{ Sunday 6 continued

Edinburgh life

The Edinburgh Wheel Princes Street Gardens East. Princes Street. 473 3800. lOam-l 1pm. See Fri 4.

Spons

Edinburgh Rocks v Milton Keynes Meadowbank Sports Centre. 139 London Road. 661 5351. 5pm. £7 (£5). BBL Championship basketball.

Other events

Charity Auction Phillips Auctioneers. 65 George Street. 225 2266. 10ain~4pin. Lots open to inspection for two weeks before the 'dllllt ue auction on Fri 18 Jan. Antique & Collectors Fairs Meadowbank Sports Centre. 139 London Road. 01764 654555. lOam—4pm. £1 (children free). Browse or buy.

Book events

Ian Rankin Queen‘s llall. ('lcrk Street. 668 2019. 7.30pm. £1 (£3). See caption.

Talks

New Art At Deutsche Bank National Gallery of Modern Art. Belford Road. 624 6200. 12.45pm. l'iee. (Gymnasium). With Alistair llicks.

Workshops

Design Your Own Garden Royal Botanic Garden. lil\CilCllh House. 552 7171. 10am —noon. £90. 1".1even-week

Other events

Preview Night Spice Scotland. Overseas House. 100 Princes Street. 317 8822. 8pm. Free. .»\n introduction to social group Spice Scotland.

Tuesday 8 f ' '

Talks

Guided Tours Royal Museum. 2 Chambers Street. 247 4219. 11.30am. Free. See Sat 5.

The First Stars In The Universe Royal Observatory Visitor Centre. Blackford Hill. 668 8405. 7.30pm. Free. With Peter Brand.

Workshops

Scots In New Worlds: An introduction to the Scottish Diaspora Royal Museum. 2 Chambers Street. 247 4219. 6.30 8pm. £36 (£22.50). A study course exploring the migration of Scots around the world.

Explaining Architecture Mtiseum Of Scotland. (‘hambers Street. 247 4219. 6.30-8pm. £36 (£22.50). A nine- week study course led by Dr Harold Booton.

Design Your Own Garden Royal Botanic Garden. lnverleith House. 552 7171. 7 -9pm. £90. See Mon 7.

SCOTTISH HISTORY IN SEARCH OF SCOTLAND: PRESENTING THE NATIONAL PAST IN THE 215T CENTURY

Royal Museum, Thu 10 Jan.

Not Since Mel Gibson made his immortal Cry of ‘freedom' has interest in Scottish histOiy so fervent. The lasting impreSSion of a Hollywood blockbuster on cur national consoousness has been remarkable. Notwithstanding its blame for swelling the landmark acquiescence of devolution. it has generated a glut of literature. TV and radio to satisfy a COilan/ hungry to learn more about its heritage.

But there's more to Scottish history than William Wallace. as Dr Fiona Watson will testify. At once addressing curiosity and realigning awareness of

Scotland is more than Braveheart

what it means to be Scottish. the author and University of Stirling lecturer presented a BBCl Scotland show. In Search Of Scotland. It took viewers on a journey to the places on which the histOry of Scotland was drawn. Condensing thousands of years of Scottish history into a television series wasn't easy. ‘lt's difficult because we were a team who decided what went in the programme.‘ says Dr Watson. “But if yOu got five other peOple together. they might have had another slant on it. We tried to make it peOple oriented and not just about the kings and queens.‘

This people-oriented approach is a constant in Watson's work. Her talk at the museum Will evaluate Scotland's position and consider how our identity has changed. ‘People are so sophisticated now we're part of a global culture.‘ says Watson. 'But on the other hand. for example. Scottish folk music is trendy. wearing the kilt is trendy it's not just about the guy standing outside Waverley playing the bagpipes. l'm exploring what people take from their history. what bits they will find acceptable and wwat bits they won't. There's still people going on about Bannockburn but I think a lot of other people hare moved on from that.‘ (Maureen Ellis)

Wednesday 9 Talks

Business a Society: What Are Our Responsibilities? Open Door. 420 Morningside Road. 447 9757. 10.30am. £1. Kyla Brand of Agenda. A World Perfect At Last National Portrait Gallery. 1 Queen Street. 624 6200. 12.45pm. i’ree. Filmmaker Daniel Reeves talks.

Spons

Edinburgh Rocks v Sheffield Meadowbank Sports Centre. 139 London Road. 661 5351. 7.30pm. £7 (£5). BBL Championship basketball match.

Talks

Guided Tours Royal Museum. 2 Chambers Street. 247 4219. 11.30am. Free. See Sat 5.

Banner Designs City Art Centre. 2 Market Street. 529 3993. 12.30pm. Free. An illustrated talk from Helen Clark.

In Search Of Scotland: Presenting the national past In the 21st century Royal Museum. 2 Chambers Street. 247 4219. 6.30pm. £3 (£2). See

pre\ iew.

Spons

Edinburgh v Swansea Myreside. Myreside Road. 346 5252. 7.30pm. £15 (£5). Heineken Cup rugby match.

Talks

From The Madonna To The Moulln Rouge: Crawhall and Melville National Gallery of Scotland. The Mound. 624 6200. 12.45pm. Free. Vivien Hamilton discusses the work of Crawhall and Melville.

Workshops

Medieval Mosaics City Art Centre.

2 Market Street. 529 3963. 10am—4pm. £6. Mosaic workshop.

Talks

Guided Tours Royal Museum. 2 Chambers Street. 247 4219. l 1.30am. Free. See Sat 5.

Book events Big Word Performance Poetry Slam Bongo Club. 14 New Street. 558

7604. 8pm. £4 (£3). 25 poets battle to win over the crowd in just two minutes.

Monday 14

Book events

Joe Simpson Assembly Rooms. 54 George Street. 220 4349. 7pm. £4 (£3). The great mountaineer launches his new work. The Ber/caning Silence. Tickets from Waterstone's or Assembly Rooms.

Talks

Paolozzi: As Is When Dean Gallery. Belford Road. 624 6200. 12.45pm. Free. Fiona Pearson on Eduardo Paolozzi.

Workshops

Pllates Royal Botanic Garden. lnverleith House. 552 7171. 7—8pm. £70. A ten-week course taught by osteopath Sharon Brown.

Tuesday 1 5

Book events

Jonathan Franzen Waterstone‘s. 128 Princes Street. 226 2666. 6pm. Free. The popular American author reads from his new work. The Corrections.

Talks

Guided Tours Royal Museum. 2 Chambers Street. 247 4219. l 1.30am. Free. See Sat 5.

The Lives And Times Of Galaxies Royal Observatory Visitor Centre. Blackford Hill. 668 8405. 7.30pm. Free. With Eelco van Kampen.

Workshops

Colourful Characters City Art Centre. 2 Market Street. 529 3963. 10am—4pm. £6. Printmaking. watercolour and gold leaf techniques. medieval style. Introduction To Botanical Art Royal Botanic Garden. lnverleith House. 552 7171. 1.30—4.30pm. £80. Eleven- week course.

Wednesday 1 6

Talks

The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency Open Door. 420 Morningside Road. 447 9757. 10.30am. £1. The local agency by David

Cam bell.

All hange: The Poetry Of Edwin Morgan National Portrait Gallery. 1 Queen Street. 624 6200. 12.45pm. Free. Robyn Marsack on the work of Glasgow‘s Poet Laureate.

Thursday 1 7

Talks

Guided Tours Royal Museum. 2 Chambers Street. 247 4219. 1 1.30am. Free. See Sat 5.

Nomenclature Jungle: Unravelllng Plant Names Royal Botanic Garden. lnverleith House. 552 7171. 3pm. Free. David Harris on his experiences of the Aka people of Africa.

Edinburgh Castle Royal Mile. 225 9846. Daily 9.30ain-5pm. E/ (£2125). AlthOtigh much of the castle’s meJIBval character was lost when it was converted II .to barracks in the 1911i century. continuing excavations aim to redress this.

Museum Of Edinburgh

(formerly Hiiiill‘,’ l-loiiso), 142 Canontiato. 52?) 4143. Mon Sat

10am Spin. Free.

80THELIST4 l/ it.‘l(,

Packed Will) historic artefacts. this restored 16th century mansion tolls the story of Fi’liiihiirgh's past and its people and hooses impOitant collections of Edinburgh silver and glass. Scottish pottery and shop Signs.

lost Fortune Alliluitl. litirlr lington. 01620 aeoaria. Daily

10 30am 5pm. {‘13

(1‘ l .60; children free). i’iuStxl on tho laiiiiith site

of the R34 Airship. the museum is home to Scotland‘s national aviation collection.

Attractions include the oldest aircraft in the UK: Percy Pilcher's Hawk. an original Wright Brother's

engine. and the biggest UK rocketry collection in the world.

Palace Of Holyroodbouse

Royal Mile. 556 1096. Daily 9.30am—4.45pm. £6 (ES—524.50); family ticket £13.50. Starting life as a 13th century abbey. the palace has evolved into a Sumptuous regal residence crammed full of paintings and artefacts dating back primarily to the l7fh

century.

Royal Museum

2 Chambers Street. 247 4219. Mon 8 Wed—Sat loam—5pm: Sun noon-5pm; Tue 10am—8pm. Free. A 19th century museum housing international collections of natural history. geology. science. technology and the decorative arts. plus two permanent exhibitions: Art 8 Industry and The Ivy Wu Gallery.