Konect Balerno October 18

OCTOBER 2018

PLUS: MONEY MATTERS, THE SEASONAL TOUCH, CLUBS & CLASSES, and more inside!

The monthly community magazine for Balerno, Currie, Juniper Green, Baberton & Ratho

TO OUR OCTOBER EDITION

I

THIS ISSUE

t was a gorgeous summer but I must admit I love the onset of autumn too, and

a walk in the hills in October is a must, to enjoy the spectacular colours.

Team Jak is our Charity of the Month and they are running a volunteer recruitment week in the first week of October. It was a pleasure to meet them for an update on where they are up to three years since Jak set this in motion; see pages 8 - 9.

All our usual columns are here, including Lynn McMurray’s quarterly “seasonal touch”. I hope you enjoy the magazine this month, and as always, do get in touch if you have any local events to promote, topics

P18 Can You Help Ease the Journey.....................8 The Seasonal Touch........................................ 12 Money Matters: Power of Attorney............... 14 Sport: The Most Uplifting Sporting Development..................................................... 18 Health: On Yer Bikes....................................... 21 Bridge Column.................................................. 38 Puzzles................................................................ 38 Home Improvements....................................... 42 Recipe: Spicy Chocolate Tartlets................. 44 Village People................................................... 47 What’s On........................................................... 50 Clubs & Classes............................................... 51

you would like to see covered, or any other comments and feedback.

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.

COVER IMAGE: Autumn Beauty

HELEN-JANE SHEARER

JENNY THOMSON

CHARLENE GAFFNEY

Email: editor@konect.scot

Email: jenny@konectdirectory.co.uk

07772 941899 charlene@konect.scot

Editor

@KonectMagazines

Account Manager

Account Manager

BALERNO | 3

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AFTER

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BALERNO | 7

CHARITY OF THE MONTH

Can you help with “easing the journey”?

If you’ve been living here more than a couple of years, you’ve probably heard of the local charity Team Jak Foundation or seen their collection tins in local shops and organisations.

Jak Trueman was the teenager from Mid Calder who touched everyone’s hearts with his sudden and short fight three years ago with the rare cancer T-Cell Lymphoma. In his short time he set up a charity as he wanted other young people touched by cancer – themselves and their siblings – as well as their families, to have emotional and practical support to ease the journey. Jak ploughed through a bucket list of activities before he left; and this energy and sense of grasping life for what it is, is what infuses the charity Team Jak today.

I met last month with one of their stalwart volunteers, Hazel McLinden, and the chairman of the board and Jak’s grandpa, Walter Barr, to see where they are up to. At their premises in Livingston, “Jak’s Den” offers counselling, activity days, magic shows, teen days, X-Box and PS4 challenges, arts and crafts, coffee mornings, music therapy, counselling, pamper days, alternative therapies and much, much more. They are currently supporting over 100 families with their activities in Livingston, and have also started offering outreach services at hospitals and “pop-up Dens” elsewhere in Scotland.

“Support for Team Jak has been phenomenal,” says Hazel, “but people move on, another cause comes along, which is understandable. We need to get the message out that we still rely very much on volunteers to deliver our services, and we need more volunteers to enable us to carry on delivering them and to develop the charity.”

Jak’s Den 8 | BALERNO

People can help in just about any capacity with the activities of Team Jak. Whether you have some specialist skills, or just a few hours a month to contribute, your help will be very welcome. Please contact Team Jak if you can help, contact details on next page. @KonectMagazines

Team Jak needs volunteers to: • Drop off and pick up the collection tins in local shops • Help at events • Help with office and admin work • Raise funds, through events or grant applications • Help with marketing, social media, website and technical • Join the board to help direct the charity going forwards • Provide befriending services, for children and their parents • Cleaning at the Den and offices Team Jak Foundation was Jak’s personal vision. It provides practical, social and emotional support to children and young people with cancer, related illnesses, their families and those bereaved. “Creating smiles, easing the journey” Address: Geddes House, Kirkton North, Livingston, EH54 6GU T: 01506 412302 | W: www.teamjak.org.uk Facebook: Team Jak Foundation- Jak’s Den Charity Registration: Team Jak Foundation is a charity registered in Scotland, SC045586.

Every day 11 children are diagnosed with cancer. 3 won’t survive. Help us create smiles and ease the journey of these families. A donation of: • £5 could provide snacks for 2 kids • £10 could provide art and craft activities for a child in Jak’s Den • £20 could provide an hour of outreach support from a Support Worker for a week in hospital • £25 could pay for a counselling session for our warriors or siblings • £50 could provide 2 counselling sessions for our young people • £100 could pay for an activity session for our warrior and angel families in Jak’s Den This article was written by Helen-Jane Shearer after meeting with Hazel McLinden and Walter Barr of Team Jak Foundation.

Helen-Jane is the editor of Konect magazines. @KonectMagazines

TEAM JAK

VOLUNTEER WEEK 1ST TO 7TH OCTOBER 2018 Launch of volunteer week with Volunteer Information Drop-In on Sunday 30th September, Mercure Hotel, Livingston 12.00 - 2.00pm: Pop in for a coffee and chat and find out how you can be part of our volunteer team making a difference for the families we support.

Every day of volunteer week 1st-7th October - Facebook introductions to some of our fabulous volunteers.

Team Jak Volunteer Awards Ceremony on Saturday 27th October: Next year it could be you receiving an award. Awards presented for 10 hours volunteering onwards.

Here is what a few of our fabulous volunteers had to say about volunteering: “Volunteering for Team Jak is rewarding and gives me a sense of achievement knowing I am helping make children with cancer smile a little during treatment.”

“I love volunteering for Team Jak, I have also learned so many new skills as Team a Jak makes sure I have training opportunities to help me help others.”

“Team Jak is a fabulous charity to volunteer for, I really feel appreciated and I can see volunteers are an integral part of the team.”

“I was delighted to receive an award at last year’s volunteer award ceremony.

A lovely event that made me feel special and has actually made me aim for my next award all whilst helping families living with childhood cancer.”

To find out more about the recruitment activities happening during this week visit the website on www.teamjak.org.uk or find us on Facebook.

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BALERNO | 11

THE SEASONAL TOUCH

THREE STEPS TO A

Lynn’s 15 year old Westie, Fergus, getting comfortable on the sofa

While I’m always a little sad to say goodbye to summer, I love autumn and its opportunity to switch up the decor at home.

Our home decor accents should work to create a certain feeling as we walk through the door. What feeling do you want this autumn? If you’re like me, it’s probably one of cosiness and comfort, creating a welcome nest you’ll want to retreat to until spring comes round again.

Switching out a few key pieces, to reflect the new season, will ensure your home always looks and feels loved, newly dressed and bang up to date.

It needn’t be expensive either. Think of dressing your home the same as you would yourself. Have you ever considered the ‘cost per wear’ of an item of clothing? Your home will be ‘wearing’ these accessories every single day for the next 5 or 6 months. Now that’s value for money! What’s more, you can pack them away in spring and they’ll feel like new when autumn rolls around again.

Or my favourite - faux fur? If you’re short on storage space, think about just switching out the cushion covers. How about a mini sheepskin, faux or otherwise, over a chair or sofa back for a real feeling of cosy comfort.

2. Add a seasonal scent. Our sense of smell can have a huge impact on our emotions and general wellbeing. Enjoying the scent of a seasonal candle or aroma diffuser can help to lower our stress levels, lift our mood and promote relaxation. With so many options out there in stores right now, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

3. Fill vases with seasonal accents. Nothing adds a touch of autumn around the home better than some pine cones, autumnal leaves, mini gourds or decor pumpkins in a vase or around the base of a hurricane lamp. Add a string of battery lights on a pre-set timer for an extra warmth. How great would it look as a ‘welcome home’ on your hall table?

Here are my top 3 ideas for minimum effort but maximum impact.

With just a few easy tweaks your home be all set for the season ahead.

1. Switch out your cushions and throws.

Choose something to complement your core wall, floor and sofa colours. Cosy autumnal shades? Beautiful berry tones?

Lynn McMurray - Enthusiast of all things ‘home’ and owner at The Seasonal Touch. www.theseasonaltouch.co.uk

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MONEY MATTERS

POWER OF ATTORNEY No-one wants to think about the time when they might not be well enough or have enough “mental capacity” to make decisions for themselves or in some cases no longer want to make decisions.

The solution is to put in place a Power of Attorney (PoA), which means if you are unable to look after your own affairs someone you trust is able to make decisions on your behalf.

A Continuing PoA will allow your attorney to make decisions about your financial affairs.

A Welfare PoA allows your attorney to make decisions about your health and personal welfare such as medical care or going into a care home.

A Combined PoA as the name suggests this combines both a Continuing and a Welfare PoA.

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You can appoint whomever you want, a family member or a friend. You can appoint someone to deal with your financial matters and someone different to deal with your personal welfare.

You can appoint more than one person to act as your attorneys. If you appoint more than one person you must decide how they should act. You can require them to make decisions ‘jointly’ or ‘separately’ but if jointly they must always act together and so must agree on all decisions. Jointly and Separately they can act together but also on their own.

If you find the process of drawing up a PoA too much it might be worth paying a professional to do it for you.

Finally the PoA must be registered with The Office of Public Guardian.

The Money Matters column is contributed by Personal Money Matters. This month’s column

by Dr Peter Marshall.

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BALERNO | 15

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BALERNO | 17

SPORTS

THE MOST UPLIFTING SPORTING DEVELOPMENT OF THE LAST 50 YEARS…. ….has to be the growth, the image, the popularity of Sport for the Disabled.

I went to school in Prescot (with the fifth Beatle, the tragic Stu Sutcliffe), in an era when conformity ruled but the edges, mercifully, had started to fray, nay disintegrate, by the time I joined the Cavern Club. When I was a teenager, the great debate was whether Sport and Politics should mix. Time has provided the answer.

The roles of Rock’n’Roll and Sport in the process of liberation and equality cannot be underestimated. I reckon that when RnR ran out of puff, it left Sport to ride point virtually alone.

There have been so many landmark moments: female athletes in Olympics 1900; Jesse Owens stuffs Hitler 1936; Ali refuses the draft 1967; Black Power 1968; Billie Jean beats Riggs 1973; South Africa win World Rugby Cup 1995.

In 1948 in the UK, Sir Ludwig Guttman incorporated sport in the rehabilitation of war vets with spinal damage. Come Rome 1960 (the first televised Olympics), BREAKTHROUGH! he took 400 of his wheelchair warriors to compete in the “Parallel Olympics”; cut to London, 2012, and 4302 Paralympians from 164 nations competed in 503 events. Wow! Sports today are the great influencer - fashion, entertainment, economics at all levels, politics, identity (group and personal) - to the extent that the UN has declared them a “Human Right”!

But Sport, at root, is about participation, hence the importance of bodies like Lothian Disability Sport, an offshoot of Scottish Disability Sport.

Disability Sport Officer, Jack Brodie, tells me the raison d’être is “to promote sport and physical activity for people with a physical, learning or sensory impairment,” to be achieved primarily through the delivery of a Lothian wide programme of competitive and participatory events in selected sports, for school-aged and senior athletes.

“Alongside this, we also support disability specific 18 | BALERNO

clubs within the region and athletes all the way up the pathway to Paralympian standard. I have cerebral palsy myself and was involved in LDS opportunities as a child, becoming a national level swimmer. I play and coach a bit of basketball. I coordinate and deliver the school and senior calendar of events, club development and ensure that Lothian is represented at national events. Our work is closely linked to the four Lothian authorities, who all support our delivery of sporting opportunities.

Sport has given the majority of our athletes lifelong friendships, a sense of belonging, an improvement in their confidence levels plus the obvious health benefits. Many appreciate the difference sport has made in their lives and stay involved in things through volunteering or coaching, myself included.”

LDS run a comprehensive programme which allows approximately 1500 young people and adults with a disability the opportunity to take part in sport each year.

Archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, boccia, bowls, curling, cycling, fencing, football, golf, judo, multisports, rugby, swimming, table tennis, tennis available via LDS. That’s some list! Long may their team continue to hit the bullseye!

For more information and full catalogue of sports, see www.lothiandisabilitysport.co.uk The sports column is contributed by David Levin. David is a Liverpudlian living in West Lothian, and describes himself as a writer, sportsman, patriarch and dreamer. @KonectMagazines

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HEALTH

On Yer Bikes!

When 14 year old me first went to Amsterdam, one aspect of their traffic system smacked me right between the eyes.

No, not a traffic cop. Obviously canals were king, trams third in line, whilst cars were without doubt the commoners. First in line to the throne was the bicycle.

I always highly rated the Dutch - they seem so mature and practical, and by all accounts their love affair with the cycle continues to burn bright: the motorist is automatically to blame in any collision with a cyclist.

The UK still lags way behind but at last we have woken up to the many-faceted benefits of cycling in the areas of fitness, pollution, congestion (traffic and lungs), speed, environmental damage - for starters. Edinburgh and its environs seem to be in the peloton of progress. And something I could never have imagined happening in my lifetime the UK’S professional cyclists dominate the world!

You need convincing of the health and fitness benefits of cycling? Take your weekendself along to a section of the magnificent John Muir Way and simply watch for a couple of hours and count the cyclists! We’re fortunate to be able to cycle all the way into Edinburgh on the Water of Leith cycle path, part of National Cycle Network route 75, avoiding traffic completely.

Convinced? At peak fitness my resting heart beat was 62. (I’ve never been a cyclist). My lifetime (serious) cyclist mate, Andy now 59, has @KonectMagazines

a resting heartbeat of 48. Doctors used to think Miguel Indurain, 5 x Tour de France winner, had died, due to his resting heart beat of 29!

Understandable as the acceptable fit norm is 72.

Convinced? See globalplanet.com: knowledge Edinburgh’s plans to facilitate the growth of the cycling lifestyle (though the tramline layout is judged poorly designed) are moving slowly. The main plank is an expensive bike share scheme just launched after first being proposed as long ago as 2005. Bikes are hired from 19 locations in Edinburgh using the app of the sponsor, Just Eat! Well at least you’ll be able to cycle off the extra calories ingested from their takeaways.

It’s believed the city can sustain some 2000 cycles starting with 200 pedal cycles this autumn and 600 (100 electric), by April 2019. The chosen conveyance is the Pashley bike, (as used in the London scheme) and the chosen operator is Serco.

There are cycling clubs out there awaiting even the rawest, unfittest novice with chains of helpers, frames of support and knowledgeable spokespeople. www.edinburghcyclehire.com www.cycling-edinburgh.org.uk This column is contributed by David Levin.

David is a Liverpudlian living in West Lothian, and describes himself as a writer, sportsman, patriarch and dreamer.

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FIX UP YOUR HOME FOR AUTUMN

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CLEANING & MAINTENANCE • Rhone Cleaning & Repairs (cast iron or plastic) • Roof Repairs (tiles or slates) • Moss Removal • Pressure Washing

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PUZZLES

COMMUNITY

A REAL DUMMY

CROSSWORD

Solution in the November edition of Konect 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. Recognize (8), 14. Title (7), 16. Fighting (6), 18. Occurrences (6), 19. Warn (5), 22. Enlarge, develop (4)

Solution on Page 53

SUDOKU

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I’m always slightly nervous saying to someone at the bridge table: “You’re the dummy.” It just sounds so disrespectful. So, I usually depersonalize it by saying something like; “I think East is the dummy in this hand.”

But during one recent session I made a horrible mistake when someone might justifiably have said to me: “Tonight, you really are the dummy.”

It was during a bridge holiday in Gatehouse of Fleet in Galloway at the Cally Palace Hotel. In my defence it was the last evening of play after a convivial black tie dinner and everyone was in a relaxed mood. (Maybe too relaxed in my case.)

The auction was unremarkable and when one opponent bid two diamonds in response to 1NT, her partner helpfully said: “Transfer to hearts.” Not understanding transfers at that time, I was grateful. The contract was reached.

We were defenders and my partner played her lead. The opponent on my right laid down his cards. What on earth was going through my mind I can’t now recall but there was a long silence while we waited to see what the declarer would play from dummy.

The strange thing is that everyone at the table (including me) knew something was terribly wrong but no one seemed to be able to put their finger on it for quite a while. Then everyone seemed to get it all at once. For some unfathomable reason, I had got it in my mind that I was dummy and had laid my hand down as well. When the truth dawned, we laughed our heads off for about five minutes.

Unfortunately, I’m teetotal so I couldn’t even blame the demon drink. It was on one of those boiling evenings in early July, so I’ll blame heat exhaustion. Bridge is always fun but not usually as hilarious as that evening.

The Bridge column is contributed by John Samson. John lives in Currie and is a member of Balerno Bridge Club, organiser of the Bo’ness Bridge Club and plays regularly at various groups in the area. Enquiries to jsamson23@hotmail. com with the heading ‘Bridge News Konect.’ @KonectMagazines

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HOME IMPROVEMENT

The EKCO Guide to Your Next Cooking Appliance The beauty of ‘Bake Off’, MasterChef and other cookery programmes is they give us the confidence to have a go.

Skill, however, is one thing; having the right tools is another. You can’t install a luxury kitchen with just a hacksaw and a screwdriver. Likewise, if you want perfect results from your cooking you need the perfect oven and hob with features to suit modern living. Here is EKCO’s guide to the key features to look out for when choosing your next cooking appliance.

Flex induction: Induction cooking works with a magnetic field rather than an open flame or electric element. Because there’s no direct heat the surface of the hob remains cool after you remove your pot.

However, in early models, pots could only be placed on specific areas of the hob that meant there was always wasted space – not any more. Siemens flexInduction Plus hobs can accommodate different sized which means you can place a large roaster and a small pot side by side at the same time.

Plus, the ultra-modern touch-control panel can be programmed to cook everything from scrambled eggs to an autumn casserole – automatically.

Slide&Hide® doors: Neff Slide&Hide® doors disappear under the main oven housing so you can get closer to your food. This is not only a space saver in a smaller kitchen but a great safety feature too.

Neff oven with Slide&Hide® door 42 | BALERNO

Warming drawer: Did you know that a warming drawer, in addition to keeping food warm and heating plates, can also slow cook your food? A relatively new addition to the kitchen, the warming drawer has become a firm favourite with home chefs who want to enjoy a Sunday dinner with the family, but don’t want to slave over a hot stove all day.

Steam Ovens: Cooking with steam has long been regarded as a healthy option as it retains flavour, colour and nutrients. Now you can steam your fish, meat and veg in combination ovens from Siemens, Neff and Bosch. Fans of ‘Bake Off’ can also try their hand at home baking using the steam setting.

Steam ovens can also be used for the sous-vide cooking method used in top restaurants. Sous-vide involves placing the food in a vacuum-sealed bag and gently steaming it at very low temperatures, for flaky fish, juicy meats and crunchy veg.

Self-cleaning ovens: The worst part of preparing a home-cooked meal is the cleaning up afterwards and unless you have your own kitchen porter you can spend ages getting rid of baked-on gravy or fat from your roast. To make life easier, ovens from top manufacturers have a pyrolytic cleaning system. This means heating the oven to 500 degrees, which turns all baked-on food to ash. It can then be wiped away with nothing more than a damp cloth ready for that next culinary masterpiece.

This article was contributed by Stewart Bruce, Managing Director of Ekco Kitchens and Bathrooms | www.ekco.co.uk | 54 West Main Street, Uphall, West Lothian, EH52 5DW

Siemens warming drawer can also slow cook your evening meal

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FOOD & DRINK

Salted Saramel, Chocolate & Chilli Tartlets

A fiery compliment

It may sound like an unusual combination but a hint of fiery chilli complements a rich chocolate dessert perfectly. Serve with a spoonful of thick cream or Greek yogurt for a really indulgent dessert.

Method: Ingredients: • Flour, for dusting • 250g ready-made sweet shortcrust pastry • 260g jar salted caramel sauce • 25g unsalted butter • 100g dark chocolate, broken into pieces • 1 small red chilli, deseeded and chopped (see Tip) • Shredded fresh basil leaves, to decorate (optional) • Icing sugar, for dusting

Tip:

Blanch the chopped chilli pepper in boiling water for 1 minute, then refresh under cold water and pat dry with kitchen paper. This will remove a little of the fiery heat from the chilli. If you prefer, replace the fresh chopped chilli with a sprinkle of dried chilli flakes.

Serves 4

Ready in 1hr, plus cooling & chilling time 44 | BALERNO

1. Lightly dust a work surface with flour and roll out the pastry to about 3mm thickness. Use to line six 10cm tartlet tins. Prick the bases with a fork and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan 180°C/gas mark 6.

2. Line each tartlet tin with a circle of baking paper and fill with baking beans. Bake blind in the preheated oven for 7-8 minutes. Remove the beans and paper and bake the tarts for a further 4-5 minutes until the pastry is crisp and pale golden. Leave to cool completely, then remove the pastry cases from the tins and place on a board.

3. Divide the salted caramel sauce between the cold tartlet pastry cases, smoothing the surfaces level with the back of a teaspoon. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

4. Place the butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water and leave until melted. Remove the bowl from the heat and stir the mixture until smooth. Cool for 20 minutes then spread over the salted caramel filling. Chill for 1 hour or until set.

5. To serve, sprinkle the chopped chilli pepper over the set chocolate topping and scatter over the shredded basil (if using).

Dust with icing sugar.

@KonectMagazines

@KonectMagazines

BALERNO | 45

VISIT WEST LOTHIAN

The nights are finally starting to draw in, and dare we say it but Christmas is now just 2 months away!

Before we get too carried away, there’s still plenty of other things to do across West Lothian.

In Linlithgow, the Town Twinning association will be hosting a very special concert in both English and French featuring Christine Bovill. This takes place on Saturday 13th at the Academy Theatre. The Arts Guild in Linlithgow are hosting Yu Kosuge on the 20th. Her programme for this performance is entitled “Fire” and it includes music by Tchaikovsky, De Falla, Liszt, Debussy, Scriabin and Stravinsky.

One of the biggest events of the year is of course Halloween! There will be many events taking place towards the end of the month to keep the young (and old!) ones occupied, starting in Livingston on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th for fright Nights at Almond Valley.

A little extra horror once the sun goes down, with a scary surprise around every corner, ghost

46 | BALERNO

trains to nowhere, and trailer rides circuiting the graveyard. The event is not suitable for very young children.

On Sunday in Linlithgow, why not get into the more traditional spirit with some pumpkin carving? At the Burgh Halls from 13.00 you can have a go at carving some spooky designs and transform your pumpkin into the best Halloween Lantern in the town.

That’s just a few of the great events going on this month, for more and for full details of location and prices of these events, visit our website at www.visitwestlothian.co.uk.

Don’t forget, many of these venues are participating in the West Lothian Passport scheme. Why not take your passport along and get some stamps for visiting top attractions this month? The competition closes October 31st so don’t miss out!

Follow us on social media to stay up to date with the latest attraction information: www.facebook.com/VisitWestLothian www.twitter.com/SeeWestLothian www.instagram.com/VisitWestLothian

@KonectMagazines

VILLAGE PEOPLE

CREDIT: Vicky W atson Photograp hy

Lorna Shields:

A STORY-TELLING, CHICKEN-CHASING FOOTBALL COACH Lorna Shields is a coach for Currie Football Club’s 2009s, and volunteers at the Citizen’s Advice Bureau. Along with her sister, she runs an award-winning children’s storytelling business. Lorna lives in Currie with her husband Barry and their three children. She also has an adult daughter and two grandchildren.

Let me tell you a story about a Currie woman with a number of interests and a can-do attitude. I interviewed Lorna last week or, more precisely, I followed her round her kitchen while she told me about her life!

Lorna is a coach for the 2009s division of Currie Football Club. “I’ve always been a football fan,” she says, “and my twin sons’ team needed some help. I started off ticking names off a register two years ago …”

Being a coach means doing courses, planning drills, “managing parents” and putting in many hours as a volunteer. When Lorna couldn’t find a tournament that the 2009s could take part in, she organised one in Currie. On 25 August 14 teams (8-10 yearolds) from across Edinburgh participated in the event. Lorna arranged sponsors (Nairns; Williams & Johnsons Coffee; and her own company), and a team of 12 parents baked cakes and took turns manning “Dougie’s Diner”, the food stall.

There was a slight hiccup on the day when Lorna had to race home to apprehend one of her hens, who had escaped from the coop.

But once the hen was resettled, Lorna put on her coach hat again and returned to the field.

After leaving school, Lorna studied drama.

She had her first child at age 18, and then returned to university to study social management science. Lorna graduated from Napier University with a first-class honours degree and the class medal for Effort and Achievement. She met Barry while working as @KonectMagazines

a Business Analyst for Scottish Life. Then she worked as an Independent Financial Adviser for six years.

Lorna’s boys were born in 2009, and 11 months later she learned she was pregnant again. After maternity leave she decided to leave her job and focus on her family. When the twins were about to turn three, Lorna and her sister, Kirsty Thomson, provided the party entertainment – both women love to sing, tell stories and do puppetry. The party was a big hit and they wondered if there was a potential business opportunity. “It’s in the bag” was born.

They started off doing a couple of children’s parties a month. But in the past three years alone the sisters and their team of storytellers have performed at nearly 400 private events and parties, schools and early years’ shows, The Scottish Storytelling Centre and Brunton Theatre. They’ll soon be working with Historic Scotland, delivering learning and facilitation activities for schools and communities.

I’m sure there is much more to Lorna’s story.

But you can ask her yourself – if you can keep up with her!

Go to www.itsinthebagparties.co.uk for more information.

The Village People column 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.

BALERNO | 47

WHAT’S ON

Th e is bac k!

There are huge treats in store for book lovers this Autumn in venues from Colinton to Balerno when Pentlands Book Festival will welcome Val McDermid and Jackie Kay in November at locations in Juniper Green and Currie respectively.

An early event sees Neil McLennan visiting Baberton Golf Club on October 13 to tell us more of its link with Wilfred Owen and the First World War poets.

Our schoolchildren from P7 to S3 will be challenged to write a poem on the Book Week Scotland theme of “Rebel”; plenty of scope there for sure. Thanks to the Balerno and Currie Rotary Club there are serious prizes to be won and fame, too, with a public reading at the prizegiving ceremony during Currie High School’s Christmas Fair.

Scotland’s own radical rebel Thomas Muir will be featured by his biographer Murray Armstrong at Currie Library thanks to an award from the Scottish Book Trust. And an historical walk in the city centre will follow the course of Muir’s rough treatment by the Edinburgh establishment.

Local authors Janet Dyer, Geoff Akers, Amanda Berriman and Norma-Ann Coleman will share their work and enthusiasms in Colinton Library and whisky expert Blair Bowman will go further and share samples at the Juniper Green Bowling Club.

Jennifer Henderson will talk about her acclaimed biography of Scotland’s own mystery crime writer Josephine Tey in the premises of Porteous on Lanark Road and Jacquetta Megarry will explain how she 48 | BALERNO

writes her popular Rucksack Readers in a further session at Colinton Library. There will be a Scientific Supper at Al Borgo, a visit to the War Poets archive at Napier University, a collaborative event with Colinton Lit, a literary quiz night at Tanners, a film in Balerno and former Edinburgh Makar Ron Butlin is appearing at Currie Library.

Younger children can meet Elizabeth Ezra on Friday 30 November at Currie Library for 8-12 year olds. And, in a closed afternoon session Jackie Kay, the Scots Makar, will speak to senior pupils at Currie High School on 6 November. We hope to invite students from many of our local secondary schools to this event.

Full details on pentlandsbookfestival.org and don’t forget to collect the free leaflet from the library in mid-October. Booking will be

by Eventbrite or in person at the libraries.

Most events are free (except for the Scientific Supper) though donations are always encouraged!. We are grateful to the C&B News, the Currie and Balerno Round Table, Edinburgh City Libraries and the Scottish Book Trust for their continued support of the Pentlands Book Festival.

This article was contributed by Liz Beevers, committee member of Pentlands Book Festival. @KonectMagazines

BUSTER THE DOG

Claylands Cottage Cattery ...for contented cats

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

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

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

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

www.claylandscottagecattery.co.uk

Alistair Taylor

BVMS MRCVS www.pentlandvetclinic.com

0131 451 5111

• 100% Small animal practice • Modern surgical, medical, x-ray laboratory and dental facilities • 24 Hour Emergency Service 5 Riccarton Mains Rd, Currie, EH14 5PX

Please contact us if you would like your business included in our Pet Services pages.

Contacts details are on page 3.

DOG DAYCARE & HOME BOARDING

Tel: 07807 856 940

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

HAPPY SCAMPERS

1 Humbie Holdings Kirknewton, EH27 8DS

www.happyscampers.co.uk @KonectMagazines

BALERNO | 49

WHAT’S ON

(from Currie and Balerno Post Offices), or £5 at the gate.

All accompanying children are free, but the organisers ask unaccompanied teens to donate £1 at the gate.

RBS MOBILE BANK: EVERY TUESDAY The RBS mobile van stops at: • Balerno Scotmid 11:50-12:20 • Currie Library 13:35-14:05 • Juniper Green Iceland 14:20-14:50

THURSDAY 4TH OCTOBER Coffee Morning/Lunch at Ratho Community Centre Come along and hear about Queensferry Care and have a bite to eat . 11am-12.30pm Entrance Free, all donations will go to Queensferry Churches’ Care in the Community SC021833

SATURDAY 6TH OCTOBER Awesome Autumn! - Ever wonder why leaves change colour? As the autumn colours start to florish, join us to explore the woodland. Get crafty with autumn leaves and see if you can make a leaf animal! Meet at Bonaly Country Park. 10.30am to 12.30pm. Bring sturdy footwear and waterproofs. £3 per child (ages 3+). For more information and booking please contact the Pentland Hills Regional Park on 0131 529 2401 Email: pentlandhills@edinburgh.gov.uk Website: www.pentlandhills.org

SUNDAY 7TH OCTOBER Bridges of the Water of Leith from Gorgie to Roseburn Hosted by Water of Leith Conservation Trust. To celebrate 200 years of the Institution of Civil Engineering (ICE) we will be joined by local expert Sandra Purves to look at the history of some of the river’s important crossings and discover the rivers newest bridge built as part of the Murrayfield flood defence works. Meet 2pm at the corner of Gorgie Road and Balgreen road at the bridge entrance to Saugthon Park £5 (members £2). Booking essential, please contact 0131 455 7367 email admin@waterofleith.org.uk.

SATURDAY 13TH OCTOBER Balerno Farmers Market “Music on the Main Street” Main Street, Balerno 9am - 1pm.

EVENTS ON UNTIL 15TH OCTOBER Balerno Music Festival See www.balernomusicfestival.org.uk. Tickets available via the website or at the Farmers Market on 8th September.

SATURDAY 27TH OCTOBER Dean Park Autumn Fayre Balerno High School, the concourse. 12.30pm - 3pm

SUNDAY 4TH NOVEMBER From Fire and Ice - Come and find out how the Pentland Hills were created from volcanoes and glaciers on this moderate low level. Meet at Threipmuir carpark, time 10.30am to 2.30pm.

Bring sturdy footwear, waterproofs, packed lunch and a drink.

Cost £10 per person (concession £5) Over 16s only. For more information and booking please contact the Pentland Hills Regional Park on 0131 529 2401 Email: pentlandhills@ edinburgh.gov.uk Website: www.pentlandhills.org MONDAY 5TH NOVEMBER Round Table Fireworks - George V Park in Currie, EH14 5RT. Gates open at 6.30pm, food on sale from Sandy’s Thriepmuir Lamb burger van along with glow-sticks and bracelets on sale for the kids (and the adults!). The fireworks will start at about 7.15pm. Come along and enjoy the show while helping to raise money for charities and other deserving causes. Early Bird Tickets cost for just £4/adult in advance

50 | BALERNO

This service is for RBS customers to make cash deposits, withdrawals, bill payments and administer their accounts.

It is not a full substitute for a branch but is still useful. For the best chance of it continuing please use it as often as possible. Recent improvements include better access for disabled customers and a new approach for those in wheelchairs. If you are yet to use the service, try it out next time it is in your village.

WATER OF LEITH CONSERVATION TRUST Children’s Autumn events at the Water of Leith Conservation Trust Visitor Centre £5 per child & start at 2.00pm until 4.00pm.

Booking essential, please contact 0131 455 7367 email admin@waterofleith.org.uk. Water of Leith Conservation Trust, 24 Lanark Road. See www.waterofleith.org.uk/Suitable for 4 to 12 year olds, Accompanying adult free.

• Tuesday 16th October – Rotten! - Delve into the decomposing world of fungus, compost & poo. A Rotten event which will leave you mucky!

• Thursday 18th October – Survive! - Build a shelter, forage for food and learn to create fire In November the Water of Leith Conservation Trust turns 30! Watch out for some great Anniversary Events at the end of the year.

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

BALERNO VILLAGE SCREEN *** NO SHOWINGS IN OCTOBER *** FRIDAY 2ND NOVEMBER • The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (12), 7.30pm (as part of The Pentlands Book Festival) SATURDAY 3RD NOVEMBER • Peter Rabbit (PG) 2.30pm • The Shape of Water (15) 7.30pm FRIDAY 9TH NOVEMBER • Journey’s End, cert 12, 7.30 pm (as part of St Joseph’s Armistice Day Remembrance) VENUE: St. Joseph’s Church Hall & Ogston Hall, Balerno TICKETS: www.balernovillagescreen.com and at The Mill Cafe. Programme and timings subject to change.

@KonectMagazines

CLUBS & CLASSES

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

BALERNO NEW YOUNG@HEART For older people in Balerno, Currie and Juniper Green.

We meet at 10am on a Tuesday at the Ogston Hall, St Joseph’s centre, Main St, Balerno for some gentle exercises then tea and coffee break.

We then have various activities.

Cost £2 per week for the tea and coffee break and £15 a year for membership, paid in 2 instalments.

For more information please contact Mary Laing on 0131 449 3523 or email me on yackadoo@hotmail. co.uk for more information.

BALERNO PARISH CHURCH Come and be part of the heart of the community which meets every Sunday at 10 am in the Main street www.balernochurch.org.uk HAILES SWIMMING CLUB Galas, coaching and development lessons for 7-15 year olds at Balerno, Currie, and Forrester pools. For further details contact membership@ hailesswimclub.co.uk ST MUNGO’S BALERNO Come be part of our vibrant church community which meets every Sunday, 10.30am @ Balerno High School www.stmungos.org PIYO LIVE!Pilates + Yoga + Nonstop movement. Stretch, Strengthen & Sweat all in one workout! Tues 9am in Balerno Scout Hall and Thurs 8pm in Balerno Community Centre.

Contact Heidi on 07982 205111 or heidi.instructor@gmail.com WILDFIRE EXPLORER SCOUTS Meet in Balerno High School.

Fridays 7.15 - 9.15pm. 14 – 18yrs.

Contact: Gordon Simpson 0131 477 3116. Email leaders@wildfireexplorers.org.uk BALERNO MONDAY CLUB Non-denominational club for over 55s. Our meetings are held in St Joseph’s Centre at Balerno Parish Church at 2pm on the first and third Mondays of the month from September to May. Different speakers, activities and outings each session, please contact the Club for syllabus details.

51ST PENTLAND SCOUTS (BALERNO) Beavers, Cubs, Scouts Various evenings, Balerno Scout Hall. Contact John Henderson on 07941 637262

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CURRIE RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB Malleny Park - Minis (P1-7) Sundays 10.30am - 12pm. Contact 0131 449 2432 www.currierugby.org PENTLAND CALEDONIA PIPES AND DRUMS Balerno Community Centre - Every Friday 7pm-9.30pm.

New members welcome. Free tuition on pipes or drums Phone 0131 4495133.

BALERNO VILLAGE NURSERY Balerno Community Centre Available 8am - 6pm, 5 days a week. Preschool play from age 2 years. Breakfast / Afterschool Club up to 8 years. Full or part time childcare . Call 0131 451 5756 PILATES CLASSES Balerno Parish Church - Mondays 7.30 - 8.30pm - Intermediate/Advanced 8.30 9.30pm - Beginners/Post Beginners.

Contact Judi on 07716 830905 or judithrintoulpilates@hotmail.com BALERNO FOOTSTEPS 4 FITNESS Mondays 10am at Balerno High School Riverside Café. Alternative Thursdays 10am at Balerno High School Riverside Café - Alternative Fridays 10am at Balerno Parish Church Hall - Contact 0131 477 7733. www.bf4f.org.uk SLIMMING WORLD ❤ ❤ ❤ Lose weight eating the most delicious food - yes you can! Classes at Balerno Bowling club, Thursdays 5.30pm. Contact Denise on 07934 823024.

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

PENTLAND FLOWER CLUB Drama Studio, Balerno High School.

First Friday of the month at 7pm (excluding January, February, July and August); Visitors and new members are always welcome.

Contact Lis Daly on 0131 442 2146.

CHILDREN’S SWIM SCHEME Balerno High School. Tues, Wed and Fri pm; Sat and Sun am. Contact Balerno Community Education Office 0131 477 7733 for more info.

COMPASS PLAYGROUP Dean Park Primary Pre-School Centre.

2-5 years, wide variety of activities.

Mon to Thurs (school term time only) 9:00am - 11.45am.

Lunch Club and Transfer Service to Dean Park Nursery. Call 0131 449 4530 (during opening hours) for more information or email info@ compassplaygroup.com BALERNO BABY AND TODDLER GROUP Balerno Parish Church Hall. 3 Johnsburn Road, Balerno, EH14 7DN. For children 0-5 years and their carers. Term-time Thursdays 9.30 - 11.30am.

BALERNO PARISH CHURCH GUILD Balerno Parish Church New Hall. First and third Wednesdays (commencing October) at 7.30pm.

Varied syllabus with many interesting speakers; Tea/coffee is served at the end of the meeting. New members and visitors warmly welcomed BALERNO FOLK CLUB Held on the last Tuesday of each month in Balerno Bowling Club . Doors open 8pm; Evening begins 8.20pm; Guest artist on stage at 8.30pm; Members and guests welcome. For further info contact Morag Dunbar on 0131 449 5014 or John Stirling on 0131 449 3456.

BALERNO SWI Balerno Community Centre 7.30pm. First Tuesday of every month (except July & August).

We usually have a speaker but we also have “in house” evenings; There is usually some business to be discussed and we enjoy a “cuppa” whilst chatting; New members or visitors welcome, just come along MINIS @ST MUNGO’S Group for babies and toddlers with their carers on term time. Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10 - 11.30am in St Mungo’s church building, Ladycroft, Balerno; All welcome. For more information see www.stmungos.org IN THE DITCH QUILTERS Balerno Community Centre. Monthly workshops covering different quilting topics, third Wednesday of the month from 7:15pm. Annual membership £24.00. Contact Maureen Murray on 0131 336 0053 for further details.

GIRLGUIDING Rainbows, Brownies & Guides on Monday evenings. Full information and meeting times see www.balguides.info or facebook. com/GGBalerno

BALERNO | 51

BALERNO ...cont.

PALM CAFÉ St Joseph’s Centre, Balerno, last Tuesday of the month 2.30pm - 4pm. A social group café for people with dementia and their carers serving the communities of Balerno, Juniper Green and Currie.

It provides a space for people with dementia and their carers to meet others for support and social contact, using activities such as music, movement, reminiscence and craft to enhance the wellbeing of the person with dementia & informal support and information for carers. If you would be interested in attending this group and would like more information please contact Kay Latimer (449-6186) or email: kaylatimer@btopenworld.com BALERNO PARISH CHURCH Come and join us for regular all age worship on Sunday mornings at 10am followed by refreshments in St Joseph’s. Check www. balernochurch.org.uk for all other events and worship information.

THE MILL CAFÉ A community café run mainly by volunteers in the St Joseph’s Centre at the heart of Balerno. Open Tuesday-Friday 9.30am-2.00pm serving teas, coffees, homebaking and snack lunches. (Times may vary during school holidays)

CURRIE HAILES SWIMMING CLUB Galas, coaching and development lessons for 7-15 year olds at Balerno, Currie, and Forrester pools. For further details contact membership@ hailesswimclub.co.uk CURRIE YOUTH CLUB Various activities and facilities: Nursery, Football, After-school care, ballet, dog training youth club, craft, Taekwondo, parties, Saturday morning cafe, rooms for hire. See facebook page. Currie Community Centre.

ARTS & CRAFTS GROUP Art Room 1, Currie Community High School - Thursdays 7.15 - 9pm - from 18th September to 27th November (except 16th October).

We are a small, friendly group (of all ages) and new members will be made very welcome. £35 for the 10-week term or £5 per session, if paid on the night. Fee covers all materials, equipment and

52 | BALERNO

refreshments. For more information please email: phoenixarts@hotmail. com or tel: 07934 495488.

BRIDGE CLUB The club is played at the Gibson Craig back Hall on a Monday, 1.30pm. For more information contact the Chairman on 0131 449 3527.

COFFEE AND CRAFT Currie community Centre Mon 7-9pm.

Bring your own craft and share your knowledge and experience with other crafters and perhaps learn something new. All welcome. £1 per person per night.

AIR CADETS 2463 (CURRIE & BALERNO) SQUADRON Forthview Crescent. Mon and Thu 7-9.30pm.

0131 449 7449 for more info.

CURRIE PLAYGROUPCurrie Baptist Church Hall. Preschool play from age 2 years - Mon-Fri, 8.45 11.45am (term time) £6.50 per child per morning - Wraparound and Lunch Club for children attending Currie Nursery. Wrap around £5.00; Lunch club £2.00. See www.currieplaygroup.co.uk 42ND PENTLAND SCOUT GROUP (CURRIE) Forth View Crescent, Currie.

Cubs Monday 6.15 – 7.45pm.

Call Fee 07771 370748.

Scouts Monday 7.45 – 9.15pm.

Call Ross 07729714445.

Beavers Friday 6.30 – 7.30pm.

Call Sharon 07810 201680. www.42ndpentland.scoutsites.org.uk THE OCTAGON CLUB For Adults with Special Needs and Learning Difficulties Meets in Gibson Craig Hall, Lanark Road West, Currie, 7 9pm on Wednesday Evenings from mid September until June for table tennis, snooker, badminton, table games, “tuck shop” etc. Contact Terry Maloney 0751 466 4292 CURRIE & DISTRICT LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY Meetings Mondays at 7.30 in the Gibson-Craig Hall in Currie - Visitors welcome; For further information contact Douglas Lowe on 0131 449 4349 or douglaslowe51@btinternet.com BOYS BRIGADE - 65TH EDINBURGH (CURRIE) COMPANY Gibson Craig Hall, Lanark Road West Currie Anchors (Boys P2 & P3) - Thursday 6 - 7pm Juniors (Boys P4, P5 & P6) Thursday 7 - 8.30pm Company/Seniors (Boys P7 - S6) Sundays 6.30 – 8.30pm For more info email 65edinburghbb@ gmail.com or see website 65edinburgh.boys-brigade.org.uk

CURRIE BABY AND TODDLER GROUP Gibson Craig Hall - Friday 9.30 - 11.30am (term time only).

Adults £2.00; Kids go free. Parents/ Grandparents/Carers/Childminders are all very welcome; Snack provided for the kids and tea and coffee for the adults. Loads of space to play BALERNO AND DISTRICT RAMBLERS Midweek Group meets on a Wednesday at Currie Library Car Park, Lanark Rd West - 9.15am for 9.30am start. Contact M Timmins 0131 449 4525 or A Blyth 0131 629 3644.

Saturday and Sunday Group meets at Pentland View Carpark, Currie, at 8.45am for 9am start. Contact E Scroggie on 0131 441 1666.

BOOK GROUP Currie Library - First Wednesday of each month at 7.00pm.

BEGINNERS YOGA CLASSES No experience needed (18+) - £6 per class Tuesday 8pm at Gibson Craig Hall, Lanark Road, Currie Wednesday 7.45pm at Forth View Crescent Scout Hall, Currie Monday 6pm at St Margaret’s Hall, Juniper Green Monday 8.30pm at Balerno Scout Hall Any questions please contact Monica, email: karmayoga@btinternet.com Tel: 07986 600432 CORNER CAFE BOOK CLUB At the Corner Cafe, 120 Lanark Road West, Currie. Meet 27th of every month at 7.45. Informal friendly group, all welcome, we read a mixture of classics and popular books. £3 per session.

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

MESSY CHURCH Second and last Fridays of the month from 2-4.30pm in the Gibson Craig Halls. We will meet from the second Friday in September until the second Friday in December then from the second Friday in January until the second Friday in June. All ages are welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult who stays with them. For further information, contact Louise on 466 3472 or Easter on 449 4719

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JUNIPER GREEN JUNIPER GREEN NURSERY PLAYGROUP Juniper Green Community Centre (Village Hall) 1 Juniper Park Road EH14 5DX. Contact 07948 554889 or see website atwww. junipergreenplaygroup.vpweb.co.uk

JUNIPER GREEN BOARDGAMERS We meet 2nd and 4th Friday of the month, 6pm-9pm in Juniper Green Parish Church Hall C - We currently ask for £1.00 per person to cover the cost of the hall (£2.00 non-members - First visit FREE!). Everyone welcome, suitable for kids over 10y/o. Children must be with an adult, and the adult must stay and play too. For more information and dates for this month, please contact Eric (eric@ericonline. co.uk) or find us on Facebook using “Juniper Green Board-Gamers”.

31ST PENTLAND SCOUTS (JUNIPER GREEN) 45 Lanark Road West, Currie

Beavers - Wed 6.30pm. Cubs - Mon 7.00pm. Cubs - Tues 6.30pm.

Scouts - Fri 7.00pm Contact - Mary Dick on 0131 449 7043.

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

PENTLAND BRIDGE CLUB The club meets at 7pm on Thursday evenings throughout the year to play duplicate bridge at St Margaret’s Court, Juniper Green. Prospective new members are welcome to come along to see if it suits them.

If interested, please contact Ken Brown 0131 449 5314 email mthkjb@gmail.com.

RATHO RAVERS Ratho Community Centre. Thurs 10am12pm. Exercising body and mind for the over fifties. £3 per class. For more information call the Community Centre on 0131 333 1055.

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

50 PLUS GROUP Varied programme of activities/outings.

New members welcome – meet fortnightly at Ratho Community Centre. Members 50p, nonmembers £1. For more information call the Community Centre on 0131 333 1055

SCOUTS All meet at the Community Centre, meeting times are as follows: Beavers: Tuesdays 6.30pm - 7.30pm (age 6-8), Cubs: Fridays 7pm - 8.30pm (age 8-10.5), Scouts: 7pm - 8.45pm. (age 10.5-14) TO INCLUDE YOUR CLUB OR CLASS, PLEASE EMAIL DETAILS TO EDITOR@ KONECT.SCOT CHARITY AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT GROUPS ARE FREE. THERE IS A SMALL CHARGE FOR OTHER LISTINGS. SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION AT WWW.KONECT.SCOT POTTER AROUND Overton Farm, Kirknewton. www.potteraround.co.uk

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

Glad to be open again! We would like to thank all our customers for their good wishes and understanding after the storm damage sustained in Storm Ali. Fingers crossed for no more storms this year....

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SOLUTION TO SEPTEMBER CROSSWORD

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

RATHO

RATHO SCOUTS, CUBS & BEAVERS Ratho Community Centre.

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

SOLUTIONS

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.

SOLUTION TO SUDOKU ON PAGE 38

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: Universal Appeal Ltd. M: 07729 911858 W: www.universal-appeal.com E: info@universal-appeal.com

BALERNO | 53

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

ELECTRICIAN MARKETING / LEAFLETING AERIALS & SATELLITE A&A Electrical Solutions 4 Kinnear Aerials 11 The Leaflet Lady 56 D Sykes Electrical 36 APPLIANCE REPAIRS MEMBER OF SCOTTISH

Spark Electrical Solutions 31 Appliances of Edinburgh 16 PARLIAMENT ESTATE AGENT Gordon Macdonald MSP 4 BATHROOMS & KITCHENS Blair Cadell Solicitors 36 Ian Merriman 6 MOBILITY SERVICES EXTERIOR CLEANING Splash Bathrooms 6 Ableworld 19 Cleaning & Mainetnance 34 Paragon Bathroom Solutions 2 PAINTING & DECORATING Laws Gutter Cleaning 4 Taylor Property 17 Alistair McLellan 4 FENCING, RAILINGS, GATES BEAUTICIAN Brush Strokes 16 S & D Fences 35 Beauty Box 24 Gerry Aitken 16 FINANCIAL ADVICE Beauty Therapy by Rhona 23 Ken Dunton 7 Personal Money Management 14 Juniper Beauty Room 24 Lane Decor 43 FIREPLACES / WOODBURNERS Lewis Arthur Decorating Services 28 BLACKSMITH Fireplaces, Stoves and Flues 13 D & I Blacksmiths 32 Mark Reece Painter & Decorator 30 FITNESS CLASSES BOILER SERVICES PERSONAL TRAINER Judith Rintoul Pilates 23 The Gas Engineer 43 KM Fitness 20 Karma Yoga 5 BUILDER PET SITTING / BOARDING FLORIST Almond Building Company 40 Claylands Cottage Cattery 49 Juniper Flowers 23 CAR SALES PLASTERING Vicky’s Flowers 24 Juniper Green Garage 41 Alexander Aitken Plastering 7 FUNERAL DIRECTOR Lothian Plaster 40 CAR SERVICING, MOT & REPAIR Mark Porteous Funeral Directors 15 Self Employed Plasterer 40 Balerno Garage 41 GARAGE DOORS Ratho Auto Services 41 PLUMBING & HEATING SERVICES Max’s Garage Doors 41 Bill Reid & Son 17 CARPET & FLOORING SALES GARDEN CENTRE Currievale Plumbing & Drainage 17 Pentland Carpets 13 Riccarton Garden Centre 33 Jim Gladstone 43 CARPET & UPHOLSTERY GARDEN DESIGN / MAINTENANCE Mclellan Plumbing & Heating 43 CLEANING CS Gardening 35 Owen Gibb Plumbing & Heating 43 Aquatec 11 D Greaves Landscape Shandon Plumbing 43 Cleaning Doctor 10 Gardeners 34 Weir Plumbing Heating and Gas CW Services 11 Evergreen Balerno 32 Services 7 James Burnett Carpet Cleaning 17 Greenspace Landscapes 34 West Lothian Landscaping & RESTAURANT / TAKEAWAY CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES Gardening 32 Al Borgo Ristorante 45 Little Dragons 46 Pentland Fry 45 GLAZING REPAIRS CHILDREN’S PARTIES CR Smith 29 ROOFING It’s in the bag 46 Double Glazing Repairs 6 Dell Roofing 30 CHIROPODY / PODIATRY / Edinburgh Roofing Services 37 GOLF FOOTCARE Baberton Golf Club 30 Fairmile Roofing 31 Pentland Footcare 24 John Brazil 17 GYM / HEALTH CLUB COMPUTER / PHONE REPAIRS Thomson Roofing Services 55 Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club 25 Simply Fix It 39 Norton House Health Club TAXI & PRIVATE HIRE and Spa 5 CONCIERGE Capital Cars 45 We Can Do It 23 HAIR SALON TREE CARE SERVICES Hair Tech 23 CURTAINS & BLINDS Delisle Tree Solutions 32 Tony Harper’s Hair Studio 22 Blind Design 13 Evergreen Tree Surgery 34 Harvey Bruce 10 HOMES FOR SALE Maxwell Tree Care 33 CALA Homes 27 DENTIST VET & ANIMAL WELLBEING Artis Dental and Implant Studio 22 JOINERY Pentland Veterinary Clinic 49 No.9 Practice 20 Create Enhanced Spaces 40 WEIGHT LOSS GK Wilson Joiner 7 DOG WALKER Slimming World 5 Jack Watson Joinery 4 Happy Scampers 49 R McNeill Joiner & Glazier 16 WINDOW CLEANER DOORS/WINDOWS RS Joinery 30 Tag Cleaning Services 35 UPVC Doors 7 LAWNS DRAINAGE SERVICES Greenspace Lawncare 33 Currievale Drainage 16 LOCKSMITH DRIVEWAYS AND PAVING 1st Call Locksmiths 41 Alpine Paving 35 CVC Locksmiths and Security 11

54 | BALERNO

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