Granton musical: don’t miss it!

Following on from this morning’s post about Granton’s musical, I was lucky enough to catch the dress rehearsal this afternoon. This was the first time the cast have performed YANOMAMO in front of a live audience – their schoolmates – and the verdict? A resounding success!

Without giving too much away, YANOMAMO tells the tale of a tribe who have lived in the Amazonian rainforest since the dawn on man. Their future, and that of the rainforest, is put under threat by loggers and developers …

It’s well written, enthusiastically performed, the songs are great; in short, it’s very good and well worth seeing. There are a few tickets left for performances on Wednesday and Thursday evening (7pm) and Friday’s matinee (priced £5) – call the school office on 552 3987 to check availability.

 

North Edinburgh celebrates Diamond Jubilee

Maybe we didn’t have the sheer number of parties, but what we lacked in quantity we made up for in quality and enthusiasm when north Edinburgh celebrated the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee yesterday – and we had summer sunshine too!

Her Majesty herself made a surprise appearance at Holy Cross in Davidsons Mains (above), while a giant bear was seen dancing at an event organised by Stockbridge Colonies (below)!

And Wardieburn couple Marc and Joanne Blackburn organised a party for friends and neighbours at the local Salvation Army hall after they won a competition ran by local supermarket Iceland. Some revellers travelled from as far afield as Sunderland to join the Wardieburn event!

Granton Primary to stage their very own musical

Granton Primary School will be staging their first full-length musical this week. Everything about YANOMAMO has been created by the children themselves – from songs and set design to production and choreography.

The musical will be performed at the school on Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 7pm with a matinée on Friday (8th). Tickets are £5.

YANOMAMO is very much a first for the Boswall Parkway school, and tickets are understandably selling out fast. If you want to see a unique performance, call the school office on 552 3987 now!

 

Maggie's to host weekly open door events

Ever wondered what goes on in your local Maggie’s Centre?  Well now is your chance to find out! All Maggie’s Centres – including Maggie’s Edinburgh at the Western General – will now host weekly Maggie’s Welcome Experiences.

Anyone interested in Maggie’s – or who is interested in supporting Maggie’s – can simply drop in to experiences a typical Maggie’s welcome, have a look around our unique centres and speak to our fundraising teams.

It will also be an opportunity to hear first hand, from our inspirational centre users, how Maggie’s has helped give them the clarity they need to begin to make a diagnosis of cancer more manageable within a community of people who have been through or are going though the same thing.

Maggie’s Edinburgh fundraiser Marion Taylor said: “Everyone at Maggie’s is incredibly excited about our new Maggie’s Welcome Experience. We are aware that it can sometimes be difficult for people to fully appreciate what a Maggie’s Centre is like until it has been experienced first hand. Now anyone can simply pop in during our welcome event to get a sense of Maggie’s special atmosphere and to gain an understanding of what a Maggie’s welcome is all about.”

Anyone interested in coming along to visit our fantastic Maggie’s Edinburgh at Western General Hospital just pop in between 4.30 – 5.30pm on Thursdays and we will have the kettle ready to welcome you – as always in Maggie’s teas, coffees and refreshments will be available!

For more information on Maggie’s Welcome Experience please feel free to contact Shona Langlands on 0131 537 3135 or shona.langlands@maggiescentres.org.

Maggie’s Centre

Maggie’s to host weekly open door events

Ever wondered what goes on in your local Maggie’s Centre?  Well now is your chance to find out! All Maggie’s Centres – including Maggie’s Edinburgh at the Western General – will now host weekly Maggie’s Welcome Experiences.

Anyone interested in Maggie’s – or who is interested in supporting Maggie’s – can simply drop in to experiences a typical Maggie’s welcome, have a look around our unique centres and speak to our fundraising teams.

It will also be an opportunity to hear first hand, from our inspirational centre users, how Maggie’s has helped give them the clarity they need to begin to make a diagnosis of cancer more manageable within a community of people who have been through or are going though the same thing.

Maggie’s Edinburgh fundraiser Marion Taylor said: “Everyone at Maggie’s is incredibly excited about our new Maggie’s Welcome Experience. We are aware that it can sometimes be difficult for people to fully appreciate what a Maggie’s Centre is like until it has been experienced first hand. Now anyone can simply pop in during our welcome event to get a sense of Maggie’s special atmosphere and to gain an understanding of what a Maggie’s welcome is all about.”

Anyone interested in coming along to visit our fantastic Maggie’s Edinburgh at Western General Hospital just pop in between 4.30 – 5.30pm on Thursdays and we will have the kettle ready to welcome you – as always in Maggie’s teas, coffees and refreshments will be available!

For more information on Maggie’s Welcome Experience please feel free to contact Shona Langlands on 0131 537 3135 or shona.langlands@maggiescentres.org.

Maggie’s Centre

Ferryhill – champion growers!

Ferryhill Primary School children are the city’s champion growers!

Primary pupils from across Edinburgh competed to be crowned the most green fingered of them all in a competition that saw them grow their own country for the Olympic Games. Each school was given the name of a country competing in the 2012 Games and tasked with growing a basket of flowers to represent the nation for the chance to win gold for their school.

The City of Edinburgh Council teamed up with Gardening Scotland for the competition and the winners were crowned champions today by Scottish Environment Minister, Stewart Stevenson MSP. Gold medal was won by Ferryhill Primary , silver by Gylemuir Primary and bronze went to Bruntsfield Primary.

Convener for Children and Families, Cllr Paul Godzik, said: “This is a great, innovative way for pupils to feel a part of the Olympic Games and also learn valuable lessons about the environment and other cultures and countries. The Games are set to be a historic time for the whole of Great Britain, and involving all our schools across the city in a wide variety of Olympic activities will inspire pupils to enjoy taking part in sport and learn about the world they live in.”

Environment Minister, Stewart Stevenson MSP, said: “With Olympic football at Hampden and the torch coming to Scotland, the Country in a Basket competition will help excite pupils about the forthcoming Olympic Games. This schools contest is an excellent way to engage pupils in the inclusive international spirit of the Games, while also helping them learn more about gardening, biodiversity and the natural world. I look forward to seeing the many creative country basket designs that pupils come up with and wish them all the best of luck for a place on the winners podium.”

Martin Dare, organiser of Gardening Scotland 2012, said: “At Gardening Scotland we welcome the participation of gardeners of all ages and we are delighted that this year so many green-fingered youngsters will be taking part through Country in a Basket. They’ll be taking their place alongside top garden designers, some of the UK’s best nurseries and more than 400 exhibitors selling everything for the garden.”

The competition and display will form part of the Gardening Scotland event at Ingliston, which runs until 3 June. More than 50,000 people are expected to attend over the three days, and the schools’ flowers and plants will be on proud display throughout.

The schools were provided with a basket, bag of compost and £50 to spend. Volunteers were also on hand to provide practical growing advice.

This is part of a wider initiative Edinburgh Gets Set for the Games – a series of cultural and sporting events held across the city. The programme includes a concert at the Usher Hall and a major sporting event at Meadowbank Stadium.

Schools have also run a wide range of curriculum based educational projects based on making international links, learning about other Olympic nations, healthy eating, sport, international culture, concerts and events and international twinning.

City of Edinburgh Council

Blackhall kids' Sports Day Saturday

The 2012 Blackhall Children’s Sports Day takes place at Ravelston park tomorrow (Saturday 2 June) and it’s forecast to be a scorcher!

It’s a real fun family afternoon with kids races (ages 3-16), mum’s and dad’s races, refreshments, go karts, beat the goalie, bouncy castles, slides and lots more too.

Organised by Active Blackhall, gates open at 12:15, race warm up at 1:15pm, with races starting at 1:30pm. Entry is by donation, and money raised from the event goes to supporting sport for children in the Blackhall area.

Remember your sun cream!

Blackhall kids’ Sports Day Saturday

The 2012 Blackhall Children’s Sports Day takes place at Ravelston park tomorrow (Saturday 2 June) and it’s forecast to be a scorcher!

It’s a real fun family afternoon with kids races (ages 3-16), mum’s and dad’s races, refreshments, go karts, beat the goalie, bouncy castles, slides and lots more too.

Organised by Active Blackhall, gates open at 12:15, race warm up at 1:15pm, with races starting at 1:30pm. Entry is by donation, and money raised from the event goes to supporting sport for children in the Blackhall area.

Remember your sun cream!

Jubilee holiday advice from NHS Lothian

As the Diamond Jubilee Holiday approaches (Tuesday 5 June), NHS Lothian is reminding people to think ahead as many GP surgeries, pharmacies and dentists will not open on that day. All GP surgeries in Lothian are open on Monday 4th June.

NHS Lothian’s GP out-of-hours service will be open on the Diamond Jubilee public holiday to see patients who are unable to wait until their practice opens the next day. To obtain advice or an appointment please contact NHS24 08454 242424.

Sian Tucker, Acting Clinical Director of Lothian Unscheduled Care Service, NHS Lothian said:  “I would like to remind people that all GP surgeries in Lothian are open on Monday 4th June but make them aware that the majority of GP surgeries will be closed on Tuesday 5th June.  Patients who rely on prescription medication should ensure that they go to their GP or pharmacist in advance of the holiday.”

In addition, the Minor Injuries Clinic based at the Western General Hospital is open for business as usual. It provides a walk-in service, from 8am-9pm. No appointment is necessary but calls can be made in advance on 0131 537 1330/1331. The staff at the clinic can treat a wide range of minor injuries from cuts and burns to wound infections, sprains and small bone breaks

It is important that people should only use Accident and Emergency departments for genuine emergencies.

NHS Lothian