Homecoming Live - The Final Fling

Homecoming Live - The Final Fling Saturday 28th November, SECC GlasgowA unique winter music festival for St Andrew’s Weekend in Glasgow, Scotland’s UNESCO City of Music, featuring some of Scotland’s greatest artists. Three massive line ups featuring Deacon Blue, Lloyd Cole, The Bluebells, The View, Teenage Fanclub, The Vaselines, Idlewild, King Creosote, Codeine Velvet Club and The Law; alongside Scotland’s finest food and drink, this is one end of year party not to miss.
In Hall 4, Deacon Blue, The Skids, Hue and Cry, Lloyd Cole and many more will create a gala performance, the likes of which have never been seen before on one stage!
A Festival Pass is also available – for a small extra cost you can access the other events on at the SECC on 28th November.

Hall 3 acts will celebrate Scotland's vibrant music scene, with a range of acts from the Scottish jukebox past and present. Contemporary names like The View will play alongside influential artists including Teenage Fanclub and The Vaselines.
A Festival Pass is also available – for a small extra cost you can access the other events on at the SECC on 28th November.
The Clyde Auditorium will showcase a line up curated to show the depth of the Scottish musical canon with performances from Mike Scott of The Waterboys, Eddi Reader, Evelyn Glennie (with Philp Smith) and Dougie MacLean.
A Festival Pass is also available – for a small extra cost you can access the other events on at the SECC on 28th November.

TransportCitylink will be running dedicated services from Edinburgh. Visit the citylink website for more information, tickets and prices.



Ticket InformationTickets can be purchased from Ticketmaster or phone 08444 999 990.
Hall 4 £35.00 / £30.00 £27.50 Hall 3 £20.00 Clyde Auditorium £35.00 / £30.00 £27.50 Festival Pass Option 1 - access to Hall 4 plus a choice of one other event - Hall 3 or The Clyde Auditorium £35 (stbf)
Option 2 - access to all three halls - Hall 3, Hall 4 and The Clyde Auditorium £40 (stbf) Visit the Homecoming Finale website

Christmas Shopping in Edinburgh

No doubt about it - Christmas Shopping can be a chore!

Have fun this year by taking a Christmas Shopping break in the beautiful city of Edinburgh.
Many of you will know of the German Christmas Market which takes place every year and the big wheel, the ice rink, the record breaking Santa Run etc etc.
Officially the German Market opens and the Christmas Lights are switched on on Thursday 26th November but there are shops open before then too!
At this time of year Edinburgh to many looks its best, with Edinburgh Castle as a stunning backdrop. Having a compact city centre shopping is easy and browsing a pleasure - Men take note!!
Full details can be found at http://www.edinburghschristmas.com/, but to whet your appetite see below, and of course Anne House Apartments still have availability for a last minute break details which can be found at www.annehouse.co.uk/offers.

Christmas Shopping
Special Offers and Events on Thursday 26th November.
Neals Yard Remedies Open ‘til 8pm with 10% off, free fizz & nibbles all day.http://www.nealsyardremedies.com/
Kinross CashmereOpen ‘til 7pm with free Mulled wine & shortbread.http://www.cashmerestore.com/
Wesley OwenOpen ‘til 7pm.http://www.wesleyowen.com/
TISOOpen ‘til 7.30pm.http://www.tiso.com/
Harvey NicholsOpen ‘til 9pm.http://www.harveynichols.com/
Brooks BrothersOpen ‘til 8pm with 10% discount all day.http://www.brooksbrothers.com/
Multrees WalkChristmas Shopping Evening with entertainment and offers - 5pm-9pm.http://www.multreeswalk.co.uk/
TrespassOpen ‘til 8pm with 10% discount, multi-buy offers, fancy dress, children’s balloons. http://www.trespass.co.uk/
KakaoOpen ‘til 8pm with free mulled wine and 10% off between 12pm-6pm. http://www.kakao.co.uk/
Calvin Klein UnderwearOpen ‘til 8pm with promotions inc launch of new ranges.http://www.cku.com/
Bay Tree CompanyOpen ‘til 9pm for cards, gifts & wrapping. http://www.thebaytree.co.uk/
LushFree treatments, personal shopping assistants, free goodie bag (purchases £30 +).http://www.lush.co.uk/
House of FraserOpen ‘til 10pm with fantastic promotions, events and surprises throughout the store. http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/
Amicus AppleFree Christmas Canapes and Mince pies. Mulled Wine for £2 a glass.http://www.amicusapple.com/
Pebbles Jewellery9 Jeffery StreetEdinburghEH1 1DR0131 557 4908http://www.pebblesjewellery.co.uk/Open until 6.30 on Thursday 26th November with free gift wrapping for all purchases.
Other Festive Shopping
St James Shopping CentreOpen ‘til 9pm every Thursday, carol singers and gift wrapping every weekend in December and St James Angels Thurs-Sun handing out gifts and offers to shoppers.http://www.stjamesshopping.com/
Harvey NicholsOpen ‘til 7pm every night apart from Sunday (6pm) in November and 8pm every night apart from Sunday (6pm) in December.http://www.harveynichols.com/
WaterstonesSpecial promotions across the festive period.http://www.waterstones.com/
JennersPromotions throughout the store.www.houseoffraser.co.uk/edinburgh-jenners
Hawkin’s BazaarFor the amusing, bizarre, wacky, curious or even useful, make Hawkin’s Bazaar your first stop for your shopping this Christmas.http://www.hawkin.com/
James Pringle Shopping WarehouseBreakfast with Santa – 5-6, 12-13, 19-20 Dec. £5 incl present.Vicki/Maureen 0131 553 6423
John Lewis, St James CentrePA & Corporate Gift Buying Even – Thurs 5 Nov – 6 pm. Shopping Event for Busy Women – Thurs 12 Nov – 6 pm. Men Only Shopping Event – Thurs 3 Dec – 6 pm. www.johnlewis.com/edinburgh
Scotch Whisky ExperienceWhisky Shop online – includes personal shopper service.http://www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk/

Last Minute in Edinburgh

Thankyou to all the emailers asking for Tattoo Tickets. As you know we are almost fully booked for August 2010 and only buy Tattoo Tickets for our own guests.
Having free Wifi broadband access and online payment facilities means that many of our guests actually booked and paid deposits for their 2010 Festival Accommodation, during their 2009 visit!
However Edinburgh is an all year round destination and much cheaper to visit during the winter months. We are happy to accept last minute bookings if we have the availability, and have accommodated guests already in the city at the Tourist Information Centre on Princes Street. At less than 10 minutes walk away, you don't get accommodation must faster than that!
So if you think you may like an Edinburgh city break "off season" and stay at Anne House Apartments, simply go to http://www.annehouse.co.uk/ and enquire about our late availability. Full detailsof our late offers can be found at http://www.annehouse.co.uk/offers.html.
E.G. Holyrood or Royal Mile Apartments - 2 nights for 4 people are offered for £250.00, 3 nights for 4 people are offered for £300.00, - giving even better value, at just £25.00 per person per night. Prices are fully inclusive and also include free parking if available (our 3 apartments have 2 parking spaces). Parking in Edinburgh City centre currently costs around £20.00 per day - if you can find it!

Cate

Tattoo Tickets

Hello everyone,
just to let you know that we have applied for the tickets.

Those of you who have stayed in our accommodation before will know that at only 7 minutes walk from Anne House Apartments to Edinburgh Castle it's quite easy to get there and even easier to walk home as it will be down hill!

Cate

Family Christmas Gift

It's the perfect gift for a complete family or group, a weekend or midweek visit to Edinburgh and a trip to the theatre possibly a visit to the panto - "Oh Yes It Is!"

Certainly one that will be remembered long after the latest Must Have Toy or DVD bites the dust, and a great excuse for the generations to do something together.

We recommend as Fun for all the Family

JM Barrie's Peter Pan at the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh http://www.lyceum.org/

or a visit to the King's Theatre - Qdos Pantomimes: Robinson Crusoe & The Caribbean Pirates. http://www.eft.co.uk/.

Before buying your tickets check out the availability by contacting us at http://www.annehouse.co.uk/. we will happily hold an accommodation booking until you have bought your seats for the performance. "Oh Yes We Will"!

Edinburgh Military Tattoo Tickets

This is simply a reminder to Anne House Apartment Guests.

Tickets go on sale to the "General Public" on Tuesday 1st December 2009, for the 2010 performances, however as in past years we are happy to apply on our guest's behalf - hopefully by the first week in November.

Simply check out the website www.edintattoo.co.uk/tickets/seating-plan-and-prices choose the area on the Castle Esplanade where you would like to sit, (and of course the price you wish to pay), then email me at cate@annehouse.co.uk with your requirements.


We will only buy for booked guests, and charge a £1.00 handling fee on each ticket.

Big Names in Edinburgh

January appears to be the month when the Film Industry is constantly in the news with award ceremonies and promotions filling our newspapers, magazines and TV screens. Whether it's Cannes, Oscars or Baftas, the "Big Names" aspiring stars, and now the rest of us are subjected to and even revel in the publicity, the designer dresses, red carpet photo opportunities, the inevitable speeches, and today blogs, this one included! Unlike some of the speeches e.g. Greer Garson I will try and keep it brief!

These photos of Keira Knightly and Sienna Miller on the Red Carpet were taken by the McClymonts, who were guests of Anne House Apartments last June. They were lucky enough to snap the pair when their film The Edge of Love was premiered at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. Mrs McClymont however tells me the biggest cheer of the night was for Sir Sean Connery. Hardly surprising as he hails from Edinburgh and always gets a warm welcome whenever he is in town.

Taken on a Wednesday night the pair were together again two days later on BBC1's Friday Night with Jonathan Ross TV programme.

Tomorrow "Wossy" (BBC's highest paid presenter) returns to the small screen after his 3 month suspension following the well publicised incident on Russell Brand's Radio 2 show. The "Big Names" for his first show back are Tom Cruise, Stephen Fry, Lee Evans and Scots band Franz Ferdinand. Tom Cruise will of course be there as his latest film Valkyrie (about a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler) opens tomorrow night.

Opinion in this location is divided on Jonathan Ross OBE, but many viewers will tune in to watch, not because of him, but despite him, it is after all a guest show and it's the invited guests, and entertainers most folk want to see.

In true award speech manner, I really must thank Mrs McClymont again, for sending me the photographs and allowing me to publish them here. Without her I would not be here now!

Sorry, for going on I tried to keep it brief, but like many of the speeches no apologies for the name dropping!

Dates for the Diary?

Preparing to light the bonfire on top of Calton Hill at the Torchlight Procession, part of Edinburgh's Hogmanay Celebrations

I have no idea how many days to Christmas 2009, and certainly have no intention of finding out – not just yet anyhow! Around St Andrews Day (30th November) will suffice. Christmas in Edinburgh as far as I'm concerned gets better every year and leads us seamlessly into the Hogmanay Celebrations. Gone are the days when Christmas Celebrations were for the English and the New Year Celebrations (Hogmanay) were for the Scots. Nowadays both nationalities are happy to embrace both, and rightly so! In fact with TV coverage and internet access, every nation can party along with us and the tens of thousands of visitors who make the journey to Edinburgh for the time of their lives!

Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens with it's Christmas Wonderland of Fun Fair, Christmas Markets, and Ice Rink has been compared favourably with New York's Central Park and the Hogmanay Events have been billed as the "Best Party in the World". Maybe one of the longest too starting with my favourite event, the Torchlight Procession, which snakes through the city from the Royal Mile to it's climax of bonfires and partying atop Calton Hill. You can find details with photos at www.edinburghshogmanay.org. I always recommend Visitors to Edinburgh see this and if possible take part. So many folk think that "New Year" is "just one night" and only for "young partygoers" Edinburgh is working very hard to dispel this myth! The Torchlight Procession is a good example of this, usually on the 29th December, it's a real spectacular, an event suitable for the whole family, and starts at Parliament Square by St Giles Cathedral just two minutes from Anne House Apartments.

Before they packed up and left I caught up with our guests from the German Market, who love coming to Edinburgh each November and December, and will of course be back again this year (I feel it getting closer already). Silkie who manages the Silver Sun jewellery stall tells me that they also have market stalls at the German Markets in Nottingham, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. Edinburgh of course she tells me is her favourite city, both to visit and for the market. "Edinburgh Castle is the most beautiful backdrop we could hope for, it is quite magical" she says. The girls on the stall tell me they also like their accommodation in Anne House Apartments, as they "feel at home", which is very important to them as they are away from their families at Christmas. They also like the fact that it's only a few minutes walk to work each day, and each apartment has two Thermos flasks so they can always have hot drinks while on the stall! Remember that they are working from 10.00am until 8.00pm most days so it's not a holiday for them!

Most popular buys at Silver Sun this year were silver pendants and earrings, (hardly surprising as they are a jewellery stall, I hear you say)! They do however have a very big and varied range, and as Silkie says they have "something for everyone, all styles, all ages and all pockets". Becoming more popular each year are the Stainless Steel Mobiles which come in a variety of styles and sizes and all are hand crafted in Germany.

Can't wait until they come back next year as I only wear silver. That is a Big Hint, just in case Santa is reading this!

To see pictures of this year's events, find out what's planned, and keep up to date you can register for details at www.edinburghschristmas.com, and/ or www.edinburghshogmanay.org where you will already find the Countdown has already started to 2010!

Maybe I should get organised earlier this year, there will be so much going on! – Now where is that diary? I need to get organised!