We welcome submissions for this section. Please send details to our offices at least ten days before publication. Edinburgh life listings compiled by Maureen Ellis.

Book events

Travel Writing Evening Waterstone's. 13— 14 Princes Street. 556 3034. 6.30pm. Free. Local travel writers (iavin Bell and Peter Kerr talk about their travel experiences in conjunction with World Book Day.

Conferences

Centring On The Peripheries L'ntil Sat 16 Mar. L'niversity of Edinburgh. 650 4022. An international symposium exploring the question of marginality in literature from the Nordic countries and Britain. For more information. call or email:

bthomsen (0‘ staffmai1.ed.ac.uk

Talks

John Knox Netherbow Arts Centre. 43—45 High Street. 556 9579. 2—3pm. Free. Donald Smith investigates this famous Edinburgh character.

Morality, Reason and Passion in Public Policy St Cecilia‘s Hall. .\'iddry Street. 650 2252. 6pm. Free on door—£3 in advance. Lord Sutherland and Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Rilkind QC discuss the ongoing relevance of the work of David Hume.

Social Inclusion And The Natural Heritage Quaker Meeting House. 7 Victoria Terrace. 557 6238. 7.30pm. £2. Scottish Natural Heritage‘s rural economist Pat Snowdon considers the links between social inclusion and environmental agendas.

Women’s day

Damned Rebel Bitches (iorgie Partnership. I58 Dalry Road. 441 3704. 9.30—1 1.30am. Free. A women-only graveyard trail discussing women who have contributed to Edinburgh‘s past. Celebrating Women’s Transformative Power Centre For Human Ecology. 12 Roseneath Place. 624 1975. 2—5pm. Donation. An afternoon of ritual. fun. creativity. milsic and storytelling to recognise and celebrate women’s strength and power.

Other events

National Science Week L'ntil Sun 17 Mar. Dynamic Earth. Holyrood Road. 550 7800. £tbc. A week of science- related activities.

Scottish Sports Hall Of Fame L'ntil Sun 30 Jun. Royal Museum. 2 Chambers Street. 247 4219. Free. An exhibition highlighting the 100 nominations for possible introduction into the first Scottish Sports Hall of Fame at the Royal Museum.

Monkey TV Auditions The Rutlands Hotel. Rutland Street. 0207 324 51 16. 7—9.30pm. Popstars just got ugly.

Whether it’s weird. wacky. filthy or gross. the producers of 7'1"] Friday are on the lookout for anyone willing to demonstrate their bizarre party tricks. The new television series will showcase our societies‘ unusually gifted oddballs. and since the only proviso is originality. we challenged you to do your worst. Monkey TV Auditions The Liquid Room. 9c Victoria Street. 0207 3240

51 16. 10pm—3am. See above.

Book events

Peter Straub Waterstone's. 128 Princes Street. 226 2666. 6pm. Free. See photo caption.

Spons

Bank of Scotland Schools Curling Finals Murrayfield Ice Rink. Riversdale Crescent. 337 6933. Bank of Scotland Championships.

Women's day

A Woman In Your Own Right YWCA Scotland. 7b Randolph Crescent. 225 7592. 9.30am—noon. Free. Joan Robertson hosts a women-only discussion exploring issues of self- esteem and positive changes for women. Engender: Representation of Women Edinburgh City Chambers. High Street. 558 9596. 9.45am—1.30pm. £5 (£1). A interactive seminar allowing women to question political parties responding to the Sex Discrimination bill.

More Than A Bumpy Ride - A Celebration of Women in Film The Filmhouse. 88 Lothian Road. 228 2688. 2—4pm. The Filmhouse‘s education officer Shiona Wood hosts a lively workshop on women in film.

Other events

Monkey TV Auditions Grand Cru. 79 Hanover Street. 0207 324 5| l6.

1 1.30am—3pm. See Thu 14.

Carnival! Howden Park Centre. Howden. Livingston. ()1506 433634. 7—10pm. £20 (£14). Advance booking required. Enter into the carnival spirit at this practical workshop which teaches how to assemble a colourful costume and touches on percussion and movement.

Dance! Danse! Danz! Penicuik ‘Y‘. 50a Kirkhill Road. Penicuik. 01968 674851. 7.30—1 1.30pm. £2.50—£5. A hyperactive weekend of dance workshops including ceilidh. hip hop. lrish. tango. salsa. African. belly dancing and more.

Saturday 1 6

Book events

St Patrick’s Night Tall Tales Competition Netherbow Arts Centre. 43—45 High Street. 556 9579. 7.30pm. £6 (£4). Scottish and Irish contestants spin a few yarns as the audience votes to decide the winner at this lib-telling contest.

SPORT FOOTBALL FORUM

Edinburgh life

3WZUK iirARrs I ' a. WEATHER Fri: ‘4' m '

.3 ;\.§

Strictly no coin throwing

Why do people shout at their television? OK, so we’re in an age of interactive technology, lightening feedback servicing a customer’s every viewing angle and replay whim, but that doesn’t change the fact that it still can’t hear you. Try telling that to a football fan following the on-field exploits of his favourite team during a crucial match. Why, the decibel levels are truly frightening. Of course it’s nothing compared to the live experience; I mean, you’d shout at the box, but singing would be plain

ridiculous.

Football fans are notoriously vocal when it comes to supporting their team. No surprise there. However, when it comes to doing something productive about the verbal abuse, or the less frequent homage, there’s never really been any tangible avenue for expressing opinions. Clubs hold AGMs for those with invested interests, but what of the ordinary fans; who

listens to their views?

Enter the Football Forum. Organised by the Daily Record and Sunday Mail, their team of revered football pundits are going on the road with the sole intention of listening to your gripes. Pity their poor little ears. The regular team of James Traynor, Keith Jackson, David McCarthy and Radio Clyde’s very own sports monkey Hugh Keevins will be joined by managers, players and legislators, creating a truly knowledgeable panel of fitba

experts.

Will Hugh shave his moustache? Will Tam Cowan pay up for Fat Club? What’s Jim White favourite supporters’ chant? The answers to these and other less important conundrums can be yours for the measly price of £3.50. Why, on a bad day, you’d throw more at the ref. (Maureen Ellis)

Conferences

Conpulsion 2002 Teviot Row L'nion. Bristo Square. 220 4466. 10am. £4—£8. A weekend of gaming events. seminars and demonstrations for players of role-playing games. collectable card games and tabletop wargames.

Spons

Hibernian v Hearts Easter Road. 12 Albion Place. 661 1875. 5.35pm. £20-£25 (£10). SPL football match.

Rotary World Curling

Championships Murrayf‘ield Ice Rink.

Riversdale Crescent. 346 4477. A full day of competitive curling action on the ice. Exhibition Wheelchair Basketball Match Jack Kane Sports Centre. 208 Niddrie Mains Road. 669 0404. Noon—~2pm. Free. Arch rivals Edinburgh Thistles and West of Scotland battle it out in this family exhibition match.

Women’s day

Dance Your Frocks Off! St Bride's Centre. 10 ()rwell Terrace. 346 1405. 7.30pm—midnight. £6 (£4). The 9th ALP Women‘s Gathering invites women to boogie the night away with salsa. bhangra. belly dance. and ceilidh dance.

Other events

Planting And Growing Organically ()atridge Agricultural College. Ecclesmachan. Broxburn. ()1786 479697. £25—£35. BTCV host a two-day training course on designing and creating an organic garden.

Lichens - Plant Identification Workshop Royal Botanic Garden. Inverleith House. 552 7171. 10am—4pm. £25. An introduction to the identification of lichens.

Carnival! Howden Park Centre. Howden. Livingston. 01506 433634. l0am—4pm. £20 (£14). See Fri 15.

Permanent attractions

Camera Obscura Castlehill. Royal Mile. 226 3709. Daily anm—Spm. $24.75 ($240—$380): family ticket E14. Pick up a pedestrian in y0ur hand at this attraction. which gives Visitors a real-time. 360 image of the City.

Carberry Candle Cottage

Musselburgh, 665 5656. Mon—Sat 9am—5pm; Sun noon—5pm. Free. If you've a passion for candles. then take a drive out to this treasure trove of all things wax.

Edinburgh Castle

Royal Mile. 225 9846. Daily 9.30am—5pm. $8 ($246). Although much of the castle's medieval character was lost when it

was convened Into barracks in the 19th century. continUing excavations aim to redress this. Edinburgh Zoo

COrstorphine Road. 334 9171. Dain 9am—5pm. E7 ($24—$55): family ticket C20—E2450. Widely accepted as one of the finest zoos in Britain. there‘s plenty here to while away an afternoon. or even a whole day if you

take y0ur time. The newly- built African plains afford a fantastic view of the city. Georgian House

7 Charlotte Square. 225 2160. Mon—Sat anm—Spm: Sun 2—5pm. C5 (C4). Experience a period Georgian house. giving a taste of life in Edinburgh when the New Town was built.

Mary King’s Close Tours

Meet at Mercat Cross

(beside St Giles' Cathedral). 557 6464. £5 (£4: children £31. Literally. a trip to Edinburgh's underworld. Mary King's Close is part of a now subterranean netw0rk of streets. walled off in the middle ages during an outbreak of the plague. Midlothian Ski Centre Biggar Road. Hillend. 445 4433. Mon—Sat 9.30am—9pm; Sun 9.30am—7pm. £6.30 for a one hour seSSion (under

188 £4.20). Europe's longest artificial ski slope is the perfect place to learn or hone skiing and snowboarding skills. Museum Of Scotland Chambers Street. 247 4219. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm: Sun noon—5pm; Tue anm—Bpm. Free. Devoted solely to the histOry and heritage of Scotland. the building contains five thematically- arranged exhibitions.

14—28 Mar 2001? THE LIST 103

D