WHEN THE KING ATE TURTLE SOUP AT HOPETOUN
Way back in the mists of time, the hamlet of Abercorn was briefly the seat of the Bishop of the Picts; then the location of a medieval castle which was destroyed by the crown during the infamous spat between James II and the Black Douglas; then, on the former castle lands, the magnificent Hopetoun House was built, where King George IV dined as a friend.
Such is the cycle of fortune, and Hopetoun House, commissioned by a widowed Lady Hope for her son, is today a Georgian time capsule, a family home, a spectacular events venue, a film location, and a wonderful place to while away a summer’s day exploring both indoors and out.
The historic Hope family’s rise to prominence dates to when Sir James Hope (1614-1661) acted as lawyer for a lead mining heiress, Anne Foulis. Anne was defending her right to inherit her father’s lead mining fortune at Leadhills in Lanarkshire. Esteemed legal talent was in the family - James’ father was King’s Advocate for Charles I. Sir James won the case for Anne, client and lawyer fell in love, and married. Thus the valuable lead mines came into possession of the Hope family, giving their fortune and status a huge boost.
James and Anne’s son, John Hope, purchased the lands of Abercorn in 1678, where he planned to build a magnificent house for himself and his family. He also purchased the Barony of Niddry Castle.
But tragedy struck before John managed to build his house.
At just 32 years of age, and
with two very young children, John was one of many passengers lost at sea when HMS Gloucester, carrying the Duke of York and an entourage of courtiers to Edinburgh in 1682, was wrecked off the English coast. Family tradition has it that John gave up his place in a rescue boat for the Duke of York, sacrificing his own life for that of the future King. (The wreck was identified just three years ago, in June 2022, and Royal Museums Greenwich website provides fascinating detail about the journey and the shipwreck, rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/ hms-gloucester-shipwreck-history-james-ii)
John’s widow Lady Margaret Hope took on management of the family businesses until their son Charles was of age. (He was just one year old when is father died). And, in 1699, on the occasion of Charles’ marriage, Margaret commissioned the building of Hopetoun House. Perhaps she and her husband had discussed the vision for it before he died, or perhaps the brief she gave the architect was entirely her own. In any case, she entrusted the work to the renowned Scottish architect William Bruce. Bruce’s work today remains in the central core of the original home. There were also formal gardens in French style behind the house.
Charles was created the first Earl of Hopetoun in 1703, just after he turned 21. The title was possibly granted in recognition of his father’s sacrifice for the Duke of York back in 1682. Charles decided to extend the house considerably, and in 1721 he commissioned William Adam to create a much grander, more palatial home. This is the house we see today. The work took a long time – so long in fact that Charles didn’t live to see it completed, neither did William Adam. William’s sons John and Robert, also renowned architects, finished the interiors. The house was completed in 1767. Many members of the Hope family had distinguished military and political careers. The 4th Earl (1765 - 1823) was described by Napoleon Bonaparte as one of the most formidable generals in the British Army - a compliment indeed from a brilliant military leader. There is a statue of the 4th Earl in the courtyard of Dundas House, the former headquarters of the Royal Bank of Scotland, of which he was Governor. He served as LordLieutenant of Linlithgowshire, as did several subsequent generations of the family. The 7th Earl was the first Governor General of Australia.
For a family with many close links to the royal family, Hopetoun has received only one royal visit. In 1822, George IV visited for lunch at the end of his state visit to Scotland. It was the first state visit to Scotland from a reigning British sovereign in 170 years. It was carefully stagemanaged by Sir Walter Scott and included a lot of tartan pageantry. Highland dress had been banned following the Jacobite rebellions, but the ban had been repealed some 40 years previously; the decision to dress the King in Highland outfits was seen as an act of reconciliation. On his last day in Edinburgh, the King arrived at Hopetoun House at 1:15pm where crowds were waiting (in the rain) to see
him and where a lavish, multi-course lunch had been prepared. But the King limited himself to some turtle soup and three glasses of wine. Using Lord Hopetoun’s sword, he then knighted Sir Henry Raeburn, the Scottish portraitist, and Captain Adam Ferguson, Keeper of the Regalia in Scotland, and within 2 hours he was off again, heading to Port Edgar where the Royal Yacht waited to take him back to London.
Uniquely, many of the rooms at Hopetoun remain unchanged from when they were built, so you get a peak into real Georgian style. Much of the furniture is original, along with artwork collected by the various earls. Fans of the time-travel fantasy TV series Outlander flock to Hopetoun House as it was used as a filming location, but just a visit is in itself a form of timetravel - as you wander through the rooms you may as well be in Georgian times.
A visit is highly recommended. The excellent guides at Hopetoun can provide much more detail – guided tours are available at specific times as part of the entry fee. Besides the fascinating interiors, furniture, art and family stories, the grounds provide serene walking trails through a variety of designed landscapes. There is of course an excellent tea room.
See www. hopetoun. co.uk. Open for the season until 28th September.
This article was written by Helen-Jane Gisbourne after a visit and guided tour of Hopetoun House. Helen-Jane is the editor of Konect magazines
There are many areas of our lives where we could all benefit from being aware of our boundaries and those of others, but, for many of us, it’s not something we pay attention to.
What most of us do instead is seethe quietly when someone else puts an additional task on top of everything we are juggling in our busy lives.
Like so much in most of our lives we assume ‘roles’ at work, in our friendships, relationships and with our family and these ‘roles’ very easily become our norm. We find ourselves being the one who always steps in to help with shopping, to provide a shoulder to cry on for our friends and the one who always says ‘yes’.
Setting boundaries that are right for us requires self awareness and we need to be clear about our own needs and express them to ourselves and others. This is easy to say but, for those of us who were raised as ‘people pleasers’ telling people what we need can be really difficult.
If all our lives we have tried to please the people around us, the first steps in setting those boundaries can be challenging. But, we can start by respecting our own boundaries, deciding what we are going to do and being clear about what we are not going to do. When it comes to family this can be challenging but all our relationships will benefit from honesty and it’s all so much better than seething quietly when yet another demand lands on our overloaded plate.
The Life Coaching column is contributed by Francine Orr, NLP coach, hypnotherapist & reiki practitioner. Francine is based within Linlithgow Chiropractic on Wednesday afternoons and is also available online. See www.orrganise.co.uk
LIVING
Taking place from the 9th-15th June, Loneliness Awareness Week is intended to shine a light on the issue of loneliness among older adults, with one in four adults over the age of 60 reporting feeling lonely. This can have an adverse effect on an individual’s physical and mental health, making it more likely that they will experience depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline.
Recognising the signs of loneliness, such as withdrawal, lack of interest, or changes in sleep patterns, enables us to take proactive steps to address it such as:
• COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT - Participating in community activities can foster a sense of belonging. Encourage older adults to join clubs, volunteer at local organisations, or attend social gatherings. This provides opportunities for social interaction and enables them to pursue interests, learn new skills, and share experiences with like-minded individuals.
• TECHNOLOGY - Digital platforms offer avenues for connection and communication. Teach older adults to navigate smartphones, tablets, or computers to stay in touch with friends and family through video calls, social media or email.
• COMPANIONSHIP OR BEFRIENDING SERVICES - Connect older adults with companionship or befriending services. Trained volunteers or professionals can provide regular social interaction and companionship via phone calls, home visits, or accompanying them to activities to help establish supportive relationships. For information, advice, or someone friendly to talk to, you can contact OPAL West Lothian on 01506 815815, or The Silver Line on 0800 470 8090. For info on local community groups & activities for over-50s, visit www.homeinstead. co.uk/west-lothian/whats-on-where/
The Living Well column is contributed by Home Instead West Lothian. Contact them for advice and support on 01506 346046, email info.westlothian@homeinstead.co.uk or see www.homeinstead.co.uk/west-lothian
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is powerful, vivid and distinctive. On the nose you find tropical fruit mixed with gooseberry and grapefruit, layered with floral honeysuckle.
The winemaker’s goal is to produce the best example of Sauvignon Blanc they can. They have explored every angle and produced a polished, precise expression of the grape variety. You’ll be forgiven for thinking this is the best example of Sauvignon Blanc available!
However, have you tried Sancerre?
Sancerre is Sauvignon Blanc grown in the Loire region of France. The wine is named after the place it comes from, rather than the grape variety. Here, the winemaker invites you to not only experience their best expression of the grape variety, but to taste where the wine comes from. This is the idea of ‘terroir’.
Sancerre from the northern hemisphere is less tropical in character than that produced in NZ. When I taste Sancerre, I’m reminded of a summer herb garden after the rain. There’s petrichor, wet stone, green herbaceous notes of broken leaf. Sancerre has an incredible freshness and minerality that I haven’t found anywhere else. Generally, Sancerre and NZ Sauvignon Blanc are fermented in stainless steel tanks, rather than oak casks. The wine is dry, the acidity is racy and mouthwatering. Both styles can be enjoyed on their own or but also with food, I’d have either with shellfish, or a goat’s cheese salad. Why not experiment? If you usually buy Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, why not try Sancerre and visa versa?
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
Few sights can melt a heart faster than a trail of tiny mallard ducklings wobbling after their mum.
Covered in soft yellow and brown down, these little paddlers are born adventurers. Mallards usually lay 8–13 eggs, and after about 28 days of incubation, all ducklings hatch within 24 hours of each other - because no one wants to be left behind!
Mallard ducklings are precocial, which means they’re up and moving almost immediately. Within hours of hatching, they’re following mum to the nearest water source, learning to swim, dive, and dabble like pros. They might look like they’re just splashing about, but they’re busy picking up essential survival skills—and the odd water flea or two.
Staying warm is a full-time job when you’re a fluffy ping-pong ball, so ducklings huddle together or tuck under mum’s wings when they’re tired. While they can feed themselves from day one, mum keeps a watchful eye, warning them of danger and sometimes performing a very convincing “broken wing” act to lure predators away.
In just two months, these fluffballs grow into fully feathered young ducks, ready to take their first flight. Until then, they’re busy exploring the world one paddle at a timeadorable, curious, and just a bit clumsy.
So next time you see a family of mallards on your local pond, take a moment to admire the ducklings’ determination. They’re not just cute - they’re tiny dynamos navigating life’s big pond.
This column is contributed by Clare Harte, who lives in West Lothian. Clare spends much of her time travelling around Scotland looking for and photographing our wonderful wildlife.
Follow her on social media as Clare Harte Photography for more wildlife content.
Lesley loves nothing better than spotting and picking a lovely flower in the garden and then choosing other blooms that look good with it to create a delightful posy for indoors.
She has a collection of glass vases and jam jars for her posies and maintains a ‘tablescape’ display on the table in our hall, using several vases.
This tablescape in mid-May had ten vases filled with just a few different flowers. The repeating white flowers of Sweet Rocket (Hesperis matronalis) hold the whole tablescape together, supported by Granny’s Bonnet (Aquilegia seedlings) and the purple globes of Allium and Chives. Sometimes each of her vases
will contain different flowers because these are what she found around the garden.
We believe that every garden should be able to offer a small posy of flowers throughout the year, whether it is flowers, leaves or seed heads. You will enjoy examining the flowers close up in your home. The tablescape may be too much work for you to keep going every week, refreshing the water and replacing dying blooms. But try it for special occasions!
The gardening project is contributed by Dougal Philip, New Hopetoun Gardens. Inspiring, informing and entertaining, for more than 40 years.
JUNE CROSSWORD
^^^ Solution in the JULY edition
ACROSS: 7. Eighth month (6), 8. Son of a monarch (6), 9. Knock unconscious (4), 10. Family member (8), 11. Award (7), 13. Strangely (5), 15. Begin (5), 17. Fun-loving (7), 20. Single-storey residence (8), 21. A long walk (4), 22. Obstructs (6), 23. A rat (6).
DOWN: 1. Mumble (6), 2. Destroy (4), 3. Gazing (7), 4. A fruit (5), 5. Annual celebration (8), 6. Place of learning (6), 12. Fight (8), 14. Scowls (7), 16. Ridicules (6), 18. Mean (6), 19. Nearby (5), 21. Conceal (4).
JUNE SUDOKU
Hayao Miyazaki is a filmmaker who requires no introduction. He is simply one of the greatest minds working in animation today, and when he eventually decides to commit to retirement, the animation landscape will never be the same.
However, as an anime lover, my biggest blind spot is ironically Studio Ghibli films. I have only really watched My Neighbour Totoro, The Boy and The Heron, and Spirited Away. So, I felt it was only right to check off another film on my watchlist by watching Howl’s Moving Castle, which represents Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli at their best. It follows Sophie, a young woman who is cursed with an old body by a witch. The only way for the curse to be lifted is with the help of Howl, a flamboyant and insecure wizard.
Howl’s Moving Castle is nothing short of stunning—a gorgeously animated film that blends hand-drawn animation and CGI to bring this industrial world to life. It is also a beautiful love story about discovering the beauty within us and that there is more to beauty than mere appearances.
However, the most impactful aspect of the storyline is the film’s anti-war messaging. From how war permanently changes the people involved to how it destroys our environment, and that there are no victors when it comes to war, everything about Howl’s Moving Castle is simply incredible. There is no other film like this, and from beginning to end, you will be in sheer awe of this exquisite work.
Available to stream on NETFLIX
The Film Review is contributed by Robert Ewing. Robert is passionate about film as an art form, and shining a light on films that may not be on people’s radar. Robert is from Kirknewton.
SAT 7TH JUNE & SAT 5TH JULY
Friends of Almondell Country Park
Volunteering session - The Friends of Almondell's monthly practical project meeting. Volunteer group helping to conserve and maintain the 220 acre Almondell & Calderwood Country Park including the Oakbank extension. Meet at the Visitor Centre on the first Saturday of the month 10.00am -12.00pm, new volunteers always welcome. To find out more about getting involved contact the Ranger Service on 01506 882254, or email almondell&calderwood@westlothian.gov.uk. Facebook: 'Friends of Almondell & Calderwood Country Park'. Please book a space (FREE) via the West Lothian Council Ranger Service’s Eventbrite page, so that they can update you if there are any changes to the session arrangements. www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/west-lothian-councilranger-service-60064115123. Email: rangerservice@westlothian.gov.uk
SATURDAY 14TH JUNE
East Calder and District Gala - Gala week runs Sunday 8th June to Saturday 14th June. Parade commences Almondell Cemetery car park 12.45.
SUNDAY 15TH JUNE
Open Day and Train Rides - Public Open Day for all the family with train rides, tea, coffee and snacks. Free parking, picnic area. Train rides £5. Almondell Model Engineering Centre, Drumshoreland Rd, Broxburn, EH52 5PF
SUNDAY 15TH JUNE
Wildlife Wander - Come for a guided walk with a Historic Environment Scotland ranger to discover some of the amazing plants and animals that make their home in and around the amazing setting of Linlithgow Loch. Free, 1pm-3pm, meet outside Linlithgow Palace. More information and booking via historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/whats-on
SATURDAY 21ST JUNE
Kirknewton Gala - Kirknewton Park, from 12.00pm. Tea Tent, BBQ, Stalls Tent, Beer Tent and Garden, Live Music Tent, Inflatables and much much more.
FRIDAY 27TH JUNE
Comedy Sneak Peeks Friday - They’re back for 2 nights only!! Don't miss the hilarious all-star MZA Edinburgh Fringe previews returning to their spiritual home at Howden Park - featuring some of the UK’s best headlining comedians - off notes and off adrenaline! We are absolutely delighted to welcome comedy stars Connor Burns, Craig Hill and Kai Humphries plus other guests this year, and we can guarantee you an uproarious and fun night of laugh-out-loud standup. Please note these shows are still a work in progress, there will be some strong language and although they might not be slick, they sure will be funny! 16+. Reconnect Howden Park, Livingston. 7.30pm. Tickets £13.50 + booking fee at tickets.reconnectregal.com/Events
FRI 27TH TO SAT 28TH JUNE
Spectacular Jousting - Annual event at Linlithgow Palace from Historic Environment Scotland. Experience exhilarating horsemanship and impressive skills at the brave and courageous knights battle it out. Hear the thundering of hooves and the clash of lances as our four champions take to the arena for this spectacular show. Wander through the living history camp to experience life in medieval times. View beautiful birds of prey in flight and be entertained by the antics of the court jesters. 11.30am - 4.00pm, tickets from £10, booking essential, www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-aplace/whats-on
SATURDAY 28TH JUNE
BeeWalk - Join Almond Valley Nature Action in Livingston Village Park at 11.00am to help spot, identify and record bumblebees. No experience or knowledge required, participants will be given identification guide and free wildflower seeds to help pollinators at home. More information on avnatureaction. wordpress.com. Meet by the picnic tables east side of Livingston Village Park.
SUNDAY 29TH JUNE
RNLI Queensferry Open Day - Our annual Open Day returns to Hawes Promenade in South Queensferry with lots for all the family to see and do. Alongside our lifeboat proudly on display we will have a range of stalls and activities. 12.00pm - 4.00pm. Please check RNLI Queensferry Lifeboat Facebook page for further details.
WANT TO INCLUDE YOUR EVENT HERE? COMMUNITY AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT LISTINGS ARE FREE OF CHARGE.
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SPORTS, HOBBIES, LEARNING, SUPPORT GROUPS & MORE...
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTIVE LIVES - Cyrenians OPAL (Opportunities for Active Lives) works with people aged 60+ promoting active and fulfilling lives, creating and enriching communities which empower all to remain independent, living at home and socially connected. OPAL supports over 25 Community Groups throughout West Lothian for people to attend, engage with others and build new friendships. They also provide a time limited one-to-one befriending service built to improve confidence. To find out more please contact 01506 815 815 or opal@cyrenians.scot
FORGET-ME-NOT CAFE - Run by Alzheimer Scotland. A relaxed informal meeting place that gives people living with dementia, their carers, people who may have concerns about their memory or just want to a chance to meet others in a similar situation. East Calder Parish Church Hall, EH53 0HF, Last Thursday of the month, 10.00am – 11.30am. E: westlothianservices@alzscot.org T: 01506 533108
GIRLGUIDING - Girlguides have a range of groups from age 4-14. All girls are welcome to join in, learn life skills, do crafts, earn badges and go on adventures. Visit girlguiding.org.uk for times and days available across West Lothian.
MID CALDER COMMUNITY HUB
- Every Thursday 12 till 2.00pm. Institute Hall (Community Centre) Mid Calder. We have free teas and coffee along with cake and biscuits together with a warm welcome and friendly chat. Open to all. We look forward to seeing you soon. Any questions just pop in to see us.
MID CALDER WOMEN’S GROUP - Mid Calder Women’s Group would like to welcome
new members. We are a group aged 60+ who meet each Monday at the Institute Hall, Mid Calder, from 12.45pm until 3pm. Cost per week is £3/member. We organise various activities including, games, quizzes, bingo, well being exercises and regular talks from external speakers and entertainers. We also arrange coach trips to places of interest. Interested? Please contact Jackie on 01506 883205
SUKHA YOGA - 'Sukha' means happiness, pleasure, ease or bliss. If any or all appeal to you come along to yoga sessions. Every Wednesday in Dave King Partnership Centre, East Calder. Now two sessions availablechoose either 6.00pm -7.15 pm or 7.15pm - 8.30pm. Contact me for more info or to book.
T: 07767 777044
E: ruth@sukha.co.uk
MID CALDER BABY & TODDLER GROUP - Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9am - 11.30 am in The Institute Hall Mid Calder. We have a huge toy selection, offer arts and crafts and supply a small snack. Adults can have a hot drink and a chat whilst the children play happily. Session costs are £1 for under 1s and £2 for over 1s. Follow us on Facebook or email: midcalderbabygroup@gmail.com for further details
EAST CALDER PLAYGROUP - Mon-Fri 9.00-11.00am for 2-3 year olds @ The Dave King Partnership Centre. Lots of fun activities while learning through play. Stories, songs, craft, small world, sand, water, outdoor fun & lots more. For more information call /text 07748053340 or pop in and see us.
SINGERGIE CHOIR - Singergie is a totally free, singing for fun choir with 2 locations in West Lothian. MONDAYS: 7.00-9.00pm, The Village, Oakbank Road, East Calder. FRIDAYS: 10.00am – 12noon, East Calder Bowling Club. No auditions, no fees, no stress. Good songs, easy harmonies, friendship and fun. And you get a cuppa thrown in too. Won’t cost you a penny. No need to book, just turn up and you’ll be made very welcome.
WEST LOTHIAN LITTER PICKERS - We’re a group of over 3000 West Lothian residents, so if you want to help clean up your community, like we do, come join the group on Facebook “West Lothian Litter Pickers(Act Local Think Global)”. We organise group litter picks or put you in touch with a buddy in your area to get you started. We can even provide you with equipment at no cost to you.
EAST CALDER NEEDLECRAFT CLUB - We are back….We meet every Thursday evening from 6.30pm - 9pm at the Dave King Partnership Centre, East Calder. All crafts are catered for whether you are a beginner or experienced in your favourite craft, we want to welcome you to our group. Why not give us a try? Call 01506 882699 for more information.
EAST CALDER OVER 50s CLUB
- Held in The Dave King Community Centre, Main Street, East Calder every Wednesday from 1.303.30pm (September-May) Please contact Gillian on 07415309886 for further details.
POTTER AROUND AT POTTER AROUND - Potter Around is a local pottery and ceramic painting studio based in Kirknewton. We offer taster sessions on the potter’s wheel for ages 5+. We also do clay imprints – a great memento to keep forever and we have a huge range of pre-made ceramics which are great for handprints, but also for people of all ages to paint. Our shop sells gorgeous handmade gifts including pottery and jewellery. Check our website for details: www.potteraround.co.uk
EAST CALDER SCOUT GROUP
- Providing fun and exciting scouting programmes for children in the local area, from age 6 upwards. We meet on a Monday or Tuesday, depending on the child’s age. Adults interested in becoming leaders will be made very welcome. We also hire the scout hall for one off occasions or for other groups to use, to benefit the local community. Find out more at our website: www. eastcalderscouts.uk
SLIMMING WORLD - East Calder Bowling Club, 255 Main Street, East Calder.
SOLUTION TO MAY CROSSWORD
Tuesdays 3.30, 5.30 & 7.30pm, Wednesdays 9.30 & 11.30am and at Geddes House, Livingston, EH54 6GU on Thursdays 9.30. New and returning members always welcome. Contact Sue: 07803 520781
CHORAL HIGHLIGHTS LADIES' CHOIR - Would you like to join in with some fun at our friendly community choir? We meet in Mid Calder at 7.30 pm on a Wednesday. Our music consists of a wide range of materials from musicals, traditional, pop favourites and lots more. We’d love to welcome singers from across West Lothian. To find out more or to join us please contact John Rankine at john.rankine@ lineone.net
ACROSS: 7. Scrape, 8. Lumbar, 9. Sofa, 10. Tadpoles, 11. Usually, 13. Shuts, 15. Light, 17. Ascends, 20. Umbrella, 21. Cafe, 23. Annoys, 24. Expire.
DOWN: 1. Echo, 2. Banana, 3. Reptile, 4. Clyde, 5. Smooth, 6. Talented, 12. Slimming, 14. Ashamed, 16. Horror, 18. Escape, 19. Floss, 22. Fire.
SOLUTION TO SUDOKU ON PAGE XX
CHOOSE YOU YOGA STUDIO & WELLNESS HUB - Dedicated yoga studio in Carmondean, Livingston. Build strength, flexibility and resilience, and support mental health, joint pain/illness/injury recovery. Iyengar yoga 6.00-7.15 & 7.30-8.45pm Monday. Antenatal yoga 5.45-6.45 and Vinyasa Flow 7.00-8.00pm Tuesday. Seasonal yoga 5.30-6.30 and Yoga Basics 6.45-7.45pm Wednesday. Iyengar yoga 6.007.15 & 7.30-8.45pm Thursday. Iyengar yoga 9.45-11.00am Friday. Carmondean, Livingston. T: 07810 824 195 E: info@chooseyouyoga.co.uk W: chooseyouyoga.co.uk or on Facebook
GENERATION ARTS - Creative activities for adults across West Lothian to increase arts engagement in a non competitive, expressive and inclusive way. Promoting independence, confidence and good mental and physical health through dance, music and song, visual arts, creative writing and cinema. Contact: generationarts. info@gmail.com or phone 07521 358 239.
MACMILLAN
CANCER
INFORMATION & SUPPORT - A free, confidential service providing a ‘listening ear’, emotional and practical support, help to access benefits/financial advice and other local services. Expert information for anyone affected by cancer –yourself, a relative, friend or carer. Face to face appointments at Partnership Centres in Bathgate, Livingston North, Broxburn, Fauldhouse and Blackburn. Short health walks leaving Bathgate Partnership Centrecall to book a place. Phone and email support also available. Please call 01506 283053 or email MacmillanWestLothian@ westlothian.gov.uk
WEST LOTHIAN 50 PLUS
SOLUTION TO MAY CROSSWORD
ACROSS: 7. Scrape, 8. Lumbar, 9. Sofa, 10. Tadpoles, 11. Usually, 13. Shuts, 15. Light, 17. Ascends, 20. Umbrella, 21. Cafe, 23. Annoys, 24. Expire.
DOWN: 1. Echo, 2. Banana, 3. Reptile, 4. Clyde, 5. Smooth, 6. Talented, 12. Slimming, 14. Ashamed, 16. Horror, 18. Escape, 19. Floss, 22. Fire.
SOLUTION TO SUDOKU ON PAGE XX
SOLUTION TO SUDOKU PAGE 30
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Publisher: Lothian Publications Ltd. Geddes House, Kirkton North, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 6GU.
CARERS OF WEST LOTHIAN - Support and social activities for Carers, Young Carers and Disabled Adults. All our carers groups are offered blended – both in person and face to face, as are our social groups: weekly Coffee Morning; monthly Mental Health Support Group, Evening Support Group & Bereaved Carer Support Group as well as groups for Young Carers and Young Adult Carers. Regular Social Groups for Adults with disabilities. Power of Attorney Clinic (face to face) & Benefits Advice (phone or face to face). For information: T: 01506 448000
Magazine Design:
NETWORK - Social activities for the over fifties. Run largely by volunteers we offer a wide range of interest groups to help you stay fit and healthy in both mind and body, whilst socialising with others. Something for everyone, but, more importantly, the chance to meet up and join in with old friends or make new friends along the way. Annual joining fee £36. Follow our Facebook page, visit westlothian50plusnetwork.co.uk or call 01506 635510.
TO INCLUDE YOUR CLUB OR CLASS, PLEASE EMAIL DETAILS, UP TO 75 WORDS, TO EDITOR@KONECT.SCOT
Disclaimer: The publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage caused by error in the printing of an advertisement. We do not endorse any advertisers in this publication. All material is accepted for publication on the understanding it is copyright free. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior consent of the publisher.
Publisher: Lothian Publications Ltd. Geddes House, Kirkton North, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 6GU.
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