Konect Calders August 2021 by Konect Magazines

AUGUST 2021

WINE TASTING:

LOCAL HISTORY: PARENTING:

You are one ride away from a

Good Mood!

P8-9

s I write this we’re still in the wonderful spell of warm weather that has made the staycation season very pleasant, and exploration of the local area continues! We’ve published a detailed piece about the rock ramp at Howden before, but this month I wanted to look at a bit at the history of that area between Mid Calder and Livingston. Howden, like many of the place names in Livingston, is an ancient estate, and Calder Park Road was once the main road west out of Mid Calder. All our usual columns are here from our wonderful local contributors and experts, as well as a special health piece on CPR and local defibrillators. I hope you enjoy this issue, as ever, please let me know what you think.

THIS ISSUE Local History: Mid Calder to Livi toll road............................................................ 8 Living Well: Help & support for dementia........................................................13 Beauty: Natural wonders of the beauty world.................................................14 Life coaching: Change what you notice.............................................................16 Health: Save a life with CPR......................16 Film Review: In The Heights......................24 Garden Project: Turn garden glut into dish of delight.......................................28 Recipe: Gluten-Free Vegan Tropical Oat Bars.........................................30 Wine recommendation: Pimms.................31 Property Matters: Buy first or sell?............32 Local Environment: What long ears you have........................................................34 Puzzles..........................................................35 Parenting: One ride away from a good mood!..................................................36

COVER IMAGE: Pimm’s: The quintessential British Summer Drink. See P31

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At approximately where the Mid Calder sign is today marking the boundary between Howden and Mid Calder, there was a toll bar – a gate across the road – and a toll cottage where traffic had to stop and pay before proceeding across Howden Bridge. The stone bridge here dates from 1764.

The turnpike roads were run by trusts which managed the collection of tolls to fund the maintenance of the roads. Toll-keepers were employed at the turnpike locations and the role generally came with a cottage on site. The role of toll-keeper was ideal for women (often widows), as it provided a home for their children who would help with the toll gates which needed to be staffed 24/7. Howden Toll cottage was located on what is currently the grassy patch where the footpath leads up to the A899 slip road towards Lizzie Bryce’s strip. A small community grew up around Howden Toll during the century that it was operational, including a smithy to serve the needs of the passing traffic. Within a century though, tolls had been declared an “unfair mode of assessment for the maintenance of the public highways” and in 1860 a Royal Commission recommended that turnpike trusts be abolished. Here though as in some other places, vested interests ensured that the old system continued for some time. In 1875, Perhaps knowing the tolls were about to be abolished, on 4th August 1875 four local carters approached the gate around midday and forced their way through, with a number of horses, and no intention of paying the toll. There was a young 8 | CALDERS

Howden Toll, with smithy and associated houses on the opposite side of the road woman in control of the gate at the time. She reported that the horses galloped through so quickly that it was impossible to count them. They must have been skilful riders and drivers to take the corner onto the bridge at speed with carriages! The young woman on the toll was subsequently only able to identify two of the defendants, who were fined ten shillings each. The toll cottage survived into the 1960s, but was demolished prior to the building of Almond viaduct taking the A899 over the Almond here.

The weir immediately below Howden Bridge was built to power a grain mill and later, New Calder Paper Mill. You can see the beginning of the old lade, which ran under where is now the New Calder housing estate. The rock ramp for salmon was completed in 2019.

There are no remains of previous building on the Howden estates, but Howden House as we see it today was completed around 1770. It changed hands a few times; a couple of notable owners were Henry Raeburn, son of artist Sir Henry Raeburn, and later, the daughter of local industrialist James Young. She lived here until her death in 1931. @KonectMagazines

Photo reproduced with permission of Almond Valley Heritage Trust, www.scottishshale.co.uk

When the Great Turnpike Road was completed in 1765, linking Edinburgh to Glasgow via Shotts, it passed through Mid Calder and into Howden via what is now Calder Park Road.

Just after midnight on Tuesday 25 June 1940 a bomb fell on the coach house and stables of Howden House, killing two people, a woman and her 10-yearold grandaughter. These were the first civilians to be killed on the Scottish mainland in the Second World War, and West Lothian’s only deaths by bombing.

Howden House was purchased in 1946 by the Ministry of Agriculture, who used the estate to test new agricultural machinery then purchased by Livingston Development Corporation in 1966 for use as a community centre and meeting rooms. It fell into disrepair until it was saved by developers and turned into private housing.

Howden is an ancient local place name, mentioned in court records in the 1500s and doubtless existing long before.

In fact, in a charter dated 1593, to James Douglas of Nether Houdoun and his wife Jonet Kinloch, it states that the heritage of the Houdoun estate had been in James’s family ultra hominum memoriam. It was previously two separate estates of Wester (or Over) Howden, and Nether Howden. Nether Howden included the lands of the

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Craigs south of the Almond (Craigshill) and according to many records was in the hands of the Douglases, first as tenants then as owners, for centuries before passing on to other families in the late 1600s.

In 1566 Johnne Dowglas (Douglas) of Howden was cited to “appear before the King and Ouenis Majesteis to answer to sic thingis as salbe laid to their charge touching the murder of David Riccio.” There were several from the Barony of Calder, under which the Howden estate served, apparently at the Palace of Holyrood that night involved in the infamous murder of Riccio, secretary to Mary Queen of Scots.

These were turbulent times in many ways. Shortly after this incident, Scotland was governed by the regents of James VI and there was a lot of religious tension. In a well-recorded military display (wappinshaw, or weapon-showing) that took place in the parish in August 1586, both Robert Douglas of Over Howden and James Douglas of Nether Howden are on the list of the vassals of the Barony of Calder, required to present themselves and their available weaponry. This article was contributed by HelenJane, editor of Konect, with thanks to Almond Valley Heritage Trust for permission to reproduce their research on the Howden Toll stampede and the photo of the toll cottage. www.scottishshale.co.uk

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LIVING WELL

Where to get support when caring for someone with

D ementia

It’s natural to worry about a friend or loved one who may be living with dementia, but it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. Home Instead specialise in the provision of Dementia Care and through our work we have identified great local and national organisations and fantastic resources that provide sound advice and support for people caring for someone with dementia. • Alzheimer’s Scotland : provide a wide range of advice, support and groups/dementia cafes: alzscot.org, WestLothianServices@ alzscot.org, 01506 533 108 • West Lothian Council Advice Shop, Bathgate Partnership Centre: 01506 283000 • Carers of West Lothian : provides support and information to those caring for someone: carers-westlothian.com, 01506 448000

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• Alzheimer’s Society : alzheimers.org.uk, 0333 150 3456 • Talking Point : Alzheimer’s Society’s online community and discussion forum for anyone affected by dementia: alzheimers.org.uk/forum • Alzheimer’s Research UK : alzheimersresearchuk.org, 0300 111 5555 • Age Scotland : ageuk.org.uk/scotland, 0333 32 32 400 • DementiaUK:dementiauk.org,0800 888 6678 • NHS : nhs.uk/conditions/dementia • Dementia Carer : dementiacarer.net, 0114 296 6229 • Dementia Friends : dementiafriends.org.uk, 0300 222 5855 • Deepness Dementia Radio : deepnessdementiamedia.com, 01851 810 789 If you are concerned that a loved one may have dementia, it is important to encourage them to go and visit their GP who will be able to advise you and help you to seek a diagnosis. You can also contact your local Home Instead office for advice and support on 01506 539541 or by visiting homeinstead.co.uk/livingston

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NATURAL WONDERS OF THE

BEAUTY W

RLD

ALOE VERA

- People tend to think of aloe vera as a sunburn remedy, but it’s a fantastic hydrator that can be used all over the body. It’s also chock-full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, and it can work wonders on psoriasis and other skin conditions. You can use it direct from a plant, or buy it in a tub for ease of use. Look for 99%-100% pure aloe vera that hasn’t been watered down. (It will contain preservatives.) Try it… as an overnight face mask. Massage into dry skin and reap the benefits the next morning. Your skin should feel softer and more hydrated for a fraction of the cost of a normal night cream.

COCONUT OIL

- Another awesome hydrator, coconut oil has been found to help skin complaints such as eczema and psoriasis. It soothes, calms and moisturises and is a real multi-tasker as you can use it all over, including your hair. Try it… as a hair mask. Melt around quarter of a teaspoon full between your hands. Massage into your hair, wrap in a towel and leave for half an hour before shampooing.

LEMON - Lemon oil contains citric

acid, so may help to fade dark spots and brighten skin. It can be quite harsh though, so it’s best not to use it undiluted, and make sure you do a patch test first. A few drops of lemon essential oil in filtered water is a great toner for dull or acne-prone skin. (Just keep it away from your eyes!) It’s used in aromatherapy and is one of the best stress-busting, energy-boosting essential oils around. Try it… as mood-lifting aromatherapy. Add a few drops of lemon essential oil and a few of geranium essential oil to water in a diffuser or oil burner.

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This month’s beauty column is contributed by Kate Duggan 14 | CALDERS

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LIFE COACHING

Can you remember the last time you bought a new car or even a pretty candle? Maybe it was an unusual colour of green or blue or purple. Suddenly, you began to notice just that shade everywhere you looked. Close your eyes and think of the colour blue. Then open your eyes again and scan the area around you and you will find that you are suddenly aware of even the smallest amount of blue. This happens because the brain has a really clever filtering system, called the Reticular Activating System, which sorts through millions of bits of data which come our way throughout the day and categories this information to help us make sense of our world. This area of the brain is the size of your little finger and can influence everything including your self-esteem, your confidence and what you believe about the world around you. We form this filter ourselves by telling our brain what is important to us, what we believe, what we long for and what we fear and, over time, we attract more of the things that we focus on into our lives. We can begin to convince ourselves that we are doomed to experience ‘Groundhog Day’ for the rest of our lives. But, if we created our experiences by the way we think, it stands to reason that we can alter the world around us by thinking differently. Changing the language we use when we speak to ourselves has the potential to change our future forever. 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 16 | CALDERS

HEALTH

Save a Life with

C P R

Football fans across Europe watching events unfold at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen on the 12th June will remember that day always. Christian Eriksen, a 29 year-old Danish midfielder, was seen to collapse on the pitch. The medical team were quick to respond and started CPR. A defibrillator was used just once and 14 minutes after his collapse, Eriksen was on his way to hospital. 35 minutes after that, fans were told that Eriksen was alive and stable in hospital. Events like these are horrific to watch. The fear and panic on the faces of his team-mates, the realisation that if this can happen to a fit young international athlete, it can happen to anyone anywhere. It is also a wonderful example of how first aid really can work. Taking time to learn basic skills saves lives and keeps families together. The British Heart Foundation has reported a 2000% increase in the number of visits to its website on how to do CPR in the 5 days following Eriksen’s collapse. Eriksen had a sudden cardiac arrest. His heart stopped because the electrical signals that keep it beating rhythmically had gone wrong. This is different to a heart attack which is caused by a clot in the arteries supplying the heart muscle. The classic symptom of a @KonectMagazines

heart attack is chest pain that can be referred to the left arm or jaw. A person having a heart attack will usually be conscious, breathless and sweaty but can go on to full cardiac arrest. Both are medical emergencies so dial 999 as soon as possible. A First Aid course will teach you how to recognise these conditions and carry out CPR which is CardioPulmonary Resuscitation. Even if you do not fancy giving rescue breaths, chest compressions alone can help. As Eriksen demonstrated, an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) really does make a difference to survival. More and more are located around our communities – see below. Do not be afraid to try using one if needed. You cannot do any harm, the machine will speak to you to tell you exactly what to do, and you may just save a life. In 2020 The London Ambulance Service produced figures to clearly show that the use of AEDs in the community in the previous ten years had doubled the chances of saving a life after cardiac arrest. However, this was from 5% to 10%. The chances of saving a life are getting better and will continue to get better if more of us learn CPR. Unfortunately, thanks to medical TV shows, we seem to have an unrealistic idea of how

NOTE: The visual appearance of AED devices will vary

successful CPR is. Overall, 70% of patients in medical dramas survive their cardiac arrest. This does not represent real life. You may only have a 1 in 10 chance of saving a person in cardiac arrest with CPR and a defibrillator but that is so much better than none at all. Denmark lost the football match that day but life won. Let’s learn the skills to give life the chance to win as often as possible. The health column is contributed by McNaughton Physiogrange, Edinburgh www.physiogrange.co.uk

Defibrillator Locations Near You • Green Room (Exterior), Kirknewton • East Calder Partnership Centre (Exterior - in the red phone box) • Scotmid (Exterior), Drumshoreland Road, Pumpherston

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Last year everyone had the opportunity to see the musical phenomena Hamilton, but before Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda created the hit musical In the Heights which has just had a film adaptation release. If there is anything in common between In the Heights and Hamilton it’s the incredible music. There isn’t a bad song throughout and I can’t wait to buy the soundtrack like right now. The opening 8-minute number is fantastic and spans from Latin inspired music, to rap music. It’s simply incredible. Another stand-out song is Blackout, which is chaotic and energetic, but it perfectly fits the tone of the scene and the story. However, when we move away from the music, this is when the flaws rear their ugly heads. I felt the story was very weak; nothing interesting happened over the span of the 2 hour and 30-minute runtime. The stage show is 2 hours long so you would think the additional 30 minutes would add to the interest but instead scenes are taken out only to be replaced with boring and half-baked ideas. There’s a song called 96,000 which happens 45 minutes in; the song announces that the winning lottery was bought in the store but who won isn’t revealed until a 1 hour and 10 minutes later. It plays no impact to the overall plot, so the plot line feels pointless. Did I enjoy watching In the Heights? Yes. Will I listen to the soundtrack on repeat? Yes. Will I watch the film again?? 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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Turn your garden glut into a dish of delight!

some minced beef, cook the meat for 5 minutes. Mix ingredients in bowl with finely chopped thyme, marjoram, lemon juice and black pepper. Stuff mixture into hollow vegetables, drizzle with oil and cook in oven at 180c for 30 minutes. 10 minutes before end place slice of blue cheese on top of each vegetable.

This month the fruits (and vegetables) of your labour suddenly appear as quickly as tennis balls fly out of the server machine. It’s lovely being able to share them with family and friends but it’s even more satisfying eating them yourself. We have a purple piglet project with recipe ideas for apples, tomatoes, courgettes and grapes to help you ring the changes in how you consume any gluts from the garden. Pick the leaflet up next time you are in.

Stuffed Courgette, Pepper and Tomatoes is a recipe that appears in our leaflet Tuscan Potager to Plate. Round courgettes are as easy to stuff as tomatoes and peppers. Scoop out the centres and add this to some chopped onion already fried in oil. Cook until tender and replace with

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Stuffed Courgette

The gardening project is contributed by Dougal Philip, New Hopetoun Gardens. Inspiring, informing and entertaining, for more than 40 years.

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FOOD & DRINK

Naturally sweetened

It’s back to school this month and the perennial search for easy, healthy packed lunch snacks. This is a perfect naturally sweetened flapjack-style bar ideal for packed lunches, graband-go breakfasts or as a healthy pick-me-up snack. The combination of slow-releasing oats, seeds and protein powder with the fresh and dried mango keeps the body energised throughout the day. Ideal as a pre- or post-workout snack. The bars will keep in the fridge for up to a week or can be frozen for up to three months. A healthy alternative to shopbought snack bars for children and adults!

Ingredients:

• 250g dried mango slices, without sugar, chopped • 3 limes • 200g frozen or fresh mango chunks • 150ml (1⁄4 pint) light olive oil • 175g gluten-free rolled oats • 175g self-raising gluten-free flour • 30g / 1 scoop vanilla protein powder, optional • 1⁄2 tsp baking powder • 30g mixed seeds (e.g. sunflower, sesame, pumpkin) • 100g desiccated coconut

Nutrition:

* Per serving: 254kcal, Fat 15.2g (of which saturates 5g), Carbohydrate 23.7g (of which sugars 7.6g), Protein 3.6g. 30 | CALDERS

Method: 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan /gas mark 4. 2. Place the dried mango pieces in a bowl and cover with boiling water. Leave for 15 minutes to soften, then drain. 3. Zest then juice the limes. 4. Place half of the dried mango in a food processor with the fresh mango, lime juice, lime zest and oil, and process to form a thick puree. 5. Place the oats, flour, protein powder, baking powder, seeds and coconut in a large bowl. Stir in the remaining dried mango. Pour in the puree and mix thoroughly. 6. Spoon the mixture into a greased and lined baking tin that is approximately 25cm by 30cm. Bake in an oven for 30 minutes until golden brown. Leave to cool in the tin then cut into slices.

Makes 16 bars • Preparation time: 15 minutes • Soaking time: 15 minutes • Cooking time: 30 minutes @KonectMagazines

Pimm's No.1 Cup

In the way mulled wine is synonymous with winter and cold weather, so too is summer, garden parties and Pimm’s No. 1 Cup. A cool, refreshing, long drink, Pimm’s is a delicious alternative to wine and feels more sophisticated than punch. I first tasted Pimm’s at a summer wedding reception; it is very easy to drink and very easy to forget it is a gin-based spirit! Proudly displaying the Royal Warrant on its crisp white label, Pimm’s is the quintessential Great British summer drink. It has been served at Wimbledon since 1971 and evokes images of lazy hazy summer days. Developed by James Pimm in London in the mid-19th century, today Pimm’s has a Scottish connection; the ginbased spirit is distilled in Fife! It is made using a closely guarded secret recipe that apparently only 6 people know. It started out as a health remedy to aid digestion (of oysters!) but is now

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one of the UK’s most popular summer drinks brands. On the nose it is easy to detect fragrant orange, warm spices like clove and herbal botanicals.

The classic way to prepare Pimm’s No. 1. is in a tall glass or pitcher. Serve 3 parts lemonade to 1 part Pimm’s and pour over sliced summer fruits, cucumber and ice. Wimbledon may have finished but I think there will be enough of the summer left to justify having a bottle of Pimm’s No. 1 in your drinks cabinet. 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.

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Photo by Joanne Frette

WINE TASTING

PROPERTY MATTERS

Buy First or Sell?

Be calm and strategic in current market conditions! It’s the classic dilemma for homeowners wishing to sell their property and buy another; which do you do first, buy or sell?

The pros and cons of each approach are highlighted and exacerbated by the current market, which is characterised by a shortage of properties and fierce competition to buy.

In these conditions, buyers who have already sold their home have an advantage over those who haven’t when it comes to getting an offer accepted on a property. But many are understandably reluctant to put their home on the market knowing that it could sell very quickly and leave them in a difficult position of not being able to find a suitable home to purchase. Launching a new property campaign can take anything between 7-10 days, which can be a long time in current market conditions. If you decide not to put your home on the market until you’ve found one to buy, there is a high probability that you will miss out and it could be weeks or even months before another suitable property becomes available. So what can buyers do to put themselves in a strong position to make a compelling offer and increase their attractiveness to sellers whilst reducing the risks to themselves? A strategic move is to position themselves as “market ready sellers” when making an offer on a property. This means appointing an Estate Agent to prepare photographs, videos, floor plans and all marketing material now, in order

to be ready to go at short notice with your campaign as soon as you secure your next property to purchase. With the campaign already prepared, you can be on the market within a couple of days of making an offer on your next home. An offer on this basis is much more attractive than one from a buyer whose home is not yet ready to market, and could be the difference between securing the purchase or not. Getting external photographs and videos taken now, during the summer months, also has the added advantage of being the time when most homes and gardens are looking their very best.

It’s a well-known fact that you only get one chance to create the best first impression. Rushing the house to market under pressure may result in compromised marketing material if the weather isn’t the best for photographs, or you’ve not had time to prepare the property properly; it could be detrimental to the price you can command for it. The difference between an expensive purchase and cheap sale could cost as much as 20% more than the cost of a move in more controlled circumstances. So be “market ready”: get your campaign prepared now, retain control on the timing, increase the strength of your buying position, and achieve the best price for your home.

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. 32 | CALDERS

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LOCAL ENVIRONMENT

What long ears you have We’re all familiar with the story of the tortoise and the hare but did you know the brown hare can reach speeds of up to 45mph if running from predators. Sorry tortoise, but you don’t stand a chance! Whilst brown hares were an introduced species, this dates back to the Roman times (or even earlier) and are therefore considered a naturalised species, meaning they receive the same protection through wildlife acts as our native species. Sadly, brown hare are the victims of wildlife crime through an activity known as hare coursing. I’ll spare everyone the grim details but it’s important to me to let people know of these activities, which unfortunately does go on in the Lothians. They can be found in a huge variety of habitats from wide open fields, cutting their way through the grass to dense woodland. A great time to see them is in early spring, when you might be lucky enough to see them boxing. This is one of their mating rituals and is usually a female rebuking the 34 | CALDERS

advances of an amorous male. It can be a prolonged affair, and I’ve watched them cover huge distances in the fields as the flirting continues. This hare was photographed in local fields and as it ran closer, I held my breath in case it heard me, but it thankfully passed in front, and scampered off into the distance leaving me with a lovely memory of a wonderful encounter. 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

PUZZLES

CROSSWORD

^^^ Solution in the September edition of Konect ACROSS: 7. Take away (6), 8. Irish lochs (6), 9. Couch (4), 10. Wraps around (8), 11. Disregarded (7), 13. Hard, strong alloy (5), 15. Hints (5), 17. Supply (7), 20 Easy going (8), 21. Ashen (4), 23. Heavy mass (6), 24. Woken up (6). DOWN: 1. Nothing (4), 2. Vegetable (6), 3. Umpire (7), 4 Drudge (5), 5. Type of fish (6), 6. Tends sheep (8), 12. Ran very fast (8) 14. Authors (7), 16. Power, stamina (6) 18. Gas (6), 19. Prickly plants (5), 22. Untruths (4).

^^^ Sudoku solution on page 38

SUDOKU

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PARENTING

You are one ride away from a good mood! Learning to ride a bike is like a rite of passage. And one of those parenting challenges that many both look forward to and dread in equal measure.

Once your kids can ride a bike it’s tempting to think, job done. But it’s well worth seeing it through beyond just learning to ride because what comes next is the really fun part.

I don’t know about you but that moment when our youngest was first able to properly ride a bike with pedals was an absolute game changer. We were finally able to go on family bike rides. Although it was a bit like the transition from crawling to walking – suddenly rather than speeding about on hands and knees the first steps are exciting but a lot of hard work for not much forward progress When they first ride a bike it’s the same; little legs lack muscle power especially on anything but flat ground, and their pedalling range is shorter and slower than you’d like. It’s frustrating for everyone, especially older siblings fed up of hanging around waiting. But pedalling power builds very quickly and within a few weeks they’re getting up wee hills that defeated them initially. 36 | CALDERS

Obviously, convincing kids that riding downhill is fun isn’t tricky. Getting them back up the other side is a greater challenge. But through a combination of pushing, persuasion, cajoling and good old-fashioned bribery you can get your kids to the top of the hill. The key is to help them see what fun biking can be. That it’s not just a means to an end; a way to get to the park or to their friend’s house. It opens up a whole new world of activities and places to explore. For me taking the kids out on their bikes is one of those times when parenthood offers free license to regress to being a kid yourself. Seeing and experiencing it through their eyes.

There are loads of paths and trails around West Lothian and you can always find something new to do to make it interesting. Last summer we challenged ourselves to cycle from Livingston to Almondell Country Park in East Calder.

We checked a map before we set off to make sure it was achievable via waymarked paths and pavements and set off to explore. This summer we took the kids to explore the Beecraigs Mountain Bike Trails. They’re not ready for anything crazy but there were plenty of green routes (the easy ones) to follow that gave them a taste of what going off-road can be like! Cycling or mountain biking is a great way to get the kids outdoors and getting some exercise (even if they don’t realise it) and no matter how much moaning there might be at the start of a bike ride everyone’s always in a good mood at the end! 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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SOLUTIONS

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.

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. Vinyasa Flow: Tues 6.00pm-7.00pm & Tues 7.20pm-8.20pm; Seasonal Yoga: Wed 5.30pm-6.30pm; Tai-chi: Thurs 9.30am-10.45am; Yoga: Thurs 7.30pm-8.45pm; Yoga: Fri 9.45am11.00am. Carmondean, Livingston. Email: info@chooseyouyoga.co.uk Tel.: 07810 824 195 www.chooseyouyoga.co.uk or on Facebook

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.

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.

38 | CALDERS

SOLUTION TO JULY CROSSWORD

Virtual Power of Attorney Clinic & Benefits Advice and Counselling. For information: Tel.: 01506 448000 Email: office@carers-westlothian.com Website: 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. We also provide expert and easy-to-understand information on a range of cancer-related topics, which can be sent free of charge. For anyone affected by cancer – yourself, a relative, friend or carer of someone with cancer.

ACROSS: 1. Chateau, 5. Raced, 8. Identical, 9. Ode, 10. Eaten, 12. Mirrors, 13. Relationships, 15. Instant, 17. Ahead, 19. Who, 20. Ambulance, 22. Yield, 23. Enthral. DOWN: 1. Crime, 2. Ale, 3. Extinct, 4. Uncomfortable, 5. Ruler, 6. Crocodile, 7. Dresses, 11. Telescope, 13. Railway, 14. Scarlet, 16. Award, 18. Dwell, 21 Nor.

SOLUTION TO SUDOKU ON PAGE 35

At present we are available by phone, email or online appointment. 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. 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 www.konect.scot for information.

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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