JULY 2020
INTERIORS:
NO SPACE FOR A HOME OFFICE?
LOCAL PEOPLE:
LOCAL ENVIRONMENT:
PLUS: MONEY MATTERS, HEALTH, NOTES FROM A SMALL VILLAGE, and MUCH more inside!
P11
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e’re back after an enforced break in production, and the pages of this magazine are testament to the resilience, positivity and determination of local people and businesses to rebuild. The incredible adaptability I’ve seen all around as I pulled this edition together has been truly inspiring. We could not go to print this month without adding our voice to the Black Lives Matter movement. Suzanne has interviewed some members of our community who share their experiences of racism. If there is one action that we can all take, it is “listen, learn, educate yourself about it.” I hope this article is a contribution to that. I’m delighted to be restarting print with a new column on Local Environment, bringing stunning photographs of wildlife by local photographers Scottish Sisters Photography. They have a permanent gallery on the BBC Wildlife Magazine website and are now sharing in a monthly Konect column too. Please support local businesses where you can. This magazine is smaller than usual because some of those who usually brighten its pages are not able to get back to work yet.
Thanks for reading. As ever, drop me a line and let me know what you think.
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 Local People: “You shouldn’t be here!”.............8 Local Environment: Otters? In the canal?.......14 Feature: Isolation; been there, done that........16 Money Matters.........................................................25 The Small Business Owner’s Guide to successful #WFH....................................................27 The Seasonal Touch: Sense of Sanctuary.....29 Community: Balerno Village Trust.....................30 Local Lab: Flooding Research...........................34 Feature: Socially distanced student life?........36 Notes from a Small Village...................................38
Konect is delivered to homes in Balerno, Currie, Juniper Green, Baberton and Ratho. Copies are also left at the library, community centres, convenience stores and various other locations within the area.
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CURRIE POST OFFICE CLOSURE Firstly, I would like to thank everyone for their good wishes for my retirement from Currie Post Office and also take this opportunity to confirm that The Gift Stop will open again whenever the government considers it appropriate. I have thoroughly enjoyed the last 32 years and it has been an honour and a pleasure to serve and get to know so many friendly local residents. Hopefully, you will take a moment to pop in and say hello to our remaining staff when we do open up The Gift Stop I look forward to meeting you all again.
Margaret Marshall
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“You shouldn’t be here!” Local academics share their experience of racism #blm The recent anti-racist protests and rioting sparked by the killing of George Floyd at the hands of white policemen have shaken our world. No, the threat of Covid-19 has not gone away – to make way for this latest crisis. Life is not like that. Angry protesters have gone ahead with their plans, seemingly not bothered about social distancing. And Mr. Floyd’s funeral was attended by some 500 people, despite the guidelines prohibiting or discouraging large gatherings due to the pandemic. Leaders and health officials suggested the protests be postponed until the virus was no longer an issue. But you can’t tell a volcano when to erupt.
incidents where they were the victims of racism. I find it hard to understand how anyone can deny it is ingrained in our culture.
friends who are people of colour. And every one of those I asked about it could describe
“But my greatest shock was the reaction of a lady who had walked into a shop ahead of me. Her young daughter, who was about six years old, ran ahead of the mother to hold the door for her. She was still holding the door when some white people went through. But as I approached, the mother came back and pulled her daughter away with such force that she released the door and it closed in my face.”
I asked Dr. Reginald Agu, who lives in Wester Hailes and is a Nigerian who came to Edinburgh in 1994 to complete his PhD programme, to tell me about his experiences of being treated differently due to his skin colour.
“My first experience of racism in The fact that the outcry has been “My Dad says Edinburgh was in 1996 when my international, not just limited to family joined me from Nigeria. house prices the States, points to the fact that As I was making my way to around here will racism is a worldwide problem. nearby shopping centre, a go down because ayoung And yet there are many who man confronted me and refuse to accept this. Some prefer you’ve moved in.” said, ‘You shouldn’t be here’. to gloss over what happened in When I approached him for an Minneapolis with comments such explanation, he moved away.” as, “Of course, there are a few bad cops”. Many Reginald says his children, who were between take offence at the slogan “Black lives matter”, the ages of one and eight when they arrived in believing it fights against the idea that “All lives Edinburgh, were discriminated against while matter”. And the term “white privilege” is greatly at the playground. “Some of the other children disputed, especially by whites who have had made racist comments,” he remembers, “and hard lives. they were very nasty. Throughout my life I have had a number of
Reginald and Geoff 8 | BALERNO
As he pursued his PhD at Heriot Watt University, Reginald worked with Professor Geoff Palmer, Scotland’s first black professor.
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Professor Palmer came to the UK from Jamaica in 1955. His mother had emigrated to London in 1951, and when he was one month away from turning 15, she paid the £86 necessary to bring him over. “Years later, whenever my mum and I argued, she’d say she wanted her £86 back,” he jokes.
Because of his age, Palmer had to go to school, though his mother had wanted him to work. He did well in school and eventually earned an Honours degree in Botany in 1964. That year he applied for a job in agriculture. “Why don’t you go home and grow bananas?” asked one of the people on the interviewing panel, a man who just happened to be a well-known politician.
Years later, when he’d accepted a position at Heriot Watt University and bought a house for his family in Penicuik, a little neighbour child told him, “My Dad says house prices around here will go down because you’ve moved in.”
Dr Reginald Agu
Another racist incident happened as recently as last year. “I was to give a lecture at the Edinburgh Festival, and when I arrived at the venue the attendant asked me what I wanted. I replied that I was giving a lecture at 2.00. She said, ‘You can’t be – that lecture is being given by a Professor Geoff Palmer!’”
“Injustice feeds on prejudice,” says Professor Palmer, “and prejudice is that wicked lie through which people distort the truth. It is also a dreadful disease caught in childhood that fosters hate, damages compassion and distorts the mind. Rules can control minds. Prejudice and counterprejudice solve nothing. Surely, true redemption from prejudice does not come from rules, it comes from education or a sudden moral shock that changes human beings for the better”.
BELOW: Professor Geoff Palmer
Reginald Agu says that the “sudden shock” Professor Palmer refers to could be something such as police officers, who are supposed to protect lives, taking a life due to racism. “The international protests that followed George Floyd’s killing could be the tipping point,” he says, “from which our society changes for the better.” The Local People column 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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SPOTLIGHT
A caring approach to Financial Protection Advice In these strangest of times and as people look to experts for help, understanding and support, it is arguably more important than ever that we ensure we get the right advice from the right people…
So is real advice just being told “stay at home” or is real advice “why you should stay at home”?
When it comes to Financial Protection, how “advice” is commonly given to people is by way of the lowest premium, largest sum assured or most health conditions covered. But is that in fact advice? Could it be that a deeper understanding of an individual’s personal circumstances, thoughts and experiences on all things income, health and life would create a more personal picture, which in turn would allow informed choices to be made? Is that not real advice? For example: do you know that most protection plans have things such as counselling, physiotherapy or legal support services included at no extra cost? Would these provide you with additional peace of mind? At 3 Pillars our client journey does not start with a discussion on insurance product or provider but guides clients through the three pillars of financial protection: Income, Health, and Life, so as to understand their personal needs. The Income pillar establishes a client’s financial picture. We talk about their need for income, their occupation and benefits and the effect their job has on their lifestyle. We understand the ‘must pay’ bills and the ‘chosen to pay’ ones. Our Health pillar looks at how clients take care of both their financial and physical health
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by discussing experiences of medical care and treatment, their health concerns and what support would give them peace of mind throughout life and not just when illness strikes. Lastly, the Life pillar is about what is important now and when they are gone. What are their aspirations for their children, business stability or provision for others? What would their priorities be if their voice could be heard when they are no longer here? Whether your needs are Income Protection, Critical Illness Cover, Private Medical insurance, Life Cover, Funeral Plans, Wills & Power of Attorney, Trusts or Business Insurance, our no cost, no obligation service is here to help you protect what matters.
We know that a client or their family, if the worst happens, can only say one of three things to their adviser: ‘I’m glad I took your advice’, ‘I wish I had taken your advice’ or ‘why didn’t you tell me? By providing real advice we know which one we will never hear, so speak to a specialist, speak to someone who cares. This article was written by Marcus Speirs DipFA, Managing Director, 3 Pillars Financial Planning. t: 0131 473 1194 e: admin@3pfplife w: www.3pfp.life BALERNO | 11
HEALTH
Physiotherapy and Coronavirus Getting used to a “new normal”. This is a phrase we are hearing more and more as we come out of lockdown. Life will not be as it was for quite some time. This is what this new normal will be like for McNaughton Physiogrange. We take the health of our patients and staff very seriously. As we begin to open the business again, we must take into consideration Government and Professional Body guidance on how to best do this to reduce the risk of catching this illness, which is a danger to life. The Coronavirus which causes the illness Covid-19 is a new one. As yet there is no vaccination against and no treatment for this illness. This has involved altering the look and layout of our clinic, training staff in the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and introducing strict infection control measures. Our appointment system has changed and now must include screening questions and risk assessment, done with Patient and Physio working together to determine the best treatment plan, particularly whether a face to face appointment is indicated or a video or phone appointment would be better. We cannot offer all our usual services, such as massage, at present. However, as the risk from Coronavirus lessens, we will be able to reduce precautions and return more towards normal. We are always happy to receive calls and will help in the best way we can. To determine this, you will be asked if you would like only a phone or video appointment which will be arranged immediately. Lockdown has shown us that we can help people a great deal, without being in the clinic. A good history can 12 | BALERNO
be taken, assessment done, education given with exercise and management plans started. Patients have told us how delighted they are in the improvements made. This has been reported in other healthcare settings as not having the stress of travel, finding parking and sitting in a waiting room are positives. After screening, as you visit our clinic you will notice differences. To help reduce infection risk we have removed all soft furnishings, fabric screens, towels and linen from the clinic. You will be given a disposable face mask and hand gel to use prior to entering the clinic and will be taken directly into a treatment room. We will keep to a socially distanced 2m during assessment, where possible, and limit “hands-on” treatment time in line with the latest guidelines to minimise the risks of infection. There will be a half hour gap before the next patient is booked to see that Physio to allow for correct removal of PPE, a full clean of the treatment room as surfaces will be washed with soap and water and then wiped with antibacterial spray before set up for the following patient. We want to do everything we can to ensure that you get the effective treatment you need as safely as possible. If you have any questions do please ask. The health column is contributed by McNaughton Physiogrange, Edinburgh www.physiogrange.co.uk @KonectMagazines
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BALERNO | 13
LOCAL ENVIRONMENT
Otters? In the Canal?
Otters? In the Union Canal? Never! It may come as a surprise that in both the canal and the Water of Leith there are frequent sightings of Eurasian otters who have captured the hearts of Edinburgh’s residents with their antics, especially during lockdown. The “Dratsi” as they’re known on Shetland, were once widespread across Scotland but numbers declined to a small population in the north and west due to pesticide pollution in the water. Thankfully as our waterways have become cleaner the number of urban otters has increased and they’ve become a common sight for people taking a stroll along the banks. If you’re out for a walk and hoping to see them, our top tip is to watch for the flick of a thick brown tail as they dive underwater to hunt. Earlier this year we were lucky enough to have an extraordinary encounter with a mother and cub on the Union Canal. Whilst her only cub stayed hidden, she worked her way up and down the water catching fish before disappearing into the reeds to join her infant and provide some much14 | BALERNO
needed food. Being on such a busy and narrow section of the canal, she appeared not to have a care in the world and happily posed for passers-by who all thoroughly enjoyed watching her go about her daily routine. Whilst the west coast and islands remain the stronghold, it’s exciting to see them return to areas accessible to everyone. 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. www.scottishsistersphotography.com
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ISOLATION? Been there, done that
For many people the Covid-19 lockdown has been a first and unwelcome taste of social isolation and restricted movement. Not seeing friends, getting away on holiday, or heading to the shops for a bit of retail therapy has been challenging for some and traumatic for others. But it wasn’t something new for singer/ songwriter Julia Green. Having suffered with severe M.E. (myalgic encephalomyelitis) since 2016, the 23-yearold Balerno resident is well-acquainted with feeling isolated and trapped – not for months, but for years. Julia had begun the second year of her HND in music performance at Edinburgh College when a neurologist diagnosed her M.E. Also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, the illness had been affecting her increasingly for about a year. Doctors could not explain why she was experiencing migraines, pain in her legs, muscle spasms and extreme fatigue.
This was the start of Julia’s own personal lockdown. As her energy level dropped, her freedom seemed to evaporate. She was no longer able to take a bus into town, meet a friend for coffee or take a walk lasting more than 10 minutes. “I’m a foodie,” she says, “but at times I didn’t have the strength to pick up a fork.” She could sometimes watch films on her laptop, if the volume was turned down quite low – extreme sensitivity to noise and light often comes with M.E. But looking at screens exhausts her, so she had to be careful. And she had to “budget” whatever energy she did have each week, so she wouldn’t be flattened. Most of her days were spent lying on the couch. So that she could go out occasionally, her parents invested in a wheelchair.
“Have the events of 2020 and the changes we’ve all had to make sensitised us to those around us in their own personal ‘lockdown’?”
She struggled to rehearse with her band and to cope with the two-bus journey home. Eventually, after Julia collapsed at college, a lecturer convinced her to defer her studies. “I was just starting to get gigs,” she recalls. “In fact, the following year I was 16 | BALERNO
offered a contract to do nightly shows at the Edinburgh Festival, but I had to say no.”
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Asked what the worst thing about this period was, Julia says, “Not seeing friends. I couldn’t go out to meet people, and I didn’t get that many visitors. I knew my friends were busy with their studies or jobs – getting on with their lives – but it was really hard being on my own so much.”
Since spring 2018 Julia has been getting increasingly stronger, and today she is singing and recording again. The wheelchair has been retired and, were it not for Covid-19 restrictions, she could once again travel into town to meet a friend for lunch. No doubt her own personal lockdown experience taught her patience and resilience, and she developed her own strategies for coping with the limitations and isolation.
Like Julia, many people who live in our community feel cut off from social interaction and/or lack freedom to do what they would really like to do. Perhaps this temporary curtailment of our normal activities has opened our eyes to what is, for many people, just normal life. Many types of physical illness are life-limiting, and this may be long-term. People with disabilities may have to accept that there are things they cannot do, while pushing themselves to do everything they can possibly do. And people with mental health issues commonly experience isolation and restrictions. Have the events of 2020 and the changes we’ve all had to make sensitised us to those around us in their own personal “lockdown”? Neighbours have become so much better at looking after one another. Could this continue after the virus threat has passed? As we’ve all had a taste of a more restricted life, will we be more aware of people around us who are physically restricted, or isolated because of circumstances – or those who feel cut @KonectMagazines
off for one reason or another? Once we all start working and shopping, and eating out and meeting friends again, will we spare a thought for the ones in our life who do not enjoy such freedoms?
Asked what lessons her personal lockdown has taught her, Julia says: “To focus on what really matters in life. For me, that’s my Christian faith and also my relationships with others. I realised I need to love myself, and that I am not responsible for other people’s happiness. I’ve seen my family learn to pull together more, as my illness made us all more sensitive to one another.” This feature 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. BALERNO | 17
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MONEY MATTERS
NEW TAX YEAR-NEW OPPORTUNITIES I assume that most of you are working from home at the moment and heeding government advice.
If you have spare time on your hands, it would be a good idea to look at and hopefully take advantage of the current tax breaks. 1. ISA Allowance - Everyone has a £20,000 allowance for tax year 2020/21. All growth in the ISA will be tax free. You can even put up to £9000 into a Junior ISA for this tax year. 2. Capital Gains Allowance - Any asset sold in 2020/ 21will have an exempt allowance of £12,300. 3. Inheritance Tax - Everybody has a nil rate band of £325,000 and a residential nil rate band of £175,000. For couples with a suitable will, their inheritors will not pay any inheritance tax on the first £1 million.
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4. Income Tax - Everyone can earn £12,500 before paying tax. This includes earnings, pensions etc. 5. Marriage Allowance - Married couples in certain circumstances can transfer 10% of their personal allowance to their partner. 6. Pensions - If you pay tax at 40% then any pension contribution will attract tax relief at 40% i.e. if you put £60 into a pension fund then the government will add another £40, giving you an instant 67% return. Even for a basic taxpayer the government will add £12.50 for every £50 you contribute, a return of 25%. Nowhere else can you get a guaranteed return at this level. If you are unsure in any way about these reliefs or investments, you should consult an Independent Financial Adviser. The Money Matters column is contributed by Personal Money Matters. This month’s column by Dr Peter M Marshall.
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The Small Business Owner’s Guide to successful #WFH “Working from Home” has become a reality. What does this mean for you on the technology front? How do you stay safe? What happens if something goes wrong? What hardware and software do you need?
Most important of all is your workspace; ensure you have a healthy set up with space for a comfy chair, a decent monitor (24” or higher), an external keyboard and mouse. DO NOT work permanently on your laptop’s touch pad and small keyboard as it can cause long term health issues. See the interiors column on P29 for advice on how to create this extra space in your home
With your health looked after, what about your technology? Hardware
For a new PC we suggest buying from a Tier 1 manufacturer to get 3 -4 years minimum from your investment. Go for at least Intel i5, 8GB memory and 256GB SSD. We can supply a machine fully setup and delivered for £450 If you already have a PC that is less than 5 years old and runs Windows 7 / 10 there is the option to upgrade the hard drive to an SSD. Cost: £125. Software
There are 5 core business applications you need: Email, Data, Communication, Backup & Virus Protection. You will hear terms like POP, IMAP, GMAIL. EXCHANGE, OFFICE 365, ONE DRIVE, GOOGLE DRIVE, DROPBOX, ZOOM, TEAMS. So, how do you choose? • Email - We recommend Exchange / Office 365. It gives you an email address that can be used on any platform (Android, iPhone, PC, MAC) and will synchronise across all devices. Cost: £4.99 per month per mailbox. • Data - It’s time to embrace the Cloud if you haven’t already. Massive data centres, replicated across multiple locations, look after your data which you can access on @KonectMagazines
your PC, MAC, mobile or any browser. We recommend SharePoint for any Small Business. Cost: free with Office 365.
• Communication - Aside from email, it is essential that you can now video conference. Zoom has dominated the headlines and it does the job admirably so download it and use it. Teams is also free with Office 365. • Backup - You will accumulate Gigabytes (if not Terabytes) of data. But what happens if the machine fails or your laptop gets stolen? You MUST have a backup. Do not rely on “you” backing it up every night; it won’t happen. You need an automated process that just does it every day. Cost: £2 per month per user • Protection - The world is full of scams, rogue emails, and get rich quick schemes. You must always be on your guard. It’s essential that you have good quality virus protection installed on your PC / MAC (Yes MACs can get a virus). Cost: £25 per annum Support
What happens if something goes wrong or you have a question about your technology? With a support contract you can contact Worx24 anytime and we will help you. We will also monitor your PC and make sure it is up to date, fully protected and running at its best. Cost: £15 per month for 1st device and £7.50 for each subsequent device. All prices quoted ex VAT. This article was contributed by Angus Kerr. Angus is the director of Worx24, a Colintonbased business IT support company. www.worx24.co.uk BALERNO | 27
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Whether working from home is your new normal or you just need a place to pay your bills, it’s increasingly likely these days that you’ve considered adding some office space to your home.
However, what’s less likely is that you have a whole room available, ready to be reassigned to this purpose. Welcome to the dual-purpose room. When carefully created, this can offer the ideal solution. Unlike open plan living, where the space performs various duties all at once, a dual-purpose room has two unique uses but is only ever used for one of them at a time. The trick to designing a really workable room of this nature is to ensure it can be quickly and easily transitioned between uses, while looking suitably stylish in both. Which room in your house could double up as an office? Do you have a dining room that’s only used for high days and holidays? A stylish yet practical table is key here, one which can be dressed up or down. Choose a table that works whether it’s a desk, set ‘naked’ for a family meal or fully ‘dressed’ for Christmas dinner. Add closed cupboards for office supplies but consider ones in a ‘sideboard’ style. That way, there’s a surface suitable for either a printer or bar and buffet items. Consider chairs which are light and stackable when not in use. This makes switching a couple out for an ‘office’ chair much easier. How about a spare bedroom/office combo? Stick to bedroom style decor for office pieces and it’ll be a much easier transition when guests come to stay. A pretty table can double as a desk. Add some classy shelves and a stylish chair and you’re done. Designate closed storage elsewhere in the room to keep @KonectMagazines
Dining Room Office
either your office supplies or your decor accessories. That way you can easily switch out what’s not in Gateleg Table use. A gateleg table with integrated storage, along with a folding chair, might be another solution. Folded down it’s a shelf for a plant or vase. In use, it’s a stand alone office that works in any room. Success for any of these options depends on • Easily moveable electronics - consider a laptop or wireless desktop system • A switch between uses that takes minimum time and effort • Adequate, out of sight storage and ruthless control of paper clutter Now, where did I put that shredder? 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 BALERNO | 29
Lockdown Community Spirit
If you’d asked a few months ago if a virtual farmers market would work, the answer would probably have been, “Why would you even want to do that?” But it’s amazing what you can do when necessity strikes. The monthly Balerno Farmers Market went virtual from April, and has been very successful.
“We wanted to support the traders who come, as well as make sure locals access their usual quality products. So via the Farmer’s Market website and customer email list, we advertise those traders who can take orders, and they deliver on the usual market day.” explains Val Reid, who administers the market for Balerno Village Trust. There were some unexpected bonuses - the cheesemonger had managed to get excess flour and yeast from a neighbouring bakery, and delivered it along with his cheese - a true hero, as anyone who tried to buy flour or yeast during lockdown will know! We’re hoping the July Farmers Market will be back on the main street with social distancing in place. Please check the Facebook page and Balerno Village Trust website for updates www.facebook.com/balernofarmersmarket and www.balernovt.org.uk The red telephone box at the top of Harlaw Road was purchased by Balerno Village Trust last year. And it’s been put to work as a “share box” during lockdown, where people have used it as a sheltered space to drop off items to share such as board games, jigsaws, plant seedlings or bulbs, and many other things. Sophie Soboleva, who lives opposite the phone box, and other Harlaw Road residents, have been the self-appointed guardians, cleaning and sanitising it every day. 30 | BALERNO
The Phone Box on Harlaw Road, Balerno, is the community lockdown Share Box Give what you want, take what you need: the phone box is still being used as a share box. Just no more books please for now.
Balerno Village Trust welcomes a new board member, Annie Lacey. Annie lives in the grounds of the National Trust’s Malleny House in Balerno which is currently closed to the public. However Annie and her husband David have been working hard in the community market garden within the grounds of Malleny House. They planted out all the seed potatoes that risked going to waste at the beginning of lockdown, and have been keeping the garden in hand so that there will be plenty of produce which will be offered for sale at the Farmers Market later in the year. Finally, our bees have of course been working throughout! Balerno Village Trust has a number of hives, and the bees are thriving. We don’t collect the honey from the hives, we leave it as food for the bees in winter. Look out however for Balerno Beeswax at our bee-themed August market! To keep up to date with Balerno Village Trust activities, please follow the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ BalernoVillageTrust This article was written by Helen-Jane Shearer after speaking with Val Reid at Balerno Village Trust. Helen-Jane is the Editor of Konect magazines. @KonectMagazines
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LOCAL LAB
Floating houses in Kampong Chhnang province in Cambodia
David Morrison is a final year PhD student in Flood Risk Management at Heriot-Watt University. As part of the Water Resilient Cities project he is exploring how communities are adapting to household flooding in Scotland. Around 14,000 residential properties are at risk of flooding across Edinburgh and Lothians (16% of all properties at risk of flooding nationally), which totals around £36million in annual average damages in the event of a flood. Indeed, flooding on the Water of Leith in 2000 resulted in 500 inundated homes. Unfortunately, uptake of property-level flood protection measures in Scotland is low. Sometimes this is due to low awareness of flood risk in residential areas, or the costs associated with installing protection measures. Making our homes flood proof and protecting ourselves can include using sand bags or flood barriers, and simpler measures such as ensuring important possessions are moved upstairs to avoid damage in the event of flood water entering our homes. For his PhD, David has undertaken a flood modelling project in Cambodia and has witnessed first-hand the devastating impact floods can have on people’s homes and livelihoods. However, he has also witnessed the resilience of locals and their ability to adapt using their own take on property-level protection measures,
David
such as houses on stilts. David would like to hear your thoughts on flooding in your local area and any effective measures you’ve taken to protect your own home. If you would like to contribute to this research, with the option to enter a prize draw to win £100 in high street vouchers, please complete this short survey: bit.ly/HWfloodRisk Your insights and perceptions of flood risk will help David understand what it takes to ensure our own communities become equally as resilient as those in Cambodia. For more information about the Water Resilient Cities project visit their website: bit.ly/HwprojectInfo or contact David Morrison at dh48@hw.ac.uk
“Flooding on the Water of Leith in 2000 resulted in 500 inundated homes”
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The Local Lab column is contributed by Heriot-Watt University to engage the public in a range of their research projects. @KonectMagazines
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EDUCATION
In the midst of this global pandemic, normal life is, unsurprisingly, far from reach. Social distancing has become a disquieting norm, impacting most - if not all - aspects of our lives. For schools and universities in particular, maintaining a two-metre distance between staff and students alike presents multiple obstacles and challenges few of us were prepared for. As we move from Phase 1 to Phase 2 in Scotland, the future of university learning for current and prospective students is uncertain to say the least. A socially-distanced world will drastically alter the way universities run their day to day lectures, tutorials and more. However, university life involves far more than just academic learning. Current University of Edinburgh student, Freya, tells me: “The reasons why people come to university aren’t just academic. Quite a few people in my school expressed interest in university purely for the ‘university lifestyle’, the communal living, partying, and freedom from parents. We are facing a situation where, for some time at least, the ‘university lifestyle’ that so many young people seek will be all but impossible.” Indeed, opportunities to socialise in bars, clubs, and student societies will undoubtedly be limited in this new socially-distanced world. Student theatre, sporting events, bustling pub crawls and crammed nightclubs will likely be non-existent for quite some time. Furthermore, many other aspects of student life remain uncertain. How will access to the library be managed, for example? What about students who require access to labs, or other equipment inaccessible from their homes? How will student accommodation facilitate social distancing? Currently, few of these questions have answers. Different universities in Edinburgh have published several statements outlining their broad plans for the new academic year; however, these have a strong theme of uncertainty running through them. For example, 36 | BALERNO
Edinburgh Napier University’s message to current and prospective students explains: “We are making our campuses safe and preparing for social distancing so that face-toface teaching will start as soon as possible… While there is still uncertainty about the extent to which travel and work will be returning to normal, we are preparing for our teaching to be available remotely in case it proves impossible for you to be present on campus in September.” Other universities in Edinburgh have published similar statements. Queen Margaret University has stated: “We plan a mix of on-campus and online activity (commonly referred to as blended delivery).” It would seem a blended-model of online and on-campus learning is set to be the norm at each of Edinburgh’s universities for the foreseeable future. Yet, specifics and concrete plans have yet to be set out. Indeed, certainty is perhaps something I and other students have taken for granted in the past. Nevertheless, one thing is for certain: the student life we left behind in March 2020 is long gone. This article was written by Cara McKeown. Cara is a former Balerno High School pupil who is going on to study a Publishing Masters at Edinburgh Napier University. She is a Social Anthropology graduate and intersectional feminist interested in bachata dancing, painting, and yoga. @KonectMagazines
Children will need a sense of belonging more than ever when they go back to school in August. Their lives have been turned upside down and many of them miss the routine and normality of conventional school. Uniform plays an important part, even though some schools’ requirements may change as they adjust to the new situation. Sadly, many families have been plunged into hardship in recent months, adding to the thousands of children who are growing up in poverty and cannot afford the basics. Edinburgh School Uniform Bank is a small charity based in Balerno. We aim to give children dignity, confidence and the opportunity to do their best by providing new school uniform. We receive requests for help via professionals like
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pupil support teachers and family workers. Our team of dedicated volunteers make up bespoke packs of uniform for each child. One of our professional partners told us that “Many of the parents have broken down and cried with relief receiving the uniform packs�. This year we need your help more than ever. We usually ask our supporters to shop for uniform then drop it in to us, but this year we need to do everything online.
To find out how you can donate funds or uniform to support local youngsters, please visit our website www.edinburghuniform.org or email info.esub@gmail.com
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I’ve lived in Balerno since 1991. It’s home. But Illinois, the American state where I grew up, is also home. I think of myself as a transplant – uprooted from the rich, dark farmland in the Midwest, and replanted in harder, rockier UK soil. Though I feel quite at home here, growing up in a place with different customs means that I don’t always see things in the same way as my neighbour.
US vs. UK SENSE OF HUMOUR? Yes, there are differences. I knew this before I ever crossed the pond. I’d been told – and had discovered through TV shows such as Monty Python – that British humour was often more ironic, more sarcastic, more complicated. By contrast, the American comedy programmes I grew up with, such as “I Love Lucy” and “The Carol Burnett Show”, were downright silly! Slapstick … comedians getting themselves into preposterous predicaments and squirming to work their way out … characters trying not to laugh when they fluff their lines, but eventually cracking up. Americans are good at laughing at themselves. I think this is because we don’t take ourselves too seriously. But here I had to learn to be careful about joking about certain things. Take surnames, for example.
I once met someone whose surname was the name of a room you would find in any house! I’d never had this experience back in the USA. So I had to ask, “Are there also people in this country who have the surname ‘Dining Room’?” Big mistake. I didn’t get a laugh, or even a smile. Instead, the woman looked at me as if to say, “You barbarian! You just don’t joke about a person’s name.” And yet, as I was soon to discover, British people were only too happy to make a joke at my expense! Once, as I waited outside a 38 | BALERNO
bakery, the woman ahead of me turned and said, “You Americans put all sorts of things in your sandwiches! It’s amazing you can open your mouths wide enough to get them in! Hahaha!” I laughed with her and said, “Yes, I guess we do! But the British are the other extreme – so stingy with ingredients. For goodness sake, the war’s over!” By this point I was brave enough to return the banter. In my very early days in Britain, I wouldn’t have known what to say to a comment like this. I enjoy caricature and satire, but not all Americans do. A relative came to visit our family once and, because he appreciates comedy, I treated him to an episode of “Absolutely Fabulous!” Sure that he’d enjoy it, I couldn’t wait to laugh with him over the antics of Eddie and Patsy! But he didn’t laugh; he got indignant. He was horrified at the way Edina treated her daughter and disgusted at the way she lived, her values and comments. I tried to explain that it was funny because it was an exaggeration of the life of a certain kind of woman. He was taking it too seriously! Eventually I gave up and turned off the telly. You know, if you have to explain a joke … To be continued next issue … Notes from a small village 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
