Stockbridge Spotlight Issue 65 March/April 2017 Issue

ISSUE 65 March/April 2017

STOCKBRIDGE SPOTLIGHT

Scottish Rhododendron Festival at the Botanics www.rbge.org.uk/rhododendron Open daily 10am until 6pm

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Welcome to The March/April Stockbridge Spotlight.

The night are getting longer and the mornings brighter so Spring must be approaching - hopefully anyway.

Some warmer weather and some sun would be much appreciated.

Our bright and cheery front cover advert for the Royal Botanic Gardens is a nice reminder of how beautiful and colourful the gardens can be - a great place for a Spring walk. As well as gorgeous Rhododendrons for you to view they have events running during the school Easter holidays (for dates and times see their adverts on our centre pages).

For the first time we have a report from Stockbridge & Inverleith Community Council on page 12 - have a read and see how you can become involved in what’s going on in your neighbourhood. Hopefully this is going to be a regular feature in the Spotlight.

And for you food lovers out there, we have some local restaurant and food highlights on page 20 to tempt you to pay them a visit. Many thanks to Stockbridge Local for this feature.

I hope you enjoy this issue.

Best Wishes Sue

Contents 6 History - Time For Tea 10 Hard Soduko 12 Stockbridge & Inverleith Community Council 15 Body Shop At Home - Recruiting Now 16 Hobbies - The Sky’s No Limit For Amateur Photographers 20 A Few Treats For Stockbridge Food Lovers

The Stockbridge Spotlight Editor : Sue Hutchison T : 0131 618 6622 (Always include area code when calling) M : 07817 206 418 E: sue@stockbridgespotlight.co.uk Office : 98 Ferry Road, Edin, EH6 4PG

www.stockbridgespotlight.co.uk

“All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in 24 Croquet at Lauriston Castle part without written permission is strictly prohibited.

26 Online Dating : Not Just For All artwork is accepted on strict condition that is it Twentysomethings legal/copyright free and permission has been given 28 Health & Fitness - Seasonal Scottish Scran for use in this publication. The views and opinions by contributors to this magazine may not represent 32 Gardening - Flower Power the views of the publisher. The Stockbridge Spotlight magazine takes no responsibility for claims made by 34 Puzzle page advertisers in this publication”

38-41 Community Spotlight/Puzzle Solutions 40 Recipe - Rhubarb and Almond Tart

May/June 2017 Issue Artwork Deadline - 20th March Distribution Date - 3rd May 4

Distribution Johnson Distribution Services. www.jdsdoor2door.co.uk Printing Cowan Print : www.cowanprint.net

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History Time For Tea

By Catherine Rose Tea is enjoyed all over the world but the English adopted it as their own around four hundred years ago.

Believed to have originated in Southern China, tea drinking dates back to around 3000 BC. However, it didn’t become popular in England until the 17th century, when it was made fashionable by King Charles II and his Portuguese wife Catherine de Braganza, who brought it over to the Royal court from her native country.

Coffee houses had recently been established in London and the custom of tea drinking was quickly introduced. Samuel Pepys referred to it in his diary of 1660: ‘…I did send for a cup of tee (a China drink) of which I never had drank before’.

The coffee houses also sold loose leaf tea so that women, who did not frequent them, could enjoy it at home. It soon became popular for wives to host tea parties and invite their friends.

Tea was very much the privilege of the wealthy. It was expensive to import and seen as a valuable commodity, kept locked inside ornate caddies. Teapots, tea-cups and saucers were prized possessions and there were many different designs produced during this time.

Because it was so expensive, the tea smuggling trade flourished. In 1785, following pressure from tea merchants, the government slashed the high import tax on tea, making it much more affordable to the masses. Thus, tea drinking grew in popularity among the working classes, sparking a debate about whether tea was bad for the health, causing ‘idleness’ and ‘melancholy’ amongst other things.

Eventually, alcohol came to be viewed as the far greater evil and working class people were then encouraged to become ‘teetotal’.

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The concept of afternoon tea is a peculiarly English tradition but tea served with food was only introduced in the mid-19th century

by Anna Russell, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, to bridge the gap between lunch and dinner, which in those days was traditionally served quite late in the evening.

Soon friends were joining her for ‘afternoon tea’ at her home in Woburn Abbey and, thanks to her frequent trips to London, the custom grew to become a fashionable social event amongst the upper classes.

During the Victorian era, a wider selection of tea began to be imported from Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and India. Tea rooms serving afternoon tea grew in popularity, especially among women, being one of the few places where they could meet without a chaperone. By the early 20th century, many establishments had expanded on the custom of a musician playing in the background and were holding tea dances in the afternoons.

Today, tea has become an integral part of our daily routine and could be described as Britain’s national drink. Although invented in America in the early 20th century, the tea bag didn’t become popular in England until the 1970s, when it revolutionised our tea drinking habits and put fortune tellers who read tea leaves at the bottom of a cup into decline!

Still considered a rather genteel English custom, today, sumptuous afternoon teas are served by many top hotels with a bewildering number of different tea blends on offer along with a ‘tea sommelier’ to help you choose. They are often booked up months ahead - a testament to tea’s enduring popularity.

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HARD SUDOKO HOW TO PLAY Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through to 9 with no repetition!

Thats all there is to it.

You solve the puzzle with reason and logic - there’s no maths involved and no adding up.

Its fun. Its challenging Its addictive.

(Soln on pg 41) 10

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The Community Council meets monthly to discuss issues affecting the area and to co-ordinate and express the views of the Stockbridge & Inverleith Community to Local Government and Public Authorities, including the Police and NHS Lothian.

Membership comprises a mixture of elected and nominated representatives. Meetings are open to all and are held on the third Wednesday of each month in the meeting room at Stockbridge Church, Saxe Coburg Street. In addition to Community Councillors, attendees at the meetings also include local police representatives and the four City Councillors who represent our ward. Full information about the Community Council and its meetings, minutes and agendas are accessible at stockbridgeandinverleithcc. org.uk.

Although it does not have any executive responsibilities, the Community Council is consulted on a wide range of issues and it can exert some influence on decisions taken by the Council as well as having the ability to call for information or explanation to be provided on issues of concern. We also work with the Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership on local issues.

In addition to taking an active role on significant planning cases affecting the area, the Community Council has been increasingly engaged in seeking to ensure that local residents’ views are properly taken into account in consideration of licensing applications.

Recently the Community Council discussions of traffic issues have included frequent references to local residents’ concerns about road safety at the Inverleith Place/ East Fettes Avenue junction. We have also recently been in contact with the Dean Valley Regeneration group.

Date for the diary Water of Leith Clean up Sunday 14th May 12

2017. More information will be posted on the website and our noticeboards which are located near Jubilee Gardens and Pizza Express on the bridge.

We also now have a facebook page – Stockbridge and Inverleith Community Council and we can be contacted by email stockbridgeandinverleithcc@gmail.com.

Next meetings March 15th 2017 at 7pm April 19th 2017 at 7pm

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Body Shop At Home - Recruiting Now As well as running the Spotlights I have been an independent consultant with the Body Shop At Home now for about 2 1/2 years. And I absolutely love what I do with Body Shop. I have fun running girlie pamper nights, going out to fairs and events where I meet new people and best of all I get loads of free products just for doing my ‘job’.

Early last year I took the next step and started recruiting people so I could build my own team and promote to Area Manager - which I did in August last year.

I now have a team of 12 people who I look after. They are all independent self employed consultants so I am not their boss - more their coach and mentor who is there for support and to help them get the most from their business.

I would like to continue to grow my team so I am RECRUITING NOW. If you want to earn some extra money in a job which is flexible and works around other commitments such as family, school or even another job then this could be for you. Particularly if you are a lover of Body Shop Products - though I admit I was not a great user of these before I joined. (Now I have a house full of them!!!)

So what happens if you become a consultant?

Everyone who joins starts with a Beauty Kit which contains over £200 worth of products - the products included mean you can do a mini pamper, a mini skincare and a mini make over party (with some training of course). As a consultant you are paid 25% commission on ALL your sales (there is no minumum sales to be achieved as some other companies have). And you can earn up to 30% commission depending on your sales. You can earn more products for your kit in the first month of joining worth another £200. Plus you can also earn free products every month - usually new products about to be launched - just for doing your job.

Where else do you get something like that!!

Sound interesting? Want to know more? Then why not give me a call and we can have an chat about Body Shop and what being a consultant involves. No pressure, no hard sell from me just a friendly chat to give you some more information. I hope to hear from you soon.

Call Sue Hutchison on 07817 206418 or email partywithsue@outlook.com 15

Hobbies The Sky’s No Limit For Amateur Photographers

By Kate McLelland Ever since the BBC launched its ‘Weather Watchers’ feature in November 2015, the work of the UK’s amateur photographers has enjoyed unparalleled public exposure, with images contributed by keen volunteers appearing on our TV screens morning, noon and night.

According to the BBC’s Head of Weather, Liz Howell, the goal of Weather Watchers – launched as part of the BBC’s flagship Make it Digital initiative - was to create a new, crowdsourced weather club that would “enable people across the UK to help tell the story of the great British weather”. While it has definitely achieved that aim, it has also showcased the talent of Britain’s amateur photographers in an unexpected way.

We’re all photographers now Since digital cameras were first introduced, our attitude towards photography has changed. Taking pictures nowadays requires little forethought or effort – simply point and shoot and in a few minutes your images can be shared with a worldwide audience.

While the fluid, quick-fire nature of this kind of photography works well for many people, there are others who want to take their photographic work a step further, using different techniques and technologies to create even better images. If this sounds like you, you might consider taking up photography as a hobby.

So what’s required to turn an interest in photography into a serious hobby?

Talent vs. technique While there are a number of tips you can follow to improve your photographic skills, nothing can really teach you how to capture a fantastic image. The camera may provide the means to take the shot, but the 16

inspiration must come from you.

You need creativity and imagination to take great photographs. Start by looking at the work of the world’s best photographers and you’ll begin to understand that an unforgettable image is not just the result of an interesting subject, great composition and good lighting: it’s the ability to use a visual medium to convey emotion and meaning.

Talent is more important than technique, although there’s certainly no harm in providing yourself with skills and equipment that can make it easier to achieve those once-in-a-lifetime shots.

Which camera?

When you start to shop for cameras, you may be confused by terms such as ‘SLR’ or ‘DSLR’ and ‘mirrorless cameras’.

‘SLR’ stands for ‘single lens reflex’. ‘DSLR’ is, of course, used for a digital single lens reflex camera. Both types use a mirror between the lens and the film (or digital image sensor), which means the image you see through the viewfinder or display screen is the same as the one that will appear on the final image. Mirrorless cameras (also known as compact system cameras) dispense with the mirror and viewfinder in order to keep the size and weight of the camera down. Other benefits include quiet operation and ease of handling.

There are many, many websites available to guide you towards the best purchase, including whatdigitalcamera.com and amateurphotographer.co.uk. If you are still finding it hard to make a decision after your research, you could drop into your local camera shop for some face-to-face advice.

(Cont’d on pg 17)

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What subjects excite me?

Before stocking up on expensive equipment, it may be helpful to decide on the kind of photography that really interests you.

Wildlife shots? Portraits of people? Urban and rural landscapes? Macro images?

Once you’ve decided, you’ll be able to focus on the specific items of equipment you need – for example, would a tripod be useful for shooting in low light without flash?

Will you need a telephoto lens for long distance shots? How about a wide-angle lens, for photographing a high building or an expansive landscape?

Final finish You may also want to think about how your images will be used. Will you print them as hard copies and create a portfolio of your work, or maybe share them online, using an image hosting website such as Flikr?

If you decide to go digital rather than use film, you will probably need to download some photo editing software. Just as a good darkroom technician can bring out the best from a negative, editing can make a big difference to a digital image. Most people

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think of image editing in terms of altering and manipulating photographs, but it’s also useful for basic tasks, such as cropping, lightening a dark image and correcting the colour balance.

Photo editing software can be expensive, but don’t worry if you can’t afford products at the top end of the market. Download free software such as GIMP, Paint.NET or Photoscape that perform most of the functions you’ll need, without adding to your budget.

How do I learn?

There are many ways to develop the skills you need. You could take an adult education course, join a local camera club, buy a ‘how to’ book or simply look online for sites that offer advice to beginners.

Of course, it may be some time before you feel confident enough to share your work with a wider audience. Then it will be up to you whether you become a BBC Weather Watcher, an entrant for ‘Amateur Photographer of the Year’ or someone who simply loves to share their work with family and friends.

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A Few Treats for Stockbridge Food Lovers …

Mother’s Day at The Stockbridge Restaurant On Sunday 26 March treat Mum to a 2 or 3-course meal in the award-winning familyrun Stockbridge Restaurant run by chef proprietor Jason Gallagher and his partner Jane Walker, who manages front-of-house creating a personal touch with a relaxed ambience.

They offer a delicious lunch menu, with a glass of prosecco on arrival to celebrate her special day. The team provides an informal take on fine dining, with attentive service in a cosy surrounding. Dishes include seared salmon with crab cake and chocolate brûlée with chocolate brownie, white chocolate mouse and milk chocolate ice cream..

To book call: 0131 226 6766 or Email: jane@thestockbridgerestaurant.co.uk Early booking advised. Quote ‘stockbridgelocal’. Visit stockbridgelocal.co.uk to get 20% off until 31 March. (T&C’s apply) Top 10 most romantic restaurants in Edinburgh, Top 5 restaurants in Edinburgh - The Scotsman Food & Drink, 2017

Leap Into Spring With Hamilton’s New Menu Hamilton’s have introduced their new spring menus with a mouth-watering selection for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Dishes have a slight Middle Eastern slant featuring interesting fruits and seeds; dishes include Pork with spelt risotto and pickled figs and Ravioli with artichoke pesto, toasted peanuts and preserved lemon, in addition to a wide choice of vegetarian and gluten free dishes on offer. Visit website to view menus.

A Corner of Spain in Stockbridge – Tasting & Tapas Goya23, 23 Mar, 6.30pm Goya23 is a Wine & Sherry bar and shop. They have brought the best of Spain to Scotland: cured meats, fine wines, cava, sherry from the barrel, craft beers and many other delicacies. Everything they serve in the bar is also available to take home from their gourmet shop. Come and enjoy their little corner of Spain in the heart of Stockbridge, Edinburgh.

Includes a glass of cava, white wine, red wine, sherry and perfectly accompanied tapas with each glass Tickets – 1 for £20 or 2 for £32 available at stockbridgeloal.co.uk. LIMITED NUMBERS

stockbridgelocal.co.uk Exclusive Offers, Events & Competitions from Independents in Stockbridge 20

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Explore our collection See tender rhododendrons under glass Take a spring walk with a Garden guide Open daily 10am until 6pm

Scottish Rhododendron Festival

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Croquet at Lauriston Castle The house and gardens of Lauriston Castle have spectacular views of the Firth of Forth. Each year they provide the backdrop to the course of six introductory lessons to croquet by Edinburgh Croquet Club who play on the lawns in front of the castle.

These courses have proved very popular in previous years. Several members have gone on to join the Club and now play regularly in the summer sunshine. For example one member said “The whole experience has been excellent. It was well organised, inclusive, informative, thoroughly enjoyable and wonderful value for money.”

So if you would like to learn a new skill that all ages can enjoy, with friendly, informal teaching in a glorious setting, why not sign up to this year’s course of six lessons starting on Saturday, 6th May at 10.30 am at Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South. The remaining sessions will mainly be held on the following 5 Saturday mornings but we do our best to accommodate those who cannot make Saturdays. The course is open to all, with equipment provided, and costs £25.

Anyone interested should visit the “Learn to Play Croquet With Us” section of the club’s website at www.edinburghcroquetclub.com to get further details and to apply for the course.

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Online Dating: Not Just For Twentysomethings

by Kate McLelland

My sympathies were aroused the first time I met Abby, a friend-of-a-friend who had recently moved to my neighbourhood after a divorce. Aged 47, she had made the move in order to seek a different life for herself and her fifteen-year-old son.

However, two years later my sympathy began to wear a little thin, after she repeatedly turned up at my house bemoaning the lack of eligible men in her life. On every occasion I would remind her that online dating was her best option for meeting a new partner, but she remained stubbornly unmoved.

The process of online dating is very simple: just create a profile, check out potential matches, communicate with your chosen date and then arrange to meet. Given the scare stories we hear about fake profiles, romance frauds and stalking, Abby was right to be cautious, but probably not to the point of spoiling her best statistical chances of finding love.

Staying safe online It’s natural to feel a little nervous about meeting a stranger for the first time, but there are certain common sense precautions you can take to stay safe.

• Choose a username that doesn’t reveal who you are and don’t give away your surname, contact information, home address or place of work when first setting up your profile.

• Don’t give away too much information 26

about yourself right away. Take things slowly, sharing more information when you feel comfortable to do so.

• Never release financial information or give in to pressure to lend money.

• Meet in public and stay in public on your first couple of dates and always let a friend know where you are, and who you’re meeting.

Setting up a successful online dating profile The UK dating site Match.com says that when registering with a site it’s important to answer questions accurately for the best possible chance of finding your ideal match. When writing about your personality they recommend reading other profiles for inspiration or asking a friend to describe your characteristics. For maximum impact, start the description with an eye-catching opening paragraph, using key words relating to your passions and interests.

The dating site Zoosk found that women get 60% more attention if their profile photo is taken indoors, while men get 19% more attention if theirs is taken outside, particularly if the photo includes other friends or involves an active pursuit.

What do I have to pay?

Some sites are free to join, whereas an average paid-for site might cost between £13 and £50 per month. Some online services charge considerably higher membership fees.

Are there sites specifically for mature people?

You don’t have to restrict yourself to age-specific sites unless you feel more comfortable in doing so. Two of the most popular sites for UK dating are ukmaturedating.com and maturefreeandsingle.com.

The popularity of online sites has boomed recently with the addition of mobile apps, with 37% of people surveyed by smartphone manufacturer HTC saying they had met a partner via a dating app.

The message has finally got through to Abby, who went on her first date through an online site last week. Unfortunately he wasn’t the man of her dreams, but she nevertheless enjoyed the date. Thanks to that experience, she’s confident that it’s now only a matter of time before she meets Mr Right.

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Seasonal Scottish Scran . ‘Tis the season to eat local – and there’s a wide variety of wonderful food that grows in abundance in the Scottish climate. Here’s a list of some of my favourite, often overlooked local treats: Wild garlic: this can be found beside the cycle path and is lovely made into a pesto.

Not to be confused with wild leek which can be also found locally (which also makes tasty pesto).

Rhubarb: Rhubarb has been grown in the UK for over 400 years, and is available ‘forced’ (grown under cover) right now. It’s really good for you, high in dietary fibre, calcium and Vitamin K. Rhubarb grows very well in the British climate, and you can harvest up until mid-summer’s day. Rhubarb grows from a stumpy crown that benefits from being divided and replanted every few years.

Kohlrabi: One of the cruciferous family with all of the associated health benefits.

It’s the stem of the plant that is eaten.

Other cruciferous vegetable are broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage that also grow very well in Scotland, perfect for highly nutritious stir fries.

Rocket: My favourite leaf as it’s so versatile and can grow in a window box. Rocket makes a lovely cold salad with balsamic and tomatoes in summer, or throw a handful on any hot pasta dish for extra nutrition.

Nastursium: Pretty flowers are a lovely addition to a summer salad. You can even pickle the pods (they taste a bit like capers).

Jerusalem artichoke: Also known as ‘fartichokes’ due to their unfortunate sideeffect. However they are a prebiotic and good for the digestion. Jerusalem artichokes are actually a member of the sunflower family and are easily grown in the Scottish climate. Dig up the roots, scrub, roast & serve with a squeeze of fresh lemon.

Elder flower: The flowers of the elder tree can be harvested over summer. Make it into cordial, and freeze it for a taste of summer in winter.

Brambles: Picking blackberries with fitness 28

By Tracy Griffen

pug Coco is one of my favourite late summer walks. You can find blackberry bushes growing wild along the cycle path and in industrial estates. Coco likes to eat them straight from the bush, I like to make brambles into compote or jelly for consumption over the winter months.

Horseradish: I seriously can’t get enough of this. I’m constantly trying to dig out the roots at our new allotment as it has a habit of taking over. The bonus is that it’s easy to make into sauce. Simply wash, chop the skin off, and zizz in a blender. Wear glasses and even a nose clip as it’s noxious stuff. Store in a jar with a mixture of vinegar and sugar. Strain and mix with yoghurt, cream or crème fraiche to serve.

Personal Trainer Tracy Griffen is the author of the Healthy Living Yearbook, a seasonal book of recipe and exercise ideas based on the Scottish seasons. She also runs a private fitness studio just off Leith Walk, see ad below.

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Flower Power

by Pippa Greenwood Blooming Hollyhock Flower

You can grow a huge range of flowers from seed at home. It’s amazingly inexpensive and surprisingly easy too. If you’re after some long-term residents for your flower borders then rather than paying several pounds for each and every plant you buy, why not be a bit more adventurous and grow your own from seed? Just about every perennial flower - that’s those that last for years and don’t have to be replaced on an annual basis - is available to grow from seed, and although you’ll have to wait until the plants have put on plenty of growth before they start to perform, once they have reached flowering size, they’ll just keep on and on performing! There are lots to choose from, including lupins, silene, Echinaceae, geranium, perennial poppies, delphiniums, gaillardia, hollyhocks, rudbeckia and salvia.

Pay a visit to your local garden centre or study the pages of some seed catalogues and start plotting and planning what you’d like; you could save yourself a fortune, and all from a packet or two of seed.

To get started, all you need are some containers into which you can sow the seed – I like to use half-sized seed trays, RootTrainers or smaller individual cells. You will also need some good quality compost and your chosen seeds. The job will be all the easier and better if you have something to tamp down the compost too, plus labels, 32

a permanent marker, a dibber and some vermiculite (for covering seeds that need some light to germinate well).

Compost often has a fair number of lumps in it, so sieving it through a compost sieve (which has much larger holes than a kitchen sieve) will allow you to remove the larger lumps, leaving fine compost perfect for seed sowing. If you sieve it straight into the pots, cells or trays, make sure you collect up any that falls on the surface below.

Once the compost is in the tray or pot, firm it down so that there are no large gaps beneath the surface, as you don’t want subsidence later on. Levelling it off will make it easier to ensure the seeds are all sown evenly and at the same depth. You can make your own tamper using a piece of wood with a small block of wood nailed to it to make a ‘handle’.

When it comes to sowing the seed, it is worth remembering that it is easier to look after the seedlings later on if the seed has been sown in rows, rather than randomly scattered. Straight rows are easily made using a plastic plant label. Check the seed packets for the precise depths at which the seed needs to be sown as this will differ from variety to variety. If you are sowing seeds in small cells then it is easier to make the holes using a dibber. If you don’t (Cont’d on pg 36)

ALL ASPECTS OF ELECTRICAL WORK re-wires electric shower shop fitting smoke alarms lighting, sockets testing & inspection landlord certificates

0131 5550892 07543698172

info@mcelhoneelectricalservices.com www.mcelhoneelectricalservices.com 33

PUZZLE PAGE HIDATO Starting at 1 and finishing at 49, track your way from one square to another, either horizontally, vertically or diagonally, placing consecutive numbers into the empty squares as you go.

Some numbers are already given.

WORDWHEEL

Using only the letters in the Wordwheel, you have ten minutes to find as many words as possible, none of which may be plurals, foreign words or proper nouns. Each word must be of three letters or more, all must contain the central letter and letters can only be used once in every word. There is at least one word that uses all of the letters in the wheel.

TARGET Excellent: 43 or more words Good: 36 words Fair: 30 words

D M ©Puzzlepress.co.uk

L A

A N E

N H

Mini Cryptic Crossword Across 1. Bear mascot, wrong height (7) 7. Singular twit turned distant (5) 8. City somehow reddens (7) 9. Artful snare comes closer! (5) 11. Small seabird back on a ship (5) 12. Canoe going back and forth (5) 14. Sandwich bar totally empty (5) 16. Country song gripping people (7) 18. Meal egghead inside doesn’t eat (5) 19. See newt turn to sugar (7) Down 1. Chair Danes moved around (5) 2. Poem in Arapaho delights! (3) 3. Mountains with less inside (5) 4. Cheers, sans its lead actor (5) 5. Change given finally in secret (7) 6. Key letter put in an odd font a lot (5) 10. Appalling sort of balm, say (7) 12. Blade a snitch sent back east (5) 34

13. Limerick’s ending bothers poet (5) 14. Dessert was a failure when cut (5)

15. Long time before the first of November (5) 17. A fanatic unrolled them first (3) (Soln’s on Pg 41)

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have one, a pencil works perfectly well!

RootTrainers are particularly useful for larger seeds such as sunflowers. Sowing the seed thinly along the drills in a seed tray makes life easier later on. Sown too densely, the seedlings that emerge will need more thinning out, and will be more likely to become drawn, leggy and weak, whereas given a bit more space they tend to be a lot sturdier. Once in place, just cover the seed with compost.

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to absorb the water from below – this way the seeds are less likely to be displaced.

If you are sowing larger seed into cells, just pop the seeds in to the prepared holes and cover to the required depth. The ideal sowing depth will be stated on the seed packet – it is not too exact a science, but it is best to get it about right!

Finally, don’t forget to label your seed trays clearly, ideally with a permanent marker.

You may think you’ll remember what is in each tray, but seedlings don’t always resemble the full-grown plants that closely.

Many perennials need heat for the seed to germinate reliably. Put the trays, pots or cells into a propagator, standing each on moist capillary matting. Once the seedlings appear, gradually lower the temperature and then prick each one out into its own pot. Allow them to grow on, keeping them fed and watered as necessary. In just a few weeks or months you can have some great plants ready for the garden.

When all the seeds are sown, use a watering can with the rose attached to water the compost thoroughly. If the seed sown was quite small then it is best to water the compost by standing the tray in a shallow tray or bowl of water, and allow the compost

Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com to buy gorgeous UK grown vegetable plants plus get weekly advice emails from Pippa,and peruse the really useful selection of Pippa’s favourite gardening items including SpeedHoes, SpeedWeeders, raised bed kits, Nemaslug and other nematode controls for leather jackets, vine weevils and other pests, pull-out EasyTunnels, signed books and lots more besides.

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Community Spotlight Bin Collection Changes Collections of garden waste will be changing for residents across Edinburgh from March.

Brown bins will be collected once every three weeks all year round, instead of every two weeks in the summer and four weeks in the winter.

The change will result in more consistent collections throughout the year, and was agreed as part of last year’s budget in order to enable the service to continue running despite increasing financial pressures.

Stickers and tags will be put on bins to remind residents of the change. 2017 bin calendars can be downloaded from the Council website, detailing the date on which three-weekly collections begin. In some cases there will be an interim collection before the three-weekly collections begin. Residents concerned will receive a letter informing them of the date of this interim collection. Extra waste which can’t be fitted into bins can be taken to local Community Recycling Centres in Sighthill, Seafield or Craigmillar. Find out more about bins and recycling, including bin collection calendars, on the Council website.

May/June Issue Artwork Deadline : 20th April

Distribution Date : 3rd May

To include your community/charity events or information please contact Sue Hutchison.

M:07817 206418 E: sue@stockbridgespotlight.co.uk W: www.stockbridgespotlight.co.uk 38

Community Spotlight

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Community Spotlight

St Vincent’s Chapel Stockbridge Sundays

10.30am Sung Eucharist

(no music on 3rd Sunday in the month)

6pm Evensong

Thursdays

11am Eucharist Join our friendly congregation for a traditional service.

All welcome.

stvincentschapel.yolasite.com Scottish Episcopal Church, part of the Anglican Communion

Everyone is welcome at Stockbridge Church.

Find us in Saxe-Coburg Street (off Henderson Row).

Sunday services 11 am

(including children's activities).

www.stockbridgechurch.org.uk "Malawi mornings" every Friday 10.30 - 12 in the church. Please join us for Fairtrade tea/coffee, biscuits and good company to raise funds for our Malawi projects.

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St Vincent’s Chapel Stockbridge

SundaysS Sundays

10.30am Sung Eucharist

(no music6pm on 3rdEvensong Sunday in the month)

6pm Evensong

Thursdays

11am Eucharist Join our friendly congregation for a traditional service.

All welcome.

www.stvincentschapel.org.uk stvincentschapel.yolasite.com Scottish Episcopal Church, part of the Anglican Communion

Community Spotlight

Cryptic

Hidato

Soduko

Puzzle Solutions

Please join us on our new date of Friday 26 May 2017 at Prestonfield House for a glamorous evening featuring amazing talent.

Word Wheel Answer: MANHANDLE

All tickets must be booked and paid for

by Friday 19 May. To book by phone, or book a table, please call the fundraising team on 0131 551 1381.

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Accountants TaxAssist Accountants

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Bathroom Design & Installation Edinburgh Bathroom Company 14 Blind Suppliers Portobello Blinds

9

Book Promotion The Balloon Man In Edinburgh 24 Care Homes Renaissance Care Care Services Home Angels

8 37

Carpets & Flooring James Erskine

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Charity Events Marie Curie Swimathon

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Childrens Activities Botanics Bonkers Chocolate Easter Trail 22 Edinburgh Acting School 44 Science Festival at the Botanics 23 Chiropodists Mary O’Sullivan New Town Footcare

10 36

Clock Repair & Restoration Lucas Clocks

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Complementary Therapies Neals Yard

33

Electricians McElhone Electrical

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Events Stockbridge Scottish Reelers Summer Ceilidh 2 French Polishing James Erskine

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Gardening Interest Scottish Rhodedendron Festival at the Botanics 1/23 Gardening Services Bernie Reddington Robbie Millar

33 18

Gas & Central Heating JSB Plumbing & Sons Plumbfaster

17 18

Going Out Botanics Bonkers Chocolate Easter Trail 22 Scottish Rhodedendron Festival at the Botanics 1/23 Science Festival at the Botanics 23 Stockbridge Scottish Reelers Summer Ceilidh 2 Graphic Design Another Angle

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Handyman Services Capital Joinery David A Burnett Homeforce

9 21 11

Dancing Events Stockbridge Scottish Reelers Summer Ceilidh 2

Health & Fitness Griffen Fitness Pilates Matwork Classes Tennis at the Grange Club Marie Curie Swimathon

28 11 3 30

Decorators AM Decorating Decorum Decorators

Jewellers Sheila Fleet The Ringmaker

35 25

Computer Services AV & PC Homehelp 11 Simplyfixit 29 Counselling Services Counselling Conversations

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Drama Classes Edinburgh Acting School

13

27 7

Joinery Services Capital Joinery Services Edinburgh Joinery Services

9 7

Language Classes/Courses Caledonian Language School 21 Speak Out With Confidence 27 Office/Garage Clearance Man/Men With A Van

17

Pilates Classes Pilates Matwork Classes

11

Plastering Services DCM Construction

5

Plumbing Services Homeforce JSB Plumbing & Son Plumbfaster

11 17 18

Property Maintenance DCM Construction Tip Top Renovator

5 37

Property Rental Greatbase

11

Recruitment Body Shop At Home

15

Removals/House Clearances Man/Men With A Van 17 Residential Care Renaissance Care

8

Roofing Services DCM Construction

5

Tennis Clubs Tennis at the Grange Club

3

Upholstery James Erskine

31

Website Design Another Angle

31

Window Renovation Craftworx Ventrolla

9 19

Welding Services Whitehills Welding

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Cake and Bake Rhubarb and Almond Tart A delicious tart with a layer of tangy roasted rhubarb topped with a sweet almond frangipane. Serve warm or cold with crème fraiche or vanilla ice cream.

Ingredients: • Flour, for dusting • 300g ready-made shortcrust pastry • 250g rhubarb, trimmed and chopped • 175g caster sugar • 3 tbsp orange juice • 150g unsalted butter, melted • 125g ground almonds • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract • 2 medium eggs, beaten • Icing sugar, for dusting

Serves 8 Ready in 1 hour 30 minutes, plus chilling time

1. Preheat the oven to 200C/Fan 180C/Gas Mark 6. Lightly dust a work surface with flour and roll out the pastry to about 3mm thickness. Use to line a 23cm loose-based fluted flan tin. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, place the rhubarb, 25g of the caster sugar and the orange juice in a shallow roasting tin. Roast in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes until just tender, turning once. Leave to cool.

3. Trim off the excess pastry from around the edge of the chilled pastry case and prick the base all over with a fork.

Line the case with baking paper and baking beans and bake blind for 10 minutes. Remove the beans and lining and bake for a further 5 minutes until pale golden.

4. Strain the rhubarb from the roasting juices and spoon into the pastry case. Beat together the melted butter, remaining caster sugar, ground almonds, vanilla extract and eggs in a bowl until smooth and creamy. Gently spread over the rhubarb.

5. Bake the tart for 30-35 minutes until the topping is golden and just set. Serve warm or cold dusted with icing sugar.

See tip for serving suggestion.

TIP

For a stylish way to serve the tart, pipe swirls of fruit puree or sieved jam onto individual serving plates before gently placing the slices on top. Decorate with tiny fresh mint or basil sprigs.

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