Shows
Volunteering World Sat 3 Feb. l0.30am—4.30pm. Assembly Rooms. 54 George Street. 220 4349. See photo caption.
Far Away From Home Sat 3 Feb. 7.30pm. £3 (£1.50). Traverse Theatre. (,‘ambridge Street. 228 1404. Playreading of Nick Iiisen's tale. directed by John Mitchell with all proceeds going towards Amnesty International.
Origin — Large Scale Video Projection Mon 5~-Stin 11 Feb. 5~~10pin. £3 (£1.50); children under 18 free. Royal Mtiseum. 2 Chambers Street. 247 4219. The smooth walls of the Royal Museum provide the canvas on which the dramatic video display of the breaking tip of a quarry in Elgin will be shown. This serves to act as a reminder of the origins of the stone and the relationship between the raw materials and the man-made structure. Antiques Fair Sat 1() Feb. noon- 5pm: Sun I I Feb. 9am—5pm. £4. Royal Highland Centre. lngliston. 333 3036. Browse or buy from a wide selection of antiques and collectibles.
Camp America Recruitment Fair Wed 14 Feb. noon—4pm. Assembly Rooms. 54 (ieorge Street. 220 4349. Everything you ever need to know about working for Camp America.
Talks
A New Enlightenment: Engineering A Sustainable Future Thu 1 Feb. 6an Free. Heriot-Watt University. Edinburgh Business School. Riccarton. 451 3444. ProfJonathan Side gives the first in a series of lectures at IIeriot-Watt University.
Professor Sheila McLean Thu 1 Feb. 6pm. Edinburgh City Chambers. High Street. The Law Professor considers how the importance of the individual can have a detrimental effect on society. Edinburgh's Biodiversity Action Plan Wed 7 Feb. 10.30am. £1. Open Door. 420 Morningsidc Road. 447 9757. Edinburgh Council's Biodiversity Officer. Susan Steel. talks about the future of biodiversity in the city.
Seamus Heaney Thu 8‘ Feb. 6.30pm. University Of Edinburgh. Old College. The winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature demonstrates how Scots and Irish poetry has survived the dominance of the English language.
The Play Ethic: Living Creatively in the Ztst Century Thu 8 Feb. 6.30pm. £3 (£2). Royal Museum. 2 Chambers Street. 247 4219. Former Hue and Cry froiitman Pat Katie gives a talk on creativity.
Sir Charles Mackerras Wed 14 Feb. 7pm. £6 (£5 for Festival Muses). The Iltib. Castleiiill. Royal Mile. 473 2000. A regular performer at the International Festival. Sir Charles Mackerras shares his recollections of almost 50 years of the festival.
Sports
Scottish National Badminton Championships Fri Z—Suii 4 Feb. £1.50-£3 (75p—£1.50l. Meadow bank Sports Centre. 139 London Road. 661 5351. Shuttlccocks at the ready for this sporting event which features men's and ladies‘ singles and doubles. all competing under the watchful eye of 500 expected spectators.
Edinburgh Rocks Sun 4 Feb. 5pm. £7 (£5). Meadow batik Sports Centre. 139 London Road. 661 5351. Edinburgh's basketball troupe take on the might of Manchester.
Hearts v Celtic Stiii 4 Feb. 6.05pm. £19 (£101.'I‘ynecastle Stadium. Gorgie Road. 200 7201. Hearts have suffered badly at Celtic's hands this season (6-1 and 5~21 but Craig I.e\ ein‘s team-building needs the boost of a big win; what better time than the piesent'.‘
Edinburgh Reivers v Swansea Fri 9 Feb. 7pm. Myreside. Myreside Road. 226 6262. The Reivers continue their Celtic league campaign.
Hibernian v St Mirren Sat 10 Feb. 12.30pm. £15—£18 (£10). Easter Road. 12 Albion Place. 661 1875. Alex McLeish may be tipped for future wealth and fame down south but. for now. he is gagging to get his Hibs team into the Champions League. Games like these are must-wins bit! it won't be easy as the Saints are now fighting for their SP1. existence.
The Big Red Football Tour Sun ll Feb. 9.30am~4pm. Donation. Mound Square. off Princes Street. 08457 910910. Sign your name on a 15ft football in aid of Comic Relief. The ball is currently touring around the UK collecting donations and signatures and is set to become the largest signed ball in the world.
Edinburgh Capitals v Peterborough Pirates Stiit 11 Feb. 6pm. £8 (£4). Murrayfield Ice Rink. Riversdale Crescent. 313 2977. The Capitals’ British National league campaign hots up with a match against the English side. Musselburgh Races Wed 14 Feb. £7——£12 (£4). Musselburgh Racecourse. Linkfield Road. Musselburgh. 665 2859. Family race day with children's entertainment.
Other Events
Edinburgh Midweek Group Thu 1 Feb. . Tue 6~—Tliu 8 Feb. 9.30am. Various Venues. 332 8700. Help BTCV Scotland In a series of conservation tasks. using free transport to and from the site. On Thu I Feb help maintain pathwork at The Robert (Bough Centre and Tue 6—Thu 8 Feb assist with work at Cammo Park with CEC Rangers. Meet at Waverley Bridge. Managing Traffic In Central Edinburgh Until Thu 1 Mar. l0am—4pm. Free. City Development Department. I Coekburn Street. 469 350913785. The Central Edinburgh Traffic Management Proposals w ill be on display illustrating the council's agenda for a cleaner and safer environment for road users in Edinburgh.
Old Town Guard Thu 1 & Fri 2 Feb. Thu 8 & Fri 9 Feb. Thu 15 Feb. 10am—4pm. £7 (£2-£5). Edinburgh Castle. 225 9846. Alba Adventure Company take you back to 1743 when rumours of a Jacobite rising were rife. Popular Observing Fri 2 Feb & Fri 9 Feb. 7.30pm. £1. Royal Observatory Visitor Centre. Blackford Hill. 668 8405. View Saturn with its rings and Jupiter and its moons from one of the telescopes of the Royal Observatory. Astronomical Journey of Discovery Fri 2 Feb. 7.30pm. £1. Royal Observatory Visitor Centre. Blackford Ilill. 668 8405. View the observable universe through the centre's six-inch telescope. exploring the moon. planets and stars. and the evening is complemented by a presentation from Dr Mark Casali who gives a talk on ‘The \Valtzing L'niverse‘.
The Work Of Angels? Fri 2 Feb. £5—£.s’ (£3.30—£5). Netherbow Arts Centre. 43—45 High Street. 556 95792647. Screenings of Murray (irigor's film The Work ()f.-Ingels f’. art exploration of The Book Of Kells. are accompanied by
story telling and a St Bride‘s Supper. Screenings are at 3pm. 5pm and 7.30pm. supper and stories at 6pm.
Tree Planting Ceremony Sun 4 Feb. 10.30am. Princes Street Gardens. 668 2910. Children from the local Hebrew congregation plant trees in the memory of Anne Frank and to mark the Jewish New Year for trees.
Railways In Edinburgh Wed 7' Feb. 7.30pm. £2 (£1). Blackhzill Patish Church Hall. llillhouse Road. 336 2494. The Scottish Railway Preservation Society are the guests of the North West Heritage (Edinburgh Villages).
i I
What is it Voluntary SerVices Overseas have )omed forces With over 50
listings EDINBURGH LIFE
organisations to search for volunteers throughout the country Voluntary. Doesn't that involve working for free? Yes, but think of all the places you could VISII from right here in old Bligth to the furthest flung corneis
of the globe.
What organisations will be there? Oxfam, Barnardo’s, Scottish Wildlife host and Skillshare Africa to name but a few, plus you can hear first-hand accounts from
intrepid volunteers.
And is this type of pro-social behaviour normal? Last year over 6,500 attended one of these shows, but if it still doesn't appeal then there‘s always the Camp America Recrudment Fair. Unpaid labour for a worthwhile cause or prepubescent
Yanks. You deCide.
1;; Volunteering World, Sat 3 Feb, 10.30am—4.30pm. Assembly Rooms, 54
George Street, 220 4349.
Camp America Recrurtment Fair, Wed 74 Feb, noon—4pm, Assembly Rooms, 54
George Street, 220 4349.
PERMANENT ATTRACTIONS
Craigmillar Castle
Craigmillar Castle Road. 661 4445. Mon—Wed & Sat 9.30am—4.30pm; Thu 9.30am—Ipm; Closed Fri; Sun 2-430pm. £1.80 (£1.30); children 75p. Fora real taste of history. take a drive out to this ramshackle old castle. which. although not quite as intact as Edinburgh Castle. is far more atmospheric and the scene of much plotting during the reign of Mary. Queen of Scots.
Edinburgh Castle Castlehill. 225 9846. Daily 9.30am—5pm. l £7 (£2—£5). Although much of the castle‘s medieval character was lost when it was converted into barracks in the 19th century. continuing excavations aim to redress this. Other attractions include James IV‘s famous cannon. Motis Meg. the One O‘Clock (iun with its own exhibition. lots of military silverware and. of course. The Stone Of Destiny. used to crown Scottish kings since time began.
Edinburgh Zoo Corstorphine Road. 334 9171. Daily 9am—4.30pm. £7 (£4—£5); family ticket £20—£24.50. Widely accepted as one of the finest zoos in Britain. there's plenty here to while away an afternoon. or even a whole day if you take your time. The penguin parade at 2.15pm is a must and the newly-built African plains afford a fantastic view of the city. Medieval Torture Exhibition 45—47 Niddry Street. 557 4700. Daily l0am—10pm. £1. If tliumbscrews and jawbreakers are your thing then drop into this Edinburgh attraction. featuring the latest and greatest in medieval torture devices and instruments of humiliation. including the enigmatically-named ‘Scavenger‘s Daughter'. Afternoon tours £5. evening tours £6.
Midlothian Slti Centre
Biggar Road. Hillend. 445 4433. Mon—Sat 9.30am—9pm; Sun 9.30am—7pm. £6.30 for a one hour session (under 18s £4.20). Europe‘s longest artificial ski slope is the perfect place to learn or hone skiing and snowboarding skills. Mountain bikers can take the chairlift before enjoying the new 600 metre downhill mountain bike trail. The centre also houses a competitively , priced ski repair and maintenance facility. I
Palace Of Holyroodhouse
Royal Mile. 556 1096. Daily 9.30am—445pm. £6 (£3--£4.50); family ticket £13.50. Starting life as a 13th
century abbey. the palace has evolved into
a sumptuous regal residence crammed full
of paintings and artefacts dating back primarily to the 17th century. The tower . apartments housed a sad and lonely Mary. Queen of Scots for a time. btit with a spectacular view of Arthur's Seat. and magnificent gardens to look at. it's hard to feel too sorry for her.
Royal Museum
2 Chambers Street. 247 4219. Mon—Sat 10am-5pm'. Sun noon—5pm; Tue 10am—8pm. £3 (£1.50); children under 18 free. A 19th century mUseum housing international collections of natural history. geology. science. technology and the decorative arts. pltis two permanent exhibitions: Ar! tfl- Ilidusrry and The Ivy llit Gallery. For details of temporary exhibitions. see Art listings. page 87.
Royal Yacht Britannia
Ocean Drive. I.eith. 555 5566. Mon—Fri 10.30am—3.30pm; Sat dc Stiii 9.30am—4.30pm. £7.50 (£3.75~-£5.75); family ticket £20. The former royal yacht has opened its doors to members of the public after a £25 million refit. The on- shore visitor centre contains historical information on the boat and its furnishings while. on the yacht itself. members of the public can have a good nosy round the Royals‘ former quarters.
The People's Story
Canongate Tolbooth. 163 Canongate. 529 4057. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm. Free. Situated in the Canongate ’l'olbooth. the sights. sounds and even smells of Edinburgh folk from the 18th century onwards are faithfully reproduced.
OUTSIDE THE CITIES
Kelso Races Thu 1 Feb. 1.40pm. £74.15; accompanied children under 16 free; OAPs and students £4. Kelso Racecourse. Kelso. 01573 224767. A great day featuring National Hunt horseraeing at the Kelso races.
Candlemas Fair Sat 3 Feb. 10am-noon. £1. St Mary‘s Parish Church. The Sidegate. Haddington. 01620 823738. The Friends of St Mary's annual fair which features a variety of stalls selling plants. books. baking. produce and candles.
1—15 Feb 2001 THE “ST 91