Category Archives: Edinburgh
The Trams Fiasco
After working in Edinburgh for several years, I don’t now have the need to go there very regularly. On Friday night, however, I was meeting a friend for dinner and once again I was shocked at the devastation that has been caused by the ongoing saga of the Edinburgh Trams!
A potted history for those not in the know:
In 2007 when the SNP government took over from Labour/LibDems, there were a few outstanding matters which demanded attention. One in particular was the demand from the Unionist parties for a tram system in Edinburgh. Or perhaps that should read a tram rail because the proposal was for one tram line only serving a very small part of Edinburgh. The vote regarding the Edinburgh trams was outdone by the Unionists and at that point John Swinney said the (SNP) Scottish government would give £550million to the project and not a penny more.
Having originally been scheduled to be up and running by February 2011 the projected completion date is now sometime in 2014. The whole project has been a disaster for Edinburgh. The streets are still in “dug up” progress and have been for several years. Edinburgh looks like a war zone and it’s such a shame because it was once a very attractive city.
For the record, most people are against the trams because the capital city had a bus service which surpassed any other city and did not deserve to be usurped by a tram system which would not provide a service to 90% of the Edinburgh population.
If the trams are ever up and running, it is proposed that the service will operate every 10 minutes with a journey time claimed of “approximately 20 minutes from Haymarket to the Airport”, with service from 06:00 to midnight Monday to Saturday (07:00 start on Sunday).
Currently the Airlink bus services the Princes St to Airport route. Departures are every 10 minutes between 7am and 12:40 am. A 24 hr service operates, departing at 15 and 30 minute intervals before and after this main period respectively. Journey times are 30 minutes from Waverley railway station (about 10 minutes East of Haymarket) to the Airport.
Bearing in mind the aforementioned figure of £550million, it begs the question – who did the original cost/benefit analysis?
God bless her … and all who sail in her
We spent a very enjoyable couple of hours yesterday visiting The Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith. In case you haven’t heard of it, she is considered to be one of the most famous ship’s in the world – for all the right reasons, I’d like to add. She isn’t remembered for the great tragedy that could have been averted (like the Titanic) and nor is she an unsolved mystery of modern times (like the Mary Celeste). No, the Royal Yacht Britannia, launched on the 16th April 1953 at John Brown’s Shipyard in Clydebank served the British Royal Family for more than 40 years, before being finally decommissioned in 1997.
The Royal Yacht Britannia was originally meant to be a mobile haven for the Royal Family, in case nuclear war broke out with the Soviet Union. This queenly vessel has sailed all over the globe, clocking up more than a million miles. In addition to having carried British diplomats and dignitaries on over 900 official voyages, it was also used by the Royal Family for holidays and recreational getaways.
Honeymoon Suite (the only double bed on board)
In addition to being a second home to Her Majesty The Queen and the Royal Family the Yacht was also a grand host to political figures, kings, queens, prime ministers and presidents. Among the world leaders who have enjoyed the lavish hospitality of this famous yacht are Nelson Mandela, Sir Winston Churchill, and Bill Clinton. While, more famously perhaps, being used for the honeymoon of Princess Diana and Prince Charles.
Bunks for Royal Marines
Walking around the ship, one can’t fail to notice the obvious differences between life on board as a passenger and that of a crew member. Whilst by today’s standards the living accommodation enjoyed by the Royal Family was by no means on a par with that of a 5 Star luxury modern cruise ship, it was perfectly functional and comfortable. I could not help but feel sorry for the poor crew who had to spend months at sea in far from ideal conditions and absolutely nothing in terms of privacy and we didn’t even get to see the bunks for the lowliest of them either!
I can however definitely recommend a glass of bubbly and a smoked salmon sandwich in the magnificent Tea Room on what was the Royal Deck and you can’t leave without buying a box of fudge from the NAAFI on board either!
After it was decommissioned, Her Majesty the Queen declared that no other Royal Yacht would ever replace the Britannia. Today, moored permanently at Leith, Edinburgh, this magnificent vessel has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Scotland. BBC News calls it “Scotland’s leading visitor-friendly attraction” and it has received Conde Nast Johansen’s prestigious UK’s Most Excellent Dedicated Venue title.
Next time you’re in Edinburgh with a couple of hours to spare, it is well worth a visit.
Sense of humour failure?
Following on from my Can’t be Arsed post (http://wp.me/p1z7xq-cA) I thought I’d share with you some of the comments that I’ve received from people on the RailUK forum who took exception to my blog post. People who clearly haven’t a clue what irony is and, to be frank, take themselves and their love of all things “trains” just a tad too seriously!
When you write things like this you can never be sure of the reactions you’re going to get – these are priceless! What next I ask myself?????
Can’t be arsed
Did you know that the price of a single off-peak fare from Glasgow to Edinburgh is just 10p less than an off-peak return fare for the same journey? No? Nor did I until yesterday. The “wonderful” organisation that is Scotrail had me blowing steam out of my ears (and probably various other orifices!) with their “can’t be arsed” attitude and complete lack of customer service skills. Had there not been 2 helpful people based at Haymarket, it would not be a blog posting but a stiff letter of complaint to Head Office I can tell you!
So, what got me all of a lather? Well, rushing to get the train through from Glasgow Queen Street, I inadvertently pressed the wrong button on the ticket machine and seeing the cost was £11.30 I didn’t realise until only one ticket and a receipt dropped into the tray. As the train was due to leave and I didn’t want to miss it, I decided to make a run for it and talk to the guard on the train. This I duly did, to be told that he “can’t do anything about it” and I’d have to go to the ticket office in Glasgow – great idea since I was heading in totally the opposite direction and anyway this clearly wasn’t going to sort out my problem as I still needed to get a return ticket and was unwilling to fork out yet another £11.30 for the privilege. My first “can’t be arsed” Scotrail person.
When I reached Haymarket, the ticket barrier retained my ticket but I made sure I kept hold of my receipt. After my meeting I went to the ticket office to be told by the lady at the desk that there was nothing she could do about my dilemma and that I’d have to buy another single ticket. My second “can’t be arsed” Scotrail person. Fortunately she was overheard by one of her colleagues who suggested it was worth talking to the man at the gate to see if he could do anything. My first “helpful” Scotrail person.
The first man at the gate (third “can’t be arsed” person) said that he wouldn’t be able to help me as I didn’t have the original ticket! I explained that this had been retained by the ticket barrier (naturally) and he said that the original guard on the train should have upgraded me when I still had the ticket in my possession. Without the ticket there was nothing that could be done and I’d have to buy a new single ticket for another £11.30.
- Haymarket Station
Fortunately my knight in shining armour was standing listening to the conversation – Another Scotrail employee who said he was sure that he could process an “upgrade” for me which would mean me just paying the 10p difference between the tickets. I could have kissed him. He dutifully plugged all the details into his little machine and produced the relevant ticket and I handed across my 10p with grateful thanks.
So what does this story illustrate? Well to me it’s perfectly clear that there is always a solution to a problem if only someone is prepared to make that little bit of effort to help. All to often our “can’t be arsed” society takes over however and we are left with little faith in human nature.
On this occasion I would definitely like to thank the lovely man who saved me just over £11 for bringing some sunshine into a cold, grey, rainy day – you are a star. To the three people who “couldn’t be arsed”, perhaps some customer service training wouldn’t go amiss? And finally, to Scotrail … what idiot dreamt up such a ludicrous fare policy?
The EdinBRA Moonwalk
I know I’m a bit late posting this but I am still suffering from a lack of sleep after what was the strangest way to spend a Saturday night but I will try to convey the emotion and sense of occasion that the Moonwalk brings to all those who take part, in whatever capacity.
At 8.30 pm on Saturday 12th June I dropped my good friends Kim & Joanna at their fellow Moonwalkers rented apartment in the Royal Mile – what an amazing place to stay – right in the heart of tourist land and easy access to the historical and cultural centre. I then followed their minibus to Inverleith Park where the big pink tent was waiting.
I wasn’t able to go into the Moonwalk Village as this was purely for the brave souls about to embark on their marathon (or half marathon) around the streets. I decided to grab a coffee and wait for them to start at the start (and finish line). The wait was a good 2 hours but myself and the few other hardened souls that were there with me were kept entertained by a power failure to the time clock and the lights around the start point – it was literally 5 minutes before the walk started that the power was restored and we could actually see something!
At 11.30pm the huge crowd of 10,000 walkers surged towards the start line – an incredible sight – and the 2011 Edinburgh Moonwalk was underway. The “entertainment” was a man in a pink kilt talking to the crowd as they crossed the start line (I’m thinking he must be a minor Scottish celebrity but precisely who he was I’ve been unable to find out!) and some people on stilts – not sure what that was all about! With a huge lump in my throat I went back to the car and began my epic night as support vehicle to my pals who had ordered hot coffees at the halfway point if possible.
I hadn’t really thought this through – with this number of people let loose on the streets of Edinburgh in the wee small hours – would I ever manage to catch up with them during the walk? I decided to check out the area around the 13 mile mark, only to discover that this was around Silverknowes Golf Club and the road had been blocked off to traffic. Now this isn’t a part of Edinburgh that I am particularly familiar with so I back tracked to the nearest water stop and asked the volunteers there whereabouts in the walk I was. They assured me that this was just past the 12 mile mark and that the first walkers were expected at around 1.40am. I found a parking spot and prepared myself for a long wait. Sure enough at around 1.40am the first few superfit athletes began to pass me. I was amazed to see that one of the front runners was actually walking in heels – bet she regretted that the following day!
During all the time I was waiting my friends, Kim & Joanna, were keeping in touch via their mobiles and I let them know that I would meet them with steaming hot coffee at the 12 mile point. They were only 8 miles in at that point so I knew there would be a longish wait. At 3.00am I called to check where they were and they said they’d just passed the 12 mile marker. Panic set in. I’d promised them hot coffee and hot coffee is what they shall have! I screeched off at the top speed my borrowed Corsa could manage and headed back to the Shell garage at Maybury where I was now becoming a familiar face at the coffee machine. Three steaming cups of coffee on board, I headed back to my vantage point, only to discover that I’d missed them by literally 30 seconds and they were now on that road which had been blocked to traffic!
I was a woman on a mission! What could I do and, more to the point, where was the next best place to catch them up? Checking the rather useless map that the organisers had provided, I decided that Granton seemed like a good bet and, bearing in mind there were the rest of the 10,000+ walkers to negotiate, I was back on the road in no time and heading for Granton. Pulling up by a bit of waste ground, I was able to park and ask one of the walkers how far in they were. 15 miles was the reply so I knew I had a bit of a wait but at around 4.00am there they were – cold and tired but still in one piece! With (the now) lukewarm coffee consumed they continued with their walk – more than halfway through but the sun had risen by this time and they were on the final leg.
All I could do now was head back to the finish line and wait. With 4 hours to kill (and only a John Grisham for company) this seemed like the longest part of the night by far but eventually, at just after 8.00am they arrived back and their marathon ordeal was at an end.
I watched them cross the finish line through a sea of tears – both happy and sad. I am so proud of each and every one of the good people who took part in the Moonwalk, whether they walked the distance or were volunteering throughout the night. I am especially proud of the breast cancer survivors who took part (yes, I mean you Jane and all the others!). I was bursting with pride when I saw Kim and Joanna – I love you both!
As most of you know, I am a breast cancer survivor – 8 years and counting. Please give generously whenever you can as your money goes to help people like me have better chance of survival. Thank you.
Walking on the moon?
This Saturday night sees the wonderful occasion that is the Edinburgh Moonwalk. This is the 6th time this event has been held in Edinburgh where over 10,000 men and women come together to walk a marathon (26.2 miles) or a half-marathon (13.1 miles) challenge through the night to raise money for Breast Cancer projects across the UK.
“It really has become a much-loved night in the city’s busy calendar and it just keeps on getting better” Nina Barough Walk the Walk
Survival rates for breast cancer have been improving for 30 years. The most recent breast cancer survival rates in England are for women diagnosed in England in 2001 to 2006. For this group of women five-year relative survival is 82%. The estimated relative twenty year survival rate for women with breast cancer has increased from 44% in the early 1990s to 64% for the most recent period.
One year breast cancer survival rates have increased from 82% for women diagnosed in 1971-1975 to 96% for women in 2004-2006 (England)
Similar increases have occurred in Scotland. Breast cancer survival rates for Scottish women diagnosed in 2000-2004 are 94% at one-year, 78% at five years, and 65% at ten years.
Please sponsor this terrific cause and help the good work continue. Full details can be found at http://www.walkthewalk.org.
And the winner is …………
The winner in the undergraduate competition at Napier, after great and lengthy debate, was Erica Douglas with ACE Inspire (http://www.aceinspire.com/).
‘ACE Inspire – inspiring businesswomen to achieve more’
Our aim is to provide flexible and affordable training to mums who want to become mumpreneurs and business women who want to use the internet more effectively to market their business.
The other finalists, Geoffrey Allman of Nexus, Isla Baker with Prom Princess and Steven Stewart with SunSafe all performed to a high standard and it will be interesting to see how their businesses develop over the next year. Hopefully we will see some of them in the competition next year.
Erica will receive £500 to develop her ideas and will be entered in the Santander Universities national competition as a representative of Edinburgh Napier. Hopefully she will make it to the final on July 5 – fingers crossed!!!
Entrepreneurs of the Future
What an enjoyable day I’ve had! I was honoured to be invited to be part of the Judging Panel for the Santander Entrepreneurship Competition on behalf of Napier University. This competition is national and the winner for the undergraduate entries will gain an award of £5000 to invest in their business idea. The selected graduate put forward for the national finals will gain a £500 award – not to be sneezed at I’m sure you’ll agree!
The four shortlisted students gave us very interesting presentations and I won’t divulge who the winner was just yet as I’m not sure they’ve been told. I would like to say however that each one had merits and were deserving of the prize. I will announce the winner on here in due course but in the meantime would like to thank the participants for their time, energy and great ideas.
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