Christmas – Page 21 – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Make a child's Christmas with Licketyspit

Share some seasonal spirit – here’s an idea for a Christmas gift with a difference …

Dear Friends,

Licketyspit was founded in 2004, so we have survived and thrived, often against the odds, for ten years!

We have been kept going by the thousands of Scottish children, families and teachers who help us to create our work and support it with such enthusiasm and by the fantastic artists and colleagues who have consistently gone the extra mile for us in the interests of children and families.

We hope everyone we know and who knows us will want to celebrate with us by donating a £6 ticket for a child/family who wouldn’t otherwise be able to come to our Christmas show, Hare & Tortoise at North Edinburgh Arts (1st – 20th December).

If you go to the Licketyspit website http://www.licketyspit.com there’s a PayPal Donate button on the front page and we will email a Gift Aid form to you afterwards. These tickets will be distributed through The Haven Project and Circle, both organisations working in Muirhouse with disadvantaged families.

This is our fourth production of Hare & Tortoise following amazing outdoor performances on Glasgow Green for the Commonwealth Games Festival 2014 in July. It features Actor/Licketyspit Associate Artist, Johnny Austin (Quangle Wangle, Magic Spaghetti) and the wonderful Buchan Lennon.

We are having a Birthday performance (limited ticket availability) on Friday 12th December at 5pm followed by a Bun Brothers Tea hosted by Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, Tam Baillie at 6.15pm. We would be delighted if you could join us for either or both events. We have attached an invitation below, please feel free to circulate to any colleagues or contacts that you think may be interested. Please RSVP to info@licketyspit.com

Hope to see you there!

With thanks and very best wishes,

Virginia, Beth and all at Licketyspit

It’s A Wonderful Life tops Christmas poll

Timeless classic It’s A Wonderful Life has been voted the best Christmas film of all time. The 1946 movie, starring James Stewart as suicidal George Bailey, beat the likes of Home Alone and The Muppet Christmas Carol in the Radio Times poll.

It pushed Richard Curtis’s romantic comedy Love Actually, starring Colin Firth, Martine McCutcheon and Hugh Grant, into second place, followed by Will Ferrell movie Elf.

Family favourites The Muppet Christmas Carol and Home Alone took fourth and fifth place in the poll, carried out on RadioTimes.com.

Miracle On 34th Street and traditional Christmas films The Snowman and Scrooge also finished in the top 10.

Writing in the Radio Times, film critic Barry Norman said of It’s A Wonderful Life: “Frank Capra’s wonderful, life-enhancing film should be shown every Christmas preferably after the Queen’s Speech. Yes, it verges on the sentimental but never too much so. Far more it’s simply heart-warming – the grandaddy of all feel-good movies.”

:: RadioTimes.com top 10 Christmas films of all time

1. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

2. Love Actually (2003)

3. Elf (2003)

4. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

5. Home Alone (1990)

6. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

7. Santa Claus: The Movie (1985)

8. Miracle On 34th Street (1994)

9. The Snowman (1982)

10. Scrooge (1951)

What’s your favourite festive season film? Let us know!

All welcome at PYCP Open Afternoon

Christmas is always a busy time at Pilton Youth and Children’s Project, but this year, as well as the usual Christmas parties for different age groups (see below) PYCP are also hosting an Open Afternoon for the wider community to enjoy.

On Friday 20 December we’re promised special performances, Christmas storytelling, food and fun so PYCP’s Green house is the place to be from 12.30 – 2.30pm! All welcome.

A nation divided …

… and it’s nothing to do with the Referendum!

With Christmas just around the corner new research from Clydesdale Bank has shown that the nation is divided over the very thing that makes Christmas sparkle – this country’s love affair with outdoor festive lights!

Almost half of us (47%) said we love seeing lots of brightly lit Santas, snowmen and reindeers outside of houses at this time of year. However, almost a third have a more ‘bah humbug’ approach to lighting up the festive season.

The survey revealed that 14% of us think they are a waste of money and a further 11% actually wishing their neighbours wouldn’t decorate the outside of their homes. Nearly one in ten (8%) of those surveyed said they simply don’t like Christmas decorations while a sixth (15%) said they would like to put lights outside their home but the cost of powering them puts them off.

But despite mixed views the majority of the nation is getting into the festive spirit with 57% of us saying we are looking forward to spending time with family and friends.

However this time of year is also proving to be stressful for some with almost a fifth of those surveyed admitting that they are worried about paying for Christmas and a further 19% stating that Christmas shopping is their least favourite part of the build-up to the big day.

Andrew Pearce, Retail Director for Clydesdale Bank, said: “Our research has shown that people either love or loathe outdoor Christmas lights. Some view them as extravagant and an unnecessary waste of money and electricity whilst others enjoy the Christmas atmosphere they bring to the community.

“Whatever decorations you opt for this year, it’s still possible to have fun this festive season without blowing the budget.”

Clydesdale Bank’s simple tips to save money this Christmas:

Set a budget – and stick to it. Work out how much you can afford to spend and don’t exceed this amount.
Remember the most expensive present is not necessarily the best. Sometimes a more thoughtful, personal gift can be more appreciated. For example, new parents may prefer the offer of babysitting rather than more perfume or aftershave.
Shop about – when you have decided what you want to buy, look for the best bargain. Many shops have sales in the run-up to Christmas, so pick your purchasing timing wisely.
Group together – rather than buying gifts for every one of your friends individually, why not hold a secret Santa where each person buys for just one friend?
Have a family feast – ask your guests to bring a course or some goodies with them so you don’t have sole responsibility for Christmas dinner. It could simply be bringing the wine or the Christmas crackers but will help you share the expense.

What’s your view – tacky or terrific? Let us kno-ho-ho!

Cut the cost of Christmas at Give and Take Day

Try swapping, not buying this Christmas!

Give and Take Day

Royston Wardieburn Community Centre

Saturday 14^th December 10am – 1pm

North Edinburgh Timebank and the Women’s International Group are organising a big community swap day.

If you have clothes or toys you no longer need, bring them along and swap them for other ones.

Following the success of the Give and Take Day in the summer, we’re having another one! North Edinburgh Timebank’s Julie Smith said: “It’s a simple idea and really effective. It’s a way of local people supporting each other in a practical way. No-one has a lot of cash, this way we can all share things we have we don’t want, but might be of use to other folk.”

You turn up, hand over what you don’t want, get a ticket and you can exchange that for something you do want. Adult’s clothes, children’s clothes and toys – as long as they’re in good condition, bring them along.

There will be a bouncy castle, tombola stall and refreshments.

For more information, contact Julie on 07807002591.

Sainsbury’s serves up festive treat for Young at Heart

Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre’s Young at Heart Group enjoyed a complimentary Christmas lunch at Sainsbury’s café on 13 December. The ladies were joined by Colin, the Centre’s volunteer driver, who did a splendid job picking them up all from their homes and taking them safely back again.

And the lunch was delicious!

Christmas is just round the corner in West Pilton

West Pilton will resound to the sound of jingle bells this Saturday when ‘Christmas Round the Corner’ comes to West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre.

The free event promises fun for all the family, with loads of free activities (including Santa’s Grotto) and live music too from 11am – 3pm.

A free Christmas event? Surely even Scrooge would raise a smile! See below for more details

a4 xmas flyer

Stay safe this Christmas

Some sage seasonal advice from Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service:

MAKE SURE:

Smoke detectors are working
Christmas tree lights conform to the British Standard
Decorations are kept away from naked flames.

DON’T:

Drink too much. Alcohol and smoking increase your risk of a house fire
Leave cooking unattended; it’s a common cause of house fires
Leave Christmas lights on overnight or when the house is empty.

To book a Home Safety Visit by local firefighters and fitting of a free smoke detector call 0800 169 0320

For more information about fire safety visit www.lbfire.org.uk

It’s a Quangle Wangle Christmas at North Edinburgh Arts!

Licketyspit’s ‘The Christmas Quangle Wangle’ has opened at North Edinburgh Arts. Written by Virginia Radcliffe and based on the works of Edward Lear, ‘The Christmas Quangle Wangle’ is suitable for all ages (3 – 103!) and it’s the perfect way to really get into that Christmas spirit.

Daily performances at 10am and 1pm (Saturday 10.30am and 1.30pm) and tickets start at only £2.

The Christmas Quangle Wangle runs until 15 December. For more information contact North Edinburgh Arts on 315 2151 or see the www.licketyspit.com and www.northedinburgharts.co.uk websites.

Choirs to sing out at Sainsbury’s!

Fancy some seasonal sounds while you do your Christmas shopping? Sainsbury’s Blackhall will ring out with all your festive favourites with visits planned by three different choirs in the run-up to Christmas!

A spokesperson said: “We are delighted to welcome some members of the congregation of our local Church, Blackhall St Columba’s, to our store on Sunday (9 December) at 2pm to sing carols for our customers and colleagues. We are also looking forward to a visit from Stockbridge Primary School choir, who will be singing for us on Wednesday 12 December at 4pm, and the Edinburgh Jubilio Choir on Tuesday 18 December at 6pm.”