The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Monday 5 January 2025
Waverley trains affected by snow, plans to shut city centre police station in evenings, Heriot-Watt Uni lecturers vote on strike, Cramond Island rescue + join the Doddie Dawn Patrol
🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. The National Galleries kindly got in touch on Friday morning to say that the path between the Water of Leith and the Modern One art gallery is open again. The dangerous tree branch has been removed. Thanks to the subscriber who flagged it up. Here’s Monday's Edinburgh Minute.
❄️ This week's weather: It's another chilly start. There's a chance of rain, sleet or snow on Tuesday but there's still uncertainty whether it'll snow. Forecasts vary. But one thing's for sure, this week is looking just as cold as last week. A high of 4C on Tuesday and a low of -2C on Wednesday. - The full Met Office forecast is here.
⮑ 🤔 Let's not forget Edinburgh Live's 'Exact time Edinburgh set for snow' article last week said: "The snow is set to start from 6am on Tuesday and fall for the rest of the day".
🚄 LNER warned of 'major disruption due to heavy snow' and advised customers not to travel between Edinburgh and Aberdeen until 2pm today. - Get live LNER updates here.
- ⮑ ScotRail is also expecting that trains north out of Edinburgh 'will be cancelled, delayed or revised' today. - Get live ScotRail updates here.
- There's a good national weather/travel update from Martyn McLaughlin in The Scotsman.
🚉 Rail passengers travelling between Edinburgh and Fife are being reminded about plans to close the train line between Haymarket and Dalmeny on 17 to 25 January for the Fife electrification project. - Network Rail.
👮♂️ Questions are being asked about plans to close the front counter at Gayfield Square police station, just off Leith Walk during the evenings this week. - Ian Swanson, Evening News.
🎓 Heriot-Watt University lecturers are voting on possible strike action over plans to cut courses, programmes and 'more than 50 jobs'. The university said it was 'disappointed' that the UCU was balloting for walkouts 'prior to the conclusion of our formal consultations'. - Ian Swanson, Evening News.
🇬🇷 The parents of a Greek man killed in Gorgie last month are fundraising to get his body home. - Chloe Goodall, Edinburgh Live.
🛟 Three people were rescued by the RNLI Queensferry inshore lifeboat after they were stranded on Cramond Island on Friday. - Lucinda Cameron, Evening News.
🚔 A 33-year-old man was arrested after a car crashed in to scaffolding on Hanover Street on Friday. - Danyel VanReenen, STV News. There are a couple of photos from the scene in this BBC Scotland News report.
🔎 A charity dedicated to finding missing people is appealing for help with unsolved cases, including one centred on Edinburgh. - Sally Hind, Daily Record.
🚗 Speeding motorists could be caught by members of the public trained to use speed guns, if a plan by Edinburgh’s Green councillors is approved. - Ian Swanson, Evening News.
🎭 Organisers of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe say it's at risk of becoming 'diluted unless it remains affordable to audiences', writes Brian Ferguson in The Herald.
🎞️ A decision on the future of the former George Cinema in Portobello is expected later this year, reports Donald Turvill in The Herald.
🌴 Gardeners at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh are hoping to re-open its palm houses by September. - BBC Scotland News has an update from Angie Brown & Cameron Buttle.
🏗️ Last month's outcry over the sudden closure, and eventual reopening, of St Mark’s Path has inspired an opinion piece in the Broughton Spurtle titled 'Major projects - how to get them right', by Dennis O'Keeffe.
🚲 The organisers of Edinburgh Dawn Patrol morning rides are planning a four-day 'Doddie Dawn Patrol' cycle as part of the Doddie Aid fundraiser in memory of former Scottish rugby international Doddie Weir. - Alastair Dalton, The Scotsman. Find out more about Edinburgh Dawn Patrol here.
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📌 “Monday 05 January - 10-week Painting Master Course at Scot-ART working with paintings from the National Galleries of Scotland. Learn how to develop observational drawing and painting skills through looking at Renaissance paintings with artist and educator Dr Ginny Elston. 10am - 4pm every Monday” - Thanks to Dr Ginny Elston, artist and educator, for sharing this.
📌 "Monday: “The Improv Show” returns to Monkey Barrel Comedy on Blair Street! An evening of completely improvised comedy gold from some of the Edinburgh Fringe’s superstar improv teams. Tickets just £6/£4!" - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.
♻️🧵 Tuesday 6th of January - 🧵 Start the year sewing and make a cosy vest from a quilt at this 3 week sewing class in OOTB Abbeymount Studios, 2 Easter Road! Choose from our collection of vintage quilts or bring your own to craft a unique vest! 1 space left.” - Thanks to OOTB Abbeymount resident designer Jen for sharing this.
📌 “Wed 7 Jan; 7pm - Free meditation talk - 'Start Your Practice, Start Your Transformation' with Buddhist nun Gen Tubchen at Kadampa Meditation Centre in Leith. Prioritise your wellbeing in 2026 an learn reliable meditation skills to cultivate lasting inner peace by joining our Meditation Challenge.” - Thanks to Lhasang Kelsang for sharing this.
📌 “Edinburgh Road Club runs cycling sessions for children aged 6 to 16. Put those Christmas bikes to use at Saturday sessions, girls only sessions, or in regular races. Check the website for more information.” - Thanks to Phil Darby, Edinburgh Road Club youth cycle coach, for sharing this.
📌 “Saturday, 10 January at noon- Edinburgh’s Quadball team, the Holyrood Hippogriffs, has our first give it a go session of the new year on the meadows. Quadball is a gender inclusive and full contact sport that combines elements of rugby, handball, and dodgeball. We’re super welcoming to new players!” - Thanks to Edinburgh Quadball for sharing this.
📌 “Wednesday 14 January. Online Zoom Forum: Meshullam Zalman Schachter-Shalomi: The Spiritual, Social, Ecological, and Interreligious Vision in His Life and Work. There will be five talks, each of 12 minutes, followed by discussion among the speakers and the chair, followed by Q & A.” - Thanks to Neill Walker, Edinburgh International Centre for Spirituality and Peace, Scottish Charity, SC038996, for sharing this.
📌 “Sunday 11th January. Join award-winning opera singer and voice teacher, Louise Macdonald, who is leading a winter well-being singing workshop for women at The Salisbury Centre, 2-3pm. Breathwork meets singing for a life-affirming experience!”
📮 Anything missing? Please share your local news and events here.
👀 The most-visited links from the last newsletter:
- 🚑 Three cars in Morningside Road crash.
- 👩🌾 Volunteering opportunities at Gorgie Community Farm.
- 🚔 Man charged for allegedly flying drone over city during Hogmanay.
- 🏊♀️ Portobello Loony Dook photos.
- 🎨 New workshops at Marpole on Leith Walk.
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⏰ Thanks for reading edition number 805.
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