Konect Balerno October 2020

OCTOBER 2020

HEALTH:

LOCAL WALK: FEATURE:

PLUS: MONEY MATTERS, PUZZLES, NOTES FROM A SMALL VILLAGE, and MUCH more inside!

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he clocks go back this month to mark the end of the strangest BST we’ve lived through, and into an autumn with more unknowns than ever. However, it’s comforting that nature’s routines carry on regardless, and I love the Local Environment column this month - the sedge warblers doing their thing before they head south for the winter, and other birds to look out for locally as the season changes.

A new column from Lindsay and Gilmour starts this month. “Ask your Pharmacist” will cover how your local pharmacist can help with your family health needs on a nonappointment, on-your-doorstep basis. This month they kick off with smoking cessation.

A local walk with a view this month; House of the Binns is a 20 – 25 minute drive, and includes the wonderful changing colours of an autumn woodland as well as open parkland and features of historic interest.

There are various options nearby for refreshments afterwards - I recommend New Hopetoun Gardens’ Orangerie tea room. New Hopetoun Gardens are also running a tree festival and fairy gardens to visit during October and November so it makes the drive doubly worth it.

With the wonderful range of columns from all our usual contributors, I hope you enjoy the magazine this month!

u can know yo Did you be to receive subscri issue of The w each ne ectory online?

Dell Dir cribe here Subs bscribe scot/su konect.

COVER IMAGE: Halloween: Have a Spooky but Safe time this year. @KonectMagazines

THIS ISSUE Local Walk: An autumn ramble with a view......8 Feature: Getting Glasses.....................................14 Ask Your Pharmacist ............................................16 Health: Puppies, Children and Bones.............18 Note from a Small Village.....................................20 Money Matters: Save tax in retirement............27 Puzzles.......................................................................34 Local Environment: Sedge Warblers...............38 Puzzles.......................................................................35 Local Lab...................................................................40 Local People: Morag Dunbar.............................42

Konect is delivered to homes in Balerno, Currie, Juniper Green, Baberton and Ratho.

Copies are also left at the library, community centres, convenience stores and various other locations within the area.

HELEN-JANE SHEARER Editor

E: editor@konect.scot

CHARLENE GAFFNEY Account Manager

M: 07772 941899 E: charlene@konect.scot BALERNO | 3

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House of Binns: An ancestral home with a rich history

For views a bit different from what you get in the Pentlands, but not too far away, the House of the Binns near Linlithgow offers a short woodland walk, lovely panoramic views, historic interest and a parkland with picnic spots. It is lovely any time of year and makes a colourful autumnal walk as the leaves change colour.

Owned by the National Trust for Scotland, House of the Binns is the ancestral home of the Dalyells; the site was chosen for its proximity to Linlithgow Palace. There is plenty of rich history to explore here in the family stories. The first Baronet (1615–1685) was General Tom Dalyell, “Bluidy Tam,” famous for brutally defeating the Covenanters on behalf of Charles II at the Battle of Rullion Green in the Pentlands. The most recent occupant was the late Tam Dalyell MP. The house is closed at present but the grounds are free for you to wander; the gates close at 5.30pm.

Strut like a Peacock on a colourful Autumn walk Looking North: Stunning views over the Firth of Forth and Blackness Castle

The approach drive (off the A7904 near Mannerston Holdings) meanders up through a field of sheep to a car park close to the house.

If you’re lucky, you’ll be greeted by the resident peacocks. I counted eight peacocks plus two babies the day I was there; there may be more.

The walk starts beside the house, and is an easy trail through the woodland. It’s not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs as there are steps and tree roots to navigate. You emerge from the woodland into a field, and head up towards a tower.

The tower is a folly built in 1826 as a result of a wager; Sir James Dalyell and his friends had an after-dinner wager on who could come up with the best way of wasting £100. It sounds like the sort of thing wealthy young men would do, but Sir James was 52 years old at the time and didn’t really have anything to prove! The story is on the benches that surround the tower, I’ll leave it to you to read it when you go!

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Binns Tower, Dalyell’s Folly and The Wager are all names for the turret located at the top of a steep hill on the ‘House of the Binns’ Estate

Linger at the tower to take in the wonderful views all around. To the North, look out over Blackness Castle and the Forth to the Cleish Hills and the Ochils. To the south, over the bings to the Pentlands which make for a lovely skyline.

From the tower, you have two options: through the gate closest to the tower and back down into the woodland to complete the short woodland circuit, which comes back out near the house where you started. You pass the remains of General Tam’s smoke house on the way down.

Or, from the tower, strike off across the open field (it’s waymarked) for a longer parkland walk. The grass is quite long, and at the bottom of this field there is a gate which, when we went in September, was accessed by an unavoidable and very muddy patch.

Sturdy boots suitable for a bit of mud are recommended if you take the parklands walk.

Bear to your right to follow the trail past “Paddy’s Cottage.” There are various little trails and plenty of picnic spots to be found in this corner of the estate, so you can divert, and there is a wet woodland which is a wildlife haven. Following the waymarked path, you walk beside a burn at the edge of an arable @KonectMagazines

field until you arrive at a wooden bridge. This was the old southern approach from the road to House of the Binns. The wee old stone bridge that you see here carried carriages in the late 18th century over the burn and up the approach to the house. Bear right over the bridge; you are now on the route of the old southern approach.

It takes you to the walled garden (closed for safety reasons) and past the old stables where The Royal Scots Greys – the regiment founded

by General Tam Dalyell – stabled their horses (also fenced off for conservation work). The trail takes you back to the drive you came in on, and back to the car park.

After your walk, treat yourself to refreshments a few minutes along the road at New Hopetoun Gardens. There is a wonderful orangerie tea room open from 10am to 4.30pm with indoors and outdoors seating. During October, they have a Tree Festival on with fairy gardens to explore in New Hopetoun Woods. See newhopetoungardens.co.uk See: nts.org.uk/visit/places/house-of-binns

This article was written by Helen-Jane Shearer. Helen-Jane is the editor of Konect and lives in West Lothian with her family.

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PARENTING

Getting glasses!

When my littlest came home from nursery after a preschool eye check with a letter saying we should take her to an optician…to say I was surprised would be an understatement. She could see just fine. She was getting on great at preschool. I would have known if she needed glasses… wouldn’t I?

But I also knew if she did need glasses this was going to be a big milestone for her. And our first step was taking her to the right place. Somewhere that would make the experience positive and where I felt I could trust what they were doing. So after a glowing recommendation we took her to Clearvue Opticians in Currie.

We talked about everything that might happen before we went, and watched an episode of Topsy and Tim where Tim gets glasses. We arrived in plenty of time so that she could check the place out and she had good fun spotting Harry Potter-style glasses.

But despite our best efforts when she sat down in an unfamiliar room full of crazy looking instruments she took one look at me and said “Mummy, I’m a bit scared”.

My heart was in a puddle on the floor. I wanted to scoop her up and do my mummy thing.

The only thing that allowed me to stand on the sidelines was seeing that she was in 14 | BALERNO

such good hands; the optometrist Jonathan was absolutely amazing with her.

I’d been sold on the place after reading he had a special qualification in Paediatric Eye Care but nothing can tell you what a person will really be like.

He was so calm and talked to her (and us) about everything he was doing…and answered all of our endless questions.

By the time all was said and done she was so happy with herself.

Now if it were me facing the prospect of getting glasses I’d be thinking of it as a fun opportunity in accessorizing.

I wasn’t so sure that’s how she’d see it. I was worried about her being vulnerable to teasing, about them being uncomfortable or her not wanting to wear them. She’s only 4 but…fourmones are a real thing!

In the end I think if it had turned out she didn’t need glasses she would have been disappointed.

We headed out to The Centre, Livingston to get her kitted out and she now has her very own glasses case and cleaning cloth. And it’s amazing how many “glasses buddies” she has found in the family and at preschool to make her feel like she is part of a special club.

As it turns out the biggest problem has been perfecting the art of wearing glasses and an Alice band at the same time!

I’ve never had glasses so this has been a learning curve - for both of us! I’m so glad we did a bit of research into local opticians and took her to just the right place to start her on this journey.

This column is contributed

by Laura Archibald. Laura lives in West Lothian with her family and their campervan Hank. She is mummy, wife, blogger and full-time personal assistant to her two girlie girls. @KonectMagazines

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ASK YOUR PHARMACIST Want to quit smoking?: Come and chat to your friendly community pharmacist.

We know that stopping smoking can be daunting but it’s even more important than ever to protect your heart and lung health in this new COVID-19 world we find ourselves in.

Nathan Soper

We provide a FREE stop smoking service including explaining the medications available and 1 to 1 support at a time that suits you and we do it in a welcoming and accessible environment close to home.

Please contact us if you would like your business included in our Health and Wellbeing pages.

Contact details are on page 3.

Community pharmacists are ideally placed to advise people on how to stop smoking, providing friendly and expert advice on this and many other health concerns. Did you know, we can: • Explain the medications available to help you stop smoking • Offer group or 1 to 1 support at a time that suits you • Support you - every step of the way - to help you succeed Lindsay & Gilmour are proud of the role we have in the heart of the communities we serve and are dedicated to helping improve the health of our patients. Our team can also help you with advice about your medicines, treatment for minor ailments, vaccinations and provide a range of health checks in our private consultation rooms.

We look forward to welcoming you to our Currie branch soon.

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HEALTH

Puppies, Children and Bones Puppies are wonderful, aren’t they? They seem to have boundless energy, amazing enthusiasm for life and unlimited affection for those around them.

Along with the joy of having a puppy in the family comes the responsibility of looking after it properly. Puppies can develop specific bone and joint problems if they are over-exercised as they grow. In fact, vets and breeders recommend that puppies have only 5 minutes exercise off the lead per day for every month old they are until they are fully grown. The growth plate, or growing portion of a dog’s bone, may not be fully formed until the dog is just over a year old.

Children and teenagers can also develop bone problems with exercise as they grow. Younger athletes can develop specific injuries at the foot and knee due to the differences in the structure of growing bone compared with adult bone.

Where an adult would develop a painful tendon with overuse, a child or teenager will develop pain at the junction between the tendon and growing bone. These junctions are called “apophyses” and when inflamed, are referred to as “apophysitis”. Two of these conditions are Sever’s Disease (SD) and Osgood-Schlatter Disease (OSD).

Sever’s Disease (SD) is the common name for calcaneal apophysitis which is characterised by pain at the junction between the heel bone (Calcaneum) and the Achilles tendon. It occurs in active children between the ages of 7 and 14 years and develops during a growth spurt when the muscle / tendon unit becomes tight as bone grows longer. The child will complain of pain with activity, particularly running and jumping, which eases with rest. It can occur in one or both heels. Pain can increase when he or she stands on tiptoe and so to avoid this, the 18 | BALERNO

child may walk with a limp. The heel bone can be sore to touch.

Osgood-Schlatter Disease (OSD) is apophysitis of the tibial tubercle, the spot just below the knee cap where the patella tendon inserts into the bone at the top of the shin.

This spot can be swollen and tender to touch.

OSD usually develops in active adolescents during the 2-year period in which they grow most rapidly. This can be between the ages of 8 - 13 for girls and 10 – 15 for boys. Pain can occur in both knees but most often occurs in only one. Very often, the hip flexor muscles, the hamstrings, quadriceps and calf muscles are found to be tight.

What is the best way to treat these conditions?

Initially, treatment is geared towards reducing the symptoms with the general principles which apply to all injuries. Rest from the aggravating factors, but remember that rest is relative. Activities that do not cause pain such as swimming or cycling can be continued.

Ice can be used to help the local pain and inflammation. Treatment should also involve a regular stretching programme for tight muscles.

We have met many dedicated young athletes who follow stretching programmes regularly to improve their symptoms quickly – and then they have no excuse to avoid taking the dog out!

The health column is contributed by McNaughton Physiogrange, Edinburgh www.physiogrange.co.uk @KonectMagazines

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I’ve lived in Balerno since 1991. It’s home. But Illinois, the American state where I grew up, is also home. I’m a transplant! Growing up in a place with different customs means that I don’t always see things in the same way as my neighbour.

SIGNS OF THE TIMES I look at signs with a critical eye. Is that because I’ve spent many years working as an editor? Or was my career choice such a good fit for me because I naturally lean towards correcting signs, notices and, honestly, any form of communication?

On foot or in the car, I am always reading signs – no matter what country I’m in. Their wording and delivery have the power to annoy or amuse me. Here are some of the various reasons a sign might annoy me: They state the obvious.

If the door does not open, DO NOT ENTER. They contain misspelled words, poor grammar or incorrect punctuation.

Because of a missing “t” the veterinarian’s sign was offering consulations. The misspelling bothered me, but because the mistake made me think of consolation, it also made me laugh. It was good to know that if the vets could not cure your pet, they were willing to offer consolation (with an appointment, of course).

They advise you that they are being polite.

Polite notice: Do not walk on the grass. If you have to tell the person it’s polite, you have failed. It reminds me of drawing a picture of a cat when I was a little girl and then writing cat, with an arrow to the figure in case my artwork wasn’t good enough.

Why not say: Please don’t walk on the grass? That’s polite. The reason, of course, is that the person who posts the sign has no real desire to be polite – they just want to be seen to be polite! What they really mean is KEEP OFF THE GRASS! Adding the word please would soften this directive.

They sound like “Big Brother”.

Are you tired? Pull over and take a nap.

Tiredness can kill. Maybe you should also get out of the car? Being hit by a driver that doesn’t notice your car can kill you too. I guess there isn’t enough room on the sign to add all of this helpful information.

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Sometimes mistakes on signs don’t irritate me – they make me laugh out loud! Here are some examples: They are ambiguous due to a lack of punctuation.

Cows please drive slowly (In the US cows are not allowed to drive) They are clearly incorrect, but do no real harm.

Cows - in a field full of sheep!

They tempt me to add a cheeky comment.

Thank you for driving carefully (when leaving a town or village). I want to add: Feel free to drive like a maniac again now.

No cash is held on these premises overnight (in a shop window). I want to add: However, if you are looking for an easy target, the establishment two doors down is very sloppy about the way they handle their cash.

They are dead clever.

Eat here or we’ll both starve (sign outside a restaurant).

They’re funny when read out loud.

Try a McWrap today! I saw this sign in the US a few years ago outside a well-known fast-food place, and have since learned that McWrap is no longer on the menu.

Could the name have put people off? Say it quickly with your best American accent.

To be continued next issue …

Notes from a small village is contributed

by Suzanne Green. Suzanne, a freelance writer/editor, lives in Balerno and writes regularly for Konect. She is married to Andy and they have two adult daughters. @KonectMagazines

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MONEY MATTERS

FIVE TIPS TO SAVE TAX IN RETIREMENT If you are retired, you are probably receiving a state pension plus hopefully income from your personal pension plan and /or a final salary pension. It is imperative you arrange your financial affairs to reduce the income tax you pay as much as possible.

One: Be careful when you take a one-off income lump sum from your personal pension, as the Inland Revenue may assume this is a monthly income and tax it accordingly. You should get in touch with HMRC prior to taking the lump sum as once the tax has been taken it can be a long procedure to get it back. This does not apply to any tax-free lump sums but it still may be advantageous to phase your tax free amount over several tax years.

Two: Pensions are normally exempt from Inheritance Tax (IHT) so consider drawing income from non-pension assets such as ISAs first, where the income is tax free but the asset is liable to IHT.

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Three: On death, pensions are exempt from IHT and therefore you should ensure you have completed a death nomination form to ensure your pension goes to who you want. This could be a spouse, children or grandchildren. On death before 75 they would then be able to draw income or lump sums tax free. But beware, not all pension providers will offer a successors pension to whoever inherits the pension, some will only pay out a lump sum. This can lead to other taxation problems.

Four: You can consider transferring some of your investments (not pensions or ISAs) into your spouse’s name if they are a lower rate tax payer than you.

Five: Finally, if you make charitable donations then make sure you fill in a gift aid form as this effectively extends your basic tax bracket.

Some of these strategies can be complicated and are irreversible. If you are in any doubt about the procedure or possible ramifications, please consult an Independent Financial Adviser.

The Money Matters column is contributed by Personal Money Matters. This month’s column

by Dr Peter M Marshall.

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PUZZLES

CROSSWORD Does your business have universal appeal ?

Solution in the November edition of Konect ACROSS: 1. Fog (4), 3. Travellers (8), 9. Table support (7), 10. Entrance (5), 11. Clarifications (12), 14. Epoch (3), 16. Sphere (5), 17. To drink (3), 18. Uses camera (12), 21.Largesea(5),22.Lawngame(7),23.Mixing(8),24.Steak(4).

DOWN: 1. Mumbled (8), 2. Snooze (5), 4. Poem (3), 5. Ice-box (12), 6. Proverbs (7), 7. Painful (4), 8. Untangled (12), 12. Amid (5), 13. Alcoholic appetiser (8), 15. Accomplish (7), 19. Dwelling (5), 20. Grave (4), 22. Tin (3).

We’re sorry that the grid for the September crossword was wrong, and hope you enjoy this month’s crossword as usual.

Solution in the November edition of Konect

SUDOKU

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LOCAL ENVIRONMENT

Sedge Warbler: Showing Off During an early walk around the Wester Inch ponds, Bathgate, a small bird with a loud call was making his presence known.

He soon found the highest point in the bushes and started filling the sky with his song, showing off to the females and defending his territory. The sedge warbler makes quite the introduction! They’re common throughout Summer when they head to our shores for breeding season.

again. Our favourites include the flocks of fieldfare, redwing, and waxwings all who love to gorge on our berry covered trees and bushes. Waxwings are so popular there are Twitter accounts dedicated to reporting their appearances, normally to be found in a supermarket car park by a busy road!

In winter we’re treated to some exceptional bird life who come across from Scandinavia and Russia, which we’re excited to see

This column is contributed by Clare Harte and Kate Stevenson, who grew up in Edinburgh and now live in West Lothian. Together they run Scottish Sisters Photography and travel around the country to watch and photograph amazing wildlife and scenic landscapes. www.scottishsistersphotography.com

Now they’ll be heading south again and it leaves us at an interesting time in the birding calendar when our summer migrants have left and our winter visitors haven’t yet arrived, or are only starting to. As we’re now in meteorological Autumn, there’s a lot to look forward to such as huge skeins of geese flying overheard, the beautiful golden colours of autumn spreading across the trees, crunchy leaves, and horse chestnuts scattered across the ground.

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They return from October onwards so keep your eyes on the skies because they are beautiful birds who are a welcome and colourful addition to the darker days, which we can all enjoy.

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BALERNO | 39

LOCAL LAB

How do we mitigate climate change?

Adam Smith’s Panmure

House

Take part in an open debate and quiz scientists about how we can combat climate change.

As the world grapples to avert economic and societal disaster in response to a global pandemic, we shouldn’t forget that there is an environmental disaster on the horizon.

Climate change is an issue with fundamental implications for all of society.

Scientists from Heriot-Watt University are researching a wide range of solutions to climate change, from smart systems to renewables, energy efficient construction to rapid scale up of carbon capture, utilisation and storage technologies.

But climate change cannot be solved by scientists alone, and so in October, the university is launching a new series to enable all of society the chance to debate, discuss and influence how the world adapts to an unprecedented rate of environmental change.

The Hutton Series on Climate Change is a series of events taking place across 2020-21 at Adam Smith’s Panmure House, bringing together a diverse cross-section of experts, business leaders, scientists, and concerned 40 | BALERNO

citizens in the service of one simple aim - To identify ten key priorities, innovations and actions to mitigate the climate crisis.

Panmure House in Edinburgh is the final remaining home of globally renowned philosopher Adam Smith.

During his twelve-year tenancy between 1778 and 1790, he regularly hosted key luminaries of the Scottish Enlightenment to debate the most pressing issues at the brink of the first industrial revolution.

More than two hundred years later as the world grapples to avert environmental disaster by shifting to new energy sources while recovering from a global pandemic, the Hutton Series aims to recreate these groundbreaking discussions – both virtually and at the

same historic location in Edinburgh’s world heritage site.

The first event on 6 October will feature speeches by the environmental and polar scientist Professor Sir Ian Boyd, former chief scientist at DEFRA and member of SAGE, and the CEO of Natwest Group (formerly RBS), Alison Rose. Member of the public can submit real-time questions to the debate panel, and share their own thoughts and solutions. Further details are available online ( www.hw.ac.uk/hutton )

The Local Lab column is contributed

by Heriot-Watt University to engage the public in a range of their research projects. @KonectMagazines

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orag

DUNBAR

Long-time member of the local folk music scene and Convenor of Balerno Folk Club, Balerno resident Morag Dunbar has been inducted into the Hall of Fame of Scottish Traditional Music.

Live music is temporarily off the menu, but it’s a staple of the local diet and the behind- thescenes activity goes on. Inducted for 2020 in the category of Services to the Community, it’s a recognition of Morag’s tireless work to help the community and enrich lives through her dedication to folk music.

Originally from Kirkaldy, Morag has been involved in folk music since the 1960s. At that time, the legendary Elbow Room Lounge Bar in Kirkaldy was a firm fixture on the Scottish folk circuit. She’d be there, every Thursday after school, in the audience for the likes of Archie Fisher, Hamish Imlach, The Corries and Matt McGinn.

Moving to Edinburgh to study Scottish History and English literature at university, Morag joined the Edinburgh University folk club. She recounts that there were so many opportunities in Edinburgh for folk music: The Crown Bar, Sandy Bells, Ian Green’s legendary Police Social Club, and the University Scottish Nationalist Club, a movement which has always had a strong folk music tradition that continues to this day. As she put it: “My friends all tended to be in the folk scene, so socialising and parties always ended up in music and singing sessions”.

“When I graduated and began teaching in Edinburgh, I learned to play the guitar.

Around the same time, in 1972, I moved to Balerno. The music on offer in the village at the time was just one weekly Saturday session.” Hungry for more, along with a group of friends, they started arranging music 42 | BALERNO

nights in the Grey Horse. The nights started as fundraisers for the Scottish National Party but as the event’s popularity grew, the audiences became steadily larger and more apolitical.

Up until lockdown, live music at the Grey Horse has been a constant in Balerno.

Balerno Folk Club was set up in1982, and Morag has been involved in running it ever since, alongside a dedicated committee of volunteers. Over the years, the club has given a stage to acts now household names, including Dougie MacLean, John Martyn, Dick Gaughan, and The McCalmans, who recorded their 1988 album “Listen to the Heat” live in concert at the club.

These years of involvement in the music have led to many wonderful memories, and unique moments. From being one of the judges for the best folk group competition during the Edinburgh Folk Festival and receiving a demo tape from a young Capercaillie – all still in school at the time, to visits to the TMSA festivals in Kinross and Blairgowrie. But most cherished of all are memories of those earliest days in The Elbow Room, where it all began.

Read more at projects.handsupfortrad.scot/ hall-of-fame/ This article was written by Helen-Jane Shearer, partly reproducing the information from Morag’s profile on handsupfortad. scot, and partly information from a previous Konect interview with Morag. @KonectMagazines