Konect Balerno August 2020

AUGUST 2020

SCIENCE COLUMN: FEATURE:

HEALTH:

PLUS: MONEY MATTERS, HEALTH, NOTES FROM A SMALL VILLAGE, and MUCH more inside!

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ne of the strong messages that came through lockdown was the importance of supporting local businesses. It’s always been the case, but became so much more stark. So that’s what we’ve focused on for this issue, see the feature on pages 8-9.

As things head back to normal, and we breath a sigh of relief through our masks, let’s remember local businesses are the lifeblood of the local community and need all the support they can get as they recover, especially as many will have significant extra costs to be able to open safely.

All of our usual columns are here; Suzanne ponders royalty in her Notes, and whilst we had to manage without Wimbledon this summer, we have a contribution from Juniper Green Tennis Club about their story – a friendly club that provides a focal point for the village, their membership has been climbing steadily since lockdown as people looked to enjoy more outdoors exercise. They are welcoming new members – see page 29.

Thank for reading, and I hope you enjoy the magazine this month.

u can know yo Did you to receive each e subscribissue of Konect e here new Subscrib online? scribe b u scot/s konect.

THIS ISSUE Feature: 5 Reasons to Shop Local......................8 Health: Physio Tips for Working from home...........................................................................12 Money Matters: ‘Tis the Time to Gift.................25 Sport: The life-cycle of a local tennis club......29 Notes from A Small Village: Real-life Royalty........................................................................34 Local Environment: Skilful Acrobatics.............36 Local Lab: Conspiracy Theories.......................38

Konect 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.

HELEN-JANE SHEARER Editor

E: editor@konect.scot

CHARLENE GAFFNEY COVER IMAGE: Juniper Green Tennis Club. See our Sports Column on P29. @KonectMagazines

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“WHEN YOU BUY FROM A LOCAL BUSINESS, YOU ARE NOT HELPING A CEO BUY A THIRD HOLIDAY HOME; YOU ARE HELPING A LOCAL KID GET DANCE LESSONS, OR GET THEIR CLUB STRIPES; YOU’RE HELPING A LOCAL FAMILY PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE, OR A STUDENT TO GET THROUGH COLLEGE”

One unexpected and welcome outcome from the lockdown is the way in which many small businesses have been able to adapt so that they can keep trading. We’ve seen cafes become grocers, restaurants develop collection and take-away services almost overnight, shops develop online e-commerce stores, and salon owners becoming YouTube stars as they share their skills and expertise with ever widening and appreciative audiences.

Even during times of crisis, the demand to shop can open up new opportunities in many industries. At Konect we’ve always believed that shopping local plays a vital role, and no matter what our world will look like in the future we should all carry on supporting local enterprise.

So, as we emerge from lockdown, here are 5 reasons why shopping local matters, now more than ever.

It builds our local community and strengthens the local economy When you support a local business, you are supporting your friends, family, and 8 | BALERNO

neighbours. The availability of local shops is especially important for the elderly, vulnerable, young people and those without access to private transport. Plus the more money that local councils make in rent and rates, the more they can spend on supporting local infrastructure and public services.

Local small businesses add character to our towns and villages

A small business or boutique shop adds character to the town when you walk or drive by. In a world that has become increasingly dominated by chain stores, a local business’s branding

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is unique and often quirky, adding something different to the High Street, offering an alternative experience, and bringing a much needed breath of fresh air into areas populated by generic stores and companies.

Shopping local creates more job opportunities and encourages entrepreneurship A local business that becomes a success will grow, and as they grow they’ll recruit more staff from the local population. Plus their success will encourage other local businesses to open up to take advantage of the footfall, encouraging other people to take the plunge and become entrepreneurs too!

You get a more personalised service Local business owners are friendly and engaging, they get to know their customers at a personal level and can provide better advice about their products and services.

Local traders value your business more since their survival depends on their good reputation and repeat business. They can often adapt their products to suit your personal requirements, or source something bespoke for you, which big chains won’t do.

It’s better for the environment

“When you buy from a small business, an actual person does a little happy dance”

Shopping local means less mileage and petrol costs for you, which helps reduce CO2 emissions. Plus local shops often stock locally sourced goods which not only supports the local economy but also reduces transport times and costs of the goods, which impacts positively on their carbon footprint.

We know it’s tempting to default to the big chains. But shopping locally is usually just as cost-effective and convenient, plus you are supporting your local community and looking after the long-term, rather than putting money in nameless and faceless shareholders’ pockets. @KonectMagazines

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HEALTH

Physio tips for

working from home

Coronavirus has changed our world. Five months on from the start of lockdown we are beginning to realise that we will never work in the same way again.

Working from home was thrust upon us suddenly and now looks like it is here to stay. This has advantages, such as no more commuting to the office, but has disadvantages too. Now as we begin to open our physiotherapy clinic again, we have noticed an increase in calls for advice on how to best manage back, neck and arm pain.

Here are our top tips on how to stay physically and mentally healthy while working from home to avoid these problems.

Work Station - If possible, try to set up your computer at home in a separate workspace – part of a room dedicated to work only. This makes it easier to separate work and home life. Whatever desk or table you work at, try to get the screen roughly at arm’s length with the screen top just below eye level. This is harder with a laptop, but a laptop kit with separate keyboard, mouse and stand can help.

Aim to sit with your elbows level with the top of the work surface and your forearms horizontal and supported. If your chair is too low you can use cushions to sit on. If you have to sit on a higher chair to get to the desk, you may need a footstool to support your feet. If you have had an ergonomic assessment of your desk at work, do try to replicate this at home. Tempting though it may be, don’t work from a laptop or tablet in bed or from a sofa.

Prolonged sitting curled up to work puts a lot of stress on our neck and back and can lead to joint pain or repetitive strain injuries.

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Remember to Move - Even with the best work station set up possible, we human beings were not designed to sit still for long periods. There is an expression “Motion is Lotion” – our body welcomes movement to improve local blood supply, stretch tight tissue and prevent us becoming chair shaped! Take regular breaks from your desk. 10 minutes away from your desk every hour will help your stay physically well and can improve productivity too. Use this time to walk, stretch, get some fresh air in the garden or grab a coffee. If you are making a phone call, get up and walk around the room while talking. Take opportunities to move when you can.

Stay Connected - Working from home can be isolating. So many of us miss the company of our colleagues and try to avoid boredom by working for longer, making aches and pains more likely. Do try to arrange regular work social meetings online to see each other and enjoy a chat. Aim to stick to a good routine with boundaries between home and work life. You may be able to see family more so enjoy that family time. Working from home should have its benefits too!

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

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Jonathan Jennett BSc (Hons) MCOptom MOptScot Prof Cert Glauc Prof Cert Paed Eye Care

During Phase 3, we are able to see patients for ‘emergency’ or ‘essential’ eye care. Essential eye care is determined on a needs or symptoms-led basis. This is defined as any eye problem with the potential to have a detrimental effect on your vision or well-being.

Call us to discuss any eye problem for advice and/or potential eye test arrangement.

Sight tests are funded by NHS Scotland

For practice updates RE: current Covid-19 procedure, please refer to our website: www.clearvueopticians.co.uk JJ Optometry Ltd trading as “Clearvue Opticians” Registered in Scotland No: 382448 Registered office: 54A Cow Wynd, Falkirk, FK1 1PU

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MONEY MATTERS

‘TIS THE TIME TO GIFT You could, due to the Corona virus, find that someone in your family is out of work and needs financial help. What follows are the different possibilities that allow this without involving you or with tax consequences: 1. Single £3,000 gift: You are allowed in any tax year to gift £3,000 to any one person. If you have not used this exemption last year you could increase this gift to £6,000.

2. Small gifts: You can gift £250 in any tax year to any number of recipients but note this should not include the person who received the £3,000.

3. Marriage gift: You can gift on marriage, £5,000 to your son or daughter, £2,500 to grandchildren and £1,000 to anyone else.

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4. Regular gifts: If you have more than sufficient income for your daily living you can set up a regular gift from your surplus income. You should keep detailed records of all these gifts in case HMRC should challenge it.

5. Large Gifts: this is a much more complicated situation but can be achieved if structured correctly. You should definitely seek professional advice if you are considering this, as gifts other than those mentioned above will be included within your estate for the purposes of IHT should you die within 7 years.

If you are in any way unsure of your gifting, please seek independent professional advice.

The Money Matters column is contributed

by Personal Money Matters. This month’s column by Dr Peter M Marshall.

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The tennis championship now known as Wimbledon began in 1877. It was the world’s first official lawn tennis tournament.

A year later, in 1878, the first Scottish Tennis Championship was held. For the first fourteen years the Scottish Championship was held in Edinburgh, giving Edinburgh and its satellite villages a long-standing history with lawn tennis. And of course the championship has more recently been associated with the Tennis Centre at Craiglockhart,

Local tennis had its heyday in the period between the First and Second World Wars – “tennis for the millions” was a contemporary slogan – when many suburban clubs were established. There are several tennis clubs in Edinburgh which began at this time.

During the Second World War, however, many clubs were abandoned because of dwindling membership, or ploughed up for use as allotments. After the War remaining clubs often went into slow decline as other low cost leisure facilities competed for the public’s attention. Some clubs managed to pick up member numbers and carry on, but by the 1960s and 70s local clubs were again struggling, both for funding and for members.

At the end of the century many clubs had a dwindling membership and relied on the dedication and commitment of local enthusiasts to keep them going.

One such surviving Edinburgh local club is Juniper Green Tennis Club (JGTC), located opposite the former school which itself was built at the start of the 20th century. The school has become housing, but JGTC has been a prominent feature of the village since the early 1900s and remains in use today. Its fortunes have waxed and waned, just as other clubs across the whole of the UK. JGTC survived … but only just. In 1989, when the 99 year lease @KonectMagazines

The blaes tennis courts at JGTC to the District Council expired, Juniper Green residents fought strenuously to retain their local tennis club. The campaign for the Council to purchase the Club was eventually successful thanks to the community and its local representatives. The Club passed out of private ownership and continues to thrive to this day.

The Club has seen a marked reversal in its fortunes since that dark time. The courts and professional coaching attract a growing number of players, both local residents and those from further afield. JGTC has two of the few blaes tennis courts in Edinburgh. Blaes is made from crushed brick, which gives the courts their red colour – familiar from the Roland Garros courts, where the French Championship is played. Long gone are the wooden tennis rackets and strict dress code of the early days but the traditional Clubhouse remains a feature.

The facility may not enjoy the grandeur of Wimbledon or the cache of nearby Craiglockhart but Juniper Green Tennis Club is proud to be part of village life. With members’ social events and a seasonal coaching programme, it provides a focal point for Juniper Green Village. It is a friendly and open venue that offers players of all ages and ability the chance to learn or improve their tennis and engage with others in the community as they do so.

Facebook: @junipergreentennis clubspark.lta.org.uk/JuniperGreenTennisClub This article was contributed by Alason Roberts, Secretary of Juniper Green Tennis Club.

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I’ve lived in Balerno since 1991. It’s home. But Illinois, the American state where I grew up, is also home. I think of myself as a transplant – uprooted from the rich, dark farmland in the Midwest, and replanted in harder, rockier UK soil. Though I feel quite at home here, growing up in a place with different customs means that I don’t always see things in the same way as my neighbour.

REAL-LIFE ROYALTY

When I was a little girl I loved fairy tales and stories about princesses. The ones I preferred featured royalty who looked beautiful and, more importantly, acted beautifully.

I watched plenty of Disney films full of magic and make believe, and had fun dressing up.

Oh, to be a princess! A kind heart, a perfect life, sumptuous gowns and sparkling jewellery, and a handsome, strong, faithful prince by your side! What you said was obeyed to the letter. This wasn’t dictatorial because, as well as being drop-dead gorgeous, you were wise and discerning and always concerned for the good of your people. And a “happily ever after” was guaranteed.

Of course, it was all make-believe. No more real than Disney’s Magic Kingdom. But many Americans have no other picture of royalty to draw upon. So when I made my home in the UK, I had no idea what to think about the monarchy.

It wasn’t long before I had to dispense with the idea that the Queen spent most of her day sitting on her throne, wearing a satin dress and her jewelled crown and, well, ruling. And that was a big disappointment. I asked my British husband to explain to me what exactly it was that the Queen did. He did his best to expound upon the ins and outs of constitutional monarchy, but it was all a bit lost on me. OK, the Queen asks the new Prime Minister to form a government, but what’s the point? With the 34 | BALERNO

election won, wouldn’t that person just naturally form a government? Duh. I let go the fairy tale and focused on getting to know the royal family. What were they like? What did they do? I began watching documentaries, news clips, the Queen’s Christmas speech. I learned that the Queen was more likely to wear a lavender knee-length dress and matching hat than a regal gown and crown, and that she and her mum loved corgis and horse racing.

Princess Diana reminded me of the makebelieve princesses: she was beautiful, kind … sparkling. She stood up for others, she touched the untouchable and she spoke out against injustice. But, unlike the fairy tale princesses, she was not perfect. And she certainly didn’t have a “happily ever after”. Whether royal or common, people are just people.

If you’ve watched The Crown you may recall the scene where the dying Queen Mary reminds her granddaughter (our Queen) that she is answerable only to God, and her role is a calling to serve. Though very different characters, I think both Queen Elizabeth and Diana, the People’s Princess, understood this truth. Today that’s my view of real royalty: genuine people, willing to serve.

To be continued next issue …

Notes from a small village is contributed

by Suzanne Green. Suzanne, a freelance writer/editor, lives in Balerno and writes regularly for Konect. She is married to Andy and they have two adult daughters. @KonectMagazines

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LOCAL ENVIRONMENT

Skilful Acrobatics: Long Tailed Tits

If you’re lucky enough to have these boisterous little birds raiding your feeding stations already then you’ll be very familiar with their antics but in case you aren’t, let us introduce you to one of the cutest birds in the UK. They’re common across the country and you can commonly see them zipping about the canopies of the trees in the woodlands and parks.

On a trip out to look for deer and foxes locally, my head was turned by a high pitched, excited call moving towards me and suddenly a flock of long tailed tits and their recently fledged young surrounded me to perform skilful acrobatics on the willow trees whilst collecting food.

This adult had found a tasty little caterpillar for its six chicks gathered in the hawthorn bush above me. The only way to describe them is black, white, and pink fluff balls, who hadn’t quite grown their characteristic long tails yet. Staying silent whilst Mum and Dad were away, as soon as they came back the chicks certainly let them know it was feeding 36 | BALERNO

time. Eventually they moved off in to the higher branches but when an animal or bird as small as a long tailed tit lets you watch them at close quarters you can’t help but walk away with a huge smile on your face.

They’re well worth looking out for and spending a few minutes watching them hanging upside down in the trees - we can guarantee you’ll have the same feelings we do.

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

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LOCAL LAB

With every major event over the past 2,000 years, there have been conspiracy theories - moon landings, presidential and royal assassinations, Bigfoot... and now COVID-19.

Dr Joe Stubbersfield

But what’s the allure of these theories? Why are we so susceptible to them, and how can we resist falling for them? Dr Joe Stubbersfield, Assistant Professor in Psychology at Heriot-Watt University, is addressing these topics in his research, and in a new online show this summer.

Why are conspiracy theories a problem?: Conspiracy theories are accusations of conspiracy, which persist in society despite having been disproved or having failed to find compelling evidence.

The conspiracy theories surrounding COVID-19 provide troubling examples of the negative impact they can have on society. We’ve seen COVID-19 conspiracy theories inspire racist attacks on East Asian people, vandalism of 5G transmitter towers, and contribute to negative attitudes towards a potential COVID-19 vaccine. These kinds of stories are popular and persist because mentally, we are all natural conspiracy theorists.

Why are we all conspiracy theorists?: Conspiracy theories survive because of how our brains work. Like other aspects of our biology, the human brain has some evolved predispositions – tendencies to think or behave in a certain way. Just as we have a predisposition to enjoy the taste of salt, fat, and sugar, which leaves us susceptible to eating too many burgers, 38 | BALERNO

predispositions in our mind makes us susceptible to conspiracy theories. These predispositions of the mind are called ‘cognitive biases’ and conspiracy theories tick off a number of them. Firstly, they exploit our bias for believing there are intentional actions behind events where there is none. They also appeal to our bias for social information about the activities of others. Importantly, they appeal to our bias for focusing on the negative or threatening aspects of our environment, and for thinking more negatively about people outside of our culturally-defined ‘in-group’. All of these aspects make them a very tasty burger for the mind, and difficult to resist.

What can we do about them?: Unfortunately, conspiracy theories are difficult to combat, because they are so appealing to human minds.

The most successful proposed interventions are based on ‘preemptive exposure’, essentially ‘inoculating’ people against them. These include educating people about the techniques

used in the spread of theories and the nature of online misinformation. Understanding the appeal of conspiracy theories and being vigilant of our own biases is a great form of prevention and can help us fight our natural predisposition to be conspiracy theorists.

Interested in the psychology of conspiracy theories? Catch Joe performing in the Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas this summer. Hosted by comedian JoJo Sutherland, CODI is a blend of controversial academic research, audience interaction, and a dash of comedy. All shows this summer are available via the Stand Comedy OnDemand - the virtual venue of the worldfamous Stand Comedy Club.

Visit ondemand.thestand.co.uk for more info.

The Local Lab column is contributed by Heriot-Watt University to engage the public in a range of their research projects. @KonectMagazines