Ten Questions: Heather Levy

Published on Friday 12 June 2009 10:10

Heather Levy, 48, lives in Oxgangs and is project co-ordinator at Oxgangs Care

1 What is your earliest memory of Edinburgh? Standing at the window on tip-toes in bare feet on the warm under-floor heated tiles of Capelaw Court, which is no longer there. Our flat faced on to Colinton Mains Park and in Oxgangs we got snow. I was fascinated watching the snow dance in the park. Now I realise it was a blizzard.

2 What are your memories of school? I attended Oxgangs Primary, my brothers and I were the only Catholics that attended so we were constantly called names. Thankfully things have changed.

3 Where is your favourite place in Edinburgh and why? Standing outside Pentlands Community Centre, if you look north you have a wonderful view of the Pentland Hills to remind you of how small we are in this world and if you look south you can see the whole city and on a clear day over to Fife.

4 What are the best things about Edinburgh? The people, it is one of the few major cities that you can walk along the main street and always meet someone you know.

5 What would you change about the city? I would like to see more of the city centre festivals and attractions getting out in the community and into different parts of Edinburgh so more of the locals could enjoy them.

6 Describe a perfect Edinburgh day/night out. A sunny day spent in the Botanics with a picnic and then up to the High Street during the festival and if the children are with me, Jimmy Chung's, if not the Filling Station.

7 Which sports interest you? I watch the tennis but enjoy walking as long as it's dry.

8 What was your most embarrassing moment? When I was in labour with my first child, which went on for nearly two days, I kept falling asleep between my contractions. To inspire me, the midwife brought in a full-length mirror and put it between my legs to show me the baby's head crowning.

9 What is your greatest achievement? My children, Hayley, 27, Martyn, 26, Owen, 19, Kirsty, 16, Caitlin, nine. Also, creating and recording my community's Living Memory archive 'Village in the Sky'.

10 Sum up Edinburgh in three words. Vibrant, friendly, beautiful