Gift the gift that keeps on giving this Christmas – a year’s membership to Edinburgh Leisure’s three soft play centres across the city!
The perfect solution for grandparents, godparents, and aunts and uncles who are fed-up of giving ‘plastic fantastic’ gifts that are surplus to needs, instead inspire the kids to get the active habit and sample the world of sport and fitness from an early age. Their parents will thank you for it.
Costing £179 for 12 months, the annual soft play membership means little adventurers can visit as many times as they wish, enjoying unlimited fun at any of Edinburgh Leisure’s three soft play venues across the city at Clambers at the Royal Commonwealth Pool, Tumbles at Portobello, and Scrambles at EICA: Ratho, which will keep little ones entertained and burning off energy as they explore the amazing soft plays.
Edinburgh Leisure’s play frames are suitable for children up to ten years old and there are frames for babies, toddlers, and juniors up to 10 years. Each venue has a café where healthy snacks and tasty treats can be enjoyed.
With great member benefits including special offers, members’ events, discounts to popular seasonal parties and other exclusive perks, the annual Edinburgh Leisure soft play is available to buy in venue or online. Purchasers will be presented with a Christmas Gift Card, which can then be given to the child.
Exciting FREE annual open studios event returns to Out of the Blue Abbeymount
Featuring over 30 artists from paintings to photography and mosaics to fashion
Meet the makers, watch demonstrations and get the chance to win an original piece of art in a free raffle
Out of the Blue Abbeymount Studios are delighted to be opening their doors to the public again this spring for another exciting Open Studios weekend onSaturday 20th & Sunday 21st May from 12noon – 5pm.
Come along to see their creative spaces, meet the makers and browse a wide range of original artworks and gifts. Everything is handmade by local designers and makers here in the heart of Edinburgh.
Fine art / painting / ceramics / illustration / animation / mosaics / fashion / textiles / photography
There will be FREE art/craft/animation demonstrations and workshops taking place over the two days, plus a FREE raffle featuring exclusive prizes donated by Abbeymount Studios artists.
With over 30 artists and creatives taking part, there really is something for everyone. Artists include wildlife painter Kirsten Mirrey whos work for the past five years has focussed on both exotic and endangered wildlife in a highly realistic style.
Award-winning filmmaker Holly Summerson is one of several animators taking part. Her work includes short films, music videos, projections for events, interactive online art and community workshops. The world of textiles and fashion are also covered with the work of ByJenByre. She specialises in creating one of a kind reimagined fashion from vintage second hand materials.
The poster for the Open Studios weekend was designed by resident children’s print designer Blythe Mackenzie of Little Yellow Scribbles who will also be taking part on the 20th and 21st. Little Yellow Scribbles is a children’s textile brand specialising in vibrant, illustrated textile accessories and clothing.
Out of the Blue Abbeymount Studio Manager Bob Guilianotti says: “We’re delighted to be opening the doors of Abbeymount to the public again for our Open Studios weekend.
“There’s an exciting choice of artists and makers to meet as well as the chance to explore this historic building. It’s a chance to meet our resident artists and makers as they demonstrate their work and discuss their inspirations.”
Details of the Open Weekend, as well as a list of participating artists and makers can be found on the Abbeymount Studios website.
Cash strapped parents struggling to find the extra cash for Christmas are being urged to clear out the cupboards and sell unwanted toys.
The penny pinching experts at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk have pulled together their tips for families hoping to sell used toys, and buyers hoping to bag a bargain this Christmas.
With money being tight for many this festive season, the experts are expecting parents to find alternative ways to buy their kids the toys they’ve asked for without forking out for brand new items.
Buying second hand is a good option for securing a bargain for the buyer, and raising a little extra cash for the seller.
Rebecca Bebbington, online consumer expert at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk said: “Christmas is an expensive time of year and with the ongoing cost of living crisis, it will put additional pressure on families.
“Selling unwanted toys is a good way for parents to get additional cash together – and is great for those hoping to buy a bargain bundle of second hand toys.
“It’s also better for the environment too. Rather than toys being put into landfill, they’re being cleaned down, repackaged and sold on for another little one to enjoy.
“We’ve put together some helpful tips for toy sellers and buyers to make sure everyone gets a good deal this Christmas.”
Here are NetVoucherCodes.co.uk’s top tips for buying and selling toys this Christmas:
For sellers:
Photos
Take plenty of pictures showing the toys at their very best. If they’ve been in the back of a cupboard to up the loft, give them a good wash down so they look as good as new. However, there’s no point trying to hide any imperfections. Ensure your images represent the item in the best way so a buyer knows exactly what they’re getting and the quality it will be in.
Description
Write a detailed description, describing the items as accurately as possible to avoid any confusion. Don’t be misleading. It’s always important to be honest in your description, even more so when the item is likely to be a special gift for Christmas.
Haggling
Be prepared for a haggle. Lots of buyers will offer you a price lower than you are selling for. Be aware of this and price accordingly.
Price comparisons
Have a look online to see what the same items are selling for, you don’t want to miss a sale because you’ve overpriced. Likewise, you don’t want to underprice and not get the amount the items deserve.
Delivery
Offer to deliver for a small fee. Sometimes this may make the difference in securing a sale.
Hold your nerve
Don’t settle on the first offer. It’s likely that you will receive a few offers after posting your item. Hold out a day or two to be sure you get the best price.
For buyers:
Haggle
Don’t be afraid to ask for a few pounds off. If someone really wants a sale they will be happy to negotiate a price.
Offer a swap
If you don’t want to pay the full price or can’t afford to, have you got something the seller might want? Ask if they’re happy to do a swap instead of a sale. You never know, you might just have something they’re looking for.
Buy local and collect
Try to buy items in your local area and collect them wherever possible. Often, sellers can create their own fees for delivery so it’s always worth saving yourself a few pounds by picking the items up yourself.
Photos
If you think the pictures don’t depict the item clearly, ask for more. You want to be sure that you get what you’re paying for and that it’s in the condition they have stated. Particularly important if you’re shopping for the item as a gift and you want it to look as good as new.
Ask questions
If you have any doubts about the quality or condition of an item, ask lots of questions. It may be that the seller wasn’t clear enough – it’s always better to err on the side of caution.
An auction of books left in a legacy has raised over £1,000 to help fight meningitis.
The money will be used to support charity Meningitis Now’s work to defeat meningitis in the UK within a generation.
Trevor Reid, the charity’s Director of Fundraising and Communications, said: “There was nothing particularly remarkable about this collection of books – it was just the random selection each and every one of us might have on our bookshelves at home.
“It is a powerful reminder though that even those who might not be able to support our lifesaving and life-changing work with a cash legacy gift, particularly in these cash straitened times, can still make a difference to our work fighting meningitis.
“A gift of household items, be it books, a painting, ceramics, or other everyday objects, can be just as significant.
“As the many antique programmes we enjoy on our television screens every week demonstrate time and again, any of these may have greater value than is at first realised.”
Trevor continued: “It’s lovely to be able to celebrate gifts to our charity, large and small, and there’s always a story behind every donation.
“And all these gifts mount up and can help us to be here not just today but for future generations affected by meningitis.”
Although most of the books put up for auction raised a small amount, one lot, a collection of JRR Tolkien books, including old editions of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, raised nearly £500.
Trevor added: “They were in far from pristine condition and nor were they first editions, but they clearly had more than just sentimental value to the person who kindly left them to us, as well as the person who bid generously to buy them at auction.”
Gifts in Wills from supporters are a vital way to help Meningitis Now fulfil its vision of a future where no-one in the UK loses their life to meningitis and everyone affected gets the support they need to rebuild their lives.
Home of female fiction, Rare Birds Books has launched Scotland’s first female-centric bookshop, right in the heart of Edinburgh.
In a bold move that sees the globally beloved book club show resilience and innovation in a time of retail uncertainty, founder Rachel Wood invites bibliophiles down the rabbit hole and into Stockbridge’s newest page-turning hotspot.
Readers are invited to visit Rare Birds Shop in Raeburn Place to immerse themselves in a world of beloved book club favourites, must-have modern classics and the cream of the crop of newly published masterpieces.
From Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Malibu Rising to Torrey Peters’ Detransition, Baby, there will be a story, author and genre for every kind of reader, searching for every kind of world.
Not only packed with the best stories, the shop’s shelves also display a collection of other must-have gifts and novel memorabilia. From Rare Birds’ new candles, which are scented to pair perfectly with your current read, and graphic print totes emblazoned with the store’s logo, to small batch chocolate and stationery from women-led businesses, you are certain to come for the stories and stay for the merch.
Rare Birds founder, Rachel Wood, said: “We’re so thrilled open our first book shop in Edinburgh. We’ve always been deeply interested in women’s writing and we can’t wait to bring what we do online to life in our very own space.
We dreamed of a really welcoming space where we could showcase a huge variety of women’s writing across all genres and create a space where booklovers could meet and socialise and that’s what I hope the space will be.”
Shoppers can choose from a range of female authored fiction and non-fiction books, as well as create Rare Birds’ signature personalised bundles, which are made up of 3 personal picks from the store’s world of stories.
In the months to come, Rare Birds Book Shop will also be home to a number of in-store events, including author readings, book clubs and intimate shopping evenings.
The book club you can’t read without, just got better!
Best-selling book club set to launch in the heart of Stockbridge
From Friday 6th August, readers will be invited to visit Rare Birds Shop, located at 13 Raeburn Place in Stockbridge, to immerse themselves in a world of beloved book club favourites, must-have modern classics and the cream of the crop of newly published masterpieces.
From Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Malibu Rising to Torrey Peters’ Detransition, Baby, there will be a story, author and genre for every kind of reader, searching for every kind of world.
Not only packed with the best stories the shop’s shelves will also see a collection of other must-have gifts and novel memorabilia.
From Rare Birds’ new candles, which are scented to pair perfectly with your current read, and graphic print totes emblazoned with the store’s logo, to small batch chocolate and stationery from women-led businesses, you are certain to come for the stories and stay for the merch.
Rare Birds founder, Rachel Wood, comments: “We’re so thrilled to be opening our first book shop in Edinburgh. We’ve always been deeply interested in women’s writing and we can’t wait to bring what we do online to life in our very own space.
“We dreamed of a really welcoming space where we could showcase a huge variety of women’s writing across all genres and create a space where booklovers could meet and socialise and that’s what I hope the space will be.”
Shoppers will be able to choose from a range of female authored fiction and non-fiction books, as well as create Rare Birds’ signature personalised bundles, which are made up of 3 personal picks from the store’s world of stories. In the months to come, Rare Birds Book Shop will also be home to a number of in-store events, including author readings, book clubs and intimate shopping evenings.
The book club you can’t read without, just got better.
Out of date Baileys liqueur, potato peelers and a mop and bucket are among the worst Christmas gifts consumers have received, as new Which? research reveals Londoners and younger generations were the most likely to give away Christmas gifts last year.
The consumer champion surveyed more than 2,000 members of the public in February 2020 on what they did with unwanted Christmas presents they received last year.
Around one in five (19%) admitted they had given away or sold one or more gifts they had received last Christmas.
Those from younger generations were most likely to give away presents. Which? found three in ten (28%) of those aged between 18 and 34 years old gave away or sold at least one present they received last year, compared to nearly one in five (17%) aged between 45 and 54 years, and one in 10 (12%) aged 55 years and over.
Londoners were also more likely to find a new home for their presents compared to the rest of the UK – a third (32%) of those from the capital said they gave away or sold disappointing gifts compared to the UK average of one in five (19%).
Which? found women were more likely than their male counterparts to give away or sell their presents – a quarter (24%) of women decided to find a new home for their disappointing presents last year compared to one in seven (15%) men.
The consumer champion also asked people about the worst Christmas gifts they have ever received. Among them was a carpet cleaner, a sleeve ironing board, used potato peelers and out of date Baileys Irish Cream liqueur – which was thankfully poured down the sink.
One former school cleaner told Which? she felt “very insulted” when she received a plastic bucket, mop and pink rubber gloves one Christmas. Another person was less than impressed when they received “Mr & Mrs” cushion covers from an ex-boyfriend.
Most retailers extend their return policy during the festive period, so if you’ve received a disappointing gift you may be able to exchange it for another item or a voucher if you have a gift receipt. However, customers should carefully consider whether to accept vouchers, as they could become worthless if the retailer goes under.
The buyer is often the only one who can request a refund or exchange, however, retailers may allow gift recipients to return gifts in exchange for a gift card, voucher or credit note so long as the item was marked as a gift at the time of purchase.
If you don’t have a gift receipt, you could consider donating your gift to charity or selling it on a secondhand marketplace such as eBay or musicMagpie.
Adam French, Which? Consumer Rights Expert, said:“Whether it is out of date booze or kitchen utensils, many of us have been left wondering how to get rid of an unwanted Christmas gift – and our research shows a fifth of people choose to give their presents away.
“We’d always advise requesting a gift receipt so the recipient has the option to exchange the present if they are disappointed.
“Often only the buyer can request a refund or exchange. But if the item was marked as a gift when ordered, the retailer’s returns policy may enable a recipient to return or exchange it.”
Which? advice on what to do with unwanted gifts is available here:
Profits from purchases will directly support people who have previously experienced homelessness
2020 will, for many, have been one of the toughest years of our lives, and for those who are currently experiencing homeless or those who have found themselves without a roof over their heads in the past, this Christmas could perhaps be one of their most challenging times.
Social enterprise Invisible Cities are inviting you to support them by purchasing from a carefully curated selection of unique gifts, available for sale via their website.
All profits from purchases will go directly towards supporting some of those most in need of support this winter:
Scotland Map (Unframed, £7 or Framed black, £12) –
This unique design of Scotland has been created exclusively for Invisible Cities, by their very own artist in residence – Nicola Boon! Full of intricate illustrations, this makes a great gift, on its own or framed.
City of Edinburgh Hand Drawn Illustrated Map Print (£15) –
Crammed with tiny details, this map displays many of the famous landmarks and is the perfect way to celebrate your local pride, as a souvenir of your time in Edinburgh or as a gift for a loved one. The map was also created for Invisible (Edinburgh), by Nicola Boon, a local artist based in the capital (Print comes unframed and signed by the artist).
Invisible Cities Kids Bundle (£12) –
This is THE perfect gift for the little people around you. Each kit includes: Invisible Cities Sticker Set with a map of the UK where you can stick them all, stickers of each of the guides, a set of 5 colouring sheets, each representing the Invisible Cities, a set of mini colouring pencils and a Scotland Memory Game for the whole family to enjoy!
Invisible Cities World Tour Subscription Box – Yearly Subscription (£105) –
Want your children to discover the world from the comfort of your home? This box is for you: with a different activity book each time, it has games, gifts and unique items to collect. Each box is themed on a different country and for each box purchased, Invisible Cities distribute free books, activities and games to children in temporary accommodation.
Zakia Moulaoui Guery, Founder & CEO of Invisible Cities CICcomments, “This has been such a tough year for so many people and we are doing everything that we can to support some people who may have been hit harder than others as a result of this pandemic.
“Through purchasing out gifts online, people can show they care for a loved one whilst also paying it forward and supporting those who really need it.”
Invisible Cities is a social enterprise that doesn’t believe in labels or stereotypes. They want to show that everyone has great potential.
They train people affected by homelessness to become walking tour guides of their own city and offer these alternative tours to tourists and locals.
Training focuses on confidence building, public speaking and customer service.
They partner with professional tour guides to build bespoke tours and practice their routes.
Sunday roast voted our favourite pleasurable pastime during pandemic
A compliment makes us smile more than gifts or flowers
We’re still smiling despite wearing face masks – and using our eyes to help us
IT’S the simple things in life that are keeping us smiling across Scotland in increasingly challenging times, according to new research by Specsavers, with the sound of the doorbell indicating a takeaway or other delivery most likely to bring a smile to our faces.
The Specsavers Smile Study has revealed that spending time with loved ones makes 92 per cent of us in Edinburgh smile more than anything else and getting together for a traditional family Sunday roast was cited as our favourite thing to do throughout the pandemic.
The study also revealed that receiving a smile – or a smize[3] – from someone else is what makes people smile most at the moment[4]. And despite face masks currently concealing our smiles, 55 per cent of us in Scotland still smile when wearing one, with almost half of respondents admitting that they are now expressing themselves more using their eyes because people can’t see their mouths.
Dr Carlos Crivelli, a leading psychologist and expert in the science of smiling at De Montfort University in Leicester, has reviewed the survey findings: ‘When you limit the opportunities to interact with others by imposing lockdowns and physical distancing restrictions, you can see the impact that it has on the usual tools that we use to interact.
‘The science of facial behaviour – why we smile and how we use smiles in social interaction – is fascinating. For example, we smile to bond or affiliate, when we would like to reward others, to reciprocate, or to keep the interaction going,’ explains Dr Crivelli.
‘Specsavers’ Smile Study found that respondents from Edinburgh perceive people smiling to be more cooperative (81%), friendlier (85%) and more attractive (74%), and our confidence increases when people smile at us (73%).’
While smiling is infectious, other small acts of kindness go a long way. The research revealed money and time are not essential to make someone smile – we are more likely to offer compliments or praise (43%), rather than giving flowers (7%) or gifts (14%). A quarter of us also admit that the most recent thing we have done to make someone else smile is to tell them that we love them.
When it comes to cheering ourselves up, in the absence of visiting friends or going to the pub, the top answers were calling friends or family, listening to music or watching a comedy show.
Encouraging us to keep on smiling as times look set to become even tougher are father and son, Martin and Roman Kemp, known for cheering up the nation on their new Sunday Best TV show.
Former Spandau Ballet musician and actor, Martin, says: ‘Staying in touch and speaking with people who make you smile helps you focus on your happiness and theirs and we all need that right now.
‘A smile is infectious and even though we’re all mostly hidden by masks at the moment, you get a rush from smiling that helps boost your spirits. And you can still see a smile in the eyes. They aren’t called the windows of the soul for nothing – they can reveal your feelings, your individuality and your personality.’
Reflecting the survey findings, Martin says there are certain things that are sure to bring a smile to his face: ‘There’s so much that makes me smile – good news especially when there’s so much bad news around, seeing other people smile and laugh – and the smell of good food!’
DJ and TV presenter, Roman, says: ‘For me, it’s watching Arsenal win and that’ll always put a big smile on my face! And I’m so lucky to do a job that means I have get to make people smile every morning. You can tell when someone is smiling when they call in, you really can hear it in their voice.
‘Working with my dad is a blessing too. We have the same sense of humour and laugh at the same silly things, so being able to spend so much time together over the last few challenging months has been great.’
Martin agrees: ‘Yeah, Roman makes me smile and laugh all the time – sometimes for the wrong reasons!
The survey was commissioned as part of Specsavers new Something to Smile About multi-channel campaign, which focuses on real people smiling with their eyes to the soundtrack of Michael Bublé singing When You’re Smiling, to celebrate the positivity and joy that a simple smile can bring when times are difficult.
