FEBRUARY 2021
LOCAL CHARITY:
SPOTLIGHT:
ARTISAN BAKING AT ITS BEST
Walking towards
wellness:
Is this Balerno’s best-kept secret?
LOCAL ENVIRONMENT:
P11
I
t’s been a challenging start to the year, and not what we were all hoping for.
However, as ever the local area is a rich source of inspiration and information. The cover picture is the Director of Counselling at local charity, The Wellness Centre, based in Balerno. They’ve been open 12 years, but perhaps now more than ever their services are invaluable in the community. See the feature on pages 8-9. I also had the pleasure of discovering more about Bakery Andante, one of the regular stalls at Balerno Farmers Market (normally!), and learning about the authentic and meticulous methods they use to produce their amazing bread. They are delivering weekly within the Currie/ Balerno area, see page 11. All our usual columns are here, our team of local contributors have all pulled together their inspirational, interesting and informative takes on their areas of expertise to start the year off for us. Thanks for reading Konect and supporting local businesses and organisations.
u can know yo Did you to receive each e subscribissue of Konect e here new Subscrib online? scribe b scot/su konect.
THIS ISSUE Charity: The Wellness Centre...................................8 Wine Tasting: The Hills are Alive.........................10 Spotlight: Bakery Andante.................................... 11 Dementia Friendly Pentlands: Tips for Carers....15 Health: Low back pain, when to seek help......16 Ask Your Pharmacist: Here for you in 2021.....18 Interiors: The Seasonal Touch.............................22 Money Matters: Inheritance Tax..........................25 Turning Over a New Leaf......................................29 The New Normal: Zoom, zoom, zoom..............32 Puzzles.......................................................................37 Local Environment: Loved ones are near when robins appear...............................................36
Konect is delivered monthly to homes in Balerno, Currie, Juniper Green, Baberton and Ratho. It is also available online: konect.scot/subscribe
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CHARLENE GAFFNEY COVER IMAGE: Lynn Millar, Director of Counselling, The Wellness Centre. See P8. @KonectMagazines
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Walking towards wellness: Is a life-changing counselling service Balerno’s best-kept secret? “I was in crisis. Having someone walk alongside me, asking the right questions, has enabled me to be at peace and to look to the future with hope.” “It [counselling] has been the best thing I have ever done in my life.” These words were given as feedback to the team at Life and Soul Counselling, operating out of The Wellness Centre on Bridge Road, Balerno, directly across from the high school. Opened 12 years ago and funded by local St Mungo’s Church, the centre is an organisational member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and adheres to its ethical framework, including a strict confidentiality policy. It is run by Director of Counselling Lynn Millar, Wellness Centre Manager Siobhan Short, and 38 volunteer counsellors, men and women of all ages and from all walks of life. These counsellors have been trained to national standards. All hold a minimum qualification of a COSCA (Counselling and Psychotherapy in Scotland) validated Diploma in Counselling and each one is an individual member of a professional counselling body. Five have earned additional qualifications in couples counselling and 13 have been specially trained to work with children and young people. Lynn, who started at the centre in 2015 as Clinical Manager, had become interested in counselling when she began to understand how much talking with others had helped her through various struggles and challenges. “Also, when I realised that friends often came to me with their difficulties, I decided I’d like to be better equipped to help them,” she adds, “so I began training as a counsellor, first doing a Diploma in Counselling and then a master’s at Edinburgh University. She sees counselling as “a brave thing to do” and a chance to invest in yourself. “It’s an opportunity to ponder your stories,” she says, “and to make sense of your life.” Lynn has seen how stress 8 | BALERNO
caused by the pandemic has increased strains on people’s mental health. “Many are struggling with anxiety, loneliness, loss, and other issues,” she comments. “But our clients are taking steps to unburden themselves from the things they are carrying.” Life and Soul is a generic counselling service, working with people who struggle with depression, anxiety, anger, isolation, low selfesteem, shame or relationship difficulties. “We also counsel those who have experienced lifechanging events that have caused loss or grief or have stopped them from living life to the full,” says Lynn. Although GPs and schools make referrals, it is also possible to self-refer. “We counsel both individuals and couples,” explains Lynn. “And we have a children and young people’s service called BeMe, offering play and creative therapies, alongside talking therapy, from the age of six.” The Wellness Centre is funded by a church, but people from all faiths and none are welcome. A person interested in counselling would first come for an assessment appointment, to help them decide whether counselling would be beneficial and to help the service determine whether it would be suitable for them. If they go ahead, it will probably be for at least six sessions, and usually more. There is no charge, though clients are asked to make a financial donation if they can afford to. Currently Life and Soul is operating via online appointments. When it opens to the public again strict anti-Covid measures will resume, ensuring face-to-face meetings are safe. @KonectMagazines
The Pandemic and Mental Health As of late August 2020:
• Almost half (49%) of the Scottish population had felt anxious or worried in the previous two weeks
• All these emotional responses were higher amongst those with a preexisting mental health condition
• Just over one in five people (21%) reported feeling lonely in the previous two weeks
• The proportion of people who had experienced suicidal thoughts or feelings in the previous two weeks was also reasonably steady at approximately 11%
• 18% of the population reported feeling hopeless, whilst just over one in ten (12%) stated that they had been panicked in the previous two weeks
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc, as part of a study being conducted by The Mental Health Foundation. Total sample size was 2,049 Scottish adults (18+).
• Similarly,19% had felt afraid
For more information, phone the Wellness Centre on 0131 451 5226 or email: lifeandsoul@stmungos.org This feature was contributed by Suzanne Green. Suzanne, a freelance writer/editor, lives in Balerno and writes regularly for Konect. She is married to Andy and they have two adult daughters.
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BALERNO | 9
WINE TASTING
THE HILLS ARE
Alive
I’m often asked what my favourite wine is. My answer changes depending on the season. In the depths of winter, a French Cotes du Rhone is a favourite go to; a blend of Shiraz, Mourvedre and Grenache pairs beautifully with a comfortable chair and a fireside. As the seasons change my preference turns to ‘mountain style white wine’.
Mountain wine conjures up scenes from Heidi or The Sound of Music – a beautiful mountain, clean air, alpine and edelweiss. Life on the mountain slope is hard. The steep vineyards, high altitude and thin soils pose a physical challenge to growers. Vines cling to the rocky ground, pushing roots deep into the available soil to establish themselves, finding pockets of moisture and nutrients. The tough growing conditions produce racy, lean wines well deserving of the wine awards and medals they win. Favourite examples of this style come from the Alto Adige region of northeastern Italy. The best Pinot Grigio from this area is pristine, fresh and unoaked with clean aromatics of green apple and pear, delicate floral blossom and a distinctive taut minerality. The aromatic continues to the palate where bright acidity awakens the mouth.
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Torrontes from Argentina is another white grape variety that grows especially well in the high-altitude vineyards, this time the slopes of The Andes. Torrontes is aromatic and often a richer on the palate with a tropical expression. One to look out for this spring and a great wine to pair with Thai dishes. The monthly wine tasting column is contributed by Joanne Frette. Joanne lives in Juniper Green with her 3 children. She is a Sommelier Wine & Spirit Specialist who runs Swirl Sip Socialise, an online wine tasting business which connects friends and family across the UK. @KonectMagazines
ARTISAN BAKING AT ITS BEST The smell of freshly baked bread is universally irresistible. But for those who care about more than just the aroma those in the know in Edinburgh - get their bread from Bakery Andante. Regulars at the Balerno Farmer’s Market, the Edinburgh Farmer’s Market, a shop in Morningside and home delivery service, Bakery Andante is celebrating 10 years of baking amazing artisan bread.
breads have extended prove times and use poolishes for added flavour and texture. Our baguettes use a poolish (a pre-ferment) and take three days too; our croissants take us 2 days. We have very little machinery, so we shape and mould by hand.” The proof, as they say, is in the eating; and if the legions of loyal customers are anything to go by, you won’t be disappointed if you get your home delivery order in for a whole new, slow bread experience. Order at www.bakeryandante.co.uk Delivery daily within the Edinburgh bypass; Saturdays in Balerno/Currie/Juniper Green.
Their success – thanks to the incredible authentic flavours of their breads - is based on a passionate pursuit of the art of baking, and nothing is left to chance. Every detail regarding the ingredients, and authentic processes for each type of dough, and much more, is carefully crafted. Owner and head baker Jon Wood explains their process: “As far as possible we make everything from scratch on our premises, so we can control what is in it – we make our own pastry cream, marzipan etc. We also use very high quality ingredients, locally sourced where we can. Our eggs and milk are local, and our flour comes from Shipton Mill, which is recognised as some of the best flour in the UK. “All our breads are made without additives, enhancers or improvers. All our patisserie avoids additives too - I don’t let them use food colouring even. We have one of the largest selections of sourdoughs in Edinburgh, if not the UK (on a Saturday we field 7 different types). We make proper sourdoughs using just flour, water and salt, and leavened with our now 20 year old sourdough mothers. We don’t add any baker’s yeast at all, as we think that stops it being a proper sourdough. “We use long prove times to give our breads added flavour and texture, so they take us 2-3 days to make. For the sours we feed the sour on day one, mix on day 2, and shape and bake on day 3. Even most of our yeasted @KonectMagazines
Bakery Andante, 352 Morningside Road, EH10 4QL T: 0131 447 8473 W: www.bakeryandante.co.uk E: homedelivery@bakeryandante.co.uk BALERNO | 11
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HEALTH
Low Back Pain
– When to seek help Low back pain is incredibly common, affecting about one third of UK adults each year and almost all of us at some point in our life. Most back pain is non-specific or mechanical back pain where a muscle, joint or connective tissue has been irritated. An episode of back pain can be a frustrating and sometimes scary experience. Suddenly developing pain and muscle spasm that makes moving difficult and going to work impossible is understandably upsetting. The indignity of having to try to lasso your foot with underwear in an attempt to get dressed is not fun, and some find that wearing socks is simply not worth the effort as the pain of bending forwards is too much. The good news is that 90% of people with low back pain find that their symptoms settle in 4 – 6 weeks, or even sooner, with self-help treatment methods such as over the counter medication to help with pain, staying active and moving as normally as possible, avoiding sitting for too long, and lifting carefully. However, sometimes back pain requires further investigation or even immediate action. As Physiotherapists, we often get asked by our patients with back pain “when should I worry and what should I do?” These symptoms are rare, but knowing what to do is important, particularly how quickly to seek help. When to seek advice from your GP or health care provider? Certain symptoms suggest that you should seek help, but not necessarily on the same day are: • Back pain which continues to get worse • Back pain which spreads from your back like a band around your body • A feeling of heaviness in your legs or unsteadiness walking • Back pain which gets worse when you lie down, or stops sleep 16 | BALERNO
• Developing a fever or chills with your back pain When to seek help the same day or go to A&E? There is a rare condition called Cauda Equina Syndrome with the following symptoms. This can be treated and the sooner this is done, the better the outcome. Seek help immediately if you develop the following along with your back and leg pain: • Numbness around your bottom or genitals • Altered feeling when using toilet paper to wipe yourself • You cannot pee or it is increasingly difficult to pee • You cannot control when you pee or poo. • You cannot tell if your bladder or bowel is full or empty Serious spinal conditions are very rare and other things may cause these symptoms. To put this in context the UK has approximately 56.5 million adults. If one third of these develop back pain in a year that is 18.8 million people. There are somewhere between 600 – 1000 cases of Cauda Equina per year in the UK. We pass on this information, not to scare you, but to reassure you that serious problems are rare, but if recognised early, can be fixed. Help us to help you by recognising when to seek help quickly. If you have any concerns – ask! The health column is contributed by McNaughton Physiogrange, Edinburgh www.physiogrange.co.uk @KonectMagazines
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ASK YOUR PHARMACIST
Remember your Pharmacist is here for you in 2021 Are you looking for advice about common winter ailments during these uncertain times? The safe and welcoming environment of your local Lindsay & Gilmour pharmacy team is here for you when you need it.
We offer the NHS Scotland Pharmacy First service at all of our pharmacies, allowing patients to access advice and appropriate treatment for minor illnesses and common health complaints without the need for a GP appointment. lindsayandgilmour.co.uk/ services/pharmacy-first If it’s Repeat Prescriptions you need, did you know that Lindsay & Gilmour offer a handy, free, collection & delivery service? Find out more online at lindsayandgilmour. co.uk/services/prescriptions/ Please note: Our pharmacy opening hours are NOT affected by the current government restrictions. You will find details of our opening hours here: www.lindsayandgilmour.co.uk/location/
Your nearest branch and Pharmacist: 2 Pentland View Court, Currie 0131 449 2707
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- A year for ‘slow decorating’
For many of us, current circumstances are forcing a slower pace to life. There’s a strong case for this being no bad thing, particularly when it comes to feathering our nest. Welcome to the world of ‘slow decorating’. Where once we felt pressure to execute rapid renovations, to just get it done (remember last spring?) there’s now a growing trend towards an unhurried approach to designing and decorating your space. It’s all about being intentional, about relaxing and finding your own style. With limited resources available to us right now this feels like the perfect approach to home decor in 2021. A leisurely pace allows us to get the true feel of a space first, especially after moving into a new home. How does a room’s light change throughout the day (or year!)? What’s the mood of a room? How do you actually use the space? A phased approach works well too. Live in phase 1 for a while, learn from it and ensure it works before moving on to phase 2. This year, let yourself dream, imagine, plan and relish in the process. Being super ‘on trend’ can be quick and easy but is it best? Anyone can rush to buy a bunch of stuff that’s the ‘in thing’ just to get the job done but allowing your own individual style to develop and influence your decor choices takes time and patience. It can be tricky to just conjure up a home vibe you love. It’s more of an aesthetic which builds over time, allowing you to tell your family’s story one photo or decor accessory at a time. Additional benefits might include fewer poorly made snap decisions and more time to save for better quality purchases. At the very least it’s the perfect excuse - ‘Oh this mess? We’re just doing some slow decorating!’ The Seasonal Touch column is contributed by Lynn McMurray, Balerno resident and enthusiast of all things ‘home,’ serving the local community and beyond with her home & gift business The Seasonal Touch. www.theseasonaltouch.co.uk 22 | BALERNO
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MONEY MATTERS
INHERITANCE TAX: YOU MUST CONSIDER IT Inheritance Tax (IHT) affects thousands of families across the UK but it is a subject that can feel difficult to bring up at the dinner table. If there is one thing that is a natural trigger for discussion around inheritance it is The New Year. After an extremely challenging 2020 leaving a legacy has never been nearer to the front of so many people’s minds. Considering that the price of houses over the past 20 years have escalated and if people have invested regularly in PEPs and now ISAs then they could have substantial money in their ISA account, which is obviously in their estate and liable for IHT The most familiar estate planning solutions e.g. gifting or settling assets into a discretionary trust, can be immediate turn off in case the money might be needed, for example for long term care etc.
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Business Property Relief (BPR) offer alternatives to let you plan your legacy without losing access to your money. Investments that qualify for BPR can be passed on free from IHT on the death of the investor, provided the shares have been owned for at least 2 years. A note on the risk: Of course, the value of a BPR qualifying investment can fall as well as rise. DIFFERENT TYPES OF APPROACH There are two different products available that utilise BPR. The first is Capital Preservation Plan (CPP) which is a relatively low risk and is designed to keep pace with inflation but allows asset to be passed to your beneficiaries exempt from IHT. The second product is a higher risk investment but has a large advantage over CPP as an existing ISA of say over £200,000 can be transferred into the plan and which then becomes exempt from IHT. The Money Matters column is contributed by Personal Money Matters. This month’s column by Dr Peter M Marshall.
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TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF
Reduce,Reuse,Recycle–Part1:Recycling Most of us are familiar with this phrase, but how many of us really live by it? Earth has finite resources, so before discarding anything we should consider whether it can be reused, repaired or recycled. Recycling is free and easy thanks to kerbside collections provided by our local council. Despite this, much that could be recycled still goes to landfill. A comprehensive list can be found on the council website (www.edinburgh. gov.uk/downloads/file/22875/recycling-guide). I found it helpful to print this out and stick it in a kitchen cupboard as a handy reference for the whole family. Glass, paper and aluminium (cans, aerosols and clean tin foil) are good candidates for recycling. Repeated recycling does not diminish their quality. Food waste is used by Edinburgh Council to create renewable electricity and fertiliser. You may choose to put your uncooked food waste on a compost heap in your garden instead. Batteries and small electrical appliances are collected along with glass, as are textiles, including clothes, pairs of shoes, towels and clean sheets. Put them in separate bags to keep them clean and dry. Recycling plastic is more problematic. There are many different types of plastic, and not all can be recycled. Edinburgh Council has simple guidelines: it accepts all plastic bottles (including tops), pots, tubs and trays. These include yoghurt pots, margarine tubs, meat trays, ready-meal trays, fruit punnets and pots of face cream. Most plastic film, such as on fruit punnets and ready meals, cannot be recycled, nor can crisp packets or polystyrene. However, some types of plastic wrappings, such as those on toilet rolls and magazines, bread bags and multipack shrink wrap, can be recycled with plastic carrier bags at larger supermarkets. Check labels to be sure. @KonectMagazines
Edinburgh Council suggests the following tips for recycling: • rinse dirty items to prevent contamination of recycling • remove the pump sprays from plastic bottles • squeeze plastic bottles down to make them smaller, then reattach the lids • flatten all cardboard packaging and boxes. This makes a big difference to how much fits in your bin, and the trucks transporting it • Squash tin cans, but do not crush them, as it makes them harder to transport in bales Recycling is just one aspect of waste management. Next month will focus on ideas for reusing items which can further reduce our impact on the planet. If you do one thing this month, ensure you and your family know what can be recycled and put it in the correct bin. Instead of seeing waste, think of everything as potentially valuable resources that can be used again. For more information, please see Zero Waste Scotland and Edinburgh Council websites. “Turning Over a New Leaf” is a new column contributed by Jo Johnson, a Balerno resident who aims to share her research and shopping choices each month for manageable steps to a greener life. (Artwork by Nikki Forrest of Memorybox Paintings) For more ideas, follow me on Instagram @anewleaf.balerno
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BALERNO | 31
THE NEW NORMAL
Zoom, zoom, zoom! Because I work part-time at the library, I know “Zoom, Zoom, Zoom” is a fun song for preschool children. I sang it with groups of little ones when the libraries were open and fully functioning. Later, when the first lockdown was instated, I began videoing myself singing it, and other songs and nursery rhymes, for an online version of the library’s “BookBug” sing-a-long sessions.
At the same time, I was taking part in more and more online meetings and social communications via Zoom. So, before long I was “zooming” with both children and adults! Today my husband and I use video conferencing for work, family chats, my book group discussions, his hiking group meetings, church events and even dinner parties. I regularly used Zoom back in 2016/17 -- before many people had even heard of it. Because I worked for an international organisation, I was often in meetings with people based all over the world. Once, when a meeting started early (UK time), I decided to leave my video off. I heard one of my colleagues tell another person on the call, “It looks like Suzanne’s webcam isn’t working.” “Umm…actually, it does work,” I confessed. “But I don’t have my make-up on yet.” It could have been worse. I’ve heard of people on Zoom who dress their top half smartly, while wearing only pants on the bottom half. All is well until they forget and stand up to get a coffee! And there’s more than one hilarious YouTube video of a person who leaves a Zoom meeting for a toilet break and absent-mindedly takes their phone with them. It’s quite important to check the technology before a video conferencing call. When I first 32 | BALERNO
started using Zoom, the other participants always cracked up when I came on. Crying with laughter, they choked out the information that my voice resembled that of a chipmunk. This happened even when I had checked my microphone beforehand. The only way I could fix it was to exit and re-enter the meeting. Video quality is important too. My husband and I invested in a decent webcam so we wouldn’t look like faceless blobs. Tip: If you’re hosting a meeting, make sure to open it early so you can check yourself in the mirror (whoops, I meant screen!) before the others arrive. Whatever the issues, we’re blessed to have such technology available to us, when we can’t go to the office or to the home of a friend. No, virtual meetings aren’t as good as actual, physical ones. But they help to keep us connected when these aren’t possible. We’ll just have to learn to cope with the embarrassment that comes at the end of the meeting, when everyone is smiling, waving and trying to leave quickly. Sadly, there’s always some poor soul who stays on until the bitter end, looking nervous and repeatedly asking, “How do I get out of here?!!” The New Normal is contributed by Suzanne Green. Suzanne, a freelance writer/editor, lives in Balerno and writes regularly for Konect. She is married to Andy and they have two adult daughters. @KonectMagazines
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LOCAL ENVIRONMENT
The
Robin Whilst we weren’t lucky enough to have a white Christmas, we were certainly treated to a few days of the white stuff, which created a rather beautiful winter wonderland. I had promised an article about waxwings, but they haven’t turned up, (unless you live in Elgin), and we can’t travel to see them, so I’ve turned my attention to Britain’s most popular bird, the robin.
saying is “loved ones are near when robins appear”, and as we again face uncertain times, we like to think they represent the hope we all continue to hold.
They’re the ones currently singing their hearts out in the morning whilst it’s still dark, and is one of the reasons they’re so special. The robin is one of the only birds who sing throughout winter, and we definitely love hearing them filling the streets with their melodic tune.
This column is contributed by Clare Harte and Kate Stevenson, who grew up in Edinburgh and now live in West Lothian. Together they run Scottish Sisters Photography and travel around the country to watch and photograph amazing wildlife and scenic landscapes. Follow them on Facebook @ScottishSistersPhotography
Robins are symbolic birds, and a common 36 | BALERNO
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PUZZLES
CROSSWORD
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^ ^ ^ Solution in the March edition of Konect ACROSS: 1. Hint (4), 3. Contrary (8), 9. Error (7), 10. Frolic (5), 11. Eager (12), 13. Informal (6), 15. Titbit (6), 17. Alphabetical reference books (12), 20. Propose (5), 21. Produces lava (7), 22. Vacations (8), 23. Wagers (4). DOWN: 1 Business (8), 2 Distressed (5), 4 Lyrical (6), 5 From time to time (12), 6 Suggests (7), 7 Acquire (4), 8 Produced (12), 12 Flowers (8), 14 Talented (7), 16 Carry (6), 18 Picture (5), 19 Weapon (4).
^ ^ ^ Solution in the March edition of Konect
SUDOKU
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Claylands Cottage Cattery ...for contented cats
Established in May 2006, we provide first-class holiday accommodation for up to 35 feline guests. Single and double cabins, as well as large cabins for families, each comprises an upper sleeping area (heated in winter) with an exercise run below. A collection and drop-off service is available Fully licensed and insured
Proprietors: Pam and Bill Clark Phone: 0131 333 1636 Email: mail@claylandscottagecattery.co.uk Off Claylands Road, Newbridge, EH28 8LZ Conveniently situated near the airport.
www.claylandscottagecattery.co.uk
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