Louder than words: actions of the News Group

Confrontation – how the media simplifies a complex story [pictures by George Lamb]

Every now and then a surprised face peered through the window: this was not business as usual in the Scottish Parliament, not even during the Festival of Politics.  For once the emphasis was on actions rather than words.  And actions can speak volumes. Continue reading “Louder than words: actions of the News Group”

A garden guerilla in the Botanics

Spotted in The Poetry Garden last year: Gordon is the one in the stripey jumper.

Perhaps guerilla isn’t quite the right word.  But the ‘geopoetic’ poet Gordon Peters might just encourage his audience to explore the possibilities of guerilla gardening during his Allotted Span at the Botanics tomorrow (2.30pm Wednesday 25th August).  As Gordon explains in an email… Continue reading “A garden guerilla in the Botanics”

Donating to Pakistan

Just one of hundreds of images of the Pakistan floods, the YouTube series by Islamic Relief

An email arrives confirming our donation.  The World Kitchen in Leith evening at Out of the Blue raised a total of £288 towards the Pakistan Flood Relief Appeal.  It seems a very small contribution towards relieving some of the suffering in a disaster which shows no signs of letting up. Continue reading “Donating to Pakistan”

Scottish Parliament votes for maximum wage

It’s true. In the debating chamber of the Scottish Parliament yesterday a majority voted in favour of a maximum wage, a cap on bank bonuses and renationalisation of the railways. Whatever will the News Group do tomorrow? Continue reading “Scottish Parliament votes for maximum wage”

Vacancy at Africa Centre Scotland

Wanted: someone who enjoys community work and would like to  play a crucial role in supporting people of African heritage.  Continue reading “Vacancy at Africa Centre Scotland”

In the cool of the World Kitchen

When we escaped from the heat of the kitchen this is what we saw from the “minstrels’ gallery”overlooking the fantastic space of the Out of the Blue Drill Hall Arts Cafe transformed for the World Kitchen in Leith.  The music mixed by our minstrels, RadioMagnetic, is Quantic – Mishaps Happening (Tru Thoughts) and there’s that indefinable undertone hum of people having a good time.

No nightmare in the World Kitchen

Alice and Mridu in the kitchen, lots more pictures by George Lamb and Euan Wheatley on Flickr

Altogether it was a great experience. But  the night before the event we emerged from the kitchen slightly terrified. When it comes down to it, The World Kitchen in Leith is just a bunch of amateur cooks getting together for the fun of sharing food.   Under the careful coaching of Drill Hall Arts Cafe manager Chris Askham, I think we all realised for the first time the true scale of the task we were facing. Continue reading “No nightmare in the World Kitchen”

All right on the night

World Kitchen in Leith was a really memorable experience for the team and from the kind feedback (so to speak) our guests had a good night too.  Coming soon more food stories and some of those recipes from last night’s menus.  But first we still have a bit of clearing up to do.

A cunning plan with tables

Thanks to Helen we have a plan.  A table plan, that is, for the World Kitchen in Leith event at Out of the Blue next week (see last post).  More to the point we also have a menu which makes us hungry just to think of it – with food you won’t usually find in a restaurant. But back for a moment to that plan because we’re learning fast that there is much more to running a restaurant than writing the menu! Continue reading “A cunning plan with tables”