Stockbridge spotlight may june 2017 for on line mag

ISSUE 66 May/June 2017

STOCKBRIDGE SPOTLIGHT

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Explore Rhododendrons Enjoy our extensive collection

Spring Walks

Take a walk with a garden guide daily at 11am and 2pm

Botanics Shop

Buy spring plants, seeds and garden accessories. Every purchase supports the important work of the garden

www.rbge.org.uk/rhododendron

Scottish Rhododendron Festival at the Botanics 3

Welcome to The May/June Stockbridge Spotlight.

Many thanks to Jamie Primrose for again allowing me to use one of his new images on this page. Jamie is holding his next exhibition from the 9th to the 17th June at the Dundas Street Gallery. This exhibition is a departure from his previous Edinburgh Landscapes, Jamie Primrose ‘Portofino, Liguria’ featuring paintings of France and Italy. Full details of 50cm x 50cm, Oil on canvas the exhibition can be found on pages 22 and 23.

Happening again this year on the 17th and 18th of June in gardens around Edinburgh is The Power Of Food Festival - details of this event can be found on Page 12. And I am very happy to say that Stockbridge & Inverleith Community Council have another report on Page 24 of this issue.

On the community pages this issue you will find details about Sunday Assembly Services which are now taking place at The Lifecare Centre, Cheyne Street once a month.

I only have one further issue of the Spotlight before I take a break for the summer - its hard to believe how fast this year is going! If you are running any events over the summer months you would like local residents to know about please get in touch so you can get them into the next issue. The artwork deadline is the 1st June.

I hope you enjoy this issue.

Contents 6 Book Review 10 Hard Soduko 12 The Power Of Food Festival

Best Wishes Sue

The Stockbridge Spotlight Editor : Sue Hutchison T : 0131 618 6622 (Always include area code when calling)

16 Finance - Should you Pay off Debts With Your Pension

M : 07817 206 418

24 Stockbridge & Inverleith Community Council

Office : 98 Ferry Road, Edin, EH6 4PG

26 When Those ‘Golden Years’ Are Tarnished

By Stress

E: sue@stockbridgespotlight.co.uk

www.stockbridgespotlight.co.uk

“All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited.

31 Body Shop At Home - All About Pampering All artwork is accepted on strict condition that is it legal/copyright free and permission has been given 32 Puzzle Page for use in this publication. The views and opinions by contributors to this magazine may not represent 33 Health & Fitness - A Philosophy Of Walking the views of the publisher. The Stockbridge Spotlight 35 And Another Thing - Tom And The Monkey magazine takes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers in this publication” Wrench

39-41 Community Spotlight/Puzzle Solutions

June/July 2017 Issue Artwork Deadline - 1st June Distribution Date - 14th June 4

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

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Relationships This month’s books are all about relationships, from first loves and families to fleeting friendships.

Lucky Boy – Shanthi Sekaran Mexican Solimar risks everything to start a new life in America, but as an illegal immigrant she has few rights. When she’s thrown into a detention centre, her son is placed in foster care. Kavya is an AmericanIndian chef desperate for a child. When she’s given Solimar’s toddler to care for it seems like a dream come true. One boy – two mothers, both of whom will do everything in their power in order to keep him. An emotional rollercoaster of a read, this looks set to become one of this year’s bestsellers.

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rest of the series.

A Gentleman in Moscow – Amor Towles The gentleman of the title is Count Alexander Rostov. Following the Russian Revolution, the Count is sentenced to house (or in this case, hotel) arrest, indefinitely. Given work as a waiter in the hotel restaurant, he forges close friendships with some of the other inhabitants. While his view is mainly confined to what he can see out of his tiny window, Rostov is able to observe and ruminate on a tumultuous Russia over the course of four decades. You’ll savour every word.

The Lonely Hearts Hotel – Heather O’Neill Pierrot and Rose grow up together in a Montreal orphanage. They bond over a shared love of entertaining people, but go their separate ways as teenagers. Reunited years later, they set out to realise their childhood dream of running their own stage show. Their path isn’t an easy one, however.

They both have demons to face, and Rose’s wants her dead. A highly entertaining read, with beautiful, lyrical prose and characters you’ll be rooting for from the beginning.

My Sweet Revenge – Jane Fallon When Paula finds out her husband is having an affair, she decides to win him back – so that she can be the one who breaks the marriage up. She befriends his mistress, Saskia, and sets out on a mission to lose weight, get fit and become the woman he wants. Paula recruits Saskia’s husband, Josh, to help and together they set out to make the cheaters’ lives a misery. An easy read that’s perfect for lazy sunny afternoons.

A Big Dose of Lucky (Secrets) – Marthe Jocelyn When the Canadian orphanage they live in burns down in 1964, seven teenage girls set out to discover the secrets of their pasts.

Seven authors have each chosen one girl’s story to write. The result is the Secrets series. In A Big Dose of Lucky, Malou heads to a small town in Ontario, hoping to find her birth parents. Malou is mixed race, shy and desperate to fit in. The truth of her birth may give her the family she craves, even if it’s not the one she imagined. An enjoyable read that will leave you eager to read the

See You in the Cosmos – Jack Cheng 11 year old Alex loves everything to do with space. So he builds a rocket and sets off for a rocket festival in Mexico. His plan is to launch his rocket into space, attached to an iPod on which Alex is recording his thoughts and feelings about his family and the people he meets on his journey. While it’s been catalogued as a children’s book, See You in the Cosmos definitely has crossover appeal. Fresh, imaginative and full of energy, this is perfect for fans of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the NightTime.

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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)

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A Festival With A Difference The Power of Food Festival showcases community food growing around Edinburgh and celebrates the amazing people who breathe life into neighbourhoods through their work in and around the gardens. A Festival for everyone, it aims to inspire people from all walks of life to rethink their relationship with food, and promotes an ethos of environmental sustainability and social inclusion. It’s entirely free and volunteer-run.

On the weekend of June 17th-18th, 29 community gardens across the city will open their gates to the public and stage a range of free activities for all ages and interests: from music and storytelling, apple pressing and bioblitz, to food growing and food tasting! The 2017 programme will invite visitors on a city-wide exploration. From the heart of the city centre all the way to the outer edges, the Festival demonstrates the tremendous diversity of Edinburgh’s food-growing community gardens and the fantastic people who keep them alive. Many of these community food gardens are little gems hidden away in neighbourhoods seldom the focus of city-wide festivals and all have a unique story to share. This year’s programme includes a 17th century garden in the heart of the Old Town, an urban croft in Leith and an old farm steading in the Pentlands, as well as a food garden on the grounds of a GP practice, to name but a few. So come and join us for this joyful weekend and bring the community alive!

More information available on our website: http://poweroffoodfestival.wordpress.com/ twitter: https://twitter.com/PoFFest facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ EdinburghPowerofFoodFestival 12

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D E S I G N E D & M A D E I N O R K N E Y, S C O T L A N D

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Finance

By Ann Haldon

Should You Pay Off Debts With Your Pension?

The 2014 Budget introduced new regulations on how personal pensions can be accessed.

These new pension freedoms mean that, if you have a money purchase or defined contribution pension, buying an annuity is no longer your only option at retirement.

Many people have since chosen to withdraw pension monies to invest in other financial products, and some have decided to pay off debts with the money. So is it a good idea to repay debt in this way, and what are the main aspects to consider?

DO YOU WANT TO ACCESS YOUR PENSION BEFORE RETIREMENT? Some pension schemes allow you to access your pension at the age of 55. Doing so can significantly reduce the amount you have available in older age, however, unless you have other pensions or a large savings pot.

If you have large-scale debt there may be better options that would leave your pension intact until retirement – for example, making informal agreements with your creditors for more time to pay.

A WORD ABOUT PENSION LIBERATION SCAMS Since the new legislation was introduced, people under the age of 55 have been targeted by pension ‘scammers’ who claim legal loopholes exist allowing them early access to their pension. There are no such loopholes, however, and these firms charge extortionate fees to their victims.

TAX ISSUES YOU SHOULDN’T IGNORE You can withdraw a 25% tax-free lump sum from your pension, but taking any more than this percentage will increase your level of income for that tax year. This could mean that you enter a higher rate tax band, and subsequently lose much of the benefit of gaining access to this money.

Staged withdrawals of cash may help you reduce your tax bill, but you’ll need professional advice from a pensions expert 16

to find out the most tax-efficient route for you. They may be able to offer alternative options to manage your money better, pay off debt, and maximise your pension savings.

WILL IT AFFECT YOUR BENEFITS ENTITLEMENT? If you claim means-tested benefits, withdrawing a lump sum from your pension could affect your entitlement. It might severely reduce the amounts you receive, or even mean that you can’t make a claim.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and your local council need to be informed if you withdraw money from your pension, so they can make the necessary adjustments with regard to existing and future benefit claims.

WHAT ARE THE COSTS OF ACCESSING YOUR PENSION? Many pension providers charge a fee for early access to a pension, and there is generally a charge each time you make a withdrawal.

This could severely deplete your pension fund, making it expensive and unrealistic financially to repay debts in this way.

FINAL SALARY SCHEMES If you have a final salary pension, you might be tempted to transfer your money into a personal pension scheme that gives you access to withdraw cash. This is likely to offer a poor reward in terms of conversion, however, and also may not provide you with sufficient income in retirement.

BE CAREFUL ABOUT PENSION RECYCLING The government has introduced legislation to prevent ‘pension recycling’. This situation occurs when someone uses their pension to pay off debt before they retire, with the intention of replacing their pension money whilst still working.

Even if you do not deliberately set out to do this, by withdrawing your pension you could be inadvertently caught out by the pension (Cont’d on pg 20)

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recycling regulations.

For example, if you: • Withdraw over £30,000 from your pension, and as a result: • Receive £7,500 or more tax-free, and then: • Increase your pension contributions by more than 30% The rules apply regardless of whether you pay off debt with the money, and can result in the anticipated ‘tax-free’ sums being taxed by up to 70% by the government.

The reason why these rules have been introduced is to prevent people benefiting from taking more than one series of taxfree sums from their pensions, and as encouragement to save more for retirement.

POTENTIAL ALTERNATIVES TO USING YOUR PENSION TO PAY OFF DEBT You may be able to make some small adjustments to your finances that could pay off debt without having to use any pension monies. For instance: • Make a detailed budget – you’ll get a clearer picture of your overall financial situation, and be able to make an informed decision

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about whether to use your pension.

• Cut back on unnecessary expenditure whilst you repay debt.

• Use a 0% balance transfer credit card offer to prevent your debt increasing.

• Increase your income, and use the extra money to boost debt repayments.

With so many people now expected to live longer, it can be risky to use your pension to pay off debt. Personal circumstances will dictate whether it’s the right move for you, but it’s crucial that you obtain pension advice from an independent financial adviser before taking any action.

You’ll be able to find out the ‘bottom line’ figure once the tax, charges, loss of benefits and other potential deductions have been taken into account, and decide whether or not it’s truly worthwhile. https://debtcamel.co.uk/2015-pensionchanges-a-new-option-for-paying-off-debts/ https://debtcamel.co.uk/debts-pensionrecycling-tax/ http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/savings/ pension-liberation

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Jamie Primrose Contemporary Scottish Artist Stunning New Continental Paintings By Acclaimed Artist

With shimmering impressions at dawn and dusk along The Thames looking towards Westminster from different bridges, Primrose skilfully portrays transient, atmospheric light with the contrasting architecture of the City skyline beyond.

Onto a change of colour tones and warmth in France, this is followed by a leisurely meander through the rich, verdant countryside, vineyards and picturesque hill-top villages of Provence. Next, he offers a selection of breathtaking views from the headlands looking down towards the sparkling sea along The Côte d’Azure and vibrant sunset skies – from Nice and The Bay of Cannes to Antibes.

Jamie Primrose ‘Late afternoon at Manarola, Cinque Terre, Liguria’ 40cm x 40cm, Oil on linen

Jamie Primrose ‘Hazy afternoon from Eze’ 60cm x 60cm, Oil on canvas

Following over 30 highly successful solo art collections in Edinburgh and London, not to mention his outstanding ‘10th Anniversary’ Exhibition a few years back, Jamie Primrose presents his latest unmissable showcase of over 50 beautiful new oil paintings from 9th – 17th June at The Dundas Street Gallery in the New Town.

‘Tranquil Destinations’ Exhibition Although best-known for his depiction of the spectacular Edinburgh landscape throughout the seasons and his sought-after city skyline paintings, the best-selling contemporary Scottish artist makes a delightful departure from his regular muse in his latest new offering.

Inspired by motifs from favourite holiday destinations and the gleaming luminescence of continental light in summertime, he highlights an illuminating interpretation of well-known or hidden magical vistas, primarily in France and Italy.

An exceptional and substantial new body of work, this commences initially with a fleeting snapshot of London (a location favoured as the acclaimed painter has lived there previously - now offering a regular holiday stopover, before he ventures further south).

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Jamie Primrose ‘Tranquil Destinations’ Friday 9th – Saturday 17th June The Dundas Street Gallery 6a Dundas Street, Edinburgh EH3 6HZ Open Monday – Friday 11am – 6pm Saturday and Sunday 11am – 5pm Admission free For painting enquiries or further details please contact: Mari Primrose t: 0131 446 9510 m: 07947 243 418 e: mari@jamieprimrose.com View paintings online from 20th May at www.jamieprimrose.com

Jamie Primrose ‘Morning reflections on The Grand Canal, Venice’ 40cm x 40cm, Oil on linen

For the first time ever, Primrose then captures glorious gems on The Italian Riviera around Portofino and the Cinque Terre – an area of dramatic coastal scenery with colourful, characterful fishing villages and pastel-hued houses rising up from the Mediterranean along the Ligurian Coast (see pic at start of article, on the far left).

“Jamie Primrose has an incredible feel for light.”

The Sunday Times “Primrose’s paintings exude a heaven-sent sense of calm” The Herald “Jamie has had an astonishing degree of success with his atmospheric paintings” Galleries “Jamie Primrose’s paintings display an atmospheric, ethereal quality that makes his work so sought-after” Scottish Field “Primrose has an ever-expanding band of collectors snapping up his work” The Herald

Meanwhile further inland, soaking up the glistening sun, with its lush, flourishing hues in the rolling landscape and vineyards of Tuscany resplendent in mid-summer, Primrose focuses on the famous medieval village and imposing towers of San Gimignano near Sienna – offering impressive views from late afternoon towards sundown.

Finally, the timeless allure of Venice is the focus of the last series by the well-known painter. A superb array of atmospheric sunrise, evening and twilight showcase pieces (see pic above) with glistening light reflections onto the majestic architecture and waterways in and around The Grand Canal and St. Marks – brings this fabulous unmissable collection to a close.

Best Selling Painter Jamie Primrose is a highly collectable contemporary Scottish artist, established as one of the country’s most prominent artistic talents. Having achieved tremendous success with past sell-out exhibitions to his name, his sought-after work is continually in demand by an ever-growing UK and international clientele and has received critical acclaim.

Exclusive Opening Private Views: Friday 9th June, 6.00pm – 8.30pm Saturday 10th June, 11.00am – 5.00pm

For invitations, please email Mari Primrose at mari@jamieprimrose.com quoting ‘Stockbridge Spotlight’ 23

Welcome to our second appearance in the Spotlight. 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.

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. Attendees at the meetings include local police representatives and the four City Councillors who represent our ward. More information about the Community Council can be found at stockbridgeandinverleithcc. org.uk.

We also have two noticeboards where we put up information about local events and issues. They can be found on the bridge just after Pizza Express and at Jubilee Gardens (where the Sunday market is held).

The Water of Leith Clean Up is taking place again on May 14th, 2017 – meet up at 10am at the Falshaw Bridge – equipment is provided and all welcome to come along and lend a hand.

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Point to note - Stockbridge Town Centre Draft Supplementary Guidance The City of Edinburgh Council is preparing supplementary guidance for Stockbridge Town Centre. Stockbridge Town Centre is defined in the Edinburgh Local Development Plan. The guidance will set out policy to guide the mix of uses in the town centre. Views on the guidance are being sought and the survey and guidance can be found at https://consultationhub. edinburgh.gov.uk Responses should be submitted by May 30th 2017

plans for this project – more information can be found on their website deanvalley.org.uk.

Dean Valley Regeneration Project – we recently had a presentation about the future

The meeting in June will be on the 14th 2017. All welcome.

Our next meeting is on May 17th, 2017 and we plan to include a short presentation from our local community police officer Peter Sparrow on security especially of the home.

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When Those ‘Golden Years’ Are Tarnished By Stress by Kate McLelland The expression ‘golden years’ refers to that period in our lives in between retirement and age-related physical decline: a time when we are supposed to enjoy the greatest quality of life.

There’s a general assumption that life is easier and sweeter for the older generation, and this has been supported by a survey carried out by the Office for National Statistics. 300,000 adults agreed that life satisfaction peaks between the ages of 65 and 79. However, while life is golden for some, others may find themselves facing unexpected responsibility and stress.

In these insecure economic times, many grown-up children are forced to return to the family home for economic reasons, often with the expectation that their aging parents will provide childcare. And it’s not just the younger generation who may need help. As people are living longer, it’s not uncommon to find individuals in their 60s and 70s supporting their elderly parents, sometimes with full-time care.

While it’s natural to want to help, it’s unwise to ignore the fact that age is creeping up on us. Unfortunately, as we age we become more vulnerable to the effects of stress: a recent study by Harvard Medical School has reported that when we are stressed, the part of the brain that processes emotions such as fear and anger triggers the release of white blood cells. These cells, used by the body to fight disease and injury, can cause inflammation that can eventually leads to angina, heart attacks and strokes if the stress is allowed to continue. Other potentially harmful hormones, equally damaging in the long term, are also released during stressful episodes.

Signs of stress can include feeling 26

overwhelmed, guilty, lonely or constantly anxious, as well as lacking interest in activities you have previously enjoyed.

You may also feel constantly fatigued, or become easily irritated. Physical symptoms can include significant changes in weight, headaches and neck or lower back pain.

If family members are dependent upon you, you may not be able to change your situation, but following the steps below may help: • Ask for help from friends and family – don’t wait for it to be offered.

• Do your best to get enough sleep and exercise.

• Set realistic goals, by breaking large tasks up into small ones.

• If you’re worried about your finances, ask family members to contribute, or check your eligibility to receive state benefits.

• If you are caring for someone who is ill or disabled, research what help is available on a local level.

• Keep in touch with friends and relatives.

• Use meditation or mindfulness exercises to aid relaxation.

If none of this helps, the next step should be to visit your doctor to explain how you feel.

Don’t be afraid to use all the medical and practical resources that are available to you. Fortunately, even in these days of austerity and local service cuts, there are organisations you can turn to for help. Try Independent Age (www.independentage.org) or Age UK (www.ageuk.org.uk) to pick up some valuable information and advice.

Sharing your feelings and concerns with others is an important first step. Hopefully it won’t be long before you find the support you need, making your life less stressful and bringing you a little closer to those golden years you so richly deserve.

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Body Shop At Home All About Pampering The last couple of issues I have told you a bit about my other ‘job’ as an Area Manager with the Body Shop At Home. I take my Body Shop products (and I have a lot of them!!) to peoples homes and do fun, girlie Pamper Nights for groups of friends (7 to 12 people is a nice number for a fun night). Someone asked me recently what happens at a pamper night - so all is revealed this issue!!

There are a number if different Pamper Night themes I can do but the one people most often start with is what we call Pure Pamper. The host (i.e. the person whose house we are in) will have her hands soaked in a basin of warm water and at the same time her feet will be immersed in a basin of warm water containing foot soak. I will do a hand and lower arm scrub using one of the products from our scrub range - coconut is always one of the favourite scrubs for this - followed by a hand massage. It is amazing how relaxing a hand massage can be and how pampered you feel having one done. In our busy lives we often forget to take some time out to pamper ourselves.

I talk about the products, how to use them and the benefits they will give you. I also explain how I am doing the hand massage so everyone who is there can have a go at this. This is followed by a foot scrub and a relaxing foot massage. Having their feet done is not something everyone likes so often one of the guests will get a wee foot treat instead of the host. While I am doing the foot scrub/massage the other guests can pair up and do hand scrubs and massages so they also get a lovely pamper too..

I will have brought along other products and will pass them round so people can see, try and smell them. I also do mini make up demos to show how to use specific products. It is a great way to try anything new and find out how to use it correctly - definitely the ultimate try before you buy!!

Pamper events are not just for groups of friends though. I can do these for Brownie/Guide groups, ladies church groups, as a fun PSA event, sheltered housing residents, social group get togethers - the list is endless. It doesn’t need to be an evening - it could be during the day. And ask me about doing this as a group fundraiser.

Other themes are Skin Care where I do a relaxing facial using our skin care range and one of our lovely masks.Or take it a step further, get everyone to remove their make up, ‘mask up’ and try these products. Great fun when everyone comes in their PJ’s. Or I can do a Make Over where you can try our make up range, get your foundation correctly matched, learn how to contour or try a different lip stick shade. Every night I do is different and once you have had one pamper, you will definitely want to have me back again for more.

Sound interesting? Fancy being my next lucky Pampered lady? Then why not give me a call and book in some fun pamper time for you and your friends. I can promise you some fun, lots of laughs and a great time with friends. I hope to hear from you very soon.

Call Sue Hutchison on 07817 206418 or email partywithsue@outlook.com 31

PUZZLE PAGE FUN QUIZ : PARTY TIME

Codeword Puzzle Each letter in this puzzle is represented by a number between 1 and 26. The codes for three letters are shown. As you find the letters enter them in the box below.

(Soln’s on Pg 41) 32

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A Philosophy Of Walking By Tracy Griffen the simplest and best forms of exercise you can do.

The last time I wrote about walking in this column was back in March 2008 (time flies!). Maybe it’s something we should consider more regularly. It is something you can do every day; doing errands, walking the dog, visiting friends or even simply walking back from an evening meal at a local restaurant. Everyone should get out walking, as it is such a good thing to do.

Walking is such as pedestrian thing to do, it’s no wonder we rarely think about it... Many of us take it for granted, but it’s one of

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It was with great pleasure I read ‘A Philosophy of Walking’ by French philosopher Frédéric Gros. To put it simply, it states its intention in the title, and the book is a delightful exploration of why we walk.

A best-seller in France, Gros draws attention to well-known philosophers through the ages and their connection with walking and thinking. If you ever need a lofty reason to go for a walk, this book is for you.

The days are getting longer and Edinburgh summer evenings are just made for a meander. When you

go for a wander, sometimes your mind will go for a wander, too. You don’t need to be a philosopher to enjoy the benefits of walking (although the cerebral benefits are now being examined more closely by the scientific community).

To experience fitness benefits and ‘fat burning’ (i.e. using stored body fat as fuel effectively), you need to walk at a pace where you feel slightly breathless and ‘puffed’. Moving at this pace continuously for at least thirty minutes at least three times per week offers significant fitness benefits. For some of us, it’s simply speeding up our walk to work. For others, it may mean getting out and about more. Go on, get outdoors and see more of our great city on foot.

If you would like to get started on a fitness programme, call Personal Trainer Tracy Griffen on 07743 741 088, email tracy@griffenfitness.com or visit www.griffenfitness.com.

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And Another Thing...

Tom and the Monkey Wrench

by Tom Hughes

@groomsdaybook

I drained my cocoa, turned off the bedside lamp and lay awaiting the Sandman’s dusty grip. Judging from the rhythmic breathing emanating from Sarah (My Dearly Beloved), I guessed she might already be far away in the Land of Nod. I was just about to begin my ritual slow motion leg flailing to avoid the cold spot when I heard it. Drip, drip…drip.

That blasted pipe under the bathroom sink again. I prayed to the plumbing gods for it to stop. But no matter, Sarah was definitely asleep - or maybe not: “Tom can you hear that? Tom? Tom?” (Shove) “Mmmm…”

“Don’t pretend you’re asleep. I told you to get that tap fixed. Did you ring Billy the Pipe?”

Wrinkling my nose I buried my face into the pillow, pretending I’d temporarily awoken, only to plunge back into the inky depths of slumber.

“I’ll ring Billy tomorrow, I’m sure he’ll err…”

Then, disaster - the duvet was flung over me like a massive folded omelette and out she went. Now doubly insulated, I squirmed under further, trying to make myself invisible. Through the endless folds of Egyptian cotton I could hear rummaging and shoving. But this was not Lady rummaging (clothes, dishcloths, lipsticks) - this was Man rummaging (metal, wood and screws!). It was against the natural order of things, it was wrong. And then, horror of horrors - I heard banging! Banging? A woman doing man’s work. Humiliation heaped upon shame, I padded to the bathroom and stood rubbing my eyes and hovering as Sarah, with only her hind quarters visible, cussed and tutted under the sink. Desperately, I tried to formulate a sentence that would 36

avoid annoying this virgin plumber. “Err, shall I fetch a torch darling?”

“You can fetch me a plumber.”

Testosterone taking over, I decided to wrest control. “Here, let me see.”

Sarah withdrew angrily and, with less than sincere gesticulations, invited me to investigate. “Go on then, let’s get an expert opinion shall we?”

Using my iPhone torch, I peered up at the tangle of copper pipes and fittings that looked more like a modern art installation than a method of carrying water to a tap.

Gingerly, I massaged the offending joint as a teardrop of water enveloped my finger. “Pass me the monkey wrench.” I commanded.

Sarah burst out laughing. “Monkey wrench?

Where do you think you are? Screwfix?”

Extracting myself from the cabinet I strode downstairs, through the kitchen and into the garage to locate my tool bag. If a job’s worth doing, etc. etc. Opening my bag of man implements I found: some used sand paper, an old biscuit tin full of nails, a toffee hammer, a fountain pen, a packet of tiny screwdrivers and - yes! Unbelievably, the one thing I needed. Triumphant, I bounded back upstairs to attend to my emergency DIY. I clamped my implement onto the offending nut. I pressed and I turned this way and that. Nothing.

Eventually Sarah tapped me on the shoulder. “Tom, what on earth is that?”

“My monkey wrench.”

“That’s your Auntie Rita’s nut cracker. She’s been asking about it since Christmas You looked me in the eye and swore blind you didn’t know where it was. You fibber!”

(Cont’d on pg 38)

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“Well she won’t miss it, Uncle Willy’s loaded.”

“That’s not the point! Anyway, what possible use is that?”

“Well, that thing under there is a nut isn’t it?”

“Listen mate, there’s only one nut in this bathroom.”

And with that, the dripping stopped. There, sorted. Unfortunately it was replaced by a hiss then a jet of pressured water that began soaking my slippers. “Tom! Right that’s it, ring that emergency number - now!”

“At three o’clock in the morning? How much will that cost?”

“A lot less than a divorce.”

Two hours later a man in overalls stepped over the pots and pans and in a jiffy resolved the issue. Tired, wet and £135 poorer I duly retired to bed, joined by Sarah holding Auntie Rita’s prized possession. “Why have you still got hold of those? There’s no nuts need cracking in here.”

Clicking the grips together Sarah replied, “Don’t be so sure Thomas, don’t be so sure.”

38

Community Spotlight Everyone is welcome at Stockbridge Church.

Find us in Saxe-Coburg Street

St Vincent’s Chapel Stockbridge

SundaysS Sundays

6pm Evensong 6pm Evensong

(off Henderson Row).

Sunday services 11 am

(including children's activities).

Thursdays

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

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.

10.30am Sung Eucharist

(no music on 3rd Sunday in the month)

All welcome.

www.stvincentschapel.org.uk 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.

June/July Issue Artwork Deadline : 1st June

Distribution Date : 14th June

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 39

Community Spotlight Sunday Assembly Edinburgh Comes To Stockbridge Sunday Assembly Edinburgh, the city’s ‘godless church’, will be meeting at the Life Care Centre, Cheyne Street, Stockbridge EH4 1JB on the following dates: Sunday 7 May 2017 Sunday 4 June 2017 Sunday 2 July 2017 All our meetings are at 11.30am, last around an hour, and are followed by tea, coffee and cake. All welcome, we are family friendly. Free admission, collection taken.

Sunday Assembly (SA) is a global movement of wonder and good which encourages everyone to ‘Live Better, Help Often, Wonder More’. Started in London in 2013 by comedians Sanderson Jones and Pippa Evans, the group now has 70 congregations worldwide including across the UK and USA. Sunday Assembly Edinburgh was one of the first groups to start, and has been meeting at Summerhall in recent times. “Our new venue will give us the chance to welcome even more people for a lively and inspiring Sunday morning together”, says SA Edinburgh committee member Sebastian Meller. “We are totally volunteer run and are always keen to meet new people from all walks of life.

For Sunday 7 May we have an excellent programme with speaker Nicola Turing (niece of computer legend Alan Turing) talking about the work of the Turing Trust in supporting people in rural African communities to become computer literate.

We also have poetry from Ian McDonough, catchy well-known songs to sing along with, a lively host (me) and community building and reflection.

40

Community Spotlight

There is only one further issue of the Spotlight before the summer break which will be distributed on the 14th/15th June. The artwork deadline is the 1st June.

The issue after will be distributed on the 23rd/24th August just after the schools go back. Artwork deadline is the 10th August.

If you have any community or charity events running over the summer months then they will need to go into the next issue. Please get in touch if you have anything you would like to include. Contact details are on page 4 and page 39.

Soduko

Puzzle Solutions

Fun Quiz

1.Yellow 2. Robbie Williams 3. Jamboree 4. The elephant 5.Prince William’s 6. Michelangelo 7. No-one (Abigail is the daughter of one of the characters, but is never seen herself) characters, but is never seen herself) 8. Taboo 9. Plaid Cymru 10. The March Hare, the Hatter and the Dormouse

Codeword

41

Accountants TaxAssist Accountants Art Exhibitions Jamie Primrose

38 22/23

Barbers Image Barbers

12

Bathroom Design & Installation Edinburgh Bathroom Company 33 Beauty Services/Therapists Gorgeous Therapies

7

Electricians Homeforce McElhone Electrical

30 21

2

Pamper Parties Body Shop At Home

17

Plastering Services DCM Construction

17

Plumbing Services JSB Plumbing & Son Plumbfaster

2 27

Property Maintenance DCM Construction Tip Top Renovator

44 9

20

Property Rental Greatbase

21

2 27

Recruitment Church Officer Position 11

Events Stockbridge Scottish Reelers Summer Ceilidh 29

9

Blind Suppliers Portobello Blinds

34

Care Homes Renaissance Care

French Polishing James Erskine

25

Care Services Home Angels

Gardening Interest Scottish Rhodedendron Festival at the Botanics 3

19

Carpets & Flooring James Erskine

Gardening Services Bernie Reddington

7

Gas & Central Heating JSB Plumbing & Sons Plumbfaster

30

Childrens Activities Oceanplay

7

Chiropodists Mary O’Sullivan New Town Footcare

35 17

Clock Repair & Restoration Lucas Clocks

27

Complementary Therapies Gorgeous Therapies Neals Yard

9 19

Computer Services AV & PC Homehelp 12 Simplyfixit 43 Counselling Services Counselling Conversations

28

Curtains & Blinds James Erskine

12

Dancing Events Stockbridge Scottish Reelers Summer Ceilidh 29 Decoratoring Services AM Decorating DCM Construction Decorum Decorators

19 17 30

12

Going Out Edinburgh International Magic Festival 1 Scottish Rhodedendron Festival at the Botanics 3 Stockbridge Scottish Reelers Summer Ceilidh 29 Graphic Design Another Angle

Language Classes/Courses Caledonian Language School 11 Speak Out With Confidence 11 Yakety Yak Language Cafe 9 Office/Garage Clearance Man/Men With A Van

Estate Agents ELP Arbuthnott McClanachan 13

Family Hosting Caledonian Language School 11

Charity Events Marie Curie : A Walk To Remember

42

EdinburghCity Council Shared Repairs Campaign

Removals/House Clearances Man/Men With A Van 2 Residential Care Renaissance Care

25

Roofing Services DCM Construction

44

10

Hairdressers Gorgeous Therapies

Soft Play Centres Oceanplay

9

Handyman Services Capital Joinery David A Burnett Homeforce

Solicitors ELP Arbuthnott McClanachan 13

27 24 30

Stockbridge Church Church Officer Job Vacancy 11

Health & Fitness Griffen Fitness 35 Marie Curie : A Walk To Remember 30 Tennis at the Grange Club 5 Job Vacancies Church Officer Position 11 Jewellers Sheila Fleet The Ringmaker

14/15 18

Joinery Services Capital Joinery Services 27 Edinburgh Joinery Services 30

Tennis Clubs Tennis at the Grange Club

7

5

Theatres Edinburgh International Magic Festival 1 Turkish Hot Shave Image Barbers

12

Upholstery James Erskine

12

Website Design Another Angle

10

Window Renovation Craftworx Ventrolla

38 37

43

44