Konect Calders March 2021 by Konect Magazines

MARCH 2021

PARENTING:

FEATURE:

PROPERTY MATTERS:

wonderful miniature world is being engineered at a site near Almondell Country Park, by the Edinburgh Society of Model Engineers. Learning about all the diverse, creative and inspiring things local people get up to is one of the best things about this job, and I loved the (sociallydistanced) visit to the site last month. There is far more to it than I could include in the article, and they are looking for people to be involved - see the article on pages 8-9 for details.

The clocks go forward on the 28th March, so we can look forward to some lighter evenings at last – it’s felt like a very long winter. We’re likely to still be spending plenty of time outdoors over the next few weeks, and local education business Love Outdoor Learning have contributed a column again this month to help families with some outdoors activity ideas. Thanks for reading Konect and supporting local businesses and organisations

u can know yo Did you to receive each e subscribissue of Konect e here new Subscrib online? bscribe scot/su konect.

THIS ISSUE Feature: Engineering a Miniature World..............8 Wine Recommendation: Indulgent Mother’s Day.................................................................11 Hair: Here we are again...........................................12 Ask Your Pharmacist.................................................12 Garden Project: Promise of Spring......................19 Property Matters: A Guide to Virtual Property Viewings.......................................................22 Local Environment: Tails of the unexpected....27 Puzzles............................................................................30 Film Review...................................................................30 Love Outdoors Leaning...........................................31

Konect is delivered monthly to 5,500 homes throughout Kirknewton, East Calder, Mid Calder and Pumpherston. It is also available online: konect.scot/subscribe

HELEN-JANE SHEARER Editor

E: editor@konect.scot

CHARLENE GAFFNEY COVER IMAGE: Sunday, 14th March 2021, Mother’s Day @KonectMagazines

Account Manager

M: 07772 941899 E: charlene@konect.scot CALDERS | 3

Craigcrook Joinery sMALL WORKS AND REPAIRS

John Wilson

07734 906812 jh.wilson@virginmedia.com 101 Mansfield, East Calder, EH53 0JF

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AKT Bookkeeping Tax Returns • Accounts, Bookkeeping • Payroll, CIS • VAT Phone Kevin on 01506 201459 from 8.00am to 4.00pm or emailkevin@aktbookkeeping.co.uk

STEEL CONTAINERS FOR RENT Suitable for storing your stuff or run your business from here. Based on a farm near East Calder. £15 per week For more information call 07814 915552

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ondell Model Alm eering Centr gin

Andrew Newton, ESME member

Engineering n i at ur e w o r

An extraordinary venue is gradually emerging out of what was an overgrown and neglected woodland near Pumpherston. Acquired by the Edinburgh Society of Model Engineers in 2013, the 11-acre woodland site on Drumshoreland Road is destined to be one of the largest model engineering centres in Europe. It’s a work in progress, but already you can see the vision taking shape: it’s a miniature wonderland with bridges, tunnels, stations, a water feature, over 2 kms of miniature gauge railway track, and much more.

The work party building a platform

And the Society members are keen for the local community to get involved in its creation and development. Perhaps you are entering retirement, between jobs, or a student with time on your hands. It’s a wonderful opportunity to get involved with a constructional project, to have fun, camaraderie and learn some new skills along the way. This is the first time in the Society’s 127-year history that it has had its own permanent site to build tracks and features on, a place where members will be able to come to work on their engineering projects, run their steam trains and other vehicles. They are working hard to create a venue for all generations to enjoy their hobby.

Tracks into the woods 8 | CALDERS

But it’s much more than that. The site and the society is a rich resource that they want to share with the community for learning about engineering as well as other hobbies. @KonectMagazines

An Outdoor Leaning venue The Almondell Model Engineering Centre is available as an outdoor learning venue for schools, higher education, youth groups and industry.

There is free onsite car and coach parking and a 400 sqm Heritage Building for rainy days with toilets, kitchen, a large conference/ classroom with full audio-visual facilities, a training workshop and small meeting room. We would love to hear from teachers, trainers or any organisations that would like to help us make use of our facilities to provide creative learning opportunities.

Please contact Andrew Newton on 07981 756863 or email development@edinburgh-sme.org.uk Almondell Engineering Centre is a beautiful natural environmental setting, and ecology goes hand in hand with the engineering here. The woodland was very dense and unmanaged previously, and it has benefited from active management since the Society took over. Deer and other wildlife make their home here; there are wild areas for insects to flourish; they aim to put up bird boxes in the parts of the wooded area that the tracks do not go through; and they have created a pond which is a picturesque feature for the railway and will also encourage biodiversity over time. Pretty much everything is made from recycled and repurposed material. That’s part of the genius of it. Between them, members and volunteers are bringing a huge amount of skill, experience, ingenuity and hard labour to forge this special venue.

Andrew rapidly learned bridge-building skills during the last lockdown @KonectMagazines

Exercise and share with us The lockdown during 2020 restricted development of the site and the Club are looking for new members and volunteers to push forward more activities. If you have an interest in model engineering or simply want to lend a hand, then get in touch. There is plenty to be involved in, from landscaping, surveying, ecology projects, and engineering. Camaraderie and new skills thrown in! Work parties take place on Thursdays and Saturdays starting at 10:00am. To get involved please contact Andrew Newton on 07981 756863 or email development@edinburgh-sme.org.uk

The building, with an eco-friendly heating system, houses a training room, library, conference room and kitchen as well as the members’ workshop area. It is available for a nominal fee for organisations to hold AGMs or meetings, and they will be welcome to tour the site too. There is something very joyful about a site being built not for profit but for the purpose of learning, playing, sharing knowledge and carrying on learning for a lifetime. For more information and to get involved in any way, please visit: www.edinburgh-sme.org.uk development@edinburgh-sme.org.uk Andrew Newton - 07981 756863

Almondell Model Engineering Centre, Drumshoreland Muir, Drumshoreland Road, Broxburn, EH52 5PF This article was written by Helen-Jane Shearer after visiting the Almondell Engineering Centre. Helen-Jane is the Editor of Konect magazines and lives in West Lothian with her family. The Centre is an outdoors venue operating in line with the Scottish Government’s current advice for controlling the virus. ESME is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC041019. CALDERS | 9

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WINE TASTING

MARCO PORELLO, BIRBET, A SWEET TREAT Instead of flowers, I’m treating my mum to something a little different this year for Mother’s Day, Sunday 14th March.

I am arranging delivery of a box of dark chocolate truffles paired with a gorgeous bottle of red wine.

Now, my mum isn’t a red wine drinker so at first glance my selection may seem strange! My wine choice is Marco Porello Birbét. Birbét is a fizzy red wine that should be served chilled. Beautifully aromatic, this wine is full to the brim with ripe raspberry flavours, lively wild strawberry notes and the delicate sparkle or ‘mousse’ really pleases the palate. Serve in a Champagne flute and paired with a rich, dark chocolate torte or truffle, this treat is one to savour. I think my mum is really going to love this combination and legend has it, this wine is fit for a Queen! Apparently, both Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony presented Cleopatra with this particular style of wine as proof of their love.

Produced in Roero in the Piedmonte region of Italy, Marco Porello’s Birbét is made from the Brachetto grape. Once harvested, the Brachetto grape is pressed and the grape juice (must) undergoes partial fermentation. This Parzialmente Fermentato method produces a fresh, fruity, sweet and delicate wine with a vibrant ruby colour. A wine very different to the usual red wines we pair with savoury foods. The sweetness of the Birbét wine makes it the perfect accompaniment to a rich, dark chocolate torte or truffle. The monthly wine tasting column is contributed by Joanne Frette. Joanne lives in Juniper Green with her 3 children. She is a Sommelier Wine & Spirit Specialist who runs Swirl Sip Socialise, an online wine tasting business which connects friends and family across the UK. @KonectMagazines

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ASK YOUR PHARMACIST

HERE WE ARE AGAIN Another month of Lockdown. It’s getting tiring right? If you answered yes, it’s time to dig deep. We need to push through this mentally and physically and as tough as that is right now we have to put ourselves in the best position possible.

It’s really difficult when we have roots showing and there’s just no point in blow drying your hair anymore, but please do not underestimate the power of a good blow dry! If you haven’t opted for home dye then good for you! Maybe contact your hairdresser and see if they offer any suitable options for home colouring? Or a great trick is a little touch up with eyeshadow on those greys for those of you who just need to get through the next zoom call. Bring back the zig zag partings of the 90s, make it retro and style your roots out! And don’t forget to care for yourself, it sounds so simple but make a point of it, Do a face mask, wash your hair (2 shampoos!) put a treatment on it, blow dry it. Just do what you need to do to make yourself feel great and focus on keeping that mindset at its best! Info* we run an online shop with quality hair products and same-day delivery to West Lothian over at wonderlandlivingston.com

The Hair column is contributed by Sophie Laidlaw. Sophie is Director @wonderland Livingston. www.wonderlandlivingston.com 12 | CALDERS

Come and visit our Community Pharmacy family this Spring! Spring is in the air! It’s been a tough winter but the friendly and experienced pharmacy team at Lindsay & Gilmour are looking forward to keeping your health on track this Spring. We have recently added the popular community pharmacy in Balerno to our expanding family, meaning we can offer even more specialist health and medicine advice where and when you need it. With the introduction of the NHS Scotland Pharmacy First service at all of Lindsay & Gilmour’s central Edinburgh branches, our patients now have access to advice and treatment for minor illnesses and common health complaints without the need for a GP appointment. And, crucially, this all takes place on your local high street under the care of your community pharmacist. And we believe Lindsay & Gilmour has the very best in the business! All of our pharmacies are now open six days a week, and the Pharmacy First service is available out with traditional business or GP practice opening times. Remember to keep an eye on our website for any changes to our opening hours over Easter. We know you may be busy searching for the Easter Bunny’s treats but don’t forget to keep stocked up on medicines and other health supplies over the Spring break. Our free online app makes is quick and easy to order and track repeat prescriptions at the touch of a button. You can also benefit from free delivery. Please note: Our pharmacy opening hours are NOT affected by the current government restrictions. You will find details of our opening hours here lindsayandgilmour.co.uk/location Your nearest branch and Pharmacists: 173 Main Street, East Calder 01506 881935 West Calder Health Centre 01506 871232 / 01506 870471 34 Main Street, West Calder 01506 871164 / 01506 357841 @KonectMagazines

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taking our own advice Our tiny team, who are keeping the garden centre alive whilst most of us are furloughed, decided to take last month’s Konect advice to heart and set up a firepit in our Scottish Garden. Suitably socially distanced, it made a delightful staff room for their breaks! Hopefully we’ll be allowed to open the garden centre sometime this month and welcome you all back.

Our gardens here, like this one, are all looking full of promise and the snowdrops are opening and the daffodils poking up through the soil. How is your garden looking? We bet they are delighting you with the promise of Spring arriving. Lesley and I walked around our garden as we were writing this column (second weekend of February) and counted 24 plants in flower. The weekend before was the Big Bird Count and Lesley recorded a dozen different types of bird visiting. My goodness we are

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A firepit in our Scottish Garden filling up the feeders with Sunflower Hearts every day to keep this merry band happy. The star performers in our garden are the fragrant pink Daphne Bholua and the fragrant yellow Witchhazel, but these stars are supported by Winter flowering Heathers, little annual Violas and Pansies, Primroses, fragrant flowering Winter Box, Lenten Hellebores and many more. Could your garden squeeze in one of these little darlings, or is it crammed full of late winter promise already? The gardening project is contributed by Dougal Philip, New Hopetoun Gardens. Inspiring, informing and entertaining, for more than 40 years.

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PROPERTY MATTERS

A Guide to Virtual Property Viewings

Agent Guided Viewings ^^^ The increase in popularity of virtual (or remote) property viewings has undoubtedly been driven by the social distancing restrictions that we have become used to since March last year. (It’s probably worth pointing out at the start of this piece that physical viewings and agent valuations of properties are still permitted, and these activities take place every day.) Having said that, and following Government guidelines, it is important to keep physical contact to a minimum and agents should use technology to progress and enhance the buying and selling experience for clients where possible.

Video Tours/Property Walkthrough’s are not new and have been used in different formats for some time however the range and quality of this type of marketing product have developed significantly and now offer homeowners a variety of different options to choose from.

photographs and should be short and punchy, almost a snippet as a ‘teaser’ to encourage more interest. Many of these types of videos however tend to be too long and very quickly disengage the audience who typically skip and fast forward to the end if the timing and production is not spot on. Mid-range video products often provide an interactive experience, allowing the user to control which rooms to view and move around the property at their own pace. In principle, they provide comprehensive coverage of the interior and layout and should give the viewer a better understanding and ‘feel’ for the spaces however some of these products can be quite awkward or ‘clunky’ to navigate depending on which device you are using, and often don’t deliver the memorable user experience that a product of this quality should. Premium level videos generally feature the Estate Agent who is selling the property or the Agent will provide a guided voiceover. These tend to much more engaging and informative as the visual experience is greatly enhanced by the audio description of certain key features, specification highlights and location aspects. One of the other key benefits of viewing a property using this technique is that it allows buyers to see room and space perspective in relation to the agent being present in the property. Like all property marketing products, virtual (or remote) viewings are not intended to replace physical viewings however commissioning the highest quality video production not only shows your property in the most professional and engaging way it also provides the best viewing experience for potential buyers and increases the probability of a physical viewing being requested which of course is the ultimate aim.

These can be summarised into 3 different categories depending on the type of property and the budget available for marketing and promotion. At the entry level, a basic ‘walk-through’ video does as the name suggests by guiding the viewer around the property. This type of product is a good addition to standard 22 | CALDERS

^^^ Agent Accompanied Viewings @KonectMagazines

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LOCAL ENVIRONMENT

Tails of the unexpected You may have heard some loud screaming at night over the last couple of months, and wondered what all the racket is. Whilst there could be many reasons, the most likely culprit behind the noise is female foxes (vixens) making their presence known to any males (dog fox) in the area. You’d be forgiven for thinking something much worse was going on, however the easiest explanation is that we’ve been in the peak of fox breeding season across December/January.

Recently I had one of those wildlife encounters, not far from where I stay, that nearly takes your breath away. This fox was on the prowl for lunch, and using its excellent hearing listened for prey beneath the snow before an energetic pounce to claim the prize. It then continued along the path, straight towards me before slipping down the ditch just a few feet away, and coming out again to give me a good stare. Returning to the hunt (one vole does not a meal make)! it headed in the opposite direction, whilst I frantically waved at some people approaching to stop them in their tracks, @KonectMagazines

though I’m sure they walked away with no idea why I was gesturing so enthusiastically.

You can plan to look for specific wildlife, but sometimes the ones you never even dreamed of turn out to be something which stays with you for days. Before the spring brings more cover and easier hiding places, always expect the unexpected when going out for a walk in winter. 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 CALDERS | 27

PARENTING

It’s my second lockdown birthday and I’ll cry if I want to.. . I can’t actually believe it, but we are on the downhill slope to my youngest daughter’s second lockdown birthday. Who would have thought it!?

We were in the middle of planning her birthday party last year when the world as we knew it was put on pause. Of course I told her we would do something “when this is all over”. I vividly remember the conversation…and unfortunately so does she. According to her I now owe her two birthday parties and probably some extra presents when the shops open again.

So the pressure is on to deliver something special this year. At least this time we have a bit more notice. And by now I am pretty much an expert at celebrating special occasions while on house arrest. We have certainly learned by now that there is not much point in putting things off until “after”. The secret to my success is the local businesses I’ve discovered that have helped keep our special occasions special – even in these strange times we find ourselves in. 28 | CALDERS

Plus I love knowing that by ordering from a small local business I might have made an actual person do a little happy dance. So many small businesses have been hit especially hard this year but these ones you can support from the comfort of your own home no matter the restrictions. So if you need help with an upcoming occasion here are my go to guys. Party On Main Street – or Susan the balloon lady as she is known in our house – makes the most amazing balloon displays and decorations. Her balloons have added a bit of magic to our household when we’ve really needed it this year and I can’t recommend her highly enough. Baby Bear Keepsakes do beautiful personalised, hand-painted gifts for all sorts of occasions. With the shops so often closed now I love knowing that I can still get something a bit different

for a gift or to let someone I can’t see know that I am still thinking of them. I should say that I am not affiliated with either of these businesses other than being a huge fan and a loyal customer. They can both be found on Facebook and Instagram, are based in West Lothian and deliver direct. Here’s to all the other kids out there who’ll be celebrating over Zoom once again…remind them that it just means more cake for them! 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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PUZZLES

CROSSWORD

^^^ Solution in the April edition of Konect ACROSS: 1. Outermost (7), 5. Six sided objects (5), 8. Turn (5), 9. Woman’s holdall (7), 10. Media notice (13), 11. Relaxed (6), 12. Idiotic (6), 15. Exhibition (13), 18. Not quietest (7), 19. Very angry (5), 20. Perfume (5), 21. Meals (7). DOWN: 1. Additional (5), 2. Robbers (7), 3. Amusement (13), 4. Racial group (6), 5. Deep thought (13), 6. Religious text (5), 7. Seen (7), 11. Hugs (7), 13. Not public (7), 14. Commented (6), 16. Small rodent (5), 17. Requirements (5)

^^^ Solution in the April edition of Konect

SUDOKU

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Soul is advertised and packaged as the new Disney Pixar kid’s film. However, it is in fact a film tailored for adults. Soul is about Joe Gardner who has a very strong passion for music, and on the cusp of his lifelong ambition he is transported out of his body and must find a way back. Soul contains some of the best animation Pixar has ever done. Seeing the different animation styles varying from hyper detailed humans, to more cartoony looking souls to abstract line drawings it’s all just beautiful and a visual treat to the eyes. Seeing Joe play the piano in one scene is jaw dropping as it looks so real. The score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (of Nine Inch Nails) is incredible and is really effective in certain scenes. However, Soul wants to have its cake and eat it when it comes to the story. The story wants to be a deep and thoughtprovoking film that touches adult themes, but it also wants to be a simplistic kid’s film. This clashing of ideas leads to the film being painfully predictable from the beginning and instead of exploring the more interesting aspects, it focuses on the more childlike aspects which I found to be cringeworthy. While overall I did enjoy Soul, I don’t think it was the masterpiece other people were saying it was. AVAILABLE NOW ON People should watch this film though while I think it’s just good, other people might be really moved and affected by this film. 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. @KonectMagazines

CHILDREN & FAMILIES

Lockdown Learning -

Outdoors

I am sat writing this watching the snowfall in February. The plentiful snow should mean an abundance of sticks and twigs on the ground by the time this reaches you! These are perfect for natural arts and crafts! I know when it is cold and frosty, I love active fun, like walking or sledding, but staying still outdoors for arts and crafts is a little harder. While you are out walking or playing, you can collect materials for arts and crafts and spend time creating amazing memories with a hot chocolate to warm you.

Stickmen and Women - Stick people, we love creating them with all ages, because all ages will get something different out of this activity. All you need to start is two twigs and some wool or string. Lash the two sticks together into a cross to create a basic stickman or women! For younger children, leashing them sticks together can be a challenge. We encourage children to wrap the yarn around the sticks diagonally three times, switch to the opposite diagonal for another three and keep alternating until it is held tight. Older children can be more creative. Can they use natural materials to create an outfit? Can they write an adventure about their stick person? Wands - We all love a little magic, whether from Hogwarts or Meg and Mog. It can be fun to find the perfect stick to create your wand. You may wish to whittle it or keep it simple and add some ribbons and bows, or you might paint it. Whatever you do, make your wand as unique as you are. Art - Andy Goldsworthy is an environmental artist based here in @KonectMagazines

Scotland. His environmental art is simply stunning in its simplicity. Can you collect natural materials? You might find stones, acorns, leaves, flowers, twigs, shells, or anything else while out on a walk? Andy’s art is often left in nature, where it is created, left to be discovered. While it is chilly you may prefer taking your art resources home to create masterpieces. Can you use it to create natural mandalas? These are circles within circles within circles and have become popular thanks to adult colouring books. What could you use to create each circle? Older children can think about tone and size while creating.

Remember! - The outdoors is a place of fun. It should not be adding more stress and strain to your life. You can head to your garden or local green space or venture further to a park close to home. There are no time restrictions. You can spend as little or as long out as you like. The only rule is you should all be having fun! This article was contributed by Carol Murdoch. Carol is a teacher, tutor and Director of Love Outdoor Learning, an educational organisation based in West Lothian that helps children connect with the natural environment. CALDERS | 31