DecJan2017

December 2016/January 2017

THE DELL DIRECTORY Your local community magazine & business directory.

• What’s On • Clubs & Classes • Prize Crossword • Monthly Recipe • Library Information • Local Businesses

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Let Moo and Boo take the hassle out of choosing presents. I create beautiful bespoke letter tile frames for any occasion.

Prices start from as little as ÂŁ15 and I can deliver free to the local area or post to anywhere in the world.

Check out www.facebook.com/ mooandbooframedesigns or contact me on pauladonaghue@yahoo.com for more details.

To advertise call Ann on 07843 449441

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Inside this issue Pets: Why it's important to socialise your puppy..........9 Health: Six tips for surviving xmas...........................10 Finance: Different types of debt and how to deal with them.....................................12 Christmas Postal Dates...........................................13 What's On............................................................18 The Life List...........................................................21 Clubs & Classes.............................................. 26/27 Book Review: The Gift of a Good Book...................28 Homes Interiors: Declutter for the New Year.............30 Recipe: Mincemeat and Apple Mini Strudels............32 Gardening: Fighting the Frosts................................33 Technology Review: New Year, New Tech, New You...............................34 Useful Information.................................................36 Crossword & Last Month's Solution..........................38 Children's Page.....................................................39 Library Information.......................................... 40/41 Index of Advertisers................................................42 Welcome to the Dec 16 - Jan 17 issue.

With Christmas only less than 4 weeks away and to help you get into that festive spirit I have listed some local events for you on the 'What's On' page. This year we see the return of CVE group 'Christmas on the Corner' see page 8 for more information on this event. Please take a look through the magazine we have some great gift ideas for those who love a good read see page 28 and some great Health tips on 'Surviving Christmas' we also have a tasty recipe for you to try on page 32.

I would like to wish all readers and customers a very Happy Christmas. Thank you for your continued support in reading The Dell Directory this year and supporting our local businesses. I will be back again in January preparing the February magazine for you!

Ann, Editor Why not visit our website www.thedelldirectory.co.uk or if you would like to advertise Tel 07843 449 441 or via Email: thedelldirectoryedinburgh@gmail.com Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publisher cannot accept responsible for loss, damage oromission caused by error in the printing of an advertisement. The Dell Directory does not endorse any advertising material that appears in this publication. Adverts are accepted on the understanding that descriptions of goods and services are fair and accurate. All material is accepted for publication on the understanding that it is copyright free. The Dell Directory accepts no liability for any subsequent copyright issues. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the consent of the publisher. Publisher: The Dell Directory. Editor: Ann Brydon.

Please think of the environment when you have finished reading the magazine and recycle.

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32 SOME INFO ABOUT US: THE DELL DIRECTORY ADVERTISING & ACCOUNT ENQUIRIES: Tel: Ann on 07843 449 441 Email: thedelldirectoryedinburgh@gmail.com ARTWORK & DESIGN ENQUIRIES: Tel: Tony on 07595 711256 Email: tony.haughey@sky.com COMMUNITY EVENTS/ COMMUNITY NEW ENQUIRIES: Email: dellcommunityevents@gmail.com NEXT ISSUE DATES: DECEMBER 2016 Copy deadline for artwork: 13th January.

Distribution Dates: 3rd, 4th and 5th February.

DISTRIBUTION: This magazine is distributed to 4,500 homes in the Colinton and Craiglockhart areas every month.

There are 10 issues a year with two joint issues in the Summer (Jul/Aug ) & Winter (Dec/Jan).

The Dell Directory is distributed in the following areas:Colinton Mains, Dreghorn, Redford, Bonaly, Campbell Park, Woodhall, Torphin, Spylaw, Pentland and Craiglockhart.

Copies will also be available at our local Libraries Colinton and Oxgangs and some local shops. If you would like to receive a copy please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can also view the magazine online at www.thedelldirectory.co.uk.

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Join us for our very first Christmas at The Cottage Bistro and Wine Bar Now taking bookings from the 5-24th of December for your festive celebration.

Whatever the numbers we have you covered!

Introducing our afternoon tea menu from 2pm-5pm Minimum of 24 hours notice required prior to booking.

Limited availability daily.

Colinton’s new hot spot Call 0131 441 2587 to book your reservation

IAN HODGSON & CO PAINTERS & DECORATORS Established 1980

We offer a complete decorating service.

All our tradesmen have City & Guilds and are fully insured.

For a quotation without obligation from your local decorator Phone 0131 441 6524 Where Quality Counts!

8 Fernielaw Avenue Edinburgh EH13 0EE Tel: 0131 441 6524 Mobile: 07876377738 Email: hodgson.ian@btinternet.com Website: www.ianhodgsonpaintersanddecorators.co.uk

To advertise call Ann on 07843 449441

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MARC HORSBURGH We provide FREE quotations We provide FREE quotations All major debit and credit cards accepted We provide FREE quotations All major debit and credit cards accepted We provide FREE quotations Please contact us for more information All major debit and credit cards accepted Please contact us for more information 07712 654676 / 0131 669 5906 All major debit and credit cards accepted Please contact us for more information 07712 654676 / 0131 669 5906 info@smartheatingedinburgh.co.uk Please contact us for more information 07712 654676 / 0131 669 5906 info@smartheatingedinburgh.co.uk www.smartheatingedinburgh.co.uk 07712 654676 / 0131 669 5906 info@smartheatingedinburgh.co.uk www.smartheatingedinburgh.co.uk info@smartheatingedinburgh.co.uk www.smartheatingedinburgh.co.uk www.smartheatingedinburgh.co.uk

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SELLS: HADDOCK, COD, HERRING, KIPPERS, LEMON SOLE, TUNA, MACKEREL, TROUT, HALIBUT, SALMON

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Why It’s Important To Socialise Your Puppy Socialising your puppy is important to its general development, and encourages a calm, confident and friendly personality that’s accepting of change and new situations. It also makes life with a dog easier for you, and helps with general training.

Vary the activities You’ll retain your puppy’s interest by introducing plenty of variety, such as meeting new people and other animals in different environments, but take care not to overload their nervous system.

Keep hold of your puppy at first when you meet new people, letting them gently approach your dog with a small treat. This will make it a constructive experience for the dog, and they’ll retain positive associations.

A few activities to try It’s also worth remembering that until your puppy has its first vaccination, you may

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PETS need to avoid certain situations, but here are a few suggestions for places to go and people to meet once it is safe: • Busy, noisy streets as well as quiet countryside areas.

• Young and older children (under close supervision).

• Paddling in the sea.

• Meeting a variety of dogs of all ages, shapes and sizes.

• People on motorbikes, cycles and skateboards.

The noise of household appliances can scare a young puppy, so it’s a good idea to expose them to the vacuum cleaner and washing machine very carefully, in short stages.

Dog training classes are a great way to meet different dogs, and also provide a good support network for you. http://blog.petplan.co.uk/01/2016/advice/dogtraining-socialising-puppy-puppies-with-peopleother-animals-canines/

To advertise call Ann on 07843 449441

By Ann Haldon

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Health

By Alison Runham www.alison.runham.co.uk

Six Tips for Surviving Christmas on several factors, so no set amount guarantees you’re under the legal drink-drive limit (and Scotland’s is much lower than the rest of the UK’s). Any amount of alcohol affects judgement and reactions.

For many of us, Christmas is a special time to spend with loved ones, brightening the darkest days of the year. Unfortunately, though, it can be fraught with stress, family tensions and too many food or alcohol-based temptations.

So how can you survive Christmas?

1. Be Prepared Start adding a few Christmas items to each shopping list now, saving you the stress of a massive, last-minute shop. Only the freshest items need to be purchased just beforehand. Bake, prepare and freeze as much as possible in advance.

2. Go Easy on the Alcohol Alcohol is a calorie-heavy appetite stimulant linked to serious health conditions, which lowers inhibitions and affects judgment - so beware voicing long-standing gripes at Christmas and plan your drinking, ensuring you don’t exceed the recommended weekly maximum of 14 units (now applicable to men and women).

Never drink on an empty stomach and match each alcoholic drink with a soft one to help your body handle alcohol’s toxins and dehydrating effects.

Alcohol absorption depends

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3. Remember: Christmas Is About Everyone Try to resolve family conflicts (or agree a temporary truce) before the big day. Consider what everyone (including yourself) wants most from Christmas, but remind them compromises will be required. Try to find a few things everyone can enjoy together.

Many Christmas adverts portray the exhausted woman, rushing around while everyone else relaxes, as the norm. Don’t let it be. Ensure everyone helps.

4. Be Shrewd with Food Keep a few quick-to-prepare items in stock to feed unexpected visitors, but don’t buy huge quantities of food.

You can always top up later.

Food poisoning isn’t festive, so ensure all cooks wash and dry their hands. Frozen foods should be properly defrosted and immediately refrigerated or cooked thoroughly (particularly large poultry or joints of meat).

Keep raw foods separate from cooked food.

Leave enough room in the fridge for cold air to circulate and don’t leave buffets out for more than 4 hours.

Healthy festive food: • Removing skin and avoiding butter basting removes around a third of your turkey’s calories and

half its fat.

• Choose low-salt gravy mixes and hide the saltshaker.

• Swap: o sausage meat for vegetarian sausage mix o goose fat for healthy oils o traditional mince pies for filo or open-top versions o brandy butter or cream for low-fat custard or crème fraiche o crisps, salted nuts and chocolate for plain popcorn, rice cakes, pretzels, unsalted nuts and homemade chocolate-covered fruit (preferably using dark chocolate)

5. Stay Festive Fit

An alarming amount of Christmas hospital admissions are due to excessive or unhealthy eating. Include some ‘normal meals’, avoiding excess sugar and salt. Keep portion size sensible and stop eating just as you start to feel full.

Ensure you get a good night’s sleep whenever possible, and stay active: a walk burns calories and the daylight and fresh air will help you feel physically and mentally well.

6. Finally... Keep It in Proportion Christmas Day is only one day; most festivities are centred on just one week out of 52. If the turkey’s burnt, laugh; it’s not what matters most. Keep celebrations simple, focusing on what makes you and your loved ones happy. It’s your Christmas. Relax and enjoy it!

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Finance

By Ann Haldon

Different Types Of Debt And How To Deal With Them home could be repossessed, so this is the number one priority debt above all others.

The temptation to borrow money is all around us. Despite the credit crunch, we still live in a consumerist society where credit card companies extend your limit unprompted, and payday lenders target those least able to pay extortionate interest rates.

The fact that many people need to borrow simply to pay their bills and meet the everincreasing cost of living means it can become draining and stressful just to stay afloat.

When you owe money to numerous companies, it can be difficult to know how best to deal with your debts - the pressure becomes overwhelming when you’re simply trying to pay them off.

To help you get more control and understand the ramifications of failing to repay, here’s a little more detail about the various forms of secured and unsecured borrowing.

SECURED LOANS This type of loan is secured on an asset, such as the mortgage on your home. If you fall behind on these repayments your

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Repossession is a worst case scenario, however, and most lenders will initially be open to negotiation.

They won’t want to lose you as a customer, but you do need to be proactive about communicating with them, and demonstrate that you take the situation seriously.

There are many debt charities in the UK that will help you work out a budget if you need guidance in this area. It’s important to let your lender know an amount you can afford to repay, and provide them with a copy of your budget to back it up.

UNSECURED LOANS

Credit cards and store cards The UK’s total credit card debt has risen to £65.5 billion in 2016, according to the Money Charity, equating to £2,426 per household.¹ Making the minimum repayment for too long causes a rapid decline into unmanageable debt, particularly if you also have other borrowing to contend with.

Personal loans Personal loans from the bank will have a fixed rate of interest so you know how much you’ll need to pay each month, and the exact duration of the loan.

In many respects these loans

are easier to manage than credit cards, which come with a temptation to build up more debt over time. Personal loans are generally offered for larger purchases, however, such as a car or refurbishing a kitchen for example.

Payday loans Payday loans are targeted at those who need small amounts to carry them to the end of the month, and are often used to pay bills and meet other liabilities. The danger of these types of loan lies in the extremely high rates of interest applied.

If you know that you’ll be able to pay the loan off when it’s due, they may be a good last resort, but missing a payment will very quickly send you into a debt spiral that is difficult to escape.

Mail order catalogues Catalogue companies tend to attract new customers with introductory low interest rates or no interest initially.

Repayments are made over a specified period – usually 20 or 40 weeks, and if you don’t fall behind, using a mail order catalogue can be a flexible way to spend.

The problem is that if you miss even one payment, a higher interest rate will come into effect which can be as much as 40% APR. Other charges will also be applied by the company, including late payment fees and a charge for chasing the debt. ¹http://themoneycharity.org.uk/ money-statistics/

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Christmas Postal Dates LAST RECOMMENDED SERVICE POSTING DATES

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD (formerly Airmail) Saturday 3rd December Wednesday 7th December

Africa, Middle East Asia, Cyprus, Far East (including Japan), Eastern Europe Thursday 8th December Caribbean, Central & South America Saturday 10th December Australia, Greece, New Zealand Wednesday 14th December Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Poland Thursday 15th December Canada, Finland, Sweden, USA Friday 16th December Austria, Denmark, Iceland, Netherlands Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland Saturday 17th December

Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg

LAST RECOMMENDED SERVICE POSTING DATES

UK Inland Services Tuesday 20th December Wednesday 21st December Thursday 22nd December Friday 23rd December

To advertise call Ann on 07843 449441

2nd Class & Royal Mail Signed For速 2nd Class 1st Class & Royal Mail Signed For速 1st Class Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed速 Special Delivery Saturday Guaranteed速

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The Sick Kids Friends Foundation’s Carols for Christmas concert will take place at the Parish Church of St Cuthbert on Wednesday 14 of December at 6.30pm.

It will be a lovely evening of carols and Christmas cheer, with children, choirs and a brass band taking part. The service will be around an hour long and we will be hosting festive drinks and nibbles afterwards (included in the ticket price), with a chance to purchase a raffle ticket and win a prize from our Gift Arch.

Tickets cost ÂŁ15, and all money raised on the night will help transform the experiences of children and young people in hospital.

Please contact the team on 0131 668 4949 or email hello@edinburghsickkids. org for further details or to purchase tickets. Tickets can also be purchased via Eventbrite using this link https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/ e/carols-for-christmas- tickets-29046464758

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High quality timber garden products, log stores and wood fuels

Garden Sheds Garages/Workshops

Summerhouses

Children’s Play Houses

Dog Kennels Garden Stores

Zest Garden Furniture

Woodchip Log Stores Full Range Garden Furniture Firewood Logs and Wood Fuel Softwoods, Hardwoods, Kiln Dried Log Chests

Log & Tool Stores

Sold in small bags or giant bags

Garden Mulch Our New Polytunnel Drying Facility

Delivered to your door using small delivery trucks for easy access Kindling, Firelighters & Range of Briquettes

Open weekdays 9am till 5pm and Sat & Sun 11am till 3pm Specialists in High Quality Timber Products and Wood Fuels at Competitive Prices For comprehensive information on all of our products please visit our website

www.champfleurieestate.co.uk

Phone 01506 847999 - E-mail sales@champfleurie.co.uk - Champfleurie Estate, Linlithgow, EH49 6NB

To advertise call Ann on 07843 449441

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ABSOLUTE UPHOLSTERY

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Traditional and Modern Upholstery Service

Are your favourite chairs or sofas in need of a makeover?

FROM SMALL REPAIRS TO COMPLETE REFURBISHMENT WIDE RANGE OF FABRICS AVAILABLE PORTFOLIO OF WORK AVAILABLE COMPETITIVE PRICES 15 YEARS EXPERIENCE FREE ESTIMATES

0131 662 6644 07727 224 072 Email : info@absoluteupholstery.biz www.absoluteupholstery.biz

50 Relugas Place, Edinburgh, EH9 2PY

smcjoinery@hotmail.co.uk Telephone 0131 466 3494 ...............................................................................

Supply and fit kitchens Maintenance/ letting work All joinery work undertaken ●Kitchens ●Windows ●Doors ●Skirting ●Facings ●Ceilings ●Roofs ●Decking ●Fencing ●Double Glazing ........................................................

Free estimate All trades supplied Fully Insured Oxgangs Farm Loan Edinburgh EH13 9QD

LOOKING FOR A SMALLER ADVERT? Advertise here from only £49.00 for this advert size for 1 month.

Mono and Colour options available.

For further information on prices call Ann on 07843 449 441 16

Dedicate a light in memory of a loved one at our Lights to Remember event. Join us in the hospice grounds for an evening of carols, reflection and festive refreshments, with Holy Trinity Handbells and a local choir.

Thursday 8 December 2016 6.30pm Marie Curie Hospice, Edinburgh Frogston Road West Edinburgh EH10 7DR To RSVP or to find out more phone 0131 470 2290 or email fiona.bushby@mariecurie.org.uk Charity Reg No. SC038731

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Computer Help!

PC Repair

At Your Home or Small Business Your Local Friendly Computer Expert        

PC running slow?

Computer won’t start?

Think you have a virus?

Need some hardware or software installed?

Problems with your WiFi? Data recovery Web design (non e-commerce) Tutoring

£30 for 1st hour, then £15 per half hour for Repairs.

Many jobs charged at fixed rate, just call for a quote.

NO FIX - NO FEE!

Please call for info on Web design and Tutoring

Call Colin on: 0131 441 7764 or 07948 350 577 www.colintonpcs.co.uk

Fr no-ob ee lig QUO ation TES

To advertise call Ann on 07843 449441

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WHAT’S ON ON YOUR DOORSTEP Marie Curie Hospice, Fairmilehead Edinburgh – Lights to Remember Thursday 8th December at 6.30pm. Join us for an evening of carols, reflection and refreshments with Holy Trinity Handbells and a local choir and dedicate a light to a loved.

Pentland Community Centre - Pantomime‘Dick Whittington’ Friday 9th December at 6pm (doors open at 5.45pm), tickets £6 for adults and £3.50 for children. Price includes FREE interval refreshments, book early to avoid disappointment, for more information call the centre on: 0131 445 2871.

Water of Leith Conservation Centre – Seasonal Crafts Session Sunday 11th December 2pm to 4pm, booking essential. Join us to make some seasonal decorations using natural materials. Activities will be suitable for adults and children. £4 per adult/child members £2.

Colinton Community Council (Public Meeting) Our next public meeting will be on Tuesday 13th December at 7.30pm in Colinton Bowling Club. All Colinton residents are very welcome to attend. The Agenda and minutes of last meetings can be found at www.colintoncc.org.uk/minutes.

Colinton Village Events – Christmas on The Corner Thursday 15th December 6.30pm to 8.30pm, The Dell Room, Colinton Parish Church (Santa Procession on Dell Road from 6.20pm).

St. Johns Colinton Mains Parish Church – Christmas Services Sunday 18th December at 11am – Christmas Family Carol Service Candelight Family Service ‘The First Christmas’ – Saturday 24th December at 6pm

HERE THERE EVERYWHERE Short Christmas Family Service – Sunday 25th December at 11am Welcoming in the New Year – a short Family Service – Sunday 1st January at 11am

CLOSER TO HOME Kings Theatre, 2 Leven Street Edinburgh – Pantomime Book your tickets on sale until Sunday 15th January. Allan, Andy and Grant lead the cast in another unmissable King’s Panto ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’. Some seats still available call to book 0131 529 6000.

The Edinburgh Santa Run Fun Run or Walk – Ross Bandstand, West Princes Street Gardens Sunday 11th December at 11am. Santa Fun Run & Walk is a great way to enjoy time with family, friends and work colleagues to help us continue granting the very special Wishes for children who are living with a life threatening illness throughout Scotland. Adults £15 (12yrs and over); includes FREE Santa Suit and medal to keep Juniors £7.50 (5yrs to 11yrs); includes FREE Santa Suit and medal to keep. Children £2.50 (2yrs to 4yrs); includes a FREE Elf Hat and medal to keep. Infants FREE. Dogs FREE.

FURTHER A FIELD Hopetoun House, South Queensferry EH30 9SL – Crafty Christmas Creations Get hands on at Hopetoun and create some beautiful and unique handmade decorations using natural materials.

Crafts available for all ages, a great way for the whole family to get into the festive spirit. £5.00 per person booking essential. For more information about this event call the ranger service at Hopetoun on 0131 319 3956.

These details were correct at the time of printing but are subject to change. Please check directly with libraries.

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Professional Haircare Shop

Tues Students & Seniors Discount 20% Free on Street Parking Available Ladies, Gents and Kids Welcome Free WIFI Online booking

SALON

STOCKIST

4 Craiglockhart Road North, Edinburgh EH14 1BU

0131 444 2727 www.kimodonnell.co.uk

To advertise call Ann on 07843 449441

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The Life List Vive la Resolution!

(Even the ones doomed to failure.)

Get fit. Is that Wii Fit, or actually fit? As in visiting a gym or a footpath? You could try the free WiFi challenge (cafes don’t count!) and with any luck it’ll be a hundred yards to your next hotspot.

Eat more healthily. Right after you’ve finished off all the food you over-ordered for Christmas and New Year. Apart from the fruit and veg that died of neglect.

Drink less. Clearly, we’re talking happy juice here (or sad juice, depending). If cutting back were as simple as writing down the intent in the throes of a hangover, you’d have accomplished that LAST year. Deduct points if your resolution

list serves as a coaster to save getting lager on the tablecloth.

Be kinder to my fellow human beings. You could try smiling at passers-by when jogging to the nearest Wi-Fi spot. But you’re more likely to stress about trying to be good and then have a meltdown in a shopping queue. Even when it’s online.

Spend less time on the web. That’s a good quote to tweet or to add to your new blog.

Alternatively, you could spend less time on the web in restaurants, at christenings and while having a conversation.

Keep up my resolutions. If you’ve created a spreadsheet, added activity symbols, subtasks and milestone dates...none of that counts.

Spend less money on unimportant things.

Like resolutions, perhaps? Or unachievable goals? Or attempts at seasonal behavioural modification?

Above all, keep your resolve in 2017!

By Derek Thompson www.alongthewritelines.blogspot.co.uk

To advertise call Ann on 07843 449441

21

Scott Findlay Plumbing & Heating Engineers 0131 669 9993

• Energy efficiency • Landlords service • Powerflushing

Local, long established. Our clients are with us for life and we constantly strive to ensure that this remains the case. Please call us for advice/free estimates.

FAMILY BUSINESS ESTABLISHED FOR OVER 25 YEARS Scott Findlay Plumbing & Heating Ltd, 30 Kekewich Avenue EH7 6TY. www.scottfindlay.co.uk

ectory

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• Central heating & boiler specialist • Boiler servicing/repairs • All plumbing works

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COLINTON HAIR DESIGN LADIES, GENTS & CHILDREN WELCOME Now specialising in the latest technology of 100% human hair extensions. Fusion, Micro ring & Nano ring.

Free consultations available.

4a Bridge Road, Colinton Village, Edinburgh EH13 0LF. 0131 441 4471

Quality, made to measure window blinds supplied and fitted at the best possible prices. Great range of styles. colours, patterns and materials available. Get in touch today to arrange a home visit - for free measurement, friendly and helpful advice and your no obligation quote.

Phone: 07967 580548 / 0131 669 4138 Email: info@portobelloblinds.co.uk Web: www.portobelloblinds.co.uk

To advertise call Ann on 07843 449441

23

S K

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EE FR O R Flat Roofing Slating & Roof Tiling Masonry & Stonework Leadwork Pointing Harling & Roughcasting Emergency Roof Service Lead and zinc works Award winning flat roofing specialist

Edinburgh Roofing Services are Edinburgh & the Lothian’s No. 1 recommended roof maintenance contractors. We have been in the roofing & building industry for over 20 years providing customers with a full range of roofing services. When you are looking for a roofing contractor who can be trusted to carry out any work to the highest standards from start to completion, Edinburgh Roofing Services are proud to be Scotland’s 1st Which?

Trusted Trader.

Free photographic roof reports with all estimates I N D E P E N D E N T , 1 0 Y E A R A N D 2 0 24 Please mention the DELL DIRECTORY when responding to adverts

Y E A

A R

We are proud to be Scotland’s 1st Which?

Trusted Trader!

At the heart of Which? Trusted Traders is an endorsement scheme. It recognises reputable and trustworthy traders who successfully pass the Which? assessment process.

We achieved our prestigious reputation as one of Scotland’s premier roofing companies who always completes the job on time, to the highest standards

CPA Award winning contractor.

possible, with the best materials supplied and to within the client’s estimated budget.

We work daily throughout the city with customers ranging from private homeowners to big businesses and large housing associations. Call us today for your free estimate. No job is too big or too small.

No job is too small

0131 6 67 0 6 0 9 info@edinburghroofingservices.com www.edinburghroofingservices.com 58 Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 2NH I N S U R A N C E B A C K E D G U A R A N T E E S To advertise call Ann on 07843 449441 25

CLUBS & CLASSES EXERCISE & FITNESS AND CHILDRENS GROUPS Colinton Lawn Tennis Club 10 Westgarth Avenue.

Tel: 0131 441 1052 or 07779 010577 www.colintonltc.org.uk Colinton Bowling Club 49a Redford Road. Contact: 0131 441 2964 www.colintonbowlingclub.org.uk Colinton Mains Bowling Club 221 Oxgangs Road North (next to Colinton Mains Park). Outdoor bowling, adults only (age 16+), April-September. Dominoes and Whist off-season.

Contact: 0131 531 9796.

Gentle Yoga For people living with health conditions Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre, Thursdays 3.30-4.30pm. Contact Joanna on 07436102726 or Joanna@kiccactive.org.uk Badminton Club Monday 8pm-10pm. Sept- March.

Contact: Archie Clark on 0131 449 4703.

Location: St Cuthberts Church Hall. Westgarth Av. Scottish Dancing Alternate Thursdays. 7.45pm- 9.15pm Sept- March.

Contact: Ann Dean on 0131 441 3729.

Location: St Cuthberts Church Hall. Westgarth Av. StableRoom Playgroups Happy and stimulating playgroups from 2-5 years old.

Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Colinton Parish Church.

9.15am- 11.45am. Term Time. Contact: 0131 477 9494 Email: stableroom@hotmail.co.uk StableRoom Baby and Toddler Group Thursdays 9.30 - 11.30am (during term time) at Colinton Parish Church, Dell Rd. Contact Morag on 07846 891 527. Please phone first before coming as we operate a waiting list.

Happy Faces Toddler Group Every Tuesday morning during term time – 9.30-11.30am. £1 admission.

Drop in. Colinton Parish Church.

Contact Stephanie Miller on 07731 001 018.

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Progress Fitness Classes in Colinton and Juniper Green Classes include Zumba, Zumba Step, Zumba Gold, High Intensity Interval Training, Yoga and Fitness Yoga. For full details go to www.progressfitness.co.uk Colinton Baby & Toddler Group St Cuthberts Church Hall, Westgarth Avenue.

Mon 9.30-11.15am term time only. colintonbabyandtoddlergroup@yahoo.co.uk £2 admission on a drop-in basis.

COMPLEMENTARY FITNESS CLASSES www.complementaryfitness.co.uk Fitness Pilates – Tuesdays 7.30PM Join us if you’re ready to/continue to strengthen your core, improve strength and posture.

Classes in Craiglockhart Parish Church Hall, Craiglockhart Drive North, Edinburgh Resistance Training Workout – Wednesdays 9.30AM Classes in Dreghorn Loan Church Hall, Dreghorn Loan, Colinton, Edinburgh. Wear trainers, bring your resistance band, hand weights, mat and water, work out with us and improve your fitness, strength, metabolism etc.

New! Fitness Yoga Classes – Thursdays 6.35PM Improve core, strength, balance and flexibility.

Fitness Pilates – Thursdays 7.30PM A 6 week block to help you firm up, tone, strengthen, lengthen and improve core muscles, book your place/ come and join us.

Freestyle Fitness Yoga Stretch – Friday 9.30AM To help you improve your core, strength, posture, balance + flexibility. Stretch, improve and enjoy.

Pentland Kindergym Mon-Thurs: 1st class 9.30am-10.15, 2nd class 10.30-11.15. Ages, birth to pre- school. £2.50 (siblings) £1.25. Soft play with parents and sing song time!

Contact: adelebrownless@blueyonder.co.uk.

Or Pentland community centre tel: 0131 445 2871

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SOCIAL, LOCAL INTEREST & OTHER Friendly Bridge Colinton Cottage Homes. Every Tuesday. 2-4pm.

Contact: Ken McLeod on Tel 0131 466 0888 Sisters with Spirit is a new women’s group that meet on the first Thursday (at 7.30pm) of every month, in the Swing Café at Colinton Parish Church. For more details on the themes for our meetings, and to book tickets, please visit www. facebook.com/sisterswithspirit or call 0131 441 2232 Colinton Garden Club Meets 4th Monday of every month.

Dreghorn Loan Hall 8.00pm. September to April.

Email: membership@colintongardens.org.uk www.colintongardens.org.uk Colinton Amateur Orchestral Society Meets Tuesday 7.30pm- 9.30pm.

Location: St Cuthberts Church Hall. Westgarth Av. Email: secretary@colintonorchestra.org.uk Colinton Townswomen Meets 2nd Thursday of every month from 2-4pm Location: St. Cuthberts Church, Westgarth Avenue.

Contact: Ann Gordon Tel: 0131 441 1600.

Colinton Local History Society Meets 1st and 3rd Monday of the month at 8pm.

Amusing and Educational Speaker Programme.

Location: Dreghorn Loan Hall Contact: Bob Bell on 0131 441 4915 Colinton Singing Group “MOSTLY MADRIGALS” We are a small group who sing for pleasure fortnightly on Wednesday evenings. We currently have vacancies for Sopranos. Contact Sonia Duffy on 0131 441 7434

Morningside & Newington Floral Art Club Looking to do something new for autumn/winter?

Come along & enjoy relaxing evenings watching a floral demonstration with lively & interesting chat. You might even win one of the arrangements.Boroughmuir Rugby Football Club, Meggetland off Colinton Road EH14 1AS, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm approx on the 1st Monday of each month. Wine/tea/coffee available.

Colinton Literary Society The “Lit” meets Wednesdays (Oct-Mar) at 8pm Location Dreghorn Loan Hall Email: morag.l.marshall@btinternet.com Thanking you in advance, Morag Marshall Pentland Bridge Club Meets Thursdays at 6.45 for 7 p.m. - 10.30 p.m.

Location: St Margaret’s Hall, Juniper Green Bridge players can come along with a partner and will be made very welcome.

Contact: Jean Newport (0131 449 2028) or Ken Brown (0131 449 5314) Morningside & Newington Floral Art Meet 1st Monday of the month 7.30pm-9.15pm.

Boroughmuir Rugby Club (off Colinton Road.)

Contact Joyce Rutherford on 0131 443 2536 Military Wives Choir April - June. Free- no audition! Tues 6pm - 7.30pm.

Dreghorn Barracks Band Block. Tel 0131 310 2876 or email: edinburghmwc@gmail.com Edinburgh Popular Music Choir - Now Recruiting!

No experience needed. Need both men and women ages 18-80! Choir office Morningside School of Music 138 Comiston Road. Tel 0131 447 1117 Email: linda@polarflamemusic.com

These details were correct at the time of printing but are subject to change.

Please check directly with libraries.

DO YOU RUN A CLUB OR A CLASS? AND WOULD YOU LIKE TO LET MORE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT? Send the details of your club or class to Ann at thedelldirectoryedinburgh@gmail.com Remember to put what the Club or Class is, dates and times and where it can be found and off course any contact details.

The Dell Directory is delivered monthly to 4,500 homes in the Colinton & Craiglockhart areas.

For more information contact: Ann on 07843 449 441 or email thedelldirectoryedinburgh@gmail.com To advertise call Ann on 07843 449441

27

The Gift of a Good Book Struggling to find the perfect book to give as a gift? Or wondering what to add to your own wish list? Maybe we can help…

The Hidden People – Alison Littlewood Crime, fantasy and historical fiction are melded together in The Hidden People. Albie Mirralls is every bit the sensible, upstanding gentleman that Victorian society wants him to be. When his cousin, Lizzie, is burnt as a changeling, Albie travels from London to her village to see justice done. But when Albie’s own wife seems so completely changed, he finds himself questioning whether there could be some truth to the rumours about his cousin. The perfect book for curling up with on a winter’s night.

The British Table – Colman Andrews and Christopher Hirsheimer For the foodie in your life, you might want to consider this recently released tome.

Featuring around 125 recipes, from the traditional to the modern, there’s plenty to tempt most taste-buds. Recipes range from long-forgotten traditional fare, to regional specialities and contemporary classics. The focus is on warming comfort food. Think Braised Brisket followed by Whisky-SoakedRaisin and Orange Marmalade.

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Little Warrior – Giuseppe Catozzella Inspired by a tragic true story, Little Warrior tells the story of Samia Omar. Growing up in war-torn Somalia, life is hard, and dangerous. But Samia has big dreams – she wants to follow in Mo Farah’s footsteps and compete in the Olympics.

As life grows increasingly hard for women, Samia refuses to be cowed into submission. There are few options for Samia but to put her life into the hands of traffickers, in the hope of escaping to a better place. A heartbreaking read that will stay with you long past you’ve finished the last page.

The Girl Who Saved Christmas – Matt Haig Magic is starting to fade in Victorian England, and Amelia might be the only one who can save the day. (Father Christmas being a bit tied up with reindeers falling from the sky, angry trolls and other mishaps.) While it’s the sequel to the 2015 children’s bestseller A Boy Called Christmas, it stands up perfectly well on its own. An ideal gift for children aged 7 and up, this is a really enjoyable read. So much so that you may well find yourself

borrowing it back.

Buzz Books 2016: Fall/Winter Still no idea what book to go for? Download Buzz Books for free from Amazon, and you can read excerpts from 40 of this season’s new releases. Wellknown and debut writers are included, across both fiction and non-fiction. With a wide range of genres, there should be something to suit most tastes. Think of it as browsing in a bookshop, only with more time to read and the chance to sample books at home.

A Christmas Kiss – Vicky Pattison 24 year old Amber dreams of designing her own fashion line. But after a year of working as a general dogsbody for the Queen of Fashion, Diana Grant, that dream is looking increasingly unachievable. So when an opening comes up working with a leading fashion house, Amber jumps at the opportunity. With a new job and a new love, Amber’s life is looking up, but is she in danger of getting a bit too caught up in the glitzy world of fashion?

Warm and funny, this is a great romantic comedy to enjoy over a glass of prosecco.

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Currievale

Plumbing & Drainage Services Family Business over 15 years experience Reliable, experienced, local plumber.

No job too small.

All work guaranteed

Ovensmartz Specialist Oven Cleaning Residential & Commercial Your Local Independant Oven Cleaning Specialist

10% discount on first job, please quote when phoning with this advert

• Gutter cleaning • Blocked drains • Blocked toilets • Blocked sinks & baths • Outside tap fitted • Blocked Manholes • Burst pipes • Shower fitted & repaired • Storage tanks • New taps fitted & repaired • New installations • All Plumbing work carried out

Ovensmartz provides a first class service at realistic prices and no VAT. We only use non-toxic, environmentally safe solutions. We also clean Hobs, Aga’s, Ranges, Cooker Hoods/Extractors, Microwaves, and Fridge/Freezers.

Tel: 0131 449 3071 Mob: 07849 393 364

info@ovensmartz.co.uk

Call Ian at Ovensmartz today on 01506 202732 or 07551 633785

www.ovensmartz.co.uk

T: 0131 212 5042 M: 07970 594 142 E: kmelectrical1@yahoo.com www.km-electrical.com • Full/partial rewires

• Landlord Certification

• Additional Sockets

• LED Lighting

• Security Lights

• Building Warrant Approved Contractor

• Fuse Board Upgrades • Smoke Alarms

• Maintenance

FIXED LABOUR COSTS - ALL WORK GUARANTEED

20 SPYLAW STREET, COLINTON EH13 0JX ESTABLISHED FOR OVER 20 YEARS

To advertise call Ann on 07843 449441

29

Home & Interiors Declutter for the New Year

By Katherine Sorrell

holding onto things that you really need and/or love.

What could be a better New Year’s resolution for your home than to eliminate mess, create space and generally have a good sort out?

If too much mess and clobber has built up in your home over the past year, then it’s time to declutter your stuff and sort your storage, so that your home will be mess-free and super-stylish in time for 2017.

First, grab some rubbish bags and a few boxes or baskets.

Work methodically through each room and sort out obvious rubbish, things that can go to a local charity shop, items that could be sold second-hand, anything that needs mending, little-used things that can be put away in the garage or loft, and genuinely great stuff that you want to keep. Try to get rid of as much as possible, only

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With what’s left, it’s now time to work out where it will go. Label your storage if necessary, and make sure the whole family knows what’s meant to go where. If you still need extra storage after your clear-out, look for all the areas where you could fit more in, whether builtin or free-standing: from backs of doors to under the stairs, tops of wardrobes to under the bed. Think racks, hooks and shelves as well as conventional cabinets and chests of drawers and, where possible, ensure they co-ordinate with existing furniture. You can also relocate some storage; for example by adding a storage unit in the living room to avoid having to tidy toys away upstairs every day.

There are a few rules of storage that might be helpful.

First, store like with like and match the size and shape of the container to what’s being kept inside (in other words, find small, lidded boxes for things like Lego and big squishy baskets for teddy bears). Store as much as possible near to where it’s most needed, but don’t store frequently used items below knee level or above shoulder height, especially if they’re heavy. Avoid storing things on surfaces such as tables or desks, and allow yourself room to expand – but only within

reason. If you have allowed extra space, and then filled it… it’s time to start all over again.

Easy ways to banish clutter

• Write a list of where you want to declutter.

• Have an intensive declutter workout and spend five minutes clearing as much as you can in one area. You’ll be amazed at the difference you can make. Repeat as often as you can.

• Hang your clothes up with the hooks all facing one way, and only turn the hook the other way when you wear something. After, say, six months, you can easily assess which items you never wear. You could try the same idea in the kitchen (turn mug handles in one direction, put glasses upside down, and so on), the playroom, the living room…

• Make it a family competition with prizes. Who will be the fastest to find three things to throw away, three things to give away and three things to tidy away?

• If what you need is some emergency decluttering, pop everything into a big box and hide it somewhere until you have time to go through it properly.

Main Image: Mazeballs bed, £625, Loaf: 0845 468 0698; www.loaf.com

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HIGH QUALITY DECORATING AT A FAIR PRICE All Types Of Decorating Services Fast & Friendly Service Competitive Prices References Available No Job Too Small No Hidden Extras What We Quote Is What You Pay Residential & Commercial Fully Insured Call Marek today for your FREE quote

07746 266 222 or 0131 2582145 www.mgdecor.co.uk

70 Fernieside Crescent,Edinburgh EH17 7HR

Colinton Building Services

Colinton Building Services carries out all aspects of general building and renovation work OUR SERVICES

Our company provides the following services.

• House Extensions • Conservatories • Brick and Stone Walls

• Attic Conversions • Garages • Driveways • Renovation work • Kitchens • Slabbing • L andscaping • Decking • Decoration Quality work at a Reasonable Price

Call for a FREE estimate or advice 0131 478 9359, 07714 951 810

To advertise call Ann on 07843 449441

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Recipes/Food Notes

Cake and Bake Mincemeat & Apple Mini Strudels These delicious sweet and buttery mini fruity strudels make great festive puds over Christmas. You can prepare them a few hours in advance, cover and chill in the fridge and bake just before serving.

1. Preheat the oven to 200C, Fan 180C, Gas Mark 6.

Ingredients:

Mix together the mincemeat and grated apple. Take one sheet of filo pastry and brush with some of the melted butter.

• 8 tbsp luxury mincemeat • 1 small cooking apple, peeled and coarsely grated

2. Place a spoonful of the mincemeat mixture along one short end of the sheet of buttered pastry. Fold in a little of the pastry along each long side then roll up to enclose the filling. Place seam side down on a large greased baking tray.

• 8 sheets filo pastry, each measuring 18x31cm • 50g unsalted butter, melted • Filo pastry stars, to decorate (see Tip)

3. Repeat with the rest of the pastry sheets and mincemeat

mixture to make 8 mini strudels in total. Brush with any remaining melted butter.

4. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes until the pastry is crisp and golden. Cool for 5 minutes then halve and serve with filo pastry stars and dust liberally with icing sugar. Serve with whipped cream or brandy butter.

• Icing sugar, to dust • Whipped cream or brandy butter, to serve

Makes 8 Ready in 35 minutes 32

TIP

To make the stars, fold a spare sheet of filo pastry into three. Stamp out tiny stars using a small star-shaped cookie cutter and brush with a little melted butter. Bake as above but for only 4-5 minutes until crisp and golden.

Please mention the DELL DIRECTORY when responding to adverts

Gardening Gifts

by Pippa Greenwood

It is not that long until Christmas now, and if you’ve any gardening friends it is so easy to get them a present they’ll really enjoy and find useful. Any good local garden centre will have plenty of potential gifts in a wide range of prices, sizes and shapes to suit anybody from the complete novice to the most experienced gardener. Alternatively, take a look on the internet and get some gorgeous gardening gifts delivered right to your door.

Houseplants make brilliant presents, so why not choose a couple of really good-looking ones? At this time of year there are plenty, such as the indoor cyclamens and azaleas or a flamboyant poinsettia or a gorgeous Christmas cactus, which look fantastic whilst in flower - but don’t forget that lots of the foliage houseplants look great, too. Make sure that you keep the plants at their best by placing them in a suitable position before you give them away.

Outdoor plants are also an ideal choice, but make sure that you know that the plant you are choosing will go to a suitable home. There is no use buying a lime-hating plant such as a Pieris, rhododendron, Camellia or azalea for somebody if they garden on chalk - although a

supply of ericaceous compost and a good sized pot could also be a present from someone else if you plan carefully.

A lovingly created pot of winter flowering bedding plants, perhaps under-planted with a few small bulbs such as crocus or miniature daffodils, will make a lovely instant garden impact present for anyone. Despite the huge quantities of Christmas paraphernalia in garden centres now, any half decent centre will still have a good range of winter bedding plants and winter interest plants available.

Anyone with an interest in growing vegetables would enjoy one of the many gardening books on the subject, or perhaps a ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ Gift Voucher Card, which lets them select the vegetables they’d like to grow from the range I offer at www.pippagreenwood. com. Then, in the spring, we send them garden-ready plants accompanied by weekly advice and tips emails from me.

Most gardeners love to encourage birds into the garden, so how about a bird box or feeder or maybe even some bird food? Bird feeding equipment and supplies take up plenty of space in garden centres, so you’ll be spoilt for choice.

To advertise call Ann on 07843 449441

Gardeners love practical things so a good hoe like my favourite, the SpeedHoe, will always be welcome, or how about some Micromeshcovered or polythene-covered EasyTunnels, perfect for protecting crops throughout the growing season next year? A raised bed kit is a great gift idea, too, allowing people to grow vegetables when their own soil isn’t ideal. Some kits have the option to add crop covers made from fine mesh (to keep pests out) or polythene (to protect from the worst of the weather and provide off-season warmth).

So rather than rushing out and buying something that ‘will do’ as a gift, take a moment and see what you can find which will really bring a smile to someone’s face!

Visit Pippa’s website www. pippagreenwood.com and book Pippa for a gardening talk or peruse the really useful selection of Pippa’s favourite gardening items, including Nemaslug to control slugs, pop-up crop covers, SpeedHoes, SpeedWeeders, raised bed kits, pull-out EasyTunnels, ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ Gift Voucher cards, signed books and lots more besides.

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New Year, New Tech, New You The gadgets that can help you reach your New Year goals

It’s that time of year again: gym owners rub their hands together in glee as the entire world makes New Year resolutions to sort out their health, their fitness or their looks. But while many of those gym memberships will turn out to be expensive mistakes as the initial fervour fades, a few wellchosen gadgets could keep you on the right track all year round.

Health and fitness tracking is huge in technology right now, largely because it’s still a relatively untapped market: even the best-known fitnesstracking smartwatch, the Apple Watch, has only sold a few million units. That means there are plenty of firms hoping to win over everyone from casual dieters to mountain explorers.

For the latter category, outdoor watches such as the Casio Smart Outdoor Watch are built to military specifications for toughness and deliver accurate GPS, as well as recording your hikes and climbs. If that sounds like overkill, and for most of us it probably is, the £170 Garmin Vivosmart HR+ is one of the best all-round fitness trackers for monitoring your heart rate, recording your activity and tracking GPS. It’s pretty, too - and the Misfit Ray is prettier

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still, resembling a bracelet rather than a watch. It’s half the price of the Garmin and offers good all-round fitness-tracking features. Over 2017 we’ll see a lot more wearable trackers, many of them odd: fancy a Welt, a sensor-enabled belt that tracks your steps for as long as you keep your trousers on?

If you’re more concerned about what you’re putting into your body than what you’re sweating out, smartphone apps offer all kinds of diet and lifestyle tracking - and increasingly those apps tie in with platforms such as Apple Health, WiThings’ HealthMate, Microsoft Health, Jawbone UP and many more. Platforms are designed to enable data sharing from multiple trackers, so for example Apple’s Health app can get data not just from the iPhone it’s on but also from the Apple Watch, from wireless scales and from a wide range of wired and wireless health-monitoring devices. If you haven’t already committed to a particular health-tracking platform, it’s a very good idea to check out sites such as Wareable.com to find out the latest news and rumours about the different manufacturers. For example, at the time of writing Microsoft has announced the end of its

Microsoft Band tracking device, so if you buy one now you might not be able to get a repair for it or a replacement one if it breaks. It also means that if you want to upgrade from a Band 2, there won’t be a Band 3 to fulfil your wishes.

Gadgets don’t just help you when you’re exercising or watching what you eat. They can help you when you’re asleep too. Many wearable devices such as the Fitbit Blaze and Surge, Fossil Marshal, Pebble Time and Apple Watch (via third-party apps) can monitor your sleep, gathering data to help you identify the triggers of a poor night’s sleep and the best times to set the alarm for, and the best times to head up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire.

The data recorded does vary from device to device and some are more practical than others - wearing a smartwatch in bed all night means you’ll have to charge it in the morning - but the insights can be useful.

Images L to R: Casio Smart Outdoor Watch; Garmin VivoSmart HR+; Misfit Ray fitness tracker; Fossil Marshal smartwatch

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Mobile: 07969 769 153 email: lpg@blueyonder.co.uk

RKB Home & Garden All internal & external work carried out, Including Painting & Decorating Plumbing, Electrical & Joinery repairs Silicon showers & worktops etc Fencing, Decking & Garden Maintenance and more... Free Estimates Based in Colinton over 10 years

Call Ross Thomson

07732 183 461 Tel: 0131 441 5971

We currently look after 450 gardens.

We’d love to look after yours.

0800 9700 415 www.taurusgardening.com Make your garden our business.

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USEFUL INFORMATION COMMUNITY REPRESENTATION

Edinburgh City Council – www.edinburgh.gov.uk Local Councillors: Colinton/Fairmilehead Elaine Aitken - Conservative - 0131 529 4282 Buckstone Primary, 3rd Monday Term Time 6.30pm Jason Rust - Conservative - 0131 529 4953 First Monday of the month: Oxgangs Library - 6.30pm and Colinton Library - 7.30pm Richard Lewis - SNP - 0131 529 4974 Bonaly Primary School – 1st Monday every month at 7pm (term time) Oxgangs Library – 3rd Monday every month at 7pm (term time) Colinton Amenity Association www.colinton-amentity.org.uk Colinton Community Council - www.colintoncc.org.uk Firrhill Community Council www.firrhillcommunitycouncil.btck.co.uk Pentland Community Centre - 0131 445 287 www.edinburgh.gov.uk LEISURE

Edinburgh Leisure – 0131 458 2100 www.edinburghleisure.co.uk MEDICAL

Colinton Pharmacy – 0131 441 2352 Mon-Fri: 9-1pm & 2-5.45pm. Sat: 9-5pm Colinton Mains Pharmacy – 0131 441 3388 Times- Monday - Friday 9am - 6pm.

Saturday- 9am- 1pm.

Closed daily between 1pm and 2pm.

Colinton Surgery – 0131 441 4555 www.colintonsurgery.co.uk - Mon- Fri 8am- 6pm Firrhill Medical Centre – 0131 441 3119 Mon- Fri 8am- 6pm Royal Infirmary – 0131 536 1000 www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk Sick Kids Hospital – 0131 536 0000 www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk NHS 24 – 08454 24 24 24 - www.nhs24.com PROPERTY

ESPC – 0131 624 8000 - www.espc.co.uk SAFETY

Association of Scottish Neighbourhood Watches – 01786 450 145, www.aosnw.co.uk Crimestoppers – 0800 555 111

36

POST OFFICES & LIBRARIES

Colinton Post Office – 0131 441 1003 www.postoffice.co.uk Mon-Fri 9am - 5.30pm. Sat 9am - 12.30pm Colinton Mains Post Office – 0131 441 2657 www.postoffice.co.uk Mon-Fri 9am - 5.30pm. Sat 9am - 12.30pm Colinton Library – 0131 529 5603 www.edinburgh.gov.uk Mon, Wed: 1pm - 8pm, Tue, Fri 10am - 5pm, Sat: 10am - 2pm. Sunday: Closed.

Oxgangs Library – 0131 529 5549 www.edinburgh.gov.uk Mon, Tues, Wed 10am - 8pm.

Thurs, Fri Sat 10am - 5pm. Sun - 1-5pm SCHOOLS

Bonaly Primary School – 0131 441 7211 www.bonaly.edin.sch.uk Colinton Primary School – 0131 441 1946 www.colintonprimaryschool.wordpress.com Firrhill High School – 0131 441 4501 www.firrhillhighschool.org.uk Merchiston Castle School – 0131 312 2200 www.merchiston.co.uk Oxgangs Primary School – 0131 441 3649 www.oxgangs.edin.sch.uk St Marks RC Primary School – Tel 0131 441 2948 www.st-marks.edin.sch.uk UTILITIES

Electricity Power Loss – 0845 27 27 999 www.sppowersystems.co.uk Gas Emergency – 0800 111 999 www.nationalgrid.com/uk/gas Scottish Water 24 hours – 0845 600 8855 www.scottishwater.co.uk Cleansing & Special Uplifts – 0131 666 2623 www.edinburgh.gov.uk (environmental health) TRAVEL & TRANSPORT

Train Times and Enquiries – 0845 748 49 50 www.networkrail.co.uk Edinburgh Airport – 0870 040 0007 www.edinburghairport.com Traveline Scotland – 0871 200 22 33 www.travelinescotland.com Lothian Buses – 0131 555 6363 www.lothianbuses.com

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A small family run business with an established customer base.

• House Cleaning • Commercial Cleaning • Ironing • Carpet Cleaning • Steam Cleaning Regular cleaning & special occassions catered for.

T: 0131 477 2062 fionashousecleaning.co.uk

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37

CROSSWORD

ENTER THE PRIZE CROSSWORD AND WIN £20.00 GIFT CARD. CLOSING DATE: 30TH DECEMBER 2016. Please complete and send your full name, address and telephone number to: The Dell Directory, 7 Firrhill Crescent, Edinburgh EH13 9DT or email your answers to thedelldirectoryedinburgh@gmail.com

ACROSS 1 Rubbish about high hammer (6) 4 Duff copper’s thin lead hope (8) 9 Pen with stone in a restaurant (6) 10 Guess orc treated afflictions (8) 12 Actor cast in haste given artless part (8) 13 Bypass in developed region (6) 15 Message from Latino tellers? (4) 16 A philosopher attached to a squad (7) 20 Cut, cut and cut a vegetable (7) 21 A fashionable - but backward - girl (4) 25 Fruit (orchard’s premier variety) (6) 26 A banker’s dishevelled state (8) 28 Composer butchers attacked! (8) 29 Girl cross with the last addition (6) 30 B urdened mule bred a different way (8) 31 Island tolerated by hot resident (6) DOWN 1 Asians live amongst giants (8) 2 Fresh cress pet regards (8) 3 Angel half-seen with broken harp (6) 5 Something hard to shake (4) 6 Fish tacos initially eaten by an operator (8) 7 Drink, for example, over medal (6) 8 Broken slate’s adornment (6) 11 Bother, a lady gained weight! (7)

14 Dates in disarray made dirty (7) 17 Real story containing large initial noun written up (8) 18 Eccentric nineties physicist (8) 19 Pepper jar not closed by a mate upended (8) 22 Spoilt loser after first minute scrap (6) 23 Chaos might have disheartened modern leader (6) 24 Expert not dealt with quickly (6) 27 Redhead put in charge for nothing (4)

LAST MONTH’S SOLUTION Across 1 Rafters 5 Extra 8 Textile 9 Verbs 10 Ridge 11 Despair 12 Twenty 14 Abroad 17 Nervous

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19 Rises 22 Ideal 23 Failure 24 Noted 25 Lighter.

Down 1 Rotor 2 Fixed 3 Evident 4 Steady

5 Elves 6 Tornado 7 Assured 12 Tension 13 Earnest 15 Burning 16 Useful 18 Oiled 20 Squat 21 Spear.

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esuoM - E lwO - D xoF - C taB - B gohegdeH - A ...era srewsna ehT

39

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LIBRARY INFORMATION OXGANGS LIBRARY 343 Oxgangs Road North, Edinburgh, EH13 9LY. Tel: 0131 529 5549 OUR OPENING TIMES: Mon-Wed 10am to 8pm, Thurs-Sat 10am to 5pm

KIDS & FAMILIES Share a story for under 5’s Mondays 10.30 – 11am Glitzlit Teen Reading Group Girls aged 10-14 Alternate Weds 6pm-7pm Chatterbooks Books, fun and snacks Ages 8-11, fortnightly Tuesdays 4pm-5pm Level-up Reading XP Gaming and reading for Teen boys Aged 10-14 Alternate Wednesdays 6pm-7pm Bookbug Rhymetime sessions 0 – 3 years plus parents/carers 10.30pm-11.00am alternate Wednesdays i.e May 4th & 18th (and ev. Fri & Sat) Crafty Fridays Ages 4 – 11 plus parents/carers 2.30 – 3.30pm Tiger Tales Story and craft sessions Ages 4 – 8 and their parents/carers Saturday 2.30pm 14th & 28th May

40

Satellart Art and Science for 8-14year olds Alternate Saturdays at 2pm Homework Help Free printing & Photocopies Homework projects only

ADULTS Yap ‘n’ Yarn Every Tuesday 10.30am – 12.00pm Book Groups 1st Wed of the month Morning Group: 10.15am-11.00am Evening Group: 6.30pm- 7.30pm LearnIT computer course for Adults 6 week course(Contact library for info) Basic Computing help Drop-in Thursdays at 4pm-4.50pm Games Night Every Monday 6.15pm-7.15pm Personal Shopper, Housebound and Library Link Services available – contact library for details

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COLINTON LIBRARY 14 Thorburn Road, Edinburgh, EH13 0BQ. Tel: 0131 529 5603 OUR OPENING TIMES: Monday 1-8pm, Tuesday 10am-5pm, Wednesday 1-8pm, Thursday - Closed, Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday 10am-2pm, Sunday - Closed

LIBRARY EVENTS: BOOKBUGS Tuesdays 2.15pm-2.45pm Fridays 10.30am-11:00am and every Saturday 10.30am-11:00am TIGERTALES STORIES AND CRAFTS FOR 5-7YR OLDS First Sat of the month 10.30am-11.15pm BOOK GROUPS Last Tuesday of every month 2pm-3.30pm Last Wednesday of every month 6.30pm-7.30pm

CHATTERBOOKS READING GROUP FOR 8-12YR Third Tuesday of every month 3.45pm-4.45pm (during term time) FRIDAY CRAFTS CRAFT BASED FUN 5-12YR OLDS 3.30pm-4.30pm.

LEARN IT & FAMILY HISTORY Beginners computer classes including tablets and family history (contact library for details) CHILDREN’S KINITTING GROUP Ages 7+ Learn Knitting Skills with the library staff Wednesday’s 1.30pm to 2.30pm

To advertise call Ann on 07843 449441

41

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS A quick and easy reference guide to all services in The Dell Directory ARCHITECTS Andy Ross

31

ARIEL & SATELLITE SERVICES Kinnear Aerials

3

Douglas S Mackay

37

BISTRO & WINE BAR The Cottage Bistro

5

BUILDING SERVICES J M Builders

11

Colinton Building Services

31

CARPETS & CLEANING James Erskine

7

CHIROPODIST/PODIATRIST Colinton Chiropody

6

COMPUTER HELP/REPAIRS Colinton PC Solutions

17

Capital PC Repairs

21

ELECTRICIAN D Sykes Electrical

7

Bryter Electrical Ltd

11

KM Electrical

29

FRAMED DESIGNS Moo and Boo

3

FISH MERCHANT/SUPPLIER Marc Horsburgh

6

GARDEN FURNITURE Champfleurie Estate

15

GARDENING & LANDSCAPE SERVICES Greenspace Landscapes Taurus Gardening Ltd

3 35

GAS HEATING & SERVICING Smart Heating Edinburgh

6

Scott Findlay & Heating Engineers

22

Geoff Lennie Plumbing & Heating

35

42

HANDYMAN SERVICES RKB Home & Garden

35

HAIRDRESSING Susan Vyse Kim O'Donnell Colinton Hair Design

17 19 23

HOME SERVICES Fiona's House Cleaning

37

JOINERY SMC Joinery

16

MSP Gordon MacDonald

37

NURSERY Colinton Private Nursery

22

OVEN CLEANING The Clean Team 22 Ovensmartz 29 PAINTING & DECORATORS MG Décor

31

Ian Hodgson & Co

5

PET WALKING SERVICES Galadene Dog Walking Walkin 'n' Woofin

9 9

PLUMBERS Shandon Plumbing Currievale Plumbing and Drainage

6 29

RESIDENTIAL ELDERLY CARE Thorburn Manor (Lindemann Healthcare)

43

RE-UPHOLSTERERS James Erskine Absolute Upholstery

7 14

ROOFING SERVICES Fairmile Roofing Edinburgh Roofing Services

44 24/25

STONE MASONRY SERVICES Marionville Masonry

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17

ith over 25 years experience caring for older people across Scotland, Lindemann Healthcare was established in 1995, with the aim to deliver care services to older people with the highest quality, which we all deserve.

We believe that individuality should be the main basis of the care given within our Care Homes.

In a nursing environment great attention is paid to activities of daily living. Each resident receives a careful assessment to identify what his or her individualised care should be. This allows care plans to be constructed to meet their specific needs.

Our dedicated team aim to provide specialized care in a safe homely atmosphere where the residents are cared for with dignity and respect. This allows each resident to function at their optimum level where they can feel contented and “at home�.

Contact us:

Struan Lodge Nursing Home 54 Balgreen Avenue, Edinburgh EH12 5SU T: 0131 337 7477 F: 0131 337 8886 email:struan@lindemann-healthcare.co.uk website:www.lindemann-healthcare.co.uk

Thorburn Manor Nursing Home 2a Thorburn Road, Edinburgh EH13 0BQ T: 0131 441 6984 F: 0131 629 2298 email: thorburn@lindemann-healthcare.co.uk website: www.lindemann-healthcare.co.uk

We offer every resident, and their loved ones, the opportunity to participate in their care to a level of involvement that they choose.

We believe that our Care Homes should be therapeutic yet homelike environments where the resident can feel their individual needs are met with priority.

Lorimer House Nursing Home 491 Lanark Roadm, Juniper Green, Edinburgh EH14 5DQ T: 0131 442 2123 F: 0131 453 4466 email: lorimer@lindemann-healthcare.co.uk website: www.lindemann-healthcare.co.uk

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43

“Going the extra mile”

Fairmile Roofing

Slating &Tiling Flat Roofing Single Ply Roofing Lead Work Pointing & Guttering Roughcasting & Harling Emergency Roofing

108 Biggar Road Edinburgh EH10 7DU

All major credit cards accepted

www.fairmileroofingservices.com

We are

MEMBER

44

20 YEARS EXPERIENCE

backed by

0131 445 7787

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