LISTINGS DAYS DDT

Activities and Fun

I Christmas at Laurlston Lauriston Castle. 336 2060. Sun 10 Dec. 11am—4pm. £3 (£2). Escape the cut and thrust of Higlt Street Christmas shopping at this old-fashioned fayre affair in Laun'ston Castle. Now in its third year. this event calls on museum staff and volunteers to provide a wide range of activities including storytelling. Christmas decoration making. magic lantern shows. table decorations. cake decorating. carols and festive music. The castle will be decorated itt true Edwardian Christmas style and the museum shop will sell Christmas items. tea and mince pies.

Exhibitions

I Bioscience in Scotland Royal Botanic Garden Exhibitions Hall. 20A lnverleith Row. 552 7171. Until 31Aug 1996. Nov—Feb. 10am—5pm. Free. Huge exhibition featuring the science and technology activities of eleven major research organisations based in Scotland. illustrated with interactive computer displays. videos. 31) models (including a giant midge) and hands-on exhibits to bring the subject to life.

Theatre

I The Tale of Jemima Puddle-duck The Netherbow. 43—45 High Street. 556 9579. Until Tue 2 Jan. Various times. £3 (£2). Ages 5—8. Ian Turbitt's Puppet Theatre returns to the Netherbow with his ever- popular puppet version of Beatrix Potter's delightful tales.

W Activities and Fun

I Natural Cards for Christmas Mugdock Country Park (off A81 Milngavie—Strathblane Road). Sun 10 Dec. 2pm—2.30pm. Free. Ditch the glitter arid cotton wool and get your Christmas card materials from nature's art shop.

I Santa Specials Almond Valley Heritage Centre. Millfteld. Livingston. Information: 01506 414957. Every Sat/Sun in Dec. 10am—5pm. Admission fee £2 (inc present for each child); trailer rides 50p. Visit Santa‘s magic cottage and take an illuminated sleigh ride.

I Santa Cruises The Edinburgh Canal Centre. The Bridge Inn. Ratho. Information: ()131 333 1320. Every Sat/Sun in Dec. 10.30am; 11am; noon; 12.30pm; 1.30pm: 2pm: 2.30pm; 3pm; 3.30pm; 4.30pm. Sun 17; Sat 23; Sun 24 Dec 5pm; 6pm; 7pm; 8pm. £5. Cruise along the Union Canal to ‘l)t1ck Island' attd meet Santa in a fairytale atmosphere.

Theatre

I Escapades and Adventures East Kilbride Arts Centre. ()ld Coach

Road. 013552 61000. Wed 13 Dec. 12.30pm: 1.30pm. £1.50. Ages 5-1 1. Winifred Jamiesott attd Ethelinda l.ashley- Jolinstone recall scenes attd stories from childhood days in this fun. lively dance show designed with a younger audience in mind.

I The Wizard DI 02 East Kilbride Arts Centre. ()ld Couch Road. 0| 3552 61000. \Ved (t—Sal 9 Dec. l 30pm. £3.50. Hopscotch 'I’liealre lly somewhere over the rainbow to Paisley w ill: their owrt kooky stage version of the classic American musical starring Dorothy. the scarecrow. the tin titan and the cowardly lion.

I The Snow Queen Mac Robert Arts Centre. University of Stirling. 01786 461081. Fri 8 Dec—Sat 6 Jan. 10.30am; 2pm; 7.30pm (phone box office for specific times on specific dates). £9 (£6); apex price £8 (£5). Ages 6 and over. See photo-caption.

DAYS OUT

This section gives details or selected events taking place in and around the central belt of Scotland this fortnight. Events are listed by area and then alphabetically. All submissions should be accompanied by a contact phone number for our information. Days Out compiled by Thom Dibdin.

lDTHIANS & FIFE

I LIFE IN THE ARCTIC Thurs 7. 7.30pm. 33 Melville Street. Edinburgh. Free (wine and mince pie £1). Contact Ellie Breeze: ()131 661 3444. John Arnott. the ex BBC presenter. gives this illustrated talk to the Lothian branch of the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) of which lte is chair. The wide-ranging talk will cover his various visits to the Arctic. including Siberia. This is a good opportunity to meet up with members of the SWT which owns and looks after several wildlife reserves around Scotland. Their rrtain local concern is the Bawside reserve by Duddingston Loch. famous for its Heronary. over- wintering bittern and for containing the only extensive reed beds in Scotland. So if you can lend a regular. or even occasional hand. get in touch.

I RAMBLERS’ ASSOCIATION DIAMOND JUBILEE lECTURE Fri 1. 7—9.30pm. George Square Theatre. George Square. Edinburgh. £6 (includes glass ofwine). The Ramblers have been getting a pretty high profile of late. what with their opposition to the Criminal Justice Act which curtail's access to wild places. This lecture. marking the association‘s first 60 years. will be given by the well known mountaineer and author. Hamish Brown. He will be talking about his recent rambles through the Atlas mountains of Morocco. Expect stories of breathtaking scenery attd tales from the mountain trail. I DID BIRD BDNANZA Sat 2/Sun 3. noon—thn. Hermitage of Braid. Braid Burn. Braid Road. Edinburgh. 0131 447 7145. Free. A weekend organised by the Countryside Ranger Service to tweet you to an insight into the way in which birds cope with the winter. Various activities. like making bird food and feeders.

dressing up in bird costumes and playing bird games. should keep the kids occupied . attd the mind boggling. The Rangers will ; also be organising birdwatching and guided walks around the Hermitage while the RSPB shop will feather you with a l few more ideas for the Christmas

shopping binge.

W 1 I SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS Daily. 11am—5pm. New Lanark Village. by j Lanark. £2.95 (£1.95). ()1555 661345. New l.anark's Christmas ride takes you on a journey through the changing traditions down the years from the time when 25 December was just another working day in Scotland. through the Victorian era right tip to the present day. The ticket price includes entry into several of the other attractions in Robert Owen's ‘ntodel‘ village (although you will have to pay extra to the model railway attd Santa’s Grotto iii the Edinburgh Woollen Mill shop). New 1-anark is also a good place to do a bit of shopping away from the inner city rush.

I TREE DRESSING DAY Sat 2. 2—5pm/Sun 3. 1—3pm. Calderglen Country Park. Strathaven Road. East Kilbride. Free. 013552 36644. Tree dressing is a custom which has been itt existence for centuries itt countries around the world. Saturday is a chance to look at the trees dressed durittg a local schools project and also to help decorate other trees in the park. On Sunday the Rangers will be planting more trees. for future generations to dress. All materials will be supplied. but wear strong outdoor boots or wellingtons.

MARKETS AND FAIRS

If you‘re tired of designer labels or can't stretch your wallet to buy any of the wonderful] Christmas gifts listed in our shopping guide. check out one of the markets and fairs where there's a tonne of bargains to be had.

I CRAFT FAIRS 3D-2D is the new name for the Northern Craft Fair Organisation. And they have the craft fair market more or less sewn up. selling everything from silk scarves to oak wood spirtles and silver jewellry. Besides the bargains there are also plenty of more expensive items to choose from. The entry price is always less than 75p (40p).

Sat 2/Sun 3:

Edinburgh: Assembly Rooms. George Street. 10.30am—5pm.

Glasgow: Couper Institute. Cathcart. 10.30am—5pm.

Haddington: Corn Exchange. 10.30am—5pm.

Sat 9:

Edinburgh: St Stephens Church. Stockbn'dge. mam—4.30pm.

Perth: City Halls. lOam—4.30pm.

Sun 10:

Glasgow: Royal Concert Hall. 10.30am—4.30pm.

I MARKETS

Whether it‘s out of a car boot or from the back of the stall. there's more bargains than you cart shake a second-hand video ofStur Wars at to be had at these markets.

Glasgow

Barrowland Market 244 Gallowgate. Sat/Sun. 9.30am—4.30pnt. You want it? They got it. Cheap!

Candleriggs 71 Albion Street. Fri/Sat 9attt—5.30pm. Sun 10am—5.30pm. Undercover market with 160 stalls. Everything for the kitchen and. of course. the wardrobe.

The Forge Parkhead. Fri—Sun. 9am—5pm. The newest of Glasgow's markets. with some 200 stalls.

Paddy’s Market King Street Car Park. Mountains of bric-a-brac and piles of old furniture.

Edinburgh

lngliston Sunday Market Next to the Royal Highland Centre. Ingliston. 10am—4pm. Over 250 stalls. with everything you need for the home. sports field and wardrobe. Also catering and bar. Indoor Car Boot Sale Greenside Car Park (opposite St James Centre). Sun. 10am—2pm. With 250 places. there's loads to choose from. and not all of it second hand.

WDBLD AIDS DAY

A day for private memories and public reflection. AIDS may have slipped down the political agenda. but the virus has not gone away. These are a few of the events taking place on Friday 1 Dec. See Music. Theatre and Clubs for other benefits.

I Edinburgh There will be information stalls and special stands in The Gyle. Muirhouse shopping centre. the Mound and the Crew 2000 shop on Cockbum Street. Solas hosts the Milestone House Arts Project at 2—4 Abbeymount (11am—4pm).

At 5pm. lights will go out across the city in memory of those who have died from AIDS.

The SAM Vigil starts with a torchlit procession front Waterloo Place to the Mound. Assemble 6pm.

I Glasgow

6.30pm: World AIDS Day non-religious memorial service. Lord Todd Hall. Strathclyde University. Celebration oftlte lives ofthose living with HIV and commemorating those who have died of AIDS-related illnesses. 9pm: Touched by Torchsong Charity Gala. Mitchell Theatre. Granville Street. £5 (£2.50). See Music listings.

The List 1-141)ec 1995 77 A