Konect Bathgate November 2020

NOVEMBER 2020

PARENTING:

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ireworks, Autumn craft fayres, concerts, remembrance gatherings and a host of the other usual things going on at this time of year are cancelled. But crisp autumn walks are still very much to be enjoyed (see our parenting column on page 26), as is making your home a cosy haven as we settle in and get ready for a weird winter. New Hopetoun Gardens’ project this month is an outdoors winter décor idea.

And Christmas shopping isn’t cancelled, it’s just different. “Support Bathgate Businesses. They need you, Bathgate needs them” is the message loud and clear this year (see pages 8-9). It’s all about thinking small, and we’ve put together a few ideas on pages 32-33, most crucially to support small local businesses.

All our usual columns are here from local contributors. I hope you enjoy them this month. As ever, drop me a line and let me know what you think.

u can know yo Did you to receive each e subscribissue of Konect e here new Subscrib online? scribe b scot/su konect.

THIS ISSUE Support Bathgate Businesses.................................8 Property Matters: Manage your investment.....12 Garden Project: Christmas Traditions................21 Film Review...................................................................22 Parenting: Tall tale or true story.............................26 Local Environment: Colourful Kingfisher...........28 Health: Beauty Fix.......................................................30 Puzzles...................................................................27 / 29 Life Coaching...............................................................30 Feature: Think Small this Christmas....................32

Konect is delivered monthly to 10,000 homes throughout Bathgate and Torphichen.

Copies are also left at the library, convenience stores, post offices and other locations around Bathgate.

HELEN-JANE SHEARER Editor

E: editor@konect.scot

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BATHGATE | 11

PROPERTY MATTERS

your Investment Some landlords, especially those who are new to the experience, understandably wish to use a letting agent simply as a route to market in order to find a tenant. However, whilst a return on investment is one thing, sleeping well at night is quite another!

A managed service is not just about chasing late rent, resolving disputes and inventory control.

possibly because they have had a “problem landlord” in the past so they tend to stay longer.

Additionally, no matter how compliant a When your property is professionally tenant may seem at the outset, the last managed, it’s all about accountability. This thing a landlord needs is someone phoning means regular inspections to check that him/her at all hours with the same minor your tenant is treating your investment issue over a draft, dripping tap, clanking with the respect it deserves. During these pipes, noisy neighbours, inspections, well-trained etc. All of these are part staff are able to identify of a day’s work for a any areas that should be A managed dedicated managing investigated in order to service is not just agent! avoid or reduce costs about chasing late One of the most important later. An example would be a blocked gutter. considerations is that as rent, resolving Normally, you would only property managers, we disputes and hear about this when the get to know our clients’ tenant calls you to tell inventory control.” tenants, and have a you that water is coming good understanding of in, plaster has come away from the wall their plans, often pre-empting a premature and there is mould on the ceiling. Call in departure, so we can prepare and let the the dehumidifier, plasterer, and painter – property in time to avoid it being empty – and you have a large bill and an unhappy even for a day! tenant.

Most of our landlords derive great value

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Many tenants also prefer to rent a property that is managed through a letting agent,

from our managed service and we invite you to experience the difference yourself!

The monthly Property Matters column is contributed by Craig Turpie. Craig is a director at Turpie & Co Estate Agents and Letting Agents with extensive knowledge of the West Lothian Property Market and over 20 years experience in bespoke sales and marketing.

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What are the Christmas traditions in your home and garden?

All families have their own traditional activities and decorations for the festive season. It has become a tradition that we create a model Christmas Village here at New Hopetoun Gardens and it delights all our team and, even more importantly, all our customers during the last three months of the year.

We don’t think that you will create anything as big as this, but many of you will make little winter scenes on the sideboard but for those of us with grandchildren we may have to share this magic online if we can’t visit each other’s homes.

At home Lesley and I always decorate a wreath with bits and pieces from our evergreen garden shrubs, lying it on the

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Christmas Village patio table with a terracotta pot in the middle planted with heathers or hellebores. We can leave the curtains open in the evenings and turn on the patio light to enjoy the display for many weeks. Our record has been keeping it going until the end of March because we use a floral foam wreath ring that keeps the leaves watered all winter!

The gardening project is contributed by Dougal Philip, New Hopetoun Gardens.

Inspiring, informing and entertaining, for more than 40 years.

BATHGATE | 21

I wish there was a way to get back the 2 hours I wasted.

Mulan 2020 is in my opinion the definition of terrible. It adds little to the original animation and it fails to recreate the magic the original had. Instead of a timeless story about female empowerment, where you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it, we get a story about if you have strong chi you can be a badass with no training.

Let’s talk about the stuff I liked…

Now moving onto the aspects I didn’t like.

All of the acting is unremarkable. Liu Yifei, who plays Mulan, just comes across as very wooden and boring. The best performance comes from Donnie Yen but even he doesn’t get the time to shine. The editing was flat out terrible at points and because of this, scenes were hard to follow and confusing.

I felt the cinematography was lacklustre, and not a single shot stood out as being visually interesting or beautiful. At times the film treats the audience like idiots, narration happens literally to explain what’s going on for people in my opinion who don’t have an attention span longer than 5 minutes. The action was just unwatchable, the camera was way too close to even see what was happening.

Mulan is what I hate about remakes. It does nothing to justify its own existence and is not worth an additional £20 on Disney Plus. Just watch the original Disney animation instead and save money.

The Film Review is contributed by Robert Ewing. Robert is passionate about film as an art form, and shining a light on films that may not be on people’s radar. Robert is from Kirknewton.

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BATHGATE | 23

“We see that we are not alone” A very poignant moment in the tireless fundraising effort by Allison Barr to carry out her son Jak’s wishes.

In a new book published on what would have been Jak’s 21st birthday, Allison Barr shares, for the first time, the roller-coaster five-month journey from Jak’s rare cancer diagnosis to his passing. And the raw emotions of the aftermath.

Team Jak, as many local readers will be aware, is the foundation established in Livingston by Jak Trueman in the weeks before his passing in 2015. His desire was to create Jak’s Den – a place where childhood cancer patients and their families could go to escape from the traumas of treatment and have fun in a safe environment. Allison immediately took on the mantle as Chief Executive of Team Jak Foundation, and Jak’s Den today is busy caring for hundreds of families affected by childhood cancer.

“I wrote a lot of this book immediately after Jak passed, because I didn’t want to forget the details,” Allison told me. “I had said to him that I was going to write about his journey. I hadn’t re-read it since, so at the beginning of lockdown this year I sat and read everything I had written in those early days. It was very emotional.”

It’s been cathartic, in fact. “Many friends and family have told me that I never gave myself the time to mourn fully because I launched myself 110% into creating Jak’s Den. And I’ve realised they were right.”

The aim of the book is raise awareness of childhood cancer, and of the support that is available to young cancer patients and their families. It’s also a fundraiser for Jak’s Den. “Creating smiles and easing the journey” currently for 227 families throughout Scotland, the ultimate aim is to be able to reach every 24 | BATHGATE

child in Scotland who needs them on their cancer journey.

Jak’s Den Mark 2 opened in Livingston last year, a much bigger and better equipped premises than the original. There are pop-up dens in various hospitals in Scotland, and plans in the pipeline include a permanent Jak’s Den in Aberdeen.

Allison’s book is themed around football, Jak’s passion, with sections touchingly entitled the kick off, extra time and final whistle. It goes on to celebrate the work of the charity, including their bereavement support and plans for the future.

“Grief hit me in a new way during lockdown.

Writing this book has been a release in many ways. I wanted to do it for Jak’s 21st, as my gift to him to record his journey. It’s also been a way for me to help me move forward for myself”.

The title of this article is a quote from one of the supported families and what Team Jak means to them: “We see that we are not alone, and some barriers we build just fall down.”

You can support the vital work of Team Jak Foundation by purchasing a copy of the book “My Beautiful Boy” via their website at www.teamjak.org.uk/shop This article was written by Helen-Jane Shearer after speaking with Allison Barr after the book launch. Helen-Jane is the editor of Konect and lives in West Lothian with her family. @KonectMagazines

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BATHGATE | 25

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Tall tale or ET R C E S TOP true story?

OR Close encounters of the West Lothian kind …

Over the years since having kids I’ve become quite adept at spinning whatever we were doing in such a way as to get – and keep - the kids interested. No matter how boring an activity might be in reality.

A walk isn’t just a walk after all; we are looking for fairies in the woods. A car journey is not just any car journey; we are going to break the World record for the longest game of I-spy EVER. A train journey is not just any train journey; we are just like Harry Potter on the way to Hogwarts. Think M&S ‘this is not just food’ and you get the idea…nothing is as boring as it first seems.

I have on occasion had to get quite creative and as the kids have got older there has been significantly more eye rolling and sniggering in the face of my often fantastical sales patter. But just the other day we made a discovery that for once made my colourful imagination redundant. I simply told the kids the truth.

Although I’m still not sure if they believed me!

We went for a walk up 26 | BATHGATE

Dechmont Law. The promise of spectacular views out over West Lothian from the highest point in Livingston was enough to entice me. But it was the promise of strange encounters that put a pep in their step.

Have you ever heard of the Dechmont UFO Trail? Neither had I. But I am here to tell you there is one and my kids were fascinated to explore it.

So the story goes that on the morning of 9th November 1979, Dechmont Wood was the site of a very unusual encounter known as the ‘Robert Taylor’ incident. An incident so unusual, some would say impossible, that after 40 years it is still one of the most important UFO encounters in the world! And it happened right here in West Lothian.

You can park just beyond Deans Community High

School and there are waymarked trails to follow from there. Explore the woodland, enjoy the views and when you learn about the incident along the trail - decide for yourself if you think this is a tall tale or a true story! It certainly gave us plenty of food for thought and lots of extra-terrestrial chat around the dinner table.

P.S. if you fancy a wee pickme-up after your walk check out Artisan Cheesecakes kitchen just around the corner in Deans for a totally indulgent treat!

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

PUZZLE

NOVEMBER SUDOKU

This month’s crossword puzzle can be found on page 29. See page 40 for Sudoku solution.

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BATHGATE | 27

LOCAL ENVIRONMENT

Colourful Kingfisher Normally when you’re looking for kingfishers, the most common sight you’ll see is a flash of blue zipping low along the river, accompanied by its high pitched “chi-keeee” call. Occasionally though, one will turn up somewhere completely unexpected and be the star attraction.

Last Autumn, an event such as this took place at the Edinburgh Royal Botanic Gardens where this male kingfisher spent hours hunting in their various ponds. An easy way to identify a male from a female is the colour on the underside of the beak.

The female has a red lower mandible, adding to their already bright plumage.

They don’t have a large population in Scotland, though this is increasing therefore it’s understandable why they attract attention when they spend time somewhere like the Botanics. The other reason they can be found around ponds in winter is because they prefer slow moving or still sources of water and given the rainfall in Scotland, our rivers are just too full and fast!

Feeding on a diet of fish and aquatic insects, they’ll sit on a perch watching for 28 | BATHGATE

the ideal opportunity before diving with their beak open and eyes closed by the third eyelid (a nictitating membrane) and returning back to their perch. They must eat at least their own bodyweight in food a day just to survive.

The Botanics is a great place to wander on a crisp winter’s day and you never know, you might just get to see a kingfisher for yourself.

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

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PUZZLE

Please contact us if you would like your business included in our Pet Services pages.

Contacts details are on page 3.

Solution in the December edition of Konect

NOVEMBER CROSSWORD

ACROSS: 1. Ten years (6), 4. Pictures (6), 9. Level high land (7), 10. Tag (5), 11. Poem (5), 12. Selections (7), 13. Demolition (11), 18 Pharmacist (7), 20. Perfect (5), 22. Spoils (5), 23. Against (7), 24. Scale (6), 25. Grown ups (6).

DOWN: 1. Leave (6), 2. Absurd (5), 3. Lowest (7), 5. Greeting (5), 6. Used for smoking (7), 7. Spatter (6), 8. Commas, colons. (11), 14. Dusk (7), 15. Stumbled (7), 16. Afraid (6), 17. Play equipment (6), 19. Edition (5), 21. Artists frame (5).

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BATHGATE | 29

LIFE COACHING

BEAUTY FIX I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again! The months leading up to Christmas are the BEST time to stock up on all your beauty treats!

With every brand competing for Christmas sales there is an astonishing amount of money to be saved and free gifts on offer.

Obviously these make great gifts and stocking fillers for those who love a little beauty indulgence, but for me it’s about getting what I need and stocking up for the year with extra savings and free gifts thrown in, as well as exclusive limited edition packaging or items that are only released specially for the time of year.

For example lookfantastic.com have elemis limited edition gift set worth £113 for £68, and at Wonderland in Livingston we have beautiful and uniquely designed Davines gift boxes (no wrapping, yay!) with free shampoo in each of the boxes, and loads to choose from in terms of what works for your hair and your budget.

So, whether it’s for you or for a loved one it’s the ideal time to get your beauty fix, save money, get extra products, and for those of us who can’t cope with wrapping paper it’s the ultimate Christmas hack.

The Hair column is contributed by Sophie Laidlaw. Sophie is Director @wonderland Livingston. www.wonderlandlivingston.co.uk 30 | BATHGATE

Christmas in the time of COVID Christmas 2020 is going to be very different. After all the turmoil, uncertainty and change we have experienced for most of this year, many of us are feeling anxious, flat and totally lacking in energy.

For some people there will have been such personal loss and sadness that Christmas is the very last thing they will want to think about.

This year there will be no dashing around bustling city centres and most of us won’t be taking part in that annual shopping scrum.

There will be no office parties, no visits to winter markets and no extended family gatherings. Instead, we are being invited to decide exactly how we want to mark this annual event in a new, scaled-down way.

However, I think many of us will really focus on the joy of putting up our sparkle and decking those halls with familiar decorations that have been packed away since January.

Taking time to remember those family members and friends who are no longer with us as we look forward to seeing loved ones on what has the potential to be one of our most precious festive seasons ever.

After the experiences of recent months, this might be the perfect time to take a moment to say a heartfelt thank you for family and friends and to make positive choices about how we spend the festive season in a new, calmer way. Who knows, this new way of celebrating might even be so enjoyable that future Christmases will be scaled down too as we really appreciate the true spirit of the festivities.

The Life Coaching column is contributed by Francine Orr, NLP coach, hypnotherapist & reiki practitioner. Francine is based within Linlithgow Chiropractic on Wednesday afternoons and is also available online. See www.orrganise.co.uk

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BATHGATE | 31

. . . s a m t s i r h t his C

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We’re being forced to think small in lots of ways at the moment.

At the time of writing this we can’t gather in our homes with other households, pubs are closed, and we can’t gather in groups of more than 6 people from 2 households in other indoor settings. Regulations may have changed by Christmas, but one thing for sure is that it will be a very different social season for the vast majority of us. No big works parties; no live entertainment, no big family gatherings or relatives flying in from overseas.

Not to mention that fact that it is hard to plan with the constantly changing regulations, and the severe financial constraints many people need to navigate too.

So, it’s time for small to shine. If you’re somone who dreads the obligatory big gatherings, you may have already found your silver lining in all of this. But for many, it’s normally the most social time of year.

First and foremost, “small” has to be about supporting small local businesses when doing our gift shopping. It can take a little more time and effort to hunt down small businesses supplying things you want. But can you use the time you would have spent partying and prepping big get-togethers to hunt out local businesses? Browse with an open mind and let your gift list be inspired by the creativity that you’ll find from local arts and crafts business owners. You’ll find things you may not have thought of yourself. Jewellery made from various materials; paintings or 32 | BATHGATE

photography of local scenery and landmarks, papercrafts, handmade home décor items, hand-poured candles….the list is endless, and in many cases things can be made-to-order and personalised.

You’re not only Large ‘conversationhelping a local piece’ wall art designed person running a

by Unique Creations business, but also getting something unique and beautiful.

Designed and handmade in Bathgate, delicate real buttercup petals encased in blue tinted resin make unique earrings. For these earrings and other beautiful items, from jewellery to large conversation-piece wall art, check the work of local artist Unique Creations at www.uniquecreationsx.com Dinner on the big day is likely to be for a smaller gathering - maybe just your own household. So is 2020 the year you decide to get all supplies and ingredients for the big day from local suppliers instead of the supermarkets? Local butchers, bakers and farmshops can provide everything you need and more, and it comes with a personalised service and great quality, often locally-sourced ingredients. @KonectMagazines

“Letterbox gifts” are physically small items that can be sent by post and will fit through the recipient’s letterbox. You’re likely to be posting more gifts this year to people you would otherwise have been able to see in person. There are security concerns with parcels which may end up being left on a doorstep during the busy December parcel delivery season – especially if you order from a third party and get things sent direct to the recipient, you have no control over the delivery. So, take the time to find “letterbox gifts.” The great thing is that many small local businesses will be supplying suitable items.

Gift a wonderful restorative session to someone who needs relief from the stress and anxiety of 2020.

Visit www.calmcentretherapies.co.uk to gift a wonderful restorative session to someone who needs relief from the stress and anxiety of this year.

Notebooks are a perfect “letterbox gift”. Get these from Emms Choice for the eco-consious note-taker!

Perfect letterbox/jeans pocket sized gift for an eco-conscious note-taker! Different design sets available. Order by 15th November. See www.emmschoice.co.uk for a wide range of sustainable, eco-friendly products and gift ideas from a Bathgate-based business.

Self-care and health has never been more important. For many people, reducing anxiety and managing stress have been a major theme of 2020, so gifts to help with self-care will be well-received all round. Look for local businesses offering gift vouchers for massage, aromatherpy and reiki, for example. Things such as online yoga classes (many local classes offer an online version) and even a voucher for counselling or coaching courses are options. Many people benefit from journalling – how about a beautiful journal, to reflect on the year, and goals for 2021?

Calm Centre Therapies, Bathgate – the clue is in the name! Reiki, hypnotherapy, mindfulness coaching and story massage. @KonectMagazines

The personal touch has been lacking this year, so sending personalised gifts is a lovely way to let someone know you’ve thought specially of them, since you can’t physically meet. An added benefit of shopping locally with small businesses is that you can get almost anything personalised, or commission something completely unique.

Finally, memberships and sponsorships are a way of giving a special gift or experience, and at the same time support charities and organisations which are struggling due to Covid.

A plethora of virtual Christmas market Facebook groups have sprung up, although it’s not always easy to tell which ones are local and which are UK wide, so if you want to be sure you’re supporting local crafters and traders, take the time to identify the local groups.

So embrace thinking small for Christmas this year; and you never know, as with many aspects of lockdown and the pandemic, you may discover good things that become your new normal.

BATHGATE | 33

CLUBS & CLASSES

Macmillan

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

@ West Lothian

CARERS OF WEST LOTHIAN - Still very much here for all our carers, young carers and disabled adults. All services via Zoom/phone: weekly Coffee Morning and Young Carers groups; monthly mental health support group, disability social group, bereaved carers and young adult carers groups. Virtual Power of Attorney Clinic & Benefits Advice, phone counselling. We provide PPE for unpaid carers and personal assistants providing personal care. For more information on all services please contact Carers of West Lothian: www.carers-westlothian.com Tel: 01506 448005 Email: office@carers-westlothian.com

Cancer Information and Support Service

If you’re affected by cancer you may want to know there’s someone you can turn to for help.

Working in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support, our service is available across West Lothian and offers anyone affected by cancer, access to information and support. You may have cancer yourself or be a relative, friend or carer of someone with cancer.

We Can • Listen and advise on an appropriate course of action • Organise an appointment with a Macmillan Adviser for a benefit health check • Referrals to appropriate services • Signpost to local support services

Our ever-popular Clubs & Classes section has been on hold due to the pandemic - most clubs were unable to operate in the way they were listed.

However, if you are involved in a club, support/ social group or other not-for-profit group that is now online or has adapted to continue operating safely, please get in touch with me at editor@konect.scot in order to get your organisation listed again.

Contact Macmillan @ West Lothian on: Telephone: 01506 283053 Email: MacmillanWestLothian@westlothian.gov.uk

Social and support groups are more vital than ever, let’s make sure everyone knows what is available locally.

Not-for-profit and community groups are free of charge. There is a small fee for business listings.

SOLUTIONS

ACROSS: 1. Mist, 3. Tourists, 9. Trestle, 10. Foyer, 11. Explanations, 14. Era, 16. Globe, 17. Sup, 18. Photographer, 21. Ocean, 22. Croquet, 23. Blending, 24. Beef.

DOWN: 1. Muttered, 2. Sleep, 4. Ode, 5. Refrigerator, 6. Sayings, 7. Sore, 8. Straightened, 12. Among, 13. Aperitif, 15. Achieve, 19. House, 20. Tomb, 22. Can.

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