JULY 2019
broxburn
LOCAL PEOPLE:
PLUS: GARDEN PROJECT, PROPERTY MATTERS, and more LOCAL FEATURES inside! The monthly community magazine for Uphall, Broxburn & Winchburgh
P13 TO OUR JULY EDITION
W
ith the summer school holidays upon us, this month’s magazine has a theme of various things to do with the family and children over the holidays – not an exhaustive guide, but a few highlights of a wide range of things in the area to suit different ages and interests. There is a new escape room attraction – eeek! - in Linlithgow. And take the time to visit New Hopetoun Garden’s art trail during July and August, and get lunch in their Orangery Tea Room; just a couple of examples of excellent attractions right on our doorstep. In Laura’s parenting column she gives some money-saving tips if you’re entertaining young children over the summer. If you have a little time and could help out a local project, The Brock Garden, Wood and Craft Centre at Strathbrock are looking for help planting trees and other plants in the new Mind Garden they are creating at the moment. See the article on page 9, this will be a lovely place for the local community, do let them know if you can help. Whether you’re going away, or staying local over the holidays, I hope all our readers manage to get a break and a refresh over the next few weeks. Thanks for reading Konect and supporting local businesses and organisations.
THIS ISSUE Charity: A Mind Garden................................. 9 eeek! Can you escape?...............................13 Garden project: Art in the garden...............15 Property Matters............................................18 Health & Beauty............................................22 Local People: Jackie McGeachie...............25 Feature: Tots Spot.........................................26 Parenting: Money-saving tips for Summer..........................................................27 Clubs & Classes............................................28
COVER IMAGE: See our feature on P9 for more information about The Mind Garden at The Brock.
Konect is delivered monthly to 7,500 homes and businesses in Uphall, Broxburn and Winchburgh. Copies are also left at the library, post offices, convenience stores and other locations.
HELEN-JANE SHEARER
CHARLENE GAFFNEY
E: editor@konect.scot
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Editor
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A beautiful new community garden is being created behind Strathbrock Partnership Centre in Broxburn.
Being in a garden and surrounded by greenery and plants can be beneficial to mental health and well-being, so it’s good news for the community that The Brock Garden Centre (which is a hidden gem in Broxburn and has a long history in West Lothian, see side box) is creating a garden for anyone in the community to come and enjoy here.
Staff and service users at The Brock came up with the concept and design for a therapeutic “Mind Garden.” “The idea is to have a space where mental health in all its forms is embraced,” explains Kevin, General Manager at The Brock “and where people can come and just relax. There will be some seating areas, a water feature, some artwork and of course lots of planted areas”
The Brock has acquired the use of an extra plot of land from West Lothian Council, and have designed the garden to maximise the space to the full. It will be accessed via the Garden Centre, and will be fully accessible. Within the overall theme of mental health, there will be areas within the garden exploring different aspects of mental health with a view to breaking down stigma. “We envisage a badger trail, with each of our badger sculptures representing a different aspect of mental health. And it will be a serene place where everyone is welcome to just come and wander and sit.” The hard landscaping is nearly completed, and now volunteers are needed to help with the planting! With 500 saplings to go in, and many plants, a small army is needed from this summer onwards to help the staff and service users at The Brock to get all the plants in! The garden should be ready to open later in the year, with an official opening next summer. If you would like to help create this special space, please contact koen@thebrock.org @KonectMagazines
THE BROCK
Unique in West Lothian, The Brock traces its beginnings to when Bangour Village Hospital at Dechmont was a psychiatric hospital. There was a garden centre there with plants cultivated by the service users, and when the hospital closed down the NHS moved the gardening facility to Dedridge. It moved to Broxburn in 2011, with a plot of land behind the Partnership Centre provided by West Lothian Council. It is still not very well known in the community, but is the only place in West Lothian where members of the community who have chronic mental health conditions are able to come and get the therapeutic benefits of gardening, woodwork and other craft activities. Support them by buying your plants & garden furniture here! Open weekdays 10.00am - 4.00pm. Closed weekends. The Brock Garden, Wood and Craft Centre, Strathbrock Partnership Centre, 189a West Main Street, Broxburn, EH52 5LH Directions: Follow the carpark around the to back of the Partnership Centre. There is plenty of parking, and the entrance is near to the back door of the Partnership Centre. Tel: 01506 858080 Email: info@thebrock.org The Brock Garden, Wood and Craft Centre is a charity registered in Scotland, No. SCO44528. This article was written by Helen-Jane Shearer after visiting The Brock and speaking with Kevin McElroy, General Manager, and Koen Van der Straeten, Operations and Project Manager. HelenJane is the editor of Konect and lives in West Lothian with her family. BROXBURN | 9
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A team successfully escaped! “We’re puzzle geeks,” explains Ellie, co-owner of Linlithgow’s new escape room, eeek! Along with her husband Euan (and with a willing father-in-law roped in for practical help!) they have created a unique escape room experience with a special Linlithgow twist.
For those not familiar with the concept of an escape room, they have popped up all over Britain in the past few years. It’s a fun family, team or group activity where you’re immersed in a room and as a team you have to complete a series of puzzles based on the theme of the escape room, in order to solve a problem and get out within a time limit.
eeek! is a bespoke set of puzzles lovingly created by Ellie and Euan themselves, so if you’re an escape enthusiast and like to try them all, this will be a different experience. Being a Linlithgow family-run business, their scenario has a heritage Mary Queen of Scots theme. You’re transported to 1587, one hour before Mary’s execution, and you have to save her and change the course of history! “You don’t need to know anything about Mary, or history, to enjoy the puzzles,” explains Ellie, “but if you happen to like history too, everything in the theme is historically accurate so it adds an extra element of enjoyment.” It opened in January this year. I met Ellie at the premises, a listed building on Linlithgow’s High Street. You walk straight into a “dungeon” and it’s clear it’s been a labour of love. “I was looking for something different to do; I was an Executive PA in the Chief Constable’s office, and loved it but all my salary was going in childcare. I needed a different balance.” A family trip to Massachusetts last summer provided the tipping point; a cousin runs an escape room there, and encouraged Ellie to go for it. Having always loved puzzles, and wanting @KonectMagazines
to do something more family-orientated, and with her youngest about to start nursery, everything lined up. On the plane on the way home, she made the decision; and six months, a lot of puzzling, planning and building later, Eeek! opened its doors.
There is currently one escape scenario, but Ellie and Euan plan to add another one soon. And they are not stopping there! eeek! also offers a brand new concept - “Escape Dinners” - with a range of local eateries and venues. “It’s a game played in a restaurant (or other venue) by teams who come together for food, drink and puzzles! Our game is called “The Last Bottle” and is set in the prohibition era. Your favourite boozy establishment is being closed down, and you’re competing for the last bottle of wine. Each table has the same clues and it’s a race to win the Last Bottle!” So far, their monthly game at Du Vin Bouchers has been a sell-out, and other dates and venues are being added at Mason Belles and the Star and Garter. They have taken the game to other venues and to private homes for parties. A meal out with a difference for a special occasion, group event or corporate team building! You need to put this on your to-do list this summer! For more information, see www.eeekescaperooms.com.
This article was written by Helen-Jane Shearer after visiting eeek! and meeting Ellie. HelenJane is the editor of Konect and lives in West Lothian with her family. BROXBURN | 13
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Relax and Enjoy Now that the Spring rush to get our gardens in order has passed it must be time for us to relax and enjoy our gardens or even visit other gardens and relax and enjoy them? Lesley and I find it hard to resist the temptation to buy plants or ornaments for our garden when we visit other gardens… and we don’t have any spare space for them. But if we both love something we happily give into temptation and will always find a space somewhere. We love looking out from the house at a special plant or piece of art in the garden ad we are very lucky that we have garden around all four sides of our house so there are many opportunities for another view. Lesley says that if she can’t sleep during the night she doesn’t have to resort to counting sheep as she mentally walks around the
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garden counting our pieces of art installed all round the garden. If you need some inspiration for your own garden please visit New Hopetoun Gardens in July and August and explore our ‘art in the garden’ event. We install the outdoor work of artists working in Scotland in our 20 demonstration gardens. James Parker’s Garroch Twist in the shady garden at New Hopetoun Gardens
The gardening project is contributed by Dougal Philip, New Hopetoun Gardens. Inspiring, informing and entertaining, for more than 40 years.
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Great advice is the real home advantage If you are looking to sell your home, the chances are that you’ll invite 2 – 3 estate agents to appraise your property and get a range of values and fees. It is important to dig deeper to see how the valuation figure was reached and the service that you will be getting as you look to sell your largest asset. the owners who invited three different estate You should be looking for evidence that estate agents have done more than baseline research, agents to value their home. Our firm was one, and, having recently sold similar houses in the to give you the best and most commercially area (achieving a price above the previous focused advice. There is no substitute for ceiling price), we were well-placed to advise experience and market knowledge, and a on current market activity, demand and professional estate agent will be able to value value. The other two estate agents were also your property to a figure that they are confident well known locally but very different in style of achieving or exceeding. and experience at the premium end of the Look for good practice - Some agents will call property market in West Lothian. Sales figures a surveyor for advice before visiting the property and market intelligence are not immediately then inform sellers that a surveyor will ‘support’ available to agents and surveyors and only that particular agent’s valuation. Look out for this the selling agent has this data for an exclusive bad practice: it goes against everything that a period. Without this knowledge (or experience), professional estate agent should be trying to the other two agents valued the property at achieve. The truth is that it is not a surveyor’s job £50,000 and £60,000 lower than the figure that to drive the price on your property: the surveyor should simply be able to justify the valuation on a we anticipated the market might support. We also had knowledge of buyers who had missed Home Report to a lender. out on other properties and knew they were still It is the role of the estate agent to drive the actively looking. market forward or break the ceiling price in a Get a better result - We achieved exactly the particular area. It is only the most proactive figure that we had estimated and a return to estate agents who will have the latest market the client of approximately £50,000 more than intelligence and an overview of how many they would likely have achieved by choosing active and credible buyers are currently in the one of the other agents. It really highlights the market looking for this type of property in this importance of selecting the right company to particular area. Based on this too, good estate handle the sale of your property. And making agents can often ‘create a market’ that may not even exist yet by packaging properties to target sure that you are in fact getting the best advice groups of highly specific potential buyers. You - otherwise it could prove very costly. should look for one who has experience and a proven track record in achieving results for The monthly Property Matters column is clients who have a similar property as yours, contributed by Craig Turpie. Craig is a either in value, location, type etc. Above all, you director at Turpie & Co Estate Agents and are looking for best advice, based on the latest Letting Agents with extensive knowledge of professional knowledge of the market. the West Lothian Property Market and over 20 years experience in bespoke sales and Look for market knowledge - A recent marketing. house sale could have been very costly for 18 | BROXBURN
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THE BEST BLOW DRY… Lots of clients ask me about styling their hair and the best way to get it to last.
My best advice is to do it straight after you wash it. If you potter about with a towel on your head it will trap the heat and start to dry from the root- flat! Making it really difficult to get volume. Secondly apply your product, (I love extra volume mousse on any hair type!) Make sure to really work it through so it’s evenly distributed then blast out all of the excess moisture. I’d do this with the head upside down or using a paddle brush to push the hair upwards. Once it’s 70% dry that’s when I’d switch to the brush you want to style with and work with a nozzle to direct the airflow, also using your heat settings. Hot to mould and cold to hold! Make sure when using moisturisers on your face or shoulders to leave a space around the hairline as the heat of your skin will force it to travel and could be the first factor in your blow dry flattening!
ABetter Relationship With Your Partner
Much of our disappointment in life is a result of expectation. We expect things to be happier, more fulfilling, more successful than they are – and we are left feeling dissatisfied. The same is true for relationships.
Expectation is everything. In the beginning you have high hopes. The wedding day was meticulously planned and that was supposed to mark the beginning of a perfect journey of unity. Naturally, you run into the first issues, or you discover something you don’t like about your partner. Your high expectations aren’t met and suddenly you start to feel disappointed. You try to change the person to meet your expectations - but your attempts are met with resistance and you start to feel resentful. You may start thinking that the person you once loved is making you unhappy. Sound familiar? To fix this cycle you need to change your perspective. Firstly, both parties need to understand that any friction isn’t personal, it has simply resulted from misunderstandings and unrealistic expectations. Both parties need to consider their expectations objectively. The husband’s viewpoint that his wife spends too much, is simply that: a viewpoint. The wife that thinks her husband doesn’t clean enough is expressing a viewpoint based on her own expectations. Neither partner is right or wrong here – there is simply a difference of opinion and expectation which needs to be discussed. The solution to most relationship issues of this nature is to sit down and discuss expectations and agree on what is acceptable for both parties.
The Hair column is contributed by Sophie Laidlaw. Sophie is Director @wonderland Livingston. wonderlandlivingston.co.uk 22 | BROXBURN
The life coaching column is contributed by Erica Douglas. Erica lives in West Lothian and is a Cognitive Coach & Therapist. See her “LifeHeal” facebook page at facebook.com/LifeHealCoaching @KonectMagazines
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Jackie Mcgeachie: “I didn’t want to give up my life, I just wanted to give up alcohol” “I stopped drinking 16 years ago. It was a very isolating experience. For a long time I’ve wanted to create a place where people who don’t drink can meet socially on the weekends.” I’m talking with Jackie Mcgeachie, founder of the fledgeling “Sobriety Café” in Livingston. Jackie’s life was very nearly ruined by alcohol, but having managed to get her life back on track she has had in her heart for several years to open such a venue. She says, “When I stopped drinking, I dreamed of having somewhere to go and socialise at the weekends. I was 32; I didn’t want to give up my life, I just wanted to give up alcohol. You have to leave your friends behind; your drinking buddies don’t understand what you’re doing, and if you’re in recovery you don’t want to go out anywhere where there is alcohol. It makes it very difficult to socialise at that stage when you’re fragile.” “I know if I hadn’t stopped drinking when I did, I’d be dead now.” Jackie’s story is one she is happy to share, and she now lives life to the full. She runs a dog-grooming business, Mucky Mutts, which she set up in 2006, after working for a decade at Edinburgh Zoo and then as a veterinary nurse. “I also had a short spell working in an office but realised I couldn’t live without animals!” she says. Since getting her life back she has travelled extensively, and most recently, undertook an extraordinary trip to Namibia to work with pangolins. She is passionate about animal welfare. “Hardly anyone has heard of pangolins, but they are highly endangered as they are hunted for their scales and their meat. I was watching a David Attenborough documentary on them last February, was utterly fascinated and just felt it was part of my journey to go and work with @KonectMagazines
Jackie in Namibia with an endangered Pangolin
them.” After watching the programme, Jackie contacted the Endangered Species Trust and by the summer she was on a plane on her way to Namibia to spend two weeks volunteering there. Pangolin scales are believed to have medicinal properties, in China, and eating their meat is also a huge status symbol as it is very rare and expensive. “It was an amazing experience, to be so close to an animal that may well be extinct in the near future,” she says.
Back to Livingston, the Sobriety Café is currently a pop-up cafe at Craigsfarm every second Sunday afternoon. “Eventually I’d love to have it more regularly, somewhere you can go to relax, have a bite to eat, a bit of a dance on a Saturday night perhaps,” says Jackie. But it’s small steps at the moment, she started it in February and is funding it herself. Between 1pm and 3pm on a Sunday, you can meet up for tea, coffee, chat and a bacon roll. There is a group of regulars and Jackie wants to get the word out to anyone who may be interested – it’s for people who lead alcohol-free lives, people who don’t drink or who would like to not drink. For more information on the Sobriety Cafe please call Jackie on 07954 414542 or search “Sobriety Café” on Facebook.
This article was written by Helen-Jane Shearer after meeting Jackie in Livingston. Helen-Jane is the editor of Konect and lives in West Lothian with her family. BROXBURN | 25
THE PLAY CAFÉ CONCEPT
A bright airy room, a series of mini play-zones and an open plan table arrangement where you can sit with your coffee or lunch and watch your preschoolers play – welcome to Tots Spot, a unique play cafe for West Lothian. Tots Spot is the creation of Danielle and Simone, and was a concept they had wanted to put into action for a long time. When the former library building in East Calder became available it proved to be the ideal premises, and Tots Spot has been open a year this summer. “We’d visited play cafes in Edinburgh and really wanted one closer home. Soft plays are too noisy and intense for Simone’s son, so we used to go to play cafes in Edinburgh, designed for up to six year olds, a more calm play environment and, best of all, we can sit and keep an eye on them without needing to crawl up slides and squeeze through tunnels!” They have achieved a lot in their first year, and have plenty of ideas to keep developing what they have already started here. The idea was for it to feel like a big homely living room. Instead of soft play, it is more role-play with, for example, a play kitchen; a ship; a nurse’s station; lego table; a little house; dress ups, and more. These are arranged around the edges of the room, and the cafe tables are beside them. It is all very open and airy and there is also a cosy sofa corner, popular with mum and babies. Danielle left her job in marketing when her daughter was young, and set up a business called “Baby Sensory” which she ran for a few years before selling it. With her husband Steve, they run West Lothian Football Academy, and her mum runs a private nursery, so early years activities and development are very much in the family. Along with her business partner Simone, who is a mortgage advisor, they run Tots Spot as a not-for-profit community resource. “We wanted to create somewhere that is safe and easy for young parents to come with their little ones, meet other people and find a community, support and activities.” So besides the cafe itself, a whole host of meet-ups, classes, groups and activities happen at Tots Spot. New mummy meet ups, breastfeeding support, baby massage, music, 26 | BROXBURN
and a range of pop-up shops, to name a few. “We’re foodies, so the food in the café is very important to us,” explains Danielle. The kitchen is small, but the idea is that the cafe element generates enough income to cover the costs of keeping the centre running (they do takeaway coffees too). Like a soft-play, there is an entry fee, although that also covers some of the support meet ups, and they give passes free of charge to groups and charities. Entry is for unlimited play time, and is free for under 6 months, £2.25 for 6 to 12 months, and £3.95 for 1 to 6 years. There is a good sized garden area at the back which they are hoping to make available this summer with outdoor seating and play equipment. Please see their facebook page @totsspotlivingston or call 01506 207770 for more information. Tots Spot is a Community Interest Company registered in Scotland, number 620101. This article was written by Helen-Jane Shearer after visiting Tots Spot, chatting with Danielle and sampling the coffee! Helen-Jane is the editor of Konect and lives in West Lothian with her family. @KonectMagazines
PARENTING
Almond Valley Five sisters zoo
So it’s July already and summer holidays are upon us again. The kids are looking forward to seven weeks of uninterrupted freedom. And I’m looking forward to some quality family time doing something more exciting than ferrying them from one activity to the next. The holidays mean a break from the everyday routine of family life. But that doesn’t mean it’s really a break…for parents anyway. Juggling childcare and finding fun things to do is more like hard work, and it can very quickly get expensive! With every fun day out the bar is raised for the next and sadly the seemingly endless summer doesn’t mean endless pots of money with which to enjoy it. So if you want to keep your hands out of the kids’ piggy banks here are my tips: 1. Think about a season pass. You don’t need to use it year-round to get your money’s worth. Often you only have to go 3 or 4 times and it’s paid for itself. And you could just get a pass for the kids, that way it can be used by whoever takes them… parents, grandparents, friends. We’ve got great value from an Almond Valley membership during the summer. 2. Look out for summer events. You may still have to pay an entry fee at your favourite attractions but somehow you always come away feeling like the money’s been worth it. And there are lots of free and one-off events too. Anyone else looking forward to the first ever Livingston Soapbox Race in August? Spectators just make a donation. 3. Pack a picnic. I love nothing more than indulging in lunch out on a day trip but so @KonectMagazines
often this is the unanticipated spending that easily adds-up. So take a packed lunch and maybe just treat the kids to an ice cream. We headed to new shop The Sweet Life in West Calder for a treat after a trip to Five Sisters Zoo and would definitely recommend it! 4. Plan ahead. Often attractions will offer a discount if you buy tickets online in advance, or there might be a group discount you can take advantage of if you can get a group of friends to go together. 5. Keep an eye out for offers. It might discounts from the likes of itison, or Groupon but it is always worth doing a quick Google search before you head out in case there is an offer available. 6. Make the most of free places. There’s plenty of outdoor exploring to be done that doesn’t cost a penny. Follow the Stick Man Trail and find the fairy village at Polbeth and West Calder Community Garden, see if you can walk all the way around Linlithgow Loch, spot the wildlife at Beecraigs, go on a nature walk around one of the country parks, or simply try out a cycle path or play park you’ve never been to before. 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.
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CLUBS & CLASSES
SPORTS, HOBBIES, LEARNING, SUPPORT GROUPS & MORE... BROXBURN NEW BROXBURN GENTLE WALKS Meeeting at Strathbrock Partnership Centre, Broxburn, Every Wednesday at 10.00am. To find out more contact Scott Lundrigan on 07493 895554. THE MEMORY CAFÉ Strathbrock Centre, Community Wing, Entrance B on the fourth Tuesday of each month 10:00-11:30. Come for the whole time or just drop in for a cuppa. For everyone with Dementia and their carers. Contact Allison on 07765 243362 or the Alzheimer Scotland office on 01506 533108 for more information. ACOUSTIC MUSIC/SONGWRITING SESSIONS Informal sessions aimed at encouraging musicians (adults) of all levels and abilities to share their ideas, techniques and songs with others in informal friendly environment. The sessions are held on the first and third Thursdays of the month from 7.30-9.30 pm, £2 per session, in Strathbrock Community Centre, Entrance B, Room GP3. For further information please contact Annie at 01506 853593 or check out our Facebook page - Acoustic Music/ Song Writing Session Broxburn”. ACTIVITY GROUP - NEW GROUP Are you over 60? Looking to get out and meet new people? Join our new activity group, a mix of quizzes, games, tea and chat. Strathbrock Partnership Centre, 189A West Main Street, Broxburn, EH52 5LH. Weekly on Thursdays 10am-12pm. For more information contact Cyrenians OPAL (Older People Active Lives) on 01506 815815 or email opal@cyrenians.scot DE-STRESS, GET FIT AND LEARN HOW TO RELAX WITH YOGA Mondays - Adult Yoga Classes, all levels welcome. Broxburn United Football Club, Greendykes Road, EH52 5 BP. Claire Chant 9.30am -11am, drop in £7, Tel: 07766 602629. Maxine Burke 7pm-8pm, drop in £6, Tel: 01506 843091. SCOUTING Come and join in the scouting adventure at our local Beaver, Cub or Scout groups. Meeting once a week at Broxburn Scout hut on Station Road to play games, plan camping trips and earn badges. • Beavers (Age 6-8) Tue night 6pm • Cubs (Age 8-10.5) Tue night 7.15pm • Scouts (Age 10.5-14) Fri night 7.30pm Groups are open to all, come along for a free trial!! Email enquiries to jo.cook1403@gmail.com
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RAINBOW UNIT (Girls aged 5-7 years old) take place on Thursday night. For more information please visit www.girlguiding.org.uk/get-involved or alternatively you can email us on westlothiangirlguiding@gmail.com. BROWNIE UNITS (Girls aged 7-10 years old) take place on Monday and Wednesday nights. For more information please visit www.girlguiding.org.uk/get-involved or alternatively you can email us on westlothiangirlguiding@gmail.com. BROXBURN WOODCRAFT CLUB A members Club located within the community wing of the Strathbrock Centre, 189a West Main Street, Broxburn, EH52 5LH. We have a fully equipped workshop supporting all aspects of woodworking including woodturning, pyrography, scrollsawing, the making of toys, furniture, musical instruments, walking sticks and more. For further information use the Contact Us facility on the website: www.broxburnwoodcraftclub.org. Our hours are Mon & Tues 9am-9pm, Wed & Fri 9am-12 noon and 6pm -9pm, Thurs 9am-3pm and 6:00pm-9pm. LIVINGSTON HIGHLAND SOCIETY Strathbrock Partnership Centre, 189 W Main St, Broxburn. Monthly ceilidhs on a Saturday evening between October and April. Each month we have a different band and guest artist. New members welcome, contact John Sneddon on 01501 770911 for dates and more details. LADIES ONLY OUTDOOR FITNESS SESSIONS Albyn Park, Greendykes Road. Mondays 7-8pm, with Broxburn United Sports Club (BUSC) and BurnIt. Doesn’t matter your size or level of fitness. BUSC and Burn-It aim to create a fun fitness session based outside to enable ladies to meet their goals. For more info contact Leigh Lauder on 01506 858057 or email l.lauder@ busc.org.uk ALIVE & KICKIN Albyn Park, Greendykes Road. A programme for older members of the community to remain active. Run by Broxburn United Sports Club and includes: WALKING FOOTBALL Tues 10.30am to 12pm, £3 per session with tea/ coffee after. WALKING CLUB on Thurs 10am. Community walk starting and ending at Albyn Park. Free, everyone welcome. Invigor8 MULTI SPORTS Thurs 2-3.30pm £2 per session. Try new sports and learn new skills. Each session is 1 hour of the new sport plus an inspirational/ informative chat for 30mins. For more info contact Leigh Lauder at Albyn Park 01506 858057 or email l.lauder@busc.org.uk
BROXBURN SWIMMING CLUB We cater for swimmers from age 3 upwards and cover all levels of swimming from our Learn to Swim programme up to our top competitive squad. LEARN TO SWIM: Thurs night (6:007:00) - Broxburn Swimming Pool. SQUAD SWIMMING: Mon & Tues (7:30-9:00), Thurs (7:00-9:00) and Fri (6:00-8:00)- Broxburn Swimming Pool. For further information please contact: broxburn_asc@hotmail.com CHURCH STREET BABY & TODDLER GROUP 2 Church Street, Broxburn EH52 5EL. Every Thursday from 09.15-11.00 and is based in the Church Hall behind Broxburn Parish Church. Suitable for children from birth to 3 years. Each session costs £2 per and includes a healthy snack for the children and a cuppa & biscuit for the grown-ups. Visit our Facebook page for more information www.facebook.com/ BroxburnChurchStreetBabyandToddler CRAFT CUPPA We are a small group of crafters who meet on Saturday afternoons 1-3 pm at Strathbrock Partnership Centre, Community Wing, entrance B. We meet to share expertise, have a natter and a cuppa. We would welcome anyone who wants to come along. For more info please email craftycuppaclub@mail.com or just come along! WEST LOTHIAN IWAMA RYU AIKIDO CLUB Broxburn Black Belt Academy, EH52 5BB, Broxburn. Dedicated to the traditional study and practice of Aikido through ken, jo and taijutsu. The club meets at Broxburn BlackBelt Academy Thursdays 8pm to 9:30pm. Come along and give it a try. For information please call 07784 006851 wliwamaryu@gmail.com BROXBURN GYMNASTICS CLUB Broxburn Academy’s Dance Studio, Broxburn. Fun filled gymnastics class for children in P1-P7. Hourly classes on Saturday mornings 10am (Beginner), 11am (Intermediate), Advanced 12pm. First week is a free no obligation trial. For more information please contact Gemma on 07775 900624 or broxburngymnasticsclub@yahoo.co.uk w: www.broxburngymnastics.com
The BUSY Project BOOK INTO THE BUSY SUMMER PROGRAMME 2019
We are putting on trips and activities, for example our marvel movie nights, Engage Bible study, Innoflate trip, or karaoke. For youths P7-S6 come along to any or all of them. Check out our website www.thebusyproject.org.uk
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BROXBURN SCOTTISH WOMEN’S INSTITUTE (formerly SWRI) We meet in Broxburn Community Centre at 7pm on the 2nd Monday of each month from September to May. Contact: Fay Young , tel 01506 854141 or email fayyoungis@hotmail.com
UPHALL SLIMMING WORLD South Parish Church, East Main St, Uphall, EH52 5HY. Tuesdays 5.30pm & 7.30pm and Canon Hoben Hall, Broxburn, Wednesdays 3.30, 5.30 & 7.30. Please call Lisa on 07736 316400. BINNY GOLF CLUB Oatridge Golf Course, Ecclesmachan. 9 hole course in a stunning mature parkland location. Club house with changing facilities, coffee / soft drinks & snacks. Active programme of events & medal competitions throughout the year. Annual memberships Adults £320, Seniors £270, 18-20 £100, 15-17 £20, under 15 £10. Includes golf Insurance, Linlithgowshire Golf Discount, 50% Discount for guests & unlimited golf @ Elmwood, Cupar. Full details available from The Starter 01506 859636, 7 days. Pay & Play rate available for non members. REGAL YOUTH DRAMA Uphall Community Centre, Tuesdays 7pm – 9pm. Starting 23rd Oct 2018. For more information contact admin@regalyouthcompany.com. SLIMMING WORLD South Parish Church, East Main St, Uphall, EH52 5HY. Tuesdays 5.30pm & 7.30pm and Canon Hoben Hall, Broxburn, Wednesdays 3.30, 5.30 & 7.30. Please call Lisa on 07736 316400. WEST LOTHIAN BAKING CLUB We meet every 6th Monday 7.30 – 9.30pm at Uphall Community Centre to talk about all things baking related. No requirement to be the next Mary Berry! £3 per meeting. Email wlbakingclub@ yahoo.co.uk or find us on facebook. RAINBOW UNIT (Girls aged 5-7 years old) take place on Monday night. For more information please visit www.girlguiding.org.uk/get-involved or alternatively you can email us on westlothiangirlguiding@gmail.com. BROWNIE UNIT (Girls aged 7-10 years old) take place on Wednesday night. For more information please visit www.girlguiding.org.uk/get-involved or alternatively you can email us on westlothiangirlguiding@gmail.com. GUIDE UNIT (Girls aged 10-14 years old) take place on Monday night. For more information please visit www.girlguiding.org.uk/get-involved or alternatively you can email us on westlothiangirlguiding@gmail.com.
ST ANDREW’S COURT ACTIVITY GROUP Are you over 60? Looking to get out and meet new people? Come and join in our activity group in St Andrew’s Court, Uphall, weekly Wednesdays (10am-12midday). A mix
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of gentle physical activity, quizzes and games. We also love a good chat over a cup of tea! All welcome, cost is just £1 per session. Get in touch if you’d like more information, with Cyrenians OPAL (Older People, Active Lives) on 01506 815815 or email opal@cyrenians.scot www.cyrenians.scot. UPHALL PLAYGROUP Uphall Community Education Centre, Strathbrock Place, Uphall, EH52 6BN. For children aged 24 months and over. Open Monday to Friday 9:15 - 11:30am during term time. Choose 1, 2, 3 or 4 sessions per week. Each session costs £5 and includes a healthy snack. See www.uphallplaygroup.co.uk or tel 01506 854451 for further information. WEST LOTHIAN U3A (University of the 3rd Age) A group of retired people who like to keep their minds active by learning in an informal environment. We meet in Uphall Community Education Centre, Strathbrock Place, Uphall on the third Wednesday of the month at 2 p.m., when we have speakers on a variety of topics. U3A also has a number of interest Groups who also meet once a month, including Art Appreciation, Singing for Pleasure, History, Walking and Cinema. New members are always welcome – please contact the Membership Secretary Helen on 01506 655976. You will find a list of speakers and a full list of Groups on our website u3asites.org.uk/westlothian
WINCHBURGH HULLABALOO Music classes for babies and toddlers with their carers. At Hullabaloo the focus is on having lots of fun with colourful props, toys and musical instruments. Through favourite songs and rhymes, children will develop early musical skills including a sense of beat, rhythm and pitch. Wednesdays 11.00am (term time) Winchburgh Community Centre. E: info@mcmillanyoungmusicians.co.uk W: www.mcmillanyoungmusicians. co.uk/hullabaloo. WINCHBURGH MORNING ART GROUP We meet in the Winchburgh Community Centre every Thursday (9.30 - 11.30) and we have regular tutors. If interested, please contact the Secretary on 07980 321989 or 01506 859422. BOUNCE BACK TO NETBALL (WINCHBURGH WARRIORS) Bounce Back to Netball is a Netball Scotland initiative to get women 18+ back into sport. Netball is great fun, fantastic exercise and a fab way to meet new people! Suitable for all levels of fitness/ ability, even complete beginners! Join our friendly group of ladies at either of our weekly sessions which are held at Winchburgh Primary School. Mondays 7.30-9pm (£4) and Fridays 7-8pm (£3) Sessions are drop in with no commitment to attend every
week and your first night is free. Find us on Facebook or email us at winchburghwarriors@gmail.com for further info. BROWNIE UNIT (girls aged 7-10 years old) take place on Tuesday night. For more information please visit www.girlguiding.org.uk/get-involved or alternatively you can email us on westlothiangirlguiding@gmail.com. GUIDE UNIT (girls aged 10-14 years old) take place on Tuesday night. For more information please visit www.girlguiding.org.uk/get-involved or alternatively you can email us on westlothiangirlguiding@gmail.com.
DECHMONT DECHMONT 50+ ARTS GROUP This group of enthusiastic amateur painters meet every Wednesday from 13.30 - 16.00 in Dechmont Memorial Hall to practice their art and socialise. There are a few membership places available and new members would be more than welcome irrespective of their painting skills. For more details email dechmontartgroup@gmail.com or visit their website at dechmontartgroup.wix. com/home. GENTLE YOGA Dechmont Memorial Hall, Monday night 6.30-7.30pm at Dechmont Memorial Hall. Contact Rhona on 01506 811700.
OTHER AREAS CHOOSE YOU – YOGA STUDIO AND WELLNESS HUB Wide range of classes at our permanent wellness studio in Carmondean. Yoga classes include Iyengar, Ashtanga, Seasonal, Bihar, Hatha/Vinyasa and Core Strength as well as yoga for kids, teens and men. We also offer Tai-Chi. For a full list and timetable, please see our Facebook page - www.facebook.com/chooseyouyoga, call Eva on 07810 824 195 or email info@chooseyouyoga.co.uk for more information. TO INCLUDE YOUR CLUB OR CLASS, PLEASE EMAIL DETAILS TO EDITOR@KONECT.SCOT CHARITY AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT GROUPS ARE FREE. THERE IS A SMALL CHARGE FOR OTHER LISTINGS. SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION WWW.KONECT.SCOT
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INDEX OF ADVERTISERS
APPLIANCE REPAIRS Home Appliance Repair 7 ARCHITECT LanArc 7 BATHROOMS & KITCHENS 1st Choice Living 5 Bathgate Bathroom Studio 4 Paragon Bathroom Solutions 2 BEAUTICIAN Allure Skin Clinic 23 Browhau5 Microblading 5 BOILER SERVICES Gilmour Gas Services 12 The Gas Engineer 5 CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING James Burnett Carpet Cleaning 7 COMPUTER / PHONE REPAIRS Sprint Computer Repairs 12 CURTAINS & BLINDS Harvey Bruce 20 DANCE: CLASSES / SUPPLIES Highland Dance Shop 5 DENTIST No.9 Practice 23 ENTERTAINMENT & ATTRACTIONS Aerial Adventures 11 Eeek Escape Rooms 12 ESTATE AGENT Drummond Miller 7 Turpie & Co 19 FENCING, RAILINGS, GATES John Gillan Fencing and Landscaping 4 GARAGE DOORS Garolla 6 GARDEN CENTRE New Hopetoun Gardens 15 GARDEN DESIGN / MAINTENANCE Evergreen Balerno 14 John Gillan Fencing and Landscaping 4 30 | BROXBURN
GARDEN FURNITURE AND BUILDINGS Champfleurie Estate 16 GLAZING REPAIRS CR Smith 17 GYM / HEALTH CLUB Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club 31 LANDLORD SERVICES Let Link 10 Turpie & Co 19 LANDSCAPING SUPPLIES Beatson’s Building Supplies 14 LAWNS Green Thumb Lawn Service 8 LOCKSMITH CVC Locksmiths and Security 20 PAINTING & DECORATING Braekirk Decorators 20 Manic Street Painters 10 PEST CONTROL Frontline Pest Control 5 PLASTERING Nu Walls 20 PLUMBING & HEATING SERVICES Mech A Tech Home Heating Services 6 McLellan Plumbing 10 ROOFING Taylor Roofs 21 TAXI & PRIVATE HIRE County Cars 32 TRUSTED TRADER SCHEME West Lothian Trusted Trader Scheme 21 VET & ANIMAL WELLBEING Mackie & Brechin 24 Riverside Veterinary Practice 24 WINDOW & GUTTER CLEANING CS Window and Gutter Cleaning 4
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT SCHEME Developing the Young Workforce 8
SOLUTIONS
SOLUTION TO JUNE CROSSWORD
ACROSS: 7. Govern, 8. Tailor, 9. Data, 10. Launched, 11. Easiest, 13. Empty, 15. Stunt, 16. Defence, 18. Emphasis, 19. Else, 21. Stupid, 22. Nickel. DOWN: 1. Sofa, 2. Relationships, 3. Analyse, 4. Stout, 5. Circumference, 6. Domestic, 12. Attempts, 14. Teasing, 17. Aside, 20. Stem.
Disclaimer: The publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage caused by error in the printing of an advertisement. We do not endorse any advertisers in this publication. All material is accepted for publication on the understanding it is copyright free. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior consent of the publisher. Publisher: Lothian Publications Ltd. Geddes House, Kirkton North, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 6GU. Magazine Design: Universal Appeal Ltd. M: 07729 911858 W: www.universal-appeal.com E: info@universal-appeal.com
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