Konect Bathgate February 2022 by Konect Magazines

FEBRUARY 2022

PARENTING:

HAIR:

The monthly community magazine for Bathgate, Torphichen, and Broxburn

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elcome to the February issue of Konect, the first one for this year.

We kick off the Charity of the Month feature this year with Blood Bikes Scotland. Run entirely by volunteers from our local communities, they operate throughout West Lothian and beyond. With the NHS still very much under strain, Blood Bikes Scotland provide it with an incredibly valuable support service. See what they do in the feature on pages 8-9 and please consider a wee donation. You may have seen them with collection buckets outside Morrisons Bathgate in recent months.

THIS ISSUE Charity: Blood Bikes Scotland...............................8 Hair: The Big Rewind.............................................10

The beginning of the year tends to be when we think about health and wellbeing, so in this issue too there are various health columns from local contributors and local businesses here to help you be the best version of you this year. The health and wellbeing section is on pages 10 – 15.

Health..................................................................12 / 14

With a short local walk to enjoy along with all our usual columns, I hope you find this issue inspirational, interesting and informative! As ever, let me know!

Parenting: The Gift of Time..................................32

Thanks for reading Konect and supporting local businesses and organisations.

Life coaching: Making peace with change.....14 Property Matters: Pro-active Marketing...........16 Puzzles.......................................................................24 Local Walk: A winter walk in Hermand

Wood...........................................................................26 Local Environment: The Elusive Water Rail.....34 Garden Project: Plan a memorable view........35

Film Review: Encanto............................................38

COVER IMAGE: Blood Bikes Scotland (BBS): Supporting the NHS. See P8-9

All enquiries, E: editor@konect.scot M: 07854 492638 @KonectMagazines

Konect is delivered monthly to 10,000 homes in selected areas of Bathgate and Broxburn. It is also available online: konect.scot/subscribe BATHGATE | 3

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When I moved into the area, I couldn’t find anywhere cooking spicy jerked food. So I set up Jay’s Jerk Kitchen to share the wonderful authentic taste of Jamaica with you! Jerk is a style of cooking. Traditionally, meat is seasoned in a special blend of herbs and spices, including scotch bonnet and pimento (allspice) and then smoked on a jerk pan. We use Halal chicken and fresh ingredients to make your taste buds tickle. We provide excellent authentic Jamaican home-cooked meals at value pricing. Many families are on a tight budget but still want a weekend treat, so platters of various sizes can be created to suit your budget. Everything is packaged in compostable packaging and delivered to your door step! Please visit www.jaysjerkkitchen.co.uk for more information and to order online. I can’t wait to cook for you.

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BLOOD BIKES SC TLAND “Behind every journey made on the bikes, there’s a patient – someone is waiting for a critical test result, medication, equipment or urgent medical notes.”

I’m speaking with Phil Dodsworth, one of the Trustees of Blood Bikes Scotland (BBS). BBS is a voluntary organisation which supports the NHS by transporting, free of charge, blood and other test samples from wards to laboratories. They also deliver medication to patients’ homes, and support GPs, District Nurses, care homes and community hospitals with transport of small, urgent items.

“The bikes can get through traffic quickly – especially useful when the journey includes the by-pass during rush hours – so we can get pathology samples to labs quickly, or urgent medication to patients who need it,” explains Phil. While speed is of the essence for much of their work, the biggest benefit is cost avoidance for the NHS. By being on-call to provide urgent transport free of charge, BBS saves the NHS a significant amount of money that would otherwise be spent on their own drivers, external courier services and taxis. Blood Bikes Scotland cover the Lothians, Forth Valley, Borders, Fife and Tayside. Sister organisations support NHS Trusts elsewhere

in Scotland and the UK, and they all work together in relays when necessary to cover long distances. Recently, a sample had to be taken urgently from the new Sick Kids Hospital in Edinburgh to a specialist laboratory in Bristol. In awful weather just before Christmas, BBS, Dumfries & Galloway Blood Bikes, North West Blood Bikes, Staffs & Shropshire Blood Bikes and Severn Freewheelers EVS all worked in relay and delivered the sample in 7.5 hours.

Whilst not blue-light vehicles, the incredible value of the service provided by blood bikes is formally recognised in that, like the emergency services, they are exempt from road tax. During the height of the first lockdown in 2020, blood bikes continued to deliver vital PPE and Covid test samples, and BP included them in their free fuel provision along with police, fire and NHS vehicles. Many of us know what it’s like to be anxiously waiting for a Covid PCR test result, and in Fife the NHS is currently using BBS to transport the huge number of PCR tests they are carrying out - getting them to the laboratories, helping to keep results turnaround time as short as possible, and reducing pressure on the trust’s own transport hub. Other items needing transport include baby milk and, believe it or not, physical files of patient notes or x-rays urgently needed by medics. The fleet of 14 motorcycles is supplemented by three cars for transporting larger equipment – although they have been known to strap a walking frame to the back of a motorcycle on one occasion when it was urgently needed! Riders are out in all weather conditions, and the fleet of BMW bikes are modified to allow for ambitious load carrying, with panniers and a tray on most bikes. There are nine R1250RTs, two F750GSs and a couple of other bikes - including one Zero electric motorbike suitable for short fast runs.

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Volunteer riders, controllers and everyone involved provides the service completely free of charge. Operating in shifts 7 days a week, including public holidays, in 2021 they received 9881 requests for transport, and saved the NHS hundreds of thousands of pounds in fees – money that can be used directly for frontline services instead. The monthly overhead for the charity of running the bikes 365 days a year (tyres, insurance, fuel, maintenance and repairs) is around £4,500. The service is entirely dependent on donations from the public and corporate sponsors, so they are grateful for every single donation. You can raise money for Blood Bikes Scotland while shopping online, completely free of charge to you – see the sidebox for details. Phil was once called on to take a teddy bear to a distraught little girl in the Sick Kids who had left it behind and was unable to settle. Teddy promptly arrived by motorcycle (which was on its way anyway with other jobs for the hospital) to a happy little girl and great relief of parents and nurses. There are some things whose value you just can’t measure.

GIVE AS YOU LIVE – free and easy way to raise money

Shop with a huge number of retailers via Give as You Live, and a percentage of your purchase value is donated to BBS. Please see www.giveasyoulive.com/join/ bloodbikesscotland

Direct donations are also welcome from the public and businesses. See ways to donate at bloodbikesscotland.co.uk/donate

VOLUNTEER! Volunteers are always welcome to join the current team of 120 motorcyclists covering the area including the Lothians, from Tayside to the Borders. Riders need an advanced riding qualification. Non-riding volunteers are also welcome; every shift needs a Controller, the point of contact between the NHS and the riders. Please contact BBS at the details above.

For more information see: www.bloodbikesscotland.co.uk Blood Bikes Scotland is a charity registered in Scotland, No. SC042970. This article was written by Helen-Jane Gisbourne after meeting Phil Dodsworth, a Trustee at Blood Bikes Scotland, in Edinburgh. Helen-Jane is the editor of Konect magazines and lives in West Lothian with her family. @KonectMagazines

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Photo: Jodie Mann - Hair: Aoife@wonderland

As we begin our journey through 2022 there’s a real feeling in fashion that’s lingering towards the past decades and the signature looks they brought.

It’s going to be the year of the re-style. With hairstylists across the globe taking inspiration from the famous 70s shag hair style we see fashion re wind, re connect and reinvent the staples of our past wardrobes. Hair is about to become all about poignant moments in fashion, the beehive reworked to be a looser more dishevelled modern up-do, even pony tail variations of this signature Audrey Hepburn style will be popular for weddings and glam nights out. The classic sleek 60s Bob is given a modern twist with load of volume and a gritty texture bringing it up to date. The 70s shag which has been gradually becoming more popular is made modern by becoming less fussy, with a defined outline and more of a dusty finish to the hair. Colour continues to be more experimental and we start to see bolder techniques like ‘the rachel’ with her chunky 90s hilights soften slightly as technology and colour have advanced so much. For the 2022 stylist it’s about taking the bold of yesterday and softening it to be easy, fun and wearable today.

The Hair column is contributed by Sophie Laidlaw. Sophie is Director @wonderland Livingston.www.wonderlandlivingston.com 10 | BATHGATE

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LIFE COACHING

SEASONAL YOGA: STILL IN HIBERNATION As a Seasonal Yoga teacher, I try to bring my life (and classes) into alignment with the rhythms of nature. Sometimes this means stepping slightly outside what our culture dictates! Whilst many may have spent the last month or so striving to slim down, increase exercise commitments and become more productive (Happy New Year!); I won’t be ready to ease out of winter hibernation until spring starts, mid-March. My biggest goal during this time is to get a few extra hours of sleep each week, and find moments of stillness throughout the day. During my winter classes, students often express relief to step into a space that feels truly restorative, when the rest of the world is asking them to “take it to the max.” So, if your new year resolutions fell flat, be kind to yourself. You can try again in the spring, when nature itself invites us to grow and expand, a time when we are naturally inclined towards forward-planning and goal-setting. Cat-Cow (Marjaryasana-Bitilasana) This pair of postures can be done seated, standing (with hands on thighs), or on all fours in a tabletop position. (Really listen to your body and don’t do anything that feels uncomfortable). • Exhaling, round through the back from tailbone to the crown of the head, tucking the chin in to the chest • Inhaling, arch through the back from tailbone to crown • Repeat x5 - 10, breathing slowly and deeply This article was contributed by Linda Keys. Linda lives in Ratho and is a Seasonal Yoga Teacher in the area, also offering pre- and post-natal yoga. See www.lindalovesyoga.co.uk 12 | BATHGATE

Making Peace With

CHANGE

We’re two years into this pandemic that has brought with it such enormous changes to all our lives and I have lost count of the number of conversations I have had with people lamenting the fact that they can’t get back to doing the things they are used to doing. Life without our usual routines can feel daunting and even scary and the fact that every change offers a new opportunity is often not the first thing that springs to mind when we feel that we are being dragged into a new reality. After all, if we don’t do what we always did, what do we do? Even changes we welcome can be scary and hard to make. We may know in our hearts that we have outgrown the job we have done for years, the house we raised our families in or that relationship we thought would last forever. Often it is the habits we have developed over months and years that freeze us in position and prevent us moving forward. This last two years have been really challenging for so many of us but, in among the restrictions are so many invitations to make changes that will serve us all as we go forward. Maybe we can begin to view these ‘new normals’ as an opportunity to let go of the patterns we have got used to over the years. As the old saying goes, “if we do what we always do we get what we always got.” The Life Coaching column is contributed by Francine Orr, NLP coach, hypnotherapist & reiki practitioner. Francine is based within Linlithgow Chiropractic on Wednesday afternoons and is also available online. See www.orrganise.co.uk @KonectMagazines

LIVING WELL

Boiler check-up - This time of year is perfect for your annual boiler service. The last thing you need in winter is a broken boiler, and a freezing cold house. Draught excluders - It’s important to make sure all windows and doors are in good condition. Try to seal any gaps or use draught excluders to stop the cold weather from creeping in!

Keep your pipes warm - Burst pipes are common during winter. The best way to prevent this is to keep your pipes warm with their own foam cardigan (called lagging), reducing heat loss and insulating the pipes to stop them freezing. Several thin layers - Wear several thin layers of clothing, rather than one big jumper – the layers trap hot air keeping you warmer for

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longer. Consider wrapping up in a blanket or wearing more layers, rather than turning up the thermostat. Keep your feet warm - Wear thermal or thick socks and sensible shoes with plenty of grip if you’re venturing out, in case the weather turns icy! Hot water bottle - Consider using a hot water bottle throughout the day and during the night in bed. They’re relatively inexpensive and very useful, quickly heating up your bed without using electricity or fuel. Bleed radiators - Trapped air in your radiators can prevent hot water from circulating effectively. Bleeding radiators releases the trapped air, allowing your central heating to work it’s best, keeping you and your property warm. The Living Well column is contributed by Home Instead Livingston. Contact them for advice and support on 01506 539541 or see www.homeinstead.co.uk/livingston

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Top tips or successful weight loss If weight loss is one of your goals for 2022, here are some top tips from Slimming World – and it’s about mindset and lifestyle as much as about food! DON’T GO HUNGRY To lose weight you have to eat less, right? Well, not always. The kind of food you’re eating is much more important than the volume. Swapping high calorie, unsatisfying foods for foods that are lower in calories and more bulky, so they fill you up for longer, is key to losing weight in a way that’s easy to live with.

IT’S OK TO WALK BEFORE YOU RUN! If it’s your goal to get fitter, just making a commitment to moving more all adds up. Many people make the mistake of joining a gym, overdoing it in week one and quickly giving up, thinking ‘exercise isn’t for me’. Finding an enjoyable, achievable, and sustainable way of getting active will really help. BE KIND TO YOURSELF We all start January with great intentions, but it’s all too easy to go off track. It’s what you do next that matters most – and the most important thing is not to beat yourself up about it. SET A GOAL It’s hard to achieve a goal if you don’t clearly set it out in the first place! When thinking about your dream weight, don’t be afraid to be ambitious. In fact, Slimming World research found that slimmers who set ambitious targets lose twice as much weight as those who try to be ‘realistic’. DON’T OPT FOR A QUICK FIX It’s no secret that many people find losing weight far easier than keeping it off long-term. To avoid becoming trapped in a yo-yo diet cycle, it’s important to approach weight loss as a permanent change to your lifestyle – and focus on developing new healthy habits that are sustainable for life, as well as getting support to make those changes. STRIKE A BALANCE An all-or-nothing approach is rarely effective when it comes to weight loss. Restricting yourself when it comes to food and drink might work in the shortterm, but pretty soon you’ll be fed up, hungry and giving up completely. YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO IT ALONE Studies show that embarking on your weight loss journey alongside other slimmers brings more success than going it alone – sharing tips and advice, as well as the ups and downs, and celebrating success together. To find your nearest Slimming World group please visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk/nearest-group-search 14 | BATHGATE

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SUDOKU ^^^ Sudoku solution on page 38

PUZZLES

CROSSWORD

ACROSS: 1. King’s title (7), 5. Herb (5), 8. Sprays water (9), 9. Curved line (3), 10. Sword (5), 12. Remote military camp (7), 13. Incendiary guns (13), 15. Highest noble rank (7), 17. Tests (5), 19. Concerned with the environment (3), 20. Raised area (9), 22. Give up (5), 23. Wandered (7).

^^^ Solution in the March edition of Konect

DOWN: 1. Disguises (5), 2. Glass container (3), 3. Genuine, honest (7), 4. Colourful small birds (13), 5. Hat (5), 6. e.g. EastEnders (4,5), 7. Finds (7), 11. Region in space (5,4), 13. Nervous (7), 14. Outside (4-3), 16. Fear (5), 18. Church council (5), 21. Climbing plant (3).

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PROPERTY MATTERS

How pro-active marketing can put your property in front of the most likely buyers It’s easy for Estate Agents to overlook the fact that the majority of the population are not actively searching online property portals (such as Rightmove, Zoopla, and so on) and often only hear of certain properties being for sale (or sold) through word of mouth, when it’s too late to take action. A multi-channel approach to marketing a property is essential for matching the right purchasers with the right properties. Whilst property portals and social media promotions are a prerequisite, a regular newsletter sent out to a highly qualified subscriber list offers huge value and is an invaluable additional marketing channel. A good quality newsletter puts clients’ properties in front of a very tailored and qualified audience in a way that not even the social media channels can. It does this through presenting not only properties for sale, but by encompassing a range of content that is interesting and relevant to readers so that they engage with it whether they are actively looking for a property or not. Our company newsletter “Coffee Talk” has been running for over 10 years and has more than 12,000 subscribers. Besides showcasing properties for sale, it contains local news and information curated to be engaging for the audience. The readers we have attracted over this period, and 16 | BATHGATE

through the content we publish, are specifically tailored to be a good match for our clients. “Coffee Talk” covers unique and exclusive properties, new build developments, land and building plots, market updates and insights. It includes access to off-market private properties that are not available on the open market and are visible to our subscribers and registered clients only. Guest expert columnists such as solicitors, surveyors and financial advisors regularly cover topics such as mortgage markets and product availability. “Coffee Talk” also includes local news and events, plus a regular selection of eclectic items and articles such as the “painting of the month.” The benefits to our clients are measurable and tangible. Not only does it put their property in front of the most highly qualified audience in the local area, it also presents opportunities for any of the 12,000 subscribers to see a property that might be of interest to a friend, @KonectMagazines

Features include:

relative or colleague and easily forward the newsletter on to them. The nature of an electronic publication like this also allows instant and direct feedback to our property managers, showing them which featured properties or articles were most popular. This valuable market intelligence means we can adjust a campaign if, for example, the initial marketing images are not connecting with the audience in the same way that others might be. Properties featured in “Coffee Talk” have resulted in successful sales to people who were not actively in the market looking for a house move. A unique or particular

property may catch the attention of someone (they may have coveted or have some history with the property) which in turn results in them enquiring, viewing and purchasing simply due to the fact the property was put in front of them via the newsletter. If you’re a buyer or seller, or if you have an interest in what’s happening in the local area and property market, take a look at a recent edition of Turpie & Co’s “Coffee Talk” newsletter via this QR code. There are links to subscribe and also view past issues on this page too or alternatively via the additional QR code links below.

The monthly Property Matters column is contributed by Craig Turpie. Craig is a director at Turpie & Co Estate Agents and Letting Agents with extensive knowledge of the West Lothian Property Market and over 20 years experience in bespoke sales and marketing. @KonectMagazines

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FOOD & DRINK

Super-Berry Protein Balls Perfect as an afternoon pick-me-up or when you fancy a sweet treat for adults and children alike. These are also a great energising boost before or after a workout. Make a batch and store them in the fridge or freezer.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted • 3 tbsp xylitol or 1–2 tsp granulated stevia • 220g nut butter (cashew, almond or peanut) • 4 tbsp coconut flour • 60g vegan vanilla or berry protein powder • 1 tsp acai or goji berry powder (optional) • 50g dried berries (cranberries, cherries etc.) • Desiccated coconut, to coat

Makes 20 balls

Preparation time: 10 mins, plus chilling

Cooking time: 2 mins

The perfect afternoon pick-me-up

Method:

1. Place the coconut oil and xylitol (or stevia) in a pan. Gently melt over a low heat, stirring to dissolve the sweetener. Allow to cool slightly, then tip into a food processor and add the nut butter. Process briefly until combined.

2. Add the coconut flour, protein powder and acai or goji berry powder (if using), and blend again to form a stiff dough. If it seems too wet add a little more coconut flour or protein powder. The mixture should be firm but soft. Add the dried berries and pulse briefly, just to break them up slightly. 3. Tip some desiccated coconut onto a plate. Take small spoonfuls of the mixture and shape into walnut-sized balls, then roll them in the coconut until coated on all sides.

4. Chill in the fridge for about 30 minutes to firm up before eating. Transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 4-5 days or freeze for up to 1 month.

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Stepping out of my car and onto the wooden boardwalk, coated in white from last night’s light snowfall, feels like stepping onto a conveyor, leading into a realm of tranquillity. Quickly, I find myself amongst gnarled and lichen-encrusted birch, standing old and wise, like sentinels of a faery kingdom. A small flock of chaffinches alights in the branches above my head and carry out a cursory inspection of my progress.

Head to West Calder and take the B7008 towards Harburn. Before you get to Harburn itself, take the right turn signposted for the Dog’s Trust centre. The entrance to the wood is a short distance along on the left, marked only by a humble wooden sign and parking space for a few vehicles.

This hidden gem lies within an otherwise unremarkable landscape of open farm fields and commercial conifer plantations, a mere stone’s throw from the bustle of the central belt. Despite the snow I am sure of foot on the boardwalk’s mesh covering, and grateful too for the elevation above saturated ground. In

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places the walkway bridges ditches and dark pools, whose still waters mirror the bare trunks and branches above, as if they are thrusting downward into a mysterious parallel underworld. In those short sections where I traverse snowcovered mud, the surface is partially frozen and I am pleasantly rewarded with a sensation not unlike stepping into the most delicious chocolate pudding, dusted in icing sugar. The forest floor is a jumble of fallen trees and branches, their wood now supporting a variety of bracket fungi, mosses and lichens. In summer, blaeberries will shine like dark pearls from the low brush and the foliage will resonate with the hum of hoverflies. For now, the bushy undergrowth has receded, and ragged stumps punctuate the carpet of frosted green and brown, some like peculiar creatures peering at me above the tufts.

Forming a brief circuit which can be completed in around twenty-five minutes (although I recommend taking an hour) the walk skirts round to the far edge of the wood, the fields visible beyond. Here, tall scots pine are mixed in with the birch and on one of these I spot a treecreeper spiralling upwards, constantly probing the crevices of the bark with its slightly curved bill, before descending to start anew on an adjacent trunk. Another, more distant, movement in my peripheral vision grabs my attention and I turn to see a roe deer step nimbly and with caution on limbs like young willow stems. It regards me for a moment before bounding over the fence to melt into the vegetation beyond. Using a stile to follow suit I take the next section of path which runs parallel to a water channel where a copse of alder enjoy the saturated conditions. Further along there are beech too and, looking directly upwards into the branches of one of these, I am cheered by the site of foraging goldfinches @KonectMagazines

- the smallest of all European birds, with a thin trill call like the flourish of a tiny violin. I watch as they dangle inverted from distal twigs, pecking amongst the few remaining husks of beech mast. To my right, a wren flits past and disappears, Alice-like, into a cavity in the root mass of a fallen tree. The final stretch of the walk is across the more open ground of a marsh-meadow, the afternoon winter sun casting a weak warmth upon my back. This reminds me that in a few short months this meadow will harbour an array of chest-high grasses and wildflowers together with a host of attendant invertebrates. As I contemplate the scene, a buzzard, with slow flaps of broad wings, rises from between clumps of compact rushes to perch in a tree by the road. By the time I make my return journey, the wind turbines have come to a standstill and the eastern horizon is a glowing seam of bright amber. Back home, on my map I struggle to pinpoint the wood. It’s tiny; the tree cover would fit easily within the area of one of the surrounding fields. Zooming out, it is quickly lost amongst the patchwork of

pasture, road and town. Yet, when I think of my walk, the life I witnessed, and its calming, restorative effect, the power of such spaces hits home. How wonderful it would be to have more places like Hermand Wood. Hermand Birchwood is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, situated on a raised bog and is managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust. For more information visit: www. scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/ reserve/hermand-birchwood 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.

Tel 01506 437096

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PARENTING

Time is possibly the best gift you can give your kids. It sometimes seems like I give mine ALL my time. Washing their clothes, making their packed lunches, taking them to school and clubs, making their dinner, helping with their homework, finding fun things for them to do at the weekends. But the truth is it doesn’t seem that way to them. After the Christmas and New Year excitement January and February always seem long and dull (and not just for the kids). It certainly doesn’t take long before my children are asking me when it will be Easter. They eagerly wish away the first few months of the year desperate for the next half-term holiday or birthday to look forward to.

It sometimes seems that over the last two years we’ve had nothing but time. Time together…time desperate to get away from each other! Either way so many stretches of time not able to go out and do what we want. But time at home does not necessarily mean quality time. I actually find that because we’ve spent so much time at home as a family what’s missing is quality one-on-one time with each of my kids. When I’m not breaking up bickering and always ignoring one while trying to help the other. And so I’ve made it my 32 | BATHGATE

resolution this year to give them each more actual time. Not time doing jobs for them. Not time when I’m distracted by my phone or work. Time to talk, time to listen and time to just be together.

I saw a lovely idea floating around social media somewhere of actually giving a “gift of time” box to your kids and filling it with fun things to do together. They don’t have to be fancy or far from home (which is good considering we don’t know what this year will hold). Just little things you can do together. It can be easily tailored to you and yours and can work whatever your kids ages. For little ones pledging to build a den or go for a picnic. For older kids they might want to go see a movie or go out for a treat. I love that you can adapt this idea in so many ways. It could be a box of pledges for the school holidays, or a birthday treat, or just for

the weekends. You could have a family box or a box of envelopes for each child. You could come up with the pledges and give them as a gift or you could come up with the ideas together.

I just thought this was a lovely way to let the kids know that quality time with them is important. And so much has been out of their control lately - giving them a way to let me know when they need some one-on-one time gives them some of that control back. There’s nothing wrong with needing something to look forward to, especially at this time of year! The parenting column is contributed by Laura Archibald. Laura lives in West Lothian with her family and their campervan Hank. She is mummy, wife, blogger and full-time personal assistant to her two girlie girls. @KonectMagazines

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LOCAL ENVIRONMENT

At the height of lockdown last winter, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I came across a gem of a reed bed only a few minutes walk from my house. How could I have walked past this gold mine so many times? There were stonechats, wrens, and a wellhidden snipe. One day I saw something move and couldn’t believe my eyes when I realised there was also a pair of very elusive water rail lurking in the reeds too. I think people thought I was mad as I sat in the snow, staring intently in to this reed bed for hours at a time. Lots of people stopped to ask what I was looking at, and only occasionally would the bird break from cover before quickly going in to hiding again. After it did, I explained to everyone just how elusive the water rail is and their appearance tends to attract quite the crowd, as was the case in Linlithgow at the same time. I was keeping it our little secret though, one for me and the locals to enjoy as winter progressed and nature therapy was helping us through lockdown. 34 | BATHGATE

They’re nearly impossible to see in summer thanks to the cover provided by the reeds but I’ve been told the birds have made an appearance in the same place, which is very exciting. There’s every chance if you see a blonde female sitting by a reed bed in Bathgate with a camera, it’s probably me! This column is contributed by Clare Harte and Kate Stevenson, who grew up in Edinburgh and now live in West Lothian. Together they run Scottish Sisters Photography and travel around the country to watch and photograph amazing wildlife and scenic landscapes. Follow them on Facebook @ScottishSistersPhotography @KonectMagazines

DO YOU HAVE A MEMORABLE VIEW OF YOUR GARDEN FROM YOUR HOME? Our kitchen window looks south to our bird feeding area with Phoebe, our sculpted cat ready to pounce onto the birdbath. She was presented to Dougal when he retired from the Royal Horticultural Society Council and reminds him of happy times at the RHS. This memory is nothing compared to the performance of the Peruvian Lily in the border. It has been flowering all summer and this picture taken on New Year’s Eve shows why it’s well named as Alstroemeria ‘Indian Summer’. Plant breeders have produced a huge number of different Alstroemerias in recent years. They have created dwarf ones for growing in containers, tall ones for borders and all of them are great as cut flowers lasting for ages in the vase. ‘Indian Summer’ has dusky green leaves as well as these striking flowers in yellow flushed red. It grows about 45cm (18”) high

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Indian summer beyond the window and comes back every year as a true hardy perennial but will die down in the next few weeks for a winter rest. This is a great month for planning next winter’s memorable view into your garden. You might not want a statue but you may think about having some new plants in the picture. Evergreen plants perform all year round and if you want some flowers as well look no further than a Hellebore or some Winter Flowering Heathers to cheer you up. The gardening project is contributed by Dougal Philip, New Hopetoun Gardens. Inspiring, informing and entertaining, for more than 40 years.

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SPORTS, HOBBIES, LEARNING, SUPPORT GROUPS & MORE... DOWN TO EARTH YOGA AND MASSAGE - Yoga for everyone regardless of age, sex or your flexibility level. Private sessions available or spread the cost and practice with a friend/s. No experience necessary and beginners are welcomed. Massage in a warm welcoming safe environment. Choose from a clothed floor based Thai Yoga Massage or an oil massage on a table with hints of Swedish and Thai fusion. Contact Kirsty to book on 07936 925040. Quote ‘Konect’ for £10 off first treatment or session.

COMMUNITY PLAYGROUPS BATHGATE - Available for Children from 2 years old at Bathgate Partnership Centre. We offer morning or full day sessions. Mon-Fri 9.15am to 11.30am and Mon-Thurs 9.15am to 2.00pm. Cost £9.00 per am session, £20.00 per all day session Eligible 2 funding accepted. Email: bathgate@communityplaygroups.org or call 07985 645871.

BATHGATE AND DISTRICT PROBUS CLUB - Retired? Fed up with lockdown and covid restrictions? Come and enjoy weekly meetings with interesting speakers on a wide range of topics, together with exciting visits in the summer months. Join us for informal chats, with refreshments beforehand, every Tuesday from 10.00am to 12.00pm in St John’s Church hall, Mid Street, Bathgate. For further information, contact Sandy McAlpin (Secretary) on (01506) 630152. LITTLE MONSTERS UNDER 5 GROUP - Morning sessions and afternoon sessions available at Boghall Drop in Centre, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10.00am - 11.30am, or 12.30 - 2.00pm. One parent/ carer to stay only in line with covid and room ratios. Email: arlene@bdic.org.uk Or call the drop in centre on 01506 283201 to registers. SONGWRITING GROUP - Broxburn, Strathbrock Community Centre, Entrance B, Room GP3

1st Thursday of the month. As of January 2022 we are going to go back to the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month. These are informal evenings aimed at encouraging musicians and songwriters (adults) of all levels and abilities who would like to share their idea, techniques and songs with others in an informal, friendly environment. For further information, please contact Annie on 07824 667889. WHITBURN AND DISTRICT PROBUS CLUB - A local association for retired and semi-retired men to meet for fellowship and friendship. Meetings are held at the Hilcroft Hotel each Wednesday morning at

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9.30 and usually conclude around 12 noon. An extensive programme of speakers is planned throughout the year and periodic lunches, dinners and outings are planned. Interested? Contact Rod Dow (Probus Secretary) on 01506 462772 or come along any Wednesday morning for a coffee and a warm welcome.

WEST LOTHIAN u3a - u3a is a UK wide movement for retired or semi-retired people who wish to make new friends, continue learning in an informal setting and keep active. We’ve been meeting on Zoom for the past 18 months but many of our groups are starting to meet again. For more information see: u3asites.org.uk/westlothian/home Facebook: www.facebook.com/WestLothian-u3a-106310894889317 Email: memsecwlu3a@gmail.com Phone: 01506 844274.

BATHGATE HISTORY GROUP - 1st Wednesday of the month, October to April, St John’s Church Hall at 2.00pm. We look forward to welcoming existing and new members. CHOOSE YOU YOGA STUDIO & WELLNESS HUB - Dedicated yoga studio in Carmondean, Livingston. Build strength, flexibility and resilience, and support mental health, joint pain/illness/injury recovery. Iyengar Yoga - Mon 7.30-8.45pm; Vinyasa Flow - Tues 6.00-7.00pm and 7.20-8.20pm; Seasonal Yoga (gentle) - Wed 5.30 – 6.30pm; Yoga in Polish Wed 9.30-10.30am, Tai-Chi - Thurs 9.30-10.45am; Iyengar Yoga - Thurs 7.30-8.45pm; Yoga in Polish Fri 6.00-7.00pm. Carmondean, Livingston.

Email: info@chooseyouyoga.co.uk Tel.: 07810 824 195 www.chooseyouyoga.co.uk or on Facebook CARERS OF WEST LOTHIAN - Support and social activities for Carers, Young Carers and Disabled Adults. Services currently via Zoom/phone: weekly Coffee Morning; monthly Mental Health Support Group, Evening Support Group & Bereaved Carer Support Group as well as groups for Young Carers and Young Adult Carers. Regular Social Groups for Adults with disabilities. Virtual Power of Attorney Clinic & Benefits Advice and Counselling. For information: T: 01506 448000 E: office@carers-westlothian.com W: www.carers-westlothian.com

GENERATION ARTS - Creative activities for people aged 50 and over, either living at home or in care with complex needs. Online and offline activities in West Lothian such as a dance dvd, art demos, reminiscence, recipes, music and song

playlists, dance and song classes. Creative activity and learning can unlock memories and skills that have been lost and creates a spark of joy for all. Contact generationarts. coordinator@gmail.com or phone 07521 358 239 for further information. MACMILLAN CANCER INFORMATION & SUPPORT - A free, confidential service providing a ‘listening ear’, emotional and practical support, help to access benefits/ financial advice and other local services. Expert information for anyone affected by cancer – yourself, a relative, friend or carer. Face to face appointments at Partnership Centres in Bathgate, Livingston North, Broxburn, Fauldhouse and Blackburn. Short health walks leaving Bathgate Partnership Centre - call to book a place. Phone and email support also available. Please call 01506 283053 or email MacmillanWestLothian@ westlothian.gov.uk WEST LOTHIAN 50 PLUS NETWORK - Social activities for the over fifties. Run largely by volunteers we offer a wide range of interest groups to help you stay fit and healthy in both mind and body, whilst socialising with others. Something for everyone, but, more importantly, the chance to meet up and join in with old friends or make new friends along the way. Annual joining fee £10. Follow our Facebook page, visit: www.westlothian50plusnetwork.co.uk or call 01506 635510. BENNIE MUSEUM - Whether you are a museum visitor interested in seeing curious objects or like to delve into history, the Bennie Museum has it all. Visit the museum to see the latest acquisition - a Dryad Leicester Loom with some in-progress weaving taking place. Whilst there, don’t forget to tour the Museum of Childhood. Admission is free. Open Mon-Sat 11am to 3.30 pm. 9/11 Mansefield Street, Bathgate EH48 4HU. 01506 634944. www.benniemuseum.org.uk

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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SOLUTIONS

SOLUTION TO DECEMBER CROSSWORD D O C K R

Boiling down how I feel about Encanto is difficult.

There are so many aspects of this film I find to be great. The musical numbers written by Lin- the-busiest-manin-musical-song-writing-Manual Miranda are solid. “We don’t talk about Bruno” chorus is uber catchy and will get stuck in your head for weeks, and the opening number sets the tone for the film.

However, some of the songs are slightly off the mark and not so memorable. Other than the chorus I couldn’t sing you a single verse of “We don’t talk about Bruno”, but I could sing a lot of What’d I Miss from Hamilton and I’ve only seen that once. The voice casting is great, and the film is undeniable beautiful. Every frame of this film has so much detail from the foreground to the background, and when you re-watch it you’ll notice some subtle moments that could be easily missed on the first watch. However, it doesn’t matter how beautiful your film is if the story is weak and I personally found it to be frustrating and annoying. You could tell there were six story writers as the film tries to tackle so much but fails at all of them. It tackles real issues but, like Soul, I feel it waters down its themes and issues too much and it becomes shallow and frustrating. I might not like it, but its 1hr 30 ignoring the credits so there is no harm watching it.

The Film Review is contributed by Robert Ewing. Robert is passionate about film as an art form, and shining a light on films that may not be on people’s radar. Robert is from Kirknewton. 38 | BATHGATE

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ACROSS: 1. Dock, 3. Diamonds, 9. Execute, 10. Agree, 11. Manufactured, 14. Nap, 16. Crude, 17. You, 18. Nevertheless, 21 .Adapt, 22. Pattern, 23. Everyday, 24 Lyre. DOWN: 1. Dreaming, 2. Clean, 4. Ice, 5. Measurements, 6. Nursery, 7. Spew, 8. Sufficiently, 12. Count, 13. Nuisance, 15. Prepare, 19. Every, 20. Fake, 22. Pea.

SOLUTION TO SUDOKU ON PAGE 15

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