Konect Balerno April 2016

APRIL 2016

FEATUREs

CBDRT Beer & Curry Festival Village People - Bob Motion “A love for making things�

Message from the Letterbox Bistro s& Offer ers h c u o v cal from lo ses s e busin

plus local businesses, community information and more!

Balerno, Currie, Juniper Green, Baberton & Ratho

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FEATURE

M e ssag e fro m t h e e d ito r

FEATUREs Cur r ie Beer & Cur r y Festival Spotlight on Alistair McLellan

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ig plans are afoot for the Currie Beer and Curry Festival which will be bigger than ever this year - I’ve been speaking to some of the organisers – the Currie, Balerno and District Round Table - to see what it’s all about, see pages 8 – 10.

REGULARS Technology Money Matter s Thought for the Month Village People Inter ior s Recipe

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Our writer Suzanne interviewed a Currie resident whom many locals will know as he was a teacher at Currie High School for many years – see the interview with Bob Motion on page 42.

COMPETITIONS & PUZZLES Crossword Sudoku

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COMMUNITY What’s on Useful Infor mation Clubs & Classes

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Spring is in the air, and if you’re thinking about the home and garden improvements that need doing this year, you’ll find all the local businesses you need in the pages of this magazine! Thanks for reading Konect and for supporting local businesses.

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

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

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.

The Konect Directory is delivered to homes in Balerno, Currie, Juniper Green, Baberton and Ratho. Copies are also left at the library, community centres, convenience stores and various other locations within the area.

Look out for spring family activities locally.

KONECT

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@KonectDirectory

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WOMEN AGED 65 - 75 YEARS NEEDED FOR HEALTH STUDY Interesting new research is looking for:

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RESEARCH STUDY NEEDS VOLUNTEERS Vitamin D status study in Edinburgh looking for:

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The Currie Beer and Curry Festival,

Friday 10th and Saturday 11th June 2016

bigger and better for 2016 “We want people to come away from the festival saying ‘I wasn’t expecting that!’ ” says Tim Dew, one of the members of CBDRT (Currie, Balerno and District Round Table) who organise The Currie Beer and Curry Festival each year.

The festival, which takes place in Currie, enters its fifth year this June. I met with Currie residents Tim and Christine Owen, chairperson of the CBDRT and also one of the festival organisers, to find out about the event.

The idea and motivation for the beer festival came primarily from Tim. “I used to be a brewer, and wanted a beer festival so people could enjoy beer locally,” he says. Over the course of the past four years it has evolved into a much broader community event. “It’s become more of a community party with a lot more besides the beer,” explains Christine. “There are women on the organising committee as well as men, so it’s not your typical beer festival. There are other drinks on offer such as wine, including prosecco, and cider for people who want to come and enjoy the party but are not necessarily keen on beer.

There is a fantastic atmosphere at the event, everyone has a really good time.”

As much care goes into the selection of the other drinks as for the beer itself. The curry side of

the festival is taken care of by a pop-up Indian restaurant called “Ganesh” which exclusively appears at the festival each year. This year Ganesh will be operating as a takeaway for attendees to the festival. They’ve thought about it all - you can have your takeaway curry from the local festival and still watch the football! And there’s more, with live entertainment on each of the two nights.

This year’s band is Bobby Miller (http://www. cranachanband.com/) and the band for the first night has yet to be announced. Professional light and sound systems are provided by Black Light (www.black-light.com).

A huge amount of work goes on behind the scenes to make this into a professionally-run event that is a lot of fun. The core team of fifteen volunteers take care of marketing, IT for the ticketing system, artistic input, catering, entertainment, venue preparation, overall project management. And, of course, the relationship with the breweries. The beer itself is very important and the organisers task themselves with sampling a lot of beers to decide which ones to purchase! “We tend to purchase beers from smaller breweries. The criteria, broadly speaking, is that they are Scottish and interesting,” says Tim, “the types of beers you can’t normally get in a pub.” In previous years, for example, they’ve had beer from Black Isle Brewery, Highlander, Alchemy and Loch Lomond to name a few.

They are served straight from the cask, “as the brewer intended them to be tasted, not through a sparkler” says Tim. I’m not familiar with the “to sparkle or not to sparkle” debate but it’s a topic that Tim as a former brewer is passionate about.

CBDRT (Currie, Balerno and District Round Table) is independent from the national Round Table organisation. The local members felt that the national organisation had less relevance to what they wanted to achieve locally. For a start, it was still male members only. Individual tables can become independent, so five years ago they took advantage of this, opened the doors to women and removed the upper age limit. Christine came on board as the first female member and is now chairperson. Besides the Beer and Curr y Festival, they organise the annual fireworks display in Currie and Santa’s Sleigh. “We have a ver y simple ethos: to give something back to the community, while having fun and building friendships.� For more information see http://www.cbdrt.com/

Based on feedback from previous years, this time they are offering 1/3 pint glasses as well as 1 pint glasses to allow people to taste a wider variety of beers. They are hoping to have in excess of 50 different beers to choose from and hopefully Tim’s favourite brewery (Tempest) will be making an appearance again.

This year, the venue is the Currie Community Centre which has a capacity of 750 people per night. In previous years it has been in Currie’s Gibson Craig Hall which has a capacity of about 300, so they are ambitiously pushing the boat out this year. The venue is pretty much a blank canvas and will be transformed over the course of the week leading up to the festival into separate spaces for the restaurant, entertainment and beer tasting.

The committee welcomes volunteers to help with this task. Final question – why did they launch this

festival? “We had the capacity in the diary and it seemed like a fun thing to do. It’s to raise money for charity, cement the community together, and it’s about the beer.” All profits go back into CBDRT for charitable use within the community, and they tend to fund one-off “projects” rather than ongoing support of any particular group, for example a sports wheelchair for a local boy last year, the sensory garden at Currie Primary and Balerno’s “Young at Heart” project.

The festival is open to the wider area, not just Currie and Balerno. Their message to Konect readers is: “We’re expanding this year, bring a group of friends.” Tickets for the 2016 festival will be on sale from about the end of March and can be purchased from www.cbdrt.com.

Search Facebook for “The Currie Beer and Curry Festival” to be kept abreast of all the latest developments.

displayed on s. Your business name is ilable for local businesse details. ava for are es om rt.c kag pac cbd ip r@ Business sponsorsh ets. Please contact bee tick ary ent plim com two a cask and you receive

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1. Indoor Allotment 2. Click and Grow Smar t Garden 3. Chuppon self-watering animal planter 4. Parrot Flower Power

TECHNOLOGY

Gadgets for the indoor gardener You don’t need to get dirty to grow great things

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Spring has spring and it’s gardening season. But not everybody has a garden or access to decent growing space - and even if you do have the space, the recent stormy weather has been enough to keep all but the most determined gardener indoors.

NASA-inspired combination of hydroponics and electronics to ensure that your plants get the right combination of water, oxygen and nutrients without you doing anything. It includes a LED lamp for maximum germination, and because it’s LED the running costs are microscopic. The creators suggest growing petunias, tomatoes, chillies, basil or thyme but it should be able to handle anything that isn’t too large.

Don’t despair, though: there are plenty of gadgets that enable you to grow great things indoors or when you have limited space for green things.

There are even tools to design gardens that don’t exist.

If you’ve got green fingered children, the Chuppon self-watering animal planter (£9.99) should delight them: it’s a ceramic animal with a herb basket on its back and a straw that sips from any glass or mug. There are four animals and four herbs to choose from, although of course you can put your own herbs in instead.

If you’re also a keen cook, you’ll like the Indoor Allotment (£24.99, currently on pre-order at Firebox.com): it’s a miniature herb garden complete with picket fence and storage shed. It includes basil, coriander and oregano along with everything you need to get your herbs growing - and it’s small enough to fit in the corner of a windowsill. If you fancy something a little bit more ambitious, IKEA’s Socker miniature greenhouse is just £12 with an assembled size of 45cm wide, 22cm deep and 35cm high, which is more than enough for all kinds of plants. You can also keep the roof vents partly open to improve air circulation for plants that don’t like it too hot.

While you’re in IKEA, it’s worth checking out their self-watering plant pots too. The Sötcitron and PS Fejö pots (from £6 to £16) are designed for those of us who don’t always remember to water our plants, and do a superb job for very little money.

Fancy something a little more high-tech? The Click and Grow (€59.95 from clickandgrow.com) describes itself as a “smart garden” and uses a 16

Even the smartphone has made its presence felt in the world of gardening, and there are lots of apps and devices for indoor and outdoor gardening.

One of the cleverest devices is the Parrot Flower Power, a wireless device that sits in your plant pot and monitors the plant’s health, sending alerts to your phone. It’s available for Apple and Android phones, measures sunlight, temperature, fertiliser and moisture, and it currently costs £42. That’s probably a bit steep if you’re growing cress, but if you’ve got something exotic or temperamental it could be a very wise investment indeed.

There’s another type of digital gardening you can do, and that’s to create a virtual one in your computer - something you can do just for fun, or to plan what you’ll do to a real garden space. There are many garden planning apps to choose from, including My Garden (free from www.gardena.com/ uk) and Marshalls Garden Visualiser (free from www.marshalls.co.uk). Happy gardening!

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MONEY MATTERS

GEORGE OSBORN’S 2016 BUDGET

by Personal Money Management

Pension - Contrary to all rumours there was no change to pension tax relief, so tax relief will remain at your marginal rate. It is also still possible to take 25% tax free cash from your pension fund.

Personal Allowances - The new personal allowance for 2016/2017 will be £11,000 irrespective of you age. Prior to this there was a slightly higher allowance for people born before 6th April 1938 but the Chancellor has now simplified things with just one tax allowance of £11,000 for everyone.

Tax Bands & Rates - For the tax year 2016/17 starting on 6th April 2016 the basic rate will increase to £32,000 and therefore the higher rate tax threshold will rise to £43,000. The additional rate of tax at 45% remains applicable on taxable income above £150,000. The Chancellor has

announced that the personal allowance will increase to £11,500 and the basic rate limit increases to £33,500 for 2017/18. The higher rate threshold will therefore rise to £45,000 in the tax year 2017/18.

Tax Bands & Rates – Dividend - As of April 2016 the 10% dividend tax credit is abolished with the result that the cash dividend received will be the gross amount potentially subject to tax. A new dividend tax allowance charges the first £5,000 of dividends at zero and for dividends above £5,000 the new rate will be 7.5% for basic rate tax payers, 32.5% for higher rate tax payers and 38.1% for additional rate tax payers.

Individual Savings Accounts (ISA) - The overall ISA savings limit is £15,240 for 2015/16 and unfortunately will remain at this figure for 2016/17 however for the tax year 2017/18 the ISA saving limit is increasing from £15,240 to £20,000.

The new Lifetime ISA available from April 2017 is a very complicated product and when all the details are clear Personal Money Management will explain them in a later bulletin.

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look forward to. It is a reminder that seasons are made for us to enjoy.

Maybe we can get into the habit of walking again and enjoying the natural things around us… look up, look ahead, look around, look behind and be thankful for what we can see. Walking to school, using the lighter evenings, walking around the village can all be opportunities for us to appreciate small good things in life, and also to take time to chat to people we meet, even if only briefly.

New life!

by Pat Banfill

Don’t you love the Spring when it comes?

The sun is a bit warmer, the buds on the trees are bursting with the bright green of new leaves and the flowers in people’s gardens are coming out. We often feel a bit better as the days are longer and maybe have summer activities to

For those of us who are finding life hard at the moment, it is good to remember that going outside, even for a short walk, helps us to stay alert, engaged with life, purposeful and outward looking. And it is good way of taking care of ourselves too.

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COMMUNITY

Message from the Letterbox Bistro, Balerno “We at the Letterbox Bistro would like to take this opportunity kindly given to us by the Konect magazine, to send a huge thank you to the local community for their support after our recent unfortunate events. As most may know we were unfortunately involved in an armed robber y, however no one was hurt. The silver lining to this incident is seeing a community come together and support each other like they have.”

The Letterbox Team with flowers & cards from the local community

s” pro ject …

“Currie Community Corner Plea se contri bute to the

Dear Curri e Com munity, schoo l er Curri e. In our schoo l we are havin g a whole We are writin g from our Prim ary 4 class at Nethwill be lookin g at their work and this will involve all of focus on art and the work of fa mous artist s. Weof the curriculu m. the areas by something creat ive too. You can mak e a 12cm We would like to invite you to take part and doincorporat e any craft for exa mple knitt ing, croch et, a 12cm squa re with a 3cm borde r. Your squa re can iques, paint or pen on mate rial, sewin g or any other you enjoy, pictu re mad e with mate rial or felt, feltin g techn some where that you like in Curri e, an activ ity craft which you enjoy. Your squa re shoul d showCurri e. We will join all of our Curri e Corne rs toget her to a group which you are part of or your job in inclu de man y parts of our comm unity. mak e a wall hang ing which will to Neth er Curri e Prim ary before 20th May. Plea se can you deliver your comp leted squa res of our 2nd June, where you will be able to view some We would like to invite you to our open day on man y other excit ing activ ities which we have been Curri e Com munity Corne rs, our art exhibition andyou and hope that you would like to participate in our learn ing about. We look forwa rd to heari ng fromCorne rs activ ity.

Curri e Yours faithf ully, ary School Prim ary 4 and every one at Neth er Curri e Prim

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www.juniperbeautyroom.co.uk

624A Lanark Road, Juniper Green, Edinburgh EH14 5EW KONECT

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If you’re looking for top-class dental care then look no further.

Here at Balerno Dental Care we offer a fantastic range of services for all the family.

Routine dental examinations | Cosmetic dentistry | Facial Aesthetics | Implants | Dental Hygiene To book your appointment please call us and a member of our friendly team will be happy to help.

ÂŁ20 OFF your first visit to Balerno Dental Care

To take advantage of this fantastic offer simply fill out your details below and bring this voucher with you when you visit us for your consultation.

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TEL: 0131 449 5545 | info@balernodentalcare.co.uk www.balernodentalcare.co.uk | 38 Main St, Balerno, EH14 7EH Opening times - Open 8am -8pm Mon-Fri 32

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- High sides give additional support when rising

- Maximum user weight: 25 stone

BROXBURN ABLEWORLD

2 Dunnet Way, East Mains Industrial Estate Broxburn, West Lothian, EH52 5NN

Tel: (01506) 856565 info@ableworldbroxburn.co.uk

Formally Mark Wallace Motors at entrance to Industrial Estate

Further details on all our stores can be found on: www.ableworld.co.uk Ableworld are the main mobility retailer in the area approved as a Community Equipment Dispenser NHS Vouchers Welcome *VAT exempt - ask in store for details. MRP - Manufacturer’s Recommended Price Previous Price - Sold for 28 days in the last 6 months at our Nantwich store Ableworld are an Appointed Representative of Fish Insurance, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority

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SPOTLIGHT ON...

Alistair McLellan Alistair Mclellan’s dark blue van with his distinct thistle logo is a familiar sight.

He has been painting and decorating local homes and businesses for over 20 years.

After studying painting and decorating at Telford College as a young man, he went to work for BT as a telephone engineer. He spent many years working for Virgin Media where he eventually became a business systems planning engineer.

“I was responsible for designing new telephone installations,” he explains. However over time and

with three promotions under his belt the work became too desk-based. “I didn’t like sitting at a desk all day, so decided it was time for a change.”

Returning to his original training, Alistair set up as a painter and decorator. It was a change of culture but he loves his work. “When I worked for Virgin Media there was a huge emphasis on customer care and I went on countless courses on the subject. That element of the work has always stayed with me – putting the customer first and making sure they are 100% happy. I’m a very careful worker, but if there is a little niggle with the work I always make sure I go back and fix it.”

For older or infirm customers, he is happy to help out with preparing the room by pushing furniture to the sides and covering it up. He approaches every job as if it was his own premises, and works to a standard he would accept in his own home.

“I install coving too which helps achieve a crisp finish, especially in older homes where none of the walls are dead flat.”

From feature wall papering, interior walls and ceiling, woodwork, exterior work – Alistair approaches every job with the same care. You can see an example of his exterior paintwork at Pentland Veterinary Clinic in Currie; he does all the interior and exterior paintwork for St Mungo’s and has done all the interior work for Balerno Garage for years.

And when he’s not wielding a paintbrush or roller? “I like fishing at Threipmuir or Harlaw, and go to the Orkneys every year to fish for a week.” He can be found walking his dogs, doing DIY at home or out on his motorbike. Alistair also regularly participates in charity fund-raising challenges- has has abseiled the Forth Rail Bridge and Murrayrield Stadium for Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, and last year took part in a 26 mile walk for a children’s charity.

Call Alistair for a quote on 07894 703020

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Jack Watson JOINERY RELIABLE EXPERIENCED LOCAL JOINER NO JOB TOO SMALL CALL FOR A QUOTE

Tel: 0131 449 3730 Mob: 07711916317

Email jackwatson30@gmail.com

Currievale Plumbing Plumbing & Drainage Services Professional & reliable service Family business, over 15 yrs experience All plumbing work carried out

10% OFF on first job 07849 393364 • 0131 449 3071 Currievale Drive, Currie

Tag Cleaning Services Local window and gutter cleaning service

Kitchens supplied and fitted UPVC fascias and gutters Doors and Windows - wood/UPVC Built-in wardrobes • Misted d/g units replaced

All Joinery & Glazing Free estimates

0131 449 3714

e. robertmcneilljoiner@virginmedia.com KONECT

Established over 30 years Free quotations on request Tel : 0131 449 2807 (Office) Neil : 07711 581 384 (Mob) www.TagCleaningServices.co.uk 35

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.

Porteous Family Funeral Directors: Proud to Serve the Local Community

It is an ideal setting for religious or non religious funeral services but can also be made available, at no

Juniper Green Branch - 589 Lanark Road, EH14 5DA - 0131 453 4535 Juniper Green Memorial Showroom: 553 Lanark Road, EH14 5DE - 0131 453 4535 Colinton Branch - 7 Bridge Road, EH13 0LH - 0131 441 6500 Blackhall Branch - 14 Telford Road, EH4 2BA - 0131 332 3609 Also incorporating Bonnyrigg Funeral Directors 60 High Street, EH19 2AB - 0131 654 1988

porteousfunerals.com

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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:

0131 449 5773 • 24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE (BY OUR OWN VETS) • KEYHOLE AND ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY AVAILABLE AT OUR LOANHEAD SURGERY

Claylands Cottage Cattery ...for contented cats

Established in May 2006, we provide first-class holiday accommodation for up to 35 feline guests.

Single and double cabins, as well as large cabins for families, each comprises an upper sleeping area (heated in winter) with an exercise run below.

A collection and drop-off service is available Fully licensed and insured

Proprietors: Pam and Bill Clark Phone: 0131 333 1636 Email: mail@claylandscottagecattery.co.uk Off Claylands Road, Newbridge, EH28 8LZ Conveniently situated near the airport.

www.claylandscottagecattery.co.uk 38

DOG DAYCARE & HOME BOARDING

Tel: 07807 856 940

• Quality Dog Walking/Daycare • Home boarding in our country farmhouse • Experienced & knowledgeable dog handler • Professional service • Disclosure Scotland and insured • Trustworthy & reliable • Exercised on 7 acres of secure private land

HAPPY SCAMPERS

1 Humbie Holdings Kirknewton, EH27 8DS

www.happyscampers.co.uk KONECT

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.

5 RICCARTON MAINS ROAD, CURRIE, MIDLOTHIAN, EH14 5PX

T: 0131 451 5111 W: www.pentlandvetclinic.com

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David Hastings Building Surveyor BSc Hons., M.C.I.O.B., R.Maps., AMiAS

MT ELECTRICAL Domestic, commercial, industrial

Mark Tilbrook Electrical Engineer m: 07772753945

Willy Erskine

Electrical Engineer m: 07990970625

e: hello@mtelectricians.co.uk w: www.mtelectricians.co.uk We pride ourselves on our honest, reliable service

Alexander Aitken Plastering 51 Dolphin Rd, Currie Call Sandy

07966 695595

Plaster work, rough casting, ceramic tiling & general maintenance

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t: 07803 289714 e: wmachastings@gmail.com Thinking of having your house/office altered or extended or garage/loft converted? Call for free consultation. · · · · ·

We offer professional expertise in: Health & Safety to comply with CDM Regs April 2015 Preparation of Specification & Drawings Submission for Planning & Building Warrant Approvals Site & Financial Control Energy & Sustainability Issues

BRUSHSTROKES

K.MELVILLE PAINTER / DECORATOR INTERIOR, EXTERIOR, PRIVATE, COMMERCIAL, INSURANCE WORK

TEL: 0131 451 5372 MOB: 0797 192 3397 Email: brushstrokes@blueyonder.co.uk 66 Forthview Crescent, Currie, EH14 5QT

KONECT

Buster the Dog

0131 477 1167

Professional & reliable dog walking service

Fully stocked & fully trained professional Locksmiths 24 hours a day

Morning & Afternoon Walks Full day care

www.1stcall-locksmiths.com Phone : 07398

684740

Email: lauren@walkswithlauren.co.uk

www.walkswithlauren.co.uk

● 7 days a week appointments.

Chesser Sundays 10am-1pm ● Full surgical and medical facilities at both surgeries ● Puppy/kitten Starter Packages - full vaccinations, microchip and more ● VIP Club - monthly direct debit for ongoing vaccinations, worming, flea control and lots more savings

KONECT

We are a caring, friendly, local practice and treat your pets like one of the family. With our modern facilities, easy parking and team of compassionate staff we can offer your pet the best possible care.

41

VILLAGE PEOPLE

by Suzanne Green

A love for making things

Aged 82, Currie teacher Bob Motion has finally decided to retire after 53 years teaching first high school students and, later, adults how to create furniture and other products using wood and metal. He and his wife Muriel have four grown children, six grandchildren and a brand new greatgranddaughter!

When I called on Bob Motion recently, he showed me to a sitting room furnished entirely with his own creations. The sofa was comfortable, the cabinets and coffee table were beautiful.

“I always knew I wanted to be a cabinet maker,” he tells me. “When I was a boy, my father would go to auctions and bring home wood for me. Once he brought home a three-door wardrobe, so that I could break it up and use the wood to make something else.

“Dad was very practical himself. In 1937, when we moved to Edinburgh from the West, he couldn’t get the materials he needed to make kitchen cupboards because of the war. So he made all of the cupboards using tea chests.”

As a boy Bob was always making things – for example, he recalls making a mahogany tea trolley for his mum when he was still in school. When he wasn’t making something he was cycling (I think his surname suits him!). “I really wanted a bike,” he says, “but again, because of the war, it wasn’t easy to get one. When I did finally get one, I did a lot of cycling. In 1947, when I was 14, I cycled round Scotland with three eighteen-year-olds. We did 760 miles. That was a gorgeous summer!”

42

Bob Motion Later, when Bob was 19, he and some friends cycled to London. It took them three days plus one evening and they camped along the way. “When we arrived at my aunt’s home we were told, ‘We thought you weren’t coming, so we ate your tea,’” Bob recalls, laughing. I doubt he laughed at the time.

Bob served four years as an apprentice at Whytock and Reid, before going to Singapore to do his National Service. He spent 15 months there, working as an airframe mechanic. About a year after Bob returned to the UK he enrolled at Moray House, where he trained to be a teacher.

In 1963 Bob began work at Liberton School, teaching technical subjects such as wood and metal works, mechanics and technical drawing.

During this time he earned his HNC, doing the Higher National Building course at Heriot Watt.

He then completed one year at Napier University, studying engineering and technical drawing.

When an opening came at Currie Secondary School, Bob applied and was successful. He enjoyed his work there for 30 years, moving with the job when the new high school was completed in 1966.

“I loved my job,” Bob tells me. “As long as my students were safe and understood their limits, we could have fun.” He related some of his memories, which included practical jokes and clowning KONECT

around, and I could see they were precious to him. “But we also got some very good work done.

All my students knew how to properly use the chisel and other tools. And they made some excellent products including an electric guitar and a mahogany nest of tables. All of my students had satisfaction … and that gave me satisfaction.”

Bob did more than teaching CDT (Craft, Design, Technology) at Currie High School. He also helped with the Film Club and the Hillwalking Club, as well as building sets and props for school plays. As a Guidance Teacher, in 1984 he encouraged first-year students to give towards the Band Aid famine relief project from their own pocket money, and a total of £450 was raised.

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Several years after starting at Currie High Bob started teaching evening classes for adults too, offering Furniture Renovation and Furniture Making and Woodwork. But on 23 March 2016 he officially retired from both teaching roles. He continues to work every day, but now he only makes furniture and other items for friends and family.

The splints on Bob’s hands speak of the effect that years of woodworking have had on his joints. “The cartilage is gone from the bottom of my thumbs,” he says. “I could have an operation, but it would mean I’d be out of action for six months. And I just can’t do that.”

Photos by Suzanne Green.

43

Ratho Auto Services Servicing, Diagnostics, Tyres, Pre-Purchase Checks, Sales

M.O.T.’s

Clutches

Exhausts

Diagnostics

Tyres

Servicing

10% OFF Labour Costs 10% OFF All Services FREE Car & Tyre Health Check available only when you quote ‘Konect’

01506 442214

44

Auto Technician 73 Station Road Ratho Station EH28 8OP

0131 333 5353 07784 537356

Free Collection & Delivery Service MOTs arranged

Max's Garage Doors Ltd Garage Doors Electric Motors UPVC Side Doors

For all Installations repairs and services

Tel. 07821 984 978

e: autofitnesslimited@gmail.com Unit 12 Napier Square, Houstoun Ind Est, Livingston, EH54 5DG

John Plimmer

info@maxsgaragedoors.co.uk

Find us on Facebook

10 Years Experience KONECT

Servicing on all makes and models of vehicles from just £99

Call 0131

449 2139

for service you can trust • MOT VOSA green traffic light test station • Budget, midrange or premium tyres fitted • Brakes, exhausts and repairs

Balerno Garage 8 Deanpark Brae, Balerno EH14 7DZ

• Cars bought & sold - all makes and models of cars sourced • Fixed Price Servicing • MOT's • Mechanical Repairs • Recovery • Diagnostics • Valeting Cars Bought For Instant Payment TODAY Quality Hand Picked Used Car Sales Finance Available 170 Lanark Rd W, Currie EH14 5NY

0131 449 5751

E: info@hopescott.co.uk W: www.hopescott.co.uk KONECT

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MHT Solutions

Red Hot

WINDOWS Unit 1, Mosshall Ind Estate Blackburn, EH47 7LY

01506 630036

Loca family l -ru busine n ss

redhotwindows@btconnect.com

â– Supply and fit windows and doors â– Trade welcome Major credit cards accepted See website and facebook page compliant for photos of our work www.facebook.com/redhotwindows www.redhotwindows.co.uk

146 Turnhouse Rd, Corstorphine

Specialists in

Home Extensions & Brick Stone work Extensions Sunrooms Garages (conversions) Porches Renovations/alterations Chimney repairs Patio/driveways Garden walls Stonework/lime pointing Architect services

All aspects of building work undertaken including bricklaying, stonework lime pointing, extensions, driveways and garden walls.

All trades supplied ALL WORK IS GUARANTEED

0131 453 6259 07931 101 523

www.deanjonesbuildingservices.co.uk 48

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A. SULA JOINERY SERVICES All aspects of joinery Kitchen fitting, flooring & much more High quality work Free estimates

Adriatik Sula

Currie Mob: 0777 834 7117

email: adriatiksula@hotmail.com

BILL REID & SON DOMESTIC HEATING & PLUMBING

0131 449 5538 07710 458739 2 Turner Avenue Balerno

Telephone Engineer New sockets fitted for phone, internet or sky TV Repair to internal phone and broadband faults Removal of unsightly old wiring and sockets

I can supply and install Easy to use big button voice amplified hearing aid compatable phones with hands free calling. Loud audio phone ringers with flashing indicators

Free estimates – no call out charge Contact John McGraw Tel:

0131 555 1314 0777 192 7796

Mobile: Email: jmcgraw@quikmail.co.uk www.jmcgrawengineering.co.uk KONECT

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Interiors feature

Creating the Perfect Bathroom or Wet Room by ecko

When you think of your favourite room in your home, chances are the bathroom isn’t the first one that springs to mind.

Many people will focus their attention on their living room or bedroom when trying to create a relaxing setting, however creating the perfect bathroom or wetroom can give you a place of sanctuary in your home – somewhere you can escape from the rest of the family for an hour or so. These ideas from Ekco will have your bathroom rivalling a luxury hotel bathroom or spa in no time.

Showpiece shower: The perfect bathroom must have the perfect shower. While a shower can be quick and convenient, modern shower systems have progressed considerably from simply having an on/off switch and temperature control. The Dornbrach Sensory Sky range for example, is designed to stimulate the senses with a massage jet and the ability to create fog and mist. Add to this a soothing rainbow effect and relaxing fragrances, you have a shower experience to rival any top spa.

Beautiful baths: Whilst you may choose the quickness of a shower before work, having a bath in the evening is the perfect way to destress after a long day at the office. Much like showers, bath design has progressed hugely in the last few years giving you a choice from

standard baths to more extravagant and luxuriant models guaranteed to transform your soak in the tub. Whirlpool baths not only help relax you thoroughly, the massage jets offer many health benefits such as increasing circulation and reducing stress levels.

Sleek sinks: Modern sinks come in various designs from scalloped shells to large granite bowls and can be as much a focal point as your bath. Always make sure you get a sink large enough to cope with your needs especially if you decide to cut back on your daily shower or bath to save household water and energy.

Underfloor heating: The Romans had the right idea. There’s nothing worse than a cold floor as you stumble into the bathroom in mid-winter.

Whilst underfloor heating can’t take all the pain of early mornings away, it will ensure your feet are kept warm as you try to wake yourself up for the day ahead. Inconspicuously placed under your bathroom floor tiles, it actually helps heat up your entire bathroom or wet room. You can save between 15-40% on your heating bill as you can use your underfloor heating as the main source of heat in your bathroom and it can be particularly beneficial to those with allergies as it reduces moisture, therefore limiting dust mites.

You can rest in the knowledge that underfloor heating benefits both you and the environment as it can reduce your carbon dioxide emissions.

You certainly won’t regret it on those cold Scottish mornings..

KITCHENS | BATHROOMS | BIFOLD DOORS | SUNROOMS

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

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

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

01506 857 007 www.ekco.co.uk EDINBURGH 0131 343 6007 Abbeyhill Industrial Estate EH8 8HL

DALGETY BAY 01383 667 048 Western Approach Rd KY11 9XP

UPHALL 01506 857 007 54 West Main Street EH52 5DW

Visit our bespoke kitchen & bathroom studio Geddes House, Kirkton North, Livingston EH54 6GU

www.luxurykitchensandbathrooms.com

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Fairmilehead’s leading Roofing Specialists “Going the Extra Mile” Slating & Tiling Flat Roofing

Fairmile Roofing

.com

OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE

Single Ply Roofing Lead Work Pointing, Guttering Rough Casting, Harling Emergency Roofing Services FREE ESTIMATES WITH PHOTOS

FULLY INSURED & GUARANTEED

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SUPPORT YOUR NUMBER 1 ROOFER

0131 445 7787 Mob: 07837 628 654 Info@fairmileroofing.com www.fairmileroofing.com Office: 108/9 Biggar Road Fairmilehead EH10 7DU

WE ARE MEMBER’S OF

Single Ply

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

54

KONECT

Gerry Aitken Painter and Decorator Boiler Repair Boiler Service Boiler Replacement Full Central Heating Installation Gas Safety Certificates PAT - Portable Appliance Testing Boiler Service Contracts Power Flushing

0131 564 0940

info@lsheating.com www.lsheating.com KONECT

Juniper Green

Tel: 07798 565321 Ames Taping Coving Artexing Interior Exterior 25 years Experience 55

Simply Electrical

For all jobs, big or small just SIMPLY call!

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Darren Wemyss

Electrician P.A.T. Testing e: simplyelectrical@contractor.net

Gas Central Heating

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Boiler Changes

Look on facebook page for deals of the week! www.facebook.com/SimplyElectricalElectrician

and Full Systems

Wave. Smart heating and hot water control on the go.

The Wave is a smart, internetconnected programmable control for central heating and hot water which can be operated using a smart phone or tablet.

Double Glazing Doctor Four Seasons Scotland Limited

The Lothians finest...

• If we can’t fix it - it can’t be fixed.

• Does your conservatory leak?

• Do you have broken locks, hinges handles?

• Are your sealed units misted or broken?

• Is your original supplier no longer in business or just won’t honour your existing guarantee?

Don’t panic. Call the Good Doctor now and get a clean bill of health!

Keep your existing windows & upgrade to our energy saving glass.

Your Local Home Improvement Company.

four seasons

The Conservatory Complex and Innovation Studio: Riccarton Garden Centre, Riccarton Mains Rd, Currie Mon - Fri 10am - 4pm, Sat - Sun 11am - 4pm.

0131 449 7000 (24/7)

Scotland Limited

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C and W Cleaning Services www.cwcleaningservices.co.uk

0131 334 2080 Livingston 0800 695 1101

Edinburgh

Your local Blinds ■ Carpets ■ Rugs ■ Upholstery ■ specialists Quick drying carpets and upholstery Same day blind cleaning available

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Your one-stop home improvement complex

6-10 Glasgow Road, Bathgate, EH28 2AA sales@1stchoiceliving.co.uk www.1stchoiceliving.co.uk

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GET 3 CARPETS THOROUGHLY DEEP CLEANED FOR THE PRICE OF 2 FREE no tion obliga s quote

All work is 100% guarante ed for yo satisfac ur tion

• Specialist Carpet Cleaning • Rugs - collected, cleaned and returned • Upholstery & Leather Cleaning • Stain Protection • Stone Floor Cleaning

Tel: 08000 463 422 Mob: 07789 007 072 www.hydrokleenscotland.co.uk Email: info@hydrokleenscotland.co.uk

Contact us on: 0131 449 6961 3 Pentland Court View, Currie, Edinburgh, EH14 5NP

Bleachcleanable carpets from £6.99/m2

Carpets

Free estimates

Vinyls Local Family Business Made to measure Blinds Orders supplied within 2 weeks or less

MADE TO MEASURE

BLINDS KONECT

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A & A Electrical Solutions Ltd Balerno All electrical work Private or commercial No job too big or small All work guaranteed Free estimates Professional and reliable service

NO CALLOUT CHARGE FREE QUOTATIONS UPVC SPECIALIST

Alan: 07969 929327

or email alskie@hotmail.com

FEEL SAFE AND SECURE ON THIS WINTER EDINBURGH BREAK-INS THE RISE HERE TO TO SECURE SECURE HERE 5 Parkhead Gardens, Visit our website or phone us at: Edinburgh, EH11 4SB T: T: 0131 0131 531 531 4727 4727 M: M: 07970 07970 951 951 707 707 E: Info@gldsecurity.co.uk Email: Info@gldsecurity.co.uk

www.gldsecurity.co.uk Web: www.gldsecurity.co.uk Check on your premises from anywhere in the world with our Smart Phone App

INTRUDER ALARM ยง CCTV ยง FIRE ALARMS ยง ACCESS CONTROL DOOR ENTRY SYSTEMS ยง SECURITY LIGHTING 60

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Recipe & Food Notes

bY Anne Pinkerton

“Cookery for Every Household” Recently, walking about Edinburgh’s West End, I was given a leaflet about famous people who had lived there.

From a cook’s point of view the most interesting person of the area was Florence B Jack of Athol Crescent. She really was the Scottish Mrs Beaton and perhaps the Athol Crescent Cookery School’s greatest teacher. (The school became the core of Queen Margaret’s University). She was extremely practical in her ideas about food, cooking and the skills needed to run a household on a budget; things we very much need today. I was inspired to buy her book and to my delight found it on Amazon from a charity bookseller.

“Cookery for Every Household” was published in May 1914. In the preface she explains, “As an active teacher, I have found that even the best books frequently assume in readers a knowledge which they do not in fact possess...This book is not merely a recipe book...many trifling but necessary details are included.” She ends saying, “As attractively prepared food is so important to the health of everyone, and as it is easy to rest upon one’s achievements and fall into a groove, I strongly urge all who are charged with the cooking for a household to try new dishes, so as to introduce variety into the daily bill of fare.” The style of language is a little stilted but in all else she is 100% correct.

There are parts of the book we don’t need to know about today; (napkin folding, how to use a hanging meat safe...) but the food uses a wide range of fruit and vegetables and is practical to cook at home.

There were some topics missing - no recipes for salmon but ten ways to serve cucumber hot! The cooked puddings are delicious. Chestnut and custard pudding caught my eye. She explains how to stuff olives with pimento, sardine or lemon and how to make Rowan or Mountain Ash jelly.

Thankfully all are to be found on supermarket

shelves today. She even tells how to make Chapel Window cake. It is Battenberg cake but with 3 colours of sponge cake sandwiched together with apricot jam and surrounded in marzipan. Hers cost 1d per slice, mine more like 45p!

Near the end is a chapter on herbs and spices.

“Success in cookery depends to a large extent upon the proper use of seasonings, flavourings and spices.” With such good teaching available, how did food at home gain to such a poor reputation?

The answer, I think, is the marketing of food multinationals who want us to think we can’t produce good, interesting food for ourselves. We can. It can be a pleasure to share these skills and involve children so they too will be able to enjoy sharing and preparing food.

Stuffed Tomatoes 4 or 5 large ripe tomatoes 2 tbsp bread crumbs 2 tbsp chopped left-over cold meat, e.g. chicken or ham, 1 teaspoon chopped parsley 1 shallot chopped, fried in a little butter Salt, pepper, pinch dried mixed herbs 1 tbsp. of the gravy or sauce from the meat or a little white sauce Method Remove the stalk and hollow out the fruit careful not to puncture the skin. Keep the inners and sieve them and add to the stuffing. Make the stuffing by mixing together the rest of the ingredients. Pile loosely into the tomatoes and bake for about 20 minutes in a moderate oven 160oC. till browned.

Note: the above stuffing can be varied according to taste and materials to hand. Add a few chopped mushrooms, grated cheese or use cooked rice or pasta, or again any nicely cooked vegetable such as peas, asparagus tips cauliflower etc. or use less stuffing and bake an egg in the tomato instead.

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KONECT

Home Baking Breakfasts from 8am Afternoon Teas (booking required) Cake and Sugar Craft Classes Celebration Cakes Made To Order 563 Lanark Road, Juniper Green, EH14 5DB

Open Daily

Tel: 0131 6100665 | Mobile: 07773 978923 Email: info@mollys.co

www.mollys.co 63

PUZZLES

CROSSWORD

Solution in the May edition of konect

Across 7 Sight (6) 8 Female relative (6) 9 Largest continent (4) 10 Fit and healthy (8) 11 Beetles, ants etc (7) 13 Animal furs (5) 15 Invoices (5) 17 Considers (7) 20 Taking small bites (8) 21 Solely (4) 23 Distributed (6) 24 A capital city (6) Down 1 Fasteners (4) 2 Buccaneer (6) 3 Young children (7) 4 Sailing boat (5) 5 Involuntary action (6) 6 Menacing (8) 12 Loudest (8) 14 Harshly (7) 16 Hard work (6) 18 Drenches (6) 19 Feathered friends? (5) 22 Stolen goods (4)

SUDOKU

Sudoku solution on page 69

64

KONECT

BALERNO VILLAGE NURSERY Balerno Community Centre 7-11 Main Street, Balerno

TEL: 0131 451 5756

Constituency Surgeries

Email: Thevillageplaygroup@outlook.com

The Scottish Parliament closes on 23rd March for the Scottish Parliament election held on 5th May. I am required to stop holding my advice surgeries from 24th March. I am not allowed to take on new cases but can continue with cases advised to me by 23rd March. Also, I am not permitted to hold my usual surgeries after that date. My office in the Scottish Parliament will also be closed.

Back by popular demand: PLAY ZONE for 2-3 year olds Available Mon-Fri 8.45am - 11.15 am

How to contact Gordon Macdonald until 23 March

Providers of Quality Afforable Childcare for children from 6 weeks to P2, graded “very Good” by The Care Inspectorate.

Gordon Macdonald MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands Email gordon.macdonald.msp@scottish.parliament.uk Phone Parliament: 0131 348 5741 Mail The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP Web www.gordonmacdonaldmsp.info @GMacdonaldMSP Gordonmacdonaldsnpmsp

Please telephone, email or call in to view the nursery, No appointment necessary.

Spring into to Action in West Lothian West Lothian’s spring season is now in full swing and with the celebrations of Easter reaching an end; it’s time to start thinking about getting outdoors this month. With fun attractions and scenic landscapes, located at a number of fantastic sites across West Lothian, it’s time to spring into action this season.

while Beecraigs Country Park can provide fantastic cycling paths for the perfect outdoor adventure.

Whether you’re looking to improve your fitness or simply want to explore the outdoors, there is plenty to do when looking to explore the beautiful landscape. West Lothian is home to some fantastic scenic walking paths, parks and cycling routes for all ages to enjoy. Polkemmet Country Park and the beautiful loch at Linlithgow Palace are the perfect locations for a quiet stroll accompanied by spectacular views

We have now launched our brand new Visitor Guide for 2016. So pick up a copy in our leaflet stands located at a number of locations across West Lothian, or check out our website for our new online version!

KONECT

West Lothian has so much on offer for all those looking to have some fun adventures this spring. So explore the outdoors and enjoy these amazing attractions and let’s ‘Get Active’ this spring!

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.

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WHAT’S ON

and Useful Information Tuesday 5th April Pondlife at Harlaw - Children’s Activity Afternoon Come along to Harlaw House Wildlife Garden and discover what animals lurk in the pond and take part in fun nature activities. Drop in any time between 13.30 - 15.30. Lots of fun activities for children in the Visitor Centre and the Wildlife Garden. Suitable for 5 - 8 year olds, all children must be accompanied by an adult. Harlaw House Visitor Centre. For more information contact the Pentlands Regional Park Service at pentlandhills@edinburgh.gov.uk Tel 0131 529 2401.

Donations welcome.

Saturday 9th April Balerno Farmers’ Market Main Street (pedestrianised), Balerno, 9am – 1pm.

Wednesday 13th & Thursday 14th April Learn how to Dyke Harperrig Reservoir, 9:30am -4pm. Two day training course providing the practical skills and confidence necessary to repair and build dry stane dykes. The techniques and principles of dry stane dyking will be introduced to participants along with the wider considerations and knowledge of different styles of wall, stones and dry stane dykes as a landscape feature.

No experience required. Booking essential, book via The Conservation Volunteers tel 01786 479697 email scotland-trianing@tcv.org.uk. Cost: £85

Saturday 23rd April Juniper Green Farmer’s Market Juniper Green Village Hall, Juniper Park Road at the end of Baberton Avenue. 9am – 1pm.

Monday 25th April Green Hairstreak Survey Join a Ranger to help survey this locally rare butterfly.

Having decreased in numbers in several regions, this butterfly is found in small colonies in the Regional Park.

13:30 – 15:30 at Bonaly Country Park Booking: Essential, for more information contact the Pentlands Regional Park Service at pentlandhills@edinburgh.gov.uk Tel 0131 529 2401. Bring: Sturdy footwear and waterproofs.

Balerno Village Screen APRIL: Friday 15 April Suffragette (cert 12A) 7.30 pm Saturday 16 April E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (cert U) 2.30 pm Brooklyn (cert 12A) 7.30 pm Venues: St Joseph’s Church Hall, Balerno Tickets available at www.balernovillagescreen.com and at The Mill, St Joseph’s Cafe, Balerno. Programme and timings subject to change. Please check website for details.

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Juniper gReen Parish Church Dates: SUN 3 APRIL JUNIPER GREEN PARISH CHURCH – 10.30am MORNING SERVICE including Crèche and Kids’ Church and Youth Group.

THU 7 APRIL JUNIPER GREEN PARISH CHURCH – ‘GUILD OF FRIENDSHIP’ in Hall 2 from 2pm - 3.30pm with a Talk by David Mieras - “The Seagull Trust”. SUN 10 APRIL JUNIPER GREEN PARISH CHURCH – 10.30am MORNING SERVICE including Crèche and Kids’ Church and Youth Group. SUN 10 APRIL JUNIPER GREEN PARISH CHURCH – “SUNDAY@ SEVEN” in Hall 2 from 7pm - 8pm. TUE 12 APRIL JUNIPER GREEN PARISH CHURCH – ‘OPEN DOOR CAFÉ’ Mother and Toddler Group in Hall 1 from 10am -12 noon. WED 13 APRIL JUNIPER GREEN PARISH CHURCH – ‘CHURCH WEDNESDAY’ Prayer Time in Hall 3 from 7pm – 7.30pm, Bible Study: Luke 4: 14 - 30; 7.30pm in Hall 2. SUN 17 APRIL JUNIPER GREEN PARISH CHURCH – 10.30am MORNING SERVICE including Crèche and Kids’ Church and Youth Group, followed by Prayers for Healing. TUE 19 APRIL JUNIPER GREEN PARISH CHURCH – ‘OPEN DOOR CAFÉ’ Mother and Toddler Group in Hall 1 from 10am -12 noon. WED 20 APRIL JUNIPER GREEN PARISH CHURCH – ‘CHURCH WEDNESDAY’ Prayer Time in Hall 3 from 7pm – 7.30pm, Bible Study: Mark 2: 1 - 12; 7.30pm in Hall 2. THU 21 APRIL JUNIPER GREEN PARISH CHURCH - ‘THE THURSDAY SERVICE’ in St Margaret’s Court Hall, 525 Lanark Road, at 10.30am. THU 21 APRIL JUNIPER GREEN PARISH CHURCH – ‘GUILD OF FRIENDSHIP’ in Hall 2 from 2pm - 3.30pm with a Talk by Lesley Cooper - “The Five Sisters Zoo”. SUN 24 APRIL JUNIPER GREEN PARISH CHURCH – 10.30am MORNING SERVICE including Crèche and Kids’ Church and Youth Group.

TUE 26 APRIL JUNIPER GREEN PARISH CHURCH – ‘OPEN DOOR CAFÉ’ Mother and Toddler Group in Hall 1 from 10am -12 noon. WED 27 APRIL JUNIPER GREEN PARISH CHURCH – ‘CHURCH WEDNESDAY’ Prayer Time in Hall 3 from 7pm – 7.30pm, Bible Study: Luke 19: 1 - 10; 7.30pm in Hall 2.

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

library information Balerno Library 1 Main Street, Balerno, EH14 7EQ T: 0131 529 5500 E: balerno.library@edinburgh.gov.uk Opening times: Mon & Wed: 1- 8pm | Tues & Fri: 10am -5pm | Saturday: 10am-2pm.

Currie Library 210 Lanark Road West, Currie EH14 5NX T: 0131 529 5609 E: currie.library@edinburgh.gov.uk Opening times: Mon & Wed: 1- 8pm | Tues, Thurs & Fri: 10am-5pm | Saturday: 10am-5pm.

Ratho Library 6 School Wynd, Ratho EH28 8TT T: 0131 333 5297 E: ratho.library@edinburgh.gov.uk Find us on Facebook, Ratho library.

Opening times: Mon & Wed 1-8pm | Tues, Thurs & Fri 10am-5pm | Sat 10am-5pm.

Regular events at Ratho Library (for fortnightly and monthly events please contact the library for this month’s dates): Knit and Natter every Mon 2-4pm Book Group every second Wed 2-3.30. Glitzlit Girls’ Group every Wed 5.45-6.30. Book Bug -rhymes and songs for parents and under 5s every Thursday10.15-10.45. Stories and crafts for 5-7 year olds every Thursday 3.30-4.30.

Adult colouring group alternative Friday 10.30-12.00pm We are happy to arrange computer courses for beginners and learning how to use E-Books on demand.

KONECT

clubs & classes

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

BALERNO Wildfire Explorer Scouts

Meet in Balerno High School. Fridays 7.15 - 9.15pm. 14 – 18yrs.

Contact: Gordon Simpson 0131 477 3116.

Email leaders@wildfire-explorers.org.uk

DadZone

At St Mungo’s Church, Ladycroft. Saturdays 9 -10.30am for Dads and male carers and their 0-4 year olds. Toys crafts, refreshments.

Dates for 2015: 29th August, 12th September, 17th October, 31st October, 28th November and 12th December. All welcome. For more info email balernodadzone@gmail.com or search Facebook for the online group.

Balerno Monday Club

Non-denominational club for over 55s. Our meetings are held in St Joseph’s Centre at Balerno Parish Church at 2pm on the first and third Mondays of the month from September to May. Different speakers, activities and outings each session, please contact the Club for syllabus details.

Beginners Yoga Classes

No experience needed (18+) - £6 per class Monday 8.30pm at Balerno Scout Hall Tuesday 8pm at Gibson Craig Hall, Lanark Road, Currie Wednesday 7.45pm at Forth View Crescent Scout Hall, Currie Monday 6pm at Juniper Green Village Hall Any questions please contact Monica karmayoga@btinternet.com Tel: 07986 600432.

Balerno Girls’ Brigade

Ogston Hall in Balerno Parish Church Tuesdays 6.30 - 7.30pm. Contact Marion Milne on 0131 449 4441 or email marion724@talktalk.net

Pentland Art Club Meet at Balerno High School Art Room Every Thursday 7.30 - 9.30pm Demonstrations, speakers, work evenings; All mediums; New members welcome. Please contact E Thomson on 0131 333 4662.

Pentland Flower Club Drama Studio, Balerno High School First Friday of the month at 7pm (excluding January, February, July and August); Visitors and new members are always welcome.

Contact Lis Daly on 0131 442 2146.

Children’s swim scheme Balerno High School Tues, Wed and Fri pm; Sat and Sun am. Contact Balerno Community Education Office 0131 477 7733 for more info.

Compass Playgroup Dean Park Primary Pre-School Centre. 2-5 years, wide variety of activities. Mon to Thurs (school term time only) 9:00am - 11.45am.

Lunch Club and Transfer Service to Dean Park Nursery. Call 0131 449 4530 (during opening hours) for more information or email info@compassplaygroup.com

Balerno Baby and Toddler Group Balerno Parish Church Hall 3 Johnsburn Road, Balerno, EH14 7DN. For children 0-5 years and their carers. Term-time Thursdays 9.30 - 11.30am.

Balerno Parish Church Guild

51st Pentland Scouts (Balerno)

Beavers, Cubs, Scouts Various evenings, Balerno Scout Hall. Contact John Henderson on 07941 637262

Balerno Parish Church New Hall First and third Wednesdays (commencing October) at 7.30pm Varied syllabus with many interesting speakers; Tea/coffee is served at the end of the meeting. New members and visitors warmly welcomed

Currie Rugby Football Club

Balerno Folk Club

Pentland Caledonia Pipes and Drums

Held on the last Tuesday of each month in Balerno Bowling Club Doors open 8pm; Evening begins 8.20pm; Guest artist on stage at 8.30pm; Members and guests welcome. For further info contact Morag Dunbar on 0131 449 5014 or John Stirling on 0131 449 3456.

Malleny Park Minis (P1-7) Sundays 10.30am - 12pm. Contact 0131 449 2432 www.currierugby.org Balerno Community Centre Every Friday 7pm-9.30pm. New members welcome.

Free tuition on pipes or drums Phone 0131 4495133.

Balerno Village Nursery

Balerno Community Centre Available 8am - 6pm, 5 days a week. Preschool play from age 2 years. Breakfast / Afterschool Club up to 8 years. Full or part time childcare . Call 0131 451 5756

Pilates Classes

Balerno Parish Church - Mondays 7.30 - 8.30pm - Intermediate/Advanced 8.30 - 9.30pm - Beginners/Post Beginners Contact Judi on 07716 830905 or judithrintoulpilates@hotmail.com

Balerno Footsteps 4 Fitness

Balerno SWRI Balerno Community Centre 7.30pm First Tuesday of every month (except July & August). We usually have a speaker but we also have “in house” evenings; There is usually some business to be discussed and we enjoy a “cuppa” whilst chatting; New members or visitors welcome, just come along

Minis @St Mungo’s Group for babies and toddlers with their carers on term time.

Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10 - 11.30am in St Mungo’s church building, Ladycroft, Balerno; All welcome. For more information see www.stmungos.org

Chat’n’ Chill for S1-S6

Mondays 10am at Balerno High School Riverside Café Alternative Thursdays 10am at Balerno High School Riverside Café Alternative Fridays 10am at Balerno Parish Church Hall Contact 0131 477 7733. www.bf4f.org.uk

Teenage Café Church Gibson Craig Hall, Lanark Road West Currie. Games, Café, Chat.

Every second Friday 4-6 pm. Contact Viola on 07806 806920 for more info.

Adult daytime swim club

Pilates Classes

Balerno High School Contact Balerno Community Education Office on 0131 477 7733 for more info.

KONECT

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.

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clubs & classes

CURRIE Currie Youth Club

Various activities and facilities available including Gym Teds for childern Sound and Music room; Youth club facilities Sports hall Playgroup Lunch club and Football teams. See http://cyc.smartchange.org

Arts & Crafts Group

Art Room 1, Currie Community High School Thursdays 7.15 - 9pm - from 18th September to 27th November (except 16th October). We are a small, friendly group (of all ages) and new members will be made very welcome. £35 for the 10-week term or £5 per session, if paid on the night. Fee covers all materials, equipment and refreshments. For more information please email: phoenixarts@hotmail.com or tel: 07934 495488.

Bridge Club

Meetings in Gibson Craig Hall on Mondays at 1:30pm, September to June. For more information contact the Secretary on 0131 449 3527.

Coffee and Craft

Currie High School, Sun Room Mon 7 - 9pm Bring your own craft and share your knowledge and experience with other crafters and perhaps learn something new. All welcome. £2.00 per night; Refreshments are included.

Air Cadets 2463 (Currie & Balerno) Squadron Forthview Crescent Mon and Thu 7-9.30pm. 0131 449 7449 for more info.

Currie Playgroup

Currie Baptist Church Hall Preschool play from age 2 years Mon-Fri, 8.45 - 11.45am (term time) £6.50 per child per morning Wraparound and Lunch Club for children attending Currie Nursery Wrap around £5.00; Lunch club £2.00 See www.currieplaygroup.co.uk

Messy Church at Currie Kirk

Usually the last Friday of the month 2 - 3.30pm for children from Pram to Primary age, accompanied by an adult. Crafts, stories, games and fun. Please register through www.curriekirk.org or currie_kirk@btconnect.com Tel 0131 451 5141.

Currie Baby and Toddler Group

Gibson Craig Hall Friday 9.30 - 11.30am (term time only). Adults £2.00; Kids go free Parents/Grandparents/Carers/Childminders are all very welcome; Snack provided for the kids and tea and coffee for the adults Loads of space to play

Balerno and District Ramblers

Midweek Group meets on a Wednesday at Currie Library Car Park, Lanark Rd West 9.15am for 9.30am start. Contact M Timmins 0131 449 4525 or A Blyth 0131 629 3644. Saturday and Sunday Group meets at Pentland View Carpark, Currie, at 8.45am for 9am start. Contact E Scroggie on 0131 441 1666.

Book Group

Currie Library First Wednesday of each month at 7.00pm.

Beginners Yoga Classes

No experience needed (18+) - £6 per class Tuesday 8pm at Gibson Craig Hall, Lanark Road, Currie Wednesday 7.45pm at Forth View Crescent Scout Hall, Currie Monday 6pm at Juniper Green Village Hall Monday 8.30pm at Balerno Scout Hall Any questions please contact Monica, email: karmayoga@ btinternet.com Tel: 07986 600432

Corner Cafe Book Club

At the Corner Cafe, 120 Lanark Road West, Currie Meet 27th of every month at 7.45. Informal friendly group, all welcome, we read a mixture of classics and popular books. £3 per session.

42nd Pentland Scout Group Currie

Fitsteps

The Octagon Club

Angela’s Fitness

Forth View Crescent, Currie Cubs Monday 6.15 – 7.45pm. Call Andrew 07876567552.

Scouts Monday 7.45 – 9.15pm. Call Ross 07729714445.

Beavers Friday 6.30 – 7.30pm. Call Sharon 07810 201680. www.42ndpentland.scoutsites.org.uk For Adults with Special Needs and Learning Difficulties Meets in Gibson Craig Hall, Lanark Road West, Currie, 7 - 9pm on Wednesday Evenings from mid September until June for table tennis, snooker, badminton, table games, “tuck shop” etc.

Contact Alastair Hardie on 0131 453 3556

Fun and effective dance fitness class inspired and created by Strictly Come Dancing stars Natalie Lowe and Ian Waite. Learn the steps from Tango, Jive, Viennese Waltz, Samba and many more, without the need of a partner. Thursday 7.30-8.15pm, Currie High School, Edinburgh, £5 per person. For more info call Lianne on 07737 927463 www.facebook.com/moveitdanceandfitsteps

Currie Library Thursdays 2.00 - 3.30pm Come along for an informal tea or coffee and chat with other parents and babies. 50p per week.

Currie High School METAFIT: Thursdays 6:15pm-6:45pm. A 30 min full body workout.

Great for weight loss, toning, improving strength and power.

Burn fat in your sleep with Metafit. ABS BLAST: Thursdays: 6:45pm–7:15pm. 30 min core workout to strengthen your abs and lower back. £4 per class or £15 for 5 classes, mix&match. Both classes are suitable for any fitness levels & ages as options of exercises are given. For more info please contact Angela on: angelasfitness@live. co.uk; tel: 07845705819; www.facebook.com/angelassfitnesscurrie

Karate

Macular Society, Pentland Group

Baby Group

Currie High School; Mondays 7.30 - 9pm Adults and Children over 6 years.

Please contact 0131 449 3510 or 0131 445 2945 for more info or email patricia.shearer@edinburgh.gov.uk

Currie & District Local History Society

Meetings Mondays at 7.30 in the Gibson-Craig Hall in Currie Visitors welcome; For further information contact Douglas N Lowe on 0131 449 4349 or douglaslowe51@btinternet.com

Currie SWRI

Meet in the Gibson Craig Hall, Lanark Road West, Currie On the second Tuesday of each month (except July and August) at 7.15pm. New members and visitors welcome

Boys Brigade - 65th Edinburgh (Currie) Company Gibson Craig Hall, Lanark Road West Currie Anchors (Boys P2 & P3) - Thursday 6 - 7pm

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Juniors (Boys P4, P5 & P6) - Thursday 7 - 8.30pm Company/Seniors (Boys P7 - S6) - Friday 7 - 9.15pm For further info contact Jim Webber on 0131 451 5112

Group for visually impaired people, 2nd Friday of every month in Currie Library at 2pm. Audio Book Group meets 1st Monday of every month in Currie Library at 2.15 pm. I-Pad tuition group for visually impaired people all other Mondays in Currie Library at 2.15pm

Sarah’s Fitness

Kettlercise at Currie High School.

Mondays 6.30 – 7.30pm. £5 per class. Tel 07540 894287 email sarahhardie@hotmail.com

JUNIPER GREEN Juniper Green Nursery Playgroup

Juniper Green Community Centre (Village Hall) 1 Juniper Park Road EH14 5DX. Contact 07948 554889 or see website at www.junipergreenplaygroup.vpweb.co.uk KONECT

31st Pentland Scouts (Juniper Green) 45 Lanark Road West, Currie Beavers - Wed 6.30pm Cubs - Mon 7.00pm Cubs - Tues 6.30pm Scouts - Fri 7.00pm Contact - Mary Dick on 0131 449 7043

Juniper Green SWRI

Juniper Green Community Centre (Village Hall) 1 Juniper Park Road EH14 5DX. Contact 0131 539 9886.

RATHO

Susan Douglas Pilates

Ratho Community Centre Mon 5.55pm – 6.55pm. See www.douglaspilates.co.uk

Ratho WRI

Meet in Ratho Community Centre on second Wednesday of each month (except July & August) from 7pm to 9pm. New members and visitors welcome. Contact 0131 333 4862 for information.

Ratho Scouts, Cubs & Beavers

Ratho Community Centre Beavers: Tuesdays 6.30pm - 7.30pm (age 6-8) Cubs: Fridays 7pm - 8.30pm (age 8-10.5) Scouts: 7pm - 8.45pm. (age 10.5 -14)

Pilates Classes

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). For more details contact elise@ekpilates.co.uk. You’ll also find me on facebook.com/ekpilates.

NUstArt West Art Group

WHALE Arts Agency, 30 Westburn Grove, EH14 2SA Fridays 10.30am – 1.30pm. Friendly and very supportive self-led art group would welcome new members, both male & female, to join them on Friday mornings. Bring your own paints & brushes, or make use of class materials. £4 per session, but note that weekly fees are due to help pay room rental costs even for a missed class. For further details phone 0131 453 5294, or join us one morning for coffee and a chat.

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

Ratho Ravers

Ratho Community Centre Mon 10am-12pm. Exercising body and mind for the over fifties. £3 per class. For more information call the Community Centre on 0131 333 1055.

Solution to February Crossword

Across: 1 Neat, 3 Ignorant, 9 Natural, 10 Navel, 11 Early, 12 Oceans, 14 Sewing, 16 Absent, 19 Potato, 21 Tiger, 24 Pulse, 25 Fearful, 26 Nineteen, 27 Used.

Down: 1 Nonsense, 2 Actor, 4 Gallop, 5 Ounce, 6 Advance, 7 Till, 8 Crayon, 13 Startled, 15 Woollen, 17 Betray, 18 Coffee, 20 Agent, 22 Gifts, 23 Open.

Parent & Toddlers Group

Community Centre Tues and Thurs 10am-12noon. Under 3s. Members 50p, non members £1. For more information call the Community Centre on 0131 333 1055.

Art Club

Ratho Community Centre Tues 7-9pm. Adult Multimedia Club. Members 50p, non members £1. For more information call the Community Centre on 0131 333 1055.

50 Plus Group

Varied programme of activities/outings New members welcome – meet fortnightly at Ratho Community Centre. Members 50p, non-members £1. For more information call the Community Centre on 0131 333 1055

Solution to Sudoku Page 64

Scouts

All meet at the Community Centre, meeting times are as follows: Beavers: Tuesdays 6.30pm - 7.30pm (age 6-8) Cubs: Fridays 7pm - 8.30pm (age 8-10.5) Scouts: 7pm - 8.45pm. (age 10.5-14)

OTHER AREAS 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, jewellery 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

Irish Dancing

St. Nicholas Church, Calder Road, Sighthill New children’s class for ages 4 and upwards on Wednesdays from 5.30pm to 6.30pm. First class is FREE then £4 per class. Contact Audrey on 07952 159227 to register. Children’s classes also in Leith and Wynchburgh. Adults classes in Edinburgh and Broxburn.

KONECT

Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss, damage or omission caused by error in the printing of an advertisement.The Konect Directory does not endorse any advertising material that appears in this publication. Adverts are accepted on the understanding that descriptions of goods and services are fair and accurate. All material is accepted for publication on the understanding that it is copyright free.The Konect Directory accepts no liability for any subsequent copyright issues. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior consent of the publisher.

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

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INDEX OF ADVERTISERS Aerials Kinnear Aerials 52 Appliance Repair Appliances of Edinburgh 5 Bathrooms 1st Choice Living 58 Duffy Mclean 52 Ekco 51 Ken Dunton 56 Splash Bathrooms 40 Beauty Beauty Box 23 Juniper Beauty Room 31 Blacksmith D & I Blacksmiths 14 Builder Almond Building Company 54 Dean Jones Building Services 48 Building Surveyor David Hastings 40 Cafe/Tearoom Molly’s 63 CAKE MAKER Molly’s 63 Car Bodywork Bodyshop Edinburgh 46 Car Sales Hermiston Motors 47 Hope Scott Garage 45 Car Service & Repair Autocare Solutions 46 Balerno Garage 45 Hermiston Motors 47 Hope Scott Garage 45 MBA Specialists 44 Ratho Auto Services 44 Caravan Service & Repair Auto Fitness 44 Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning C and W Cleaning Services 57 Hydro Kleen Scotland 59 James Burnett Carpet Cleaning 14 Carpets & Flooring Pentland Carpets 59 Catering Food Creations 63 Children’s Nursery Balerno Village Nursery 65 Chiropody/Podiatry Pentland Footcare 22 Chiropractor ABC Chiropractic 25 Cleaning Services Blaikie 10 Cleaning and Maintenance 17 Cleaning Doctor 57 Complementary Therapies Access 2 Balance 22 Balance 4 Me Reflexology 22 Youyen Thai Massage 30 Craft Shop & Classes Coo Creations 24 Dentist Balerno Dental Care 32 Currie Dental Care 31 No 9 Dental 25 Riccarton Dental Practice 30 Double Glazing Repair Double Glazing Doctor 56 Double Glazing Repairs 40 Dressmaking/Alterations Coo Creations 24 Electrician A&A Electrical 60 Altech Electrical 48 MT Electrical 40 Simply Electrical 56 Spark Electrical Solutions 54 Sykes Electrical 55

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Fencing/Gates S & D Fences 19 Financial Services Personal Money Management 20 Shape Pensions 21 Fitness - Personal Training KM Fitness 32 Fitness Classes Oriam 6 Sarah’s Fitness 22 Florist Vicky’s Flowers 23 Funeral Director Porteous Funeral Directors 36 Furniture & Furnishings Shapes 2 Garage Doors Max’s Garage Doors Ltd 44 Garden & Landscaping AA Landscapes 18 CS Gardening 14 D Greaves 12 Evergreen Gardening Services 15 Green Thumb 37 JGM Landscapes 17 Ladies Who Garden 19 Riccarton Garden Centre 19 TruGreen 17 Garden Buildings Champfleurie Estate Ltd 7 Glazier R McNeill Joiner & Glazer 35 Golf Club Baberton Golf Club 21 Gym/Health Club Marriott Dalmahoy 28 Oriam 6 Hairdresser Hairtech 23 J & J Hair 23 Tony Harper Hairdressers 30 Healthcare ABC Hearing 26 Heating Services Duffy McLean 56 L & S Heating 55 Homes for Sale CALA Homes 13 Insurance Glenavon Insurance Ltd 21 Ironing Services Ironing Aid 24 Joiner Adriatik Sula 49 GK Wilson Joiner 17 GR Construction 57 Jack Watson Joiner 35 R McNeill Joiner & Glazer 35 Kitchens Duffy Mclean 52 Ekco 51 Ian Merriman Ltd 49 Ken Dunton 56 S & S Home Improvements 71 Locksmith 1st Call Locksmith 41 Caledonian Locksmith 57 Saltire Lock & Security 60 Mobility Ableworld 33 Med -Ecosse 27 Motorhome (hire/sale) Motorhome Hire Scotland 6 MSP/MP Gordon Macdonald MSP 65 Optician Clear Vue Optical 23

Oven Cleaner The Clean Team 24 Painter/Decorator ACM Decorating 6 Alistair McLellan 34 Brushstrokes 40 Gerry Aitken 55 Mark Reece 6 Paving Alpine Paving 18 Edinburgh Paving Company 12 Edinburgh Paving Solutions 19 Pet Services Claylands Cattery 38 Currie Dog Grooming 39 Happy Scampers 38 Milrig Kennels 39 Walks with Lauren 41 Plastering Alexander Aitken Plastering 40 Plumbing Services Bill Reid & Son 49 Currievale Plumbing 35 Jim Gladstone 60 Shandon Plumbing 54 Weir Plumbing 54 Property Maintenance Cleaning and Maintenance 17 Research Volunteers Napier University 4 Restaurant Al Borgo 63 Marriott Dalmahoy 28 Roofing Dell Roofing 12 Fairmile Roofing 53 Thomson Roofing Services 61 Security Services GLD Security 60 Saltire Lock & Security 60 Signwriting SignCentive 6 Soft Furnishings Blind Design 58 Forth Fabrics 24 James Erskine Interiors 58 Takeaway Pentland Fry 63 Taxi & Private Hire Capital Cars 35 Telecoms Services John McGraw 49 Tiling Mark Hay Tiling 48 Tree Surgery Maxwell Tree Care 14 Upholsterer James Erskine Interiors 58 Venue Edinburgh Corn Exchange 11 Vet ICR Vets 38 Pentland Veterinary Clinic 39 Thistle Vets 41 Wedding Services Edinburgh Corn Exchange 11 Vicky’s Flowers 23 Window Cleaning Tag Cleaning 35 Windows 1st Choice Living 58 Double Glazing Repairs 40 Four Seasons 72 Red Hot Windows 48

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