Porty Podcast

Send us a textGardening and keeping your home warm are the topics of this podcast because there are a couple of events coming up which will give loads of advice. The first, tomorrow – Sunday, is a ‘Gardeners’ Question Time’ at the Wash House run by Portobello Timebank (www.portobellotimebank.co.uk). A panel including George Anderson of Beechgrove Garden will there to answer your questions. And later in the month, there will be an event run by Home Energy Scotland aimed at people who live in some of the older houses in the area. Its objective will be helping you stay warm and save money. It’s free but booking is advised at http://bit.ly/oldhomeportobello

Send us a textNew 20 mile an hour speed restrictions have come into force. They now stretch from Portobello along to Granton and from Duddingston to Morningside. It’s all part of the Scottish Government’s Road Safety Framework which is designed to make the roads safer for children, pedestrians and cyclists. The move is supported by Police Scotland and officers will be monitoring the situation closely. Since the start of the first phase of the new speed limits, they've taken action against 18 drivers who have been driving too fast.

Send us a textLater this year, there will be a TEDx conference in Portobello, organised by Tribe Porty. But what does it take to present a TED talk? Psychologist and Portobello resident Nick Child was the opening speaking at the Edinburgh University TEDx event just this week.

Send us a textOrganically Yours is the creation of American-born, Julia Leyden. It's quite possible that you may have seen her on the Prom last year selling her vegan muffins and other products. She's fully intent on getting back outside as soon as she can. But she has serious ambitions for this currently small business in Portobello - she runs it from her flat overlooking the beach. Having family back in the US helps with her desire that make this an international firm, targetting a rapidly growing market.

Send us a textThere was excitement in the air around the former Bellfield Church. Action Porty's application to the Scottish Land Fund has been successful! The Land Fund Committee has approved a grant of £647,500 which includes some £570,000 towards the purchase of the church and halls. The final part of the Community Right to Buy process will involve a ballot of Portobello residents. The ballot papers go out at the end of March - so get involved!

Send us a textThe 5-a-side football pitches in Portobello are under threat. It came as something of a shock both to users and to the local community when it emerged that the eight pitch site had been put up for sale. There hadn't been any consultation about this and the announcement came out of the blue. So a number of campaigns have been started to stop the sale - at least for the time being.

Send us a textEveryone who tends an orchard is looking for a bumper crop. Those involved with the Portobello Community Orchard are no different. And to make sure their wishes are granted, they've started a tradition of singing - or wassailing - to the trees at the start of the season in January. Today was wassailing day!

Send us a textWhen should children start dance classes? Well, at the Lothian Dance academy, the school rolls are now open to girls as young a 2! The academy has been in Portobello for many years and, for some families, it's almost an institution - the mothers who were pupils in the past are now sending their own offspring along today. The youngsters are very much part of the community. They not only stage their own shows but also help with the Porty Panto and the Christmas Street Fest! At the heart of this dance school is Miss Morag - Morag Phillips, the founder of and inspiration behind the academy.

Send us a textThe Citizens Advice Bureaux are the places people turn to when they've a problem. The one in Portobello sees up to 80 people a week - that's about 4,000 people a year wanting help! Some of them might get help using the website - citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland - but the door is open if that doesn't work. The Porty Bureau offers drop-in sessions two mornings a week, on a Tuesday and Thursday. Currently, there are some 25 regular, trained volunteers working there - but they need support from receptionists on a Monday and Wednesday afternoon.

Send us a textThe MSP Claudia Beamish was in Portobello on Monday night, consulting local people about her bill to ban onshore fracking. It was a well-attended meeting, strongly backed by 'Our Forth' - a Porty-based group which has already successfully campaigned against coal gasification.

Send us a textIt's become one of the best music bars in Edinburgh. Every day, there are musicians - professional as well as local amateurs - performing, sometimes into the witching hour. There are jam sessions, new bands and family sing-a-long gatherings on a Sunday. But there's more to the Dalriada than just the music. It's used by all sorts of groups - from the monthly Dalriada Conversations, to wine tastings and gourmet evenings. There is something for everyone.

Send us a textA somewhat serious episode this week. There was a talk at Porty Communicators last week which highlighted the blight of food poverty. There were many shocking statistics, not least that the DWP refer more people to food banks than anyone else! There is what they call a 'Basics Bank' in the area - 'basics' because it doesn't just distribute food but toiletries as well. It's been going for four years and they know the time of greatest need is right now - in the winter.

Send us a textIt was lovely to hear that a local business in Portobello had won an award. The Skylark on the High Street is officially one of the best pubs in Scotland. It was one of six named in The Skinny Food & Drink Survey. Even better, they were voted for by the readers of the magazine. So what's the secret if its success?

Send us a textHappy New Year. We're starting 2017 with a competition. All the answers can be found by listening to the episode. It's about the Bellfield Brewery, set up by a couple of Portobello residents to satisfy a need for a beer that people with a gluten allergy or wheat intolerance could drink. It took a lot of research, testing out various alternatives to the usual ingredients - but nine months after the first bottles were produced, they're not juts selling in the UK but exporting as well. A real local success story. And now the competition...There are six questions - but we are only going to list five of them here.1)What is the name of Giselle’s husband?2)What is the medical condition which means he can’t drink normal beer any longer?3)Name the principle ingredient in their gluten-free beer?4)What is the name of the head brewer?5)How many independent off-licences and shops are selling the beer?6) ....will be found at the end of the podcast!Answers to david@bitweb.tvGood luck

Send us a textChristmas, for many, is a time for reflection, not just conspicuous consumption. With that in mind, we have handed the bandwidth for this, the last Porty Podcast of 2016, to the faith leaders in our community. The four of them - Sophia Marriage of St Mark's Episcopalian Church, Andy Scarcliffe of Portobello Baptist Church, Stewart Weaver of Portobello and Joppa Parish Church and Fr Jock Dalrymple of St. John the Evangelist RC Church - each took a character from the Christmas story to reflect upon. We hope you enjoy their thoughts. Have a Happy Christmas and an excellent New Year. We'll be back in January.

Send us a textTommy Sheppard was elected in the SNP landslide in 2015, much to his surprise. He has taken his new responsibilities seriously and his contributions in the Commons have had their impact. He took the decision right from the start to make sure he listened to the voice of local people, with the heart of the constituency in Portobello and Craigmillar - indeed, his main constituency office is in Portobello High Street. So here we learn a little more about the MP, his experience of the last 18 months and some thoughts about an uncertain future.

Send us a textOne of the great things about Portobello is the way people make use of the great big water feature right on our doorstep. There's sailing, kayaking and rowing - all under the banner of the Portobello Sailing and Kayaking Club or PSKC. The rowing section - RowPorty - is the only one which is a year round activity. It was one of the first members of the Scottish Coastal Rowing Association and has helped develop the sport into a worldwide activity. And the great thing about RowPorty - and indeed the whole of PSKC - is that it's a community club set up to encourage people to get out on the water.

Send us a textThe new Portobello High School was officially opened a few days ago, although the learners and staff have been in since October. It's an attractive, modern, very well equipped building that everyone seems to enjoy using. The school however is about more than a place of learning for young people. It is also designed to be a hub for the community with all sorts of activities taking place there after hours, something that will grow in the New Year.

Send us a textWhat is your greatest fear? One of the most common is speaking in public! There’s a global organisation called Toastmasters International which can help, mainly with public speaking. It’s a voluntary organisation, one of whose prime goals is to help people become much more confident when they stand up in front of an audience. There's a new branch in Portobello – Porty Communicators.

Send us a textThere’s been a significant change in the policing of Portobello – north east Edinburgh as a whole. It’s officially called Operation Rigoletto. What it means in practice has been putting boots back on the ground, having community police officers on the beat, speaking to the public and making sure that everyone in the community knows who their local officers are and are therefore willing to approach them in an easy, relaxed, friendly way.