Contributors to 01.2012 edition: Anne Elliot, Laura Spring, Ciara Phillips & Alex Wilde.

the morningside mirror01.2012 edition

The Morningside Mirror was a magazine published by patients and staff at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital between the years of 1845 and 1974. This new edition of ‘The Mirror’ is part of Artlink’s contribution to examining the Royal Edinburgh’s 200 year-long history in the lead up to the hospital-wide Bicentenary commemoration in 2013. If you would like to find out more about this and other related projects call Anne or Alex at Artlink on ext. 46127.

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What a difference a year makes!

1 It feels like only yesterday that we were setting up our new workshop in the Glasshouses and inviting you all to join us for a pre-Christmas celebration of art, music and festive treats. Since then we’ve had a great year of activity...

Anne’s weekly art workshops have been busier than ever and some wonderful new drawings, prints, paintings and sculptures have been made.

Lots of you will have come across Ciara, Claire, Laura and Nicolas as they travelled around the Hospital taking photographs, making banners and printing bags, t-shirts and even curtains!

Alex and Tom’s Thursday afternoon Garden Club has been a huge hit, and many of you have put your gardening skills to use during Growing Week or in your very own Growing Plots.

There have been lots of other things going on too. Maybe you came across Mrs. Plant Pot during Growing Week, or joined us for a Picnic Lunch in the Glasshouses? You might have taken part in the Summer BBQ or seen Alex cycling around during the Harvest on her apple wagon?

If you missed all of those things, perhaps you encountered Eididh with her ukelele in the mobile Jukebox just before Christmas?

get involvedWe hope you’ve had a chance to take part in or enjoy some of these activities. There will be much more to come this year...

1 Artist Laura Spring screenprinting the wallhangings for Spiritual Care.

2 Picnic Lunch in the Glasshouses.

3 Cushion designed and printed by Maggie and Grace.

4 Jim and Tom working hard at Garden Club.

5 Eilidh and her ukelele in the mobile Juke Box.

6 Ciara, Grace and Maggie screenprinting up a storm.

7 Teamwork!

8 Alex with the Apple Wagon.

9 Enjoying the sun at the Summer Picnic.

10 Taking in The Mirror.

11 Artist Nicolas Party: “Anyone for egg & chips?”

12 Pick your own at the Royal Ed’s own orchard.

13 Early Victoria apples.

anyone for mini golf?

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Gordon Shepherd, Security Officer at the Royal Edinburgh, is into Rock ‘n Roll – big time!

So Gordon, tell us about your hobby, Rock ‘n Roll music.I got into it when I was growing up – that’s what people were listening to then. I used to play the bass guitar in bands years ago and now I just like to go along to Rock ‘n Roll events in the North East.

Where might we find you on the weekend? I’ve been known to go down to Newcastle on a Friday night, then home on Saturday and back down again on Saturday night, then home on Sunday and back down again on Sunday night. I go to Skegness every year in March for a five day Rock ‘n Roll event at Butlins. Thousands of people go there and everyone is dressed the part. Every day about seven bands play - it all starts at 1:30 in the afternoon and goes until 4 in the morning.

What kind of dancing is everyone into? Original 50s jive and rockabilly. There are the Boppers, dances for the men, and the Strollers, dances for the lassies. You don’t have to go in couples because there are dances for men on their own and dances for lassies on their own. There’s always lots of partners to dance with anyway!

And what do you wear? I got my first made-to measure Drape jacket and trousers when I was 16. I have 3 other suits that I wear – a red tartan one with red creepers to go with it, a kingfisher blue one with matching blue suede shoes, and a black one with cherry red velvet on the front of it.

Can we see a picture of you in the red tartan suit?Ah, I think they’re all tucked away in the attic at this point.

That’s a shame – I guess we’ll just have to imagine it!

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dancin’in the glasshousesTo round up 2012, and in honour of the Royal Ed’s very own Rock ‘n Roll King, we held pre-Christmas dance party at the Glasshouses – it was a full house!

We transformed the Glasshouses into a Rock ‘n Roll venue complete with a stage, dance floor and our very own ‘Grace’s Diner’. We sang along with Eilidh and her Ukulele Jukebox whilst eating homemade cakes and sipping on fruity Shirley Temples cocktails (remember that ginger ale, lemonade and grenadine combination from your childhood?). Two celebrity guests graced our stage – Sandy from Grease (Shona McVey) and the one and only Elvis (Anthony Schrag) – and there was some fantastic dancing and some very impressive Elvis impersonators!

It was a great joint effort and we would like to thank everyone from the art workshops and

Garden Club who became the sign makers, cleaners, decorators, and rocket makers and who made this event such a success.

Elvis was here ladies and gentleman, but he has now left the building!

14 Welcome to 1950s everybody!

15 Glasshouses transformed into Grace’s Diner.

16 Elvis (Anthony Schrag) and Sandy (Shona McVey).

17 One for the money, two for the show...

18 Guiseppe’s Rocket Lantern lights up the Glasshouses.

19 Gordon Shepherd, aka Mr. Rock ‘n Roll.

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growing spaces Spring: Let’s get plantingOn 29th March we’ll be kicking off a Growing Month (not a day, or a week, but a whole month) with lots of activities and events running alongside our regular Garden Club to get everyone sowing and planting for the year ahead. A new gardening course with the Volunteers Hub and the Community Gardens will start in March for people that want to learn more.

Summer: Games & Picnics As 2012 is an Olympic year we’ll be organizing a summer of games – giant dominoes, mini golf, egg and spoon races to name a few. Or perhaps you enjoy something more meditative? Keep an eye out for posters advertising outdoor yoga sessions. After last year’s successful Summer Picnic we will be hosting another one this year in our new-and-improved picnic area.

Autumn: HarvestWe’ll be kicking off the Harvest season with an open day at the Growing Plots and the announcement of the Growing Competition winners. Could this be your winning year?

2012 is set to be another busy year and there’s going to be lots for you to take part in... get involved every weekHere’s a taster of some of the activities and please do get in touch with us at any time if you have ideas for an activity or event that we might be able to help you with. Call us on ext. 46127 and ask for Anne or Alex.

plants for all at anne and debbie’s stall!

Last year, the Volunteers’ Centre and Artlink approached Anne and Debbie to set up a weekly Plant Stall in Mackinnon house. The two women, who didn’t know each other beforehand, now come together in the spring and summer months to offer you a chance to buy a wide array of indoor and outdoor plants and herbs. Anne, who says that this new venture has greatly increased her interest in gardening, also likes the fact that the stall gives her a chance to meet new people. Situated in the main hallway of Mackinnon house just outside the WRVS shop, it’s a very sociable spot!

Something to look forward too when springtime rolls around...

come along...Anne and Debbie’s stall is on Tuesdays from 11am – noon outside the WRVS shop in Mackinnon House.

eXhibitionshow to...23rd January – 6th April 2012, Link GalleryHow to... is an exhibition of artworks made in the Royal Edinburgh in 2011. Ciara, Claire, Laura and Nicolas have been seeking out Hospital talent and coming up with fun ways to combine skills and collaborate. Works made in the Orchard Clinic, North Wing, Meadows, Ettrick and Eden Wards will be included in this show. Come along to see the outcome of some interesting collaborations!

art in the glasshousesWork with Anne to develop new artworks based on your interests or contribute to making artworks for Hospital-wide events. This is a drop-in session and all patients are welcome to attend. Tuesdays, 10:30am –12noonWednesdays, 1pm – 3pm

garden club This is a drop-in group for all enthusiastic gardeners [both patients and staff]. Tom, our resident expert gardener, is always on hand to offer practical advice and instruction. Come along to learn about planting and pruning or just to spend some time with us in the Glasshouses and garden.Thursdays, 1pm – 3pm

travelling workshopsLaura and Claire will be on the move this year bringing tailor-made art workshops to different wards and departments. If you would like Artlink workshops to take place where you are, contact Anne on ext. 46127.Mondays, 10.30am – 12noon & 1.30pm – 3pm

“ This year we’re going to start doing salads, flowers and posies, seeds and bulbs, bird food and compost. People have asked if we’ll start taking orders so we’ll be trying that out too.”

keep an eye out for...

20 Summer picnic at the Glasshouses.

21 Anne with her sign for the stall.

22 Planting during Growing Week.

23 Vicky and Kirsty with a game of Giant Dominoes.

24 Homegrown tomatoes.

25 Mike and Katrina at the BBQ.

news news news newsthe glasshousesEarly this year the Glasshouses will be undergoing some renovation work to ensure that they meet current Health and Safety regulations. This means that we’ll be able to use both the workshop space and greenhouses for workshops and events all year round and in ALL weather conditions.

Our regular activities will continue during this time and we hope you’ll all come by to have a look when the work is complete.

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