The Stockbridge Spotlight Issue 111 December 2022 Issue

STOCKBRIDGE SPOTLIGHT

to

of the Stockbridge Spotlight. It's hard to believe that we are nearly at the end of another year. 2022 just seems to have disappeared so quickly. It only seems like yesterday that I was on holiday in the sun for the first time in 3 years. As the weather gets colder I could do with another sunny break. Though given the way costs are increasing at the moment that might be a while coming again. There seeems to be nothing in the news at the moment except doom and gloom - with rising fuel and household costs, war, climate change predictions, strikes looming and a recession on the horizon life in general is tough. I have to say I have given up watching or listening to the news as much as I can. I am usually a cup half full person who sees the positive in people and things happening. I like to smile and be happy and cheery, thats just my nature. But with all the negativity floating around at the moment that can be hard to maintain. The general mood can start to pull you down, which combined with less sunshine in the winter months is not great for mental health.

I discovered yoga at the start of this year. I was a bit unsure about going to my firsts class but was encouraged by a friend so took the plunge. For me it has been the best thing I have done in a long time. It was a bit strange to start with and I didn't get the whole 'calm your mind' thing. I would try to relax but my brain wouldn't switch off. But somewhere along the way that changed. Now when I step onto my yoga mat I can clear my mind of the many thought swirling in there, the thoughts that 'do not serve me well'. I can relax and, mostly, enjoy the yoga poses - some look so simple but boy do they test your body and your balance. I come away from class refreshed and relaxed ready to face the world. We all need something that helps us switch off and recharge our batteries. I hope you find the thing that works best for you.

Best Wishes Sue

The Stockbridge Spotlight

Granton

Granton Parish Church 55 Boswall Parkway Edinburgh, EH5 2DA Thursdays 7pm

Tel: Anne 07821 273666

Granton

Granton Parish Church 55 Boswall Parkway Edinburgh, EH5 2DA Fridays 9.30am Tel: Anne 07821 273666

Inverleith

Ferranti Bowling Club 7 Arboretum Place Edinburgh, EH3 5NY Tuesdays 9.00am and 5.30pm Tel: Andrew 07849 109641

Leith

United Reformed Church

108A Duke Street Edinburgh, EH6 8HL

NEW TIMES from JANUARY 2023

Thursdays 4.00pm & 5.30pm

Tel: Lee 07525 093604

Leith

United Reformed Church

108A Duke Street Edinburgh, EH6 8HL Saturdays 8.30am

Tel: Lee 07525 093604

HARD SUDOKU

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 37)

An Update From Councillor Jule Bandel

Hello everyone! My name is Jule Bandel and I’m delighted to make my first contribution to the Stockbridge Spotlight to introduce myself as your new Green councillor and tell you a little bit about what I’m working on.

First of all, I would like to thank everyone who put their trust in me and gave me their vote. I am truly thrilled and honoured to have been elected as a councillor for Inverleith ward and am looking forward to making our neighbourhoods better places to live over the next five years.

As you may be able to tell from my name, I am originally from Germany. After moving to Edinburgh for university back in 2016, I grew so fond of the city, I decided to stay around and work for a Scottish housing charity. I’m also studying part-time for a Masters in Public Policy, focusing on more inclusive public engagement in policy and planning, which is something I love to work on in the Council as well. Indeed, just this morning I was looking at old study notes to write an amendment that seeks to make sure the youth participatory forum we’re setting up will be welcoming and accessible to all young people and offer them meaningful opportunities to engage with decision-makers.

Being able to make a real difference and deliver the changes my generation and the ones to come so desperately need was one of the main reasons I ran as a councillor and has been an incredibly rewarding experience so far.

From planning to parks, Edinburgh Council deals with a myriad of different issues, and since my election I have been learning loads about how its many services keep this city running. The variety of casework you get as a ward councillor is something I appreciate a lot, though I am also enjoying digging my teeth into more specific subjects and making policy on committees.

I was particularly excited to become a member of the Council’s Transport and Environment Committee. Improving conditions for walking, wheeling, and cycling was one of my main campaign priorities and there remains loads of work to be done on this locally and across Edinburgh.

A key transport issue I want to improve in the Stockbridge area are the conditions for people who walk and wheel. Raeburn Place, in particular, deserves wider pavements to transform it into the vibrant and inclusive town centre it can and should be. I was pleased to hear from the Council’s ’20 Minute Neighbourhoods’ team that this is already on their radar, though actual work on this is still some way off. I promise to do my best to speed up the process, but in the meantime, I will be requesting dropped kerbs, longer Green Man phases, and removal of street clutter, and stand up for the prioritisation of active travel at all times.

If you are facing any issues I can help with, please get in touch with me per email: cllr.jule.bandel@edinburgh.gov.uk. To keep up with what I’m working on as a councillor, follow @julebandel on Twitter (let’s hope it survives, I haven’t set up back-up social media yet!).

‘Unlock’ – A new way to sell your home

The ESPC and a group of solicitor estate agents including ELP Arbuthnott McClanachan have launched ‘Unlock’ which is a new way to market properties for sale.

Many people would like to move home but are worried that they will sell their home but it won’t give them time to find their next perfect home. They are put off by the possibility of having to move to a temporary rental property or buying the wrong property because they are in a hurry to buy something before their sale date.

Unlock allows your solicitor estate agent to market your property for sale but with the added assurance that you will have time to find your next home. This is done by adding a clause to the missives that gives you the option to withdraw from the sale if you can’t find a new home that you love and meets your needs and requirements. The home buyer will be given a long date of entry, typically six months, which should give you time to find the right home. This option allows you to fully progress with the sale of your home and secure a committed buyer, whilst also having the security that you can withdraw from the sale if you need to.

Unlock is only available through ESPC’s network of solicitor estate agents and provides a creative solution to those sellers who want to find a property first before selling. It’s never too early to talk to us about Unlock, it could be the answer to your home move.

Unlock for home sellers

Unlock allows homeowners to market and accept an offer on their home, subject to criteria they set related to their next property purchase. The advantages of Unlock to home sellers are highlighted as:

1. You get a longer date of entry to allow you time to find a new home.

2. You will be in a stronger buyer position having already agreed on a sale for your home.

3. You will know exactly how much you can afford, meaning you can really target the right home for you.

If you are considering selling a property and believe Unlock may be the right option for you but would like to find out more, please get in touch with our property team. We can answer all your questions and help you decide if you want to market your property with Unlock.

Unlock for home buyers

What does Unlock mean for home buyers? The main benefit to home buyers is that some new exciting properties may appear on the market as sellers feel safer selling with Unlock. To secure this property, you will likely have to face a longer entry date but this will give you time to prepare for your move.

The Missives will be concluded which means that you have purchased the property and you won’t lose out to a higher bidder several months later. However, there will be additional clauses added to the Missives to protect the seller. They will most likely state that they can withdraw from the sale if they can’t find a new home. They may offer compensation if this happens. Your solicitor will explain all Unlock clauses before you sign the Missives.

You can read more about Unlock for home buyers on the ESPC website or contact one of our conveyancing solicitors at ELP Arbuthnott McClanachan who will be able to explain it in detail. You don’t need to worry about Unlock unless the property you would like to buy has been marked as an Unlock property on the ESPC.

Unlock and ELP Arbuthnott McClanachan

We are one of the solicitor estate agents that has signed up to Unlock with the ESPC. Our team of property solicitors and estate agents has been fully trained in the process. We can answer all your questions which will help you decide if selling your home with Unlock is the right process for you.

Beginners Tai Chi and Qigong Relaxation Classes

Tai Chi and Qigong Course (4 weeks)

Tuesdays, 11.15am from 17th January 2023

Easy Qigong Relaxation Course (4 weeks) Fridays, 11am from the 20th January 2023

Both courses will take place in the Young Room, Stockbridge Church, Saxe Coburg Street, Edinburgh Online Courses too! Booking

We have been working in and around Edinburgh for over 30 years covering all aspect of Painting and Decorating. We specialise in excellent customer care, attention to detail, good communication and no hidden costs. No job is too small or too large. We can fit you in at the last minute if need be, or plan ahead and be booked well in advance

Follow in the Steps of the Fishwife

There are many words, unique to Scots, which convey in a single word a concept that would take a phrase to do in Standard English — ‘smirl’ meaning soft but persistent rain; ‘scunner’, which is both verb and noun, meaning disgusted irritation; and, to complete a trio of alliteration, stravaig, which means to wander aimlessly, i.e, not pointlessly but without a planned itinerary.

The history and heritage of Newhaven is wide and deep. For centuries, this community was fiercely independent, as much out of necessity as need. It is unique in many aspects from other fishing communities up and down the coast of Scotland.

Newhaven Heritage, founded originally in 2007 as a consequence of the closure of the once-popular community museum, exists to preserve, protect and promote the heritage of the village. Newhaven Heritage considers that a museum is not a viable option, given its proposed location within the old Victoria School, and took the decision to use the village itself as a living museum in order to tell the story of Newhaven and its place in Scotland’s story.

The solution was to develop a virtual heritage trail using the opportunities offered by the internet with 24 stops along a pre-determined route. Being true to the concept of the serendipitous nature of a stravaig, the Route Stops can be visited sequentially, or done

in parts, or the Route Stops can be visited randomly — whatever takes your fancy.

At each Route Stop, the Stravaiger will find a QR plate, usually mounted onto a lamp post or conveniently located railing. By using a smartphone, the QR code will lead you directly to a web page that shows that location as it was in bygone days along with a description. Of course, these pages can be accessed at your home computer at www. newhavenstravaigs.scot but by “walking the walk”, you will have more fun and a better understanding of Old Newhaven

At each Route Stop, supplementary pages can be accessed carrying further information pertinent to that location. For example, at Route Stop #1 (the Fishmarket), you can find out how the fish was auctioned and shared out, images of how the market used to look like internally, all about working fishwives, the Pier Parliament, where the retired or infirm worthies would gather to sort out the cares of the world, and even a history of the Edinburgh Police Box. Next year, a multi-lingual audio dimension will be added to the Stravaig.

The map can be collected from the police box at Newhaven Harbour on a Saturday morning when it is staffed by Newhaven Heritage personnel or by downloading it from the website noted above. For more information, please contact us at newhavenheritage @gmail.com.

NEW

Ho! Ho! Ho! We’re now in the Festive Season, which for many of us means an increase in opportunities to ‘eat, drink & be merry!’. And although we know that this may result in the gain of a few, or more, extra pounds, we try to put that to the back of our minds and decide to address that issue later … Often that ‘later’ is the 1st of January: A bright shiney New Year Resolution to reduce our weight and we tell ourselves that this time we’ll definitely stick with the plan. (Ho!Ho!Ho! – How many people have said that to themselves and found that, sadly, they’ve often ‘fallen off the wagon’ in January!). Studies & surveys have concluded that by February, as many as 80% of New Year Resolutions will have been abandoned!

So I’ve listed below some pitfalls to avoid: Setting Unrealistic Resolutions – A resolution is about what you’d like to do, rather than what you ‘should’ do.

Lack of Accountability – Working with a coach, mentor or accountability partner increases the likelihood of staying on track.

No Tracking/Reviews – What gets measured, gets done!

Lack of Planning – Great planning is always required for good implementation.

Unclear Objectives – A majority of people fail to achieve their objectives because their ‘why’ is unclear. The ‘why’ is what motivates people to take action and achieve their goals.

Self Doubt – The future is usually a projection of the past – past failures affect our sense of self-belief.

Mindset – Owning a vision of what you intend to create in your life and living your life in accordance with it.

Hypnosis is exceedingly effective in creating a positive mindset by reprogramming negative thoughts, beliefs & patterns that have been resulting in lack of success.

So whether it’s weight management, or something else, I can offer you Hypnotherapy & Coaching tools to:

• Change your self-talk – words & language are crucial in boosting a positive self-identity

By Gillian Dalgliesh Clinical Hypnotherapist & Personal Change Expert

• Live in your present, instead of re-living your past – past failures usually affect our sense of self-belief

• Replace that harsh Inner Critic, who is masquerading as being helpful, with the Inner Coach

• Raise your personal awareness & develop self-care strategies

• Consciously discover gratitude – it is a natural, powerful, healing tool that helps to people to refocus, re-charge and re-calibrate as well as much else.

I could write on and on but I am running out of space. If you would like more information or a free telephone consultation, then please do get in touch.

Gillian Dalgliesh is a Clinical Hypnotherapist & Personal Change Expert based in Stockbridge, with 88 x 5 Star Google Reviews. See ad for contact details.

5 Surprising Health Benefits of Learning a Second Language.

How are the New Year’s Resolutions coming along? Better health? Travel more? Be more sociable? Whatever you have in mind, you may be surprised to hear that learning a foreign language will fit quite nicely into your plans. AND deliver hidden health benefits. Here are 5 reasons you should consider taking up a foreign language in 2023, which go above and beyond having a great holiday….

1. Improve Memory

Research shows that people who speak a second language regularly perform better on memory tests than monolingual people. It makes no difference whether they learned the language as a child or as an adult, either. Learning new phrases and then reproducing them orally improves the memory in all other areas of life.

2. Help the symptoms of depression

The social aspect of learning a new language and learning how to communicate better with others has been proven to help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Improved self-esteem through mastering a new skill is thought to contribute to these positive effects, as well as the feeling of being part of a wider social network.

3. Delay the onset of dementia

Many studies, including one by Dr Thomas Bak at the University of Edinburgh, have shown that learning a second language can reduce the onset of dementia by at least 5 years. There have even been suggestions that language lessons should be available on the NHS as the effect on the brain is equal to or better than some drugs currently provided.

4. A healthier and bigger brain

Many studies, including the Swedish MRI study, have shown that learning a second language in adulthood results in a larger brain! Specifically, your cerebral cortex and hippocampus enlarge, resulting in an increase in attention, perception, and self-awareness.

5. It’s never too late. Especially encouraging is the news that bilingual benefits still hold for those of us who do not learn our second languages as children. Edinburgh University researchers point out that their research clearly shows that knowing another language is advantageous, regardless of when you learn it.

Speak Out Languages’ new French, Italian, Spanish and German courses start in Great King Street in January, designed to build confidence to speak. To book your spot, visit www.speakoutwithconfidence.com or call 0131 618 3604.

Simple Pleasures

By Tracy Griffen

We’re nearly at the end of another year, the nights are getting longer and the prospect of hibernating until the new year beckons. Whether or not you experience SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), this time of year can be disorienting. We rise in the dark, go to work in the dark and come home in the dark. There just doesn’t seem to be enough time to do everything. So don’t. This festive season, give yourself a break. Do less than you intend to. Turn off the TV, social media and your screens. Live IRL (in real life), and enjoy the time in between doing stuff. That is where enjoyment lies. Here are some ideas for idle winter days:

- Walk up a hill : Look at the weather forecast and choose a dry day. Prepare a bag the night before with your favourite snacks and hat / gloves / waterproof. You might even want to take a flask of hot tea. I carry a travel towel and a bin bag so I have something waterproof to sit on (and you can use aforementioned bin bag for an impromptu litter pick, very satisfying).

- Make ginger beer : Into an empty 2L fizzy pop bottle add 1 cup of sugar, the juice of 1 lemon, a finely chopped inch knob of ginger, ½ tsp dried active yeast, and fill with water. Leave a reasonable gap at the top for the gas to expand. Tighten lid and shake. Leave out for a day (you might need to release gas) then chill in fridge. Strain to serve. Delicious after indulgent days.

- Read a good book : Read a chapter a day of an informative book. Search the Edinburgh Library catalogue online and reserve books you’ve been meaning to read. ‘The Circadian Code’ by Dr Satchin Panda is my latest reading recommendation.

- Plan a project for 2023 : Whether you’re entering an event or going on an adventure, start the research and preparation before the days start getting longer.

- Make soup and freeze it : Use up leftover vegetables by making a big pot of soup. Freeze what you don’t eat. If you make a pot of soup a day for a week you will end up stocking up your freezer cheaply. Or swap with a neighbour.

- Stretch! : Whether you follow a yoga YouTube workout, or have your own favourite exercises, use the darker nights as time to work on your flexibility. You can even stretch in front of the telly in your jammies. It will help prevent back pain from sitting too much.

Personal Trainer Tracy Griffen runs a private fitness studio in Leith and enjoys helping her clients achievetheir goals, whilst enjoying a good quality of life. Call her on 07743 741 088 or visit www.griffenfitness.com.

Scottish Prestige Awards - Mortgage Broker Of The Year 2022.

Finalists in the 2019, 2020 Scottish Mortgage Awards for both Best Mortgage Broker Edinburgh & Scotland categories.

Shortlisted 2022 for Best Regional Broker for both Edinburgh and Central region.

Place, Edinburgh. EH10 4DG

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

Across: 8 Cancan, 9 Amaretto, 10 Lido, 11 West Indies, 14 Author, 15 Proposal, 18 Herb, 19 Stunt, 20 Neon, 22 Straight, 25 Supper, 26 Mother's Day, 30 Tofu, 31 Opulence, 32 Hungry.

Down: 1 Manicure, 2 Acrophobia, 3 Answer, 4 Bass, 5 Sari, 6 Lead, 7 Athena, 12 Throne, 13 Nap, 16 Omnipotent, 17 Itches, 21 Open fire, 23 Troupe, 24 Ire, 25 Scythe, 27 Hold, 28 Rent, 29 Deed.

EDINBURGH FLORAL ART CLUB MEETINGS

The club meets at Blackhall St. Columba’s Church hall, Queensferry Road, the second Friday of each month from 2pm to 4pm

Future Meetings

Membership for the year is £20 and new members and visitors are always welcome.

Accountants

AH & Co Chartered Accountants26

TaxAssist Accountants 33

Acupuncture

Katherine Dandridge 27

Blind & Curtain Suppliers Homestyle 25

Building Services

Ronald G Graham 7

Christmas Events Christmas At Nomads Tent 7 Christmas At The Botanics 1, 19-22

Complementary Therapies

Gillian Dalgleish 24 Katherine Dandridge 27

Computing Services AV & PC Home Help 18

Counselling Services Counselling Conversations 17

Curtain & Blind Suppliers Homestyle 25

Dance Classes Stockbridge Scottish Reelers 6

Decoratoring Services

AM Decorating 34 Barry McGuire 25 DCM Construction 9 Elite Decorating 18

Driveways

Alpine Paving & Driveways 18 Edinburgh Driveways & Landscaping 12

Eating Out Christmas At The Botanics 19-22

Electricians

Kelly Electrical 8 McElhone Electrical 33

Estate Agents

ELP Arbuthnott McClanachan 14/15 Gibson Kerr 31

Gas & Central Heating TB Mackay Energy Services 13

Family Law Gibson Kerr 31 Gift Shop Christmas At Nomads Tent 7 Christmas At The Botanics 19-22

Going Out

Stockbridge Scottish Reelers 6

Handyman Services

David A Burnett 11

Health & Fitness Griffen Fitness 35

Healthy Back Pilates Classes 7 Level Up Personal Training 25 Tai Chi & Qigong Relaxation Classes 17

Health Food Shops Real Foods 40

Health & Wellness Slimming World 5 Hypnotherapy Gillian Dalgleish 24

Interior Design Countryside Kitchens & Interiors 32

Jewellers Sheila Fleet 3 Kitchens Countryside Kitchens & Interiors 32

Landscaping Edinburgh Driveways & Landscaping 12

Language Tuition Inlingua 9 Speak Out With Confidence 29 Mortgage Services Malleny Mortgage Solutions 35

MP Surgeries

Deidre Brock 9

Office/Garage Clearance Man/Men With A Van 11

Organic Produce Real Foods 40

Paving Services

Alpine Paving & Driveways 18

Pilates Classes

Healthy Back Pilates Classes 7

Plastering

DCM Construction 9 Private Chef Joanna Upward 17

Removals/House Clearances Man/Men With A Van 11

Roofing Services Ronald G Graham 7

Royal Botanic Gardens Christmas At The Botanics 1, 19-22

Rubbish Removal Joe Junk 33

Rug/Kilim Repair &Cleaning Nomads Tent 7

Solicitors

ELP Arbuthnott McClanachan 14/15 Gibson Kerr 31

Tai Chi Classes Tai Chi & Qigong Relaxation Classes 17

Tree Surgeons Heartwood Tree Care 11

Weight Management Slimming World 5

Window Renovation Craftworx 34