Konect Balerno May 2019 by Konect Magazines

MAY 2019

CKET READER TI OFFER!

PLUS: MONEY MATTERS, HEALTH & BEAUTY, CLUBS & CLASSES, and MUCH more inside! The monthly community magazine for Balerno, Currie, Juniper Green, Baberton & Ratho

TO OUR MAY EDITION

THIS ISSUE

t’s a busy time of year, whether you’re tiptoeing around teens “studying” on examleave, involved in the Balerno Children’s Gala, the Rigg Race, or spending every spare minute sorting the garden and outdoors jobs.

Speaking of gardening, Gardening Scotland is offering Konect readers a £5 discount on the ticket price! On our doorstep at Ingliston, it is the place to be for absolutely everything to do with your outdoor space, large or small. See pages 12-13 and book online.

SAVE £5

P12

If you enjoy walking or cycling along the Water of Leith, you’ll be seeing work commencing soon on the tunnel near Colinton. The Colinton Tunnel project commemorates, amongst other things, the unique history of the Balerno Loop railway. The committee had provided us with an update in this issue of Konect, see page 8.

Colinton Tunnel.............................................. 8 Gardening Scotland: Celebrate Summer..12 Bridge Column.............................................20 Health: The fantastic shoulder joint..........25 Local People: The Men’s Shed.................35 Notes from a Small Village.........................41 Money Matters..............................................42 Technology: Green Gadgets.....................47 Puzzles..........................................................46 What’s On......................................................56 Clubs & Classes..........................................59

COVER IMAGE: Gardening Scotland, 31st May to 2nd June. See pages 12-13 for ticket offer.

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.

HELEN-JANE SHEARER

CHARLENE GAFFNEY

E: editor@konect.scot

M: 07772 941899 E: charlene@konect.scot

Suzanne has been finding out about the Men’s Shed project in Currie, a project to help men find camaraderie and learn new skills, see page 35, as well as her next instalment of Notes From A Small Village.

Wishing all readers a great Gala Fortnight as well as the other Fayres and Fun Days planned for this month!

Editor

@KonectMagazines

Account Manager

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COLINTON

TUNNEL

Public Art celebrating Community History

Work is about to start on the biggest outdoor (though actually underground!) mural in Scotland, designed and delivered by top Scottish muralist, Chris Rutterford. The Colinton Tunnel mural will fill the dark, dirty and slightly scary former railway tunnel on Water of Leith Walkway with a glorious visual reminder of the old Caledonian Railway’s Balerno Branch line. It will show how the Water of Leith villages grew, thanks mainly to the “Balerno Pug” that puffed along the rail line, and will also celebrate the 920-year history of the west-Edinburgh village of Colinton. The exciting design concept links Robert Louis Stevenson’s short poem “From a Railway Carriage” to local history to create an engaging, exciting and amusing public artwork. The expression of a child’s excitement at the sights and sounds of a rail trip to the country takes us on an unforgettable picture-book journey. The poem will be reproduced and graphically illustrated on one wall of the tunnel, linking across the roof to more stunning images on the opposite wall. This connects the poetry to the rich heritage of the authors and poets, painters, the Army and a wide range of individuals and organisations who have had links with Colinton since the first church was established there in 1095. Project Chairman Mike Scott comments that “Chris Rutterford’s design, using RLS’s short poem, gives a wonderful visual description of how a rail trip from the city centre to the country might have felt to a child. It connects amazingly well to our community’s history”. Chris, who grew up in Colinton and Juniper Green, will start work this Spring, after preparatory work on the surfaces has been 8 | BALERNO

completed and the detailed design has been developed. There’s a lot of design to develop, as the tunnel is almost 140 metres long. He and Heritage Interpreter Ann Tweedie will work on it with local school students and youth groups, as well as with the wider community, military families and local interest groups. A team of Edinburgh-based professional artists will also work with Chris and the community to translate his design into a stunning mural. Why are project team doing it? Quite simply, it is to create an engaging public artwork and community history that will serve as a legacy for up to 40 years. It will also: • Bring visitors, who will want to use Colinton’s shops, restaurants, pubs, cafes and other facilities. The increased footfall will help to revitalise the struggling village centre • Get rid of the accumulating antisocial graffiti inside the tunnel. It will be replaced with images that tell a fascinating story – and lighting improvements will mean that they can be seen • Help to prevent new graffiti. A wealth of research, confirmed by CEC’s own anti-graffiti team, shows that good quality public art actually helps to prevent graffiti happening • Improve community safety. The engaging images and improved lighting will help to improve public safety – an important issue for all tunnel users

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What started out as a wacky idea by a couple of former community councillors to brighten up a dull area of the village has evolved into a comprehensive project which is being delivered and managed by Scottish charity, The Colinton Tunnel. Initial funds have been raised, including generous grants from the cycling charity Sustrans and City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) and smaller sums from local donors, but there is still a long way to go to fully fund what the charity behind the project believes will be the most significant historic and heritage mural in Scotland - possibly in the UK. Local organisations and CEC are also collaborating closely with the organisers to improve access to the tunnel and provide technical assistance. Grant applications continue to be submitted to potential funders and the local community is being urged to be generous. THE BALERNO PUG was the speciallybuilt engine that ploughed up and down the track from what was the old Caley Station in Edinburgh (now the Caledonian Hotel) all the way out to Balerno. The engine, its coaches and wagons were designed and engineered to cope with the twists, turns and steep gradients of the line. The last passenger train departed in 1943 and the final goods service whistled out of the old Colinton station in December 1967. Chris Rutterfordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s design will bring the Pug back to life, as it puffs through the lines of the poem and the exciting scenes that the mural will show. The organisers continue to carry out widespread consultation and engagement with all possible stakeholders. The Army, with a 100-year presence in Colinton, is just one of many supporters along with the Water of Leith Conservation Trust, cycling organisation Sustrans and, of course, CEC whose experienced professional staff maintain the tunnel and care for the local natural heritage. In fact, everyone with whom they have consulted â&#x20AC;&#x201C; including all local organisations, CEC Councillors, local MSP Gordon MacDonald and MP Joanna @KonectMagazines

Cherry - has been 100 per cent supportive. The driving force behind the project is the desire to produce a rich tapestry of art that will bring visitors to Colinton, helping to rejuvenate a wonderful little corner of Edinburgh by creating a brighter and safer environment - making a dark, slightly forbidding tunnel into an engaging and attractive graphic story. Chris Rutterfordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stunning design concept make that a highly achievable ambition.

Chris Rutterford with an early interpretation of the mural design

This feature was contributed by The Colinton Tunnel project. For more information see the project website www.colintontunnel.org.uk, or contact : Colinton Tunnel Chairman, Mike Scott, Email: colintontunnel@btinternet.com Tel: 07850 848565 Colinton Tunnel Secretary Alastair Murray, Email: alastair1950@googlemail.com Tel: 07974 734188 Artist, Chris Rutterford: www.chrisrutterford.com Tel: 07880 774674 The Colinton Tunnel is a charity registered in Scotland, No. SSC048476 BALERNO | 9

Celebrate Summer at Gardening Scotland 2019

SAVE £5 on the gate pric e to Gardening Scotland 20 19 by entering promo code KON19 when you bo ok online at www.garden ingscotland .com/ tickets

Scotland’s national festival of flowers is 20 this year, so come along and celebrate summer at the show that makes gardening fun.

The event opens on Friday 31 May at the Royal Highland Centre Edinburgh and for three days the focus is on plants, people and glorious gardens. Want to fill your garden with colour? Then find everything you need, including beautiful flowers, expert advice and all the tools you need to tend your flowers. The Floral Pavilion will be packed with plants, courtesy of top nurseries from all over the UK and the growers are all eager to share their knowledge, with tips and guidance on how to get the best from your flowers. Planning a party on the patio? At Gardening Scotland you’ll find plenty to inspire you, including a centrepiece show garden by designer Lynn Hill, that’s made with entertaining in mind, including an outdoor bar fashioned from Italian glass and a fully-functioning outdoor kitchen. It’s just one of the show gardens designed to make you rethink your own space. And what about that bit in front of the house where you have to squeeze in wheelie bins and the car? Take a stroll down College Street, with its perfect front plots, and you’ll realise that your own garden can be practical and gorgeous at the same time.

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And that’s not all. In the Living Garden you’ll find all kinds of environmental organisations, including Plantlife Scotland, ready to answer all your queries about the threat to our wildlife and how gardeners can help. Visit the Plant Village and be bowled over by what’s on offer. Want instant colour to brighten up your doorstep? A climber to scramble over a drab wall? Armfuls of annuals or reliable perennials that will come back year after year? They are all on sale here. The Big Back Garden will be packed with fun and games for all the family, and the good news is that under-16s go free to Gardening Scotland. Or why not make a celebration of your day at the show by booking a delicious afternoon tea or popping into The Secret Herb Garden’s ‘Secret Gin Garden’ for a special Gardening Scotland cocktail or an amazing, colourchanging Old Curiosity Gin, made with botanicals grown at the foot of the Pentlands. Plus there’s the Craft Pavilion with its home and lifestyle accessories; original artworks; artisan food stalls and lots more, and it all adds up to a perfect day out in the garden. For more information visit www.gardeningscotland.com

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BRIDGE COLUMN

Foot in Mouth Disease On a bridge holiday last year at breakfast the tournament director was explaining some aspect of bridge in a very clear authoritative way.

I asked what I feared might be a dumb question: “Is there any overlap between poker and bridge?” He explained that good bridge players often play poker as well and there is certainly an element of bluff in bridge which few people appreciate. I then asked, intending no sarcasm, “Have you ever considered writing a book on bridge?” Deadpan, he answered: “I’ve written several,” much to the amusement of the table many of whom were aware that our director, Andrew Kambites, is a distinguished bridge author. My embarrassment was further compounded back home when I discovered I not only owned a book he’d co-authored, but it was one of my all-time favourites. The book is ‘Basic Bridge’ with lead author Ron Klinger. I can strongly recommend this book, especially for a learner. The style is a little like an old-fashioned maths text book. You learn a theorem and then do dozens of examples until it becomes second nature. Another two of Mr Kambites’ books which will repay study handsomely, in my opinion, are: ‘Understanding Acol’ and ‘Understanding the Contested Auction’. The first is good for any player past the beginner stage but not yet an expert. The second is quite advanced, I think, but so far, I’ve found very helpful in hand evaluation. It will take time to get the full benefit of these books, but time well spent I believe.

Local Authors and Musicians for the Pentlands Book Festival 2019 If you are a locally-based author, the organisers of the Pentlands Book Festival would love you to get in touch. We are trying to compile a database of local writers on which we can draw for future Local Authors events, or from which we can invite single speakers.

Following a popular and successful Saturday afternoon event in 2018 featuring three local writers in Colinton Library, we hope to find other local authors to participate in a similar event during Book Week Scotland in 2019. When we use ‘local’ we are not inflexibly parochial; a local author will not necessarily be resident in one of our communities, but might, for instance, have been born and brought up in our area, but no longer live here. We are also keen to hear from local musicians who might like to play at Book Festival events. Please contact Richard Watt at relwatt@ hotmail.com with your name, a brief description of the nature of your work and your contact details, or to ask for further information. www.pentlandsbookfestival.org

The Bridge Column is contributed by John Samson. John is a member of the Pentland Bridge Club and the Balerno Bridge Club. Feedback to jsamson23@hotmail.com with heading ‘Konect – Bridge Column’. 20 | BALERNO

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HEALTH

The fantastic shoulder joint

Shoulder joints are amazing joints. They allow us to do so much from reaching up to the top shelf to extracting our wallet from our back pocket, from stretching forward to open a door to stretching back for that oh so satisfying scratch of the itch between our shoulder blades. Without the incredible mobility of the shoulder joint we would not be able to do so much with our hands, making life difficult. However, we tend not to appreciate just how good our shoulders are until they develop problems. About 10% of people will have one or more episodes of shoulder pain during their lifetime. Anatomy - The main joint at the shoulder is the Gleno-Humeral joint. This is the ball and socket joint between the head of the Humerus, our upper arm bone, and the Glenoid part of the shoulder blade (Scapula). As the Scapula can move over our chest wall, muscle control is very important. There are also two other small joints where our collar bone (Clavicle) joins on to our shoulder blade and breast bone known as the AcromioClavicular and Sterno-Clavicular joints. The Gleno-Humeral joint is surrounded by a tough fibrous sleeve, called the capsule, which contains fluid to nourish and lubricate the joint. A group of tendons, known as the Rotator Cuff, then make a cloak around the capsule and they help to both move the joint and hold it together. Between the rotator cuff tendons and the bony Acromion lies a bursa – a fluid filled sack which cushions the cuff and prevents it rubbing on bone. @KonectMagazines

What can cause shoulder pain? - Not every pain felt in the shoulder is coming from the shoulder. Problems with the neck can refer pain to the shoulder. If your shoulder pain continues down your arm into your hand, or if you have tingling in your fingers then the problem may well stem from your neck. Also, pain around your shoulder blade is likely to stem from your neck. Pain from the shoulder joint is often felt over the front of the shoulder or in the upper arm and can be due to:1. Swelling of the bursa, known as subachromial bursitis 2. Damage to the rotator cuff tendons tendinopathy 3. Muscle weakness or imbalance resulting in poor control of movements and pain 4. Capsulitis– also known as “Frozen Shoulder” 5. Poor posture restricting movement of the scapula Can physiotherapy help? Yes! The vast majority of shoulder problems will benefit from Physiotherapy. Your Physio will perform a detailed assessment of your condition and then put together a treatment programme tailored to your needs. Home exercises can ease stiffness in the shoulder, can strengthen weak muscles and can improve both shoulder and spinal posture. Manual techniques such mobilisations may be used to stretch tight structures and improve movement. Research shows that people who work hard to keep muscles strong and maintain shoulder movements make a quicker and more complete recovery. Do not despair if your shoulder becomes painful – there is a lot that can be done to help. The health column is contributed by McNaughton Physiogrange, Edinburgh www.physiogrange.co.uk BALERNO | 25

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HEALTH

What is a Cataract?

Cataract is an opacification of the lens inside the eye. The function of the lens is to focus light at the back of the eye. Progression of cataract reduces the amount of light getting into the eye, causing a worsening of vision. What are the symptoms? Cataract causes a decrease in vision both up close and far away. This is more commonly over a long period of time but it can sometimes affect vision quite suddenly. Sufferers experience a general ‘fogging’ or ‘clouding’ of vision . Glare when driving is a common symptom as well.. What is the cause? Cataract is mostly an age related condition. Congenital cataract is quite rare. They also develop with different medication and from trauma. Certain eye and systemic diseases can also cause cataract.

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UV light and some blue light have also been implicated as a cause. What are the risk factors? Ambient exposure to UV in sunlight is a major risk factor for cataract. Smoking, heavy beer drinking and ethnicity all display increased risk. There is also a very strong genetic component. Is it treatable? Cataract is treatable in the vast majority of cases. When vision has decreased by a certain amount, surgery can be offered. The procedure typically takes around 20 minutes. The lens is removed and an implant put it its place. The cataract cannot return but occasionally the sac holding the implant can cloud over. Laser is used to clear this. This article was contributed by Jonathan Jennett of Clearvue Opticians, 60 Bryce Road, Currie, EH14 5LD.

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PHOTO CREDIT: Suzanne Green

‘Men’s shed’ leaders (l to r): Alistair McKenzie, Currie residents Stuart Campbell, Bill Roberts and Stuart Campbell Alistair McKenzie and Bill Roberts are part of a team of guys currently involved in launching a “Men’s Shed” for the Pentlands locality. The Men’s Shed concept has proven to be an effective way to bring men together for friendship, skill sharing and mutual encouragement.

You may have heard that men need to have a “cave”, somewhere they can retreat to and be on their own. But what about a “Men’s Shed”, a place where they can feel a sense of belonging and purpose as they join in DIY projects and make friends? Stuart Campbell, Alistair McKenzie, Bill Roberts and others in the local community are currently pooling their efforts, keen to see the official launch of the Men’s Shed JCB Group on 10 May, 10.30 am at Currie Scout Hall. I met them recently at the Scout Hall, where they were busy painting and renovating a room that has been made available to them for this new initiative. “Twenty-five or 30 men attended our initial meeting on 8 March,” explained Stuart, Chair of the Men’s Shed Steering Committee. “It helped us gauge interest - and now the ball is really starting to roll!” A retired Senior Design Engineer who worked at Ferrante and Ethicon, Stuart was raised in a small Lanarkshire village, and believes it’s important to have a strong sense of community. Women tend to naturally meet for coffee and a catch-up, whereas men often go for long periods without social interaction. The Men’s Shed, an antidote to loneliness, will make it easier for men to relate naturally as they work together on various metal and woodwork projects. “The Men’s Shed idea originated in New Zealand,” said Alistair McKenzie, “around @KonectMagazines

the time of the Vietnam War. It was meant to help get men out of the house. There are about 150 sheds in Scotland, and many more around the world.” Before retiring three years ago, Alistair worked for a DIY store and then Royal Mail. “I have always enjoyed making things,” he commented. “And the shed will make it easy for men to learn new skills from other men. For example, I have a router that I never knew how to use. But I am meeting guys through the Men’s Shed who can show me how to use it.” “It’s all about camaraderie,” said Bill Roberts. Bill began his career in the printing industry and went on to become a compositor and graphic designer. He ran a business in Edinburgh called The Last Word Typeshop. And, I witnessed him having the last word on a Men’s Shed promotional leaflet when he spotted a typo! “We all have different skills,” said Bill, “which we can contribute and share with others in the group.” The Men’s Shed is open to guys of all ages, whatever their circumstances. For more information, or to help sponsor this worthwhile initiative, email Alistair McKenzie at: acmckenzie32@gmail.com 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. BALERNO | 35

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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. How and when do you take your coffee? Do you know why I drink milk in my tea? It’s because an old lady didn’t give me a choice when she offered me a cuppa 30 years ago. She just plopped it in. Newly arrived in the UK, I’d been prepared for the big move with admonitions such as, “British people think Americans are loud, rude and obnoxious.” So there was no way I was going to correct the old dear. I’ve taken milk in my tea ever since. My coffee story is a bit more complicated. I couldn’t get my head round the fact that everyone drank instant coffee. Back home we kept instant coffee in the cupboard in case of emergency. But there was never an emergency of such proportion that I’d actually served it to a guest! Only occasionally in those early-UK days did someone offer me filter coffee. If they did, I would want it black. But, if it was instant I needed to doctor it up with milk, or ask for tea instead. The problem was that nobody told you what they were offering when they asked if you’d like a coffee. And it seemed impolite to ask, “Would that be instant or filter coffee?” So I just guessed, sometimes opting for tea, the safe bet. And then, sadly, the filter coffee would be brought out! Having coffee at a restaurant was exasperating. I soon learned that the norm @KonectMagazines

was to be served coffee after everything, including the dessert, was eaten. So I would sit and drink coffee after every bite of my dessert was gone. I was denied the pleasure of the contrasting tastes of tart cheesecake and the hot black stuff. Eventually, I began to ask for coffee with my dessert. But the waiters always forgot, or else they didn’t believe me. “You can’t just say with,” said my husband. “They won’t understand.” “Why not?” I exclaimed. He explained that I had to be more clear. So next time I asked for my coffee at the same time as my pudding. Still no joy. Usually the request was forgotten. “Make it absolutely clear,” said my husband. So on the next restaurant visit I said, “Could I have my coffee with my dessert, as in at the same time as, not after the dessert is finished, so that I might enjoy alternating the contrasting tastes of black coffee and rich cheesecake until both are gone?” It worked! They arrived together. Everyone else at the table, of course, had their coffee later. 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. BALERNO | 41

MONEY MATTERS

HOW TO FIND LOST ACCOUNTS Unbelievably there is more than ÂŁ10 billion sitting in dormant bank accounts, forgotten pensions, old Building Societies, lost and unclaimed premium bonds.

The following is a guide on how to trace these lost accounts.

Premium Bonds: NS &I estimate there are more than 1.5 million unclaimed prizes. My Lost Account (www.mylostaccount.org.uk) can tell you if you hold any premium bonds. The next step is to find out if you hold a prize -winning number. To do this visit www.nsandi.com and fill in the online form. Bank Accounts: If you think you may have forgotten about an old bank account or a building society account the solution is to go to www.mylostaccount.org.uk. This free service covers all building societies, banks in the UK as well as NS&I savings accounts.

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Pensions: This is probably the most difficult area as people switch jobs, leave pensions behind and forget all about them. You could try The Pension Tracing Service (www.pensiontracing service.com) using the online facility. As an alternative you could try www.pensionadvisoryservice.org.uk. Finally, the best solution for personal pensions is to get in touch with the personal pension providers. The main ones would be Standard Life, Aviva, Prudential, Legal & General and Aegon.

Shares: You may hold shares in individual companies, often as a result of privatisation but cannot find the share certificate. These will be registered by one of the three company registrars; Equiniti, Capita or Computershare and a letter direct to them should unearth forgotten shares. Finally, if you are successful in tracing forgotten investments or pensions you may wish to consider engaging a financial adviser to help manage your financial affairs and to ensure they are not lost again.

The Money Matters column is contributed by Personal Money Matters. This monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s column by Dr Peter Marshall.

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SUDOKU

PUZZLES

Sudoku Solution on Page 61.

CROSSWORD

Solution in the June edition of Konect

ACROSS: 7. UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s continent (6), 8. Waldorf salad nut (6), 9. Utilised (4), 10. Valuable, highly admired (8), 11. Repairs, mends (7), 13. Midriff (5), 15. Publish, issue (5), 17. Freedom (7), 20. Added extra (8), 21. Poisonous metal (4), 22. Cut into pieces (6), 23. More wealthy (6) DOWN: 1. Largest country (6), 2. Timber (4), 3. Tribes, nationalities (7), 4. Clean with broom (5), 5. Last, final (8), 6. Lines of people (6), 12. Persuade (8), 14. Meals (7), 16. Puzzle, enigma (6), 18. Bartered (6), 19. Ditzy, light-headed (5), 21. Ornate fabric (4)

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24 hour call outs Family business, over 20 yrs experience Reliable and no job too small All blockages cleared: Drains, toilets, sinks, baths & showers Call Alexander:

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As your garden begins to bloom once more, you may want some technology to give Mother Nature a helping hand. If you’re a keen gardener and you’re going on holiday, an electronic timer can keep your hydrangeas hydrated while you’re away. We like Hozelock’s Automatic Watering System, which is a modular collection of automatic timers, hoses, connectors and even an Apple/ Android-compatible Cloud Controller, which enables you to control the water from your phone or tablet. You can adjust the watering according to the actual weather conditions, ensuring you don’t under- or overwater everything, and you can also create much more complex schedules than you can with a traditional timer. The original RRP of £160 for the Cloud Controller was a lot of money, but it’s widely available now for less than £90.

Every year we ask ourselves the same question: can we afford a robot lawnmower yet? Prices continue to fall – robot mowers were over £2,500 a few years back but had fallen to around £550 last year. Prices are starting to level out but you can pick up the Worx Landroid for around £410 on Amazon. That’s nearly a third off the RRP. We wouldn’t recommend a robo-mower for really complicated gardens, but for straightforward ones they’re really useful. If that’s still a bit too much for a mower, cordless lawnmowers are getting cheaper too, and their batteries are more than up to the job of even fairly large lawns. Flymo’s Mighti-Mo has dropped from £234 to around £170, and it won’t run out of puff until you’ve cut almost 250 square metres. Cordless @KonectMagazines

power isn’t just convenient, although not having to run cables to the very corners of the garden is certainly a boon. It’s also safer, because there’s no danger of accidentally cutting an electric cable. And electric motors have improved to the point where they can be taken just as seriously as petrol ones, so you can get decently powerful electric trimmers, saws, loppers and chainsaws. The higher the voltage, the more power – so a 36V model such as Black and Decker’s Lithium-ion chainsaw, currently £235, is considerably more powerful than the more common and slightly cheaper 18V models. Some of the biggest names in power tools have embraced cordless, so for example you’ll find a range of tools from the likes of Makita, Stihl and DeWalt as well as budget brands such as Worx. If you’re considering a cordless device, it might be worth investing in a second battery: there are few things as annoying as running out of charge when a job is nine-tenths done. Just make sure you actually charge it in advance, because it’s even more annoying to plug in a spare only to discover that it’s completely flat.

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A & A Electrical Solutions Ltd Balerno All electrical work Private or commercial No job too big or small All work guaranteed Free estimates Professional and reliable service

Alan: 07969 929327

or email alskie@hotmail.com

Currievale

Plumbing & Drainage Services Emergency call outs Professional & reliable local plumber Family business, over 15 yrs experience No job too small All work guaranteed Call Alexander:

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Could you help run a festival ?

The Glorious Twelfth Balerno Music Festival 25th Sept - 13th Oct 2019 The 12th Balerno Music Festival will be launched at the Balerno Children’s Gala on May 25th. Preparations are well underway to bring you an inspiring programme of events performed by some of Scotland’s musicians along with our own talented local groups. Whatever your age or taste in music we have on offer a wide variety of musical genre for your entertainment. Take a look at some of the acts which are already ‘in the bag’. If you missed ‘Parental Duty’ in 2017 here’s your chance to dance the night away with their blues rock band, guaranteed, they say, to ‘raise the roof ‘ of the Currie Rugby Clubhouse. Bringing a flavour of Scottish Traditional Music to the festival we welcome back the well renowned ‘Edinburgh Highland Reel and Strathspey Society’. You can look forward to a lively repertoire of fiddle music under the baton of their leader Yla Stevens. Making their debut at the Balerno Festival ‘The Gershwin Gang Trio’ perform at The Juniper Green Parish Church. Sit back and relax as their repertoire takes you back to your youth.

It’s the festival’s 12th year now and we see no reason why it can’t continue for another 12 years at least provided you, the ticket buyers, want it. But we need your help. Contact us if you’d like to join our committee. There’s a place for everyone. Email Fiona fegilroy@ blueyonder.co.uk If you don’t fancy joining a committee, how about becoming a Friend of Balerno Music Festival? Membership is £10 for the year and not only will you be supporting us financially but, in return, you will get to see our programme and be able to book tickets two weeks before our official launch at the Balerno Childrens Gala. You can sign up on line at www.balernomusicfestival.org.uk/ friends/ No festival would be complete without our local favourites such as ‘The Pentland Singers’, Music@Mill, The Balerno Village Screen and ‘Jazz Party with Stirling Crisis ‘. Returning year after year we can rely on them to put the icing on the festival cake. Watch this space for further bulletins from our Partners who are busy putting together a new and exciting programme ready for you to view at the launch on 25th May. This article was contributed by the Balerno Music Festival

Ratho Auto Services Servicing, Diagnostics, Tyres, Pre-Purchase Checks, Sales John Plimmer

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Servicing on all makes and models of vehicles from just £99

Call 0131 449 2139

for service you can trust • MOT VOSA green traffic light test station • Budget, midrange or premium tyres fitted • Brakes, exhausts and repairs

Balerno Garage 8 Deanpark Brae, Balerno EH14 7DZ

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

Please contact us if you would like your business included in our Pet Services pages. Contacts details are on page 3.

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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FOOD & DRINK

with

Pak Choi, a perfect addition

Pak choi and Tofu

If you happen to grow your own salads, your pak choi will be soon ready to harvest. It’s a perfect addition to this miso soup recipe. Miso paste is made from fermented soya beans and is a staple in Japanese cooking. Look out for jars in Oriental stores or the world food section of the supermarket. It’s perfect for making a quick and tasty soup or broth.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp vegetable oil • 2 garlic cloves, crushed • 200g shiitake mushrooms, sliced • 2 x 225g packs smoked tofu, cubed • 2 tbsp miso paste • 2 tbsp light soy sauce • 400g pak choi, roughly chopped

Tip: For a heartier dish

cook some thread egg or rice noodles following the pack instructions and divide between the serving bowls before spooning over the broth.

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Method:

1. Heat the vegetable oil in a large deep frying pan over a high heat. Add the garlic and sliced mushrooms and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until the mushrooms are just tender and golden. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. 2. Add the tofu to the pan and stir-fry for 1-2 minutes until just browned. Reduce the heat and stir in the miso paste, soy sauce and 1 litre of boiling water. Slowly bring to the boil then add the pak choi and simmer for 2-3 minutes until just softened. 3. Return the mushrooms to the pan and heat through for a further minute. Divide the broth between four warmed bowls and serve immediately.

Makes 4, Ready in 15 minutes

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May

With summer only a matter of weeks away, here’s a quick rundown of events going on across West Lothian this month.

Linlithgow’s Classics have begun their monthly meetings for 2019 – located in The Cross. Check out an array of preserved classics in the historic Burgh of Linlithgow. The event takes place on the fourth Saturday of every month (until October) from 10am. Nearby at Blackness Castle, you can retrace the footsteps of the leading Scottish American environmental conservationist John Muir. Explore the area through a photography exhibition by Ken Paterson that shares the beauty of both the Scottish and American wilderness that John Muir was so passionate about. The event takes place during normal Blackness Castle opening hours and is included in the admission to the castle (free to Historic Environment Scotland members!).

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In Livingston, at Almond Valley Heritage Centre join the fun family event “Brilliant Beltane” daily 3rd to 7th May. Get back to nature and celebrate a simpler time when life was closer to nature. There is a daily programme of light-hearted family activities that delight in the mysteries and wonders of a traditional springtime.

Saturday 18th marks the start of Fly Open Air festival at Hopetoun House. Their biggest festival yet set in the beautiful grounds of Hopetoun House, one of Scotland’s finest stately homes. Tickets are available for the full weekend, or each individual day. Why not check out some of West Lothian’s Hidden Gems by taking a look at our newly updated website? You can see videos of locations before you go, as well as finding opening hours and more.

Follow us on social media to stay up to date with the latest attraction information: www.facebook.com/VisitWestLothian www.twitter.com/SeeWestLothian www.instagram.com/VisitWestLothian

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RBS MOBILE BANK: EVERY TUESDAY

The RBS mobile van stops at: • Balerno Scotmid 10:15 - 11:00 • Currie Library 11:15 - 11:45 • Juniper Green Iceland 13:00 - 14:00

WISHING ALL READERS A FANTASTIC BALERNO CHILDREN’S GALA FORTNIGHT THIS MONTH!

MONDAY 6TH MAY Family Fun Day and Picnic 11am – 2pm Malleny Park/Currie Rugby Club. Hosted by St Mungo’s Church, see page 55 for more details SATURDAY 11TH MAY Plant Sale Visit the now-famous Water of Leith Conservation Trust annual plant sale and pick up a bargain. Doors open at 10.00am at the Water of Leith Visitor Centre. 50p (donation) admission. SATURDAY 11TH MAY Balerno Farmers Market Main Street, 9am - 1pm SATURDAY 11TH MAY Wildflowers of The Dells – Guided Walk Join Helen for this tour of the local area seeking out spring blooms. Meet at 2.00pm at the Visitor Centre £5 (members £2) Booking essential, please call the Trust on 0131 455 7367 or email admin@waterofleith.org.uk FRIDAY 17TH MAY Magical Moments from the Musicals Balerno Parish Church 7.30pm. Admission free, donations to “Make 2nds Count” welcome.

THE MILL GALLERY

Drop in and view an exhibition of paintings by members of Pentland Art Club in St Joseph’s Centre in Balerno. Paintings are changed over every 2 months. Opening hours are Tue – Fri 9.30am to 2pm WANT TO INCLUDE YOUR EVENT HERE? COMMUNITY AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT LISTINGS ARE FREE OF CHARGE. EMAIL EDITOR@KONECT.SCOT BY 15TH OF THE MONTH FOR FOLLOWING MONTH’S ISSUE. 56 | BALERNO

This service is for RBS customers to make cash deposits, withdrawals, bill payments and administer their accounts. It is not a full substitute for a branch but is still useful. For the best chance of it continuing please use it as often as possible. Recent improvements include better access for disabled customers and a new approach for those in wheelchairs. If you are yet to use the service, try it out next time it is in your village.

SATURDAY 18TH MAY Literary Walk in the Pentlands Walk in the footsteps of Edinburgh’s writers. Come and explore the Pentland haunts of writers such as Owen and Stephenson, led by the Pentland Hills Natural Heritage Officers. Location: Swanston Car Park, East of Swanston Brasserie, EH10 7DS. Time:11:00 – 15:00. This is a moderate walk: you should be used to walking in the hills. It will be no more than 7 miles. Bring sturdy footwear, waterproofs and a packed lunch. Over 16s only. Booking essential as places are limited, please contact the Natural Heritage officers on 0131 529 2401 or email pentlandhills@edinburgh.gov.uk. Cost: £10 (£5 concs.) SATURDAY 25TH MAY Currie Primary May Fair See poster opposite (Page 57)

BALERNO VILLAGE SCREEN SATURDAY 1ST JUNE

• 2.30pm: Mary Poppins Returns (U) • 7.30pm: The Favourite (15)

SATURDAY 7TH JUNE

• 7.30pm: A Sunday in Hell (Part of the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling)

VENUE: St. Joseph’s Church Hall & Ogston Hall, Balerno TICKETS: www.balernovillagescreen.com and at The Mill Cafe. Programme and timings subject to change.

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CLUBS & CLASSES

SPORTS, HOBBIES, LEARNING, SUPPORT GROUPS & MORE... BALERNO HULLABALOO Music classes for babies and toddlers with their carers. At Hullabaloo the focus is on having lots of fun with colourful props, toys and musical instruments. Through favourite songs and rhymes, children will develop early musical skills including a sense of beat, rhythm and pitch. Fridays 9.30am (term time) Balerno Scout Hall. E: info@mcmillanyoungmusicians. co.uk W: www.mcmillanyoungmusicians. co.uk/hullabaloo YOUNG@HEART For older people in Balerno, Currie and Juniper Green. We meet at 10am on a Tuesday at the Ogston Hall, St Joseph’s centre, Main St, Balerno for some gentle exercises then tea and coffee break. We then have various activities. Cost £2 per week for the tea and coffee break and £15 a year for membership, paid in 2 instalments. For more information please contact Mary Laing on 0131 449 3523 or email me on yackadoo@hotmail. co.uk for more information. BALERNO PARISH CHURCH Come and be part of the heart of the community which meets every Sunday at 10 am in the Main street www.balernochurch.org.uk HAILES SWIMMING CLUB Galas, coaching and development lessons for 7-15 year olds at Balerno, Currie, and Forrester pools. For further details contact membership@ hailesswimclub.co.uk ST MUNGO’S BALERNO Come be part of our vibrant church community which meets every Sunday, 10.30am @ Balerno High School www.stmungos.org PIYO LIVE! Pilates + Yoga+ Nonstop movement. Stretch, Strengthen & Sweat, all in one workout! Tues 9am in Balerno Scout Hall and Thurs 8pm in Balerno Community Centre. Other classes available in Currie. Contact Heidi on 07982 205111 or at heidi.instructor@gmail.com WILDFIRE EXPLORER SCOUTS Meet in Balerno High School. Fridays 7.15 - 9.15pm. 14 – 18yrs. Contact: Gordon Simpson 0131 477 3116. Email leaders@wildfireexplorers.org.uk

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BALERNO MONDAY CLUB Non-denominational club for over 55s. Our meetings are held in St Joseph’s Centre at Balerno Parish Church at 2pm on the first and third Mondays of the month from September to May. Different speakers, activities and outings each session, please contact the Club for syllabus details. 51ST PENTLAND SCOUTS (BALERNO) Beavers, Cubs, Scouts Various evenings, Balerno Scout Hall. Contact John Henderson on 07941 637262 CURRIE RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB Malleny Park - Minis (P1-7) Sundays 10.30am - 12pm. Contact 0131 449 2432 www.currierugby.org PENTLAND CALEDONIA PIPES AND DRUMS Balerno Community Centre - Every Friday 7pm-9.30pm. New members welcome. Free tuition on pipes or drums Phone 0131 4495133. BALERNO VILLAGE NURSERY Balerno Community Centre Available 8am - 6pm, 5 days a week. Preschool play from age 2 years. Breakfast / Afterschool Club up to 8 years. Full or part time childcare . Call 0131 451 5756 BALERNO FOOTSTEPS 4 FITNESS Mondays 10am at Balerno High School Riverside Café. Alternative Thursdays 10am at Balerno High School Riverside Café - Alternative Fridays 10am at Balerno Parish Church Hall - Contact 0131 449 2101. PENTLAND ART CLUB Meet at Balerno High School Art Room - Every Thursday 7.30-9.30pm Demonstrations, speakers, work evenings; All mediums; New members welcome. Please contact E Thomson on 0131 333 4662. PENTLAND FLOWER CLUB Drama Studio, Balerno High School. First Friday of the month at 7pm (excluding January, February, July and August); Visitors and new members are always welcome. Contact Lis Daly on 0131 442 2146. CHILDREN’S SWIM SCHEME Balerno High School. Tues, Wed and Fri pm; Sat and Sun am. Contact Balerno Community Education Office 0131 477 7733 for more info.

COMPASS PLAYGROUP Dean Park Primary Pre-School Centre. 2-5 years, wide variety of activities. Mon to Fri (school term time only) 8:55-11.40am. Early Drop Off, Lunch Club and Transfer Service to Dean Park Nursery. Afternoon sessions available for Pre-school children. Call 0131 449 4530 (during opening hours) for more information, or email info@compassplaygroup.com BALERNO BABY AND TODDLER GROUP Balerno Parish Church Hall. 3 Johnsburn Road, Balerno, EH14 7DN. For children 0-5 years and their carers. Term-time Thursdays 9.30 - 11.30am.

BALERNO PARISH CHURCH GUILD Balerno Parish Church New Hall. First and third Wednesdays (commencing October) at 7.30pm. Varied syllabus with many interesting speakers; Tea/coffee is served at the end of the meeting. New members and visitors warmly welcomed BALERNO FOLK CLUB Held on the last Tuesday of each month in Balerno Bowling Club . Doors open 8pm; Evening begins 8.20pm; Guest artist on stage at 8.30pm; Members and guests welcome. For further info contact Morag Dunbar on 0131 449 5014 or John Stirling on 0131 449 3456.

BALERNO SWI Balerno Community Centre 7.30pm. First Tuesday of every month (except July & August). We usually have a speaker but we also have “in house” evenings; There is usually some business to be discussed and we enjoy a “cuppa” whilst chatting; New members or visitors welcome, just come along MINIS @ST MUNGO’S Group for babies and toddlers with their carers on term time. Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10 - 11.30am in St Mungo’s church building, Ladycroft, Balerno; All welcome. For more information see www.stmungos.org

IN THE DITCH QUILTERS Balerno Community Centre. Monthly workshops covering different quilting topics, third Wednesday of the month from 7:15pm. Annual membership £24.00. Contact Maureen Murray on 0131 336 0053 for further details.

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BALERNO ...cont. GIRLGUIDING Rainbows on Monday evenings. Full information and meeting times can be obtained from Edinburgh Head Quarters on 0131 225 4154. PALM CAFÉ St Jospeh’s Centre, last Tues of the month 2.30pm4pm. A social group cafe for people with dementia and their carers, for informal support and information. Serving the communities of Balerno, Juniper Green and Currie. For more information contact Kay Latimer 0131 449 6186 or email kaylatimer@btopenworld.com BALERNO PARISH CHURCH Come and join us for regular all age worship on Sunday mornings at 10am followed by refreshments in St Joseph’s. Check www. balernochurch.org.uk for all other events and worship information. THE MILL CAFÉ A community café run mainly by volunteers in the St Joseph’s Centre at the heart of Balerno. Open Tuesday-Friday 9.30am-2.00pm serving teas, coffees, homebaking and snack lunches. (Times may vary during school holidays)

CURRIE NEW CORE DE FORCE LIVE! An MMA Style Fitness Workout. Punch, Kick ‘n Jab ‘til the final bell! Fri 9:15am in Sports Hall of Currie Youth Club. Contact Heidi on 07982 205111 or at heidi.instructor@gmail.com NEW PIYO LIVE! Pilates + Yoga + Non-stop movement. Stretch, Strengthen & Sweat, all in one workout! Fri 10:30am (45 minutes) in Sports Hall of Currie Youth Club. Other classes available in Balerno. Contact Heidi on 07982 205111 or at heidi.instructor@gmail.com DEPEVAK EXPLORER SCOUT UNIT 45 Lanark Road West, Currie, Wednesday 7.15 – 9.15pm IRISH DANCING Currie High School, Fridays 5.30pm. Come and try a free class at our beginners group. For boys and girls from age 3. Contact Audrey 07952 159227 Fallon Academy of Irish Dance for more info. SLIMMING WORLD - LOSE WEIGHT WITHOUT FEELING HUNGRY Come and join us every Wednesday at 7:30pm in Currie Community Centre on Lanark Road West, and every Saturday at 7:30am & 9:30am in Currie Scout Hall, Forthview Crescent. Contact Kim 07921 380711 for more information.

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HAILES SWIMMING CLUB Galas, coaching and development lessons for 7-15 year olds at Balerno, Currie, and Forrester pools. For further details contact membership@ hailesswimclub.co.uk CURRIE COMMUNITY CENTRE Various activities and facilities: Nursery, Football, After-school care, ballet, dog training youth club, craft, Taekwondo, parties, Saturday morning cafe, rooms for hire. See facebook page. Currie Community Centre. ARTS & CRAFTS GROUP Art Room 1, Currie Community High School - Thursdays 7.15 - 9pm - from 18th September to 27th November (except 16th October). We are a small, friendly group (of all ages) and new members will be made very welcome. £35 for the 10-week term or £5 per session, if paid on the night. Fee covers all materials, equipment and refreshments. For more information please email: phoenixarts@hotmail. com or tel: 07934 495488. BRIDGE CLUB The club is played at the Gibson Craig back Hall on a Monday, 1.30pm. For more information contact the Chairman on 0131 449 3527. COFFEE AND CRAFT Currie community Centre Mon 7-9pm. Bring your own craft and share your knowledge and experience with other crafters and perhaps learn something new. All welcome. £1 per person per night. AIR CADETS 2463 (CURRIE & BALERNO) SQUADRON Forthview Crescent. Mon and Thu 7-9.30pm. 0131 449 7449 for more info. CURRIE PLAYGROUPCurrie Baptist Church Hall. Preschool play from age 2 years - Mon-Fri, 8.45 11.45am (term time) £6.50 per child per morning - Wraparound and Lunch Club for children attending Currie Nursery. Wrap around £5.00; Lunch club £2.00. See www.currieplaygroup.co.uk 42ND PENTLAND SCOUT GROUP (CURRIE) Forth View Crescent, Currie. Cubs Monday 6.15 – 7.45pm. Call Fee 07771 370748. Scouts Monday 7.45 – 9.15pm. Call Ross 07729714445. Beavers Friday 6.30 – 7.30pm. Call Sharon 07810 201680. www.42ndpentland.scoutsites.org.uk THE OCTAGON CLUB For Adults with Special Needs and Learning Difficulties Meets in Gibson Craig Hall, Lanark Road West, Currie, 7 9pm on Wednesday Evenings from mid September until June for table tennis, snooker, badminton, table games, “tuck shop” etc. Contact Terry Maloney 0751 466 4292

CURRIE & DISTRICT LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY Meetings Mondays at 7.30 in the Gibson-Craig Hall in Currie - Visitors welcome; For further information contact Douglas Lowe on 0131 449 4349 or douglaslowe51@btinternet.com BOYS BRIGADE - 65TH EDINBURGH (CURRIE) COMPANY Gibson Craig Hall, Lanark Road West Currie Anchors (Boys P2 & P3) - Thursday 6 - 7pm Juniors (Boys P4, P5 & P6) Thursday 7 - 8.30pm Company/Seniors (Boys P7 - S6) Sundays 6.30 – 8.30pm For more info email 65edinburghbb@gmail.com or see website 65edinburgh.boys-brigade. org.uk CURRIE BABY AND TODDLER GROUP Gibson Craig Hall - Friday 9.30 - 11.30am (term time only). Adults £2.00; Kids go free. Parents/ Grandparents/Carers/Childminders are all very welcome; Snack provided for the kids and tea and coffee for the adults. Loads of space to play BALERNO AND DISTRICT RAMBLERS Midweek Group meets on a Wednesday at Currie Library Car Park, Lanark Rd West - 9.15am for 9.30am start. Contact M Timmins 0131 449 4525 or A Blyth 0131 629 3644. Saturday and Sunday Group meets at Pentland View Carpark, Currie, at 8.45am for 9am start. Contact E Scroggie on 0131 441 1666. BOOK GROUP Currie Library - First Wednesday of each month at 7.00pm. BEGINNERS YOGA CLASSES No experience needed (18+) - £6 per class Tuesday 8pm at Gibson Craig Hall, Lanark Road, Currie Wednesday 7.45pm at Forth View Crescent Scout Hall, Currie Monday 6pm at St Margaret’s Hall, Juniper Green Monday 8.30pm at Balerno Scout Hall Any questions please contact Monica, email: karmayoga@ btinternet.com Tel: 07986 600432 CORNER CAFE BOOK CLUB At the Corner Cafe, 120 Lanark Road West, Currie. Meet 27th of every month at 7.45. Informal friendly group, all welcome, we read a mixture of classics and popular books. £3 per session. MACULAR SOCIETY, PENTLAND GROUP Group for visually impaired people, 2nd Friday of every month in Currie Library at 2pm. Audio Book Group meets 1st Monday of every month in Currie Library at 2.15 pm. I-Pad tuition group for visually impaired people all other Mondays in Currie Library at 2.15pm.

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MESSY CHURCH Second and last Fridays of the month from 2-4.30pm in the Gibson Craig Halls. We will meet from the second Friday in September until the second Friday in December then from the second Friday in January until the second Friday in June. All ages are welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult who stays with them. For further information, contact Louise on 466 3472 or Easter on 449 4719

JUNIPER GREEN JUNIPER GREEN TENNIS CLUB This small, friendly LTA affiliated tennis club in the heart of Juniper Green is open to all. There’s an extensive junior coaching programme and sessions for adults on Fridays throughout the season. Follow us on Facebook www.facebook. com/junipergreentennisclub/ or for membership details etc see www.clubspark.lta.org.uk/ JuniperGreenTennisClub JUNIPER GREEN NURSERY PLAYGROUP Juniper Green Community Centre (Village Hall) 1 Juniper Park Road EH14 5DX. Contact 07948 554889 or see website atwww. junipergreenplaygroup.vpweb.co.uk JUNIPER GREEN BOARDGAMERS We meet 2nd and 4th Friday of the month, 6pm-9pm in Juniper Green Parish Church Hall C - We currently ask for £1.00 per person to cover the cost of the hall (£2.00 non-members - First visit FREE!). Everyone welcome, suitable for kids over 10y/o. Children must be with an adult, and the adult must stay and play too. For more information and dates for this month, please contact Eric (eric@ericonline. co.uk) or find us on Facebook using “Juniper Green Board-Gamers”. 31ST PENTLAND SCOUTS (JUNIPER GREEN) 45 Lanark Road West, Currie Beavers - Wed 6.30pm. Cubs - Mon 7.00pm. Cubs - Tues 6.30pm. Scouts - Fri 7.00pm Contact - Hamish Leal on 0131 449 3288. JUNIPER GREEN SWI Juniper Green Community Centre (Village Hall) 1 Juniper Park Road EH14 5DX. Contact 0131 539 9886. PENTLAND BRIDGE CLUB The club meets at 7pm on Thursday evenings throughout the year to play duplicate bridge at St Margaret’s Court, Juniper Green. Prospective new members are welcome to

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come along to see if it suits them. If interested, please contact Ken Brown 0131 449 5314 email mthkjb@gmail.com.

RATHO RATHO SWI Meet in Ratho Community Centre on second Wednesday of each month (except July & August) from 7pm to 9pm. New members and visitors welcome. Contact 0131 333 4862 for information. RATHO SCOUTS, CUBS & BEAVERS Ratho Community Centre. Beavers: Tuesdays 6.30pm - 7.30pm (age 6-8). Cubs: Fridays 7pm - 8.30pm (age 8-10.5). Scouts: 7pm - 8.45pm. (age 10.5 -14) RATHO RAVERS Ratho Community Centre. Thurs 10am12pm. Exercising body and mind for the over fifties. £3 per class. For more information call the Community Centre on 0131 333 1055. PARENT & TODDLERS GROUP Community Centre Tues and Thurs 10am-12noon. Under 3s. Members 50p, non members £1. For more information call the Community Centre on 0131 333 1055. ART CLUB Ratho Community Centre Tues 7-9pm. Adult Multimedia Club. Members 50p, non members £1. For more information call the Community Centre on 0131 333 1055. 50 PLUS GROUP Varied programme of activities/outings. New members welcome – meet fortnightly at Ratho Community Centre. Members 50p, nonmembers £1. For more information call the Community Centre on 0131 333 1055 SCOUTS All meet at the Community Centre, meeting times are as follows: Beavers: Tuesdays 6.30pm - 7.30pm (age 6-8), Cubs: Fridays 7pm - 8.30pm (age 8-10.5), Scouts: 7pm - 8.45pm. (age 10.5-14) TO INCLUDE YOUR CLUB OR CLASS, PLEASE EMAIL DETAILS TO EDITOR@ KONECT.SCOT CHARITY AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT GROUPS ARE FREE. THERE IS A SMALL CHARGE FOR OTHER LISTINGS. SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION AT WWW.KONECT.SCOT

SOLUTIONS

SOLUTION TO APRIL CROSSWORD

ACROSS: 1. Safe, 3. Everyday, 9. Cartoon, 10. Reply, 11. Enter, 12. Splash, 14. Lowest, 16. Editor, 19. Middle, 21. Zebra, 24. Mills, 25. Beneath, 26. Tadpoles, 27. Less. DOWN: 1. Secretly, 2. First, 4. Vanish, 5. Rural, 6. Deposit, 7. Yo-yo, 8. Courts, 13. Breathes, 15. Whirled, 17. Dozens, 18. Pebble, 20. Disco, 22. Blame, 23. Omit.

SOLUTION TO SUDOKU ON PAGE 46

Disclaimer: The publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage caused by error in the printing of an advertisement. We do not endorse any advertisers in this publication. All material is accepted for publication on the understanding it is copyright free. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior consent of the publisher. Publisher: Lothian Publications Ltd. Geddes House, Kirkton North, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 6GU. Magazine Design: Universal Appeal Ltd. M: 07729 911858 W: www.universal-appeal.com E: info@universal-appeal.com

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INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

APPLIANCE REPAIRS ESTATE AGENT MARKETING / LEAFLETING Appliances of Edinburgh 38 Blair Cadell Solicitors 44 The Leaflet Lady 64 Remax Property 4 BATHROOMS & KITCHENS MEMBER OF SCOTTISH Ian Merriman 37 EXTERIOR CLEANING PARLIAMENT Splash Bathrooms 21 Cleaning & Maintenance 17 Gordon Macdonald MSP 54 Paragon Bathroom Solutions 2 FENCING, RAILINGS, GATES MOBILITY SERVICES BEAUTICIAN John Gillan Fencing and Ableworld 31 Beauty Therapy by Rhona 27 Landscaping 4 MORTGAGE SERVICES Electrolysis by Pamela 26 S & D Fences 18 Malleny Mortgage Solutions 48 Juniper Beauty Room 27 FINANCIAL ADVICE OPTICIAN BLACKSMITH Personal Money Management 42 Clearvue Opticians 28 D & I Blacksmiths 17 FIREPLACES / WOODBURNERS PAINTING & DECORATING BOILER SERVICES Fireplaces, Stoves and Flues 49 The Gas Engineer 38 Alistair McLellan 37 FLORIST Brush Strokes 34 CAR SALES Juniper Flowers 26 Gerry Aitken 4 Juniper Green Garage 51 Vicky’s Flowers 27 Ken Dunton 46 CAR SERVICING, MOT & REPAIR Lane Decor 46 FUNERAL DIRECTOR Balerno Garage 51 Lewis Arthur Decorating Services 39 Mark Porteous Funeral Directors 45 Ratho Auto Services 51 Mark Reece Painter & Decorator 34 GARAGE DOORS CARE HOME PERSONAL TRAINER Max’s Garage Doors 46 Care UK 7 KM Fitness 24 GARDEN DESIGN / MAINTENANCE CARPET & FLOORING SALES PET SITTING / BOARDING CS Gardening 17 Pentland Carpets 23 Claylands Cottage Cattery 50 Evergreen Balerno 18 CARPET & UPHOLSTERY Greenspace Landscapes 14 PLASTERING CLEANING Premier Soft Landscapes 4 Alexander Aitken Plastering 21 Aquatec 21 WLGM 14 Cleaning Doctor 22 PLUMBING & HEATING SERVICES GARDEN FURNITURE AND CW Services 22 Bill Reid & Son 34 BUILDINGS James Burnett Carpet Cleaning 22 Currievale Plumbing & Drainage 49 Champfleurie Estate 19 CHARITIES Jim Gladstone 40 British Heart Foundation 44 GLAZING REPAIRS McLellan Plumbing 36 CR Smith 33 Owen Gibb Plumbing & Heating 34 CHIROPODY / PODIATRY / DGR Double Glazing Repairs 40 Shandon Plumbing 38 FOOTCARE Double Glazing Doctor 36 Weir Plumbing Heating and Pentland Footcare 24 Gas Services 34 GOLF CLUB CHURCHES Baberton Golf Club 49 RESTAURANT St Mungo’s 55 Al Borgo Ristorante 53 HAIR SALON CLEANING: HOUSE / OFFICE Carlyles Bar & Kitchen 53 Hair by Brown & Co. 24 Fiona’s House Cleaning 22 Hair Tech 27 Hands for Hire Cleaning ROOFING Tony Harper’s Hair Studio 29 Services 6 Dell Roofing 37 Edinburgh Roofing Services 32 HANDYMAN COMPUTER / PHONE REPAIRS Fairmile Roofing 48 We Can Do It 6 Simply Fix It 43 John Brazil 4 Worx24 63 HEARING AIDS & SERVICES TAKEAWAY CURTAINS & BLINDS ABC Hearing 30 Pentland Fry 53 Blind Design 21 HOMES FOR SALE Harvey Bruce 23 TAXI & PRIVATE HIRE CALA Homes 10 DENTIST Capital Cars 54 IRONING / LAUNDRY SERVICES Artis Dental and Implant Studio 29 TREE CARE SERVICES Iron Aid 6 No.9 Practice 26 Delisle Tree Solutions 14 JOINERY DOORS / WINDOWS Maxwell Tree Care 17 Adriatik Sula 21 Four Seasons Scotland 5 VET & ANIMAL WELLBEING GK Wilson Joiner 40 UPVC Door 7 Pentland Veterinary Clinic 50 R McNeill Joiner & Glazier 34 DRAINAGE SERVICES WHAT’S ON LANDSCAPING SUPPLIES Currievale Drainage 46 Gardening Scotland 13 Beatson’s Building Supplies 15 DRIVEWAYS AND PAVING LAWNS WINDOW & GUTTER CLEANING Alpine Paving 14 Green Thumb Lawn Service 6 Tag Cleaning Services 14 ELECTRICIAN Greenspace Lawncare 18 A Robertson Electrical Contractor 36 Luxury Lawns 15 A&A Electrical Solutions 49 LOCKSMITH D Sykes Electrical 39 MT Electrical 34 1st Call Locksmiths 34 Spark Electrical Solutions 40 CVC Locksmiths and Security 36

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