Beautiful sunnny weather today. Not that rain isn't beautiful, in fact we had a splendid nightime monsoon on the way here. Might have been best not to be driving in it though. Anyway, pale blue winter skies, golden sunshine, wispy clouds and frosted rooftops further down the hillside. So many trees! I have missed woodlands.
Just heard I didn't get into the Clockwork Phoenix anothology after all. Will try again next year, its worth it.
I managed to get along to the Big Red for a while on the Jessta's birthday last week after days in bed trying not to throw up. Not only wonderful company and a chance to really relax and stop worrying, but also some burst of creative inspiration. I've been following that up today from bed, while paying close attention to essay deadlines which require a gallery visit in the next week. However, the trouble with trying to juggle while incompetent and incapacitated is that it doesn't take long to lose the contents of your fruit bowl to all six corners of the room. No juggling success, and no fruity snacks! I need another lesson from Sarah.
Apparently there is a fantastic wheely juggler on the circuit, I will look for a link.
I forgot that it wasn't the wheels that were the drawback; it's all of me. My arms weren't strong enough to juggle for more than a few satsumas at a time and then OUCH and FECKING OUCH. I'm off for a sulk.
OMG, a squirrel!
Saturday, 28 November 2009
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
even hermits get the blues
My proposal for the Hidden Doors art installation was rejected today (sob) but at least they still want me as a storyteller for the event. The main area in the Roxy House is accessible, its just the (fab) Bowery that isn't.
What I've just realised is that the rejection wasn't because I'm not a skilled enough artist, nor because my concepts aren't sufficiently deep and meaningful, its because (insert irony)I'm not developed enough at conveying them in words.
In other news, I've spent the last three days in bed in an unfair amount of pain, blurred vision and zombieness, and I am not impressed, not even slightly. I feel being unable to get out of bed doesn't remove my right to be miffed that tonight the City of Literature Salon was once again held upstairs in an inaccessible venue instead of an interim hired venue that was accessible, central and classy (the priorities) and I couldn't have gone even if I could have. Gone. Erm.
What I've just realised is that the rejection wasn't because I'm not a skilled enough artist, nor because my concepts aren't sufficiently deep and meaningful, its because (insert irony)
In other news, I've spent the last three days in bed in an unfair amount of pain, blurred vision and zombieness, and I am not impressed, not even slightly. I feel being unable to get out of bed doesn't remove my right to be miffed that tonight the City of Literature Salon was once again held upstairs in an inaccessible venue instead of an interim hired venue that was accessible, central and classy (the priorities) and I couldn't have gone even if I could have. Gone. Erm.
disability access - to your own house
I was finally up and competent during office hours so called Clarence to report the breach of access by the builders who constructed their scaffolding across the only wheelchair access in and out of my lane. They said someone would be sent out immediately to look at it so I asked that they call me when they got there to ensure a) I know if they're delaying and b) there's no crap about claiming a gap is wide enough to squeeze through or that a grassy bank is fit for wheels etc.
No call today. Not sure about their definition of 'immediate'. It's in their own interests too to open the path 'immediately' as the council are liable for granting a scaffolding licence to block public access, and also for failing to force adoption of the lane that the church owns but refuses to maintain, which is so potholed that its dangerous for cars and lethal for wheelchairs. One more day without a call and those last two points will be raised.
In the meantime I can only get in and out of my lane by taxi.
*update* After no progress, I called the dept again the next week. They had a wee man out within the hour. The hut was removed the following day and a little tarmac slope added at each kerb that night, bless 'em. The next day revealed an inexplicable fence built across the end of the road sealing it from the prom, rubbish against it just to make sure. I called the dept, who were baffled. You could be forgiven for suspecting that the fence was an almighty sulk by the builders, moreso when the dept called me back to say they'd called the construction company and found that they didn't want to talk about it. The dept removed the construction company from the equation, sorted it, and my path was cleared. Freedom!
No call today. Not sure about their definition of 'immediate'. It's in their own interests too to open the path 'immediately' as the council are liable for granting a scaffolding licence to block public access, and also for failing to force adoption of the lane that the church owns but refuses to maintain, which is so potholed that its dangerous for cars and lethal for wheelchairs. One more day without a call and those last two points will be raised.
In the meantime I can only get in and out of my lane by taxi.
*update* After no progress, I called the dept again the next week. They had a wee man out within the hour. The hut was removed the following day and a little tarmac slope added at each kerb that night, bless 'em. The next day revealed an inexplicable fence built across the end of the road sealing it from the prom, rubbish against it just to make sure. I called the dept, who were baffled. You could be forgiven for suspecting that the fence was an almighty sulk by the builders, moreso when the dept called me back to say they'd called the construction company and found that they didn't want to talk about it. The dept removed the construction company from the equation, sorted it, and my path was cleared. Freedom!
St Andrew's Square, Saturday
The bad news is that I've had to withdraw from the Art Car Parade on Saturday (and only now find out just how good the concert is going to be!) but the good news is that my blog post entitled 'Virtually The Perfect House' has been commended in the Leaf Books Blog-Post Competition. No money or hard copy publication, alas, but it will be posted on the Showcase page of the Leaf Books website, which is good publicity.
So if anyone is still free on Saturday, this is what's happening: (and afterwards head to the the Big Red Door on Lady Lawson Street for a magical night of cabaret and fantasy!)
By CHRIS MARSHALL
A SPECTACULAR fire display, the stars of Edinburgh's Got Talent and – most incredibly – a convoy of cars along Prince Street are to get the city's Christmas celebrations under way this weekend.
The full line-up for the Sparkle into Christmas event was unveiled today.With tram chiefs insisting all work will be finished on Princes Street, the Art Car Parade will kick-off the festivities.Created by artists from across the country, the
vehicles will be pushed, pedalled and driven from the Royal Mile to St Andrew Square. The line-up features an ice palace, a dragon car, a fishmobile and other eccentric creations. The finale will be a stage show in St Andrew Square Gardens.
Councillor Steve Cardownie, the council's festival and events champion, said: "This unique event is a great addition to another fabulous line-up for Edinburgh's Christmas celebrations. "I'd encourage people to come into town and see the parade on Saturday as well as experience the great shopping Edinburgh's city centre has to offer."Council chiefs are keen to encourage shoppers back into the city centre over Christmas following months of tram works which have led to a reduction in footfall numbers in Princes Street. Construction work on Princes Street is set to finish on Saturday, with buses returning to the street the following day.
A highlight of Sparkle into Christmas as well as the Homecoming Scotland Finale celebrations, the concert at St Andrew Square Gardens will include tribal drums and pipe band Clanadonia and the fire show Flame Oz.Also taking to the stage will be seven local dancing superstars from the Penicuik-based Haughey McAuley Irish Dance Academy who will perform their Edinburgh's Got Talent winning entry. Runner-up in the competition, 14-year-old Jack Robertson, will perform his rendition of Dougie McLean's Caledonia.Torquil Macleod, programme manager for Homecoming Scotland, said: "The Homecoming 2009 Art Car Parade is one of the highlights of a big weekend of Homecoming Scotland Finale Celebrations in Edinburgh. "We are delighted to be supporting the Edinburgh's Christmas team and to have such a great line-up to add to the fantastic array of events taking place across the city and the country to mark the Homecoming Finale and Scotland's biggest ever St Andrew's Day celebrations."
The Art Car Parade is free and sets off from the Royal Mile at 5pm on Saturday. Full details at www.edinburghschristmas.com.
Friday, 20 November 2009
bank access progress in court
My local branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland is up just three wee steps (as is the 'disabled caller' button, which you can't reach from a wheelchair on the pavement) They have been insisting that they are 'just about' to get disabled access ie a small portable ramp to whip out whenever a valued customer in a wheelchair (who has long arms) arrives. They've been insisting the ramp is about to appear for five years now.
The hardware shops across the road from the bank makes small portable wooden ramps to order. I'm thinking of buying one for the bank manager's christmas present this year.
From
November 20, 2009
Royal Bank of Scotland loses landmark wheelchair access appeal
Old Town Development Trust
To continue a theme...
more from the Evening News:
The meeting is to include discussion on the trusts possible projects and Ian Cooke, director of the Development Trusts Association Scotland will give an introduction to the growing network of development trusts across Scotland, and highlight the differences they are making to the communities in which they are based.
Sean Bradley, a director of the trust and Chair of the Grassmarket Residents' Association said:"The Edinburgh Old Town Development Trust is an historic opportunity for the people of the Old Town to shape its future for the benefit of all."
The public meeting is to be held on Thursday, 26 November at Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge, beginning at 7:30pm.
more from the Evening News:
THE NEWLY established Edinburgh Old Town Development Trust is inviting residents to come forward with ideas for the area at their first public meeting. The trust has been set up to bring forward development ideas for the Old Town.
The meeting is to include discussion on the trusts possible projects and Ian Cooke, director of the Development Trusts Association Scotland will give an introduction to the growing network of development trusts across Scotland, and highlight the differences they are making to the communities in which they are based.
Sean Bradley, a director of the trust and Chair of the Grassmarket Residents' Association said:"The Edinburgh Old Town Development Trust is an historic opportunity for the people of the Old Town to shape its future for the benefit of all."
The public meeting is to be held on Thursday, 26 November at Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge, beginning at 7:30pm.
Architects TRY to ban trees and benches to keep things tidy
Evening News: TREES and benches have been banned from the revamped "culture quarter" outside Edinburgh's Usher Hall, Royal Lyceum and Traverse Theatre. Street furniture, such as seating, lamps, railings and trees, was removed to allow the £25 million refurbishment of the Usher Hall due for completion in January.
But now it has become clear those behind the revamp do not want them to return. Architects insist the area must be kept free of "clutter" to allow live music and theatre to be staged outside. But they have admitted new advertising hoardings are to be erected to help promote events.
Colin Ross, project manager at LDN Architects, said: "It was a bit messy before and the idea is that there will now be a completely clean area."
However, Anne Wigglesworth, secretary of Tollcross Community Council, said:
"There's a danger it will become cold and sterile, like Festival Square. We hope it's not too late to get things changed."
And I thought architects had learned not to be dickheads in public. How exactly are people supposed to sit and enjoy the surroundings - and live music/ performers etc (of which I intend to be one) with no seats? Things look a lot more cluttered when everyone is lying around on the ground, and also when there are no trees to subtly hide bins behind. Or do they think everyone can stand for as long as necessary? Oh really? I'd like to discuss that further with them, perhaps after they've al been run over by a freerange steamroller and can't actually stand...
I hear they've decided to ban children from the school building they designed. Apparently the kids cluttered up the pretty open areas and ruined the clean lines of the architecture with shadows and movement.
But now it has become clear those behind the revamp do not want them to return. Architects insist the area must be kept free of "clutter" to allow live music and theatre to be staged outside. But they have admitted new advertising hoardings are to be erected to help promote events.
Colin Ross, project manager at LDN Architects, said: "It was a bit messy before and the idea is that there will now be a completely clean area."
However, Anne Wigglesworth, secretary of Tollcross Community Council, said:
"There's a danger it will become cold and sterile, like Festival Square. We hope it's not too late to get things changed."
And I thought architects had learned not to be dickheads in public. How exactly are people supposed to sit and enjoy the surroundings - and live music/ performers etc (of which I intend to be one) with no seats? Things look a lot more cluttered when everyone is lying around on the ground, and also when there are no trees to subtly hide bins behind. Or do they think everyone can stand for as long as necessary? Oh really? I'd like to discuss that further with them, perhaps after they've al been run over by a freerange steamroller and can't actually stand...
I hear they've decided to ban children from the school building they designed. Apparently the kids cluttered up the pretty open areas and ruined the clean lines of the architecture with shadows and movement.
swordathon
Edinburgh 24hr Sword-a-thon For Children in Need
At 12 noon on Friday 20th November 2009, the first blades shall cross to open the Macdonald Academy of Arms 24hr Sword-a-thon. Members of the Academy shall be keeping swordsmanship and martial arts active on the floor for 24hrs straight, all in aid of Children-in-Need on their annual appeal night. We are hoping to be joined through this event by our esteemed Sikh brothers-in-arms, the Baba Deep Singh Gatka Group.
Where? - At our regular training venue, right in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town. The Harry Younger Hall, Canongate, Edinburgh (http://www.macdonaldarms.com/findus
When? - 12 noon, Friday 20th Nov. - 12noon, Saturday 21st Nov.
Can we see this? - If you're near or in town, Absolutely! The venue shall be open to the public, where there shall be a viewing area throughout the event. You shall have the opportunity to see broadswords, rapiers, smallswords, daggers, quarterstaffs and more in action anytime during these hours for as long as you would like.
To read more and make a donation visit http://www.justgiving.com/Sword-a-thon
dedicated to Jenny.
At 12 noon on Friday 20th November 2009, the first blades shall cross to open the Macdonald Academy of Arms 24hr Sword-a-thon. Members of the Academy shall be keeping swordsmanship and martial arts active on the floor for 24hrs straight, all in aid of Children-in-Need on their annual appeal night. We are hoping to be joined through this event by our esteemed Sikh brothers-in-arms, the Baba Deep Singh Gatka Group.
Where? - At our regular training venue, right in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town. The Harry Younger Hall, Canongate, Edinburgh (http://www.macdonaldarms.com/findus
When? - 12 noon, Friday 20th Nov. - 12noon, Saturday 21st Nov.
Can we see this? - If you're near or in town, Absolutely! The venue shall be open to the public, where there shall be a viewing area throughout the event. You shall have the opportunity to see broadswords, rapiers, smallswords, daggers, quarterstaffs and more in action anytime during these hours for as long as you would like.
To read more and make a donation visit http://www.justgiving.com/Sword-a-thon
dedicated to Jenny.
Thursday, 19 November 2009
update on the hovercraft proposal
Steve Walker, Operations Director, Stagecoach East Scotland wrote:
UPDATE ON PROPOSED CROSS-FORTH HOVERCRAFT SERVICE
I am writing to provide you with an update on Stagecoach’s plans to establish a permanent cross-Forth hovercraft service. I would also like to invite you to attend one of the community meetings we are hosting shortly to outline the latest developments.
Over the past few months, we have made made further progress with our plans. We now have in place a joint venture agreement with Bland Group and a combined £14million funding package as we move forward with our plans. Bland Group is a 200-year-old family-owned business who own Griffon Hoverwork Ltd, the world’s leading hovercraft manufacturer and Hovertravel, the highly successful hovercraft service that links Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. Their hovercraft have been sold to 39 countries across six continents and their fast, frequent Portsmouth-Isle of Wight service carries more than 800,000 customers annually.
Under the heads of terms agreement, Stagecoach and Bland Group would manufacture and operate the two hi-tech hovercraft required for a permanent service between Kirkcaldy and Portobello. Stagecoach and Bland Group will each inject £7million into the project. We also expect to submit detailed planning applications to both Fife Council and City of Edinburgh Council before the end of the year as part of our plans. Two consultation meetings will be held later this month with communities on both sides of the Forth in advance of the submission of the planning applications. The details of the meetings are:
• [Philp Hall, Kirkcaldy, on 15 December 2009 at 7.30pm]
• [Town Hall, Portobello, on 16 December 2009 at 7.30pm]
The meetings will include a presentation on recent developments and the details of our plans. Stagecoach representatives will also be available to answer your questions. As you know, Stagecoach carried out a highly successful trial service in the summer of 2007. More than 32,000 passengers used the Forthfast service, including both commuters and leisure travellers. Retailers on both sides of the Forth also reported increased footfall and sales during the trial, which was part-funded by the South East of Scotland Transport Partnership (SEStran).
Stagecoach is now seeking to operate a permanent service using two purpose-built state-of-the-art hovercraft on the route, with crossings every 25 minutes at peak times and an hourly off-peak service. The 150-passenger craft, which would be fully accessible for passengers with disabilities, would also be equipped with the latest propeller technology to ensure low operational noise levels. Stagecoach has already carried out detailed environmental impact assessments for the project, including bird studies on behalf of Scottish Natural Heritage and a noise impact study on both sides of the Forth.
The planning applications will set out plans to use Stagecoach’s former bus depot at Invertiel in Kirkcaldy and land adjacent to the Lothian Buses depot at Seafield Road in Portobello for departures and arrivals. Planning documents will also include details of landing ramps, passenger terminals, maintenance facilities and car parking for a permanent service. The hovercraft would offer a fast journey time of less than 20 minutes. It would also be integrated with bus services on both sides of the Forth, including shuttle bus links from Portobello to Ocean Terminal in Leith and Waverley Bridge in the heart of Edinburgh. We estimate around 870,000 passengers a year would use a permanenent hovercraft link after it is fully established.
We believe it is important to maintain the momentum behind the project and we are delighted to have a joint venture partner and significant private sector funding now in place. Securing planning permission is also a critical element of the project. We will be looking to progress this while continuing our discussions with the local authorities and the South East of Scotland Transport Partnership (SEStran) on public sector support, which is also key to the future of the project. Stagecoach remains 100% committed to the hovercraft link. We have had huge support for the project on both sides of the Forth and we look forward to outlining our plans to the local communities.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. If you have any further questions in advance of the community meetings, please do not hesitate to contact me on 01592 645660. Thank you for your continuing support as we look to make this innovative public transport service a reality for local people. Yours sincerely Steve Walker Operations Director Stagecoach East Scotland
UPDATE ON PROPOSED CROSS-FORTH HOVERCRAFT SERVICE
I am writing to provide you with an update on Stagecoach’s plans to establish a permanent cross-Forth hovercraft service. I would also like to invite you to attend one of the community meetings we are hosting shortly to outline the latest developments.
Over the past few months, we have made made further progress with our plans. We now have in place a joint venture agreement with Bland Group and a combined £14million funding package as we move forward with our plans. Bland Group is a 200-year-old family-owned business who own Griffon Hoverwork Ltd, the world’s leading hovercraft manufacturer and Hovertravel, the highly successful hovercraft service that links Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. Their hovercraft have been sold to 39 countries across six continents and their fast, frequent Portsmouth-Isle of Wight service carries more than 800,000 customers annually.
Under the heads of terms agreement, Stagecoach and Bland Group would manufacture and operate the two hi-tech hovercraft required for a permanent service between Kirkcaldy and Portobello. Stagecoach and Bland Group will each inject £7million into the project. We also expect to submit detailed planning applications to both Fife Council and City of Edinburgh Council before the end of the year as part of our plans. Two consultation meetings will be held later this month with communities on both sides of the Forth in advance of the submission of the planning applications. The details of the meetings are:
• [Philp Hall, Kirkcaldy, on 15 December 2009 at 7.30pm]
• [Town Hall, Portobello, on 16 December 2009 at 7.30pm]
The meetings will include a presentation on recent developments and the details of our plans. Stagecoach representatives will also be available to answer your questions. As you know, Stagecoach carried out a highly successful trial service in the summer of 2007. More than 32,000 passengers used the Forthfast service, including both commuters and leisure travellers. Retailers on both sides of the Forth also reported increased footfall and sales during the trial, which was part-funded by the South East of Scotland Transport Partnership (SEStran).
Stagecoach is now seeking to operate a permanent service using two purpose-built state-of-the-art hovercraft on the route, with crossings every 25 minutes at peak times and an hourly off-peak service. The 150-passenger craft, which would be fully accessible for passengers with disabilities, would also be equipped with the latest propeller technology to ensure low operational noise levels. Stagecoach has already carried out detailed environmental impact assessments for the project, including bird studies on behalf of Scottish Natural Heritage and a noise impact study on both sides of the Forth.
The planning applications will set out plans to use Stagecoach’s former bus depot at Invertiel in Kirkcaldy and land adjacent to the Lothian Buses depot at Seafield Road in Portobello for departures and arrivals. Planning documents will also include details of landing ramps, passenger terminals, maintenance facilities and car parking for a permanent service. The hovercraft would offer a fast journey time of less than 20 minutes. It would also be integrated with bus services on both sides of the Forth, including shuttle bus links from Portobello to Ocean Terminal in Leith and Waverley Bridge in the heart of Edinburgh. We estimate around 870,000 passengers a year would use a permanenent hovercraft link after it is fully established.
We believe it is important to maintain the momentum behind the project and we are delighted to have a joint venture partner and significant private sector funding now in place. Securing planning permission is also a critical element of the project. We will be looking to progress this while continuing our discussions with the local authorities and the South East of Scotland Transport Partnership (SEStran) on public sector support, which is also key to the future of the project. Stagecoach remains 100% committed to the hovercraft link. We have had huge support for the project on both sides of the Forth and we look forward to outlining our plans to the local communities.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. If you have any further questions in advance of the community meetings, please do not hesitate to contact me on 01592 645660. Thank you for your continuing support as we look to make this innovative public transport service a reality for local people. Yours sincerely Steve Walker Operations Director Stagecoach East Scotland
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
stolen steam roller cures crap kerbs
from Edinburgh Evening News
Published Date: 18 November 2009
POLICE are hunting thieves who stole a steam roller from a work site.
Officers believe that the vehicle which can only travel at 10mph may have been loaded onto the back of a truck on Monday night.The incident occurred at a work site in Blackridge, near Bathgate, West Lothian.The vehicle which is worth £10,500 – is believed to have been stolen under the cover of darkness.
Inspector David Wilson said that the theft tied in with a number of incidents currently being investigated.He said: "The vehicle is roughly the same dimensions as a regular car but much heavier, and it's possible that it had to be taken away on a road truck."We did have a truck stolen recently that would be of similar capabilities."We are currently engaged in Operation Crassus, which is focused on tracking the movement of stolen plant equipment." He added: "The public are encouraged to report any sightings of plant vehicles moving after daylight hours or any suspicious activity to police."
No, it wasn't me! But if it had been, I'd have been feckin entitled to use it.
Published Date: 18 November 2009
POLICE are hunting thieves who stole a steam roller from a work site.
Officers believe that the vehicle which can only travel at 10mph may have been loaded onto the back of a truck on Monday night.The incident occurred at a work site in Blackridge, near Bathgate, West Lothian.The vehicle which is worth £10,500 – is believed to have been stolen under the cover of darkness.
Inspector David Wilson said that the theft tied in with a number of incidents currently being investigated.He said: "The vehicle is roughly the same dimensions as a regular car but much heavier, and it's possible that it had to be taken away on a road truck."We did have a truck stolen recently that would be of similar capabilities."We are currently engaged in Operation Crassus, which is focused on tracking the movement of stolen plant equipment." He added: "The public are encouraged to report any sightings of plant vehicles moving after daylight hours or any suspicious activity to police."
No, it wasn't me! But if it had been, I'd have been feckin entitled to use it.
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
kerbs contd
The junction of Lady Lawson St and road into Grassmarket has reached new levels of taking the piss. Oh wait, the word 'level' has no place in that review. I trundled down from the art college and spotted roadworks on the pavement of doom, that alpine curve down round Evolution House. It was half dug up, sand instead of pavement, but only in every second gap for ultimate wobble. And edge blocked so crossing the road in the other direction wasn't an option. I got round it leaning into the corner like I was at Knockhill, to the alarm of a person walking towards me. After that the crap kerb combo seemed a dawdle.
I think I sat recovering in the dark hallway of the Big Red Door for a while after I arrived.
I think I sat recovering in the dark hallway of the Big Red Door for a while after I arrived.
Saturday, 14 November 2009
submitting on time
Almost missed that due to blearyness and a crunchy neck, but got the stories sent off for tomorrow's deadline. It's a fabulous anthology, onto it's third year now, and it would be rather nice to get in.
Trouble is, there are five more very good competitions and anthologies with a deadline of the 30th November and I'm not sure what to do. I have some new writing, and some uncritted earlier work, but I've no access to the crit group at the moment and unpolished/ uncritted work isn't up to the standard of these comps. Hmm, 14th today, feck, there's no easy way round this.
This is why nobody gets long christmas letters from me.
Ok, its not.
Trouble is, there are five more very good competitions and anthologies with a deadline of the 30th November and I'm not sure what to do. I have some new writing, and some uncritted earlier work, but I've no access to the crit group at the moment and unpolished/ uncritted work isn't up to the standard of these comps. Hmm, 14th today, feck, there's no easy way round this.
This is why nobody gets long christmas letters from me.
Ok, its not.
Friday, 13 November 2009
for writers who are reading this instead of writing...
No, I'm not doing NaNoWriMo. If I spent this whole month writing, my eyeballs would burst into flames and drip out.
From an expert:
http://www.43folders.com/2009/11/02/nanowrimo-advice
"I honor any project to write something — especially to write a long piece of fiction. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do but, like most people, I have always been too scared to attempt it.
So, kudos.
But, here’s the thing: it’s hard to start writing, and it’s almost as hard to keep writing. Believe me, I know. And, there will be times every day when you get discouraged or you want to throw in the towel because you feel lost or depressed or useless or just plain tired. Empty. That’s the word. Empty.
All I want to say is, keep at it. You can do this.
Every time you sit down to write represents a new chance, and I really encourage you to make yourself see it that way. That means set aside the time (with a beginning and end, if possible), take it seriously, and, most importantly, try not to think. Thinking is not writing; thinking is thinking. Thinking does not make books.
So, keep your hands moving [PDF], don’t self-edit, and above all, don’t let past failures (or successes) have any place at your desk during the time you’ve set aside to do your work. There’s no good that can come out of trying to see the present, creative moment through the overly emotional, shaded lenses of either the past or the future. Just be in the room with yourself and, as my pal Andy says, keep moving the cursor to the right.
And, the warning? Don’t read too many blog posts like this.
The hounds are out this month, guys, and they smell your fear and self-doubt. So, shovelbloggers will be offering you a tantalizing Vegas-style buffet of endless writing “help” that will range from the indispensable to the stupid to the unconscionably poisonous. And, smile though they might, those folks could care less if all those page views end up killing your word count or distracting you at the one delicate moment you were about to figure out your troubled third act. Their job is to make you stop working. Don’t let them. Okay?
Just as thinking is not writing, advice is not writing. Got it? So, don’t blow your day on metajunk.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t treat yourself to the best advice about becoming a better writer (see below), but it does mean you sure as shooting better not be reading blog posts about “surprising writing tips” during your Special Writing Time. Personally, I love books about writing, writing advice, and just plain talking about writing. But, I also know (all too well) that something that seems or feels helpful can quickly turn into an anti-pattern. Especially when it does anything to stop that cursor from moving rightward.
Seriously. Read the next sentence out loud to yourself three times. No, do it:
When I’m reading about writing, I’m not writing.
And, of course, the irony is, nearly every (good) book on writing will eventually end up telling you – or leading you to see – the same handful of things.
1. Set reasonable goals and honor them
2. Draft with complete abandon; edit with surgical precision
3. When you sit down to write, focus without distraction; when you’re not writing, keep it off your mind
4. Read great books (actual big books, not blogs or magazines) as often as you can
5. Just write, and just keep writing, and just keep writing, writing, writing. Then write more.
Good luck with your novel, and have fun. For what it’s worth, here’s a few of my favorite books on writing (alphabetically, by author). Just remember: if you read them during Writing Time, you must smack yourself. Hard.
* Bolker, Writing Your Dissertation in 15 Minutes a Day; Sounds like a BS title, but it’s not. Again: process. How to think and when. How to approach a daunting project sensibly by “parking on a downhill slope.”
* Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones; Shut off your monkey mind, get past discursive thinking, and keep that hand in motion. Like meditation, writing is a practice. You do it because you do it, that is why you do it.
* Hart, A Writer’s Coach; Failures in non-fiction writing are almost always failures of process (especially during pre-writing). A must-buy for journalists (and serious bloggers).
* King, On Writing; Writing is a craft, and it’s difficult, and it matters. If you don’t believe it, get hit by a goddamned van. (N.B.: If you need to pick just one of these, get On Writing. No question. It’s the best.)
* Lamott, Bird By Bird; Just so very, very wonderful. Heartfelt, funny, and desperately useful, if only for learning “The Shitty First Draft.”
* Zinsser, On Writing Well; The Grandaddy of writing-as-craft books. Learn how making prose is like building furniture. You’re an engineer of words. Friend, you’ll close this book with a new obsession for tight and precise prose writing. I don’t pull it off every day (let alone every sentence), but it’s damned sure on my mind all the time."
The Top 1 Habits of Amazing Writers:
.
.
.
THEY WRITE
From an expert:
http://www.43folders.com/2009/11/02/nanowrimo-advice
"I honor any project to write something — especially to write a long piece of fiction. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do but, like most people, I have always been too scared to attempt it.
So, kudos.
But, here’s the thing: it’s hard to start writing, and it’s almost as hard to keep writing. Believe me, I know. And, there will be times every day when you get discouraged or you want to throw in the towel because you feel lost or depressed or useless or just plain tired. Empty. That’s the word. Empty.
All I want to say is, keep at it. You can do this.
Every time you sit down to write represents a new chance, and I really encourage you to make yourself see it that way. That means set aside the time (with a beginning and end, if possible), take it seriously, and, most importantly, try not to think. Thinking is not writing; thinking is thinking. Thinking does not make books.
So, keep your hands moving [PDF], don’t self-edit, and above all, don’t let past failures (or successes) have any place at your desk during the time you’ve set aside to do your work. There’s no good that can come out of trying to see the present, creative moment through the overly emotional, shaded lenses of either the past or the future. Just be in the room with yourself and, as my pal Andy says, keep moving the cursor to the right.
And, the warning? Don’t read too many blog posts like this.
The hounds are out this month, guys, and they smell your fear and self-doubt. So, shovelbloggers will be offering you a tantalizing Vegas-style buffet of endless writing “help” that will range from the indispensable to the stupid to the unconscionably poisonous. And, smile though they might, those folks could care less if all those page views end up killing your word count or distracting you at the one delicate moment you were about to figure out your troubled third act. Their job is to make you stop working. Don’t let them. Okay?
Just as thinking is not writing, advice is not writing. Got it? So, don’t blow your day on metajunk.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t treat yourself to the best advice about becoming a better writer (see below), but it does mean you sure as shooting better not be reading blog posts about “surprising writing tips” during your Special Writing Time. Personally, I love books about writing, writing advice, and just plain talking about writing. But, I also know (all too well) that something that seems or feels helpful can quickly turn into an anti-pattern. Especially when it does anything to stop that cursor from moving rightward.
Seriously. Read the next sentence out loud to yourself three times. No, do it:
When I’m reading about writing, I’m not writing.
And, of course, the irony is, nearly every (good) book on writing will eventually end up telling you – or leading you to see – the same handful of things.
1. Set reasonable goals and honor them
2. Draft with complete abandon; edit with surgical precision
3. When you sit down to write, focus without distraction; when you’re not writing, keep it off your mind
4. Read great books (actual big books, not blogs or magazines) as often as you can
5. Just write, and just keep writing, and just keep writing, writing, writing. Then write more.
Good luck with your novel, and have fun. For what it’s worth, here’s a few of my favorite books on writing (alphabetically, by author). Just remember: if you read them during Writing Time, you must smack yourself. Hard.
* Bolker, Writing Your Dissertation in 15 Minutes a Day; Sounds like a BS title, but it’s not. Again: process. How to think and when. How to approach a daunting project sensibly by “parking on a downhill slope.”
* Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones; Shut off your monkey mind, get past discursive thinking, and keep that hand in motion. Like meditation, writing is a practice. You do it because you do it, that is why you do it.
* Hart, A Writer’s Coach; Failures in non-fiction writing are almost always failures of process (especially during pre-writing). A must-buy for journalists (and serious bloggers).
* King, On Writing; Writing is a craft, and it’s difficult, and it matters. If you don’t believe it, get hit by a goddamned van. (N.B.: If you need to pick just one of these, get On Writing. No question. It’s the best.)
* Lamott, Bird By Bird; Just so very, very wonderful. Heartfelt, funny, and desperately useful, if only for learning “The Shitty First Draft.”
* Zinsser, On Writing Well; The Grandaddy of writing-as-craft books. Learn how making prose is like building furniture. You’re an engineer of words. Friend, you’ll close this book with a new obsession for tight and precise prose writing. I don’t pull it off every day (let alone every sentence), but it’s damned sure on my mind all the time."
The Top 1 Habits of Amazing Writers:
.
.
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THEY WRITE
Question Time in Edinburgh
Question Time comes to Edinburgh on the 26th November. If you'd like to take part in the programme call 0895 625 9988 or fill in this online form:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/question_time/1858613.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/question_time/1858613.stm
Thursday, 12 November 2009
Film night at the Bongo Club
Continuing the week-ahead warning of random accessible outings:
FAST & LOOSE vs MADE
Bongo Club
Holyrood Road
19 November
1900 - 2200
£5
Downhill mountain-bike double-bill film night, featuring the best riders and racing from around the world. Two wheels in this case, but when I find it, I'll post the link to some of the best downhill wheelchair mountain bike fiends. They are truly terrifying...
OK, I couldn't find the best ones but here's a good un
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mef_yTb4LWI
and another
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe7uYe7gm-U
I never bring my trail trike into town. People will helpfully leap out of the way, but lamposts tend not to.
FAST & LOOSE vs MADE
Bongo Club
Holyrood Road
19 November
1900 - 2200
£5
Downhill mountain-bike double-bill film night, featuring the best riders and racing from around the world. Two wheels in this case, but when I find it, I'll post the link to some of the best downhill wheelchair mountain bike fiends. They are truly terrifying...
OK, I couldn't find the best ones but here's a good un
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mef_yTb4LWI
and another
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe7uYe7gm-U
I never bring my trail trike into town. People will helpfully leap out of the way, but lamposts tend not to.
Square Mile project comes to Edinburgh
1mile² is a three year global arts programme that asks communities to map the biodiversity, cultural diversity, and aesthetic diversity of their local neighbourhood, working in collaboration with an artist and an ecologist. Communities are linked across the world through an internet platform that shares and challenges their findings, perceptions, ideas, experiences and creativity and encourages new connections between people. 1mile² provides opportunities for contemporary artists to undertake a collaborative investigation of arts, biodiversity and community.
1mile² is a new programme, launched in 2009, that addresses the interrelation between culture and the environment within diverse societies, and provides creative learning opportunities through a process shaped by artistic practice. 1mile² asks communities to map their neighbourhood exploring the biodiversity, cultural diversity, and aesthetic diversity (buildings and open spaces) of their local square mile. Working in collaboration with artists and ecologists, communities will participate in creative workshops and field sessions over a three-year period. Communities are linked across the world through an internet platform that shares and challenges their findings, perceptions, ideas, experiences and creativity and encourages new connections between people.
The Collective Gallery is the only Scottish venue (so far) working with Visiting Arts on their project Square Mile. For 1mile² Edinburgh, Zoe Walker and Neil Bromwich invite you to join them in forming The Bank of Reason. Saturday/Sunday 28/29th November and Saturday/Sunday 5/6th December. (Please note the change of dates).
Working with both an ecologist and an economist Zoe and Neil will lead tailored walks exploring the diversity of Edinburgh's city centre. The walks will be followed by discussions that will be deposited into The Bank of Reason - a mobile repository of ideas for a sustainable future.
"The Bank of Reason provides a free space within which we can begin to consider alternative value systems and search for a happier marraige between economy and ecology."
Delhi artists announced Collective will host a residency throughout November as part of the 1mile² programme and support two artists from Delhi, Sreejata Roy and Mrityunjay Chatterjee. Working collaboratively they will explore ecological changes caused by the economical, political, social and various other influences.
http://www.square-mile.net/ContentPage.aspx?ContentID=16
http://www.collectivegallery.net/opportunities.html
http://www.visitingarts.org.uk/our_work/09squaremile.html
I've been in touch to check that it is going to be an accessible and inclusive project in practice as well as information. It probably will be, but its always worth checking with organisers ahead of workshop dates to allow them a little plot-tweaking time. City centre-wise, obviously there will be areas that can't be accessed by anything less agile than a mountain goat in army boots - or a conveniently hired landrover... More info to follow.
1mile² is a new programme, launched in 2009, that addresses the interrelation between culture and the environment within diverse societies, and provides creative learning opportunities through a process shaped by artistic practice. 1mile² asks communities to map their neighbourhood exploring the biodiversity, cultural diversity, and aesthetic diversity (buildings and open spaces) of their local square mile. Working in collaboration with artists and ecologists, communities will participate in creative workshops and field sessions over a three-year period. Communities are linked across the world through an internet platform that shares and challenges their findings, perceptions, ideas, experiences and creativity and encourages new connections between people.
The Collective Gallery is the only Scottish venue (so far) working with Visiting Arts on their project Square Mile. For 1mile² Edinburgh, Zoe Walker and Neil Bromwich invite you to join them in forming The Bank of Reason. Saturday/Sunday 28/29th November and Saturday/Sunday 5/6th December. (Please note the change of dates).
Working with both an ecologist and an economist Zoe and Neil will lead tailored walks exploring the diversity of Edinburgh's city centre. The walks will be followed by discussions that will be deposited into The Bank of Reason - a mobile repository of ideas for a sustainable future.
"The Bank of Reason provides a free space within which we can begin to consider alternative value systems and search for a happier marraige between economy and ecology."
Delhi artists announced Collective will host a residency throughout November as part of the 1mile² programme and support two artists from Delhi, Sreejata Roy and Mrityunjay Chatterjee. Working collaboratively they will explore ecological changes caused by the economical, political, social and various other influences.
http://www.square-mile.net/ContentPage.aspx?ContentID=16
http://www.collectivegallery.net/opportunities.html
http://www.visitingarts.org.uk/our_work/09squaremile.html
I've been in touch to check that it is going to be an accessible and inclusive project in practice as well as information. It probably will be, but its always worth checking with organisers ahead of workshop dates to allow them a little plot-tweaking time. City centre-wise, obviously there will be areas that can't be accessed by anything less agile than a mountain goat in army boots - or a conveniently hired landrover... More info to follow.
Secret Cabaret @ the Big Red Door
Secret Cabaret
Big Red Door
10 Lady Lawson Street
8pm till 1am
free entry (though donations at the bar would help BRD provide secret cabarets for many moons to come...)
----------------------
I can't say who'll be on/ above/ around the stage on Saturday. Its a secret.
Last week's Secret Cabaret was fantastic, with a packed audience and an array of talent, emotion and reactions. There was even an small escaped animal from the zoo. No? Maybe it was a freerange house pixie then, it was pretty fast-moving and it squeaked.
Friday 13th is to be Unlucky Night (8pm till 1am, free). New bands, music, acts, entertainment on stage and behind the bar. Then on Sunday its Games Night (8pm till 1am, free) to play cards, cheat at chess and drink tea. Monday night is members' night (8pm till 1am, free) often full of adrenalin-filled survivors from the acro class, juggling class and, hmph, folk who couldn't get to their life-drawing class...
This is a snippet of what happened at last Saturday's Secret Cabaret:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jJsQRFh1Tg
Big Red Door
10 Lady Lawson Street
8pm till 1am
free entry (though donations at the bar would help BRD provide secret cabarets for many moons to come...)
----------------------
I can't say who'll be on/ above/ around the stage on Saturday. Its a secret.
Last week's Secret Cabaret was fantastic, with a packed audience and an array of talent, emotion and reactions. There was even an small escaped animal from the zoo. No? Maybe it was a freerange house pixie then, it was pretty fast-moving and it squeaked.
Friday 13th is to be Unlucky Night (8pm till 1am, free). New bands, music, acts, entertainment on stage and behind the bar. Then on Sunday its Games Night (8pm till 1am, free) to play cards, cheat at chess and drink tea. Monday night is members' night (8pm till 1am, free) often full of adrenalin-filled survivors from the acro class, juggling class and, hmph, folk who couldn't get to their life-drawing class...
This is a snippet of what happened at last Saturday's Secret Cabaret:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jJsQRFh1Tg
Lauriston Lectures 2009
Lauriston Lectures 2009
Lauriston Castle
14 May '09 - 15 Dec '09
10:30 - 12:30
£8
Includes special tour of Lauriston Castle, coffee and cakes
2a Cramond Road South, Davidson's Mains
Child Friendly (but no mention of wheelie-friendly, so it is possible that only a partial tour is possible)
Our lectures are hugely popular. Pre-booking and advance payment are essential. To secure your place, call Margaret Findlay on 0131 529 3963, or Sandra Marwick on 0131 529 3962. Please note that people do book very early for events much later in the year, so if you fancy a particular event later in the year, book as soon as the programme comes out.
http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/Attachments/Internet/Leisure/Museums_and_galleries/Lauriston_Castle/Lectures3_100309FP%20(comp).pdf
next lecture:
Fish knives were Bourgeois: An insight into EdwardianEtiquette
Thursday 26 November, 10.30 am
The Edwardian Era was a time when every part of the day was
governed by rules and failure to abide by these rules could result
in social disgrace. Discover more about manners, etiquette and
the art of being the perfect Edwardian.
by
Helen Edwards, Curator, City of Edinburgh Museums
and Galleries
Monday
Lauriston Castle
14 May '09 - 15 Dec '09
10:30 - 12:30
£8
Includes special tour of Lauriston Castle, coffee and cakes
2a Cramond Road South, Davidson's Mains
Child Friendly (but no mention of wheelie-friendly, so it is possible that only a partial tour is possible)
Our lectures are hugely popular. Pre-booking and advance payment are essential. To secure your place, call Margaret Findlay on 0131 529 3963, or Sandra Marwick on 0131 529 3962. Please note that people do book very early for events much later in the year, so if you fancy a particular event later in the year, book as soon as the programme comes out.
http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/Attachments/Internet/Leisure/Museums_and_galleries/Lauriston_Castle/Lectures3_100309FP%20(comp).pdf
next lecture:
Fish knives were Bourgeois: An insight into EdwardianEtiquette
Thursday 26 November, 10.30 am
The Edwardian Era was a time when every part of the day was
governed by rules and failure to abide by these rules could result
in social disgrace. Discover more about manners, etiquette and
the art of being the perfect Edwardian.
by
Helen Edwards, Curator, City of Edinburgh Museums
and Galleries
Monday
for lovers of crime fiction and genetics...
A week from now:
Forensic science and crime fiction.
The Social Sessions 02: Dr Jekyll’s DNA found – is Hyde in the clear?
Central Reference Library
18th November
18:00 – 19:45
To attend, please register by emailing genomics.forum@ed.ac.uk or call 0131 651 4747.
Authors Ian Rankin and Lin Anderson together with Dr Steve Sturdy of the ESRC Genomics Forum will explore how how genetic science is used by contemporary crime writers.
In the late nineteenth century, criminologists such as Lombroso argued that the criminal was an evolutionary throwback. Genes ‘for’ deviant behaviour are still sometimes claimed to exist. But it’s after the crime has taken place that genetic science comes to the fore, with DNA evidence often decisive in convicting or clearing a suspect. Do crime writers still find their villains conform to ‘the criminal type’? And has the DNA revolution in forensic science changed the plot? The discussion will be led by Ken Macleod, Writer in Residence at the ESRC Genomics Forum.
Due to venue capacity, only one seat per person can be reserved in the first instance. Seats will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Only those named on the Genomics Forum’s event list will be admitted. More information is available from the Genomics Forum.
The Social Sessions are a carnival of discussions about science and literature taking place October 2009 – January 2010.
http://talesofonecity.wordpress.com/2009/10/31/forensic-science-and-crime-fiction-event/
Forensic science and crime fiction.
The Social Sessions 02: Dr Jekyll’s DNA found – is Hyde in the clear?
Central Reference Library
18th November
18:00 – 19:45
To attend, please register by emailing genomics.forum@ed.ac.uk or call 0131 651 4747.
Authors Ian Rankin and Lin Anderson together with Dr Steve Sturdy of the ESRC Genomics Forum will explore how how genetic science is used by contemporary crime writers.
In the late nineteenth century, criminologists such as Lombroso argued that the criminal was an evolutionary throwback. Genes ‘for’ deviant behaviour are still sometimes claimed to exist. But it’s after the crime has taken place that genetic science comes to the fore, with DNA evidence often decisive in convicting or clearing a suspect. Do crime writers still find their villains conform to ‘the criminal type’? And has the DNA revolution in forensic science changed the plot? The discussion will be led by Ken Macleod, Writer in Residence at the ESRC Genomics Forum.
Due to venue capacity, only one seat per person can be reserved in the first instance. Seats will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Only those named on the Genomics Forum’s event list will be admitted. More information is available from the Genomics Forum.
The Social Sessions are a carnival of discussions about science and literature taking place October 2009 – January 2010.
http://talesofonecity.wordpress.com/2009/10/31/forensic-science-and-crime-fiction-event/
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
food hygiene certificate on wheels
I've been researching (ok, I've been googling) for courses regarding the food hygiene certificate required to provide anything edible for sale. I know the laws are so tight now that even school fetes are hit by this, and I want to help with fundraising elsewhere, so I'd like to have it in my armoury.
Two main issues: For the exact same certificate (apparently), colleges across Edinburgh appear to be offering variously tuition in a day for £24 or in a year for £275, or in a term for £50, or online in an hour for £9.99. I'm thinking the latter may be provided by the Nigerian banker who emailed me earlier (I'm rich!) but it may not. How long can it take to demonstrate that I know how to tie my hair back, wash my hands, use clean utensils, check sell-by dates and not drip the blood of newly-slaughtered animals onto my baking?
Secondly, can this be done seated..? Does one have to be able to leap to the sink freely and unencumbered in between flips and tosses to count as truly hygenic? Are wheels allowed in the kitchen? Is there a system akin to farm entry during foot and mouth where wheels have to drive in across an antiseptic mat?
Also, my hands and arms aren't strong enough to perform on cue should there be one day a year when colleges allow the general public to prove they aren't complete twats in the kitchen, bake a non-hairy cake and so gain their certification, so this isn't imminent. If its your birthday soon, don't go getting your hopes up. Greggs do a perfectly adequate birthday cake.
EDETA, Flemming House, Kinnaird Park tel 454 4840 £82.25 for a 1 day course
oops there's a crumb lodged under my enter key, have I just excluded myself in advance..?
ESF&W, The Coach House, Newliston tel 333 5001
1 day course 9 - 5 £65
Jewel & Esk, 24 Milton Road tel ?
£50
Telford, 350 West Granton Road tel ?
1 year part -time?! Even at my speed that can't be right.
Stevensons, tel 535 4800 £60 for a 1 day course
Online, edinburgh.trainingcourses.com with Learn Hq Ltd £9.99
and to check it isn't some micky mouse 'degree in kitchen competence':
City of Edinburgh Council Food Hygien Cert info tel 529 3030
or
Environmental Health and Trading Standards, Chesser House, 500 Gorgie Road, 529 3030
Wait, those two entries have the same telephone number. If that's part of the test I've just passed.
Will investigate this further during office hours.
Interestingly, while Fife, Perthshire and Aberdeen councils all offer free courses for this certificate to encourage the public to train up, there are (as yet, I may have missed it) no free classes in Edinburgh, in fact there isn't even anything under £50.
Two main issues: For the exact same certificate (apparently), colleges across Edinburgh appear to be offering variously tuition in a day for £24 or in a year for £275, or in a term for £50, or online in an hour for £9.99. I'm thinking the latter may be provided by the Nigerian banker who emailed me earlier (I'm rich!) but it may not. How long can it take to demonstrate that I know how to tie my hair back, wash my hands, use clean utensils, check sell-by dates and not drip the blood of newly-slaughtered animals onto my baking?
Secondly, can this be done seated..? Does one have to be able to leap to the sink freely and unencumbered in between flips and tosses to count as truly hygenic? Are wheels allowed in the kitchen? Is there a system akin to farm entry during foot and mouth where wheels have to drive in across an antiseptic mat?
Also, my hands and arms aren't strong enough to perform on cue should there be one day a year when colleges allow the general public to prove they aren't complete twats in the kitchen, bake a non-hairy cake and so gain their certification, so this isn't imminent. If its your birthday soon, don't go getting your hopes up. Greggs do a perfectly adequate birthday cake.
EDETA, Flemming House, Kinnaird Park tel 454 4840 £82.25 for a 1 day course
oops there's a crumb lodged under my enter key, have I just excluded myself in advance..?
ESF&W, The Coach House, Newliston tel 333 5001
1 day course 9 - 5 £65
Jewel & Esk, 24 Milton Road tel ?
£50
Telford, 350 West Granton Road tel ?
1 year part -time?! Even at my speed that can't be right.
Stevensons, tel 535 4800 £60 for a 1 day course
Online, edinburgh.trainingcourses.com with Learn Hq Ltd £9.99
and to check it isn't some micky mouse 'degree in kitchen competence':
City of Edinburgh Council Food Hygien Cert info tel 529 3030
or
Environmental Health and Trading Standards, Chesser House, 500 Gorgie Road, 529 3030
Wait, those two entries have the same telephone number. If that's part of the test I've just passed.
Will investigate this further during office hours.
Interestingly, while Fife, Perthshire and Aberdeen councils all offer free courses for this certificate to encourage the public to train up, there are (as yet, I may have missed it) no free classes in Edinburgh, in fact there isn't even anything under £50.
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Tollcross Community Centre - evening classes
Spotlight on:
Tollcross Community Centre
Tollcross Community Centre is part of a Community Wing attached to Tollcross Primary School. The Centre provides a base for numerous local and city wide groups to meet up socially and participate in a range of learning, recreational and creative activities.The space consists of a reception area, an office, and five rooms: three meeting/teaching rooms, one art room with a darkroom and one general purpose/crèche room with a kitchen atttached. The gym and dinning room are available for groups in the evening. The Centre is located on the ground level. When you enter the school yard from the street, the centre is the first entrance on the right. The foyer consists of a small seating area and has female, male and disabled toilets.There is a public telephone and a drinks refreshment machine. The Primary School and Gaelic School are located to the left of the Community Wing.
The Arts
Scots Music, Song & DanceThe Scots Music Group offers tuition for adults aged 16 years and over, in a variety of instruments including fiddle, whistle, accordion, mandolin, small-pipes, bagpipes, guitar and mixed instruments. There are also classes in song, ceilidh dance and Scots step dance. In addition, there are weekend workshops, pub sessions, ceilidh dances, festivals and ongoing involvement in community events.
For a programme phone Ros Gasson or Sheila Capewell on 0131 555 7668. Email:mailto:%20info@alpscotsmusic.org Web: http://www.scotsmusic.org/
Aye, Write!
Have you been writing away on your own for a while - or do you just need a bit of focus and some stimulus to get started. ALP's Aye, Write! Project offers the chance to write, share and develop through poems, stories, monologues – as well as practical ways to get your words out to the public. No experience necessary. Professional writer/tutor Billy Cornwall (guest writers planned).
Tuesdays evening 7.15-9.15pm. For more details contact Billy at ALP.
Robert Burns Project
250th Anniversary of Burns’ BirthFocused around 25 January 2009, ALP will host a week-long series of learning and social events celebrating Scots language, song and music. There will be events for writers and poets, a multi-cultural Burns lunch, a ceilidh dance and perhaps a play. You will be invited to an alternative Burns Supper and Dance at Tollcross Community Centre.
Spanish Identity in Edinburgh: An Art Workshop
The project will focus on the Spanish community in Edinburgh and explore the positive and negative aspects of Spanish culture and the aspects involved with living in a non-Spanish speaking country. The course will use art to look at the anguish of moving to a new country and the processes of adaptation.
Wednesdays 6.30 to 8.30pm. For more details contact John or Gemma at ALP.
Mosaics
As part of Adult Education Programme, the City of Edinburgh Council will run a course for beginners in mosaic making in our art room. • Wednesdays from 10am to 12 midday. Class starts 24 Sept. For more information go to www.edinburgh.gov.uk/adultcourses or phone 0131 469 6181 or contact ALP.
Community Darkroom
ALP has been running photographic courses, projects and exhibitions for over twenty years.There are photography courses in filming, developing and printing black and white prints in the Centre's darkroom. Over the coming year ALP may create new photographic projects, using digital photography and imaging as well as chemical photography (related group: WIFIE)For more information contact ALP.
Also at the centre:
Tollcross State Circus
Monday, 7.00pm
£2, £1
Contact: Michael (gandolf(att)juggler.net)
tel: 0131 228 1386, 0131 447 7862
Still going strong. Club has been meeting weekly for the best part of two decades. Beginners welcome.
Tollcross Community Centre
Tollcross Primary School
117 Fountainbridge
Edinburgh
EH3 9QG
Tel: 0131 221 5800
Fax: 0131 221 9264
an interesting circus-skill-related paper if you are still here and reading:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/culturalcommission/cultural/files/Ph2%2066%20Streetnet.pdf
and a related sports/ art site, more mainstream than acro:
http://www.lothiandisabilitysport.co.uk/index.asp
Tollcross Community Centre
Tollcross Community Centre is part of a Community Wing attached to Tollcross Primary School. The Centre provides a base for numerous local and city wide groups to meet up socially and participate in a range of learning, recreational and creative activities.The space consists of a reception area, an office, and five rooms: three meeting/teaching rooms, one art room with a darkroom and one general purpose/crèche room with a kitchen atttached. The gym and dinning room are available for groups in the evening. The Centre is located on the ground level. When you enter the school yard from the street, the centre is the first entrance on the right. The foyer consists of a small seating area and has female, male and disabled toilets.There is a public telephone and a drinks refreshment machine. The Primary School and Gaelic School are located to the left of the Community Wing.
The Arts
Scots Music, Song & DanceThe Scots Music Group offers tuition for adults aged 16 years and over, in a variety of instruments including fiddle, whistle, accordion, mandolin, small-pipes, bagpipes, guitar and mixed instruments. There are also classes in song, ceilidh dance and Scots step dance. In addition, there are weekend workshops, pub sessions, ceilidh dances, festivals and ongoing involvement in community events.
For a programme phone Ros Gasson or Sheila Capewell on 0131 555 7668. Email:mailto:%20info@alpscotsmusic.org Web: http://www.scotsmusic.org/
Aye, Write!
Have you been writing away on your own for a while - or do you just need a bit of focus and some stimulus to get started. ALP's Aye, Write! Project offers the chance to write, share and develop through poems, stories, monologues – as well as practical ways to get your words out to the public. No experience necessary. Professional writer/tutor Billy Cornwall (guest writers planned).
Tuesdays evening 7.15-9.15pm. For more details contact Billy at ALP.
Robert Burns Project
250th Anniversary of Burns’ BirthFocused around 25 January 2009, ALP will host a week-long series of learning and social events celebrating Scots language, song and music. There will be events for writers and poets, a multi-cultural Burns lunch, a ceilidh dance and perhaps a play. You will be invited to an alternative Burns Supper and Dance at Tollcross Community Centre.
Spanish Identity in Edinburgh: An Art Workshop
The project will focus on the Spanish community in Edinburgh and explore the positive and negative aspects of Spanish culture and the aspects involved with living in a non-Spanish speaking country. The course will use art to look at the anguish of moving to a new country and the processes of adaptation.
Wednesdays 6.30 to 8.30pm. For more details contact John or Gemma at ALP.
Mosaics
As part of Adult Education Programme, the City of Edinburgh Council will run a course for beginners in mosaic making in our art room. • Wednesdays from 10am to 12 midday. Class starts 24 Sept. For more information go to www.edinburgh.gov.uk/adultcourses or phone 0131 469 6181 or contact ALP.
Community Darkroom
ALP has been running photographic courses, projects and exhibitions for over twenty years.There are photography courses in filming, developing and printing black and white prints in the Centre's darkroom. Over the coming year ALP may create new photographic projects, using digital photography and imaging as well as chemical photography (related group: WIFIE)For more information contact ALP.
Also at the centre:
Tollcross State Circus
Monday, 7.00pm
£2, £1
Contact: Michael (gandolf(att)juggler.net)
tel: 0131 228 1386, 0131 447 7862
Still going strong. Club has been meeting weekly for the best part of two decades. Beginners welcome.
Tollcross Community Centre
Tollcross Primary School
117 Fountainbridge
Edinburgh
EH3 9QG
Tel: 0131 221 5800
Fax: 0131 221 9264
an interesting circus-skill-related paper if you are still here and reading:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/culturalcommission/cultural/files/Ph2%2066%20Streetnet.pdf
and a related sports/ art site, more mainstream than acro:
http://www.lothiandisabilitysport.co.uk/index.asp
tePOOKa update
tePOOKa @ The Big Red Door
Good news and Bad news. The bad news- as you may have heard the Big Red is in serious danger of closing for good. If we dont make a shed load of money the landlord will stop the lease. The good news- we have nothing left to lose! So we are going to open and stay open untill we fall over.
Our regular FREE events from now on will be:
Friday Theme night - Live bands, performances and sillyness. This week its Unlucky Night, bring a mirror and a hammer.
8 - 1am
Secret Saturday Cabaret - a full-on cabaret featuring the best local and international acts. Comedy, music, circus, burlesque and spoken word are just the easily described things that we will have for you.
Doors at 8 show starts 9pm.
Sunday Juggling - Mirrors, mats, music and heat, what more do you need? Well we also have a friendly atmosphere and teachers on hand to help you get to grips with your new favourite toys. 3 - 6pm
Games Night - After Juggling on Sunday we have games night, where we get together to play any kind of game small enough to fit in the building (and hopefully a few that take up the whole city) from Risk to Role-play, go to go fish!
6 - Midnight
Members' Mondays - Members only!!!! Ask at the bar...
Remember all these events are FREE ENTRY with snacks and drinks available by donation. We are dedicated to serving the local community and one of the ways we do this is by offering performance opportunities for local artists, so if you have an act or a band and need an audience, talk to us! info@tepooka.org, or through facebookery.
Big Tings!!! More Tings Commin!!!!
Good news and Bad news. The bad news- as you may have heard the Big Red is in serious danger of closing for good. If we dont make a shed load of money the landlord will stop the lease. The good news- we have nothing left to lose! So we are going to open and stay open untill we fall over.
Our regular FREE events from now on will be:
Friday Theme night - Live bands, performances and sillyness. This week its Unlucky Night, bring a mirror and a hammer.
8 - 1am
Secret Saturday Cabaret - a full-on cabaret featuring the best local and international acts. Comedy, music, circus, burlesque and spoken word are just the easily described things that we will have for you.
Doors at 8 show starts 9pm.
Sunday Juggling - Mirrors, mats, music and heat, what more do you need? Well we also have a friendly atmosphere and teachers on hand to help you get to grips with your new favourite toys. 3 - 6pm
Games Night - After Juggling on Sunday we have games night, where we get together to play any kind of game small enough to fit in the building (and hopefully a few that take up the whole city) from Risk to Role-play, go to go fish!
6 - Midnight
Members' Mondays - Members only!!!! Ask at the bar...
Remember all these events are FREE ENTRY with snacks and drinks available by donation. We are dedicated to serving the local community and one of the ways we do this is by offering performance opportunities for local artists, so if you have an act or a band and need an audience, talk to us! info@tepooka.org, or through facebookery.
Big Tings!!! More Tings Commin!!!!
gratuitous plug
For Mette, the amazing scandanavian designer behind Freja, who has just won the Scottish Bridal Designer of 2009. I can't point you at her studio as it is down a flight of New Town steps, but I want to point a spotlight at her as she is a fantastic and talented woman!
And a demon at pushing a wheelchair over cobbles...
And a demon at pushing a wheelchair over cobbles...
Forest Cafe
The downstairs section of this hive of community activity is accessible, and includes a gallery space. What is the Forest Cafe? I hear you ask...
The Forest is a volunteer run, not-for-profit arts, social and events space masquerading as a groovy veggie café in the heart of Edinburgh. all events are free. all are welcome to help, admire or perform.
...we like to do things, such as...
● host a variety of free events all year long. you're never going to be asked to pay an entry fee, and you will never have to pay-to-play
● provide resources for anyone to run free workshops/skillshares, and get people involved in consensus based decision making
● teach people how to make veggie and vegan foods and work a kitchen
● run an open access, artist led gallery offering creatives the chance to exhibit and develop their work free from commission
● host Free Shop events where you can leave and take what you feel you want to
● help artists, bands, writers, makers, crafters, hackers, activists, clowns, visitors et al do more...
The Forest is a volunteer run, not-for-profit arts, social and events space masquerading as a groovy veggie café in the heart of Edinburgh. all events are free. all are welcome to help, admire or perform.
...we like to do things, such as...
● host a variety of free events all year long. you're never going to be asked to pay an entry fee, and you will never have to pay-to-play
● provide resources for anyone to run free workshops/skillshares, and get people involved in consensus based decision making
● teach people how to make veggie and vegan foods and work a kitchen
● run an open access, artist led gallery offering creatives the chance to exhibit and develop their work free from commission
● host Free Shop events where you can leave and take what you feel you want to
● help artists, bands, writers, makers, crafters, hackers, activists, clowns, visitors et al do more...
And, if your CV is looking for some oomph, you could get some (green) mileage from the experience of volunteering here.
estimations
I had one of those DUH moments tonight.
I used to wander around, all tall and stompy/ elegant/ away with the fairies in ye olde days, but regardless of the state I was always aware of my relative height to those of other people. Seated, I have lost the ability to judge heights, along with my confidence on pavement surfaces it would seem after last year's tumble, which explains why two inches off the ground seems too high. Anyway, my friend J, the tiny wee acrobatic lass - I thought - turned out tonight to be the same height as me, so accordingly everyone in the room promptly grew by several big inches.
I still can't judge the width of doorways...
I used to wander around, all tall and stompy/ elegant/ away with the fairies in ye olde days, but regardless of the state I was always aware of my relative height to those of other people. Seated, I have lost the ability to judge heights, along with my confidence on pavement surfaces it would seem after last year's tumble, which explains why two inches off the ground seems too high. Anyway, my friend J, the tiny wee acrobatic lass - I thought - turned out tonight to be the same height as me, so accordingly everyone in the room promptly grew by several big inches.
I still can't judge the width of doorways...
Monday, 9 November 2009
access mapping recommendations
So far the best suggestions (thank you!) are:
"It occurs to me that devotees of certain activities such as parkour, cycling, and pub crawls probably create wiki-maps, using something like Google Maps to network. You might be able to piggyback off some of these services. I did a quick google search for "parkour route maps" (as my logic is that traceurs will be seeking and thinking about ... Read moreobstacles, although not quite from the same viewpoint) and I found thesewww.extremesportsmap.comwww.sanoodi.com
I'm sure an argument can be made that wheeling in Edinburgh counts as an extreme sport!"
"This looks like the ideal use for something like openstreetmap. It's just the kind of thing that would take a useful idea ("wouldn't it be good if we could map pavements and roads separately?") to something worth spending time on ("and then we can annotate pavement edges, ramps, paving stones disrupted by tree roots, etc etc"). I have no idea whether this stuff is already done, whether there is infrastructure there for it, etc. Have a look at openstreetmap.org for more info!"
"It's in German, but http://www.rollstuhlrouting.de/ appears to do just that with OSM data.Added:http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/DE:Rollstuhlfahrer-Routing&ei=h4D0SvPzO4mw4QaJiZDVAw&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CA8Q7gEwAA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Drollstuhlfahrer%2Bopenstreetmap%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26hs%3DLTV%26sa%3DG"
"you might want to talk to walkit.com who produce walking maps of cities. Given that they do on-the-ground checks of routes, I can't see why they wouldn't be keen to incorporate wheelie-accessibility. I know they were looking at incorporating grades for steepness (because a short-on-the-map route is bugger all use to some of us if it goes up and down and up again on a steep steppy slope.)"
"Maybe have a natter to the main Tourist Info team in the building next Waverley Station, they stock a lot of wheelie-friendly info and are the first place I've seen that."
Progress!
"It occurs to me that devotees of certain activities such as parkour, cycling, and pub crawls probably create wiki-maps, using something like Google Maps to network. You might be able to piggyback off some of these services. I did a quick google search for "parkour route maps" (as my logic is that traceurs will be seeking and thinking about ... Read moreobstacles, although not quite from the same viewpoint) and I found thesewww.extremesportsmap.comwww.sanoodi.com
I'm sure an argument can be made that wheeling in Edinburgh counts as an extreme sport!"
"This looks like the ideal use for something like openstreetmap. It's just the kind of thing that would take a useful idea ("wouldn't it be good if we could map pavements and roads separately?") to something worth spending time on ("and then we can annotate pavement edges, ramps, paving stones disrupted by tree roots, etc etc"). I have no idea whether this stuff is already done, whether there is infrastructure there for it, etc. Have a look at openstreetmap.org for more info!"
"It's in German, but http://www.rollstuhlrouting.de/ appears to do just that with OSM data.Added:http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/DE:Rollstuhlfahrer-Routing&ei=h4D0SvPzO4mw4QaJiZDVAw&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CA8Q7gEwAA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Drollstuhlfahrer%2Bopenstreetmap%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26hs%3DLTV%26sa%3DG"
"you might want to talk to walkit.com who produce walking maps of cities. Given that they do on-the-ground checks of routes, I can't see why they wouldn't be keen to incorporate wheelie-accessibility. I know they were looking at incorporating grades for steepness (because a short-on-the-map route is bugger all use to some of us if it goes up and down and up again on a steep steppy slope.)"
"Maybe have a natter to the main Tourist Info team in the building next Waverley Station, they stock a lot of wheelie-friendly info and are the first place I've seen that."
Progress!
Friday, 6 November 2009
Mapping Edinburgh for wee wheels
Ok, based on the pavement disasters and lack of communication while I've been in town, I see that there's a sore need for a database of useable pathways round the city. It would have do be done in section so that the detail of every single pavement in the city can be shown. Yes I know they used to provide maps of accessible cycle paths in the city, but there is no source of information for kerb edges and crossings.
I'm assuming the council already has this kind of map software (or how else would they be able to design, conduct and maintain repairs) but I'm also assuming that they don't have green and red lines showing the manageable and impassable elements of each pavement for wheelchairs or they'd be too embarrassed to leave the house. Oh, the irony.
I can't map the entire city on my own, well, duh, I can't reach most of it except by taxi, and there are plenty of wheelies out there who have more extensive knowledge, but in the meantime I can mark up the Cowgate and Grassmarket. As far as I know, there is no stretch of pavement/ kerb improvements where they have all been done correctly and smoothly, so there is no through-route anywhere in the city (yet) That can't be right, surely?
I don't want this to become my job. Not least because there are people being paid for this to already be their job, but they aren't giving out information and I think it might be just about possible that they don't actually know of all the inacurately-built edges on the new crossings that they funded. I would like to attend the next departmental meeting with these people to show them my ink on their maps, then take them out in wheelchairs and tell them to try to get back to their office safely, or even just alive. It's ok, I have spiderman plasters in my bag. And a crash helmet.
I am also very much looking forward to seeing the green inky pavements that I don't know about yet. The thought of zooming along them is quite wonderful.
Right then, I need software. The largest scale map of the city and three colours of pen. It's ok, I don't mind sitting here doing the inking in for the Cowgate-Grassmarket information, its not as though I'm GOING FOR A TRUNDLE ANYWHERE.
Now, where should the map be hosted in order to be available to all visitors, tourists, businesses and locals? Obviously every council site and tourist site should carry links to it, but if any area shows more red than green it might be too embarrassing for the authorities to want to reveal it, and possibly litigious for the contractors who carried out 'improvement' work on kerbs now still marked in blood, oops I mean red ink.
And before I'm jumped on for being 'ungrateful' and 'unreasonably demanding', I aknowledge that there are parts of this beautiful old hilly city that I couldn't possibly access, and I understand that. Those aren't the areas I'm referring to here!
I'm assuming the council already has this kind of map software (or how else would they be able to design, conduct and maintain repairs) but I'm also assuming that they don't have green and red lines showing the manageable and impassable elements of each pavement for wheelchairs or they'd be too embarrassed to leave the house. Oh, the irony.
I can't map the entire city on my own, well, duh, I can't reach most of it except by taxi, and there are plenty of wheelies out there who have more extensive knowledge, but in the meantime I can mark up the Cowgate and Grassmarket. As far as I know, there is no stretch of pavement/ kerb improvements where they have all been done correctly and smoothly, so there is no through-route anywhere in the city (yet) That can't be right, surely?
I don't want this to become my job. Not least because there are people being paid for this to already be their job, but they aren't giving out information and I think it might be just about possible that they don't actually know of all the inacurately-built edges on the new crossings that they funded. I would like to attend the next departmental meeting with these people to show them my ink on their maps, then take them out in wheelchairs and tell them to try to get back to their office safely, or even just alive. It's ok, I have spiderman plasters in my bag. And a crash helmet.
I am also very much looking forward to seeing the green inky pavements that I don't know about yet. The thought of zooming along them is quite wonderful.
Right then, I need software. The largest scale map of the city and three colours of pen. It's ok, I don't mind sitting here doing the inking in for the Cowgate-Grassmarket information, its not as though I'm GOING FOR A TRUNDLE ANYWHERE.
Now, where should the map be hosted in order to be available to all visitors, tourists, businesses and locals? Obviously every council site and tourist site should carry links to it, but if any area shows more red than green it might be too embarrassing for the authorities to want to reveal it, and possibly litigious for the contractors who carried out 'improvement' work on kerbs now still marked in blood, oops I mean red ink.
And before I'm jumped on for being 'ungrateful' and 'unreasonably demanding', I aknowledge that there are parts of this beautiful old hilly city that I couldn't possibly access, and I understand that. Those aren't the areas I'm referring to here!
Thursday, 5 November 2009
new events at tePOOKa
Secret Saturday Cabaret @ the BRDfunfunfunFREEfunfunfun
Open 8pm till 1am
Free entry with donations at the bar
The Big Red Door
10 Lady Lawson Street
Edinburgh
This Saturday is the first of out weekly cabarets that will run till they fall over. Featuring Circus, Magic, Standup, Storytelling and much more we guarantee a great night of local acts, local booze and good winter cheer. Even if you come along on your own and don't know anyone there at all, you will be welcomed and settled into the household with a glass of something peculiar!
Saturdays 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th November - and then it'll get even more festive...
The Big Red Door is an old Victorian warehouse situated in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle on Lady Lawson Street.The Big Red Door, formally the well-loved Lawsons Timber, has been taken over by performance arts charity te POOKa. It has been renovated into a production house to showcase local arts and performance and grassroots artists from around the world. Includes studio space (for hire), exhibition hall, and courtyard garden with artist studios and music studio in the making. The pooks perform and teach all over the world, but this is home :-)
The barn-like interior has a feel of olde-worlde faded chic with an Moroccan approach to eclectic seating, orphaned chaise-lounges, scarlet pillars, clusters of candlelit cabaret tables, old (but tuned) pianos, huge velvet curtains and international wall art. Look above you - there are trapeze swings amongst those huge old beams. Upstairs there are juggling classes, aerial acrobatics classes, circus skills and drumming classes. There are also some spaces in the Big Red Diary to rent the rehearsal space out to your own group if you are interested in a change of venue with good facilities, and fully-trained teachers if you'd like to try one of their classes. Please get in touch if you would like to see the facilites and meet the teachers, sign up for a class or talk about moving your club or group in through these wonderful doors.
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
writing my own worlds
With impeccable timing, an email arrived to inform me that my short story 'The Market' is in the final twenty for the Earlyworks Press competition so will be included in the anthology early next year. Hoorah! It's particularly nice as I read it on stage on Friday. I've cheered up now, think I'm accepting that my journeys round here will involve taxis or rickshaws.
The details of the Highlands and Islands short story competition are now up on their website:
http://www.hissac.co.uk/2009_stories.html
I have spent my winnings on this autumn city break, thanks you hugely HISSAC!
I'm still amazed at what is happening now that I'm actually sending my wee stories out instead of keeping them in a box under the bed. Who'd have thought?! I sent one off at the weekend with eleven minutes to go to the submission deadline. I don't recommend that method. There's another anthology I think I have something suitable for, with a deadline in a week's time. Maybe I should sort that tonight.
I was just thinking that most of the writers I vaguely know (proper grown-up ones) I met in the Southsider pub (which is accessible btw). It used to be a joke that writers could always be found in the pub, talking about the books they clearly weren't writing. Except that they did actually go off and write, and sold their books to the world...
If I ever become slightly rich and infamous I'm going to hire someone to run ahead of me with a barrow of cement, fixing the pavements.
The details of the Highlands and Islands short story competition are now up on their website:
http://www.hissac.co.uk/2009_stories.html
I have spent my winnings on this autumn city break, thanks you hugely HISSAC!
I'm still amazed at what is happening now that I'm actually sending my wee stories out instead of keeping them in a box under the bed. Who'd have thought?! I sent one off at the weekend with eleven minutes to go to the submission deadline. I don't recommend that method. There's another anthology I think I have something suitable for, with a deadline in a week's time. Maybe I should sort that tonight.
I was just thinking that most of the writers I vaguely know (proper grown-up ones) I met in the Southsider pub (which is accessible btw). It used to be a joke that writers could always be found in the pub, talking about the books they clearly weren't writing. Except that they did actually go off and write, and sold their books to the world...
If I ever become slightly rich and infamous I'm going to hire someone to run ahead of me with a barrow of cement, fixing the pavements.
practicalities of wheels
Last night I was hit by the realisation that I can't get out of here without help. Now I know that has been the case for years with the manual wheelchair, and I'm accustomed to not dwelling on it, but I had this idea that with a scooter I'd be relatively liberated on good days. Not quite rejoining the city, not even with my imagination, but at least being able to drive outside, look at the sun/ moon/ sunset/ ferrets, buy a bar of chocolate and eat it BY MYSELF. Or, here's a really revoluntionary thought, drive out and bump into humans with whom to share the chocolate!
It just hit me that if I ran out of taxi money I'd be scuppered until someone with a car showed up. There is a proper shop along the road that a person could nip out to: the Cowgate Newsagents with wide doorway, low step, loads of space to manoeuvre in the shop and a lovely most helpful gentleman shopkeeper) but its taking the piss to take a cab there and back.
I'm fortunate enough to live in Edinburgh, a city of culture and well- funded social progress. The council has spent a fortune on roads and pavements. So why am I stranded here?
.
.
.
.
Without chocolate.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Oh! Aha! When do the rickshaws start work? They do this area! Hmm...
It just hit me that if I ran out of taxi money I'd be scuppered until someone with a car showed up. There is a proper shop along the road that a person could nip out to: the Cowgate Newsagents with wide doorway, low step, loads of space to manoeuvre in the shop and a lovely most helpful gentleman shopkeeper) but its taking the piss to take a cab there and back.
I'm fortunate enough to live in Edinburgh, a city of culture and well- funded social progress. The council has spent a fortune on roads and pavements. So why am I stranded here?
.
.
.
.
Without chocolate.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Oh! Aha! When do the rickshaws start work? They do this area! Hmm...
free seven days of sauna and swims
http://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/resources/Portobello-7-day-pass.pdf
Free use of facilities in the Portobello Leisure Centre (Turkish Baths, swimming pool, gym) for seven days in November. Fully accessible, including cafe.
Men's day in the Turkish baths is Tuesday, Wed is Women's day but is considerably shorter. Mixed days all other days.
Free use of facilities in the Portobello Leisure Centre (Turkish Baths, swimming pool, gym) for seven days in November. Fully accessible, including cafe.
Men's day in the Turkish baths is Tuesday, Wed is Women's day but is considerably shorter. Mixed days all other days.
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
kerbs of doom
Feckin pavements feckin pavements feckin idiots who think they've designed feckin accessible feckin pavement edges feckin lethal mistakes the feckin idiots should be made to use themselves to feel the fear of being STUCK in the road when the traffic speeds up FECKIN WANKERS! All that money spent on 'improving' kerb edges to make them accessible and DOINGTHEM WRONG!!!! Feckin lethal feckin mistakes unbelievably badly built NEW edges of expensive new accessible kerb edges just about killed me YOU TOSSERS.
Can you tell I'm sitting here with pulled muscles in my neck, shoulder, arm and back?
So, how much money was spent on resurfacing, sorry, re-resurfacing the Grassmarket? Did it occur to no-one to extend it slightly so folk could actually get in and out of the Grassmarket too? Do you think it has landing pads for my tardis or summat?
I was too shaken after the first recce so am only now writing about it now after the second attempt to navigate sections of the straight(ish) hillroad from Holyrood Road junction -- Cowgate -- Grassmarket. Its the first time I've ever test-driven a mobility scooter or moved around the centre of town on my own since I was well and stompy on two fine feets so I knew it would be nervewracking, and likely shake me enough to hurt physically, but I underestimated the whole thing. I could see from the taxi that there were new kerb edges here and there but you can't always tell till (stuck) on them that they've been built by some sort of sadist.
First time out, I tried the pavements from the Three Sisters down to the junction where Cowgate becomes Holyrood Road. I have never been so scared of falling over in my life, not even when dangling from a cliff. And when two parts were blocked by huge wheelie bins and I had to use the road amongst the hurtling trucks SHUDDER I'll write it up later, I need my notes and some valium first. Actually, stopping frequently to sit and write a few lines was a cover-up for taking a few deep breaths and calming down, then facing up to the next few metres.
The second recce was from The Three Sisters up towards the Cowgate, stopping at the pubic triangle's roadworks. I got about 60 metres with two big wobbles that I was sure would tip me over, and then reached a kerb edge that I couldn't cross. I looked across the road, but they too were high and unpassable. So, that was that, I had to reverse back to the courtyard of the Three Sisters call a taxi. I peered at the pavements all the way through the Grassmarket and they look passable, but only on the left hand side. The right-hand side has unaltered high kerb edges as soon as you leave the main square.
Next, I tested the crossing outside the art college's new building, one with new improved kerb edges. Its on a hill so isn't one for the fainthearted, but its an important crossing, not least because the other parts of the junction are all closed by roadworks. The left hand side was ok, but in trying to get up onto the other side of the road my wheels jammed. The kerb was officially a lowered crossing but had been installed incorrectly so the kerb was still too high. How much did that cost? Any other kind of tradesman would have to repair crap work for free, so send those contractors back out to all the edges and get them to repair the mistakes for free, don't faff around claiming no cash.
I was left in the road as the traffic started up again, and had to use my own weight to get the scooter up to safety. Yeah, I don't have that kind of strength, hence ripped muscles.
I had to get to a place where a taxi could collect me safely so crossed Lady Lawson Street on a thankfully fully-lowered crossing. I had a vague plan to use a takeaway around the pubic triangle as a place to call from, but couldn't get past all the bouncers and manly types standing outside the strip club so had to turn and park at the junction to just hope.
Now, this is the area where four black cabs in a row have sped off as soon as they saw the wheelchair so when I flagged one and he said he'd have to go turn, I didn't expect to see him again. My mistake, he not only reappeared but has to be the most helpful and understanding cabbie I've ever found round there. Cab 1114 - if you see him thank him for me for ending a very bad night not in tears but with a smile and a baked potato!
PS to whoever built the pavement edges: you owe me £12 in cab fares, six weeks of physio and possibly a year of therapy.
Can you tell I'm sitting here with pulled muscles in my neck, shoulder, arm and back?
So, how much money was spent on resurfacing, sorry, re-resurfacing the Grassmarket? Did it occur to no-one to extend it slightly so folk could actually get in and out of the Grassmarket too? Do you think it has landing pads for my tardis or summat?
I was too shaken after the first recce so am only now writing about it now after the second attempt to navigate sections of the straight(ish) hillroad from Holyrood Road junction -- Cowgate -- Grassmarket. Its the first time I've ever test-driven a mobility scooter or moved around the centre of town on my own since I was well and stompy on two fine feets so I knew it would be nervewracking, and likely shake me enough to hurt physically, but I underestimated the whole thing. I could see from the taxi that there were new kerb edges here and there but you can't always tell till (stuck) on them that they've been built by some sort of sadist.
First time out, I tried the pavements from the Three Sisters down to the junction where Cowgate becomes Holyrood Road. I have never been so scared of falling over in my life, not even when dangling from a cliff. And when two parts were blocked by huge wheelie bins and I had to use the road amongst the hurtling trucks SHUDDER
The second recce was from The Three Sisters up towards the Cowgate, stopping at the pubic triangle's roadworks. I got about 60 metres with two big wobbles that I was sure would tip me over, and then reached a kerb edge that I couldn't cross. I looked across the road, but they too were high and unpassable. So, that was that, I had to reverse back to the courtyard of the Three Sisters call a taxi. I peered at the pavements all the way through the Grassmarket and they look passable, but only on the left hand side. The right-hand side has unaltered high kerb edges as soon as you leave the main square.
Next, I tested the crossing outside the art college's new building, one with new improved kerb edges. Its on a hill so isn't one for the fainthearted, but its an important crossing, not least because the other parts of the junction are all closed by roadworks. The left hand side was ok, but in trying to get up onto the other side of the road my wheels jammed. The kerb was officially a lowered crossing but had been installed incorrectly so the kerb was still too high. How much did that cost? Any other kind of tradesman would have to repair crap work for free, so send those contractors back out to all the edges and get them to repair the mistakes for free, don't faff around claiming no cash.
I was left in the road as the traffic started up again, and had to use my own weight to get the scooter up to safety. Yeah, I don't have that kind of strength, hence ripped muscles.
I had to get to a place where a taxi could collect me safely so crossed Lady Lawson Street on a thankfully fully-lowered crossing. I had a vague plan to use a takeaway around the pubic triangle as a place to call from, but couldn't get past all the bouncers and manly types standing outside the strip club so had to turn and park at the junction to just hope.
Now, this is the area where four black cabs in a row have sped off as soon as they saw the wheelchair so when I flagged one and he said he'd have to go turn, I didn't expect to see him again. My mistake, he not only reappeared but has to be the most helpful and understanding cabbie I've ever found round there. Cab 1114 - if you see him thank him for me for ending a very bad night not in tears but with a smile and a baked potato!
PS to whoever built the pavement edges: you owe me £12 in cab fares, six weeks of physio and possibly a year of therapy.
Monday, 2 November 2009
November starts here
November again! I cannot believe that's been a year already. I don't know what was on today (other than rain) as I was a post-Samhuinn zombie.
Accessible things to do after (or instead of) work this week:
Monday 2nd
Members' Night at the Big Red Door
come along, join for £1 and support tePOOKa, the innovative arts charity.
Big Red Door
Lady Lawson Street
9pm till midnight
http://www.tepooka.org/
Tuesday 3rd
Men's Day at Portobello Turkish Baths
http://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/detail-139
or
Scottish Collections: Tours for everybody
National Museum of Scotland (Chambers Street)
Daily at 14:30 for 1 hr
Free
Meet in Hawthornden Court
and
Wonderful Things, Amazing Stories tours
Every Tue and Fri
Tue 15:00 / Fri 12:00 for 1 hr
Free
Meet in Hawthornden Court.
Find out more about our Treasured: Wonderful Things, Amazing Stories exhibition with a fascinating tour from one of our guides.
http://www.nms.ac.uk/our_museums/national_museum.aspx
then
Quiz night at The Auld Hoose
7pm
Wednesday 4th
Women's Day at Portobello Turkish Baths
then
CIC Start Online (architecture)
a major project that aims to assist Scottish small and medium sized companies to embed sustainable building design and refurbishment into practice, launches throughout October and November. Edinburgh University (and 9 November at Heriot Watt)
http://www.eaa.org.uk/
or
Confessions of a Justified Sinner
The Lyceum
(on till 7th Nov)
http://www.lyceum.org.uk/webpages/show_info.php?id=9103
£12 - £27 normally
* matinee today all seats £5 - first come first served
Thursday 5th
Fireworks everywhere. Neds aside, the main show will be Meadowbank Stadium. In at 6.30, show starts at 7.30. For a free show find a perch overlooking the stadium, or hit the beach for the small coastal displays and views of both Fife and East Lothian's fireworks if the weather is clear.
£4.50
http://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/detail-257
then
SUCKA PUNCH!
Bongo Club
Holyrood Road
Free entry
11 pm - 3 am
There'll be audio fireworks tonight - brace yourself for SUCKA PUNCH! - dedicated to every beat with a bassline From the team that brings you JUNGLEDUB comes a new, free, weekly club night of bass-heavy underground sounds to kick-start your weekend early SUCKA PUNCH! - in it for the bassline
Friday 6th
Scotland: A changing nation
Talk and Tour: National Museum of Scotland (Chambers Street)
14:00-15:00
Adults £5, concessions £4, members free
Places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment on 0131 225 7534
Dunfermline Room
David Forsyth, Senior Curator of Scottish Social History and Diaspora, looks at the story behind the first major gallery redevelopment in the National Museum of Scotland since it opened in 1998. He considers the challenge of presenting the recent past in a museum context and reveals some of the fascinating stories behind the objects on display.
then
I can finally recommend Dr Sketchy's Anti-Art School to wheelies! This month they celebrate their birthday and the party is being held at Cabaret Voltaire. I have no idea what to expect, but I'm looking forward to it. 8pm - 3am
Tickets in advance £10
http://drsketchyedin.nfshost.com/
Before you head for the arts, have an hour of tasty science:
"It's Chemistry week and Paul Murray from the School of Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh will be giving a lecture on the Chemistry of Food. Come and find out about the Chemistry you eat with loads of amazing facts and demonstrations!"
Food: public lecture by the Royal Society of Chemistry
19:30 - 20:30
School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road
http://www.rsc.org/Chemsoc/Activities/ChemistryWeek/2009/Index.asp
or
Edinburgh Zoo Quiz Night
Are you a Quiz Whiz? Put your skills to the test and join us at Edinburgh Zoo for an evening of brain teasers, trivia and fun! There will be a prize for the best team name and, of course, the overall winner. Not all of the questions will be animal related, so bring your thinking caps!
7.30 pm - 10.30 pm in the Mansion House
Cost is £16 per team (max 4 people per team.)
Advance booking is highly recommended; please call 0131 314 0350
http://www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/news-and-events/events/articles/event_0058.html
then
Gigantor
Teviot Underground
Teviot Union
*The wheelchair doorbell at the side is almost always broken, but yell to security at the top of the steps and they will send someone down to work the external lift. Or, if the lift is broken too, they'll let you in the back.
Bristo Square
£2
bring photo ID, non-students welcome (and in the majority!)
10pm - 3am
if you fancy dancing to a bit of bauhaus, dresden dolls, nirvana, marilyn manson, gogol bordello, fugazi, mindless self indulgence, klf, placebo, pixies, curve, dead kennedys, eagles of death metal, front 242, pop will eat itself, nine inch nails, sultans of ping, rammstein, new model army, chili peppers, killing joke, hole, prodigy, depeche mode, emf, garbage, daisy chainsaw, chemical brothers, carter usm, madness, siouxsie, the fall, sex pistols, yeah yeah yeahs, etc . . . get yerself down there.
http://www.thalamus.myby.co.uk/gigantor/
or
VOLUME!
Bongo Club
Holyrood Road
2300 - 0300
£7 [6 with mask + free membership]
On Point Productions present... VOLUME! A DUBSTEP MASQUERADE featuring StenchmanAfter witnessing what can only be described as utter mayhem at The Outlook Festival in Croatia this summer, the Volume! team felt compelled to bring this beast to Edinburgh. All we can say is prepare yourself for masks, mayhem and skanking out like a luntatic all night as Stenchman (True Tiger) serves you up a platter of the most ridiculous dubstep you have ever heard. Support from resident Volume DJs: Paranoise & Brian D'Souza
Saturday 7th
Captain Corelli's Mandolin
Scottish Storytelling Centre
43-45 High Street
The Scottish Storytelling Centre proudly presents special gala performances of the acclaimed stage adaptation of Captain Corelli's Mandolin. Raising funds for the KIS endowment fund http://www.ccccc.uk.com/
0131 556 9579
2:30pm, 7:00pm
£10 (£8), £15 (£12)
then
Mark Morris Dance Group
Festival Theatre
7.30pm
(live music)
£8 - £27.50 (woah)
http://www.eft.co.uk/festival_theatre/event.aspx?evtid=221
or
MESSENGER SOUND SYSTEM
Bongo Club
Holyrood Road
2300 - 0300
£6.50 [5 before midnight]
Scotland’s original [and biggest] roots and culture rasta reggae sound system, Messenger has been spreading the word on their own custom built bass-heavy rig since 1987, with a flame burning brighter than ever todayPlaying conscious reggae music, militant or mellow, from foundation revival tone to brand new dub plate exclusives - with a cultural MC making things proper on the mic - the Messenger is always one of the best, blissful club events in town, sounds to make you dance an' swing www.myspace.com/messengersoundsystem
Sunday 8th
Fanzine workshop
for new writers, artists and publishers
Collective Gallery, Cockburn Street
11am - 5pm
Free
or
Meet the Scientist at National Pathology Week
National Museum of Scotland (Chambers Street)
11:00-16:00
Duration: Drop-in
Cost: Free
Suitable for: Everybody
Venue: Hawthornden Court
Learn all about how your heart works in events and workshops by the Pathology Department at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Celebrate the achievements of Nobel-Prize-winning Sir James W Black, the Scottish scientist who pioneered the lifesaving drug Beta Blockers.
then
JONATHAN COULTON live
Bongo Club
Holyrood Road
1900 - 2200
£16
An independent musician with the heart of a geek, Jonathan Coulton is a Yale graduate who left his day-job as a computer programmer to stay home and write songs. Between 2005 and 2006 he wrote, recorded, and published a new song every week as a free podcast project called “Thing a Week.” This year-long experiment produced 52 consistently well-written and solidly produced songs, and he soon became an internet sensation. A number of Jonathan’s songs have become full-fledged internet hits: his folk-rock cover of Sir Mix-a-Lot's "Baby Got Back” the unrequited love of a mad scientist in “Skullcrusher Mountain,” and "Code Monkey," the anthem of software designers everywhere. The office zombie song "Re: Your Brains" made the Dr. Demento Funny 25 countdown for 2006. http://www.jonathancoulton.com/
---------------------------------------------- ------------
and if you can work out which day of the week this falls on:
Jenny Littlejohn's experimental drawing class
Tues 18 Aug 2009 — Tues 17 Aug 2010
6.30 pm — 8.30 pm
Inverleith House, Edinburgh
Lower Ground Floor Gallery
£5
Every 2nd week (commenced 19 August) Booking essential; please contact Linsey Young; lyoung@rbge.ac.uk.
Capacity: 30
Jenny Littlejohn's fortnightly experimental drawing class. Expect life drawing poses with props and set designs themed on the current Inverleith House exhibition. Discussion, tuition, basic materials and refreshments also provided. Whether you have lots of life drawing experience or have never even before considered it, come along. For further details of this week's class contact Linsey lyoung@rbge.org.uk Basic materials provided. Feel free to bring any additional.
Accessible things to do after (or instead of) work this week:
Monday 2nd
Members' Night at the Big Red Door
come along, join for £1 and support tePOOKa, the innovative arts charity.
Big Red Door
Lady Lawson Street
9pm till midnight
http://www.tepooka.org/
Tuesday 3rd
Men's Day at Portobello Turkish Baths
http://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/detail-139
or
Scottish Collections: Tours for everybody
National Museum of Scotland (Chambers Street)
Daily at 14:30 for 1 hr
Free
Meet in Hawthornden Court
and
Wonderful Things, Amazing Stories tours
Every Tue and Fri
Tue 15:00 / Fri 12:00 for 1 hr
Free
Meet in Hawthornden Court.
Find out more about our Treasured: Wonderful Things, Amazing Stories exhibition with a fascinating tour from one of our guides.
http://www.nms.ac.uk/our_museums/national_museum.aspx
then
Quiz night at The Auld Hoose
7pm
Wednesday 4th
Women's Day at Portobello Turkish Baths
then
CIC Start Online (architecture)
a major project that aims to assist Scottish small and medium sized companies to embed sustainable building design and refurbishment into practice, launches throughout October and November. Edinburgh University (and 9 November at Heriot Watt)
http://www.eaa.org.uk/
or
Confessions of a Justified Sinner
The Lyceum
(on till 7th Nov)
http://www.lyceum.org.uk/webpages/show_info.php?id=9103
£12 - £27 normally
* matinee today all seats £5 - first come first served
Thursday 5th
Fireworks everywhere. Neds aside, the main show will be Meadowbank Stadium. In at 6.30, show starts at 7.30. For a free show find a perch overlooking the stadium, or hit the beach for the small coastal displays and views of both Fife and East Lothian's fireworks if the weather is clear.
£4.50
http://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/detail-257
then
SUCKA PUNCH!
Bongo Club
Holyrood Road
Free entry
11 pm - 3 am
There'll be audio fireworks tonight - brace yourself for SUCKA PUNCH! - dedicated to every beat with a bassline From the team that brings you JUNGLEDUB comes a new, free, weekly club night of bass-heavy underground sounds to kick-start your weekend early SUCKA PUNCH! - in it for the bassline
Friday 6th
Scotland: A changing nation
Talk and Tour: National Museum of Scotland (Chambers Street)
14:00-15:00
Adults £5, concessions £4, members free
Places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment on 0131 225 7534
Dunfermline Room
David Forsyth, Senior Curator of Scottish Social History and Diaspora, looks at the story behind the first major gallery redevelopment in the National Museum of Scotland since it opened in 1998. He considers the challenge of presenting the recent past in a museum context and reveals some of the fascinating stories behind the objects on display.
then
I can finally recommend Dr Sketchy's Anti-Art School to wheelies! This month they celebrate their birthday and the party is being held at Cabaret Voltaire. I have no idea what to expect, but I'm looking forward to it. 8pm - 3am
Tickets in advance £10
http://drsketchyedin.nfshost.com/
Before you head for the arts, have an hour of tasty science:
"It's Chemistry week and Paul Murray from the School of Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh will be giving a lecture on the Chemistry of Food. Come and find out about the Chemistry you eat with loads of amazing facts and demonstrations!"
Food: public lecture by the Royal Society of Chemistry
19:30 - 20:30
School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road
http://www.rsc.org/Chemsoc/Activities/ChemistryWeek/2009/Index.asp
or
Edinburgh Zoo Quiz Night
Are you a Quiz Whiz? Put your skills to the test and join us at Edinburgh Zoo for an evening of brain teasers, trivia and fun! There will be a prize for the best team name and, of course, the overall winner. Not all of the questions will be animal related, so bring your thinking caps!
7.30 pm - 10.30 pm in the Mansion House
Cost is £16 per team (max 4 people per team.)
Advance booking is highly recommended; please call 0131 314 0350
http://www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/news-and-events/events/articles/event_0058.html
then
Gigantor
Teviot Underground
Teviot Union
*The wheelchair doorbell at the side is almost always broken, but yell to security at the top of the steps and they will send someone down to work the external lift. Or, if the lift is broken too, they'll let you in the back.
Bristo Square
£2
bring photo ID, non-students welcome (and in the majority!)
10pm - 3am
if you fancy dancing to a bit of bauhaus, dresden dolls, nirvana, marilyn manson, gogol bordello, fugazi, mindless self indulgence, klf, placebo, pixies, curve, dead kennedys, eagles of death metal, front 242, pop will eat itself, nine inch nails, sultans of ping, rammstein, new model army, chili peppers, killing joke, hole, prodigy, depeche mode, emf, garbage, daisy chainsaw, chemical brothers, carter usm, madness, siouxsie, the fall, sex pistols, yeah yeah yeahs, etc . . . get yerself down there.
http://www.thalamus.myby.co.uk/gigantor/
or
VOLUME!
Bongo Club
Holyrood Road
2300 - 0300
£7 [6 with mask + free membership]
On Point Productions present... VOLUME! A DUBSTEP MASQUERADE featuring StenchmanAfter witnessing what can only be described as utter mayhem at The Outlook Festival in Croatia this summer, the Volume! team felt compelled to bring this beast to Edinburgh. All we can say is prepare yourself for masks, mayhem and skanking out like a luntatic all night as Stenchman (True Tiger) serves you up a platter of the most ridiculous dubstep you have ever heard. Support from resident Volume DJs: Paranoise & Brian D'Souza
Saturday 7th
Captain Corelli's Mandolin
Scottish Storytelling Centre
43-45 High Street
The Scottish Storytelling Centre proudly presents special gala performances of the acclaimed stage adaptation of Captain Corelli's Mandolin. Raising funds for the KIS endowment fund http://www.ccccc.uk.com/
0131 556 9579
2:30pm, 7:00pm
£10 (£8), £15 (£12)
then
Mark Morris Dance Group
Festival Theatre
7.30pm
(live music)
£8 - £27.50 (woah)
http://www.eft.co.uk/festival_theatre/event.aspx?evtid=221
or
MESSENGER SOUND SYSTEM
Bongo Club
Holyrood Road
2300 - 0300
£6.50 [5 before midnight]
Scotland’s original [and biggest] roots and culture rasta reggae sound system, Messenger has been spreading the word on their own custom built bass-heavy rig since 1987, with a flame burning brighter than ever todayPlaying conscious reggae music, militant or mellow, from foundation revival tone to brand new dub plate exclusives - with a cultural MC making things proper on the mic - the Messenger is always one of the best, blissful club events in town, sounds to make you dance an' swing www.myspace.com/messengersoundsystem
Sunday 8th
Fanzine workshop
for new writers, artists and publishers
Collective Gallery, Cockburn Street
11am - 5pm
Free
or
Meet the Scientist at National Pathology Week
National Museum of Scotland (Chambers Street)
11:00-16:00
Duration: Drop-in
Cost: Free
Suitable for: Everybody
Venue: Hawthornden Court
Learn all about how your heart works in events and workshops by the Pathology Department at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Celebrate the achievements of Nobel-Prize-winning Sir James W Black, the Scottish scientist who pioneered the lifesaving drug Beta Blockers.
then
JONATHAN COULTON live
Bongo Club
Holyrood Road
1900 - 2200
£16
An independent musician with the heart of a geek, Jonathan Coulton is a Yale graduate who left his day-job as a computer programmer to stay home and write songs. Between 2005 and 2006 he wrote, recorded, and published a new song every week as a free podcast project called “Thing a Week.” This year-long experiment produced 52 consistently well-written and solidly produced songs, and he soon became an internet sensation. A number of Jonathan’s songs have become full-fledged internet hits: his folk-rock cover of Sir Mix-a-Lot's "Baby Got Back” the unrequited love of a mad scientist in “Skullcrusher Mountain,” and "Code Monkey," the anthem of software designers everywhere. The office zombie song "Re: Your Brains" made the Dr. Demento Funny 25 countdown for 2006. http://www.jonathancoulton.com/
---------------------------------------------- ------------
and if you can work out which day of the week this falls on:
Jenny Littlejohn's experimental drawing class
Tues 18 Aug 2009 — Tues 17 Aug 2010
6.30 pm — 8.30 pm
Inverleith House, Edinburgh
Lower Ground Floor Gallery
£5
Every 2nd week (commenced 19 August) Booking essential; please contact Linsey Young; lyoung@rbge.ac.uk.
Capacity: 30
Jenny Littlejohn's fortnightly experimental drawing class. Expect life drawing poses with props and set designs themed on the current Inverleith House exhibition. Discussion, tuition, basic materials and refreshments also provided. Whether you have lots of life drawing experience or have never even before considered it, come along. For further details of this week's class contact Linsey lyoung@rbge.org.uk Basic materials provided. Feel free to bring any additional.
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