16 FEATURE Teddy Bears Sleepover Five years ago the Children's Library moved into its new location beside the Central Library. It is a lovely bright space specially designed for young people to sit and enjoy reading. To celebrate the birthday some guests came along to spend the night there. Children arrived with their teddies and had storytime. <strong>The</strong>re was time for some bear crafts, making teddy bear bookmarks and then a snack before bedtime Night night Twilight Sparkle! Night night Rabbie Night night Tigger and night night Spiky Night night Slinky and sweet dreams Mimmy Night night and sleep tight Bear. We’ll come and get you in the morning. <strong>The</strong> teddies settled down for a sleep and then the children went home. But then.... the teddies got up and started playing snakes and ladders and dominoes! <strong>The</strong>y tried out some painting and listened to audio books. <strong>The</strong>y had a late night picnic with their Bookbug friends, and they all tried climbing as high as they could go... <strong>The</strong>n they got sleepy and were ready for bed, so they went back <strong>The</strong> <strong>Edinburgh</strong> <strong>Reporter</strong> to the tent where they snuggled down with one final bedtime story. After a good night’s sleep they had breakfast in the morning and then waited by the front desk to be collected by their owners. With thanks to the Digital team at the Central Library who looked after the teddies during their stay. <strong>The</strong> Caley celebrates 100 years of Hospitality <strong>The</strong> Waldorf Astoria <strong>Edinburgh</strong> – <strong>The</strong> Caledonian, recently joined in the global celebrations to mark 100 years of Hilton hospitality. <strong>The</strong> hotel stepped back in time for one night only and was transformed into the Gatsby era. Over 200 guests were entertained by flapper girls, a champagne tower, ice sculptures and live music - including a jazz band and saxophonist, harking back to the last century. Flavours from around the world provided an array of food experiences, from ceviche, which was created by head chef, Dan Ashmore at <strong>The</strong> Pompadour to BBQ shiitake mushrooms from Mark Greenaway, one of his new sharing dishes at Grazing. Guests were also taken on a trip down memory lane sampling the various food and cocktail inventions from Hilton over the last 100 years, including Waldorf Salad, Red Velvet cake, Eggs Benedict and Pina Colada. Having started out in 1919 by Conrad Hilton, this month Hilton Hotels & Resorts across the world are individually marking the milestone with a series of events. Dale MacPhee, General Manager of the Waldorf Astoria <strong>Edinburgh</strong> – <strong>The</strong> Caledonian, said: “Ever since Conrad Hilton created the brand, we’ve led the industry with our innovative approach to products, amenities and service – we were the first hotel to be listed on the Stock Exchange and the first to install TV’s in bedrooms. “Today, Hilton Hotels & Resorts stands as the stylish, forward thinking global leader of hospitality and Hilton UK was ranked third - in all the UK industries - as one of the best places to work, which is an absolute credit to the brand on its centenary.” Cringletie A perfect break in the Borders by Robin Gauldie Looking for a perfect weekend break on <strong>Edinburgh</strong>'s doorstep? Look no further than this fabulous Borders mansion. Cringletie House offers elegant dining, cosy nooks and 14 roomy, stylish rooms, with country walks and a sprinkling of heritage attractions nearby. I was charmed by Cringletie House. As we roll up the drive to Cringletie House, sunning itself in its lushly floral setting above Eddleston Water, a deer bounds through the field nearby and two plump cock pheasants strut on the tree-shaded lawn. <strong>The</strong> makings of a nice pie, I suggest to general manager Jeremy Osborne, who's there to greet us. He tells me the story of a bygone owner, James Wolfe Murray, who used to take pot-shots at rabbits from his bedroom window - after luring them from their burrows with his silver flute. Just north of Peebles, a half-hour drive from <strong>Edinburgh</strong> in summer, Cringletie is a lovely place for a cosy short break at any time of year, but it was just about perfect in spring on my visit, when its leafy grounds were bursting into bud and the surrounding lawns were splashed with daffodils. And there's a fabulous Tasty Sunday package on offer which will allow you to extend your weekend. David Bryce, doyen of Scots Baronial, rebuilt the dilapidated 17th century pile in the 1860s, turning it into a turreted, red-sandstone Borders mansion that delights fans of romantic historical fiction. In its 19th-century heyday the estate spanned several thousand acres of pastures, moors and riverbank. Its domain has dwindled, but the gardens are a lovely place for a pre-dinner stroll. Appetite duly whetted, the Sutherland Restaurant awaits on the first floor, reached by a grand, softly-carpeted walnut staircase. Originally the house's ballroom, this is fine space, with a ceiling graced by Italianate frescoes and bears the interlinked initials of George Sutherland and heiress Elizabeth Wolfe Murray, who married in 1904 and promptly had the house done up in the latest style. Potting bunnies from your bedroom window is not the done thing these days, but Cringletie's menu is often bursting with locallysourced game - including rabbit, grouse, pheasant venison from suppliers like Tweed Valley, in nearby Peebles, along with rabbit, grouse and pheasant. <strong>The</strong> 17th century walled garden supplies the kitchen with home-grown produce vegetables, fruit and herbs and flowers that dress up the restaurant's tables. You'll also find locally sourced treats like seafood from nearby Eyemouth, and Pentland brie and other cheeses from Clarks of Penicuik, and Border lamb from Braehead in Selkirk. From the other side of Scotland come Atlantic cod and the Stornoway black pudding that makes an appearance in my amuse bouche topped with a perfect coin of crunchy beetroot and a tart sliver of grapefruit. <strong>The</strong> wine list is curated by Villeneuve Wines, the long-established Peebles vintner, and has a strong New World accent. It's back to Scotland for afterdinner drinks in the bar, where you'll find an elegant sufficiency of malt whiskies - including innovative offerings from some of Scotland's upstart distilleries alongside artisan ales from the pioneering Traquair House and Broughton breweries, not far away. And so to bed, in a room that is a veritable cocoon of softly-coloured tartans and snow-white linen. So cosy, in fact, that getting up next morning is a challenge but the lure of Cringletie's full Scottish is irresistible. You could easily spend all weekend pottering around the grounds and playing a game of croquet or a round of pitchand-putt. If you're feeling more adventurous, you can wet a line in the Tweed, go riding, or rent a bike at Alpine Bikes (tweedvalleybikehire.com from £25 a day) to ride through miles of woodland trails at Glentress Forest. Richard Hannay fans can discover the life story of his creator at the John Buchan Story in Peebles. It's hard to fault Cringletie: good food, home comforts, beautiful surroundings and unobtrusively excellent: staff don't hover, but materialise at the push of a bell. All in all, this pocket-sized mansion is a find. Cringletie House Hotel <strong>Edinburgh</strong> Road Peebles EH45 8PL Tel: 01721 725 750 www.cringletie.com Getting there: Cringletie is around 20 miles (around 30 minutes drive) south of <strong>Edinburgh</strong> on the A703. Robin Gauldie is a freelance journalist and author of numerous travel guides including the new Eyewitness Guide to Scotland, published by Dorling Kindersley. He lives in Leith.
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