nostalgia – The NEN – North Edinburgh News

Re-igniting magical memories with nostalgia at Six by Nico

Running for six weeks, this latest menu provides nostalgic feelings to transport you back to a simpler time.
The menu will run in both of the capital’s Six by Nico locations including Queensferry Street and Hanover Street from 16 December 2024 to 26 January 2025 – with bookings starting at £44 per person

Six by Nico, the dynamic dining experience in Edinburgh known for its six-week tasting menu rotation, has unveiled its latest six-course concept, transporting guests back to the good old days with déjà vu food that serves a taste of forgotten flavours with every bite.

Taking inspiration from CEO and Founder Nico Simeone’s childhood favourites and his families festive traditions, the latest concept menu is full of creative twists on old school classic flavours that will never fade.

The latest menu will run at Six by Nico’s city centre locations including Queensferry Street and Hanover Street, for six weeks from 16th December 2024 to 26th January 2025, using timeless tastes to help guests forget about being an adult for a while.

The menu includes the following dishes:

Snacks – Space Raiders

Crushed Baby Potato, Pickled Onion, Garlic Emulsion & Fermented Melon Hot Sauce

Course 1 – Blockbuster

Aged Comte, Hazelnut & Serrano Ham “Taco”

Course 2 – Super Mario

Roasted Maitake, Smoked Celeriac, Cep Gnocchi, Lovage, Truffle & Sherry Cappuccino

Course 3 – “Let’s go camping!”

Smoked Pork Sausage, Aged Belly, Red Pepper Romesco, Nasturtium & Almond

Course 4 – Fish Fingers

Barbecue Coley, Miso Carrot & Lobster Emulsion served with Crispy Fish Finger, Shellfish Bisque & Salted Kumquat

Course 5 – Guess Who?

A classic game inspires our dish, but can you Guess Who?

Course 6 – “SNOWBALL FIIIGHT!!”

Coconut Parfait, Lime Gel, 55% Chocolate, Yoghurt “Snow”

Vegetarian

Snacks – Space Raiders

Crushed Baby Potato, Pickled Onion, Garlic Emulsion & Fermented Melon Hot Sauce

Course 1 – Blockbuster

Aged Comte, Hazelnut & Quince “Taco”

Course 2 – Super Mario

Roasted Maitake, Smoked Celeriac, Cep Gnocchi, Lovage, Truffle & Sherry Cappuccino

Course 3 – “Let’s go camping!”

Smoked Potato, Red Pepper Romesco, Nasturtium & Almond

Course 4 – Fish Fingers

Barbecue Hispi Cabbage, Miso Carrot & Vadouvan served with Smoked Onion Foam & Carrot Cromesquis

Course 5 – Guess Who?

A classic game inspires our dish, but can you Guess Who?

Course 6 – “SNOWBALL FIIIGHT!!”

Coconut Parfait, Lime Gel, 55% Chocolate, Yoghurt “Snow”

For £44, guests will be able to experience the old school flavours of Nostalgia, with a matching wine pairing from £30 per person or cocktail pairing from £40 per person. Start the experience with the snack selection for only £10 per person.

Nico Simeone, CEO and Founder of the Six Company, commented: “Our final menu of 2024 and the first of 2025 pays homage to nostalgia, inviting guests on a journey through flavours that evoke personal memories.

“Inspired by reflections on my childhood, it draws on moments from an era spent watching films, playing games, or enjoying time outdoors with friends.

“While New Year often focuses on resolutions, this menu celebrates traditions and revisits the timeless magic of Christmas through familiar and comforting tastes.”

Christmas rituals can provide comfort during tough times, says BPS

With Christmas just around the corner and concerns about the cost of living and affordability of the festive season being a worry for many, the rituals associated with Christmas can still provide psychological comfort and joy, says the British Psychological Society.

From decorating the tree, to attending a carol service or listening to Christmas songs, the activities and milestones we associate with the festive period can help lift spirits and provide solace when times are tough.

“Christmas comes once a year, but it comes every year – that becomes a ritual in itself”, says chartered psychologist Dr Audrey Tang, in considering the psychological factors behind the rituals that can help bring the feel-good factor at Christmas.

“We know Christmas can be a difficult and challenging time for people for many reasons, but for others, Christmas can evoke warmth and joy like no other time of year.”

Familiarity and nostalgia brings comfort

Nostalgia and looking back at something with affection can generate feelings of warmth and comfort.

“In uncertain times, like the cost of living crisis, people seek something they can predict or feel in control over – for example if we know a film has a happy ending or because we’ve done something before and we know we enjoy it”, says Dr Tang.

Psychological evidence has shown that people engaging in nostalgic emotion[i] report higher levels of feeling that they belong, and a higher continuity between their past and present, even describing their lives as more meaningful. This also correlated with higher levels of self-reported self-esteem and positive mood.

Christmas offers an element of hope and magic

Christmas films are effective at capturing an element of hope and magic with their storytelling, and watching them can often bring positive emotion to the surface.

“These feelings may also connect us with an experience we have loved in the past, or trigger exciting thoughts of what is to come”, says Dr Tang.

“Sentiment enables us to focus on feelings rather than thoughts, and in a world that is often dominated with rationale and reason, it is healthy to have the opportunity to sit for a moment with our feelings.”

Christmas gives us permission to feel child-like

From switching on the Christmas tree lights to the glee of unwrapping presents, Christmas can unlock childlike feelings and give us permission to have fun and celebrate, just as we might have when we were young. For some, permission to start their Christmas rituals begins with external events:

“Where some people ask if November 6 is too early to put up the Christmas decorations, others will mark the start of the festive season by seeing the John Lewis ad on TV, almost as if it gives them permission to begin our celebrations”, says Dr Tang.

“The funny thing about human nature here is that we are seeking permission at all. These ‘rules’ are so ingrained into our upbringing, and while perhaps we can choose to mark our seasons by external events, we also need to remember that we are living our lives for ourselves not for the judgment of others.”

We see the people we love

Psychologists say relationships with others are as important to human existence as food and water.[ii] “At Christmas we get to see the people we care about. If we have been feeling lonely, we may also feel “skin hungry”, but know we will have an opportunity to give and receive a hug”, says Dr Tang.

We practice the “love language” of gifting

Gifts are a way of expressing and receiving love. However the cost of living crisis can make this expression of love fraught rather than feel-good.

“Giving and receiving gifts is a ritual that can bring joy, but it’s important to do so within your own means, and those of your loved ones. Perhaps set a limit on the amount everyone will spend, make presents or think of a different contribution you could make, like making a dish for a Christmas meal, or create something to entertain”, suggest Dr Tang.

“The act of being able to do something to make a difference to others is a huge contributing factor to wellbeing.”

Edinburgh piper treats care home residents to favourite Scottish airs

A LOCAL Edinburgh bagpiper has been moving care home residents to tears with nostalgic melodies.

The musical visit from piper, Matt McKelvie, was organised by dedicated care home staff at Mansfield Care’s Pine Villa in Loanhead after putting up a notice on social media.

Playing traditional Scottish melodies such as ‘Scotland the Brave’ and ‘Highland Cathedral’, the young Edinburgh piper is now returning for his second gig.

Matt McKelvie said: “I saw that Pine Villa was looking for a musician on social media and thought playing the bagpipes for care home residents sounded great.

“As things are getting back to normal and people start to socialise more, I think events like these are so important, as they brighten up residents’ days and they get to enjoy something a bit different from their usual routine.

“It was a lovely event, everyone really enjoyed themselves! Residents were dancing away and laughing, it was great.

“One of the residents used to be a minister for the Church of Scotland, so he asked me to play ‘Amazing Grace’ for him. It was truly heart-warming seeing his face light up when he heard the song.”

At 8 years old, Matt started private lessons at the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming at Redford Barracks.

His early passion for music was ignited by his grandfather who used to be a drum major for ‘The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders’ and has been a leading role model and inspiration.

The young bagpiper added: “The best part for me was the way I made the residents feel, seeing them enjoy my playing truly makes me happy.

“I mainly have been playing at weddings and funerals, but after visiting Pine Villa, I am hoping that will change soon and I can play at a broader variety of events and celebrations.

Originally a hobby Matt is seeking to play full-time after he completes his higher education at Glasgow National Piping Centre.

Denise Williams, manager at Pine Villa, said: “Our residents had an amazing time listening to Matt and it was a delight to see them enjoying themselves and are looking forward to having him play again.”

Operating 11 care homes across Edinburgh Borders and west of Scotland, Mansfield care is designed to provide bespoke care to an exceptional standard with state-of-the-art facilities.

Specialising in unique small, friendly residential / nursing care homes, staff work under an ethos that is inspired by the kind of care we would wish for ourselves in later life – supportive, friendly, bright, positive, empathetic, respectful and homely.

The highly trained staff ensure a commitment and continuity of care to each resident with a dedicated home manager and wellbeing coordinator to plan activities according to resident’s wishes.

To find out more about Mansfield Care visit, https://www.mansfieldcare.co.uk/

A Nostalgic Nation?

Brits’ favourite ways to spend time with their Grandparents

– Nostalgic conversations are the nation’s favourite way to spend time with their grandparents
– Research reveals top 10 activities include baking, gardening, and playing board games
– Psychotherapist, Andre Radmall, explains why it’s so important for grandchildren to spend time with their grandparents.

Reminiscing about the past (32%) is the nation’s favourite activity to do with their grandparents, new research has revealed.

The study was conducted by Gala Bingo, the nation’s favourite bingo site, to launch its new Paddle Pals TV advert, which celebrates the bond we have with our grandparents.

Playing card games (31%), looking through old photographs (30%) and baking (30%) were some of the other ways in which we cherish time with Grandma and Grandad.

Men and women tend to have different favourites, however, as while talking about history is the favourite grandparent pastime for men, baking takes the top spot for women. Almost two in five (38%) women say baking is their favourite thing to do with their grandparents, compared to just 21% of men. Yet men and women equally enjoy spending time planting and pruning in the garden (26%) with their elders.

Interestingly, age plays a part in which activities are most enjoyed. Cooking alongside their grandparents is a popular activity for both the 25-34 (41%) and the 35-44 (33%) age groups. For the younger generation (18-24), taking the dog for a walk with their grandparents topped the list at 31%.

Overall, the nation’s top 10 favourite activities to do with their grandparents are:

Talking about the past – 32%
Playing cards – 31%
Going through old photos – 30%
Baking – 30%
Cooking – 28%
Playing board games – 28%
Gardening – 26%
Walking – 23%
Going to the park – 23%
Doing puzzles, crosswords, word games –20%

Dog walking (15%), taking a trip to the beach (15%) and puzzling over jigsaws (19%) were among the other wholesome activities that were mentioned but didn’t quite make the top 10.

Sporty activities such as swimming (4%) and bowling (3%) were some of the least popular endeavours.

There is also variation across the UK. Playing board games with the grandparents is the preferred activity for people in Bristol and Edinburgh (both 37%) whereas taking a stroll around a park is the favourite thing to do for those in Liverpool (31%) and Sheffield (33%).

Psychotherapist and author Andre Radmall said: “The relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren is immensely important. Spending time with each other provides innumerable benefits for both.

“Grandchildren can learn from the experience of grandparents, passing on their wisdom through to adulthood which can be a rewarding and meaningful experience for grandchildren.”

Karina Adrian, head of brand marketing at Gala Bingo, said: “It’s really great to see the nations appreciation and love we share for our grandparents.

“There are so many shared experiences between a grandparent and their grandchild, with this research reflecting just how much of a positive impact the bonds with our grandparents can have on us as adults.

“We hope this research has inspired people to spend some quality time with their grandparents this week and reminisce on good times spent with them.”

From paddling to picnics: the nation’s 10 best memories of childhood UK holidays

Eating fish and chips at the beach is Brits’ top memory from childhood holidays
Paddling in the sea, amusement arcades and caravan stays also make the top five
Gen Z (18-24s) is the most nostalgic for caravan holidays

As staycations boom and Brits rediscover the joys of a holiday on home soil, the nation’s favourite childhood memories of UK breaks have been revealed.

The study, conducted by Park Leisure, the luxury holiday park operator, asked 2,000 adults for their best memories of domestic holidays and eating fish and chips at the beach took the top spot. More than half (52%) of Brits said a seaside trip to a chippy was a happy memory from their youth.

Many Brits remember coastal trips fondly, as paddling in the sea (47%) and exploring rock pools (29%) also rank highly. Other beach activities, such as going crabbing (16%) or having a ride on a donkey (14%), also brought back good memories.

For lots of families, childhood holidays often involved staying in a caravan, and almost two in five (39%) Brits are nostalgic for this style of vacation.

Interestingly, out of all the age groups, Gen Z (18-24-year-olds) rank caravan holidays the highest amongst their childhood memories (third favourite), showing how their appeal remains as great as ever.

The nation’s top 10 favourite memories of holidays in the UK are:

1. Eating fish and chips at the beach – 52%

2. Paddling in the sea – 47%

3. Going for walks – 44%

4. Playing in amusement arcades at the seaside – 41%

5. Staying in a caravan – 39%

6. Picnics – 32%

7. Exploring rock pools – 29%

8. Playing games with family and friends – 26%

9. Making new friends – 20%

10. Barbeques – 17%

Favourite holiday memories vary across the UK, with people in some cities recalling times where they learnt new skills.

More than one in seven (15%) Mancunians learnt to ride a bike while on a UK break, slightly more than Londoners (13%), while people in Cardiff (19%) and Sheffield (16%) remember being taught how to fly a kite.

Lisa Williams, director of marketing and holiday sales at Park Leisure, said: “Many of us look back on childhood holidays with great affection, and it’s been lovely reflecting on all these happy memories.

“It was great to see that every generation had similar favourites, which shows that traditional holiday activities, like rock pooling, walking and picnics, are still going strong!

“Many people will have explored new corners of the UK over the last year or so, and hopefully families will now continue to holiday on our own shores, so the next generations can enjoy similar memories in the future.”

If you’re planning a holiday in the UK, visit: https://www.parkleisure.co.uk/

Happy Christmas from the UK – here’s some fresh air‏!

‏ ‏

‏Bottles of fresh air from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales are being marketed as the perfect gift for homesick Britons living overseas this Christmas.‏‏ ‏

‏Relocation website‏ ‏My Baggage‏ ‏is offering‏ ‏fresh air bottled from the four home nations‏ ‏for £25 each and claim the bottles are already being snapped up by families with loved ones living abroad – in a bid to remind them of home and possibly tempt them back to our shores.‏

‏The company is also offering special limited edition bottles featuring air captured on the London Underground and air from the inside of a busy Norfolk fish and chip shop.‏‏ ‏

‏Each ‏ ‏500ml ‏ ‏of air comes with a cork stopper so the owners can open for a moment, take a breath and quickly close again, allowing many weeks or even months of use.‏‏ ‏

‏My Baggage‏ is also willing to fulfil special customer requests by bottling air from any UK location, and have already fulfilled an order of air from the misty summit of Snowdonia for a homesick Welshman living down under.‏‏ ‏

‏The company, which helps thousands of Britons to relocate to other countries each year, claims their bottled air offers Brits living overseas the chance to reconnect with home by purchasing authentic UK air to remind them of home.‏

‏They decided to launch their bottled air range following research which linked our sense of smell to emotional memories.‏‏ ‏

‏They said that while many UK residents hanker after a new exciting life in another country relocating leaves some pining for home.‏‏ ‏

‏The hope is that a bottle of air from one of our home nations will ease homesickness and make settling into a new country that much easier.‏‏ ‏

‏But they also said they were seeing orders for the bottles as Christmas gifts from parents keen to tempt their sons and daughters back to the UK.‏

‏ ‏A spokesman said: “Many Brits have a dream of moving abroad and the exciting thing about our work at My Baggage‏ ‏is that we help make those dreams come true.‏‏ ‏

‏“But we know from our customer feedback that a small but significant number of Britons who move abroad do experience homesickness.‏‏ ‏

‏“We wanted to help them reconnect with home and we know from published research that our sense of smell is very evocative when it comes to emotions.‏‏ ‏

‏“By allowing recipients to take a deep breath of the air from their home country we’re hoping to ease homesickness and help them settle into their new life, wherever that may be.‏‏ ‏

‏“At the moment the majority of orders are coming from parents and loved ones of Brits who have moved abroad. A bottle of fresh air from home is the perfect gift for a family member who is living overseas – and it might even entice them back home.‏‏ ‏

‏“The smells Britons miss might surprise some. Orders for the fish and chip shop air have been strong while the London Underground air is one of our best sellers and seems to be popular with ex-commuters who perhaps want to remind themselves of what they’re missing.”‏‏ ‏

‏My Baggage have created a special product page on their website where visitors can find out all about the air. Please visit: ‏https://www.mybaggage.com/shipping/air/

Nostalgia’s worth £ millions

Investing in THESE Toys Can Make You a Millionaire

Hot Wheels have the most monthly searches at 894,500, with the most valuable car said to be worth £134,000.

Trading Cards have sold for the highest amount, with a Honus Wagner 1909 card being sold for £2.9m.
Disney VHS Tapes have the least amount of monthly searches and have sold on eBay for £11,000.

Over the past 6 months, we’ve all had a lot of extra time on our hands and have been using that time to clear out all the nooks and crannies in our homes that have been untouched for years.

These clear outs have filled our hearts with nostalgia, as we go through old photo albums, clothes that no longer fit and childhood toys.

Although toys might not seem likely contenders for items to invest in, if you are able to come across the right ones and keep them in perfect condition, you may have hit the jackpot!

The experts at OnBuy’s Toy Department decided to look into some of the most valuable toys and games that could earn you a fortune.

ITEM	NUMBER OF MONTHLY SEARCHES	HIGHEST RECORDED AMOUNT SOLD FOR ($/£)
Comic Book	284,200	$3.2m / £2.4m
Trading Cards	20,800	$3.8m / £2.9m
Toy Cars (Hot Wheels)	894,500	$175k / £134k
Dolls (Barbie)	675,000	$303k / £231k
Beanie Babies	153,800	$600k / £458k
Board Games	560,900	$147k / £112k
Disney VHS Tapes	6,500	$15k / £11k

The Highlights

With a monthly search of 20,800, the highest amount recorded for the purchase of a Trading Card is said to be £2.9m ($3.8m) for a Honus Wagner 1909 card.

Other specific Trading Cards of value include Magic: The Gathering Alpha Black Lotus card, Yu-Gi-Oh Black Luster Soldier card and a Pokémon Holographic First Edition Charizard.

Having the fourth most monthly searches with 284,200, Comic Books are big in the investing game too.

In 2014, a first edition of Action Comics from 1938 sold on Ebay for just over £2.4m when the bidder had only put it up for 99 cents (76p). Other comics of similar value include Detective Comics, Amazing Fantasy and Marvel.

With 153,800 monthly searches, the most expensive sold bundle of Beanie Babies in the world, that went for £458,000 ($600,000), was a large Wallace, two regular sized Wallace’s, Cashew and Huggy.

Other valuable Beanie Babies include Rainbow, Valentino, Princess the Bear, Bubbles and Piccadilly Attic.

Having the second most monthly searches at 675,000, the most expensive Barbie doll ever sold was the Stefani Canturi doll, which went for £231,000 in 2010 due to the necklace the doll sported having been designed by Stefano Canturi and featured emerald-cut pink diamonds.

Other dolls worth value include Original Barbie (1959), Marie Antoinette Barbie and Pink Jubilee Barbie.

Hot Wheels cars have the highest number of monthly searches standing at 894,500 and one of the rarer finds is said to be worth £134,000 the 1969 pink, rear-loading Beach Bomb.

Currently standing at 560,900 monthly searches, the original Monopoly game made in 1933 was sold at an auction for £112,000.

Lastly with the least amount of monthly searches, the most successful Disney VHS tape was sold on eBay for £11,478 ($15,000) – it was the Beauty and the Beast Black Diamond.