Gala Life
A local magazine with directory of trades and businesses - 11,500 copies delivered FREE to every home and business in Galashiels, Tweedbank, Melrose, Clovenfords, Darnick, Dingleton, Newstead and Ga(onside.
November 2017
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Message Contents from the Team Welcome to the November edi=on of Gala Life. November – wow where did that go! This me of year means we turn our thoughts to Christmas fes vi es so to help everyone with young children, or grandchildren we have our Top Toys for 2017. Some of them are old favourites and some involve new technology. For your chance to win not only a Top Toy but also two Panto ckets, see Page 11. For the adults- what be5er me of year to get together. There is a great choice of places to celebrate with Gala Life this month – so make sure and book as soon as you can to avoid disappointment. A huge thank you to adver sers and contributors alike. Well done to you all for achieving so much. Well done & keep up the good work. Remember entries for local groups in our Community pages are free! With the winter soon to be upon us Shelagh Drummond looks at ornaments in the garden. Quite striking what you can do ! Alan Clinch inves gates why 5 a day actually has sound benefits. Willie’s computer page this month speeds up an older laptop. I look at new bathroom ideas ( great for visitors at Christmas) & Willie tackled decora ng the Christmas cake - someone had to do it. Till next me...
Features Win! Top Toys Wedding Fancies Christmas Cake Decora ng Beau ful Bathrooms Guy Fawkes History of Fireworks
11 26 32 32 64 66 68
Regulars Vet Garden Recipe Compu ng Horoscopes Fitness
20 22 28 34 52 58
Community Diary Get Out Community News
4 10 30
Useful Numbers Index
70 70
Adver=sing Debbie - 07545299491
Art & Eds Willie - 07906375953 www.facebook.com/mygalalife Advert Deadline for December - 15th November Community Deadline - 12th November Gala Life is delivered to every home and business in the Galashiels, Tweedbank, Darnick, Dingleton, Melrose, Newstead and Ga5onside areas. Copies are also leB at various ‘pick-up’ points around the area allowing visitors the opportunity to join us. If you have any queries, sugges ons or feedback, please do not hesitate to make contact and don’t forget to keep up with us on Facebook. Please Re-Cycle ....eventually!
Gala Life 57 Glen Crescent Peebles EH45 9BS Office - 01721 720129 Sales - Debbie: 07545 299491 Artwork - Willie: 07906375953 info@galalife.co.uk
www.galalife.co.uk
Community Events & What’s On In Galashiels Full details in the Get Out pages 1st November 3rd November 5th November 6th November 9th November 9th November 11th November 11th November 11th November 15th November 17th November 17th November 18th November 18th November 19th November 21st November 23rd November 24th November 24th November 24th November 25-26th November 25-26th November 25th November 26th November 26th November 29th November 30th November Monday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday Thursday Sunday Sunday
7.30pm 7.30pm 11.00am 7.30pm 10.00am 7.30pm 10.00am 10.00am 10.30am 10.30am 9.00am 7.30pm 10.00am 12noon 7.30pm 7.30pm 10.00am 9.00am 7.30pm 7.30pm 10.00am 10.00am 10.00am 2.30pm 2.30pm 10.30am 2.30pm 5.00pm 7.00pm 6.30pm 10.30am 7.00pm 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm 1.30pm 9.30am 2.00pm
Borders Flower Club - Corn Exchange, Melrose Rolling Hills Folk Club - Smith Memorial Hall Galashiels Scouts Bonfire Bizarre - Scout Hall The Filling Sta on - Corn Exchange, Melrose Galashiels & District Probus Club - Waverley Hotel, Melrose ScoHsh Wildlife Trust - Langlee Community Centre Galashiels Trinity Church Guild Coffee Morning Eildon Ramblers Table Top Sale - George & Abbotsford Hotel CAP Money Course - Gala Bap st Church John Lamont MP Surgeries Rolling Hills Folk Club - Smith Memorial Hall Old Parish and St. Paul's Church Autumn Fayre/Coffee Morning Lisbon Lion At Gala Fairydean Borders Flower Club - Corn Exchange, Melrose The Inner Wheel Club Of Galashiels Galashiels & District Probus Club Waverley Hotel, Melrose John Lamont MP Surgeries Johnston & Gordon - Caddonfoot Hall Phoenix Singers Concert - Corn Exchange, Melrose Christmas Fayre - Volunteer Hall Christmas Tree Fes val - Trinity Church Eildon Ramblers Borders Family History Society - Corn Exchange Melrose Music Society - Melrose Parish Church Hall Tea and Coffee Morning - Galashiels Library Writers Workshop - Galashiels Library Gala Town Band Junior Sec on, Band Hall, 6A Roxburgh St Langlee Community Choir at Langlee Community Centre Gala Youth & Town Band, Band Hall, 6A Roxburgh St. Gala Gentle exercise for older people in Langlee Community Centre Gala Ex Serv Pipe Band - Royal Bri sh Legion Club One Acchord Ladies Acappella Chorus Eildon Singers, Ormiston Ins tute, Melrose Lindean Carpet Bowling Club ‘The Roman Way' Guided Walk from Heritage Centre, Melrose Borders Group of Advanced Motorcyclists Informal guided walk round Roman Fort site, Newstead
Remember to keep us informed of all your events, there is no charge for diary entries for non profit and charity organisations. Call 01721 720129 with details, or e-mail to info@galalife.co.uk 4 Gala Life
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Wednesday 1st November - Borders Flower Club - Corn Exchange, Melrose - 7.30pm. Our demonstrator will be John Thexton, Armathwaite with Nature's GiBs . Visitors are welcome. Friday 3rd November - Rolling Hills Folk Club - Smith Memorial Hall, Abbotsford Road, Darnick – 7.30pm. Singers and Musicians welcome. BYOB. All ages welcome. Collec on and raffle. Phone 07986 644661 for more informa on. Sunday 5th November - Galashiels Scouts Bonfire Bizarre - Scout Hall, John Street - 11.00am to 3.00pm. CraB and table top sale, tombola, kids ac vi es, soup, teas/coffees and home baking. Free admission. Contact: cubs@galashielsscoutgroup.org.uk or 07597113956. Monday 6th November - The Filling Sta=on - Corn Exchange, Melrose - 7.30pm. See Page 46. Thursday 9th November - Galashiels & District Probus Club - Waverley Hotel, Melrose - 10.00am. Douglas Hope with "Who do you think you are". All welcome. See page 48 for more info. Thursday 9th November - ScoCsh Wildlife Trust - Langlee Community Centre – 7.30pm. Malcolm Lindsay will give an illustrated talk en tled “ Discoveries “. Non-members are very welcome. Saturday 11th November - Galashiels Trinity Church Guild Coffee Morning - 10.00am to 12 noon. With home baking. All welcome. Saturday 11th November – Eildon Ramblers - 10.00am. Circular walk: Lauder Common – Grade B 8miles 293m ascent OS338. Walk the Common Riding Route around Lauder Boundaries - historic Drove Road-Girthgate-SUW. Meet 10.00 Lauder Post Office NT531476, WT 4-5hrs. Visitors/new members welcome. Sorry no dogs. Contact walk leader: Lindsay 01896 823831 or email lindsaychalmers@me.com Saturday 11th November - Table Top Sale - George & Abbotsford Hotel, Melrose - 10.30am to 3.30pm. Set up 9.30am. Tables provided £10 each, bring your own table £7. Father Christmas, children’s lucky dip, tombola , refreshments. For more details and to book a table email info@arthri=sresearchmelrose.org.uk or telephone 07928 714072. Wednesdays 15th, 22nd, 29th November - CAP Money Course - Gala Bap=st Church - 10.30am to 12noon. This is a free course that makes managing your money simple. To book call 01896 850 562 or email dmghall@hotmail.com Friday 17th November - John Lamont MP Surgeries - from 9.00am. See page 31. Friday 17th November - Rolling Hills Folk Club - Smith Memorial Hall, Abbotsford Road, Darnick – 7.30pm. Sam Munday, a local blues and roots musician with a phenomenal guitar style and individual vocal style. He has a huge following in the Borders and much further afield. He provides a departure from tradi onal music, yet again widening the musical choice at the club. £6/£5 concessions. Under 18s and Young Scot card -free. BYOB. All ages welcome. Phone 07986 644661 for more informa on. Saturday 18th November - Old Parish and St. Paul's Church Autumn Fayre/Coffee Morning Volunteer Hall - 10.00am to 12noon. Entry costs £2 per adult, which includes refreshments, with free admission for children. There will be a number of stalls to browse including books, bric-a-brac, cake and candy, toys, games, craBs, produce, jewellery and others. Come along, meet up with friends and have a cup of coffee and something to eat, while perhaps star ng your Christmas shopping! We look forward to seeing you there. Saturday 18th November - Lisbon Lion At Gala Fairydean - from 12noon. See page 50 for details of this fantas c opportunity. continued on page 14
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• • • • • •
Joinery Flooring - Real Wood & Laminate Plumbing Tiling Paving General Repairs No Job Too Small
Call Moubray Tod
01896 751566 07737090840 mt_maintenance@btinternet.com 47 Abbotsford Road Galashiels TD1 3HB
C (tiv) M & S Plumbing & Heating Engineers All types of plumbing & heating work carried out
15 Craigpark Gardens Galashiels TD1 3HZ
01896 757586 07890 100681
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Wednesday 19th November - Borders Flower Club - Corn Exchange, Melrose - 7.30pm. Workshop, details to be arranged. Visitors are welcome, sales table. Tuesday 21st November - The Inner Wheel Club Of Galashiels - St Peters Church, Abbotsford Road, Galashiels – 7.30pm. A Talk on Border Ghosts by Alasdair Hu5on OBE (Voice of the Ta5oo). Entry by Dona on to CHAS. Refreshments will be available. Thursday 23rd November - Galashiels & District Probus Club Waverley Hotel, Melrose - 10.00am. Donald Gordon with "Trimon um and the Romans" All welcome. See page 48 for more info. Friday 24th November - John Lamont MP Surgeries - from 9.00am. See page 31. Friday 24th November - Johnston & Gordon - Caddonfoot Hall - 7.30pm. ScoHsh Folk Duo with robust rhythms on guitar and bodhran. Tickets £10 from Clovenfords Hotel. Book online at infocaddonfoot@b=nternet.com or phone 07527800301. Licensed. Friday 24th November - Phoenix Singers Concert - Corn Exchange, Melrose - 7:30pm. Tickets from Holmes of Melrose. Saturday 25th - 26th November - Christmas Tree Fes=val - Trinity Church - 10.00am Saturday, 2.00pm Sunday. Followed by carols at 6.00pm. See page 9 for details. Saturday 25th - 26th November - Christmas Fayre - Volunteer Hall - 10.00am. See page 29 for details. Saturday 25 November – Eildon Ramblers - 10.00am. Circular walk: Eildon Hills-Bowden – Grade B 8miles 422m ascent OS73. Meet 10.00 Nutwood Car Park, Melrose NT549340. WT 4-5hrs. Visitors/new members welcome. Sorry no dogs. Contact walk leader: Lorna 01896 822001 or email almacz@hotmail.co.uk Sunday 26th November - Borders Family History Society - Corn Exchange, Melrose - 2.30pm. Talk on Banishment and Transporta on by Ken Nisbet. All welcome. Sunday 26th November - Melrose Music Society - Melrose Parish Church Hall – 2.30pm. Phil Gault ( baritone) and Claire Haslin (piano) will play music by Schumann , Barber , Finzi and Ravel as well as a selec on of Michael Head songs . Non-members ckets cost £14, available at the door . School age children accompanied by an adult are admi5ed free. www.melrosemusicsociety.org.uk Wednesday 29th November - Tea and Coffee Morning - Galashiels Library - 10.30am. Come and have a chat and find out about the Library and what it has to offer. You may be surprised! Drop in any me between 10.30-12-00. Contact Galashiels Library on 01896 664170 or email libgalashiels@liveborders1.org.uk Thursday 30th November - Writers Workshop - Galashiels Library - 2.30pm. Do you enjoy wri ng? Feel you would like to improve? Perhaps get yourself ready for Publishing? Local author Dorothy Alexander will lead the workshop, providing ps on improving your wri ng , answer ques ons and give advice on geHng ready for publica on. For more informa on or to book a place contact Galashiels Library 01896 664170 or email libgalashiels@liveborders1.org.uk Langlee Community Choir - Mondays at 7.00pm in Langlee Community Centre, Galashiels. The choir always welcomes new singers of any age or ability. If you are a shy singer, the choir will bring out your confidence. If you only sing in the shower, why not come along and have a go? No pressure, no audi ons, just good fun. Keep watching out in Gala Life or listen to local radio for upcoming performances. To book the choir or for any other informa on, please visit www.langleecommunitychoir.org.uk/contactus.html continued on page 18
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PANTOMIME SEASON ONCE MORE AROUND THE CORNER Rehearsals are now in progress for the Right Angle Theatre Company’s annual pantomime which this year will once more run for five nights in the Volunteer Hall Galashiels. The pantomime will open on Tuesday 5th December and will have nightly performances right through un l Saturday. ABer the huge success of last year, the company have this year decided to perform another new pantomime with “Treasure Island” being the popular choice. The role of Director will once again be in the capable hands of long serving Musical Director Derek Calder; Derek will con nue in this role as well which will keep him very busy. Derek shall be assisted in the role as Director by Julie Smith with Gordon Keddie ac ng once again as Producer. The choreography will again be a joint effort with Lauren Gracie and Stuart Mitchell sharing this very important role. As always the musical numbers are a good mix of new and old songs with as one would imagine a very nau cal theme a5ached to them, making sure the audiences will leave with the music ringing in their ears. The pantomime itself has as in previous years been wri5en by Alan Frayne whose wri ng always includes many humorous lines. Tickets will go on sale to general public early in November and will be available from Iain Smith & Partners, Fountain News and Noble’s Fish Shop. ABer the sell-out shows of last year everyone is recommended to purchase their ckets as soon as they become available. There is once again a cast of almost fiBy with a huge range in the age groups Involved; The Principal roles are as follows; Rosie – Jodie Millar, Jim – Stuart Mitchell, Squire – Sco5 Robertson, Penny – Lauren Gracie Captain Mullet – Emma Wilson, Long John Silver – Gordon Keddie, Billy Barnacle – Tracy Borthwick Blind Ali – Greg Robertson, Sea Snake Sally – Amanda Blacklock, Barmy Beth – Julie Smith Po5y Patsy – Rachel Falconer, Spirit of the Sea – Chloe Muir, Jolly Roger - Ally Turnbull & Aidan Hodgson, Salty Sam – Calum Crooks & Caitlin Green, Cut Throat Kate – Aimee Richardson & Ka e Wilson. 16 Gala Life
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One Acchord Ladies Acappella Chorus - invites you to join us most Wednesdays 7.30pm 9.30pm, plus one Saturday pm per month at Newtown St Boswells Community Hall TD6 0QX. Try free for 4 weeks. For more info call 01896 668594 or 07989461012. The Eildon Singers - Meet every Wednesday in the Ormiston Ins tute, The Square, Melrose, from 7.30pm ll 9.30pm. Mixed voice choir. New members very welcome. Contact Margery Inglis, Secretary, 01750 21085. Pheonix Singers - Mixed choir meets on Mondays star ng 25th September 7:30pm - 9:30pm. No audi ons. Try 1 or 2 sessions with no commitment. For more info contact -altro(erps@gmail.com Just Singing - We meet on the third Sunday of the month at 4.00pm - 6.00pm in Newstead Village Hall, to sing songs of peace and jus ce. We welcome new singers and those who think they can’t sing. There is no need to read music, all songs are taught by ear. Our next mee ng is on 19th November. Contact Kath 01896 820034. Pipe Band: The Galashiels Ex-Service Pipe Band, Wednesday nights, 7pm at The Royal Bri sh Legion Club, Park Street, Galashiels. Experienced players and beginners most welcome to join. Please contact the secretary, Lynn Ker on 01896 755814. The Galashiels Town Band - Mondays - Gala Junior Band, 5.00pm - 6.00pm, Tuesdays, 6.30pm Gala Youth Band and 7.45pm Gala Town Band. Band Hall, 6A Roxburgh Street, Gala. Open to experienced and inexperienced players of all ages. Instruments can be supplied, so go give it a try! ScoCsh Country Dancing - Tuesdays, 7.00pm - 9.00pm in Old and St Paul's Church Hall. All welcome. Further info 01896822354 or 01578730591. Gentle Exercise For Older People Of All Abili=es: Every Wednesday 10.30am - 12noon in Main Hall, Langlee Community Centre. £2.50 per class provided by FitBorders and SBC. No need to book, just come along. Refreshments and chat aBerwards. Eildon Ramblers - If you enjoy walking you’ll enjoy walking with the Eildon Ramblers. We meet alternate Saturdays at 10.00am at various loca ons in the Borders. For general informa on please email eildon.ramblers@gmail.com or phone 01896 823831 or 07590 219301. Our mo5o is friendship, fitness, fun and fresh air. Walking Football - We play (older adults-men mainly but women very welcome) each Monday in Langlee Community Centre 2.30 -4pm and every Thursday aBernoon 3-4pm at Netherdale-GFR 3G 5-a-side cage. We have been playing since February last year and regularly have 10-12 players turning up, come and join us. Lindean Carpet Bowling Club - Lindean Village Hall, 7.30pm, and each following Wednesday during the season. New members welcome, tui on given to beginners, adults £1 per night, children 50p. Our friendly Club caters for all ages so why not give carpet bowls a try! Gala Rotary Club - Meets every Tuesday at 6.00 for 6.30pm in Kingsknowes Hotel for a meal and fellowship. The Club is involved with many projects locally and interna onally. Find out more at www.galashiels.rotaryweb.org/ or on Facebook. Galashiels Studio Club is for people who enjoy all forms of art. We meet from October to March every year, in Old Gala House, at 7.30 pm un l approx. 9.30 pm. Members can a5end workshops, talks, and visits. Find out more by visi ng our Facebook page! Tel 01896 820023 or email: marionneilson11@gmail.com
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CARLA MURPHY
&
BVMS MRCVS
MELANIE BROAD BVMS MRCVS
Movember for Dogs November is a busy month for us. If your dog is scared of fireworks then make sure you have got what you need in terms of supplies and advice before the big night. And remember we do it all again on Hogmanay! This year we are suppor ng Movember again by highligh ng some of the embarrassing bodies’ issues that can affect our older pets. Prostate problems are common in male dogs with over 80% of en re (not neutered) male dogs over the age of 5 years suffering from some degree of benign prosta c hyperplasia or BPH. This is a non -cancerous swelling of the prostate gland which sits over the neck of the urinary bladder. Common first signs are an incon nence dribble of urine, or a urinary tract infec on where there is blood in the urine or it is just strong smelling. This can lead to peeing small amounts quite oBen on a walk. Unfortunately this means that problems are easily overlooked as many male dogs will spend their walks sniffing and peeing on every post. Because it’s so easily overlooked it makes it quite important to get your male dog’s prostate checked out. This is done by doing a rectal examina on (sorry boys) and checking for enlargement, symmetry and pain. It usually only takes a few seconds and we would advise prostate checking for all en re male dogs over six years of age at their annual vaccina ons. Picking up any problems early always makes them easier to deal with. For dogs who don’t like a rectal examina on, or if we find any abnormali es there is a blood test
that can be done to confirm the diagnosis. If any problems are found then in some circumstances we might book your pet in for a day of further inves ga ons like x-rays and ultrasound scans. Prostate problems are treatable so there is no need for your dog to suffer in silence. This Movember when you or your friends are growing a moustache, take a minute to think about whether your pet needs a check too. It’s not all about the boys though, many female dogs develop mammary masses from middle age onwards. Roughly a third of these could be breast cancer so let’s have the girls in for a check too. We are doing free prostate and mammary checks for all en re dogs over the age of 6 throughout the month of November. Carla & Mel
www.bordervets.co.uk Galashiels Veterinary Surgery Office: 8.30 - 6pm Mon - Wed, 8.30-7pm Thurs & Fri Gala Terrace, Galashiels. TD1 3JT
01896 752 156 20 Gala Life
Sat open 8.30 - 1.30pm. Consulta=ons by appointment
4th November
Bobby Hunter
11th November
Altitude Duo
18th November
Cover Up
25th November
Cobra
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The Gala Garden November 2017 Many gardens are perfectly well-built and planted but s=ll somehow a bit dull. Ornament has been included in garden design from the very earliest mes. Adding a special object to a simple plan can liB the whole picture and make the garden uniquely yours. Many of the constructed elements of the garden can become ornamental with a bit of work; for instance, the ground plan or how you mix hard and soB landscaping on the horizontal plane. This also includes paving, paths and steps. Enclosure is an important part of design because it provides privacy and gives a sense of place. Fences or trellis can have windows in them to frame a view – either of the garden or of the external view. Gates are very important because they automa cally create a vista of the garden.
Plant supports like piers, obelisks and canopies can be very ornamental. Wrought iron is a good material for this because it doesn’t need maintenance like wood does but s cks are some mes just as effec ve and
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they are free and can be changed at whim. Seats and buildings are always ornamental. Placed properly where there is a good reason to stop in the garden they can create both a focal point and a decora ve feature. You can protect wooden things with Cuprinol or good quality paint that is formulated for the outdoors. The impact of vibrant paint in the garden cannot be overstated; just remember to plant up to it so that you create the maximum impact.
Sculpture and pots are the easiest ways to include an ornamental element in the garden: there may be someone locally who can even make something unique for you. Another good source of interes ng objects is local salerooms or second hand shops. If the sculpture is a heavy one, be sure you have prepared a solid base for it before you try to install it. Topiary has long been a garden art form but only try this if you have the me and energy to
keep things under control. Individual plants can pinpoint the ground plan, crea ng rhythm and repe on but hedging can also provide some very drama c boundaries when it is clipped into waves or shapes. Water features always draw the eye. Pools, rills and channels are very strong elements of any ground plan. A plain shallow dish to catch the raindrops can also be effec ve in a smaller garden. Ornament is about personality and imagina on; it directs the eye and creates mood in the garden. Ornament reinforces design characteris cs; that is the degree of formality or informality there is in the garden. Ornament can underscore the special ambiance of the garden; for example, a Japanese garden or a Mediterranean one, but avoid pas che by bringing all the elements of design and plan ng together to focus on one idea. Sheila Drummond Portland Garden Design 07905 397185 drummond.sheila@gmail.com
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Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the stress of geCng the perfect giI. However, to give you a head start in November, we bring the toy retailers top toys list for this Christmas and the chance of winning this year’s most sought aBer doll or robot. So, here’s the list, in no par cular order, but shop around, some stores have some of these on special offer:
Mini Scooter Blue / Pink £69.00 This iconic, award winning Mini Micro is the must have scooter for all pre-schoolers. Designed specifically for 3-5 year olds, the scooter has a lightweight frame allowing children to push and carry it with ease. The intui ve lean and steer style of scoo ng helps develop young children’s balance and co-ordina on skills.
Pie Face Sky High Game £26.99 The runaway hit of the last 2 Christmases, was Pie Face - and now it's coming back in a new way for 2017: a freestanding 'fairground' style version where you hit the hammer and see how far up you can get the pie to splat your opponent. Never in the history of games has something caused so much mess - and fun. Pie us now! Aged 5+
Lego Friends Sunshine Catamaran £37.95 (Amazon) Enjoy a supercool cruise on board the luxury catamaran. Relax on the deck in the sunshine and then cool off in the pool. Get the view from the bridge and spot Liam on the personal water scooter towing Stephanie on the banana boat - two friendly dolphins have come to play with them. Head below deck to chill out in the lounge and gaze through the catamaran's clear bo5om. Then head to bed ready for another exci ng day at sea. 600-piece set, Only drawback: it doesn't actually float on water… Age 7+
Vtech Kidizoom Flix Playset £59.99 Friendly alien who can detect human faces! Remembers phrases and repeats what you say in a funny voice. Includes "Guard mode" where your alien can take secret photos or videos! Snap any colour you like using the camera to customise your robot friend and play games to unlock items to make its appearance unique Features include a 2 mega pixel camera, 1.8 inch colour screen, twistable lens and a built-in rechargeable ba5ery. Bundled with a flexible tripod and USB cable for photo uploading. Aged 4+ IN W E M
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Tiny Treasure New Born Doll £39.99 (Argos) Tiny Treasures is a beau fully realis c baby doll, she comes wearing a cute baby gro and hat, with hospital tag and birth cer ficate. She also comes packaged in a cardboard carrycase. Tiny Treasures baby girl has extremely life-like facial features. She is scented so smells like a real baby. Her body is weighted to feel like a real new-born baby, with floppy limbs and head. Aged 3 + Win your very own Tiny Treasure New Born Doll, or a Sqweeks Robot! Just e-mail either
Lego Boost £149.99 Pricey but will last for years. This LEGO robot takes construc on to another level you can style him to be a classic looking bot or turn him into a cat, guitar or auto-builder. There are 840 pieces in this epic set, and each one of the different robot styles has a set of ac vi es designed especially for it: access them using the dedicated app. We can't quite believe how many skills this toy rolls into one... What you get though is a toy that actually teaches coding. This coding has a purpose but doesn’t make learning feel like work. So if you have a young computer programmer on your hands then this is for them. Aged 7 – 12.
Li(le Tikes Princess Horse and Carriage £109.00 (Argos) The perfect chariot for any princess. Adults can pull their li5le princess along in this adorable Horse and Carriage. The horse head moves from side to side making realis c horse clopping sounds. There is a floor to protect li5le ones feet when adults are steering. Then when li5le one's are ready to take the reins simply removed the floor board and they can drive themselves. Includes cup holder, a place for a magic wand, and storage in the back.. For ages 1 years and over. To be used under the W direct supervision of an adult. M IN E
Transformers :The Last Knight RC Sqweeks £35.00 (Amazon) Autobot Sqweeks is the smallest of his fellow bots, but his spark shines just as bright. Autobot Sqweeks RC features mo on and sound effects that will inspire fans to want to shout "Chihuahua," like the loveable Autobot Amigo. Prepare this Autobot Sqweeks RC figure for ba5le by switching him into blaster mode with a movie-inspired blaster accessory. Or ac vate an energe c boogie-down with music and phrases in dance mode. Age 3+ Requires 6AA ba5eries :o)
Fisher Price Teach n Tag Movi £54.99 A cute interac ve learning robot for preschoolers that can spin 360 degrees and make over 60 different facial expressions. Movi has been designed to combine cri cal thinking skills with ac ve play, it encourages pre-schoolers to get their minds and bodies moving while teaching them how to follow direc ons and think cri cally about the world around them!. He has 3 game modes and 6 games to choose from: our favourite at the moment is 'Red Light, Green Light' – fun! will have a blast showing off their awesome listening skills and rockin' moves with this interac ve learning robot! Age 3+
Hatchimals CollEGG=bles £2.99 each Great for stocking fillers. The baby brothers and sisters of the big £60 Hatchimal that was THE Christmas toy of 2016, these li5le eggs hatch in the same way (aBer lots of rubbing and stroking) and then you can use the shell as a nest. There are over 70 (yes, 70!) of them to collect and you can tell from the colour of the speckles on the shell which CollEGG ble family your egg is going to hatch into. If you s=ll need a hand - have the kids write to the man himself, don't forget a return address and
use a stamp - Santa Clause, Santa’s Gro(o, Reindeerland, North Pole, SAN TA1 Treasure or Sqweeks to info@galalife.co.uk by 15th November. See page 11 for further info. Gala Life 27
Guy Fawkes S’mores Dip Here’s special fireworks night treat. A simple varia on of the old S’mores favourite that all the kids can enjoy without having to go near the bonfire. It’s a sized-up, super chocolaty twist on the classic American campfire treat. This s'mores dip will be gone before the last sparkler fizzes out. Be5er make two... For the dip • 200g milk chocolate • 2 tbsp full-fat milk • 350g marshmallows, or use mini marshmallows for younger kids.
To serve • 100g diges ve biscuits • 100g strawberries, washed and hulled • 100g pineapple chunks • skewers
You may use whatever type of chocolate or marshmallows you have on hand...milk, dark, white, or even a mixture, mini marshmallows, (halved) jumbo marshmallows, etc. It all tastes good! • Heat the chocolate, milk and 200g of the marshmallows in an ovenproof frying pan or baking tray (a heavy cast iron skillet works best as it retains the heat for longer) over a low heat un l melted and smooth. Top with the remaining marshmallows in circles so that the whole surface is covered. • Grill on high for 1-2 mins un l the marshmallows are toasted. • Serve with diges ves and strawberry and pineapple skewers for dunking. Be5er make two. 28 Gala Life
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John Lamont MP - Conserva ve This is my first contribu on to Gala Life since becoming your MP. Although I was in the ScoHsh Parliament for ten years, I’ve only represented Galashiels and the surrounding areas since June. I’ve been keen to meet as many organisa ons, businesses and cons tuents in this part of the Borders as possible. I’ve have held several advice surgeries in and around Galashiels speaking to many of you face to face and I’ll con nue to hold them as regularly as I can. I was delighted to a5end my first ever Braw Lads Gathering in the summer and since then, I’ve met with local community councils including Galashiels and Langlee to hear about their exci ng plans for the town and with the chief of Borders Buses to discuss the importance of transport links. I’ve paid visits to many local businesses such as Cloudhouse Café and Gallery in Stow who had a great art exhibi on on. And I’ve met with a whole variety of local groups who want to make Galashiels and the central Borders a more vibrant place to work and live in. This includes the team who are preparing the Galashiels Business Improvement District applica on, which would be great for the town. I’ve also been working closely with the new ScoHsh Borders Council who have ambi ous plans for Galashiels and the surrounding area. My priority as your new MP will be improving infrastructure, a5rac ng businesses to town centre and maximising on the investment in the Borders rail. I hope to be able to open a cons tuency office in Galashiels, so that people in this part of the Borders don’t have to travel to Hawick if they want to see me or my team. I was unable to take some space in the interchange building because of ght condi ons a5ached to the EU funding which helped to build it. It seems mad that a taxpayer funded building is 80 per cent empty and prospec ve tenants are being turned away, but the ScoHsh Government has refused to budge on this issue. I’ll be looking elsewhere and hope to find somewhere soon. While I spend as much me in the Borders as I can, it’s also been a busy me at Westminster. I’ve spoken in several debates and commi5ees on a variety of issues, including the posi ve contribu on of Polish migrants and the implementa on of Brexit. I’ll con nue to work hard to get the best Brexit deal for Scotland and to stand up for the Borders in Scotland’s other Parliament.
Andy Anderson Councillor - Galashiels & District SNP You may have read recently in the press that I proposed an amendment to the SBC Administra on ‘Vision Statement’, to include a commitment to finding a cost effec ve solu on to an social parking problems in our Border towns. I think we are all aware of issues regarding illegal parking and ignoring of wai ng limits, among other issues. I believe that these issues also cause unnecessary conges on. At a me when we want to promote our town centres for businesses and shoppers, with the aim of filling up empty shops and encouraging businesses to trade in our towns, it makes no sense not to fully address this issue. I also believe that we need dedicated on-street disabled parking bays at some key loca ons. I believe that we should be finding solu ons not making excuses for not doing something. It was disappoin ng to have the mo on rejected. Instead, the conserva ve-led administra on decided to resurrect a working group - a body that failed to get enough support for changes last year. I will be watching closely as I am concerned that this issue may be kicked into touch again. I went for a short holiday to Spain to visit family recently and ended up with a longer holiday than planned thanks to French Air Traffic control. Along with thousands of others at Alicante airport, I continued on page 38
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You Can Have Your Cake.. Make it, Decorate it.. And Eat it! Better still, they make great presents, they are fun to make, fun to decorate, and no matter what they look like, they will taste great, so give it a go, Your baked bean =n cakes from last month’s recipe should be all done and nicely fed now. (www.galalife.co.uk/recipes.htm if you missed it.) So, let’s look at covering them in marzipan and either rolled fondant, or royal icing. You can make your own marzipan, fondant icing and royal icing (plenty recipes online), but the shop bought versions are just as good and a lot easier. You will need roughly 100grams of marzipan and 200 grams of icing per cake. The method is just the same for any size of Christmas cake. There are two ways of adding the marzipan, first is one single piece and as the fondant icing is best done this way it is good prac ce for later. Measure the size by running a piece of string up one side, across the top and down the other side. Cut the string to size and roll out the marzipan into a circle, just wider than the string. It should be about 3 or 4mm thick. Too much can be over powering. Boil some apricot jam with a splash of water and strain out the lumps, the jam makes the marzipan s ck to the cake. If you are going to decorate the cake, it is best with a flat top, so turn the cake upside town. Brush your cake board with a li5le jam so the cake will s ck to it. If it doesn’t sit nice and even, you can slice a li5le off the bo5om (was the top) to get a fla5er surface. You can fill any holes with spare marzipan. Brush the cake with the jam and using the rolling pin liB the marzipan onto the cake, unroll and smooth s ck down the sides. Trim off any excess from around the bo5om. Job done. The other way is to measure the diameter of the cake and roll out a circle that size. Now measure the circumference and height of 32 Gala Life
the cake with the string, roll out the marzipan and cut into a strip of that size. Brush the cake with jam, s ck the top on, then wrap the strip around the sides. Crimp the two together. You need to leave at least 24 hours between covering the cake with marzipan and icing to allow the marzipan to dry and stop the oils from the marzipan spoiling the white icing. One of the reasons for covering a fruit cake in marzipan is to act as a founda on for the icing. It’ll help to hide the major lumps and bumps of the cake beneath. Once the marzipan has dried, it is me to add the icing. I prefer the rolled fondant as it’s easier to work with and gives a nice smooth finish. Measure and coat in one piece as you did with the marzipan, only this me brush the cake with water to make the icing s ck. Again 3mm
is about right. One good effect is to dye the marzipan with green food colouring, then cut through the icing with a holly shaped cu5er . Don’t use the water to s ck the icing down un l aBer you have removed the cut-outs, or they won’t come out cleanly. If you opt for royal icing, generously cover the cake and smooth out with a pale5e knife. To have a more natural, rus c look, leave it a li5le rough, or create some small peaks. The fondant icing will firm up a li5le over me, but will always have a soBness. Royal icing on the other hand will dry out and become quite hard. You will need some if piping decora ons. Store your cakes in a n un l ready to eat them, or give them as giBs to friends and family. For younger kids, you can always subs tute with their favourite chocolate cake.
Now the fun part. Just let you imagina on run wild. Get some coloured balls, ribbon, mini figures, shape cu5ers, pine cones, food colouring, edible gli5er and anything else that takes you fancy. Here are some ideas to get you started…. Gala Life 33
Willie’s Wonky Computer Factory Now the clocks have changed we tend to spend more me in the evening on the computer, maybe catching up with friends and family, looking for a be5er gas/electric deal or some Christmas shopping online. It is usually this month when I get asked ‘why is my laptop slower than it used to be?’ The best answer is that you have become accustomed to a quick response from your phone, or tablet, even your TV, and your laptop probably isn’t any more slower than you have become impa ent. However soBware evolves and is more demanding of the hardware, so if you use your laptop a lot and mul -task with several apps open at the same me, it might be that an increase in RAM memory will boost performance. You really need a minimum of 4Gb. This can be the easiest upgrade you can do yourself. You just need to bear in mind that not all laptops are upgradable and if you are running a 32bit version of Windows, it will not recognise more than 4Gb.
expensive ones, just look to end up with 4Gb in a 32bit and probably 8Gb in a 64bit Windows. If the slots are filled with say 2 x 2Gb s cks of memory and you want 8Gb, you will have to remove the old ones and replace with 2 x 4.
Before buying the memory, let’s make sure the memory slots in the laptop are accessible and you feel confident in carrying on. Most laptop memory is beneath a screwed down cover on its’ underside. You will need a fine point cross head screwdriver to open it. Don’t lose the screws. Before touching anything, make sure you earth yourself to stop sta c causing damage. The memory modules are held in by spring clips on either side, usually one module sits on top of the other. Release the clips and the memory will pop up, they are removed and inserted at roughly 45 degrees and because of a slot in the connector, will only go in one way round. If you have succeeded in finding the memory and feel comfortable in proceeding, go ahead and order the upgrade. If you can’t find the memory, all is not lost. Check your owner’s Ok, keeping it easy: go to h(p://uk.crucial.com handbook, or Google memory upgrade for your they manufacture computer memory. From the make and model. It may be that it is located under the keyboard which makes it slightly Menu along the top of their web page select Memory, then System Scanner. Download this more complicated but there is every chance there will be instruc ons online, if not even a small programme and allow it to run in the YouTube video for dealing with that. laptop you want to upgrade. The scanner will produce a report showing how Just be careful and don’t force anything. If the many memory slots are in the laptop, the amount memory bank is covered with the likes of a heat it will support, what memory is compa ble and shield, it will be easily removed. Just take some a price. There might be a long list to choose from, pictures with your phone to make reassembly you don’t need to choose the latest fastest most easier. Willie
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Slating & Roofing Contractors
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Tel: 01896 800717 Fax: 01896 758746 Gala Life 35
arrived to find that my flight had been cancelled about 10 minutes before it was due to board. I then got a text, aBer the plane should have leB, confirming that it had been cancelled. Understandably, there was a lot of anger and frustra on, par cularly directed at a certain airline that everyone loves to hate. The French ATC strike was not their fault, but surely it was possible to let passengers know before they arrived at the airport. As a result, families with young children and a great deal of elderly were leB hanging around the terminal late at night with nowhere to go. In the mean me, anyone trying to find another flight online was finding prices taking off faster any jet plane that night: there apparently always seems to be a profit in other people’s misfortune. ABer finding out that we were being asked to come back the next day on the off-chance of a standby to another des na on, I no ced that the Norwegian Air help desk seemed to be clearing its queue quite quickly so went to see what they were doing for their passengers – they were handed a voucher for a taxi into Alicante and a hotel for the night. My choice of airline may changing! Tel: 0300 100 0220; Mobile: 07811 976952; E-mail: andy.anderson@scotborders.gov.uk; Facebook: www.facebook.com/GalaDistrict
Euan Jardine Councillor - Galashiels & District Conserva ve As a sports fan, I enjoy this me of the year more than any other. It is full of possibility and hope and as I write this the football and rugby seasons are well under way. If you are an American sports fan, the NBA season is just around the corner and the NFL has started with a flourish. As a Kansas City Chiefs fan it has been a very exci ng few weeks so far! It is also the start of the cross country running season. For a lot of people, the words ‘cross country’, evoke memories of their me at school in which they would be forced to run around a muddy field un l they could barely move. For me it s mulates my memory and reminds me of a great me in my life. When I was an athlete, I enjoyed cross country as it brought together runners from various athle cs disciplines i.e road, track and hill running. It was also a great opportunity to compete and bond with your club mates. I was a member of Gala Harriers and we would travel all over the country for the love of the sport. The weather was never predictable, as I recall it could be excep onally sunny the second Saturday in October for the East District relays and then torren al rain and high winds for the na onal cross country relays two weeks later. The season would con nue onwards with limited opportunity for training breaks in between races. The best chance to ‘get the miles in’ was during the new year break. Then once February rolled around all eyes would be on the Na onal Cross Country Championships, which have been based at Calendar park in Falkirk for over ten years. The na onal is the jewel in the cross country season calendar. It is also a breeding ground for current and future Olympians with Andrew Butchart and Callum Hawkins recent winners of the senior mens event. Also this year local club Gala Harriers gained a Silver and Bronze medal in both the boys and girls U17 team event. That really shows the depth of talent we have in this region and the hard work throughout the winter from not only the athletes but the coaches and volunteers involved in the club. So next me you see a runner out on the roads on a cold dark winters night. Please remember they may just be dreaming about winning the Na onal Cross Country Championships. continued on page 40
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If you would like informa on on anything men oned or have any issues you would like to raise you can contact me on 0300 100 0220 or by email at Euan.Jardine@scotborders.gov.uk
St Peter’s Episcopal Church, Galashiels Church Diary November Thurs 2nd 10.00am Communion Service th Sat 4 10.00am Cursillo mee ng Coldstream Sun 5th 9.30am Sunday Squad 10.30am Sung Eucharist, Rev John Evans Mon 6th 7.30pm Filling Sta on, Corn Exchange, Melrose th Wed 8 7.30pm SLT mee ng @ Sheena’s Thurs 9th 10.00am Communion Service Fri 10th 7.30pn Church Social evening – Bingo Quiz Sun 12th 9.30am Sunday Squad 10.30 Remembrance Service, Fr William Mounsey RAF(rt) ATC enrolment and parade Mon 13th 7.00pm Bo5le top sort Thurs 16th 10.00am Communion Service Sat 18th 12.30 Soup ‘n’ Pud lunch Sun 19th 8.30am Holy Communion 9.45am Breakfast 10.30 Family Service, AGM rd Thurs 23 10am Communion Service Fri 24th 5.00pm Choir prac ce Sun 26th 9.30am Sunday Squad 10.30 Sung Eucharist, Joanna Smith Tues 28th 5.30pm Messy Church 10.00am Communion Service Thurs 30th Sun 3rd Dec 9.30am Sunday Squad Advent 10.30am Sung Eucharist, Rev John Evans Contact Informa=on Caretaker Phil Todd 07787 729639, Hall Bookings Elizabeth Watret 01750 23207 / 07780 009355 e-mail elizabeth.watret@gmail.com
Caddonfoot Parish Church As we approach the fes ve season, it remains a busy me in the life of Caddonfoot Parish Church. ABer the Harvest Thanksgiving service, the annual sale of work and coffee morning last month in the Volunteer Hall, Galashiels, marked a major fund-raising event and thanks go to our many volunteers (Details in the next issue of Gala Life). continued on page 42
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We are s ll looking for volunteers, too, to run the Fair Trade stall, which is held monthly in the church aBer service on a Sunday morning and thanks are extended to all who donated to the Blythswood Shoebox Appeal. The Kirk Session and the Congrega onal Board each met recently when various issues were discussed and the Bible Study group meets each week in the church at which the following Sunday Readings are debated. Remembrance Day service and the laying of wreaths is planned for Sunday, November 12, with various Christmas services earmarked in December. The church newsle5er has been distributed to all homes in the parish and now we are formula ng the Christmas edi on, which will also incorporate Clovenfords news as part on of our community edi on. Please send us any news for inclusion.
Galashiels Bap=st Church We are a friendly welcoming church situated in Victoria Street Galashiels. Sundays we meet at 10.30am for morning worship, we enjoy both contemporary and tradi onal songs/hymns. Crèche facili es are available, Sunday Club for primary age and Youth Bible study for teenagers. Tea and coffee are served aBer the service with a fellowship lunch on the 2nd Sunday of every month. In the evening, 6.00-8.00pm there is a Youth Club for P7 upwards when they enjoy a variety of games. E.g. snooker, table tennis and board games. Tuesdays at 12.30pm there is a Lunch Club for the elderly. Enjoy a 3 course lunch followed by tea/coffee. Cost is £5. There are occasional ou ngs throughout the year. Tuesdays and Thursdays a Parent and Toddler group meets from 10 – 11.15am. This is a great opportunity to meet new people and for children to enjoy play with others. Tuesday Prayer mee ng 7.00 - 8.15pm. Wednesdays at 2pm a craB group meets in the small lounge. Enjoy a cup of tea and a chat whilst you do your kniHng, sewing, croche ng, or pain ng. Friday Club - 6.00 - 7.30pm. For primary aged children Games, stories, craB. Wednesdays 15th, 22nd, 29th November - CAP money course – 3 sessions from 10.30 – 12 noon. This is a free course that makes managing your money simple. To book call 01896 850 562 or email dmghall@hotmail.com All welcome, for further info of all church events – www.galashielsbap=stchurch.org.uk e-mail admin@galashielsbap=stchurch.org.uk
Trinity Church Galashiels On the first Sunday in November, we will be celebra ng the Sacrament of Holy Communion at the morning service at 11.15am and the following week will be the Remembrance Service again at 11.15am. The Guild have a busy month with mee ngs on Tuesday 7th when Lena Sco5, a church member and very talented ar st, will give a talk on the history of the Studio Club and on Tuesday 21st when K&D Hall will talk on missionary work in India. There will be a giB stall at the la5er mee ng. The guild mee ngs are at 2.15 pm in the church hall. The ladies will also be hos ng a coffee morning in the church hall on Saturday morning between 10am and 12 noon. There will also be a joint mee ng with St. Pauls at St. Pauls on Wednesday 15th. During the last weekend of the month (Friday 24th –Sunday 26th), Trinity will once more be continued on page 44
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hos ng the Galashiels fellowship of Churches’ Christmas Tree Fes val. Last year’s fes val was very successful with many trees on display. Tea and coffee will be available during the day on Saturday and everyone is invited to come along and enjoy the display.
Hope Church We are a lively and inclusive contemporary Chris an Church recently established and thriving in the ScoHsh Borders. We gather every Sunday to worship together and celebrate the presence of God in our lives. Our mee ngs are lively and informal, family friendly, with a blend of tradi onal and contemporary worship led by a great band. Everyone is welcome, whether you have a church background or are just seeking answers to the big ques ons in life. So please join with us any Sunday at 4.00 pm at Tweedbank Community Centre, Essenside Drive. Check out details of Hope Church on our web site www.hopechurchborders.org.uk
Holy Trinity Church, Melrose Taizé worship is held at Holy Trinity Church, High Cross Avenue, Melrose, on the last Wednesday of every month. See 'What's On' for dates and mes. Taizé is a form of non-denomina onal Chris an worship involving sung and chanted prayers, medita on, a period of silence, and liturgical readings, with no preaching. The experience has been quoted as being "poe c and contempla ve." The style of prayer prac ced is sung in an almost Buddhist style of medita ve chan ng. All are welcome to join in the service, which is based on the worship style of a monas c community located in Taizé, northern France. Members of the community make a life commitment to live in joy, simplicity and mercy as a "parable of community," a sign of the Gospel's call to reconcilia on at the heart of the world. For further informa on visit our website at www.holytrinitymelrose.org.uk, telephone 01896 822626, or you can e-mail us at infoholytrinity@gmail.com
Old Parish & St Paul’s Church Sco5 Crescent, Galashiels TD1 3JU
St John’s Church Hawthorn Road, Langlee TD1 2JZ We are two linked churches who want to be God glorifying and Christ exal ng in our worship. The Word of God is faithfully preached and therefore we would like to invite everyone to come and listen to God speaking to us through His Word. Sunday Services in November: 9.45 am St John’s 11.30am St Paul’s (except 12th Nov – Remembrance – star ng 10.55am) 6.30pm St John’s (except 26th Nov – joint carol service in Trinity at 6pm) There are children’s and youth groups during the morning services. Prayer Mee=ngs in November: 7th, 14th, 21st at 7.30pm in St John’s continued on page 46
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28th at 7pm in St Paul’s Other groups and ac=vi=es St John’s Bible Study – House group on Wednesday evenings Girls Brigade – Mondays from 6pm. Dedica on Service Sun 5th Nov 9.45am Messy Church – Saturday aBernoons – look out for dates Galashiels Food Bank – team involved in distribu on St Paul’s Bible Studies – House groups on Monday & Tuesday mornings Boys Brigade – Fridays from 6.30pm Guild – Wednesdays 2.15pm on 1st, 15th, 29th Nov Lunch Club – Thursdays 12.30pm. Phone 01578 730591 for informa on on cost etc. Music Makers – Thursdays 7.30pm Badminton – Wednesdays 10am Old Parish and St. Paul's Church Autumn Fayre/Coffee Morning in the Volunteer Hall Old Parish and St Paul's Church is holding an Autumn Fayre/Coffee Morning in the Volunteer Hall on Saturday 18th November from 10.00am un l midday. Entry costs £2 per adult, which includes refreshments, with free admission for children. There will be a number of stalls to browse including books, bric-a-brac, cake and candy, toys, games, craBs, produce, jewellery and others. Come along, meet up with friends and have a cup of coffee and something to eat, while perhaps star ng your Christmas shopping! We look forward to seeing you there. For further informa=on Minister: Rev Dr Leon Keller E-mail: LKeller@churchofscotland.org.uk Phone: 01896 753029 websites: www.oldparishandstpauls.org.uk/ St John’s website is currently being re-designed.
Our Lady and St Andrews Catholic Church Ministers to a weekly congrega on of around 200 at 11.00am Mass. There is a lively choir and me to chat at tea and coffee, aBer. We are fortunate in having a flourishing Polish community. Mass mes are Saturday Vigil - 6.00pm, Sunday Mass - 11.00am. All visitors are welcome.
The Filling Sta=on The Filling Sta on meets for regular Monday evening ‘celebra on’ mee ngs held in the Corn Exchange Melrose, every month on the first Monday star ng at 7.30pm and we have seen Chris an’s from communi es across the ScoHsh Borders grow in depth, numbers and fellowship. The Filling Sta on offers high quality speakers and teachers, contemporary sung worship and powerful, accessible prayer ministry. Our mee ngs are designed to be overtly spiritual but presented in a manner that those outside the church would feel comfortable. Our mee ngs aim to be short, sharp and focused in character. We find many people meet God
continued on page 48
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through these mee ngs and faith is built up. We welcome Chris ans from all backgrounds, denomina ons and non, Chris an leaders, those seeking to understand what the Chris an faith is all about, and those just inquisi ve. Our next mee ng is Monday November 6th at 7.30pm when our worship will be led by the regular filling sta on worship team and our guest speaker will be Charles Finnie who is a Church of Scotland minister in Hawick and is involved in the renewal movement, such as Clan Gatherings and Borders Worship Gatherings. We look forward to welcoming you to the filling sta on if you haven’t been before. Should be a great night so why not drop into the corn exchange and check out the Borders Filling Sta=on!
Heart and Soul The weekly Heart and Soul class con nues at the Borders General Hospital’s Chaplaincy Centre each Thursday from 5 to 6 pm for pa ents who have been through the heart rehabilita on programme. In recent weeks, we have welcomed two new members from Hawick and Lilliesleaf. There are several Galashiels members, as well as others from Ednam, Lauder, Melrose and Selkirk. We will again be holding a Christmas lunch – in the Kingsknowes Hotel, Galashiels, on Monday, December 11, at 12 for 12.15 pm. The secretary will accept deposits and has copies of the menu.
Gala Opera ABer several weeks of busy rehearsal, our charity concert on behalf of local charity 'The Lavender Touch' was held from 13th to 15th September and was a resounding success, making all our hard work worthwhile. The Volunteer Hall was packed every night, with great support from the local community, meaning that a huge amount of money has been raised for the charity. The final amount being donated to the charity will be announced soon so watch out for the final details over the next few weeks. ABer a very brief break, our a5en on has now turned to our 2018 produc on 'Summer Holiday' based on the Cliff Richard film of the 1960's. Rehearsals are now well underway, the cast has been chosen and we will be busy between now and December geHng to grips with what is a fun, light hearted show with music which will be familiar to many, especially those around in the 60's! The show will be performed in the Volunteer Hall in the first week in March next year - more details on exact dates / cket booking etc in future edi ons so keep a look out - you don't want to miss it.
Galashiels & District Probus Club Probus Clubs provide an opportunity for re red or semi-re red professional and business men and women to a5end regular mee ngs and enjoy the company of like-minded people who appreciate the camaraderie of being part of the Club. We usually have around 60 members at our fortnightly mee ngs on Thursday mornings at the Waverley Castle Hotel, Melrose. ABer tea or coffee we have a guest speaker and have talks on varied interes ng subjects. On 9th November we have Douglas Hope with ‘Who do you think you are’ and on 23rd November we have Donald Gordon with ‘Trimon um and the Romans’. More informa on is available on the Probus UK website and if you are interested in joining us please ask any member or speak to our secretary at 01750 76243. continued on page 50
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Lisbon Lion at Gala FR The highlight in November at Gala Fairydean Rovers FC has to be "The Audience with Bobby Lennox". One of Cel c's greatest ever players, the 74-year-old will be visi ng Netherdale on Saturday, November 18th, to take in the Lowland League side's match against Edinburgh University. ABer the game he will be in the clubrooms for an indepth interview and a ques on and answer session. There will be plenty of stories to regale. ABer all, Lennox is Cel c's most decorated player with 11 league tles, eight ScoHsh Cups and five League Cup winning medals to his name. He won 10 ScoHsh caps and, of course, he was a member of the famous Lisbon Lions who won the European Cup against Inter Milan in 1967. Tickets priced £20 are currently on sale. This includes a two course lunch with wine at noon, Ross County v Cel c live on the big screens at 12.30pm and Gala Fairydean Rovers v Edinburgh University at 3.00pm before Lennox takes the centre stage at 5.15pm. Contact Graeme McIver 07738 615562 or any Gala Fairydean Rovers commi5ee member for further details. Gala Fairydean Rovers have two other Lowland League games at home in November. They are against Vale of Leithen on Wednesday, November 1st, (kick off 7.45pm) and Edusport Academy on Saturday, November 25th (kick off 3pm). Admission is just £5 for adults and £3 concessions . Gala Fairydean Rovers Premier Club card members get free entry.
Arthri=s Research Melrose Table Top Sale We are holding a Table Top sale on Saturday 11th November 2017 in the George & Abbotsford Hotel, Melrose, from 10.30am - 3.30pm (set up from 9.30). Tables provided £10 each, bring your own table £7. Father Christmas, children’s lucky dip, tombola and refreshments. For more details and to book a table email info@arthri=sresearchmelrose.org.uk or telephone 07928 714072. If we all work together, we really can help to take the pain away from the 10 million adults and children suffering from arthri s. For more informa on please contact the Melrose Branch, Arthri s Research UK 0845 602 3921.
Share Your Recommenda=ons And Get A Thank You From Us. We have a great number of readers and contributors in Gala Life, and many of them recommend our li5le magazine to tradesmen or businesses that have provided them with good service, normally with “You should be adver sing in this!” We are usually then contacted by these companies ac ng on your recommenda on. So, it’s me to say thank you. If you recommend us to a business or service provider and they choose to adver ser with us, we will reward you with a nice voucher for a shop of your choice. Just ask them to quote your name and we will be in touch. 50 Gala Life
This Month’s Tricky Sudoko 2 9
5
8 7
7 8
2 5
6 1
1
2
6
3 7
9 8
4 3
8
5 7
3
How to play............
Fill the grid so that every row, column and every 3 x 3 box contains the numbers 1 through to 9 with no repetition. That’s all there is to it! Use reasoning and logic to solve the puzzle - there’s no maths or adding up. Look carefully for what numbers can go where and with a little practice it will get easier!
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YOUR HOROSCOPE For November 2017 By Astrologer Christine Chalklin The Cosmos During November November brings the deep and mysterious sign of Scorpio into the spotlight; this is your cosmic invita on to review anything in your life that has outlived its purpose and needs shiBing. Venus, the planet of love and romance, enters Scorpio on the 7th and then on the 13th there is a brilliant alignment with the boun ful planet Jupiter – chances are roman c a5achments can blossom as they become more passionate and intense. Mercury’s arrival in visionary Sagi5arius on the 6th opens minds to a wide range of new interests, including plans for the perfect winter getaway. The new moon is in emo ve Scorpio on the 18th, this Scorpio new moon is also the perfect me to review your well-being before the winter sets in. ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 20 With the emphasis on the partnership sector of your chart November will surely turn out to be a busy and rewarding month. Your ruler, dynamic Mars, shows you that the heat is on, then aBer the 19th you can begin to take things a bit easier. Financial ma5ers may need some a5en on around the new moon on the 18th. TAURUS APRIL 21 - MAY 21 The radiant Sun and mighty Jupiter are both shining a beneficial light on all your partnerships and rela onships this month. The 13th is a par cularly auspicious day and things should run smoothly and be very much to your liking; prepare for new encounters and rewarding rela onships. GEMINI MAY 22 - JUNE 21 Three planets occupy the work and wellbeing angle of your chart; daily rou nes and general health will be your top priori es this month. Mercury, your ruler, gets energe c and mo vated in fiery Sagi5arius aBer the 6th as interes ng new opportuni es come your way. CANCER JUNE 22 - JULY 22 The Moon, your ruling planet, starts the month in fiery Aries, illumina ng the career and ambi on sector of your chart. Communica on is good as the Sun Jupiter and Mercury ensure that your confidence and self-esteem are at their highest. This could be the month for brilliant break-throughs! LEO JULY 23 - AUGUST 23 As dynamic Mars powers up your financial sector you’ll be on the lookout for new ways to make money. Abundant Jupiter lends a helping hand and ensures there isn’t much that you can’t achieve this month. The Scorpio new moon on the 11th brings a domes c issue into the spotlight. VIRGO AUGUST 24 - SEPTEMBER 22 Three planets in the communica on corner of your chart ensure that this will be an important month. High energy, successful interac on and new projects are the main themes to keep you occupied. Your confidence is strong and you should have the determina on to do things your way. 52 Gala Life
LIBRA SEPTEMBER 23 - OCTOBER 23 With dynamic Mars in your sign all month you have the perfect opportunity to be more asser ve and to step up into a more important role. Jupiter is strong in your financial area and the new moon on the 18th could see a boom in your income, or even a lucky breakthrough. SCORPIO OCTOBER 24 - NOVEMBER 22 November is your birthday month and the fabulous new moon in your sign on the 18th brings the start of a brand new cycle of transforma on and personal growth. Dynamic Mars is confronted by powerful Pluto on the 19th, ensuring that spiritual and psychological regenera on are also important themes. SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER 23 - DECEMBER 21 The friendship angle of your chart comes into focus this month, making you aware that it has never been more important to listen to others when making important decisions. As communica ve Mercury enters your sign on the 6th, long held dreams and aspira ons can begin to take shape. CAPRICORN DECEMBER 22 - JANUARY 20 The Sun, Jupiter and Mercury are all in Scorpio, s rring up anything to do with friendships and group endeavours. Romance is also favoured as the love planet Venus moves into passionate Scorpio on the 7th increasing the chances of a mee ng with someone new. AQUARIUS JANUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 18 Goals and ambi on are favoured this month as the Sun illuminates this area of your chart. Mars and Venus are both in Libra increasing the chances of a new romance, or reviving desire in a current partnership. A breakthrough comes around the me of the new moon on the 18th. PISCES FEBRUARY 19 - MARCH 20 Stern Saturn, at the highest point in your chart, makes a brilliant aspect to innova ve Uranus keeping you focussed and a5en ve to any new prospects that may further your career. The new moon in Scorpio on the 18th offers exci ng opportuni es and opens your mind to new horizons. NAVIGATE YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS – with in-depth knowledge and cosmic awareness. How is 2017 progressing for you? How can you turn things around to your advantage? Insights gained by having your unique birth chart explained to you will help you to work with the planetary cycles and maximise your poten al to achieve whatever you desire. Consulta ons are available in person, by telephone or Skype. Book now for a revealing personal astrology consulta on. Please contact me for more informa on. Chris=ne Chalklin Inspira=onal Astrologer and Life Coach, www.restyleyourlife.co.uk Chris=ne@restyleyourlife.co.uk Telephone: 07813 483549
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Gala S=ll Very Much In The Mix. Since our last ar cle Gala have played a further four fixtures. The first two at home against Cartha Queens Park and our local rivals Selkirk. The Cartha fixture was for a long period a very close match, however, Gala stepped up the pace in the second period to win comfortably by 43 points to 12. The game against Selkirk was probably Gala’s hardest match of the season, and although the Souters had more possession throughout the game it was the Maroons who came out on top by 16 points to 5. The following week Gala were on the road to play another of our border rivals, this me Kelso. Once again Gala came out on top with another bonus point win by 36 points to 21. These results set up the top of the league clash the following Saturday against Edinburgh Accies. The game itself turned out to be a low scoring affair when unfortunately Gala suffered their first league defeat of the season going down by 16 points to 13. This result meant that Accies were to stay top of the table with Gala slipping down to third behind Jed Forest who we will play at Riverside Park on 4th November. Leading points scorer for the season so far is Gregor Hunter, who has amassed a total of 84 points. Coming from 1 try, 20 conversions and 13 penal es. Leading try scorer is club Captain Graham Speirs who has crossed the white wash on 8 occasions. Gala have fewer fixtures in November due to ScoHsh Autumn tests when Scotland will take on Samoa, New Zealand and Australia in consecu ve weeks at Murrayfield. However, Gala have two fixtures on the road, the first the aforemen oned game against Jed Forest and another away fixture against Premiership side Boroughmuir in the BT Cup. Two very mouth-watering fixtures which Gala will have to be at their best to come away with victories. Prior to the Jed Forest game the Maroons have two Na onal League 1 fixtures against GHA in Glasgow and then at home to Stewarts Melville. Gala YM are enjoying a fairly successful season and have currently played 7 matches with 5 victories and 2 defeats which leaves them just above mid table in the BT East League Division 2. Semi Juniors side Gala Wanderers as yet are undefeated this season, winning all 5 of their games so far. This sees them siHng in second place in the league behind Hawick PSA, however the Wanderers do have a game in hand. Christmas Party Nights and More: Lots going on at Netherdale off the field as well with many social func ons taking place. Check out the web page for more details. Memberships are s ll available, contact the club for more informa on. Come On The Maroons!
Photo: Top Points Scorere Gregor Hunter lines up a kick against Ediburgh Accies.
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Why 5 A Day? The 5 A Day campaign is based on advice from the World Health Organiza=on, which recommends ea ng a minimum of 400g of fruit and vegetables a day to lower the risk of serious health problems. Evidence shows there are significant health benefits to geHng at least five 80g por ons of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day - that's five por ons of fruit and vegetables in total, not five por ons of each. All of the benefits below are backed up by current research….. • In the UK, one person dies every three minutes from coronary heart disease, but ea ng one apple a day cuts risk by 20%. Add an orange and a banana and the figure increases to 50%. • Minor infec ons like colds and flu are less likely if you eat plenty of fruit and vegetables par cularly kiwi fruit, raspberries, blueberries, red peppers and citrus fruit. These offer the best way to get high levels of vitamin C in your diet - people with high intakes of vitamin C have 34% fewer sick days than others. • A study in 1998 showed that a high-fibre diet will help protect against breast and prostate cancer. Cabbage, peas, beans, berries and dried fruit are rich sources, but there is fibre in nearly all vegetables and most fruit – this is even more effec ve if you eat the skins. • Dark green leafy vegetables like broccoli and kale can also provide calcium, while onions delay the processes that cause bones to weaken. 1g of onion a day is enough to start the process. • According to the world's largest study on successful weight loss, focusing on a diet high in fruit and vegetables is a vital factor in losing weight and keeping it off. A por on of most fruit or veg contains just 50 calories - the same as five crisps or half a chocolate biscuit.
• Compounds in cranberries and blueberries
stop bacteria s cking to the inside of the urinary tract and so help prevent infec ons like cys s - a handful of blueberries or a glass of cranberry juice a day can cut frequency of a5acks by 58%. • Ea ng two-and-a-half carrots a day has been shown to lower cholesterol by 11% in three weeks in a ScoHsh studies. High cholesterol is a major risk factors in heart disease. • Ea ng fewer than one-and a-half por ons of fruit and vegetables a day significantly increases the risk of cataracts. Spinach helps prevent cataracts and prevents age related macular degenera on - the commonest cause of blindness in people over 55. • People who eat diets high in fruit and vegetables that contain vitamin B6 (such as bananas and avocados) find it easier to handle stress that those who did not. • Fruit and vegetables are a good source of vitamins and minerals, including folic acid, vitamin C and potassium. • They're an excellent source of dietary fibre, which can help to maintain a healthy gut and prevent cons pa on and other diges ve system problems. To get the maximum benefit from ea ng 5 a day, the five por ons should include a variety of fruit and vegetables, because different fruits and vegetables contain different combina ons of fibre, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Almost all fruit and vegetables can be fresh, frozen, canned, dried or juiced. Potatoes don't count, because they mainly contribute starch to the diet. The NHS website ‘5 A Day is an excellent source of informa on, and can be found at www.nhs.uk/Livewell/5ADAY alan@galalife.co.uk
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This Month’s Easy Sudoko 5 5
3
8
6
6
2
1
4
4
2
9
6
7
7 8
6
1
3
4 7
8 4 3 60 Gala Life
9
8 2
1 2
1
9 5
How to play............
Fill the grid so that every row, column and every 3 x 3 box contains the numbers 1 through to 9 with no repetition. That’s all there is to it! Use reasoning and logic to solve the puzzle - there’s no maths or adding up. Look carefully for what numbers can go where and with a little practice it will get easier!
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TO ALL LEVELS INDIVIDUALLY TAILORED COURSES WITH IMMEDIATE RESULTS
07482 303986 Gala Life 63
Beautiful Bathrooms Whatever the Size
Dream of a new bathroom. Don’t know where to start? Here are some simple =ps to consider when planning your beau=ful new bathroom. Use light colours. Sounds obvious ? This is a basic principle and especially true for small rooms like the bathroom. The lighter colour opens up the room and gives you room to breathe, even if going for a shade of grey. Go for single sink. Especially if space is ght this gives you more worktop and shelving space. Two sinks look great, but how oBen are both of you in the bathroom using at the same me? Realis cally some things are best kept private and as we all pile things on top of the counter – more room the be5er. If your bathroom is really small, consider using a corner sink. Use all the space available – even over the loo. Hang a medicine cabinet or shelf over this dead space. It means you have more space over the sink for a huge mirror. And so to mirrors…mirrors increase the
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feeling of space ! A large mirror can add light, style and luxury. Look to get a heated one with built in lights. No more misty mornings. Shelves…you need somewhere for your towels and essen als. They can be open and simple, maybe with a towel rail underneath. If space allows hang a ‘hotel’ towel shelf over the top of the radiator to keep your towels warm. Bath ledges. If like me, your room is bigger than the bath, then there is a li5le bit of wasted space at the end. Make this into a ledge. Great for all the bath salts, bits and bobs that we all have. See through it. Glass shower screens and shower enclosures add to sense of space. Don’t block your view with a shower curtains or misted panes. If you are going for a glass pane on the side of the bath then hang the shower as high as possible. This means the water comes down and into the bath – not outwards and all over the floor. Take the =les all the way to the ceiling. This stops you cuHng a small space in half, by dividing your room in two. This will give you a sense of height and draw the eye away from how close the walls are. Keep it simple. Use a small pale5e of colours and materials. The blending of them will make the room seamless. A modern twist on white at the moment is a pale5e of soB greys. This can work really well with marble and cool blues. Lastly don’t forget the accessories, buy some beau ful new fluffy towels in the shade to match your new bathroom. Debbie Gala Life 65
Penny For The Guy? Guy Fawkes was born 13th April 1570 in York. His father died when Fawkes was eight years old, aBer which his mother married a Catholic. Fawkes later converted to Catholicism and leB for the con nent, where he fought in Flanders on the side of Catholic Spain against Protestant Dutch Reformers, during the 80 Years war. He then travelled to Spain to seek support for a Catholic rebellion in England but was unsuccessful. During this me he met Thomas Wintour, with whom he returned to England. Wintour introduced Fawkes to Robert Catesby, a charisma c figure who was responsible for the hiring of 13 members of a gang, who planned to assassinate King James 1st and restore a Catholic monarch to the throne. Their plan was to blow up the Houses of Parliament whilst the King was in a5endance, together with many members of Parliament, other VIPs and dignitaries. (By today’s standards these conspirators would be known as terrorists.) The gang secured the lease to a cellar beneath the House of Lords, and Fawkes, having military experience, was placed in charge of the gunpowder they stockpiled there. As the gang worked on the plot doubts began to surface. Innocent people would die, including those who were sympathe c to the Catholic cause. One group member sent a le5er to Lord Monteagle warning him to stay away from Parliament on November 5. The le5er was passed to the King and he sent orders to his forces to stop the plot. The authori es searched Westminster Palace during the early hours of 5 November 1605 and found Fawkes guarding 36 barrels of explosives. Over the next few days, he was ques oned, tortured and eventually confessed. He was not in prison alone for long. Some conspirators were either arrested as they fled London or surrendered. Others, including Robert Catesby 66 Gala Life
were killed in a siege in Staffordshire shortly aBer. Guy Fawkes stands out as the most famous of the gang simply because he was caught with the gunpowder. Immediately before his execu on on 31 January 1606, Fawkes jumped from the scaffold where he was to be hanged and broke his neck, thus avoiding the agony of being drawn and quartered. Bonfires were liB to celebrate the King’s life and became synonymous with the Gunpowder Plot, however for many years it was considered as an an -catholic celebra on, as effigies of the pope were being burned on the fires. This led to serious civil unrest in parts of England and in 1683 an act was passed banning the bonfires and use of fireworks on 5th November.
The act had li5le effect and it was over 200 years before the circumstances were lost in me and bonfire night became more of a family affair, with no religious undertones. The effigies of the pope became replaced with those of Guy Fawkes, although the real life one was never burned at the stake. Interes ngly enough, on every November 5th, Parliament is s ll searched by Beefeaters! Penny for the Guy, sir? Take care with fireworks.
DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME! There is li(le doubt that the Chinese were responsible for the inven=on of fireworks, the how, where and when are just not really known. The favoured argument is that it was a culinary disaster! The mixture we call "gunpowder" was used in China to make fireworks long before the inven on of guns. It is a mixture of three things that have been known in China from ancient mes and their use of fireworks dates back over 2,000 years. The first ingredient is charcoal, the black solid formed when wood is heated in a fire. The next is sulphur, found in many parts of the world as a peculiar, crumbly yellow stone. When sulphur is put into a fire, it melts and burns with a blue flame, making a dreadful smell. The ancient Chinese used sulphur as a medicine. The final thing that goes into gunpowder is saltpetre, a white powdery material that looks just like ordinary salt. It is found naturally in the drier parts of China, and was used as a medicine and in cooking. Anyone who happened to spill some saltpetre into the fire would have no ced that the hot coals burned very fiercely around the mel ng saltpetre. Perhaps this gave someone the idea of mixing saltpetre with charcoal and seHng it alight. This mixture, if the propor ons are just right, burns quickly and throws out glowing sparks. With some sulphur added, the mixture burns even more rapidly, making a lot of smelly smoke. When it is put into a paper tube, or a piece of bamboo and set alight, the burning mixture shoots out a jet of fire and sparks. If the end of the tube is closed up, and the gun68 Gala Life
powder is lit through a small hole, the jet of fire shoots out further. If the hole is very small, the tube some mes bursts with a loud bang. The discovery of gunpowder would have been very exci ng for the ancient Chinese. They liked to make loud noises (known as "gung pow" or "bian pao") at fes vals and religious ceremonies, to scare away evil spirits. At first it was just put into bamboo tubes and set alight by throwing them onto a fire - hence the name 'Firecracker'. Even if it did not always make a noise, the smoke and sparks would have helped to keep evil spirits and demons away. Eventually, someone worked out how to make a fuse out of very thin paper and gunpowder twisted into a long string. With this fuse, it became possible to make firecrackers that exploded reliably. Firecrackers for religious fes vals were oBen made out of red paper. The fuses were plaited together to make long strings of firecrackers. When these were set off, they made a lot of very loud bangs and li5le bits of red paper were sca5ered far and wide. Evil spirits were supposed to be frightened of red, and so they would be kept away by the sca5ered pieces of paper, long aBer the firecrackers had finished. Chinese firecrackers are s ll used in huge numbers every year in Chinese fes vals - and just for fun! Some mes a firecracker that has not been made properly does not explode but instead shoots out a jet of fire and flies away in the air or along the ground. This is a very primi ve rocket. The ancient Chinese made rockets by fixing tubes packed with gunpowder to s cks, that
kept the rockets poin ng in the right direc on as they flew through the air. These early rockets were used in fes vals, and also in warfare as "arrows of flying fire". They were very effec ve against soldiers on horseback. Hand carved wooden rockets, shaped like dragons, shot rocket-powered arrows at the Mongol invaders in 1279. Explorers brought knowledge of gunpowder, fireworks, and rockets back with them when they returned home and Arabians in the 7th century referred to rockets as Chinese arrows. Marco Polo is credited with bringing gunpowder to Europe in the 13th century. The crusaders also brought the informa on back with them. Another Chinese discovery, s ll used in modern fireworks, was that powdered iron mixed with gunpowder made beau ful, flowerlike sparks. The ancient Chinese did not know about the chemicals needed to make coloured flames and white sparks; Fireworks with these effects were
developed in Europe over the last two hundred years and the chemistry of fireworks is now a complex art in its own right. The colours are produced by metal salts - stron um is red, sodium yellow, barium green and copper blue, to name just a few. Many fireworks are s ll made in much the same way today as they were hundreds of years ago. However, modern fireworks may include designer colors, like salmon pink and aqua, that weren't available in the past. In 2004, Disneyland in California star ng launching fireworks using compressed air rather than gunpowder. Electronic mers were used to explode the shells. That was the first me the launch system was used commercially, allowing for increased accuracy in ming (so shows could be put to music) and reducing smoke and fumes from big displays. Remember PLAY SAFE WITH FIREWORKS Gala Life 69
INDEX OF ADVERTISERS A & A Doyle Ltd Funeral Dir
41
Gala Garden
22
MT Maintenance
13
Ace Carpet Cleaning Apollo Blinds
39
Gala Opera
48
New Business?
29
1
Gala Rugby Club
54
Oven Wizard
41
Bank Street Cafe
23
Grants Gardens
25
Pest Problems
24
Beau ful Bathrooms
64
Greenspaces
24
Pinhead
63
Beercra:
23
Guy Fawkes
66
Plodders Dog Walking
21
Border Brides
45
Handyman Services
35
Plumbstore
62
Border Vets
20
Harrison Ford
72
Rate Card
56
Borders Garage Doors
12
Hearth & Home
57
Recipe
28
Bri sh Legion
21
History of Fireworks
68
Right Medicine
19
Bulb
25
Home Energy
36
SB Cares
61
B-V-Tv
49
Horoscope
52
School Bell Tui on
63
Castle Warehouse
59
House of Hearing
43
Scout Post
21
Christmas Fayre
29
Hutchisons Carpets
71
Ship Inn
8
Christmas Tree Fes val
9
James Graham Roofing
35
Spec Savers
67
Churches
40
Jean Muir Student Village
45
Stobo Castle
Clock Tower
23
John Lamont MP
30
Sudoko
Clothes for all Occasions
43
Jonnie Jones Plumber
35
Tempest Brewery
Councillor Andy Anderson
30
K 2 Roofing
51
Teviot Smokery
5
Councillor Ewan Jardine
38
Keith Penny Décor
13
The Next Chapter
15
Creme De La Creme
41
KenKleen
35
Top Toys
26
Crolla's
29
Laura Mcphee
12
Travelsure Ltd
23
Dave Hall Engineer
21
Leaflet Distribu on
55
Treasure Island Panto
16
2 51,60 15
David Nichol
60
Lisbon Lion
50
Win Compe on
11
Decorate a Cake
32
Mackenzie Plumbing
13
Winter Summer Spring & Fall
8
DW Noble
61
Major Tree Solu ons
25
Wonky Computer
34
Fencing & Hedges
25
Man with a Van
49
Your Local Blind Man
41
Finlaysons
13
Maxwell Roofing
47
Zest Blinds
6
Fitness
58
Mike TV
63
Floors Forestry
24
Mobility Scooters
19
Helpful Numbers to Hand Gala Police Station Scottish Power Gas Emergency BGH Social Work Emergency
01896 752222 08452727999 0800 111999 01896 826000 01896 752111
Scot Borders Council Citizens Advice Bureau BorderLine NHS 24 Victim Support
0300 100 1800 01896 753889 0800 0274466 111 01896 751212
Whilst every care is taken in preparing this magazine to ensure accuracy, the publishers cannot be held responsible for loss, damage or omission caused by an error in an advert. Artwork is accepted on the condition that it is legal and copyright free and that the advert is fair and accurate. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy of claims made by the advertisers or the views expressed by contributors, nor do the publishers necessarily share such views. We reserve the right to refuse articles and advertisements. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is strictly prohibited.
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