I can hear random fireworks going off every now and again. Its open season with Halloween coming up. I rather like Halloween as a festival and am sad to see that some shops are already putting up Christmas displays before Halloween has even come and gone.

I went to a fantastic fancy dress Halloween party last night. I went as the 'Knitter of Hell' apparently a character in Heart of Darkness but I've not read the book so I'm taking that on trust! Someone else came as a professional Victorian mourner with stovepipe hat. She had a card - professionally printed and I was pleased to discover that not only would she do wailing and moaning at gravesides, she would also take on the mantle of guilt. Now I don't have guilt but I do have guilt that I don't have guilt... ie I've done somethings that previously would have me metaphorically writhing on the ground with guilt but actually I'm not... so she said that for a small fee she would be happy to take on the guilt about the lack of guilt! One of the hosts was dressed in twigs and ivy as a green man (he also had hampster grass attached to his person but that escaped the costume and was strewn around the flat). There were bats hanging everywhere and cobwebs. But the piece de resistance was a headless body lying in the bathroom which I had to veiw on arrival. The neck was a watermelon wedged into a shirt. It was amazingly realistic with blood oozing out all over the bath.

I discovered that the host was a primary school teacher by trade and I realised where this crafty excellence came from. I've seen this before offices of extreme dullitude where worksations are transfored into snow scenes with cotton wool or the three wise men trecking across the desert. All meticulously done in cardboard and paint. Somehow these festivals allow people to let out their creativity whether it be transforming a paper lampshade into an alien head making a working ghostbusters back pack for a fancy dress costume. It all shows how amazingly creative people can be with they just give themselves permission to be creative.

snickers fairy?

One has been operating in my area. I came home on Tuesday night to find two full sized bars lying in my hallway. Obviously posted through my letter box. No friends have admitted to doing good works - so I wonder is this scenario being replicated across this city?

Eskimo Disco

Yes I know you have never heard of it (some popular music combo thingy) but my friend HC made well noises on their new release and if you go here you can read about it and help her out by rating it that new fangled website for young persons - oh you know Your Tube or something...

Still here - knee deep in life - rather like standing in a flooding river. Its raining again here. My computer isn't working 'properly' so I'm unable to post links hence my lack of internet practice.

@*@*@*@

Yesterday I left the house and decided that I should do some exploring. I walked down a street normally I just whiz past on the bus. I walked past the big houses built for merchants in the 19th Centuary. Visited the cemetary and checked out cemetary fashions (photographs on gravestones, painted bears are all coming in). Then I walked off the main road an ambled around suburbia, large fluffy cats watched me from front steps, a secret collection of allotments hidden from view, mysterious houses behind high walls, high hedges and firmy shut gates. I took a few photographs and walked home. I have a confession to make .... I 've lived in this area for nearly 8 years and this is the first time that I've gone for a wander without any kind of errand or aim.

How to be creative

Hugh MacLeod's ideas which I was reminded of recently on an email list I"m on.

Artist's Way Course

I'm starting two new courses based on the book The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron.

I've facilitated these groups for over 10 years now and I'm an experinced facilitator in getting people back in touch with their creativity, discovering previously hidden creatitivity and leading people back to becoming the 'artist of their own life'.

Introductory sessions are a bargain £5 (try before you buy!). The afternoon class is 2-4pm Thursday 19th Oct and the evening class is 6-8pm Friday 20th October. Both are at Buddafield in Blackfriars St off the High St. Email me on creativevoyage at hotmail dot com to check if there are places.

sorry about lack of updates but blogger being very uncooperative

”As life goes on it becomes tiring to keep up the character you invented for yourself, and so you relapse into individuality and become more like yourself every day. This is sometimes disconcerting for those around you, but a great relief to the person concerned.” -Agatha Christie

from 37 days

Embracing Mistakes

Yesterday I got up early, dashed to Woolworths to buy a card and present for a friend's child who was turning 3 that day. I got home wrapped the present, walked to catch the bus and journied across the city. I got off the bus and luckily remememberd the instructions on finding my friend's house (I've only been there once before). As I walked up the street I saw my friend and her daughter outside her house and she said 'Hello what are you doing here?' I'd arrived a day early for the birthday party. So I abandoned the present inside the house, got into the car with them and went to the Morningside 'Festival' which consisted of a few stalls in a street. I bought a cool necklace made out of buttons, a few nice postcards and my friend and I caught up with each other over lunch. It was lovely. My friend it turns out always assumed that her childless friends were busy on a weekend so never arranged to meet any but enjoyed having some adult company. I enjoyed catching up with my friend who I'd last seen 6 months ago. We then ambled through the charity shops of Morningside and then I went to try and do publicity for my classes.

Similarily whenever I go and pick up pictures and they say 'oh they are ruined' at the processor I get more excited as I take the package of photographs. I've learned that this often means more interesting colours or even this rather mysterious picture of double exposures. What is seen as ruined and mistaken is often wonderful.

Fragmentary Glimpses

Udate on the demolishing World Heritage site

Hello SOOT Supporter

Two members went to a presentation by the council last night (only 2 from each community organisation were allowed) and were told to keep the information from the press until Trevor Davies (planning convener) could brief the press himself for Fridays Evening News!

We have therefore sent out a press release today about our reaction to the revised scheme which does little to address concerns which have been raised.

Come along to Old St Paul's Church Hall , Jeffrey St, anytime from noon till 5pm on Sat. 30th to find out more, share ideas about what can be done , hear the SOOT Song and even buy a brick!) Refreshments provided. Children are more than welcome. There is disabled access.

The revised plan looks very similar to what was put out by Mountgrange before. You can have a look at some of the document which has been scanned and posted on the Image gallery at our website www.eh8.org.uk

Latest Press on the eh8 website has today`s eve. news. letter from Sally. Keep the discussion going by writing to the Evening News and responding to their question today about the council`s consideration of the views of local people letters_en@Edinburgh's.com

Listen out to Radio Forth FM tomorrow as they are doing a piece about the revised plan (possibly early morning news bulletins)

Please spread the word, forward email on etc...about the information day on Saturday. It is also Doors Open Day (look up www.doorsopenday.org.uk ) so some interesting buildings in the area will be open to the public and there is an independence march/rally also on that day that starts at 1.30 from East Market St finishing at the Parliament about 3pm. So there will be lots of people around to hopefully come along and get involved.

Hope to see you Saturday

Julie
On behalf of the SOOT Campaign

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On a slightly happier note the Cameo cinema has been saved from the hideous fate of being sold as a super pub and the for sale sign has been taken away.

Manna Bakery on Easter Road Edinburgh is a beacon of cheerfulness on a rather gloomy street. Was surprised to see it mentioned in an article in the Guardian about the use of transfats in cooking. No they don't use them.

The Knitted Garden

How come some things are just perfect?

My moka coffee pot gave up the ghost a few months ago. It became tempramental - only squishing through half of the water making almost undrinkable coffee. I handed it over to my tecchie dept (aka dad) and asked as he is an engineer to see if it could be fixed. It appears not but he gave me a new one! Why is it perfect? I can fill it up, put it on my stove on the lowest gas setting and have a shower. When I get out the coffee has bubbled through and I'm ready to face my day.

Stop the world I want to get off

happy birthday to me

I've not been terribly organised this birthday but had a lovely evening out seeing Little Miss Sunshine 'Quick everyone pretend to be Normal!' at the Cameo with 4 friends. Sunday was spent with my parents having lunch in the country - my mother's birthday is very close to mine. I've been treating myself to lunch in cafes with glossy magazines, drawing pens, stamps, and a new skirt. I've got to do a bunch of work soon but am planning a series of visits and treats for the runup to Christmas. We all need something to look forward to.

Often people attempt to live their lives backwards; they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want, so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you need to do, in order to have what you want.

Margaret Young

Road Dust