OCTOBER 2026
FEATURE:
LOCAL HISTORY:
CHARITY:
PLUS: HEALTH & BEAUTY, puzzles, clubs & classes, and more LOCAL FEATURES inside!
P26
O
ctober is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we are helping to raise awareness by spotlighting the fantastic local charity Breast Friends and Family. They have capacity to help current and past breast cancer patients. And if you are inspired to do some fundraising in October please consider them. All details on pages 8-9. The local history article this month is part one of a two-part series, from a National Museums of Scotland curator who shares his recollections of “Spying on the Royal Navy” during his time at Port Edgar, South Queensferry. There is lots on as we head into the last quarter of the year. I love this time of year of local autumn fairs where you can always find quirky and different things. Check the What’s On section, and if you are running a festive fundraising fair in November or December let me know about it so I can include it in the November issue! Thanks for reading Konect and supporting the local area in every way!
All enquiries, E: editor@konect.scot M: 07854 492638
Local Charity: Breast Friends & Family....... 8 Living Well: Living Grief................................14 Life Coaching: “It’s not where you start”...16 Feature: Ways to avoid rogue traders.......21 Garden Project: Bird Feeding.....................24 Recipe: Pumpkin Chili Con Carne.............26 Wine: Wine for the Master Vintner..............27 History: “Spying on the Royal Navy”.........28 Puzzles.............................................................30 Film Review: All of a sudden.......................32 What’s On: October Events.........................33 Clubs & Classes.......................................34-35
COVER IMAGE: Breast Friends and Family Calling fun fundraisers! (Page 8)
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At “The Heart” in Bathgate, a series of peer support groups, activities, treatments and therapies offer “all the things that make you feel you can get back to normal” during and after – sometimes long after - breast cancer treatment.
Located on Glasgow Road in Bathgate, “The Heart” is the home of local charity Breast Friends and Family. The charity was set up in 2018 by Hazel Orr, after the organisation that had supported her through her own cancer journey closed. Hazel didn’t want other breast cancer patients to be without the wonderful support she had experienced, so she set up Breast Friends and Family with a clear vision in mind of what she wanted to offer. Their services are for patients undergoing treatment at St John’s Hospital. Initially supplying a surgery support goodybag (including items such as mastectomy bras, headscarves for those losing their hair due to chemotherapy, cooling towels and creams) and operating out of Hazel’s home for several years, the charity grew rapidly, with support groups meeting at various coffee shops and even in Hazel’s living room! Since January 2025, Breast Friends and Family now have the luxury of space at their own premises to offer a range of supports, supplementing NHS care by “providing breast cancer patients with the little things that make a big difference.” Regular groups at The Heart include peer support for patients (twice a month) where, in the private and non clinical 8 | CALDERS
environment, you can talk, compare experiences, laugh or cry. There is a separate group for patients with secondary breast cancer. And the husband of a current patient recently set up a group for family and friends, in recognition of the fact that a patient’s family benefits from peer support too. There is a treatment room for massage, as well as a range of classes including relaxation, yoga and reiki - and even a crochet class. All classes are free of charge to patients, and are small groups. By attending a patients’ group at The Heart, you know you are with people who absolutely understand what you are going through, so it’s easier than facing a regular yoga or exercise class. The Heart has a wheelchair ramp and is fully accessible. One of the volunteers, Rhona, was originally a patient supported by Breast Friends and Family, and explains, “I was completely blown away by the kindness I was shown, and by the thought that had gone into the goody bag I was given for my surgery. Knowing how much that bag meant to me, and how it showed the love and care from the charity, I started volunteering for them as soon as I could.” Words such as care, compassion, friendship, hope, love and kindness, are all encapsulated in the name “The Heart,” which was chosen for the new premises after patients were asked to describe what Breast Friends and Family meant to them. An expanded range of goody bags is still a core part of the charity, and includes a Surgery Bag, a Chemo Bag, a Radiotherapy bag, and a Menopause Symptoms Bag (breast
cancer treatment can bring on menopause symptoms). Each one is carefully assembled to contain selected products that alleviate and support treatment - creams, lotions, body washes, cooling spray, lubricants, headscarves, and more. There is a monthly open coffee morning at The Heart on the last Saturday of the month, anyone is welcome to come and see what the charity is about. Drop in anytime between 10:30am and 1pm. Upcoming open coffee mornings are on 26th September and 31st October. The charity is entirely funded by donations and by fundraising activities. There are no paid staff, although some of the exercise and activity instructors are paid by the charity to lead the classes, which are free for patients. “We all love the fundraising part of it,” say Rhona and Hazel. There are two main fundraisers each year, in April and October. “We regularly come up with different ideas for events - the same people come back time and again to our events so we like to keep it fresh and interesting for everyone!” They are fantastic social occasions, when the whole Breast Friends and Family extended “family” come together to have fun and raise essential funds for the charity.
Breast Friends and Family are always looking for people to support them with fundraising activities. Doing the Kilt Walk, sponsored runs or other activities, holding stalls at events, hosting your own fundraising event – any way you can get involved makes a difference. If you have any fundraising ideas, or would like to fundraise for Breast Friends and Family, please get in touch with them at the contact details below.
Coming up this month (October), they have a Fashion Show where ten patients will share their journey. There is an annual Christmas Fayre in December. And the April 2027 fundraiser will be Ladies Day for the Grand National. “We want breast cancer patients, past and present, to know we are here, and what support we offer,” says Hazel. “Taking that first step through the door is the most difficult. But we have people here who recovered 10 to 20 years ago – they are all welcome, because once you’ve had breast cancer it never really leaves you.” Breast Friends and Family Address: 133 Glasgow Road, Bathgate, West Lothian, EH48 2QN E: info@breastfriendsandfamily.co.uk W: www.breastfriendsandfamily.co.uk Facebook: @BreastFF Charity registered in Scotland No. SC048332. CALDERS | 9
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Got a story? WE LOVE TO CELEBRATE ALL THINGS LOCAL!
If you or someone you know, has an interesting experience, an unusual job, does extraordinary charity work, has a crazy hobby.....get in touch via
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LIVING WELL
Grief is often associated with bereavement, but for many carers it can begin long before a loved one dies. Known as living grief, it’s the emotional response to the changes and losses that can occur when caring for a person living with dementia, frailty, a long-term illness or other life-changing condition. These changes may affect memory, independence, communication and personality, leaving carers feeling as though they are gradually losing parts of the relationship they once knew. Living grief is not about losing hope; it’s about recognising the impact of change. Carers may experience sadness, loneliness, frustration, guilt, anxiety or simply a sense that life is different from what they expected. These feelings are a normal response and can come and go over time. To help address this often-overlooked experience, Carers of West Lothian, working in
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partnership with IMPACT (Improving Adult Care Together), has developed a dedicated online resource focused on living grief. The website provides information, guidance and personal reflections to help people understand their feelings and find support. It also encourages carers to look after their own wellbeing and seek help before reaching crisis point. For older adults, carers and families across West Lothian, recognising living grief can be an important step towards feeling understood and less alone. It reminds us that grief is not only about loss after death, but can also be part of the caring journey itself. To learn more, visit www.livinggrief.org.uk. For information, advice and support, contact Carers of West Lothian on 01506 448000 or email office@carers-westlothian.com 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
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LIFE COACHING
, "It s not where you START START"" ‘It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish’ goes the old song but sometimes it can feel like a tall order to make the kind of progress we want. That fabulous home, great new job or the relationship we dream of can be elusive and it can feel like our goal is just around the next bend. Change is hard, whether it’s those major life goals or the seemingly more accessible desire to eat better, walk more or get to bed before midnight. The most troubling aspect of all this is that, when we set ourselves a goal and then don’t achieve it, our harsh inner critic tells us we are lazy, don’t work hard enough and don’t deserve the positive changes we really desire. But, despite what that inner voice tells us, not achieving what we think we want with all our hearts isn’t due to laziness or lack of motivation. It’s mainly down to those limiting beliefs and that sense that we are just not good enough to reach those goals and make that difference to our lives, persistence and setting out short and long term goals can make all the difference. Change is always going to be hard at the beginning but persisting with those small steps and setting a goal for the next few weeks instead of using ‘never’ and ‘forever’ language. A thirty day consistency challenge, whether that’s no sugar, no complaining or taking a daily short walk is a great place to start. 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 orrganise.co.uk 16 | CALDERS
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AVOID Stay safe and protect your home. Chairman of Taylor Roofs, Jamie Taylor, has seen a lot of damage and distress caused by rogue traders. Here he shares the five main things to look out for to avoid being taken in by a rogue traders. You can also watch Jamie and the team explain things on their YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@TaylorRoofs TIP 1: Don’t accept a verbal quote at the door Rogue traders are notorious for cold calling and saying they were ‘just working in the area’. TIP 2: Do your research to make sure the company is legitimate Is it a limited company registered at Companies House? How long has it been trading?
TIP 3: Check their online presence and accreditations. Check out their website and social media, and look for reviews and membership of schemes like Trusted Trader and accreditation with professional trade associations like NFRC.
TIP 4: Make sure there’s a physical address for a place of business. Make sure there’s a business address you can go and visit to sort things out if things go wrong.
TIP 5: Make sure you get everything in writing. Don’t rely on verbal promises or vague start or completion dates. Insist on it being clearly stated in black and white. This article was contributed by Jamie Taylor, Chairman of Taylor Roofs | taylorroofs.co.uk
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So many of us enjoy watching our feathered visitors feeding and preening in our gardens. Nowadays we spend a lot of money buying food for them, but remember when we were growing up they only got left over bread, fat and sometimes peanuts! So the advice from the RSPB and BTO this spring to change our bird feeding habits came as quite a shock. We have been encouraged to rethink how we feed birds in order to reduce the risk of spreading diseases that can kill them. The first thing we did at home was to stop putting food on the flat surface of our bird table as they can harbour diseases, hanging feeders appear less of a threat. But what to do with our lovely bird table? We turned it into a support for a small planter, seen here with Granny’s Locks and a bedding Viola. It does need diligent watering as the shallow planter holds very little water and no rain ever gets in there.
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Other best practices include regular disinfecting feeders with disinfectant suitable for birds. Water is important for drinking and preening, it should be changed very regularly and kept fresh, again cleaning with disinfectant is recommended. Only put out small amounts of food, after all, in nature birds are used to food sources coming and going with the seasons. It is recommended that you stop providing seeds and peanuts from March to October when the risk of disease is greatest, but do provide fat/suet and mealworms. After October you can reintroduce seeds and peanuts to your offering.
By making these changes we all can reduce the spread of diseases for birds and still enjoy welcoming our feathered visitors into our gardens. The Gardening Project is contributed by Dougal Philip, New Hopetoun Gardens. Inspiring, informing and entertaining, for more than 40 years.
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RECIPE & FOOD NOTES
This fright-night feast isn’t just for Halloween – it’s the perfect winter warmer the whole family will love.
Ingredients:
• 1 small pumpkin or butternut squash • 2 tbsp vegetable oil, plus extra to drizzle • Salt and black pepper • 1 tsp yeast extract • 500g beef mince • 1 tbsp tomato purée • 1 small onion, peeled and diced • 1 green pepper, deseeded and diced • 1 x 400g tin kidney beans, drained and rinsed • 1 x 500g carton tomato passata • 1 tsp chilli powder (heat of your choice) • ½ tbsp dark brown soft sugar • 1 x 400g tin chopped tomatoes • 700g baby potatoes • 1x 300ml tub crème fraîche • 30g watercress, finely chopped
Serves 4 Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C, fan 160°C, gas mark 4.
2. Peel and halve the pumpkin (or butternut squash) and scoop out the seeds. Dice half of the pumpkin into 1cm cubes and reserve. Chop the remaining pumpkin into large chunks, place in an oven tray, drizzle with oil and season. Roast in the preheated oven for approximately 25 minutes or until cooked through. 3. Meanwhile, place a large pan on a medium-
high heat. Add the oil and heat until beginning to smoke. Add the minced beef and fry until browned. Drain the beef onto some kitchen paper. 4. Turn the heat down to medium. Add the beef back to the pan, then add in the onion, diced pumpkin and green pepper, cooking until the onions are translucent. Stir in the tomato purée and cook for a further minute before adding the kidney beans, passata, chilli powder, sugar, yeast extract and chopped tomatoes. Cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid and simmer for 1 hour. 5. Place the potatoes in an oven tray, drizzle with vegetable oil and season. Roast in the oven for 30-40 minutes, or until cooked through and crisp on the outside. 6. Once the roasted pumpkin is cooked, remove from the oven and place into a blender. Add a ladleful of liquid from the chilli and blend until smooth. Add to the simmering pan and stir through. 7. Mix together the crème fraîche and watercress, and season to taste. 8. Divide the potatoes between four bowls. Add a ladleful of chilli and serve with a generous dollop of crème fraîche.
For more recipe inspiration, visit www.watercress.co.uk; for more information on the health benefits of watercress, visit www.thewatercresscompany.com 26 | CALDERS
One of my favourite events in my calendar is the Court and Charter dinner hosted by the Royal Company of Merchants in Merchants Hall, Hanover Street. The dinner is an elegant, formal occasion with stellar menu and wine list- selected by me! Our guests include the Master Vintner of Vintners Guild in London. The dinner is very grand and while I love the pomp and circumstance, my favourite part is selecting the menu and wine. I visited the tasting kitchen of our caterer, Culinarians and selected a truly fabulous menu. Our intermediate course this year is duck parfait with buttermilk. It’s a really interesting and challenging course to find a wine for! There is a delicate balance of rich duck and sweet buttermilk, gentle textures and savoury structure. The intermediate follows salmon with white wine and comes before a rich duck main. There were lots of wine pairing options to choose from. A rosé would be quite nice but the dish has an autumnal flavour rather than a summer character. I moved away from rosé and decided to do something a little different instead. I wanted something that would surprise our guests. I decided to serve a red Italian wine called Nebbiolo, but instead of serving at its usual temperature, we will serve it slightly chilled. Serving the wine chilled helps brings out the acidity and cherry fruit (one of the fruits often paired with duck) without overwhelming the palate with spice and tannin. As the wine warms, it will pair perfectly with the main course. I hope the Master Vintner enjoys my selection! 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 CALDERS | 27
LOCAL HISTORY
PORT EDGAR - A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE PART 1: “SPYING ON THE ROYAL NAVY”
In this two-part series, Colin Hendry shares a personal account of the time he spent at Port Edgar between 1978 and 1992. His own observations, and the reminiscences of people who had been here when it was the Royal Navy base HMS Lochinvar, left him realising just how important it is that these people must not be forgotten. I joined the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (now National Museums of Scotland) in 1973, attached to the Country Life section. As a government museum we had various stores for the collection, on former military bases scattered inconveniently at locations across Scotland. So when the former Royal Navy premises at West Camp, Port Edgar, became available in 1978 to house the entire collection, we eagerly secured it. The Royal Navy, which had latterly berthed its Ton Class minesweepers of the Fishery Protection Squadron at Port Edgar, moved to Rosyth in 1975, and the former HMS Lochinvar (the Navy name for the base at Port Edgar) became vacant.
The West Camp was formerly the accommodation, hospital and administration centre for the base. The primary two-storey accommodation buildings bordered the seafront west of the breakwater, with a steel fence topped by barbed wire stretching for several hundred yards. Within the perimeter, two rows of coiled barbed wire extended for the entire length. A street separated the two-storey buildings from the row of singlestorey administration offices and stores on the south side. These included a Guard Room, Victualling Store, Boiler Room, Activities Rooms, and the Married Quarters Office. The Married Quarters themselves were the three blocks of houses (Numbers 10-19) on the south side of Shore Road entering South Queensferry. About 100 yards further west was the Officers’ Wardroom building which faced upriver, and between them lay a large underground air raid shelter.
Our tenure began in 1978 when I first visited to make plans for housing the collection. Large items such as carts, tractors, ploughs and so on, were naturally to be stored on the ground floors, whilst smaller items - horses’ harness, joiners shops, trades and agricultural hand tools - went on racks on the upper floors.
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The site retained many mementos from its previous tenants. A large sign at the gate announced “Ministry of Defence Property - Entry Restricted.” The Guard Room was the most intriguing with its prison-type internal gate leading to the rear and several individual cells, each with wooden benches for sailors to sleep off their alcohol indulgences. On the key-board were still all the building keys in numerical order. A notice on the door of a flat-roofed and nicely carpeted extension to the block at the east end announced “Fleet Chief Petty Officers Lounge” (this extension has recently been demolished). A rating’s cap was found in an attic. The air raid shelter remained open and wound its way underground in darkness from entrance to exit, the bulkhead lights still in place, and large yellow signs on a few scattered buildings with “SHELTER” and an arrow pointing to the nearest one. Outside the Married Quarters Office, two glass-fronted noticeboards still contained information documents, and a large bronze alarm bell was mounted on the wall.
It was indeed an incredible place to be, made more so by the location of my designated office. This was upstairs in the hospital area at the west end of the two-storey sections, which had housed the operating theatre, and two adjoining rooms with swing-doors - mine being the anaesthetist’s room - and had a fantastic large plate glass window giving a stunning panoramic view out over the Forth. I came to consider this to be surely the best office-with-a-view in Britain - stretching east well beyond the Bridges, Inchcolm and Inchkeith, west beyond Crombie to Grangemouth, and of course directly over to Her Majesty’s Naval Base Rosyth. I’d always had an interest in the military so the naval activity in the Forth captured my attention immediately, and I began noting down the comings and goings of the vessels. Binoculars, marine-band receiver and a logbook were kept at the ready as Royal Navy, Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service and Royal Fleet Auxiliary traffic was regular every day. And occasionally a barge would be towed out from Rosyth by tugs flying red flags and moored in a danger zone off Hopetoun. After a significant time of preparation the tugs would move away and a huge underwater explosion would erupt in
dramatic fashion, followed a couple of seconds later by the deep “BOOM!” and my glass window rattled with the shock wave. These were experimental tests on the effect of underwater explosions on hulls, tests after which the seagulls always loved the edible collateral damage!
My log of ship movements with photographic records is documented in my book, “Spying on the Royal Navy and NATO - Military Activity in the Firth of Forth during the 1980s”, available at the Port Edgar Chandlery. The main event, as far as I was concerned, was witnessing the movements before, during and after the Falklands War of 1982.
Since arriving at Port Edgar, we had occasionally been visited by veterans, many for nostalgic reasons, and they shared with us their experiences at HMS Lochinvar. The idea dawned on me just how appropriate - in fact necessary - a display here would be about the base’s history. And so was born “The Scottish Naval Collection”, an exhibition housed in the former Fleet Chief Petty Officers’ Lounge, which concentrated on the naval history of Port Edgar, but also encompassed other aspects of general naval life. In the second part of Colin’s reminiscences, coming in the November issue of Konect, he shares his observations on the Forth during the Falklands War, and the story of the Scottish Naval Collection museum. This article is an abridged version of “Port Edgar - A Personal Perspective” by Colin Hendry. Colin worked at Port Edgar as a museum curator from 1978 to 1992 and was instrumental in setting up “Scottish Naval Collection” exhibition here. CALDERS | 29
58mm Vertical [LEFT]
OCTOBER CROSSWORD
^^^ Solution in the NOVEMBER edition
ACROSS: 7. Moscow’s country (6), 8. Clears throat (6), 9. Continent (4), 10. Extra (8), 11. Picture houses (7), 13. Head organ (5), 15. Wooden barrier (5), 17. Go backwards (7), 20. Fell (8), 21. Limit, boundary (4), 23. Event, incident (6), 24. Idea (6). DOWN: 1. Pet name for cat (4), 2. Property, manor (6), 3.Yellow fruits (7), 4. Corrosive liquids (5), 5. Six-string (6), 6. Explanations, hypotheses (8), 12. Recognise (8), 14. Title (7), 16. Fighting (6), 18. Occurrences (6), 19. Warn (5), 22. Enlarge, develop (4).
XX ^^^ Sudoku solution on page 32
OCTOBER SUDOKU (EASY*)
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SOLUTION TO SEPTEMBER CROSSWORD
SOLUTION TO SEPTEMBER CROSSWORD
The latest film by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, All of a Sudden, is one that, while admittedly a bit long with a runtime of 3 hours and 16 minutes, kept me glued to the screen.
ACROSS: 7. Digest, 8. Eroded, 9. Clog, 10. Yachting, 11. Robbing, 13. Fiend, 15. Minus, 16. Request, 18. Eighteen, 19. Iced, 21. Famous, 22. Ornate. DOWN: 1. Dill, 2. Neighbourhood, 3. Staying, 4. Mercy, 5. Contributions, 6. Remnants, 12. Original, 14. Reunion, 17. Cease, 20. Eats.
SOLUTIONTO TOSUDOKU SUDOKU SOLUTION XX ON PAGE 30
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. Magazine Design: Alan Stewart Design T: 07729 911858
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It follows two characters, both named variations of Marie: one is a French woman struggling to run a nursing home, and the other is a Japanese stage director who has been told she has cancer and only months to live. We watch ACROSS: 7. Digest, 8. Eroded, 9. Clog, the two form an unlikely bond as confront 10. Yachting, 11.they Robbing, 13. Fiend, 15. Minus, 16. Request, 18. Eighteen, their respective hardships, whether it’s fighting for 19. Iced, 21. Famous, 22. Ornate. more humane treatment in a care facility or facing DOWN: 1. Dill, 2. Neighbourhood, the realisation that their health4.could at 3. Staying, Mercy, deteriorate 5. Contributions, 6. Remnants, 12. Original, any moment. 14. Reunion, 17. Cease, 20. Eats.
Filmed with remarkable tenderness and beauty, SUDOKU leading actors VirginieSOLUTION Efira and TaoTO Okamoto truly PAGE shine, delivering some ON of the finestXX performances of the year. Many scenes are dialogue driven and deeply philosophical, touching on themes of care, capitalism, and mortality. Without their incredibly strong performances, none of the film’s emotional weight would land—especially a moment near the end that nearly had me in tears with its authentic, understated beauty. Shot in a 1.50:1 aspect ratio, the film’s framing is consistently striking, and its use of darkness is surprisingly effective.
The result is a final product that is nothing short of extraordinary, a masterwork from one of Japan’s finest contemporary directors. All of a Sudden deserves to be seen on the biggest screen you Disclaimer: The publisher cannot accept can find.
responsibility for loss or damage caused by error in the printing of an advertisement. We do endorse any advertisers in Coming Soon tonot UK cinemas 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 publisher. The Film Review is contributedtheby Robert Ewing. Lothian Publications Robert is passionate about filmPublisher: as an art form, and Ltd. Geddes House, Kirkton North, Livingston, shining a light on films that may not be on people’s radar. West Lothian EH54 6GU. Robert lives in Kirknewton. He attended the Toronto Design: International film Festival in Magazine September for the North Alan Stewart Design American premier of All of aT:Sudden. 07729 911858
THU 8TH OCT TO SAT 10TH OCT A Midsummer Night’s Dream Reconnect Theatres present Shakespeare’s hilarious comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, directed by Sam Stuart Fraser. Reconnect Howden Park, Livingston, EH54 6AE. 8pm, tickets from £20 plus BF. Information and booking via: www.reconnecttheatres.com SATURDAY 10TH OCTOBER Craft Fair - Over 20 stalls selling unique handcrafted gifts and products. Some stallholders local with others coming from further afield and coming to the area for the first time with some new and unusual crafts. A coffee bar will be open all day offering filled rolls, home baking and refreshments. Entry to the Fair is free, so why not start your Christmas shopping early or enjoy a morning or afternoon out with friends!! Winchburgh Parish Church, EH52 6TT. 10.30am - 2.30pm WEDNESDAY 21ST OCTOBER West Lothian in the early Middle Ages West Lothian History and Amenity Society talk, by Dr Tim Clarkson, Independent researcher and historian. 7.30pm, Bathgate Partnership Centre, South Bridge Street, EH48 1TS. INCLUDED IN SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP, OR NON MEMBERS BY DONATION ON THE NIGHT. FRIDAY 23RD OCT & SAT 24TH OCT HalloweenFrightNights–StrangerBings - Inspired by the iconic West Lothian Bings, Stranger Bings transforms Almond Valley Heritage Centre’s 23 acre site into a mysterious world where mad science has gone spectacularly wrong. Expect eerie encounters, immersive storytelling, live characters, spine-tingling special effects and plenty of boos that will have the whole family laughing, jumping and screaming with delight.
Tickets £13/£11 – booking and information at: www.almondvalley.co.uk SAT 24TH AND SUN 25TH OCT Pumpkin Trail at House of the Binns - Find the petrifying pumpkin signs hidden around the grounds of the House of the Binns to unscramble the spooky word and win a tasty treat! !0am and 12:30pm each day, tickets £6 + booking fee per child (under 18), accompanying adult free. Book via House of the Binns Eventbrite page. House Of The Binns, Linlithgow, EH49 7NA (a NTS property) WEDNESDAY 28TH OCTOBER Halloween Night Market - Market and food stalls, along with entertainment including kid’s disco, scavenger hunt, pumpkin patch, trick or treat. Located behind Argos, Whitburn Road, Bathgate, EH48 1HH. 4.00pm - 8.00pm SATURDAY 31ST OCTOBER Broxburn Annual Woodcraft Show Woodwork showcase, handmade items for sale. Tea & coffee (donation). Strathbrock Partnership Centre, 189A West Main Street, Broxburn. 10.30am – 2.00pm. WEDNESDAY 4TH NOVEMBER Food Festival - Food stalls selling products to take home, food trucks and vans serving fresh food to enjoy there and then. Variety of food to browse and try including honey, sauces and condiments. Behind Argos, Bathgate, EH48 1HH. FREE ENTRY. EVERY SATURDAY Bathgate Market & Car Boot Sale Bathgate Outdoor Market 9.00am to 2.00pm. Parking available in Gardners Lane Car Park and Acredale Car Park. Access via Whitburn Road on the road between H&M and Home Bargains.
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SPORTS, HOBBIES, LEARNING, SUPPORT GROUPS & MORE... VILLAGE YOGA - Gentle exercise and stretch. Kirknewton Village Hall, Mondays. Chair Yoga 9.30am – 10.15am, £6 per person. General Yoga 5.30pm - 6.30pm £10 per person (cash only). Please contact Cheryl on 07483 179022. KIRKY KLUB - Kirky Klub is a FREE family-friendly social event with a Stay & Play, Cuppa & Cake, and Preloved items. 1st Saturday of every month, Kirknewton Village Hall, 10.30am to 12noon. More info: kirknewton. info/activities/kirky-klub
FORGET-ME-NOT CAFE - For people living with dementia and their carers. Come and join us at one of our monthly cafés. Come for the whole session or just drop in. For information please email westlothianservices@alzscot.org Second Tuesday of the month 1.30 – 3.00pm, East Calder Parish Church Hall, Main Street, EH53 0HF. 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.
WALKING FOOTBALL WEST LOTHIAN - For everyone over 50, no matter your level of fitness. Come along and get yourself a MID CALDER COMMUNITY wee bit fitter. Hot drinks, biscuits, HUB - Every Thursday 12 till good company included! We 2.00pm. Institute Hall (Community meet at: Centre) Mid Calder. We have free XciteBathgate-Mon:10.00am,£1; teas and coffee along with cake Broxburn Juniors Ground and biscuits together with a warm Tue: 10.30, £3; welcome and friendly chat. Open Murieston Sports Park (Apr-Nov) to all. We look forward to seeing Wed: 10.00am, £1; you soon. Any questions just pop Xcite Craigswood (Dec-Mar) in to see us. Wed: 10.00am, £3; MID CALDER WOMEN’S East Calder FC - Thu: 11.00am, GROUP - Mid Calder Women’s £1; Whitburn Community Group would like to welcome Centre - Thu: 10.30am, FREE. new members. We are a group Just turn up 15 mins before KO, or contact: T: 07775 188218 aged 60+ who meet each Monday at the Institute Hall, Mid E: jim.barrie@hotmail.co.uk Calder, from 12.45pm until 3pm. OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTIVE Cost per week is £3/member. LIVES - Cyrenians OPAL We organise various activities (Opportunities for Active Lives) including, games, quizzes, bingo, works with people aged 60+ well being exercises and regular promoting active and fulfilling talks from external speakers and lives, creating and enriching entertainers. We also arrange communities which empower all coach trips to places of interest. to remain independent, living at Interested? Please contact Jackie home and socially connected. on 01506 883205. OPAL supports over 25 SUKHA YOGA - 'Sukha' means Community Groups throughout happiness, pleasure, ease or West Lothian for people to bliss. If any or all appeal to you attend, engage with others and come along to yoga sessions. build new friendships. They also Every Wednesday in Dave King provide a time limited one-toPartnership Centre, East Calder. one befriending service built to improve confidence. To find out Now two sessions available more please contact 01506 815 choose either 6.00pm -7.15 pm 815 or opal@cyrenians.scot or 7.15pm - 8.30pm. Contact me 34 | CALDERS
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. To join our waiting list, please email: info@singergie.com 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 Get crafty with us! Join East Calder Needlecraft Club who meet every Thursday from 6.30pm-9.00pm at the Dave King Partnership Centre, Main Street, East Calder, EH53 0EP. All crafts welcome, Meet fellow crafters, learn new skills and share your passion. Beginners and Pros alike. Call 01506 882699 for more info or drop by, we can't wait to meet you. EAST CALDER OVER 50s CLUB - Held in The Dave King Community Centre, Main Street, East Calder every Wednesday from 1.00-3.00pm (SeptemberMay) 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: eastcalderscouts.uk SLIMMING WORLD - East Calder Bowling Club, 255 Main Street, East Calder. Tuesdays 3.30pm, 5.30pm & 7.30pm, Wednesdays 9.30am & 11.30am and at Geddes House, Livingston, EH54 6GU on Thursdays 7.30 & 9.30am. New and returning members always welcome. Contact Sue: 07803 520781
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. Ante-natal yoga 5.456.45 and Vinyasa Flow 7.008.00pm Tuesday. Seasonal yoga 5.30-6.30 and Yoga Basics 6.457.45pm Wednesday. Iyengar yoga 6.00-7.15 & 7.30-8.45pm Thursday. Iyengar yoga 9.4511.00am Friday. Carmondean, Livingston. T: 07810 824 195 E: info@chooseyouyoga.co.uk W: chooseyouyoga.co.uk or on Facebook 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 E: office@carers-westlothian.com W: www.carers-westlothian.com 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 GENERATION ARTS - We are a Creative Arts charity based in West Lothian. Our classes are as follows: Generation Dance (Thursdays)
- 10.30am at Livingston United Parish Church, Carmondean. Music&Singing Group (Thursdays) - 12.00pm at Bathgate Partnership Centre. Generation Dance Bathgate, Seated (Fridays) - 10.30am at Rosemount Gardens, Mid Street. All classes have a suggested donation of £4. Other arts projects available. Contact: E: generationarts.info@gmail.com T: 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. Phone and email support also available. Please call 01506 283053 or email MacmillanWestLothian@ westlothian.gov.uk WEST LOTHIAN 50 PLUS 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 NOT-FOR-PROFIT GROUPS ARE FREE. THERE IS A SMALL CHARGE FOR BUSINESSES. SEE WWW.KONECT.SCOT FOR INFORMATION.
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