Impulse Magazine '09

No place like home Holidays at home and abroad

The man who cycled the world

Foraging for food in Edinburgh

SUMMER FESTIVALS :: SMART DRUGS :: BUDGET WEDDINGS

Mark Beaumont

Into the Wild

FREE

ChutesMeet Edinburgh’s

hottest band

Welcome to iMPULSE, yourindispensable summer read taking youthrough the warmer months with ourfresh and vibrant outlook on all thingsyou need to know.Turn the pages to find interviews

with round-the-world cyclist MarkBeamount (p27) as well as some ofEdinburgh’s hottest new bands (p8).We take a quirky, alternative look at

the recession, with tips on how to getthrough the hard times (p18), to ideason where to take your summer holiday(p24) and how to have that dreamwedding (p14) – all on a budget!We also delve into the more serious

side of life with a look at why anincreasing number of young adults areturning to drugs in a bid to reachsuccess (p13).

iMPULSE is Edinburgh NapierUniversity’s student magazine and isproduced by third-year students in theJournalism and Publishing degrees.From the writing to the designing tothe funding – it’s all been done by us.It’s been tough but we hope you’ll agreethat the result is something special.

Gemma & PeterEditors

iMPULSEENTERTAINMENT

Interview - Janet De Vigne 5Summer festivals 6Hot local bands 8

ISSUESOrthorexia 11

Crime and sport in South Africa 12Smart drugs: the smart choice? 13

LIFESTYLEWeddings on a budget 14

Urban foraging 15Haunted Edinburgh 16

Recessions tips 18Edinburgh for free 19

Summer fashion trends 20

TRAVELStaying at home 22Around the world 24

SPORTSAlternative summer sports 26Interview - Mark Beaumont 27

Goodbye to Silverstone 30

SUMMER

EDITORS: Gemma Haigh, Peter Simpson DEPUTY EDITORS: Frances Allan, PaulMcCabe EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS: Meghan Brown, Myles Edwards PRODUCTIONEDITORS: Natalie Leask, Gillian Swinton FEATURES EDITORS: Suhayl Afzal, BarryBegg, Mike Gerrity, Angelique Joly DESIGN & PICTURE EDITORS: Lisa Fleming, KirstyTopping ADVERTISING EDITORS: Lori Carnochan, Andrea Molloy PRODUCTIONTEAM: Michelle Ho, Jonathan Kaney, Megan Kelly, Douglas Neilson, Jamie SwansonADVERTISING TEAM: Kate Caldwell, Emma Craig, Edward Crossan, Fiona Kirkcaldy,Anja Sajdok, Joyce Yip CONTRIBUTORS: Simon Crosbie, Andrew Donaldson, NicolaHaggarty, David Maxwell, Shanaz Miah, Fiona Mitchell, Olivia Scott, Luci WallaceTHANKS TO: Derek, Dave, Kate, Bill and all at the School of Arts and Creative Industries,Edinburgh Napier University

PRINTED BY: Check out the iMPULSE website at impulse09.wordpress.com

12SouthAfrica

16HauntedEdinburgh

27MarkBeaumont

24Thailand

906Summerfestivals

Editors’ letter

“ Job’s a guid ’un”

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8 iMPULSE Summer 2009

When Edinburgh opera singer and actorJanet De Vigne was contacted by acasting agent in December 2007, shecould never have imagined that it

would lead to her being in Slumdog Millionaire, whichscooped eight Academy Awards.

Yet the simple tale of a Mumbai street urchin whosets out to find the love of his life through the Indianversion of ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’ turned intoa worldwide smash hit.

Her audition for the part of Ada was far fromnormal. “I got a call from the producers, asking if Icould come to an audition," said De Vigne. "I don’tthink they realised that I was in Edinburgh, but whenI told them they said I should do the audition onscreen and send it down.”

One borrowed computer later and it was done. “Theweird thing about doing it on the Mac was that I couldsee myself auditioning as I was doing it, which was abit off-putting”.

Within days De Vigne was whisked away to the TajMahal, to play a German tourist taken on a comicaltour by a group of street kids on the make.

De Vigne is a regular singer with Edinburgh GrandOpera and has acted on stage in Edinburgh, Glasgowand Pitlochry. The chance to work with the esteemedBoyle was too good to miss. “I really knew nothingabout the film when we started, but when I sawDanny’s name on the script I thought ‘If he’s involved

it’s going to be good’. I mean, who’d turn down thechance to work with him?”

As for India, Janet describes her time there as “areal culture shock”. The cast was constantly hassled bythe real slumdogs and the grinding poverty wasobvious, even at the Taj Mahal.

“There was great poverty, and a lot of people withextreme disabilities, but none of them seemed sad ordowncast. They almost seemed too busy to bedepressed.”

The film has come in for criticism for its portrayalof India. While the rags-to-riches story has capturedthe world's imagination, the young cast still live in andaround Mumbai's slums. In April the father ofRubiana Ali , who played the young Latika, allegedlytried to sell her for £200,000.

De Vigne's time on set led her to work with ScottishLove in Action on charity screenings of Slumdog, andwhen she approached Boyle for his thoughts, she waspleasantly surprised.

“He hadn’t been back in the UK because awardsseason had kicked off, but he sent me a postcardsaying how proud all of us, and the people of India,should be," she adds.

"He really displays all the qualities of a truly greatperson, both personally and professionally.”

SimplyDe Vigne

While the film’s success has helped De Vigne'scareer, her experiences of India have stayed with her.

“When you’re standing there, in front of the TajMahal, and it looks like it’s just floating, and you’resurrounded by the best and the worst of humanity, it’shard to put into words. It was a life-changingexperience.”

It was a life-changing experience“ ”

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iMPULSE talks toEdinburgh actress

Janet De Vigne aboutappearing in one ofthe year’s biggestfilms, Slumdog

Millionaire


T in The Park the premier Scottish festivalis again set to warm up even the coldest ofnights with its potent cocktail of culture,euphoric atmosphere and brilliantly variedacts. The ever-expanding festival caters toeveryone from riff-loving indie students toaging hippie rockers. Tucked in the lushsetting of Balado, Kinross, the festivalhosts over 80,000 musical fans whoannually descend upon the unused airfieldfor 4 days of hygienically questionablecamping in the intoxicating Scottishcountryside. The music itself is a dazzlingvariety of rock, indie, metal, punk, techno,house and even ceilidh. 2009 has a line-upof around 180 artists including festivalfavourites Bloc Party and The Killerssharing the 11 stages with talentednewcomers such as Blood Red Shoes,White Lies and Australian favourites ThePresets.

Whether this is the first time you’vedonned your thick sunglasses and strawhat (to protect against the beer-flavouredrain) the summer of 2009 is set to be agreat year to check out the festivalatmosphere around Europe. Ranging fromthe great British hippie-inspired musicalhaunts to the sunnier beachextravaganzas, this year festival fever willbe running high!

The world-renowned festival gets morepopular every year with its unique mix ofmusic, art and other alternativeentertainment. This year it runs betweenthe 24th and 28th of June and will againbe in South West England between thesmall villages of Pilton and Pylle.Highlights this year include Glaswegianindie rockers Franz Ferdinand, along withheadliners Bruce Springsteen, Neil Youngand the reformed Blur. Notorious for itsrain and mud-filled fields, revellers shouldexpect to gain a new skin of thick Englishmud.

Located bang in the middle of the Spanishsummer in Valencia, Benicassim offers abeach setting on the shores of theMediterranean sea along with the cream ofthe musical crop. Internationallyrenowned Kings of Leon are the mainheadline this year. The festival focusesmainly on alternative rock and electronicaas well as offering festival goersalternatives such as theatre, fashion, artand film. It lasts three days, from the 16thto the 19th of July, however campers areurged from the 13th to set up home for thenext week or so! The campsite is a fairwalk from the main venue, tempting manyweary campers to sleep on the pristinebeach instead. An estimated 150,000people are thought to be heading toBenicassim this year, ready to experiencethe sun, sand, sea and whatever else mayencourage them to shake their Spanishcastanets!

Roskilde, located 25 miles fromCopenhagen, is due to host anothersell-out festival. It’s famed for its diverseentertainment with alternative activitiessuch as skating, rock climbing and amultitude of arty distractions aimed atenthralling the crowds. It lasts eight days,the first four being a warm-up before themusic begins on the 2nd of July. This yearwill see the likes of Coldplay, Slipknot,Madness and Cancer Bats, emphasisingthe diverse mix of sounds.

“a festival would be nothing

experience

”

iMPULSE looks at this summer’s music festivals

Sounds of the

Summer

Glastonbury

T in The Park

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Said to be Europe’s growing “Big Gun” fes-tival, Rock Wercher, situated in Belgium isa 4-day international band tributecrammed full of beer, waffles and the oddchocolate, shunning the traditional festi-val grease. The festival runs fromThursday the 3rd to Sunday the 6th ofJuly with Radiohead as headliners, alongwith The Prodigy, Oasis, Elbow and manyothers.

With previous performers such as RayCharles and Deep Purple, Montreux standsas the best-known music festival inSwitzerland, and is Europe’s mostprestigious and respected jazz festival.Despite the name, the festival incorporatesmany musical elements, although jazz doesremain a vital and celebrated part of it.The festival is held in a large conventioncentre and casino on the shores of LakeGeneva, acting as an intimate setting, withthe campsite only metres away. This yearthe runs from the 3rd to the 18th of July,making it one of the longer, more uniqueEuropean festivals.

Not everyone going to this summer’sfestivals will be there for the music –there’s a whole world of things going onaway from the crowds. T In The Park hostsa silent disco every year, as well as therecent event of dress up Friday, specificallyaimed at the happy campers. If you dare tostep out of the main arenas at Glastonburyyou could find yourself in one of thetheatres or circuses which fill 3 fields atthe festival, where around 1,200 shows areperformed over the entire weekend. If themusic at Benicassim gets a bit boring, thentake a stroll along the nearby beach. Thesummer festivals are jam-packed with lotsof fun things to do – oh, and there’s somemusic as well.

And if you getbored...

Montreux Jazz Festival

Rock Werchter

THE ESSENTIAL FESTIVAL SURVIVAL KIT

Toilet roll: Probably the most impor-tant item in your bag. Trust us. Festivaltoilets are not nice and generally don’thave toilet roll, soap, or even dry floors.

Face wipes: Ideal in the morning whenyou wake up with your name written onyour forehead. Doubles up as an in-tentshower when you feel just a bit disgusting.Which could be quite often.

Lots of friends: A festival would benothing without loads of mates to sharethe experience. Bring as many as you can -ones who enjoy singing ‘Journey’ loudlywhen walking back to the campsite.

Something large and inflatable:TV cameras love that sort of thing, and it’sfun to be on TV. Also, everything seemseasier and more fun when one of you isholding an inflatable cactus. A flag worksin pretty much the same way and is easierto carry.

Glow-in-the-dark facepaint:Pointless. Awesome.

DO NOT TAKE: Your iPod. Justdon’t. Or anything else that youwould be absolutely guttedabout losing.


iMPULSE brings you its six essential tips for surviving this summer’s festivals...

without loads of mates to share the

Entertainment


Entertainment


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formed through gigging together, partyingtogether and discussing music and life.”

It is clear that Chutes feel resentment atthe council’s lack of respect for the musicscene: “Edinburgh has always facedproblems with venues shutting down andthe council do not exactly go out of theirway to help the local scene.”

However, they are spirited in theirexpression of where things in Edinburghare going after the recent success BrokenRecords (another Edinburgh band) havehad signing to 4ad. They hope it willshine a light on the many brilliant bandsin Edinburgh, such as Meursault, JesusH. Foxx, We See Lights, Y’all is FantasyIsland and themselves. They say: “Thereare also a couple of new venues openingsuch as The Bowery on Roxburgh Place,which strive to put on unique events.”

Chutes are in a more privilegedposition than most bands. Two of theband members, Craig Ross and StuartBrunton, opened the doors to TheDepot – their very own practice roomsand recording studios – in January2008. So, why did they do it? “We wereall sick and tired of turning up at practice,

For a while it seemed as if theEdinburgh music scene was stut-tering, aided by a council thatwas hell bent on destroying it

entirely. With venues c losing down insteadof opening, and a fire that closed one ofthe only decent live music venues in thecity – The Liquid Room, things were farfrom upbeat.

Edinburgh has always lived in Glasgow’smusical shadow. It has never been able tocompete with the likes of King Tut’s, theBarrowlands and the 02 Academy.Recently however, it has become moreevident that the capital no longer cares,they are going it alone and a striving localmusic scene has emerged.

Local band Chutes are the perfectexample of the upturn in the city’s musicrevival. The 5-piece band have beenplaying gigs in Edinburgh for some timeand are excited about the changes that aretaking place: “The Edinburgh music sceneis currently enjoying a positive time. Bandsand promoters no longer strive to becompared to Glasgow and are comfortableproducing music that is varied andexciting. There is a sense of community

where the amps were poor, drums werebroken, PA system not big enough andmicrophones looking like you may catchsomething off them,” the band say. “So wewanted to make somewhere we would behappy rehearsing in.”

Many of Edinburgh’s top bands now optfor their services and it has become a kindof musical community. So, how does TheDepot compare to other recording studios?“With regards to the actual recording

“Edinburgh’s music scene is

currently enjoying a positive time”

Blogging: what do you reckon? A wondrous viral world of entertain-ment and knowledge giving a previously unheard voice to thehidden masses, or a load of mind-numbing twaddle typed by friend-less creeps sitting in their pants in the dark? Probably a bit of both

to be honest, but one bonus of the whole blogging trend is that it’s a greatway to get hold of free music. And some Scottish sites are among the best ofthe lot.

Jim Clark has been running a blog called The Vinyl Villain for over twoyears and receives over 700 hits a day: “The main purpose remains the idea ofgetting folk to listen to the sort of music that I’ve most enjoyed over the past30 plus years, and in particular to tryand provide an opportunity to listen totracks that may otherwise have eitherbeen forgotten about or are hard totrack down digitally or on CD, with aheavy emphasis on bands/singers fromScotland.”

Over at a blog called The Pop Cop,Jason Cranwell has a very specificpurpose in mind, “To promote what’shappening in the Scottish music scene – this can include Scottish artists,non-Scottish artists who are playing inScotland, or artists who have some sort of Scottish link.” In addition to thisJason also organises the Music Alliance Pact, where over 20 blogs throughoutthe world share their favourite song from their country on the 15th of everymonth.

However, there are those that frown upon giving away music for free. Somepeople have been taken to court and even jailed because of it. But as Jasonpoints out: “PR companies hired by artists sanction the use of certain freemp3 downloads, and a lot of artists encourage bloggers to post individualsongs because they appreciate the benefits they get in terms of increasedexposure.” Jim doesn’t support the sort of file sharing where whole LPs aremade available to download just as they have been made available to buy,which is why he has a policy of never putting up new songs.

So, with all the time (and slight expense) that can be involved, is bloggingworth it? Unsurprisingly both say yes. “I’ve met maybe six or so fellowbloggers in the flesh and one of them has become a close friend so it’s a greatsocial activity,” says Jim. “And I also have to say that it’s great for the egowhen you get a positive response via the comments or e-mails to somethingyou’ve written.”

Jason points out: “Everybody gets a thrill from discovering great newbands and being the first to tell their friends about them before they getfamous, so a blog takes that one step further by giving you the chance to tellstrangers from around the world who are visiting your website.”

So check out the blogs, get some great free music and support the artists.thevinylvillain.blogspot.com

thepopcop.blogspot.com

Blog On!

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CHUTESFROMTHE HIP

Exciting timesahead for

Edinburgh’smusic revival

room, I would say we have a great space forrecording that a lot of places in Edinburghdon’t have. We have a spacious live room,and separate vocal booth and amp booth. Iwould say our choice of gear is different toanyone else, which we feel is why peopleshould come down ‘cos we are gettingsome ace sounds and also our prices arefair for the current climate; bands ain’t gotany money!”

It must be a dream come true for a bandto be able to call these facilities home andthat is exactly what Chutes do. “We cantake our time perfecting our music,” theysay. “It is a home for us to work in.”

2009 promises to be an exciting time forthe Edinburgh music scene, The Depot andChutes. On the back of memorable gigs atT in the Park, Rockness and the opening ofThe Picture House, where Chutessupported Idlewild, they have been busyfinishing recording their EP, which isreleased this summer. An EP that isinfluenced by Edinburgh, love, loss andlust, it’s bound to grab more than justattention.

depotstudios.com

myspace.com/chutesmusic

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10 iMPULSE Summer 2009 iMPULSE09.wordpress.com 11

WATCH THIS BASS…iMPULSE talks to the cream of Edinburgh’s musical crop

TOMMY KAY

Best known for his blinding sets atLuvely, Tommy Kay is definitely the liveli-est and probably one of Edinburgh’s mostpopular and best DJs on the house musicscene.

Known as Tommy Gallo for his Flauntresidency, this side of Tommy focuses onmore vocal and funky house tunes whilehis Luvely residency allows him to playDutch house which creates a muchtougher sound.

Tommy explains: “The musical contrastbetween what I play at Luvely and whatFlaunt play is phenomenal but they likedthe energy that I had so we came up withthe idea of going under a different name.”

Making his sets lively and enjoyingthem is Tommy’s main priority andrightly so; it creates an electricatmosphere when the DJ spinning thetunes is into it as much as the crowd.

Tommy’s highlight so far was playing atthe Pukka Up boat parties in Ibiza lastsummer for 200 nutters. “You think it justcan’t get any better than this!” Tommysays.

And he’ll be back this summer to rockthe White Isle some more but don’t worryif you’re not going, Tommy can still befound at his monthly residences of Luvelyand Flaunt.

myspace.com/tommykaytommygallo

Six years ago, Kate Finn died fromeating too healthily. Desperate tocure the problems with her diges-tive system, the 37-year-old, from

Rhode Island, had jumped betweenextreme diets of occasional fasting, and amixture of raw and junk food. Not onlydid her problems persist but she was alsofacing significant weight loss and lethargywhen practicing her extreme diets. One ofher cleansing rituals had brought 5 foot 8inches tall Kate down to just six stone.

A term coined by Californian Dr SteveBratman in 1996, orthorexia is an obses-sion with healthy eating where sufferersare only concerned about the purity oftheir foods.

It is not yet an official medical diagno-sis but is used by practitioners who haveseen the damaging results of the condi-tion. Deanne Jade, the founder of theNational Centre for Eating Disorders, saysthat this so-called “new-found condition”is old news.

“For a very long time, I was dealingwith patients and friends who were obses- why treating them could be so difficult,”

she said. “Most of them will say ‘I’m justtrying to control my weight’ and some-times they even take pride in saying ‘Idon’t eat X, Y and Z’ at a dinner party.”But while a cure is yet to be discovered,prevention is not far from our fingertips.Susan Pryde, the head of Food StandardDiet Nutrition Policy, said the key tohealthy eating is maintaining a balancedlifestyle. Eat your five fruit and veg, stayactive, drink plenty of water, while theoccasional treat is fine.

sive with healthy eating, and I was sohappy when someone finally came up witha term for it,” she says. “Orthorexia ismostly stemmed from a need for certain-ty, moral purity and simplicity. So, eventhough orthorexics believe that their dietis healthy, their underlying motivation isan anxiety to control their weight.”

The current social pressures of healthyeating create the perfect environment fororthorexics to thrive. Kate’s eating habitsincluded eating the majority of her foodright before bed, which, contrary to whatshe had thought, actually caused smallblockages in her small intestines and ridher of any appetite. But to the orthorexic,these odd and most often dangerousbehaviors are rewarding, if not, necessaryto survive. “She was so absorbed withcleansing her body of toxins ... that washer lifelong goal,” said Kate’s sister, Erin inan interview last year. “The beautiful,vibrant Kate had really become someonethat looked much older. People wouldstare.” In November 1995, Kate’s familyfinally put her into the eating disorder

Unhealthy Obsessione truth behind the frightening dangers of Orthorexia

unit of Beth Israel Hospital in Bostonwhere she was put on anti-depressants –the orthorexic’s biggest enemy. Kate wrotein Beyond Vegetarianism: “I felt very mis-understood. They thought I had this fearof being fat, whereas my focus and goal inall the diets I had tried had always beenhealth. I totally resisted the idea of takingantidepressants, which seemed so anti-natural. (But) I was also worried that if Ididn't take them, I wouldn't be let out ofthe hospital.” Deanne Jade said that theresistance for treatment and reluctance toadmit their problems are the biggestobstacles to recovery. “They usually thinkthere’s nothing wrong with them, which is

“One of her cleansing rituals

had brought 5 foot 8 inches tall Kate

down to just six stone ”

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SVENGALI

They played the Barrowlands after justfive months together and after a year hadtheir first single released. It’s all aboutthree guys – Svengali.

“You go to this place to see yourheroes,” Niall says. “And we’re walking inthe stage door thinking, man, Oasisplayed here. You get goose pimples.”

Niall, bass guitarist, says: “Scott’salways had songs, he’s been writing foryears. The three of us love music so we’vegot a common bond with that.”

According to Scott their sound is “veryOasis, Stone Roses and The Who. Imaginethose three scrambled together… butmaybe not as good!”

It’s a huge achievement but bringingout their single ‘The Start of the Scene’and creating a music video has really putthe icing on the cake.

“It was amazing going into a studio,”Scott says. “I probably enjoyed that morethan the gigs.”

Scott adds: “At the end of the gig whenpeople come up to you and shake yourhand, it’s amazing.”

Besides marrying all five members ofGirls Aloud, they “want to be a band thatmatters to people to make music thatpeople can connect with and have fundoing it.”

myspace.com/svengaliedinburgh

THE VIBE

Bath tubs, cheese and knickers – it canonly be an after party with The Vibe. Thefive piece formed in October 2008, andhave been hitting the Edinburgh musicscene hard, gaining interest and popularity.

This is a band who are all abouthonesty. Bruce, lead guitarist says:“Myself and Chris were in a band togetherbefore this…and then we found these twolovely characters kicking around. It was amixture of fate and magic.”

Influenced by all kinds of music, theydescribed their sound as an “effectivemixture” of heavy metal and 90s indie.They tell us that one song can sound likeThe Coral and the next can sound totallydifferent. “Variety – that’s the word of theday,” says Bruce.

Whistlebinkies is the band’s favouriteplace to play in the city, because there isalways a good crowd: “It’s always a goodatmosphere,” says Chris, although if theycould only play one more gig, then itwould be in the sky, “because the sky’s thelimit,” drummer Matt said.

On after-parties: “Let’s just say that thelast one involved Chris, a pile of women’sknickers, a bath tub and a block of cheese.But we can’t elaborate!”

thevibelive.co.uk

Issues


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With South Africa hosting two majorinternational sporting events in thenext twelve months, iMPULSE takes alook at the Rainbow Nations’s strugglewith violenceThis summer at least fifty thousand rugby fans from across Britainand Ireland will descend on South Africa to follow the British Lionson their first tour of the country in twelve years. Next summer, thecountry plays host to the FIFA World Cup, with similar numbers ofBrits expected to travel. While the sporting competition will be tough, it will be

nothing in comparison with the violence facing some of thecountry’s forty-three million citizens on a daily basis.In 2001 the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

released a study of sixty countries across the globe. South Africaranked second for assault, second for murder, and first for rape. Violent crime rates in the country have fallen over the past decade,but that’s where the good news stops. According to official statistics from both countries, you’re still

ten times more likely to be murdered on the streets ofJohannesburg than in Edinburgh. Yet vast numbers of Brits willhead to the country for this summer’s sport regardless. GeraldineNorris from sports travel agency Gulliver’s says that Lions fansconcerned about the security situation are in the minority: “Iwould honestly say that I don’t think any security concerns haveaffected our numbers on this tour. I certainly haven’t spoken toanyone who has said they were going to book but have decidedagainst travelling to South Africa [because of its reputation].”

Inside the country there are genuine fears that South Africa’sturn in the spotlight could be marred by violence. In a recentsurvey, 53% of South Africans said they were worried that thecountry’s history of violent crime could ruin the 2010 WorldCup. But despite widespread talk of South Africa’s crimeproblem, tourism remains a major part of the country’seconomy. Official figures show that the tourist trade is worth60 billion Rand (£4billion) per annum with over half-a-millionBrits heading to South Africa every year. Of those, an estimated 12% complained of security and

safety worries. Rhona Eistetter of the South African TouristBoard said; “We do receive inquiries about the security in ourcountry. The basic safety precautions are the same in SouthAfrica as anywhere in the world. “We also advise that people plan their route in advance, use

maps and when in doubt as to the safety of specific areas orwhich route to take, to contact the police.”While the games on the Lions tour and at the World Cup

may not be taking place in the slums of Diepsloot or theganglands of Hillbrow, that doesn’t change the fact that SouthAfrica is one of the more dangerous locations on a Britishsports fan’s itinerary. The hope is that the contest on the pitchis the only violence supporters see this summer.

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Side EffectsThe addictive quality of Ritalin means

that prolonged abuse can build up

resistance so that tolerance develops,

much like alcohol. The dangers posed to

a previously healthy brain are unknown,

as the drugs have not yet been made

available long enough to determine the

long term side effects.

It is known that prescription drugs

can upset the delicate balance between

neurotransmitters in the brain that can

induce mania, affect the heart and lead

to suicidal thoughts.

Other MethodsThere is a more healthy and advisable

route to raising awareness and mental

agility. Rather than bombarding the

body with coffee and high amounts of

Red Bull, you could help boost your

brain with simple, good old-fashioned

exercise. It increasese the flow to the

brain so you can absorb much more

information.

Try running, cycling or swimming. You

can also enjoy the other benefits

associated with excercise such as

improved energy levels and better

health. Being more active helps your

brain release endorphins and adrenaline

in the body, creating a general sense of

well-being and calm.

THE SMART CHOICE?&

iMPULSE investigates the staggeringhealth risks being taken by studentsand young professionals trying toget aheadWhat Are Smart Drugs?‘Smart drugs’ include Dexedrine, Modafinil and Ritalin. They are used totreat medical conditions such as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and areworryingly now being used by the UK’s student and working population tohelp them study and work for longer, reducing the need for sleep and evencurbing hunger.21 year-old Chris, a student at a Scottish university, took Ritalin whilst

studying. “I was struggling to stay awake,” he says. “I was worried about theside effects so I only took one. An American exchange student had offeredthem to me. I could not believe how well it worked! I did not even need tostop to eat and I managed to stay up and concentrate for hours on end.”

How Do They Work?It is not yet known why these so-called ‘smart drugs’ work on a healthyhuman brain. They were originally created to combat narcolepsy anddepression. The active ingredient in Ritalin acts by manipulating naturalchemicals in the brain, which control behaviour and attention span. Modafinil, a non-addictive prescription drug, is also being used to assist

with concentration. However, the use of such stimulants remainscontroversial. Those who take them see it as a means to aid their study, orstay on top of demanding lifestyles. Others say that the use of suchmedication enhances their mental capability making them feel they canachieve more. But in reality it is doing more damage than good.


iMPULSE spends a day in Edinburgh’s parks,looking through Mother Nature’s larder

into the

Given my lack of foraging experience, I make twoearly decisions – to have a big breakfast, and to dosome research. The Wild Food School’s sixty-page‘Pocket Urban Foraging Guide’ is my manual for theday, and following an unnerving introduction it ispacked with advice. Next job is to find some foragespots. Sadly, Edinburgh’s foragers keep their favouritelocations close to their chests, so I scribble downsome places that seem suitable, pack a plastic bag anda pair of scissors and head out into the unknown. Location one on my foraging tour – the

Craiglockhart nature trail. Seems like the obviousplace to start – lots of little nooks and crannies, andplantlife everywhere. Soon I think I spy somethingfrom my guide. It looks like Chickweed, which is,apparently, ‘a star salad veggie’. But before I caninvestigate, a pair of Labradors amble up and ‘do theirbusiness’ all over my potential crop. With Morn-ingside’s canines seemingly in league against me, I cutmy losses and move on.I arrive at my second location, The Meadows, and

find that it really isn’t the kind of place a man can goforaging, as it’s full of Ultimate Frisbee players andaggressive cyclists. I look around, but there’s nothingof note, so I move on. What I need is somewhere slightly more rugged.

Arthur’s Seat it is – if I can not find any wild food ona small mountain then there’s something wrong withthe world. I’m on the lookout for thistles and sorrels,great for valuable nutrition the next time you’re

WILD

Planning a wedding can make the openingceremony of the Beijing Olympics look like apiece of cake. It requires time, effort andattention to detail. You have to worry about

what the bridesmaids are going to wear, where the in-laws are going to sit, how far away Uncle John has tobe from the bar. And how are you going to pay for it all? Some

people take out a loan while others save for years.Some poor soul (the bride’s father) even has to payfor the entire thing. But occasionally you just have tofind a way round the issue of money.The truth is weddings on a budget are achievable,

and they’re good too! It doesn’t all have to be papercups and party poppers from a supermarket(although don’t rule that out). You can find a numberof ways to have a great wedding and not have to sellthe house to pay for it all. The dress is very important to the bride, unsur-

prisingly, as she can’t turn up to the wedding naked.Instead of that fabulous creation you saw in amagazine how about giving charity shops a try? Barnados have Bride By Appointment stores all

over the UK which stock end of the line designerdresses and have ex-sample stock all at a fifth of theoriginal price so you could end up getting somethingutterly gorgeous without having to spend a lot. They

Make your wedding day

perfect withoutbreaking the

bank

halfway up a mountain. Sadly, everything’s a bittrodden on, so I content myself with my first find – ahandful of fresh nettles that could make a nice tea orsoup – and head on.Buoyed by my minor success, I head to Holyrood

Park in search of more grub. A stroll through somebushes brings me to a patch of cress that resemblesan exploded window box. It looks good, it smellsgood, so I grab a handful and add it to the bag. Finally, after three hours of near-constant walking,

I find a wild food goldmine – the cycle path to St.Leonard’s. A look through the guide proves there’splenty to eat here. There’s the comically-titled HairyBittercress, nettles everywhere and plenty of otherleaves and herbs. My prize find is the three-corneredleek. It looks just like grass, but it’s actually a form ofwild chive. The aroma is pretty potent, but after a dayof foraging it smells of success. I’m feeling good. Thenit starts to rain.Jubilant, but slightly damp, I head back into town

with my carrier bag full. Then I see a squirrel runningthrough the trees. A thought runs through my head –can you forage a squirrel? Thankfully for the both ofus, it runs off before I get any closer.At home, I unload the bag, and reflect my hand-

iwork. I have plenty of salad leaves, enough chives totake down Dracula, and I’ve done more exercise inone day than I would most weeks. One thing is forsure, it was more fun than a trip to the supermarket,even though their meat can’t run away from you...

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also stock outfits for bridesmaids and the mother ofthe bride as well as tiaras, shoes and bags. The bestpart is that the money you spend goes straight tocharity too.The venue is another factor which can wreck the

budget. It does not have to be a Highland castlefavoured by pop stars. Registry offices are a costeffective choice of venue and are suitable if you wanta quieter do. If you’re looking for something a bitbigger then Holiday Inn offer a great weddingpackage for £1000. This can cater for up to 50 daytime guests, up to

120 evening guests, a private suite for the weddingceremony, a three course wedding menu and eveningentertainment as well as overnight accommodationfor the bride and groom. The only worry is turning up on time and what you

are going to wear. Another thing to think about is thekilt. This can be hired from a good kilt shop alongwith the jacket and shoes and will not blow thebudget. Use the recession to bring out the creativeside of you. For things like party favours just makethem yourself. All you need are sweets, fine nettingand narrow ribbon. For the cake you could just buy aplain one and decorate it yourself as well.By using your imagination, you can have a

stunning wedding, with a stunning price tag.

For richeror poorer?

Dinner?

Lifestyle

16 iMPULSE Summer 200916 iMPULSE Summer 2009

Edinburgh Castle is also known as one of the mosthaunted spots in the city. The castle once hostedLady Janet Douglas of Glamis, who was accused ofwitchcraft and conspiracy to murder James V. Shewas convicted and burned at the stake, with heryoung son forced to watch . Her restless spirit issaid to haunt the castle, with ‘hollow knockingsounds’ often heard at night. Another reportedghost of the castle is an unnamed prisoner who issaid to have climbed into a barrel of dung in adesperate bid for freedom. The barrel was emptiedover the battlements sending the young boy toplummet to his death on the rock face. Visitorsoften complain of feeling a push when they arestanding near the battlements.

In the dark, narrow closes and wynds of the citycentre lies an ancient underworld. Most popular isthe sinister Mary King’s Close, which is now knownas the most haunted spot in Scotland. Amid thedisease and plague of the mid 17th century, thedecision was made to quarantine the close toprevent spread of disease, leading to the myth thatplague victims were locked inside and left to die.The close was reopened and soon people reportedstrange goings-on. The most prominent ghost ofthe close is a young girl called ‘Annie’, whowanders the close. There are also reportings of amysterious old man, with a wispy grey beard anddisembodied head.

The grand palace is thought to have legions ofghostly inhabitants who still roam the palacetoday. One such ghost is that of David Rizzio,stabbed to death by the husband of Mary Queen ofScots after a suspected affair. His red bloodstainscould never be permanently removed from thepalace however hard the servants scrubbed. Theywere reported to reappear overnight, as aconsistent reminder of the sinful deed. Mary’shusband, Lord Darnley, died in suspicious circum-stances and is thought to still occupy the palace,lurking and sulking in the dark shadows.

The Greyfriars cemetery is reputedly haunted,with promotional material claiming ‘the best-docu-mented supernatural case in history’. One of theghosts is said to be George Mackenzie, in charge ofthe Covenanters’ prison in the 17th century.Mackenzie became infamous for the glee withwhich he would sentence the Covenanters to thegallows. He killed more than 18,000 people earningthe nickname ‘Bloody Mackenzie’, and his restlessspirit apparently roams the prison in the cemetery.More than 500 attacks were reported in 2006within the Greyfriars Kirkyard with most feelingsof unease apparent around the Mackenziemausoleum.

Edinburgh Castle

With its blood soaked history, whisperings of body snatching, and

ghoulish stories of disease and religious strife, Edinburgh has earned

its title as the ‘most haunted city in Europe’. Here’s our guide to the

spookiest places in the Capital

Shreekie

Holyrood Palace

Greyfriars Kirkyard

Mary King’s Close

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iMPULSE09.wordpress.com 1918 iMPULSE Summer 200918 Impulse

We don’t get much of asummer in Scotland but theshort glimmer of sun we doget allows us to venture

outdoors for once. There are surprisinglymany things you can get up to in theEdinburgh summertime and they won’tcost you a penny.

Despite living in a built-up yet beautifulcity there are still some green areas dottedaround. Princes Street Gardens offers acalm, serene haven right in the middle ofthe hustle and bustle of the town’s mainshopping street.

Arthur’s Seat also offers this completewith some ducks to feed and the Meadowsare always a fun place to visit andpeople-watch. The perfect setting for apeaceful picnic has to be the Botanic

18 Impulse

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s Blag numBer 1: the

make over

My first goal is to get a make over at a

beauty counter. I browse until the

assistant comes over. I tell her I’m

trying to find a new look but I can’t

decide what colours to use. Five

minutes of suggestive chat and I walkout of the shop with a new look!

Blag numBer 2: the

cluB guest list

My task is to get free entry into a club

by pretending I’m on the guest list. I

tell the bouncer I’m on the guest list

and give him the first name that pops

into my head. It doesn’t work but he

must be in a good mood because I getin anyway.

Blag numBer 3: Back

stage entry at a gig

My toughest challenge yet – trying to

get backstage at a gig. I tell the

bouncer that the band invited me but

he doesn’t believe it. I give up and tell

him what I’m doing but that doesn’t

help. I guess there are some thingsyou just can’t blag.

Buying your whole outfit fromPrimark. It’s okay, honestly, no-one will even know and evenif they do, who cares? You can

just be happy that you have a new outfitand they don’t.

1Ringing your friends, thenhanging up so they have to callyou back. This saves you moneyand you can also just use the

excuse that your reception went thenlaunch into the hour long conversationyou had planned, at their expense.

2If you’re going to drink, now’sthe time to lower yourexpectations. Peckham’s inNewington or Bruntsfield sells

an incredible litre of tolerable whisky forten quid, for example. We must all becheaper drunks in these hard times.

3

Play music on the street. If youneed to come up with somequick cash, take to the streetswith whatever you can get your

hands on - guitar, tambourine,Tupperware. If you can’t play it, all thebetter. Head to Princes Street and startwailing like a lunatic. Even if it soundsawful, chances are that passers by will atleast take pity and pay you to stop.

4

“Borrow” your mates clothesand never return them. Let’s behonest, we have probably alldone it by accident so why not

do it deliberately then feign surprise whenthey ask for said item back. After all, whatare friends for?

5

Collect condiments fromMcDonalds. If you go for a mealand ask for some sauces but youdon’t use them all, what’s the

point in throwing them away? Keep themin the cupboard out of sight and no oneever has to know.

6

Go skip surfing. One man’srubbish can be another man’sriches. If you pick and chooseyour dumpster carefully you can

come out on top. Bookstores usually throwtheir books out for a free read. You caneven find food if you look in the rightplaces. Just remember to make sure ithasn’t gone bad.

7

Recession

Tips

Gardens with its landscaped grounds andplenty of space to explore.

If you’re feeling slightly moreproductive remember all the museums andgalleries in the city are free to get in, as isthe Scottish Parliament. But if you preferto stay outdoors when the sun is gleaming

“The short glimmer of

sun we do get allows us to

venture outdoors for once

”

Lifestyle

perhaps Portobello Beach is the place tovisit. Admittedly not as beautiful as itonce was, the sun is kind to the beach andit’s buzzing in the summer.

For the more active of you, grab a bikeand cycle alongside the calm surroundingsof the Union Canal. In Edinburgh it runsfrom Ratho to Slateford to Fountainbridgewhere it ends at Edinburgh Quay.

Probably the most important events inthe summertime in Edinburgh are, ofcourse, the festivals and every year thereis a free festival. This year running from6th – 30th August a wide choice of showsare on offer from comedy and theatre tomusic and children’s shows, it’s a greatopportunity to enjoy the festival on abudget.

You don’t need any cash to enjoy yourcity in the summer so at that first glimmerof sunshine get the picnic basket and headoutside – make the most of the little shareof it we get!

Spend a little time

for free


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RecessionBites

necessitiesFrom the catwalk to your closet

This season’s fashion is so diversethat there is something foreveryone. The styles can beadapted to every body shape.

The 80s are making a big comeback thisseason, as are basic fashion items, so thereis no need to buy a whole new wardrobe.

One of the key looks is the shape ofyour clothes – 1980s shoulders are onceagain under the spotlight. Rounded orsharply designed shoulders are everywhereon tops, jackets and dresses – tall, sportywomen with a masculine body shape areperfect for this style. If you have theappropriate body, these clothes will makeyou look ultra-structured andultra-feminine. Stella McCartney andBalenciaga are masters of this trend, whileTopshop Unique are the high-streetoption.

A light and feminine trend is fringing, afollow-on from 2008’s flapper style.Fringing is a dominant feature of thespring/summer 2009 runways. Whethermodern and sleek, silken femininity orshowgirl burlesque, fringed dresses inparticular should be on every girl’s ‘to buy’list this summer. Alexander McQueencreated a structured fringing which isflattering around the body. Jil Sander’sfringing was long and free-flowing,whereas Alberta Ferretti’s was delicatelypretty. The appeal of fringing also owes alot to the way it moves, sopay careful attentionto buying qualityfabrics thatshimmy, shineand don’t clumptogether.

The award for the mostcomfortable summer trenddefinitely goes to harem trousers.These are perfect for a night out becauseeven if your high heels are making yourfeet ache; you are going to feel relaxed,sexy and cosy. For a perfect look puttogether a pair of Kurt Geiger lace-up highheels, harem pants, a white T-shirt and atailored black jacket. Add some accessoriesand off you go; a perfect outfit for all dayand night.

This season is also time to dig out yourbasic cotton shirt and style it up.Accessorise with low belts, shorts orleggings, a pair of boots and somejewellery – a cheap and easy way to bringyour look right up to date.

John Galliano started another amazingtrend a few years ago that everyonecopied: the nude. It is the opposite of the80s. The nude is about purity, freshnessand elegance. Sheer, creamy and beigecolours on light and smooth materialswhich look like a second skin.Many celebrities, likeJennifer Aniston, KateMoss and Lauren Conrad,have already adopted it.

After shape, the next focusis colour and one of the keycolours on the catwalk thisseason is orange. Pieces rangefrom

bold and bright to moresubdued, and whether you wear ithead-to-toe or add a splash withaccessories, colour will instantly updateyour look.

Absinthe green also featured heavily onthe spring/summer 2009 runways. Thiscolour is deliciously intoxicating andscreams both elegance and decadence.

Fashion in summer 2009 is culturedand worldly wise. If it evokes afeeling of the exotic and theadventurous, it fits with thesummer style mindset.2009 also contraststransparency andpurity with

ultra-structuredor ultra-cosy thisseason; it is a matterof choice of styles, not

of body shapes.


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Travel


Travel


offer a host of exciting activities. Coasteering is not forthe faint hearted but will give you an adrenaline kick.Make sure you try some of the other beach based activi-ties here too as it’s home to the UK’s best surf.

Travel inland and you can find Dartmoor NationalPark, which is great for walkers and artists. The EdenProject is interesting not only for those with green fin-gers; kids will love the plants and the differing climatestoo.

Wales is home to a huge amount of gorgeous beachesand magical castles. A favourite is Harlech which looksout over the sea and is a World Heritage Site. It’s possibleto travel on hundred year old railways, climb to the top ofMount Snowdon and visit the National Botanic Gardens.There is also a huge amount of adrenaline pumping activi-ties and Welsh history is rife throughout the country.

Finally we reach London, capital of England. From majortourist attractions to the weird and wonderful, there are never ashortage of things to do. Big Ben, Westminster and the LondonEye are all worth a visit, while Portobello Market and OxfordStreet will fulfill any shopper’s dreams. For those seeking culturethe Notting Hill Carnival is held every August Bank Holiday week-end and offers a colourful and exciting experience. The nightlifein London never stops and from A-list clubs to dingy bars, youwill find the perfect way to end your holiday.

So there you have it. Don’t go abroad this summer when theUK has so much to offer, each place with its own quirks and mer-its. Stay close to home and experience the real Britain.

stay in for a very reasonable price. The beaches of North Uist are soaked in history and on a beau-

tiful day, the deserted island can provide you with stunning viewsthat will simply take your breath away, especially if you take a dipin the water!

Robust causeways link North Uist to Benbecula, and take youfrom one fantastic view to another. The local campsite at Liona-cleit School parks you right next to the best white beach - justdon’t walk too far along to ‘Stinky Bay’. This is the island of amaz-ing views, friendly locals, excellent wildlife, and a great dinner ifyou head to the Dark Island hotel!

Take a journey on the West Coast railway. It’s one of the mostspectacular in the world and takes in the Glenfinnan Viaduct,silent star of the Harry Potter films.

Then head south to the Lake District which offers a wholerange of experiences, whether you want to sleep rough on the sideof a mountain or stay in a 5-Star hotel. Try climbing, walking, fellrunning, canoeing, kayaking, boating or diving. Explore the tinyvillages and market towns whilst soaking up the bustling atmos-phere.

2008 City of Culture, Liverpool, has museums which will keepyou entertained for most of the day and offer a free alternative topounding the streets of the main shopping area. The BeatlesStage on Albert Walk is a must for music fans.

Make your way down the coast where Devon and Cornwall

iMPULSE takes a whistle-stoptour of the UK and selects thebest spots to spend your hardearned cash

First up is Shetland, Scotland’s most northerly group ofislands. For those seeking music or culture, there are anumber of festivals held from May – Septemberincluding the Folk Festival, Film and Book festival, the

Johnsmas Foy and Fiddle Frenzy – a weeklong fiddle school andfestival.

Moving south, try Aviemore, part of the Cairngorms NationalPark. Here you can try skiing, snowboarding, archery or mountainbiking to name a few. It’s easily accessible from the A9 betweenPerth and Inverness.

Heading west, next is Gairloch, Wester Ross on the west coastof Scotland. A number of villages centered around Loch Gairlochoffer fishing, golfing, pony trekking and some of the best walks inScotland.

Just a short ferry hop away is the Cuillin hills and the colourfulpubs of Portree Harbour are just the tip of what the Isle of Skyehas to offer. Portree hosts an array of campsites and hostels to

Penzance

The Lake District

Our camper van

Eilean Donan Castle

UKation

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With bright, bustling streets, walledtowns, breathtaking medinas and richculture, Morocco is the perfect choice for abackpacking trip.

Fly into the vibrant Marrakesh, alsoknown as the ‘Red City’, and beoverwhelmed by the atmosphere andspectacular location, with the peaks of theAtlas Mountains rising behind the city. Alabyrinth of winding streets are waiting tobe explored and you will be rewardedwhen you reach the souks that are a focalpoint of Moroccan life.

From Marrakesh, travel south-west tothe less touristy destination of Taroudant.This walled town, which has also beencalled ‘the little Marrakesh’, is anauthentic, quiet, charming location to visitafter the manic Marrakesh.

For sunseekers, take a trip north up theAtlantic coast, taking in picturesque beachtowns perfect for kite surfing andwindsurfing, or for just laying back withthe sun on your face.

Before heading back to Marrakesh, taketime to get acquainted with Morocco’smore lively side; either visit Tangiers withits vibrant nightlife and NorthAfrican/Mediterranean feel or the famouscity of Fes – the largest Medieval Islamiccity in the world.

With the euro so strong, savvytravellers are looking for alternativelocations, and with 12 Dirhams to thePound, you’d be mad not to go.

If you are seeking warm climates andsandy beaches this summer on a budget,why not try island-hopping in Thailand?

While getting there can be slightlyexpensive, on arrival your money will gofar. Those on a budget can get by on justunder £10 a day at the major beachresorts and islands. This covers food,accommodation, transport and even a fewcocktails.

For a more relaxing time, indulge in oneof the many spa treatments available andtreat yourself from as little as £2 formassages and pedicures on the beach!

If you’re travelling abroad this summerand want to avoid the obvious touristtraps, a trip to Lithuania could be theanswer.

Experience authentic eastern Europeanculture on a budget at this uniquedestination. Its two main cities, Kaunasand Vilnius, offer cheap accommodationand beautiful surroundings.

Despite losing the capital city crown toVilnius in 1918, Kaunas has lost none ofits appeal. Known for having the largeststudent population in all of Lithuania, it’sno surprise that Kaunas has one of thebest clubbing scenes, so your evenings willbe spent on the dance floor.

If you need a quiet place to recover thenext day, head to one of the city’s manymuseums. There is a vast selection,ranging from the traditional art galleriesto the extreme Devil’s Museum.

Kaunas is great if you are on a tightbudget, with a night in a city centre hotelcosting from as little as £27.

A short drive from Kaunas is the city’scurrent capital, Vilnius. Voted Europe’sCulture Capital 2009, the city is aneccentric mix of architectural styles. Youcan find traditional, conservativemuseums next to controversial statues ofmodern art all in the same place.

Vilnius’s unique culture clashes arewhat make this city stand out. Hotels startat £28 per night so it’s also cheaper thanmost other capital cities.

A city where money definitely does talk.But for those of us with not very muchof it, fear not, as we have the answer onhow to get the most out of your stay inone of the most fascinating cities in theworld.

Stay away from the main touristspots! The prices are bumped up in themost popular areas. In places like SoHoor Little Italy, there are fantasticauthentic restaurants which charge halfthe price of those in the centre.

Ideally, you want to stay in centralManhattan to experience New York to itsfullest. The cheapest way to do so is in ahostel, which is roughly £20 per personper night, or £50 for a private room.With so much to see you’ll spend next tono time there.

But first you have to get there. Thebest option for flights is to book earlyand, if possible, fly to JFK. It’s nearest toManhattan and will save a long andexpensive commute there and back.Once you are in the city, walk or use thesubway if you have far to go. Anunlimited day ticket is only £5.

Sight seeing packages are availableonline from various companies in NewYork. These will give you access to all themajor sights. Alternatively, you can buyindividual tickets online before you gofor less than you would on the door. Andif you plan to attend any sportingevents, tickets are cheaper on the streetthan through ticket outlets.

Don’t miss the markets on the island ofKoh Samui, also home to many shops, barsand restaruants. The more adventuroustraveller can visit Koh Tao Island, one ofThailand’s key snorkelling and divinglocations with crystal clear waters andfascinating sea coral.

At night relax and unwind on the beach,watching the sunset with a cocktail. A visitto the island of Koh Phangan, where theyplay host to the world-famous full moonparties, is the ultimate Thai experience.


“A visit to Koh Phangan for

the famous full moon parties is the

ultimate Thai experience

”

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Around

on £80...*the world

* Well, nearly

New York

Save your money with our guide to the topdestinations this summer

Lithuania Thailand Morocco


In February 2008, Mark Beaumontfinished an epic journey cyclingaround the world in 194 days and 17hours, smashing the previous world

record by more than 80 days. However, heis not driven by world records, fame oreven cycling. This is a world record holderwith a difference.

After reading an article in the DundeeCourier about a man who had cycled fromJohn O’Groats to Land’s End, Beaumont,then aged 11, was inspired to attemptsome very ambitious challenges. Thefollowing year he undertook a 145-milecycle across Scotland, and two years latercompleted the 1,038 mile John O’Groatsto Land’s End cycle, raising £3,000 for

numerous charities. But this was justthe beginning.

After graduating in Economics andPolitics from Glasgow University, heenthusiastically set out on variouschallenges and a new career as an‘adventurer’. His life-changing momentand the catalyst for more extraordinarychallenges came during an internship inBoston.

“Originally I wanted to be a fundmanager, but only because I fancied themoney. I had no idea what they actuallydid. During my internship in Boston Isaw guys in positions I had aspired towho were ten years older than me and itwasn’t how I imagined it would be.

“This gave me a fresh look at things andmade me ask myself, ‘Where are yourpassions? Where are your ambitions?’ andI decided to go for it. As a career I want tobring endurance events to the screen in avery personal and intimate way, notsurvival programmes – but the real deal –I want to be the all-round athlete.”

There is clearly an audience forultra-endurance expeditions, as hisjourney was watched by over three millionviewers on the BBC documentary seriesThe Man Who Cycled the World, which wasnominated for a Scottish Bafta award.

His journey round the world was notwithout setbacks. He was knocked off hisbike on three occasions and mugged on

Beau Mondee man who cycled the world


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If you are looking for a way to keepyourself active over the summerthen Edinburgh is a great place totake up a sport which is a little bitdifferent

Surfing

Summer Sports

Go surfing on the east coast and take advantage ofthe beaches and waves on offer. Great fun and a greatlaugh, grab your mates and go with a company foryour tuition and your kit. Try c2csurfschool.com forall your needs.

Head to Ratho for a spot of climbing – the indoor wallis the biggest in Europe and offers classes forbeginners. Once you have got to grips with thetechniques and the shoes, you will be on your way toclimbing success.

Whatever the weather, mountain biking can allowanyone to get out into the country and experiencesome fantastic sights. Located in the heart ofScotland, the popular Glentress Forest covers bikerental and lessons. Visit thehubintheforest.co.uk formore info.

On a sunny day, the Meadows are filled with teamsthat are taking the good old game of Frisbee seriously.Alex Robertson, president of the EdinburghUniversity Ultimate Frisbee Club, said: “Ultimate is anamazing sport because it incorporates thephysical fitness of all team sports, fast thinking, skilland coordination.”

Students from Edinburgh Uni can join the team, oryou could just round up a group of friends. To get acopy of the rules and play, visit ukultimate.com.

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another. Despite this, Mark completed hiscircumnavigation, finishing at the Arc deTriomphe in Paris having cycled through20 countries and covered over 18,000miles.

It wasn’t all plain sailing in getting hiscareer as an adventurer off the ground,but, as he explains, his determinationshone through to get the ball rolling.

“Unfortunately there is no magic wand.It takes hard work to get your first projectoff the ground and get people to buy intoyour dream. I spent three or four monthsdoing full-time admin jobs. I would workinto the night on the logistical planningfor the world cycle and the training. Towork and back, I was running a total of ahalf marathon every day. It was prettydemoralizing at times but luckily I got mybreak.”

Mark required every ounce ofdetermination he could muster to raisethe tens of thousands of pounds heneeded to kick off his world cycle.

“I was flat broke and working very hardto get sponsorship. It took eight monthsof getting turned away before I got myfirst capital sponsorship, which was £500.It’s a balance between making the most ofopportunities and making sure you areliving your own ambitions and dreams.”

After such hard work he was under noillusions as to how he would make hisimpact on the world as an adventurer.

“If you are going to build a career in thissort of thing you have to make a bit of asplash first time and I thought to myselfthat there is nothing bigger than theworld.”

Despite cycling being a large part of hislife to date, Mark has no intention to limithimself to the one sport.

“I’ve never had any ambitions to cycleas a career in any of the tours. My mainreason for cycling round the world was forthe journey which it involved.”

“My main reason for cycling

around the world was for the

journey which it involved

Smashing a world record is the averagecompetitive sportsperson’s dream and iswhat drives them to push themselves tothe limit. Fame and fortune can be a hugedriving force, too. But with Mark, itcouldn’t be further from the truth.

“It wasn’t about beating the next man.The fact there are now three peopleplanning to try to break my record isgreat. It is what the record is there for andit is not going to make me want to do itagain. I am not doing this to be famous; Iam living a personal ambition and bydoing so it can also be beneficial to otherpeople. It is my hope and ambition not tobe pigeon-holed in any one sport. I’d liketo try my hand at different challenges.”

Throughout the years Mark has placeda high importance on raising money forvarious charities while at the same timeliving out his dream as an ‘adventurer’. Awide range of charities have benefitedfrom his efforts including Save theChildren, Tusk Trust and CommunityAction Nepal (CAN).

Whilst glory is bestowed on Mark forhis amazing achievements, he is quick toacknowledge the invaluable support of theteam behind him, including aphysio-therapist, masseuse, nutritionist,sports doctor and others. Most importantof these is his mother, Una, whom hedescribes as his “first point of contact”and “base camp” during the world cycle.She has been an ever-present influencesince the days when he first dreamt of acareer as an adventurer.

This adventurer is truly unique and hisachievements will take some beating.Fellow cyclist Lance Armstrong called hisautobiography, It’s Not About the Bike. Thisphrase could not be more applicable toMark Beaumont’s philosophy. Hisrefreshing enthusiasm and drive will serveas an inspiration to many who try toemulate his success.

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GREAT INTRODUCTORY OFFERS FOR STUDENTS COVERING EDINBURGH,MID & EAST LOTHIAN:£22 an hour for lessons£200 for 10 hours and receive a free hour on top (saving you around £44)T: 07989054945 M: 07753233860

Last LapThis year’s F1 British Grand Prix is sure tobe a historic one. If everything goes toplan, it will be the last race to be held atthe sport’s spiritual home of Silverstonebefore Donington takes over the mantle in2010. For the first time in over 20 years,the race will be held away from the famousNorthamptonshire circuit. With this inmind, Impulse takes a look back at five ofthe most memorable British Grand Prixmoments provided by the track in recentdecades.

87After a pit-stop left Nigel Manselltrailing his Williams team-mate

and championship rival, Nelson Piquet, byhalf a minute, he set off on one of thegreatest Formula One comebacks of alltime. With 28 laps remaining, Mansellbegan gaining on the Brazilian and, withonly a few laps to go, performed a riskybut brilliant overtaking manoeuvre atStowe corner, which would ensure that hetasted victory in the British Grand Prix.

91While Nigel Mansell won the 1991British Grand Prix, his

championship rival Ayrton Senna ran outof petrol on the last lap of the race. As ifMansell’s third victory at a British GrandPrix wasn’t memorable enough, whencoming back round the track on his victorylap, he stopped and offered the strandedSenna a lift back to the pit lane on theback of his car. It was a remarkable gesturewhich helped to dispel any rumours of arift between the two drivers.

99Michael Schumacher breaking hisleg has to be considered a

significant, if painful, moment. Theaccident changed the course of the titlerace and some would argue that he wouldhave retired with eight titles had it notbeen for this. On the first lap the race wasstopped due to cars stalling on the grid.The German, however, not aware of this,carried on with the race, and at Stowecorner his brakes failed, causing him tocarry straight on into the tyre wall.

08Lewis Hamilton’s win last year inhis title-winning campaign is an

iconic Silverstone moment. In a wet race,Hamilton made a dramatic start fromfourth on the grid, leaping up to secondand nearly crashing into his team-mateHeikki Kovalainen. While others lost theircool in the tricky conditions, most notablytitle rival Massa, the Briton showed hisquality by winning the race by 68 seconds– the biggest winning margin since 1995.

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98Winning a race while in the pitlane might seem strange, but in

1998 Schumacher did just that. Afterlapping a car under safety car conditionshe was handed a stop/go penalty with twolaps remaining. Due to a delay in issuingthe penalty, Ferrari had him serve it onthe final lap, causing him to cross the linebefore reaching his pitbox. Schumacherescaped further punishment because itwas decided that the penalty had beenissued incorrectly.

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Impulse Magazine '09