The Edinburgh Reporter January 2021

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10FEATUREBy Laura VidaHave you seen the Crow inHeels? If not, you’ll find herpartying by the cycle path nearWarriston Cemetery, along withher noisy set.Her creator, Helen Miles, beganmaking graffiti mosaics back in2017, not long after arriving inEdinburgh. For almost half of theprevious 30 years, she had beenhoning her skills in Greece."I get up ludicrously early toinstall my graffiti mosaics andtake Farook (my dog) with me. Hesits in the grass looking seriouswhile I get on with preparing thesurface, spreading the adhesiveand installing the mosaic. The firstfew times I did it I was petrified.Every siren was a speeding policecar sending a squad to arrest me."When I was installing ‘Why Me?’on Calton Hill, I heard the sound ofheavy footsteps pounding towardsme and thought my time wasup. I turned, heart racing, as thesteps neared me and sensing thediscomfiture of the young man –an off-duty police officer perhapsThe Edinburgh ReporterEdinburgh mosaicist doesn't crow about her workStiletto style causes a flap on Warriston cycle path– who stood before me."Helen is careful about where sheinstalls her mosaics - she favoursareas where there is alreadygraffiti. An epiphany came whenshe realised that the council wasactually sending people to cleangraffiti off one of her mosaics.Here was recognition indeed!It took a long time for Helen tofind a studio large enough for allher materials and tools. In themeantime, she had an urge tocreate - she wanted to make herpresence felt. What’s more, shehad "a deep and almost desperateneed to introduce the world tomosaics"."Mosaics aren’t talked about inthe History of Art canon becausethey were made collectively, therewas no one named creator. Peoplejust don’t get them. Perhapsbecause they don’t come acrossmosaics very often. They thinkyou can just knock one up with abroken plate."Helen spent a year with a mastercraftsman in Thessaloniki, Greece,before continuing her trainingin Athens. She said: "I becameobsessed with Roman mosaics,which have extraordinary designs.I used to think one didn’t reallyneed to do more than that but nowI’m much more adventurous."Known for her more traditional,Conan Doyle Centre celebratesby Professor Lance ButlerThe Sir Arthur Conan DoyleCentre is ten years old.The building in which it ishoused, a majestic stone giantin the West End, is a lot olderthan that, but the decision toconvert it into a place for spiritualexploration was taken on thesnowy evening of December 17th2010 by Ann Treherne.Since then it has increased itsofferings and reach. Ann has nowbowed out as Chair of Trusteesand has handed over to me.The Trust’s remit is to exploreand present to the public a rangeof "Mind-Body-Spirit" ideas andpractices and the Centre offersmeditation, mediumship, yoga,astrology, crystal healing and thelike.As a retired academic, I amparticularly focussed on theintellectual possibilities of thisfield, and want to bring theseto wider attention, to showthe scientific and materialistProfessor Lance Butler, The Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Centremainstream that they havenothing to fear.The only problem for ordinaryscience is that it is in danger ofmissing out on a better view of thecosmos by ignoring the existenceof energies and dimensionsbeyond what is taught as normalin the 21st century. To this endthe number of lectures given byleading thinkers in this broaderfield has been quadrupled and our"Tuesday Talk" series on Zoom isflourishing.We hope to return to in-thefleshevents and talks and onceagain to welcome the peopleof Edinburgh into our lovelyand peaceful building. Theworld seems to be shifting ina more spiritual direction. Theself-reflection occasioned by theCovid crisis, the new realisationthat we are doomed if we donot learn to respect our planet,the developments in sciencewhich finally, a century late, isforced to admit the reality of the"impossible" facts revealed byQuantum Physics, all indicate thatthe Arthur Conan Doyle Centremay be a small example of howhumanity can go forward to a lessdestructive and selfish future.The Sir Arthur Conan DoyleCentre25 Palmerston Place, Edinburgh,EH12 5APwww.arthurconandoylecentre.comTel: 0131 625 0700Edinburgh's hidden mosaicist Helen Milesclassical technique, Helenexplained: ‘If you look at the crow,the way the tiles are laid is veryclassical. There are rules abouthow the tesserae (materials)arearranged: the spaces are justBrexit goose is cookedby Juliet Lawrence WilsonWe find ourselves not only in themiddle of another lockdown butBrexit too. Are the supermarketshelves empty I wonder?If you’re anti Brexit you mightalso find yourself the sociallyaware type who also disapprovesof unseasonal eating, so I’m hereto offer you some silver linings.In all honesty who needs to beeating strawberries in January?Imagine a world, we may now beliving in, where asparagus is onthe menu for only three weeks ofthe year. To me this would be a joy.Seasonal eating would not onlyreduce unnecessary food milesbut give us something to lookforward to and appreciate.It might also be worth notingthat seasonal eating is probablya healthy way to go. Have all yearround salad leaves made us anythinner? In the days when the localweather dictated what was on thetable, people ate lighter food in thespring and summer, and heaviervegetables over the autumn andwinter months. Subsequently farfewer people were fat.Whether were still chompingon watercress in February or not,learning more about seasonalfood might be a good New Yearresolution.Leith’s Seasonal Cookery Bible isa worthy tome with just about allyou need to know. I’m also fond ofAllegra McEvedy’s Colouring Theas important as the tesseraethemselves. You don’t want tocreate rivers or lines in the gaps.If you do, the eye will fall on them.It’s easy for a mosaic to get fussyand distracting."Seasons, as her recipes are funand quirky.As we all know, good animalhusbandry is both the carnivorescomfort and excuse - so I’m typingwith one hand and self flagellatingwith the other. In the past I’ve notonly eaten foie gras but cookedit for many others and evenpublished a recipe with it. Oh dear.I had been assured that the poorforce fed geese didn’t mind it onelittle bit, however upon visiting afoie gras farm some years ago Idiscovered they very much did.It’s illegal to manufacture foiegras in the UK but up until now ithas been an EU imposed law toallow the import of it. With it beinga new dawn, so to speak, it mightbe the time to get the placards andposter paints out for this one.Flagging up Brexit issues
@EdinReporter /EdinReporter edinburghreporter theedinburghreporter.co.uk NEWS 11The Edinburgh Reporter Best Of . . .The Bay Tree CompanySituated in Bruntsfield The BayTree Company is an independent,specialist card and gift storewith unique and exclusive cardranges. Supporting independentartists. Shop online and collect isavailable.www.thebaytreecompany.comInstagram/thebaytreecompanySKELA STUDIOWhether you want to re-design aroom in your home or just want todip a toe into the world of interiordesign, our courses will helpyou gain skills and confidencein tackling any interior designproject.skelastudio.com/workshopsinfo@skelastudio.comArdgowan DistilleryWinner of the silver medal ScottishWhisky Awards 2020. Enjoythe award-winning ClydebuiltCoppersmith this January. Awonderful first fill Sherry caskblended malt.Free shipping and free nosingglass.shop.ardgowandistillery.comGallery TENDo you need something new foryour walls? Pop in and browse theextensive collection of originalprints. Plus, amazing glass frominternational artists. Or purchaseonline.5 William Street EH3 7NGinfogalleryten@gmail.comwww.galleryten.co.ukArt & Craft CollectiveA unique gallery and gift shop experiencein Edinburgh's Southside- literally a cornucopia of all media.Buy handmade art and craft fromindependent artists online. OwnerLinsay says: "If we don’t have it,we can probably find it for you."0131 639 9123artcraftcollective.co.ukThe Hideout CaféA cosy hideout in Edinburghserving speciality coffee, tea,treats and brunch. Iced lattes andother goodies to sort you out.Open daily0131 552 528940-42 Queen Charlotte St EH6 6ATwww.thehideoutcafe.co.ukEdinburgh Photography WorkshopLearn how to use your camera inEdinburgh’s Old Town with awardwinningphotographer Rich Dyson.In just four hours you’ll gain theskills and confidence to take betterpictures. Book now to enjoy a funexperience.edinburghphotographyworkshop.comIndependent Wine CompanyA specialist importer of boutiquefine wines from Italy.Carefully hand-picked awardwinningwines of premium qualitysourced direct from the winemakers.Oleg and Elvira visit everyvineyard personally. Online deliveriesavailable.independent.wineLeith Walk Police BoxVery reasonable rates allows startups to use this small pop up spaceas the first rung on the ladder.From food to political parties andall manner of things in between.Have a look at their pop up gardenwhile you are there.Croall Place EH7 4LT hello@leithwalkpolicebox.comThe Velvet EaselWinter exhibition until 28 February.Social distancing and sanitiser inplace here but appointments alsooffered outside gallery hours forindividual viewing.art@velveteasel.co.uk07835 813 689 Open Thursdayto Saturday 10-5pm and Sunday12-5pmCraig Banks TailoringBespoke tailoring for men. Craig'sfocus is on making the highestquality personally tailored attirethat others will aspire to. Hispyjamas and dressing gowns willmake your video calls so stylish!45 Thistle Street EH2 1DY0131 226 7775craigbankstailoring.comSomething FishyIndependent fishmonger Danielproviding quality fresh and curedfish. At the beginning of lockdownthere was some question overavailability - but this wee shop haskept going. Use Schop to haveyour fish delivered. From mid-Jan.16a Broughton Street EH1 3RH0131 556 7614SchopThis is an easy, convenient andeco-friendly alternative to a supermarketshop. Working in partnershipwith independent retailers,Tim at Schop offers to deliver ahuge range of great quality foodand drink straight to your doorsaving you a journey.schop.coPaper TigerThe shop in the West End celebratesits 40th birthday thisyear. An amazing diverse range ofcards, stationery, gifts supportinglocal makers, manufacturers andillustrators. Everything also availableonline or for click and collect.0131 226 2390www.papertiger.co.ukHome And CoProperty Management with integrity.Home and Co look after your propertyjust as if it were their own.They help you create homes forgreat tenants in Edinburgh.Contact Solii Brodie07753604807Home_and_Co@outlook.comDads RockA fabulous charity which providessupport for dads, and support forfamilies. They help men understandthe important role they playin their children's upbringing. Theydo this with activities like Dads inthe Wood - when they take dadsand children outside to play.dadsrock.orgLove Your BusinessLove Your Business networkingclub, which is relaxed, informaland good fun, is now online on thelast Thursday of the month with ahost of inspiring speakers sharingtheir entrepreneurial journey’s andinvaluable business tips.www.lybnetworking.com andFacebook @howtolybThe Eric Liddell CentreAn Edinburgh based care charityand community hub, providingkey support to vulnerable peopleacross the city for 40 years.They have continued to providealternative support services to allclients while the centre is closed.molnarz@ericliddell.orgericliddell.orgericliddell.orgNewspaper subscriptionSubscribe today to have yourvery own copy of The EdinburghReporter delivered by Royal Mail toyour front door.Pay either monthly or annually andsupport local independent news.theedinburghreporter.co.uk/advertising/subscribe-to-our-newspaper-delivery-service/Broughton Place Hair and BeautyFriendly boutique city salon.Owner and stylist Juliet is alwayshappy to discuss your needsand deliver a highly professionalservice. They specialise in longhair and tape in hair extensions.0131 556 44782a Broughton Place EH1 3RXwww.broughtonplacehair.com
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