Last night we met up with Kieron, who’s holidaying in Australia at the moment.  His girlfriend Pauline’s uni friend dragged us to a number of gay clubs.  At 2am we decided we needed dinner, so Kieron, Amanda & I headed to Mamak for some late night Malaysian.  Hopefully Pauline enjoyed the strip club and scheduled transsexual performance that the three of us missed.  It was great to catch up with Kieron, not least because it reminded me of this:

There was a time when a can of spray paint and a blank wall or bus shelter was all that was needed for those wishing to make a rebellious statement/comment on society.

Nowadays, it seems your urban guerilla/street artist needs to know his/her purl from plain, and how to cast off.

Guerilla Knitting or Yarnbombing as it’s called involves draping knitting on parts of the urban landscape, e.g., bridges, statues.

Residents of my home town of Edinburgh awoke the other morning to find the guerilla knitters had yarnbombed them – wrapping signpost in multicoloured layers of knitting.

Source . . .

While members of the WRI (Women’s Rural Institute) can’t completely be ruled out (they’re a right rebellious lot – remember Calendar Girls?), it is believed police suspect the perpetrators to be members of one of the city’s student Knitting groups.

Jo och lilla Lukas kom hit och hängde på mitt hotell ett tag på förmiddagen, sen vandrade vi nedåt stan, Jo hann fixa en tandläkare på vägen ner. Hon hann även köpa den finaste reflexvästen jag har sett till mig! En Ronhill, The Leading British Running Brand och den är rosa !!!  

Hela Princes Street är en byggarbetsplats, trafiken är avstäng och det är inte heller så lätt att vara fotgängare. Bussarna ska åter trafikera Princes Street den 29:e sägs det, just nu ser det inte rimligt ut men de jobbar säkert på i ett rasande tempo så att det blir klart tills dess.
Julmarknaden är uppställd som vanligt och vi tog oss en liten titt där.

Efter att Jo köpt en kappa/ jacka åkte vi hem till hennes svärföräldrar och åt Haggis och drack in Mums! Sen var jag trött och väl tillbaka på hotellet igen somnade jag gott i sängen efter att ha druckit en lemsip och lyssnat på Johnny Cash på TV!
Lemsip är citronsmakande (finns även andra smaker) pulver som innehåller värktabletter som man rör ner i en kopp kokande vatten. Jag hade ont i halsen igår med och i morse var det tjockt så än har jag inte sprungit alls även om parken precis utanför mitt fönster lockar!

U.

The saturday morning porridge is on a slow simmer and there’s half an hour to go before Saturday kitchen…foodie heaven for me.  The weekend got off to a good start with a visit to Amore Dogs last night…only my second visit and the food didn’t disappoint. We enjoyed a pre-dinner drink in the Underdogs downstairs…cool retro armchairs and table service, felt more Amsterdam than Edinburgh and it’s a welcome change from other bars in town.. Mr Ramsden must be raking it in…I’ve worked my way through the menu upstairs at the Dogs and intend to do the same at Amore Dogs in the next few months!  Mr R did award me ‘customer of the month’ at the Dogs not so long back as think I was there about 8 times in one month…mmmmm!

On to the rest of the weekend….just tucking into porridge with cinnamon and honey, delish…hoping to visit Moo today for some lunch, new place on Brandon Terrace, have been hearing good things about it so looking forward to the visit.  Pondering on what to cook tonight…freezing in Edinburgh today so a slow cook hot pot might go down a treat…will peruse the cook books in a mo….and tomorrow, 16 girlfriends (yes, SIXTEEN!!!) and me are off to Eteaket for afternoon tea….bring on the tea and cake, the gossip, the cucumber sarnies, the clotted cream scones, I can’t bear the excitement.. Will def be reporting back tomorrow….won’t be good for the pre-wedding waistline so no doubt i’ll be in the gym every night next week to burn it off, life can be so unfair lol…8)

Right, Saturday Kitchen about to start, hoping for some inspiration for tonight’s menu…

By Rahsian Parris

Elliot Minor - From Left to Right: Ed Minton, Dan Hetherton, Alex Davies, Ali Paul and Ed Hetherton

I recently caught up with Ed Minton (from band of the moment, Elliot Minor), who took some time out of the bands hectic UK tour to talk about their new album Solaris, dish the dirt on his band mates and shed some light on what really happens on tour with one of Britain’s favourite pop rockers.

I am anxious, my palms feel clammy and all of a sudden I feel overwhelmed. Is my voice shaking? I am introducing myself and I start to stutter, why am I giggling like an excited child? Maybe it is because I am about to talk to a founding member of one of my favourite bands. I manage to get my name out and ask Ed how he is, “Hiya, I’m very well thank you. How are you?” he says. Much to my surprise, the young, modest voice on the other end of the line is instantly comforting and just like that, it is like talking to an old friend. I answer his polite question, mentioning how petrified I am and slightly unnerved that my other interviewee – Alex, who sings lead vocals – is still asleep in bed. “Do you want me to wake him up?” asks Ed, more as if he were asking me how many sugars I would like in my coffee rather than if he should rouse his superstar band mate from the depths of post performance slumber. He tells me, in an almost childlike fashion, that unfortunately he is not allowed to anyway (orders from management) and that the interview will continue Alex-less.

“I’m the guitarist Ed, not the bassist one” he exclaims, not to confuse ‘the Eds’ (there are two, Minton and Hetherton, brother of other band mate Dan Hetherton) “I’m 23, I was originally born in Japan, I came over to England when I was eight and I’ve been here since.” When asked if he plays any other instruments, other than guitar, he sheepishly replies “in the band I sing a bit, but that’s about it” and outside of the band? “I can play the piano and violin” he says, so matter of fact that you would think that mastering the art of playing such instruments is common practice. Having said that, in Elliot Minor it is. Between them they play nine different instruments including the cello, clarinet and double bass and that is before we even consider their hearty vocal talents. “We all did music at school, we all took to studying music as a major subject, so we all pretty much did the same thing” says Ed who went to independent school Uppingham in Rutland, England. With such prestigious schooling behind him and co-founder, Alex Davies, there is no wonder Elliot Minor are massive; Uppingham’s former residents are no less than Charlie Simpson (formerly of Busted, currently of hard rockers Fightstar) and Harry Judd of punk/pop sensations McFly to name a few. Ed fills us in saying “It’s where I met Alex. We started doing some acoustic stuff together before we formed the full band. We were called ‘The Academy’, but we didn’t really do much with that and then in our gap year we joined up with Dan, the drummer and then we were a three piece for a bit. As the year went on, Alex and Dan got in touch with their friends from school, who were Ali and Ed and then we formed the full Elliot Minor”.

In 2006 the fully formed band entered a Myspace competition to win a chance to support McFly on the Newcastle leg of one of their tours. They won. This instantaneously threw them into the media spot light and they quickly built up a massive fan base, particularly out of McFly fans, but as they signed to Warner Bros. Records (who they parted ways with this year to return to their aptly named indie label, Repossession Records) and went on to support pop/rock giants Simple Plan and and Fall Out Boy; six singles and two chart topping albums later, they are now sporting hardcore fans of their own; just as well because you dare not mention rumours of the feud between them and McFly, you might just get the death stare.

With the band being back ‘on the road’ in support of their sophomore album Solaris it is only right that we get to grips with what actually happens on tour with Elliot Minor. We have heard all the rumours about how younger rockers behave most unscrupulously whilst on tour, but to be perfectly honest, Elliot Minor seem pretty tame as Ed excitedly announces half way through our interview “Alex is awake now…he’s gone downstairs, he’s getting changed, he’s walking around butt naked” before a voice in the background shouts out “Edward is a d**do”. Ed quickly lowers his voice saying ” you didn’t hear that did you?”, my uproarious laughter gives it away. The hubbub dies down and we get back to talking about the tour. A popular part of the last Elliot Minor tour was when Alex played his violin live, Ed unfortunately denounces any rumours of this happening on the current tour saying “Well he smashed his violin up…a few years ago or something? Yeah, I think it was when we played the Astoria [in London], he decided to just throw it to the ground and it broke, so until he gets a new one I doubt he’ll be bringing that one out again”. Slightly disappointing, but I am sure there will be other great things on the new tour. What should we expect? “You should expect to see us playing about three quarters of our new album and then pretty much all the singles from out last album. It’s quite an exciting set. It’s got its ups and downs and it’s quite energetic really; I dunno, we’ll just play the songs and see how the kids react”. Fan’s favourite parts of the gigs seem to be when the guys go all sentimental and play some acoustic versions of some of their tracks, but Ed mentions that this wont be happening either. “We were gonna do a song called ‘All Along’ from our second album, but Ali couldn’t learn the part in time”, Ali interrupts saying “yeah I couldn’t be bothered” [there is laughter], “Yeah he couldn’t be bothered to play it” continues Ed, “Nah, I’m kidding, we were gonna do it, but we didn’t have time…we did ['Last Call To New York'] last tour actually, we were thinking of playing it on this tour, but our set is, I think, the length already, so it would be pushing it a little bit if we added another song, but if the demand’s there we might pull it out as an encore”. This pleases me as it is one of my favourite tracks, thus I go on to tell Ed how I will gather my trustee EM fans and campaign for them to play ‘Last Call To New York’; he laughs and enthusiastically says “yeah you should, then we’ll play it”.

Last year Elliot Minor appeared on BBC Radio 1’s Live lounge album and played a very well received acoustic version of Take That’s ‘Rule The World’, asked if they have any more covers in the pipeline, Ed replies “we just did a radio thing yesterday and we covered Jordin Sparks’ ‘Battle Fields’, that was pretty cool. I know Alex really wants to cover Black Eyed Peas, but it’s just not going to happen [laughter]. Can you imagine that? Alex is like “I’ll rap, I’ll rap” but nobody’s buying it, so nah, that’s not gonna happen” he says in between giggles. “Maybe we’ll put out a band version of Jordin sparks one day, that’d be quite cool”. I am sure the fans would love that, I know I would, speaking of the fans, in the short time that Elliot Minor have been in the spotlight, they have acquired an army of loyal fans that follow them around in adoration and apparently keep them comfy whilst on tour, Ed declares “the best thing a fan has ever done [pauses], you know what? The best thing from a fan, is when a fan gets us a present, like boxes of socks, they’re the most appreciated thing on tour because we obviously run out, then we have to start pulling things inside out [laughs], so that kind of thing is great. Fans also buy you tea and that kind of stuff which is also great [he becomes animated], actually the other day I had a girl customise a mug for me which was really nice. She did the Elliot Minor logo, she just customised it as my own which was great; it’s now on the bus and I drink my green tea out of it. She’d written ‘Ed Minton’s Green Tea Mug’ on it, in Japanese as well, so cool”. So what is the worst thing then? “The worst thing a fan has ever done? You know what? I don’t know, they actually don’t do anything that bad. I guess some things can get a little bit annoying, but that’s fine, it’s no problem”.

As was becoming the ever growing trend at that time, Elliot Minor started out on Myspace before they won the competition to be the support band of McFly and Ed says it was the key to their initial success, “Myspace was, initially, the real driving force behind building a fan base, but it’s definitely kind of ground to a halt now, because nothing happens on it, especially for us; I don’t know how it is for other bands, but for some reason it’s just dead, I think everyone’s bored of it. Facebook is as buzzing as ever, but it’s extremely difficult for bands because you can’t really upload music, can you? I dunno, I don’t really spend that much time online, but Dan, the drummer, is a big gimp, he spends most of his time online so he would know a lot better than I do. He’s quite into Twitter right now” (I get excited and tell Ed how much I love Twitter) “Ooh really? I have my own twitter too, but I struggle to use it” he says. I leap into groupie territory when I animatedly tell him that I’ll add him, “yeah?” he replies “please do”. Back to online communities and the success of the band, we get talking about the pros and cons of social networking sites and music. “It gives everyone a chance doesn’t it? So in that sense it makes it easier for bands to get their music out there, but because everyone’s got access to it now, in a sense, it’s harder to get your name out there; but, I guess if you’re a band and you just wanna get your music out then it’s very helpful, in that sense it’s amazing; but I do feel that it’s kind of going downhill now. Myspace is incredible for it, but since that’s dying down now, it’s starting to get harder again”.

There is a bit more noise now as Ed heads out onto the tour bus, the boys are playing Swansea’s Sin City tonight, so no doubt they need to go and prepare. As we come to a close we chat about memorable moments and Ed’s favourite Elliot Minor show. “The Astoria in London. There was this real buzz period where we had our first album out and our Japanese label was on board, it was just a really good time for us. There were like two thousand kids just going mental, it was unbelievable. It was also our first show where we had pyros [pyrotechnics] and all that stuff, so that was probably the highlight for me; but to be fair, every show is awesome, though I am looking forward to the one in Edinburgh” Queue me getting over excited. “I really am, Edinburgh’s always been a wicked place to play. We played the Liquid rooms before and Studio 24 is it? They’re always such a great crowd up there and also it’s just a beautiful city, I love being up there”. He goes on to tell me about his best live show outside of the band, a Green Day concert in Tokyo that he went to see with his best friend “it was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen in my life. That will definitely stay in my memory forever”; and for the rest of the Elliot Minor tour? “We’re touring up until the start of December and then we’ll get a bit of time off, I’m going back home to Japan. We’ll get back in the New Year and hopefully, I think this is the plan as it is now, we’ll have a single out early next year and then we’ll just carry on touring. Maybe another UK tour, but we also promised our European fans that we’d go out there and maybe head to Japan as well because they’re releasing an album in March”.

Huge gusts of wind blow down the phone and Ed is audibly cold, the tour bus should be leaving soon to head to the venue of another explosive Elliot Minor show, but in the mean time, at least he has his customised mug and Green Tea to warm his hands and cockles, for after all, this is one rock star that is far more ‘Home Sweet Home’ than ‘Anarchy In The UK’.

Elliot Minor play the HMV PictureHouse tonight in Edinburgh – Doors 19:30 For more UK dates visit www.Elliotminor.com

The New album Solaris is OUT NOW

It’s difficult to write an article you don’t truly believe in. It’s even more difficult to reveal your abomination to the world. The article that I refer to is of course the ridiculously entitled “Trams of Tommorow”. From general opinion and self-analysis, it’s fair to say, I’m a bit of a realist (though others may just call me cynical) and so I find it difficult to focus on the positive side of thing’s even when there are very little negative. In hindsight it would have been easier, and probably more practical, to write and article about something with less blatantly evident flaws in it.

Like my Holyrood article, it wasn’t so much writing the words down I found hard, but the feeling of regret, and remorse for what really should have been said but didn’t because I had to be positive in order fit the criteria. I kind off hit a wall when it came to ideas. I did have one about the growing influence of the comedy scene in Edinburgh. As of last year, it’s is now home to a separate comedy festival and of course, the famous ‘Stand’ comedy club, but another member of the class had a very similar idea and I didn’t feel it would be appropriate to do an article on it to.

Going into writing the article I tried to be positive with the mentality that ‘There must be some genuinely good reason for why it’s being built. Especially at such inconvenience to stores, and at the cost of the taxpayer in the middle of a recession.’  However, upon researching it, all I could find extremely negative press, and deluded officials who just wanted to leave their mark on the city, maybe discovered it was a bad idea, but then decided they were to far gone to back down even when they had slim to no support from the general public. I’m not saying that the Trams are a bad idea. The points in my article are all valid ones. It would be great for public transport to run efficiently, cheap, and in an eco friendly manner; but we don’t live in an ideal world and in the current climate Trams just aren’t a sutable solution. Also, I can’t help but feel the whole appeal of the Trams was perhaps exaggerated by the officials as well as by me in my article.

As I’ve already stated, The times we live in are financially unstable. Banks are closing and apparently, bankers are stealing my parents money. In such unsure times, to begin work on a project that requires so much financial dedication seems like a silly move. There is no need for a tram system at this time. The buses are running fine- yes perhaps they aren’t as kind to the enviroment as Trams, but we have plenty of time before the world ends in 2012. It’s just a bit to impractical at the moment.

I also felt the idea that the Trams would bring more economy and revenue to the city with tourists was  fatally flawed. If I, or any other were to ask,say,  an average American, “Why would you visit Edinburgh?”, or, “What do you think of when you think of Edinburgh?” They would probably say, “Is that in Iraq or sumin’?” in an atrocious, almost incomprehensible dialect. However, if you asked say, an American with a brain, the same question they would undoubtedly answer “Castles, hills and haggis…..and maybe ginger haired people”. Tourists do not visit a city simply for its superb, eco-friendly transport system (except maybe a select few). It does perhaps makes the place seem like a more legitimate city to buisnessmen but now we’re get into realms of insecurity like girls and their make up. The Trams upon reflection offer very little and I just don’t feel the results fully justifies the inconvenience, money and time it’s taken and will take to finish them. Try walking or if you must, ride a bike.

And a Merry Black Friday to you!

As every good American should, I woke up this morning to begin my Christmas shopping. I left my room early at about 7 am (Eastern Standard time)… don’t do the math. After several hours of getting ideas but not actually buying anything I got wonderfully distracted, as is evident below. This weekend, which is St. Andrew’s Day weekend, is also the start of the Christmas festivities in Edinburgh. As I took the corner of Cockburn Street, which winds from the Royal Mile down to Waverly Station, I was delighted to see that the Princes Street Gardens had been taken over by bright lights, shops, rides and more people than I could count. It was amazing to see the contrast of the fair grounds to the the dominating features of the city skyline. So the following is a series of contrasts…

Silhouette of the ferris wheel and castle.

The ferris wheel and Scott Monument.

I have no idea what a geodome is doing here, but I’m assuming it’s for a production of sorts…?

Ice skating!

Note the two Saltires (Scottish flag) flanking the Union Jack. The Scottish flag’s design is the cross of St. Andrew.

The area lining the Royal Scottish Academy was taken over by the Germans… literally. It was stall after stall of German Christmas ornaments, gifts, beer, pretzels, everything. Quite overwhelming.

The Two Towers…

Then the UFOs landed…

Because my Christmas shopping was cut short you all are getting coal with a high sulfur content, but in all honesty it’s probably the most true non-touristy Scottish gift I could bring home. Any takers?

I’m off to plan my next adventure and get some studying done. I love you all! (cheekpuff)

By Andrea McCallum

A FIRST edition of a Harry Potter book is expected to conjure up thousands of pounds for an Edinburgh children’s charity.

The rare signed copy has been given to Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids appeal from the city council who had 30 stored in their secret chambers.

Best-selling author J.K. Rowling had given the copies of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix to former Lord Provost Lesley after it was published in 2005.

The valuable books normally sell at auction for up to ₤8,000 and all the money raised will help disadvantaged children.

Most of the books are given to children as prizes and Ms Rowling donated the books to her adopted city – where she penned the first Harry Potter novel – on the condition she would approve each one that was handed out.

Lesley Fraser-Taylor, charity manager for Cash for Kids, said she had been very surprised to receive the book.

She said: “Usually we get a nice crystal decanter or something like that from the Lord Provost.

“But this year, he phoned to say they would like to donate a book signed by JK Rowling.

“They had to check it with her, as she only allows them to be given out to the children who have done something special.

“Very few have been released for charity. It’s wonderful that she has agreed.

“This year we’re having out very first auction online. Having such a special item as a book will help raise the profile and help even more children.”

Cash for Kids has raised more than ₤2.5 million for children with special needs for more than 30 years.

Other items up for grabs on the online auction include a signed guitar owned by KT Tunstall and a signed framed photograph of Will Young.

The auction will be open for bidding until 6pm tonight (Saturday).

Lord Provost George Grubb said he was delighted to hand over the book on behalf of the city.

He said: “Radio Forth have done an amazing job with the Cash for Kids appeal, raising millions of pounds to brighten the lives of special children across Edinburgh, the Lothians and Fife.

“I wish the campaign every success.”

See more of our pictures at our Flickr site and videos at our dedicated channel,  Deadline TV.

By Michael MacLeod

A DOCTOR and his wife have been fined £5,000 for what a Sheriff described as “the most outrageous breach of the peace I have ever experienced” in his 20-year career.

Dr John McCallum and his wife Michele “ambushed” their neighbour Roslyn Kinder after hearing that she had tried to run over their kids in her SUV.

The Edinburgh doctor – who earns £100,000 a year – blocked Mrs Kinder from parking her car while his wife hounded her for an explanation.

But when CCTV of the incident was shown during a trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Sheriff Graeme Warner was left in no doubt.

He told the couple today (Friday): “In more than 20 years of being a Sheriff, I thought it was positively chilling to see on the CCTV.

“Had I been Mrs Kinder, I would have been scared out of my wits.”

The argument – in the middle of one of the capital’s poshest residential streets – left neighbours divided over who was in the wrong.

Even crime writer Ian Rankin – a neighbour of the warring Napier Road families – was cited as a witness, but ultimately did not have to give evidence.

Mrs Kinder, 48, said she was forced to “run the gauntlet” every time she drove her 4×4 out of her house because the McCallums – both aged 49 – “love to taunt” her.

And her five year-old son, who was with her in the car, was left so terrified that he had nightmares of the McCallums and had to see a psychologist.

After leaving her home to pick up her son in September last year, Mrs Kinder returned to find Dr McCallum standing in front of the electric gates to her home.

She said: “I knew Dr McCallum was waiting for me.

“It was very sinister and rather odd as he was staring at me in a threatening way.

“As I started to reverse towards my drive, he stood behind my car and wouldn’t let me past.

“He was staring fiercely and I was scared so I sounded the horn countless times.”

The couple had been told by their three children that Mrs Kinder had tried to run them down earlier that day.

But CCTV footage from her home shown in court proved otherwise.

She added: “Then Michele McCallum came out from her house looking absolutely fierce and started banging on the car screaming, “you tried to run over my children.”

“Then she got into her own car and started sounding her horn and imitating my distress, while laughing and waving to her own children. There was a sense of euphoria about them all.

“Her eyes were red and I thought she was going to assault me, while my son was sitting there terrified. He has suffered serious nightmares since this and we had to take him to a child psychologist.”

“It was causing massive uproar”

Dr McCallum said he “could only do what any parent would do” by phoning police after his kids told him Mrs Kinder drove her car at them.

But Mrs Kinder insisted she had done nothing wrong.

She said: “Police questioned me then viewed the CCTV from our house and were satisfied I had done nothing wrong.

“But the McCallums were loving it, behaving like wild animals, ambushing me.

“I do not know why they behave like this.”

Defence agent David Blair Wilson said: “Mrs McCallum was perfectly entitled to try and get an explanation from Mrs Kinder.

“When Mrs Kinder shut the car door, Mrs McCallum was entitled to open the door to speak to her.

“It does not amount to breach of the peace.”

Sheriff Warner found the pair guilty of breach of the peace and fined them £2,500 each.

He said: “Fortunately we had it all recorded for us to see in court.

“I very much regret to inform you that I found you both largely incredible witnesses.

“The conduct could not possibly have more clearly constituted a breach of the peace.

“Many of the neighbours came out into the street and it was causing massive uproar.

“You should be profoundly ashamed of yourselves and I find you both guilty of the charges against you.”

The couple refused to comment outside court.

See more of our pictures at our Flickr site and videos at our dedicated channel,  Deadline TV.

By Michael MacLeod

A CLEANER who was mistakenly paid £36,000 managed to spend £17,000 of it within just two days.

Catherine McLean, 39, didn’t question her boss when the bumper pay packet landed in her bank account on April 2.

By April 4 she had spent almost half of the cash clearing her debts, but was stopped in her tracks when her employer realised the blunder.

But when the Edinburgh woman said she could only give him back £19,000, he called police.

McLean, of the city’s Broomhouse Gardens appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (Friday) charged with stealing £17,000 from an address in the nearby Broomhouse Crescent.

She admitted the charge and was given time to pay back the money.

Fiscal Depute Aidan Higgins said: “Her employer is a private businessman.

“He was conducting online banking and carried out various transactions and mistakenly transferred into her account a total of £36,000.

“It appears that she spent it paying outstanding debts and various ATM withdrawals.

“When her employer realised the mistake, he contacted the accused to arrange for the return of the £36,000.

“The accused was only in a position to return £19,000.

“That being so the accused’s employer contacted the police.”

McLean’s defence agent Jim Stephenson said: “She has sold her house and the proceeds won’t be processed until January.

“It may be that the £17,000 won’t be repaid until then.”

Sheriff Derrick McIntyre agreed to defer sentence, but added: “Naturally this money will have to be repaid.”

See more of our pictures at our Flickr site and videos at our dedicated channel,  Deadline TV.

By Michael MacLeod

AN aspiring Marine has had his entry to the Forces suspended after being caught selling over £18,000 of stolen camping gear on eBay.

Andrew Pringle, 22, was working at Tiso and helping colleagues to pocket huge profits from goods they bought with their staff discount.

But when it dawned on him that some of the kit his workmates were getting him to sell was stolen, he turned a blind eye.

If jailed over the eBay swindle, Pringle will be banned from joining the Marines for seven years.

Sheriff Derick McIntyre today (Friday) gave him until Wednesday to stump up the cash to give him a chance of dodging jail, but warned: “I’m not making any promises.”

Tiso’s Commercial Street store in Edinburgh lost on out on £18, 269 of potential income from the goods, had they been sold at the recommended retail prices.

But it took shop bosses over a year to realise the gear had gone missing and that one of their own staff members was the main culprit.

The famous outdoor store was launched by Graham Tiso in 1962 and now has 16 specialist shops throughout the UK.

Between April 2006 and July 2007 Pringle had nicked items including hiking boots and hill walking sticks.

But in 2007 another staff member spotted an online eBay seller based in Edinburgh offering Tiso products.

He used the profile names of “Climbing-2007” and “Nevis-2006” to lure people into buying the gear.

Police contacted eBay and PayPal, and Pringle was charged with theft, which he previously admitted at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

“It was easy to trace him”

Fiscal depute Melanie Ward said previously: “It was fairly easy to trace him because he used his own bank account.

“A computer was seized from his home which confirmed the transactions had taken place.”

Defending Pringle in court today, Gillian Law said he had received “very little profit” from the scheme.

She said: “At the shop where he had been working, the mark up on the items sold is significant and there was a staff incentive where they were allowed to buy items at a discount of 60 per-cent.

“Other staff had been in the habit of doing that legitimately and selling them on for profit and it was in that context that Mr Pringle suggested they could put them on the website.

“There was no initial intention to be dishonest and what started out as a legitimate enterprise to help colleagues snowballed into something much more significant.

“Although there has been a significant quantity of goods involved, he received very little back by means of a profit from this enterprise.

“He was paid a very small amount by his colleagues, to whom the vast amount of money was passed on. ”

She also explained how his hopes of joining the Marines had been dashed as a result of his arrest following the police investigation.

“He was horrified”

She said: “He is so deeply ashamed about his involvement in this and accepts full responsibility.

“He was horrified when apprehended on this matter as he had been accepted by the Marines.

“In the past two years his application has been suspended pending the outcome of this case.

“If he receives a custodial sentence today then there is a seven year bar for him to reapply.

“But it is a reflection of his character that an organisation such as the Marines is still willing to consider him.

“In the two years he has saved £5,000 and his parents have assisted by raising the remaining figure.”

Sheriff Derrick McIntyre said: “This is a pretty serious matter and you were in a position of trust.

“You abused that trust and were simply sucked into this.

“With your background that should not have happened.

“But you have offered to repay the money and that is of great significance to the ultimate disposal.

“I’m not making any promises.”

Pringle was allowed bail on the condition he repays the cash and will be sentenced next week.

See more of our pictures at our Flickr site and videos at our dedicated channel,  Deadline TV.

By Oliver Farrimond

POLICE are searching for a heartless thief who robbed a charity shop.

The thief, described as having “thin, pale face”, fled after putting his hand in the tills of the Capability Scotland shop in Deanhaugh Street at around 4.30pm on Thursday afternoon.

A store assistant bravely tried to stop the thief, but was shoved aside as the man escaped through the rear exit with a handful of cash.

The suspect is described as white, mid 20’s, slim build with a thin pale face and short dark hair, and police are appealing for anyone who was in the area and witnessed anything suspicious to come forward.

A police spokesman said: “This was a despicable and opportunistic theft for what was a relatively small amount of money.

“We are keen to speak to anyone who was in the Raeburn Place or Deanhaugh Street area and has information that can assist us with our investigation.

“Similarly, anyone who recognises the description of the man and can help us to locate him should also come forward.”

The suspect was also wearing a grey hooded jogging top with black stripes down both arms.

Anyone with any information can contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.

See more of our pictures at our Flickr site and videos at our dedicated channel,  Deadline TV.

Cheltenham Gold Cup

By Oliver Farrimond

A TROPHY from horse-racing history is to go up for auction next week in Edinburgh.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup from 1930 is expected to fetch £6,000 at Lyon and Turnbull auctioneers when it goes up for sale.

The trophy is still awarded today for the course, which is regarded as one of the most prestigious races in the sport.

It is also the richest, with almost half a million pounds awarded to last year’s winner.

The victorious horse – Easter Trophy – won the trophy two years running from 1929 with trainer John Whitney – including setting a new record in 1929 on the 3 mile, 2.5 furlong course.

And Whitney was so pleased with the horses’ performance that he invited the prized nag to enjoy a length retirement at his estate in Kentucky, USA, where he died at the ripe old age of 28.

The auction commences on December 1st.

See more of our pictures at our Flickr site and videos at our dedicated channel,  Deadline TV.

By Megan Berkley
Last night, the famous Christmas tree on the Mound was lit.
For the past 24 years Edinburgh has received the gift of the tree, given to the City by the people of Hordaland, Norway.
The launch of Capital Christmas saw for the first time ever, the hugely popular Edinburgh Wheel, Winter Wonderland and the Traditional German Christmas Market which all hit off from 5.30pm in a sensational start to Edinburgh’s winter festivals.
Edinburgh’s Lord Provost George Grubb, believes that from switching on the Christmas tree, we have made Edinburgh sparkle.
The event made the city come alive last night, with a good turn out. Although it has been no different than any other year, George feels the event has been a great success and the atmosphere of the city has been magical, and a great start to Edinburgh’s festivities.

Here is what the people of Edinburgh thought of last nights event:

George spoke of a successful evening:

By Kenny Simpson

Fountain Park is ‘thriving’ after opening ten years ago due to offering credit crunch suffering Edinburgers’ an alternate to costly nights out.

The leisure park has become one of Edinburgh’s most popular hotspots with an average daily attendance figure of 10,000 people.

Napier business guru Robert Wilkinson said, “While it is always great to see businesses doing well during the recession, we are talking about large organisations here. There are still many small companies going out of business every day in Britain. Fountain Park has the luxury of providing people with a cheap alternate to going on a big night out and that is why it continues to thrive in these hard times.”

While the majority of the businesses are now settled and successfully beating the recession, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing as long-serving cinema employee Alan Stevens, 28, remembers.

He said, “I have been here since the cinema was owned by Virgin and have seen many businesses come and go in that time. There used to be a huge nightclub on the corner we’d all go to and an Italian restaurant that closed after a few months. As much as I miss that club, it’s cool that Circus opened a casino and Nandos have a restaurant now.”

The retail complex currently boasts a 13 screen cinema, bowling, casino, gym, bingo, pubs and restaurants.

Cineworld Cinemas Operations Manager, Mark Smith said, “The cinema has gone from strength to strength over the last couple of years and we have achieved an excellent financial profit in our review of this year. In fact this is Cineworld Edinburgh’s first year ever that we have managed over a million admits.”

The popularity of Fountain Park and in particular the Cineworld cinema has led to hosting the prestigious Edinburgh International Film Festival which attracts people from all over the world into the capital. The crowning glory of Fountain Park’s history came two years ago when film stars Keira Knightly and Sienna Miller walked down the red carpet for the world premier of ‘The Edge of Love’

By Phil Turnbull

Tickets for rock legends Kiss’ upcoming Glasgow show sold out within ten minutes of going on sale today.

A spokesman for the SECC this morning confirmed: “Standing tickets have all sold out and the seating tickets are definitely on course to sell out within the next few days.”

The May 2010 concert at the SECC is the first time the American outfit have played in Scotland for 18 years, but it appears their popularity has not waned.

Kiss diehard fan Kenny Simpson, 22 of Polwarth, secured tickets this morning, and is eagerly anticipating the gig, saying: “I’ve seen Kiss before but never in an arena, so I’m really looking forward to it.”

The rock lords’ European arena and stadium tour, dubbed the ‘Sonic Boom Over Europe: From The Beginning To The Boom’ tour, was announced on Monday 23rd of this month by promoters Live Nation.

On the same day Kiss themselves made this announcement to fans via their website, kissonline.com;

The 27 date tour lasts for two months and takes the band from Ireland to Belgium, with Italian, German and Slovakian dates, amongst others, in-between.

Rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley is promising a performance of the band’s back catalogue, telling kissonline.com; “We’re covering the whole musical history of the band on a stage that takes KISS one giant step further in our eight inch heels. We’re stoked. You wanted the best? You GOT the best!”

Bassist and icon Gene Simmons is keen to promote the group’s latest album ‘Sonic Boom’, which hit number two in the American Billboard Top 200, and reached number 24 in the UK Album Chart.

Simmons told kissonline.com; “Now. More than ever. KISS is a four wheel drive monster truck. Our mission? To rock Planet Earth. To spread the gospel of Sonic Boom.” 

While Kiss last played a Scottish date in 1992, incidentally at the SECC in Glasgow, they have indeed rocked Edinburgh before.

The rock heroes’ brought their Crazy Nights Tour to the capital’s Playhouse Theatre for two nights back in November 1988.

Kiss have cemented their place at the top table of Rock n’ Roll by selling over 80 million albums worldwide, and on 23rd September of this year were nominated for a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Glasgow concert takes place on 9th May 2010 at the SECC, with remaining seating tickets priced at £40 plus standard booking fee.

Edinburgh officially welcomed the festive period with the switching on of the City Christmas tree and the street lights. on Thursday evening.

As the nights roll in faster and the weather resembles a scene from a Hollywood ‘end-of-the-world’  film, the people of Edinburgh are looking for some winter entertainment. So grab a coat and brave the cold, because theres fun to be had all over the city.

1. ‘Fun in the Gardens’: Doesn’t really take much explaining, but we’ll do it anyway because we’re good like that. Christmas time in Princes Street Gardens means the ferris wheel, ice skating, helter skelter and the merry-go-round. For the young, the old and everything in between this is an Edinburgh Christmas Classic. Wrap up, grab some friends or family and talk everyone into ice skating, as long as you fall down the least, you’re laughing.

2. German Market: Another gem courtesy of Princes Street Gardens you can join in the festivities at Edinburgh’s traditional German market where you will find stalls full of seasonal surprises. Whether you fancy treating yourself to a cheeky glass of German beer or a sly bratwurst sausage, there really is something for everyone. Handmade crafts make nice Christmas gifts and you can wander round eating chocolate shaped like reindeer at the same time. Is there a better way to spend an afternoon? No really, get in touch if you think of anything.

3. Santa’s Gardens: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixon, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen are hitting the city. Minus Rudolph you can see Santa’s helpers at work from 12th-23rd December in West Princes Street Gardens. This will certainly set alight the christmas spark in everyone’s heart, or at the very least you’ve just seen some reindeer and thats a bit cool.

4. Carol Singing: Love it or hate it, you can’t deny that Christmas has produced some tunes. Held in St Andrew Square Gardens on 29th November, this concert by the Exile Gospel Choir and St Peters Primary School is sure to get you in

the Christmas spirit, whether you want to join in and sing some carols or just soak up the Christmas atmosphere. Then you can go home and sing ‘Good King Wenceslas’ to your flatmates even if they don’t want to listen. They’ll love it, it’s just unlikely they’ll admit it.

5. Have a wander: Okay, so it’s not an “official” activity but it’s fun all the same. The most crucial part of this one is Starbucks coffee in a red cup, a true sign it’s Christmas. Explore Edinburgh at your leisure with your friends, there’s plenty to do and see. Make sure you wrap up warm though, incase you haven’t already noticed, it’s pretty cold out there.

If you’re quick! Activities going on this weekend (27-29th November) include:

- The ‘Edinburgh Sparkles’ Fountains: Fountains on Princes Street! They light up in colour! And are coordinated to music! Just amazing. Only from 26th-28th of November.

- Enchanted Snow Globe – Tumbellina: Ballerinas doing ballet in a big snow globe. Only on Friday 27th November with performances at 2pm, 4pm and 6pm, definitely something to see.

There really is plenty of stuff to do out there, but if the weather’s really too terrible, it’s all about the Christmas movies. Love Actually, It’s a Wonderful Life, Elf, Miracle on 34th Street, whatever your choice have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

The interesting thing about blogging (and one I never expected it) is how aware it makes you of where you are from. Most days we all live our lives hardly noticing the city/town/place we live in – and only really notice how interesting it is when we have to show someone else round or we’ve been away for a while.

So for today’s Friday I’m in love, I thought I would celebrate the city I now call home… and take you on a tour of Edinburgh courtesy of the brilliant M. Sasek.

The steps leading to the train station are known for being very windy on a blustery day!

This the view from the Mound… I live somewhere in the distance!

Scottish grey rain clouds gather over the Castle… even on a sunny day!

One of my fav streets for shopping as it has The Red Door Gallery and Totty Rocks on it. The lovely Godiva is nearby too.

I adore the Penguin Parade at Edinburgh Zoo… every day the penguins come out for a walk (if they fancy it) and waddle about, quite the thing, getting their pictures taken. Some of them are so cheeky!

This is the gardens that I live minutes from… me and the OH like to pretend its our garden. It’s got the fattest pigeons I’ve ever seen.

This is harbour that I see every morning on my walk/drive to work… except those men aren’t standing there!

Hope you enjoyed your Edinburgh trip… for once it didn’t rain!

Have a lovely weekend wherever you are x

P.S. I’ve also added a new links section called ‘Why Scotland rocks’. I’ll be adding to it as I go so feel free to drop me a line if there’s someone you think I’ve missed or would suggest adding.

Trimester One is drawing to a close…unbelieveably, almost all of our coursework assessments have been handed in and it really does feel like an end to our introduction to the art of  journalism.

So what have I learned? I feel that the last few months have been a time of great development for me personally as I know they have for many.  My writing has been both criticised and acclaimed, showing me exactly where I need to improve and crucially how to go about it.  My university work has encouraged me to get out there and actively seek news stories and sources, acquiring the “journalist’s eye” – which becomes a constant way of viewing the world.

My work with The Journal, being read by an audience of 80,000 every fortnight, has given me confidence and raised my self-esteem.  This allows me to persue more actively leads and chase up responses for quotes and real, first-hand information.

Throughout the year we have met many significant journalists and writers, including David Pratt and Eamonn O’Neill, who have inforced my love for the industry I am entering.  Their talks instilled the value of real, quality news and the need to just get out there and do it, a mantra I shall be taking forward.

So at the end of our time in these modules, I am convinced that the path ahead is a little less daunting.  My writing has started to change direction, becoming more journalistic and focussed, my confidence has grown and I am more assured that I can just get out there and chase the news.  In these brief four months I really feel I have become immersed in my chosen profession.

To all we have learned and all that lies ahead. Thanks be to the teacher.

Flygresan igår gick bra trots resfeber. Ryanair är ju roliga :) Haha mot slutet av resan ropar de ut att ” Although Ryanair has a very strict non smoking policy we can now offer you smokless cigarettes”, nu säljer de alltså inte bara fika, scratch cards och perfymer utan även cigaretter som inte är riktiga cigaretter men som värdinnan även sa – de känns och smakar precis som vanliga cigaretter.
Vi kom iväg ca 15-20 minuter sent, landande på Edinburgh Airport, jag tog buss 35 och köpte en day ticket istället för att ta flygbussen. 35:an tar mycket längre tid att åka men det är en ganska kul sightseeing och en del nytt har byggts upp som jag inte sett tidigare. Jag checkade in på hotellet och tänkte – vad har jag gjort? Det var kallt och ensamt… Jag åkte raka spåret till Jo men fick vänta 20 min på bussen samtidgt som en dam pratade non stop med mig… Hon pratade så tyst att jag inte hörde var hon sa och när jag hörde förstod jag inte… Jag är lite ringrostig! Minns inte vad gatorna i Edinburgh heter och jag förstår knappt när folk pratar… Snyft! Känns lite sorgligt men jag tror att allt komme tilbaka till mig under dagen idag!
Hos Jo fick jag krama lilla Lukas och vi åt kyckling och grön curry med kokosris mums! Efterrätt – paj (som smakade som mince pie) med glass! Mums igen :) Fick skjuts tillbaka till hotellet!

Igår hade jag ont och tjockt i halsen men jag var säker på att det berodde på stress men bestämde mig för att få en sovmorgon idag och när jag vakanade kände mig fortfarande tjock i halsen .
Nu har jag ätit frukost (efter frukost svullnade mitt vänstra öga upp och jag tog ut linserna) och duschat. Snart kommer Jo och Lukas och sen ska vi ner på stan.

U.

In November 2005, Missoni and the Rezidor Hotel Group signed an agreement to create Hotel Missoni, a lifestyle hotel chain, with plans to have 30 hotels open or in development by 2012. As of August 2009, five properties have been confirmed.Interior design
-.Architecture as sartorial work: Missoni’s colours and lifestyle combined with MTP’s hospitality development expertise.
 A clear and flexible idea of hospitality: repeatable and declinable accordingly to local habits.
-Colour schemes and fabric patterns to match the location mood and the functional areas: black, white and silver for the 129 rooms and 7 suites of the Edinburgh business hotel.rooms are boldy and unmistakably missoni. warm and intiutive spaces. fabulous in function and form.
Four versatile spaces, boardrooms, meeting rooms, and private dining.

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Labour fears over SNP School Building Programme

Rhona Brankin, shadow minister for education and lifelong learning, has hit out at the SNPs school building scheme, The Scottish Futures Trust, citing concern at the lack of schools being built. The Scottish Futures Trust has yet to fund a single new school building in Scotland despite the 2009 School Estate Statistics revealing that around 150,000 pupils remain in schools classified as being in poor or bad condition.

The Scottish Futures Trust was established in 2008 as a replacement to the Labour system of PPP (Public Private Partnerships); however it has met great opposition.  It aims to “improve public infrastructure investment to save £100 – £150 million each year”.

The PPP system involved local authorities working closely with private companies in an attempt to improve public services. PPP has primarily been used in education and the NHS, being pioneered by the Labour Government. The system was met with great controversy through claims that it unbeneficial to tax payers.

Brankin criticised secretary for education and lifelong learning, Fional Hyslop, for taking credit for schools commissioned by Scottish Labour under the PPP programme. Brankin also condemned Hyslop’s posing for photos outside the newly opened Armadale Academy school, a PPP venture, after reprobating the system.

Although 14 new schools have been announced by Scottish Futures Trust, Joe FitzPatrick SNP MSP, was asked on Newsnight Scotland how many would be built by the 2011 election, only responding with some. The SNP’s election manifesto in 2007 pledged that it would “match the current school building programme brick for brick, and offer an alternative funding mechanism through the Scottish Futures Trust.”, however it is yet to show any evidence of doing that. Under Scottish Labour 119 of the 328 schools built were pioneered by the PPP system, compared with zero schools for the Scottish Futures Trust so far under two years of SNP Government.

Hyslop claimed that the PPP system “has not delivered best value for the taxpayers” and Labour were more concerned about “making excessive profits”. The SNP have upped yearly funds for school by £115million since the Scottish Labour Administration and aim to work with local authorities to identify schools that merit being rebuilt.

John Swinney, cabinet secretary for finance and sustainable growth, has stated he expects more than 250 school building projects to be completed during the current session of Parliament in an attempt to “meet the SNPs manifesto plans of matching Labour brick by brick”.