Konect Bathgate March 2022 by Konect Magazines

MARCH 2022

LOCAL HISTORY:

PARENTING:

LOCAL ENVIRONMENT:

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pring is in the air, and with it, spring cleaning – not to mention fixing of storm damage from the past month. The clocks go forward on Sunday 27th March and it’s nice to think the longer days are coming. Whether you’re cleaning inside and out, sorting the garden ready for spring, looking for ideas or needing repairs done, browse the pages of this edition to find businesses to help you with everything you need. If you’re clearing out kids’ toys too, see Laura’s parenting column for tips on what to do with them. Our charity this month is the Larder, who have opened a new bakery service as a fundraiser for one of their projects providing high quality hot meals to people in West Lothian experiencing food poverty. You can support a good cause by eating cake - what’s not to like? See the feature on pages 8-9. With a local history piece along with all our other usual columns, I hope you enjoy the magazine this month. Thanks for reading Konect and supporting local businesses and organisations.

THIS ISSUE Charity: The Larder...................................................8 Living Well: Alzheimer’s Warning Signs..........12 Life Coaching: Soring promise..........................13 Garden Project: Tattie Tub Time.......................14 Property Matters: Telling the complete story.............................................................................22 Local Environment: Linlithgow Loch’s Star Attraction...........................................................28 Parenting: Don’t despair, donate!.....................30 Puzzles.......................................................................32 Local History: When Torphichen was the Centre of Scotland..................................................33 Film Review: Drive My Car..................................38

COVER IMAGE: Spring promise

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 you order delicious cakes and savoury items from The Larder’s Bakery in Livingston, the money you spend goes directly to helping families locally experiencing food poverty. The bakery was set up at the end of last year by well-established local food and learning charity, The Larder, to provide an income stream that would help fund their training courses and Catalyst Kitchen project. The Catalyst Kitchen makes high-quality freshly cooked meals and delivers them

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to local individuals and families affected by food insecurity. The vision is to provide choice, dignity and nutritious food – elements often not present in traditional food solutions. People referred to the Catalyst Kitchen receive two high-quality, cooked meals per week, delivered to

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their door by volunteers, chilled and ready to reheat. The service has been described as “a lifeline,” “revolutionary,” “invaluable,” and “life-changing”. However, The Larder needs income streams to fund it, and they opened the bakery to provide one such income source. All the cakes and savoury baking are handmade in Livingston by the Larder’s chefs, using fresh high quality ingredients which are sourced locally as much as possible. You get top quality cakes; beneficiaries of the Catalyst Kitchen get top quality dinners. The bakery menu is refreshed regularly with monthly specials, but you can always buy regular favourites including: Salted caramel & tablet brownies, triple choc and vegan choc brownies and classic shortbread. Savoury favourites include haggis bonbons, veggie haggis bonbons and arancinis. Tea boxes with a selection of sweet and savoury items are also available. The shop will be fitted out at their premises at Brucefield Industrial Estate in Livingston over the coming months. In the meantime, you can conveniently order online during the week and collect straight from their kitchen there on Thursdays and Fridays 9am - 6pm, and Saturdays 9am to 2pm. Your cakes are packaged in eco-friendly biodegradable and recyclable containers. Visit shop.thelarder.org and feel good about every bite. Enjoy local, handmade baking and help change lives for the better!

For more information visit www.thelarder.org Facebook @LarderTraining

This article was written by Helen-Jane after visiting the Bakery and tasting some of their delicious cakes! Helen-Jane is the editor of Konect magazines and lives in West Lothian with her family. @KonectMagazines

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Caring for a loved one?

We understand that considering a care home can be daunting. Our free guides provide practical and emotional advice as you navigate caring for a friend or family member. Call us on 0330 127 7678 for a friendly chat or to request A helping hand guide, or download a copy at careuk.com/a-helping-hand

Trusted to care. A helping hand Advice and inspiration for families caring for an older loved one

For family carers

Our care homes in Edinburgh Cairdean House, Colinton Lauder Lodge, Portobello Murrayside, Corstorphine

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LIVING WELL

Alzheimer’s

Warning Signs of to look out for

Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, but all forms of dementia have in common a high risk of behavioural disorders - changes in personality and people behaving out of character. Here are some warning signs to look out for: Memory loss that disrupts daily life: One of the most common signs, especially forgetting recently learned information. Challenges in planning or solving problems: Changes in the ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. Difficulty completing familiar tasks: trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work or remembering the rules of a favourite game. Confusion with time or place: Losing track of dates, seasons, and the passage of time.

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Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships: They may not realise they are the person in the mirror, for instance. New problems with words in speaking or writing: trouble following or joining a conversation. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps: Placing things in random unusual places. Sometimes the person may accuse others of stealing the items. Decreased or poor judgment: Changes in judgment or decision making Changes in mood or personality: Some can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful, or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, or with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone. If you have questions or concerns about dementia, it is best to speak with your GP, who can help guide you in the right direction. The Living Well column is contributed by Home Instead Livingston. Contact them for advice and support on 01506 346046 or see www.homeinstead.co.uk/livingston

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LIFE COACHING

Spring PROMISE This is a lovely time of year full of possibility and fresh hope, gardens are beginning to wake up and the promise of longer days and brighter mornings seem to offer us all a chance to make those changes that we have always dreamed of making. Spring presents us with a golden opportunity to get enthusiastic about what we want to do next as we begin to work towards that vision of our very best self. Whether that’s a new job, relationship or hobby now is the ideal time to make a start. So many of us revisit the same dreams again and again and lament that nothing ever changes, We never make that move, get that new job or really focus on our fitness. We tell ourselves that it’s because we get caught up in day to day living and time just seems to pass us by. There is no denying that we all live busy and bustling lives. We say that we will make this or that change after our children go to school or leave home for university or work and then we look around and find that the nest is empty but somehow, we are surrounded with a whole new busyness. It’s worth remembering that the days can drag but the months and years fly and we can always find plenty of activity to fill up our lives. There is no perfect time and all any of us can do is take those first steps towards our dreams.

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

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PROPERTY MATTERS

Tell the complete story to reach the right buyers A buyer who is not interested in a property won’t read five words about it. But an interested prospect will devour all the information you can provide. The more specifically you can speak to their particular needs and wants, the more likely they are to view and ultimately to buy. Every property agent talks about the importance of marketing, although many take a reductionist approach where everything gets boiled down to a commodity. This can be not only dull and uninteresting, but it misses crucial opportunities to find the buyer who is the perfect match - and who is therefore willing to pay the best price. People buy a house, but their emotions turn it into a “home.” A successful campaign starts by identifying who would be the perfect buyers for the home, considering the features 22 | BATHGATE

and benefits of the property. What are the lifestyle benefits of the home? How did the current owners use it? Is it a party home or is it a great refuge from modern busy life? The campaign is then designed to capture the interest and stimulate desire in the target prospects by telling the complete story so that they can visualise their new life there. The story will draw on things such as: Who are the owners and why did they buy/ build this particular home? Do they have any quirks that are reflected @KonectMagazines

Twilight imagery – shows off outside features like hidden lighting

“This impeccably restored period villa offers generous, luxurious accommodation for a family looking for a characterful home they can fall in love with”

here? What was their dream for the property and how did they accomplish it? It will also potentially go into the history of the property, details about the area, and any architecture, design and construction details. Hand in hand with the story, lifestyle photography in a property campaign is extremely effective. It captures much more than the bricks and mortar; it shows the lifestyle the buyer can expect to attain. In addition, including local and landscape photography allows buyers to see what

surrounds their potential new home. Beautiful images of walks, landmarks and amenities bring the brochure to life. At Turpie & Co we often do location spreads and have invested in videos showing off key towns in West Lothian and the surrounding area. Combining carefully-researched longstyle, emotional response text with lifestyle photography showcases the truly unique potential of every property, and will effortlessly attract the perfect buyers.

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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LOCAL ENVIRONMENT

It’s nearly the time of year when Linlithgow Loch’s star attraction makes its appearance. The great crested grebe can fly under the radar throughout winter when their plumage isn’t quite as striking as it will be soon. They morph from almost black and white to their spectacular breeding plumage with those bronze head feathers, and very impressive crest on top of their head. They have an unusual and elegant courtship display, which is commonly referred to as a dance and involves lots of head bobbing, and shakes to show off that beautiful crest. The grand finale is when they both dive down to gather some weeds before rushing across the water together. It doesn’t last long and can be hard to capture on camera, which is clearly evidenced by the fact I’m not sharing an image of this display! Great crested grebe nests are built on the surface of the water, and as they aren’t always the most structurally sound they are very susceptible to flooding and if Spring is too wet then it can really impact the success 28 | BATHGATE

of their breeding season. Their young are affectionately nicknamed “humbugs” due to their striped feather patterns, which you can be lucky enough to see as they catch a ride on their parents back, where it’s much warmer and safer than the cold water. How can you spot them? Look for the photographers gathered in the corner of the loch, hoping to catch a shot of their wonderful courtship ritual. 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

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BATHGATE | 29

PARENTING

Spring cleaning?

Don’t despair, donate! It is that time of year when everyone inexplicably starts to turn their minds to spring cleaning. Clearing out cupboards, drawers, bookshelves and toy boxes! I generally find I’ve not got the time or energy to give our home a complete refresh. I admire pretty storage boxes and then wonder how on earth I’d fit everything in that needs a place to go! But I can always lay my hands on something my kids have grown out of or some toy they no longer play with. So that’s one area where I at least have hope I might achieve something. Generally speaking it’s a false hope. My kids DO NOT like to part with anything. Usually it’s parents who can’t bear to part with the memories attached to childhood books and toys. Not me. I’d happily haul away at least a car boot full given half the chance. But if I dare even suggest it might be time to find a new home for anything my girls’ immediately disagree and then spend the next week playing with it in silent protest against my utter cheek. 30 | BATHGATE

I have had some success in the past suggesting some things could go to the attic if they are not ready to part with them. But this feels like such a waste and this year I am determined that some of the lovely things that have made my kids so happy can go to a good cause and make some other child smile. Of course persuading the little darlings to part with things is only half the battle. What do you do with it after that? If I leave stuff sitting around the house for too long they’ll absolutely pilfer from the donation boxes until they are empty again. So here goes…

Kidzeco is a social enterprise based in West Lothian with a mission to provide families with high quality pre-loved children’s clothes, toys, and essential equipment at affordable prices. They have locations in Bathgate and Livingston and are always in need of quality items…

and I know from experience they will help you lug in your heavy bags!

River Kids children’s charity supports disadvantaged children and their families in West Lothian and the wider community and they run the West Lothian Toy Appeal which is now an allyear-round event. They are heavily reliant on donations of all kinds of good quality second-hand items at their warehouse in Broxburn. Spring is not the season of giving but that doesn’t mean you can’t spread a little joy!

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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Please contact us if you would like your business included in our Parenting and Family pages. Contact details are on page 3.

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PUZZLES

SUDOKU

^^^ Sudoku solution on page 38

CROSSWORD

ACROSS: 1. Money (4), 3. Used in board game (5,3), 9. Scold severely (7), 10. Electronic post (5), 11. Young cabbage plants (6,6), 14. To allow (3), 16. Type of drum (5), 17. Joint (3), 18. Seen in a rink (6-6), 21. Violent disturbances (5), 22. Stabbing weapon (7), 23. Supporting column (8), 24. Popular sport (4).

^^^ Solution in the March edition of Konect

DOWN: 1. Advises (8), 2. Serious (5), 4. Stowed away (3), 5. Lock picks (8,4), 6. Loyal (7), 7. Story (4), 8. Eats its own kind (12), 12. Doomed (5), 13.Alcoholic appetiser (8), 15. Twice as much (7), 19. South American dance (5), 20. Hold tightly (4), 22. Type of snake (3).

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. 32 | BATHGATE

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days many of the knights were English, and during the Wars of Independence in Scotland they supported the English side. After his The Order was granted estates throughout victory over the Scots at the Battle of Falkirk in Europe by the crusading nations to provide 1298, King Edward I headed to Torphichen for income for their work. rest and treatment of the They came to Britain chest-wound he got at Rents for all their Scottish properties to recruit and collect Polmont when a horse were collected here in Torphichen, and funds, arriving in stood on him before the there would have been considerable Scotland during the battle. These ties with traffic relating to administration and reign of David I, who England made the Order financial affairs was a keen supporter less popular in Scotland of the Crusades during this time. and who gave them land at Torphichen. This But as time went on naturally more knights were became the headquarters from whence their growing estates were administered. They native Scots, and they made several petitions ended up with land all over Scotland and were to gain independence from their English Priory. well respected for their charitable works. Much later, in the 16th century, King James IV - a regular visitor to Torphichen where he In Torphichen, their Preceptory (headquarters) prayed in the church and played cards with the consisted of a small hospital, as this was the Preceptor – wrote to the Grand Master of the prime calling of the Order. There was also Order in Rhodes expressing his surprise that church and attached administrative and “members of this Order, even when Scottish domestic buildings including dormitories, by birth and residing in Scotland, had to live kitchen, dining area and Preceptor’s lodgings. so that they looked on the Prior in England as Much of their day to day life was involved in their lord and protector.” administration of their Eventually Torphichen Scottish estates as Eventually Torphichen did arrange to did arrange to by-pass well as the necessary by-pass the English office and report the English office and duties of growing directly to the Grand Master, based report directly to the food and herbs for Grand Master, based latterly in Malta medicines in the latterly in Malta. gardens around the Preceptory. Rents for all their Scottish properties The Order of St John was suppressed were collected here in Torphichen, and there during the Reformation and in Scotland all would have been considerable traffic relating to its lands were confiscated. Much monastic administration and financial affairs. It became a property was razed but Torphichen was significant and very well-resourced community, spared, possibly as it had been used as a in keeping with the knights’ status in Scotland, Reformation office or because the Preceptor, receiving many guests and travellers. James Sandilands, became Protestant and befriended John Knox... however by the 1750s, the administration and domestic One famous guest was William Wallace. buildings associated with the Preceptory were As he prepared to face Edward I in 1298, he demolished and the stones used elsewhere in stayed at Torphichen - the only surviving the village. Only the tower, transcepts and nave document we have signed by him was were spared. written at Torphichen at this time (It was Hospitaller were one of the most famous and powerful religious military orders.

a letter sent in March 1298 to Alexander Scrymgeour, giving him land as reward for his loyalty).

The Torphichen Preceptory, though, came under the authority of the English Priory of the Order (a higher office) in London. In the early 34 | BATHGATE

St John’s exists in Britain today as the Most Venerable Order of the Knights of St John of Jerusalem. It was re-established in the 19th century with the foundation of St John Ambulance Association, independent of the remnants of the original Roman Catholic Order of Malta, and in 1888 @KonectMagazines

Queen Victoria made it a Royal Order of Chivalry. St John’s ambulances and first aid training are well known in England and many other countries. A Scottish Priory was reconstituted in 1947. It doesn’t run the ambulance service here, as St Andrews Ambulance Service was already established,

but they do run hospitals, nursing homes, sheltered housing, hospices and rest homes in Scotland as well as mountain rescue services. They support the St John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem and have links with Malawi. Their motto is to “improve the safety, health and quality of life of people in need.” So the Order today is close to what the original monks set out to do 900 years ago before getting embroiled in war.

And St John’s are custodians of Torphichen Preceptory on behalf of Historic Environment Scotland. The remains of the Preceptory consist of the tall central tower with the transepts on each side, and the foundations of the associated buildings. St John’s have installed an informative display so that visitors can learn more about this fascinating site and its people. The Preceptory usually opens on 1st April, but Historic Environment Scotland has not yet re-opened all their sites since the pandemic and according to their website it is still closed. Check for updates at www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-aplace/places/torphichen-preceptory For more on the Order of St John in Scotland, visit www.stjohnscotland.org.uk

This article was written by Helen-Jane Gisbourne. Helen-Jane is the editor of Konect and lives in West Lothian with her family. Article first published in Konect in 2013. @KonectMagazines

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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 - We meet 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month in Room GP3, Strathbrock Community Centre, Broxburn, Entrance B, from 7.15 pm - 9.15 pm. 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 9.30 and usually conclude around 12 noon. An extensive programme of speakers is planned throughout the year and periodic

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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 FEBRUARY CROSSWORD M A

P R

E I

A R C P

A B R

O U

P O S

A M E

H R O W E A

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The film is very performance driven and due to this if there was a single weak performance the whole film would fall apart. So, it’s excellent that everyone in the cast gives a strong performance and is simply fantastic. The film has beautiful cinematography, there’s lots of driving and every driving scene is visually stunning. I also love how information is presented using cinematography. It’s simply just a greatlooking film.

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Drive My Car is a film that is co-written and directed by Ryûsuke Hamaguchi and is Japan’s entry for the 94th Academy Awards (the Oscars). Drive My Car clocks in at 3 hours long and is simply a breeze to get through. From the opening moments the film grabs you and keeps you invested for its entire runtime.

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When the opening credits for this film rolled at roughly 40 minutes in, I knew I was witnessing something special.

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ACROSS: 1. Majesty, 5. Basil, 8. Sprinkler, 9. Arc, 10. Sabre, 12. Outpost, 13. Flamethrowers, 15. Dukedom, 17. Exams, 19. Ego, 20. Elevation, 22. Yield, 23 Strayed. DOWN: 1. Masks, 2. Jar, 3. Sincere, 4. Yellowhammers, 5. Beret, 6. Soap opera, 7. Locates, 11. Black hole, 13. Fidgety, 14. Open-air, 16. Dread, 18. Synod, 21. Ivy.

SOLUTION TO SUDOKU ON PAGE 32

The story of film is unique and interesting. There’s a very strange opening that feels out of place when watching it but makes more sense as the film progresses, and the story is excellent, going in directions I didn’t expect. There’s a reason the credits roll 40 minutes in - by that point you are on board and ready to be taken on a great journey. Drive My Car is simply a great film that I hope that more people will check it out. It is long journey, but it is worth the drive. 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.

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