Dear All

A huge ‘THANK YOU’ to all who sponsored me in my Virtual Kiltwalk challenge to walk right around the perimeter of Ward 17.  I now know it’s 23 kilometres, having completed the route on Saturday and mapped the paths I took.  I raised nearly £900 for the Thistle Foundation and with the 50% top up promised by Sir Tom Hunter that brings it to almost £1400 for this great cause.  If you still wish to contribute, that would be very welcome.  The closing date is Monday.  The link to my fundraising page is here: https://edinburghkiltwalk2020.everydayhero.com/uk/maureen-3.

It was good to have recorded Porty Podcast with David Calder alongside other local fundraisers fulfilling our own challenges as 2020 Kiltwalkers.  Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/71622/5383987

I intend to continue regularly walking in and around the neighbourhoods of Portobello/Craigmillar Ward and am happy to meet up with any constituent and have a look at any issue I might be able to help with.  I have been reporting bins, blocked drains, flytipping and potholes as I wander about.  Do feel free to get in touch to arrange a time and place for a walkabout!  I have a number of suggestions already and some time slots still to fill.

It was a big boost to me, walking about the area, to see the work starting again on building our new school at Craigmillar.  Good progress, with the exciting prospect of opening end 2021 or early 2022. News of it here: https://castlebraechs.wordpress.com/castlebrae-2021/

Cris Thacker of Community Renewal asked me to advertise this opportunity for residents to take photos of their local neighbourhoods.  Their Local Conversations Project have launched an amateur photo competition for residents of Bingham and Magdalene. They’re looking for images that reflect your local community in a positive light.  Monthly cash prizes are on offer: £50 for 1st place, £30 for 2nd and £20 for 3rd. To enter, please go to www.binghamandmagdalene.scot

Richmond Church Craigmillar have changed their Cafe into a safe place for people to meet up.  They say it’s open on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:45am to 1:30pm for now.

It’s always fun to join the ‘World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’ and Home Instead will be holding their very first Virtual Macmillan Coffee Morning on Thursday 24 September 11am – 11.30am and would be delighted if you were able to join in raising a mug to Macmillan. If you would like to join in, please donate £2 or whatever you can afford to the event page. Here is the link: https://thyg.uk/BUU004189851. 

The 10th Portobello Book Festival will be on line this year and will go ahead 2-4 October. More here: https://portobellobookfestival.wordpress.com/

This is a really lovely piece on this year’s Porty ArtWalk exhibition: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-54153086. There are fabulous photos with stories behind them.

I am delighted that – even in these tough times – a group of us are able to launch our exciting new arts project Craigmillar Now.  More here: https://craigmillarnow.com/

Have a great weekend!

Maureen