It's that time of year again - time for the ....

'Wasps Artists' Open Studios Weekend 2009
Saturday 3rd October 11am - 5pm
Sunday 4th October 12pm - 5pm '

Of course there are exhibitions from the Highlands to Selkirk in the Borders (where I am from) but I like to go to the local one at -

'West Park Place Studios, Dalry: Regular visitors will know that the artists always put a cafe together in the basement space for the weekend. This year the cafe in the basement exhibition space will be run by Delish Salad and Sandwich bar and will be the perfect place to meet and talk about the work on show. If you can't wait until the weekend, you can visit Delish at 59 Dalry Road, Edinburgh EH11 2BS. '

It is well worth a visit and we usually buy something. Prices range from the expensive to the very reasonable. Or just go along to look at the wonderful art works.

See below local activities at the Whale Arts Centre. Quite a variety! 'Let's Dance' is well timed with the return of 'Strictly' to our screens. Bring back Arlene - that's all I'm saying.

Free Workshops for Adult Groups in South-West Edinburgh.
WHALE is delighted to be able to offer the workshops below FREE OF CHARGE to groups in South-West Edinburgh. Workshop times are flexible so can be arranged around the time that your group usually meets and can either take place at your group’s usual venue or the WHALE Arts Centre.


Let’s DANCE
Dancing is a great way to have fun and to keep fit! Let’s DANCE workshops are led by expert tutors who are experienced in working with beginners. A range of dance styles are available including salsa, ballroom and swing! 1 or 2 hour workshops available.


Creating a Character
At heart everyone is an actor and this workshop will enable participants to release their inner drama queen! Aimed at complete beginners this is a fun, interactive workshop involving games and exercises to develop characters and scenes. A chance to play! 1 or 2 hour workshops available.


Film and the G20
This workshop is offered as a partnership between the World Development Movement (WDM) and the Reel Lives Film Club at WHALE. On the 7th of November the G20 (twenty of the richest nations in the world) are sending their Finance Ministers to St. Andrews to decide on their solutions to the global financial crisis. Residents of South-West Edinburgh have a particular interest in this because it is our MP, Alistair Darling, who will be representing the UK at this meeting. This workshop uses film clips to engage groups in discussions about what the G20 is, the effects of its policies and how it can be challenged. 1 hour workshops available.


For further information, to arrange a workshop for your group or to suggest other possible workshops and collaborations please contact Gavin Crichton on 458 3267 or adult@whalearts.co.uk

Further information on our weekly workshop programme for young people and adults can be found at www.whalearts.co.uk

More local activity. See below....

Looks good!

Back to School for me! Due to the fact that I only teach Mon., Tues, & Wed. and in Midlothian the kids only came back on the Thurs. , I didn't have any classes till this week. It was good to see the kids again but it is easy to forget how tiring a full days teaching actually is. It is a bit like being an actor but the performance lasts six hours a day. Not complaining though - love it.

Another date for the diary is the South West Neighbourhood Partnership Meeting. I was centrally involved in the development of these local Committees and I Chair the SW one (just been reappointed for another year). As well as Councillors for the area they have representatives from the Police, Fire, the Voluntary Sector, Health and Community Councils. It is also open to the public and this time (a first for any Neighbourhood Partnership ) we are giving it a theme and splitting into 'surgeries' so you can ask your questions or make your points to the right people. If you live in the South West area and would like to ask a question or make a point on the subject of Community Safety and the Environment please come along. See poster below....

It just gets worse. Now a second fire at the British Heart Foundation exactly a week after the Balmoral Bar. Three injured firefighters but thankfully no fatalities. The funeral is tomorrow (Wednesday 22nd) for Ewan Williamson - the firefighter who was killed at the Balmoral fire trying to save others trapped in the fire. A true hero then. What a tragedy. There is to be a dignified procession starting at 12.30pm from Tollcross fire station via George IV Bridge and heading down the Royal Mile to St Giles where a memorial service will be held. I for one will certainly be lining the route and I'm sure others will wish to do so.

I got back from my holidays this weekend only to find there had been a really bad fire in Dalry Rd. at the Balmoral Bar. The message on my answering machine says a firefighter has been killed and another seriously injured. All the other occupants of the tenement appear to have been rehoused in B & B or staying with friends and relatives for the moment. Hoping to get the full details tomorrow but for know my thoughts are with the family of the deceased and the family of the person in hospital.

Everything else seems to pale in importance after that but to return to trivia, my holiday had its ups and downs. We had planned carefully to visit Dublin and at the same time go to the Bruce Springsteen concert. Yes, I'm a life long fan. I don't just like the music, I like the person. His politics and his down to earth unpretentious attitude. Sadly the company we bought the tickets from on the Internet turned out, as far as we can tell, not to exist! Their ticket lines rung dead and they didn't answer our emails. I Googled them and it seems lots of other people had the same problem. At any rate the tickets never arrived and the event is past. Needless to say I will not be leaving it there. The moral is to go for well known established names if you are booking tickets for events. Luckily I logged on to Ticketmaster and got us tickets for the Hampden concert instead so all was well that ended well. We had a nice city break in Dublin and still saw the Concert in Glasgow.
See below the songs he played.

Edit this setlist | More Bruce Springsteen setlists

He was on stage bouncing around for five mins. short of three hours! It was fantastic. I nearly went to see him 30 years ago in Minneapolis / St Paul - but didn't. I have regretted it ever since - till now. The below gives you a flavour ...my own personal favourite 'Born to Run' (not shot by me - I found this on You Tube).

We are just about at the end of the spring clean up season and heading rapidly into the park festival / fun days. The first one is in the Fun Day at Hailes Quarry Park (off Murrayburn Rd. - just past the bus depot). 11am till 3pm. Lots of events and activities for all ages. If you have not been to this one before than it is a great day out for all the family. It is easy to miss the park but there is a big sign at the entrance so you can't really miss it once you know it is there.
More events to come though so watch this space.

In spite of it being a fortnights holiday from the school (in my case of course that is just an opportunity to concentrate on Council work) it has been very busy. The running theme seems to have been participation in things in the local area so it is only right that I do what I can by putting them up here on my blog to encourage people to get involved.



A couple of 'spring cleans' to start with -



Dalry Community Park Spring Clean - on Sat 18th Apr. Volunteers will meet at St. Martin’s Church at 14:00 and then make their way to the nearby Community Park.



Dalry Colonies Spring Clean - on Sunday the 26th April 2009 at 1300 hours.

Last week I attended a very interesting public meeting in St Brides (Orwell Terrace) organised by the Edinburgh Community Backgreens association (ECBA). Although they have been going for a few years now very limited funding has meant they have had to consolidate the few sites they had already started (one in the Wheatfields and one in Dalry). Successful bids for additional funding this year have meant that they can now look at expanding to new sites.

The idea is a simple one, in areas where the backgreens have fallen into disuse and become overgrown residents can choose to put these backgreens together and organise them as a single resource. Look at their website for a full explanation of how it can work. I have been involved with this from the start and fought , back when I was Councillor for Shandon , to get the first pilot up and running in the Wheatfields. The initiative and startup funding came from Dunedin Canmore Housing Association with an additional grant (pushed through by me) from the Council's 'Local Development Committee'. I am really pleased to see the project picking up in this way and if anyone knows of backgreens that would benefit from this project or would like to participate through Grow Your Own courses or clean up days then click on the website for details.



Lastly and on the same theme I have had various meetings with the new Friends of Saughton Park. In their own words .....

We are a group of people who are dedicated to improving the facilities and amenities in Saughton Park for the benefit of the whole community. We want to see the park returned to its former position as the jewel in the crown of this area and make it a place for everyone to enjoy. If you would like to join us you can do so by completing the form on the contact us page of our website http://www.friendsofsaughtonpark.net/ or by contacting the secretary on 0131 443 1007.

I was inolved in starting up the Friends of Harrison Park when I was Councillor for Shandon and this has gone from strength to strength making a real difference. I would urge therefore local people to sign up and get involved. You can tell I love Saughton Park as I have it on my banner at the top of this blog.