Sunshine on Leith (fingers crossed!) for Summer Fayre

Port of Leith Housing Association’s St Nicholas Court residents are hosting their annual Summer Fayre this Saturday (27 July) from 12pm and 2pm at their sheltered housing complex on Ferry Road.

The fayre is an integral part of the social calendar, which has been celebrated for over 15 years, and the money raised goes towards day trips and activities for the elderly residents toenjoy.

Some of the attractions include face painting for children, live music, barbeque, refreshments, book stall, tombola stall and raffle prizes – entry is just 50p.

Maureen TaitSenior Sheltered Housing Co-ordinator with PoLHA, said: “Our Summer Fayre is one of the main highlights in our social calendar for our residents as it’s such a wonderful, fun-filled day. Lots of planning goes into the event and the residents really get on board. It is a very important event to us as it helps to raise vital money for our social fund.  It means that we can organise day trips, keep-fit classes and other treats for our residents.”

St Nicholas Court

Ferry Road’s friendly games get underway

Oh-Limp-Nix athletes: a tense wait before going for gold …

OH-LIMP-NIX IS UNDERWAY

Depressed with Tom Daley? Frustrated with Zara Phillips? Had enough of Hannah Miley? Or cursing Mark Cavendish? Only three days in, is the London Olympics experience wearing you down? Perhaps a sporting event being held closer to home will reawaken your Corinthian spirit – yes, it’s the St Nicholas Court Oh-Limp-Nix!

The eagerly-awaited sporting extravaganza – perhaps the biggest event in Leith’s sporting calendar – is underway at last! The St Nicholas Court Sheltered Housing Complex’s ‘Oh-Limp-Nix’ kicked off yesterday with John Haggie for the Australia team victorious on the first day of the tournament on the Wii bowling round with a score of 201.

Four teams – Great Britain, USA, Australia and Spain – each made up of three people, are battling it out for the coveted win at the end of the four day games being held to coincide with the London Olympics.

Ian Vanhegan, a resident of the Port of Leith Housing Association Ferry Road complex is part of the Australia team – but his wife May is on the rival Great Britain team!  He said: “We’ve been preparing for about three months so it’s great it is here. It’s a good laugh.”

Each day the teams will play different games. Today (Tuesday) there will be shot putt and hoopla, tomorrow (Wednesday) Wii archery and on Thursday Trionimos (three sided dominoes).

Frances Veitch, who ‘represents’ America, said: “It’s been good fun training” while her husband Alex, who is on the British team, said: “It makes the Olympics feel more real and it’s great to be involved.”  Lets hope the competition doesn’t cause any rifts in the ‘special relationship’!

The competition is already heating up. On the first day, ‘Spain’s’ Margaret Dodds got four strikes in a row which were met with applause from her fellow competitors and spectators. She said (in perfect English!): “We all have the same chance really so the week will be interesting.”

Food from a different nation will also be served following the day’s games, including paella and fish and chips – but apparently there’s no room on the menu for deep-fried Mars bars.

Maureen Tait, Senior Sheltered Housing Coordinator, said: “It’s been a long time in the coming so we’re absolutely delighted that we’re now underway and cracking on with a great week of games. It’s certainly created some good-natured rivalry in the complex and everyone has been really excited in the build up. It’s been popular so far and we’re delighted family, friends and our other residents are all getting involved in the spectator action.”

The event will culminate with a prize giving ceremony on Friday (August 3) where Port of Leith Housing Association’s Chief Executive Keith Anderson will present the twelve Olympians with medals and the winning team will be revealed. It’s not known at this stage whether Her Majesty the Queen will be making a surprise parachute landing at St Nicholas Court to join the celebrations …!

 

Ferry Road's friendly games get underway

Oh-Limp-Nix athletes: a tense wait before going for gold …

OH-LIMP-NIX IS UNDERWAY

Depressed with Tom Daley? Frustrated with Zara Phillips? Had enough of Hannah Miley? Or cursing Mark Cavendish? Only three days in, is the London Olympics experience wearing you down? Perhaps a sporting event being held closer to home will reawaken your Corinthian spirit – yes, it’s the St Nicholas Court Oh-Limp-Nix!

The eagerly-awaited sporting extravaganza – perhaps the biggest event in Leith’s sporting calendar – is underway at last! The St Nicholas Court Sheltered Housing Complex’s ‘Oh-Limp-Nix’ kicked off yesterday with John Haggie for the Australia team victorious on the first day of the tournament on the Wii bowling round with a score of 201.

Four teams – Great Britain, USA, Australia and Spain – each made up of three people, are battling it out for the coveted win at the end of the four day games being held to coincide with the London Olympics.

Ian Vanhegan, a resident of the Port of Leith Housing Association Ferry Road complex is part of the Australia team – but his wife May is on the rival Great Britain team!  He said: “We’ve been preparing for about three months so it’s great it is here. It’s a good laugh.”

Each day the teams will play different games. Today (Tuesday) there will be shot putt and hoopla, tomorrow (Wednesday) Wii archery and on Thursday Trionimos (three sided dominoes).

Frances Veitch, who ‘represents’ America, said: “It’s been good fun training” while her husband Alex, who is on the British team, said: “It makes the Olympics feel more real and it’s great to be involved.”  Lets hope the competition doesn’t cause any rifts in the ‘special relationship’!

The competition is already heating up. On the first day, ‘Spain’s’ Margaret Dodds got four strikes in a row which were met with applause from her fellow competitors and spectators. She said (in perfect English!): “We all have the same chance really so the week will be interesting.”

Food from a different nation will also be served following the day’s games, including paella and fish and chips – but apparently there’s no room on the menu for deep-fried Mars bars.

Maureen Tait, Senior Sheltered Housing Coordinator, said: “It’s been a long time in the coming so we’re absolutely delighted that we’re now underway and cracking on with a great week of games. It’s certainly created some good-natured rivalry in the complex and everyone has been really excited in the build up. It’s been popular so far and we’re delighted family, friends and our other residents are all getting involved in the spectator action.”

The event will culminate with a prize giving ceremony on Friday (August 3) where Port of Leith Housing Association’s Chief Executive Keith Anderson will present the twelve Olympians with medals and the winning team will be revealed. It’s not known at this stage whether Her Majesty the Queen will be making a surprise parachute landing at St Nicholas Court to join the celebrations …!

 

Leith celebrates Diamond Jubilee

Over 25 residents took part in a Diamond Jubilee celebration at St Nicholas Court Sheltered Housing Complex in Leith on Sunday. Residents and staff at the Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA) dressed in their finery and enjoyed afternoon tea, including celebratory champagne, as they watched the floatilla on Sunday. There was also a Royal Quiz and music at the event.

Resident Margaret McKinlay remembers the Queen’s coronation in 1952. She said: “I have fond memories of the day the Queen was crowned and am delighted that we have been able to celebrate that today in such a fun way with the other residents.”

PoLHA’s other sheltered housing complexes at Hermitage and Jameson Place were also celebrating. Maureen Tait who manages St Nicholas Court said: “We had a lovely day and it’s fantastic to bring everyone together to make this jubilee a celebration to remember.”