Edinburgh Northern and Leith MSP Ben Macpherson is holding a “craft and chat” event at Dr Bell’s Family Centre, as part of his annual MSP Christmas Card competition. Continue reading Local MSP to hold ‘craft and chat’ event at Dr Bell’s
Tag: Christmas
West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre Christmas Table Sale
Not lonely this Christmas at Castlebrae Glebe
A HOUSING and care provider in Edinburgh made sure that no-one was left feeling lonely this Christmas. Staff and tenants at supported housing accommodation in Craigmillar organised a lonely scheme, which runs all year round, and this year the scheme made sure that its users had somewhere to be on Christmas Day. Continue reading Not lonely this Christmas at Castlebrae Glebe
Prime Minister Theresa May’s Christmas Message 2017
Prime Minister Theresa May wishes a Happy Christmas to everyone celebrating in the UK and all around the world.
Continue reading Prime Minister Theresa May’s Christmas Message 2017
This year’s Mad Friday set to be maddest in years …
Last Friday before Christmas just happens to fall on the 23rd, and authorities expect mayhem
“We shall know them by their bad Christmas jumpers and their Santa hats.”
Mad Friday – the last working Friday before Christmas where workers cut lose with the spirit of the Festive Season – is expected to be the maddest in years, as it falls just two days before the big day.
One Yorkshire-based office services provider says that the national press may have jumped the gun, suggesting that Mad Friday 2017 was last week.
But Desk.co.uk says there’s worse to come, with workers from offices and construction workers coming together in town and city centres with only one aim in mind – to get completely blathered.
“Last Friday was just an alcohol-fuelled curtain-raiser to the main event,” says Desk.co.uk‘s Jonathan Ratcliffe. “The 23rd is going to be the final, final day at work for millions of people, and they’re going to celebrate in style.”
In fact, Ratcliffe expects the entire week to be one of excess, with office parties happening all week, building up to the final letting-off-of steam before more than a week away from work.
- “We shall know them by their bad Christmas jumpers and their Santa hats,” says Jonathan, “Not to mention their inability to walk in a straight line and singing tuneless Christmas carols at the top of their voices into the early hours.”
- Mad Friday will be followed by Sozzled Saturday, as revellers celebrate Christmas Eve.
- And then… next Saturday night is also New Year’s Eve, so there’s little let-up for Britain’s town centres.
Although most towns are expecting a party atmosphere on Friday, authorities expect the usual trouble from those for whom alcohol and good times do not mix. Mad Friday really takes a turn for the worse at pub closing time, where office party survivors are wandering the streets and aggression can surface.
Just one misguided comment, or an argument over a taxi can lead to an all-out brawl that spoils the Festive Season for everyone. And that’s what police and emergency workers fear the worst, as aggressive drunks are both difficult and unpredictable to deal with and also an enormous waste of resources.
“That’s the real tragedy about Mad Friday,” says Ratcliffe, “The strain on the police force and the NHS is bad enough without what are – essentially – self-inflicted injuries.”
There’s a radical solution that bosses could consider, he says.
And that’s making workers agree that their behaviour outside of work – especially at Christmas parties – reflects back on the company’s reputation, making it subject to workplace discipline.
“It’s an extreme approach,” he says, “but the office party and the so-called ‘last day of term’ need to calm down a bit.”
While letting your hair down is fine, Desk.co.uk says that something needs to be done about the people who go too far and spoil Christmas for everybody.
“Enjoy the party,” he says, “But don’t wreck the party.”
Continue reading This year’s Mad Friday set to be maddest in years …
Third of workers are “on the pull” at their Christmas Party
One third of people attending their office party this year plan another type of Christmas fun
The party season is already well under way and thousands will enjoy a few drinks with work colleagues at their works Christmas do. However whilst most will have a few drinks and call it a night, research from office provider Desk.co.uk suggests some have a desire to take things further with an office co-worker. Continue reading Third of workers are “on the pull” at their Christmas Party
Say It With A Kiss: First Minister’s Christmas Card unveiled
John Byrne painting will raise funds for charities
A painting by John Byrne has been unveiled as the First Minister’s 2017 Christmas card. ‘Say It With A Kiss!’ is an original artwork in Byrne’s celebrated trademark style. It features a couple about to share a kiss under the mistletoe. The artwork will be auctioned next year with the proceeds going to four charities – Food Train, SCIAF, Scottish Women’s Aid and Teapot Trust.
SCIAF and children’s art therapy charity the Teapot Trust were chosen by John Byrne, while Food Train, which provides a range of services, to older people including grocery shopping and befriending and Scottish Women’s Aid were selected by the First Minister.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to have such a beautiful painting by John Byrne for my Christmas card this year. He is one of our most celebrated artists and this work has a wonderful festive feel while maintaining John’s inimitable style.
“The four charities that will benefit from the sale of the painting do fantastic work on local, national and international levels and I’m very pleased that the card can support such a wide range of good causes.”
John Byrne, while best known as a playwright for his trilogy The Slab Boys, is also a renowned artist, with several of his works exhibited in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
He said: “I was both surprised and delighted to be commissioned by the First Minister to produce the artwork for this year’s Official Christmas Card and got to work straight away – I had a notion to paint a young couple from my boyhood days in Paisley, having a great time jiving to the music of Jimmy McCracken’s ‘Big Band’ at the Town Hall c1957 dressed in the style of the day, with a nod to the Festive Season.”
Since 2007, artwork from the First Minister’s official Christmas cards has raised around £170,000 for good causes through sales of the original paintings and limited edition prints. Proceeds from this year’s auction will go to the Archie Foundation, SiMBA, Christine Witcutt Memorial Fund and The Dixon Community.
Don’t be a turkey victim this Christmas
Don’t be a turkey ‘victim’ this Christmas
For many families across the UK, turkey will be the centerpiece of their menu this Christmas. A veritable feast undoubtedly lies in store but the traditional festive food highlight should be treated with the utmost care to avoid harmful bacteria spreading and causing potential infection. Continue reading Don’t be a turkey victim this Christmas
What a waste!
Let’s prevent over £90 million worth of food waste this Christmas Continue reading What a waste!
EDINBURGH RESIDENTS SET TO SPEND 6 MILLION HOURS PREPARING FOR THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS
Edinburgh is preparing for a busy December – as residents are set to spend a total of more than 6 million hours preparing for Christmas! Continue reading EDINBURGH RESIDENTS SET TO SPEND 6 MILLION HOURS PREPARING FOR THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS