Konect Balerno October 2022

elcome to the October issue of Konect.

Our Charity of the Month is Reusing IT. They have been working hard over the past 20 years to divert and reuse computers that would otherwise be destined for waste, and are doing incredible work both here locally and overseas. See the feature on pages 8-9.

If you’re lucky enough to have apple trees and have spare fruit this month through to the end of November, Inchcolm Distillery would like to hear from you – they’ll pick and collect for an urban apple initiative they’re running – see page 7 and please contact them if you have more apples than you can use.

There is a walk in the Pentlands to enjoy, and all our usual very practical and informative columns from our local contributors are included, I hope you enjoy them this month. As ever, I’d love to hear what you think!

Thanks for reading Konect and supporting local businesses and organisations.

THIS ISSUE

Local Charity: Reusing IT 8

Health: Help, it’s ma hip! 12

Ask your Pharmacist 15

Wine Tasting: “Nosing” Wine 18

I  Food: Simply a chocoholic 20

Recipe: Polenta, pistachio and orange cake 34

Money Matters: Compound Dividend 35

Local Walk: Rigg Road to North Esk Reservoir 36 Puzzles 41 What’s On: October 42 Clubs & Classes 44

COVER IMAGE:

Local Walk - Rigg Road to the Reservoir, See pages 36-37.

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

THE POCHLE PROJECT - AN URBAN APPLE COOPERATIVE

From now until the end of November we aim to collect as many apples as we can. We are able to pick, collect or, if you can deliver, exchange for juice.

The resulting surplus of apples will be processed, lovingly fermented and then skilfully distilled to produce an altogether different spirit. Pochle. A genuine representation of this land, its produce and its people, in a glass.

Developed in conjunction with students at Heriot Watt university, we hope the initiative provides a long-term opportunity for people to reduce waste from their gardens and support increased biodiversity throughout the urban realm.

GET INVOLVED AT OUR JUICE YOUR OWN DAY:

From 12.30pm Sunday 23rd Oct (booking required)

ANY APPLE! ANY CONDITION!

Please contact: chris@inchcolmdistillery.com to arrange and help.

This is just one of the questions that Ross Cockburn, founder of local charity Reusing IT, considers in the course of his work. Reusing IT sources computers from businesses and organisations which are discarding them, and repurposes them for the benefit of a host of charities at home and abroad, or directly to people in need.

I caught up with Ross at the charity’s warehouse in East Calder, just as he got back from a humanitarian trip to Ukraine last month. It was his first to Ukraine, but one of many such in a mission stretching back over 20 years and covering several countries as well as the local area.

Reusing IT traces its roots to when Ross was an IT manager for a large company. The director wanted a batch of old computers out of the way. Not wanting to see perfectly good computers go to landfill, Ross phoned around to find a good cause which could use them. He found a small school in the Highlands involved in a project to donate computers to a charity in South Africa. That became his first African trip and would possibly have been the last; until a friend in London heard about it, and called him to say his company had 500 computers which were perfectly good but out of warranty and destined for landfill - could he use them?

This was the beginning of a path that has ended up as Ross’ full time occupation, and a charity making a significant difference to educational opportunities and digital exclusion

right here at home, in several African countries, and most recently in Ukraine.

“We’ve been working with a charity in Ukraine which has been helping administer the huge exodus of people from the country. Of the 250 laptops we recently delivered, some have gone directly to families in Eastern Ukraine, and some are going to social services who are trying to keep people’s benefits and pensions going throughout the war,” explains Ross. He has a duty to the donors of the computers to ensure they are not falling into the wrong hands, as there is always a risk of corruption.

“Wherever people are trying to do good, there are always some trying to sabotage and redirect aid for the wrong reasons,” says Ross. Every computer they send out is individually identified, logged and its destination carefully checked. As to the specifics of why someone may need a computer though – that question doesn’t really need to be asked.

“Digital exclusion is rife everywhere, more than we realise,” says Ross, “and even more than I realised right here locally until recently. The pandemic and lockdown, bringing the requirement to work and study from home, opened up a huge rift in accessibility to learning and education. Too many families were trying to manage either with one shared computer, or even no computer at all.

Reusing IT was initially approached by West Lothian Council around 10 years ago to donate computers to vulnerable families at

“Should anyone, anywhere, in 2022 have to justify why they need a computer?”

Ross (right) in Ukraine discussingWindows conversion process to TESUkraine NGO distributing laptops

the time Glow, the council’s online learning portal, was first implemented. School pupils access Glow to get their homework assignments and submit work. A swath of children who didn’t have access to a computer at home were immediately disadvantaged, and it remains an issue. With lockdown, the problem was exacerbated. Families with one computer had to prioritise who used it - maybe a parent needed it for work, or an oldest sibling for exam prep; in each case there was a member of the family excluded from accessing their education due to lack of a computer. “We worked frantically to try and make ensure every one had access to their own tablet or laptop, but it’s very much an ongoing challenge,” says Ross.

WHAT KEEPS HIM GOING?

“A watershed moment for me was in 1999 when I met a small family in Kenya. I was there arranging a donation of computers to Sister Mary Colleen, a nun who was setting up schools so that local kids had a chance at an education.” A single mother and her two children, who were suffering growth deformities in their legs, were under the care of Sister Mary Colleen. The mother spoke a local dialect, neither Swahili nor English, and as a result had not been able to understand the doctor’s instructions for caring for her children’s injuries where they were treated following an arson attack at their home. “They had life-changing injuries as a result of their mother’s lack of access to education, or the opportunity to learn one of the main languages of the country. It had a profound effect on me. I will do whatever I can to help people anywhere access educational opportunities, in whatever form that takes.” The charity’s remit covers education, health and agriculture.

Ross grew up in Currie and now lives with his family in Mid Calder. The main storage facility for Reusing IT is in East Calder, where sorting, data-wiping, cleaning, recording, tracking and refurbishing all the computers that come is a massive operation run by volunteers. Besides the large warehouse, they also have several containers full of equipment, and an overflow storage warehouse in Paisley.

And still demand for their computers outstrips supply.

Can you help?

1. Reusing IT always needs volunteers to clean and sort the computers and components that come in. Tasks such as removing stickers that identify the donors, cleaning the computers and so on, are vital and no technical expertise is needed at all. If you can spare a little time to help out they will be delighted to hear from you.

2.They also need volunteers to collect donations. The equipment comes primarily from medium to large businesses and organisations which discard their computers once they are out of warranty. Volunteers are needed to take the van and collect them and take them to the East Calder depot.

3. Storage space! Reusing IT are bursting at the seams in terms of storage, and always need more. If you are involved in a company or organisation that could help out with storage, Ross would love to hear from you.

Volunteers who show a certain level of commitment to the charity are offered the opportunity to accompany Ross on overseas humanitarian trips if this is of interest to them.

For more information please see www.reusingit.org

Contact Ross at: E: ross.cockburn@reusingit.org M: 07786 560744 T: 01506 884061

Reusing IT, Units 9 and 10, Camps Industrial Estate, near East Calder, West Lothian, EH27 8BF. Charity registered in Scotland number SC037716.

This article was written by Helen-Jane Gisbourne after visiting Reusing IT. Helen-Jane is the editor of Konect magazines and lives in West Lothian with her family.

Help - it’s ma hip!

The first thing patients with hip pain often think about is arthritis. A common question in clinic is “do I have arthritis, as my hip is sore and I have started to limp?” There is no doubt that hip osteoarthritis (OA) is a common condition but not all hip pain is arthritis. Where the pain is located and how it behaves are two big clues as to the cause.

In the case of an OA hip, pain is often felt in the groin, down the front of the thigh to the knee, and sometimes to the ankle. Typically, the hip will be stiff in the morning, but will ease with movement, or a hot shower, within 30 minutes. Pain will be directly related to activity - the more you do, the worse it becomes, with some activities more awkward than others. Squatting down or bending to put socks on can be particularly difficult. As walking becomes painful, and hip movements become more restricted, walking with a limp becomes more obvious and stairs become more difficult. OA hip problems affect men and women from age 45 onwards with the incidence rising as we get older.

Another well known cause of hip pain is Gluteal tendinopathy. The tendons that attach our buttock muscles to our thigh bone, the Femur, become irritated. This time the pain is usually over the lateral side of the hip not affecting the groin. Pain comes on gradually aggravated by activity. There is also a bursa, known as the Superficial Trochanteric Bursa, that can become inflamed at the lateral

side of the hip where the Gluteal tendon attaches to the Femur. In about 20% of cases of Gluteal tendinopathy, the bursa will be thickened, irritated and painful too.

Women are four times more likely than men to develop Gluteal tendinopathy and it is much more common over the age of 40. Reducing Oestrogen levels in the peri- and post- menopausal stages seem to make developing tendon problems more likely.

Treatment for hip pain will depend on the cause and on the patient in terms of their age, activity levels, and any other conditions they may have. Often on Physiotherapy assessment of people with hip pain, we find that the low back is also stiff contributing to the problem. Treatment to help can include mobilising techniques, stretches and exercises to improve both lumbar spine and hip mobility, but the most important treatment for each condition are exercises to help with muscle strength. The gluteal tendons respond well to a gradual increase in exercise / load to help them become stronger and to recover fully. Strong muscles help an OA hip function better. A lot can be done to help hip pain so please do seek advicethere is no need to hirple!

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

Hip pain can dominate life. You can’t walk without a limp, you can’t sit comfortably and sleep is disturbed, particularly if you like to sleep lying on your side. What could be causing hip pain and how can we fix it?

We have explained the details of the new NHS Pharmacy First and Pharmacy First Plus services before. We are now offering some new services, they are not free but we hope they will be of value to the local community.

Tympa Ear Health Service - demand for ear and hearing healthcare services is growing due to an increasing ageing population, exposure to loud music and the misuse of products such as cotton buds. This service will allow us to perform digital otoscopy, micro-suction wax removal and a hearing screening, all in your local pharmacy.

Crystal DNA and blood and urine sampling service – working with Crystal Health Group we will provide DNA and drug and alcohol testing services, allowing patients to undertake these tests locally with a UK wide, established and trusted, provider of such testing services.

Medicated Weight Loss Service - managing your weight long term requires more than willpower alone. This service is designed to help you lose weight in a fully supported way. The full service will be starting in January but if you think you might be interested then please call in to talk to the pharmacist about whether it would be suitable for you.

Private ‘flu vaccinations – as winter approaches as well as the NHS service (for the over 50s) we will be providing the option of a private ‘flu vaccination service, please contact the pharmacy to make an appointment (PLEASE NOTE: NHS appointments will be sent directly to those eligible, we cannot allocate our NHS appointments).

More information on all of these services is available in the pharmacy.

The Ask Your Pharmacist column is contributed by Juliette Paton, Superintendent Pharmacist, Colinton Village Pharmacy. www.colintonpharmacy.co.uk

Wine tasting uses all your senses and I especially love spending time ‘nosing’ a glass of wine. Swirling the glass and gently coaxing the wine to release aromas and aromatics.

I search through the layers of primary fruit to find the secondary aromatic that often lies hidden behind the obvious forward fruit – a bit like finding a chestnut under autumn leaves. Once found, I spend time finding the right words to describe what I smell. Then of course there is the anticipation of the taste on the palate.

When slowed right down, wine tasting can be quite mediative! An opportunity to focus your attention on each of your senses.

So how do distinguish between primary fruits and secondary character? Primary fruits are those that are usually easier to find on the nose and tend to be associated with fruits you could buy in a supermarket. Raspberries, strawberries, gooseberries. Secondary characteristics are more complicated. These are the aromas you recognise and have grown up with, smells you can describe but you wouldn’t be able to find in a shop. Pencil shavings, burnt rubber, wet stone, woodsmoke. My favourite red wines tend to have a balance of both. Bright, fresh aromatics of red fruit that gently give way to notes of woodsmoke, old leather and library books!

This autumn I will meditate over Chianti! Chianti is a wine I always associate with this time of year. I love the dark fruits on the nose accompanied by woodsmoke and tobacco on the finish.

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!

Simply a chocoholic

Well, it sounds as if the late Queen Elizabeth II was not a foodie. In his book, Eating Royally: Recipes and Remembrances from a Palace Kitchen, her former chef, Darren McGrady, reported that she had very simple tastes.

She preferred a fairly monotonous diet of corn flakes, toast and marmalade (thanks to her friend Paddington, no doubt), grilled chicken with vegetables or a salad, and Earl Grey tea. However, it seems she did have a piece of cake or a scone with jam (and then clotted cream) every day. And she was a chocoholic! You can easily find the recipe for her favourite chocolate biscuit cake online if you’d like to try it.

This love of chocolate seems entirely consistent with what I have observed during my 37 years in this country. On my arrival in 1985 I was slightly shocked by how much chocolate my new friends consumed! Many had to have their “fix” every day and were distraught if they didn’t get it.

Growing up in the USA, I only occasionally bought chocolate – because there were plenty of other sweet things I liked to eat, because I was always dieting, because I didn’t like to spend money on anything I didn’t need . . . And I don’t remember any sort of general obsession with chocolate. I considered “Death by Chocolate” or “Mississippi Mud Pie” on dessert menus, but I was usually more tempted by a good cheesecake or some sort of baked apple and cinnamon concoction. I

liked chocolate chip cookies, but I enjoyed my mother’s oatmeal raisin cookies just as much, if not more! I’m sure I did have some American friends who were chocoholics. But I don’t recall anyone finishing off a large bar of chocolate on their own in one day, or lamenting that they had to wait until they got off work to get some chocolate, or choosing it exclusively over any other kind of dessert.

After living here a few years, I watched a TV programme about why British chocolate was so addictive. Because of the high proportion of sugar and fat that goes into its production, the levels of the brain chemical enkephalin are heightened, leading you to crave more chocolate. A 2019 survey reported that the average Brit spends more than £325 every year on chocolate treats!

After all these years in the UK, have I become addicted to the stuff? To some degree, yes. However, my favourite is dark chocolate, which is apparently much better for you. I will eat milk chocolate without much arm twisting. But white? Not even tempted. In fact, it should not be called chocolate at all.

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.

This is truly a cake for everyone. Made with polenta and olive oil, it is both dairyfree and gluten-free.

Ingredents:

• 200g pistachio kernels, finely ground –use a spice grinder or food processor

• Zest and juice of 1 orange

• 200g bramata polenta

• 4 eggs

• 150g runny honey

• 200ml extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for greasing

• For the syrup and decoration

• Zest and juice of 1 orange

• 75g runny honey

• 50g pistachio kernels, roughly chopped

Serves 8

Recipe extracted from The Italian Pantry by Theo Randall, published by Quadrille on 1st September, £26, with photography by Lizzie Mayson.

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C / 180°C fan / gas mark 6, grease a 24cm springform cake tin with oil and line the base with baking paper.

2. In a large bowl, mix the ground pistachios, orange zest and the polenta together. Crack the eggs into another bowl and whisk in the honey, orange juice and olive oil until smooth.

3. Pour the wet mixture into the dry and thoroughly combine to a smooth batter, then pour the batter into the prepared tin. Bake in the oven for 40 minutes, until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean, then remove the cake from the oven and transfer it to a wire rack to cool in the tin.

4. Once the cake is cool, release it from the tin and transfer it to a large plate.

5. To make the syrup, stir the orange juice and honey together in a small saucepan. Place the pan over a medium-low heat and bring the ingredients to a simmer, stirring to fully combine. Immediately remove the syrup from the heat.

6. Using a fine skewer, prick a few holes into the top of the cake and pour the honey and orange syrup over the top. Sprinkle on the orange zest and pistachios to decorate.

At the western end of Rigg Road, by a stile, a Scottish Rights of Way Society sign indicates ‘Carlops by the Borestane 5½M’. A narrow path leads into a wondrous micro-habitat of brush and shrub, with gorse, hawthorn and wildflowers. This narrow strip of wildness is awash with colour. There are the lilac scatterings of devilsbit scabious, beloved by peacock butterflies, and pink swathes of rosebay willowherb, now almost fully gone to seed with just a final few flowers clinging to

the tops. Heavy clusters of orangey-red rowan berries glow in the early morning sunlight and brambles are red and black gems amid the low tangle. Long wet grasses swipe at my legs and my trousers are soon soaked, but I barely notice as I take in the profusion of life.

After passing through a metal gate, the track borders a plantation of diminutive pine saplings, fringed by birch. To my right are a long line of spindly, contorted, half-bare beech trees, punished by decades of harsh winds and rain, leaves on the turn. Meadow pipits, goldfinches and linnets come to rest on the power lines overhead, coming and going, none staying too long, as if the wires were hot to the touch.

Emerging into a sheep field, I track diagonally in the direction of Listonshields Farm until meeting a wider path running up from Buteland which will lead me south into the hills. At the intersection, sheep eye me warily through the bars of a gate, where shed wool lies on the ground like an early portent of winter snows.

Beyond the gate it’s easy walking on a wide gravel track and I begin the long steady ascent into the open uplands of the Bavelaw Estate. The heather is glorious in full bloom. I inhale deeply, savouring the sweet scent. I start as half a dozen red grouse break cover to my right with a whirr of wings. They fly about a hundred yards before stopping to chastise me from a distance with their “Go back! Go back!” calls. On this fine morning there’s a hint of comedy in their voicing, like slightly adenoidal parrots. Nevertheless, I can well imagine back in times when outlaws roamed these hills, on a misty night this sound might well have sent a

It’s a pristine early Autumn morning as I park the car in a small layby at the end of Cockburnhill Road where it meets the Rigg Road. As I set off on my way, the low sun illuminates the Pentland skyline to my left in purples, browns and golds.

shiver down the spine. More grouse come into view near the path, craning necks above long grass to eye me disapprovingly from beneath flame-red brows, before flapping off in a hail of protesting clucks. Another emerges onto the path ahead and waddles into a take-off. They are everywhere now, their calls reverberating around me like an echo that never diminishes.

I breakfast by the Bore Stane, a sandstone outcrop at a col between hills lying at the meeting of three council boundaries, enjoying grand views both north and south. To the north, the Firth is shrouded in a blanket of low cloud like a glacier slipping out to sea, the tops of the Ochil and Fife hills protruding beyond. To the southeast, a valley, from which the River North Esk emerges, slaloms down towards Carlops, framing the Cloich Hills in the distance.

I descend into the valley, it’s sheltered and still. The path narrows and the landscape closes in, cradling wildlife and walker alike. Wispy white clouds hang high in the blue above, each with an upward inflection like the wind ruffling an elderly gentleman’s hair. A merlin circles over to the west. Small groups of meadow pipits bob through the air as if suspended on marionette strings. Glancing downward, I have to divert my foot at the last minute to avoid a toadlet squatting on the path. Crouching to take a look, I notice a multitude of little criss-cross spiders’ webs spun in the grass around me like dropped lace hankerchiefs.

The Henshaw Burn descends into the valley from the west. Shortly before reaching the reservoir, the burn passes through a small area of marshland. I pick my way along through the reeds to the meditative sound of slow-flowing water over stones. Crickets sing. Dragonflies zip and whorl past me, Common Darters and Hawkers. One alights on a stem in front of me, its long thin dark body giving the appearance of a flying exclamation mark.

Finally, the reservoir comes into view, its surface glistening gold. I make my way down to the small wildlife hide overlooking the

water. Recently renovated by the Friends of the Pentlands, it offers the perfect vantage point for taking in this tranquil scene. A pair of ravens croak in the sky above as I gaze across to the little islands on the lookout for water birds. The sun is high in the sky now and it’s getting quite warm, there’s not much moving. Yet, I’m more than satisfied with the peaceful vista and just soak it up for a while. Just as I’m about to close up, a blue flash appears – a sapphire dart - skirting the shore of the promontory opposite. A kingfisher! This is a jewel that tops a wonderful morning’s walk and sets a spring in my step as I head for home. My apologies in advance to the grouse…I’ll definitely be back!

Allow 2-3 hours each way for this walk and ensure you are well prepared, with good boots, waterproofs and refreshments. It’s also possible to push on to Carlops for a full day trip.

This article was contributed by William Weir. William is a scientist and amateur writer/photographer who lives locally. In his spare time he enjoys exploring the trails and wild spaces of West Lothian and the Pentland Hills.

THE POWER OF THE COMPOUND DIVIDEND

Reinvesting dividends is one of the most powerful tools available for boosting returns over time.

To demonstrate, if you had invested £1000 on January 1st 1993 in the index that tracks the global equity market (MSCI World), you would have produced a notional return of £3,231 by March 2018, representing a growth rate of 5.9% per year.

But the picture changes again once the dividends, the regular payments made by companies to their shareholders, are used to purchase more shares in the company, rather than taken as income. This is the powerful effect of Compounding.

By reinvesting all dividends in the same index the £1,000 would have produced a notional return of £6,416, representing an annual growth rate of 8.3%. The story is the same for every stock market index in the

world over the last 25 years. Dividends are often much overlooked by the casual investor, preferring to concentrate on share value growth, seeking the next Amazon or Google. In the age of low interest rates, the dividend has often replaced the deposit account for those looking for either a regular income or real capital growth. For instance, the average dividend yield on the FTSE 100 is now 4.1%, while keeping your money in cash delivered -8.6% in the last 12 months. That said, you must accept a degree of risk to achieve this return and that is what you are being compensated for, as the deposit rate holds no risk (up to £85,000). So for those willing and able to invest in the markets, the last 25 years haven’t been bad at all.

Note: Past performance is no guarantee of future performance. Figures from ons.gov.uk and dividenddata.co.uk

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

ACROSS: 1. Cars, vans and buses etc. (7), Type of sailing boat (5), 8. Enhance (7), 9. Perfect (5), 10. Severe (5), 11. Playhouse (7), 12. Reliable (6), Shovels (6), 17. Extremely old (7), species (5), 22. Tracks (5), (7), 24. (5), (7). : 1. Works hard (5), 2. Type of fruit (5), Grimaced (7), 4. Crates (6), 5. Dagger (5), medical care (7), 7. (7), Exchanged (7), 13. Elated (7), 15. Throws (7), for (6), 18. (5), (5), 21. Scottish (5) .

SUNDAY 2ND OCTOBER

The Route less Travelled

A guided walk discovering the history and wildlife of the river from Warriston to Bonnington. Join Helen on this guided walk to discover the history and wildlife of the river from Canonmills to Coalie Park. Suitable for adults. 2pm – 4pm. Book via Water of Leith Visitor centre, online at www.waterofleith.org.uk/whats-on. Free to members, £7 non members.

WEDNESDAY 5TH OCTOBER

Blood Bikes Scotland - an illustrated talk by Phil Dodsworth Hosted by Pentland Probus Club, Juniper Green Church Hall, Lanark Road.10.00am -12noon. New members welcome. Further details from our Club Sec. Leslie Hannaford. 0131 453 3012. lesliehannaford@blueyonder.co.uk

SATURDAY 8TH OCTOBER

Farmers Market Main Street, Balerno 9.00am to 1.00pm

TUESDAY 18TH OCTOBER

SAS – Special Autumn Survival

Learn the skills needed to survive in the wild as the weather turns colder. 1.30pm – 3.30pm. For ages 4-12, book via Water of Leith Visitor centre, online at www.waterofleith.org.uk/ whats-on. £7 per child, accompanying adult free.

WEDNESDAY 19TH OCTOBER

Policing Today - an illustrated talk by Sean Scott Hosted by Pentland Probus Club, Juniper Green Church Hall, Lanark Road.10.00am -12noon. New members welcome. Further details from our Club Sec. Leslie Hannaford. 0131 453 3012. lesliehannaford@blueyonder.co.uk

THURSDAY 20TH OCTOBER

Rotten! - Delve in to the decomposing worlds of fungus, compost and poo. A ‘rotten’ event which promises to leave you mucky. 1.30pm – 3.30pm. For ages 4-12, book via Water of Leith Visitor centre, online at www.waterofleith.org.uk/whats-on. £7 per child, accompanying adult free.

SATURDAY 29TH OCTOBER

Dean Park PTA Autumn Fayre Balerno High School Concourse. 12.30pm-3.00pm Raffle, tombola, book stall, toys, cafe, arts & crafts and more. See poster p46

SATURDAY 29TH OCTOBER

Bookbug - St Mary’s Dalmahoy Church, Douglas Hall. 10am – 10.30am. Stories, songs and rhymes for babies, toddlers and pre-school children.

WEDNESDAY 2ND NOVEMBER

A Day in the life of an auctioneeran illustrated talk by Martin Cornish Hosted by Pentland Probus Club, Juniper Green Church Hall, Lanark Road.10.00am -12noon. New members welcome. Further details from our Club Sec. Leslie Hannaford. 0131 453 3012 lesliehannaford@blueyonder.co.uk

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.

Block out the second half of November in your diary: Pentlands Book Festival is back for its eighth year.

From mid October watch out for our leaflets and banners and fire up your computers to enjoy our website pentlandsbookfestival.org. Then book your events at Eventbrite (or get yourself to Currie Library to pick up tickets!)

They’ll be free but we hope you’ll donate your pounds and pennies to keep this annual event solvent

Expect controversy, crime and cracking stories: and for those of a quieter disposition poetry, local history and archive visits. Discover how to recover from illness or even write your own books. It’s all brought to you by a team of volunteers, local supporters and the wonderful Colinton and Currie library.

While we’re on the subject of “wonderful”.. we are looking for a wonderful person or two who would like to learn the business of sound engineering for events like these, who have some evenings to spare in November and enough brain and brawn to help setting up and managing technical equipment under supervision. To find out more about this great opportunity contact us through the website above.

This article was contributed by Pentlands Book Festival, pentlandsbookfestival.org.uk

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

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 & GymOur 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 Hallbring 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

A technical error meant that the September crossword was printed with the wrong puzzle board. PO R Y O W O N G

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SOLUTION TO SUDOKU ON PAGE 35

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M: 07729 911858

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Balerno Folk Club

– looking forward to our 41st year

It is 40 years since Balerno Folk Club was established and, here we are, entering our 41st year, meeting monthly on the last Tuesday of the month in Balerno Bowling Club (with the exception of December, July and August).

At our recent AGM we had an encouraging turnout of members which bodes well for the year ahead. We get a huge amount of help from our members and I would like to thank them all for their support.

Over the years, a variety of famous artistes have appeared, such as Hamish Imlach, Dick Gaughan, the McCalmans, Isla St Clair, Gaberlunzie. During one blistering hot night, the McCalmans recorded an LP live at Balerno called (appropriately)

“Listen to the Heat”. (Still available as a CD on Greentrax). Ironically, in 2010, it was a huge snowfall which cancelled what would have been their last visit to Balerno before they retired.

The Club enjoys singing and acts who communicate with the audience. By the time this article appears, our opening night on 27th September with John Graham and Jim Jack (supported by Cy Jack) will have passed and we will be looking ahead to our October night on the 25th with Archie Fisher – a true veteran of the Scottish folk scene.

A popular evening to look forward to is our Burns Night in January where we are lucky to have the organisational input of Ken McDonald who also comperes the entire evening of songs and recitations with everyone enjoying a taste of haggis.

Our audience numbers are down – a trend throughout the performance sector. To encourage attendances our AGM voted not to increase the price of membership (£5.00) and to keep entrance for members down at £7.00 while non-members will continue to pay £10.00. The Committee has also decided to pay artistes a proper fee, as for many it is their only income and they have had a tough time. This year we have been offering a percentage of the door but, with smaller audiences, this has often meant small amounts. Higher audience numbers will help us do this.

It would be lovely to see some new faces as well as the familiar ones so do put the last Tuesday of the month in your diary.

This article was submitted by Morag Dunbar convenor or Balerno Folk Club. Please see www.balernofolkclub.org.uk for more information.