DECEMBER 2023
COMMUNITY:
GARDEN PROJECT:
r e b m e c e D
THIS ISSUE
A
s we head into the festive season, I’d like to thank all the businesses, local expert contributors and organisations who have been part of another wonderful 11 issues of Konect in 2023. Always focusing on making things better, some of the topics we’ve covered this year include foraging for wild food, local clubs including West Lothian Netters, organic veggie boxes for a good cause, support for veterans with sight loss, the local blood donation centre, coping with baby loss, tackling loneliness for older people in the community, and making sure every child goes to school with a warn coat, thanks to West Lothian School Bank. We’ve touched on mining history, some lovely local walks and wonderful wildlife photos; we’ve shared local job opportunities, and much more. To round off the year, we revisit Blood Bikes Scotland for our charity feature. Run entirely by volunteers from within our local communities, they operate throughout West Lothian and beyond. With the NHS under so much strain, Blood Bikes Scotland provide it with an incredibly valuable support service. See pages 8-9 and please consider a wee donation. We don’t produce a January magazine, so we’ll be back with a February magazine. We wish you all a very happy holiday season and a peaceful new year.
P17 Charity: Blood Bikes Scotland...........................8 Living Well: Dementia at Christmas.............. 14 Community: Be A Santa to a Senior............. 15 Life Coaching: Christmas Cheer!.................. 16 Community: East Calder Health Centre at risk..................................................................... 17 Money Matters: Financial Gifts....................... 19 Property Matters: How long has it been on the market?.................................................... 22 Garden: Indoors festive displays.................. 25 Local Environment: An early invasion.......... 26 Wine: Mulled Wine............................................. 32 Puzzles.................................................................. 33 Film Review: Chicken Run - Dawn of the Nugget........................................................... 34 WIN! Blu-ray - EVANGELION: 3.0+1.11..... 34 What's On............................................................. 38
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When Blood Bikes Scotland were asked to help with the urgent transport of medication from Birmingham to Dundee, they were part of a critical relay operation to save a life with a ground-breaking treatment.
The cargo was an extraordinary medication consisting of donated human faeces, a lifesaving treatment called a faecal microbiota transplant (FMT) which is used to tackle really serious cases of C-difficile. The assignment illustrates very well much of Blood Bikes Scotland’s work - sometimes unglamorous, but absolutely essential. Blood Bikes Scotland (BBS) is a voluntary organisation which supports the NHS by transporting, free of charge, blood and other test samples from wards to laboratories. They also deliver medication to patients’ homes, and support GPs, District Nurses, care homes and community hospitals with transport of small, urgent items. “Behind every journey made on the bikes, there’s a patient – someone is waiting for a critical test result, medication, equipment or urgent medical notes,” explains David O’Rourke, Threemiletown resident and Operations Manager at Blood Bikes
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Scotland. And the many thousands of journeys not only save the NHS a significant amount of money, but mean the fast transport network is in place to help save lives, as in the case of the FMT relay. The bikes can get through traffic quickly – especially useful during rush hours – so they can get pathology samples to labs quickly, or urgent medication to patients who need it. Other items needing transport include surgical instruments and, believe it or not, physical files of patient notes or x-rays urgently needed by medics. While speed is of the essence for much of their work, the biggest benefit is cost avoidance for the NHS. By being on-call to provide transport free of charge, BBS saves the NHS a significant amount of money that would otherwise be spent on their own vehicles and drivers, external courier services and taxis. Blood Bikes Scotland cover the Lothians, Forth Valley, Borders, Fife and Tayside, where they have service level agreements in place with each of the NHS Boards. Sister organisations support NHS Boards elsewhere in Scotland and the UK, and they all work together in relays when necessary to cover long distances. Whilst not blue-light vehicles, the incredible value of the service provided by blood bikes is formally recognised in that, like the emergency services, their vehicles are exempt from road tax. Riders are out in all weather conditions. A fleet of 15 motorcycles is supplemented by five cars to transport larger equipment (although they have been known to strap a walking frame to the back of a motorcycle on one occasion when it was urgently needed!) The motorcycles are modified to allow larger loads to be carried, with panniers and a tray on most of them. The Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes (NABB) have recently negotiated with Yamaha to build
* All figures relate to financial year 2022/2023
custom, manufacturer-approved bikes so, like police bikes, they come from the factory ready to ride. The custom bikes are based on the Yamaha Tracer 9GT, and Blood Bikes Scotland will be progressively expanding their use. The fleet also includes one Zero electric motorbike suitable for short fast runs. A team of 188 volunteer riders and controllers works 70 operational shifts per week across the five regions. BBS delivers its service 7 days a week, including public holidays, and in 2022/23 they received 7796 requests for transport and saved the NHS over a quarter of a million pounds – money that can be used directly for frontline services instead. Volunteer riders, controllers and everyone involved provides the service completely free of charge. It’s a fundamental principle of BBS Scotland since its inception that no-one takes a salary. The monthly overhead for the charity of running the bikes 365 days a year (tyres, insurance, fuel, maintenance and repairs) is around £6000*. The service is entirely dependent on donations from the public, grant bodies and corporate sponsors; they take nothing from the NHS or Scottish Government, so they are grateful for every single donation. You can raise money for Blood Bikes Scotland while shopping online, completely free of charge to you – see the sidebox for details. They were once once called on to take a teddy bear to a distraught little girl in the Royal Edinburgh Hospital who had left it behind and was unable to settle. Teddy promptly arrived by motorcycle (which was on its way anyway with other jobs for the hospital) to the great relief of the girl, her parents and the nurses. There are some things whose value you just can’t measure.
GIVE AS YOU LIVE – free and easy way to raise money Shop with a huge number of retailers via Give as You Live, and a percentage of your purchase value is donated to BBS. Please see www.giveasyoulive.com/ join/bloodbikesscotland Direct donations are also welcome from the public and businesses. See ways to donate at www.bloodbikesscotland.co.uk/donate
VOLUNTEER! Volunteers are always welcome to join the current team of 188 volunteers covering the area including the Lothians, from Tayside and Fife to the Borders and as far west as Forth Valley. Riders need an advanced riding qualification. Non-riding volunteers are also welcome; every shift needs a Controller, the point of contact between the NHS and the riders. Please contact BBS at the details below.
For more information see: www.bloodbikesscotland.co.uk Blood Bikes Scotland is a charity registered in Scotland, No. SC049314. CALDERS | 9
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LIFE COACHING
In recent years the true meaning of Christmas seems to have been lost. The quest to find that perfect gift or to see people that we haven’t spent any time with over the previous twelve months can overshadow everything else. Sometimes, we convince ourselves that everyone else is having a much better time than we are and that we are missing out on something that others are enjoying. This is made worse by the version of reality that we see in television adverts, in glossy magazines or on social media. This time of year can be anxiety inducing for everyone, but there are some positive and supportive things we can all do that allows us to shift our focus to the positive aspects of the season and let go of the bits that make us anxious. Creating a relaxing and comfortable environment around ourselves and our families is one of the best things we can ever do for ourselves and those we love and this is even more true over the festive season. We might decide to wear something sparkly for the whole of December or put on our comfiest pyjamas and watch box sets at every spare moment for days on end. Whatever we decide we want to do, clearly seeing an image of the Christmas we want to create in our minds and doing what we need to do to achieve that can be the first steps towards a holiday season that is truly enjoyable for us and for everyone around us. 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 14 | CALDERS
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East Calder Health Centre at SERIOUS risk East Calder Medical staff confirm that if there isn’t a new health centre very soon, there is a significant likelihood that the practice will have to close to new patients, who would then have to travel to Livingston, or could even fold with doctors moving to less pressured practices. The health centre is completely unfit for purpose for both patients and staff due to age and condition. NHS Lothian has said a new health centre has been the number one priority since 2011 with Scottish Government confirming agreement in 2018. Initial plans for an integrated building led to the opening of the Dave King Partnership centre in 2018 with the 2020 plan aiming to have a new health facility opening by early 2024, but the Scottish Government told NHS Lothian in 2021 that their bid for funding needed to be strengthened before approval. Since July 2022, full community consultation and options appraisal exercises were carried out by stakeholder groups comprising health centre staff, representatives from Mid Calder, East Calder, and Kirknewton Community Councils, together with other community representatives who held regular meetings with NHS Lothian project staff to gather detailed information on community and practitioner needs for a new business case to submit to the Scottish Government for funding. These meetings resulted in NHS Lothian recommending to the Scottish Government that the preferred option was for a new centre to the rear of the existing nearly 40 year old building. This was because of massive local housebuilding which doubled appointments from 2019 to 2023, ballooning list size from 9500 patients in 1984 to current 14700, with 6,000 patients more expected by 2028! In August, members of the stakeholder group were shocked and angered to be told by NHS Lothian that no further progress on the project could be undertaken as they did not have the
budget and they were writing to the Scottish Government to obtain the funding. In October it was confirmed that the Scottish Government will not agree to NHS Lothian’s request as they “do not have the ability to expand the health capital investment programme”. Stakeholders also heard from NHS Lothian “that the Scottish Government made clear to us in late 2022 that unless projects were legally committed to with ‘spades in the ground’, they would NOT be able to support them financially”. A campaign group is being set up to lobby the Scottish Government to fund this urgently needed new health centre and for it to be built, and opened, within three years. A meeting to launch the campaign, adopt a constitution and elect a steering group will be held at 7.00pm on Wednesday 31st January 2024 in the Dave King Partnership Centre, East Calder. In the meantime please contact your local MP, MSP and local councillors to share how you feel about this. This article was contributed by the Stakeholders Group for the proposed East Calder New Health Centre CALDERS | 15
LIVING WELL
The holiday season is a time for joy and togetherness, but for someone with dementia it can be a confusing, stressful, and challenging time. To help, we have created a list of simple yet impactful ways to support a loved one with dementia over the Christmas period. Create Familiarity: Introduce changes slowly, decorating with familiar ornaments and maintaining a consistent holiday routine where possible. A familiar environment can provide comfort and reduce anxiety for someone with dementia. Sensory-friendly Celebrations: Opt for soft lighting, gentle music, and minimize noise. Creating a calm atmosphere can help prevent sensory overload and ensure a more enjoyable experience. Simple, Meaningful Activities: Engage in activities that hold sentimental value.
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Wrapping presents, listening to holiday music, or reminiscing with photo albums can spark positive memories and connections. Mindful Socialising: Keep gatherings small and intimate to avoid overwhelming your loved one. Provide a quiet space where they can retreat if needed. Focus on the Positives: Think about what you can do together rather than what you can’t. Remind visitors not to turn things in to a memory test (e.g. “who am I?” or “can you remember who gave you that gift?”) and refrain from correcting or arguing with the person Patience and Flexibility: Understand that plans may need to be adjusted. Be patient and flexible, adapting activities to your loved one’s comfort level and energy. If you need help or advice over the festive period, you can contact Alzheimer Scotland on their 24-hour Helpline: 0808 808 3000. The Living Well column is contributed by Home Instead West Lothian. Contact them for advice and support on 01506 346046, email info. westlothian@homeinstead.co.uk or see www.homeinstead.co.uk/west-lothian
Home Instead West Lothian is once again running their Christmas gift-giving campaign, ‘Be a Santa’, asking the local community to donate gifts to distribute to older people across West Lothian Since opening in October 2020, each Christmas Home Instead West Lothian teams up with various charities and community groups in the local area to identify isolated elderly people who may not otherwise receive a present over the festive season. We are asking members of the public to get involved and purchase a gift for such a local older person, and have established various collection points throughout West Lothian where people can donate their gifts. We are also running an Amazon Wish-List, where people can choose and order gifts to send directly to the Home Instead office. Details of how and where to donate can be found below.
Home Instead West Lothian Unit 9 Grampian Court Beveridge Square Livingston, EH54 6QF
Klondyke Garden Centre Campus Roundabout Livingston EH54 7AW
Rouken Glen Garden Centre Caldcoats Holdings Linlithgow EH49 7LY
Dunelm Livingston Almondvale Business Park Almondvale Way Livingston, EH54 6GA
J&R Veitch Almondell Garden Centre Raw Farm East Calder, EH53 0ET
Williamson’s Garden Centre Beechwood Nurseries 17 Houston Mains Holdings Uphall, EH52 6PA
Recommendations for gifts to donate include toiletries, confectionery, jigsaws, puzzle books, slippers and socks, or small items that elderly people usually appreciate. The final date for donations is Monday 11th December for our drop-off points. After the 11th of December, Home Instead volunteers will collect the gifts, allocate them to a suitable recipient and wrap them. These will then be distributed to our partner community groups, who will deliver them to local elderly people in time for Christmas. For more information about the ‘Be a Santa’ Christmas campaign, call 01506 346046 or email info.westlothian@homeinstead.co.uk
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SPONSORED CONTENT
MONEY MATTERS
Financial
Gifts
As Christmas approaches, everybody wants their loved ones – and especially their children – to be happy on the big day. Good food and time spent with the family are important ingredients for an enjoyable festive season, but when it comes to presents, why not think a bit more creatively than a pair of socks or an unwanted gift set?
Instead, you could consider giving a financial gift to your nearest and dearest. It’ll not only make you and the recipient feel good, but, if you take the right advice, it could also save you a lot of money in tax. If you are thinking about how you can help your children or grandchildren for the future, as well as on the day itself, here are some ideas.
- Children’s pension - Junior ISA - Cash gifts - Pay for a wedding - Remember Capital Gains Tax Financial gifts allow you to make a lasting contribution to your family’s short and longterm futures. The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than the amount invested. The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time and are generally dependent on individual circumstances. The Money Matters column is contributed by Lucy Logan. Lucy lives in Calderwood and is the Principal of Calderwood Financial, an Associate Partner Practice of St. James’s Place Wealth Management.
Calderwood Financial is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising soley on the groups wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out in the groups website www.sjp.co.uk/products. ‘The St. James’s Place Partnership’ and the titles ‘Partner’ and ‘Partner Practice’ are marketing terms used to described St. James’s Place Representatives.
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PROPERTY MATTERS
“How Long Has It Been On The Market?”
One of the first things a buyer will ask an estate agent when offered a property is, “How long has it been on the market?” and with good reason. Buying a property is a large transaction and it takes courage to commit to undertake such an apparently huge decision – often with very little support other than pure instinct. One of the most persuasive and apparently reliable indications as to the suitability of a property is to check out whether other people have expressed an interest. There is great comfort in knowing that you are not the only one who would like to buy the property.
Once people hear that others have expressed an interest, then everyone seems to want the property, as the power of “social proof” kicks in. This competition can often stimulate a quick sale at a high price, and usually occurs when a property is attractively priced in relation to other properties available for sale and is new to market. Of course the opposite is also true. When the price of a property is overly ambitious, the
excitement that should surround a property that is new on the market is reduced, and it can begin to go stale. This is when nobody has made an offer and the property is seen to be repeatedly advertised. When buyers find out that it is no longer new on the market they think “Well nobody else wanted it – perhaps we are making a mistake.” So our advice would be to position your property as one of the best available in its price range from day one. This will prompt interest and encourage asking price offers from qualified buyers. Under your agent’s advice, you should then have a choice of buyer, resulting in a fast, reliable, sale at the highest price the market will pay.
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. 22 | CALDERS
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Using waterproof bowls, like old chamber pots, or brass jelly pans, its is easy and fun to create your own indoor display. We always put a 2cm layer of fine gravel in the bottom to hold any excess water. Then fill up with a houseplant compost and you’re ready to go.
If you are including candles a tall pillar candle sitting on the gravel is the safest choice to avoid it falling over. The main plants we use are Hyacinth bulbs (the ones in these pictures are the festive/Roman variety where each bulb has several fragrant flowers, smaller than the usual large single fragrant flowers from forced regular hyacinth bulbs; short Tete a Tete daffodils; Christmas Rose Verboom; ivy plants. To decorate the top of
the display use moss (rake out some from your lawn!), pebbles or small fir cones. The flowers last longer if you keep them in a cool light position so think about moving them in and out of warm and cool rooms to suit your festive entertaining. Water when the compost feels dry. The gardening project is contributed by Dougal Philip, New Hopetoun Gardens. Inspiring, informing and entertaining, for more than 40 years.
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LOCAL ENVIRONMENT
Well, I didn’t expect to be writing about waxwings arriving on our shores so early in the season but here we are! Over the last few weeks, there’s been an irruption of these stunning birds across the U.K., which is much earlier than usual. The ones I’ve photographed in Edinburgh arrive like clockwork to the same street, at roughly the same time each year (if my Facebook memories are anything to go by) but this is more than a month before that date. Every few years there’s a boom in numbers and it’s usually because the crop of berries has been poor in Scandinavia and Russia.
Instead, they’re over here feasting on rowan berries of all colours in some of the most random places. This was taken behind Tesco in Dunblane (wildlife photography is very glamorous), although there have been some in Edinburgh, Livingston, and Bathgate. The biggest flock has been seen in Elgin, with one video showing numbers exceeding 500! That would be a sight for the eyes and a treat for the ears, to see them wheeling around or chattering at the tops of trees. 26 | CALDERS
Eating between 800-1000 berries a day the bohemian waxwings can get drunk on berries which have over fermented and flocks have been known to simultaneously hit windows on their drunken adventures around town. If you’re wondering where the name comes from, it’s because of the little flashes of colour on their wings, which resemble wax. Easy!
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
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WINE TASTING
It’s winter which is of course Mulled Wine Season!
Mulled wine warms your hands and heats you up on a cold day. You can prepare a small amount in a saucepan on the hob, or make a large batch in a slow cooker, either way the delicious smell of mulled wine will permeates your home! The base ingredient is a fruity red wine. Look for a mid-priced red zinfandel or grenache.
Traditional mulled wine contains brandy but you could use Cointreau or Grand Marnier which gives the mulled wine a delicious orange taste and smell. Add a sliced orange and keep some orange slices aside to use as a garnish. Now on to the mulling spices! The spice elevates your warmed red wine to mulled wine. You can buy ready-made sachets of mulled spice or syrup but it’s fun to make your own. The essential spices to use are clove, star anise and cinnamon. There are lots of others you could use to create your signature mulled wine. Fresh ginger, cardamon pods, ground nutmeg, lemon zest or dried orange slices would each add an extra flavour to your mulled wine. Add a dash of honey to sweeten and warm through on the hob or in a slow cooker, being careful not to let the alcohol boil. Warm through for anywhere between 15 minutes and 3 hours. When you are ready,
remove from the heat and strain the liquid through a sieve. Sweeten to taste if needed and serve in heat-proof mugs. Enjoy!
INGREDIENTS:
• Two bottles of your chosen red wine • 150ml of Grand Mariner • 2 sliced oranges (reserving a few slices for a garnish) • 6 cardamon pods (bruised with the side of a knife) • a teaspoon of whole cloves • 4 star anise • 3 sticks of cinnamon • 4 tablespoons of Demerara sugar or another sweetener of your choice
Combine all except the sugar in a saucepan or slow cooker and slowly warm over a low heat. Before it starts to boil, remove from the heat and stir in the sugar or sweetener. Let the blend of wine and spices sit for up to 30 minutes filling your kitchen with delicious aromas. After 30 minutes, strain and serve. Garnish with a slice of orange and a stick of cinnamon.
The monthly wine tasting column is contributed by Joanne Frette. Joanne lives in Juniper Green with her husband and three children. For wine recommendations, reviews and details of future tasting events, please go to swirlsipsocialise.com 32 | CALDERS
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COMPETITION
Aardman has created gems over the years. The Wrong Trousers is a true classic of stop-motion. Every time we get to the train scene, I cannot help but be enthralled by the creative set piece. This creativity continued into the first Chicken Run film. It’s a fun, unique and great film in Aardman’s filmography. But in the year 2023, the quality of animation especially family-friendly animation has skyrocketed in quality. This year alone we had Puss in Boots: The Last Wish which was an incredible piece of art. So, heading into Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the long-awaited sequel to the original, I had high expectations. Leaving the film, I’m more confused than anything. On the one hand, it is a beautiful film with bright and colourful stop-motion animation that is some of the best I’ve seen in years. And certain scenes had me grinning from ear to ear. When this film works it’s a great time. On the other hand, there are many story beats I found to be lazy and poorly written. Some of the story is riddled with cliches that I feel 15 years ago would have got a pass but now I feel like it screams the writers do not know how to write child characters. At the end of the day, the film comes out just before Christmas and honestly, it’s worth a watch during the festive period - while I found it lacklustre it might be fun with the whole family. Available on
from 15th December
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. 34 | CALDERS
Anime lovers! This is your chance to WIN a Blu-ray release of Evangelion: 3.0+1.11 Thrice upon a Time Our film reviewer Robert Ewing has a copy on Blu-ray to give away to a lucky Konect reader!
From legendary director Hideaki Anno, EVANGELION:3.0+1.11 THRICE UPON A TIME is the fourth and final instalment of the REBUILD OF EVANGELION films, bringing an epic conclusion to the story of Shinji and his fellow Eva pilots, with the stunning visuals and thought-provoking storytelling that has made EVANGELION a global pop culture phenomenon. To enter the draw to win the Blu-ray, simply answer this question: What is the name given to the hostile beings in Evangelion?
Head to www.konect.scot/win or scan the QR code to enter your answer. Full T&Cs and closing date are on our website.
58mm Vertical [LEFT]
DECEMBER CROSSWORD
^^^ Solution in the February edition of Konect ACROSS: 1. Effortless (4), 3. Ghosts (8), 9. Kill (7), 10. Part of a helmet (5), 11. Current (12), 14. Winter sport (3), 16. Sports competition (5), 17. Used for listening (3), 18. Amazing (12), 21. Heart beat (5), 22. Simplest (7), 23. Pirate’s hoard (8), 24. Procedure (4). DOWN: 1. Keep fit (8), 2. Severe (5), 4. Garden tool (3), 5. In spite of (12), 6. Watch carefully (7), 7. Certain (4), 8. Self service stores (12), 12. Playing field (5), 13. Intimidate (8), 15. Implicate (7), 19. Perfect (5), 20. Blemish (4), 22. Make a mistake (3).
XX ^^^ Sudoku solution on page 38
DECEMBER SUDOKU
ADD SOLUTION DETAILS CALDERS | 35
SPORTS, HOBBIES, LEARNING, SUPPORT GROUPS & MORE... WOMEN'S 5-A-SIDE FOOTBALL - A fun and friendly group meeting on Thursday evenings to play recreational football in East Calder. All ages abilities welcome. A great way to keep fit and meet new people. For more information text Tracey 07708 700235. EAST CALDER PENSIONERS CLUB - Held in The Dave King Partnership Centre, Main Street, East Calder on the last Thursday of every month from 1.30 to 3.30pm (SeptemberApril). New members welcome. Contact Carole on 07821 699332 for further details. SOUND THERAPY, MEDITATION AND YOGA - Monthly sound baths and candlelit Yin yoga classes to calm and relax body and mind. Workshops, 1:1 therapies and retreats throughout the year. Classes in Kirknewton Village Hall www.ocean-flow.co.uk MID CALDER BABY & TODDLER GROUP - Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9am - 11.30 am in The Institute Hall Mid Calder. We have a huge toy selection, offer arts and crafts and supply a small snack. Adults can have a hot drink and a chat whilst the children play happily. Session costs are £1 for under 1s and £2 for over 1s. Follow us on Facebook or email: midcalderbabygroup@gmail.com for further details EAST CALDER PLAYGROUP - Mon-Fri 9-11am for 2-3 year olds @ The Dave King Partnership Centre. Lots of fun activities while learning through play. Stories, songs, craft, small world, sand, water, outdoor fun & lots more. For more information call /text 07748053340 or pop in and see us. SINGERGIE CHOIR - Singergie is a totally free, singing for fun choir with 2 locations in West Lothian. MONDAYS: 7.00-9.00pm, The Village, Oakbank Road, East Calder. FRIDAYS: 10.00am – 12noon, East Calder Bowling Club. No auditions, no fees, no stress. Good songs, easy harmonies, friendship and fun. And you get a cuppa thrown in too. Won’t cost you a penny. No need to book, just turn up and you’ll be made very welcome. SUKHA YOGA - Getting back on your mat with real yoga every Wednesday 7.00 –8.30pm, Dave King Partnership Centre, East 36 | CALDERS
Calder. Feel the benefit from strengthening practice and regular relaxation. £6 per session or book 5 sessions for £25. All Covid-safe measures are in place. Bring your own mat and any other yoga equipment you need. Please confirm booking by pre-paying for your class. any further information, please contact me on 07767 777044. Everyone welcome.
WEST LOTHIAN LITTER PICKERS - We’re a group of over 3000 West Lothian residents, so if you want to help clean up your community, like we do, come join the group on Facebook “West Lothian Litter Pickers(Act Local Think Global)”. We organise group litter picks or put you in touch with a buddy in your area to get you started. We can even provide you with equipment at no cost to you. EAST CALDER NEEDLECRAFT CLUB - We are back….We meet every Thursday evening from 6.30pm - 9pm at the Dave King Partnership Centre, East Calder. All crafts are catered for whether you are a beginner or experienced in your favourite craft, we want to welcome you to our group. Why not give us a try? Call 01506 882699 for more information.
EAST CALDER OVER 50s CLUB - Held in The Dave King Community Centre, Main Street, East Calder every Wednesday from 1.30-3.30pm (September-May) Please contact Gillian on 07415309886 for further details. POTTER AROUND AT POTTER AROUND - Potter Around is a local pottery and ceramic painting studio based in Kirknewton. We offer taster sessions on the potter’s wheel for ages 5+. We also do clay imprints – a great memento to keep forever and we have a huge range of pre-made ceramics which are great for handprints, but also for people of all ages to paint. Our shop sells gorgeous handmade gifts including pottery and jewellery. Check our website for details: www.potteraround.co.uk
EAST CALDER SCOUT GROUP - Providing fun and exciting scouting programmes for children in the local area, from age 6 upwards. We meet on a Monday or Tuesday, depending on the child’s age. Adults interested in becoming leaders will be made very welcome. We also hire the scout hall for
one off occasions or for other groups to use, to benefit the local community. Find out more at our website: www. eastcalderscouts.uk SLIMMING WORLD - East Calder Bowling Club, 255 Main Street, East Calder. Tuesdays 3.30, 5.30 & 7.30pm, Wednesdays 9.30 & 11.30am and at Geddes House, Livingston, EH54 6GU on Thursdays 9.30. New and returning members always welcome. Contact Sue: 07803 520781 CHORAL HIGHLIGHTS LADIES' CHOIR - Would you like to join in with some fun at our friendly community choir? We meet in Mid Calder at 7.30 pm on a Wednesday. Our music consists of a wide range of materials from musicals, traditional, pop favourites and lots more. We’d love to welcome singers from across West Lothian. To find out more or to join us please contact John Rankine at john. rankine@lineone.net CHOOSE YOU YOGA STUDIO & WELLNESS HUB - Dedicated yoga studio in Carmondean, Livingston. Build strength, flexibility and resilience, and support mental health, joint pain/illness/injury recovery. Iyengar yoga 6.00-7.15 & 7.30-8.45pm Monday. Ante-natal yoga 5.45-6.45 and Vinyasa Flow 7.00-8.00pm Tuesday. Seasonal yoga 5.30-6.30 and Yoga Basics 6.45-7.45pm Wednesday. Iyengar yoga 6.007.15 & 7.30-8.45pm Thursday. Iyengar yoga 9.45-11.00am Friday. Carmondean, Livingston. T: 07810 824 195 E: info@chooseyouyoga.co.uk W: chooseyouyoga.co.uk or on Facebook CARERS OF WEST LOTHIAN - Support and social activities for Carers, Young Carers and Disabled Adults. All our carers groups are offered blended – both in person and face to face, as are our social groups: 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. Power of Attorney Clinic (face to face) & Benefits Advice (phone or face to face). For information: T: 01506 448000, E:office@carers-westlothian.com W: www.carers-westlothian.com GENERATION ARTS - Creative activities for people aged 50 and over, either living at home or in care with complex needs. Online and offline activities in West Lothian such as a
dance dvd, art demos, reminiscence, recipes, music and song playlists, dance and song classes. Creative activity and learning can unlock memories and skills that have been lost and creates a spark of joy for all. Contact generationarts.coordinator@gmail.com or phone 07521 358 239 for further information. MACMILLAN CANCER INFORMATION & SUPPORT - A free, confidential service providing a ‘listening ear’, emotional and practical support, help to access benefits/ financial advice and other local services. Expert information for anyone affected by cancer – yourself, a relative, friend or carer. Face to face appointments at Partnership Centres in Bathgate, Livingston North, Broxburn, Fauldhouse and Blackburn. Short health walks leaving Bathgate Partnership Centre - call to book a place. Phone and email support also available. Please call 01506 283053 or email MacmillanWestLothian@ westlothian.gov.uk WEST LOTHIAN 50 PLUS NETWORK Social activities for the over fifties. Run largely by volunteers we offer a wide range of interest groups to help you stay fit and healthy in both mind and body, whilst socialising with others. Something for everyone, but, more importantly, the chance to meet up and join in with old friends or make new friends along the way. Annual joining fee £24. 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. CALDERS | 37
SOLUTION TO NOVEMBER CROSSWORD SUNDAY 3RD DECEMBER Christmas Market at Potter Around - Hand-made craft items and mulled wine. Ceramics: EK Stonewares, KJ Oils & Clay, Gull on the Roof, Abi Pots, LC Ceramics Feepots plus ceramics made by staff and in our pot-tery users group. Miffy Makes (fabric crafts), Willow & White Candles, Weaver Bird, Scot-tish Seaglass and Alex’s Designs (jewellery), For Flocks Sake (watercolours of birds), al-so other paintings and artwork from local artists, Antique Art and Knitwear. 1.00pm - 4.00pm, Potter Around, Overton Farm, Kirknewton, EH27 8DD.
ACROSS: 1. Trumpet, 5. Cycle, 8. Luckier, TH 11. Worship, ND 9. Attic, Sweet, Expire, 8TH10.-10 , 15TH-17TH12. , 22 & 23RD DECEMBER 14. Teases, 17. Tobacco, 19. Conch, After Dark Illuminations On these special days, Almond 22. Rules, 23. Caravan, 24. Discs, 25. Destroy. Valley1.stays until 19.00. A trail of tiny lights will guide DOWN: Tells, 2.opens Uncle, 3. Painter, 4. Thrown, 5. Chair, 6. Catches, Escapes, you across the bridge7.to the Christmas lights of Charlesfield. 12. Entered, 13. Pebbles, 15.spaces Escorts, will be beautifully illuminated, and Our sheltered play 16. Forced, 18. Casts, 20. Never, 21. Handy.
our orchard barn will be alive with the sights and smells of Christmas. AllTO thisSUDOKU is included in the price of your standard SOLUTION admission ON PAGEticket. XX See www.almondvalley.co.uk. Almond Valley Heritage Centre, Millfield, Livingston, EH54 7AR.
SOLUTION TO NOVEMBER CROSSWORD
ACROSS: 1. Trumpet, 5. Cycle, 8. Luckier, 9. Attic, 10. Sweet, 11. Worship, 12. Expire, 14. Teases, 17. Tobacco, 19. Conch, 22. Rules, 23. Caravan, 24. Discs, 25. Destroy. DOWN: 1. Tells, 2. Uncle, 3. Painter, 4. Thrown, 5. Chair, 6. Catches, 7. Escapes, 12. Entered, 13. Pebbles, 15. Escorts, 16. Forced, 18. Casts, 20. Never, 21. Handy.
SOLUTIONTO TOSUDOKU SUDOKU SOLUTION XX ON PAGE 33
MEET SANTA IN HIS GROTTO - At Almond Valley. Various dates through December, including ASN-friendly and midweek offers for Tots & Toddlers. Limited availability, booking and information at www.almondvalley.co.uk. Almond Valley Heritage Centre, Millfield, Livingston, EH54 7AR. SUNDAY 17TH DECEMBER West Lothian Producers Market - Local and Scottish businesses and producers of food, drink, home and hand crafted items. 11.00am - 3.00pm, Livingston Cricket Club, 10A Murieston Valley, Livingston, EH54 9HB. THURSDAY 28TH DECEMBER
Disclaimer:Thursday The publisher cannot Festive Nightaccept Market - Join us for a special responsibility for loss or damage caused festive night market at the wonderful indoor main hall at by error in the printing of an advertisement. Strathbrock Community Fantastic local produce, a We do not endorse any advertisersCentre. in this publication. is accepted great meet All upmaterial with friends and an opportunity to get some for publication on the understanding it is New Year inpublication to celebrate in style! 5.00pm to 8.00pm. copyright free. supplies No part of this may West be reproduced without prior consentMarket, of By Lothian Producer’s see Facebook: 'West the publisher.
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.
Publisher: Lothian Publications Ltd. Geddes House, Kirkton North, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 6GU.
Lothian Producers Market' for details.
Geddes House, North, Livingston, WANT TO Kirkton INCLUDE YOUR EVENT HERE? COMMUNITY West Lothian EH54 6GU. AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT LISTINGS ARE FREE OF CHARGE. Magazine Design: EMAIL EDITOR@KONECT.SCOT BY 15TH OF THE MONTH Alan Stewart Design FOR MONTH’S ISSUE. T: 07729FOLLOWING 911858
38 | CALDERS
Magazine Design: Alan Stewart Design T: 07729 911858