The Stockbridge Spotlight Issue 112 February/March 2023 Issue

STOCKBRIDGE SPOTLIGHT

Welcome to the first issue of the Stockbridge Spotlight for 2023. I was reflecting as I put this issue together how long I have been running the Spotlights - it is a long time now. My youngest was about 4 when I started the Trinity Spotlight and he has just turned 21. The Stockbridge Spotlight was about 3 years behind that. I remember being told by someone local to me that the concept of the Spotlight would not work and that I was wasting my time and money. And here I am all those years later still going strong. I don't think there is any part of Edinburgh that is not covered by a local area magazine in some shape or form. That is because the concept works for everybody. Our advertisers can reach local residents at a very affordable cost for them. And they get business from their advertising - which is why they are happy to continue advertising with us. Local residents get a publication that they like (I hope!) and they support it by using the Spotlights to find the services they need. I have lost count of the number of times I have received calls from residents who have mislaid their copy of the Spotlight and are looking for the contact number of a particular business they have seen on our pages or have used before. And for me, I have a successful wee business that over the years allowed me to work round school holidays as the kids were growing up and provided an income that has paid for holidays, home improvements and much more. What's not to like about that. 2023 brings some new challenges with increasing costs on all fronts. But the Spotlight will, hopefully, continue to thrive along with the businesses that feature on our pages. Thank you for all your support over the years. It is very, very much appreciated. Here's to a happy, healthy and productive 2023.

Best Wishes Sue

The Stockbridge Spotlight

Editor : Sue Hutchison

M : 07817 206 418

E: sue@stockbridgespotlight.co.uk

www.stockbridgespotlight.co.uk

“All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. All artwork is accepted on strict condition that is it legal/ copyright free and permission has been given for use in this publication. The views and opinions by contributors to this magazine may not represent the views of the publisher. The Stockbridge Spotlight magazine takes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers in this publication”

Distribution

Johnson Distribution Services.

www.jdsdoor2door.co.uk

Printing Cowan Print : www.cowanprint.net

re-wires ~ showers ~ boilers

bathrooms ~ kitchens

landlord certificates

Mob: 07543698172

kmsedinburgh@gmail.com

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 42)

Volunteer Treasurer Is Required For The Pasda Charity

Pasda, a very small charity which supports carers of autistic adults, is seeking a volunteer treasurer. There is one paid employee and a part time book keeper at their office in Norton Park. There are approximately 25-30 transactions a month so ten hours per month should be sufficient for the role which includes the monthly Trustees committee meeting. The principal duties of the Pasda Treasurer are:

1.Preparing budgets: The Treasurer prepares a monthly report for the Trustees committee in order that strategic decisions can be made. End of year Management Accounts are produced by Pasda's external accountant. Following the AGM, where the annual accounts are approved, the Treasurer submits the annual accounts with the Trustees’ Annual Report to OSCR (Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator).

2. Preparation of the annual accounts: The annual accounts are prepared by the external accountant from records produced by the bookkeeper. The Treasurer is responsible for ensuring this process correctly reflects the decisions taken by Trustees, particularly in the allocation of expenditure to various funds.

3. Payment of expenditure through internet banking: The Treasurer does not initiate any payments, but receives requests for payment from staff and/or the bookkeeper, and by effecting payment through internet banking, authorises them. Staff salary payments (including payments to HMRC) have been calculated by the payroll service provided by Scottish Council for Volunteer Organisations.

4. Setting financial policy: The Treasurer sets and monitors the charity's policy regarding financial matters - setting authorisation limits, expenses policy etc

For more informatio contact Susan Chambers BEM (Pasda Converer)

T : 07528519465 E: susan.chambers@pasda.org.uk

www.pasda.org.uk

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.

Thinking of Equity Release?

Talk to us for Independent Whole of Market Later Life Lending advice. We will ensure you are provided with the most suitable product whether that is a:-

- Retirement Interest Only (RIO) Mortgage

- Equity Release /Lifetime Mortgage

- Standard Residential Mortgage (Interest Only or Capital repayment up to age 85 years)

Welcome to the first of our contributions to the Stockbridge Spotlight. We thought it would be a good idea to give a brief explanation of what we do

The objectives of the Community Council are:

a) To ascertain, coordinate and reflect views of the community which it represents, to liaise with other community groups within the area and to fairly express the diversity of opinions and outlooks of the people.

b) To express the views of the community to the City of Edinburgh Council, to public authorities and other organisations.

c) To take such action on the interests of the community as it appears it to be desirable or practicable.

d) To promote the well being of the community and to foster a community spirit.

e) To be a means whereby people of the area shall be able to voice their opinions on matters affecting their lives, their welfare, their environment, its development and amenity.

The Community Council has a statutory right to be consulted on planning applications and it can object to licence applications lodged with City of Edinburgh Council. It is non-party political in all of its activities.

City of Edinburgh Council Councillors, MSPs and MPs where wards fall wholly or partly within the geographical area of the Community Council are ex-officio members of the Community Council. Stockbridge and Inverleith Community Council is very fortunate in having very good attendance by the relevant elected members at its monthly meetings and has a very good working relationship with them.

The Community Council also has working relationships with adjoining community councils and is a member of the Edinburgh Association of Community Councils which represents the views of community councils across the city to the City of Edinburgh Council. It is also represented on the Inverleith Neighbourhood Network which covers the Inverleith Ward within the city. Issues discussed over the past few months have included: bin hubs (particularly within the World Heritage Site), traffic flows across

North Edinburgh, the proposed Low Emission Zone, ‘Spaces for People’ and its legacy, the City Plan 2030, future plans for Inverleith Park, flood risks within the area, sustainable heating options for residential properties as well as numerous planning and licencing applications.

At the moment Stockbridge and Inverleith Community Council is low on members, having 8 when the maximum permitted is 21. This makes the ability of the Community Council to fulfil all of its objectives rather difficult. We are looking for new members to co-opt to the Community Council until the next Community Council elections and specifically would be very keen to hear from anyone who might be interested in taking on the role of our licencing officer. There are over 100 licensed premises with alcohol licences in our area and monitoring of applications is problematic in view of the small number of Community Councillors, many with other responsibilities within the Community Council already.

Our next meeting is February 15th, 2023 –details below and feel free to come along or email if you want more information.

Details of our Community Council can be found on our website

www.stockbridgeandinverleithcc.org.uk

We can be contacted through our email stockbridgeandinverleithcc@gmail.com and can also be found on Facebook. Follow us at Stockbridge and Inverleith Community Council. Meetings are held at 7pm on the third Wednesday of each month (except August and December) at Stockbridge Parish Church, 7b Saxe Coburg St and currently on zoom. Members of the public are very welcome to attend.

SIMPLE WELLBEING STRATEGIES

By Gillian Dalgliesh

Follow these easy guidelines to help you better manage your everyday life … Meditate – even if it’s just for a few minutes. It can be as simple as just focusing your attention on the breath and on how the body moves with each inhalation and exhalation. Notice the movement of your body as you breathe. Observe your chest, shoulders, rib cage and belly. Simply focus your attention on your breath without controlling its pace or intensity. If your mind wanders, return your focus back to your breath.

The ultimate benefit of meditation is liberation of the mind from attachment to things it cannot control, such as external circumstances or strong internal emotions. Contemporary studies show that consistent meditation practice yields long term benefits on the brain and on the immune system.

Slow down and take 10 seconds to tune into each of your body senses:

Hearing – what can you hear in the far distance, middle distance and your immediate surroundings?

Smell – what aromas, scents and smells can you become aware of?

Taste – what tastes can you become aware of in your mouth?

Touch - become aware of the sensations of your clothes on your skin, the soles of your feet in your shoes, if you are seated then become aware of the support and comfort of your chair

Pay attention to people, especially your loved ones

Start learning how to tune into your intuition and body talk:

First of all, in a relaxed state, scan your body. In this way you can start to become familiar with your ‘neutral’ state. Practise this.

When positive things occur in your life, pause … and notice how it feels. When you think of the good thing that has happened, where do you feel it in your body? You will feel different to your neutral state. When negative things occur in your life, pause … and notice how it feels. When you think of the unpleasant thing that has happened, where do you feel it in your body? You will feel different to your neutral state. With practise, you will find that your body can act as your own “barometer”. When you have decisions to make and a choice of possible solutions or actions to take, you can tune in to your body and get a feel for which one would be best.

In times of stress, breathe in through your nose to the count of 2, pause, breathe out through your mouth to the count of 5, pause, repeat. You will feel instantly less stressed. Continue till you feel more in control and ease. Stop if you feel at all light-headed.

Feeling stressed, stuck or overwhelmed? Get in touch for a free, confidential chat to talk things over and see how I can help. See ad for contact details.

Are you struggling to deal with issues in your life?

Weight Loss? Anxiety?

Stress? Smoking?

Phobias? Alcohol?

Confidence?

If so, then hypnotherapy may be the solution.

Find out more about my holistic approach to resolving client’s issues on my website

www.gilliandalgliesh.com or call me on 07593 082 349 for a free consultation

An Update From Councillor Max Mitchell

Deanhaugh Street & Leslie Place Junction

Improvements to the junction of Leslie Place and Deanhaugh Street with Haugh Street have been scheduled for several years. These include dropped kerbs and crossing/signal upgrades, plus a raised crossing installed at Haugh Street. Resourcing pressures and, unfortunately, politics have caused delays. However, positive steps and some changes have been achieved in this time.

Residents from Veitch’s Square raised concerns about a safe pedestrian route onto the main road. The pend, next to Hector’s, with its broken setts is not adopted by the Council so I pursued an adaptation of the existing project which wouldn’t cause further delay. Now as part of the design, the narrow section of footway on Haugh Street will also be extended by around half a metre to support pedestrian movements including those using a mobility aid.

I will keep pushing for this scheme to be delivered. Seemingly small changes, like a dropped kerb or a footway extension, can make a big difference for residents with a mobility aid, a visual impairment or a buggy.

The Blue Bridge, Water of Leith

Once again, the route along the Water of Leith between the galleries and Stockbridge has been cut off. The blue bridge at the bottom of Bell’s Mills has been closed as the decking has completely collapsed making it entirely unsafe to pass. Residents have been, and continue, getting in touch with me about this.

Whilst the landslip at Dean Path and the wooden walkway by Britannia Hotel were outwith the Council’s control due to the ownership, the blue bridge is owned by the Council. At the time of writing, the Council is awaiting quotes for the repair. I know this route is important, both for leisure and active travel, and I’m glad the wheels are in motion to repair the bridge.

Spaces for People aka ‘Travelling Safely’

Residents may be aware that in September 2022, the Council agreed to create an ‘Experimental Traffic Regulation Order’ to legally allow an extension of timescales for the Spaces for People schemes installed during the pandemic. This means they’ll be in place for an extra 18 months.

I am conscious that specific sections are still causing issues whilst others are now felt to be working better. There is a consultation (yes, another one!) on retaining schemes as they are now. If you would like to comment, please visit www.edinburgh.gov.uk/travellingsafely.

Please don’t hesitate to contact Inverleith Ward councillor Max Mitchell by email, max.mitchell@edinburgh.gov.uk, or by phone, 0131 529 4409, with any local issues or questions.

Follow Max on Facebook at max4inverleith and Twitter with @maxmitchell91.

March/April 2023 Issue :

Artwork Deadline : 10th March

Distribution Date : 27th/28th/29th March

To book your advertising space and reach 5000 local residents contact Sue Hutchison.

T : 07817 206418 E : sue@stockbridgespotlight.co.uk www.stockbridgespotlight.co.uk

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

Just give James Nichol, our Managing Director, a call on 07813 060565

Do visit our webite and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

www.elitepainting.co.uk

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

March 10th

Christine MacAlpine from Kinross

Title ‘My Bucket List’

April 14th

Lindsay Florey from Dumfries

Title ‘Musical Flowers’

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

An Article From Deidre Brock MP

One of the many welcome aspects of the easing of lockdown restrictions in the past year or so has been the re-opening of gyms, swimming pools, fitness classes and other leisure facilities. The precise impact of their closure, while necessary at the height of the pandemic, is difficult to measure, but there’s no doubting their vital importance to many people’s mental as well as physical health and wellbeing.

So it’s been heartening to see these centres flourishing again, especially those that are publicly owned and that have served the city for generations. For example, the iconic Victorian pools – such as Glenogle here in Stockbridge - have been in use for well over a century and we want to see them continue to thrive.

Initially these municipal baths were used as much as a place to wash as for recreational swimming, as town planners tried to get to grips with the population’s poor health and hygiene, caused in part by overcrowded slum conditions. They were designed by City Architect Robert Morham, who constructed most of his projects, including the baths, in red sandstone so that they could be identified as city-owned public buildings. The Dalry Baths opened in 1895, Leith’s followed in 1898 before those in Portobello and Glenogle in 1900. It speaks to the quality of Morham’s works, and the fondness still held for them today, that all remain as listed buildings and continue to be used as public pools. When Glenogle was threatened with closure in the mid 2000s after falling into disrepair, the local community ran a successful campaign to save the centre with nearly 10,000 people backing a petition to prevent it being sold off.

'Glennies’ was fully refurbished in 2010 and I was privileged to officially reopen the centre as the council’s Culture & Leisure Convener. The renovation added essential modern touches and improved accessibility, while preserving Glenogle’s distinctive Victorian style. With its mezzanine floors, 25-yard swimming pool bathed in natural light, and old-fashioned poolside changing berths in perfect symmetry, the beautiful interior wouldn’t look out of place in a still from a Wes Anderson film. No surprise then that the pools have drawn the eye of photographers Soo Burnell and Teresa Sumerfield and Edinburgh Leisure has been working with them to organise exhibitions.

The aesthetic charm of the buildings is worth preserving and celebrating but their main purpose as community hubs for health and wellbeing shouldn’t be overlooked. Ensuring they are accessible, fully equipped, well-staffed and enjoyable places is the main objective, and that needs sustained backing.

A 2021 Swim England report found that 200 swimming pools closed during the pandemic, many permanently, with the sector already struggling prior to Covid-19. In the last few weeks several MPs have raised in the Commons the threat of these local swimming pool closures in England, excluded from Treasury support for energy bills and affected by cuts to local authority budgets from central government funding. The almost unbroken austerity agenda has put strains on the public purse at every level, and the recent cost of living crisis has only added to the pressure.

Demand for programmes like Edinburgh Leisure’s Active Communities, however, has increased compared to pre-pandemic levels, supporting around 10,000 people. As well as helping vulnerable folk to improve their levels of activity, there’s a clear preventative benefit in reducing the impact on health and social care services.

Edinburgh’s public pools, with their rich social history, remain crucial to boosting the health and wellbeing of this city - long may that continue.

Granton

Granton Parish Church

55 Boswall Parkway

Edinburgh, EH5 2DA

Thursdays 7.00pm

Tel: Anne 07821 273666

Leith

Granton

Granton Parish Church

55 Boswall Parkway

Edinburgh, EH5 2DA

Fridays 9.30am

Tel: Anne 07821 273666

United Reformed Church

108A Duke Street

Edinburgh, EH6 8HL

Thursdays 4.00pm & 5.30pm

Tel: Lee 07525 093604

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

Saturdays 8.30am & 10.00am

Tel Sarah 07470 131148

Healthy Hints For Busy Working Days

By Tracy Griffen

Having a desk-based job needn’t be a barrier to being fit. Here are seven handy hints to make your working day more healthy, and hopefully also more enjoyable!

1. Eat Well Early in the Day : We often forget that our brain is 2% of our mass, but uses 20% of our energy. This means your brain needs fuel, and eating low GI (slow burning) food early in the day will stabilise your blood sugar levels, making it easy to concentrate and deeply focus on tasks. Have healthy snacks ready, place them near your computer where you can see them.

2. Stand up more : Your body was made to move, we’re not designed to sit for long periods of time. Being seated burns very few calories, and excessive sitting can increase your chance of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and lower back pain.

3. Schedule exercise in your diary : whether it’s getting out for a lunchtime walk to blow away the cobwebs, or attending a yoga class at the end of your day, schedule your workouts into your work diary – this way, you not only receive a reminder, but your time is already blocked out (to yourself and others).

4. For every coffee, have a glass of water : Go to any cafe in Italy, and when you order a coffee, it automatically comes with a glass of water. It’s also good to sip on herbal tea throughout the day. Invest in an attractive flask to have on your desk and fill it with mint tea in the morning to sip on all day – also saves time and electricity.

5. Try a walking meeting : You might find you generate new, better ideas and solve niggling problems. Meet somewhere indoors, grab what you need and try for 30 minutes walking at a comfortable pace.

6. Stretch : If working to deadline, it can be tempting to “bash on through” and work for hours without a break. You will work better if you give yourself microbreaks, and stand up and stretch for a few minutes every hour. Set an hourly alarm to remind you. Deep breathing will oxygenate your system and help you work more effectively. Work smarter, not harder.

7. Have a switch-off time : More and more work seems to be 24/7, we may feel we need to be constantly available. This can be exhausting, so set clear working times. Most modern devices have a night time / sleep schedule, for instance the screen goes to black and white, which is a reminder to switch off. We all need to sleep well to work well and feel refreshed. Enjoy!

Personal Trainer Tracy Griffen runs a private fitness studio and offers corporate fitness for businesses

See www.griffenfitness.com for more info or call Tracy directly on 07743741088.

Deceased Houses

General Knowledge Crossword

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

Across: 1 Plastic, 5 Set-up, 8 Initial, 9 Osier, 10 Edict, 11 Cinders, 12 Cashew, 14 Papers, 17 Pergola, 19 Cadre, 22 Clots, 23 Science, 24 Teals, 25 Scenery.

Down: 1 Prime, 2 Alibi, 3 Thistle, 4 Calico, 5 Sworn, 6 Trireme, 7 Paresis, 12 Copycat, 13 Sarcoma, 15 Archive, 16 Cassis, 18 Oasis, 20 Dance, 21 Elegy.

1. Hannah Montana 2. Dominic Cummings 3. Pete Best (an early member of The Beatles) 4. Dr Pepper 5. Outstanding 6. Rod Stewart 7. Chris Eubank 8. Pele 9. Adam Sandler 10. Seven and two