Living it Up in Pennywell!

A keen crew from Scotland’s 50+ health and wellbeing website has boarded a branded bus and went out on the road across Lothian to spread the word about livingitup.org.uk – and you can jump aboard at Pennywell shops tomorrow!

Living it Up is a digital service with health, care and wellbeing tools and information for people over the age of 50 in Scotland. It’s supported by NHS24 and the Scottish Government, and covers local activities and services in Lothian, Forth Valley, Highland, Moray and Western Isles.

Over the next two weeks, Lothian locals can check out the tour bus and get some Living it Up freebies, or step inside the bus for a website demo to find out how Living it Up can work for them.

The two-week tour began yesterday (Monday 5 October) outside Asda in Dunbar, followed by Tesco in Musselburgh and will run until Saturday 17 October. The latest dates are listed below, but more info will appear on Facebook @Livingitup_Scot

Denyse Aitken, Living it Up’s project manager for Lothian, explained how the tour came about: “We’re keen to spread the word about this great digital platform, so we thought that by taking it on tour we could guide people through live demos and explain what it can do for them, rather than relying on leaflets and things.

“We hired a bus, kitted it out with Living it Up gear and put computers and seats on board. We made a timetable of places to stop off at across Lothian – some because they’re popular places (like supermarkets) and some because popular events will be running at the same time – for example, next week we’ll be outside Hibernian football ground before a family match.”

Denyse added: “Most people have been happy for us to park-up and spread the word about Living it Up. We genuinely want to put ourselves in the limelight and boost awareness of our website and show people how it can really help them to enhance their lives.”

Living it Up Lothians ‘pit-stops’:

Thursday 8 October: Pennywell shops, EH4 4DP
Friday 9 October: Castle Street, Edinburgh
Tuesday 13 October: Gilmerton Community Centre (AM) and Moredun Library (PM)
Thursday 15 October: West Lothian Braid House
Friday 16 October: The Centre, Livingston
Saturday 17 October: Castle Street, Edinburgh (AM) and Hibernian FC, Easter Road stadium (PM).

Living it Up’s website has four strands: DISCOVER, SHINE, CONNECT and FLOURISH – all of which have different health and wellbeing themes and resources.

The FLOURISH section hosts experience guides. These are written by real people to shed light on living with specific conditions – and to highlight coping mechanisms for life experiences.

In the SHINE section, there’s inspiration to re-ignite old hobbies or skills, perhaps in a voluntary capacity.

The website’s CONNECT area teaches people about the latest technology, with step-by-step-instructions. It also inspires some ‘upskilling’ by highlighting local classes for like-minded people.

By clicking on the DISCOVER section, users can type in their local area and find activities and resources relevant to them within reach.

Adult education classes at Craigroyston: places available

It’s never too late to learn something new!

Craigroyston Community High School Adult Learning

• Creative Writing Wednesday 6.30-8.30pm
• Woodwork Friday 2-4pm
• Yoga Tuesday / Thursday 10-11.30am
• Pottery Friday 2-4pm
• Genealogy Thursday 2-4pm
• Photography Wednesday 2-4pm
• Guid for a Laugh (Scottish Humour) Tuesdays 2-4pm
• History of Scottish Music Fridays 10am-12 noon
• Computing Monday nights / Tuesday mornings

Book now for classes starting this week – ring 477 7801

or pop in to the school

or book at www.joininedinburgh.org

Capture Lauriston Castle with the Edinburgh Sketcher

Families will be invited to get sketching this summer with lessons from the Capital’s finest when the Edinburgh Sketcher takes residence at Lauriston Castle.

Mark Kirkham, who regularly entertains readers of his blog with his drawings of the city, will offer two sketching masterclasses in the beautiful grounds of the 16th century castle situated on the banks of Cramond.

As part of Lauriston Castle’s packed Spring/Summer programme of arts and crafts, lectures, theatre and events, budding artists of all ages and levels will get the chance to learn Mark’s trademark ‘speed sketching’ skills. This quick method of doodling allows artists to capture images almost as quickly as a photograph. Visitors will sketch in and around the Castle grounds, including the tranquil Japanese Gardens and inside the old castle kitchen, using pens and watercolour before working on a final sketch to take home.Councillor Richard Lewis, Edinburgh’s Culture and Sport Convener, said: “From popular Edinburgh cityscapes to modes of transport, it is difficult to think of an iconic place or object in the city that hasn’t been captured by Mark’s keen eye for detail.

“These classes will be an opportunity to get sketching in one of Edinburgh’s most beautiful settings and get working with a local artist. What a fantastic family day out this summer.”

Originally from Lancashire and the son of a painter father and photographer mother, Mark has called Edinburgh home for the last 15 years. He gives his top three pieces of advice to budding sketchers: “First is get sketching! You can plan and plan but in the end you just need to get out there and do it. Hopefully these workshops at Lauriston Castle will tempt you to do just that.

“Tip two is don’t be shy. You can feel very self aware pulling out a pen and pad in a busy street but don’t let that put you off. Once I begin I get into the zone and usually forget people are passing by.

“My third piece of advice is to be prepared. I always carry the bare essentials, but sometimes I have resorted to sketching on napkins and receipts. I promise these classes at Lauriston Castle will be well stocked, all visitors need to do is book their ticket and turn up on the day.”

Getting crafty in Muirhouse

Muirhouse Community Centre Social Crafting Club

It can be said that crafters can never have enough crafting stash or time – that is a true statement for many crafters. It can also be said that crafting can be an isolating hobby because it is easy to start a project and completely lose hours at a time in the blink of an eye. Again something that crafters will recognise as true (writes club organiser Eileen Carr).

Here at Muirhouse Community Centre’s Social Crafting Club we aim to bring crafters together in an informal way to socialise with other crafters, to craft, learn new skills, discuss crafting (amongst other things), and build our confidence in trying new craft ideas and equipment.

The Craft Club is open from 11am-3pm on a Friday in the Youth Wing – you can stay for the 4 hours or even just pop in for ½ hour. We ask that people donate £1 a week towards the tea (biscuit/cake) fund and any extra money raised is used for craft equipment and ‘stash’ for communal use.

Although we do have a supply of craft ‘stash’ and equipment it is usual for people to bring their own craft projects and work on them whilst chatting to the other crafters, enjoying a cup of tea and demonstrating their skills. There is always something new to learn whether it’s a technique or how to use a piece of equipment.

Between us we are confident (in varying degrees) in card making, scrap booking, stamping, die-cutting, iris folding, colouring (using aqua markers/alcohol pens/spectrum noir pens and pencils), plaque decorating, general paper-crafting, book folding, knitting, crochet, jewellery making, beading, scented crafts, sewing and cross stitch and we are happy to help out where we can – as well as learning new things ourselves.

Come and join us – all welcome!

Where there’s a will … good news for genealogists

41 million wills can now be searched online

The wills of Charles Dickens, Winston Churchill, Alan Turing and Beatrix Potter are among millions which have been made accessible to the public through a searchable online database.

The government’s archive of 41 million wills dates back to 1858 and will enable people to find out more about their family histories, as well as researching the last wishes of some of the most influential people of the 19th and 20th century.

As a result of the innovative project carried out by HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and storage and information management company Iron Mountain, people will be able to connect to history from the comfort of their own home and look up the wills of people like:

mathematician Alan Turing whose life story has been told in the film The Imitation Game
Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist author Charles Dickens
Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill
Peter Rabbit creator Beatrix Potter

Courts Minister Shailesh Vara said: “This fascinating project provides us with insights into the ordinary and extraordinary people who helped shape this country, and the rest of the world.

It is a fantastic resource not only for family historians but also for anyone with an interest in social history or famous figures. I am delighted that HMCTS are leading the way in innovation and are helping deliver a more modern and efficient public service.”

Victorian novelist Charles Dickens, creator of some of the world’s most well-known fictional characters including Christmas favourite Ebenezer Scrooge, left a handwritten will in an attractive cursive script.

The writer George Orwell, who died in 1950, insisted that all his notes, manuscripts, pamphlets, press cuttings and other documents be preserved; while the economist John Keynes, who died in 1946, wanted most of his personal papers and unpublished manuscripts to be destroyed.

Alan Turing, the mathematician and cryptologist who cracked the Enigma code died of cyanide poisoning in 1954 aged just 41. Turing left a brief will sharing his possessions equally among a cherished group of colleagues and his mother.

The creator of Winnie the Pooh, A. A. Milne, who died in 1956, left a share of future royalties and copyright to his favourite London club and Westminster School, while the creator of Peter Rabbit, Beatrix Potter, left a long and generous will that reflected her passion for natural science and conservation.

Phil Greenwood, Commercial Director at Iron Mountain said: “The completion of this phase of our work with HMCTS marks a significant milestone in a project to help deliver services online.

“The size of the archive is both humbling and impressive. Every will among the 41 million is a precious historical document that can provide remarkable insight into generations of lives lived and lost. The wills offer us a unique glimpse of individuals in their roles as father or mother, friend or colleague. The online availability of the wills is a welcome opportunity for anyone wishing to add detail to their family history.

“It gives the general public, here and overseas, the chance to get closer to their ancestors. The ease of access enabled by technology is matched by careful preservation of the original paper records. These are and will remain in trust for future generations in a secure, temperature-controlled environment.”

The availability of the database of 41 million wills follows the first stage of opening up the archive when soldiers’ wills were made available in 2013.

Since then there have been more than 2 million searches of the site showing people’s considerable interest in family history. The latest phase in the programme means that people can now request a specific will online and receive an electronic copy within 10 working days.

Creating the wills archive is part of ongoing work to transform HMCTS to make it a modern, efficient, digital service which is easy for the public to access.

Members of the public can order scanned copies of the wills for a fee of £10