Residents at Edinburgh home welcome bumper weekend of celebrations
AN Edinburgh care home is celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in style with a jam-packed events calendar – including a visit from a local DJ and themed cocktails.
To mark the occasion, residents at Cramond Residence will be treated to a themed party with family, friends and members of the community invited to a grand garden celebration.
The event will see a DJ and singer take to the stage throughout the afternoon, with an abundance of food and drink stalls, themed cocktails, home-baked delicacies and weather permitting, a garden picnic.
In the lead up to the main event, residents have been making Union Jack hand held flags and will enjoy a Jubilee themed quiz coordinated by the home’s dedicated Lifestyle Coordinators. Residents will also be invited to help decorate the home with banners and bunting ahead of the event.
Client Liaison Manager and registered nurse at the 74-bedroom home, Christian Daraio, said: “The majority of our residents can remember exactly where they were when the Queen was coronated 70 years ago in 1953.
“It’ll be a special memory for not just out residents but staff and the wider community which is why we wanted to mark it properly – what better way to raise a toast to the Queen than with a party?
“We strive to make sure that our calendar of activities provides something for everyone, giving our residents endless possibilities to enjoy all the things they want to do on their own terms.”
The celebrations will coincide the launch of Cramond Residence’s Garden room – an area that will allow residents to spend time in the fresh air and surrounding nature whilst also socialising with others.
Christian added: “The garden room will be a great addition to the home’s existing high-end facilities and can be enjoyed by our residents for the first time as part of the celebrations this weekend. Fingers crossed the sun will be shining!”
A tombola and raffle will also take place on the day to raise funds for CHAS and Downs Syndrome Scotland.
Alison Newton, Operations Manager at Cramond Residence, said: “The Jubilee party will consist of a number of family-friendly activities, including face painting, a ‘pin the jewel on the crown’ and even a DJ. On arrival, kids will also receive a Jubilee goody bag.
“We have staff volunteering to come in and help on the day – even though they should be on their days-off – which we’re really grateful for!
“It’s shaping up to be a really great event and we’re delighted to be able to welcome family members and the local community back into the home after socialising was limited for the last two years”.
Established in 2018 at a cost of £8m and spread across three floors, Cramond Residence provides a range of activities specially designed to give residents a richer and more satisfying life, with specialist facilities and trained staff on hand to provide support & relief.
Asides from its tailored activity programme, the home also provides bespoke physiotherapy sessions with boutique experts, as well as specialist dementia care which is delivered in an environment that combines luxury hotel living with the reassuring feeling of being in your own home.
Cramond Residence offers high quality care for up to 74 residents offering a small-group living concept in nine houses, with all residents enjoying an exceptional range of amenities and activities, delicious food and bespoke care from a highly-trained team.
As millions plan their jubilee parties, research reveals the average Briton has not cleaned their grill in 8 months
A new study has revealed as many as six in ten of us are planning to have friends and family over for a BBQ this Bank Holiday weekend – yet many are unaware that guests could end up with food poisoning, due to poor hygiene and dirty equipment.
38 per cent of Brits admit the grill on their BBQ is dirty, with almost a fifth (19 per cent) describing it as absolutely filthy – yet one in ten (11 per cent) have no plans to clean it before they use it next.
In fact on average, it’s been eight months since Brits took the grill off the BBQ and gave it a good clean, despite Britons cleaning their indoor oven every six and a half weeks on average.
16 per cent of the 1,500 Britons polled admit they’ve left the BBQ dirty over winter and then instead of cleaning it as recommended, have simply wiped at the mould or leftover burnt bits before starting to cook.
One in ten (12 per cent) admit the cleanliness of their BBQ equipment hasn’t been given a second thought, despite the Food Standard Agency advising that warm weather and outdoor cooking create the perfect storm for food poisoning.
GP and TV doctor, Dr Sarah Jarvis, comments:“When the sun is shining there’s nothing better than firing up the BBQ with family and friends, but food poisoning can easily become an unwelcome guest.
“Leaving grills unwashed could lead to harmful bacteria such as campylobacter, salmonella, listeria and some types of E. coli to form so it’s imperative to make sure that you clean down your BBQ each time you use it.
“Even if you’ve used your grill recently, it’s good hygiene practice to clean and dry your grill regularly before every time you use it. We all know that barbecued food can be a source of food poisoning – that’s why it’s so important to store it in the fridge until just before cooking, keep raw meat away from other foods and consider cooking pork and chicken in the oven first, to ensure they’re cooked right through. But if you’ve cleaned your hands and then put the food onto a dirty barbecue, you can completely defeat the object.”
When it comes to the reasons why people put off cleaning the grill on their BBQ, 34 per cent admit it takes so long, while 34 per cent say it’s a total nightmare cleaning between all the bars.
31 per cent claim it’s the messiest household task, while 27 per cent hate it so much that they describe it as the worst job ever. Almost a fifth polled confessed to having thrown a BBQ away and buying a new one instead of cleaning it.
The research by Kärcher further reveals that a third of the nation admits they have no idea what the temperature of their BBQ should be before they begin cooking – despite a high temperature being essential for killing off bacteria. One in ten admit they’ve often undercooked sausages and burgers, while eight per cent are guilty of undercooking chicken.
And food hygiene standards drop even lower when it comes to preparing a typical British BBQ, with over a quarter (26 per cent) confessing to leaving food that needs to be kept cool – like butter, mayo and cheese, to bake in the sun all afternoon.
14 per cent don’t wash their hands after putting raw meat on the grill and cook their veggie and vegan dishes in the same spot they used for meat products. More than one in ten (12 per cent) have kept tongs or accessories stored on the BBQ without ever washing them.
So it’s no surprise that almost a fifth of Britons (18 per cent) have been unlucky and suffered from food poisoning at a BBQ – whether at a friend or family’s house or at their own. One in two Brits (51 per cent) think many people are completely unaware of the potential health dangers of not BBQing safely.
However, 80 per cent say they would be racked with guilt if they made one of their guests ill – although 15 per cent claim that “these things happen”.
Harry Turner, Product Manager atKärcherwho commissioned the poll, said: “We know that cleaning the BBQ is never anyone’s favourite task however, we were surprised that so many Brits were unaware of the health dangers that can come from leaving their grills grimy.
“We wanted to put together this handy guide to help the nation clean their BBQs as quickly as possible so they can get on with enjoying the bank holiday weekend.”
The research also reveals that over a quarter of couples (27 per cent) fall out over the BBQ, with nine per cent admitting to bickering about it all the time. One third admit these rows are about who should be manning the BBQ, while 31 per cent clash around how much time they are taking to cook.
Three in ten fall out over who should clean the grill once guests have left, while 29 per cent can’t resist having a dig at their other half about how much of a mess they’re making.
To help the nation make light work of cleaning their BBQ and avoid potential health hazards over the Platinum Jubilee Weekend, Harry and Dr Sarah Jarvis have put together their top tips to make light work of cleaning the BBQ:
Up the pressure – Once you’ve emptied the leftover charcoal ash from your BBQ, use a pressure washer to spray it down using sweeping motions. When using a Kärcher pressure washer choose the vario lance and set it to a medium – this should remove any ash and sticky substances leftover at the bottom. Set your grills up against a flat surface, like a sturdy wally and turn the pressure up to hard to dislodge any stubborn sticky leftovers. Give the BBQ a final rinse down, working from top to bottom ensuring water doesn’t get trapped, to get the best results. Sarah says, “this is such a fast way of effectively cleaning a BBQ, you can get it done in under ten minutes and leave it to dry in the sunshine.”
Get steamy – For an intense deep clean use a steam cleaner on the grill, such as Kärcher’s SC 2 Easyfix – this also has the added benefit of getting rid of any bacteria. Sarah says: “Steam cleaners are such a versatile piece of equipment to keep around the house. They make light work of grease, and dirt, delivering deep cleaning results with no chemicals or scrubbing. They also penetrate into nooks and crannies in barbecues that cloths and brushes won’t reach. Kärcher’s steam cleaners are independently tested and proven to kill 99.99% of bacteria, making them perfect for cleaning both inside and outside the home.”
Grease up – Use sunflower oil every time you cook to prevent burnt food from getting stuck on the BBQ. Once finished cooking and rub vegetable oil on the grills to prevent them from going rusty. Sarah says: “This is one of my tried and trusted hacks, and it works every time.”
Try a household remedy – Don’t let leftover beer from Jubilee celebrations go to waste, pour it onto the grill while it’s still warm and tackle with a wire brush for sparkling results. If you don’t have stainless steel cleaner, try using white vinegar. Use a left-over spray bottle and fill it with half white vinegar, and half water. Spray it all over the grill, wait 5 minutes, then wipe it off with a clean, dry cloth. This also works well to get the outside of your BBQ shining.
Don’t forget to cover up – Now that you’ve got your BBQ looking spotless keep it covered throughout the summer to reduce cleaning time before each use.
Kärcher pressure washers are currently available with up to £100 off and customers can claim up to an additional £50 cashback on selected models.
QAVS recognition for Edinburgh’s Care Van volunteers
Those who have provided community support and empowered others receive highest number of awards
Awardees include volunteers working in food banks, hospices and fundraising
The highest award given to local volunteer groups, The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, is being awarded to 244 organisations across the UK today in recognition of their outstanding community service.
Among them is Edinburgh’s Care Van volunteers, a project run by Edinburgh City Mission in partnership with Bethany Christian Trust and 40 local churches.
The van is an important source of care and support for people who are homeless and vulnerable in the capital.
Relying on volunteers, it goes out almost every day of the year providing soup, food, hot drinks, blankets and clothes, friendship, encouragement and advice to up to 60 people a night who are rough sleeping or housed in homeless B&B accommodation by Edinburgh Council.
Edinburgh City Mission co-ordinates rotas for over 40 teams that are drawn from local churches across the Lothians and includes over 750 volunteers.
Last year organisers celebrated 30 years since the Care Van first took to the streets of Edinburgh to provide food and comfort to people in need. Throughout Edinburgh’s Covid-19 lockdown, the evening and lunchtime teams have served over 20,000 meals.
Charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland receive the prestigious award for their volunteer-led work across a wide range of fields including mental health, youth, community, arts and heritage.
This year 204 organisations from England, 22 from Scotland, five from Wales and 13 from Northern Ireland will receive The Queen’s Award, highlighting the continued breadth and depth of voluntary service undertaken each and every day across the United Kingdom.
The awardees have all enhanced the lives of others through their work with the highest number of awards this year going to the community support sector, which includes food banks, village shops, fundraising events and men’s sheds.
Minister for Civil Society and Youth Nigel Huddleston said: “Our volunteers give up their time to help others and The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service recognises their selfless acts of generosity and kindness.
“I congratulate all the awardees whose hard work and dedication is rightly recognised in this milestone year of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.”
Sir Martyn Lewis, QAVS Chair said: “I warmly congratulate all the outstanding voluntary groups who have been rewarded with a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service this year.
“The level of commitment and innovation shown by these volunteers is truly impressive. We owe a debt of gratitude to them, and the countless others who give up their free time regularly to improve the lives of others in their community.”
Empowering others is also an area well represented in this year’s Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service with confidence building, training opportunities, educational support and sports all highly recognised. Volunteers working in hospices, cancer support, long-term illness, search and rescue and first aid also feature prominently.
Coinciding with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service recognises that volunteers continue to provide a vital social function and improve access to services across the country.
As well asThis year’s recipients also include:
Knockmany Running Club in County Tyrone which utilises an unused forest to provide a space for all ages to run, walk and ramble through accessible trails.
Cymru Creations in Gwent is a team of professionals who give their time to run an award-winning film academy, helping young people to create their own films and develop skills.
Bright Minds Big Futures which is a youth led movement in Stockton-on-Tees providing social action opportunities for young people and working very positively with the council to make Stockton a better place to live.
The Buddy Bag Foundation is providing support bags to children arriving in refuges which include toiletries, pyjamas, socks and underwear, in addition to comfort items such as a book and a teddy bear. It creates and supplies over 10,000 each year which helps to restore a sense of safety to the children in the West Midlands.
1st Buckie Company Boys’ Brigade is challenging young people from 6 to18 years old through physical and skills-based activities, community involvement and spiritual development in Banffshire.
The Oasis Centre which is creating communities in four parishes in Cornwall with multiple economic, health and well-being needs through food provision, social events and practical advice.
A new portrait of The Queen has been released mark the beginning of the #PlatinumJubilee Celebration Weekend.
The photograph was taken by Ranald Mackechnie at Windsor Castle on 25 May. Captured in the background are the Castle’s Round Tower, and the statue of King Charles II which stands in the Quadrangle of the Castle.
HM Queen Elizabeth II issued a statement:
“Thank you to everyone who has been involved in convening communities, families, neighbours and friends to mark my Platinum Jubilee, in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth.
“I know that many happy memories will be created at these festive occasions. I continue to be inspired by the goodwill shown to me, and hope that the coming days will provide an opportunity to reflect on all that has been achieved during the last seventy years, as we look to the future with confidence and enthusiasm.”
Victorious, punk, and glorious! The world’s most entertaining whisky club have launched a special bottling paired with whisky-flavoured ice cream ‘Bohemian Raspberry’ for the Platinum Jubilee, with alternative Punk Afternoon Tea experiences at Members Rooms throughout June
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) are saluting the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with the launch of a special bottling ‘One Fancies a Sherry’ available to members on Monday, 30th May.
The ever-playful whisky club will be hosting Punk Afternoon Tea experiences in their UK Members Rooms throughout June where the limited-edition whisky-flavoured ice cream ‘Bohemian Raspberry’ will be available for only £10.
‘One fancies a Sherry’ Cask No 108.58 is bottled specifically for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend. ‘One fancies a Sherry’ falls under the Society flavour profile Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits, available to members at £72.90 at: smws.com.
SMWS are hosting Platinum Punk Pairings at UK Members Rooms through June, including events at Edinburgh’s Kaleidoscope Bar which won Global Whisky Bar of the Year 2022 at the recent Whisky Magazine awards.
Commenting on the celebration Helen Stewart, Head of Membership said: “The Society is all about having fun, and this felt like the perfect opportunity to show the world our playful side.
“The release emphasises what we stand for at the Society – unconventional, playful experiences for people who really love whisky. We wish The Queen the very best on her Platinum Jubilee and hope she can relax with a wee dram over the weekend.”
Begin a discovery of flavour with the Society now at smws.com.
*FULLL TASTING NOTES
Cask No 108.58 ‘One Fancies a Sherry’
Age: 13 Years
ABV: 55.0%
Distilled Date: 4 August 2008
Flavour Profile: Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits
Speyside
Tasting notes:
On the nose we discovered “two sides of a coin”. One being dark chocolate cherry liqueurs while, flipping it over, there was a funky scent of roasted beetroot and goat cheese tart.
Massive on the palate, a creamy spicy jalapeno jam next to toasted, flaked almonds and a coffee bitterness in the finish. Diluted, an apple and cinnamon turnover, prune juice and on the other side, mushroom pie and tar.
While to taste, hoisin sauce, ginger cake and glace cherries.
After 11 years in an ex-bourbon hogshead, we transferred this whisky into a first fill barrique from a privately owned small bodegas, now in its 9th generation, that focuses exclusively on the Pedro Ximenez grape.
TV presenter, magician and comedian, Stephen Mulhern, is urging people to grab their tickets so they don’t miss out on the highly anticipated event known as the Platinum Jubilee Youth Spectacular at St Ninians, near Kelty in Fife.
This event is also being promoted through a newly-launched radio campaign.
The Youth Spectacular which is part of Her Majesty the Queens Platinum Jubilee celebrations, is taking place on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th June. The amazing young talent who are participating will be performing on a newly constructed arena on the site of the former opencast mine at St Ninians.
The event is sponsored by National Pride UK who jointly own the site and are planning its future development. The event is being organised by local Events Manager, Michael Boyle and the former Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo impresario, Brigadier Sir Melville Jameson.
Tickets are being snapped up by the public as progress moves swiftly ahead on delivering what is set to be a weekend for all to remember the Platinum Jubilee and to be inspired by the performance and the setting.
The performers confirmed to date include:
· The Imps Motorcycle Display Team, the world’s foremost youth display team
· Katie Robertson, the award-winning ‘Wheeled Piper’
· Massed pipes and drums from Scottish schools
· Massed military bands
· The musical skills of the massed army cadet force brass bands
“This will be a truly inspiring spectacular event and I would urge people to get their tickets quickly to avoid disappointment.”
Irene Bisset, Chair of National Pride UK, said: “We’re delighted that tickets to this fantastic event in celebration of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee are proving popular, testament to the tremendous young talent that will perform.
“The local communities are coming together to show great support for what we are sure will be a fantastic celebration and a brilliant event for all the family to enjoy. We look forward to welcoming everyone onto St Ninians and having a great weekend of fun.”
