2014-15 Diary

                                                                                                             

Our Probus Club continues to thrive, with a programme of interesting speakers, various events during the year and very active sub-groups.  Here is a report on the various activities which have taken place this season.

 

WALKING GROUP   Walking group members meet at the beginning of the new session and volunteer to research a walk for our programme.  The research includes timings, transport and, most importantly and, in true Probus tradition, a lunch venue.  The planning meeting for next season is scheduled for 10.30 am on Tuesday 4 August 2015 at the White Lady.

2014 

30

Sep

Dunbar Clifftop Walk

(Theresa)

6 people took part.  Impressive stretch of coastline, dunes and saltmarsh.  A well marked trail.  Lunch in Dunbar

28

Oct

Wester Hailes to Fountainbridge

(Anne)

This walk must be a contender for one of the wettest PROBUS walks ever.  Only 3 members walked through a waterfall from Wester Hailes to Fountainbridge.  After wringing ourselves out, we had a welcome coffee at Loudon’s in Fountainbridge.

2 Dec

Balerno to Currie

(Pat & Jean)

10 people took part.  A 2-section walk, starting at Balerno, lunch in Currie and on to Juniper Green.

2015

6 Jan

City of Literature on foot

(Theresa)

6 members bore witness to the fact that it is impossible to live in Edinburgh without sensing its literary heritage.  A good ‘read’ of a walk.

27 Jan

Forestry Commission Walk

(Joan & Doreen)

10 members had a leisurely walk all on the flat.  Coffee at Sainsbury’s (Longstone) and then on to Colinton.

3 Mar

Roseburn to Davidson’s Mains

(Margaret M)

With snow on the ground and snow showers in the early morning, the 7 members were pleased to find the old railway line was bare.  Snowdrops and crocuses peeping through snow.  Coffee at 55 Quality Street Café and then 5 ladies walked back to Corstorphine.

31 Mar

Circular Walk from Warrriston

(Doreen)

9 walkers – including 2 daughters – nice to have some young blood!!  Mystery tour – some parkland, some waterside and some Edinburgh streets – coffee at Stockbridge.  Soup at The Orchard, Canonmills.  Sun, rain, sleet and snow!!

28 Apr

Gullane via the Old Railway Track

(Helen)

8 members walked.  This was a day when  winter revisited, but the bitter wind did not quash the spirits of the group.  Lunch at the Golf Inn at Gullane.  A very enjoyable walk.

2 Jun

Summer Outing –

Perth Environs

(Margaret)

Dressed for our summer outing in fleeces, waterproofs, hats and gloves, 6 members braved the elements in Perth.  After crossing the railway bridge all enjoyed the gardens and sculpture trail on north bank of the Tay, followed by lunch at the Post Box.

 

BOOK GROUP  This year the Book Group has been around the world.  We began with the story of a Japanese Garden set in Malaysia, followed by a love story from the Isle of Arran.  Next came a dark tale of people trafficking in India, Europe and the US.

From there we travelled to Canada to trace a woman’s journey to learn more of her grandfather, who had gone there to make money for his family in early twentieth century Shetland.  A lighthouse off the coast of Australia was our next port of call.  Finally, we were back in Canada’s frozen north for Mary Lawson’s latest book.

Hopefully you will agree that this is not bad for a group of ‘retirees’ who never actually left Corstorphine.

 

LUNCH CLUB  Our third trip through the alphabet took the group to:

 

Y

Yeni

 

 

Middle Eastern with mainly Mediterranean small dish “mezze” approach.  Good for sharing dishes.  Lunch menu good value for money.

Z

Zucca

 

Italian restaurant next door to the Lyceum.  Fairly standard lunch time menu.

A

Atelier

 

 

Great food in a modern setting in Morrison Street.  Most people said they would go back.  We chose option which included glass of  house wine.

B

The Bonham

 

Excellent food in New Town setting.  Slightly spoiled by fact we had to query the bill.

C

Café Cassis

 

This was a first visit for most of our ladies, who found the French menu very enjoyable.

D

David Bann Restaurant

 

 

 

10 members ate at this vegetarian restaurant.  Most had 2 starters, which were ok – apart from an excess of rocket.  The desserts for sharing were lovely.  Overall a little disappointing.

E

Edinburgh Larder Bistro

 

 

8 ladies enjoyed lunch – the food was excellent, though the sandwiches following a starter were too much.  The staff willingly provided 3 doggy boxes!

Thanks are due to the ladies who took turns to organise the lunches.  All are welcome  - please see the list at the table at each Probus meeting.

 

WHIST GROUP

The Whist Group continues to thrive – a joint venture of both Corstorphine Probus Clubs.  Thanks are due again to Margaret Thomson for organising this monthly event.

 

HOLIDAY GROUP

Although this facility continues to exist in the Probus Club, no trips were organised this season.  This opportunity to arrange holidays will continue next season. 

 

ANNUAL EVENTS

The Christmas Party

This year we decided to have a change from the usual Christmas  party evening and have a lunch instead.  We were uncertain how popular this may be,  but as the numbers signing up grew, we became hopeful.

We enjoyed a lovely lunch and good wine (provided by the Committee) at the Capital Hotel, with excellent service from all the staff.  Isobel Mireas entertained us well with some harp music and humorous poems and songs.  Liz Welsh and Liz Kelso also recited a couple of humorous poems,  and Margaret Miller gave the results to a quiz which the ladies had enjoyed doing on arrival.  Margaret had also organised a “Guess the Perfume” competition, the prizes being perfume.  Next came the highlight of the afternoon – SANTA!! – nobly performed by Sandy Mackay (Laura’s husband), who distributed a gift to everyone.

January Lunch

Our January meeting this year was in the Corstorphine Bowling Club, with the food provided by Irene Shepherd as usual.  However, the difference was that we decided not to have a Burns Lunch – instead to have a Scottish lunch with a menu of steak pie and dessert of trifle.  To keep to the Scottish theme, we had some wonderful slides  of Argyll with a lot of background information presented to us by Alistair Macneill.  He and his group accompanied the slides with some Scottish songs.

 

Dirleton Trip

On Monday 9 March (a cold and wet morning) 12 Probus ladies gathered for the annual overnight stay at the Open Arms at Dirleton.  Lunch was booked at the Castle Inn, Dirleton and, as ever, this was very enjoyable.

After lunch some ladies settled at the Open Arms to play bridge in the Marquee Room, which was at our disposal for the day.  Others headed to North Berwick, intending to walk, but when a  bus appeared, climbed on.  First stop – Wilkie’s, then coffee and back to the Open Arms for pre-dinner drinks.  The meal was excellent – we could choose from the whole menu – so everyone was very happy!  After the meal a game of Babble-on entertained everyone.  Breakfast was excellent and rounded off the  trip beautifully.  Some headed home, others walked the beach since the  weather had improved.

Yet again, a great success.  Many thanks to Frances for arranging this treat for us.  (Pat Calder)

 

The May Outing

For the first time ever, our planned outing to New Lanark was cancelled due to lack of interest.   Another meeting was hastily arranged – with a doctor speaking of his experiences as a cruise ship doctor, followed by cakes!  It is essential that there is not a repeat of this problem with the outing.  To this end a sheet will be circulated at several meetings, asking members to add their suggestions for next year’s outing.