Konect Balerno November 2022

It’s the season for autumn fayres, Christmas fayres and shopping nights and it’s good to see a number of events back for the first time in two years. More than ever, shopping locally will make a big difference to charitable organisations who fundraise via the annual fayres, and to small local businesses who hold stalls.

The history article this month looks at the history of the Craiglockhart campus of Napier University, and specifically its role during World War I and how three great anti-war poets, Owen, Sassoon and Graves met at Baberton Golf Club.

The Pentlands Book Festival kicks off this month, with events at venues from Balerno to Colinton. We’ve squeezed the programme in on page 36, but see their website for full details and tickets, www.pentlandsbookfestival.org

All our usual very practical and informative columns from our local contributors are included, I hope you enjoy them (Sorry there are no puzzles this month).

THIS ISSUE

Local History: When Craiglockhart was Dottyville 8 Health: Speed up your recovery from winter colds and coughs 10 Health: What’s new with Parkinson’s?

12 Wine Tasting: Mulled Wine

16 I  Food: The pumpkin pie switch 22 Money Matters: Having your cake and eating it

What’s On: Pentands Book Festival 36 Clubs & Classes

COVER IMAGE: NovemberThe air is getting crisper

Konect is delivered monthly to homes in Balerno, Currie, Juniper Green, Baberton and Ratho. It is also available online: konect.scot/subscribe

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How the tranquil surrounds of Craiglockhart - and a meeting at Baberton Golf Club - produced the most graphic and moving anti-war poetry of the 20th century.

Edinburgh Napier University’s Craiglockhart campus is an imposing building, purpose-built in 1880 to house a luxury spa establishment: Craiglockhart Hydropathic. Patrons could take water-based cures including Turkish, Russian and swimming baths, hot and cold plunges, spray and vapour baths, as well as all the usual hotel facilities and day trips. The list of treatments and services, printed on a piece of ivory silk, gives the impression of a noexpenses spared establishment. Success as a hydro however was short-lived; it hit financial difficulties, changed hands a couple of times, and in 1916 was requisitioned by the army as a military hospital.

Craiglockhart specialised in treatment of shell-shocked officers, at a time the military was struggling to understand and treat the masses of soldiers suffering from psychological trauma. The former luxury establishment was down at heel, but as a psychiatric hospital the building was ideal with its rooms overlooking the Pentlands, and its grounds, sporting and entertainment facilities.

It was however a battleground of a different sort; prevailing British military medical thinking, as well as society in general, viewed psychological illness as a cowardly cop-out and sufferers generally were treated in a punitive

manner, not “sent on holiday in the Scottish countryside.” There was an element of shame in leaving the battlefield without being physically wounded. A series of commanding officers came and went - possibly due to the friction between the medics in the War Office and the doctors at Craiglockhart - each with a different approach to the perplexing issue of the masses of traumatised men. One doctor in particular, Dr WHR Rivers, pioneered controversial treatments based on getting patients to acknowledge and talk about their traumas and educating them about the genuine nature of their illness. This was at a time when other treatments included repression, punishment and electric shock. And while the Craiglockhart admissions register lists “neurasthenia” (the official term for shell shock) as the most common ailment, in some cases minor physical illnesses are listed instead; ‘migraine’, ‘glycosuria’, ‘gas poisoning’, and ‘compound fracture of toe’ for example are not obvious reasons to be admitted to a shell-shock hospital and suggest a denial on the part of some staff to acknowledge psychological factors.

According to Dr Rivers the local Director of Medical Services nourished a deep-rooted prejudice against Craiglockhart and asserted that he “never had and never

would recognise the existence of such a thing as shell-shock.”

In the tranquil surroundings and the careful treatments, the mutilation, blood and mud quagmires haunt the young patients. One of the officers admitted in 1917 was 24 year old Wilfred Owen, traumatised by his experiences at the Somme and placed under the care of Dr Brock. Brock encouraged his patients to face up to their trauma rather than repressing it. He advocated finding them work related to their pre-war occupations, socialising and getting involved in the community. Besides facilitating Owen’s English teaching placement in Tynecastle High School in Edinburgh, Brock encouraged Owen to describe his war experiences in his poetry - to concentrate on actual experiences not fantasies. Thus Owen started writing his war poetry at Craiglockhart. He was pleased by the arrival a couple of months later of Siegfreid Sassoon, already a published poet. The friendship and mutual sharing of ideas between the two poets, along with Dr Brock’s treatment plan, was instrumental in Owen’s literary output.

It’s ironic that Sassoon himself, whose poetry also treats of the utter insanity of war, was sent to “dottyville” (as he nicknamed Craiglockhart) because he was deemed...insane. He had published an anti-war protest and was refusing to return to the hellish front lines, actions for which he would have been court marshalled and potentially executed. He was spared because his fellow officer, the writer and poet Robert

Graves, had persuaded the authorities that he was suffering from shell shock.

Another event seems to have been the catalyst for development of one of the most powerful anti-war poems of all. In October 1917 Graves visited Edinburgh to see Sassoon. On the day Sassoon had a golf match arranged at Baberton Golf Club that he wasn’t keen to cancel, so he asked for the meet to be there; Owen was tasked with collecting Graves and taking him to the Club. Thus three of the most significant English literary figures of the 20th century met at Baberton Golf Club. Owen is often referred to as perhaps the most powerful war poet in English literature, and according to historian Neil McLennan, “The boost Owen received from being endorsed by two established figures

inspired him to write Dulce et Decorum est and Anthem for Doomed Youth, regarded as two of the most influential poems of the 20th century. This meeting was key to Owen’s success - it connects Owen to Graves and founds their friendship. Graves invites Owen to his January 1918 London wedding - you do not do that with someone you have met only once unless they make an impression. Both Sassoon and Graves help with the posthumous publication of his Owen’s poems and his post-war recognition.”

Owen, and separately Sassoon, were eventually declared fit to return to the front line; Owen was killed just one week before the war ended.

After the war, Craiglockhart became a convent, and later a catholic teacher training college. It was purchased by Napier College which eventually became Edinburgh Napier University and is now their business school campus.

This article was written by Helen-Jane Gisbourne. Helen-Jane is the editor of Konect magazines. With thanks to Neil McLennan, historian and senior lecturer at University of Aberdeen, for permission to reference his research.

Winter Colds & Coughs

As darker mornings and colder temperatures arrive, sadly so too comes the inevitable cold and cough season that we’re faced with each winter.

Whilst the idea of hibernating under our duvets through the winter months, pleasantly shielded from the rest of the world sounds incredibly appealing, life does indeed go on. And we’re subsequently exposed to a variety of germs and seasonal bugs as we go about our everyday lives that can leave us feeling dreary and under the weather.

This year, many of us are also finding that our immune systems are compromised following

previous Covid infections, making it harder than usual to shake off what would seem like very typical colds and coughs. There are of course simple steps that we can take at home which can help to naturally boost our immunity, such as getting adequate sleep, hydrating well, eating a healthy and varied diet, and staying active through the winter months. However, did you know that aromatherapy can also be used to help ease the side effects of a stuffy nose or troublesome cough? Or that massage can help to flush the body of toxins and speed up your recovery?

If you’d like to find out more about these and other natural ways to feel your best this winter, feel free to call or enquire at www.sophielouisehealth.com for a complimentary consultation and I’ll be happy to help.

This article was contributed by Sophie Louise, The Therapy Room, Woodhall Road, Colinton. See www.sophielouisehealth.com

What’s new with Parkinson’s?

Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition that causes problems in the brain. People with Parkinson’s don’t produce enough of the chemical Dopamine in their brain to control movement properly. This gives rise to the 3 main symptoms of Parkinson’s which are tremor (shaking), slowness of movement and rigidity (muscle stiffness). About 145,000 people live with Parkinson’s in the UK and it is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world.

We don’t yet know exactly why people get Parkinson’s. Researchers think it is due to a combination of age, genetic and environmental factors that cause the dopamine producing cells in the brain to die. There are lots of different treatments, therapies and support available to help manage symptoms and maintain quality of life. Physiotherapy is one of these and the importance of exercise is now being recognised.

In September the Edinburgh Parkinson’s lecture was given by Julie Jones, a Physiotherapist and Researcher from Robert Gordon University. She had exciting newsearly research results are that exercise can modify disease progression. It is not just that exercise can make you feel better, but that exercise can help neuroplasticity. MRI scan results suggest that exercise can help the brain make more connections between damaged cells and healthy cells to improve function.

We have known for a long time that there are many benefits to exercise. For people living with Parkinson’s exercise can have a positive impact on Parkinson’s symptoms. It can improve sleep patterns, help ease constipation and help prevent Osteoporosis. Maintaining strong bones is important when falls are a concern to lessen the chances of a fracture. Research from a number of trials across the world have shown that exercise works as a symptomatic treatment for Parkinson’s. People who exercise have better quality of life scores and cognitive

outcomes at one year and two years compared to those who do not exercise.

We now know that exercise can improve brain cell connectivity and function. The potential mechanisms for this are that the increased blood flow through the brain while we exercise improves brain health and increases Dopamine levels. However, the underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood and we do not yet know the exact dose needed. Every person with Parkinson’s wants to know how much they need to exercise to get the best effects (or, if we are honest, most of us are more interested in how little exercise we can get away with and still benefit!).

At present, it looks like 45 minutes of exercise three times a week is needed but everyone is different. If this sounds like too much, simply moving more than you do at present is good. Exercise will be of greater benefit if the exercise programme is personalised - it needs to be fun to be done regularly and there should be goals set. Knowing that you want to achieve better strength, balance or flexibility with a plan in your diary of how you can achieve it can really make a difference. If you want to find out more please, visit the website www.edinburghparkinsons.org

The health column is contributed by McNaughton Physiogrange, Edinburgh www.physiogrange.co.uk

WINE TASTING

I am looking forward to the return of the famous German market. I love the atmosphere of the markets and of course, a warming mug of Glühwein! Glühwein is essentially Mulled Wine; a warming drink made with red wine, winter spices and citrus. So, do you need to use a particular red wine or syrup to make your winter mulled wine? The answer is no. You can use any red wine to make mulled wine, however I would recommend you follow a few basic guidelines.

Firstly, don’t spend a lot of money on your red wine! Choose a wine that is lower in alcohol, around 12% would be best. Wine with low tannin is also preferable, you want your mulled wine to be smooth without the drying, coarse textures of tannic wine.

Below is my basic recipe. Feel free to use any combination of spices and alcohol! Most importantly, don’t use ground spice as this will give your mulled wine a gritty, unpleasant texture. Combine two bottles of your chosen red wine, with 2 sliced oranges, 6 cardamon pods (bruised with the side of a knife), a teaspoon of whole cloves, 4 star anise, 3 sticks of cinnamon in a saucepan or slow cooker and slowly warm over a low heat. Before it starts to boil, remove from the heat and stir in 4 tablespoons of Demerara sugar or another sweetener of your choice. Let the blend of wine and spices sit for up to 30 minutes filling your kitchen with delicious aromas. After 30 minutes, strain and serve. Garnish with a slice of orange and a stick of cinnamon.

The monthly wine tasting column is contributed by Joanne Frette. Joanne lives in Juniper Green with her husband and three children. For wine recommendations, reviews and details of future tasting events, please go to swirlsipsocialise.com

How much of your day has to do with food? Thinking about it, buying it, preparing it, fretting about the fats or carbs in it, savouring it, dealing with leftovers, daydreaming about more food … I realised a long time ago that I was fairly consumed with what I consumed! Some people eat to survive. For others, like me, thoughts of breakfast get us out of bed in the morning!

The Pumpkin Pie Switch

Every year, once it starts getting cold outside, I start thinking about pumpkin pie. It’s as if a switch has been flipped – the pumpkin pie switch. This is the result of years of conditioning. Growing up in America’s Midwest, where this wonderful dessert is the big reward for coping with freezing cold winters, means I can’t help it!

But I make myself wait until the US Thanksgiving holiday in late November before baking one. That’s when it is traditionally eaten – a bit like mince pies at Christmas here. I make a big bowl of pie dough, and divide it into a number of pie-sized portions. I refrigerate enough for two or three pies, and then freeze the other portions to use at Christmas time.

These days many people living in the UK have sampled pumpkin pie or may even occasionally make it themselves. But this is a fairly recent phenomenon. Only about 20 years ago British farmers started introducing pumpkin patches. Today an estimated 15 million pumpkins are grown in the UK each year.

Not that many years ago Brits tended to think pumpkin belonged only in savoury dishes, such as soup. But I taught my British husband differently. And ever since we got married, he has been very supportive about pumpkin pie and other American dishes, traditions and holidays.

Back in the early 1990s, we started to invite British guests to our annual Thanksgiving meal. Though they were always very pleased to be asked, they often looked worried when asking

whether I would be serving pumpkin pie. This is because they were pretty sure they would hate it!

Wanting to be supportive of me, these friends would come along and enjoy a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Then they would brace themselves for the inevitable dessert. I used to love this bit. I would pass round the slices of pie, topped with a generous dollop of whipped cream, and watch my uncomfortable guests squirm. They would tentatively take a bite – not because they wanted to, but because they did not want to be rude.

And then someone would say, as if it was a revelation, “Wow, this is good!” And I would just smile, trying not to be smug.

Since those days, pumpkin spice latte has invaded this country. And pumpkin bread and muffins are as well known as pumpkin soup. Pumpkin is bland, which is why it works for both sweet and savoury creations. My top tip for pumpkin-related baking: don’t skimp on the spice. When you’re measuring out the cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, get someone to come up behind you and hit your elbow!

IFOOD 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.

“HAVING YOUR CAKE AND EATING IT”

I am a local Independent Financial Adviser, and in this capacity, I help my clients to allow their savings and investments to GROW. What follows is a conversation I had with one of my clients.

In a family I was advising recently, Dad was obsessed with how to make sure that there would be no Inheritance Tax (IHT) to pay and was quizzing me on all sorts of schemes that he had read in the Sunday papers e.g. putting money into Trust, using Enterprise Investment Schemes (EIS) and other Capital Preservation products that he didn’t understand.

Then his wife chipped in and said, “I have just realised after all that has been said what I really

want is to see the grandchildren smiling, going on better holidays, living in a nice house. That is what would make me happy so, accumulating all this money when I am going into the ground is not going to make me happy, is it?”

It could well be that many of you are facing a similar situation and I can advise you that you can “have your cake and eat it” because there are modern products that allow you access to your capital should you require it e.g. help the grandchildren buy a flat, pay for long term care and importantly when you die there would be little or no IHT to pay.

Should anyone feel that this would be of interest to them please do not hesitate to phone me, Dr Peter M Marshall on 0131 538 7390.

The Money Matters column is contributed by Personal Money Management. This month’s article is by Dr Peter M Marshall.

This month your local Book Festival will bring books and their authors to our area. Just look at the list below and get further details from www.pentlandsbookfestival.org

Events day by day

Details of speakers and their talks, venues and times are all on the website

Peter Sawkins

Peter’s Baking Party Corner Café, Currie 4.00 for 5.00pm

Lesley Riddoch

Columnist and author: ‘McSmorgasbord’ Currie Rugby Club - 7.30pm

Historical Walk with Liz Beevers

“Our Mills”: the story and storyteller 1.30pm - along the Water of Leith

Helen Boden and Dorothy Baird Rich words from our local poets

Currie Library - 6.30pm

Heriot-Watt - John Tweedie Archive

Visit the University’s extensive local archive Heriot-Watt University Library Archive - 1.30pm

Three Chairs for Crime Daggers drawn - Crime Writers Panel

Juniper Green Bowling Club - 7.30pm

Edinburgh Room, Central Library

‘Treasure your History’: a visit behind the scenes George Fourth Bridge - 2.00 and 3.00pm

Mary Paulson-Ellis

‘Heir Piece’ - Scottish crime novelist

Porteous, Juniper Green - 7.30pm

Debut Authors’ Panel

New Scottish writers

Porteous, Juniper Green - 7.30pm

Local Authors’ Panel

Meet and discuss with local authors

Colinton Library - 2.00pm

Rosemary Goring

Location, Location, Location: Mary Queen of Scots Colinton Library - 6.30pm

Gavin Francis

Local GP and author, “Your Good Health” Currie Rugby Club - 7.30pm

SPORTS, HOBBIES, LEARNING, SUPPORT GROUPS & MORE...

PENTLAND SINGERS COMMUNITY CHOIR - Rehearsals every Tuesday at 7.30pm in Balerno Parish Church. Singing a wide range of choral music, with local concerts twice a year, no previous experience required and new members always warmly welcomed. Actively seeking new members. Further information: www.pentlandsingers.org.uk or email: pentland_singers@yahoo.co.uk

PENTLAND JUNIOR SINGERSRehearsals every Tuesday 6-7pm, Balerno Parish Church. For young people aged 8 to 14. Come and sing a wide array of choral music in a fun and supportive environment. More information: www.pentlandjuniors.org or email: pentlandjuniors@gmail.com

CURRIE 65TH BOYS BRIGADEAnchor Boys (P2-3) and Junior Section (P4-6) Thursdays 6.00-7.30pm Company Section (P7-S6) Sundays 6.30- 8.30pm Gibson Craig Hall, Currie. Contact 65edinburghbb@gmail.com or 07730 414371.

RATHO COMMUNITY CENTRE

• Gentle Exercise Group, every Thursday from 10am-12 noon

• Gentle Exercise Group, every Thursday from 10am-12 noon

• 50+ Group alternate Wednesdays from 2pm-4pm

• Book Group alternate Wednesdays from 2pm-4pm

• Knit and Natter Group Thursdays from 2pm-4pm

Tel: Ratho Community Centre 0131 333 1055

JUNIPER GREEN BOARD-GAMERS

- Family and kids friendly board-game group open to all. Come join us to play all sorts of board-games. Children are free with any adult (£3/adut) Meetings every 2nd Friday 6pm to 9pm see boardjg.co.uk for details of contact eric@boardjg.co.uk

PENTLAND CALEDONIA PIPES AND DRUMS - Pentland Caledonia Pipes and Drums are looking for new members, players or learners. We teach pipes and drums free. We meet in Balerno Community Centre every Friday 7pm - 9.30pm. You can find us on Facebook. For information call Deeanne on 07885 612583

JUNIPER GREEN TENNIS CLUBThis small friendly LTA affiliated club

in the heart of Juniper Green is open to all to join. There’s an extensive junior coaching programme, as well as adult coaching and social sessions. For membership check out our website: clubspark.lta.org.uk/ JuniperGreenTennisClub/ and follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ junipergreentennis. We look forward to welcoming you!

PILATES, YOGA, STRENGTH & FITNESS CLASSES - at Prime Sports Physio & Pilates Studio & Gym - Our expert physios, Pilates & yoga instructors and personal trainers offer a programme of 22 classes per week to promote wellbeing, health, strength and fitness. We’re delighted to now offer a monthly class membership as well as individual class bookings. Please visit: www.primesportsphysio. co.uk to book classes. Email: hello@ primesportsphysio.co.uk for more info.

PiYo - A fusion of Yoga & Pilates & Non-stop movement. A total body workout. Muscle sculpting, Core firming, Strength, Flexibility. Working towards a stronger you. Drop-in (contactless payments taken) or pre-book at bookwhen.com/ heidimacdonaldfitness Tuesdays 9am Balerno Scout Hall - bring a mat & water. For further details call Heidi on 07982 205111

PARACISE - Gentle to moderate exercise to music you’ll love. Working on balance, mobility, flexibility & posture. All STANDING. Drop-in (contactless payments taken) or pre-book at bookwhen.com/heidimacdonaldfitness Wednesdays 10:45am Balerno Scout Hall - bring water. For further details call Heidi on 07982 205111

BALERNO ART CLUB - This club suits children who thrive by being creative and individual. Online learning will focus on technique, pencil work and colour. Outdoor classes will be a visual appreciation of colour, depth and nature through pencil and other mixed media like watercolours. We encourage individuality and celebrating being your own true artist. First class is a FREE trial.

E: balernoartclub@gmail.com

T: 07591990020

Instagram: @everychildisanartist_

BALERNO DANCE FITNESS - This class suits children who like to be active, whilst having fun. Online learning

will focus on musicality and learning dance routines to your the children’s favourite music within the comfort of your own home. Outdoor Dance Fitness can enjoy the benefits of having more space outdoors in nature, whilst learning Dance Fitness routines together as a group. First class is a FREE trial.

E: balernoartclub@gmail.com T: 07591990020

Instagram: @everychildisanartist_

To include your Club or Class, please email details, up to 75 words, to editor@konect.scot

Not-for-profit groups are FREE. There is a small charge for businesses. See konect.scot for information.

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