Konect Calders July 2016

JULY 2016

FEATUREs

s& Offer ers h c u o v cal from lo ses s e busin

Local people - Jean Taylor: Bright as a button Kirknewton Muddy Boots Local Walk - Ravencraig Wood plus local businesses, community information and more!

East and Mid Calder, Kirknewton & Pumpherston

High quality timber garden furniture The Emily Range

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Open weekdays 9am till 5pm and Sat/ Sun 11am till 3pm

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WALK

M e ss ag e f ro m th e e d ito r

T

he summer holidays are just about upon us and it’s time to get out and explore West Lothian if you’re not going away this year. Karen’s regular local walk feature takes us up into the Bathgate Hills, and our usual columns are here including homes and gardens. Visit West Lothian have some suggestions in their column on how to spend a day exploring locally.

A well-known and loved former Main Street Kirknewton resident celebrated her 100th birthday last month, see page 8; and many people may not realise that West Lothian Council is no longer maintaining the flower beds in the villages so it’s up to local volunteers to do it, see page 10 for information on the Kirknewton Muddy Boots volunteers who have taken over the task of keeping our village environment beautiful.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday whether you’re staying home or travelling.

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

FEATUREs Jean Taylor, bright as a button Kir knewton Muddy Boots Thoughts on Meditation Stationar y ball and stick

08 10 26 30

REGULARS Homes Walk Thought for the Month Gardens Recipe Parenting in West Lothian Visit West Lothian

12 18 20 38 44 48 49

COMPETITIONS & PUZZLES Crossword & Sudoku

42

COMMUNITY What’s on & Useful Information Clubs & Classes

46 50

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

54

Advertising Enquiries JENNY THOMSON 07824 469266 jenny@konectdirectory.co.uk CHARLENE GAFFNEY 07772 941899 charlene@konectdirectory.co.uk Advert booking deadline: 15th of the month prior to print.

Artwork/copy deadline: 18th of the month prior to print.

Konect is delivered to 5500 homes in Kirknewton, East Calder, Mid Calder and Pumpherston every month. Copies are also left at the libraries, community centres, convenience stores and other locations within the area.

Front cover: summer holidays!

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VALID UNTIL 30th September 2016

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COMING SOON ACT Beauty & Hair Academy BROOMHALL DRIVE, EDINBURGH

Make-up Artistry • Beauty Hairdressing • Barbering For information on hair & beauty courses

Contact : 0131 334 6427 Info @acft.co.uk STEEL CONTAINERS FOR RENT Suitable for storing your stuff or run your business from here.

Based on a farm near East Calder. £15 per week For more information call 07814 915552

AKT Bookkeeping Tax Returns • Accounts, Bookkeeping • Payroll, CIS • VAT Phone Kevin on 01506 201459 from 8.00am to 4.00pm or emailkevin@aktbookkeeping.co.uk KONECT

7

LOCAL people

by Suzanne Green

Jean Taylor celebrates her 100th birthday!

Anyone who is over 40 and grew up in Kirknewton is likely to have attended Sunday school at the old Gospel Hall or perhaps a girls’ craft class.

Jean Taylor, who lived in the village for more than 60 years, poured her efforts into both. Recently she celebrated her 100th birthday.

Jane Millar Wilson, who has always been known as “Jean”, was born in Edinburgh on 7 June 1916.

The eldest of Alexander and Jean Wilson’s three daughters, she was brought up in a tenement flat with a back green. Her father was a florist and Jean recalls helping him decorate churches with his arrangements. Her mum was a fishmonger who also made beautiful dresses and hats for her daughters.

Jean attended Tollcross Primary School and Darroch Secondary School. At age 15 she went to work as a clerkess in SMT’s (bus) office in Edinburgh.

She met Matthew Taylor, a quarry worker from Kirknewton, in 1937 and they married in 1942. Just three months after their wedding, Matt left for the war. Except for his leave time, Jean did not see her new husband for several years.

The couple’s first home was in Main Street, but after the war, they moved to Park Terrace. Jean had given birth to Sandra in 1944 and David came along in 1951. Both married and had their own children, giving Jean six grandchildren. Five of them are married, and Jean has 12 great grandchildren. In 2007, the year after Matt passed away, she moved to Linlithgow to be nearer David and his wife.

Jean has a strong Christian faith and has lived with this in the foreground. The life she and Matthew 8

Jean celebrates her 100th with her grandchildren shared in Kirknewton revolved around the Gospel Hall, where they taught Sunday school. When they retired from this labour of love, the Hall site was gifted to Kirknewton. Today the Green Room, the community centre, stands there.

A talented mezzo soprano, Jean continues to enjoy singing. She has a mobile phone and keeps in touch with her grandchildren through text messages! But until she was 90 she had nothing to do with air travel. “She hated the idea of it,” says daughter-in-law, Helen Taylor. “But eventually she flew for the first time to travel to London with us.”

Jean celebrated her 100th birthday on Saturday, 4 June, when 55 people – including family from England, Wales and France – gathered in Linlithgow for an Afternoon Tea. Entertainment was provided

by Jean’s granddaughter, Sara, and her great grandchildren.

On her actual birthday, 7 June, there was a second celebration, held in the communal lounge of the retirement flats where she lives. And Jean welcomed Provost Tom Kerr and Lord Lieutenant Isobel Brydie, with their special good wishes from the Queen.

“Jean is still bright as a button,” says one of her former neighbours in Kirknewton. “And she and Matt are fondly remembered in the village.

A nicer couple you’ve yet to meet!”

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COMMUNITY

Kirknewton Muddy Boots When Kirknewton Community Council was informed by West Lothian Council that they have decided to re-direct funding away from taking care of all flower beds previously cultivated by local authority staff it was met with some sadness.

Assisted by friends from Kirknewton Allotment Association a group of like-minded and green fingered volunteers was formed and named Kirknewton Muddy Boots Volunteer Gardeners.

Two of Kirknewton Community Council’s newest members with a passion for their own gardens took up the challenge to address this situation.

Our main contact is via the Kirknewton Community Facebook page or email susancampbell.vn@gmail.com

With funds raised, plants chosen, weeds removed, soil improved and plants in place the first project is complete. Our second and third projects within Kirknewton are being planned currently and our flower beds continuously require de-weeding and watering, so we are still looking for volunteers to join our team.

Porteous Funeral Directors - New Premises charge, to local community groups for meetings.

Our already well-established premises at 553 Lanark Road is now a showroom for headstones and other memorial products.

Our newly-opened, purpose-built premises at 589 Lanark Road in Juniper Green now offer a comprehensive service for families within the local community.

Our bright modern facilities provide a peaceful setting where you can discuss arrangements and spend time with your loved one if you wish.

We are also proud to offer families the use of a dedicated Service Room which seats up to 60 people and has audio visual and web-casting options.

We know that business hours are difficult for some, so we are also open on a Saturday from 9am to 1pm and are available on Saturday afternoons and Sundays by appointment.

Alternatively, you may feel more comfortable within your own surroundings, so we are happy to meet you at home at a time that is convenient for you.

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HOMES & GARDENS

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Traditional and established homes versus new-build is an ongoing debate among homebuyers.

Like Cubism versus Pre-Raphaelite when it comes to art, it’s all down to personal taste… or is it? There are definitely contrasting factors to take into consideration depending on your personal circumstances so, if you’re trying to decide which one to go for in your quest for your dream home then here are some ideas to help you.

Location, location, location – a buzz phrase which has been endorsed by Alsop and Spencer is undoubtedly your first consideration. If you love the idea of a secluded cottage but need to commute to the city regularly then a cottage in Glencoe may not be the wisest move, unless you’re willing to exchange your Volkswagen Beetle for a four-wheel drive and four months’ supply of tinned sardines and baked beans in case you get snowed in.

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HOMES & GARDENS

The beauty of choosing a home, whether a new build or established, in west Edinburgh or near the M8, is that you can enjoy country living to an extent, but are never far from either Edinburgh or Glasgow; and towns like Livingston or Bathgate have plenty of amenities to suit everyone. That’s the first box ticked then.

Traditional, Victorian or Edwardian stone-built villas present an opportunity to stamp your own character on your home – especially if it’s been modernised internally and you wish to strip it back and rebuilt it with authentic period features. Edwardian properties tend to be shorter in height than Victorian ones as there was very little need for servants’ quarters. Interior décor became lighter and finishes such as cornices became simpler.

With no servants to call on, it was important for the owner (or more often, tenant), to be able to keep the house clean more easily.

If you have the time and patience to do the renovation work yourself then great, go for it.

If not, and the interior is a style you don’t like, then you have two choices - hire a specialist renovation company to do this for you – or go for a new-build. Speaking of new-build, they have an awful lot going for them. They give the homeowner the opportunity to become part of, and create, a new community rather than moving into an established one in which they can often feel like an outsider to begin with. If work is demanding and you don’t have time to scrape walls or remove old layers of varnish, then you can just pick your décor and fittings and simply move in. The biggest plus however, has to be that you can have your housewarming party so much sooner!

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WALK

A ramble in Ravencraig Wood

Karen Murray enjoyed some quiet reflection while wondering around in the mysterious Bathgate Hills

It is probably par for the course that when my busy schedule finally allowed me a spare afternoon to head to the hills and find a new walking route, the lovely stretch of sunny weather we had been experiencing was over.

I was served up a dreich, misty Sunday afternoon, the consolation being that I had the entire walk to myself.

I was headed to the Bathgate Hills having heard of a wooded area planted by the Woodland Trust and looked after by West Lothian Council. Ravencraig Wood can be found just outside Bathgate. There

are two access points the area and I chose the Southern entry, where there is a fairly substantial car park. Take the A89 to Bathgate. After the Tesco depot roundabout, take a minor road on the right signed to Drumcross farm. At the t-junction, turn left onto Drumcross Road and the car park will be on your right.

Ravencraig has 54.5 hectares of amenity woodland with a series of footpaths criss-crossing the largely hilly, natural environment leading up the ancient Raven Craig cairn and summit. More of that later…

A welcoming sign showed me I had come to the right place and the walk began along a surfaced footpath leading to a small pond full of bulrushes and pond life.

I had read that the site was once used as a deer park from 1750-1805 by land owner Lord Hopetoun and the walls and ditches (known as ha-ha’s) throughout Ravencraig are the remnants of this.

I did find a fair few old walls as I wandered. I had also heard there were once silver mines in the Bathgate Hills and it transpires that in 1875, the land was quarried by the then owner in a vain effort to unearth some of this silver. However, he mined only copper and limestone so I am still to find out if ever silver was mined in them thar hills!

If anyone knows, please do get in touch.

Back to the walk – after the pond, the path appears to split with way markers showing both a 1.25km route and a 2.4km route. It was little unclear which was which but I opted for what I thought was the

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shorter of the two (on the left) and soon came upon the ruins of a farm steading to the east. With the low lying mist and the overgrown vegetation, the ruined building took on a somewhat eerie atmosphere. Near to the old steading I noticed a narrow and undulating footpath leading up to a hilly grassland area and figured, despite the weather, I should get a good view. Indeed I did‌ the whole of Bathgate lay before me, with the Firth of Forth visible to the north east and the Pentland Hills looming up to the south. I retraced my steps back down and continued on the loop appearing once more at the pond. I am not sure if that was the 1.25km loop that is stated as taking 25 minutes as even with the added trip to the viewpoint I had only been walking for 20 minutes.

So I started again, this time aiming for the 2.4km walk. Listed as taking 60 minutes I started at a fairly brisk pace. The first bit of this path is grassy but wide and became increasingly wooded with trees hemming in both sides of the path. In the slightly damp and drizzly conditions there was something quite magical about it. The ends of the new bright green growth on the pine trees were dripping rain water and the almost luminescent fronds of ferns on the edge of the path seemed

to be reaching out. It was incredibly quiet and perhaps if I thought about it too hard, maybe a little scary. From the middle of the wooded area, I could not see anything to get my bearings nor hear any traffic although logically I knew I was very close to civilisation.

I had hoped to reach the Raven Craig Cairn – one of the highest points in West Lothian dating from the Bronze Age and discovered in the late 1990s.

However, it was getting late and I decided the 60 minutes was in this case an underestimate so I retraced my footsteps a little, then aimed for some cross country to take a different route back, finding some lovely paths but getting a little lost too. That is where a hilly terrain is helpful. I struck uphill once more to enjoy both the view and see if I could see the car park. Once spotted, I headed straight down, rather wet by this time, and came back to the pond.

All in all, a rather interesting little ramble. I think one could spend several hours trying out the various paths that meander across the hills and through the woods and on a clearer day the panoramic views from the hilltops would be splendid.

Positive Thinking - Change your mood and go for it. Some tasks will only get bigger the longer you leave them. Put emotions into the tasks, think of yourself as a motivated, productive person, a go getter. Don’t put stress on yourself; write a to-dolist with the most important tasks at the top and set achievable targets and time scales.

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Jane & Friends Hairdressers

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Up-do’s for special occasions Open: Tue/Wed/Fri - 9am - 5pm Thur - 11am - 7pm Sat - 9am - 3pm Closed: Sunday & Monday

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If you would like an appointment please give us a call, we would love to see you

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With yarns to suit every budget. 1000’s of Patterns, Books, Needles and Notions.

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I can help you with: Anxiety & Stress Weight management Habits & Phobias

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25

FEATURE

Thoughts on meditation “We are human beings not human doings”

It’s impossible not to have noticed the growing revival of the ancient practice of meditation through media coverage and medical practice.

The NHS now prescribes mindfulness and meditation and has whole departments promoting it. So do I have to be depressed before I go to a meditation practice? Will I get more joy even if I’m already happy? Well, lots of successful public figures and celebrities are regular practitioners, so what’s it all about and how is it relevant to our everyday lives?

To find out, I spoke to Bernd Neckel, Principal of Conscientium, a meditation coaching and training consultancy based in West Lothian.

“Meditation helps us to recognise that the stress we often feel stems from the stream of thoughts that our mind bombards us with,” explains Bernd. “And it teaches us a way of being that is less attached to this endless stream of negative thinking and more accepting of ourselves.”

“Once a few things change, life will be a lot better” It’s common to feel we can only gain happiness and peace when ‘this or that’ happens or a certain milestone is met. Our mind conditions us to believe that we should be driving ourselves towards the next thing and we spend all our time looking to the future rather than living life as it truly is, in the present. Meditation helps increase our awareness of the present moment and offers

a more positive way of being, whatever issues and challenges we face.

“I’m too stressed to enjoy life” We all live with a certain level of stress or anxiety: money, health, family, work, our identity in society.

Even when everything is going well our mind wants us to worry about something to take us away from our present experience and attach ourselves to some future outcome. Meditation helps us to see these mind movements for what they are: just thoughts. We can blindly follow them or we can let them go and stay with the joy of the present moment.

This is why as humans we are drawn to nature and animals for comfort - they offer a present moment experience that helps reduce the volume of our unconscious thinking. Extreme sports are another attraction for some, as present moment awareness is critical for safety and enjoyment. However these experiences are not always available to us. So building up our innate awareness of present moment stillness in ourselves through meditation allows us to change our life experience whatever our situation. It can help enrich our experiences and appreciate our lives more fully and joyously.

From mid July Conscientium are starting weekly walk-in meditation sessions in Livingston and Linlithgow. For more information visit www. conscientium.com or see the banner below.

s wit h Bernd Neckel Guided Meditation ses sion 7RA.

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FEATURE

No matter where you live in Scotland, you’re not far from a golf course or two. It’s a sport that almost everyone who has grown up in Scotland will have had a taster of, and either love it or feel totally perplexed by it.

“Look, you’re hitting a stationary ball with a stick.

In essence it’s very simple game,” says Scott Dixon, PGA Professional and full time coach at the Dalmahoy Golf Club. Scott grew up playing golf on the courses of West Lothian. “It gets complicated

Stationary Ball and Stick when you get obsessed with the rudiments – posture, head, elbows, balance and so on. It can get overwhelming and ruin your enjoyment of the game.” So why are there endless instructions about the rudiments in golf? According to Scott, it’s because it’s pretty much impossible to tell from watching a golfer what adjustments they are making – even with the zoom on a TV camera, the difference between a successful swing and a failed one is so hard to spot. One degree of wrong direction can be 20 yards by the time the ball gets near the flag. “On a smaller scale, in a game like pool for example, you can see the adjustments the players make but in golf you can’t, so we tend

Children’s Summer 2016 Golf C amps at Dalmahoy Scott runs children’s summer golf camps at the Dalmahoy Golf Club. “We believe in kids and their ability to work golf out through play, experimenting and exploration. We provide the tools, the place and the support to let the magic of your child shine with discovery and talent.”

All coaching from PGA Professionals on a 1:10 ratio. Ages 8 – 13. 9am to 4.30pm for 5 days. £209. Dalmahoy Golf members £190. Children will require a snack for both AM and PM as well as lunch.

Monday 4th to Friday 8th July Monday 11th to Friday 15th July Monday 25th to Friday 29th July For more information and to book please call or email Scott on 07931 176 154 scott.dixon@marriotthotels.com

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to obsess over it. But I believe in focussing on playing and enjoying, learning from the feedback you get from the club and where the ball goes, not on what your elbows are doing - because if you’re improving then who cares about your elbows! If you practise keeping your head still you’ll get good at keeping your head still, not better at golf!”

The allure of a beautiful course on a summer’s day is easy to understand, but for those who like a faster-paced sport, the pull of golf can seem mysterious. “I play golf because it gets me to a place where it’s nice to be,” says Scott. “Like meditation, your mind has to be where your body is. Being in the present is so important. It’s true of any sport of course, but with football or tennis for example the ball is moving all the time and you have no choice but to be constantly in the present. With golf it’s harder as you can be waiting ten minutes and your mind can wander, so when it’s time to hit the ball you get one chance to get yourself back into the zone. So the essence of good golf is knowing how to be in the zone. It’s not so much the sport itself but where it takes you as you practise it.”

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VETERINARY SURGERY 44B MAIN STREET, BALERNO, EH14 7EH Chris Sawyer BVM&S MRCVS GPCert (SAM) Rory Shearer BVM&S MRCVS GPCert (SAS) e: vets@icrvets.co.uk www.icrvets.co.uk OPENING HOURS: Monday - Friday: 9am-6pm | Saturday: 9am-11.30am | Sunday: CLOSED

New veterinary surgery for Balerno. Established over 30 years in Midlothian, ICR Vets are excited to announce their new branch at 44b Main Street, Balerno, EH14 7EH is NOW OPEN. For more information or to book an appointment call us on:

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Our family run practice is celebrating 15 years at the heart of Currie, Balerno and Juniper Green, developing close bonds within the community. We are a single centre clinic with all medical, surgical, diagnostic and dental facilities in house with no need to travel between branches.

Open 6 days a week with full emergency cover 24/7 through our specialised emergency provider. Our dedicated team of experienced vets and fully qualified nurses look forward to meeting you and your pets.

• Fully equipped in house surgical theatre • Separate fully equipped dental station • In-house laboratory machine and microscopy • X-ray • Ultrasound • Endoscopy • ECG See our website for more details including sample pricing.

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HOMES & GARDENS

Make the Most of Your Garden This Summer With Family and Friends Planning the perfect garden to enjoy the fleeting weeks of sunshine requires a bit of thought.

No matter how much you try to convince yourself, a green wheelie bin filled with iced water does not make a suitable plunge-pool so forget that idea and tune into our suggestions for making your garden a venue for some memorable times with friends and family.

Hide the trash – Speaking of wheelie bins, no matter what pretty colours the council has supplied them in, when you see your bins you’ll be thinking ‘now, is Monday recycling day or is it Wednesday?’ Out of sight, out of mind is the order of the day so invest in a storage box to hide them away until needed. Wooden storage boxes are more expensive but you can get plastic ones which look reasonably stylish or else just use a simple trellis with can be removed on Mondays… or Wednesdays - which day is it now? The same goes for toys and other clutter. Just leave one or two out for the kids to enjoy and pack the rest away. If you want to relax, your garden should be an oasis of calm, at least while entertaining, and not like sale time at Toys R Us. Break out the barbecue – Nothing says summer in Scotland better than cremated sausages which are anaemic inside. It’s almost as if we know

we have about two hours of sunlight left for the whole year so try to bend the laws of physics to our will in order to speed up the cooking process.

Barbecues however, can be wonderful if organised properly, so get the charcoal going an hour before the cooking time then raise your BBQ surface to the highest point to allow slow, even chargrilling, while turning continuously - the food not you – depending of course on how flamboyant a cook you are. If you’re planning to serve poultry, then why not start it off in the oven the conventional way, to cook the inside first before giving it the final crisping on the BBQ? Choose a theme – How about a theme to get your day sizzling? A tapas party for example, can be simple and stress free but can also bring a little bit of Spain to your home. Dishes such as homemade lamb meatballs in a savoury tomato sauce can be cooked in advance and just reheated on the hob. Good quality black pudding (blood sausage in Spain), thinly sliced and grilled with some caramelised onion relish on the side is quick and easy. Pan-fried scallops with a simple leek and cream sauce is just gorgeous. Manchego cheese with chilli jam, juicy olives, crusty bread for dipping in a combined olive oil and balsamic vinegar washed down with chilled cava or Spanish beers to the sound of the Gypsy Kings will give you a fiesta you’ll never forget.

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41

PUZZLES

CROSSWORD

Solution in the August edition of konect

Across 7 Fruit (6) 8 Echo (6) 9 Sunrise (4) 10 Centuries (8) 11 Far away (7) 13 Type of boat (5) 15 Later (5) 17 Immobilized (7) 20 Correctly (8) 21 Silly (4) 23 Devils (6) 24 Almost (6) Down 1Information (4) 2 Type of seabird (6) 3 Cleaning (7) 4 Intoxicated (5) 5 Coil (6) 6 Attractive (8) 12 Deduced (8) 14 Sickly sweet (7) 16 Hire (6) 18 Noon (6) 19 Quick (5) 22 Trip (4)

SUDOKU

Sudoku solution on page 53

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43

Recipe & Food Notes

bY Anne Pinkerton

Summer Beets

In cooking having some understanding of why you do something is important.

It enables you to personalise recipes or substitute ingredients and still end up with a good meal. I hope that in this column instructions are not too laboured and that explanations help you to vary things to suit your style, purse, time and skills.

Beetroot is a vegetable of high summer and elderflowers are in full bloom just now so here are some ideas to help you enjoy them. Beetroot can be used in soup, salads, with roast meats, in pickles, muffins and cakes. Elderflowers are delicious made into a cordial which can then flavour puddings, jelly, ice cream or be made into fritters. Later, in autumn, the berries are good in hot puddings, preserves and with game.

Beetroot, Smoked Salmon and Orange salad Looks wonderfully colourful and is great as either a starter for 6 or a lunch for 3 or 4.

• 250g cooked beetroot. Either cook your own or buy plain vacuum packed small beets • 2 oranges, peeled and sliced, either segments or rounds retaining as much juice as possible • 150 g smoked salmon cut into inch strips; buy off cuts they are cheep and taste as good • Watercress, rocket pea sprouts, cut up little gem lettuce or any combination you enjoy • Olive oil, salt, pepper and balsamic vinegar Method Slice the beetroot and dress it with the oil and seasonings. Leave it to take up the flavours while you get the rest of the ingredients ready.

Put the chosen greens in the bottom of a salad dish and layer up the beetroot, orange and fish.

An interesting weekly science blog called Compound Interest www.compoundchem.com posts regularly on food and the chemistr y associated with eating, cooking and preser ving. Recently there have been articles on yeast in bread and beer, the beneficial qualities of red, anti­o xidant fruits and veg, how to use elder flowers & elderberries to avoid making yourself ill and why does asparagus make your pee smell. They always tr y to answer the question....Why?

Swedish Beetroot Burgers • 400 g minced raw meet, I prefer half and half pork and beef but you can use chicken or lamb • 1 onion chopped finely• 2 or 3 small cooked beetroot, grated • 2 slices stale dry bread soaked in milk • 1 egg • Parsley finely chopped or a little dill leaf chopped • Salt and pepper Method Squeeze the milk out of the bread and make it all into a mush. In a bowl mix together all the other ingredients. I do this with clean hands because you can feel if there are any unmixed lumps, but a fork or a potato masher will do.

Form the mixture into burgers and chill in the fridge for an hour or up to a day.

In a frying pan heat some cooking oil, sunflower or rapeseed or a mixture with a little butter.

Fry the burgers turning after 3 or 4 minutes.

Serve with new potatoes and green vegetables.

Ring the changes by flavouring with lemon and thyme or substitute red pepper for the beetroot and serve with a tomato sauce.

Elderflower Yogurt Ice • 500ml 5% fat Greek plain yogurt (fat free doesn’t have enough taste) • 400g gooseberries stewed with 100g sugar • 3 tbsp elderflower cordial • 150 ml milk Method With a wand beater whizz the gooseberries, cordial and milk together. Taste and see if it is sweet enough or has enough elderflower. The intensity will be tempered by the yogurt.

When all is as you wish mix in the yogurt. Freeze for at least 12 hours. Serve with meringues and raspberries, poached nectarines or peaches or blackberries as the summer advances. Or in the autumn it goes well with stewed elderberries and apples.

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45

WHAT’S ON

and Useful Information Daily from Saturday 25th June until Monday 22nd August Nibblers & Dibblers at Almond Valley Farm Head for the vegetable patch this summer, and experience the joys of planting and seeding, watering and weeding down in the kitchen garden. Discover the secrets of the super-fresh fruit and vegetables that are grown to supply our tearoom, and join in with the fun of tending the crops. Every day throughout the school holidays, in the discovery tent beside the polytunnel, the informal drop-in workshops combine some simple gardening tasks with a range of food and farm-related crafts, trails and games suitable for children of all ages. Sessions take place between 1.30 and 2.30 each day, and there’s no need to book in advance.

Friday 29th July

Family Friendly Badger Watch Join the Ranger Service in Beecraigs Country Park to discover more about these intriguing animals.

There will be a short presentation followed by an evening in our badger hide. Wear sturdy footwear and bring binoculars and a torch. Suitable for: Families. Meet: Sutherland Building, opposite the Visitor Centre. Time: 8pm-9.30pm. Cost: £3.65 adult, £2.50 child. Book with the Rangers on 01506 844516, email: mail@beecraigs.com

Community Councils East Calder and District Community Council meet the first Tuesday of every month (except July) at 19:00 in East Calder Community Education Centre. Tues 2nd June, Tues 4th Aug, Tues 8th Sept.

Kirknewton Community Council meet on the second Tuesday of each month (except July) at 6.45pm in the Green Room on the Main Street. All welcome.

Mid Calder Community Council meets on the second Thursday of each month at 7.30pm (except July and August) in Institute Hall, 15 Market Street, Mid Calder.

Pumpherston Community Council meet on the first Tuesday of each month at Pumpherston and Uphall Station Community Primary School at 7pm ~ All meetings are open to the public and we would be delighted to see you. www.pumpherstoncc.org/

Macmillan @ Bathgate Partnership Centre opens A new Cancer Information and Support Service for people living with cancer and their families in West Lothian has opened in Simpson Library at Bathgate Partnership Centre.

The new service, a partnership between West Lothian Council and Macmillan Cancer Support, is available for anyone affected by cancer, including the person with a cancer diagnosis, family, friends and carers. It is open on Mondays 10am -1pm and Thursdays 6pm - 8pm.

The service can be accessed at any point in the cancer journey, no appointment is necessary visitors can drop in to use the service. For more information call: 01506 283053 or email: MacmillanWestLothian@westlothian.gov.uk.

Trained volunteers provide emotional and practical support, access to information materials on various types of cancer and its treatment, signposting to other support services such as benefits advice and counselling, or simply provide a listening ear. The volunteers are supported by West Lothian Council staff.

Councillor Anne McMillan said: “It is planned that during the next 12 months a number of cancer information and support service desk will open across West Lothian. If you are affected by cancer there is someone you can turn to for help. Someone who can help you to find answers to your questions, whatever they may be – Macmillan @ Bathgate Partnership Centre service is available to help.”

Howden Park Centre has a busy programme of events including live music, dance, theatre, workshops and exhibitions. See their website at www.howdenparkcentre. co.uk for complete up to date listing or contact the box office: 01506 777666.

Access 2 employment Job Club. Kirknewton Green Room, Fridays, 9.30am-1pm. Contact Fraser on 07899 063971.

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

Library information on page 50.

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47

Parents in West Lothian

tween How to tell the difference be and a militant anti-breastfeeder an actual angel Facebook can be a blessing or a curse … it’s a tool that can help you keep in touch with family and friends overseas, stay ahead of the news curve, or take part in special interest groups.

However, it can also be an endless stream of pictures of everyone else’s children, a journey of discovery along which you come to the realisation that some among your long-time friends are horrific xenophobes, and of course it can be a breeding ground for cowardly trolls who bully and persecute …

Over the past few months I’ve seen several shared articles about mothers being labelled as ‘disgusting’ breast-feeders and being shamed publicly for what should be seen as a natural activity.

Before I was a mum, breast-feeding seemed to me to be a no brainer; a cheap, and convenient way to feed a child – why would anyone not do it? I found out how naïve this position had been when my firstborn arrived and for the first two weeks felt like I was being stabbed in the breast at every feed. I don’t know how I persevered but I did.

Our column is West Lothia t: Nicola Jengaenga li ves in n with Quin months an d her hubby n 2, Penny 10 Channa, 33 .

Nicola & Ch anna both w ork, jugglin schedules w ith g their two tin the ever-evolving dem hectic y overlords, ands of in some tim and also sq ueezing e for each ot her!

sleeplessly into the next, wearing yesterday’s clothes and makeup, hair scraped back, and Quinn was starting to get hungry.

I sat down at the open-air Greggs just near the Post Office, and quickly tried to latch him on. He was finally feeding away nicely when I became aware out of the corner of my eye that an older woman was striding straight towards me. Several emotions erupted in me at once: fear; was this woman about to berate me for feeding in public? (bizarrely in my experience those most likely to disapprove of breastfeeding in public are the very people you’d expect support from ie fellow women, nay, fellow mothers) defiance; well if she does speak to me I’m going to give her a piece of my mind, let her know that I don’t really want to watch her masticating her cold sausage roll 3 tables away, yet I respect her right to do so in a public place helplessness; what if I couldn’t hold my own and call her out on her irrational opinions because I was too hormone-ridden and sleep-deprived to form a cogent argument?

Luckily, during those longest 2 weeks of my life, I didn’t see any of these horrid posts or articles – it’s perfectly possible I would have been so discouraged and shamed by them that I might have given up.

A matter of seconds later she was handing me a large bottle of water and an iced Empire Biscuit that she had just bought at the Greggs counter.

She said, “These are for you; you are doing the most important job in the world there and you need to keep your strength up.”

Then something beautiful happened on a random Tuesday when Quinn was only a few months old … I was in the Livingston Centre, feeling sleep-deprived as one day merged

I’m not too proud to say that I very quickly found there was something in my eye. Actually, both eyes. Thank goodness for day-old waterproof k mascara.

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Spend the summer in West Lothian How could you spend a perfect summer’s day in West Lothian? Whether it’s with family or friends – there is something for everyone to enjoy in West Lothian and we would like give you an idea of the type of marvellous things you could see and do in just one day.

Family

10:00 - Take a visit to Polkemmet Country Park for a leisurely stroll through the beautiful countryside.

11:30 - Pop in to visit the spectacular Scottish Owl Centre, conveniently situated within Polkemmet Country Park.

13.30 - Stop off for some lunch at the fabulous 1912, Bathgate for some tasty treats for all.

15:00 - Enjoy a short boat ride from the Linlithgow Canal Centre along the calming waters of the Union Canal.

16:00 - Finish off your day with a visit to the impressive Linlithgow Palace and see where Mary, Queen of Scots was born.

Friends

11:00 - Take a visit to the fabulous Livingston Designer Outlet and The Centre for some great discounts on top brands and all the latest and greatest products on offer within our brilliant department stores.

12.30 – Enjoy some lunch in any of the vibrant restaurants and cafes available in the 2 shopping centres; including Nando’s, Wagamama or Pizza Express.

15:00 – Visit beautiful Hopetoun House and take a walk through the Grounds to enjoy the scenic views of the spectacular stately home.

18:00 – Visit award winning Champany Inn, near Linlithgow for a lovely dinner to finish off the day.

For the latest on all the great things to see and do in West Lothian please visit: www.visitwestlothian.co.uk facebook.com/VisitWestLothian Twitter. com: @teamwestlothian

WHAT’S ON

and Useful Information

Library Information East Calder Library Main Street, East Calder, EH53 0EJ T: 01506 883633 E: eastcalder.lib@westlothian. gov.uk Opening times: Mon & Fri 10am – 5pm, Tues 10am-3pm, Wed 11am-4pm, Thurs 12pm-7pm, Sat 10am-1pm. Please note Registration Services are now available by appointment only. Monday – 2.00 to 4.30. Wednesday – 11am-1pm. Friday – 2.00 to 4.30. Telephone 01506 883633. Summer Reading challenge: Space for 30 children, places allocated on a first come first served basis.

Registration from week beginning 27th June. Fri 8th July 10am-12 Junior Activity: Ghastly Grunge Fest; Revolting Rhymes/Recipes story time. Tues 19th July 12-2 Craft: Pipe Cleaner Lollipops; Charlie and the chocolate factory story time. Thurs 4th August 2pm-4pm: Craft: Sand Art Crocodile; The Enormous Crocodile story time. Thur 18th August 2pm-4pm: Closing Ceremony. Craft: Fantastic Mr Fox Paper plates & story time. Other facilities we offer are: free internet access, cheap printing facilities and free scanning. There are daily papers to read and magazines to browse in a warm safe environment.

Pumpherston Library Drumshoreland Road, Pumpherston, EH53 0LF T: 01506 280996. E: pumpherston.lib@westlothian. gov.uk Opening times: Monday – 14.00 to 17.00.

Wednesday – 14.30 to 16.30. Thursday – 14.00 to 18.00.

West Calder Library & Customer Information Service West Calder Library and Customer Information Services are temporarily relocated at 24-26 Main Street, West Calder. T: 01506 771630. Opening Times: Monday – 10.00 to 16.00. Tuesday – 10.00 to 19.00. Wednesday – 11.00 to 16.00. Thursday – 11.00 to 18.00. Friday – 10.00 to 15.00. Saturday – 10.00 to 13.00. CIS enquiry desk closed each day 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm. Bookbug: Monthly Bookbug sessions have recently restarted in West Calder. Because of space restrictions in temporary location these are held in West Calder Community Centre. Please call the library on 01506 771630 for more information on dates and to book a place. Bookgroups: Book groups run on first two Tuesdays of the month at 5:30 pm and on the last Thursday of the month at 4:45 pm.

50

clubs & classes

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

Firefly Arts

Firefly Arts provide fun and friendly theatre, film and drama workshops for children and young people (5 to 25 years) in venues across West Lothian. Call 08447 744496 or email admin@firefly-arts.co.uk for more information on our current programme. Firefly Arts Ltd, Howden Park Centre, Livingston, EH54 6AE. www.firefly-arts.co.uk

Lothian Running Club

We 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 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 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

West Lothian Baking Club

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.

West Lothian Royal Scottish Country Dance Society Classes in South Church Hall, Uphall Starting on Thurs 17th Sept 7.30 to 9.30pm. 10 weeks through to the 19th Nov, then starting the 7th January through to 10th Mar 2016. £3 per week. Teacher Mrs Margaret McGregor. Dancing for fun & fitness, any new beginners very welcome. For more info contact Sandra Cheyne, tel 01506 430600 email sdcheyne77@yahoo.com.

West Lothian Gymnastics

Craigwillow Centre, Craigshill, Livingston Pre school classes for boys and girls, learn gymnastics in a fun and dedicated full time gymnastics facility. Classes lead by fully qualified coaches and morning, afternoon and weekend classes available for children 18 months ­3 years and 3­5 years with direct progression to recreational pathway age 5 without waiting list. First class free, please contact westlothiangymnastics@gmail.com.

EAST CALDER Ante-natal Yoga - Yamma Mamma

Prepare for your Baby with Yoga birth preparation and fitness. Sunday morning 10am to 11.30am. For more details please contact Ruth on 07767 777044 or ruth@sukha.co.uk

Forget-Me-Not Café

East Calder Church Hall, Manse Court. Last Thursday of the month, 10am – 12pm. A meeting place for people with dementia and their carers of all ages. Drop in and join us for information, support and social activities. Supported

by Alzheimer Scotland and East Calder Church. For more information please phone 01506 533 116.

KONECT

East Calder Bowling Club

Bingo every Sun and Wed 8pm– 9.30pm. Junior coaching (10 to 16 years old) every friday 2pm – 4pm. We can also coach adults, free, so come along and give it a try. Hats every Mon 6-30pm. See club website at www.eastcalderbowlingclub. com. Members can find details here of competitions, play by dates and club news.

East Calder Jog Scotland Group

Meet every Tuesday at East Calder Health centre car park at 7pm. All abilities welcome, a social way to get fit, make friends and enjoy local countryside. Contact Dawn on 01506 883330 or 07806 772935 for more details.

Yoga for Everyone

East Calder Community Centre. Wed 7.00pm – 8.30pm For further info contact Ruth Plevin: 01506204338 or ruth@ sukha.co.uk

East Calder Colts FC

East Calder Park. We are currently recruiting for an under 10’s team born 2002. For information required regarding any of our teams please visit our website www. eastcaldercolts.co.uk or contact Head Coach Paul Garrad on 0797 959 2674. Let’s put the fun back into football. All welcome.

East Calder Old Folks Club

East Calder Community Centre. Last Thursday of the month, September to April 1.30pm - 3.30pm. Pensioners and non-pensioners welcome. Contact Carol Anne Murray (Secretary).

East Calder Ladies’ Circle

East Calder Community Centre. Second Thursday of the month, September to May at 1-3pm. Secretary: Mrs E Bennett, 73 Mansefield, East Calder, West Lothian EH53 0JE.

East Calder Youth Club

East Calder Community Centre. Fri 6.15pm - 8.45pm. Ages 10 to 14 yrs. Cooking, football, baseball and other outdoor sports, pool, video games, board games and arts/crafts.

Contact Gary Sneddon 01506 774473.

New Mums Group

This group is for new mums of any age. East Calder Community Centre. Mon 11.00am – 12.30pm. Free. Contact health visitor via health centre for further details 01506 880582

Breast Feeding Support Group

East Calder Church Hall. Wednesday 11.30 am – 12.30 pm.

Contact Health Visitors via Health Centre for further details 01506 880582

Fiona Wilson 07595 679117 fionamhwilson@sky.com.

Contact Gillian Maben 01506 880640.

Toddler Clinic

East Calder Health Centre. 1st Tues every month. Drop in for advice & support 1.30–3.30pm.

East Calder Scout Group

Scout Hall, Calderhall Terrace. Beavers Mon 6.15 - 7.15pm (boys 6 - 8 yrs). Cubs Mon 7.30 - 9.00pm (boys 8 - 10 yrs).

Scouts Tues 7.15 - 9.00pm (boys 10 - 14 yrs). Contact Jack Galloway on 077907 93889. eastcalderscouts.org.uk

East Calder Needlecraft Club

We are a group of ladies who would like to invite you to our weakly Thursday meetings, between 7 and 9.30 pm in the Community Centre. We enjoy a range of needlecrafts including cross stitch, embroidery, knitting, crochet, sewing.

Friendly tuition given. Our members range in age from 18 to 80. Outings include a trip to Hobby Craft in Glasgow, S.E.C.C. Also away day trips - something to please everyone.

Tea and biscuits provided. Please contact 01506 882427 for more information.

East Calder Old Tyme Dance Club

East Calder Community Centre We meet Tuesday afternoons from 1 pm to 3 pm, and dance to live music from Bobby Abbot, accordionist. Beginners/ learners are very welcome to join us in this very friendly club.

Slimming World

Pigeon Club, Oakbank Road, East Calder Tuesdays at 3.30pm, 5.30pm and 7.30pm and Wednesdays at 9.30am. Contact Sue on 07803 520781 for more information.

KIRKNEWTON Mini & Me Music Group

The Green Room Thursdays 2pm-2.45pm. Songs, stories and rhymes just for the little ones. Meet other mums & make new friends. Contact Amanda on 07814 055499.

Kirknewton Youth Group

Village hall or Green Room. Fridays 6-8pm. For P7+. Please Contact Jennifer at jenniferkirknewton@gmail.com

Kirknewton Starlets

Kirknewton Primary School. Babies class up to age 8 Thurs 5.30 - 6.30pm. Junior/senior class Thurs 6.15 - 8.00pm. For info contact Trisha on email t.ewing@btinternet.com

Kosy Kaff

Bingo

Pigeon Club, East Calder. Sun 8.00 - 10.00 All welcome

Kirknewton Village Hall. Fridays 4pm – 5pm term time.

Free home baking, hot chocolate, games and activities for primary school aged children. See www.knec4jesus.org.uk for more information.

Boys Brigade

Pilates Classes

East Calder Church Hall. Anchors (age 5 - 8) Fridays 6.30 7.30pm. Juniors (age 8 - 11) Fridays 6.45 - 8.15pm. Company Section (age 11-18). Fridays 7.30 - 9.45pm. Call Jean Gilchrist 01506 880367

East Calder Playgroup

Now located in East Calder Community Centre. Mon-Fri 9am-11am from 2 years. For the best introduction to your child’s education - lots of fun to be had! £5 per session.

Contact Carol on 07748 053340.

Rainbows, Brownies and Guides

East Calder Church Hall, Main Street. Rainbows Mon 6.30 – 7.30pm and Wed 6.15 – 7.15pm. Brownies Tues 6.30 – 8pm & Wed 6.30 – 8pm. Guides: Wed 7.30-9pm. Monday Guides meet in Kirknewton Chuch Hall 7pm-9pm. Guides contact KONECT

Kirknewton Village Hall: Tuesdays 6.45pm to 7.35pm (Improvers and Intermediates); Thursdays 9.10am to 10.00am (Intermediates) and 10.10am to 11.00am (Beginners and Improvers). Balerno Scouts Hall: Tuesdays 9.10am to 10.00am (mixed). For more details contact elise@ekpilates. co.uk. You’ll also find me on facebook.com/ekpilates.

Kirknewton Rainbows and Brownies

Kirknewton Village Hall. Rainbows Wed 5pm-6.15pm; Brownies Wed 6.30pm-8pm. Contact Gill on 01506 883261 or gillww@hotmail.com

Toddler Group

Kirknewton Church Hall. Parents/carers with tots aged 0-3 yrs, friendly group with play, stories and craft for the children and meet up/chat for parents. Thur 9.30 - 11.30am.

51

clubs & classes Physio Pilates Classes

Modified Pilates taught by a Chartered Physiotherapist.

Kirknewton Village Hall. Tuesdays 6.45pm and 7.45pm suitable for beginners or improvers. Spaces are limited so for more information or to book contact Dianne on 07795466464. diannemackenzie1@gmail.com. Facebook: Physio Pilates Classes.

Kirknewton Runners

Meet at Kirknewton Park every Monday at 19.30

Hatton Sports Club

Tennis and squash. Burnwynd, Kirknewton. Social and competitive play. LTA-qualified tennis coaches. Contact Carol Blamire 01506 880208

Kirknewton Stompers

Walking group, meeting at Kirknewton Park entrance on Park Terrace. Every Wed 7.30pm. Join the group on the community facebook page where people post details of the walk, or any other time they are walking.

Simply Play

Kaspars Out of School Care for Kirknewton. Kirknewton Primary School. Mon – Thu 3.15-6.00pm, Fri 12.30 – 6.00. Call 07871 791000

Kirknewton Women’s Rural Institute

Come and join us for a friendly evening of craft, demonstrations and fun. 2nd Thursday of each month, 7.15pm in Kirknewton Church Hall.

Potter Around

Art and craft studio at Overton Farm, Kirknewton EH27 8DD. Drop in anytime for ceramic painting and decopatch or have fun playing with clay. Book both adults and children’s parties in a wide range of arts and crafts. Open the first Tuesday of each month for those who prefer evening. Book into one of our many workshops including candle making, potter’s wheel, felting, jewllery and glass fusion. Regular classes include oil painting for both adults and children and our Kids Art Club on a Friday afternoon as well as the Warhammer Club on a Saturday afternoon. We take commission for painted pottery and artwork and we have a gift shop selling hand made items from jewellery through to art. Look out for our summer workshops running for children through the holidays. For more information call 01506 238961, email chat@potteraround.co.uk. www. potteraround.co.uk www.facebook.com/PotterAround

Kirknewton Play Group

Kirknewton Village Hall. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays 9.15am to 11.30am. Ages 2 to 4 1/2 years. £5 per session. Call in and see us during session times or email kirknewtonplaygroup@yahoo.com

Celtic Stepz

Kirknewton Village Hall. Adult dance class to encourage adults back into dance and raise money for good causes.

Wednesdays 8.15-9.30pm. Contact Cathy on 01506 881674

MID CALDER 5th West Lothian Mid Calder Cub Group

Mid Calder Institute Hall. Thursdays 7.20 to 8.30. New cubs welcome. Aged betweem 8 – 10 years. Please contact Vroni on 07900 907297.

52

Mid Calder School of Dance

Mid Calder Institute Hall. Highland, Disco Tues 6.00pm - 7.00pm and Fri 6.00pm - 9.00pm. Various ages. Contact Heather 01501733054.

Myra Mackie School of Dance

Classes in Livingston, Uphall Station, Mid Calder and Broxburn. Please see our website for full timetable and venues. Children from 2 years to adult.www. myramackieschoolofdance.co.uk incorporating our competitive cheer division the Scottish Starlets.

Star Harmonies

Musical Theatre School. Mid Calder Institue Hall.Tuesdays 10-30-11am- Baby Starz; 11-15-11-45am- Little Starz. Other classes in Polbeth. Black Bull Inn Thursdays 6:10-7:10pm Liv’n Harmoneez Kids/Teenz Choir; 7:30-9:30pm The Liv’n Harmony Singers adult choir. Contact 07545 178310 for more information. See www.starharmonies.co.uk email: starharmonies.musicworkshops@gmail.com

West Lothian Women’s Cycle Club

Meet every Thursday at Mid Calder Primary School Car Park at 6pm. Get on your bike! All abilities welcome, should have own bike and kit. A great way to get fit, have fun and meet new friends around the local area. Contact Elizabeth Logan on 07515 161 307.

Welcome Café

Glenalmond Hall. Every Tuesday 10am-12noon. This is a Fair Trade Café all proceeds of which to the Vine Trust in Peru.

Do come along and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and some home baking with friends.

Mid Calder Camera Club

Institute Hall, Market Street. Wed 7:30pm – 9:45pm.

All levels of photographers are welcome. For more information, visit www.mccc.org.uk or call Steve Collier at 01506 881398 or Gordon Scott at 01506 882616.

Mid Calder Colts FC

Teams covering all ages, playing soccer 7s, 11-a-side and also a soccer school. For more information see the Colts’ website www.mid-calder-colts.org. Contact Carole 883934.

Contact@mid-calder-colts.org.

Mid Calder Baby & Toddler Group

Institute Hall, Tuesdays & Thursdays 9am-11am. £1 per baby / £1.50 per toddler per session, all welcome. Please email midcalderbabygroup@gmail.com for more details.

Rainbows, Brownies and Guides

Rainbows Wed night, Brownies Tues night, Guides Mon and Wed nights. To register please go to the Girl Guiding website, Parent’s sections.

Yoga Classes

Masonic Hall. Wednesday evening class 7.30 -9pm. Contact Linda Bibby 01506 884115. www.wholebodybalance.co.uk

Folk Club

The MidCalder Inn, Mid Calder. Meets every third Tuesday of the month 8pm at the “Tap Shop”.

Choral Highlights Ladies’ Choir

We would like to invite all ladies with a love for singing and music to come and join us. You don’t have to be able to read music. We are a well established three part choir and have a membership of around 20 ladies. We sing a wide variety of songs including music from films and shows, spiritual, traditional and pop music. We hold two concerts annually, one before Christmas and one in the summer KONECT

accompanied by West Calder Brass Band. We also sing at venues across the region on request. The choir practices in Kirk of Calder on Wednesdays 7.30 - 8.45pm. New members are always most welcome to join. Contact John Rankine 01506 880029.

Service 9:45 am every Sunday. Minister: Rev Dr Jonanda Groenewald, 8 Manse Court, East Calder EH53 0HF. Tel 01506 884802

POLBETH

Kirknewton Services 9:45 in the Kirknewton Kirk, Station Rd. East Calder Services 11:15 in the East Calder Church, Main St. Sunday School and creche available. Rev Dr AJ Groenewald 8 Manse Court East Calder EH53 0HF. 01506 884585 or 07588 845814. groenstes@yahoo.com website www.knec4jesus.org.uk

Star Harmonies

Musical Theatre School Polbeth Harwood Church.

Mondays: Drama: 6-6-40pm- P1-3; 6-45-7-25pm- P4-7; 7-308-10pm- S1+. Dance: 6-6-30pm- Nursery-P2; 6-30-7-30pmS1+; 7-30-8-10pm- P3-P7. Tuesdays: 3-15-3-45pm- Baby Starz; 3-50-4-20pm- Little Starz; 4-20-5pm- Little Harmoneez.

Other classes in Mid Calder. Contact 07545 178310 for more information. See www starharmonies.co.uk email: starharmonies.musicworkshops@gmail.com

Polbeth W.R.I.

1st Wednesday of the month at 7pm. Come along for an interesting programme of talks and demonstrations. New members always welcome. Further info on 01506 435708.

PUMPHERSTON Pumpherston United FC

Four groups, including a soccer school for 5-12 yrs (Thur 6.00pm - 7.30pm); 1998 age group (Tuesdays); 1997 age group (Mon and Wed) and 1995 age group (Mon and Wed). Training at Pumpherston Recreation Park. For more information, please email feedback@pumpherston-united. co.uk

Church of Scotland

Mid Calder

Services 10.30 every Sunday in the Kirk of Calder, Main St, Mid Calder. Sunday School and crèche available.

Pumpherston services - The Kirk of Calder also holds fortnightly services on Wednesday mornings at 10:15 at the Pumpherston Institute Hall. The website www.kirkofcalder. com has full details of current activities/services.

St Theresa’s Catholic Church

Masses - 11.30AM every Sunday. 9am every Monday and Friday. 6pm every Wednesday. Confessions - After Mass on Sundays, or on request. www.livingstoncatholicparishes. co.uk; 01506 880918 frpaul@livingstoncatholicparishes. co.uk.

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

Uphall Station Creative Play

Meets in Uphall Station Institute Hall. Tues 1-3pm and Thurs 9.30-11.15am. Parents/carers of babies/toddlers age 0-5 very welcome. Supported by SureStart. Different play activities every week.

The Look Group

Outdoors activities in Almondell and Calderwood Country Park for ages 8-12. Meeting at Visitor Centre 10.30 - 12.00 Saturdays - not every Sat, check programme with the Rangers on 01506 882254.

Solution to June Crossword Across: 1 Famous, 4 Drapes, 9 Grandma, 10 Agree, 11 Taste, 12 Untying, 13 Outstanding, 18 Harvest, 20 Virgo, 22 Wager, 23 Reading, 24 Return, 25 Recess.

Down: 1 Fights, 2 Meals, 3 Undress, 5 React, 6 Portion, 7 Sledge, 8 Manufacture, 14 Upright, 15 Deviate, 16 Shower, 17 Boughs, 19 Error, 21 Raise.

WEST CALDER West Lothian Fibromyalgia Support Group

Meets on the third Sunday of the month 1.30pm – 3.30pm, at West Calder Community Centre. New members always warmly welcomed. Join us for support, information, friendship, talks and outings. See sites.google.com/site/ wlfibromyalgia or call Sheila on 0844 887 2388 for more information.

18th West Lothian Scout Group

West Kirk Hall, West Calder. Beavers Mon 6-7pm. Cubs Wed 6.16-7.30pm Scouts Thurs 6.30-8pm. Girls and boys 10.5 - 14 yrs. Contact Jean Walkinshaw 01506 873638.

Solution to Sudoku Page 42

West Calder Walking Group

Every Thurs at 12.30. Meet outside the Co-op, West Calder Main Street. Walk approx 1 hr then coffee/tea stop to finish.

Call 01506 871773 for more info.

CHURCHES Polbeth Harwood Church

Service 11:15 am every Sunday. West Kirk of Calder KONECT

53

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS Accountant/Bookkeeping AKT Bookkeeping

7

Architect Plan It Design

6

Dentist Balerno Dental Care Currie Dental Care No9 Dentist

22 25 23 24 25

Barber TJ’s Barbers

25

Bathrooms 1st Choice Living Bathgate Bathroom Studio Duffy Mclean

Dressmaking/Alterations Just Sew Nota Bene

13 6 15

Beauty ACT Beauty & Hair Academy Lisa Blair Beauty Therapy

Electrician A&A Electrical Riddell Electrical Services Simply Electrical

32 12 16

7 23

Estate Agent Alba Property

56

Bowling Club East Calder Bowling Club

24

Florist Every Occasion Quite Contrary Vicky’s flowers

22 25 22

Foot Care Foot Clinic

25

Builder Almond Building Company 7 Build-It 6 Building Supplies MKM Building Supplies

40

Building Surveyor David Hastings

Funeral Director Porteous Funeral Directors

11

12

Garage Doors Max’s Garage Doors Ltd

39

Butcher John Lawson Butchers

4

Cake Maker A Sprinkle of Sugar

9

Conservatories Andrew James Windows & Conservatories 17 Car Bodywork JWG Car Care

37

Car Sales Colin Nixon Hermiston Motors

28 55

Car Service & Repair Autocare Solutions Colin Nixon Hermiston Motors Kirknewton Garage LVS Garage Services

36 28 55 37 5

Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning James Burnett Carpet Cleaning Catering Food Creations

7 9

Garden & Landscaping AA Landscaping 40 Beatson’s 41 D Greaves 39 JGM Landscapes 41 SG Garden Services 39 Garden Buildings Champfleurie Estate Ltd Woodford Timber Scotland

2 39

GAS STOCKISTS Charles Gas

14

Golf Club Baberton Golf Club

31

Golf Retail Golf Nation

30

Hairdresser Jane & Friends

23

Handyman 1st Call Handyman

15

Healthcare ABC Hearing

27 16 16

Charity British Heart Foundation

36

Children’s Nursery ABC Private Nursery Angela Elizabeth Nursery

Heating Services Duffy McLean L & S Heating

49 49

Hire (Car/Van/Minibus) AK Stretch Limousines

Chiropody/Podiatry Livingston Chiropody & Podiatry Cleaning Services C and W Cleaning Services James Burnett Carpet Cleaning Computer Services Sprint Computers

4

20

Joiner Craigcrook Joinery Geoff Vinter Joinery

14 15

16 7

Kitchens Duffy Mclean

15

Locksmith Livingston Locksmith

14

9

Dance Classes Jane Goulding School Of Dance

22

Mobility Med-Ecosse 21

Dance Supplies Highland Dance Shop

22

37

54

Motorhome (hire/sale) Motorhome Hire Scotland

Oven Cleaner The Clean Team

9

Painter/Decorator Braekirk Decorator’s Nu Walls Thomson Decorators

16 32 4

Pet Services Milrig Kennels South Lodge Cattery Tilly Chance Dog Grooming

35 35 34

Plastering Alexander Aitken Plastering Nu Walls

32 32

Plumbing Services Capital Heating 17 Currievale Plumbing 32 EPH 12 Public House Black Bull The Grapes Bistro

43 47

Restaurant Al Borgo Sky Kitchen

45 45

Roofing Thomson Roofing Services

33

Sports Equipment Golf Nation

30

Storage Unit Storage Containers

7

Takeaway Sky Kitchen

45

Taxi & Private Hire All The Fours

29

Telecoms Services John McGraw Telephone Engineer

17

Tree Surgery Maxwell Tree Care

41

Vet ICR Vets Pentland Veterinary Clinic

34 35

Wedding Services Nota Bene Quite Contrary Vicky’s flowers

25 25 22

Windows 1st Choice Living 13 Andrew James Windows & Conservatories 17 Red Hot Windows 32

KONECT

KONECT

55

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