davepickering

Resolve to give the gift of life

Scots are being urged to make it their New Year’s resolution to become a organ donor. The Scottish Government is calling on more Scots to join the NHS Organ Donor Register in 2013 to build on the milestone of having 40 per cent of Scots on the Register – the highest percentage in the UK.

The call is backed by transplant patient Kirsten Harrold, aged 43, from Portobello.

Kirsten was diagnosed with kidney failure at the age 16 but a New Year’s gift of a transplant on January 1, 1990 not only give her back her life, but allowed her to go on to be a mum of four healthy kids.

Public Health Minister Michael Matheson said: “I don’t think there is a better New Year’s resolution than to become a potential life saver by joining the NHS Organ Donor Register.

“We know the festive season is an important time for people to spend with family and friends, but I’d like people to spare a thought for the Scots who are waiting for an organ, hoping that they get to spend another Christmas with their families and loved ones.

“For them, the most admirable New Year’s resolution would be for more people to join the NHS Organ Donor Register. Stories like Kirsten’s show the incredible impact organ donation can have on not just one person, but a whole family. Simply letting your loved ones know your wishes about organ donation could make all the difference to those desperately waiting.“

Since receiving her kidney transplant, Kirsten has had normal kidney function and is leading a full and busy life, raising her children Peter, 13, Matthew, 8 and twin girls Charis and Gracie, aged five.

Explaining how her illness affected her from a young age, Kirsten explained, “I was unwell for a while before I was diagnosed, feeling really tired, fainting regularly and suffering from headaches. I’d been back and forward to the GP, but by the time I reached 16, I weighed around five stone and was really ill. After having bloods taken, I was admitted to hospital immediately.”

Kirsten suffer from kidney failure as a result of a condition which meant she couldn’t keep salts or minerals in her body. The fainting was due to dehydration and Kirsten spent the week in hospital where she was stabilised, put on medication and told to maintain a low protein diet.

Kirsten said, “Although I looked after myself, when I was around 18, the medication wasn’t enough and I was put on dialysis. Because I was so young, I was quite naïve about it all and didn’t realise what being on dialysis meant, or how serious it was. At this time I was also assessed for going on the transplant list.”

Visiting the hospital three times a week, for up to two and a half hours of dialysis per session, Kirsten’s condition started to take its toll, “I was on dialysis for around 18 months which had huge implications for my family as my dad had to take me to and from the hospital. As a dialysis patient I was quite well, but compared to any normal 18 year old, I was really pretty ill.”

The call to say a suitable kidney had been found came on Hogmanay in 1989 whilst Kirsten, aged 20, was celebrating the turn of the year with friends. Twenty four hours later, on the first of January, Kirsten’s life had been changed forever.

She explained, “Everything went really well with the transplant and my recovery. It was amazing, I didn’t know how ill I was until I felt better.”

In the July of that year, Kirsten met her partner Pete and as the years passed the pair started to look to the future and the possibility of kids.

“Having a child wasn’t a decision we took lightly. By my late twenties, my transplant was well established and there were no problems, but obviously due to the medication I was on and the pressure a pregnancy would put on my body, it takes a bit of thinking through.”

Kirsten attended pre-pregnancy counselling where she found out more about the risks and what would happen with her medication if she became pregnant.

After a textbook pregnancy, Peter was born by caesarean section and Matthew, Kirsten’s second son was born four years later.

As Kirsten’s experience of pregnancy had been so positive, and she was keeping well with healthy creatinine levels, they decided to try for a third baby – and got the news it was twins. They welcomed identical twin girls Charis and Gracie into the world in August 2007.

“Being a mum and being able to do all the mum things like breastfeeding was amazing.”

Almost twenty three years on from her transplant, Kirsten is under no illusion that she wouldn’t be enjoying the life she has if it wasn’t for the decision made by her donor and is still so grateful.

She said, “What do you say to someone that has made that decision? It’s not just my life it has changed, it changed the lives of my family and gave me the chance to have a family of my own. If I’d still been on dialysis, I wouldn’t have been able to sustain four pregnancies or be fit and well to raise small children.

“My transplant allowed me to make decisions and choices that everyone else takes for granted, such as working full-time and having kids. We’re a really active family and my kids wouldn’t be leading the full lives they have if it wasn’t for my transplant and my excellent kidney function.

“It’s not just the recipient that benefits from the NHS Organ Donor Register, it’s everyone around them which is why it’s so important that people sign up to help those waiting. I’m very grateful to have been given the opportunity to have this life and my family. I always will be.”

Scotland reached the milestone of having 40 per cent of the population on Register earlier this year.

In Scotland, there are around 600 people needing a life-saving transplant.

In October this year, the Scottish Government launched a campaign designed to get people talking about organ donation, to make their wishes known to their loved ones and to join the Register.

Join the NHS Organ Donor Register by visiting the Organ Donation Scotland website.

NEN December stats

As expected, our December figures were down on the previous month as readers’ interests turned to more festive matters.

With just over eleven hours to go our December stats are 2533 views; our busiest day was 10 December with 352.

December’s most read post was the appeal for witnesses to the death on Dundas Street, followed by ‘A Christmas Tale’ and ‘Male Held after 73 year-old mugged’. Quite a mix – as they used to say in the old News of the World ‘All human life is here’!

More fascinating(!) stats to come plus our Review of the Year …

Think about your drink

The Chief Medical Officer, Sir Harry Burns, has called for people to take care over New Year and drink alcohol responsibly.

Sir Harry said: “Scotland’s Hogmanay festivities are recognised around the world and we want everyone to have fun. If you are planning on drinking over New Year, it is best to take it steady, pace yourself and have a meal beforehand to soak up some of the alcohol. A good tip is to try to have a soft drink or water in between having an alcoholic drink.

“While we have seen a decrease in overall consumption, it is clear that too many people, across all age and demographic groups, are continuing to drink too much all year round and are putting themselves at increased risk of injury and illness.

“Scots drink 20 per cent more than our counterparts in England and Wales. The bottom line is that alcohol misuse is still taking its toll on too many people across Scotland, young and old. I would urge everyone to take care when they are out and about over New Year. Taking a few precautions will ensure that New Year is a night to remember, but for all the right reasons.”

Safety advice as Hogmanay celebrations set to go ahead

Organisers will be keeping an anxious eye on weather forecasts as Edinburgh’s biggest night of the year is here. High winds and rain wreaked havoc during the night, but the weather is forecast to improve later today.

With festivities likely to go ahead as planned, organisers of Edinburgh’s world famous street party are urging revellers to be warm, to stay safe and to enjoy all that Edinburgh has to offer this Hogmanay.

The City of Edinburgh Council, Lothian and Borders Police, NHS Lothian, G4S Events and the Met Office met on Friday to discuss arrangements and they have offered advice to help revellers bring in the New Year safely.

Cllr Steve Cardownie, Festival and Events Champion, said: “To make sure you and your friends have the best possible time seeing in the bells at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party, take some simple steps to look after yourself: dress for the weather, bring your New Year cheer in plastic bottles, and use your common sense. It’s also a good idea to heed the advice from police and stewards, who will be working extremely hard on the night to make sure everyone enjoys themselves safely, and to establish a pre-arranged meeting point in the event you become separated from your group. Look after yourself and your friends and help us welcome 2013 in style.”

Looking ahead to the weather forecast for Hogmanay, Graeme Forrester, Public Weather Service Advisor for the Met Office, said: “There will be a fresh to strong west to North West wind with rain affecting the Edinburgh area on Monday morning clearing away to give generally dry weather with lighter winds over the bells and temperatures staying above freezing at 2 or 3C. As always revellers should dress for the conditions and wrap up warm.”

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party organisers are offering a few extra tips for revellers to bear in mind:

Follow the instructions on the Hogmanay Street Party tickets
Dress for the weather
Look after each other and arrange a meeting point
Think about how to get home
Police and stewards are on duty to look after everyone’s safety – bags may be searched on entry
Revellers are encouraged not to bring under 16s to Street Party on the 31 December.
People under the influence of too much alcohol may be refused entry
No one will get in unless they have an Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party ticket
Don’t bring glass into the arena
Pay bars and food outlets are located within the Street Party Arena.day 30 December.

The three day Festival began with a torchlit procession last night, but the biggest draw to the programme is undoubtedly Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party. Now in its 20th year, the world famous event welcomes 75,000 revellers from around the world to the ‘Home of Hogmanay’. With a total of five live music stages featuring headliners The Maccabees, Reverend and the Maker, Admiral Fallow and Shooglenifty. Throw in one of the world’s largest New Year fireworks displays and you have the ultimate Edinburgh’s Hogmanay experience.

On the same night, Concert in the Gardens headliners Simple Minds will be having their own party beneath Edinburgh castle and are joined by special guests, The View. The Concert in the Gardens is opened by local Edinburgh band Bwani Junction.

If you like a bit more birl with the bells, then The Keilidh is the place to be. Dance the night away on the outdoor ceilidh dance floor on Mound Precinct to the very best in traditional music with Hugh McDiarmid’s Haircut, Ceilidhdonia and The Brechin City Rollers.

The fun continues tomorrow (Tuesday 1 January) with the Loony Dook, the annual dip in the River Forth at South Queensferry at 1.30pm. Revellers are also invited to come and join in Your Lucky Day. Atmospheric theatre, spoken word, unique musical performances and even a lucky tearoom will be hidden in destinations around the city from the Greyfriars Kirk to The City Art Centre, The Roxy Hall to The Hub. Revellers will be invited to start at Destination 1, the National Museum of Scotland, and to throw a dice to decide their first destination. They allow the dice to decide their route around the Old Town for the rest of the afternoon.

Lucky participants might join in the dancing at the Highland Ceilidh or the Hogmanay Hoedown, enjoy inspiring music from young Scottish singer-songwriter Rachel Sermanni or shiver at the folk song ghost story Crows Bones. They might immerse themselves in Duncan Chisholm’s Kin, a beautifully crafted journey into the past using music, narrative and film, try The Luck Factor with Professor Richard Wiseman or enjoy a Scottish afternoon tea with a difference in The Lucky Tearoom. Audiences are expected to visit a number of performance destinations during the afternoon.

For full programme details or to book tickets for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay visit the official website or telephone the Box Office on 0844 573 8455. Tickets are available in person from The Fringe Office on the High Street, Tickets Scotland in Rose Street and Ripping on South Bridge.

A greener New Year?

The Scottish Government suggests going greener could be your New Year resolution:

This new year many people across the country will be pledging to live and eat better. But what about making some greener changes?

If everyone tuned over a new leaf in the New Year, it would help make Scotland a cleaner, greener place to live. Setting some greener resolutions and taking collective action can have a big impact.

Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse said:

“There are many ways to go greener which can bring benefits if we all get involved. There is no better time to make positive changes than the start of the New Year. Turning our thermostats down by just one degree not only saves money but also reduces the amount of energy we use as a country. By taking this green action, we could save up to £60 per year as well as reducing Scotland’s carbon emissions from housing by ten per cent.

“Cutting down on food waste can also mean big savings. In Scotland the average family household throws out £430 of food annually. So, if more of us do our bit to reduce, reuse and recycle in 2013 – we can benefit each other and our families to help create a greener, cleaner Scotland now and for the future.”

In the spirit of breaking with tradition, here are some things to consider when making your greener resolution list for 2013:

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Remember your three Rs in 2013 – there are lots of good reasons to reduce, reuse and recycle to help our environment and our pockets too. Why not start the New Year by making smarter decisions about what you buy and how you get the most out of those purchases throughout the year? The challenge is to think carefully about what you buy, reuse everything you can and aim to recycle everything else.

Make a greener plan

It’s a good idea to set some greener goals for the New Year to keep you on track. You could create your own Greener Plan at www.greenerscotland.org/my-greener-plan. With tailored advice and support, it enables you to choose green goals, track your achievements and ultimately do your bit to make Scotland greener.

Join nature’s free ‘green gym’

Scotland’s woodlands and other open air spaces are nature’s own ‘green gym’. They’re great places to get active – whether it’s to go walking, cycling or running. Over 20 per cent of the Scottish population lives within a ten-minute walk of an accessible woodland so why not get out and enjoy some fresh air and burn off the excesses of Christmas?

Kevin Lafferty, Forestry Commission Scotland’s health advisor said: “Losing those extra pounds you’ve gained over Christmas doesn’t need to involve expensive gym memberships – you can simply get out to your local woodland and enjoy some fresh winter air and go walking or cycling.

“So start your New Year resolutions early this year and get outdoors and burn some extra calories with some good green exercise.”

Ditch the car

You could also try using your car a little less in 2013 and walk more or try cycling instead. Where possible it’s a good idea to walk, cycle or even take the bus. Choosing to do so for shorter journeys is a move towards feeling fitter and healthier, and towards cleaner, less polluted neighbourhoods.

Join a community car club

If you’re planning to buy a car in 2013, could you think about joining a community car club instead? Cars can be booked online or by phone in advance, or at the last minute. They take care of insurance, tax, servicing, parking permits and even cleaning too. It’s a greener step forward.

Grow your own

Why not get back to nature in 2013 and try growing your own fruit, vegetables and herbs for less? It can help to cut down on trips to the shops and packaging. Food that we grow ourselves can taste fresher and you don’t need a garden either – try a window box, some grow bags or think about a local allotment.

Think and buy local

A New Year means a new season and spring is on its way. Scotland produces a huge variety of foods throughout the year, so it’s always better to choose flavoursome, in season food. Give your local producers a boost by buying the best of Scotland’s natural larder in 2013.

Get a home energy audit

Give your home an energy saving makeover this winter by getting free expert advice and support from the Home Energy Scotland Hotline on 0800 512 012. You can find out how you could make your home warmer and save money in four easy steps during 2013 with just one call.

Choose low energy lighting

Be enlightened in 2013 by opting for low energy lighting alternatives to give your home a glow. Although they sometimes cost more than traditional bulbs, they last a lot longer – and you’ll make your money back in electricity savings. One energy-saving lamp might save you up to £60 over its lifetime.

Cut back on paper towels

Why not ditch those paper towels in 2013? You can use cotton cloths or fabric napkins to mop up spills and clean up your kitchen and bathroom instead. They can be washed and reused time after time to help cut down on the waste that ends up in your bin.

What’s your New Year resolution? Let us know!

The Twelve Days of Christmas Quiz – answers

Thanks to the ~~hundreds of readers, well~~ ~~both readers then~~ all of you who took part in the ever popular NEN Christmas Quiz. The answers were:

1. I D O A W C – ‘I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas’; WHITE CHRISTMAS

2. O L T O B – ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’; O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM

3. A R O H F I T S – ‘A Ray of Hope Flickers In The Sky’; WHEN A CHILD IS BORN

4. O T F D O C – ‘On The First Day of Christmas’; THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

5. T S T B S A C – ‘They Said There’ll Be Snow at Christmas’; I BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS

6. O C A Y F – ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’; O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL

7. Y B W O – ‘You Better Watch Out’; SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN

8. W W I T A – ‘We’re Walking in the Air’; WALKING IN THE AIR (The Snowman)

9. T M I R – ‘The Moon is Right’; SIMPLY HAVING A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS TIME

10. T T I A H T N A H – ‘Try To Imagine A House That’s Not A Home”; LONELY THIS CHRISTMAS

11. L T A I B – ‘Long Time Ago In Bethlehem’; MARY’S BOY CHILD

12. W T S B T S – ‘When The Snowman Brings The Snow’; I WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY

Unfortunately there were no ~~entries at all~~ all correct entries and, as the prize cannot be carried forward, I have eaten it!

No sonny, number six is wrong. You lose! Merry Christmas!

Recycle those Christmas cards at Sainsbury’s

Post-Christmas clean up? Don’t throw your old Christmas cards out with the rest of your household rubbish – recycle them at Sainsbury’s Blackhall!

Sainsbury’s is providing local residents with a solution to make use of their Christmas cards this year. The store has a Christmas card recycling bin in place and residents can bring in their cards until 15 January.

Sainsbury’s is making a donation to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) based on the volume of cards collected.

Sainsbury’s are trying to do their bit for the environment by helping customers tackle post-Christmas waste and impact on landfill by:

Making a donation to Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) from Christmas card recycling in 500 stores including Blackhall
Providing a safe way for customers to dispose of post-Christmas batteries – over 21 million batteries recycled by Sainsbury’s in the past year from in-store collections
Offering recycling facilities at over 300 stores including Blackhall to help customers reduce waste to landfill and support hassle free post-Christmas clear outs – Sainsbury’s has collected over 9 million items of clothing in 11 months!

New cash for empty homes

New funding could bring more than 400 empty homes back into use for communities across Scotland, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said this week. Seventeen housing associations, councils and house builders submitted successful bids for the Scottish Government’s Empty Homes Loans Fund.

The fund will help private owners renovate empty homes in exchange for them being made available as affordable housing for at least five years. There are around 25,000 empty homes across Scotland that are classed as long-term empty located in urban, rural and island communities.

Ms Sturgeon said: “Empty homes are a blight on many communities across Scotland. Standing empty these properties are no use to anyone. Renovated, they could provide much needed new homes for hundreds of people. That is why more needs to be done to make better use of these existing assets.

“Bringing empty homes back into use makes sense because it is a cost-effective way of increasing the supply of housing available to families across Scotland’s communities. “The Empty Homes Loan Fund, and wider work being taken forward by Councils as a result of the Shelter Scotland-led Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, can help significantly reduce the number of wasted, empty homes across Scotland.”

Kristen Hubert, coordinator of the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, which is hosted by Shelter Scotland and funded by the Scottish Government, said: “It is pleasing and highly encouraging that so many worthy projects have been given the go ahead. Having an incentive like a loan to offer owners of empty homes is a key part of getting people to engage with our growing network of Empty Homes Officers and make positive choices about their properties. We will work with the successful bidders to help them make the most of their projects. We look forward with excitement to seeing so many empty homes that previously caused issues for their communities coming back to life as affordable housing.”

COSLA’s housing spokeperson Councillor Harry McGuigan said: “The fund is a welcome contribution to Scotland’s overall housing stock, and will greatly assist local government’s empty home officers on making real progress locally in relieving housing pressure.

“Encouraging owners to bring housing stock back to the affordable rental market will make a valuable contribution in tackling homelessness, directly and indirectly, and remove what can be neighbourhood blight.”

Here in Edinburgh, the City Council announced that it was setting up an empty homes task force back in September, working with other organisations on initiatives to bring more housing into use. Edinburgh’s share of the new housing cash is £750,000, which will now bring 70 empty homes back into use.

Welcoming the announcement Councillor Cammy Day, the city council’s Housing Leader, said: “Setting up an empty homes task force was one of the first commitments delivered by the capital coalition following the elections in May. I’m delighted that Link Housing Association, a key member of the task force, has been successful in securing this funding. This underlines the co-operative approach we are taking to addressing the housing and other challenges that the city faces. We will continue working with Link and other partners in the task force on reducing the number of empty homes in the city.”

No rest for animal rescue centre over Christmas

The Scottish SPCA’s Edinburgh and Lothians Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre had a staggering 156 animals in its care this Christmas Day. It was business as usual for dedicated staff at the Balerno-based centre, which is open to the public all year round.

Centre Manager Diane Stewart said, “It’s a sad reality that there are lots of animals without loving homes to call their own this Christmas time. Thanks to our staff, no animal here spent Christmas Day alone and they all got a wee treat from Santa too. It’s simply not an option for us to close over the holidays as the animals here rely on us and they don’t have anywhere else to go.

“We’ll be here for all the animals in our care throughout Christmas and New Year, ensuring they’re fed, watered and exercised every day as usual. There is also the task of washing down the kennels, cleaning out the catteries and other enclosures and ensuring animals receive any necessary vet treatment. We’ll also continue to take in abandoned, neglected, injured and
unwanted animals who have been rescued by our inspectors and animal rescue officers.”

“Although we aren’t rehoming young animals between 20 December and 3 January to prevent them being taken on by someone who wants a new pet for Christmas and hasn’t fully thought through their decision, they can be reserved and there are lots of other pets in our care ready to find their forever homes right now. People are very welcome to pop in to the centre if they think they could offer one of our animals a second chance at happiness.”

The Scottish SPCA’s Edinburgh and Lothians Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre is open 10am-4pm, seven days a week.

Statistics to smile about

More children in Scotland have brighter smiles, with 67 per cent of primary one children having no obvious sign of tooth decay.

The latest figures from the National Dental Inspection Programme, show that for the first time all NHS boards have met the Scottish Government target for 60 per cent of primary ones to have no obvious signs of tooth decay – an overall improvement across Scotland of 3% since 2009/10.

Minister for Public Health, Michael Matheson said: “It is fantastic news that record numbers of primary one children have no obvious signs of decay, and for the first time, all 14 NHS Boards have exceeded the target – that 60 per cent should have no obvious signs of decay.

“This tremendous progress is the result of our significant investment in children’s dentistry over recent years. It is also tribute to our work with the British Dental Association and the commitment of Scottish dentists, nursery and school staff and parents to deliver the Childsmile programme. However it is extremely important that we continue this work as we know that the best way to improve the nations dental health is in childhood.”

To ensure this progress continues Scotland’s Chief Dental Officer, Margie Taylor, shares some dental health tips as children eat their Christmas selection boxes and sweets. Ms Taylor is encouraging parents to teach their children the importance of good dental hygiene from a young age and keep sweets until mealtimes as much as possible.

She said: “I know that a selection box can put a smile on the face of most children but it’s important that parents keep those smiles healthy. Children develop their oral health habits, good or bad, at a very young age. So it is important that parents remember their healthful habits and practices throughout the festive season to ensure that their children enjoy a lifetime of beautiful smiles.

“I would advise parents to keep sugary snacks to mealtimes in order to help protect against from decay and to avoid all sweet during the last hour before bedtime. Children over three should then brush their teeth with a pea-sized blob of toothpaste – brushing all surfaces of the teeth and gums, working on two teeth at a time. Children under three should only have a smear of toothpaste on their brush.”