Konect Bathgate October 2015

OCTOBER 2015

bathgate

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FEATUREs Masterpieces in Miniature - West Lothian bonsai group West Lothian Friends of Chernobyl’s Children plus local businesses, community information and more!

The community magazine for Bathgate and Torphichen

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37

COMPETITION

M ess ag e fro m the ed ito r

T

he local West Lothian bonsai club caught the attention of our writer Yvonne McMillan this month, and in the Konect tradition of seeking out local people doing something a bit different, she tracked them down and ended up learning a lot about bonsai! The National Collection is housed at Ecclesmachan, see Yvonne’s article on pages 8-9.

Likewise, I learnt about some local families hosting children from Belarus under the umbrella of the charity Friends of Chernobyl’s Children and decided to find out more – see the article on page 16.

The nights are drawing in this month, and that means halloween and bonfire night are on the horizon! Bathgate’s own free family halloween celebration is on at the Steelyard on 31st October, see page 7 for details. And we’ve teamed up with Hopetoun House to offer a lucky reader a family ticket to their spectacular annual display on 7th November!

See page 37 for competition entry details.

All our usual columns are here. Thanks for reading Konect and for supporting local businesses.

FEATUREs Masterpieces in Miniature Spotlight on The Kilt Studio Friends of Chernobyl’s Children Contact the Elderly

08 12 16 18

REGULARS 22 26 30 41

Walk Proper ty Matters Recipe Music Review

COMPETITIONS & PUZZLES Tesco prize draw Crossword & Sudoku Hopetoun fireworks competition Kids puzzles

43 36 37 42

COMMUNITY Bathgate Community Centre programme 38 What’s on & Useful Information 41 Clubs & Classes 44

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

46

Advertising Enquiries CHARLENE GAFFNEY 07772 941899 charlene@konectdirectory.co.uk JENNY THOMSON 07824 469266 jenny@konectdirectory.co.uk Advert booking deadline: 10th of the month prior to print.

Helen-Jane, Editor hj@konectdirectory.co.uk

Front cover: Halloween in Bathgate!

Photo courtesy of Stuart Vance.

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Artwork/copy deadline: 13th of the month prior to print.

The Konect Directory is delivered to 10,000 homes throughout Bathgate and Torphichen. Copies are also left /KonectDirectory at the library, convenience stores, post offices and other locations around Bathgate.

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In Bathgate

2015

Sat 31st October 11am - 2pm at Bathgate Steelyard Celebrate Halloween 2015 with Enterprising Bathgate Music and Entertainment with Radio Grapevine. Bouncy Castles and Face Painting.

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FEATURE

Masterpieces No prizes for guessing, but what do you think links an Ayrshire master butcher, Binny Plants in Ecclesmachan and the Japanese Consul-General in Scotland? Answer: The National Bonsai Collection of Scotland.

When he retired, the late Bill Graham (d. 1983), a master butcher from Maybole, dedicated the last 30 years of his life to the ancient and gentle art of bonsai, building and nurturing a mammoth collection of 300 trees, known as the Graham Trees, and becoming a leading figure in the bonsai world.

The National Bonsai Collection of Scotland was set up in 1984 by members of the Scottish Bonsai Association (SBA) as a horticultural haven where bonsai could be donated, cared for and maintained, as happened with many of the Graham Trees. A registered charity, the National Collection found its way to Binny Plants via a roundabout route - Malleny Gardens in Balerno (from 1986 – 2000) was followed by a move to Suntrap Gardens in Gogar, but when Suntrap shut down the Collection’s future looked bleak. To the rescue however, like some big-screen superhero, came Billy Carruthers, offering a home within the peaceful setting of Binny Plants and 14th August 2011 saw the National Bonsai Collection settled in West Lothian and officially re-opened by the Japanese Consul-General to Scotland.

The part of the National Bonsai Collection available for viewing by the public is situated in a red, glassfronted pavilion where about 15 bonsai are on show at any one time, the bonsai looked after by nine trustees, all time-generous volunteers. Their plans for the future include continuing to promote interest and involvement in the art and craft of bonsai through well-presented displays, and – funding permitting – installing a polytunnel on site to store trees,

in Miniature

by Yvonne MacMillan

overwinter less hardy species such as maples, hold classes and demonstrations and generally spread the word.

Pines feature in the National Collection, as do beeches, larches, oaks and other species indigenous to Scotland, and these are complimented by more exotic varieties including a Persimmon, gifted from Xi’an, Edinburgh’s twin city in the People’s Republic of China. At 200 years old, one of the oldest trees in the Collection is a Japanese White Pine standing serenely on its plinth outside the pavilion, under a blue pergola. It was imported 50 years ago and passed into the care of the Collection when its owner died. Bonsai not on display are fostered out between trustees for the ongoing and skilled job of maintenance.

Monthly meetings are held up and down the country

by Scottish Bonsai Association (SBA) members to chat and work on their trees. Thursday evenings at

Andie and Brian at work on their bonsai

Almond Valley Heritage Centre in Livingston is the meeting place for the West Lothian Bonsai Group.

Lee, a retired bank manager from West Calder is the group’s organiser, he’s also a trustee and Treasurer for the National Collection and has been under the spell of bonsai for 35 years. He tells me, “Once bonsai enthusiasts start talking about the subject, it’s difficult to shut us up”.

For a beginner to bonsai, Lee recommends starting with a larch sapling, (nurseries sell larch saplings for hedging), it’s cheap, grows quickly and it’s very forgiving – just what a beginner needs. Or the smallleaved cotoneaster would be good too. No specialised tools are needed to start with, just garden secateurs and wire to wind round branches which acts like a splint on a broken leg, helping shape the tree.

Margaret from Stoneyburn, a bonsai convert for 30 years, is President of the SBA and got interested in bonsai-growing for practical reasons because her dogs kept wrecking the garden, but besides, something in a pot is manageable, so bonsai was the perfect solution. She tells me that members of the SBA exhibit at shows throughout the year – Gardening Scotland in May attracted 150 - 200 exhibits, a forest of bonsai, including many from the National Collection.

With scissors in hand, and working on a 30cm tall, 8 year old Juniper, Sandie from East Calder who was a medical secretary before retiring, traces her love of bonsai back 30 years to when she saw a Scots Pine in the wild and was struck by its beauty. She started with a tiny self-seeded rowan from her garden. Brian, her husband, a former Royal Marine, soon followed in Sandie’s footsteps. He’s working on a young beech tree and enjoys the hands-on of bonsai growing. The whole group feels their hobby is a powerful stressbuster. Kenny, from Deans, is trimming a group of Golden Larch - he runs a bonsai class at the mental health resource centre in Broxburn’s Strathbrock Partnership.

As we drink tea in the wood-scented meeting room, I find out that the bonsai-grower aims to grow each species as it looks in nature, aiming to make it look natural, and bonsai is a mix of disciplines - 80 per cent horticulture, 20 per cent art. The best way to view or contemplate bonsai is to focus 2/3 of the way up the trunk, spaces are created between branches (otherwise it’s just a bush, says Lee) which let the eye see twists and turns, curves and curls. There are sixteen styles of bonsai, the informal upright style is easiest to grow but, everyone agrees, a tree tells the bonsai-grower how it wants to grow, though each person will have his or her own interpretation.

Looking at bonsai, says Lee – who is fascinated by Oriental culture - you appreciate the workmanship, skill, time and patience involved and when it’s your own, you can picture the whole story from day one and how it’s turned out. There’s satisfaction and a sense of achievement because you’ve created something beautiful.

So if you’re looking for a down-to-earth hobby, take a leaf out of the bonsai-growers’ book, and have a bash at bonsai.

For more information visit scottishbonsai.org

The National Bonsai Collection at Binny Plants in Ecclesmachan is open to view 10am till 5pm.

Trustees are on site on the last Sunday of the month (weather permitting) 11am till 2pm. (from scottishbonsai.org) What is Bonsai? - Bonsai is a Japanese term meaning tree (bon) in a tray (sai). It is derived from an ancient Chinese hor ticultural practice called Penjing and has been around for well over a thousand years.

Bonsai aren’t genetically dwarfed plants, any tree species can be used to grow one.

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SPOTLIGHT ON...

A kilt is for life

The clue to what The Kilt Studio excels at is in the business name…the word “studio.” A studio is where art and creativity happen, and this is what, Studio owners, Alan and Barbara have become known for right across the central belt and beyond since setting up in business in Bathgate in May 2003.

“When we first set up we were a kilt shop, with a stock of kilts for sale and hire, but we quickly evolved into a studio, as it is the creative side of putting outfits together that we really enjoy,” explains Alan. They now provide a complete service from designing your custom tartan and having it woven through to all outfit accessories and finishing touches.

Any client walking through the door at The Kilt Studio (or a groom being dragged reluctantly through by his bride to get his outfit sorted..!) might be pleasantly surprised by the whole

experience. He’ll be treated like royalty and the attention to detail of his outfit will equal or exceed anything the bride will be getting from her dress supplier.

You can of course select any tartan to have your kilt made up in, but you can also have your own custom tartan designed here. This is a process that Alan and Barbara really enjoy. “We look at the family name and what it means, discuss any aspects of the family and your life that you would like represented in the tartan and start to put a picture together of colours and patterns. It is a genuinely creative process that depends on the skill and artistic touch of your tartan designer to ensure it comes out in the finished fabric looking balanced, like the authentic tartan it is.

And a kilt is for life not just for a wedding. “It’s an investment,” says Barbara. “You can spend as much on a kilt as for a bridal dress, but at least with a kilt you can re-wear it many times.”

They showed me some of the projects they are currently working on including one for ‘the Rollin Drones’ who commissioned their own tartan and showcased it for the first time on the main stage at Party in the Park (part of Bathgate Music Festival). Other clients have included the Boyle

family, whose tartan was showcased by Susan Boyle as Chieftain at the West Lothian Highland Games in 2014. Boyle family tartan scarves are now available to buy! (No harm in the odd celebrity plug..)

”The groom will be treated like royalty and the attention to detail of his outfit will equal or exceed anything the bride will be getting from her dress supplier.”

But whether you’re a prospective ‘buyer’ or ‘hirer’ it makes no difference to Alan and Barbara - you’ll be given the same level of service and attention to detail. There is a friendly, no-pressure atmosphere. The studio is arranged on a splitlevel and there is consulting area where you discuss your project and you’ll be given as much time as needed for you to get exactly the outfit(s) you want. “I’ve just finished a ‘made to measure’ outfit for a client where we matched the jacket buttons to the sporran he had chosen,” explains Barbara, “and we designed custom-made kilt pins to fit the theme. We’ll help you visualise the

finished outfit, and, if it’s for a wedding, make sure it will complement the bride’s dress.”

They’ve not been in Bathgate long enough to qualify as “Bathgate bairns” (only 25 years...) but as Barbara explains, “we’ve made so many friends via the business during our years here in Bathgate, and we love to give back to the community.” The Kilt Studio supports the Bathgate Procession, the Highland Games, Bathgate Music Festival and Bathgate in Bloom, to name a few of the community initiatives and charities they are involved in. When not busy designing stunning formal outfits, Alan and Barbara enjoy hiking and camping (“we met through the Scouts, and still love the great outdoors”), music, theatre, and for Alan, football and golf. They both have design and creative backgrounds, Barbara having worked in the bridal sector and been involved in event management, and Alan worked in the design industry for many years before they opened their kilt business.

There is something for everyone, a selection of gifts for every occasion, and of course if you want to hire a kilt they have a range of tartans on offer – a mixture of traditional and modern designs.

So make The Kilt Studio your first port of call, Alan and Barbara will be delighted to help you.

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West Lothian Friends of Chernobyl’s Children A number of families across West Lothian are involved in an extraordinary programme that sees them hosting a child from Belarus for a month each year for five years.

I caught up with the group last month as they visited Potter Around (an arts and craft studio in Kirknewton), as part of their programme of activities during their stay here. As the children painted pottery and made jewellery, group co-ordinator and Broxburn resident Kenny Turnbull told me about the background to the group.

“Most of these children are from households in impoverished and contaminated conditions, living in homes that are little more that wooden sheds with no running water and from communities suffering a range of health problems.” Through coming to a host family in West Lothian, each year the children experience a month of clean air, healthy food, medical care and a whole new world of experiences of things we take for granted (such as indoors flushing toilets) and build up a fantastic and lasting relationship with their host family.

“They arrive with nothing more that the clothes they are wearing, and leave a month later with a suitcase full of clothes, toiletries, toys, gifts for their parents and siblings, and a year’s supply of vitamins to combat their poor diet and environment and help keep them healthy until they come back next summer,” explains Kenny.

All the charity workers are volunteers. “No amount of payment could be the same as the loving relationships that develop between the kids and their host families,” says Kenny. “We develop lasting relationships.” One of the translators who was with

the group in 2013 was a guest child in the first group to come across in 1995. “Some hosts have been across to Belarus for the wedding of their guest children. We keep in touch with the boy we had for five years - every year I go across to visit and the family throw open their tiny home and the hospitality is fantastic. We think of him as our third son, and he called us Dad and Mum when he was here.”

It’s a huge cultural change for the children who come here, and challenges in the early days include persuading them to have a daily shower when they are used to little or no washing – water has to be pumped from a well in the street and carried.

Host families come in all shapes, sizes and ages all you need is a spare bed and a big heart. There are currently families in Bathgate, Broxburn, Blackridge, Stoneyburn, Tarbrax, Mid Calder, Uphall , Blackburn and Livingston hosting a child.

Kenny says, “We can only do this ‘job’ thanks to the kindness of others.” While they have enough host families at the moment, the charity has to raise £1100 per child per year to cover the cost of flights, visits to Belarus to meet families in need, the month’s programme of activities, providing food parcels to their homes in Belarus, and other costs. The host families generously give their Belarussian child clothes and toys and look after all their needs for the month. The charity is also very grateful to local businesses Optimeyes in Broxburn who generously provide eye tests and glasses for any children needing them, and Broxburn Dental Practice who carry out dental checks on all the kids and provide any dental treatment free of charge.

If you would like to help out, FOCC would be delighted to have suggestions for fund-raising events or for you to help raise money for them.

You can also donate via their website www. foccwestlothian.com where you can see more information about their work.

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COMMUNITY

Appeal for volunteers to help combat loneliness among older people in West Lothian Contact the Elderly, the charity renowned for its monthly Sunday afternoon tea parties for over 75s at risk of isolation, is appealing for volunteers in West Lothian who would like to help older people enjoy new friendships and avoid loneliness.

The charity already hosts a successful West Lothian group, which helps five local ladies and gentlemen get out and socialise, and has a waiting list of older people keen to form new groups. It aims to launch a Bathgate group and eventually expand further. It operates entirely thanks to the contribution of kindhearted volunteers. Hosts generously welcome a group of guests and drivers (between 8-12 people) into their home once a year, and provide a tea party.

Drivers collect guests from their home, attend a wonderful Contact the Elderly tea party with them before taking them safely home.

Contact the Elderly hopes to develop its pool of drivers who are able to donate a Sunday afternoon

To fin d out how you wit h Co nta ct the El dercanly,volbecunomteee ra gu est or if you thi nk som eon e you loc all y cou ld ben efi t fro m bec om ingkno w gu est , ple ase get in tou ch wit h M a O’ M ay on 01 78 6 87 12 64 or emorn a Morna.O’may@contact-the-elderly.orail or vis it ww w.c ont act -t he- eld erl y.o g.uk rg. uk 18

West Lothian Contact the Elderly celebrate charity’s 50 years of their time, up to once a month, to ensure guests can attend the events.

Guests are over 75s who live alone and, although can walk independently, require support getting out and about and meeting people.

Morna O’May, Regional Development Officer for Contact the Elderly, said: “The West Lothian group has already seen many Sunday afternoons of fun and laughter, and sparked great friendships.

Guests often tell us it is one of the things they most look forward to, and our growing waiting list shows there is a real need for this kind of support.

“Most guests are unable to get out and about themselves, and drivers give them the invaluable gift of an opportunity to enjoy friendships. Many volunteers forge lovely friendships themselves with guests, and tell us they get back at least as much as they put in.

“Loneliness is a huge problem among our ageing population and there may be people in your own street who feel very isolated. Volunteering for a charity like Contact the Elderly is very rewarding, and an enjoyable way to help people in your community.”

Across Scotland, Contact the Elderly supports 764 people aged 75 and over through its network of 1,035 volunteers.

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21

WALK

Around the Loch we go

By Karen Murray

With a couple of hours off work and the children needing to get out of the house, where can we go for a walk that the kids will enjoy, is not too far away but far enough to be a trip?

Answer - Linlithgow Loch. I am all for combining activities and killing two birds with the one stone, so for this outing not only can we walk, we can utilise our Historic Scotland membership by taking in the Palace too.

So choose your route to Linlithgow – from Winchburgh you’ll head straight along the B9080, and from Broxburn or Uphall you’ll go from via Dechmont on the Burnhouse Road. Once in Linlithgow park in the car park by the Palace (the Vennel Pay and Display) or if you are visiting the Palace you can park right outside.

We decided on walk first, Palace visit second bribery works best with my urchins! So from the

Palace entrance, go around the left side of the building and walk down to the edge of the loch. You can also take the steps directly out of the Vennel carpark if you’re parked there. Turn left and follow the path around the loch in a clockwise direction.

The area surrounding the loch is known as Linlithgow Peel and comprises land which used to be the garden and grounds of the Palace of Linlithgow which has been added to over the years and is now maintained by Historic Scotland.

There is a bridge at the far end (west end) of the loch - head over the bridge and veer right. Once on the other side of the loch you will get some great views of the Palace.

Between April and August this section of path often has a number of nesting swans at the waterside so you are advised not to go too close or antagonise them as they can be aggressively protective of their young. The loch is home to a large number of water birds including the rare Great Crested Grebe.

Information boards along the way explain some interesting features of the loch, its geology, history and wildlife. There are remains in the loch of two small man-made islands dating back 2000 years, which had wooden homes built on them. They may have been constructed for defensive reasons or as a status symbol, but in either case building homes there would have been difficult and expensive. The loch itself was formed at the end of the ice age when a huge chunk of ice was left behind from the retreating glaciers that covered Scotland at that time.

Today, it is used for watersports including kayaking, canoeing and sailing with courses run by the Low Port Centre in Linlithgow, see http://www. lowportcentre.co.uk/ When you come to a road beyond the east end of the loch, turn right and go through a kissing gate. We love these and everyone is made to kiss everyone to great shouts of derision and ‘do we have to?’

You then cross some sheep grazing land to another road which you will go along for around 100m, before turning right down an alleyway by a house to

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come back to the Palace grounds and a children’s play area. You will also pass the jetty for the sailing dinghies that can often be seen out on the water along with wind surfers and swans.

The circuit is 2.3 miles, taking around an hour depending on stops for throwing stones in the loch, discussing swans and some dawdling - so not too long but long enough to deserve a visit to the Palace.

The palace is actually in view for most of the walk.

A large square sandstone shell, it was built by James I in 1424 following the ruin of the previous building by a fire. It became a popular palace for the Stewart family linking the route between Edinburgh and Stirling castles, and served as the nursery for Mary Queen of Scots. The palace fell into decline after 1603 when James VI moved the royal court to London, and in 1745 fire swept through the building leaving the ruin seen today.

However, the fact that the Palace is in ruins adds added interest for my children who love running up and down the towers and trying to find all the nooks and crannies.

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property matters

“Autumn’s All Go!”

by Craig Turpie

With the summer now firmly behind us, the market is active once again, and we actually find that there is a current imbalance of more buyers in the market than stock, but predict that there will be a run of properties coming onto the market in the run up to Christmas.

Those who enter the market ahead of this rush are likely to be the winners, as they will be competing with older stock.

or different viewing audience specifically relevant to your property. This is achieved by constantly monitoring buyer activity, tracking web statistics, gathering market intelligence and freshening images to ensure that all properties appear current to new buyers. This diligence, knowledge and understanding of the market can often mean only a subtle change to the marketing strategy of a property is required but typically increases viewing activity, often catching the attention of buyers who had previously overlooked it.

Property which is new to market is highly prized and any agent will tell you that a property is likely to receive the most attention within the first four to six weeks of marketing. That’s when buyers are excited about new properties, often leading to the highest selling price as buyers compete for fresh stock. Properties which have been on the market for longer periods become more reliant on new buyers entering the market but also on their agent being proactive in identifying ways to reach a new

We would be happy to create a bespoke Marketing Plan that really works for you – without obligation – quickly, efficiently and with great care and courtesy for local homeowners over the coming weeks.

So if a move is on the cards, we urge you to consider bringing it forward if at all possible. You can always extend your completion date if need be. But the key in this market is to secure a buyer sooner rather than later.

So why not call us today, and discover a refreshingly different estate agency? You might just be putting your Christmas tree up in a different house this year!

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Recipe & Food Notes

by Anne Pinkerton

Cookery Myth Busters 2 Soufflés

There are rumours that soufflés are difficult and failure is a judgment on ones skill as a cook. This need not be.

If you follow well-understood rules it will turn out well. The trick with soufflés is trapping air into a mixture so that when it’s baked a firm structure is created and the mixture of rich flavours is supported by the rest of the ingredients. Soufflés can be sweet or savoury, baked or steamed, hot or cold, individual or large for a spectacular main course. They can even be rolled up like a swiss roll.

This soufflé is a great treat and can be made days or weeks in advance. Once you have made this version it can be varied by using different cheeses and the taste will be totally different but still delicious.

Twice Baked Cheese Soufflé Serves 4, you need 4 individual ramekins. (Save them from the Gu puddings you’ve bought in the past...)

Ingredients: 110g grated strong cheddar eg Mull Cheddar 225ml milk For flavouring:- Small onion cut in half, 1 bay leaf, a little grated nutmeg or mace, 5 or 6 black pepper corns 25g butter 25g self-raising flour (a bit of a cheat but helps ensure a rise) 3 large eggs, separated 225ml single cream Grated parmesan or more cheddar Method: Slowly warm the milk with the flavourings till they just boil. Set aside to infuse and cool.

Butter the ramekins - this helps the mixture rise up the sides of the dishes.

Heat the oven to 200C or gas 6.

In a saucepan, melt the butter and add the flour, with a wooden spoon, mix them and heat till just beginning to change colour. Do not burn.

Add the strained, flavoured milk bit by bit heating and mixing as you go. You will have a thick sauce. Let it glup and bubble. This cooks the flour. Away from the heat beat in the cheese and the egg yolks one by one.

In a mixing bowl whip the egg whites till they hold their shape but are not dry. The traditional test was to see if the whites fall out of the bowl if you turn it upside down; but you need iron nerves for such tricks.

When the whites are ready, mix a spoonful into the sauce with a large metal spoon. Then put everything into the bowl and mix together by lifting the mixture from the bottom and folding it all together but not knocking the air out.

Divide the mixture between the ramekins and place them in a roasting tin,into which you add boiling water to halfway up the side of the pots. Bake for 15 minutes. DO NOT open the oven “just to see how they are doing.” They must be well-risen and springy.

Remove from the roasting dish cool. They can be kept in the fridge for up to 2 days or frozen for use later.

When you want to eat the soufflés slip a hot knife round the edge of the ramekins and turn them out onto an oven proof shallow dish. Try to get them the right way up. Pour the cream around them and scatter some cheese on top. Bake for 20 minutes till golden and well risen.

Serve as they are as a starter, or with a green salad or summer vegetables for a main meal.

Good luck!

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32

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33

Interiors feature

The EKCO guide to slow cooking by ecko

How do we define the seasons?

According to the Met Office it’s fairly straightforward. June, July and August are the summer months which means that we’re well and truly into autumn.

However, living in a country where we often see four seasons in one day maybe we should redefine the boundaries not by months but by the meals we eat - a new ‘Julienne’ Calendar if you will. If that were the case then autumn is defined by heartwarming soups and casseroles and there’s one must-have kitchen appliance we just have to have.

Yes, the hardy perennial of the wedding gift list, the slow cooker, is making a comeback in a big way. So, if you happen to have one languishing unwanted in a cupboard somewhere, perhaps just behind the foot spa and marginally left of the fondue set, then it’s time to put it to good use. If you don’t have one already then it’s an investment worth making.

If time is an issue for you then taking 30 minutes to plan your weekly menus and getting up a little earlier in the morning to prepare your dish will buy you back more time than you use up. Plus slow cookers are brilliant for cooking almost anything and they aren’t just restricted to casseroles and

soups. Sticky, ‘falling off the bone’ ribs, slow cooked in homemade maple barbecue sauce is easy and quick to prepare. Google a few recipes and you’re on your way. Even a roast chicken done in a slow cooker without the addition of water will turn out perfectly succulent and juicy. Just crisp the skin up for 10 minutes in the oven before serving with your favourite veg.

One of our personal slow cooker favourites here at EKCO is chilli con carne. Chilli is a controversial dish and some die-hard chilli aficionados will advocate a kidney bean free recipe. However, it’s down to personal taste and we think the beans add to the dish. A basic slow-cooked chilli can use either cubed steak or full-fat mince depending on your preference, browned on the hob first with some finely chopped onions, chilli powder and cumin. Then add it to your slow cooker with a 400g tin of chopped tomatoes per 500g pack of meat, two tablespoons of tomato purée, a sprinkling of oregano and some seasoning. We like ours fairly hot so we’ll add a couple of split Scotch Bonnet chillies (seeds removed -carefully), a tin of kidney beans, a couple of squares of dark chocolate and then we just leave the dish to cook away in slow for a few hours. Serve in a bowl with some tortilla chips or rice and some soured cream. Now to tackle that fondue!

KITCHENS | BATHROOMS | BIFOLD DOORS | SUNROOMS

Many ideas, one solution At EKCO we’ve been supplying and installing top quality Pronorm German-built kitchens and bathrooms since 1999. We’re also one of Scotland’s top suppliers of Origin bi-fold doors which are designed to open fully and allow more fresh air into your home.

And, if you need some extra space or simply a place to relax and unwind then we can create that lifestyle sunroom you have always dreamed of.

TO FIND OUT HOW WE CAN MAKE YOUR IDEAS COME TO LIFE CALL OUR DESIGN TEAM ON

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PUZZLES

CROSSWORD Solution in the November edition of konect

Across 1 Used for drinking (6) 4 Warmed (6) 9 Impartial (7) 10 Sleepy (5) 11 Used for chewing (5) 12 Oblivious (7) 13 Contest (11) 18 Female grandparent (7) 20 Terrible (5) 22 Musical instrument (5) 23 Remove (7) 24 Simpler (6) 25 Windy (6) Down 1 Sound mental health (6) 2 Course (5) 3 Adore (7) 5 Additional (5) 6 Whirlwind (7) 7 Avoided (6) 8 Added pictures (11) 14 Citrus fruits (7) 15 Farm vehicle (7) 16 Disregard (6) 17 Showy (6) 19 Dimwit (5) 21 Distress signal (5)

SUDOKU Sudoku solution on page 46

36

KONECT

Win! a Spectacular Family Night at Hopetoun Konect has teamed up with Hopetoun House to give away a family ticket to Hopetoun’s annual Bonfire and Fireworks Night, taking place at Hopetoun House on Saturday 7th of November 2015.

Building on Hopetoun’s established reputation for putting on one of the biggest and most spectacular fireworks displays in West Lothian this year’s celebrations will certainly not disappoint Taking place against a backdrop of Hopetoun House, the magnificent 17th century stately home, the family friendly event also includes a fun selection of pre-show entertainment, fantastic food stalls and a huge bonfire to keep everyone nice and warm.

The evening concludes with a grand finale of fireworks set to music which is once again designed and choreographed by the award winning team at 21CC Fireworks.

The winning family will receive 2 adult and 2 child tickets to the evening.

To enter the prize draw please answer the question: Where are the majority of the world’s fireworks made?

A) China B) Portugal C) Argentina Simply text or email the answer plus your name, phone number and email address to 07854 492368 or editor@konectdirectory.co.uk with the subject “Fireworks”. Closing date for entries 15th October 2015. Winner will be chosen at random after the closing date.

BATHGATE COMMUNITY CENTRE MONDAY 9.30 - 3.30pm 9.30 - 11.30pm 9.30 - 11.30am 10.00 - 3.00pm 1.00 - 3.00pm 1.45 - 4.15pm 1.45 - 4.15pm 2.00 - 6.30pm 3.00 – 5.00pm 6.45 - 8.30pm 6.00 - 9.00pm 6.30 - 9.00pm 6.30 - 8.30pm 7.00 - 9.00pm

TUESDAY

Bathgate Community Playgroup John Mcghee Computing Class Jumping Jacks Community Inclusion Team John Mcghee Beginners Computer Class 50+ Art Group 50+ Music/Books (alt Mondays) Simply Play Jewellery Making Group Bridge Club Newlands Junior Brass Section Outsiders Youth Club Bathgate Flower Group (Every 1st Monday) Quill Poetry Club

9.30 - 12.00pm 9.30 - 12.30pm 10.00 - 12.00pm 11.00 - 12.30pm 1.45 - 4.15pm 2.00 - 6.30pm 4.00 - 6.00pm 6.30 - 9.00pm 6.30 - 9.00pm

Bathgate Childminding Group Bathgate Community Playgroup Tapestry & Embroidery 50+ NUYU 50+ Art Class Simply Play John Mcghee Computer Drop In & Support Sessions Library Reading Group (Every 2nd Tuesday) Junior Youth Club

WEDNESDAY 9.00 - 10.30am 9.30 - 3.30pm 10.00 - 12.00pm 10.00 - 12.00pm 11.00 - 1.00pm 11.45-1.45pm 1.00 - 3.00pm 2.00 - 6.30pm

Ladies Badminton Bathgate Community Playgroup 50+ Network Genealogy Class John Mcghee Computer Fun Club Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland Sing ‘n’ Swing John Mcghee WorkIT Class Simply Play

3.30 - 7.15pm 4.30 - 6.30pm 5.00 - 6.15pm 5.00 - 6.00pm 6.30 - 8.00pm 8.05 - 8.45pm 6.30 - 9.00pm 6.30 - 9.00pm

Counterweight Class (class times vary, check at reception for more info) Digital Inclusion Group Therapeutic Yoga Exercise Class Mixed Class Yoga Meditation Group West Lothian Broadly Scots Society (Every 3rd Wednesday) Amateur Boxing

THURSDAY 9.30 - 12.00pm Bathgate Childminding Group 9.30 - 12.30pm Bathgate Community Playgroup 10.00 - 12.00pm Thursday Art Group (Watercolour Painting) 10.00 - 2.00pm Ability Centre Support Service Outreach Group 11.00 - 1.00pm SMART NHS Group 12.00 - 3.30pm Community Inclusion Group 2.00 - 6.30pm Simply Play 2.30 - 4.00pm 50+ Patchwork Group 3.30 - 9.00pm Danceworld 6.30 - 9.00pm Community Church 7.00 - 9.00pm FABB Club 7.00 - 9.00pm Swimming Club

FRIDAY 9.00 - 12.00pm 9.30 - 11.30am 9.30 - 11.30am 9.30 - 12.30pm 10.00 - 12.00pm 10.00 - 12.00pm

St John’s Cardiac Rehab 50+ Pilates Job Club Bathgate Community Playgroup 50+ Paper Techniques Lipreading Group (Every 3rd Friday) 11.30 - 6.30pm Simply Play 1.00 - 3.00pm John Mcghee Absolute Beginners Class 1.00 - 3.30pm Mini Kickers & Micro Soccer 1.45 - 4.00pm 50+ Scrabble & Canasta 2.00 - 4.00pm Nattering Needles 5.00 - 6.00pm Karate 7.00 - 9.00pm Art Club 7.00 - 9.00pm Amateur Boxing

SATURDAY 9.00 - 4.00pm 10.00 - 12.00pm 10.30 - 11.30am 1.30 - 3.30pm

Danceworld Gaelic Learning Pettigrew School of Dance Nightingale Club

SUNDAY 10.30 - 1.30pm Elim Church 11.00 - 2.00pm Amateur Boxing 6.00 - 8.00pm Community Church

YOUTH CLUBS All youth groups are supported by fully trained, qualified, skilled and experienced youth workers.

OUTSIDERS YOUTH CLUB Monday – 6.30-9.00pm

JUNIOR YOUTH CLUB Tuesday – 6.30-9.00pm

ROOMS Rooms available to book within Bathgate Partnership Centre.

For more details please ask at Bathgate Partnership Centre Reception.

BATHGATE COMMUNITY CENTRE Based within: Bathgate Partnership Centre Lindsay House South Bridge Street Bathgate, EH48 1TS

01506 283333 (option 4)

WHAT’S ON

Friday 30th October

and Useful Information

Wester Inch Community Association Coffee Morning Held in the community wing of Simpson Primary School, from 9am until 11am on the last Friday if every month.

Friday 16th October - Monday 26th October

Big Autumn Challenge Take part in the Big Autumn Challenge and discover more about West Lothian’s Country Parks. Pick up information from any of the three Country Park Visitor Centres (Polkemmet, Almondell & Calderwood or Beevraigs). Suitable For: Families. Meet: the Visitor Centre at any of the three Country Parks. Time: Drop in between 9am – 4.30pm. Cost: FREE. Saturday 17th October

Broom Making Broomstick workshop for high fliers. Come and make a Harry Potter style broom to be proud of.

Perfect for Halloween. Suitable For: Families.

Meet: Outside the Rangers Office at Polkemmet Country Park. Time: 2pm-3.30pm. Cost: £3.55 per broom. For booking and more details please contact the rangers.

Saturday 31st October

Enterprising Bathgate Halloween event In the Steelyard 11am-2pm. Family entertainment – see page 7 for full details.

Monday 9th November

Newland Concert Brass - performance Bathgate’s Newland Concert Brass invite you to a concert on Monday 9th November in Bathgate Partnership Centre. Doors open 7pm, concert starts at 7.30pm. Admission free. There will be a raffle on the night. Come along and enjoy a selection of music from both the junior and senior bands. Everyone welcome. For more information see the website. www.newlandconcertbrass.org.uk Bathgate Regal Community Theatre - The Regal hosts an exciting programme of film, music, theatre, comedy and children’s events. See www. bathgateregal.org for complete listing.

Saturday 24th October

West Lothian Highland Society monthly ceilidh Our first ceilidh of the season. Strathbrock Community Centre, Broxburn 7.30pm – 11pm.

Music will be played by Dick Black’s Band.

Tickets £5.

The Stone Ring Events Mediumship course - 8 week course Thursday evenings 7pm-9:30pm. 15th October to 3rd December. See advert on page 22 for details. The Stone Ring, 40 Kings Street, Bathgate.

To include your event here, please email editor@konectdirectory.co.uk or call 07854 492638.

BATHGATE library information Simpson Library

Bathgate Partnership Centre, South Bridge Street, EH48 1TS. Tel 01506 282910. Email: bathgate. lib@westlothian.gov.uk. Opening hours: Mon – Fri 8.30am – 8.00pm Sat 9.00am – 5.00pm.

Enterprising Bathgate Halloween event 40

Bookbugs: Bookbug West Lothian delivers free story, song and rhyme sessions for babies, toddlers and pre-school children in local libraries, working in partnership with the Scottish Book Trust. Call the Simpson Library for dates of this month’s book bug sessions.

KONECT

West Lothian has something more to shout about!

West Lothian College’s The Terrace Restaurant has been crowned Restaurant of the Year at the recent Food Awards Scotland 2015. The restaurant, which helps the next generation of Hospitality and Professional Cookery students work towards a successful career in the industry, beat big city restaurants and those with Michelin Stars, such as The Kitchin in Edinburgh, to the top accolade.

Here in West Lothian we are blessed with some of the finest eateries in Central Scotland. Peruse our extensive listings of restaurants, pubs, cafes and delicatessens www.visitwestlothian.co.uk. We feature 48 food and drink businesses in the area and no matter what you are after, from a light bite to a feast fit for a king, you’re sure to find something to satisfy your tastebuds.

West Lothian is also home to a range of award-winning tourist attractions and events. Here is what Tony Foster, new Chair of Visit West Lothian, has to say about the area, “The Terrace Restaurant Restaurant of the Year award highlights yet again what wee food, drink and tourism gems we have throughout West Lothian.

Visit West Lothian strive to support the success and growth of current and new tourism destinations to

visitors from the UK and abroad. We also welcome people who live and work in West Lothian, as we see an explosion in our population and businesses taking advantage of our links to the airport, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The number of new food, drink and tourism based businesses is reflected in our own membership which has increased over 200 per cent in the last three months and continues to grow. It’s exciting to see business waking up to the endless tourism possibilities in and around Livingston, from the Heartlands to East Calder. Visit West Lothian, actively supported and funded by relevant stakeholders, will be with you every step of the way to help the local economy, job creation and the visitor experience.”

Are you a tourism related business or Food and Drink outlet interested in the benefits of membership of Visit West Lothian then contact Tel: 01506 283 090/ Email: visitwestlothian@westlothian.gov.uk.

For more information about all the great things to see and do in West Lothian please visit www.visitwestlothian.co.uk, facebook. com/VisitWestLothian or twitter.com/ teamwestlothian

MUSIC REVIEW

Little Symphonies for the Kids

by James Kerr, Regal Music Club

The above is how Phil Spector described the singles created with his “wall of sound,” the kitchen sink and all approach.

A definitive recording designed to generate an internal, personal, response from the listener. Brian Wilson masterpieces such as “Good Vibrations” were multi-layered constructs, built up over hundreds of takes until the final version emerged.

The fact that these sounds were impossible to replicate live at the time was a side issue.

Increasingly it seems that this philosophy is being reversed. The mantra is that the money is in the tour, not the recording. The aim of a song being released to provide a one on one experience for the fan is secondary now to ensuring the material is already suitable for festival performance, with a

KONECT

sufficient number of chants build in for automatic mass audience sing-along. The whole shape of pop song writing is becoming distorted to lazily serve the live experience Unlikely pop saviours this month are Duran Duran.

Yeah, you heard me. “Pressure Off” is a collaborative effort including contributions from “Reflex” producer Nile Rodgers, and a co-vocal from Janelle Monae (a singer who has spent most of her career pretending to be a photogenic android, bagging herself vast amounts of magazine coverage and virtually no mainstream airplay). Tightly arranged and cleverly managing to look backwards and forwards at the same time, the recording pulls off the trick of incorporating live applause whilst keeping all vocals part of the symphony. I hope this is playing next time you are on the dodgems.

It will sound fantastic.

41

Tesco Bathgate Prize Draw That’s me finally on my summer break this month, but that doesn’t mean community work stops in Tesco Bathgate!

On Saturday 17th October we will be having some ghostly going-ons in store for Halloween, all in aid of Diabetes UK and The British

Heart Foundation.

We will once again be supplying fruit to the kids in the Sunshine Club which takes place in Boghall Community Centre over the Autumn break.

Bathgate British Legion will again be supporting the Poppy Appeal at the end of the month by collecting in store. They will be in store until the 11th November.

My name is Tracey Harrison and I am the community champion for Tesco Bathgate.

The main aim of my job is to promote my store as a good neighbour that can bring genuine benefit to my local community. If your group or organisation feels I could help in any way please contact me on 07822 866634 or email me at blackburnroad@communityattesco.co,uk or you can come into the store to meet me in person.

WIN

£20 Voucher & Some Halloween goodies.

Simply text or email your name, phone number and email address to: 07854 492638 or editor@konectdirectory.co.uk with subject “Tesco Bathgate”.

Closing date for entries 15th October 2015. Winner will be chosen at random after the closing date.

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clubs & classes

Sports, Hobbies, Learning, Support Groups & more...

BATHGATE

Please call Kidzeco for class times and availability on 01506 815534.

Bathgate & District Flower Club

Lead a Happier Life

We are a friendly group who meet on the 3rd Monday of each month from September to June (no meeting in December) in the Regal theatre Bathgate at 7.15pm. We have a Floral Art demonstrator at each meeting who does around 5 arrangements which are given as raffle prizes at each meeting. We also arrange outings each year. The club was established 48 years ago and we celebrate our 50th Anniversary in September 2015. Contact Carole.

Hawkins48@yahoo.com

Bathgate History Group We are a friendly group who meet on a Wednesday afternoon at 2pm in The Tryst behind St John’s Church, Mid Street, Bathgate.

We have interesting speakers on various topics with tea and coffee.

A warm welcome awaits old and new members, the first meeting for the 2014/2015 session is Wednesday 3rd September. For further information contact Dorothy on 01506 652505.

Simply Play Provides flexible after school care and holiday programmes for children aged 5-14. Our clubs are based in Simpsons Primary School Community Wing and Bathgate Partnership Centre. We offer a range of indoor and outdoor play experiences until 6pm Mon-Fri. Sessions are paid for as they are booked with no fee for `holding` an unused space. For more information visit www. simplyplay.org or call 01506 856444.

Any Dog ‘ll Do Rescue Group A friendly group of volunteers based in and around Bathgate.

Looking for new members to help raise awareness and fundraise for the dog rescue charity. A good way to meet new, like-minded people and have fun at the same time. Contact Lyn Pattison on info@anydogildorescue.org to find out when the group will next meet and how to get involved.

31st West Lothian Scouts Scout Hall, Majoriebank Street. Thursdays 7pm – 9pm

Bathgate Concert Orchestra We are a friendly, enthusiastic group of musicians and are always happy to welcome new players of whatever level. We rehearse on Friday evenings during school term time from 7:30pm-9:30pm at St John’s Church Bathgate. Anyone interested in coming along to join us should contact the Secretary Joan Proven at Joan_Proven@hotmail.com Tel: 0131 331 3187. See www.batchgateconcertorchestra.org.uk. You can also find us on facebook.

West Lothian 50 Plus Network New members always welcome for educational, social, recreational and cultural activities.

Monthly meet-ups, visits and day trips. Over 25 different activity groups, including arts, crafts, walking, theatre etc. See www. westlothian50plusnetwork.co.uk or call 01506 635510. Office hours Mon - Fri 10am - 2pm.

Yoga Class For people living with long term conditions.

Bathgate Community Centre, 5–6.30pm on Wednesdays. Class is run by KICC Active Lothian, a partnership with MS Therapy Centre Lothian. £5.50 per class or £20 for four weeks. First class is free! Call Joanna on 07436 102726 to book.

Parent and Toddler’s St Johns Church, Mid Street Fridays during term time, 9.30-11.30 am. From Birth to Preschoolers. For further information, contact Irene on 01506 654579

Baby and Toddler activities Kidzeco, 20-24 George Street, Bathgate, EH48 1PW Range of classes including soft play, storytelling, craft and dance.

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We meet monthly to learn about empowering ourselves to lead the life we want and deserve.

With different with guest speakers on happiness related topics.

Also meet in between times to go walking/theatre/other personal development workshops. Meet 1st Mon of each month at Community Wing, Marina Road, Boghall, Bathgate EH48 1SY (next to the school) 7.00 pm. For more info contact Carol on 07800 772607.

2nd Bathgate Girls’ Brigade Meets on Wednesday evenings in St John’s Church Halls, Mid Street.

Explorers P1-3 Girls: 6.15pm - 7.30pm Juniors P4-7 Girls: 7.00pm - 8.30pm Brigaders S1-S6 Girls: 7.00pm - 8.30pm Please contact Alison Weddell (Captain) on tel 07710 619264 or email alison.weddell@gmail.com for further details.

The Stone Ring 40 King Street, Bathgate Beginners Self awareness & Development. Mon 7-9.30 pm (approx) £6.50. Moot - Every 2nd Wed of the Month. 7-9.30pm (approx) £5.

Thai Chi Fridays - 6.30-8.30pm (approx) £25 per month.

Bathgate Playgroup Bathgate Partnership Centre Mon–Fri 9-11.30am and afternoon sessions Mon & Wed 12.303.30pm

Newland Concert Brass Friendly band based in Bathgate. We welcome brass and percussion players of all ages and abilities.

Training Band Mondays 6.30 – 7pm in Bathgate Partnership Centre. Junior Band Mondays 6.30 – 7.30pm in Bathgate Partnership Centre. Senior Band Mondays 7.45 – 9.30pm in the band hall on Belvedere Rd. For more information see the website at www.newlandconcertbrass.org.uk

MOMS (Mums Offering Mums Support) Kidzeco, 20-24 George Street, Bathgate, EH48 1PW Mon 1pm–3pm. Group for new and expectant mums to meet other mums, share ideas and experiences and generally have a chat and a cuppa! £1 includes hot drink. Call Kidzeco for more info 01506 815534.

Pop Skool Dance / Singing fun classes for ALL! Based in the brand new Boghall Community Wing. www.popskool.com Monday Evenings 5.30 - 6.30 Minis (4 - 7yrs) 6.30 - 7.30 Juniors (8 - 11yrs) 6.30 - 8.00 Seniors (12 - 15yrs) 7.30 - 9.00 Elite (16yrs+)

Regal Music Club The Regal Theatre, Bathgate For anyone who loves music. We meet fortnightly on Wednesdays.

7.30pm to 9.30pm. Come along to chat, discuss, meet new people, eat biscuits. You don’t need to play or sing but if you do there is always a chance to perform. Check out the facebook page or just drop in. £2 including refreshments.

Bathgate Reading Group Simpson Library, Bathgate Meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 6.00pm, all adults are welcome.

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Bathgate Memory Cafe Kaim Park Hotel, Edinburgh Road, Bathgate A meeting place and caring supportive group for people with dementia and their carers. The Memory Cafe runs the 1st Monday of every month from 1.30pm to 3.00pm. For more information please contact Alzheimer Scotland on 01506 533114.

Friends of Polkemmet Country Park Group meets on the second Sunday each month between 10am – 12pm to carry out practical conservation projects in Polkemmet Country Park. Dates for 2015 are: 12/04; 10/05; 14/06; 12/07; 09/08; 13/09; 11/10; 08/11. Please contact the Ranger Service on 01501 743905, Polkemmet@westlothian.gov.uk or visit the Friends of Polkemmet Facebook page if you would like to join us.

West Lothian Table Tennis Club West Lothian Table Tennis are a friendly club who are always happy to welcome new people who have played in the past or would like to pick up the sport for the first time. Whether you are seven years old or 70...Everyone is welcome! Meet at Bathgate Academy. For further information contact: David Stephen, Club Secretary david. stephen2@sky.com or 07979 095772. See www.wlttc.co.uk.

Paranormal Investigation group based in Bathgate We’re looking for people to join our small group. Will meet on the first Wednesday of the month 7.30pm venue tbc. Investigations to be carried out approximately every 6-8 weeks at various locations around West Lothian and beyond so own transport essential. Both believers and skeptics welcome. Must be over 18. Please contact Tracey at ghost.scotland@outlook.com for further information.

Fitsteps - NEW! Fun and effective dance fitness class inspired and created by Strictly Come Dancing stars Natalie Lowe and Ian Waite. Learn steps from Tango, Jive, Viennese Waltz, Samba and many more, without the need of a partner. Wednesday 7.30-8.15pm, St Mary’s Hall, Bathgate £5 per person. For more info call Lianne on 07737 927463 www.facebook.com/moveitdanceandfitsteps

Bathgate Fairtrade Group - NEW! Bathgate Fairtrade is a small group and welcomes more members locally to support fairtrade. We meet up periodically and attend local events. If you are interested please contact the secretary Gillian Reid on 01506 653366 or email mrs_g@btinternet.com

WESTER INCH Wester Inch Parent & Toddler Group Thursday mornings 9am - 11am. £1 per adult and 50p per child.

For more information contact us via our facebook page Wester Inch Parent and Toddler Group or email on westerinchtoddlers@ hotmail.com

Simpson Art Club We meet every Tuesday 7 - 9pm in the community wing of the Simpson Primary School, Bathgate All over 18, including beginners, are welcome; Regular demonstrations and teaching from professional artists, work in all mediums. For further information email simpsonartclub@gmail. com. Contact 07762 933138

Zumba and Piloxing with Lindsay Simpson Primary School, Bathgate: Tuesday Zumba® 7.158.15pm; Piloxing® 8.20pm-9.20pm. East Calder Church Hall: Monday Zumba® 7-8pm. Facebook Zumba with Lindsay. Email: lindsayandersondance@yahoo.co.uk. Tel: 07834 183084

Centrepoint Church Simpson Primary School Sunday Worship Gathering, Weekly 10:30am. Contact: Tom Jackson m: 07540391081 e: tom.jackson@centrepointchurch.org

Messy Church Held by St. John’s Parish Church in Community Wing, Simpson Primary School.

Third Thursday of each month 6.45pm-8.15 pm. Join us for fun, games, craft activities, stories and singing. All ages welcome. No KONECT

charge, donations welcome. For more information contact Parish Minister, Rev. Duncan Shaw on 01506 653146 or westlothian@ churchofscotland.org.uk or Rev. Zoltan Safrany on 07411 444 743 email safiref@gmail.com

Support Group for Parents - NEW! Simpson Primary School Parents – would you like the opportunity to attend an informal family support group for sharing advice and experiences? Learn about: Why do children behave as they do? Child development; managing misbehaviour; teach new skills. Mondays 7pm-9pm, free. Come along and meet new friends. Group is advertised on the Wester Inch Community Facebook page, feel free to ask questions there about the group or just turn up!

other areas New Town Roller Girls Roller Derby team, meeting 9-10pm on Wednesdays at Craigswood Xcite. New members welcome, contact us via our Facebook page www.facebook.com/NewTownRollerGirls or email newtownrollergirls@hotmail.co.uk. Please contact us before coming to your first session so that we can sort equipment for you.

West Lothian Clarion Cycling club – our aim is to help cyclists plan and reach their own goals through training with, and seeking advice and support from fellow club members. Weekly club runs leave from Linlithgow Leisure Centre and East Calder Sports Centre. See www. westlothianclarion.co.uk or email secretary@westlothianclarion. co.uk

Lothian Running Club Welcome runners of any standard. We believe that running clubs are not just for the elite (although we will let fast people join too).

Suitable for all ages and we have a junior section too from age 6.

Training sessions in/around Livingston, meet at Inveralmond High, Craigswood Sports Centre and Dechmont Law car park. For more info see website www.lothianrunningclub.co.uk.

West Lothian Breast Cancer Support Group Meets on the first Tuesday of each month, in the Ability Centre, Carmondean, Livingston, from 7pm-9pm. Further details and information, contact Nan McDonald tel 01506 655739.

The Tree Club Office at 19c South Bridge Street, Bathgate. West Lothian’s only afterschool club for children and teenagers with additional support needs. Stimulating and creative activities with high staff to child ratio. See www.thetreeclub.org.uk

Alternative Company Entertainers (ACE) Meet every Thursday in Whitburn academy at 7:00 – 9pm. Ages 5 to 105+. Contact acompanyentertainers@gmail.com or find us on facebook.

Harmony Dance Club Armadale We are a not for profit club for retired ladies, dancing to CDs mostly sequence dancing. We meet every Tuesday afternoon in the Community Centre, South Street Armadale, from 1.30 to 3.30pm.

We would welcome old and new members to our club. Don’t worry if you don’t know the dances, we can teach you.

West Lothian Baking Club - NEW! We meet approximately every 6th Wednesday 7:30 – 9:30pm in Dechmont Hall to talk about all things baking related. No requirement to be the next Mary Berry! £2 per meeting.Email wlbakingclub@yahoo.co.uk or find us on facebook.

To include your club or class, email details to editor@konectdirectory.co.uk.

Charity and not-for-profit groups are free, there is a small charge for other listings. See our website for details. www.konectdirectory.co.uk

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INDEX OF ADVERTISERS Accessories M & A Jewellery

17

Bathrooms Bathgate Bathroom Studio Ekco

10 35

Beauty Forever Living

17

Builder David Bathgate Kirkton Builders

4 5

Building Surveyor David Hastings

29

Cafe/Tearoom The Courtyard Cafe

6

Car Bodywork Car Medic Chips Away

28 29

Car Service & Repair Formula 1 MOT M & S Auto Solutions Meadowpark Garage

28 6 28

Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning James Burnett Carpet Cleaning

5

Electrician D B Electrics Electric Al Simply Electrical Estate Agent Turpie Fireworks Fireworks Factory Whitburn Florist Williamson

4 10 28 27 4 14

20 21 31 25 10

HAIRDRESSERS Star Hair Design

5

Roofing Simply Roofing

Healthcare Forever Living Hire (Car/Van/Minibus) Pixo Van Hire Homes for Sale CALA Homes Kilt Maker & Hire The Kilt Studio

5

Pet Services Morven’s Dog Grooming Coxydene

5

17

Takeaway The Courtyard Cafe

14

Tattoo Removal Tatta Ltd

17

15

Taxi & Private Hire Bluebird Radio Cars

48

13

Venue KCDT

33

Vet Riverside Veterinary Practice

21

Windows 1st Choice Living DC Window Studio

6 11

33

Children’s Nursery Wee Gems

43

Leaflet Delivery The Leaflet Lady

32

Cleaning Services Clean Bee Domestic Cleaning Ltd Strata Cleaning Limited

14 40

Locksmith West Lothian Locksmith

14

Complementary Therapies Access 2 Balance

17

Mobility Ableworld Med-Ecosse

19 47

Computer Services Sprint Computers

32

Office to let Spring

2

46

29

PAVING W Tarmacadam

Restaurant Hilcroft Hotel Karma

Catering Food Creations

Across: 1 Pout, 3 Merchant, 9 Rescued, 10 Nails, 11 Mathematical, 14 Dud, 16 Metre, 17 See, 18 Appreciation, 21 Alone, 22 Relieve, 23 Dressing, 24 Plus.

14

Painter/Decorator Nu Walls

Garden & Landscaping All Year Round Landscapes

Kitchens Ekco S & S

Solution to September Crossword

Oven Cleaner The Clean Team

35 24

6

Solution to Sudoku Page 36

Down: 1 Pyramids, 2 Upset, 4 End, 5 Considerable, 6 Animals, 7 Toss, 8 Supermarkets, 12 Attic, 13 Meanders, 15 Deplore, 19 Ideal, 20 Bald, 22 Run.

Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss, damage or omission caused by error in the printing of an advertisement.The Konect Directory does not endorse any advertising material that appears in this publication.

Adverts are accepted on the understanding that descriptions of goods and services are fair and accurate. All material is accepted for publication on the understanding that it is copyright free.The Konect Directory accepts no liability for any subsequent copyright issues. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior consent of the publisher.

Publisher: Lothian Publications Ltd, Overton Farmhouse, Kirknewton, EH27 8DD. Editor: Helen-Jane Shearer 07854 492638 hj@konectdirectory.co.uk

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