PLUS: real life, puzzles, CLUBS & CLASSES, what’s on, and more LOCAL FEATURES inside!
Back into routine after the summer can be a bit of a shock to the system, but even as the summer starts to fade there are still plenty of ways of enjoying what’s left of the good weather as well as events on locally. Colinton’s local history society have a busy schedule all through autumn and winter with excellent speakers see page 9.
A new column starts this month from a Colinton resident who shares her gardening tips in the “Lazy Gardener’s Diary.” There is an update from Colinton Village Enterprise on their work in Spylaw Park; and in the health section, we are treated to part 1 of a two-part series on how to avoid running injuries.
All the other regular columns are here from our wonderful expert columnists. Thank you for reading The Dell Directory and supporting local businesses and organisations.
All enquiries, E: M: editor@konect.scot 07854 492638
If you know of a child who has lost a parent and would benefit from a supported foundation place or to donate to the life changing work of the Heriot’s foundation, please contact the Admissions team for information at admissions@george-heriots.com
Oven Cleaning
Contact Andy today for a free quote!
Contact Andy today for a free quote!
or WhatsApp: 07584 753736
Email: ajssparklingovens@ gmail.com Grieving the loss of a parent can be a lonely time. Heriot’s foundation enables bereaved children to receive a nurturing education with specialist support at Scotland’s leading independent school.
Email: ajssparklingovens@gmail.com
Colinton Village Enterprise is excited to share the progress on our Heritage Hub project in Spylaw Park! Our vision for an inclusive community space is taking shape, with construction set to begin early autumn.
HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW:
• Building Warrant: Our architect, David Moore from MDA Studios, is finalising queries with the City of Edinburgh Council, and we expect to receive the building warrant soon.
• Contractor Selection: We’ve issued the project to four building contractors, who will submit their tender responses by the end of August.
• Café Operations: We’re researching ways to operate the café element of the Heritage Hub, thanks to assistance from Community Enterprise.
ARCHITECTURAL RENDERINGS - The images featured here were created by DNB ArchDesign Ltd, using MDA Studio’s plans, led by the aforementioned David Moore. We love these 3D visualisations, bringing the designs to life for Colinton’s Community Heritage Hub.
SUPPORTING THE PROJECT
We’re grateful for the funding from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (administered by The City of Edinburgh Council), and the generous bequest from Angela Miller, our first Charity Secretary. However, we still need your support to ensure the project’s success. Look out for our Crowdfunding page soon!
GET INVOLVED
• Volunteer: Contact us at colintonvillage@gmail.com to help with future events and projects.
• Donate: Scan the QR code to support the Heritage Hub project (SEE BELOW).
RECENT EVENTS - At the end of August, we participated in the Pentlands Open Studios Art Trail by opening our Pit Stop Café en route, serving coffee, tea, and delicious home baking. We’re excited to host more events in the future!
COLINTON’S COMMUNITY SHARE BOX
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The Community Share Box in the iconic red phone box on Bridge Road/Spylaw Street is now open, offering pre-loved books, puzzles, seeds, and plants for sharing, borrowing, or exchanging.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
• Visit the red phone box and browse the available items
• Share, borrow, or exchange items that interest you
• Please don’t leave bulk book donations, as space is limited
• Plants and seeds are welcome donations, though!
A BIG THANK YOU:
• To Mike Scott and Eddie Banks, The Colinton Tunnel duo, for refurbishing the historic red phone box
• To Paul Bullen (SW20) for assisting with installing custom signage made by Remember When UK
Enjoy exploring and participating in this community-driven initiative, displaying “Colinton Village Information Exchange” depending on the angle you read it from.
This article was contributed by Colinton Village Enterprise
You may not know but we have a very active History Society here in Colinton.
We meet in Dreghorn Loan Hall, Dreghorn Loan, the first and third Mondays of each month from October (starting on Monday 6th October) to March at 8pm, where we enjoy some excellent speakers. Several members of our Society also enjoy searching through our archives to research many aspects of the local area.
One of theses members is Bob Henderson who has always had a keen interest in Bonaly. His work has resulted in our Society publishing a new book about the area, “Bonaly: Three Centuries of Rural Life in an Edinburgh Suburb.”
Bob commented, “Although having been interested in the area for some time I have found that very little has been written about Bonaly and some of what has is very debatable. I therefore started researching the history over the last three centuries myself, discovering that developments in agricultural methods had a profound effect on life for its residents. The questions I was interested in trying to answer included how many people were likely to have lived in Bonaly at any one time, what were their cottages like, what did the residents eat and wear, what was their relationship with the Kirk and when did Bonaly cease to be primarily an agricultural settlement?”
Should you wish to know more about our Society or be interested in purchasing the book please contact us at enquiries@ colintonhistory.org.uk . The book can also be purchased at our local Colinton Post Office at a cost of £6.99.
This article was contributed by Derek Douglas, Archivist, Colinton Local History Society
Running has become one of the most popular sports over recent years. It is accessible, requires little equipment but above all has highest benefit for physical and mental health compared with other sports, reducing all-cause mortality by up to 27% but unfortunately injuries can occur.
In the UK alone nearly 50% of recreational runners report an injury affecting running. We can’t prevent injury but there are strategies to reduce injury and manage niggles before they progress to injury.
What is a running-related injury? Most running injuries are overuse in nature, tending to present gradually and affecting tendons and bones. Introducing injury risk reduction strategies into usual training and responding to early injuries when they occur, reduces risk. This is called prehabilitation, “a proactive rather than reactive intervention” and involves exercises to improve strength and balance, load management, shoes, recovery strategies, gait re-education, and education on recognising injury and specific injury risk profiles. This combination of strategies reflects a multifactorial approach to injury prevention that is required for optimum benefit.
Why is strength and balance training helpful? Strength and balance exercises improve the physical capacity of muscles, tendons and bones and increase reactions. Incorporating exercises into warm-ups, cool-downs, or separate gym sessions enhances performance, improves running economy and provides resilience to adapt to different terrains and training situations. One of the most important muscles to train is Gluteus Medius which inserts onto the outside of the hip. It controls the hip when landing and transferring weight through one leg and responds quickly when losing balance on uneven ground, sidestepping or changing direction. Train this muscle functionally, challenging balance in standing using “single” leg squat and lunge type exercises. Similarly, single leg calf raises improves Achilles tendon function and is a
key component of the “triple extension” action in running where the ankle flexes as the knee straightens and the hip extends during pushing off the leg. Injuries can occur when these muscles fatigue or overload with increasing pace.
The importance of monitoring load - Running is a repetitive high impact activity, and bones, tendons and muscles must adapt to this, become stronger and more resilient without “overloading”. Therefore, beginner runners should use the Couch-to-5K App to build up gradually to running. Improver runners can use recognised training programmes or wearable technology, such as smart watches, to monitor load by recording distance, frequency and speed of weekly runs and only increase these by 10% or less when training for longer distances. Consider alternating running on different days with other cardio based activities to provide tissues with adequate rest.
What’s the best running shoe? Choosing your running shoes is a personal choice, and in fact the research shows that comfort is most important. Cushioning in shoes can help beginner runners adapt to early impact. A stability trainer (motion control) can help foot overpronation.
Want to learn more? Linda Linton a Chartered Physiotherapist researching injury prevention in runners will be running a 3-hour workshop on 1st November. Find details at physiogrange.co.uk
This article was contributed by Linda Linton, Chartered Physiotherapist at McNaughton Physiogrange, Edinburgh
Plum, Pink Pepper and Watercress Loaves
Making the most of in-season juicy plums, these deliciously sweet treats are perfect with morning coffee or an afternoon cuppa.
Serves 12 | Prep 10 minutes
Cooking time 20 minutes
Ingredients:
• Butter and flour, for lining the tins
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• 90g whole milk
• 150g plums, stones discarded, flesh chopped into small pieces
• 120g light muscovado sugar, plus 2 tbsp
• 250g plain flour
• 13g baking powder
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp pink peppercorns, crushed
• 1 tbsp watercress, finely chopped
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 150g rapeseed oil
• 2 large eggs
To serve:
• Icing sugar, for dusting
• Plum slices, to decorate
• Whipped cream (optional)
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C, fan 160°C, gas mark 4. Grease and lightly flour 12 mini loaf tins
2. Mix the lemon juice into the milk and set aside to room temperature.
3. Mix the chopped plums with the 2 tbsp muscovado sugar and set aside.
4. In a separate, large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, peppercorns, remaining sugar and watercress.
5. In a jug, mix the vanilla, reserved milk mixture, oil and eggs.
6. Pour the wet mixture into the dry and whisk from the edges inwards. Do not overmix; a few lumps are fine.
7. Carefully stir through the plums and the residual syrup and divide the mixture equally between the loaf tins.
8. Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. Cool in the tins for 10 minutes before turning out to cool completely.
9. Once cold, dust with icing sugar and decorate with plum slices. This is fantastic with pillows of whipped cream, if liked.
For more recipe inspiration, visit www.watercress.co.uk and for more information on the health benefits of watercress, visit www.thewatercresscompany.com
What is orange wine and why should you try it?
Orange wine is made exclusively from grapes. No oranges are involved in its creation! The term ‘orange’ refers to the amber hue of the wine rather than the fruit used to make it or the way it tastes. While popularity and interest in orange wine has grown in recent years, this style of wine has been around for centuries.
The white wine we usually drink, is typically made by crushing grapes, fermenting only the juice and discarding skins. This results in a fresh, fruity wine.
To make orange wine, the juice stays with the skins, seeds, and occasionally stalks during fermentation. They are separated and the wine is usually aged for several months. The result is a wine that’s structured, textured, and intriguingly different. It is also orange in colour!
Gone are the fresh citrus and pear notes we are familiar with, instead we might find ‘funky, savoury, mushroom’ notes on the nose and tannic structure on the palate.
I recommend orange wine with food, “what grows together, goes together” works best when tasting orange wine. For Tuscan-style orange wine, pair with Tuscan cured ham, olives, and cheese—simple, harmonious, and delicious!
Look out for Casale Trebbiano Orange wine Vecchia Vigna 2021 available at Woodwinters and goodwinegoodpeaople.com. The wine has been fermented on its skins for 30 days giving the wine a beautiful fine tannic structure and savoury character.
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
Isn’t it interesting that we wish one another a “happy new year” long after singing Auld Lang Syne – for weeks after boxing up the Christmas decorations and returning them to the loft.
Regardless of what’s going on in our world and various concerns about issues in our own country, we hope that 2025 will be a good year. It would be wonderful to see peace achieved in at least one area where war is currently raging. And, on a personal level, we also hope to see growth and progress in our own life and in the lives of those we know and love, occasions to celebrate, good health and maybe even some fun surprises in the next 12 months.
I’m focusing on the “new” in “Happy New Year”. I’ve not exactly made any new year’s resolutions. This tradition seems to be becoming less popular - social media posts regularly tell us that we don’t need to strive to improve, we are “enough” as we are, we shouldn’t load ourselves up with goals and then feel guilty when we can’t achieve them. Although I agree that it’s good to
be realistic, I love the promise that a new year holds, the “clean slate” potential!
If you live in Balerno, you too may have been delighted to see snow falling early morning on New Year’s Day. I stood at our glass patio door and watched as sleet turned to big white snowflakes that quickly covered our garden and bedecked the trees. It was a wonderful illustration of the “it’s all fresh and new” theme.
Signing up for a Pilates class was a new thing for me at the beginning of 2024. And it has been a positive change. I may not be as proficient as many in the class, I struggle to do some of the stretches because of a knee issue, and I sometimes have a hard time resisting dancing to the background music when I should be listening to the instructor. But I know the exercise is doing me good. I’m not sure what new thing(s) I will do/ encounter this year, but I will keep my eyes and ears open for them.
When my eldest daughter was in primary school, she decided to try something new. I heard about it from another mum, who had been at the school to watch her daughter do Highland dancing in an assembly. “I didn’t know your girl did it too,” she said. So I explained that she didn’t, although she was in a ballet class. “That’s strange,” said my friend. “At the assembly the children who took Highland dance lessons were invited to go to the centre of the floor and perform. I thought your daughter did rather well.”
Later I asked my child why she had done this. “Oh,” she said. “I thought the teacher said, “Will all children who would like to do Highland dancing please come forward now? So I went.”
Do something new this new year.
real LIFE is contributed by Suzanne Green. Suzanne, a freelance writer/editor, lives in Balerno and writes regularly for Konect. She is married to Andy and they have two adult daughters.
SUZANNE GREEN
IT Security Training For Older Adults
Hub@531 is delighted to be working in partnership with local charity, Tap into IT, to provide much needed digital security skills and confidence to those who need it most.
on 10th & 17th February mental health and wellbeing focus. and help inform our plans for this juice & biscuits available.
Funding for Information Technology Security training for older adults (50+) in our community has been awarded from Edinburgh City Council’s Community Grants fund.
Friday 21st 2.30-4.30pm materials are supplied, booking evenings, ages 12+ welcome on
Repair Lab with Dianne beginners / intermediate sewers.
zips/buttons and repair rips/holes in your garments using a range of creative including visible/invisible mending damaged textile items to repair. atelier workshop for experienced sewers in
We will have two courses in 2025, with more next year to meet demand. Each course consists of 3 sessions, suitable for those who use a smartphone, tablet or laptop:
1. Online security overview and one of the most common threats
2. Passwords, account and device security
3. Safe communication and staying informed
Menopause Chat - wellbeing info and Drop in or book your space.
The first course is on Fridays 12th, 19th & 26th September, 2025 at 10.00am -12noon at Hub@531 Lanark Road.
welcome your donations when you attend!
book online or email to enquire BOOK THE HUB www.hub531.appointedd.com
Please ensure you can make all 3 dates before registering for a place. A deposit of £10 will be requested to secure your space and refunded when you have attended all 3 sessions. Places are limited due to the nature of the training and venue, and to provide a small group learning experience.
Pentlands Community Space SCO049766
The September sessions are available now to book online at: hub531.appointedd.com or you can email hub531lanarkroad@gmail. If these dates don’t suit, look out for the next 2025 dates published soon. You can email to join the Hub@531 mailing list to be sent information on all upcoming activities and/or follow our Facebook page ‘The Hub at 531’ Look out for posters in all our usual locations too!
In 2022 there was a serious outbreak of the highly contagious avian flu. It’s estimated around 3.8m birds died that year in the UK.
One of the worst affected species was the gannet, our biggest sea bird. For the first time since that year, I visited Troup Head, which is a gannet colony in the North of Scotland, near Fraserburgh.
Since this outbreak, there’s been an interesting physical change in gannets that no-one could have anticipated. Usually they have a pale blue iris but some birds with black eyes were discovered and after taking blood samples, scientists found out of the 8 who tested positive for the virus, seven had black irises. This indicated they survived the virus, which was an incredible discovery and though the reason for this change in colour has yet to be discovered, research continues to understand whether it could apply to other species and if it impacts their vision*.
These birds are incredible and can dive up to 100ft, at speeds of 62.13mph thanks to a number of features including no external nostrils, air sacs in the face and chest under
the skin which act like bubble wrap to cushion the impact as they hit the water, and how their eyes are positioned so they can judge distances accurately. How much food they can eat is thought to the be inspiration behind their name, unsurprisingly!
* Information taken from the RSPB website.
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.
Hello readers! I hope you enjoy reading about my experiments, and failures, trying to grow nutritious free food at the lowest cost possible and with the least human energy inputs.
In this new regular column I’ll write about what’s occurring in and around the underplanted orchard in Campbell Park where I volunteer. I hope to share some permaculture ideas along the way. I may suggest things you could try in your own garden to reduce the time spent weeding, and increase the time spent simply marvelling at nature’s many rewards.
In the orchard this month we’ve been pruning the plum trees because they need to be pruned in full summer whereas apples and pears prefer to be cut back during their winter dormant period. September is one of the best months to visit a community orchard. In Campbell Park we encourage all visitors to enjoy any windfall fruit they find on the ground, and to only take a ripe fruit from the trees when there are no windfalls available.
Next week P6 pupils from Bonaly Primary will return to lift the tatties they planted in May. Since planting, these potatoes have had to survive on rainwater alone. So we’ve experimented this year by hilling up the stems with FREE cut grass clippings to help mulch the soil and trap moisture. Now the stems are starting to go yellow and flop over which is a good indication they’re ready for harvesting. I can’t wait to see, and taste, the results.
This column is contributed by Shona Harrower. Shona lives in Colinton and is passionate about low maintenance food production. She is Chair of the Friends of Campbell Park
DOWN: 1. Midday (4), 2. Reply (6), 3. Type of fruit (5), 4. Found (6), 5. Similarly (8), 7. Relieving (6), 12. Soonest (8), 14. Alter (6), 16. Special (6), 18. Unbroken (6), 19. Conceals (5), 22. Hurry (4).
SEPTEMBER SUDOKU
Enjoying a lovely walk along the Union Canal, it’s easy to take it for granted as a leisure facility, and to forget the history of the hard labour that went into cutting the earth in the first place - many years before powerful machines could help.
“Navvies”, many of them Irish immigrants, made a major contribution to the industrial development of Scotland in the 19th century by working on the canals, railways, roads, mining and other industries. While Irish workers had always come across for seasonal work harvesting in Scotland, the 19th century saw a mass immigration, this time including entire families permanently leaving Ireland.
The first significant wave of immigration was in the canal building period. Canal diggers – navigators – or “navvies” as they became known, in central Scotland were Irish immigrants and Highlanders lured by the prospect of steady work. They worked on canal projects all over Scotland, following the work from project to project. Most locally to us, the Union Canal, 31.5 miles long between Edinburgh and Falkirk, was dug in just four years between 1818 and 1822. No accommodation was provided for the workers by the canal proprietors; they had to find lodgings and make do however they could. At either end of the canal in Edinburgh and Falkirk it wasn’t too difficult to find lodgings, but in between there was little or no accommodation to be found, and the families had to accompany the wageearner. A newspaper at the time reported: “Along the banks of the Union Canal certain edifices have been erected which strike the traveller with no little astonishment. These are huts erected by Irish labourers upon some few vacant spots of ground
belonging to the canal proprietors and are pointed out to strangers on the passage boats as great curiosities. Each, of course, is more wretched than another, and presents a picture of squalid poverty which is new to the people on this side of the Channel. One of them, with the exception, perhaps, of a few sticks, is composed entirely of rotten straw; its dimensions would not suffice for a pig-stye.”
Scottish industry became very successful in the 1840s, coinciding with the agricultural disaster in Ireland which led to the potato famine and many thousands of Irish fleeing famine conditions made their way to Scotland. The population of Irish in Scotland increased 90% during the 1840s. They worked on the burgeoning railway network – the construction of the last canals overlapped with the first railways - textiles, and later on in mining. The Irish were also contributors to the man-power in the mines of West Lothian, and formed a significant proportion of the population of mining towns.
The Irish navvies got bad press, partly due to a reputation for rough noisy behaviour in their few leisure hours. The work was extremely hard physical labour and the facilities very minimal, and they tended to drink hard when off duty. There were many complaints from the locals, the most common being for drunken and riotous behaviour. A parish minister complained of the Irish navvies that “they lowered very much the moral tone of the district,
from which, he feared, it might never recover.” They were also prepared to work for less money than Scots or English, thus lowering the general wage level for the work they did. In 1841, when blasting through stone for the Winchburgh railway tunnel, a fight broke out between Irish navies and Highlanders. Each side rounded up a significant number of their countrymen, to the point that infantry was rushed from Dreghorn by canal boat to restore peace.
Burke and Hare
Nevertheless, despite the intolerance and discrimination, from the 1850s on there were distinct Irish communities in Scotland with both formal and informal social support groups, and the enduring cultural ties unbroken.
The article was written by Helen-Jane Gisbourne. Helen-Jane is the editor of the Dell Directory.
The most infamous of Irish immigrants to Scotland, Burke and Hare worked on the Union Canal for a short time around 1818, although they didn’t meet up until Burke and his partner became lodgers at Hare’s house in Edinburgh several years later. They made a lucrative living by murdering and selling the fresh corpses to the anatomist Dr Knox, who never asked questions. However the murder of a young man known as “Daft Jamie” was the beginning of the end of their grizzly career, as he was well-known in his community and some of Dr Knox’s students recognised him.
Burke and Hare are said to have frequented the Grey Horse Inn in Balerno; after their trial, the innkeeper’s wife from the inn that stood at Causewayend at that time, is said to have recognised that they were in the district too. Lord Meadowbank of Kirknewton was an advocate in their trial. Hare turned kings evidence, while Burke was hanged in Edinburgh on 28th January 1829.
FRIDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER
Oxgangs PTA Community Bingo Night! - Brand-new event just for the grownups – Community Bingo Night! Come along for a fun-filled evening to connect, unwind, and support our school. 7.30pm at Colinton Bowling Club. What’s in Store:
• Three exciting rounds of Bingo
• Prizes to be won • Lively party games and laughs throughout the night
A relaxed, friendly vibe – perfect for meeting other parents and carers. No need to come in a group. Tickets: £12 – Available on the night. Hosted by Boogie Bingo.
SATURDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER
Farmers Market - Main Street, Balerno, 9.00am to 1.00pm.
MONDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER
Colinton Garden Club talk - Dr Alley
Jordan : “Early Modern Baroque Gardens” Meetings are at Dreghorn Loan Hall at 8.00pm on 4th Monday of the month. Details at: colintongardens.org.uk
Pentland Probus Club Events
All meets are in 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
• WED 3RD SEPT - “The World’s End Murders”, an illustrated talk by Tom Wood.
• WED 17TH SEPT - “Building & Flying our own Aircraft”, an illustrated talk by Gerard Lohan.
WEDNESDAY 1ST OCTOBER
Crafting - PaperCut Flowers - Join papercut punk, Ruth Watt, who will lead a relaxed, sociable craft session suitable for adults to create beautiful paper cut flower designs.
BOOKING ESSENTIAL. The Hub@531 Lanark Road, Juniper Green. 2.00pm - 4.00pm Book at: hub531.appointedd.com
The Colinton & Merchiston Community Choir - Open Rehersals
MONDAYS 8TH & 15TH SEPTEMBER
Please join us for either or both of our open rehearsals at 7.00pm on Monday the 8th and 15th September in the Memorial Hall, at Merchiston Castle School, Colinton Road. You will be able to experience what it would be like to sing with our choir and there will be no commitment or pressure to join.
We are a very welcoming, nonauditioning choir with a mixed range of ages and singing and sight-reading abilities. We also have some social events.
We have a delightful programme of seasonal music for our Christmas Concert on Monday 8th December :- Vaughan Williams “Fantasia on Christmas Carols”, Cornelius “Three Kings from Persian Lands Afar, Telemann “Der Jungste Tag wird bald sein Ziel” and a lovely selection of carols.
We meet on Monday evenings in the Memorial Hall from 8th September onwards. After the Open Rehearsals, we will start at 7.15pm and end at 9.00pm but it’s not a problem if you arrive a bit late or have to leave a bit early. We really enjoy our rehearsals with our brilliant Director of Music, Tim Coleman, and our Accompanist, the excellent Morley Whitehead. For more information about our choir, please consult our website: www.colintonchoir.org or visit our Facebook page.
Due to the ageing population those suffering from dementia has increased. Unfortunately, my partner began suffering from it recently.
Various organisations and agencies offered support and advice. From one of these we were directed towards the Palm Dementia Cafe. It is held in St Joseph’s Centre, Balerno, on the last Tuesday of each month from 3pm to 4.30pm and is for people with dementia and their carers. A friend can also come along instead of a usual carer which is a good opportunity for respite.
We went along with some trepidation not knowing what it was really about or what to expect. However, any fears we had were soon overcome by the warm welcome we received from all the helpers. They really did make us feel at our ease.
The afternoon goes very quickly as it begins with a cup of tea or coffee along with homemade cake and scones - worth going for alone! There then follows the appropriate event for that afternoon, e.g. a visit from a choir, bulb planting, crafts. If there is a particular event forthcoming e.g. Easter or St Andrew’s Day the afternoon is themed round it. Singing
and music generally feature. There is a wide and varied programme which even includes an invitation to Dean Park Primary School Christmas Show or a trip on the Ratho Barge.
We have been back many times and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The numerous helpers are so friendly. We really encourage anybody with dementia and their carers to give it a try as you will not regret it!
The PALM café meets once a month usually on the last Tuesday of the month (except July) in the St Joseph’s Centre Balerno from 3.00pm - 4.30pm. Our next meeting is on Tuesday September 30th and we are looking at sensory memories.
Please do get in touch to find out more and to confirm our programme and meeting times. You can contact us via email: palmcafebalerno@gmail.com or Telephone: 07711 046014 (Please leave a message and we will get back to you.)
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 and Fri 12.30-1.30pm, and Wed at 12.00-1.00pm and 8.30-9.30pm We’d love to see new teammates coming along. Sessions are priced at £4.62 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
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 CLUBCome 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 mthkjb@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
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at 7.15pm. Our aim is to improve members’ public speaking skills in a supportive atmosphere. Each evening has three prepared speeches of eight minutes, evaluated constructively by another member. Eight impromptu short speeches follow, also evaluated. New members will be made most welcome. Contact lenlothian.com
LOCAL FLORAL ART CLUB
ACROSS:
day). We welcome groups and if you would like to book a table, please contact 07514 689258. There are glutenfree, vegetarian, vegan and dairy-free options. Under 12s are invited to enjoy a children's menu. Sit in or take away. We look forward to welcoming you.
COLINTON LOCAL HISTORY
SOCIETY - Want to know about local history? W: www.colintonhistory.org E:enquiries@colintonhistory.org
COLINTON GARDEN CLUB
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relaxing evenings watching a floral demonstration with lively & interesting chat. You might even win one of the arrangements. We meet at The Braidhills Hotel from 7pm to 8.45pm on the 1st Monday of the month from September. In October and only for October we are at Marchmont St Giles Church .Trial first visit in Sept or Oct only £5! Wine/tea/ coffee available in the hotel.
Contact: Joyce Rutherford 0131 443 2536 or joyce. rutherford@btinternet.com
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COLINTON SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE CLUBCome and join us on alternate Thursday evenings from September to March for an evening of fun dancing to live music. We meet in St Cuthbert's Church Hall Colinton from 7.45pm to 9.15pm. Dances are called but as this is not a teaching class some knowledge of Scottish Country Dance steps and figures is beneficial. For further details phone 07483814988
- Club members share their love of gardening, gardens and nature, and work together to preserve and add value to our quality of life here in south-west Edinburgh. Monthly members’ meetings on a Monday, in the upper Hall, Dreghorn Loan and start at 8.00pm. We are a friendly and thriving club and new members are very welcome, plus outings and events. The annual subscription is £10.00. per household. For more information see: W: colintongardens.org.uk E: membership@ colintongardens.org.uk
LUNCHCLUB - Every Wednesday 1pm – 3pm, 3 courses £4. Spaces are limited, first come first served. Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre, 71 Firhill Drive, EH13 9EU. Please visit: oxgangsneighbourhoodcentre.org.uk
THE SWING CAFÉ
Sat 10.00am-2.00pm. Please come for breakfast (10.00am12.00noon), lunch (12noon -2.00pm) or some delicious home baking (available all
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PARENT AND TODDLER GROUP - Tuesdays, am session and pm session for two age groups (all under 5s). Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre, 71 Firhill Drive, EH13 9EU. T: 0131 466 0678
E:oxgangs neighbourhoodcentre @gmail.com
OXGANGS NEIGHBOUR CENTRE CAFÉ - 10.00am to 1.00pm. Bacon rolls, baked potatoes, toasties,specials, teas, coffees and cake. Sit in or takeaway.
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Magazine Design: Alan Stewart Design T: 07729 911858