Konect Balerno April 2022

APRIL 2022

TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF:

LOCAL ENVIRONMENT:

PLUS: MONEY MATTERS, puzzles, and more inside!

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short drive along the A70 towards Lanark takes you through a small forest which hides the remains of a late 19th century gunpowder factory.

The reverberations of a large explosion here around 100 years ago was felt by residents in Currie. It’s an isolated, remote spot picked for exactly that reason and I spent a sunny and very peaceful spring afternoon rambling around the area; take a look at the article on pages 8-9.

The wine column, health and beauty expertise, everything you need to fix and beautify home and garden, updates on local groups you can get involved in - there is so much local and expert information packed into this magazine by our fantastic local contributors and businesses, I hope you enjoy it this month.

And for a smile – just look at the photo of the puffins in the Local Environment column.

Wishing all Konect readers and customers a lovely Easter.

THIS ISSUE Local History: Gunpowder ................................8 As your Pharmacist: Spring Health............... 11 Health: Seasonal Yoga..................................... 12 Local Environment: Roll up, roll up!.............. 18 Money Matters: When doing nothing is best........................................................................ 31 Local Lab: Energy Bills..................................... 33 Puzzles.................................................................. 36 TOANL: Pentlands Eco Network................... 37 I  food: The illusive art of detachment...... 38 Wine tasting: The Ugly Duckling................... 39 Local People: Julia Green............................... 44 Clubs & Classes................................................. 46

COVER IMAGE: Easter Sunday, 17th April 2022

All enquiries, E: editor@konect.scot M: 07854 492638 @KonectMagazines

Konect is delivered monthly to homes in Balerno, Currie, Juniper Green, Baberton and Ratho. It is also available online: konect.scot/subscribe BALERNO | 3

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LOCAL HISTORY

THE

GUNPOWDER PLOT ON THE EDGE OF THE PENTLANDS

Camilty Forest is a wild and scenic small forest that lies on both sides of the A70, between Harperrig and West Calder. Today, it makes for a very quiet and peaceful walk beside the gurgling Linhouse Water, and it’s hard to imagine that 100 years ago it was a hive of industrial activity - a gunpowder works, with frequent explosions!

There is no vehicular access now and with the passage of time and change of land use it’s not easy to identify even where the main access roads were. Camilty Gunpowder Works supplied the coal and shale mining industries with gunpowder from around 1890 to 1930. Shale in particular is very hard, too hard to be mined with picks, so gunpowder was essential. The Camilty Works was originally owned by the Midlothian Gunpowder Company, and the site changed hands several times over the years, eventually ending up in the hands of ICI until being shut down in 1930.

Shale miners had to purchase their own gunpowder - the mining companies didn’t supply it. It was sold over the counter in the Co-op, carried home in a bag and stored as often as not under the bed! It was the miner’s wife’s task to fill her man’s powder tin each morning with enough powder for his shift.

The site here at Camilty had formerly been a corn mill, and it was ideally suited for a gunpowder works for several reasons: its isolated position meant that there was no settlement nearby to be harmed by 8 | BALERNO

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explosions; the steep banks would absorb the force of explosions and provide a higher area for office buildings; and the burn was close by in case of fire.

Explosions were not unusual and people in the area were used to hearing them. It was not unlike living in an earthquake zone in some ways! One of the company rules was that ‘‘men must on no account turn up their trousers at the foot.’’ Dust or grit could gather in turn ups, and just a tiny amount could trigger an explosion. A large explosion in June 1909 shook furniture and windows in West Calder, and the concussion was felt as far away as Carstairs in the West and Currie in the East. Tragically there was a fatal explosion in 1921 where two employees lost their lives.

The ingredients for the gunpower were mixed and ground in ‘‘danger buildings’’ - a series of bays with walls 2ft thick, surrounded by earthen mounds as high as the eaves and with flimsy wooden roofs, so that any explosion would be contained within one compartment and the roof blown out.

Remains of various works buildings can be seen at the site today, most prominently the bays of the gunpowder magazine and its blast proof tunnel.

If you’d like to visit the site, take the A70 towards Lanark, and turn right onto the B7008 towards Harburn. Take the second tuning on the right, then at Harburn Village Hall turn right again. Follow the road for one mile; opposite a farmhouse here is a gateway on the right with space to park a couple of cars.

The roads are all single track and un-named but the grid reference is N 55 50.319, W 003 30.263. Walk through the gateway and turn to the left to follow the fenceline; the path leads down to the site of the gunpowder works. Be prepared for mud. The site is not suitable for young children as there are open shafts into the tunnel below the bays.

Camilty bridge

THE BRIDGE TO NOWHERE While I was in Camilty Forest, I decided to walk further along Linhouse Water to the site of the “bridge to nowhere”. This bridge was built at great expense and completed in 1830. It had been intended to carry a new road across Linhouse Water, a direct route from the Falkirk cattle markets, straight through to the Cauldstane Slap (the gap in the Pentlands used by drovers) and on to England. It would have made their route much easier. The road itself was never completed though. The Earl of Morton was having none of it; he objected to the road crossing his land, so it petered out just south of the new bridge. The bridge has gradually given way to nature; the keystone fell in early 2009, and today you can see remains of the arch lying in the water.

Camilty bridge remains

This article was written by Helen-Jane Gisbourne, editor of Konect magazines.

All information about the gunpowder works is taken from the book ‘‘Camilty Gunpower Works’’ by Sybil Cavanagh, published by the West Lothian Local History Library. @KonectMagazines

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ASK YOUR PHARMACIST

As the days get lighter and the weather improves we look forward to better health but despite its joys warmer weather can bring with it some common health issues.

Hayfever is the first condition we think about as the environment around us becomes greener. This affects one in five people at some time. Symptoms can be mild, such as occasional sneezing, to severe, where eyes, nose and throat are all involved making the sufferer miserable.

Often self-help measures can markedly reduce symptoms. These include keeping windows and doors shut, reduce time outside particularly when pollen forecast is high, wear wrap-around sunglasses to prevent pollen getting into eyes, avoid cutting or walking on grass, don’t have cut flowers in the house.

For some, eating locally produced honey, which contains traces of local pollen, can make a remarkable difference to symptoms.

The pharmacy is equipped to help you manage your symptoms or discuss current treatments. We have a range of tablets, nasal sprays and eye drops which alone or together can help. Many of these can be prescribed free of charge on the Pharmacy First Service.

Cold sores can also be problematic as the sun begins to shine. Using a high SPF lip balm can help to prevent outbreaks. If prevention is not working Aciclovir cream can help to reduce outbreaks and speed healing.

This too is available free via Pharmacy First.

The website below gives an idea of the type of ailments we can help with:

www.gov.scot/publications/nhs-pharmacyfirst-scotland-information-patients/documents/

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SEATED TWIST (Please listen to your body and only do what feels good!)

Looking to nature, we see buds just beginning to open and bloom - the trees are not quite green yet but leaves are on the way.

The “upward, outward” energy of spring is visible as bulbs sprout up vigorously and trees seem to reach towards the sky. There is a “newness” to everything, and an emerging lightness, too. It is a great time to begin new projects, to plan ahead and be decisive about your direction for the coming year.

SOME IDEAS FOR A NOURISHING SPRING: * Meditate regularly (contact me if you would like a free audio recording to use) * Get outdoors if possible * Be kind. Laugh! * Add plants to your space * Spring clean

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• Sitting on the floor, extend both legs out in front of you • Bend right knee so that the foot comes flat on the floor; a comfortable distance from your body • Right hand behind you for support, inhale deeply as you raise the left arm, creating length in the side body • Exhale, and twist to the right, bringing left hand (or outside of elbow) to right knee • Inhale to lengthen spine, exhale to deepen into twist • After a few breaths, gently release and repeat on the second side

This can also be done in a chair - just bring your hand across the body to the opposite knee and continue to spiral into the twist.

This article was contributed by Linda Keys.

As a Seasonal Yoga teacher in the area, Linda tries to bring her life and classes into alignment with the rhythms of nature. See www.lindalovesyoga.co.uk

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COULD YOU BE A FRIEND OF ROTARY? Currie Balerno Rotary has a network of Friends of Rotary. Would you like to join them?

We welcome anyone with an interest in contributing to the local community, from supporting local food banks to protecting the local environment; and we would welcome people who are already associated with other local organisations not only for their personal contributions but also as a means of enhancing communication and co-operation within the community.

Friends receive a monthly bulletin of our activities and may support some of those activities. The bulletin also gives details of the coming month’s speakers and Friends are invited to attend, subject to advance notice.

We are looking to develop and widen this arrangement. We would like to welcome into our group of Friends people from Currie and Balerno but also from neighbouring areas such as Juniper Green, Colinton, Wester Hailes, Kirknewton and Ratho.

The primary aim is to provide information about our activities but we would welcome suggestions as to contributions we might usefully make to the community. We would benefit from a wider membership of our Friends of Rotary in that it would give us a better understanding of and relationship with our local communities; and it would give those communities the opportunity to draw our attention to their needs and objectives.

If you would like to be a Friend, please e-mail us on curriebalernorotary@gmail.com You will be most welcome and be assured that being a Friend brings no obligations.

This article is contributed by Currie Balerno Rotary, see www.cbrotary.org @KonectMagazines

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LOCAL ENVIRONMENT

The circus is coming to town! Did you know that “circus” is the collective name for a group of puffins? They are after all called the clowns of the sea (amongst many other things) so it’s only fitting.

I’ve been looking forward to writing this for many reasons but the main one is that it signifies that puffins will be back on our shores for the first time since last August.

They’ve not touched land since they left, instead spending the whole winter in the Atlantic Ocean and return to coastlines up and down the U.K. for the breeding season.

I know what you’re thinking, there’s no puffins in West Lothian or Edinburgh you silly billy! Well, you are technically correct but you can get a short boat trip out to see some of our puffin colonies from South Queensferry, North Berwick, or take a jaunt over the bridge to Anstruther and get some award winning fish and chips whilst you’re there. There’s a small population on Craigleith Island but the highest numbers are on the Isle of May, which is a wonderful place to visit and you’ll also find other 18 | BALERNO

seabirds such as razorbills, guillemots, and kittiwakes.

A word of warning though, if you go in artic tern breeding season make sure to pack a hat or stand beside someone tall as you run the gauntlet through the nesting colony.

I’m spending a week with the circus in July and maybe I’ll see you there.

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. Follow them on Facebook @ScottishSistersPhotography @KonectMagazines

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MONEY MATTERS

WHEN DOING NOTHING IS BEST From time to time, stock markets go through periods of uncertainty. Political crises or poor economic news can cause sharp falls, and such times are understandably unsettling for investors.

The onset of the Coronavirus and the resulting lockdown resulted in global stock markets experiencing their largest fall since the financial crisis of 2008 and the Twin Towers catastrophe in 2001.

At that time, experts predicted that the markets would recover, and in the case of the Twin Towers this happened in a matter of months.

In the case of the financial crisis of 2008, it took considerably longer, but the markets DID recover and went on to experience the best 10 years of growth in history.

When Coronavirus was discovered the FTSE 100 fell by nearly 24% but TWO years later,

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partly due to the vaccination programme, it has recovered all that loss.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is arguably a more serious situation, as it has come at a time of high inflation and continued disruption due to Coronavirus.

On the day before the invasion the FTSE 100 was 7498 but next day fell to 6964, but as of Friday 18th March had recovered to 7404. More importantly, US markets have also started to show signs of recovery.

Our advice is, that unless you desperately need the money, you should batten down the hatches and weather the storm rather than cash in your investments. As the saying goes, it’s not the timing of the market, it’s the time you spend in the market.

If you are in any way unsure of your investments, consult a professional before doing anything.

The Money Matters column is contributed by Personal Money Management. This month’s article is by Dr Peter M Marshall.

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LOCAL LAB

With energy prices in the news nearly every day, many of us are keeping an eye on how much energy we’re using.

Since October we’ve seen energy companies going bust whilst energy bills rise. This resulted from several factors around the world. Colder weather and coming out of lockdown led to increased demand for energy, particularly gas. At the same time, outages at nuclear power stations and lower levels of wind meant that less energy was being produced. This led to the wholesale price of energy to increase, which we have seen reflected in our bills.

As part of the UK’s sanctions against Russia, imports of Russian oil and oil products are being phased out by 2023 and there are discussions of banning imports of natural gas, used by UK households to heat our homes. These sanctions, alongside economic uncertainty, all mean that energy bills are continuing to rise.

What is the impact of our energy use?

In 2020, households in Scotland paid an average of over £1000 on their electricity and gas each year. For nearly a quarter of Scottish households, this means they spend more than 10% of their income on their energy bills and are in fuel poverty; and the typical annual UK energy bill is predicted to reach £2000.

Our energy use also has an impact on the environment, being responsible for over 75% of human-caused greenhouse gases globally, around a third of which comes from the energy we use in our homes. With over 97% of energy in Scotland being produced by renewable sources, it’s one of the leading countries in renewable energy production, but many households still use wood or coal burning stoves for heating with an estimated 80,000 tonnes of coal used each year. @KonectMagazines

I heard a lot about COP26 and ‘Net Zero’ last year, what does it mean for energy use?

COP26 in Glasgow brought together thousands of people including world leaders, company representatives, scientists and activists, to discuss climate change and our response to it.

One key topic was net zero emissions, which means not emitting more greenhouse gases than we remove from the environment. Over 130 countries have pledged or are discussing targets to reach Net Zero with many setting a target to meet this by 2050; the Scottish government is committing to meet it by 2045.

This means moving away from heating with fossil fuels and making sure our houses are energy efficient. Some steps to achieve this are already planned such as government-set energy efficiency targets and a ban on the sale of new gas boilers from 2030.

Interested in taking part in research?

If this has caught your interest, I am currently in the early stages of a study looking at how people are using energy in their homes. This study consists of completing 5 online surveys recording your energy use and views towards over a period of 8 months and anyone aged over 18 who pays their own energy bills can take part. If you would like to take part or want more information, you can get in contact by emailing energyresearchqueries@gmail.com This article was contributed

by Sophie Watson. Sophie is studying for a PhD at Heriot-Watt University as part of an interdisciplinary team of researchers from Psychology and Economics. Bringing together the two fields, her research aims to explain how households use and view energy.

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PUZZLE

APRIL SUDOKU

See page 46 for sudoku solution.

Sorry, no crossword puzzle this month :(

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TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF

PENTLANDS ECO NETWORK Tree Planting in George V Park, Currie Community action is a powerful tool.

Alongside the changes we can all make to our daily lives, working together can be especially effective. Individuals have fantastic ideas, knowledge, skills, experience and contacts which, when pooled together, can achieve amazing things.

Successful local initiatives that spring to mind include The Village Green, Harlaw Hydro and Pesticide-Free Balerno to name just a few.

With this in mind, a small group of local people have come together to form the Pentlands Eco Network (PEN). PEN is an exciting new community initiative. The group emerged from the overwhelming success of Balerno’s Great Big Green Day, organised by local resident Katie Gerardot to coincide with events across the country during the UN’s climate conference in 2021. The event highlighted the wide range of work with an environmental or sustainability focus already being done locally, and the large turnout suggested many more in the area are keen to support that work. Co-founder Katie Gerardot, said, “PEN aims to set up a stronger network of Eco organisations in the Pentlands corridor”.

Since forming, PEN has worked closely with other community groups to organise two events.

Firstly, co-founder Emma Thompson highlighted the large amount of litter in Roley’s Wood, Currie.

Liaising with other local groups, including The Village Green and the local Rotary Club, fifteen volunteers gathered on a cold Sunday morning in February to clean up the area. The fantastic turnout showed the ability of the group to mobilise others, as well as the effectiveness of community organising to achieve a goal.

Secondly, PEN co-founder Lou Evans sourced three apple trees using funds donated by Currie Balerno Rotary and Balerno Village Trust through the Community Chest. After scouting the local area for a suitable spot and liaising @KonectMagazines

’s Litter Picking in Roley

Wood, Currie

with the relevant authorities, PEN in association with The Village Green, were able to plant them in George V Park in Currie. The group hopes these will be the first of many fruit trees to be planted in the local area. As well as bearing fruit for everyone in the community to access, the trees will provide food, shade and habitat for insects, birds and mammals as well as being contributing to cleaner air. Not only will they enhance our surroundings, but they can also improve our mental wellbeing.

Both events demonstrate the benefit of working together for the good of the local community and the environment. They also provided opportunities for different generations to come together and learn from each other. PEN has several other projects planned, including creating a website incorporating a directory of local eco groups. If your organisation would like to be included in the directory, please contact Katie Gerardot at katie.gerardot@gmail.com.

“Turning Over A New Leaf” is contributed by Jo Johnson, a Balerno resident who shares her research & shopping choices for manageable steps to a greener life. For more ideas, follow me on Facebook: www.facebook/anewleaf BALERNO | 37

I  FOOD

How much of your day has to do with food? Thinking about it, buying it, preparing it, fretting about the fats or carbs in it, savouring it, dealing with leftovers, daydreaming about more food … I realised a long time ago that I was fairly consumed with what I consumed! Some people eat to survive. For others, like me, thoughts of breakfast get us out of bed in the morning!

The illusive art of detachment It’s time to talk about the elephant in the room.

If you fantasise about nachos dripping with cheese and smothered in guacamole, if you can’t resist ordering Death by Chocolate when you’re out to eat, or adding little “improvements” to a recipe already laden with calories … you’re probably going to struggle to control your weight, at least at some point in your life.

Because this column is all about celebrating delicious food, I’ve avoided talking about self-control. Who wants to be a killjoy? In fact, limiting what or how much we eat seems to be incongruent with being a foodie!

And yet, with constant media messages about how obese we are becoming as a nation, it seems I should not ignore the fact that what we eat has, well … calories. I’ve periodically had to face this, and restrict what I consume.

The first time was when I was a young adult.

I’d done a lot of comfort eating as I was growing up, due to broken and traumatic family relationships. The results were obvious, and at age 23 I signed up with a respected international weight loss organisation. Because I’m an all-or-nothing sort of person, I lost my extra 3 ½ stone within nine months. As anyone who has done something similar knows, the challenge is keeping the weight off.

My method for success is to find sneaky ways 38 | BALERNO

to get the tastes I want to enjoy. I love ice cream. But I also love frozen yogurt. So I place a cup of plain yogurt in a blender and add a cup of frozen strawberries, a few slices of pineapple and a bit of sweetener. Virtually fat free!

It’s not fair that some people seem to be able to eat whatever they want to with no consequences. In fact, it’s one of life’s great injustices. But that’s just how it is. Nevertheless, I’ve noticed something about the slim ones.

They often seem to be detached about food.

Either, like my husband, they see it as “fuel”, or they just aren’t that bothered about what and when they eat. Extraordinary!

When I was a columnist for a national slimming magazine I wrote about this: I planned to go out with friends – to the cinema and, afterwards, for dessert. But after the film my friends were tired, and no one seemed to recall the second part of the plan, the promised dessert. Who do you think remembered? That’s right. Me.

I wanted to call the article Elephants Never Forget, but the editor wouldn’t let me. I guess she had a point.

I FOOD 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

WINE TASTING

April 14TH is Tannat Day. Tannat is a lesser known red grape variety. Compared to easy drinking Cabernet and Merlot, Tannat is the ugly duckling.

Deep, dark and dense in colour, intense on the palate and mouth puckeringly dry. Pinot Noir grapes have thin skins and low tannins, Tannat grapes have thick skins producing a deep purple opaque wine with coarse tannins.

High in acidity the flavour is dominated by blackberry, black plum, black licorice and chewy wood spice. What’s so special about this obscure, unapproachable grape and why does it deserve its own calendar day celebration?

Like the ugly duckling in the story, the key to success with Tannat is time. Over time tannins, alcohol and acidity harmonise.

Rough edges soften resulting in a complex, mellow and rich wine. Tannat, aged for ten

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years or more develops leather, tobacco, cigar box notes which pair amazingly well with cassoulet, fattier cuts of beef cooked low and slow and rich game dishes.

Grown in Madiran, Southwest France, it’s often blended with other grapes. It is also grown in Uruguay where it is considered the national grape. If you have a sweet tooth, one of the most beautiful dessert wines I’ve ever tasted is produced in Uruguay from 100% Tannat grapes. A real treat and another reason to celebrate Tannat Day! Dry red for aging: Madiran ‘Les Noyers’ Domaine Sergent 2017, available from de-burgh.com Sweet wine: Alcyone Tannat, Bodega Pablo Fallabrino, Uruguay is available online and from Great Grog.

The monthly wine tasting column is contributed by Joanne Frette. Joanne lives in Juniper Green with her husband and three children. For wine recommendations, reviews and details of future tasting events, please go to swirlsipsocialise.com

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GERRY AITKEN Painter & Decorator Juniper Green

Get in touch for a FREE Estimate: T: 07798 565 321 • E: junigig@aol.com

Alexander Aitken Plastering 51 Dolphin Rd, Currie Call Sandy

07966 695595

Plaster work, rough casting, ceramic tiling & general maintenance @KonectMagazines

BALERNO | 43

Julia Green: Making up for lost time Balerno’s Julia Green (Jewels) recently released her first single “Under the Surface”, on Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal and other major music platforms.

It’s been a challenging journey for the 25-year-old singer/ songwriter, but she’s now enjoying writing and recording, as she explains below: I’ve been singing since I knew how, and writing songs since I was six. At that tender age my dream was to one day be a singer/songwriter.

I’ve been involved in many choirs and musical productions, and have had vocal training. I adore singing and believe that music is a spiritual thing that helps us connect with each other. It’s healing and it releases us and unites us.

My genre is soulful, story-telling piano music. I sometimes do a mixture of genres and styles – depending on my mood or what’s on my mind.

I love recording harmonies over my songs to create the best possible blend of sounds.

I want to touch people with my music, encouraging them with positive messages of love, pertaining to worth and value and bringing light to dark places. My teenage years were not easy. In fact, they were very painful. But I know that this experience contributed to what has been called the “raw, gutsy soulfulness” of my voice.

Studying for three years at Edinburgh College’s Music Box developed my performance and recording skills and techniques. This college helped me to improve musically, and built up my confidence. I gained a better picture of the 44 | BALERNO

music business and how to market myself.

And I made friends – finding other people like me, artists, helped develop me as a person. I started to gig in Edinburgh too, solo and with other musicians.

But I had to leave college due to an illness known as M.E., or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It took away the energy I needed to practise with my band or perform. I was housebound and pretty much bedbound for a couple of years.

Other effects included being very sensitive to light and sound, so singing and playing the piano were out of the question. My way of life, and my family’s, had to change. For example, we had to invest in a wheelchair, because I didn’t have the energy to go for a walk or visit a shopping centre.

Today the wheelchair is gone and I’ve experienced a lot of healing. Although I still have to be careful about how I use my energy, the M.E. is no longer debilitating. And I’m making up for lost time! I’ve released my first single and I plan to release my second, “Over Again”, soon.

These will be followed by an EP. I hope many people will have a listen, and follow me if they like what they hear.

On Spotify, iTunes and other music platforms look for “Jewels” (“The Jewels” on Amazon Music) and the song title “Under the Surface”.

Follow her on Instagram: @jewelsraymusic You can use this QR code to go directly to Jewels on Spotify. @KonectMagazines

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SOLUTIONS

SPORTS, HOBBIES, LEARNING, SUPPORT GROUPS & MORE...

PENTLAND CALEDONIA PIPES AND DRUMS - Pentland Caledonia Pipes and Drums are looking for new members, players or learners.

We teach pipes and drums free. We meet in Balerno Community Centre every Friday 7pm - 9.30pm. You can find us on Facebook. For information call Deeanne on 07885 612583.

PiYo - Yoga + Pilates + Non-stop Movement = Stretch + Strengthen + Sweat! All in ONE workout!! All abilities welcome. Live! Classes Tuesday 9am Balerno Scout Hall.

Virtual! Classes (Zoom) - Monday & Wednesday 19:30.

For further details see Facebook. com/HeidiMacdonaldFitness

JUNIPER GREEN TENNIS CLUB This small friendly LTA affiliated club in the heart of Juniper Green is open to all to join. There’s an extensive junior coaching programme, as well as adult coaching and social sessions. For membership check out our website: clubspark.lta. org.uk/JuniperGreenTennisClub/ and follow us on Facebook www. facebook.com/junipergreentennis.

We look forward to welcoming you!

PARACISE - Low-intensity, gentle exercise class (45 min) with NO floor work. Suits those who find regular fitness classes too demanding, or those returning to exercise. Wednesday @ 10:45 in Balerno Scout Hall. For further details see Facebook.com/ HeidiMacdonaldFitness or email heidi.instructor@gmail.com BALERNO ART CLUB - This club suits children who thrive by being creative and individual. Online learning will focus on technique, pencil work and colour. Outdoor classes will be a visual appreciation of colour, depth and nature through pencil and other mixed media like watercolours. We encourage individuality and celebrating being your own true artist. First class is a FREE trial.

E: balernoartclub@gmail.com T: 07591990020 Instagram: @everychildisanartist_

EH FITNESS - Range of exercise and strength classes for all fitness levels. Pre & Post Natal and strength & conditioning specialists, fat loss coaches and Qualified Nutritionists.

Face to face and online Personal Training, online group programmes that can be done from home. We aim for progress not perfection and educate every step of the way for sustainable, long lasting results.

16 classes per week, see www.ehfitness.co.uk or download our free app EH Fitness Edinburgh.

SEASONAL, PREGNANCY, AND POST-NATAL YOGA CLASSES in your area with Linda Keys - My classes are genuinely inclusive of all bodies and levels of experience.

They can support you in getting in harmony with the seasons, and help bring a sense of balance and connection. Please see my website for up-to-date class info, and use the contact form if you have any questions about beginning or returning to a yoga practice. www.lindalovesyoga.co.uk PILATES, YOGA, STRENGTH & FITNESS CLASSES - AT PRIME SPORTS PHYSIOTHERAPY & PILATES - Large timetable of classes for all abilities, led by instructors who use their expertise and care to support well-being and challenge fitness. Classes are held upstairs in our welcoming Pilates & Yoga studio and downstairs in our gym at 46a Bavelaw Road, Balerno.

Please visit: www.primesportsphysio. co.uk to book classes. Email: hello@ primesportsphysio.co.uk for more info.

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BALERNO DANCE FITNESS - This class suits children who like to be active, whilst having fun. Online learning will focus on musicality and learning dance routines to your the children’s favourite music within the comfort of your own home.

Outdoor Dance Fitness can enjoy the benefits of having more space outdoors in nature, whilst learning Dance Fitness routines together as a group. First class is a FREE trial.

E: balernoartclub@gmail.com T: 07591990020 Instagram: @everychildisanartist_

To include your Club or Class, please email details, up to 75 words, to editor@konect.scot Not-for-profit groups are FREE. There is a small charge for businesses. See konect.scot for information.

SOLUTION TO MARCH CROSSWORD

ACROSS: 1. Cash, 3. Chess set, 9. Upbraid, 10. Email, 11. Spring greens, 14. Let, 16. Bongo, 17. Hip, 18. Rollerskater, 21. Riots, 22. Bayonet, 23. Pedestal, 24. Golf.

DOWN: 1. Counsels, 2. Sober, 4. Hid, 5. Skeleton keys, 6. Staunch, 7. Tale, 8. Cannibalises, 12. Goner, 13. Aperitif, 15. Twofold, 19. Tango, 20. Grip, 22. Boa.

SOLUTION TO SUDOKU ON PAGE 35

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Publisher: Lothian Publications Ltd. Geddes House, Kirkton North, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 6GU. Magazine Design: Alan Stewart t/a Universal Appeal M: 07729 911858 E: alan@universal-appeal.com

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