The Dell Directory October 2022

October 2022

THE DELL DIRECTORY

LOCAL CHARITY: LOCAL WALK: I LOVE FOOD:

THE POCHLE PROJECT - AN URBAN APPLE COOPERATIVE

GET INVOLVED AT OUR JUICE YOUR OWN DAY:

From now until the end of November we aim to collect as many apples as we can. We are able to pick, collect or, if you can deliver, exchange for juice.

From 12.30pm Sunday 23rd Oct (booking required)

The resulting surplus of apples will be processed, lovingly fermented and then skilfully distilled to produce an altogether different spirit. Pochle.

A genuine representation of this land, its produce and its people, in a glass.

Developed in conjunction with students at Heriot Watt university, we hope the initiative provides a long-term opportunity for people to reduce waste from their gardens and support increased biodiversity throughout the urban realm.

ANY APPLE! ANY CONDITION! Please contact: chris@inchcolmdistillery.com to arrange and help.

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elcome to the October issue of The Dell Directory.

Our Charity of the Month is ReusingIT. They have been working hard over the past 20 years to divert and reuse computers that would otherwise be destined for waste, and are doing incredible work both here locally and overseas. See the feature on pages 8-9.

If you’re lucky enough to have apple trees and have spare fruit this month through to the end of November, Inchcolm Distillery would like to hear from you – they’ll pick and collect for an urban apple initiative they’re running – see advert opposite – and please contact them if you have more apples than you can use.

There is a walk in the Pentlands to enjoy, and all our usual very practical and informative columns from our local contributors are included, I hope you enjoy them this month.

As ever, I’d love to hear what you think!

Thanks for reading The Dell Directory and supporting local businesses and organisations.

THIS ISSUE Local Charity: Reusing IT....................................8 Health: SAD - Are you feeling the effects of the changing seasons?................. 13 Health: Help, it’s ma hip!.................................. 14 Ask your Pharmacist......................................... 17 Puzzles..........................................................17 / 35 Local Walk: Rigg Road to North Esk Reservoir...................................................... 28 I  Food: Simply a chocoholic...................... 32 Wine Tasting: "Nosing" Wine........................... 35 Lynne’s Column: The end of an era.............. 37 What’s On............................................................. 38

COVER IMAGE: Autumn apples - See advert opposite

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

The Dell Directory is delivered monthly to 5,500 homes in the Colinton, Craiglockhart and Kingsknowe areas. It is also available online: konect.scot/subscribe THE DELL | 3

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WEIR GAS SERVICES Former Scottish Gas engineer

Tel:

07981 366 988

Central heating - service, repairs Gas fires, cookers, hobs installation, service & repairs General Plumbing services Garden taps, washing machines, dishwashers Landlord safety inspections email : lesweir@blueyonder.co.uk

Keith Wales

WINDOW CLEANING

Reliable 4 weekly service

0131 449 4379 • 07895 916800 www.kwaleswindowcleaning.co.uk

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“Should anyone, anywhere, in 2022 have to justify why they need a computer?”

This is just one of the questions that Ross Cockburn, founder of local charity Reusing IT, considers in the course of his work. Reusing IT sources computers from businesses and organisations which are discarding them, and repurposes them for the benefit of a host of charities at home and abroad, or directly to people in need.

I caught up with Ross at the charity’s warehouse in East Calder, just as he got back from a humanitarian trip to Ukraine last month.

It was his first to Ukraine, but one of many such in a mission stretching back over 20 years and covering several countries as well as the local area.

Reusing IT traces its roots to when Ross was an IT manager for a large company. The director wanted a batch of old computers out of the way. Not wanting to see perfectly good computers go to landfill, Ross phoned around to find a good cause which could use them. He found a small school in the Highlands involved in a project to donate computers to a charity in South Africa. That became his first African trip and would possibly have been the last; until a friend in London heard about it, and called him to say his company had 500 computers which were perfectly good but out of warranty and destined for landfill - could he use them?

This was the beginning of a path that has ended up as Ross’ full time occupation, and a charity making a significant difference to educational opportunities and digital exclusion 8 | THE DELL

Ross (right) in Ukraine discussing Windows conversion process to TES Ukraine NGO distributing laptops

right here at home, in several African countries, and most recently in Ukraine.

“We’ve been working with a charity in Ukraine which has been helping administer the huge exodus of people from the country. Of the 250 laptops we recently delivered, some have gone directly to families in Eastern Ukraine, and some are going to social services who are trying to keep people’s benefits and pensions going throughout the war,” explains Ross. He has a duty to the donors of the computers to ensure they are not falling into the wrong hands, as there is always a risk of corruption.

“Wherever people are trying to do good, there are always some trying to sabotage and redirect aid for the wrong reasons,” says Ross.

Every computer they send out is individually identified, logged and its destination carefully checked. As to the specifics of why someone may need a computer though – that question doesn’t really need to be asked.

“Digital exclusion is rife everywhere, more than we realise,” says Ross, “and even more than I realised right here locally until recently.

The pandemic and lockdown, bringing the requirement to work and study from home, opened up a huge rift in accessibility to learning and education. Too many families were trying to manage either with one shared computer, or even no computer at all.

Reusing IT was initially approached by West Lothian Council around 10 years ago to donate computers to vulnerable families at @KonectMagazines

the time Glow, the council’s online learning portal, was first implemented. School pupils access Glow to get their homework assignments and submit work. A swath of children who didn’t have access to a computer at home were immediately disadvantaged, and it remains an issue. With lockdown, the problem was exacerbated. Families with one computer had to prioritise who used it - maybe a parent needed it for work, or an oldest sibling for exam prep; in each case there was a member of the family excluded from accessing their education due to lack of a computer. “We worked frantically to try and make ensure every one had access to their own tablet or laptop, but it’s very much an ongoing challenge,” says Ross.

WHAT KEEPS HIM GOING? “A watershed moment for me was in 1999 when I met a small family in Kenya. I was there arranging a donation of computers to Sister Mary Colleen, a nun who was setting up schools so that local kids had a chance at an education.” A single mother and her two children, who were suffering growth deformities in their legs, were under the care of Sister Mary Colleen. The mother spoke a local dialect, neither Swahili nor English, and as a result had not been able to understand the doctor’s instructions for caring for her children’s injuries where they were treated following an arson attack at their home. “They had life-changing injuries as a result of their mother’s lack of access to education, or the opportunity to learn one of the main languages of the country. It had a profound effect on me. I will do whatever I can to help people anywhere access educational opportunities, in whatever form that takes.” The charity’s remit covers education, health and agriculture.

Ross grew up in Currie and now lives with his family in Mid Calder. The main storage facility for Reusing IT is in East Calder, where sorting, data-wiping, cleaning, recording, tracking and refurbishing all the computers that come is a massive operation run by volunteers. Besides the large warehouse, they also have several containers full of equipment, and an overflow storage warehouse in Paisley.

And still demand for their computers outstrips supply. @KonectMagazines

Can you help?

1. Reusing IT always needs volunteers to clean and sort the computers and components that come in. Tasks such as removing stickers that identify the donors, cleaning the computers and so on, are vital and no technical expertise is needed at all. If you can spare a little time to help out they will be delighted to hear from you.

2.They also need volunteers to collect donations. The equipment comes primarily from medium to large businesses and organisations which discard their computers once they are out of warranty. Volunteers are needed to take the van and collect them and take them to the East Calder depot.

3. Storage space! Reusing IT are bursting at the seams in terms of storage, and always need more. If you are involved in a company or organisation that could help out with storage, Ross would love to hear from you.

Volunteers who show a certain level of commitment to the charity are offered the opportunity to accompany Ross on overseas humanitarian trips if this is of interest to them.

For more information please see www.reusingit.org Contact Ross at:

E: ross.cockburn@reusingit.org M: 07786 560744 T: 01506 884061

Reusing IT, Units 9 and 10, Camps Industrial Estate, near East Calder, West Lothian, EH27 8BF. Charity registered in Scotland number SC037716.

This article was written by Helen-Jane Gisbourne after visiting Reusing IT. Helen-Jane is the editor of Konect magazines and lives in West Lothian with her family.

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Be who you’ve always been... a social butterfly At Care UK being a social butterfly doesn’t stop when you make the journey into care. Bring your life with you to a place you can call home.

If you’re considering care call 0333 060 5547.

Trusted to care.

Cairdean House, Colinton Lauder Lodge, Portobello Murrayside, Corstorphine careuk.com/edinburgh

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Are you feeling the effects of the changing seasons?

Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD is a type of depression that sufferers experience during particular seasons or times of the year. Although we typically associate this with the colder and darker months, it can happen both in winter and in summer.

Of course, it’s common for many people to sense a shift in their mood in certain weather conditions, and many also find that both their appetite and sleep patterns can vary as one season rolls into another. However, whilst

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many people prefer the longer, brighter days of summer, and find that the warmth and light of the sun has a positive and uplifting effect, for some these seasonal changes are noticeably more extreme. For those suffering from SAD, the inevitable shift into darker and cooler days brings with it a more significant and heavy depression, that can have a considerable impact on their day-to-day lives.

If you find yourself struggling with depression, whether or not it’s seasonal, it’s okay to ask for help, and you don’t need to wait to see if there’s a pattern. Fortunately, there are a number of effective treatments available from talking therapies to a variety of complimentary therapies. So, if you or someone close to you would like the help of a professional, please feel free to get in touch, and I’ll be happy to assist you in finding the right solution for you.

This article was contributed by Sophie Louise, The Therapy Room, Woodhall Road, Colinton.

See www.sophielouisehealth.com

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HEALTH

Help - it’s ma hip!

Hip pain can dominate life. You can’t walk without a limp, you can’t sit comfortably and sleep is disturbed, particularly if you like to sleep lying on your side. What could be causing hip pain and how can we fix it?

The first thing patients with hip pain often think about is arthritis. A common question in clinic is “do I have arthritis, as my hip is sore and I have started to limp?” There is no doubt that hip osteoarthritis (OA) is a common condition but not all hip pain is arthritis. Where the pain is located and how it behaves are two big clues as to the cause.

In the case of an OA hip, pain is often felt in the groin, down the front of the thigh to the knee, and sometimes to the ankle. Typically, the hip will be stiff in the morning, but will ease with movement, or a hot shower, within 30 minutes. Pain will be directly related to activity - the more you do, the worse it becomes, with some activities more awkward than others. Squatting down or bending to put socks on can be particularly difficult. As walking becomes painful, and hip movements become more restricted, walking with a limp becomes more obvious and stairs become more difficult. OA hip problems affect men and women from age 45 onwards with the incidence rising as we get older.

Another well known cause of hip pain is Gluteal tendinopathy. The tendons that attach our buttock muscles to our thigh bone, the Femur, become irritated. This time the pain is usually over the lateral side of the hip not affecting the groin. Pain comes on gradually aggravated by activity. There is also a bursa, known as the Superficial Trochanteric Bursa, that can become inflamed at the lateral

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side of the hip where the Gluteal tendon attaches to the Femur. In about 20% of cases of Gluteal tendinopathy, the bursa will be thickened, irritated and painful too.

Women are four times more likely than men to develop Gluteal tendinopathy and it is much more common over the age of 40.

Reducing Oestrogen levels in the peri- and post- menopausal stages seem to make developing tendon problems more likely.

Treatment for hip pain will depend on the cause and on the patient in terms of their age, activity levels, and any other conditions they may have. Often on Physiotherapy assessment of people with hip pain, we find that the low back is also stiff contributing to the problem. Treatment to help can include mobilising techniques, stretches and exercises to improve both lumbar spine and hip mobility, but the most important treatment for each condition are exercises to help with muscle strength. The gluteal tendons respond well to a gradual increase in exercise / load to help them become stronger and to recover fully. Strong muscles help an OA hip function better. A lot can be done to help hip pain so please do seek advice there is no need to hirple!

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

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ASK YOUR PHARMACIST

PUZZLE

We have explained the details of the new NHS Pharmacy First and Pharmacy First Plus services before. We are now offering some new services, they are not free but we hope they will be of value to the local community.

Tympa Ear Health Service - demand for ear and hearing healthcare services is growing due to an increasing ageing population, exposure to loud music and the misuse of products such as cotton buds. This service will allow us to perform digital otoscopy, micro-suction wax removal and a hearing screening, all in your local pharmacy.

Crystal DNA and blood and urine sampling service – working with Crystal Health Group we will provide DNA and drug and alcohol testing services, allowing patients to undertake these tests locally with a UK wide, established and trusted, provider of such testing services.

Crossword solution in the November edition

OCTOBER CROSSWORD

ACROSS: 1. Cars, vans and buses etc (7), 5. Type of sailing boat (5), 8. Enhance (7), 9. Perfect (5), 10. Severe (5), 11. Playhouse (7), 12. Reliable (6), 14. Shovels (6), 17. Extremely old (7), 19. Endangered species (5), 22. Tracks (5), 23. Sportsman (7), 24. Father (5), 25. Female relations (7).

DOWN: 1. Works hard (5), 2. Type of fruit (5), 3. Grimaced (7), 4. Crates (6), 5. Dagger (5), 6. Given medical care (7), 7. Assistants (7), 12. Exchanged (7), 13. Elated (7), 15. Throws (7), 16. Used for drinking (6), 18. Assignment (5), 20. Waterfowl (5), 21. Scottish dances (5) .

Medicated Weight Loss Service - managing your weight long term requires more than willpower alone. This service is designed to help you lose weight in a fully supported way. The full service will be starting in January but if you think you might be interested then please call in to talk to the pharmacist about whether it would be suitable for you.

Private ‘flu vaccinations – as winter approaches as well as the NHS service (for the over 50s) we will be providing the option of a private ‘flu vaccination service, please contact the pharmacy to make an appointment (PLEASE NOTE: NHS appointments will be sent directly to those eligible, we cannot allocate our NHS appointments).

More information on all of these services is available in the pharmacy.

The Ask Your Pharmacist column is contributed

by Juliette Paton, Superintendent Pharmacist, Colinton Village Pharmacy. www.colintonpharmacy.co.uk @KonectMagazines

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It’s a pristine early Autumn morning as I park the car in a small layby at the end of Cockburnhill Road where it meets the Rigg Road. As I set off on my way, the low sun illuminates the Pentland skyline to my left in purples, browns and golds.

At the western end of Rigg Road, by a stile, a Scottish Rights of Way Society sign indicates ‘Carlops by the Borestane 5½M’. A narrow path leads into a wondrous micro-habitat of brush and shrub, with gorse, hawthorn and wildflowers. This narrow strip of wildness is awash with colour. There are the lilac scatterings of devilsbit scabious, beloved by peacock butterflies, and pink swathes of rosebay willowherb, now almost fully gone to seed with just a final few flowers clinging to

the tops. Heavy clusters of orangey-red rowan berries glow in the early morning sunlight and brambles are red and black gems amid the low tangle. Long wet grasses swipe at my legs and my trousers are soon soaked, but I barely notice as I take in the profusion of life.

After passing through a metal gate, the track borders a plantation of diminutive pine saplings, fringed by birch. To my right are a long line of spindly, contorted, half-bare beech trees, punished by decades of harsh winds and rain, leaves on the turn. Meadow pipits, goldfinches and linnets come to rest on the power lines overhead, coming and going, none staying too long, as if the wires were hot to the touch.

Emerging into a sheep field, I track diagonally in the direction of Listonshields Farm until meeting a wider path running up from Buteland which will lead me south into the hills. At the intersection, sheep eye me warily through the bars of a gate, where shed wool lies on the ground like an early portent of winter snows.

Beyond the gate it’s easy walking on a wide gravel track and I begin the long steady ascent into the open uplands of the Bavelaw Estate.

The heather is glorious in full bloom. I inhale deeply, savouring the sweet scent. I start as half a dozen red grouse break cover to my right with a whirr of wings. They fly about a hundred yards before stopping to chastise me from a distance with their “Go back! Go back!” calls.

On this fine morning there’s a hint of comedy in their voicing, like slightly adenoidal parrots.

Nevertheless, I can well imagine back in times when outlaws roamed these hills, on a misty night this sound might well have sent a

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shiver down the spine. More grouse come into view near the path, craning necks above long grass to eye me disapprovingly from beneath flame-red brows, before flapping off in a hail of protesting clucks. Another emerges onto the path ahead and waddles into a take-off. They are everywhere now, their calls reverberating around me like an echo that never diminishes.

I breakfast by the Bore Stane, a sandstone outcrop at a col between hills lying at the meeting of three council boundaries, enjoying grand views both north and south. To the north, the Firth is shrouded in a blanket of low cloud like a glacier slipping out to sea, the tops of the Ochil and Fife hills protruding beyond. To the southeast, a valley, from which the River North Esk emerges, slaloms down towards Carlops, framing the Cloich Hills in the distance.

I descend into the valley, it’s sheltered and still.

The path narrows and the landscape closes in, cradling wildlife and walker alike. Wispy white clouds hang high in the blue above, each with an upward inflection like the wind ruffling an elderly gentleman’s hair. A merlin circles over to the west. Small groups of meadow pipits bob through the air as if suspended on marionette strings. Glancing downward, I have to divert my foot at the last minute to avoid a toadlet squatting on the path. Crouching to take a look, I notice a multitude of little criss-cross spiders’ webs spun in the grass around me like dropped lace hankerchiefs.

The Henshaw Burn descends into the valley from the west. Shortly before reaching the reservoir, the burn passes through a small area of marshland. I pick my way along through the reeds to the meditative sound of slow-flowing water over stones. Crickets sing. Dragonflies zip and whorl past me, Common Darters and Hawkers. One alights on a stem in front of me, its long thin dark body giving the appearance of a flying exclamation mark.

Finally, the reservoir comes into view, its surface glistening gold. I make my way down to the small wildlife hide overlooking the

water. Recently renovated by the Friends of the Pentlands, it offers the perfect vantage point for taking in this tranquil scene. A pair of ravens croak in the sky above as I gaze across to the little islands on the lookout for water birds. The sun is high in the sky now and it’s getting quite warm, there’s not much moving. Yet, I’m more than satisfied with the peaceful vista and just soak it up for a while.

Just as I’m about to close up, a blue flash appears – a sapphire dart - skirting the shore of the promontory opposite. A kingfisher! This is a jewel that tops a wonderful morning’s walk and sets a spring in my step as I head for home. My apologies in advance to the grouse…I’ll definitely be back!

Allow 2-3 hours each way for this walk and ensure you are well prepared, with good boots, waterproofs and refreshments. It’s also possible to push on to Carlops for a full day trip.

This article was contributed by William Weir. William is a scientist and amateur writer/photographer who lives locally. In his spare time he enjoys exploring the trails and wild spaces of West Lothian and the Pentland Hills. @KonectMagazines

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I  FOOD

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

Simply a chocoholic

Well, it sounds as if the late Queen Elizabeth II was not a foodie. In his book, Eating Royally: Recipes and Remembrances from a Palace Kitchen, her former chef, Darren McGrady, reported that she had very simple tastes.

She preferred a fairly monotonous diet of corn flakes, toast and marmalade (thanks to her friend Paddington, no doubt), grilled chicken with vegetables or a salad, and Earl Grey tea.

However, it seems she did have a piece of cake or a scone with jam (and then clotted cream) every day. And she was a chocoholic! You can easily find the recipe for her favourite chocolate biscuit cake online if you’d like to try it.

This love of chocolate seems entirely consistent with what I have observed during my 37 years in this country. On my arrival in 1985 I was slightly shocked by how much chocolate my new friends consumed! Many had to have their “fix” every day and were distraught if they didn’t get it.

Growing up in the USA, I only occasionally bought chocolate – because there were plenty of other sweet things I liked to eat, because I was always dieting, because I didn’t like to spend money on anything I didn’t need . . .

And I don’t remember any sort of general obsession with chocolate. I considered “Death by Chocolate” or “Mississippi Mud Pie” on dessert menus, but I was usually more tempted by a good cheesecake or some sort 32 | THE DELL

of baked apple and cinnamon concoction. I liked chocolate chip cookies, but I enjoyed my mother’s oatmeal raisin cookies just as much, if not more! I’m sure I did have some American friends who were chocoholics. But I don’t recall anyone finishing off a large bar of chocolate on their own in one day, or lamenting that they had to wait until they got off work to get some chocolate, or choosing it exclusively over any other kind of dessert.

After living here a few years, I watched a TV programme about why British chocolate was so addictive. Because of the high proportion of sugar and fat that goes into its production, the levels of the brain chemical enkephalin are heightened, leading you to crave more chocolate. A 2019 survey reported that the average Brit spends more than £325 every year on chocolate treats!

After all these years in the UK, have I become addicted to the stuff? To some degree, yes.

However, my favourite is dark chocolate, which is apparently much better for you.

I will eat milk chocolate without much arm twisting. But white? Not even tempted. In fact, it should not be called chocolate at all.

I FOOD is contributed by Suzanne Green.

Suzanne, is a freelance writer/editor. She is married to Andy and they have two adult daughters. @KonectMagazines

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WINE TASTING

PUZZLE

OCTOBER SUDOKU Wine tasting uses all your senses and I especially love spending time ‘nosing’ a glass of wine. Swirling the glass and gently coaxing the wine to release aromas and aromatics.

I search through the layers of primary fruit to find the secondary aromatic that often lies hidden behind the obvious forward fruit – a bit like finding a chestnut under autumn leaves. Once found, I spend time finding the right words to describe what I smell. Then of course there is the anticipation of the taste on the palate.

When slowed right down, wine tasting can be quite mediative! An opportunity to focus your attention on each of your senses.

So how do distinguish between primary fruits and secondary character? Primary fruits are those that are usually easier to find on the nose and tend to be associated with fruits you could buy in a supermarket.

Raspberries, strawberries, gooseberries.

See page 39 for October sudoku solution

Secondary characteristics are more complicated. These are the aromas you recognise and have grown up with, smells you can describe but you wouldn’t be able to find in a shop. Pencil shavings, burnt rubber, wet stone, woodsmoke. My favourite red wines tend to have a balance of both.

Bright, fresh aromatics of red fruit that gently give way to notes of woodsmoke, old leather and library books!

This autumn I will meditate over Chianti!

Chianti is a wine I always associate with this time of year.

I love the dark fruits on the nose accompanied by woodsmoke and tobacco on the finish.

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

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It would be hard to write anything for this month without mentioning the passing of The Queen. I think everyone will remember where they were on 8th September 2022 when the news broke that Queen Elizabeth II had died aged 96 after a record-breaking 70 years on the throne.

A mere three months ago, communities had come together to celebrate the platinum jubilee at street parties and in local parks. Now there was a unifying feeling of grief and mourning across the country. As the days followed, many people took time out of their schedules to pay respects to the Queen’s coffin as it arrived in Edinburgh and lay in state at St. Giles cathedral. It was heartening to see so many people from all walks of life, of all ages, united for a common cause.

Many spoke of making new friendships whilst waiting for hours in the queues.

The loss of someone at such a fine age isn’t a shocking event in itself.

The Queen had a good life, well-spent, and appeared to be happy right up until the end. The photographs of her standing smiling at Balmoral, a mere two days before her death, whilst greeting our new Prime Minister, Liz Truss, is another endearing image that we will all remember and one which drives home how quickly life can change.

Watching the public reaction to such an event is a reminder of the things that unite us as human beings. Even for those who feel indifference to the monarchy itself, everyone can relate to the feelings of loss and sadness that accompany the death of a loved one. I have always felt that grief has a cumulative effect and that every loss @KonectMagazines

I have experienced since the death of my parents several years ago brings those feelings bubbling back to the surface.

We feel the pain of the loss on so many levels. Another piece of history has unfolded before our eyes, hot on the heels of the multitude of changes we experienced during the Covid pandemic.

We feel the sense that something significant has ended, something that is unlikely to happen again within our own lifetimes. And we share the pain of a family in mourning as they lose a beloved mother and grandmother. We know from our own experiences how hard it is to accept that, despite such a major loss, life can and will go on.

It sounds like a terrible cliché but it is undoubtedly true that the only real constant is change. How we choose to adapt to that change and weather each storm life throws at us is the cornerstone of the resilience that we build throughout our lives. I hope that for every tear shed over the last few weeks there have also been new bonds formed or strengthened as we have been reminded, once again, what is truly important in life.

Lynne lives in Colinton with her husband and two children. She dreams of being a freelance writer when she grows up but mostly just avoids growing up!

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WHAT’S ON

Block out the second half of November in your diary: Pentlands Book Festival is back for its eighth year.

From mid October watch out for our leaflets and banners and fire up your computers to enjoy our website pentlandsbookfestival.org. Then book your events at Eventbrite (or get yourself to Currie Library to pick up tickets!)

They’ll be free but we hope you’ll donate your pounds and pennies to keep this annual event solvent

Expect controversy, crime and cracking stories: and for those of a quieter disposition poetry, local history and archive visits. Discover how to recover from illness or even write your own books. It’s all brought to you by a team of volunteers, local supporters and the wonderful Colinton and Currie library.

While we’re on the subject of “wonderful”.. we are looking for a wonderful person or two who would like to learn the business of sound engineering for events like these, who have some evenings to spare in November and enough brain and brawn to help setting up and managing technical equipment under supervision.

To find out more about this great opportunity contact us through the website above.

This article was contributed by Pentlands Book Festival, pentlandsbookfestival.org.uk

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SOLUTIONS

SEPTEMBER CROSSWORD* O O P S O R W R O N G Y

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

LOCAL FLORAL ART CLUB - Sit back and enjoy relaxing evenings watching a floral demonstration with lively & interesting chat. You might even win one of the arrangements.

Meet: Boroughmuir Rugby Club, Meggatland, off Colinton Road EH14 1AS. 7.30pm 9.30pm on the 1st Monday of the month from October. Wine/tea/coffee available.

New Members – Only £5 for October meeting, deducted from your £40 annual subscription if you decide to join. Contact: Joyce Rutherford 0131 443 2536 or Email: joyce.rutherford@btinternet.com COLINTON SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE CLUB - We meet fortnightly from 15th September in St. Cuthbert’s Episcopal Church Hall, Westgarth Avenue from 7:45 – 9:15, £5 per evening. We have an excellent teacher and live music so come and join us, with or without a partner, you’ll be made very welcome.

*Sorry!

A technical error meant that the September crossword was printed with the wrong puzzle board.

SOLUTION TO SUDOKU ON PAGE 35

PUPPY & ADOLESCENT DOGS GROUP CLASSES - A great way to socialise and learn all the basic obedience tricks for your pup. Group classes take place in a puppy-proof garden at 2 Woodfield Park. It’s a block of 5 classes spread over 5 weeks.

Classes take place on either Saturday or Sunday morning and last for 45 min. For more information visit www.headstartdogtraining.com or call 07366 464040.

THE SWING CAFÉ - Colinton Parish Church, Dell Road, Colinton EH13 0JD. Tuesday to Saturday 10am – 4pm. Please come for breakfast (10am-12noon), lunch (12noon-2pm) or some delicious home baking (available all day). We also offer afternoon teas (2pm4pm), by pre-ordering on 07564 081472. There will be gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan and dairy-free options available. Under 12s are invited to enjoy a children's menu. Sit in or take away. We look forward to welcoming you.

DESTINATION JUDO @ CRAIGLOCKHART - Craiglockhart sports Centre.

Wednesdays 3.45pm (5-8 year olds) and 4.30pm (9+ year olds). Judo is a dynamic sport based on a combination of balance, co-ordinationation and reaction. Most importantly judo helps children become more self aware, disciplined, and polite.

Of course we teach all this in a fun way. For information please email callum@ destinationjudo.com or call 0131 467 9043.

COLINTON LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY - Want to know about local history? Visit: www.colintonhistory.org or Email: enquiries@colintonhistory.org COLINTON LITERARY SOCIETY - Keep up to date with latest news about the Lit on the Church website www.colinton-parish.com COLINTON GARDEN CLUB - Club members share their love of gardening, gardens and nature, and work together to preserve and add value to our quality of life here in southwest Edinburgh. Monthly members’ meetings on a Monday, plus outings and events.

For more information see: www.colintongardens.org.uk or Email: membership@colintongardens.org

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LUNCHCLUB - Every Wednesday 1pm – 3pm, 3 courses £4. Spaces are limited, first come first served. Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre, 71 Firhill Drive, EH13 9EU. Please visit: www.oxgangsneighbourhoodcentre.org.uk PARENT AND TODDLER GROUP - Tuesdays, am session and pm session for two age groups (all under 5s). Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre, 71 Firhill Drive, EH13 9EU. Contact: Tel.: 0131 466 0678 or Email: oxgangsneighbourhoodcentre@gmail.com Oxgangs Neighbour Centre Cafe 10.00am to 1.00pm. Bacon rolls, baked potatoes, toasties, specials, teas, coffees and cake. Sit in or takeaway.

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