MADE magazine (Mums & Dads Edinburgh) July/Aug 2014

made mums and dads edinburgh

free July/August 2014

10

ways to save your sanity

Commonwealth Games inspiring the next generation

Tom Stade

on comedy, kids and Edinburgh

plus advice, news, competitions, reviews, events, shopping, health, food and lots more‌

Best of the

Family Fest

made

welcome Contributors We asked our contributors about parenting tips that help save their sanity…

Heidi Scrimgeour (pages 17-20)

Distraction might be a parent’s ultimate secret weapon. Rare is the child who can’t be easily distracted, and you can avert everything from a tantrum to squabbling with well-timed distraction!

Cate Nelson-Shaw (pages 25-28)

Before I ask the children to play on their own I sit down with them, read a couple of stories or play a game; that way they know they’ve had my full and undivided attention for a while and it’s mummy’s turn to have some time!

At the time of writing this I am 30 weeks pregnant; conscious that in 70 days’ time, life is going to change forever. It’s scary but massively exciting! I’ve been asking everyone for their advice. Heidi Scrimgeour (mum of 3) has given me lots of personal tips, as well as writing our key feature about ‘sanity savers’ – ways to help us survive the day-to-day trials of parenting (pages 17-20). Our other contributors joined in too with their advice (see left). Even comedian, Tom Stade got in on the act (pages 50-52), thanks for the hiding and crying idea, Tom! He goes on to advise us to just be ourselves - that there’s no such thing as a perfect parent anyway. So, actually we’re all in the same boat, just doing the best we can.

Knowing that helps immensely!

Louise x Editor & Publisher Louise Wilson Sales Executive

Caroline McClean

Writers

Heidi Scrimgeour, Cate Nelson-Shaw

Columnists

Triplet Dad, Under-Fives Mum

Cathy Tingle

Agony Aunt

Jojo Sutherland

Tea. Buckets of the stuff.

And our Action Songs CD has redeemed many a car journey.

Front Cover

Treacle Boutique photographed

by Zoe Stewart

Designer

MAMi Designs

contact facebook.com/MADEmag

hello@mamidesigns.co.uk

Printer

Stephens & George

MADE, PO BOX 28825, Edinburgh, EH14 9BA T: 07738 068022 • E: mademag@live.co.uk www.mademagazine.co.uk

twitter.com/MADE_magazine All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is strictly prohibited. While every care has been taken in compiling MADE magazine to ensure that it is correct at the time of going to press. MADE (Mums And Dads Edinburgh) assume no responsibility for any effects from errors or omissions.

made JULY / AUGUST 2014

3

Foodies Festival with top chefs

Edinburgh Inverleith Park 8, 9, 10 Aug

BOOK QUOTE 2FOR1

TICKETS

MADE241

TV CHEF MARK GREENAWAY COOKING LIVE

0844 995 1111

www.foodiesfestival.com

Entomologist?

Beekeeper?

Ballerina?

At Sparkle Arts we encourage children aged 1-5 to develop and learn through a fun mix of music, dance and drama. Our classes bring subjects to life to accelerate learning, whilst building confidence and improving social skills. It’s a creative education that will make little minds sparkle and teach children skills that will last a lifetime.

Go online to find out more and book a class.

sparklearts.co.uk

make learning fun.

www.mademagazine.co.uk

Contents 44

july / august

14

© ANGUS BREMNER

50

54 6

News 14 Competitions 17 Sanity Savers

23

10 tricks to keep you sane

Triplet Dad

Dos and don’ts of summer

25

Commonwealth Games

Sport to inspire kids

31

Trust Jojo!

If you need advice…

32

Dates for your Diary

Best events in July & August

49 Under Fives Mum

Things to do

50

Interview

MADE talks to Tom Stade

54 Shopping

Order, Order!

56

Health

Why mums love yoga

58

Family

Find your roots

60

Food

Like ice-cream but healthy!

62

The best family shows

44

Taste of Scotland

Out & About 64 Directory Ads 66 Tried & Tested

A review of Perthshire

36 Festival Fringe

made JULY / AUGUST 2014

Dance Base on trial...

5

news Date Night

with a Difference

Edinburgh Bus Tours is taking advantage of the light nights by offering City Sightseeing tours right up until 9pm (until Aug 30th).

Enjoy a romantic night on an open-top bus as you reconnect with the city and learn more about Edinburgh’s colourful past.

The tour takes in the sights of Edinburgh’s Old Town including the Grassmarket, Edinburgh Castle, National Museum of Scotland, Palace of Holyroodhouse, and Calton Hill. Tours depart regularly from Waverly Bridge, priced at £14 for an adult ticket.

Hop on – hop off tickets are valid for 24 hours. www.edinburghtour.com

6

Open for Battle!

700 years after the legendary battle, the National Trust for Scotland’s new Battle of Bannockburn experience puts you right at the heart of the action. Using cutting edge 3D technology you’ll learn about this crucial event and experience medieval combat like never before.

You’ll find yourself surrounded by life size troops preparing for, and engaging in battle; you’ll feel how heavy a sword was and learn tips to teach you more about the battle at the character stations. Then you’ll be ready to take command of the knights and soldiers who fought in 1314, pitting your wits against fellow visitors on the virtual battlefield. Take your place among fearless medieval warriors and discover how the tactics of two opposing kings changed the path of Scotland’s history, forever!

It’s a great way to sneak some learning in to your family time together this summer, and if you still have the stomach for it, make a day of it and have lunch in the café.

The Battle of Bannockburn visitor centre is open 7 days a week. Tickets are limited and entry is by timed ticket - enlist now at www.battleofbannockburn.com

www.mademagazine.co.uk

www.mademagazine.co.uk

news Discover more…

New Edinburgh for Under Fives out now!

Packed with 1000+ reviews by local parents and carers of child-friendly things to do and places to go, the book includes a year’s FREE online subscription so you can quickly access listings and maps on a smartphone or tablet when you’re out and about.

Buy Edition 14 of Edinburgh for Under Fives at bookshops and gift shops throughout Edinburgh, or at www.efuf.co.uk.

To be in with a chance of winning one of five copies of Edinburgh for Under Fives (worth £9.95) just answer this question:

Which edition of Edinburgh for Under Fives is out now?

Email your answer to info@efuf.co.uk by Aug 31st.

Eat Drink Discover Scotland is Scotland’s ultimate food and drink show. From Friday 12th- Sunday 14th September at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, it will play host to over a hundred food and drink companies drawn from every region of Scotland – giving you the chance to taste all of Scotland, in one day, under one roof. In addition to eyeing, trying and buying Scotland’s rich and diverse larder, you’ll see celebrity chefs running master classes and demonstrations throughout the weekend. There will be educational activities for children and a host of skills demos and talks by Scottish food experts. Find out more at eatdrinkdiscoverscotland.co.uk

Excel at Sport This summer promises to be the best yet with options galore over the holidays. Excel Sports based at St George’s School has a wide selection with 14 specialist weeks in addition to their All Sports programme. From Art to Tennis, Rock School to Spartans Soccer Academy there is something for everyone! From 8am-6pm Mon-Fri over 7 weeks of summer your kids can run, jump, swim, dive and paddle through the holidays. Excel is regulated by the Care Inspectorate and accepts childcare vouchers. For info and booking visit www.excel-sports.co.uk or call 07970 514 514

made JULY / AUGUST 2014

7

news Berry Good

Br eaking Dad 10-times Sony Award winning DJ Christian O’Connell (Absolute Radio) is a dad on the edge.

If you’ve ever been a dad/had a dad/known a dad, this is the show for you. The show includes his endeavours to bring up two daughters, barring them from seeing Miley Cyrus, accidentally killing a beloved family pet, his relationship with his own dad, pensioner sex advice and the inherent evil of Peppa Pig! See Breaking Dad from July 30th – Aug 1st at the Underbelly.

Sporting chance 8

Explore the bountiful berry fields this summer in the beautiful Borders. Berry picking is easy on the big, family-run PYO farm full of fresh, juicy Scottish strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, tayberries, red and blackcurrants, naturally ripened in the open air. Great for tasting right away or whisking home for baking, puddings and jam. Berry picking is one of life’s simple pleasures for little foragers and a picnic area and café with split-fresh baking, smoothies and homemade cordials serves hungry pickers. You can pick from July 1st until mid-August. To plan your visit, go to www.borderberries.co.uk

Nursery of Excellence Greenhill Montessori Nursery provides an attractive, stimulating setting for children; promoting exciting discoveries through exploration. Adhering to the Curriculum for Excellence, their focus on personal development enriches children to have positive interactions, assertive responses, sense of fairness and order in the community. An Individual Online Progress Tracking System provides, receives and reviews feedback, and can be used by children, staff and parents. New activities have been developed during afternoon sessions to include Spanish, Science, Music, Creativity, Drama, Movement and Outdoor learning; and to accommodate families further they have extended both their Academic Year and opening times during the day. www.greenhillmontessori.co.uk

AT Coaching is a new sports coaching company based in Edinburgh, with classes available for children of all abilities and interests. 2-5s can enjoy a multitude of games and activities which help develop their motor skills, and 5-9s focus on an introduction to sports in a fun, creative, non-competitive environment. For more information on classes, birthday parties, holiday camps and events email AllanTelfer1983@gmail.com or call 07572 875789. www.allantelfer.co.uk

www.mademagazine.co.uk

www.mademagazine.co.uk

news Tiger meets Monkey!

Monkey Music is delighted to announce its partnership with Edinburgh’s newest play centre – Tigerlilys, the jungle themed play centre in the heart of Morningside!

Monkey Music’s progressive and educational four stage curricula are designed to nurture a lifetime of music. By the time little monkeys ‘graduate’, they have a sound base from which to build a musical future.

So, where better to experience Monkey Music than deep in the heart of the jungle! With all class attendees receiving 30 minutes complimentary soft play in Bush Babies or Tiki Tots play rooms as part of their class price, this is the perfect opportunity for parents to unwind in the Tiki Lounge and treat themselves to a bite to eat or a well-deserved coffee whilst the little

monkeys play!

Classes will be held weekly so come along and experience the magic of Monkey Music and Tigerlilys at the FREE open day on Wed 27th August.

Sessions will run all day (for little monkeys 3mths - 4 years). Book your place by calling Lisa on 0131 441 4581 or email morningside.pentland@monkeymusic.co.uk

B��K Y��R F��E T����R S����O��

H��r��! ��n��y ��s�� ��s ��r��e�� OPEN DAY IN TIGERLILYS PLAY CENTRE, 1A NILE GROVE MORNINGSIDE Wednesday 27th August T: 0131 441 4581 E: morningside.pentland@monkeymusic.co.uk

Exclusive membership discounts if you book today! made JULY / AUGUST 2014

9

news Books,

glorious books Walker Books is renowned for its truly original publishing and outstanding quality. www.walker.co.uk Pigsticks and Harold and the Incredible Journey is the first book in a laugh-out-loud new series about a pig with a hunger for adventure (and cake), and his hamster sidekick. Full-colour illustrations packed with visual jokes, ideal for children beginning to read confidently.

Have a Ball Enjoy-a-Ball, an award winning multi-sport program for children (3–9), develops sport-specific skills and confidence in your child across 10 different ball sports.

They use fun, creative games to develop fundamental movement skills ensuring Enjoy-a-Ballers have the right building blocks to play sport for life; carefully developing life skills such as confidence, concentration, sportsmanship and many more. Their small classes are well structured to ensure your child gets as much individual attention as possible with plenty of positive reinforcement. They also provide fun-filled, active parties and holiday camps. www.enjoy-a-ball.com

Skip the school Different animals say hello in their own way – and Say Hello Like This! shares the finest of sounds. Some say it LOUD – Bow-wow! Some say it PROUD – Meow! And some say it SILLY – Heehaw! A clever split-page book, that makes for charming, funny and very NOISY surprises.

10

shoe

queue

Why wait in line for your school shoes, when you can simply make an appointment at Maddie & Mark’s Shoes? There’s a choice of stores plus a fantastic range of good quality shoes with sizes right up to 42 (UK 8). The staff are knowledgeable, friendly and helpful making the whole process as smooth and stress free as possible.

School shoes, just a hop skip and a jump away, book your appointment now –Blackhall: 0131 315 3322, Bruntsfield: 0131 447 9779 & Portobello: 0131 343 3289.

www.mademagazine.co.uk

www.mademagazine.co.uk

MADE Recommends…

Afternoon Tea

at Hopetoun House

Hip Hop Syllabus Following extensive research and development, Step It Up Dance is proud to announce the launch of their brand new Hip Hop syllabus for Under 5s. The syllabus is completely rooted in the Curriculum for Excellence, bringing to life many of the experiences and outcomes from both the Expressive Arts and Health & Wellbeing areas of the curriculum.

Alongside all of these educational benefits, each child receives their own ‘Moves Manual’ - a record for them to personalise and keep.

Each time they achieve a new move they will receive a happy stamp in their manual and a big self-esteem boost! Find out more at www.stepitupdance.co.uk

Professor Egghead

and the survival of the fittest

This summer Professor Egghead is back at the Scottish Seabird Centre with a live, interactive show. Help the Professor follow in the footsteps of local born hero, conservationist John Muir, with a series of fun-filled challenges. The show is included with admission to the Discovery Centre. For times, dates and further info visit www.seabird.org made JULY / AUGUST 2014

One sunny afternoon, the MADE family popped over to Hopetoun House for an indulgent treat of Afternoon Tea. Hopetoun’s gorgeous Stables Tearoom caters beautifully for little fingers and creates the most adorable cake-stand of treats for kids. Our son, Luke (4), couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw what was presented just for him – mini scones with jam and cream, little sandwiches with child-friendly fillings, sweets and fruit skewers, chocolate-mice biscuits and hot chocolate with mini marshmallows. Needless to say his plates were empty at the end! The adult cake-stand was just as fabulous with a delicious selection of gourmet sandwiches, luxurious pastries and all manner of sweet treats, served with a choice of loose leaf tea or speciality coffee. The tearoom was really relaxed and spacious, ideal for mixing kids with special occasions; so why not treat your children to their first afternoon tea this summer and, when you go, make sure and send us your ‘kids and cake-stands’ photos for the next edition of MADE… For more information, full menu and to book your table go to www.hopetoun.co.uk/ Stables_tearoom.html

11

www.mademagazine.co.uk

news Birthday Bliss Stockbridge boutique gift shop, Bliss, celebrates its third birthday in July. This gem of a shop sells favourite brands such as Olive & Moss, Jelly Cats, Toby Tiger, Ever Earth and Melissa & Doug; and has a dedicated wall with an amazing selection of cards. To commemorate in style, Bliss is having a special day of promotions on July 26th. Join them for celebratory drinks and special discounts after 2pm and browse their treasure trove of treats. bliss-stockbridge.co.uk

Memory Keeper Situated in picturesque South Queensferry, Lily’s Patchwork Memories take the special and sentimental items of baby clothing you have stored away, and transform them into beautiful, luxurious quilts, cushions and much more. From tutus and angel wings to smart shirts and dungarees, Lily’s Patchwork Memories breathe new life into the mementos of your little ones. Photos, hand and footprints, birth details and ultrasound scans can be incorporated. Quilt prices start from just £85.

To win your very own handmade single patchwork quilt simply answer this question.

Where is Lily’s Patchwork Memories situated?

Send your answer to libby@lilyspatchworkmemories.co.uk before Aug 31st and for more info go to LilysPatchworkMemories.co.uk

Repair & Relove The Buggy Repair Centre on St. Stephen St. is moving to larger premises….just next door! They repair most buggy makes and are now an authorised Maclaren Service Centre for Edinburgh and Lothians, also specialising in Bugaboo repairs. If brakes aren’t working, wheels are worn out, chassis isn’t folding, buttons/levers aren’t working, foam handles need replaced or it just needs a ser-

12

vice then this is the place for your buggy.

If you’ve bought a second hand buggy or are thinking of selling/re-using one that has been in storage, The Buggy Repair Centre will professionally valet it. They use an eco-friendly, high pressured steam cleaner, which uses no harsh chemicals, kills 100% of bacteria and deodorizes any smells. Your buggy will look and feel like new! www.buggyrepaircentre.co.uk

www.mademagazine.co.uk

Supersonic birthdays Celebrate your special birthday with a party at the National Museum of Flight.

Child from £10 Book now on 0131 247 4238 East Fortune Airfield East Lothian EH39 5LF www.nms.ac.uk/flight

“Me and my mates rated th e party 100 out of 10!”

Finn, aged 10

competition

WIN

competition •

a

competition •

Foodies Festival returns to Edinburgh’s Inverleith Park on August 8th-10th, and will see thousands of visitors feast on a vast array of culinary activities. Appearing this year are Adam Handling and Scott Davies, both MasterChef the Professionals 2013 runner-ups, Jacqueline O’Donnell of The Sisters, Mark Greenaway of Bistro Moderne, TV Chef Tony Singh, The Pompadour head chef Craig Sandle and The Three Sisters bakers Gillan, Nichola and Linsey.

Visitors can enjoy a drinks masterclass, tips from baking experts and perfect their BBQ skills in the Broil King BBQ Arena; as well as exploring the Producers market, Street Food Avenue, Real Ale and Cider Farm, Pop-up restaurants, VIP lounges and Vintage Tea Tent.

Which park will Foodies be held in on August 8th – 10th?

For more information go to www.foodiesfestival.com

competition

•

b Yu Spa at Apex Waterloo Place Hotel is the perfect place to relax and rejuvenate when you have some kid-free time. To get your body ready for the beach then enjoy a session in the gym with its Technogym™ equipment, or take time out to enjoy some ‘you’ time in the Ozone pool, sauna and steam rooms. Pamper yourself in the single and couples treatment rooms with Elemis face and body treatments, and for extra indulgence try the Yu Spa Signature treatments using hot stones before relaxing in the newly opened relaxation room. Yu Spa is offering one lucky reader the chance to win a couples package with a 30 minute treatment, two course lunch in Elliot’s Restaurant with access to the facilities for two people.

• competition

To win one of 10 pairs of tickets just answer this question:

14

To win the couple’s package just answer this question: What well-known product brand does Yu Spa use for treatments?

www.yuspa.co.uk/edinburgh

www.mademagazine.co.uk

Yu Spa T&Cs: Access to facilities is for up to 2 hours. Treatment from a choice of back massage, scalp neck & shoulder soother with hot stones or foot delight. Lunch from the set menu. Prize must be pre-booked & taken Mon-Fri by Oct 14.

Britannia’s T&Cs: Prize is a family ticket (2 adults & up to 3 children) to enjoy a tour and tea & cakes in The Royal Deck Tea Room (soft drink/hot drink plus cake/scone per person). Prize includes one Captain Bear. The prize is non-transferable, cannot be exchanged for cash and must be redeemed by Oct 2014.

Mackie’s T&Cs: 10 winners will be sent vouchers for 10 x 1 litre tubs, redeemable in most supermarkets.

competition

To win 10 tubs of Mackie’s ice-cream just answer this question:

• competition •

Mackie’s award-winning range of luxury dairy ice cream is made on the family farm in Aberdeenshire with fresh whole milk from their own dairy herd. The Traditional ice cream with its natural, creamy flavour, no artificial ingredients and smooth texture is Scotland’s favourite ice cream. It’s the perfect indulgence whether served simply on its own, in a sundae or along with your favourite dessert. Other popular flavours include Honeycomb, Raspberry Ripple, Butterscotch and Cookie Biscuit. We have 100 tubs of ice-cream to give away – 10 each to 10 lucky readers.

•

c

Where is Mackie’s family farm based?

For more information and recipes join us at www.mackies.co.uk

d

For your chance to win just answer this question: How many decks can you explore on Britannia?

For more information go to www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk

15

competition

made JULY / AUGUST 2014

competition •

A visit to The Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith makes for a fun family day out. Children can be in charge for the day, with a special children’s audio tour and five decks to explore; from the Captain’s Bridge and the Engine Room, to the grand State Apartments where The Queen entertained kings and queens from all over the world. With officers’ hats to try on, games to play, a Tea Room and a delicious fudge shop, there’s something for everyone. There’s free covered parking in Ocean Terminal, baby changing, high chairs and bottle warming and Britannia is accessible for single buggies.

To celebrate National Teddy Bears’ Picnic Day on 10 July, we’re offering readers the chance to win a fantastic prize of a family day out on Britannia, a Britannia Captain Bear and tea and cakes in the Royal Deck Tea Room.

competition

To win any of these prizes simply email your name, address, phone number and answer to competitions@mademagazine.co.uk or enter via www.mademagazine.co.uk before Aug 15th (July 25th for Foodies).

Please mark your entry Competition A, B, C or D as the subject.

WHERE DO CLEVER MUMMIES TAKE THEIR KIDS FOR ALL THE FUN OF THE PHARAOHS?

AWARD WINNING PLAY AND PARTY CENTRE

PLAY

PARTY

FOOD

To Keep Your Kids Happy & Healthy

GRE

AT

s!

new

THE essential guide for Edinburgh families is out now!

1000+ things to do and places to go, reviewed by local parents and carers.

Plus! New online version with searchable listings and maps.

Because Every Birthday is a Celebration

OR ALL F S U J T

Healthy Meals For ALL The Family

£9.95

www.efuf.co.uk

EdinburghforUnderFives

@EdforUnder5s

The National Childbirth Trust (known as NCT) is a registered charity in England and Wales (801395) and in Scotland (SC041592).

Soft Play Parties

Laser-Tag Parties MAK E MAKE A A AR E B BEAR

The

Bear Factory

huggable, lovable, friends TM

@ TimeTwisters

Be SMART and use your PHONE to get your EXCLUSIVE 20% Discount st go h e r e or j u

UNIT 5, 2B BANKHEAD DRIVE SIGHTHILL, EDINBURGH, EH11 4EJ

0131 308 2464 | WWW.TIMETWISTERS.CO.UK/MADE

Family favourite Keep your flock happy with our interactive activities, Kids’ Zone soft play and family-friendly café.

www.seabird.org 01620 890202

Image © Gareth Easton / Scottish Charity no SC025837

DISCOVERY CENTRE · BOAT TRIPS · CAFÉ · GIFT SHOP

S OS anity

avers Written by Heidi

Scrimgeour

If there’s one thing you grasp quickly as a parent, it’s that it’s essential to have certain tricks up your sleeve for stopping a tantrum in its tracks of offsetting a mini meltdown (the children’s, not yours).

So, MADE asked a bunch of mums and dads to share their sanity savers; those tried-and-tested tips that they’ve come to regard as fail-safe for tackling the many various challenges of parenthood... made JULY / AUGUST 2014

17

“

Instead of bracing myself for a tantrum I just whip out our own supply of grapes

�

18

www.mademagazine.co.uk

Sanity Savers

1. Laughter is the best medicine…

My sense of humour is often the first casualty when I find myself stressing over an incident with the kids, but I’m frequently reminded that humour is the best defence against everything from tantrums to teenage strops. If you can make your child laugh, you can probably rescue just about any situation before it turns into a full-blown fallout. Just tread carefully - when this goes well it can be a seriously life-affirming moment but a grumpy kid enraged by a badly-judged joke is a scary thing to behold…

2. Forewarned is forearmed…

My friend Sarah never takes her little girl to the supermarket without first secreting a stash of grapes about her person. Why? “As soon as I approach the fruit aisle she’ll start demanding to eat the grapes straight from the supermarket shelves,” she explains. “So instead of bracing myself for a tantrum I just whip out our own supply of grapes and she munches away while I shop - and all is well with the world again!”

3. Just like Mummy…

Mum of one and author Jessica likes to catch up on her admin over breakfast in the morning, but as any parent knows, such things aren’t always easy to execute with a toddler in tow. But Jess has found the perfect trick for keeping her daughter entertained and included while she does whatever she needs to. “I bought Ella her own toy laptop to save her straining to get her hands on mine,” she says. “Now while I have a cup of tea and answer some emails on my laptop, she sits in her highchair and pretends to do just the same while she’s eating breakfast!”

4. That’s a wheely good idea…

Have you ever encountered the horror that is trying to coax tired little legs up a hill on a long walk home? My friend Lindsay has found the perfect antidote: a micro scooter. Her son David adores his scooter, and Lindsay has discovered that she can persuade him much farther on two made JULY / AUGUST 2014

wheels than he would ever deign to walk on two feet. “When we’re walking somewhere, the scooter keeps him going in a straight line and means he’s more interested in zooming ahead than in dragging his feet and complaining with every step. Plus when necessary I can drag him along behind me, which means no more tired tantrums when we’re walking home after a long day,” she explains. “I can’t begin to tell you how much I love that scooter.”

5. The dog ate my homework…

The whole question of whether you insist on your kids doing their homework as soon as they get home is an issue that divides many parents.

As is whether they have to get changed out of school uniforms once they get in, but one mum reckons nailing those two details solves several other problems. “We’re strictly a get-changedout-of-uniforms and then get homework done straightaway kind of household,” says my friend Shannen, sagely. “Homework changes a lot once children reach secondary school but I still insist that my girls make a start on their homework on the day that the teacher sets it, even if it doesn’t have to be handed in for a week. This saves all manner of last-minute meltdowns.”

6. Slow it down, baby…

Mother of two Lisa learned her sanity saver the hard way. A few too many fraught school mornings led her to the conclusion that she had to get more organised to avoid early morning tears and tantrums. “I’ve learned not to rush the children in the morning anymore, as doing so always ends in a row,” she says. “Instead, a well-planned morning routine gets us all out the door happy.”

7. Beware: hungry child…

Within days of my little darlings starting school I discovered that there is nothing quite so fearsome as the after-school grumps. Happily, however, I also quickly learned that funnelling food into your kids the second they set foot out of the school gates can go a long way towards restoring them to their normal smiling selves. Mum of

19

Sanity Savers

two Deirdre concurs. “My kids are always hungry after school so I make them a little box of snacks including things like Cheerios and raisins,” she says. “They’ve come to expect their snack box now and it helps keep everyone happy on the way home from school - for a little while at least.”

8. Check your bags here…

One of my own personal sanity savers isn’t really about the kids but more to do with my own organisational skills. I’ve realised that the only way to ensure that I stay on top of the seemingly-endless list of things that must be paid for, signed, read and returned to my children’s school each week is to empty their bags the second they get home, and complete every bit of admin before I so much as put the kettle on. We’ve had a few too many near-misses with letters from teachers getting overlooked or school events being missed out on because we didn’t return the forms in time, but filling in the paperwork right away has put paid to that. Phew.

9. This’ll make it better…

My friend Krystle swears by keeping a tube of arnica gel in her handbag. “When kids are little

20

they’re forever getting bumps and scrapes but few of us carry a first aid kit around - arnica is the next best thing, I think, and a little squirt of it along with plenty of sympathy always helps my child cheer up and feel better when he’s falls over or scrapes a knee,” she says. I know other mums who use variations on this, keeping a stash of plasters handy or even a Mr Bump ice-pack.

Perfect for treating little war wounds and helping put brave soldiers back on their feet.

10. Safety in numbers…

Perhaps the best sanity saver, though, is to remember that there is safety in numbers. If some aspect of parenthood is driving you crackers or you find yourself baffled by how to cope better with a particular element of being a mum, remember that often the very best tactic is to admit defeat and call in some help from other parents.

Admit that you’re struggling and ask your mates how they cope with that particular scenario or use a forum on the internet to seek advice and input into your situation. It might be a cliché but it’s also true; a problem shared really is a problem halved. Pay it back by sharing your sanity savers whenever you spot a friend struggling with a situation that you’ve got the perfect trick for… n

www.mademagazine.co.uk

RE-UNION

RE-UNION

CANAL BOATS

CANAL BOATS

Spot the Teddy Bears hiding on board Britannia on National Teddy Bear Picnic Day (10 July 2014)!

anal Boats Edinburgh ion C t of n r a U Reing cruises in the he relax

SATURDAY 19th July 2hr return cruise from Edinburgh Quay to Slateford Aqueduct. Enjoy cakes, tea & coffee whilst taking in the surroundings from the Lochrin Belle.

Departs 2pm. Tickets £15 SUNDAYS 10th / 17th / 24th August Escape the chaos of the festival for a couple of hours for brunch aboard the Lochrin Belle. Relax ZLWK EXFNV ¿ ]] SDVWULHV IUXLW KRW DQG VRIW GULQNV in the peace of Edinburgh’s Union Canal.

Departs Edinburgh Quay 11am. Tickets ÂŁ17.50 / early bird ÂŁ15 / children under 10 half price.

Visit The Royal Yacht Britannia on 10 July and see how many teddy bears you can spot hiding around the ship.

Children (and adults!) are encouraged to bring their own bear to Britannia on the day. Everyone who brings a teddy will be given a chocolate bear.

www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk Admission times (July): 09.30am, last entry 16.30pm

information & bookings:

www.re-union.org.uk 0131 261 8529

0131 555 8800

SUMMER

S U a ss PL in pa al W ily loc ion m a ct fa o tra t at

Cameron Toll cares about

30th June - 8th August

FREE Fun ďŹ lled entertainment throughout the 30 summer holidays YEARS

Over 40 Stores | Free parking | Places to eat AT THE HEART OF Visit facebook for event details | www.camerontoll.co.uk OUR COMMUNITY

30 YEARS

AT THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY

buggy

repair centre VA L E T

SERVICE

R E PA I R

Valet & service from £47 Chassis & wheel service £36 Repair £26 + parts All makes & models - Bugaboo specialists

service centre St Stephen St EH3 5AN 0131 226 4141

IC USON! M I A T MEENSA O C B E EO S D VI

FOR HEALTHY, HAPPY KID

S

HOLIDAY CAMPS 2014

URBAN DANCE Royal High School

GRAFFITI

FILM & PHOTO SHOOTS

Broughton High School

stepitupdance.co.uk/booking Made148x101mmAd.indd 1

Northfield Community Centre

07428 110 135 26/03/2014 10:58

The dos and don’ts of Summer

ILLUSTRATION: SAM MILLER www.sammiller.co.uk

By the Triplet Dad

It is summertime and the school holidays are here, which can either be six weeks of fantastic fun filled days, or six weeks of trying to balance days off work and holiday clubs to keep children safely looked after and entertained. Here’s my summer holiday survival guide…

Don’t l

Rely on the weather. Summer in Scotland can be varied at best, so relying on just getting them outside in the sunshine won’t work when you end up with three little faces pressed against the glass wanting to come back in because it’s too cold out.

l

Commit to events where you have to be somewhere at a certain time as you can guarantee that’s when one of the kids (or you) will have a meltdown.

l

Worry about the mess. The triplets have lots of friends from school living in our street and it’s not unusual to see any number of them running around our house and garden having fun. There will be plenty of time to clean up afterwards.

l

Always be the parent. Join in and have fun.

Sing silly songs. Be just as daft as they are.

l

Forget that it’s these times you spend with them when they are little, that forges the bond you will have with them when they grow up. Ultimately they will forget the things you bought them and will remember the times you spent together. Create lots of happy memories now and you will be able to share them together for the rest of your lives. n

Do l

Have at least one planned activity each day, even if it’s just going for a walk. Lots of free days to do whatever you want may sound idealistic to us parents who dream of the long summer holidays we had when we were young, but kids can get bored really easily if there’s nothing planned to do.

l

Let them grow stuff. Give them responsibility for a bit of the garden that they can tend to and water and watch over the summer.

Sunflowers are really good as they grow big quickly.

l

Take advantage of the free stuff. The Edinburgh Festival is brilliant for this - let the kids watch the street performers while you have a seat for a few minutes. Make sure you do pay some attention though or you may look up to see your kids trying to juggle fire.

l

Get a National Trust Scotland and/or Historic Scotland membership. Kids love running around old castles and exploring historic houses and grounds. Pack a flask and some sandwiches and go explore.

l

Take lots of pictures. You’ll look back on these times when you’re old and grey, and the kids have left home and you’ll remember what fun you all had together.

made JULY / AUGUST 2014

Read more from Triplet Dad at tripletdadedinburgh.blogspot.co.uk @TripletDadMJ 23

Grow a Gamer Written by

Cate Nelson-Shaw

The Commonwealth Games are in Glasgow this summer, so what a great opportunity to inspire our children to get into sport and exercise.

Thankfully this summer’s Games is already proving to be much more popular than in 1986 when the event was beset with political boycotts, financial troubles and the exclusion of participants. Scotland has changed a lot in the last 28 years and combined with the London 2012 Olympic Games legacy we seem to be somewhat in the midst of a sporting renaissance.

The Games For Scotland Legacy Programme was launched last year to support a series of events designed to engage communities throughout Scotland in the countdown to Glasgow 2014. Events have included The School Run, a 2.2km route from Holyrood Palace to Meadowbank Stadium where participants of all ages and abilities were able to run, jog or walk side by side with sporting stars, to raise money for community and school sports facilities; and at Meadowbank Stadium there was a ‘Tryathon’, where budding stars tried their hand at 15 sports under the guidance of sporting greats.

24

Despite such activities, how accessible is sport to our children and how can we encourage all ages, stages and backgrounds to understand the importance and benefits of including sport and exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle?

Scotland is battling what some call an obesity crisis, with figures released earlier this year under the Freedom of Information Act, showing that in the last five years around 140 children weighed more than 16 stone and at least 13 were above 20 stone. In Early Years settings children are encouraged to learn about and participate in physical education both in and out of school but there does not seem to be a requirement for how many hours a week such activity should take.

For parents fortunate enough to be able to afford additional activities there is no shortage. From Water Babies to Gymini and the multidisciplinary A-Star Sports for preschoolers, to Edinburgh Fencing Club, Boroughmuir Rugby Club and Portobello Sailing and Kayaking Club for school aged children. Choices abound.

Included in its Curriculum for Excellence, the

www.mademagazine.co.uk

Inspiring the next generation of sportspeople

Scottish Government made a commitment that by this year, every school pupil in Scotland will benefit from at least two hours per week of physical education in primary school and in S1 to S4, two periods each week. It hopes that by securing this entitlement there will be a tangible and enduring Commonwealth Games legacy. However, is this enough?

Caroline, whose children go to school in South Edinburgh says, “My daughter is extremely sporty and I am so thankful that she has a specialist PE teacher at her school and an amazing Learning Assistant who runs a running club twice a week, organises additional rugby lessons, as well as P6 and P7 skiing lessons. This definitely contributes to her positive attitude towards sport, to her confidence and enhances her overall school experience”. But she goes on to say, “Although the Active Schools programme run

by Edinburgh Council in primary schools is fantastic and offers parents a reduced rate for a range of activities such as Mini Kickers, hockey and dance, its very existence seems to imply made JULY / AUGUST 2014

“

Combined with the London 2012 Olympic Games legacy we seem to be somewhat in the midst of a sporting renaissance

”

the Council are aware that our younger children are not being provided with enough sport and physical activity in school time. Yet children can only participate if their parents are able to pay and can drop and collect their children from the various venues”.

So what could parents do to encourage their children of all ages to include sport and exercise at part of a healthy lifestyle?

Susan Jackson, mum of two, and winner of bronze, silver and gold medals for shooting in

25

GROW A GAMER

“

A genuine legacy will only happen if we capture the excitement our children have and encourage it beyond the Games

”

three separate Commonwealth Games is currently the Commonwealth Games Scotland Athlete Representative. She says, “The Commonwealth Games provides us all with a once in a lifetime opportunity to encourage and inspire our children to be active and enjoy sport for the rest of their lives…However, a genuine physical activity legacy from these Games will only happen if we all capture the excitement and interest our children have and continue to encourage it well beyond the closing of the Games. And the best way to do that is to be a role model to your child - get up and be active too”.

A few years ago, after the birth of my youngest, I did what I have seen many mums and dads do and I took up running. Since then I’ve completed various 10k races, several Kilomathons and I am now training for my first half marathon. Three or four times a week my children see me setting off and returning (slightly the worse for wear) and this spring it was their idea to participate in the Sport Relief 1 mile race in Princes Street Gardens. I was thrilled; and so were they with their warm up routine, the participation in the race itself, the presentation of their very own medals and their little bottles of post-race hydration!

I admit we are fortunate to afford for our children to participate in activities like this, as well as their other weekly sports activities. But a healthy lifestyle needn’t cost much or cost at all: walk instead of driving or taking the bus; get off

26

the bus a few stops earlier; encourage little ones out of the buggy to walk, scoot or learn to cycle.

Look on Freecycle, Gumtree or eBay for free or cheap second-hand scooters and bikes (one of our scooters is third hand and we’ll pass it on when we have outgrown it); enjoy weekend walks through some of Edinburgh’s stunning city landscapes such as Arthur’s Seat, The Water of Leith, Portobello’s Promenade many of which are accessible by public transport; take a trip to the park and practice your ball skills. As children get older it’s not just the participation in sport that can be exciting. Friends with children older than mine tell me that talking to their children about the sports that interest them, supporting a team, playing and practising together is often a huge part of their parent-child relationship and can be really special.

Glasgow 2014 takes place from July 23rd – August 3rd. Make time to enjoy the Games with your family and you just might inspire your own gamer in future years… n

More info…

Cate Nelson-Shaw runs www.yellowbookconsulting.com, a business development and marketing consultancy based in Edinburgh.

www.mademagazine.co.uk

WEEKLY

LOCAL

CLASSES

a-StaR SPORtS SuMMER HOlIDay CluB 2014

all DayS MON – fRI 9aM – 1PM W/C 14 & 28 July Juniper Green Parish Church (EH14) W/C 21 July & 4 auG Meggetland, Boroughmuir Rugby Club (EH14) W/C 4 auGuSt fisherrow Centre, Musselburgh (EH21) 10 CORE SPORtS + MORE SMall GROuP SIZES

with Water Babies, the UK’s leading baby swim school

classes held...

Fully qualified, world class instructors, teaching you to teach your baby to swim

in Edinburgh city centre, Newington, Hermiston Gate, Oxgangs, Crewe Toll, Dalmahoy, Dalkeith and more!

*age restrictions apply. for more information and to book your place, contact: Brian (07876021073) e: brian.droudge@a-starsports.co.uk facebook.com/AStarSports.Edinburgh

@AStarSports_UK

www.a-starsports.co.uk

To join in the fun call

0131 554 6682

waterbabies.co.uk

advertorial

Westwoods Health Club Set within the stunning grounds of Fettes College you’ll find Westwoods Health Club and it’s the perfect place for the whole family to enjoy a fit and healthy lifestyle The club has Edinburgh’s largest private pool, equipped with SWIMTAG, revolutionary technology to track your swim so members can see the number of lengths, strokes and calories burned for each swim. Members can also enter competitions and complete challenges such as swimming the channel. The pool has designated family fun times at weekends and highly sought after swimming lessons available in either group format or one to one.

“We are an Independent Club with a crèche and very proud of that” says General Manager James Matthew. “Our Care Inspectorate registered crèche follows the 0-3 and 3-5 national curriculums so our youngest members, from 6 weeks old, receive a very high standard of care while mum or dad work out. Our membership options are flexible and you can freeze your membership if necessary, which from feedback we know is helpful for mums towards the end of their pregnancy. We also provide our members with all the contact they need from their Fitness Instructor included within your membership. That includes your induction, assessments, programme updates and follow up appointments and our popular 30 minute workouts at no extra cost. Our instructors will even go over a food diary with you and help you to plan the nutritional aspect of your healthy lifestyle.”

For those old enough to use the fitness suite, fitness programmes are stored electronically using the Technogym Wellness system, making it easy to settle in to the gym and track your

28

“

Recent member testimonials include:

I would just like to pass on to you my praise for the excellent staff in the crèche. This service could not have been better.

Alex Lodge 18/03/2014

The reception staff are always extremely helpful so I have no problems asking about anything that crops up.

Jacqui Scott 26/01/14

”

progress. There are over 40 classes per week on the timetable and after your work out you can relax and have a coffee in the brasserie. Brasserie manager Jacqui Scotford says “An extra half an hour in the crèche for little ones affords Mums and Dads the chance to relax after their work out and have a bite to eat and a chat”. n

More info…

For more information go to www.westwoodshealthclub.com

www.mademagazine.co.uk

With the largest private pool in Edinburgh, not to mention our state-ofthe-art fitness suite, aerobics studio with over 40 classes per week, sauna and steam room, brasserie and crèche (Care Inspectorate registered), there’s nowhere better to relax and get fit…

Our pool is equipped with SWIMTAG, revolutionary technology to track your swim and all of your fitness appointments are included within the cost of membership. With our 12-week fitness journey to get you started and great ongoing service, we’re with you all the way!

To arrange a tour and free trial of Westwoods Health Club, simply e-mail us at the address below with your name, address and contact number, quoting “Made Magazine Promotion”. The trial can be used for an individual, couple or family.

Call 0131 332 5777 E-mail: westwoods@fettes.com Website: www.westwoodshealthclub.com Terms and Conditions Apply. Offer valid until 31/7/14.

Maximum of 2 adults and 3 children per pass.

Previous users of complimentary passes are excluded.

** * *

*

*

*

PORTOBELLO 195 PORTOBELLO HIGH ST, EH15 1EU

opens 9.30am 14th July Our new store is jam packed with the latest collection of school shoes, you can even book a ‘back to school’ appointment so you don’t waste your holidays queuing.

book your appointment now NEW portobello: 0131 343 3289 NEW blackhall: 0131 315 3322 bruntsfield: 0131 447 9779 *

*

*

Greenhill Montessori Nursery

En r No ollin w! g

Let your child’s adventure begin!

Our Values Here at Greenhill Montessori Nursery we are committed to providing a safe, loving and nurturing environment for each child who joins us. We engage your child socially, emotionally and educationally to ensure their success in the future. Their happiness, security and self confidence are our main goals.

Supporting the Transition to Primary School Montessori children adapt to their environment wherever they find themselves. They develop a high degree of self-discipline and independence in the Montessori classroom which aids their transition to Primary School.

3 Children from 18 months to Primary Age 3 Hours from 9.00 to 16.00 (Care 8.15 to 17.30) 3 Billingual, with Native speaking teachers in both English and Spanish 3 Online progress tracking system for each child 3 We accept Childcare Vouchers 3 In Partnership with Edinburgh Council 3 Follows the Curriculum for Excellence Ideally situated where Morningside, Bruntsfield and Greenhill meet, just one block south of Holy Corner.

Easily reached by buses 5, 11, 15, 15a, 16, 23 and 45.

3 Greenhill Park, Morningside, Edinburgh EH10 4DW

info@greenhillmontessori.co.uk www.greenhillmontessori.co.uk

an

Sp

is h Scien

Music

ce

C a

i at re

Dram

vi

ty

eme Mov

nt

Outdoors

agony aunt

Jojo!

Trust

Got a child related problem and need some advice? Look no further! Comedian, JoJo Sutherland, is on hand to help. Send your problems to info@mademagazine.co.uk

@jojosutherland www.jojosutherland.co.uk

Recently my parenting has been done remotely as I have been away for 3 weeks gigging in Cyprus, London and Bahrain. Turns out you can be a convincing mother via Skype.

My youngest Skyped or FaceTimed me several times a day. My 17 year old texted me 5 days after I’d left asking where I was – it had taken her 5 days to notice I was gone! I think she only realised because CSI hadn’t been recorded. I’m back home from the 5-star lifestyle with a bump, I’ve literally been home for hours and no-one has served me breakfast, cleaned my room or driven me anywhere! I’ve also been running Women in Business workshops using my skills as a stand-up to help women in the workplace; turns out we all share a lot of hopes and fears regardless of who we are or what we do, but finding and using humour to deal with difficult and challenging situations is a great way to gain and maintain authority.

Dear Jojo My 8 yr old swore at me! What should I do?

Anonymous, Edinburgh

Dear Anonymous If you can’t have your child sent to live with someone else, then sit them down and tell them that certain words are only allowed to be used by grown-ups. You’ll have a problem when they turn 16, but hey, you’ve got loads of time to worry about how to deal with that when the time comes! If it makes you feel better my eldest son taught my daughter a swear word and told her it meant “I love you mummy” in French. When my daughter repeated said word with a genuine tone of love in her voice and it actually sounded quite nice, I think the joke backfired.

P.S. I’m off to Jordan to entertain the troops soon so Skype will get a workout again. As will the CCTV cameras I’ve installed in every room.

Jojo made JULY / AUGUST 2014

31

Dates for your diary Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

1

2

3

Berry picking season starts @ Border Berries (until Aug 17th)

7

8

Visit Cameron Toll for FREE fun filled entertainment through the holidays.

14

21

10 National Teddy Bear’s Picnic Day! Visit the Royal Yacht Britannia to spot teddies and win chocolate! Bring your own bear - the best dressed will win a prize!

16

17 10am – 2pm Messy Munchkins Messy Play @ Gyle Shopping Centre, FREE drop-in session

Take kids to visit the new Battle of Bannockburn Experience near Stirling.

22

Take kids to Blair Drummond Safari Park for a fun day out!

9

1pm – 4pm Messy Munchkins Messy Play @ Dobbies, Edinburgh.

Free drop-in session

15

9.30am Maddie & Marks opens new shop in Portobello! Make a ‘back to school’ appointment with them.

10am – 2pm Messy Munchkins Messy Play @ Gyle Shopping Centre, FREE drop-in session

23

24 Don’t forget to enter Foodies Festival competition to win free tickets! Enter via www.mademagazine.co.uk.

Closing date tomorrow!

Family Day @ Musselburgh Racecourse

26

27

28

29

28

29

30

31

11am Merlin’s Dragon: Spotlites @ The Merchant Hall (until Aug 24th) Ages 2-6

Emily Brown and the Thing starts @ Pleasance Coutyard (until Aug 24th) Part of Festival Fringe. Festival

The Comedy of Errors starts @ Assembly George Square Studios Two (until Aug 16th) Part of Festival Fringe. Festival

Keep up-to-date with all the latest events by logging onto 32

www.mademagazine.co.uk

july 2014 Spotlight on...

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

4

5

6

12pm – 4pm Handmade Lothian Showcase @ Newtongrange Church.

Crafts, activities & stalls. Goody bags for the first 50 visitors.

10.30am-1pm Jack & Jill Market @ Dalkeith Community Campus

12

13

Edinburgh’s first Sumo Run @ The Meadows. Hundreds of runners dressed in giant, inflatable sumo suits run, sprint and waddle a 5K course.

11am – 4pm ‘Giving Nature a Home’ @ Botanic Gardens. Free, all ages, no booking required.

Learn more about wildlife that makes gardens their home. (every weekend in July & Aug)

19

20

Alba Falconry @ St James Shopping Centre, Princes St entrance. Meet the birds, have your photo taken, ask questions and learn about birds of prey (until July 5th)

11

18

2pm – 4pm Tea & Cake Cruise along Union Canal. Book via www.re-union.org.uk

25

10.30am-1pm Jack & Jill Market @ Meadowbank

26

27

10am – 5pm Airshow @ National Museum of Flight, East Fortune

10am – 4pm Ratho Market @ Edinburgh International Climbing Arena

30

Scotland’s National Airshow Sat July 26th 10am-5pm National Museum of Flight, East Fortune The Red Arrows will headline the summer spectacle with their precision flying, dramatic formations, loops and rolls. Airshow goers will also be wowed by the RAF’s supersonic Typhoon, an incredibly powerful combat aircraft that can fly at twice the speed of sound, and the quick turbo-prop Tucano that is used to train fastjet pilots for military flying.

Ground entertainment at the event will offer a wide range of family activities and refreshments.

Tickets

www.nms.ac.uk/airshow 0300 123 6789 At the gate on the day (discounts for advance booking)

www.mademagazine.co.uk/whats-on .html made JULY / AUGUST 2014

33

Dates for your diary Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

4

5

Dinosaur Zoo @ Pleasance Courtyard.

Fantastic fun for ages 3+.

(July 30th – Aug 25th)

11

13

14

Decomposed! My Brother’s Turning into a Zombie @ Pleasance Coutyard.

Riotous theatrical adventure for ages 6+. (Until 25th)

Made in Scotland Showcase, Complete Nonsense and Footprints both start @ Lauriston Halls. (until 16th)

19

20

The Fantastical Story Factory @ The Gilded Balloon.

For ages 6+ (July 30th – Aug 17th)

21

Drama Workshop for 5-12s: Spotlites @ The Merchant Hall.

Every day is different (Various days July 29th - Aug 24th)

The Enormous Turnip, Magic Porridge Pot, Puss in Boots: Spotlites @ The Merchant Hall (until Aug 25th). For kids ages 2-6, various times

25

7

10.30am & 11.30am Musical Mornings with Mil’s Trils @ Pleasance Courtyard.

Ukulele-playing, New Yorker Amelia Robinson plays original whimsical songs for all. (Until 17th)

12

18

6

26 To win a copy of Edinburgh for Under Fives, see page 7 and enter the competition before Aug 31st.

27

28

FREE Monkey Music sessions @ TigerLilys, Morningside.

Contact Lisa at morningside. pentland@monkeymusic.co.uk

to book your space

Keep up-to-date with all the latest events by logging onto 34

www.mademagazine.co.uk

august 2014 Spotlight on...

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

1

2

3

Carnival Race Night @ Musselburgh Racecourse

Singing Kettle Fantastic Funfair @ Howden Park Centre (Aug 1st – 3rd)

10.30am – 1pm Jack & Jill Market @ Dalkeith Campus

8

@ Inverleith Park (until 10th).

Quote MADE241 for 2 for 1 tickets

15

9

10

Edinburgh International Book Festival starts (until 25th)

11am Flee the Festival aboard the Lochrin Belle. Enjoy 2 hours with bucks fizz, pastries, fruit and hot & soft drinks.

Book via www.re-union.org.uk

16

17

The Cat in the Hat @ Pleasance Coutyard.

Ages 3+ (until Aug 25th)

Oz & the Space Pirates: Spotlites @ The Merchant Hall.

For ages 5-12. (also on aug 22-24)

The Pleasance Kidzone The Pleasance Theatre will present its biggest ever Kids programme at the 2014 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, with 17 shows for all the family.

The Pleasance Kidzone returns with the fantastic Arts and Crafts Club on the Green, where adults can relax while the kids have fun being creative.

The Kids Programme features Dinosaur Zoo Sid from CBeebies

22

23

Try a date night with a difference and go on an evening Edinburgh Bus Tour! (until Aug 30th)

29

24 11am Flee the Festival aboard the Lochrin Belle. Enjoy 2 hours with bucks fizz, pastries, fruit and hot & soft drinks.

Book via www.re-union.org.uk

30

Edinburgh Mela @ Leith Links (until 31st)

31 11am – 5pm Art in the Park @ Spylaw Park, Colinton (if weather is bad this will run on Sunday, September 7th instead)

The Cat in the Hat Musical Mornings with Mil’s Trills Emily Brown and the Thing Jungle Bungle Bits & Box The Snow Dog Potted Sherlock and much, much more.

For full listings go to www.pleasance.co.uk

www.mademagazine.co.uk/whats-on .html made JULY MARCH / AUGUST / APRIL2014 2014

35

E H T OF T S BE

y l i m Fa est F Actors dressed as giant dogs Jesters hopping round like frogs Students lying in the street Clowns with great big flappy feet Jokers seeking fame and money Stuntmen trying to be funny Puppets doing silly voices Lots of sights and lots of choices Bring your daughters, bring your sons – Dive right in And have some fun!

By Joshua Seigal, www.joshuaseigal.co.uk @joshuaseigal

36

www.mademagazine .co.uk Dinosaur Zoo

FAMILY FEST Emily Brown and the Thing

Decomposed

Decomposed! My Brother’s Turning into a Zombie Classical Mayhem www.classicalmayhem.com Ages 6+ Time: 11:15am (1 hour) 30th July – 25th Aug Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33) Can Will save his brother Igor from turning into a zombie? Down on his luck, Will’s forced to move back in with his smelly twin. Igor is seriously in danger of becoming a zombie, spending all day plugged into games consoles, mumbling to himself and eating baked beans. With the help of a conductor’s baton, and the awesome power of classical music, Will has just one hour to rescue Igor and save himself from being eaten alive!

A riotous theatrical adventure full of music and comedy, suitable for everyone.

Dinosaur Zoo Erth www.dinosaurzoolive.com Ages 3+ Time: 11:00am (1 hour) 30th July – 25th Aug Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33) Direct from the West End, Dinosaur Zoo brings made JULY / AUGUST 2014

these awesome prehistoric creatures to the stage as you’ve never seen them before – up close and personal! From cute baby dinos to teeth-gnashing giants, observe and interact with extraordinary life-like dinosaurs in this imaginative and hilarious live show. But watch out. Not all of these ravenous reptiles are as tame as they seem!

Emily Brown and the Thing Tall Stories www.tallstories.org.uk Ages 3+ Time: 14:05pm (55 mins) July 30th – Aug 24th Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33) One evening, Emily Brown and her old grey rabbit Stanley find a Thing crying outside their window. He’s lost his cuddly and absolutely can’t get to sleep without it. Emily and Stanley bravely set off into the Dark and Scary Wood in search of the missing cuddly but on their return they find the Thing can’t sleep without hot milk either – or his tickly cough medicine... The question is: what is really troubling the Thing – and will anyone ever get to sleep?

37

FAMILY FEST The Enormous Turnip

The Enormous Turnip

Merlin’s Dragon

Spotlites Theatre Productions www.spotlites.co.uk Ages 2-6 45 mins Aug 18, 19, 21, 22, 25 Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall (Venue 278) Help Grandad plant the tiny seed. Slide in the snail slime. Heave up the enormous turnip. Professional interactive theatre for kids who don’t just want to sit still and watch! Little ‘uns come onstage throughout! Join Boy and Grandad as they tend the seeds! The family is hungry; what will grow?

Will the birds steal the seeds? Will the slugs and snails munch the leaves? Will there be enough for tea? Will the turnip ever stop growing?

Merlin’s Dragon Spotlites Theatre Productions www.spotlites.co.uk Ages 5-12 1 hour, 30 mins July 29 - Aug 17, 23-24 Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall (Venue 278) Vanquish evil knights with real battleaxes! Shoot firebolts with the Dragon! Joust with Sir Lancelot, the White Knight! Professional interactive theatre for kids who don’t just want to sit and watch!

Nimue, Lady of the Lake weaves spells to drown Avalon! Help Merlin defeat her and the DragonSlayers!

38

Magic Porridge Pot

Magic Porridge Pot Spotlites Theatre Productions www.spotlites.co.uk Ages 2-6 45 mins Aug 18th - 25th Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall (Venue 278) Help Boy cook magic porridge! Splat porridge in a magic food fight! Jump in the huge sea of porridge! Professional interactive theatre for kids who don’t just want to sit still and watch! Little ‘uns come onstage throughout! Join Boy as he ventures into the woods to find food for his sick Dad. He meets an old woman who gives him a magic porridge pot and the secret words: ‘Cook little pot, cook!’ But a greedy thief spots them and sets out to steal the pot!

www.mademagazine.co.uk

                 

        

      



   

  

The Comedy Of Errors Take Thou That Theatre Company with Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Ages 7+, 60 minutes 31st July - 16th Aug Assembly George Square Studios, Two (Venue 17) A stripped down version of Shakespeare’s most ridiculous comedy. The Comedy of Errors makes for madcap doubling, high energetic pace and a lot of mistaken identity...

www.takethouthat.com

FAMILY FEST The Comedy of Errors

The Comedy of Errors Take Thou That Theatre Company www.takethouthat.com Ages 7+ 60 minutes 31st July - 16th Aug Assembly George Square Studios, Two (Venue 17)

kids who don’t just want to sit still and watch!

Catapulted into uncharted space, Oz becomes locked in a fierce battle with Space Pirates, when the West Quadrant’s Witch captures them all!

Can they escape to the Emerald Planet?

Puss in Boots Spotlites Theatre Productions

A stripped down version of Shakespeare’s most ridiculous comedy touring to over forty schools and theatres. The original play is enhanced with smatterings of modern text, and the production draws on the rich traditions of vaudeville, slapstick comedy, clowning, and the infectious sounds of klezmer music. With two sets of identical twins to be played and only a cast of seven, The Comedy of Errors makes for madcap doubling, high energetic pace and a lot of mistaken identity...

Oz and the Space Pirates Spotlites Theatre Productions

www.spotlites.co.uk Ages 2-6 45 mins Aug 18, 19, 20, 21, 25 Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall (Venue 278) Chase enchanted mice! Splat magic mud pies!

Help Puss storm the ogre’s castle! Professional interactive theatre for kids who don’t just want to sit still and watch! Little ’uns come onstage throughout! Join Puss as he tries on his magic boots! Boy is poor; what can Puss do? Will the Ogre eat Puss? Will Puss trick the Ogre? Will Boy ever get rich?

www.spotlites.co.uk Ages 5-12 1 hour, 45 mins July 29 - Aug 17, 22-24 Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall (Venue 278) Battle the West Witch with real laser-swords!

Blast Space Pirates in the ruby asteroids! Jump black holes! Professional interactive theatre for

40

Oz and the Space Pirates

www.mademagazine.co.uk

FAMILY FEST

Footprints www.madeinscotlandshowcase.co.uk All ages 40 minutes Aug 11th – Aug 16th Lauriston Hall (Venue 163) Footprints is a joyful collaboration between multi-award winning, traditional Scots singer Emily Smith, musician Jamie McClennan and High Heart Dance Company. A fun fusion of contemporary dance, stunning vocals, traditional and original music.

Four musicians and four dancers, all based in Scotland but hailing from around the world, come together to celebrate their identities and shared love for traditional Scottish music, creating a show as much for adults as for children. Perfect for an uplifting lunchtime!

Complete Nonsense & The Lady of Shalott www.madeinscotlandshowcase.co.uk All ages 40 minutes Aug 11th – Aug 16th Lauriston Hall (Venue 163) There’s something wiffling in the Tulgey wood... could it be a Bong with a luminous nose? Or maybe a nose-ring-less piggy-wig, searching for some slices of quince? Perhaps it’s a doyouthinkhesaurus, crashing through the undergrowth? Lenny Sayers’ hugely popular settings of Nonsense poems by Edward Lear and Lewis Carroll are performed by six musicians of Daniel’s Beard and BBC presenter Jamie MacDougall. Tennyson’s The Lady of Shalott contains all the action of a blockbuster film and includes specially choreographed dance from High Heart Dance Company.

Footprints Traditional music and contemporary dance come together in a joyous fusion of energy, exploration and fun Monday 11th Saturday 16th August 12.30pm daily Lauriston Hall, Lauriston Street, Edinburgh Tickets available from The Hub

with Emily Smith Jamie McClennan and band

Complete Nonsense

Jabberwocky t The Owl and the Pussycat

The Lady of Shalott

a new work for musicians, narrator and dancers by Lenny Sayers Jamie MacDougall, High Heart Dance & Daniel’s Beard

www.highheartdance.co.uk

made JULY / AUGUST 2014

Monday 11th - Saturday 16th August 11am daily Lauriston Hall, Lauriston Street, Edinburgh Tickets : www.danielsbeard.org.uk

41

FAMILY FEST

Drama Workshops for 5-12s Spotlites Theatre Productions www.spotlites.co.uk Ages 5-12 1 hour July 29-August 2, 4-9, 11-13, 16-17, 23-24 Spotlites @ The Merchants’ Hall (Venue 278) Different each day, including Star Wars: Yoda Jedi School, Jedi Knight Academy, Jedi vs.

Sith, Clone Wars, Force Unleashed, Harry Potter: Wizard School, Dementors and Death Eaters, Avengers, Spider-Man, Doctor Who: Daleks and Cybermen, the War Doctor, Horrible Histories, Rainbow Fairies, Frozen, Gangsta Granny, Minecraft, Roald Dahl, Pirates. Create your own stories and plays with costumes, face painting, scriptwriting, puppetry, stage combat or song and dance!

The Fantastical Story Factory The Showstoppers www.theshowstoppers.org Age 6+ 60 minutes 30 July - 17 August The Gilded Balloon (Venue 14) Using only suggestions from children in the audience, a couple of props and a trusty band to supply music, The Fantastical Story Factory sees the Showstoppers create stories out of thin air.

Kids shout out what they would like to see, and the troupe creates a new musical adventure with the quick wits and musical creativity that have made them a hot ticket in Edinburgh over the last six years. The Showstoppers will do all the hard work in bringing brilliant songs, tremendous tales and colourful characters to life!

42

Musical Mornings with Mil’s Trills Amelia Robinson www.milstrills.com Age 1+ 10:30am, 11:30am (45 mins) 30th Jul - 17th Aug Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33) Start your day with an interactive musical adventure and experience what it’s like to be part of the show! After a sell-out Pleasance run in 2012, ukulele-playing New Yorker Amelia Robinson returns to the Kidzone, playing original whimsical songs for the whole family to enjoy.

The Cat in the Hat Cat In The Hat UK Ltd Age 3+ Times: 12:05pm & 13:05pm (40 mins) 30th Jul – 25th Aug Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33) From the moment his tall, red and white striped hat appears around the door, Sally and her brother know that The Cat in the Hat is the funniest, most mischievous cat they have ever met.

With the trickiest of tricks and craziest of ideas, he turns a rainy afternoon into an amazing adventure. But what will mum find when she gets home? n

www.mademagazine.co.uk

A TASTE OF

Scotland

Reviewed by Mum, Dad & Luke Wilson (age 4)

Over the Easter holidays we decided to take a little jaunt up to Perthshire for a much needed family break and to experience some traditional Scottish activities. Our son, Luke (4) has spent more holidays in Spain and Ireland than in Scotland, so this was a good chance to teach him about his heritage.

We booked into the fantastic Mains of Taymouth, right at the edge of Loch Tay at Kenmore. This gorgeous 120 acre estate offers a wide range of 4 & 5 star self-catering accommodation for families of all sizes and budgets. We stayed in a Maxwell property, a two-bedroom, two-storey, stylish villa complete with a great sized kitchen with all mod cons; two en-suites upstairs and a downstairs WC and utility room. Full length tweed curtains, luxurious fur throws, mood lighting and ducks on our door step made for a very happy family living space.

The estate boasts a well-stocked deli for any

44

forgotten essential food items, a gift-shop, and the adjoining bar and restaurant means you can conveniently either dine on-site, or order food to take back to your accommodation. The whole estate is extremely dog friendly so even furry friends can enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the restaurant, which has a pool table and a stash of board games to keep the kids entertained too.

We settled in, stocked the fridge, said hello to the ducks and got to grips with our surroundings knowing we had lots of fun planned for the next day! And it started early because dad was keen to make the most of the golf course right outside our door. He was up and out before Luke and I had even woken. That’s a first! The 6052 yards, par 70 golf course with the spectacular scenery was the perfect start to his day.

After a leisurely breakfast, we got ready for a trip to Highland Safaris; a park which offers all sorts of activities – land rover safaris, walking

www.mademagazine.co.uk

TAYMOUTH

“

This gorgeous 120 acre estate offers a wide range of 4 & 5 star self-catering accommodation

”

made JULY / AUGUST 2014

and biking tours and lots more. Our first pursuit of the day was a visit to their Red Deer Park and a chance to feed the deer. The friendly guide had about 30 of us to educate, so took us into a purpose built, seated viewing hut where we learned about various types of deer, their cycles and habits, and had the chance to feel various antlers. He gave us each a mug of ‘deer food’ and we went outside to feed the beautiful creatures. Deer don’t have teeth so there’s little chance of being hurt, so the kids in the group had a ball getting up close. After the deer had their snacks we went back into the hut to meet gorgeous barn owl, Ossian! Ossian showed off her flying for us, while we learned more about her night-time antics. We even got to stroke her soft downy back, which was fantastic.

After a thorough hand-wash it was time for lunch. Highland Safaris has a lovely gift shop and café so we ordered soup and sandwiches for everyone, and Luke started talking about the next highly anticipated item on the agenda…

Gem-panning! Thanks to Disney’s Sheriff Callie, he was very excited about getting the chance to do this and when he got his chance he dove right in, swirling his tray as instructed and immediately finding lots of gems. He found garnet, amethyst, rose & clear quartz and gold! Well, it was actually pyrite or Fool’s Gold but it was thrilling to find.

Each panner gets to keep the gems they find so Luke was delighted with the idea of showing his friends at home. The all-weather panning flume is ideal for kids of all ages and heights, and there’s no time restriction limiting the fun.

Our base at Mains of Taymouth was an ideal location for lots of sightseeing and family friendly activities. We were close to Aberfeldy and the Watermill; an art gallery, homeware shop, café and bookshop, with children’s reading room. The Scottish Crannog Centre, based in Kenmore is Visit Scotland’s ‘Living the Iron Age’ experience with an authentic Celtic Roundhouse. Back at Mains of Taymouth Estate Luke could have tried horse-riding where a professional team supervise pony rides, trekking and hacking on well trained ponies and native horses through beautiful forest or riverside walks.

But the next day we decided to visit Dewars World of Whisky. The tour starts in a cinema

45

TAYMOUTH

© ANGUS BREMNER

where you see a short film about the history of Dewars and learn about its heritage and quality.

Then a door mysteriously opens and you find yourself in a replica library where the historic journey begins. Each person has their own audio handset so you discover all the facts in your own time. Luke loves a treasure hunt, so he eagerly ran from number to number. Personally I loved seeing their advertising campaigns over the decades and how these have evolved. I also loved the touch screen where you mix your own whisky to blend the exact quantities of earthiness, sweetness, peat, etc. There’s even a smell test where you rely on your senses to determine the whisky’s ‘nose’. Unfortunately our party consisted of a driver, a pre-schooler and a pregnant lady - not exactly the best audience to sample the whisky, so we made the most of the gorgeous café instead. Afterwards we joined a tour of the actual distillery which takes you through the various stage of whisky production – the whole experience is an absolute must for whisky lovers.

So, between the lochs and scenery, the deer and owls, the golf and the whisky we left Perthshire feeling Luke has at least learned something about his Scottish roots. n

46

For more information...

Mains of Taymouth www.taymouth.co.uk Highland Safaris www.highlandsafaris.net Dewars World of Whisky www.dewars.com

www.mademagazine.co.uk

Based in the west coast of Scotland, The Hooded Towel Co. is inspired by family holidays in Oban.

Available in 3 sizes for ages 4-10

www.thehoodedtowel.com rachel@thehoodedtowel.com 07745 413458 

The Independent Travel Directory for Families

Delivering traditional toys, local artisan produce and cool camping kit to holidaymakers throughout the UK.

Looking for a fabulous Family Holiday?

Away with the Kids features superb child friendly hotels, cottages, campsites and farmstays.

Perfect for kids and parents too! www.awaywiththekids.co.uk castles

farms

hotels

cottages

camping

A great choice of toys to keep your kids happy and busy on their holidays.

Whether they’re outside from dawn to dusk or being creative indoors… we’ve made the choice of what toys to take on holiday easy…and we can even deliver it so it’s waiting for your arrival.

www.coolcamphampers.com

0800 121 4955

#AF� s 0ICNIC !REA Lots of juicy berries are hiding in our strawberry patch‌

Come and find them!

STOCKBRIDGE, MURRAYFIELD, CORSTORPHINE

E: comelybank.corstorphine@monkeymusic.co.uk T: 0131 260 9667

COLINTON, MORNINGSIDE, PENTLAND

Strawberries, Gooseberries, Raspberries, Red & Blackcurrants, Tayberries

E: morningside.pentland@monkeymusic.co.uk T: 0131 441 4581

*ULY n !UG DAYS AM n PM 3T "OSWELLS "ORDERS 4$ .0 4 WWW BORDERBERRIES CO UK Saturday classes now open!

NEW funs activitie for this

Summer

PLANET TUESDAY

MONDAY

Story Telling Session 11.00 - 11.30am Story telling made captivating.

Yummy Mummy Time 1pm. Eyebrow bar. Eyebrows by Zara. Booking advisable.

NEW Summer Menu!

NEW toys and additions in our soft play room

ÂŁ3.00 Unlimited Play

NEW! HIP HOP TOTS with Step it up dance 10.30am from 8th July.

WEDNESDAY

Parent/Carer Toddler Group 9.15am. ÂŁ3.00 Includes play time sing along sessions, arts and crafts and hot drink for carer!

THURSDAY

Arty Tots 10.30 - 11.30am ÂŁ3.00 Supervised arts and crafts sessions.

Includes play time.

39 BaileyďŹ eld Road, Edinburgh EH15 1NA

To book call 0131 669 1231 or email hello@planetcafeedin.co.uk For further information and the latest updates visit

www.planetcafeedin.co.uk

CAFE FRIDAY

Bouncy Castle Sessions!

SATURDAY

NEW! Music classes

by Caterpillar Music 11pm. Starting from 12 July.

Booking advisable.

Bouncy Castle Sessions 10am - 2pm Come along and join in the fun!!

FREE

Freshly Whipped ICE CREAM in July with one session of softplay

By Under-Fives Mum

Things to do

I’ve always loved a to-do list. When you can commit intentions to paper and then cross them off, all is right with the world. But list making suffers once children arrive. On top of the massive increase in daily tasks just to keep them fed, warm and clean, you notice what needs doing when you’re in no position to do anything about recording it. Picking up a piece of toast from the floor, you think, “The amount of dust under that sofa! And is that – half a banana?” By the time you’ve dealt with the toast and been waylaid by a request for milk, you’ve parked (OK, forgotten) the dust and half-banana. Until the next time you’re on the floor by the sofa.

But one morning recently the phrase “Let’s make some progress!” popped into my head. I thought: “Yes! A mantra! All I need to do is to be further on at the end of the day than at the beginning. How hard can that be?” Inspired, I gave a toothbrush to my son as I popped for a shower (“He can clean his teeth while I shower! Why didn’t I do this before?”). When I emerged, he was dabbling it in the toilet.

However, I kept my focus. Avoiding the usual option of telly for the children while I dressed, they played in our bedroom. Time to sort out my chest of drawers. Crash! The curtain pole came down (actually the second that week thanks to my daughter’s curtain-swinging craze. I blame Rapunzel – using her own hair as a rope, indeed). After we’d spent an annoying hour buying rawl plugs, the children pottered in the garden while I fetched a trowel for weeding. Then came the cry. Newly toddling, my son had face-planted the driveway and made a right mess of his forehead. My mantra slid out of my head.

Sure, mishaps occur whatever you’re up to. You go to answer the phone and, quick as a flash, a rainbow appears on the carpet in felt

“

ILLUSTRATION: SAM MILLER www.sammiller.co.uk

tip. (“It does look pretty, doesn’t it, mummy?”) But while kids are wee, might it be counterproductive to be too goal-oriented? A friend of mine realised she was spending all her time with her younger child doing chores.

So now, on “Fun Tuesdays”, her daughter sets the agenda. They swim, visit galleries, go on bike rides and picnics, model playdough for entire mornings. My friend’s daughter starts school soon and they’ve had a great time together. Her house isn’t as spotless, but who cares?

So, my chest of drawers is still in disarray. Those curtain poles aren’t fixed yet. And that half-banana … euch, I’ll go grab it in a second. But the kids progress every day. Soon enough they’ll be at school. And then my lists and I can get re-acquainted. n

When I emerged, he was dabbling his toothbrush in the toilet

made JULY / AUGUST 2014

”

Cathy Tingle is editor of Edinburgh for Under Fives, the family-friendly guide to Edinburgh www.efuf.co.uk 49

a Stand

Dad Up

Canadian comedian, Tom Stade and his photographer wife, Trudy made Edinburgh their home many moons ago, and still live here now with their two children (17 & 13). Well known from shows like Live at the Apollo and Stand Up for the Week, Tom is looking to another Festival Fringe this summer. He tells MADE his thoughts on Edinburgh, parenting and his love of bargain hunting…

Were you at the Festival last year?

Yeah, I did a greatest hits show last year at the Assembly Rooms on George Street where I will be again this year. Thanks for the plug! It was called Tom Stade: “The Essentials” where I performed a makeover of my favourite material. When a comedy idea is out there, you can’t change it. But I feel that as each year goes by, I get better. So, to be able to revisit those ideas as a better comedian was fab!

What’s your favourite thing about Edinburgh?

There isn’t one favourite thing! MADE Magazine, you should know better to ask a question like that! This city gives me so many favourite things to do, but I will humour you and pick one of my favourites; visiting charity shops with my super smart sexy gal. I mean, Edinburgh is such a wealthy place, the stuff donated is quality. Not like in areas like the Shetlands, which is probably the same five guys donating and then buying it back. Thanks to Bargain Hunt I love trying to find something I can sell on to make an absorbent profit! Oh the games we play to kill a few hours in our day…

50

What do you like to do with your children in Edinburgh?

Making them clean their room, or, at least trying to stop them from letting the mess invade the living room. Just teasing! The one thing that bonds the Stade family is going to the movies. All of us have a Cineworld card for unlimited access and 25% off the concession stand. Get it, parents; it’s up there as one of the best purchases I’ve made in my lifetime. We love talking about the movies we see, it’s the one common bond we have and we have had some wonderful discussions. Taledega Nights is the funniest movies ever, so say the Stades!

What are you most looking forward to seeing at the festival this year?

There are a few things I’m looking forward to. It’s the one time I get to see all my comedy friends in one place. When it’s not festival time you get to see these truly talented people just here and there, but to have them all in one place – let’s just say it takes a week or two to recuperate, and that’s a good thing! I also look forward to performing because I have a very grassroots fan base, where I have hung out with most of the people

www.mademagazine.co.uk

made JULY / AUGUST 2014

51

Tom stade

“

Let’s face it, raising kids comes with a lot of funny, over dramatic tragedies!

”

who come to the shows. To be able to present to them the greatest show in the festival is a real honour! Get ready my beautiful fans this is going to be the best one yet.

Do your kids inspire your comedy?

Of course! They don’t just inspire my humour, they inspire my life! Which to be fair is humour.

My son and my daughter have always given me fuel for laughter and I’m pretty sure that goes for every parent out there. I’ve told some fabulous stories about my children, some of it lighthearted, some of it a bit dark; but if you’re not too wrapped up with being a perfect parent, you’ll know with tragedy comes humour. Let’s face it, raising kids comes with a lot of funny, over dramatic tragedies!

Will you be watching the World Cup or Commonwealth Games this summer?

I’ll definitely be watching the World Cup. In fact, it’s the only time I really set aside time to watch football. I think it’s one of those things that brings everyone together in a common cause - to watch England get knocked out in the second round.

Hey, I live in Scotland, that’s funny! As for the Commonwealth Games, I might catch bits and pieces but I doubt anyone from the Commonwealth will be running as fast as Husain Bolt.

52

We’re asking everyone for their parenting ‘sanity saver’ tips. Any you’d like to share?

My lovely lady and I need the sanity savers! I mean, we have a few, like huddling in a quiet room and crying and asking ourselves, ‘How can we run away?”

I think because there is soooo much drama in any family, the best thing you can do is not get so caught up in the story lines. And that includes in my own life too. The real sanity-saver for me was learning I’ll never be a perfect parent, if there even is such a thing. Even though Supernanny makes it look easy with her Mary Poppins reward charts. I mean really, who has the time or the fridge space? Parenting in the year 2014 is a lot harder with all the Play Station distractions and zero hour work contracts. Just do the best you can with what you have. It’s hard but you just have to be yourself and not play the part of what you think a parent should be. It’ll drive you mad trying to keep up with the role. What I did was rip off my mask and say, “Hi, I’m Tom Stade and I’ve been playing the part of your dad! It’s really nice to finally meet you two beautiful people!” n

Show time...

Tom’s new show ‘Decisions, Decisions’ is at the Assembly Rooms Ballroom from 31st July – 25th August.

For tickets go to www.edfringe.com

www.mademagazine.co.uk

Specialising in all Trades

Main Contractor Specialist in: • Renovations • Extensions • Attic & garage conversions

We also cover: • Kitchens • Bathrooms • Wet rooms

FREE iPAD

For new clients who undertake Renovations, Extensions or Conversions from SBC (This will be upon contract agreement.

To get this offer, please quote SBCIPAD)

FREE iPHONE For new clients who undertake Kitchens, Bathrooms or Wet Rooms from SBC (This will be upon contract agreement.

To get this offer, please quote SBCIPHONE)

*Terms and conditions apply to the above offers.

Office: 0131 466 5364 • Mobile: 07813 073 960 Email: info@scottbuildingcontracts.com

www.scottbuildingcontracts.com

shopping

•

health

•

hobbies

•

food

shopping

Order, Order!

Banish the clutter, organise your knick-knacks and never forget an appointment again. Move over industrial style filing cabinets and bland boxes, we’ve found some funky alternatives! Start small, aim big and soon your life and home will be in order.

Magpie Wildlife Storage Tins (set of 3) £16.00 www.magpieline.com

Sophie Conran Gubbins Pots Blue £19.95 www.occa-home.co.uk

Made to Measure Ottoman From £300 Bank House Living, Lauder www.bankhouseliving.co.uk

54

Wooden Andersons Cherryade Storage Tray £14.95 www.pierrotetcoco.com

White-washed Multi-drawer Unit £350 Powder Grey, Lauder www.powdergrey.com

www.mademagazine.co.uk

shopping

•

health

•

hobbies

•

food

Bank House LIVING

Birthday Card Book £13.50 Cloudberry, Whitehouse Rd www.cloudberrygifts.co.uk

Dark Grey Felt Storage Baskets L £48 M £38 S £28 Powder Grey, Lauder www.powdergrey.com

Rika 3 Tier Memo Block £5 Paperchase

Art et Musique Wooden Storage Drawer £20 www.pierrotetcoco.com

INSPIRATIONAL GIFTS & INTERIORS

Hi-Wire Jewellery Stand £25.95 www.urbancuckoo.co.uk

made JULY / AUGUST 2014

Vilere Industrial Shelves on Castors £485 www.pierrotetcoco.com

Bank House Living 1 East High Street, Lauder TD2 6SS 01578 722877

tania@bankhouseliving.co.uk

www.bankhouseliving.co.uk

55

shopping

•

health

•

hobbies

•

food

health

Yoga Makes

© www.moffphotography.com

Mums Happy!

Oxytocin is that magical hormone that rushes through the body when we first fall in love. It can take us to the dizzy heights of a love sickness that makes food and sleep seem so much less important than looking into the eyes of our newfound love. Oxytocin also prepares the female body for childbirth, stimulating milk production so that baby can nurse, and encouraging the bond between mum and her new-born baby. In the first few moments after giving birth, a mother receives the largest rush of oxytocin that she'll ever experience in her lifetime. Oxytocin flows between mother and child every time the baby is breastfed, which encourages bonding and attachment.

Pregnancy and motherhood can bring huge physical, emotional and environmental changes that can be difficult to adapt to, but when yoga is practiced, oxytocin is released. Taking some time each week to just breathe during yoga class, bringing your attention to the breath, focusing on the breath alone and not worrying about anything else can deepen that relaxation. Sometimes we

56

get so caught up in "getting the posture" that we forget to breathe.

Deep breathing warms the body, and warmth is one of the key elements that allows the release of oxytocin. By taking the body through the practice of yoga, we warm the muscles and joints, making the physical body more comfortable and relaxed.

By continuing the practice with deep relaxation (savasana) and meditation, we encourage the production of oxytocin even further.

At the end of class, don’t just jump up and run out. Savasana is your reward for all of your hard effort earlier on. Learn to enjoy the relaxation, be aware of any random thoughts that go through your mind, and let them go. Acknowledge these meaningless thoughts and really take time for yourself. Focus on the breath. That’s all you need to do.

Yoga also helps balance hormones and stabilise the endocrine system. By practicing yogic relaxation techniques, we can balance cortical activities and the nervous and endocrine systems,

www.mademagazine.co.uk

shopping

•

health

•

hobbies

•

food

In a study of 65 women with depression and anxiety, the 34 women who took a yoga class twice a week for two months showed a significant decrease in symptoms, compared to the 31 women who were not in the class.

reducing the body`s reaction to stress. As a result, the body produces less adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol (all stress hormones), and the mother feels much more balanced and stress free.

Yogabellies Edinburgh has a class to suit everyone: YogaBellies For Pregnancy (from 14weeks gestation) Sunday 11:35am: Crags Community Sports Centre Monday 7:15pm: Media Education Thursday 7pm: Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre YogaBellies For Mum and Baby (6weeks-10months) Tuesday 10:30am: Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre YogaBELLES Yoga For Women **Starting 3rd of July 2014** (general yoga classes suitable for pre-pregnancy and after 6months postpartum) Thursday 8:30pm: Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre YogaBellies For Mummy and Toddler **Starting this summer** (Suitable for mummies with babies between 10 - 36months)

For Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond • Pregnancy Yoga

• Mum and Baby Yoga

All courses booked in blocks in advance. For more info contact rosy@yogabellies.co.uk n

Find us at…

• The Crags Community Sports Centre, 10 Bowmont Place, Pleasance EH8 9RY • Media Education, 183 Dalry Road, Haymarket EH11 2EB • The Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre, 71 Firrhill Drive, Pentlands EH13 9EU

made JULY / AUGUST 2014

For information or to book a place call:

07800 889176

or email: rosy@yogabellies.co.uk www.yogabellies.co.uk 57

shopping

•

health

•

hobbies

•

food

hobbies

you are ?

Who do you think

Have you ever wondered why you might follow the same occupation as your father or grandfather?

Ever questioned how major events in Scotland affected your ancestors? Do you have certain traits that you can’t explain – e.g. music dexterity or a desire to live near water?

Genealogy, the study of an individual’s history through family documents, unlocks the stories of your ancestors to help bring names to life. Lorna Kinnaird of Dunedin Links Genealogy, is a professional genealogist specialising in Scottish record sources together with those in the rest of the British Isles. By using her experience and knowledge of archival material and the development of Scottish social history, Lorna can pick out historical records that are relevant to each individual request. She consults a wide range of records and manuscripts that novice historians may not realise exist, and from there she builds a family tree.

Most people think their research can be done exclusively online, but in reality only a very small percentage of information is ever put online. The main collections of records are found at the ScotlandsPeople Centre and the National Records of Scotland, City Archives as

58

well as The National Library of Scotland - all in Edinburgh. Other archives are the family history societies and Local Study Centres around Scotland and the City Archives of the major cities – all with their own unique record sources relating to their county.

By moving beyond documents of births, marriages, deaths and census returns, Lorna loves to seek out records that relate to ‘people’ and their footprint on the land e.g. poor law records and Kirk Session Records (where those who fell on hard times had to be assisted financially by the Parish and local Heritors). Regimental and Naval Records as well as Court Records and Monumental Inscriptions also play a part in finding ancestors and allow her to place client’s ancestors in context with historical events happening around them.

It’s not just adults who want to know about their past – children are interested too.

www.mademagazine.co.uk

shopping

•

health

•

hobbies

Lorna provides a service to her local School (Buckstone Primary) to allow children to research and interpret the information they find. To commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the start of the Great War she worked with P7 pupils to help them experience aspects of what it must have been like for their greatgreat-grandparents; how, where and why the war started; the Scottish soldier, and the vital role of women. This was followed by a visit to The National Records of Scotland and The Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle.

Following the popularity of TV series ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ having your family history traced has never been more popular. Our ancestors can’t tell us important vital information or what life was like for them or even what happened to them – but they can show us, through the paper trail they left behind. Often the documents that Lorna consults not only helps unlock the secrets of their past, but can help educate current generations about how life was for them centuries ago, how much people moved around or stayed in the same place generation after generation. Often an ancestor’s signature on a Will & Testament or mention in a Court Case can bring home the reality of what has been found - putting the ancestor in the social context in which they lived, worked, loved and died.

The service at Dunedin Links Genealogy is trusted by clients throughout the world who rely on accurate and well researched family histories. To find out more about your family’s history go to www.dunedinlinks.co.uk or email Lorna at dunedinlinksgenealogy@gmail.com. n

“

We can learn so much more about the lives of our ancestors

”

Find out more…

Who Do You Think You Are? Live Scotland is at the SECC in Glasgow Fri 29th - Sun 31st August, 2014.

made JULY / AUGUST 2014

•

food

trace your

Family History

Lorna Kinnaird is a family history researcher.

She can discover your family’s past and help build your family tree.

Lorna is also available for: Courses & talks Education workshops

dunedinlinksgenealogy @gmail.com www.dunedinlinks.co.uk

07952 690412

59

shopping

•

health

•

hobbies

•

food

food

IceDelight

From Belhaven Fruit Farm in East Lothian, IceDelight is everything you wish ice-cream could be and more. They’ve blended home-grown Scottish fruit with an authentic Italian recipe to create a unique, luxuriously creamy dessert as healthy and tasty as real fruit!

The story began in 2007, when a spectacular summer left bumper crops of fruit; so Belhaven Fruit Farm set out to produce something new and unique with the surplus. They wanted to make an iced dessert that was luxurious and creamy, so they travelled to Tuscany where Italian ice-cream-makers taught them their secrets.

Returning home full of ideas they experimented with thick dairy ice-cream, pure fruit sorbets, and everything in between. The goal was simple; to make a delicious frozen dessert crammed with

“

as much Belhaven Fruit as possible.

The plan succeeded, and an outstanding new product was created called Fruit Ice. Amazingly, Fruit Ice was tastier than other ice-creams, and while other traditional recipes relied on dairy products, Fruit Ice was simply based on fresh fruit blended to an authentic Italian recipe and churned to give a rich creamy texture.

Where other ice-creams struggled with high calorie and fat contents, they had created a fat-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free dessert with spectacular fruity flavour and none of the guilt!

In the following three years the recipe was perfected and in 2010 they launched the new brand; 'IceDelight', the fruity, fat-free iced dessert. Researchers from Queen Margaret University asked if they could study the health benefits

A fat-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free dessert with spectacular fruity flavour and none of the guilt!

60

”

www.mademagazine.co.uk

shopping

•

health

•

hobbies

from eating IceDelight and the results were startling - the product kept all the vitamin and antioxidant properties of the real fruit and could even be counted as one of your 'five-a-day'. IceDelight comes in five delicious flavours: raspberry, strawberry, blackcurrant, lemon and gooseberry & elderflower. Whatever your favourite, each serving has less than 90 calories.

•

food

Fat-Free, Dairy-Free, & Full of Fruit!

Delightful smoothies Put all your favourite ingredients in a blender until you get a smooth, delicious treat.

Rich Breakfast Treat (for 2 people) l l l l l l

3 kiwi fruits 2 scoops lemon Ice Delight 2 scoops raspberry Ice Delight 100ml natural yogurt or soya cream 1 scoop oats 1 tsp sunflower seeds or linseed

Delightful Desserts As a healthy, guilt-free treat, all IceDelight flavours taste great served with: l fresh fruit salad l meringues l use fresh berries and fruit coulis to make an IceDelight Sundae

Home-grown Scottish fruit blended with an authentic Italian recipe creates a luxuriously, healthy creamy dessert.

Delightfully indulgent Try velvety Blackcurrant IceDelight with hot apple crumble.

Rich, refreshing Raspberry IceDelight is perfect served with dark chocolate cheesecake, or as part of our traditional Scottish cranachan.

Juicy, fresh Strawberry IceDelight is perfect with white chocolate brownies straight from the oven. n

Find out more…

IceDelight is available in farm-shops and delicatessens throughout Scotland. For more information and a list of stockists go to www.icedelight.co.uk

made JULY / AUGUST 2014

Belhaven Fruit Farm Thistlycross, Dunbar, East Lothian, EH42 1RG

01368 860573

office@ belhavenfruitfarm.co.uk www.icedelight.co.uk

61

out & about

Out A

out & about

•

& UT BO

1 1. Jake enjoying Pick Your Own Party’s ‘pop-up party’ at the Jam House 2. Wildlife cameraman, Gordon Buchanan, opening Puffin Fest at the Scottish Seabird Centre, joined by the Centre’s Wildlife Club

out & about

•

out & about

•

Have you got great photos from an event you’d like to share with MADE readers?

If so, email them to us at info@mademagazine.co.uk

out & about

•

2

3

4

3. Photographers Rachel Hein and Kevin Kirk (Capture Me) join Erin from Happy Dough at parenting networking event 4. Sarah (Mums in the Know) Kim (Lazy Daisy) Catherine (Sing & Sign) enjoy the parenting networking event.

6262

www.mademagazine.co.uk

out & about • out & about

6 5. Young Sick Kids volunteers Craig and Callum helped to make over 2,000 goody bags for the kilted walkers

7

out & about

5

7. Scottish rugby legend Chris Paterson, proud to sport his Sick Kids head band

•

6. Nina (of Nina and the Neurons) gave the annual Sick Kids Teddy Toddle and Summer Fair a big thumbs up

• out & about

8

•

10

9. PlayTalkRead, Playbox Scotland and Dads Rock at ‘DAD: Dads Activity Day’ 10. Proud colleagues Claire and Ann Marie (from the SQA) ran the Edinburgh Marathon Festival 10K for Sick Kids

made July JULY / august AUGUST 2014

9 6363

out & about

8. Sick Kids mascot PJ Bear made some new furry friends at the Edinburgh Marathon Festival

made

for

you

•

made

for

you

•

made

for

you

Bliss ● Scottish Fine Soaps ● Ness ● Swarovski Crystal ● Jelly Cat Toys 5 Raeburn Place, Stockbridge, Edinburgh, EH4 1HU • 0131 332 4605

www.bliss-stockbridge.co.uk

The Jack & Jill Market Where Smart Mums Sell & Save The Jack & Jill Market is the best place to snap up nearly new goodies for 0-9s. At monthly indoor markets across Scotland you ‘ll find cots, car seats, buggies, clothes & toys, under one roof, on the same day & at unbeatable prices. Book a stall online & keep 100% of what you earn.

Shoppers Say… “Got everything on our list & saved a fortune!” Ella, Edinburgh“

Sellers Say…“Had a clearout, loads of

fun & took home over £300! ” Linda, Edinburgh

Sunday 20th July Sunday 17th August Meadowbank Stadium London Road, EH7 6AE

FREE O MARKNLINE N ET AVAILOAW BLE

Markets run from 10.30-1.00 Admission £1 .50 per Adult

www.jackandjillmarket.co.uk

The Jack & Jill Market Monthly In Dalkeith Sundays 10.30—1.00pm

6 JUL + 3 AUG

Dalkeith Campus EH22 2PS

45 stalls every month bursting with quality nearly-new baby & kids bikes, buggies, clothes cots, toys & more!

0-9 yrs Adults £1.50

Book A Stall Markets Across Scotland/Online Market

We create bespoke craft events to suit any age (3-93!). Whether you’re having a kids birthday, a hen night or baby shower we can make it extra special. Choose a theme - lego, woodland or royalty perhaps and then something you’d like to do - printing, decoupage or anything you fancy.

We can make your idea happen.

Contact - Lorna or Kate at awesomefolk.com

BEDROOM CEILING now the

TWINKLING NIGHTSKY by EDINBURGH’S NIGHTSKY CEILING PAINTER

07738 299 947 NightskyCosmicCeilings.co.uk

64

www.mademagazine.co.uk

a and Edinburgh Fitness Zumb

made

for

you

•

made

for

you

•

made

for

you

Insanity Classesg! now runnin

Come and Join the Fun! C

M

Y

Zumba with Nadia is no ordinary exercise class,

it’s a PARTY!

Classes in Morningside and Craiglockhart

www.zumbaedinburgh.net edinburghzumba@hotmail.co.uk Facebook: Edinburgh Zumba

CM

The award winning movement to music, dance and singing programme for boys and girls from 6 months upwards run within a fun, safe and caring environment.

Twinkle’s Tots 6 - 18mths Tiny Toes 18mths - 3yrs Mini Movers 3 - 5yrs

MY

CY

CMY

K

Exciting classes available in

Allan

Telfer SPORTS COACHING

BOOK NOW for Kids Summer Camps for ages 3-9 from 9am-3pm

Edinburgh South

at: Myreside Pavillion East Craig’s Church Hall Ratho Community Centre

Contact Miss Charlotte on

07714 869306

edinburghsouth@babyballet.co.uk Babyballet Edinburgh South @bbEdinburghSth

www.babyballet.co.uk

ONLY

£16

per day

For further info tel: 07572 875789 Email: allantelfer1983@gmail.com

AS SEEN ON..

CBEEBIES & NICKJR.

www.allantelfer.co.uk

Honey Pot Ceramics Arts and Crafts Studio Be amazed at what you can do...

l Paint

your own Pottery Imprints l Glass Fusing l Clay Hand & Foot Imprints l Make your own Jewellery l Soaps & Bathbombs l Silver

Introducing ‘Create and Play’ with Scrambles Soft Play. 60 mins arts and crafts in the studio and 30 mins softplay” All summer activities now available for booking.

See website for details and bookings, or like us on Facebook to keep up to date with offers and activities Call 0131 333 6348 Based at EICA Ratho, EH28 8AA. Open 7 days 10am - 5pm Honey Pot Ceramics

www.honeypotceramics.com

Open daily 22nd March – 2nd November 2014 10am – 5.30pm, last admission 4.30pm

By Stirling Scotland FK9 4UR Tel: 01786 841456 Junction 10, M9 4 miles along A84 towards Doune signposted on M9 & A84. On-site parking

www.blairdrummond.com

We design and create beautiful and luxurious keepsakes using the sentimental items of clothing you cannot part with.

Like and follow to keep up to date with our latest offers. www.LilysPatchworkMemories.co.uk Facebook.com/LilysPatchworkMem Twitter.com/LilysPatch Tel: 07891 348183

made JULY / AUGUST 2014

65

tried

&

tested

on trial: Dance Base Busy parents and children don’t have time to try all the available classes to determine which one best suits their needs, so let MADE do it for you. In this issue Edinburgh mum, Kerry Hamilton-Nicoll gives the lowdown on getting back into dance, and on her daughter’s Creative Dance class at Dance Base.

Dance Base claims: Dance is for everyone, and everyone can dance. Providing courses, drop-in classes and workshops for everyone - their youngest dancer is a few months old, and their oldest is in their eighties!

Kerry says: I used to love dancing when I was younger, and now that my little girl is at school I’ve got some time to myself, so I thought I’d get back into it. I took advantage of Dance Base’s ‘Try Before You Buy’ scheme, starting with Beginners Ballet, which I really enjoyed – then I tried a drop-in class: West African Dance (which was great fun and a real work out) and then 80s Icons – what a hoot – which took me back a few years I can tell you!

The studios are spectacular, and the teachers were brilliant. I felt really welcome; it is such a friendly place. I asked my daughter if she wanted to give their classes a go – Creative Dance appealed because Dance Base don’t believe in ‘good toes, naughty toes’ or exams (something I hated when I was little). She loved it! She got to use her imagination, play games and tell stories with movement in ways a standard ballet class would never allow. She dances round the house now and I can tell she’s becoming more confident with movement. I’ve spotted that Dance Base’s Mini Dance Academy classes gives children a taste of different styles, so she might want to try that too. Looks like I’ve got a dancer on my hands – well, like mother like daughter!

The verdict…

For anyone returning to dance or those just starting out, Dance Base is a fun, friendly place and their range of classes is the best I’ve seen.

For info about courses and workshops, visit dancebase.co.uk or call 0131 225 5525.

If you are a business owner and would like MADE to test your service/product get in touch at mademag@live.co.uk

66

www.mademagazine.co.uk

Want made delivered straight to your door?

For just £15 you can wake up to made on your door-step for a whole year!

That’s just £2.50 per issue!

News Events Interviews Competitions Reviews Family Finance Features Triplet Dad Prize Giveaways Fashion Recipes Advice And lots more coming soon...

TO SUBSCRIBE email mademag@live.co.uk (quoting SUB14) and you’ll be added to our priority mailing list.

T&C: This offer is available for UK subscriptions only. Subscription starts on receipt of full £15 payment via cheque or BACS transfer. Details will be provided via email.