Dell Directory September 2022

September 2022

THE DELL DIRECTORY

LOCAL HISTORY:

HEALTH: SPOTLIGHT:

P8-9

W

elcome to the September issue of the Dell Directory.

If you take the A71 towards Livingston, you’ll drive past the ornate gateway to what used to be Hatton House, near the turning for Linburn Road.

In their original location on the eastern avenue approach to the Hatton estate, these gates saw royalty and dignitaries pass through to what was one of the grandest homes in Scotland in its 17th century heyday. See the history article on pages 8-9.

New yoga and meditation classes are available in the unique setting of the Dhammapadipa Temple at Slateford. The Bhuddist community there are keen to welcome local people to benefit from their low-cost, high quality classes. I visited last month to see the recent renovations at the temple and find out what they are offering, see the article on page 12.

We also have a couple of spotlight features on local businesses this month, as well as all our usual regular columns. I hope you enjoy the magazine - as ever, I love to hear what you think!

THIS ISSUE Local History: Hatton House, the grandest of them all................................................................8 Health: Meditation at the Temple.................. 12 Health: Do you enjoy restful sleep?.............. 13 Health: What we now know about osteoarthritis ....................................................... 14 Local Environment: Mama knows best........ 18 Spotlight: Responsible Recycling................. 28 Lynne’s column: Time and Space................ 29 I  food: The great outdoors........................ 32 Wine: Cranachan Pairing................................. 35 What’s On............................................................. 36 Clubs & Classes: Pentland Probus Club.... 37 Puzzles.................................................................. 37

COVER IMAGE: Summer starting to fade.

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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LOCAL HISTORY

These days you don’t need Mons Meg, the giant cannon now at the top of Edinburgh Castle, to gain access to the site of Hatton House from the A71. But in 1453 King James II accompanied his massive flagship weapon here to besiege Hatton in order to evict clan Douglas followers, in a tale of regal plotting, murder and revenge...

At that time “Haltoun” was a massive L-shaped tower house with walls 3 metres thick, owned by the Lauder family, built by Alan de Lauder in 1377. With tensions rising between King James II and the Douglases, Sir William Lauder of Haltoun was a confidant of both the King and the 8th Earl of Douglas. The King summoned the Earl of Douglas to Stirling Castle in 1452, and Lauder was the King’s personal messenger sent to escort the Earl. When the King murdered Douglas there (the infamous Black Dinner) Haltoun Tower was seized by outraged Douglas followers and during the struggle Sir William Lauder was killed. The king personally led the seige to take Haltoun Tower back. Crown accounts of the time refer to the cost of transporting “the great bombard” (Mons Meg) and go on to list costs for stone cannon balls, javelins and arrows, the construction of a movable hut to protect the quarrymen hewing

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their way through the walls and all the trappings of a well fitted-out siege.

Hatton remained in the Lauder family until 1653. It was a significant local stronghold and the Lauders were an important family who played their part in current affairs. During the reign of Mary Queen of Scots, the 4th Earl of Bothwell was, it seems, “favourable to the laird of Haltowne;” and it was in his house that he slept on the night of 23rd April 1567, before his abduction of the Queen.

In 1653 the Hatton estate passed into the hands of Charles Maitland, later the 3rd Earl of Lauderdale, who had married into the Lauder family, and he began to transform it from a crude fortified tower into a magnificent country house. Around the ancient tower house he added wings and turrets. He also started remodelling the grounds on a lavish scale, turning it into one of the most elegant country estates of the time. He held high office in the Scottish Parliament and was appointed Master General of the Scottish Coinage in 1661. He took the opportunity to run three large-scale coinage frauds and used treasury funds to create his impressive new estate. @KonectMagazines

Besides the coinage frauds, which came to light in a judicial enquiry in 1682, he was suspected in 1689 of acting “contirar to the government” of William III and sent to prison.

Hatton House was searched for “cannon, armes and amonutione.” Six muskets and cannon were found, confiscated and taken to Edinburgh Castle.

Proven ill-gotten gains don’t seem to have had consequences for the Hatton estate.

A 16th century visitor to Hatton wrote that “there is no residence in the Lothians west of Edinburgh to compare with Hatton House save Hopetoun.” By this time it had over fifty bedrooms and stabling for seventy horses on grounds of 240 acres. By the early years of the eighteenth century, Hatton was one of the noblest residences in all Scotland. The top of the original tower was a balustraded viewing platform commanding views of the surrounding countryside and hills. The main approach to the house was via a mile-long grand avenue from the east and was lined by a double row of oaks, beeches and limes. There was a large walled garden, bowling green, formal rose garden, and terraced area in front of the house and beyond it a “wilderness” complete with an artificial lake.

The fifth Earl of Lauderdale was titled Lord Ravelrig, having lived at Ravelrig for a while before inheriting Hatton. The Maitland family residence at Hatton ended in 1792 when it was sold by the 8th Earl. The property changed hands many times. It was purchased in 1797

by Mr James Gibson (afterwards Sir James Gibson-Craig, Baronet of Riccarton), who broke up the estate and sold it off in portions for speculative gain. The house itself went to Rev., Dr. Thomas Davidson for £14,000.

The Renaissance gateway, which can be seen today on the A71 near the intersection with Linburn Road, was originally located half-way along the main eastern approach avenue to Hatton House. The date ANNO DOM 1692 is

engraved on the keystone of the arch. It was moved to its current location on the Edinburgh road by Captain Davidson in 1829 (that date is also engraved on it). The upper part of the antique ornamental ironwork of this gateway is said to have been wrought by one of the Earls who enjoyed ironwork - the Eastern Pavilion of Hatton House was known as Lord Lauderdale’s Forge, where tradition has it one of the Earls had a forge.

The house had several owners over the years and many famous visitors. Until, on the evening of 25th February 1952 the owner returning from Edinburgh found the house had mysteriously caught fire. The roof and upper floor were completely destroyed, while the other floors were extensively damaged by water.

The Evening Dispatch of 26th February said, “One portion after another of the house, which contained four floors, was involved in the blaze, until there was no part of the building which was free from the flames.”

The ruins were taken down and the stones removed to various unknown locations; the estate was sold off in pieces. All that remains today are two corner pavilions, some of the walls and of course the Western Gate on the A71.

Despite some decline in its last decades before the 1952 fire, Hatton House was one of the most spectacular of grand Scottish homes from its founding in the 14th century through murder, fraud, royal favours and clan battles to the sad romantic remains of today.

This article was written by Helen-Jane Gisbourne, using the following sources: Hatton House A Lost National Treasure by John Scott, Currie and District Local History Society; www.rathohistory.co.uk; Bank of Scotland: a history, 1695 – 1995 by Richard Saville. First published in Konect in 2011.

MAIN IMAGE: One of the remaining corner pavilions @KonectMagazines

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GERRY AITKEN Painter & Decorator Juniper Green

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

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AT T HE TE M P L E

(feel awesome or your money back)

In the past couple of years you may have noticed the pink building between the canal and railway bridge on the Slateford Road undergoing some renovations.

The building is the Dhammapadipa Temple, Edinburgh’s Thai Buddhism Temple, and like many organisations they took advantage of the pandemic downtime to carry out some changes as well as supporting people in need in the city during that time.

And, with renovations complete, the doors are still open. Specifically, they recently started offering guided meditation and yoga classes which are accessible to all in the local community.

"More monks have come across from Thailand to be based here, so that we can expand our community involvement, and so that whenever someone rings the doorbell, there will be someone here to answer it,” explains Kachen Gerdphol, Chairperson of The Dhammapadipa Temple. During the pandemic, they were supporting people in various ways, running a food bank and hot food deliveries to those isolating. They realised there was a need and an interest for them to expand their community involvement.

Offering the meditation sessions, guided by their head monk Ajarn Praset, was the first step, and the yoga classes were soon added.

“People are dealing with a lot of stress and anxiety at present. We want to be an accessible resource that the local community can use for wellbeing support,” explains Kachen.

The Temple opened here in 2005 after the tsumani in Thailand, as a charity to help the Thai community. It developed a broader remit, supporting 12 | THE DELL

people with their mental health, those suffering domestic abuse, and to provide guidance to the Buddhism community. Now, they have broadened their support further, and have plans to offer other accessible well-being services to the wider community.

The temple is a beautiful environment in which you can access high quality meditation and yoga tuition at a not-for-profit rate, in a unique setting. All classes are run at low cost to make them affordable to as many people as possible, and they take place in the Temple’s peaceful and spacious main room, which was renovated during the pandemic to be a welcoming space for all.

The classes have been very well-received so far: Such a wonderful venue and everyone was so welcoming. Can't believe how quickly the time flew in during the class. Lovely, so lovely.” Sarah from Dalry, meditation session.

Totally loved the venue, teacher and yoga session” Tracy from Slateford, yoga class.

This is my second class at the temple and it has really helped me focus and relax. I sleep so much better now” Helen from Colinton, meditation session.

It was exactly what I needed..conditioning, but also to destress..the class went really quickly and you could take variations to suit” Leigh from Colinton, yoga class.

If you would like to attend meditation or yoga, you will be made most welcome. For more information and to book, please visit: www.dhammapadipa.com The Dhammapadipa Temple, 199 Slateford Road, Edinburgh, EH14 1LA Tel.: 0131 443 1010 This article was written by Helen-Jane after visting Dhammapadipa Temple. Helen-Jane is the editor of Konect magazines.

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Understandably, sleep is often the very last thing on our to do list; pushed aside in favour of more important tasks that require our energy and attention throughout the day.

Similarly, we can easily become accustomed to functioning on little rest, with sleepless or disrupted nights becoming commonplace.

As a sleep consultant, I’ve worked with many clients who would routinely spend hours trying to fall asleep, or alternatively would drift off quickly, only to find that they would wake again just a few hours later. In either case they would rise each morning feeling as exhausted as the night before.

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Long term lack of sleep can impact many of the body’s functions, including its ability to maintain a healthy weight and fight infection, in addition to contributing to a higher risk of cognitive decline later in life. Consistent, good quality sleep however gives your brain an opportunity to remove toxins, repair tissue and regenerate cells, and enables your body to produce infection-fighting proteins while you rest. All of which are vitally important to good long-term health.

With so many factors affecting your sleep, it’s unsurprising that insomnia and sleep-related health disorders are becoming increasingly common. If you struggle to sleep well and feel that this affecting your health, simply get in touch for a complimentary 15-minute consultation, and find out how I can help you to wake each day feeling rested and restored.

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

See www.sophielouisehealth.com

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HEALTH

What we now know about

Osteoarthritis

A wise head of department used to regularly tell us young clinicians not to assume anything – always check. If you “Assume” and get it wrong, “it will make an ASS out of U and ME” was his favourite saying. This is a lesson I have never forgotten. It is always worth keeping up to date with the latest research, even on subjects that you assume could not possibly change.

For decades Osteoarthritis (OA) has been thought of as a “wear and tear” condition and this makes intuitive sense. Older people get arthritic joints because they have loaded their joints more than younger people. The cartilage lining of bone gets worn away as we get older leading to joint changes and, in some cases, joint replacement surgery is needed. It also seems reasonable that runners, or those who are overweight, will wear out their joints faster as the joint has had more load to carry. Over the years this has become accepted fact. We now know this is completely wrong.

Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease in the world, affecting 10% of men and 18% of women over the age of 60. The risk of developing OA does increase with age, but recent research points towards it being a far more complex condition than simply time wearing an older joint out. For instance, there is no correlation between the pain a patient reports from an OA joint and the extent of bony changes seen on x-ray. Studies show clearly that runners have a lower incidence of painful OA knees than sedentary people. Overweight people get OA in their hand joints just as often as their hips or knees leading to one researcher declaring that “obese people do not walk on their hands” – other factors must play a part in developing OA. 14 | THE DELL

It is normal for all the cells in our body to be replaced by new ones. For instance, bone cells are regularly replaced so that we get a completely new skeleton every 10 years. It is now thought to be more accurate to think of OA as being caused by a suppression of the restoration of normal tissue. The normal processes to repair and renew joint tissues are not as good as they should be – they are slower and the new tissue formed is not of such good quality. This leads to changes in the protective cartilage at bone ends and the joint space becomes narrower. Both are typical signs of OA in a joint.

We now know that the process of restoring tissues can be improved by exercise but can be made worse by inflammation, obesity and low physical activity. OA joints like exercises, and the knee joint particularly likes the cyclical loading of walking or jogging. If you have been told you have OA - keep active to keep your joints happy. Physiotherapy can help give you the most appropriate exercises to help your particular OA joint pain. Please do not assume that rest is best for an OA joint.

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

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The ingredients for a successful trades business:

Taylor Talks TRADES “I’m a people person. I like hearing people’s stories, and sharing mine.”

Jamie Taylor of Taylor Roofs is talking about his new podcast, “Taylor Talks Trades.” Now into its 11th episode, it’s a goldmine of insights into the minds of the founders of some leading local trades businesses.

“I’d been thinking about doing a podcast for a long time. One of the reasons initially was that I wanted to show people what’s possible when you get into the trades,” says Jamie.

“We’re dealing with a skills shortage affecting the roofing industry and other trades, so I want to show school leavers as well as older people considering a career change, what can be achieved.”

It’s already developed into a lot more than this.

Jamie’s guests so far have been owners of local businesses including roofing, landscape gardening, stone masonry, groundworks and cleaning, to name a few. They all took different and sometimes unconventional routes to where they are now - running successful trades businesses, employing teams of people, and pushing their limits in personal and professional development. There’s one whose mum wouldn’t speak to him for year when he threw in the chance to pursue a career as an architect to work in the trades instead (she now works in his business and couldn’t be prouder); there’s the apprentice machinist who worked in three or four different sectors including recruitment, before finding his niche in landscape gardening; and many other stories. @KonectMagazines

Jamie’s own route into running Taylor Roofs, which now employs around 30 staff, was one that he forged entirely by himself in the face of a lot of external pressures and now runs alongside his wife Kelly. The podcast is a treasury of inspirational stories and insights into businessowners’ mindset and outlook that you otherwise rarely get a chance to see.

Podcast guests share the lows as well as the highs. It can often be lonely running a business.

“It’s easy to get down, but when you take the time to look around at what you’ve achieved, you realise how far you’ve come. The podcast is about sharing that, it’s to be motivational. It’s going to be tough out there anyway, so let’s put some fun into it while we’re at it,” says Jamie.

While the podcast focuses on trades, much of the experiences and insights that are coming out are common to many business owners and Jamie is considering a series on other sectors too. “I don’t have a specific agenda for the podcast though. The YouTube channel builds trust in my brand if customers want to watch it before employing us. So it’s a brilliant way to connect with an audience.

But, I’m doing it simply because it feels like a good thing to do and people are enjoying it.”

Find “Taylor Roofs” channel on YouTube to watch Taylor Talks Trades.

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LOCAL ENVIRONMENT

The desire to help wildlife comes naturally to many of us and quite frequently you read stories about baby deer or hare found in the long grass at this time of year, which understandably makes us think perhaps they’ve been abandoned.

What’s usually happened is Mum has gone off to feed, leaving her offspring where she believes is safe and somewhere she’ll return to in just a few hours. It’s quite normal and at this time of year you may find a little leveret (a baby hare) hiding in what seems like the most unusual place. A lot of fields have been cut back for silage now we’re through the bird nesting season so the hares are more obvi-ous than before and your attention will likely be drawn to a small little brown fur ball with its ears tucked back, thinking its invisible.

The best thing to do is leave it where you found it but if you can, keep an eye on the situation from a safe distance and if it really seems like Mum hasn’t returned then you could consider calling the SSP-CA for advice.

This hare is probably the youngest one I’ve seen and was thankfully quite tolerant.

If you do want something to make you go “awww” then I suggest googling a young leveret because they are quite frankly adorable and will absolutely put a big smile on your face, which is why nature therapy is so wonderful!

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

Follow them on Facebook: @ScottishSistersPhotography

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The reason recycling is so important is that it prevents pollution, reduces the need to harvest new raw materials, saves energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, saves money, reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, and allows products to be used to their fullest extent.

The world’s natural resources at finite, and some are in very short supply. At a fundamental level, recycling paper and wood can save trees and forests; recycling placstic means creating less new plastic; recyling metals means there’s less need for mining; and recycling glass reduces the use of new raw materials like sand. Of course, the reality is much more complex, but the fundamental process is valid nonetheless. Metals, for instance, are repeatedly recycled, while maintaining most or all of their properties.

YourJunk takes great pride in being a good waste solution for the environment. With all waste uplifted, over 98% of all waste is recycled. Our goal is to get as close to 100% as possible. We sort through all waste types to be as green as possible, letting our customers know, we always put the environment first, safely.

With every waste uplift, there’s more to the process than taking away from the property.

The longest part is done away from premises - sorting all the materials so that they can be recycled. We sort everything out, to maximise the changes everything being put to the right recycling centre.

After any uplift, we sort through and then take to our registered recycling centre so it gets disposed of in the correct manner.

loads, YourJunk can assist with every type of waste. Cardboard, wood, metal, lead, brass, copper - an endless list....we make sure everything is recycled responsibly. If it can be thrown out, it can be picked up by YourJunk.

Waste is our own personal responsibilty so even if you get someone to come and uplift your rubbish, it’s not them that’s liable, it’s you the customer, as it’s your waste. This is why it’s very important to use a registed waste carrier to make sure that you don’t receive a fine, which can be up in the region of £5,000.

If you need a 5 star rubbish removal company, and are looking for a free quote, get in touch with YourJunk by filing in our quote form over at www.yourjunk.scot, calling us on 0131 449 9275 or sending us a message on our Facbook page over at @YourJunkScotland.

This article was contributed by local waste specialists YourJunk, www.yourjunk.scot

From single items, to multiple van

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We had a lovely family holiday last month – our second break in the last two years and the longest we had stayed away from home with the dog.

We were incredibly lucky with the weather which made all the difference – I suspect the holiday vibe would have been much less chilled if we had to endlessly fret about protecting the spotlessly clean, beige carpets from the threat of post-walkies muddy paw prints.

We rented a lovely house in Killin that had a sun room with the most amazing views.

I loved just chilling in there and jealously thinking how much I would love to have something similar back home (although I’d have to sacrifice most of my garden to get one!). We were able to get out and about as the sun shone all week but we also enjoyed some good old fashioned family pastimes like Monopoly and jigsaws. The TV was barely on and the average phone screen time dropped considerably – all in all it was my idea of Heaven!

I sat one morning with the first cuppa of the day in hand, dog snoozing at my feet in the sunroom, and pondered why we don’t seem to manage to do so many family things back home. We have cupboards full of games and jigsaws that rarely get an airing these days.

The extra space definitely had a good effect on us as we were no longer having @KonectMagazines

to negotiate around workstations and the day to day “stuff” that always seems to accumulate at home. The real difference for me, though, was having the space in my head to relax and unwind. Giving myself permission to forget about the mundane aspects of day-to-day life and just enjoy each moment for its own merit.

There’s no doubt that my home would benefit from a good de-clutter and tidy up and that in turn would clear my mind somewhat. But finding ways to tune out the background noise of everyday life and suppress the pop-up reminders for never ending chores is the key to relaxing and really enjoying life.

Hopefully the sun will continue to shine in September so we can all enjoy getting out and about and make the most of the first Art in the Park in four years! Whatever you do though, find some ways to clear space in your head and time in your calendar to do just as you please every now and then.

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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I  FOOD

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

The taste of the great outdoors My husband and I recently returned from a hiking holiday on the Cornwall Coast Path.

If you’ve read The Salt Path, you may think we survived on chips, pasties and fudge.

Thankfully, we didn’t have to do that.

We’re a camping family. So I learned a long time ago that meals don’t have to come out of tins. In fact, once I’d learned how to use a camp stove, I enjoyed cooking foods I had never bought back home. We had our first artichoke while camping in France. There I had the time to experiment with something new.

I boiled the artichoke and melted some butter.

When it was done, we took turns breaking off leaves and dipping them. I thought it was delicious; the other three said it was a lot of work for little reward.

Still, it was fun returning home and telling my friends about the artichoke - some of them had assumed we’d lived on baked beans for two weeks! The truth is that getting out in the countryside often means you get access to lovely fresh produce, dairy products and meat.

And fresh fish and seafood if you’re near the coast. Everything tastes better when it’s cooked and eaten outside!

On our Cornwall backpack we had a few restaurant meals. Usually we cooked - on the teeniest one-burner stove imaginable. We were much more limited in what we could prepare than when we camped with the family. Hubby 32 | THE DELL

made us tasty cheesy pasta, adding smoked sausage or tuna, and introduced me to some surprisingly good freeze-dried meals.

When we were newlyweds on our first backpack I had a cooking disaster. In the small campsite shop I’d managed to buy tins of cooked beef, potatoes and vegetables. My husband wasn’t at the tent when I returned, so I hunted for his pocket knife. I knew there was some sort of can opener on it, though I had no idea how to use it. I’d have to figure it out.

When he returned, my husband was happy that dinner was underway. He stirred the stew and then, in an alarmed voice, called out, “Are you trying to kill us?!”

I peered into the pan, noticing bits of metal in there with the bubbling mixture of meat and vegetables. I really did not know how to use a pocket knife to remove lids.

I cried. My new husband said, “It was a great effort! Let’s throw it out and go to the pub for fish and chips”.

I’ve learned a bit about camping and cooking since then.

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

One of my favourite desserts is Cranachan.

Fresh raspberries with generous amounts of whipped cream, toasted oats, honey and a splash of whisky. I add a little extra texture with crunchy meringue pieces!

This decadent, Scottish dessert is often served at weddings and dinner parties. So, what wine should you pair Cranachan with?

First of all, avoid sticky, sweet, cloying wines which are too heavy and will quickly overwhelm your palate. The delicate, fresh flavour of raspberry and honey will be swamped and lost.

Leave those sticky wines for another day.

I recommend Prosecco Rose! The bubbly Prosecco keeps the palate clean and refreshed. The delicate hint of soft, ripe red fruit in the rose suggests sweetness but the wine is actually dry and the acidity and structure allows the dessert to take center stage!

Prosecco Rose is great value and can be found at pocket friendly prices in the wine aisles of supermarkets and merchants.

Prosecco can only be produced from 100% Glera, a delicate white grape grown in the Prosecco DOC region of northern Italy.

It was only in May 2020 that Pinot Nero was allowed to be added to Glera to make Prosecco Rose. Prosecco Rose was first Introduced to the UK in November 2020 and its popularity continues to grow. It may not be the obvious choice to pair with a dessert, but I urge you to give it a go.

This evening I think I may skip the main course and go straight to dessert! Cheers.

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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WEDNESDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER “The Falklands War” - an illustrated talk by Brigadier Ian Gardiner. Hosted by Pentland Probus Club, Juniper Green Church Hall, Lanark Road.

10am - noon. New members welcome. Further details from our Club Secretary Leslie Hannaford t: 0131 453 3012 e: lesliehannaford@blueyonder.co.uk SUNDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER Family Funday - Tales from the riverbank - Fun for all the family, starting from the Water of Leith Visitor Centre, 24 Lanark Road. Help the otter catch some fish! Build a beaver dam and eel climbing rope. What does our grumpy ranger do all day?

The trail and activities follow a 1/2 mile route though the Dells and suitable for families with children up to the age of 16. The route involves steps and access to the river so wellies are advisable and it can be difficult with buggies. (Sorry the route is not suitable for wheelchairs) £4 per person – adult and child, book online at www.waterofleith.org.uk WEDNESDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER “Boots on the Ground” an illustrated talk

by Tom Wood. Hosted by Pentland Probus Club, Juniper Green Church Hall, Lanark Road.

10.00am- noon. New members welcome. Further details from our Club Secretary Leslie Hannaford t: 0131 453 3012 e: lesliehannaford@blueyonder.co.uk SUNDAY 2ND OCTOBER The Route less Travelled - A guided walk discovering the history and wildlife of the river from Warriston to Bonnington. Join Helen on this guided walk to discover the history and wildlife of the river from Canonmills to Coalie Park. Suitable for adults.

2pm - 4pm Book via Water of Leith Visitor centre, online at www.waterofleith.org.uk/whats-on. Free to members, £7 non-members.

WANT TO INCLUDE YOUR EVENT HERE? COMMUNITY AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT LISTINGS ARE FREE OF CHARGE. EMAIL EDITOR@KONECT.SCOT BY 15TH OF THE MONTH FOR FOLLOWING MONTH’S ISSUE.

36 | THE DELL

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PUZZLES

Pentland Probus Club

SEPTEMBER CROSSWORD

Probus Clubs were originally founded for retired Rotarians to maintain social connections, but have long since become standalone clubs with a wider membership both nationally and worldwide. There are several in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Since formation in 1982 the Pentland club has provided a social meeting point on Wednesday mornings for retired or semiretired men in the city area along the Lanark road from Balerno though Currie and Juniper Green to Colinton. The original twice monthly speaker meetings soon led to informal coffee mornings on all other Wednesdays and are well supported.

^^^ Solution in the October edition of Konect ACROSS: 1. In addition (4), 3. Greets (8), 9. Painful condition (7), 10. Childminder (5), 11. Developments (12), 14. Appropriate (3), 16. Braid hair (5), 17. Winter sport (3), 18. Purposefully (12), 21 Time-piece (5), 22 Distinctive (7), 23 Moving very fast (8), 24. Questions (4).

DOWN: 1. From the United States (8), 2. Tantrum (5), 4. Used for seeing (3), 5. Condensed (12), 6. Parts of an hour (7), 7. Speaks (4), 8. Talented (12), 12 Delete (5), 13. Two wheeled vehicles (8), 15. Rigid support frame (7), 19 Departs (5), 20. In debt (4), 22. Male child (3).

^^^ Sudoku solution on page 38

SEPTEMBER SUDOKU

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All meetings start from 10.00am and last up to two hours. Our speaker programme runs from September to May on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month at Juniper Green Parish Church Hall. A wide selection of speakers cover subjects of general and local interest over Autumn and Spring sessions which usually include a morning outing and close with a lunch.

Of equal attraction to members are our informal coffee mornings at the Kinleith Mill, Juniper Green – each Wednesday throughout the year other than speaker events. Membership with varied past careers and different pastimes and enthusiasms makes for lively wide ranging discussion over the coffee and biscuits.

The new programme of speakers starts on Wednesday 7th September with a presentation “The Falklands War” by Brigadier Ian Gardiner.

This will be followed on Wednesday 21st September with “Boots on the Ground” – an illustrated talk by Tom Wood.

If you have a free Wednesday morning why not drop in to see us – you will be welcomed at any of our meetings. Full details of membership can be provided by Secretary Leslie Hannaford (0131 453 3012).

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SOLUTIONS

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

SOLUTION TO AUGUST CROSSWORD PUZZLE

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 (2pm-4pm), by preordering 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, coordinationation 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

ACROSS: 1. Starve, 4. Doodle, 9. Complex, 10. Salad, 11. Extra, 12. Matches, 13. Appointment, 18. Deposit, 20. Night, 22. Olive, 23. Outcome, 24. System, 25. Grasps.

DOWN: 1. Secret, 2. Admit, 3. Volcano, 5. Onset, 6. Dolphin, 7. Eldest, 8. Examination, 14. Puppies, 15. Monster, 16. Idiots, 17. Utters, 19. Swede, 21. Grows.

SOLUTION TO SUDOKU ON PAGE 37

COLINTON LITERARY SOCIETY - Our talks are postponed until October 2022. 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 south-west Edinburgh. Monthly members’ meetings on a Monday, plus outings and events.

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

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 for details 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.

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

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