Konect Linlithgow June 2016

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JUNE 2016

WIN!

linlithgow

A family ticket to Spectacular Jousting at Linlithgow Palace!

FEATUREs

Riding of the Marches Linlithgow Reed Band Follow the Fluters!

Local People - Cara McDonald Local Walk - Bing Bagging s& Offer ers h c u o v cal from lo ses s e busin

plus local businesses, community information and more!

A new community magazine for the Linlithgow area

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WALK

M e ss ag e fro m t h e e dito r

T

he magazine has a summery feel to it this month! The Deacon’s Court have provided some information on the Marches and the programme on pages 6-7. The Linlithgow Reed Band is an integral part of the day of course, but they do a lot of other events too see article on them on page 13.

And turn to page 23 for an article from a truly inspirational Linlithgow resident. She runs a blog and kindly agreed to write a page for Konect this month.

The competition this month is sponsored

by Historic Environment Scotland who are offering a family ticket for their annual Spectacular Jousting event at Linlithgow Palace – not to be missed especially if you have children, I’ve certainly got happy memories of glorious days spent at the Jousting in previous years with my children.

A local walk, a summery recipe, plus our usual columns are here. If you have an event on in the next couple of months that you’d like to promote to the local community, or if you’re involved in a club or hobby group, please let me know and we’ll make sure it’s included next month in the community pages at the back of the magazine.

Helen-Jane, Editor hj@konectdirectory.co.uk Front cover photograph: Linlithgow Reed Band.

Photo by Gordon McBrearty

KONECT

FEATUREs Riding of the Marches Linlithgow Reed Band Follow the Fluter s at 5!

06 12 13

REGULARS Parenting in West Lothian Visit West Lothian Vet’s Tip Local People - Cara McDonald Proper ty Matter s Recipe and Food Notes Local Walk

18 19 21 23 24 26 28

COMPETITIONS & PUZZLES Spectacular Jousting Competition Crossword & Sudoku

19 22

COMMUNITY What’s on & Useful Infor mation Clubs & Classes

30 30

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

31

Advertising Enquiries CHARLENE GAFFNEY 07772 941899 charlene@konectdirectory.co.uk JENNY THOMSON 07824 469266 jenny@konectdirectory.co.uk Advert booking deadline: 10th of the month prior to print.

Artwork/copy deadline: 13th of the month prior to print.

The Konect magazine is delivered to 7500 homes and businesses in Linlithgow, Linlithgow Bridge and the surrounding area. Copies are also left at the library, post offices and other locations.

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Marches e h T f O g in id R ’s w Linlithgo FEATURE

The custom of inspecting a town’s boundaries has been in existence for hundreds of years.

Although it is no longer necessary to ensure that a burgh’s frontiers are intact, many Scottish towns still continue the ancient tradition of visiting the historic limits of its jurisdiction. In times past, this was essential in order to claim its privileges and assert those entitlements granted by the monarch.

To this day, the Linlithgow Riding still binds the community together in a shared, exuberant celebration of its history, its heritage and its collective pride and respect.

Did you know that: • L inlithgow’s Riding has been on the same date since 1767: the first Tuesday after the second Thursday in June.

• e very Common Riding in Scotland has a leading figurehead: in Duns it’s the Reiver; in Lanark it’s the Lord Cornet; in Galashiels it’s the Braw Lad; in Selkirk it’s the Standard Bearer; in Musselburgh it’s the Honest Lad and in Linlithgow it’s the Provost?

• o n the Friday before the Marches Day, the Town Crier summons ever inhabitant to attend and announces that failure to attend carries a fine of £100 Scots (£2000 in today’s terms)?

• L inlithgow’s haven of Blackness (along with the River Avon, a boundary inspected on Marches Day) once harboured a fleet of 36 ships that regularly traded from the port to Holland, Bremen, Hamburg and Danzig?

• t he earliest written record of the Marches is dated October 19th, 1541, when Linlithgow’s first Provost (Henry Forrest) ordained that the date of the next Riding would be on Pasche Tuesday (the day after Easter Monday), 1542?

• i n 1622 the Deacon of the Tailors punished one of the guild members for absenting himself from the Marches procession? The Deacon was then

himself summoned to appear before Provost Andrew Glen where he was severely chastised for exercising a magisterial prerogative off his own bat.

• i n June 1633 new boundary markers were erected at Linlithgow Bridge and Blackness?

These vanished over time but new ones were set up in 2013.

• i n 1651 a proclamation was posted declaring that all inhabitants had to wake at dawn on Marches morning and proceed to the Cross to witness the reading of the Burgh Accounts?

These days, the Marches still has an early start when the fifes and drum set off from the West Port at 5-00am.

Three flutes and drum at 5am

• o n Marches Morning the members of the town’s trades and their wives would decorate their chosen pub with streamers and greenery and then breakfast in their chosen deacon’s house before mounting their ‘brake’ and riding the Marches? Today, anyone can take part in the procession which heads off from the Cross at 11-00am.

• until the late 1960s part of the Blackness lunch consisted of salt fish and oatcakes - a reminder of the significance of these foodstuffs during Rogation Days – periods of fasting and praying for good harvests from land and sea? (Today the official party has an excellent lunch is served in a marquee at Low Valley House.

Other organisations dine elsewhere.)

Programme

10.25 The Provost and Party go out onto the Kirk Gate, to go up the Kirk Wynd to the palace and fraternise.

On the Friday before the Marches, 10th June at 1.00 p.m the Cryn the Marches takes place, from the Star and Garter to the West Port.

10.45 Return to the Cross for Lady Provost giving out prizes.

On Marches day

11.00 Parade sets off, to Linlithgow Bridge, for speeches at the western boundary.

5.00 Wakening by the Flutes and Drum who parade the Burgh, the ‘Brig and Blackness.

12.30 Return through the town and onto Blackness.

6.00 Wakening by Town Piper and Drummer.

1.30 Assemble and march to the War Memorial were Provost etc. lay wreaths.

7.00 onwards, Bands play in various parts of the Burgh.

8.00 Deacons Court and Town Guests assemble in Gallery of the Burgh Halls, then Introductions and breakfast in the North Hall, followed by speeches.

Also several other parties breakfast in the town at various venues, the Dyers, Rotary, Round Table 41 Club as do others.

9.00 Judging of Decorated Vehicles etc.

1.50 Then into Low Valley House grounds for a toast to the Baron Bailie.

2.10 Up to castle Hill, install Baron Bailie for another year.

2.30 Return to Low Valley for lunch, and speeches.

4.30 After lunch return to Low Port, Linlithgow, and form up for final parade.

5.00 Round the Cross three time and finish.

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FEATURE

The Royal Burgh of Linlithgow Reed Band The Royal Burgh of Linlithgow Reed Band (LRB) is very proud of its position as the town’s official burgh band and the principal musical ensemble at the Riding of the Marches. It provides accompaniment for all the historic ceremonies and traditionally leads the main procession.

The band is no stranger to major civic occasions in the town. It is present at all significant events, including official openings and the Children’s Gala Day. This year marks the sixtieth anniversary and the celebrations kicked off with a special concert in the Academy Theatre on Sunday April 24th.

All three LRB ensembles took part - the beginners’ section, the Training Band and the main senior band. In a major coup, there was also a special guest performance by the award-winning professional clarinettist, Richard Russell, whose musical career started as a school boy in the Reed Band in the early 1990s.

Commenting on the diamond anniversary concert, LRB President, Jonathan Molloy said: “We were delighted that one of our most famous alumni, Richard Russell, came up from his home in London to do a guest feature. The programme also included several concert band classics and highlighted “Hochsauerlandmarsch” - specially written for the band in 1981 by former conductor, Fred Frayling-Kelly, who had recently passed away”.

“Over one hundred musicians of all ages performed on the night and the concert set the scene for what will be a memorable year”.

The band made its first appearance on the streets at a Deacons’ night in May 1956. The move to reestablish a band in Linlithgow was provoked by the 1953 decision of the Kinneil Colliery Military Band in neighbouring Bo’ness to change its instrumentation to brass instruments only. This left the many woodwind players without a musical home and this led to the formation of a new Reed Band in Linlithgow.

In recent years, under the baton of conductor Lex McDowell, the band has enjoyed something of a renaissance, with the flourishing Training Band providing a constant supply of new talent for the main ensemble. 2015 saw record numbers turning out at rehearsals and engagements. A new CD was launched before Christmas and sales so far have exceeded all expectations.

Jonathan Molloy and the whole band are looking forward to a busy time over the coming months and, for him, the highlight of the diamond anniversary celebrations will happen in July, as he explained: “We will be making a sixth visit to West Lothian’s German twin region of Hochsauerlandkreis. Our first visit was in 1981, for our silver anniversary, and it is very fitting that we should return again in another milestone year. Based for ten days in the village of Herdringen, near Arnsberg, we will be closely involved with the local band and will share some joint events. As well as sightseeing throughout the region, we will be renewing our many musical and personal friendships and taking part in several of the famous Schutzenfests”

Follow The Fluters At 5!

BY MURDOCH KENNEDY

In 1985, Linlithgow writer, Forbes Walker, summed up the essence of the 5am awakening on Marches morning in his wonderfully descriptive poem, The Five a’cloke, six a’cloke, seven a’cloke Roke.

Widely regarded as one of the major highlights of the Marches Day, the early morning reveille sees a crowd of over 500 parade from the West Port behind drummer Bobby McLeod and long-serving fluters, Raymond Rollo and Bert McLeod.

There is always a great atmosphere as the musicians process along the ancient High Street, with the high-pitched tootles of the flutes echoing against the tall buildings in the stillness of the early morning. Linlithgow’s anthem ‘The roke and the wee pickle tow’ is the only tune you will hear.

The first stop on the route is always the house of the Provost of the Deacons’ Court, the group which organises the Marches. This year, the honour falls for the second time to well-known local solicitor, Jim Carlin. Like the main Marches proceedings later in the day, the early morning parade also includes a visit to the western boundary at Linlithgow Bridge and the town’s ancient seaport at Blackness.

Bobby, Raymond and Bert have collectively clocked up well over 100 years of service to the Marches.

Bert told me: “I first took part in the Marches as a sixteen year old in 1974, five years after Raymond.

My son, Bobby, joined us more than twenty years ago. I have only missed one year, when I broke a leg playing football for Livingston Juniors, although I did still spectate on crutches.

Marches Fluters at 5am

“At first lic Black Bitchhtes,,wawhenwisi hemoist the dew rts sae true Assem The West Pbloretliktherosongms,e cheerfu band The Bathgate Flutes araw shakin hands In fine array, they’ve jise early rised And foarmin up at Weat arrived Partake o hospitalitrieee’s” tree “Raymond and I were members of Bathgate Flute Band, which was always asked to provide flutes for the Crying of the Marches on the Friday before and for Marches day itself. Although the band no longer exists, we now do it as a private engagement, but are still known affectionately as the Bathgate Flutes”.

Bert’s day starts at 3.45 am, although he admits he doesn’t get much sleep the night before: “I try to go to bed early. Inevitably, it’s still daylight at that time, so it’s difficult getting to sleep. I’ve found myself tossing and turning until it’s time to get up. I’m too scared to sleep in!”

A taxi picks them up at 4.30 am from their Armadale homes and the trio arrive at the gates of the old West Port Primary school with plenty of time to gather their thoughts before embarking on their marathon stint. Having awakened the inhabitants of the Burgh, Brig and Blackness, they return to Linlithgow around 8.15 am for a well-earned breakfast.

Nowadays, the fluters and drummer officially ride the Marches as guests of the Provost of the Deacons’ Court, but that wasn’t always the case, as Bert explained: “After our breakfast, we were normally free to do whatever we wanted to. We felt that wasn’t right and were very keen to be more involved. These days, we get invited to take part in the procession and have lunch in the marquee at Blackness. We’ve developed close links with the Fraternity of Dyers and lead them around the Cross Well at the 5pm finale. So, in a sense, we start the Marches at 5am and finish it at 5pm”.

As always, Bert is looking forward to this year’s Marches on June 14th and the Crying of the Marches on the Friday before (June 10th) and he hopes to be involved in both for many more years to come.

Photograph by Mar tine Stead.

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Parents in West Lothian

e tune How to put your Cbeebies them having knowledge to good use withoutish to learn beginner’s Span Summer - ˈsʌmə/ - noun 1. the warmest season of the year: • in the northern hemisphere from June to August; • in the southern hemisphere from December to February; • in Scotland from April 18th – 22nd

Well slap my thigh and pour me a marguerita, summer has made its first cameo appearance in Scotland this year and our first family holiday has passed in longawaited, sunny, relaxing bliss.

“Where was this oasis of tropical paradise?”, I hear you ask. On which foreign land’s sandy shores did we let our troubles melt away like a dropped ice-lolly?

The answer? Ayr. I couldn’t believe it myself but we had the ‘Costa Del Sol’ experience without setting foot on a plane, buying any Euros, or feeling the need to purchase and wear an over-sized straw sombrero.

Our destination? Craig Tara holiday park, a stone’s throw from the birthplace of Robert Burns. I had often been to this resort back in the day when I was a child and it was a ‘Butlins’ resort – would it live up to the heavy nostalgia that I had burdened it with? I tried to keep my expectations low – after all it was Scotland, in mid April, and the whole holiday for 4 people for 4 nights had cost a 2-figure amount of pounds.

We arrived at our little chalet, which was spacious enough to be labelled as an extensive family home were it in London, and headed straight back out to see one of the many kid’s shows which involved lots of dancing, running about, eating popcorn, 18

Our column is West Lothia t: Nicola Jengaenga li ves in n with Quin months an d her hubby n 2, Penny 10 Channa, 33 .

Nicola & Ch anna both w ork, jugglin schedules w ith g their two tin the ever-evolving dem hectic y overlords, ands of in some tim and also sq ueezing e for each ot her!

In this new bl the adventu og for Konect she chro nicles res (and m isad Mummy an d Daddy wh ventures) of a the happy ti o aim to wri m ng all babies in w es they can from life w onderful W est Lothian ith their !

and drinking slushies. We also took part in ‘Kids TV Bingo’ which made use of our encyclopaedic knowledge of kid’s show theme tunes.

In terms of facilities, lots of things were just the same as I remembered – the huge and multi-levelled swimming pool, with flumes and river rapids galore was a big hit, and the water based fun continued on the beach, which was a thoroughly British mixture of sand and stones – Quinn was kept busy for nearly an hour picking up the heaviest boulders he could manage, and lobbing them into the water about a foot in front of himself.

The resort itself is a maze of great statuesque caravans with large decking and garden areas, that are genuinely better appointed and (probably worth more) than my own bricks and mortar house. This set up is punctuated here and there by restaurants, play parks, crazy golf, zorbs (Google it), and basketball courts. There is even an onsite Papa John’s which will deliver to your accommodation!

On our last day we ventured out of the resort and nipped literally ‘next door’ to the Heads of Ayr farm park (yes we know, we do enjoy our farms) – and although it is a bit pricey (£11 per adult, £9 per kid) you can go in early in the morning with your own picnic stuff and stay all day.

Verdict? You need to go here – for kids and adults it’s just wall to wall good fun, continental weather or not.

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Competition!

Spectacular Jousting, Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd July

Go Cycle in West Lothian

His Grace the King of Scotland invites you to join him and the queen for two days of action and excitement at his royal tournament.

Summer is here and there’s no better time to get outdoors, hop on your bike and enjoy the scenic landscapes of West Lothian.

Over the weekend you can meet the retinue and cheer on your favourite as they fight for victory.

They’ll battle it out on foot, in archery and in a dazzling display of horsemanship. Who’ll be declared champion by the king?

With so much to offer in terms of cycling, it’s essential to know what to see and do in West Lothian this summer. We have a whole host of cycling routes across areas including the Bathgate Hills, Livingston and Linlithgow – as part of the John Muir Way. Whether you are a keen cyclist or you just want to have some fun while keeping fit, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

In addition, the brand new ‘Bike and Go’ scheme has now been launched, in West Lothian, with a number of bikes available for hire at Linlithgow Rail Station on the north side. All you have to do is register online, receive your ‘Bike and Go’ card and you can go to any Bike and Go station, pick up a bike and set off to enjoy your day! This is a great opportunity for locals and tourists to enjoy a fantastic cycling trip with only a small fee for hiring per day. Whether you’re hopping off the train to visit Linlithgow or you simply fancy a scenic cycle around your local area, find out more at www.bikeandgo.co.uk .

Enjoy keeping fit and having fun outdoors in West Lothian this summer – let’s go cycle!

For the latest on all the great things to see and do in West Lothian please visit: www.visitwestlothian.co.uk facebook.com/VisitWestLothian Twitter.com: @teamwestlothian KONECT

Wander through the palace, discover the camps on the Peel and learn more about the weapons and armour in medieval times.

For more information visit historic-scotland.gov. uk/jousting or call 0131 668 8885

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Prize is a family ticket (two adults plus two children) for Spectacular Jousting. Winner can select either Saturday 2nd or Sunday 3rd July.

To enter simply text or email the word “Jousting” along with your name, phone number and email address to 07854 492638 or editor@konectdirector y.co.uk.

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Brechin

“All creatures great and small, we care for them all” Our caring, experienced and dedicated veterinary team is committed to providing the best possible care for your pet, horse or farm animal in the Linlithgow, Edinburgh, Lothian and Central regions.

If in doubt, look for flea faeces - dark specks on the fur. Brush some on to a white piece of paper, dampen them and if they spread out like a blood stain, it’s fleas. You might also be able to see the dark brown insects on the skin.

An adult flea can lay 50 eggs a day, which fall off your pet and lie hidden in your carpet or in tiny crevices. They hatch into larvae, then develop into a cocoon, waiting to turn into an adult and spring on to a host. So treatment needs to target the adult fleas on your pet, any other pets – dogs, cats or rabbits – you have, and their environment, ie your home, where there may be eggs, larvae or cocoons. This means washing all bedding, vacuuming everywhere and then throwing away the contents of your vacuum cleaner and using an environmental flea spray. If in doubt, ask your vet.

Stuart McMorrow is head vet at the Westport Veterinary Clinic, 8 Preston Road, 01506 844165, www.westportvets.co.uk

Keep your Friends o pet in tip heWaltehscatrepoprlatfn top shape from just £7 per month

Our practice is modern, well-equipped and progressive, with a strong emphasis on preventative healthcare and advice.

To find out more call us on

Linlithgow Branch Surgery, 256 High Street, Linlithgow, EH49 7ES Tel: 0131 333 3203 reception@mackieandbrechin.co.uk www.mackieandbrechin.co.uk

or pop into the surgery

01506 844 165

24 HOUR ON-SITE EMERGENCY SERVICE At our Kirkliston Surgery, 29 Main St, Kirkliston, EH29 9AE Tel: 0131 333 3203

8 Preston Rd, Linlithgow EH49 7AU KONECT

21

PUZZLES

CROSSWORD

Solution in the July edition of konect

Across 1 Well known (6) 4 Long curtains (6) 9 Grandparent (7) 10 Concur (5) 11 Flavour (5) 12 Loosening (7) 13 Marvellous (11) 18 Season’s crop (7) 20 Star sign (5) 22 Bet (5) 23 One of the three R’s (7) 24 Go back (6) 25 Alcove (6) Down 1 Brawls (6) 2 Breakfast, dinner etc (5) 3 Remove clothes (7) 5 Respond (5) 6 Piece (7) 7 Vehicle used on snow (6) 8 Make, produce (11) 14 Type of piano (7) 15 Turn aside (7) 16 Light rainfall (6) 17 Tree branches (6) 19 Mistake (5) 21 Elevate (5)

SUDOKU

Sudoku solution on page 31

22

KONECT

LOCAL PEOPLE

Cara McDonald Disability and Beyond – My Life in a Blog

Writing has been a dream of mine for nearly ten years now, so recently I decided to test my capabilities by starting a blog about my life. I thought this would be a good way of expressing how I feel because I struggle to communicate effectively; but I also wanted to try and breakdown some of the stereotypes that are associated with disability.

Let me explain a bit more – my name is Cara McDonald, I’m 23 years old and I’ve lived in Linlithgow my whole life. After attending The University of Edinburgh for five years, I gained a degree in Medical Biology and a Master’s in Public Health. I also happen to have a progressive muscle wasting disease called Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD). Did you manage to pronounce it?! This disease has affected my life quite significantly.

I’ve been in a wheelchair since I was 9, I got a tracheostomy when I was 17, and just last year I had to have a feeding tube fitted (and that’s just the big things!). Now you might be thinking “how does she manage to get out of bed in the morning?” But it’s easy, because for me, this is normal…I’ve never known any different. The only scary thing is that I know I’m going to get weaker over time; I just don’t know when, or by how much.

I deal with my disease by trying to understand it. Recently I heard someone say “the more

you understand it, the less it controls you”, and that’s the philosophy I apply to my situation. I did this by studying the genetics of FSHD at university so that I knew exactly what was going on inside my cells. I think this helps me to accept my condition because not knowing why you are getting weaker over time is more terrifying than anything. But having said that, all the knowledge in the world isn’t going to stop the progression of my FSHD. Physically I’m at the mercy of this disease; but mentally, I can choose to be either weak or strong – and I choose to be strong. Although this is my general outlook on life, I don’t want to give you a false impression because, like everyone else, I have my fair share of bad days. I struggle with anxiety most days and possibly depression at times, as well as frequent pain and tiredness. So sometimes I just feel like saying “That’s it! I’m staying in bed today”, and I let myself stay in bed because I think my body and mind needs it. But despite the bad times, there are so many things in life that make me happy – my incredible friends and family, my newfound love of writing, studying, reading, and watching films and TV shows, to name a few.

Life is good just now.

So I hope I’ve given you a bit of an insight into my wee life. I’m going to continue writing my blog at https://iwasbornsick-butiloveit.com so if you like what you’ve read then you can keep up with my story there.

property matters

The Power of Pre-Marketing

by Craig Turpie

There is a strong argument for creating maximum exposure for a property during its time on the market, and much of our effort and resources are spent achieving the right exposure in the right places.

However, one of the most powerful ways of securing a fast sale at a high price can actually result from minimal exposure – or rather exposure only to a select few!

It works by taking advantage of the fact that people enjoy being offered something on an exclusive basis, especially when it is a property that is “just about to come onto the market”. So we often offer our new instructions “off-market” to our pre-registered “hottest” buyers first, resulting in a number of recent sales that were never even advertised! Additionally, promoting to potential buyers that we also have properties that don’t appear on our website or any portals creates a curiosity and a feeling that the buyer could be missing out on something good. This encourages them to register with us so they can

Bangour Fisher y

then gain access to a potentially popular property with little or no competition.

The prices achieved using this method tend to be good as well, as buyers of such a property know that (a) it is unlikely that the seller would consider anything other than the asking price during these early days of marketing and (b) don’t want to lose out.

We find that many sellers like the idea of an initial period of quiet marketing, especially in instances of a marriage break up, a death in the family, a prominent house in a small town, financial difficulties or any other reason where people don’t yet want it to be publicly known that they are selling. The concept also reduces the risk of overexposure or of the property “going stale” on the market.

Of course, it does rely on a strong register of qualified buyers, extensive knowledge of the local area and some ‘good old fashioned estate agency work’ which, in the days of a heavy reliance on internet advertising, is often overlooked.

Below: Two West Lothian proper ties which have been sold via the “off market” method in recent months .

Craigbinning

Be the first to know!

Turpie Confidential is a discrete property service that offers clients the opportunity to buy and sell property without going to the open market. This unique service offers benefits to both parties and has previously only been a service available for those searching for property at the very top end of the market.

Call our office or email info@turpies.com to receive our regular newsletter bulletins including details of properties and land for sale that often never appear on the open market plus other property news and articles.

Telephone: 01506 668448 www.turpies.com

RECIPE & FOOD NOTES

by Anne Pinkerton

It is becoming increasingly clear that a diet high in vegetables and a good spoonful of olive oil each day is the route to better health.

In summer this is an easy routine to follow.

Salads (not just tissue-paper lettuce, a radish, cucumber and a fancy cut tomato) are a pleasure to eat and easy to gather. Almost any combination of leaves, root veg (grated or sliced) and one special ingredient such as an egg, croutons made from fried old bread, cheese or some pickle will make an interesting bowl for a quick meal.

The classic French Dressing will bring all the ingredients together.

Use a small jam jar with a well-fitting lid.

You need:Salt, fresh ground black pepper, a little grain mustard and a tiny amount of sugar or not traditional, honey.

Oil and vinegar - you need three times the oil to the vinegar. Add the measured oil and vinegar, screw on the lid and shake till amalgamated.

Change the flavour by using different oils or flavoured vinegars. It seems that uncooked olive oil is the best for our health, they say you need to eat a tablespoon full each day to reduce harmful cholesterol levels. Ring the changes with nut oils or other vegetable oils, soya sauce or even Worcester Sauce in small quantities don’t tell the French, they care about all things classic!

The three great vegetables of the Mediterranean diet are tomatoes, aubergines and courgettes.

In summer they come into their own because when ripened in the sun they taste delicious.

Interestingly the first two are not natives of

Europe. They came here with the potato from South America brought by the Spanish in the 16th century. The courgette is the most underrated of the three; it’s the easiest to grow in our climate and can be made into cake, chutney, (bread and butter pickle), soup, vegetable stews (ratatouille) salads or fritters.

Courgettes take up the flavour of things they are cooked with and become a good foil for meats.

Roast a small joint of lamb on top of rough sliced courgettes and a clove of garlic and they become the perfect accompaniment to the meat. Serve with small potatoes boiled whole in their skins.

Greek Courgette Salad 2 or 3 small firm courgettes per person. Use the smallest you can or cut in half longitudinally.

Blanch them whole in slightly salted water for 3 or 4 minutes. Test, with a tooth pick or fine skewer, that they are firm but not hard. put them in a shallow dish and roll them while still warm in olive oil. Add some finely chopped chives, parsley or basil and serve with crusty bread or as part of a selection of other vegetable salads.

In Greece the most likely accompaniments will be beetroots, their leaves served separately like chard, and a Greek tomato salad.

Courgettes with Pasta Cook your favourite shaped pasta.

While this is happening grate one medium courgette per person into a sieve and add a little salt. Let the juices run away.

For 4 people, 2 eggs beaten with 2 tablespoonfuls of plain yoghurt.

Drain the pasta add the courgettes and a good dollop of olive oil. Turn in the pan to get everything hot. Quickly add the egg mixture and mix slightly. Serve immediately. Eat with grated cheese.

your own tomatoes the way to see if they will taste well is to smell them in the shop. Even through the supermarket packaging you can discern the oily aromatic smell denoting the hope of a good flavour. If there is no smell there will probably be no taste either. Sadly there is little history of breeding for taste for supermarket produce, they mostly focus on looks. Organic produce is sometimes disappointing in this too.

Greek Tomato Salad Greek Tomato Salad The whole pleasure of this dish is the quality of the flavour of the tomatoes. To get the best from them they need to be room temperature. I have been converted to keeping tomatoes OUT of the fridge. Unless you are lucky enough to be growing

medium advert

BIG

impact

For 4 people: 4 large tomatoes roughly cut in chunks 1/2 cucumber peeled and cut in chunks 1 small sweet onion sliced finely Olives, (black is traditional but green are good too) 5 or 6 per person 100g Feta cheese A pinch of dried oregano or fresh flat leaf parsley leaves Olive oil Optional: sliced red or green pepper.

Put all the vegetables in a bowl and place the slab of cheese on top. Drizzle with oil and serve.

Eat as a starter or as lunch with bread.

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Tel 01506 412232 facebook.com/simonatfoodcreations @Food_Creations 27

WALK

Karen Murray headed out on an adventure up a bing

So the editor of this illustrious publication suggested a wee walk up the Broxburn Bing for this issue’s walk and I thought, it’s a beautiful evening, why not?

Clambering over old shale; persuading your friend to ‘wade’ through brambles; nettles and other undergrowth; avoiding getting caught on barbed wire fences that had to be negotiated – that is why not?

However, as my friend and I are generally up for an adventure, we saw the funny side. In fact, walking often is an adventure. A walk doesn’t always have to be a simple stroll following a set path. From Munro bagging, long trails or forest

paths, you can set out not entirely sure where you will end up. If you are somewhere local and out for a short walk, you will no doubt figure out how to get back to where you began. However, if you are heading up the hills always be prepared.

Scotland can do four seasons in one day all through the year so you can’t afford to be caught out.

But back to the Broxburn Bing - we headed to Broxburn and Greendykes Road in search of the Bing, discovering as we drove up that there are three bings, one much larger and two smaller ones. Driving around the narrow roads we circled the bings looking for somewhere to park and enjoying the sight of the fields of bright yellow oil seed rape, the red shale mountains and the deep blue sky – a fabulous colour palette courtesy of an unusually sunny early evening in May. Noticing a sign for Niddry Castle, nestled below one of the smaller bings, (Greendyke Bing we later discovered) we parked up and headed off to investigate. The castle sits on the edge of Niddry Castle Golf Course and has been renovated and modernised into a lovely home. By the side of the castle is a worn old sign indicating a footpath to Winchburgh.

We followed the sign and our noses, wandering along the side of the golf course and then into a wooded area. The path is a little overgrown and quite narrow but seems well used by dog walkers. Eventually it comes out of the woodland at the main car park for the golf club. We walked through narrow streets and found ourselves in Winchburgh.

Niddry Castle 28

Rather than head further into the village, we took a right through a gate and into more woodland where a carpet of gorgeous bluebells was just beginning its show of splendour. The pathways split off in different directions in the woodland KONECT

The pink shale bings are unique to West Lothian. They are industrial waste, left over from the time when West Lothian was a major shale oil-producing region, a massive industr y spawned by the Glasgow-born chemist James Young.

Greendykes Bing is now a scheduled monument under the statutor y protection of Historic Environment Scotland: “The monument is of national importance as one of the ver y few intact spent-shale bings left in central Scotland. The shale oil industr y was locally important for about a centur y, and its pioneer, James Young, developed refining techniques still used in the oil industr y. This bing, with its neighbour Faucheldean, gives striking evidence of the enormous volume of material processed in the extraction of oil from shale. In this case the operating company was the Broxburn Oil Co, active from the 1860s to c. 1940.”

so we headed toward the bing and eventually found ourselves at its edge. Not particularly attractive close up, the red shale rising above us was nonetheless impressive and we decided it was worth the clambering. Over rocks and rough ground we reached the summit and were rewarded with a panoramic view. The other bings, the Pentland Hills, the bridges – all three of them: we could see them all particularly as the evening was so clear and bright.

We retraced our steps back down the bing and continued through the woodland along the bottom edge of the bing and back to the path we had started out on. Taking a slightly different route along the other side of the stream to that

we had set out along, we found ourselves back at the edge of the golf course.

What we didn’t do was cross the golf course back to the castle. I suggest if you follow this walk that you do just that. We struck out across the other side of the golf course and found our way out blocked by a barbed wire fence and dry stane dyke!

The whole walk took around an hour and I was very pleasantly surprised once again by the beauty of the countryside on the doorstep that I hadn’t ventured out in before. A new area found and visited and on a beautiful evening such as the one we enjoyed, it is hard not to revel in how lucky we are.

WHAT’S ON

Friday 24th June

and Useful Information

Family Friendly Badger Watch Join the Ranger Service in Beecraigs Country Park to discover more about these intriguing animals. There will be a short presentation followed by an evening in our badger hide. Wear sturdy footwear and bring binoculars and a torch. Suitable for: Families. Meet: Sutherland Building, opposite the Visitor Centre. Time: 8pm-9.30pm.

Cost: £3.65 adult, £2.50 child. Book with the Rangers on 01506 844516, email: mail@beecraigs.com

11th June Water Safari at Linlithgow Loch Experience a different view of the palace, loch and its wildlife from duck level... by Canadian Canoe with the assistance of fully qualified instructors. Suitable for beginners. Families and groups of three can share a canoe. 1pm-5pm. Adults £12, childn £6, Concession £6.

For more information and to book please call Historic Environment Scotland on 0131 652 8150 or email rangers@HES.scot.

Tuesday 14th June Marches Day. See pages 6-7.

Saturday 18th June Linlithgow and Linlithgow Bridge Children’s Gala, 12:00noon. Procession from Linlithgow Bridge to The Peel at Linlithgow Loch. The crowning of the Gala Day Queen takes place on the stage in the front of Linlithgow Palace with children’s entertainment & stalls on The Peel.

Tuesday 21st June Author Event – Lucy Diamond and Lucy Lawrie The Canal Tea Rooms, Linlithgow, 6.00pm. Join us to welcome two best-selling authors! Perfect summer reads in a perfect setting! Cake & nibbles too! Contact us for more information: Far From The Madding Crowd Far From The Madding Crowd, 20 High Street, Linlithgow, t: 01506 845509, e: sally@maddingcrowdlinlithgow.co.uk

clubs & classes

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

2nd West Lothian Scouts The Scout Hall, 6 Dog Well Wynd, Linlithgow.

Beavers (age 6-8) meet Wednesdays; Cubs (age 8 - 10.5) meet Mondays; Two Scouts troops (age 10.5 -14) meet Wednesdays and Thursdays. Contact Group Scout Leader Nick Moody at scouts2wl@hotmail.co.uk.

Substantial waiting lists for all sections - new adult volunteers always welcome.

The Caring Cafe Low Port Centre, 1 Blackness Road, Linlithgow, EH49 7HZ The Caring Cafe is a meeting place where people with dementia and their carers have a chance to meet others in a similar situation. Meets monthly on the 3rd Wednesday of every month 10am - 12noon (Lunch available after the café in the Lowport Centre cafeteria).

For people who are able to attend safely on their own or who are accompanied by someone to support them.

30

Saturday 25th June Linlithgow Farmers Market The Cross, High Street, Linlithgow.

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

Please Give Blood Donations of blood will be welcomed at the sessions run by the Blood Transfusion Service taking place in The Low Port Centre in Blackness Road, Linlithgow - Sunday 12th June 10.30 am - 12.30 pm & 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm. Monday 13th June 2.30pm - 4.15 pm & 5.30 pm - 8.00 pm. New donors (i.e. anyone in good health over the age of 17 years) are always needed and they, along with all the existing volunteers, will be welcomed along to the Sessions to ensure that hospital demand for blood and blood products can be met in the coming days ahead. Every minute, someone in Scotland is receiving a blood transfusion; there continues to be a constant urgent need for more blood donors, so it’s very important that those who can give blood do come along. Donors must make sure they have had something to eat and drink before donating!

Contact Margaret or May from Linlithgow Link on 01506 845137 or email Co-ordinator@linlithgowlink.org.uk Linlithgow Bridge Playgroup Chalmers Hall, Main Street, Linlithgow Bridge Tue-Thu: 9:15 am - 11:45 am during term time. No minimum number of sessions. £7 per session. For more information contact lbplaygroup@gmail.com Linlithgow Speakers Are you and your staff interested in improving speaking in public and leadership skills? Do you know about Toastmasters? Linlithgow Speakers is a local voluntary group that can help develop these skills. We are looking for new members in Linlithgow. Come and visit on Tuesday night (we meet every second Tuesday at 7.30 at the Low Port Centre in Linlithgow. Please contact me for more information: Sheila Fraser 01506 650953 or 07968 233324.

To include your club or class, email details to editor@konectdirectory. co.uk. Charity and not-for-profit groups are free, there is a small charge for other listings. See our website for details. www.konectdirectory.co.uk KONECT

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS Accessories Linlithgow Stoves

5

Bathrooms Bathgate Bathroom Studio 10 Duffy McLean 16 bookshop Far From The Madding Crowd 5 Building Supplies MKM Building Supplies Cafe/Tearoom Little Whispers Car Service & Repair GM Motors

10 4 15

Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning C and W Cleaning Services

20

Catering Food Creations

27

Children’s Activities/ Entertainment Linlithgow Palace Cleaning Services Dusters Cleaning Services

32 20

Complementary Therapies Little Whispers 4 Conservatories Andrew James Windows & Conservatories 9

Solution to May Crossword

Across: 7 Mediterranean, 8 Revealed, 9 Anti, 10 Advance, 12 Refer, 14 Study, 16 Warmest, 19 Zinc, 20 Lemonade, 22 Demonstration.

KONECT

Doors UPVC Doors

14

Electrician Simply Electrical

8

e-cigs Ecig Studio

9

Estate Agent Turpie Fencing/Gates Welding & Fabrication Solutions Ltd

5

Fishery Bangour Fishery

4

Furniture & Furnishings Shapes 2 Garden & Landscaping Beatsons 14 Inside and Outside Property & Garden Care 8 JGM Landscapes 15 Verdant Lawns 11 Woodford Timber 16 Golf Retail Golf Nation

8

Heating Services Duffy McLean

11

Joiner Geoff Vinter Joinery GR Construction

8 11

Kitchens Duffy McLean

16

Locksmith Linlithgow Locksmith

15

Mobility Med Ecosse

17

Motorhome (hire/sale) Motorhome Hire Scotland

15

Plumbing Services Capital Plumbing

11

Property Maintenance Inside and Outside Property & Garden Care 8 Removals Linlithgow Removals

4

Sports Equipment Golf Nation

8

Stoves/Woodburners Linlithgow Stoves

5

Vet Mackie and Brechin West Port Veterinary Clinic

21 21

Windows 1st Choice Living Andrew James Windows & Conservatories

8 9

Solution to Sudoku Page 22

Down: 1 Here, 2 Cinema, 3 Reflect, 4 Crude, 5 Inhale, 6 Tactless, 11 Detailed, 13 Hammers, 15 Doctor, 17 Minute, 18 Blush, 21 Drop.

Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss, damage or omission caused by error in the printing of an advertisement.The Konect Directory does not endorse any advertising material that appears in this publication.

Adverts are accepted on the understanding that descriptions of goods and services are fair and accurate. All material is accepted for publication on the understanding that it is copyright free.The Konect Directory accepts no liability for any subsequent copyright issues. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior consent of the publisher.

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

31

Dare you to pick a side!

Spectacular Jousting Linlithgow Palace Sat 2 & Sun 3 July, 12.30pm-4.30pm Free for Historic Scotland members bestdaysever.co.uk