Konect Linlithgow October 2019

OCTOBER 2019

FOOD AND DRINK:

SUSTAINABILITY:

WEST LOTHIAN’S PREMIUM ROASTERY

PLUS: HEALTH & BEAUTY, Garden Project, and more LOCAL FEATURES inside!

The monthly community magazine for the Linlithgow area

THIS ISSUE

TO OUR OCTOBER EDITION

P

reparing this Sustainability Special edition of Konect has been very interesting. It’s a vast topic, it touches every area of life and the articles in this issue are just a small selection. I hope you enjoy reading it. Some of our columnists have incorporated the theme into their columns too – from research at HeriotWatt which tackles waste in the building industry, to New Hopetoun Gardens recycling your pre-loved garden tools.

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Thank you for reading Konect.

The Pursuit of Convenience........................... 8 Emm’s Choice................................................. 9 Food & Drink: Coffee Direct.........................12 Property Matters............................................14 Gardening: Favourite Garden Tool.............17 Local Lab: Building a sustainable future....18 Vet’s Tip..........................................................23 Film Review....................................................28 Bridge Column..............................................28 Life Coaching................................................30 Parenting: Going green keeping kids keen................................................................32 What’s On......................................................35 Clubs & Classes............................................36

COVER IMAGE: Try home made jam with an autumn harvest; Transition Linlithgow Tool Library have a jam pan to lend out.

Konect is delivered monthly to 7,500 homes and businesses in Linlithgow, Linlithgow Bridge and the surrounding area. Copies are also left at the library, post offices and other locations.

HELEN-JANE SHEARER

CHARLENE GAFFNEY

E: editor@konect.scot

M: 07772 941899 E: charlene@konect.scot

Did you know there is a premium coffee roastery in West Lothian? Run by a resident in the Bathgate area and supplying premium coffee all over Scotland for years to the trade, Coffee Direct are launching their amazing coffee direct to the public – see pages 12-13 and there is a special offer for Konect readers on your first order. Coffee doesn’t come fresher.

Editor

@KonectMagazines

Account Manager

LINLITHGOW | 3

Frog lightweight quality kids’ bikes available in store.

Get your order in to avoid disappointment this Christmas.

Elevation Cycles, 103 High Street, Linlithgow

01506 845390 www.elevationcycles.co.uk

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@KonectMagazines

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sight and out of mind for most of us, but it’s coming back to bite. We’re drowning in stuff that never goes away; we’re destroying bits of the planet and our local environments and even our own health in order to make everything easy for ourselves.

SUSTAINABILITY SPECIAL

Convenience will put up a big fight. It definitely does in my life. So when it comes to wanting to live in a low-impact, healthier way, we’re organising into groups - as a testament to the fact that a lot of people want to make changes, a large number of groups has sprung up - support groups, information services, grant funds for environmental health and education, and so on.

We’re all in constant pursuit of convenience, so anything that makes life easier wins in everyday decisionmaking.

And with relentless progress, with everything from sliced bread onwards, we’ll go for it in droves if it saves us a bit of time and/or energy. Individuals, businesses, producers – so much is driven by convenience, efficiency and cost saving.

It’s been great for a hundred years or so; we’ve made massive progress in all sorts of things, and along the way we’ve chucked stuff away because it’s easier to do that than to wash and re-use and definitely easier than mending, and in some contexts more hygienic and safer; we drive everywhere because it’s quicker and we’re always in a hurry; we pour things onto and into crops and animals to make them more productive. It was out of

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I’ve been speaking to some of them locally.

In the course of this special edition I’ve spoken to people working on a huge range of issues related to sustainable living. A lot of changes that are better for our health and our environment are also fun, satisfying and even save money too – social groups for learning new skills for making, creating, and mending; reducing waste and sharing resources, growing your own food, and much more.

The biggest changes will have to come from business and industry, and while there will ultimately have to be legislation for real change, in the meantime a lot of work is being done taking a scientific approach on a large scale. The Local Lab column from Heriot-Watt University this month gives an example, looking at tackling waste in the building industry.

A beautiful environment and good health to enjoy? That will definitely be the best thing since sliced bread.

WHAT’S A TOOL LIBRARY? (OR A THING LIBRARY)

18 S

OUR O R Y IC O N T LI

K OU R LOO IN A B F A T S I U

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BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

26 33

MENSTRUAL CUPS FALKIRK NAPPY LIBRARY

+ LOTS MORE!

@KonectMagazines

SUSTAINABILITY SPECIAL

My Favourite ZERO WASTE Changes Emms Choice is a West Lothian business that stocks products with a strong ethical focus. We embrace zero waste and all things eco-friendly.

Visit our online shop at emmschoice.com with free collection option. We also run a bulk and refill station in Bathgate aimed at reducing single-use plastic waste.

Here are some of my favourite products that have reduced waste in my home: Solid Soap Bars – gentle, natural soaps with plant-based ingredients, vegan friendly and plastic free packaging.

Soaps for different uses; from dishwashing to hand/body and even hair care - shampoo and conditioner bars.

Reuseable paper carrier bags are available at The Centre in Livingston.

Following feedback from customers who are looking for an alternative to plastic shopping bags, the Centre is selling carrier bags that are recyclable, biodegradable, compostable, tear and water resistant and hold up to 16kgs in weight. They are also sustainably sourced and manufactured using 100% renewable energy, sending zero waste to landfill.

Patrick Robbertze, Centre Director, said: “As plastic pollution continues to be high up on everyone’s agenda we felt it was important to listen to our customers and offer them an alternative environmentallyfriendly carrier bag. Introducing paper bags into the mall not only gives shoppers a choice and a solution if they visit without their own bags but also represents our shopping centre’s environmental policies.”

The bags are available from the Customer Service Desk and cost 20p. @KonectMagazines

Compostable Plastic Free Cleaning Products – biodegradable and made from plant-based materials like coconut hair, loofah, corn, bamboo, cotton and jute. Reusable, and durable scrubbies for plastic free cleaning of dishes, kitchen/ bathroom cleaning and body/shower.

Bamboo toothbrush and eco floss for oral care.

Other Favourites – rCUP: a lightweight, leakproof travel cup which is truly recycled – made from 6 used coffee cups and lids. Deodorant salt stick in sustainable cork packaging.

Stainless steel straws with cleaning brush: reusable and sustainable.

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SUSTAINABILITY SPECIAL

What do you think of when you hear “Tool Library”? I had assumed it was a place you could hire garden or DIY tools, until I visited the Transition Linlithgow Tool Library and discovered it is a whole lot more than that!

A jam pan is a big item to store at home if you only use it a couple of times a year.

Forage for brambles this month then borrow the Linlithgow jam pan for bramble jam!

It would be more accurately described as a “Thing Library.” You can borrow pretty much anything, from kitchen appliances to power tools. “The concept of the tool library is to help people reduce unnecessary consumption as well as save money,” explains Neil Hutson, Community Engagement Manager for Transition Linlithgow. “You can borrow items that you perhaps only need as a one-off for a project or a few times a year, so it saves you buying something that sits in a cupboard or garage unused most of the time – a wasted resource just taking up space.”

you can also borrow kitchen appliances and computing equipment. The range is growing all the time, and donations of items are very welcome.

While the bulk of the tool library is currently garden and DIY tools (everything from a drill bit to a tile cutter; a garden fork to a strimmer),

It’s apple season! Next time someone offers you a box full of apples, say yes and book out the Linlithgow apple press!

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Ever organised a party and had to borrow urns, glasses, chairs? The Transition Linlithgow Tool Library have all this and more, and are able to supply a party pack. “We’re just looking at what is needed to complete our party pack,” says Neil. “We’re thinking some plastic plates and cutlery, but would welcome feedback from people as to what would be best. We already lend out the urn, thermoses, glasses, bunting and other things.”

Besides borrowing shared resources, moving to more sustainable consumption means making, creating and mending, and extending the life of items instead of throwing things away too quickly. So the tool library is developing into a skills sharing and skills development hub too. Donaldson’s School (where the library is hosted every Tuesday evening) have generously provided use of their woodwork workshop, so when the library is open you can also use the workshop there to work on your own projects. When I visited, a local resident was working on a bat box for his garden and a mum and son were working on wooden tealight holders. Likewise, a new sewing skills class has just been set up, taking place in the craft room at Donaldson’s also on a Tuesday evening. Learning new skills and getting out and about into a shared space brings a host of benefits too. @KonectMagazines

To borrow an item, you need to sign up online as a library member. Go to www.transitionlinlithgow.org.uk/tool-library.html and follow the link to sign up. Browse the inventory and reserve your items in advance of Tuesday afternoons. There is suggested membership donation of £20 per year, but pay what you can afford - Transition Linlithgow would rather you paid less and used it than felt that the membership fee was a barrier. If you have a piece of equipment to donate, you get 6 months free membership!

The Transition Linlithgow Tool Library is at Donaldson’s School, every Tuesday evening from 4pm – 8pm. Follow the signs around the back of the building to “deliveries” and you’ll see their sign out.

SIGN: Look out for the sign outside Donaldson’s School every Tuesday (4pm-8pm)

CAN YOU VOLUNTEER YOUR SKILLS? If you like fixing and mending things, can you spare us a few hours?

We need volunteers to refurbish and maintain the equipment in the tool library. We’re also looking at running “Fix-It” sessions where people can get equipment mended instead of throwing it away. Please contact Transition Linlithgow on the contact details below.

You can use the workshop at the library to work on your own projects

See P22 for d about dis etails cou at local ca nts fés

Transition Linlithgow has worked for ten years taking action on local issues of sustainability and climate change. It is also a resource for: • Recycling: information and drop-off point for difficult-to-recycle items such as crisp packets and biscuit wrappers.

• Active Travel – electric bikes for hire, led walks in the local area • Home Energy Advice – book a free home energy visit to get advice on changes you can make to reduce your energy consumption • And much, much more!

Susan working on the lathe

Please contact Transition Linlithgow for more information:

Unit 5 Braehead Business Units, Braehead Rd, Linlithgow EH49 6EP. Tel: 01506 844182

www.transitionlinlithgow.org.uk www.facebook.com/TransitionLinlithgow www.facebook.com/LinlithgowTools @KonectMagazines

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SCOTTISH

BARISTA ACADEMY

Sunrise over the Bathgate Hills

“If you are serious about your coffee, you come here”

The smell of good coffee; a roasting machine; bags of different coffee beans and lots of coffee paraphernalia greets you as you walk into the Scottish Barista Academy in Livingston.

“Have I just walked into heaven?” I ask as Jim Watson, West Lothian resident, Scottish Barista Academy MD and certified coffee expert, emerges.

First things first, I need a coffee. “Do you drink filter coffee?” Jim asks. Because, you see, depending on whether you want filter, cafetiere or espresso coffee determines how he will select and grind the beans. There is no “all-purpose” coffee here.

Arabica, Robusta, single-origin, espresso, aero-press, filter, bitter, sweet, acidic, Columbian, Brazilian, lungo, ristretto... the terminology of coffee can be as mysterious to the uninitiated as the legendary origins of coffee itself – and that’s before we even start on the list of coffees on a typical café menu (latte, cappuccino, Americano, macchiato, mocha…).

The variety of coffee, where it’s grown, the way it is processed, roasted, ground, packaged and brewed all affect the way it tastes when it reaches your taste buds. If “all” you want is a 12 | LINLITHGOW

Jim Watson: rt Certified coffee expe

good cup of coffee, it pays to find out at least a little about it.

The Scottish Barista Academy was launched in 2013 and is where café owners, restaurateurs, and baristas from all over the UK (and further afield) come to learn about coffee. In new premises at Newyearfield, Livingston, this is the only place in the UK where you can become qualified in all levels of the Specialty Coffee Association accreditations, an international organisation encompassing training in every element of the coffee production process.

Jim is the first and only person in the UK and Ireland to hold all the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) professional qualifications as well as the SCA Coffee Diploma, meaning that he really knows his coffee. If you are serious about your coffee, and @KonectMagazines

want to learn more, the Scottish Barista Academy is the place to visit.

And if you don’t want to learn but just want to drink coffee, you can buy incredibly fresh coffee - roasted and ground by the hand of one of the country’s leading coffee professionals.

After a career in the army, followed by a directorship of a data communications company, how did Jim end up in coffee? As he grinds the beans and starts making my morning coffee, he tells me how it all started.

A lover of hill walking, after a memorable cold wet hike in the Trossachs in 1988, Jim was desperate for a coffee. The one he was served in the café he alighted upon was woefully bad; all coffee lovers will relate to the bitter disappointment he felt as the acidic offering hit his taste buds. When he complained, the challenge from the café owner, “Well, could you do any better?” was what started Jim on his coffee journey. He was looking for a change of direction in his working life anyway so, along with his wife Maggie, set about learning all there is to know about coffee.

Wholesale coffee: If you run or work in a café or restaurant and need to boost your coffee skills or increase sales, please contact Jim. Via his wholesale business, Coffee Direct, Jim supplies his specially selected and roasted coffee and will provide full barista training here at the Scottish Barista Academy for you and/or your employees*.

*Terms and conditions apply - please contact 07720 509457 or email enquiries@coffeedirect.co.uk for more information.

Coffee is extremely reactive and sensitive stuff, and the coffee business is not for the faint-hearted. But Jim’s passion and knowledge is phenomenal. He maintains close links with suppliers in the countries where his coffee is produced and his attention to the details of the roasting and grinding process is second to none.

His business, Coffee Direct, has been supplying the hospitality trade all over Scotland since he took good coffee back to the disgruntled café owner of the original story and showed him how to make it. The café owner then became one of Jim’s first customers.

Coffee Direct has recently started selling coffee online to retail customers. Your online coffee order is specially hand-roasted, ground and dispatched here in Livingston, within 48 hours.

A little known fact about Jim – he loves to start the day very early with a cup of tea, preferably watching the sun come up with a view over the Bathgate hills, before heading off to share the wonderful world of coffee with as many people as possible. @KonectMagazines

For more information on the Scottish Barista Academy, visit www.scottishbaristaacademy.com For more information on Coffee Direct and to order coffee, visit www.coffeedirect.co.uk This article was written by Helen-Jane Shearer after visiting Jim Watson of Coffee Direct at his roastery in Livingston. HelenJane is the editor of Konect magazines and lives in West Lothian with her family.

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The value of being open

At Turpie & Co, we love ‘open house days’ and we know buyers and sellers alike love them too. An open house day is simply a day when a house is open for anyone who wants to view it during a given period of time - usually, but not always, over a weekend.

Making it easier for people

Open days are popular with most buyers and they offer a different viewing experience to a pre-booked, agent-accompanied viewing.

Feedback from previous events has shown that buyers who are at the early stages of house hunting, and not quite ready to register with an agent, are more likely to attend an open day than arrange a private viewing.

At one of our previous events, the open day attracted a near neighbour to a property we were marketing. The buyer lived in the same street and didn’t feel comfortable or ready to arrange a formal viewing – but they went on to submit an offer on the property the following week and bought it. This story illustrates just how an open day used appropriately can really serve to broaden the exposure of your property and draw in more people who might not otherwise have been reached via other marketing channels.

Everyone is different – so options need to be too

There’s no such thing as a ‘typical buyer’ as the buying process starts long before any viewings take place. Someone just contemplating a move has a different motivation and criteria to 14 | LINLITHGOW

those who have sold their property and need to move quickly. A collective open house event provides the opportunity for any buyer to view several similarly priced or located properties one after the other, regardless of their position or what stage they’re at in the process.

Getting it right

A good estate agent should have wellorganised open days as part of their sales toolkit, and should be well-versed in running them. Typically, the estate agent hosts the viewings but sellers can also show the property themselves if the open day is part of a larger coordinated event. If it’s the latter, the agent should coach owners on how best to present the property on the day and also how to potentially handle several viewers in the house at the same time.

However, these events are not simply something that should be deployed always: any promotional activity should be matched to the requirements of individual sellers, the expectations of buyers and the current market conditions. Above all, everything should be part of an agreed marketing plan that can attract the right buyers and create the right conditions for the best sale.

The monthly Property Matters column is contributed by Craig Turpie. Craig is a director at Turpie & Co Estate Agents and Letting Agents with extensive knowledge of the West Lothian Property Market and over 20 years experience in bespoke sales and marketing. @KonectMagazines

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What’s your favourite garden tool?

We both might have said our spade was our favourite garden tool ten years ago but Lesley has gone ‘no dig’ in our potager and finds this mid-handled Claw Cultivator is always her first choice – she can cultivate, rake and weed but denies using it as a back scratcher.

Dougal would take his spade to a desert island because you can do so much with it but now that their garden has been generously planted for more than 10 years his first choice is to have his secateurs in his back pocket. Regular pruning little and often is the order of the day and cutting flowers for the house as well as heavy pruning and thinning out in the winter keeps the secateurs in use all year round.

So what to do with your unwanted and perhaps unloved old garden tools?

@KonectMagazines

Lesley’s new tool (claw cultivator) Lesley’s We collect them at the old tool garden centre and they go to HM Prison Edinburgh where they are reconditioned and repaired in the workshops and then donated to community and school gardening projects. Last year the prison recycled 1200 garden tools and if that’s not sustainability we don’t know what is! Make some space in your shed and garage this autumn… we also recycle the pots that came with the plants you bought from us…

The gardening project is contributed by Dougal Philip, New Hopetoun Gardens.

Inspiring, informing and entertaining, for more than 40 years.

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LOCAL LAB

building a sustainable future Professor Gabriela Medero is a civil engineer at Heriot-Watt University who, for years, has been concerned about the huge amounts of waste produced in the construction industry. After many years of research, testing and development, she has produced a solution with revolutionary potential.

How big is the issue of waste in the construction industry?: The construction and demolition sector is the largest contributor of waste globally. Around a third of the one hundred and twenty million tonnes of waste produced in the UK comes from construction and demolition.

Forty five percent of total UK carbon emissions come from construction and thirty two percent of landfill waste comes from construction and demolition in the country.

You’ve been working on this for a long time, why now?: Continuing in this way just isn’t sustainable. The UK’s construction industry is under increasing pressure to reduce waste and meet recycling targets of 70% of all building waste to be recycled from the year 2020. This has meant companies, governments and other funders have been focusing on real world solutions to reduce waste. For example, Zero Waste Scotland funded our prototype.

So, What’s the solution?: Here at HeriotWatt, we’ve created a brick made of 90% recycled construction and demolition waste and requires one tenth of the energy to manufacture compared to traditional bricks.

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This allows a much more circular approach as taking the waste from a building site, recycling it, making it into a new building material and taking it back to the building site will answer so many problems for the industry.

When will the construction industry start to use your new bricks?: Thanks to funding from the Scottish Enterprise (High Growth Spin-Out Programme), the Royal Academy of Engineering, Construction Scotland Innovation Centre as well as Zero Waste Scotland, we’re in the process of taking the ‘K-Briq’ from prototype to market.

The first building with K-Briq is starting construction this year and we are now taking orders for 2020.

The Local Lab column is contributed by Heriot-Watt University to engage the public in a range of their research projects. Find out more on the Kenoteq website www.kenoteq.com @KonectMagazines

Is your roof prepared for winter? Book your free roof survey today !

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SUSTAINABILITY SPECIAL

DID YOU KNOW?

Various local cafés offer discounts when you BRING YOUR OWN CUP for take-away drinks to help reduce waste and single-use items: Granary Café: 10% discount on hot drinks Hideaway Café, Beecraigs: 10p discount on hot drinks Taste Café: 10% discount on hot drinks The Jersey Bean: 30p discount on hot drinks Xcite Linlithgow: 10% of a medium tea or coffee Costa Coffee: 25p discount on every drink made in a reusable cup

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We repair Washing Machines, Tumble Dryers, Electric Ovens, Dishwashers and Washer Dryers

0772 965 1692

info@home-appliancerepair.co.uk www.home-appliancerepair.co.uk Like us on Facebook

DON’T BIN IT FIX IT!

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VET’S TIP

BUSTER THE DOG

Firework Phobia Autumn upon us and unfortunately for our pets, that means fireworks season is soon to follow. Firework phobia in pets is very common – around 45 per cent of dogs in Britain are thought to have some level of fear of them - and can be extremely distressing, both for your pet and for you when trying to manage them.

To help mitigate the problem, walk your dog during daylight hours when it’s less likely fireworks will be going off; at home, close curtains and put music or the TV to muffle or mask the noise of bangs and create some hiding spaces where they can feel safe. And do visit your vet - we can talk you through how to safely prepare for fireworks night, including discussing antianxiety medication for those who need it.

If you dog is in a real state this year, why not plan early to tackle the problem for next? There are things we can do to help combat this sometimes very severe phobia.

But like many behavioural problems, the earlier we intervene, often the more we can achieve.

You need to start planning early as desensitisation to fireworks fear requires a minimum of eight weeks. We use Sounds Scary, provided free through Dogs Trust, to help adjust our furry friends to all those frightening bangs and whooshes.

So don’t let your pet spend Guy Fawkes Night cowering in the corner!

The monthly Vet’s Tip column is contributed by Stuart McMorrow. Stewart is head vet at Westport Veterinary Clinic, 8 Preston Road.

Please call 01506 844 165, or visit their website at www.westportvets.com @KonectMagazines

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Welding and Fabrication Solutions Ltd All of metal work work | gates Allaspects aspects of metal railings | fencing | repairs gates | railings | fencing structural steel work repairs | structural steel work Aluminium / stainless steel

T: 01506 827110 M: 07778 339980 E: wafsltd@btconnect.com www.weldfabsolutions.com Unit 13 Links Court, Bo’ness, EH51 9UD

Design | Advice | Manufacture | Installation

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LINLITHGOW | 25

SUSTAINABILITY SPECIAL

Menstrual cups are the way forward, period.

Guys, gals and non-binary pals, please welcome to the stage the rising star of the period world: the menstrual cup, fast becoming known as the new eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to sanitary pads and tampons.

But what are the benefits of using one? And why is it so much better for the environment? While pads and tampons are partly bio-degradable cotton, they are also single use products which contain plastic in the form of applicators and packaging. Comparatively, menstrual cups are re-usable, long lasting, and made of silicone - an easily recyclable material. The average women might use thousands of pads and tampons in her lifetime, but just one menstrual cup can last up to ten years before it needs replacing.

Just like making the switch to keep-cups from disposable coffee cups, changing to a sustainable menstrual cup can have an equally positive impact on the environment.

As luck would have it, many women find menstrual cups easier to use in comparison to traditional period products. Long-term The Falkirk Flo Sisters offers information and support on menstrual and incontinence care, including information on CSP, cups, period pants and many more eco-friendly ways to use during your periods, as well as information on reusable incontinence products such as pads, pants, bed protection - this is of course open to men and ladies. See the page at www.facebook.com/falkirkflosisters 26 | LINLITHGOW

Hey Girls is a Scottish Social Enterprise which sells environmentally friendly, ethically sourced menstrual products including cups, on a “Buy One Give One” scheme, so for every product you buy they give one away to help girls and young women in need. “We seek to enrich the lives of girls and young women in the UK by exercising social and ethical responsibility in every aspect of our work—from where we source our products through to our supply chain, and the way we run our social business.”

Visit www.heygirls.co.uk for more information and to purchase your cup! cup user, Bethany, says using her cup is, ‘ so much less effort compared to pads and tampons. Rinsing it is comparable to (but less fiddly than!) wrapping up a pad, and there’s no need to dispose of it whenever I empty it. I don’t need to stock up and spend money on it every month like I did with pads and tampons. I just need to remember where I put it!’

Bethany is one of many women who prefer the sustainability and ease of the cup life, contributing to both a happier bank balance and a happier environment. Many women wear pads with their cups to catch leaks on heavier days, but tampons could effectively be written out of the equation - especially given menstrual cups pose little to no threat of toxic shock syndrome in comparison.

Continued emphasis on encouraging positive conversations about menstruation, sustainability and intersectional access will not only tackle period poverty and sustainability, but also combat societal stigma surroundings periods.

While they can be intimidating at first, a small amount of fore-thought and background reading can absolutely help you make this small change, which will have great benefits for the environment - and your purse!* * NB: some women may not be able to use cups because of vaginismus or trauma. If you need help with either of these, please chat to your GP about it.

This article was contributed by Cara McKeown.

Cara is studying Social Anthropology at the University of Edinburgh, and her interests include theatre, bachata dancing, intersectional feminism, and environmental sustainability. @KonectMagazines

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The Film Review is contributed by Robert Ewing. Robert is passionate about film as an art form, and shining a light on films that may not be on people’s radar. Robert is from Kirknewton.

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Boldness be my friend!

South holds this: Spades:

7

3

Hearts:

A

K

9

Diamonds:

Q

8

4

Clubs:

A

5

3

Dealer:

5

2

East

Vulnerable:

None

The auction goes like this: East:

1D,

3D,

Pass

South:

1H,

3H,

West:

2D,

???

North:

2H,

5D!

Pass,

WHAT SHOULD SOUTH BID NOW? ANSWER:

Double every time and twice on Sunday. It’s pretty obvious E/W want to play in diamonds and N/S want to play in hearts and West, tired of arguing, has tried to end it by going for game in diamonds.

Bumblebee had me grinning from ear to ear when the film opened on Cybertron. The amazing designs of the transformers based on the original 80’s cartoon that I grew up on made me feel like my childhood was coming to life.

Charlie, played by Hailee Steinfeld, is great.

She deals with various relatable personal issues, she’s a joy to watch and brings life to this film. Charlie’s relationships with Bumblebee and Memo (her neighbour) are believable, Bumblebee means a lot to her and you get to see her and Memo’s relationship grow and become something natural.

However some other characters are just plain awful. John Cena’s a mixed bag. He’s super serious one moment, the next he’s a goofy military man; it doesn’t feel like he’s the same character.

The CGI was really amazing throughout, Bumblebee felt realistic and the scenes on Cybertron were beautiful and stunning. The highlights of the cinematography were the fight scenes, which are awesome fun. Although decently shot the camera was a bit close at times making it hard to understand what was going on. The rest of the film is lacking in appearance and nothing show-stopping.

There where extremely cheesy scenes which appeared out of place compared to the rest of the film, which resulted in it being a bit too long. The soundtrack was unoriginal and just relied on 80’s nostalgia.

Overall Bumblebee was a step in the right direction for the Transformers franchise.

BRIDGE COLUMN

But that’s almost irrelevant. West is saying their side can make 11 tricks. The question South must answer is how likely is it that their side can make 3 tricks. Seeing a good chance of 4 tricks in his own hand South would be crazy not to double. Most ordinary bridge players cannot follow a complex contested auction to any great degree, (I certainly can’t) but it’s always worth considering a double if you see a decent chance of defeating the contract with your hand alone.

FILM REVIEW

The bridge column is devised by John Samson who lives in Currie, Midlothian. John is a member of the Pentland Bridge Club. @KonectMagazines

Hearing Testing â—? Wax Removal

â—?

Latest Digital Hearing Aids

D

id you know your local Hearing Aid Audiologist Amanda Brady is a four time runner up in the UK Audiologist of the Year? This means that clients nominated her for showing exception skills in understanding of their hearing problems, product selection, futting and tuning of the hearing aids and her aftercare service.

Hearing for Life

01506 856 500 www.abchearing.co.uk info@abchearing.co.uk

16 Ecclesmachan Road, Uphall, West Lothian, EH52 6DB

@KonectMagazines

LINLITHGOW | 29

LIFE COACHING

This is the perfect time to look forward to those New Year Resolutions I really look forward to the leaves turning brown and the beginning of Autumn every year. October is an exciting time and offers a golden opportunity to take stock of progress towards achieving the goals we all set ourselves in January 2019.

Now that Summer is over, it’s the start of a new academic year and even if you’re thinking ‘I haven’t been in school for years’ Autumn always feel like a shiny, new start, time to get serious, to buckle down to those resolutions that are still to be ticked off your list. What’s more, this is is the ideal time of year to think about what you want to achieve in 2020.

Why not take the time to think about what you can do right now to make sure that you can achieve all your goals?

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Maybe you want to learn a skill so you can begin a new career, start again after a break or get that promotion you’ve always wanted?

Workshops, modules, bootcamps and online courses are available in anything at all that you want to learn.

Or maybe you’re keen to embark on that healthy new eating plan or get those steps up. This is the perfect moment to set those specific goals and write them down…

Remember that a goal without a plan is always just a wish 2020 is approaching fast but there’s still plenty of time left to get ready for that shiny New Year.

The life coaching column is contributed by Francine Orr. Francine is a locally based NLP coach, Hypnotherapist and Reiki practitioner who runs www.orrganise.co.uk She set up the business to support people to find real and practical solutions to the things that hold us all back in life.

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LINLITHGOW | 31

PARENTING

Walk in the Pa rk

Going green and keeping kids keen!

aft Sustainability isn’t just for adults. Kids need Bottle Cr to learn to think about the consequences of their choices and behaviours too, just as adults do. Or like to think we do.

Most of the time. Well, sometimes. When we feel like it. Mostly when it’s convenient.

Actually now that I think about it I’m definitely not doing as much as I should. And how much are the kids even aware of it?

I nag them to switch the lights off when they leave a room but I don’t tell them why. I tell them to put their leftovers in the food waste but I don’t explain what for. I try to get them to walk to school when the weather is good but they think it’s just for fun. And I can’t let them near the paper recycling because it’s usually full of precious “artwork” that’s been relegated from the noticeboard.

Being green can sometimes feel like hard work as a parent…especially when the kids have such a big influence on what goes in the shopping trolley and what kind of electronic devices are “needed” in the house.

But if we want our kids to be more sustainable than we are in the future – and let’s face it that’s what needs to 32 | LINLITHGOW

happen - then we need to rise to the challenge. For better or worse our kids pick up habits and attitudes from us.

Truth be told it doesn’t need to be a lot of work. It is just a lot of little things.

Here’s some easy everyday things to do with your kids that might get them more interested in being sustainable…first and foremost when you do these things tell your kids what you are doing and why!

• Recycle as much as you can • Reuse items for crafts • Plant a garden together • Collect and reuse rain water • Stop using plastic straws and plastic cups • Point out the Fairtrade symbol at the supermarket • Cycle or walk to school whenever you can • Don’t litter • Read a book or watch a programme about the

planet or nature • Make a bug hotel or a bird feeder • Donate old toys and clothes rather than throwing them away • Play outside…so they know what they are trying to save and why!

The need for sustainable living is a hot topic and one that affects all of us - no matter where we live. So at the very least explain to your kids why they now have to suck their milkshake through a soggy paper straw…hey, no one said doing the right thing was easy!

The parenting column is contributed by Laura Archibald. Laura lives in West Lothian with her family and their campervan Hank. She is mummy, wife, blogger and full-time personal assistant to her two girlie girls. @KonectMagazines

SUSTAINABILITY SPECIAL

“We are all cloth-bum parents, and we run the nappy library to help other parents and carers understand and use cloth nappies and other re-useable items.”

In Scotland alone 440,000 disposable nappies go to landfill each day*. One nappy takes about 450 years to decompose.

From: www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk Over the course of an average of two and a half years before babies are potty trained, using reusable nappies can save you a whopping £1475 or more, including laundry costs. Plus, you can sell on your reusables and make money back.

The number of nappies you need will vary as every baby is different. Based on an average of two and a half years’ worth of nappies, which comes to about 4000 nappy changes, and £100 of laundry costs: • Average overall cost for own brand disposable nappies: £1875 • Average overall cost for reusable nappies: £400 • Average overall saving: £1475

I visited Denise, one of the members who runs the Falkirk Nappy Library, to find out more about what they offer local parents and, is using reuseable nappies as time-consuming and smelly as it sounds?

“The Falkirk Nappy Library has been around since 2013, originally called Falkirk Real Nappies. People’s motives were, and still are to a large extent, primarily driven by cost – reuseable nappies are more economical in the long run than disposables.” But with increasing awareness of sustainability factors many people are now also motivated by the lower environmental impact of reuseables.

“The Nappy Library offers kits that you can hire, along with advice and support from the group, if you’re thinking of making the switch to cloth, or expecting a baby and would like to try cloth but are nervous about what it involves.” You can hire a kit for a month, which contains a range of different styles of reusable nappies so you can try with what works best for you and your baby before you invest in them yourself.

The Library is run by volunteers who host a monthly Nappy Natter at Baby Steps charity shop on Manor Street, Falkirk, on the second Tuesday of every month, from 10am-11:30am where you can pick up your kit and speak to the volunteers and other cloth-bum parents.

“You can’t quite match the convenience of disposables, but it’s close,” says Denise. “It’s @KonectMagazines

a myth that you have to spend a lot of time with re-useables. If you use a liner, you shake anything solid off into the toilet and put the nappy into a nappy bucket. Every few days you pop a nappy wash through the machine.

It’s as simple as that; there is no need to soak in a solution, wring out, manually pre-rinse or anything. You use the pre-rinse on your washing machine.” Drying them without a drier can take longer but as Denise says, they dry surprisingly quickly and it’s a small price to pay for the reduced impact on your wallet and on the environment.

And the beauty of the Falkirk Nappy Library is that you can try it for first before deciding to invest in a set of re-useables yourself.

If you are interested, please contact the nappy library via their facebook page at www.facebook.com/FalkirkRealNappies LINLITHGOW | 33

SUSTAINABILITY SPECIAL

PURE PASSION FOR FOOD EQUALITY It all started when a couple of guys working for a large supermarket were involved in delivering the supermarket’s donations to the food banks in and around Falkirk.

“The donations are all very well, and the food banks rely on them, but we noticed the quality could be variable and often it was not the very freshest produce being donated,” explains Steve McQueen, one of the co-founders of Sustainable Thinking Scotland, which is now in its third year.

“We wanted to be able to provide the food bank services with the very best fresh organic food, grown locally and delivered as soon as it’s picked.”

It’s a wonderful initiative. For families finding themselves going through a period of food poverty, life is tough enough and necessarily, foodbanks have to operate using primarily tinned and packaged food so the dietary options available to people using the service can be limited.

So Steve and his colleague Sean Kerr set about finding a premises, rolled up their sleeves and got to work. The premises is the historic walled garden of Kinneil House, Bo’ness. Most recently used as a plant nursery by Falkirk Council for growing flowers for the local roundabouts and planters, the huge walled garden is currently unused apart from the Sustainable Thinking Scotland Foodbank Farm. Steve and Sean are gradually clearing it and developing their farm, complete with a composting and a biochar zone. Biochar is form of carbon they are creating onsite, recycling timber into something which can be used as a soil additive to help increase crop yield. “I’m the grafter, Sean’s the scientist!” says Steve.

They have made a weekly donation to the food banks, soup kitchens and food larders for 34 | LINLITHGOW

CAN YOU HELP? Volunteers are needed to join the team at the walled garden to help with all aspects of the project – maintaining the polytunnels, building raised beds, planting and more.

Donations of equipment, soil and anything to do with growing fruit and vegetables is always welcome.

Please like and share the facebook page at www.facebook.com/pg/ SustainableThinkingScotlandCIC/

For more information or if you’d like to get involved in any way, please contact them via the facebook page or email sustainablethinkingscotland@gmail.com two growing seasons now, as well as running a busy programme of workshops with schools and community groups. “Neither of us had a lot of experience in horticulture but we’re learning fast!” Recipe ideas are included with their fresh produce, which is picked on the morning that it is delivered to the food banks, who then get it out to recipients same-day.

“We’d ultimately like this to be rolled out elsewhere so that all food bank recipients can benefit from the best fresh local produce.”

It’s ambitious, it’s impressive and they have big plans in the pipeline. They are currently unfunded and are demonstrating a huge amount of creativity and hard work to deliver that they do.

It’s pure passion for food equality.

Sustainable Thinking Scotland is a Community Interest Company highlighting alternative ways to rebalance economic, environmental and social values in modern society, ensuring that all members of our community are offered support and opportunities to live a happy, healthy life.

This article was written by Helen-Jane Shearer after visiting the Foodbank Farm in the walled garden last month. Helen-Jane is the editor of Konect magazines. @KonectMagazines

Halloween Special!

SATURDAY 19TH OCTOBER McOpera – Musicians from the orchestra of Scottish Opera 7.30pm in St Michael’s Parish Church, Linlithgow.

Hosted by Linlithgow Arts Guild, programme includes Brahms trio for horn, piano and violin, and Stravinsky’s “The Soldier’s Tale” with presenter, animated film, piano, clarinet and violin. Tickets £14/£6/children free, from Far from the Madding Crowd, or phone 07731 614179 or online at www.linlithgowartsguild.co.uk THURSDAY 24TH OCTOBER Wombs Witches and Wars - a history of psychosomatic illness through the ages A talk hosted by Linlithgow Museum by retired consultant psychiatrist Dr Tom Brown, “Wombs Witches and Wars - a history of psychosomatic illness through the ages”. 2pm in the museum community room. Tickets £5 incl tea/coffee, and can be bought from the museum.

SAT 19TH / SUN 20TH OCTOBER & SAT 26TH / SUN 27TH OCTOBER Pumpkin Lantern Cruises on St Michael Storytelling on board, tasty Halloween treats and pick and carve your own lantern at Narrowboat Farm. Fun for all the family. £12/£5, booking essential at www.lucs.org.uk.

DAILY FROM 5TH TO 31ST OCTOBER Spooky Happenings at Almond Valley Heritage Centre As the nights get darker, mysterious creatures emerge from the dark corners of the old farm. Grab your trail sheet and look out for the clues on your spooky quest. Find your way through a world of magic and shadows with mysteries to solve, games to play, and some scary surprises around every corner. Get creative in the craft area where you can make spooky masks and manufacture monsters. All of this silly scary fun can be enjoyed any day from the 5th of October until Halloween during usual opening hours (10.00-17.00) with no need to book in advance.

See www.almondvalley.co.uk

LINLITHGOW FILM SOCIETY

Linlithgow Academy Theatre, Braehead Rd, 7:30pm Adults £6, Concessions £5, Under 16 £4.

See www.linlithgowfilmsociety.org.uk • Monday 7h October: RETURN OF THE HERO • Monday 21st October: FIRST MAN • Monday 4th November: WILD ROSE

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.

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With the night’s drawing in and the clocks going back at the end of the month, summer seems in the distant past. We therefore turn our attention to one of the next big events in the calendar.. Halloween!

All throughout October, you can enjoy scary crafts and grab your sheet and look for clues on a spine-chilling trail of terror around the old farm at Almond Valley.

Entry is included in the standard admission and is sure to be fun for all the family.

At the Linlithgow Union Canal Centre, on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th, you can take a trip down to Narrowboat Farm on St Michael, the society’s largest boat, to pick and carve a pumpkin ahead of the big day. On board there will be a professional storyteller to make the experience event more memorable. For those looking for something a little scarier, head to Linlithgow Palace on the 31st for a special screening of the Halloween classic “The Terror”. Tickets for this are £10 (£9 for members of HES). The film is rated 12+ so not suitable for the youngest ghouls.

Some of these events require pre-booking so checkout our web listings for more information on how you can do this.

If Halloween isn’t your thing, why not head over to Blackness Castle for their Scotland from The Sky exhibition? Featuring a variety of stunning photography from some of their most beautiful properties across the whole country it’s well worth a look at if you’re heading to the ship that never sailed.

There’s always plenty more going on across West Lothian, so why not check out our collection of great day out ideas on our website – the perfect inspiration for whatever the Scottish weather throws at us! www.visitwestlothian.co.uk Follow us on social media to keep up to date with all the latest from across West Lothian www.facebook.com/VisitWestLothian www.twitter.com/SeeWestLothian www.instagram.com/VisitWestLothian LINLITHGOW | 35

CLUBS & CLASSES

LINLITHGOW LIVES

BY BRUCE JAMIESON

Released this month is a new book by local historian Bruce Jamieson. Called “Linlithgow Lives” it features 35, fully illustrated articles covering various aspects of life in the Royal Burgh across the centuries.

It promises to be a must-have for anyone interested in the local history of the town and would make an excellent present for those no longer living locally.

The full colour volume will be launched on Saturday 26th October in ‘Far From The Madding Crowd’ bookshop where Bruce will be from 11-00am until 2-00pm signing copies. Generous local sponsorship has kept the price down to just £7-99 which will encourage every household to possess this excellent and informative keepsake.

Later that evening, Bruce will deliver an illustrated presentation in St Peter’s Church, starting at 7-00pm.

Thereafter copies will be available in ‘Madding Crowd”, Linlithgow Museum and at Linlithgow Post Office.

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

LINLITHGOW NEW BADMINTON GROUP Mondays 10am-12 noon during term time at Springfield Community Wing. New players always welcome. Further information from Diana Marchant 01506 848625.

FITSTEPS An energetic, upbeat dance fitness class that mixes the graceful steps of Ballroom and the up-tempo steps of Latin to create fun-filled classes where you don’t even realise you’re getting fit! No partner required.

Wednesday 7.30-8.30pm, Linlithgow Rugby Football Club, 34 Mains Rd, Linlithgow EH49 6DB. £5 per class. moveitdanceandfitness@gmail.com Tel 07737 927463 LINLITHGOW FILM SOCIETY Love seeing films with friends? Then come and join us at Linlithgow Film Society every two weeks between September and March for an interesting and varied programme of films.

All performances are shown at Linlithgow Academy Theatre, curtain up 7.30pm. Annual membership subscriptions are available and Guest Tickets are available for all performances at the door. If you would like more information please see our web site www. linlithgowfilmsociety.org.uk or contact Anton Shelton on 01506 670436 or email antonks2000@gmail.com.

PROBUS CLUB We meet in Linlithgow Rose Club from 10.00am-12.00pm every second Wednesday from September to May. The club is for retired or semi-retired men and women or others who may work shifts or have flexible work hours. We have a varied programme of talks and presentations as well as entertainment, team quizzes and visits to places of interest. To get in touch or to find out about planned events visit our web site at www.bolinprobus.org. Or, feel free to come along as a guest and see if you would like to join.

LINLITHGOW BSL GROUP LISTING Are you a BSL user or have learned British Sign Language and don’t want to lose the skill? This group meets at the West Port Hotel for a BSL chat. Anyone welcome, Deaf and hearing of various levels from interpreters to beginners attend the group for a chat in this wonderful language. We meet every two weeks during term time and occasionally for holiday events. For dates please check out our facebook by searching “Linlithgow BSL group.” Alternatively you can contact Alice Lane on 078168 29946.

LINLITHGOW LONGCROFT TABLE TENNIS GROUP (LLTTG) The club will restart for the new 2019/20 season on Wednesday 4th September – playing through until the end of June. The LLTTG meets every Wednesday night from 7.30 pm in the Shields Room and from 8.15pm in the Main Hall of the Longcroft Halls, Philip Avenue giving an opportunity to play Table Tennis in a friendly and not too competitive atmosphere. Finishing time is 9.45pm in both halls. Open to everyone and we have a mixed range of ages and ability. No special kit is required. Bats can be provided. Annual Membership is £10.00 and charge per night is £3.00 or £2.00 for under 18’s. For further information please contact Allan Scott Tel. 01506 842602 or visit our website www.linlithgowlongcroftttgroup.co.uk GIRLGUIDING Rainbow Unit (Girls aged 5 - 7 years old) take place on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday nights.

Brownie Unit (Girls aged 7 - 10 years old) take place on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights.

Guide Unit (Girls aged 10 - 14 years old) take place on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights. Senior Section Unit (Girls aged 14 - 25 years old) take place on Friday night. For more information please visit www.girlguiding.org.uk/get-involved or alternatively you can email us on westlothiangirlguiding@gmail.com.

POSITIVE PATHWAYS – BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT Meets in the Canal Tearoom at 6.30 pm on Thursdays fortnightly. The group is led by a trained bereavement listener. £3 per meeting which goes towards the cost of hiring the tearoom. There is no magic formula

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which will take away the pain, but by listening and sharing with others, it is often possible to lessen the sense of isolation, chaos and despair felt after the death of a loved one. You will be warmly welcomed. For further information contact Sheila Rae by phoning or texting 07719 966273 or email sheila.ruth.rae@gmail.com. Bereavement Support Team St Michael’s Parish Church, Linlithgow.

2ND LINLITHGOW GIRLS BRIGADE Girls Brigade P1 – S6.

Come and join in the fun 6.30 Wednesday evening in term time. St Michaels Kirk Hall, Cross House. Contact Captain Clare at 2ndlinlithgowgirlsbrigade@gmail.com 2ND LINLITHGOW BOYS BRIGADE Meet at Cross House on a Thursday evening. Anchor Boys (P2-P3) 6.30pm7.30pm; Junior Section (P4-P6) 7.00pm-8.15pm; Company/ Seniors (P7-S6) 7.45pm-9.45pm. You can contact us on facebook at 2nd Linlithgow Boys Brigade or email us at linlithgowBB@outlook.com.

NUTRICLUB Nutrition-focussed weight-loss classes in Linlithgow. To learn more about healthy eating and nutrition focused weight loss, get in touch with Louise. Tel: 07837 794112 www.nutriclub.co.uk www.facebook.com/ nutriclublinlithgow.

SANGSCHULE We are a friendly and informal group who meet together to sing and learn new songs from our tutors. Meeting most Wednesdays in term-time in Linlithgow Academy staff room, 7.30-9.30pm All welcome, no experience needed, no need to read music. Under16s must be accompanied. More details from Susan on 01506 843592, and on our website www.angelfire.com/folk/ sangschule/programme LINLITHGOW NIBBLE & NATTER Are you over 60?

Looking to get out and meet some new people? Come and join our weekly get together in Longcroft Hall, Linlithgow, where we enjoy coming together and meeting new people.

Have a chat and a choice of biscuits and cakes with a cup of tea. A welcoming atmosphere awaits you! Cost is just £1 and all are welcome. If you’d like more info get in touch with Cyrenians OPAL (Older People, Active Lives) service on 01506 815815 or e: opal@cyrenians.scot LINLITHGOW WRITERS CIRCLE We meet every second Wednesday in the Linlithgow Tap in Linlithgow, from 7.30pm until 10pm. It’s for aspiring writers in and around Linlithgow to come together and write, share our work for critique and make some writing friends. It’s free to come along. For further details e:linlithgowwriters@gmail.com or findr us on Facebook.

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. For people who are able to attend safely on their own or who are accompanied by someone to support them. Contact Margaret or May from Linlithgow Link on tel: 01506 845137 or e: co-ordinator@linlithgowlink.org.uk 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 info: Sheila Fraser 01506 650953 or 07968 233324.

LINLITHGOW KEEP FIT CLUB We meet every Thursday from 19:00-21:00 at the gym at the rear of Linlithgow Academy. We have limited spaces for new male members.

We resume on the 27th August. Call Brian on 07984 930235 or e: gallacherbrian@hotmail.com for further information.

LINLITHGOW STRING ORCHESTRA We meet weekly on Monday 7.30-9.30pm (term-time) at Linlithgow Masonic Lodge. We are a friendly group and welcome players aged 16+ with a minimum standard Grade 5 or equivalent. New Players from Linlithgow and the surrounding areas are welcome. Please bring music stands. Contact us in advance on: linlithgowstringorchestra@gmail.com or search for us on Facebook

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LINLITHGOW & DISTRICT EMBROIDERS GUILD Linlithgow and District Branch of the Embroiderers Guild meet the last Wednesday of the month in Linlithgow Academy Library from 7pm till 9pm, September to May. Variety of Speakers and classes. Beginner or experienced, or not a stitcher all are welcome.

SUNSHINE SING-A-LONG Kirk Hall, St Michael’s Parish Church, second Thursday every month 12-1.30pm. Caring for those living with memory loss. Light lunch then singing your favourite songs. A warm welcome awaits you, no church connection needed, just turn up on the day. Disabled parking in the Vennel Car Park adjacent to Kirk Hall.

SCOTTISH SENIORS COMPUTER CLUB Star and Garter (Above the lounge), Station Road. Thursday nights 7pm – 9pm. For the over 50s to find out what you can do with your computer, laptop, iPad/tablet or smartphone device. Enjoy the experience; learn and share! Contact: Tom Lambert, Linlithgow Computer Club. Call 07418 331656 or just call in.

FORTH VALLEY ORIENTEERS Come and try orienteering!

Learn to navigate with map and compass with FVO club coaches. Junior classes (9-13 years old, with or without parent). Adult newcomer classes for all ages. £5 per session.

Contact Jen Lenoard on 01506 843552 or e: membership@ fvo.org.uk for more info.

MALE VOICE CHOIR We meet every Monday from 19:45 in the Rugby Club. If you would like to come and try us out please do. Or if you have any questions please phone Chris Thomas on 07823 884802.

STEP TOGETHER FAMILY SUPPORT Support for those affected by the addictive behaviour of a loved one. Being in a close relationship with someone struggling with addiction can be a painful, frustrating and lonely journey. Our group focuses on establishing healthier relationships with our loved one and others, restoring balance to our lives and developing more helpful coping strategies. We meet in the evening on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday each month. For more info call or text 07592 226917.

LINLITHGOW BRIDGE CLUB Meet every Tues and Thurs in the Burgh Halls at 6.45pm. Play starts at 7pm. New members are always welcome. If you would like more information please contact the club president Alasdair McKechnie on 01506 842293 or email alasdairmckechnie@btinternet.com

OTHER AREAS NEW SCOTTISH WOMEN’S INSTITUTE (SWI) Scotland’s leading member-based organisation (since 1917) with a vision to welcome every woman in Scotland to join us. We aim to educate, share, campaign, learn, socialise, build a community, have fun - and eat cake! From life skills and arts and crafts to raising awareness of current affairs affecting women and helping inform government issues, the SWI is proud of its heritage and future vision. There are 12 institutes in West Lothian and we welcome women of all ages. Each institute has its own programme of speakers, craft workshops and monthly competitions, and we hold our annual Show of Work every Spring. For more information please contact wlfedsec@ hotmail.com, see the SWI website www.theswi.org.uk or phone 01506 670436.

NEW WEST LOTHIAN DRUG & ALCOHOL SERVICES FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPS For individuals who have a family member or friend who suffers from alcohol or substance misuse. We work together to develop coping strategies and understanding.. Relaxation therapies available the first meetings of month. WLDAS also offers 1-to-1 support if needed. Please contact Stephen Jack on 01506 430225 for more information or request someone to meet you outside before meeting. All welcome, no appointments needed.

Groups in Livingston, St. John’s Hospital 1st & 3rd Tuesday of the month 7 – 9:30pm; Broxburn Strathbrock Partnership Centre - 2nd & 4th Tuesday of the month - 5:30- 7:30pm; Blackburn Partnership Centre - 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month - 5:30 – 7:30pm.

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. WWW.KONECT.SCOT

LINLITHGOW | 37

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

APPLIANCE REPAIRS Home Appliance Repair

22

FENCING, RAILINGS, GATES Welding & Fabrication Solutions 25

BATHROOMS & KITCHENS 1st Choice Living 5 FITNESS CLASSES Krav Maga Kinetics 5 Paragon Bathroom Solutions 2 GARAGE DOORS S and S Home Garolla 16 Improvements 39 GARDEN CENTRE CHRISTMAS PARTY NIGHTS New Hopetoun Gardens 17 Dalmahoy Hotel & Country GARDEN DESIGN / Club 7 MAINTENANCE COMPUTER / PHONE Evergreen Balerno 16 REPAIRS GARDEN FURNITURE AND Sprint Computer Repairs 22 BUILDINGS CURTAINS & BLINDS Champfleurie Estate 20 Harvey Bruce 24 GLAZING REPAIRS DENTIST CR Smith 21 Livingston Dental Care 30 HEARING AIDS & SERVICES DRAINAGE SERVICES Water Drainage Services

5

DRIVEWAYS AND PAVING McFarlane Brickwork

25

ENTERTAINMENT & ATTRACTIONS Aerial Adventures ESTATE AGENT Drummond Miller Turpie & Co

4 27 14

MARKETING / LEAFLETING The Leaflet Lady 40 PLASTERING Nu Walls

6

ROOFING Taylor Roofs

19

PLUMBING & HEATING SERVICES Dewar Plumbing 5 Mech A Tech Home Heating Services 6 McLellan Plumbing & Heating 6

SPORT & LEISURE Elevation Cycles

4

SPORTS CLASSES SwimSprouts 27

TRUSTED TRADER SCHEME West Lothian Trusted Trader Scheme 19

ABC Hearing 29 VET & ANIMAL WELLBEING JOINERY Mackie & Brechin 23 DJMS 24 YOUTH EMPLOYMENT Geoff Vinter Joinery 4 SCHEME Developing the Young LANDLORD SERVICES Workforce 31 Weslo Property Management 4 LOCKSMITH CVC Locksmiths and Security 6 West Lothian Locksmith Company 25 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.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS TO 7,500 READERS IN LINLITHGOW, LINLITHGOW BRIDGE & THE SURROUNDING AREA?

For more information or to be included, please contact us.

Our details are on page 3.

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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

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