The Stockbridge Spotlight Issue 113 March/April 2023

STOCKBRIDGE SPOTLIGHT

Welcome to the March/April issue of the Stockbridge Spotlight. As this issue drops through your door the clocks have just changed so it is officially Spring. Time to look forward to the daylight hours getting longer, the weather improving and temperatures rising. Though who knows what the next few months might bring given the recent unpredictable weather trends. What never seems to change at this time of year though is our instinct to 'Spring Clean'. Whether it be the house, the garden or the garage the process of decluttering, decorating and freshening things up will be on the go. Easter seems to be a trigger for many of us on this front for some reason. There have been many a joke made about queues at DIY stores on Easter weekend!

Not all of us are great on the DIY front though. That might be due to our inability to actually do what needs to be done or being able to have the time, or energy, to get through the 'to do' list. For those of you that need help there are many businesses out there that can do the job for you, saving you DIY disasters and freeing up time for other activities. Yes, you will have to pay them which, given the current economic climate, might be challenging. But that might be preferrable to numerous unfinished jobs or even worse spending time and money on what end up being botched projects that don't achieve what you set out to do. If you do need some help have a read through the Spotlight and hopefully you will find the experise that you need. As you read through this Spotlight though, what you will not find is much information on Community or Charity activities. Pre Covid I would have had 2 or 3 pages in the Community Spotlight section but sadly, I have not been able to build this section back up as things have restarted. So if you are a community group, church, an event organiser or a charity and want to let residents in our distribution area know about your activities please do get in touch. I would be deighted to hear from you again.

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

Granton

Granton Parish Church

55 Boswall Parkway

Edinburgh, EH5 2DA

Thursdays 7.00pm

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

Tel: Anne 07821 273666

Inverleith

Ferranti Bowling Club

7 Arboretum Place

Edinburgh, EH3 5NY

Tuesdays 5.30pm

Tel: Nicola 07743 471946

Leith

United Reformed Church

108A Duke Street

Edinburgh, EH6 8HL

Saturdays 8.30am & 10.00am

Tel Sarah 07470 131148

Leith

United Reformed Church

108A Duke Street

Edinburgh, EH6 8HL

Thursdays 4.00pm & 5.30pm

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 38)

An Update From Councillor Vicky Nicolson

Thank you to Stockbridge Spotlight for the opportunity to write my second piece in your excellent publication.

I have been one of your Inverleith Ward Councillors for almost a year now and it has been a very busy, enjoyable and challenging year. I very much enjoy the opportunities to help local people with any council issues which arise. These types of queries generally concern parking, bins, Welfare Rights, Education, Social Care, bicycle storage and other council and sometimes non-council!) issues. I am always happy to meet or take calls so do get in touch if I can help.

Most recently, I was privileged to be invited, along with my colleague Deidre Brock MP, to Lifecare on 12 March. We were both very impressed by the range of opportunities Lifecare provides for local people and the thought and care that they put into all of the work they and their excellent staff team do. As I worked in Health and Social Care for many years, both with people who live with a disability and their unpaid carers and with older adults, it is so refreshing to see this kind of innovative thinking and community building first-hand in my ward.

Lifecare in Stockbridge provides vital services to older people living in and around our communities. The services include help at home, household support (help with shopping and other tasks), meals on wheels, outreach (providing care and companionship for people in their homes), day activities and day clubs for older people within the Lifecare building, home haircuts for people living with dementia, groups and activities for unpaid carers and Vintage Vibes.

Vintage Vibes is an award-winning project tackling isolation and loneliness in Edinburgh. The project, a partnership between Lifecare Edinburgh and Space at the Broomhouse Hub, started in 2015 as a fresh new way to combat isolation and loneliness among over 60s (called VIPs) in Edinburgh. Vintage Vibes creates long lasting one-to-one friendships offering support, companionship, and the opportunity for lonely VIPs to be more socially connected and active in their local community.

But that is not all… Lifecare offers a community space, a café, a Warm and Welcoming Space, https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/warmandwelcoming, and many other opportunities for enjoyment and fellowship to people living in the area and beyond. I have arranged parties for my daughter in the past at Lifecare and, memorably, a few years ago we had a bouncy Castle party which was well received by the target audience of 4 year olds! Lifecare also hosts all sorts of other community clubs and organisations and the café is a lovely space to enjoy a cuppa or a bowl of soup or meet with work or with friends. It may not be on the main street but it’s worth a wee trip up Cheyne Street to support your local charity in the heart of your community.

If you are an unpaid carer, have a need for the type of support described above or wish to find out more you can call 0131 343 0940 or visit LifeCare Centre, 2 Cheyne Street, Edinburgh EH4 1JB or visit the website at www.lifecare-edinburgh.org.uk.

Please get in touch with me, Councillor Vicky Nicolson,

A POWERFUL FUTURE PRESENT MEDITATION/VISUALISATION

For many of us, life can be tough at times, so I’m writing this article today because I recently experienced a negative situation: I thought about it a lot – reflecting on the negativity of it and the fear of the possible consequences. Then I realised that I was living in the problem more than I was living in the solution!

As I speak with clients, I realise more and more that most of us are the same – many of us spend our lives living in our problem mentality rather than in our solution mentality. So I’ve created a meditation to lift us out of that state-of-mind and elevate us to a different perspective. This powerful Meditation is in 2 parts. I’ve included the first part in this article, but I don’t have enough space here to include Part 2. If you’d like the additional information on how to action & turbo boost the positive changes in your life, then sign up to my website for Mindset Tips.

Part One

I’d like you to imagine that it’s a year from now and everything in your life has changed for the better!!! What would that mean? What would have to change for you?

So let’s start with thinking about your work –your job, career, perhaps you run a business, your professional aspirations … How would it all look? What would you be doing? Where would you be? What would have changed? How would you have changed it?

What about your health. What would your optimum level of health and wellbeing feel like? How would you feel? What would you now be able to do? What would you have changed? What new habits would you have?

Now think about your relationships – family, friends, professional - how would they have improved? How do you now interact with people differently? What would you have changed? How are they now reacting and acting towards you?

What are your finances like? How much money do you have in your bank account? What is this enabling you to do? New home, holidays, adventures? What has therefore changed? How do you feel?

By Gillian Dalgliesh Clinical Hypnotherapist & Mindset Coach

How is your Love Life? Who is in your life? What makes this the ideal person? What sorts of things are you sharing together? What happy experiences are your sharing? What is the future you are looking forward to sharing together?

What does your home look like? Where is it? Do you own it or rent it? How many rooms does it have? Does it have a garden? How is it decorated? Who’s mutually happily sharing your home with you? What’s your connection? What’s your ideal weight & shape? Where are you on your successful, ideal, weight management journey? Have you achieved your ideal weight & shape? If not, how close are you to achieving it? How does that feel?

So, if you’re following my lead, you’ve just projected yourself into a very optimistic & successful vision of your future. Get in touch for more information on how to deepen & embody the experience. See my 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

Our Clients Are Our Guests At

I love hosting. Anything from breakfasts to dinners. I enjoy the whole process from deciding what to serve, what to serve on and what drinks to serve with. It has taken decades of practice and I am still learning tricks to make sure the guests feel right at home.

I unashamedly steal ideas from friends who are far better at hosting than me. I steal ideas from hotels and restaurants if something I see is achievable and necessary for my little parties. In fact, hosting is what kept me in the barbering industry. It’s not just making someone feel fantastic about their hair, or finding a solution to a hair styling problem, it’s about making the client feel comfortable and right at home.

When the space on 52 Dublin Street became available to lease, it was an opportunity to try a new way of running a barbershop by anticipating client’s wants and needs when they walk into the space. We styled the space as a photography lovers flat with hardcover photo books placed about for the clients to pour over, if they wish.

We serve beverages on porcelain trays with everything the client may want like the tea brewed in a small tea pot, the coffee brewed in a small cafetière, a three minute egg timer and even a metal teacup lid to keep the heat in and the hair out.

We give generous appointment times so we can have a deep consultation and trust that we will listen to any hair concerns and work together to achieve a workable outcome. You may spot familiar Edinburgh locations in the street photography on the walls, all shot in lockdown.

Through the back where you will have your hair shampooed and a scalp massage, there is a kitchen that would not look out of place in a new town flat, complete with a dishwasher and dining table.

You’re invited to visit us! Johnny, Lee Ann, Arthur and I want you to feel right at home.

To book an appointment go to our website at fallonandmannbarbers.co.uk. Email us at hello@fallonandmannbarbers.co.uk. Or pop into our shop at 52 Dublin Street, EH3 6NP.

By Ian Fallon

May/June 2023 Issue :

Artwork Deadline : 28th April Distribution Date : 10th/11th/12th May

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

Stockbridge Scout Group - For Adults As Much As Young People!

"Think you know about Scouting? Think again!" For example, if you think Scouting is just about boys, tents and woggles, then be prepared to be surprised. Did you know these famous faces were at some time a member of Scouts – David Beckham, Anita Rani, Barack Obama, Ellie Simmonds, Helen Glover, Dwayne Fields, Tim Peake and more. Scouts is where young people make new friends, have amazing adventures, and learn new skills. Scouts are do-ers and give-it-a-go-ers. Yes, they go camping, hiking, swimming, abseiling, cycling and canoeing. But they also get to hang out with our friends every week – having fun, playing games, working in a team and taking on new challenges. There are 200 activities to be enjoyed so it's not just putting up tents. Every week the local Scout Group gives 6-14 year olds the skills they need for school, college, university, job interviews, important speeches, tricky challenges and the big dreams: the skills they need for life. Everyone’s welcome - all genders, races and backgrounds. Regardless of your child’s physical ability – there’s a Scout adventure out there waiting for them. And we’ll help them find it.

Scouting in Stockbridge is thriving. Demand to join Scouts by young people has never been as strong, but the support of the adult community is now needed to enable more children to receive help from the fun and adventure Scouts provide. They are appealing for help from parents, carers, employers and the local community.

Scouting goes far beyond being a progressive programme of activities designed to help the young develop holistically. It provides a foundation for great values to live by: helpfulness, friendship, cooperation; respect for self and for others; understanding and tolerance; integrity based on loyalty, honesty and trust; leadership, resourcefulness and courage in the face of difficulties. And adults can benefit too.

What could be more important to nurturing the kind of society all want to live in?

This is why it matters profoundly and why the local Scout Group needs even more support from volunteers, employers and decision-makers like you. With just a little of your resources – time, talent, money, and goodwill – they can make a huge difference. They welcome women and men of all ages, interests and backgrounds to support Scouting. There is no need to have been involved in Scouting or Guiding before; all that is needed is a willingness to give some of your time and a positive attitude! t’s a great way to make friends as the adult members have a lively social and activity programme and many people find that the free training received helps in both their professional and personal lives.

It’s not all outdoor adventure for the adult volunteers, they help across a range of subjects from drama and arts through to providing much needed organisational support, on training, logistics, mentoring, administration, marketing, fundraising and as charity trustees. The list of opportunities is almost endless.

Stockbridge Scout Group

The 64th Edinburgh North East (Stockbridge) Scout Group meets during school term time at Stockbridge Primary School, 17 Hamilton Place. They deliver a fun and exciting activity programme for young people aged 6 to 14 across their three sections.

The Beaver Scout Colony (for ages 6 to 8) meets on Wednesdays from 6 to 7pm. The Cub Scout Pack (for ages 8 to 10½) and Scout Troop (for ages 10½ to 14) both meet on Friday evening from 6 to 7.30pm and 7.30 to 9pm.

Catherine Gilliland, Beaver Leader said “Our main goal for 2023 is to get outdoors and in June we hope to take as many of our Beavers (and Cubs and Scouts) as possible on a night away at the District Camp. We make sure our young people and all our Leaders have a say in what we do to make sure everyone enjoys their time at Beavers. “ District Commissioner, Rob Whitelaw, added, “This isn't a job application, and you certainly don’t have to be an adventurer like Bear Grylls to get involved with Scouting and in fact not many of our volunteers are! Do you have first aid knowledge? Are you good with numbers? Handy in the kitchen? Or are you a DIY whizz? We all have useful skills, and you can volunteer and help in many ways. Are you ready to inspire a generation of young people to experience fun, friendship and real adventure? The opportunities to volunteer with us are flexible. Think of something you'd like to do, and chances are it's just what we need. Whatever your skills, experience and interests, we can find a role for you!”

For more information and to get in touch with the Stockbridge Scout Group team visit: https://enescouts.org.uk/stockbridge-scouts/ and mention you heard about this from the Stockbridge Spotlight.

Are you considering selling your home?

Would you like one of our expert valuers to give you a free, no obligation valuation of your property and discuss a bespoke marketing package to suit your requirements?

As a firm of solicitor estate agents, we are members of the ESPC and advertise all our properties on espc.com. This attracts over 2.2 million visits per month, including 100,000 overseas visits, thereby providing excellent exposure for your property to both local and international buyers. We also advertise on Zoopla and OnTheMarket, both of which have huge traffic from across the UK and beyond.

Why Choose us?

We offer a free, no obligation, honest valuation of your property based on our expert knowledge.

Our service is professional, high quality, good value for money and, above all, personal and friendly.

We have a small, specialised team who will do their very best to ensure that your sale transaction is as smooth and efficient as possible.

How do we rate against other ESPC agents?

Our 2022 statistics across EH4 and EH5

17 days - our median time to sell a property

107.4% - our average percentage over home report value - ESPC average is 106.4%

(Statistics from 1 January - 31 December 2022)

We are selling in your area!

2021 and 2022 were extremely successful years for the property market and although the market slowed down at the end of last year due to the economic climate, we have been very encouraged with the activity this year so far. Going forward in 2023 we are expecting to see a steady but calmer market with property sales stabilising and early signs are showing there is positive movement across all types of property.

If you would like to discuss the property market in more detail please get in touch. We have an experienced, dedicated and friendly estate agency and legal team, here to guide you through the full process, all under one roof.

Service you deserve, with people you can trust.

www.elpamsolicitors.co.uk

Next Meeting

Wednesday 19th April, 7pm at Stockbridge Parish Church

7b Saxe Coburg Street.

Concerns about CO2 emissions and climate change are prominent in any discussions about energy use and in particular the heating of residential properties. Last year, Stockbridge Colonies Residents Association (SCRA) asked the question ‘ What should one do if one’s boiler completely breaks down and needs replacing?’ They initiated discussions to assess what measures could be taken to reduce heat loss in their properties and to ascertain what was the most sustainable form of heating appropriate for the listed Colonies.

The issue was brought to Stockbridge and Inverleith Community Council (S&ICC) and a small group, including a Community Councillor who is a resident of the Colonies, was set up to see how best information about heat conservation and generation could be obtained and disseminated to the residents of the Colonies. Working with Home Energy Scotland, a public meeting was held in June last year where information was provided regarding means of reducing heat loss, planning issues related to listed buildings particularly with regard to double glazing of windows and other technologies which may be considered for such buildings. There was good attendance and subsequently it was acknowledged by SCRA that few new technologies were appropriate for all properties and that the emphasis should be better insulation. To this end, efforts are being made to change planning regulations to make it easier to install double glazing.

It was intended that this would the first of other meetings which would feature other types of residential properties, providing information about appropriate measures and technologies. Tenement flats were chosen to be highlighted, these types of property being very common within the area, of different ages and listings and with different requirements. There have been delays in arranging such a meeting, but the Community Council is in the process of organising such a public meeting in the not to distant future. Watch out for announcements.

Just to bring to your attention there is a major residential development of approximately 300 apartments being planned for the old bank building at 525 Ferry Road, adjacent to Crewe Toll roundabout. The aim of the developer ‘Artisan Real Estate’ is to create ‘a contemporary development of sustainable residential apartments.’ It is a large development next to one of the busiest roads in Edinburgh and issues that need to be considered are car usage, public transport access, walking and cycling access, schools, GP practices, the concept of ’20 Minute Neighbourhoods’ and the effect on adjacent properties and green spaces. The developers hope to submit a planning application towards the end of April.

Our next meeting is on Wednesday 19th April. Anyone is welcome to come along.

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 we 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.

re-wires ~ showers ~ boilers

bathrooms ~ kitchens

landlord certificates

Mob: 07543698172

kmsedinburgh@gmail.com

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

April 14th

Lindsay Florey from Dumfries Title ‘Musical Flowers’

May 12th

Regina O’Regan from Kinross Title ‘It was only a Whisper’

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

Too Good To Go

Do you like surprises? If you do, you’ll probably like the ‘Too Good To Go’ app. It’s a web and smartphone app that offers heavily discounted fresh food from local cafes, restaurants and shops at the end of their day. The idea is that you pay about a third of the price and get leftover food that might otherwise go to waste.

According to the Too Good To Go website, the app has 12 million users internationally, with over 25,000 outlets listed. The overall aim is to reduce food waste, whilst users can bag a bargain...

Over February I made it a personal mission to find the best local deals. The end of winter is an uninspiring time known as the ‘hungry gap’ when there’s not much seasonal produce available. A perfect time to try To Good To Go.

By Tracy Griffen

Once you’ve downloaded the free app, you get a choice of local eateries who have ‘magic bags’ of leftover goodies for collection at specific times. You reserve a bag (usually £2.50 to £5), go to the cafe / store in your allocated timeslot, show them the app, and hey presto, a carrier bag of unknown food will be presented to you. Even though it’s terrible for my waistline, I really like this app.

Over a month I tried nine different venues – much of it bread, cake or pastry-based. At one bakery, I received 7 big doughnuts, 2 pizzas and a loaf of bread, all freshly baked that day, for £2.49. Supermarkets are also in on the action, offering Magic bags of reduced

priced stock – perfect if you haven’t sorted dinner.

And therein lies the downside of this app – you can’t specify what you will receive. There are a limited number of vegetarian bags, but it’s not suitable for anyone with food allergies, or fussy eaters. If you’re trying to reduce the amount of wheat you’re eating, forget about this! It really brings home just how much baked goods ends up as food waste.

On the plus side, I have discovered a few new independent cafes locally that I will revisit in the future. I’ve saved some food waste and also bagged a bargain. It’s definitely worth a try. Have you tried it?

Tracy Griffen runs a private fitness studio just off Leith Walk, specialising in coaching individuals and couples. She coaches realistic nutrition as part of an effective exercise programme and offers a free 30 minute phone consultation. See adjacent advert.

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.

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