patients being diagnosed with illnesses, such as cancers, which can negatively impact the efficacy of treatment.
“We are keen to learn more about the indirect health impacts of the pandemic and whether the public health emergency has shifted from COVID-19 deaths to deaths from non-COVID-19 conditions.
“Every death is a tragedy, whether caused by COVID-19 or not, and it is essential that we establish the root causes of these deaths and find out what has led to this spike in the number of lives being lost.”
A young Midlothian electrician has finally been recognised for his exceptional talent in the Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB) Apprentice of the Year awards, sponsored by Edmundson Electrical.
After a year’s delay due to lockdown, Patrick Henderson was presented with the 2020 award in a special ceremony with his employer, Atalian Servest AMK in Loanhead.
Fiona Harper, The Secretary of the SJIB, said: “The SJIB Apprentice of the Year awards, sponsored by Edmundson Electrical, celebrate the best new talent in our industry, and Patrick has demonstrated excellent skill and dedication.
“We were disappointed that we were forced to postpone the 2020 ceremony, but we are equally delighted that Patrick has now been recognised for his exceptional talent.”
Derek Allen, Scottish Regional Director of Edmundson Electrical, added: “Patrick should be rightfully proud of this achievement and his employer and college lecturers should also be praised for continuing to help develop the talent of tomorrow.”
As well as receiving a trophy and certificate, Patrick also received £500 from the SJIB and £500 from Edmundson Electrical.
The 23-year-old – who successfully completed his studies at Forth Valley College in Falkirk – said: “When I started my apprenticeship, it didn’t even cross my mind that I’d win an award like this. I just saw it as a job but it turns out I was good at it!
“It does feel strange to actually receive the award now because I’ve qualified, but I’m happy to finally get my hands on it! A lot of the credit goes to the training I got at college, plus all the support from Atalian Servest AMK and my colleagues.
“I enjoy the challenges the job brings and want to go as far as I can in my career. I’m currently doing my HNC in electrical engineering and am really pleased this is the path I followed; I feel like I’ve made the right choice.”
Atalian Servest AMK Director Mike Stark said: “We’re all so proud that Patrick’s finally been given this award and he absolutely deserves it.
“From day one, he knew what he wanted to do and what his end goal was. When he started, he pretty much said he wanted my job and that’s what I wanted to hear – it shows his approach to things.
“We have a great dedication to our apprentices and like to take them on a journey from day one to when they complete their apprenticeship. But we can only do so much – the remainder is down to the application and commitment of the apprentice.”
Patrick was presented with his award at the same time as the 2021 apprentice of the year, Cameron Wood, 21, who works for JS Hardie Electrical Ltd in Lauder, Berwickshire, after completing his studies at Borders College in Galashiels.
Mike added: “I’ve got so much respect for what the SJIB and Edmundson are doing to recognise the achievements of electrical apprentices like Patrick and Cameron despite COVID-19. They deserve it.”
Founded in 1969 by electrical trade association SELECT and Unite the Union, the SJIB’s duties include regulating between employers and employees, providing benefits for people engaged in the industry, and stimulating industry progress.
In addition, it has oversight of employment, skills and proficiency, health and safety competence, wages and welfare benefits across the electrical industry in Scotland.
Edmundson Electrical is an electrical wholesaler that serves Scotland from more than 37 locations. Its customer base includes electrical contractors and engineers, industrial companies, facilities management, government agencies and local authorities.
The Woolf Institute estimate there to be nearly two antisemitic tweets for every Jewish person in the UK
Analysis of data by the Woolf Institute, a global leader on interfaith relations, is presented in a new report by the Antisemitism Policy Trust and the Community Security Trust, which marks the end of an 18-month research programme to study the extent and nature of antisemitism online.
The report presents an estimate of the level of antisemitism on Twitter in the UK and based on research methods used, Woolf Institute analysis concludes there are between 100 and 1,350 explicitly antisemitic tweets every day in the UK.
The findings estimate that there are up to 495,000 explicitly antisemitic tweets per year made viewable for UK users (tweets in English by and available to UK users). Given the size of the UK’s Jewish population at around 290,000 people, the report calculates there to be nearly two antisemitic tweets annually for every Jewish person in the UK.
The Antisemitism Policy Trust, supported by the Community Security Trust, commissioned the Woolf Institute to explore anti-Jewish hatred on Google, Instagram and Twitter, and this publication represents the third and final instalment of that project.
The two previous reports found that Google’s public facing Safesearch facility has no impact on the amount of antisemitic content that is returned when people search for jokes about Jews.
Antisemitism is also extensive on Instagram, associated with a “chaotic” trolling phenomenon on the platform, and demonstrates strong links to conspiracy theories and anti-Israel attitudes.
Danny Stone MBE, Chief Executive, Antisemitism Policy Trust, says: “Policies to deal with online abuse aren’t worth the paper they’re written on if companies cannot effectively enforce them.
“This new report makes it crystal clear that Twitter’s systems for discovering and acting against anti-Jewish racism still aren’t good enough. As the Government considers new internet safety laws, I hope this report will weigh heavily on Minister’s minds.”
Dr. Dave Rich, Director of Policy, Community Security Trust, says: “It has long been known that social media is the engine of modern antisemitism, and it increasingly features in the antisemitic incidents that are reported to CST.
“This new research not only demonstrates how widespread this is, but also shows exactly how the social media companies are failing to control the problem of anti-Jewish hatred on their platforms.”
Commenting on the overall findings, Dr Julian Hargreaves, Director of Research at the Woolf Institute, who has led the project, said: “Taken together, this series identifies and underlines that antisemitism persists on major social media platforms, and that either the tools for addressing it are not fit-for-purpose, or the public policies professed by the world’s leading social media giants are at best, poorly enforced and at worst, are completely ineffectual.
“Our reports identify that the systems – be they Safesearch, algorithms, or automated moderation are not doing their job. If antisemitism online and within our societies is to be effectively tackled and reduced, we will need platforms, in this instance acting as agents of harm, to better understand and to act upon what the evidence is clearly telling them.”
Using social media data analysis tools, the team were able to identify biographical and geographical characteristics of Twitter users posting tweets which matched the antisemitism research terms.
The top 10 geographical locations were London, Manchester, Redcar, Liverpool, Glasgow, Brighton, north-west Leicestershire, Oxford, Birmingham, and Edinburgh.
Support available to ensure care workers can get vaccines and boosters
Care home staff and those working in social care are being urged to get the booster vaccine in the fight against the spread of Omicron variant.
Scottish Government financial support is available for adult care providers who incur additional costs if employees are vaccinated in working time – so staff can do so without losing earnings or having to take annual leave.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf thanked staff for their efforts but said the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 made it more important than ever that care workers get their COVID-19 booster vaccinations, test themselves regularly and maintain infection prevention measures.
Rates of uptake of the booster vaccine are currently lower among social care staff, with 47.7% of frontline social care workers and 54.8% of care home staff having had their booster, than they are in other sectors such as frontline healthcare workers (72%).
Mr Yousaf said: “I want to thank everyone working in social care who has taken up the offer of vaccination, and has had a booster jag. But I want to encourage every single social care worker to get themselves vaccinated.
“Even if you’ve been double-vaccinated, we know your immunity against COVID-19 wanes over time. Getting your booster is even more important with the emergence of the Omicron variant. Please do so as soon as possible.
“I’m very grateful to all our social care workers for their continued resilience and ongoing commitment during what I know continues to be a very difficult time. I know staff are likely to be feeling particularly fatigued after more than 20 months of the pandemic and I want to thank you all for supporting each other and working together as we continue to navigate through this.
“However we know that the rate of take up among those working in care homes and social care is not as high as in other sectors. It is crucial, especially for those working with some of our most vulnerable citizens, that you get your booster if you have not already done so.
“Getting vaccinated is vital in protecting you, those you care for, and your friends and family.”
