The Dell Directory March 2025

March 2025

HEALTH:

WHAT'S ON:

FOOD & DRINK:

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elcome to March, when it can feel that the winter has more than outstayed its welcome and we grab onto every sign of spring! Joanne in her wine column is hastening the approach of spring with some springtime sips to try.

Hang in there, the clocks go forward on 30th March.

There is a wee mystery photo from the Seagull Trust in Ratho which the Trust would like some help solving, see page 10. And with both Wales and Ireland celebrating national saints days in March, the recipe feature looks at food from our Celtic neighbours.

I hope you enjoy the magazine this month. Thanks as ever for reading The Dell Directory and supporting local businesses and organisations.

Recipe: Food from our Celtic Neighbours..................................................... 8 Health: Prevent PJ Paralysis......................12 realLIFE.........................................................22 Local History: Do you know these people?..........................................................24 Wine: Springtime Sips.................................27 Puzzles..........................................................28 Local Environment: Meet Kevin................32 What’s On: March........................................38 Clubs & Classes.................................... 44-45

COVER IMAGE: Mother’s Day - Sunday 30th March

All enquiries, E: editor@konect.scot M: 07854 492638

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Two national saints days occur in March: St David of Wales and St Patrick of Ireland. It’s interesting to consider what traditional foods are connected with Scotland’s neighbouring Celtic countries. Both the political and social history and climate of Wales and Ireland have had huge influence on the crops and cooking of the people of these two lands.

Roman imports never influenced Ireland so food was limited to what flourished on this mild, Atlantic-weathered landscape. Oats, wheat and rye, a little later peas and beans, and then dairy cattle hence milk, butter and cheese became the staples and were very important exports.

By the 16th century potatoes arrived, changing the habits and the diet of the pre-industrial population and in time led to the disastrous reliance on this one crop, causing the famine and massive depopulation of the whole island in the 19th century.

Wales is more mountainous and has poorer soils and a harsher climate than Ireland; but it has land links with England and became heavily industrialised in the 19th century. However, people in the two countries had similar basic cooking utensils which led to similarities in

Ingredients:

• 1kg potatoes. Maris Piper or King Edwards are best • 100g butter • Salt, pepper, thyme, nutmeg, a little oil

Method:

1. Peel the potatoes if you prefer but it is not necessary.

2. Bring to the boil in a pan of water and cook the potatoes for 3-5 minutes. Drain and cool a little till you can handle them.

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foods. These were a flat griddle and a three legged cooking pot which stood in the fire on the hearth. Hence stews, soups, flatbreads, cheese, autumn fruit and nuts with the addition of the occasional luxury of meat or game became the cuisine of both countries.

Potato cakes, leek soup, Cawl, Bara Brith and Laver bread (nori seaweed) are the traditional foods of Wales. The Irish are proud of their Irish stew, soda breads, pancakes, beer, corned beef (salt beef) champ, Boxty (potato bread), colcannon (bubble and squeak) and cheeses.

All these dishes are good to eat while the days are short and not too warm. They are comfort food at its best and quickest, using ingredients most people have to hand and do not take a great deal of work - just slow, gentle cooking.

3. Oil or well-butter an oven proof metal dish, put a sprig of thyme or some dried thyme leaves on the bottom of the dish.

Slice some of the potatoes and carefully arrange them in circles in the dish. Slice the rest of the tatties and gently mix together with the melted butter, salt, pepper, a little grated nutmeg and a bit more thyme. Turn all this into the dish and firm down.

4. Cover with a circle of non-stick paper and bake in a hot oven, 180o, for 1¼ to 1½ hours. Turn out to serve.

5. Serve with colds meats, grilled chops or fried sausages or black pudding.

Leeks are the national symbol of Wales and are worn in the headgear of the armed forces on St David’s Day. They are good eating at this time of the year.

Ingredients:

• 3 or 4 leeks sliced • 1 onion finely chopped • Chicken breast cut in 4 or 5 pieces • 3 or 4 rashers bacon cut small • 75g butter or some oil • 2 tablespoons plain flour • 3/4 pint milk, or mix of milk and chicken stock.

• Salt, pepper chopped fresh coriander, chives or parsley.

Method:

1. Peel the potatoes if you prefer but it is not necessary.

2. Bring to the boil in a pan of water and cook the potatoes for 3-5 minutes. Drain and cool a little till you can handle them.

3. Oil or well-butter an oven proof metal dish, put a sprig of thyme or some dried thyme leaves on the bottom of the dish.

Slice some of the potatoes and carefully arrange them in circles in the dish. Slice the rest of the tatties and gently mix together with the melted butter, salt, pepper, a little grated nutmeg and a bit more thyme. Turn all this into the dish and firm down.

4. Cover with a circle of non-stick paper and bake in a hot oven, 180o, for 1¼ to 1½ hours. Turn out to serve.

5. Serve with colds meats, grilled chops or fried sausages or black pudding.

• Depending on the time of year and family tradition: carrots, cabbage, kale, turnip, swede or parsnips

Method:

It’s a brave person to offer a recipe for this, as with most traditional food every family has its own way of doing it!

Ingredients:

• 1kg neck of mutton chops, chump chops or shoulder of lamb • 500-750g potatoes • 3 or 4 onions chopped • 100g pearl barley

1. Brown the meat in a little oil (not traditional), put in an ovenproof casserole dish and layer up on top whichever other vegetables you fancy.

2. Brown the onion in the same oil, then add it to the meat. Add the barley and seasoning. Some say white pepper is needed. Add water to just cover the contents of the casserole.

3. Slice the potatoes and layer on top to make a lid. Bake in a medium oven for 2 hours or till the meat is very tender and the potatoes are brown and crispy.

This recipe and food notes were contributed by Anne Pinkerton. Anne is a local cook who believes that everybody can enjoy seasonal food and can have pleasure preparing meals for their family and friends.

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HEALTH

Prevent

PJ Paralysis

If you have been visiting a friend or relative in hospital recently, or even been in hospital yourself, you may well have seen posters and displays urging you to help “Prevent PJ Paralysis.”

The important message to get out of your Pyjamas (PJs) started in the UK in 2017 as a measure to help patients and it has now become an international movement with the next global online summit taking place in July 2025. The message is to get up, get dressed and get moving to speed up your recovery.

We have known for decades about the many benefits of exercise for both our physical and mental health. However, being unwell, particularly if you are in hospital, is still associated with needing rest to get better.

Studies have shown that wearing pyjamas and night clothes during the day can reinforce feelings of being unwell and can actually hinder recovery.

We now know that around 3 in 5 older patients in hospital have no medical reason to be on bed rest. Staying in bed can be detrimental to health in so many ways including:• Making breathing harder so you more likely to get a chest infection • Increasing the risk of developing a blood clot called a deep venous thrombosis (DVT) which can lead to stroke • Digestion can be affected causing stomach pains and constipation Muscles need to be used to stay strong and we need muscle strength to remain independent.

It is a startling fact that people over the age of 80 can lose 10% of their muscle mass for every 10 days they stay in hospital. This is the equivalent of aging by 10 years in just 10 days!

The simple act of getting up and getting dressed can really help prevent the problems caused by inactivity. This in turn leads to improved outcomes including increased wellbeing, maintaining independence, a reduced chance of needing admission to 12 | THE DELL

a care home and a faster discharge from hospital. As Professor Brian Dolan has pointed out, “patient time is the most important currency in health and social care.” People do not want to be in hospital and getting home to loved ones safer and sooner is the goal.

Friends and relatives can really help with this. Often it is our instinct to be kind and to do things to help our loved ones when they are unwell. The best thing we can do to help, though, is encourage the end of PJ paralysis by bringing in clean clothes and well-fitting shoes to be worn in hospital during the day instead of night clothes. Encourage your loved one to get up and sit in a chair or move around the ward. Hospital staff will let you know appropriate activity levels.

The principals of preventing PJ paralysis were first brought in specifically with older adults in hospital in mind but are now being extended to all of us, as we are all at risk of deconditioning due to prolonged bed rest, of losing muscle strength, risking falls and losing independence.

Remember the benefits of getting up, dressed and moving – let’s end PJ Paralysis!

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

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be realistic, called I love the thattells a new programme Thepromise Gift, which the year holds, the “clean slate” stories of people who do DNApotential! tests to find out about family history and then If you live their in Balerno, you too– may havewish been they hadn’t!

I heard several people describe delighted to see snow falling early morning how theyYear’s discovered had or on New Day. Ithey stood at siblings our glass half-siblings they had never knownturned aboutto patio door and watched as sleet before.

One woman found out thatcovered the man big white snowflakes that quickly she’d alwaysand known as her Dad was not her a our garden bedecked the trees.

It was biological father.

She was conceived through wonderful illustration of the “it’s all fresh and one her mum’s extra-marital affairs. new”oftheme.

SUZANN E GREEN

I

sn’t it interesting that wish one ’ve not jumped on thewe “know your another a “happy new year” long family history” bandwagon as so after singing Lang Syne – for many peopleAuld have.

It’s not that I weeks after boxing the Christmas have no interest inup knowing what decorations thethere loft. my forebearsand gotreturning up to. It’sthem just to that are so manyofother to world do/ Regardless what’sthings goingI’d on like in our need to do in this life,about and Iissues can’t seem and various concerns in our to keep up with them.

And then also don’t own country, we hope that 2025 will Ibe a really enjoyIt researching – anything! good year. would be wonderful to see achieved at leastwho oneloves area doing where Ipeace do have a retiredinrelative wardetective is currently raging. on telling a personal the work.

He isAnd, always me level, we alsoour hope to see growth and stories about well-known ancestors progress in our own life andwho in the and also his theories about we lives may of those weto.know love, to be related Oftenand these areoccasions well-known celebrate,figures good health andSometimes maybe even historical or royalty. he some fun in old the photos next 12from months. sends me surprises a couple of the 1800s or early 1900s and asks whether I I’m focusing on the “new” in “Happy New think it’s the same person pictured in both Year”. I’ve not exactly made any new year’s (in their youth andtradition then years later) resolutions.

This seems toand be I’m happy to comment.

But often when he becoming less popular - social media relates posts a long story have work hard at being regularly tellI us thattowe don’t need to strive supportive, I do“enough” that because I know he to improve, and we are as we are, we enjoys sharing it so much. shouldn’t load ourselves up with goals and then when welisten can’ttoachieve If, likefeel me,guilty you regularly BBC them.

Although I agree that it’s goodato Radio 4 you may have caught

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THE DELL DIRECTORY MARCH, 2025 BALERNO | FEBRUARY,| 2025

One aspect of family history that I do find Signing up for a Pilates class was a new interesting has to do with surnames and howit thing for me at the beginning of 2024. And people gotathe one they have.I Recently I had has been positive change. may not be as a conversation with in a young shop-owner proficient as many the class, I struggleinto England has the surname “English”. do somewho of the stretches because of a knee issue, andshe I sometimes have a hardaccent, time Although had a proper English resisting dancing to the background music her jet-black hair supported the fact that her when I should be listening to the instructor. people had come from somewhere in Asia.

But I know thetoexercise is doing me good.

“They wanted fit in here,” she explained, I’m not what new will do/ “so theysure changed their thing(s) name toIEnglish!” encounter this but Ihow will some keep my eyes She went on to year, describe of her and earsancestors open for them.

German settled in Lancashire and, for similar swapped their surname When my reasons, eldest daughter was in primary for “Lancaster”. school, she decided to try something new. I about from another mum, Iheard wonder howitmany of us know the who originhad been at the school to watch her daughter and meaning of our own family name. I do Highland assembly. googled a fewdancing names in to an learn what they“I didn’t know your agirl did itoftoo,” sheorsaid. meant.

Nesmith: maker knives nails; So I explained sheestate; didn’t,Weir: although she Stewart: keeperthat of the someone was in a ballet class.or“That’s said who lived by a dam weir onstrange,” a river; Miller: my friend.

“At the assembly the children owner or operator of a mill. I knew that mywho took Highland dance lessons invited surname was historically that ofwere a person who to go to the centre of the floor and perform. lived near the village green. But I’ve learned I your daughter did rather itthought was also given to someone fondwell.” of wearing the colour green.

Later I asked my child why she had done this.maiden “Oh,” she said.

“I Ray. thought thevarious teacher My name was It has said, “Will all children“king” who would likeofto do meanings, including and “son Highland dancing pleasetocome grace”.

But I was happy give itforward up when I now? So Now, I went.” married. when someone asks about my family history, I new can say straight face Do something this with new ayear. that I’m an ex-Ray.

real LIFE is contributed by Suzanne Green. real LIFE isa contributed

by Suzannelives Green.

Suzanne, freelance writer/editor, in Suzanne, a freelance writer/editor.

She is Balerno and writes regularly for Konect. married to Andytoand they have adult She is married Andy and theytwo have two daughters. adult daughters.

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LOCAL HISTORY

DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PHOTO?

This photo is from the archives of Seagull Trust Cruises in Ratho, who would like to draw on local knowledge to solve a mystery.

The photo originally came from the late Ronnie Rusack. Ronnie was owner of the Bridge Inn in Ratho and operated two restaurant barges on the Union Canal. He was a founder member and former Chairman of Seagull Trust Cruises.

The photograph shows a group of people leaving Ronnie's boat "Pride of the Union" at the aqueduct across the River Almond on the western outskirts of Edinburgh. The mystery is that the filename which Ronnie gave the photo is "KingSpain.jpg".

The man carrying the red lined coat resembles King Juan Carlos in the mid 1980s.

The man in uniform looks like an equerry.

Some of the people look Spanish and the uniform is Spanish.

There is no record of King Juan Carlos visiting Scotland. There was a short State visit to England in 1986.

It seems unlikely that this is the King of Spain but the group look important so who could they be?

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There are few people alive who could have been involved. The young man leading (with the look of a Civil Servant) will be at least in his 70s now.

If you can shed any light on this photo, who the group is and why Ronnie would have called it the King of Spain, please contact editor@konect.scot

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WINE TASTING

Spring is in the air! Buds are bursting into bloom and the evenings are stretching out. The change is season invites us to swap our bold, fireside winter reds for something fresher and brighter. Spring is a time of renewal, and your wine glass should reflect that!

This springtime, think zesty, aromatic whites; perhaps an English Bacchus, bursting with elderflower and citrus, or a crisp Albariño with notes of sea salt and sunshine. Rosé season officially begins, with Provence-style pinks offering delicate strawberry and lime notes which are perfect for a picnic.

As temperatures start to rise, look out for light, juicy reds. I really like Fleurie from Beaujolais, it has gorgeous floral label and the wine has delicious notes of raspberry and very light tannins. Beaujolais and cool climate Pinot Noirs can be slightly chilled, making them delicious pairings with cold cuts of spring lamb or asparagus dishes.

Wine tasting in spring is an experience all its own. The fresh air sharpens your senses, making floral and fruity notes pop!

To celebrate the arrival of spring, I will be drinking a glass or two of Fiano di Sicilia, a white wine made on the island of Sicily.

Fiano has a delicate floral nose, with a light perfume and bright citrus notes.

The acidity is fresh and clean, and the wine perfectly pairs with grilled fish or seafood.

Spring is fleeting, but a glass of this will make it last just a little longer!

The monthly wine tasting column is contributed by Joanne Frette. Joanne lives in Juniper Green with her husband and three children. For wine recommendations, reviews and details of future tasting events, please go to swirlsipsocialise.com THE DELL | 27

58mm Vertical [LEFT]

MARCH CROSSWORD

^^^ Solution in the APRIL edition

ACROSS: 7. Stylish (13), 8. Talking (8), 9. Remove (4), 10. Soaked (7), 12. Attacks with knife (5), 14. Crawled (5), 16. Scratched (7), 19. Female sheep (4), 20. Ten hundred (8), 22. Support (13).

DOWN: 1. Wealthy (4), 2. Sculpture (6), 3. Motors (7), 4. Protrude (5), 5. Accompany (6), 6. Achievable (8), 11. Slinging (8), 13. Dicken’s character (7), 15. Type of gun (6), 17. Presume (6), 18. Mixes (5), 21. Zero (4).

XX ^^^ Sudoku solution on page 37

MARCH SUDOKU

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ADD SOLUTION DETAILS

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LOCAL ENVIRONMENT

Kestrels have been a bit of a sore spot for me when it comes to photographing them until recently. I’ve watched them hovering over a field, using their excellent eyesight to spot a mouse or vole scurrying around in the grass.

They can see in ultraviolet light, which allows them to see the urine trails around rodent burrows. They’re excellent hunters, and I watched this one stoop down from the tallest tree to grab this vole. Whilst they hover, they keep their head perfectly still.

It’s well worth watching a video of it as it’s quite incredible to see.

I’ve been lucky to have a pair hunting not far from my house recently. They were very confiding, allowing me to walk under them as they perched on an overhead wire, where usually they’ve been quite distant.

I’m not one for naming wild animals but my husband has christened this one Kevin.

You can tell it’s a male because it’s got a grey head, whereas the female is generally brown all over. They’re beautiful little birds and much like the foxes I saw last year, they come with a certain sense of nostalgia 32 | THE DELL

as they featured heavily in the Animals of Farthing Wood.

It’s always enjoyable coming across wildlife like this in such an urban environment and though I hope they might nest over the summer, it’s unlikely given it’s quite busy but you never know.

This column is contributed by Clare Harte, who lives in West Lothian. Clare spends much of her time travelling around Scotland looking for and photographing our wonderful wildlife.

Follow her on social media as Clare Harte Photography for more wildlife content.

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

COLINTON BROWNIES Spaces available to join now (Monday evenings). At Girl Guiding’s Colinton Brownie units we welcome all girls to explore their creative side, get out and about into the great outdoors and start to learn to look after themselves, others and our world.

Girls aged 7-10 years have fun, learning and adventure. For info about joining now contact: colintonbrownieslist@gmail.com GLENLOCKHART PROBUS CLUB - For ex-business men and women. We meet to hear talks, mostly by outside speakers, on a wide range of subjects.

The venue is Mortonhall Garden Centre, at 10.30am. on the last Thursday in the month, January to November. Occasionally there are additional outings. Contact: E. glenlockhartprobus@outlook.com ORIAM WALKING FOOTBALL CLUB - We run a local Walking Football Club, established in 2015, for women aged 40+ and men aged 50+. Our sessions, which are very much mixed ability, take place at Oriam Sports Centre, Heriot-Watt University, EH14 4AS, on a Mon, Wed and Fri 12:30-1:30pm. We’d love to see new teammates coming along. Sessions are priced at £4.20 but we do have monthly membership schemes available.

Please contact Deric Oliver on 07803 508401 or dericandjoan@ btinternet.com OXGANGS WRITE AWAY! WRITERS' GROUP - Whether you are a beginner or not, wouldbe novelist, journal-writer or poet, come along and share, learn, be inspired or simply listen. We meet at Oxgangs Library every 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6.00pm - free tea/coffee and biscuits too! For more information, contact Robert Carroll Robert.

Carroll@edinburgh.gov.uk or katiemoon7754@gmail.com 36 | THE DELL

REDHALL WALKING GROUP A gentle walking group exploring areas such as the Union Canal, Colinton Dell and the Water of Leith. Improve your health and wellbeing and meet new people.

Meet at Redhall Walled Garden entrance on main road at 97 Lanark Road. Mondays 10.00am - 11.30am Fun, friendly and free.

Contact: emily@elgt.org.uk or 07943 530806.

Facebook @GreenspaceTrust ST CUTHBERT'S PLAYGROUP - 10.00am - 11.30am - Every Monday during school term time. £2 per family. Toys, snacks and a fun songs! St Cuthbert's Church Hall, Westgarth Avenue, Colinton. Contact Rev Nicki McNelly for more information: stcuthbertsrector@gmail.com FORGET ME NOTES - The Forget Me Notes Project is a charity that uses music to build community and combat isolation in a variety of settings On the first and third Monday of each month - 2.00pm - 4.00pm in St Cuthbert's Church Hall, Westgarth Avenue, Colinton.

Join us when you can, for an hour of music and memories, followed by refreshments. All welcome. Please contact Rev Nicki for more information: stcuthbertsrector@gmail.com (www.forgetmenotes.org.uk) COLINTON FRIENDLY BRIDGE CLUB - Colinton Cottage Homes’ Hall every Monday from 2.00pm to 5.00pm. Please contact Ken McLeod on 0131 466 0888 for more information.

TEA AND TOTS - Stay and play for ages 0-5 with their parent/ carer - all are welcome! Toys, crafts, refreshments, song-time and more. Every Thursday during school term time, 10am-11.30am at Redeemer Church, 64 Bridge Road, Colinton, EH13 OLQ. FREE. E:admin@redeemeredinburgh.org T: 0131 441 7327

ST CUTHBERT’S BADMINTON CLUB - The Club was formed about 1946 and meets in the Church Hall in Westgarth Avenue, Colinton on Monday evenings at 8.00pm between September and Easter. It is noncompetitive. For details, call Julia Roberts on 07904 813145.

PENTLAND BRIDGE CLUB Come and play duplicate bridge in a friendly atmosphere. We meet in St Margaret's Court, Juniper Green on Thursdays at 7pm. Table money £4. Less experienced players made very welcome. For further information see www.bridgewebs.com/ pentland or email mthjkb@gmail.com.

COLINTON LITERARY SOCIETY - Meetings start with coffee, tea and wine at 7.30pm and are held at Dreghorn Hall, 22 Dreghorn Loan, EH13 0DE. Full programme details are at www.colinton-parish.com/ colinton-literary-society.html COFFEE, CAKE AND COMPANY - Drop in for a free coffee between 10.30am and 12pm on Mondays at Redeemer Church Edinburgh, 64 Bridge Road EH13 0LT. We are mostly retired people, but all ages are welcome! More details at redeemeredinburgh.org/ccc THIS WOMAN RUNS - We are a small group of local women who support and empower each other to be healthier and happier. We meet Wednesday’s at 7.30pm at the bottom of Thorburn Road, or Sunday’s at 8.00am in Spylaw Park for a quick warm up, 30-minute run at the pace of chat/your pace, and then a gentle cool down. We’d love to see you there! All free, run by friendly local volunteers www.thismumruns.co.uk/joina-local-run WAVERLEY SPEAKERS CLUB - Meets in Morningside Parish Church, fortnightly on Tuesdays

a table, please contact 07514 at 7.15pm. Our aim is to 689258. There are glutenimprove members’ public free, vegetarian, vegan and speaking skills in a supportive dairy-free options. Under 12s atmosphere. Each evening are invited to enjoy a children's has three prepared speeches SOLUTION TO FEBRUARY menu. Sit in or take away. We of eight minutes, evaluated look forward to welcoming you.

CROSSWORD constructively by another member. Eight impromptu COLINTON LOCAL HISTORY short speeches follow, also SOCIETY - Want to know evaluated. New members about local history? will be made most welcome.

W: www.colintonhistory.org Contact Douglas.Lothian@ E:enquiries@colintonhistory.org lenlothian.com COLINTON GARDEN CLUB LOCAL FLORAL ART - Club members share their CLUB - Sit back and enjoy love of gardening, gardens relaxing evenings watching and nature, and work together a floral demonstration with to preserve and add value lively & interesting chat. to our quality of life here in You might even win one of south-west Edinburgh. Monthly the arrangements. Meet: members’ meetings on a Boroughmuir Rugby Club, Monday, in the upper Hall, Meggatland, off Colinton Dreghorn Loan and start at Road EH14 1AS. 7.15pm 8.00pm. We are a friendly ACROSS: 1. Attach, 4. Asking, 9. Shorten, 9.00pm on the 1st Monday of and thriving club and new 10. Untie, 11. Extra, 12. Extends, the month from September. members are very welcome, 13. Intertwined, 18. Needing, 20. Outer, Trial first visit only £5.

Wine/ 22. Helps, 23. Thirsty, 24. Rushed, 25. Ceased. plus outings and events. The tea/coffee available.

Contact: annual subscription is £10.00.

DOWN: 1. Answer, 2. Trout, 3. Cottage, Joyce Rutherford on 0131 443 per household.

5. Stunt, 6.

Intense, 7. Grease, 8. Investigate, 2536 or joyce.rutherford@ For more information see: 14. Needles, 15. Idolise, 16. Anchor, btinternet.com W: colintongardens.org.uk 17. Frayed, 19. Issue, 21. Tests.

E: membership@ COLINTON SCOTTISH SOLUTION TO SUDOKU colintongardens.org.uk COUNTRY DANCE CLUB -ON WePAGE meet fortnightly from XX LUNCHCLUB - Every September to end of March/ Wednesday 1pm – 3pm, beginning of April in St. 3 courses £4. Spaces are Cuthbert’s Episcopal Church limited, first come first served.

Hall, Westgarth Avenue Oxgangs Neighbourhood from 7.45 - 9.15. We have Centre, 71 Firhill Drive, EH13 an excellent teacher and live 9EU. Please visit: music so come and join us, oxgangsneighbourhoodcenwith or without a partner, you’ll tre.org.uk be made very welcome. Tel: PARENT AND TODDLER 07751186359 or 07483814988. GROUP - Tuesdays, am session THE SWING CAFÉ - Tues to and pm session for two age Sat 10.00am-2.00pm. Please groups (all under 5s). Oxgangs come for breakfast (10.00amNeighbourhood Centre, 12.00noon), lunch (12noon 71 Firhill Drive, EH13 9EU. -2.00pm) or some delicious T: 0131 466 0678 E:oxgangs home baking (available all neighbourhoodcentre day). We welcome groups Disclaimer: The publisher cannot accept @gmail.com and if you would like to book responsibility for loss or damage caused

SOLUTION TO FEBRUARY CROSSWORD

ACROSS: 1. Attach, 4. Asking, 9. Shorten, 10. Untie, 11. Extra, 12. Extends, 13. Intertwined, 18. Needing, 20. Outer, 22. Helps, 23. Thirsty, 24. Rushed, 25. Ceased.

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SOLUTIONTO TOSUDOKU SUDOKU SOLUTION XX ON PAGE 28

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TO INCLUDE YOUR CLUB OR CLASS, PLEASE EMAIL Publisher: Lothian Publications Ltd. DETAILS, TONorth, 75 WORDS, Geddes House,UP Kirkton Livingston, TO EDITOR@KONECT.SCOT NOT-FOR-PROFIT GROUPS ARE FREE. THERE IS A Magazine Design: SMALL CHARGE FOR BUSINESSES. SEE KONECT.SCOT Alan Stewart Design FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. T: 07729 911858

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THE DELL | 37

SATURDAY 8TH MARCH Balerno Farmers Market Main Street, Balerno, 9.00am to 1.00pm SUNDAY 9TH MARCH The Dells in Spring Hands-on guided walk for adults, focusing on tree identification and spotting signs of spring. What trees are in flower and how can you identify them before the leaves appear? Are other plants appearing in the meadows and woodlands? What creatures can be seen? Is there fungus to be spotted?

1.30 – 3.30pm. Meet at Water of Leith Visitor Centre, 24 Lanark Rd, EH14 1TQ. Tickets £7 via www.waterofleith.org.uk TUESDAY 11TH MARCH Tartan Tea Party - With “It’s in the Bag” at Colinton Library. Join Sam and Rosie as they journey to the North of Scotland for the annual Tartan Tea Party. With lots of well known Scottish nursery rhymes and songs, this is guaranteed fun for little ones aged 0-2!

10.30am, please call the library on 0131 529 5603 to book your space.

MONDAY 24TH MARCH Colinton Garden Club Members’ Evening - Speaker will be Professor Kevin Frediani, Curator of Dundee University Botanic Gardens. All meetings are held at 8pm at Dreghorn Loan Hall, Colinton, and new members are always welcome MONDAY 31ST MARCH Spring Concert – Handel’s Messiah With the Colinton & Mechiston Community Choir. All are welcome to join us at 8.00pm in the Memorial Hall at Merchiston Castle School, 294 Colinton Road, EH13 0PU. We will be singing parts 2 and 3 of the magnificent Handel’s Messiah. Tickets £10 or £5 for under 18s available from choir members or at the door - cash only. Doors open 7.30pm 38 | THE DELL

and plenty of tickets will be available. We will be led by our excellent Director of Music, Tim Coleman and accompanied by the well known Morley Whitehead on the organ and also by a Quartet, a Double Bass, a Timpanist and 2 Trumpets. It should be a wonderful evening.

Please do come along. For more information about the Choir, please see colintonchoir.org or our Facebook page.

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.

All meets are in Edinburgh Pentlands (formerly Juniper Green) Parish Church Hall, Lanark Road 10.00am - 12noon.

New members welcome.

Further details from our Club Secretary Leslie Hannaford 0131 453 3012 or lesliehannaford@blueyonder.co.uk WEDNESDAY 5TH MARCH “Staffa” an illustrated talk

by Karen McCormack.