Dear All

The wonderful Portobello Timebank have helped a lot of people during the pandemic.  Here is David Calder’s (No.191) interview about their work: https://www.buzzsprout.com/71622/6568585?fbclid=IwAR39UAqi9MoEbpz7su0384xhk0VsdnvoFLFcyaxTjqQvaR9KA4jJi-YsMfw. It’s worth looking at David’s Porty Podcast back catalogue there too. He’s building up quite an archive for us to listen to.

I loved this story which illustrates the impact of the work The Thistle Foundation do.  It’s an individual account of someone who is impacted by long Covid-19.  Read about Callum’s experience here: https://www.thistle.org.uk/callums-story

Portobello Market tomorrow, remember! https://www.pedal-porty.org.uk/food/portobello-market/portobello-market-traders-for-saturday-5th-december/

Ongoing consultation and report to Police Scotland help shape their priorities. I have been in touch with them a few times this week, about vandalism, school streets and road safety.  Find out more here about Police Scotland’s local police plan here: https://www.scotland.police.uk/spa-media/eizhtflx/edinburgh-local-police-plan-2020-23-pdf.pdf

Sheds, whatever their useful purpose, might well ‘require’ planning permission especially in conservation areas and shared properties. However, if you follow the Council’s design guidelines put together with SPOKES cycle campaign: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/file/25397/quick-guide-to-sheds-and-ancillary-buildings and if you are mindful of how it will affect any of your neighbours and the look of the place, you are highly unlikely to get any objections from anyone and could install a secure bike storage without going through the bureaucratic process.  SPOKES have their say on it here:  http://www.spokes.org.uk/documents/members-campaigning/edinburgh/residential-bike-storage/.  This is a legally complex area which I have been grappling with this week, for hours which I am not sure were well spent.  Roll on retirement!

I loved this story from last Friday.  Two friends, Sheila from Portobello and Tim from Musselburgh, have become famous throughout the land for having a sociable lock-down cup of tea together on the border of two different Covid tiers.  Click here:  https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/i-brought-chairs-and-wee-table-make-wee-border-cafe-friends-who-met-edinburgh-city-limits-share-laugh-their-newfound-publicity-3043897. Great stuff! Let’s hope the publicity is helpful to their cause.

I know a lot of us are interested in community growing, so might want to contribute to this consultation: https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/bi/edinburgh-food-growing-strategy/

A group of six local people have put together a proposal to take over the running of Portobello Town Hall fromCouncil, led by Action Porty.  Here is their full proposal:  https://www.portobellocentral.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/The-Portobello-Central-Proposal-for-Portobello-Town-Hall.pdf?fbclid=IwAR37uCjQeDsE79ZUuflQKuiE6Qzr1QbHz2AXSj5BkyaCLsgBN7J6slkU0TU

Home Instead, a local care provider, based at Create in Craigmillar, are partnering with local schools, nurseries, community groups, businesses or individuals to make or donate things that fit into an A4 envelope – a ‘Santa-gram’ – which can be pictures, drawings, puzzles, crosswords, cards, crafts, letters, craft kits, bookmarks – just anything that fits in and will bring a smile to someone’s day.  Home Instead staff are accepting things for ‘Santa-grams’ up until Friday 11 December, then they will distribute them to older people around Edinburgh, many of whose clubs and activities are not running just now.  Contact details here: https://www.homecare.co.uk/homecare/agency.cfm/id/65432198265

The new Scottish Water ‘Top up Tap’ on the Promenade beside Straiton Park allows us to fill up our water bottles and reduce our use of plastic. Edinburgh is getting five new taps, hopefully up and running before year end.  More here about the launch of this one by Gail Porter: https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/health/telly-presenter-gail-porter-shows-she-has-bottle-make-difference-3052196

I slept right through the loud thunderclap which Porty People heard around 4.30am today (Friday).  The explanation is here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-55184493

This week’s start of winter, with frost and snow, means we have to think about gritting.  Here’s a link to what the Council does and what you can do to help yourself and neighbours: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/gritting-grit-bins

Another piece about our new community arts project in Craigmillar in the Edinburgh Evening News:  https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/people/new-arts-centre-set-open-craigmillar-3050020.

I very nearly got caught by this, as it looked so very convincing.  So beware!  https://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/family/family-news/dpd-scam-delivery-christmas-shopping-572696

Have a good weekend and stay safe!

Maureen