Konect Calders February 2023

WHAT'S ON:

LOCAL HISTORY:

CLUBS & CLASSES:

Welcome to the February issue of Konect, the first one for this year.

The beginning of the year tends to be when we think about health, well being and making positive changes for the year. If you’re looking for a fun way to keep fit and meet people, West Lothian Netters could be perfect for you! See their article on page 32, and of course the Clubs & Classes section on pages 36 to 37 lists many suggestions for activities of all ages in the local community.

The front cover image is one that many Kirknewton residents will be familiar with as it appears in The Kirknewton Story, the fascinating history of Kirknewton in comic format published last year. A comic art exhibition based on this is running at Howden Park in Livingston during February and March, with a ComicCon event on 11th March. See article on page 33 for details.

The local history article takes us out to Camilty Woods near West Calder. It’s not particularly well marked if you decide to go looking for it, and you need a sense of adventure, but it’s an interesting spot historically and a lovely ramble beside the water. I hope you find it interesting.

Thanks as ever for reading the Konect and supporting local businesses.

THE GUNPOWDER PLOT ON THE EDGE OF THE PENTLANDS

Camilty Forest is a wild and scenic small forest that lies on both sides of the A70, between Harperrig and West Calder. Today, it makes for a very quiet and peaceful walk beside the gurgling Linhouse Water, and it’s hard to imagine that 100 years ago it was a hive of industrial activity - a gunpowder works, with frequent explosions!

There is no vehicular access now and with the passage of time and change of land use it’s not easy to identify even where the main access roads were. Camilty Gunpowder Works supplied the coal and shale mining industries with gunpowder from around 1890 to 1930. Shale in particular is very hard, too hard to be mined with picks, so gunpowder was essential. The Camilty Works was originally owned by the Midlothian Gunpowder Company, and the site changed hands several times over the years, eventually ending up in the hands of ICI until being shut down in 1930.

Shale miners had to purchase their own gunpowder - the mining companies didn’t supply it. It was sold over the counter in the Co-op, carried home in a bag and stored as often as not under the bed! It was the miner’s wife’s task to fill her man’s powder tin each morning with enough powder for his shift.

The site here at Camilty had formerly been a corn mill, and it was ideally suited for a gunpowder works for several reasons: its isolated position meant that there was no settlement nearby to be harmed by

explosions; the steep banks would absorb the force of explosions and provide a higher area for office buildings; and the burn was close by in case of fire.

Explosions were not unusual and people in the area were used to hearing them. It was not unlike living in an earthquake zone in some ways! One of the company rules was that ‘‘men must on no account turn up their trousers at the foot.’’ Dust or grit could gather in turn ups, and just a tiny amount could trigger an explosion. A large explosion in June 1909 shook furniture and windows in West Calder, and the concussion was felt as far away as Carstairs in the West and Currie in the East. Tragically there was a fatal explosion in 1921 where two employees lost their lives. The ingredients for the gunpower were mixed and ground in ‘‘danger buildings’’ - a series of bays with walls 2ft thick, surrounded by earthen mounds as high as the eaves and with flimsy wooden roofs, so that any explosion would be contained within one compartment and the roof blown out. Remains of various works buildings can be seen at the site today, most prominently the bays of the gunpowder magazine and its blast proof tunnel.

If you’d like to visit the site, at the Newpark Roundabout on the A71, take the Alderstone Road then turn right onto Bellsquarry S Road. At the end of the road, turn left onto Murieston Road, then right onto Castleciew Lane. After 1.6 miles, opposite a farmhouse here is a gateway on the left with space to park a couple of cars. The grid reference is N 55 50.319 W 003 30.263. Walk through the gateway and turn to the left to follow the fenceline; the path leads down to the site of the gunpowder works. Be prepared for mud. The site is not suitable for young children as there are open shafts into the tunnel below the bays.

This article was written by Helen-Jane Gisbourne, editor of Konect magazines. All information about the gunpowder works is taken from the book ‘‘Camilty Gunpower Works’’ by Sybil Cavanagh, published by the West Lothian Local History Library.

THE BRIDGE TO NOWHERE

While I was in Camilty Forest, I decided to walk further along Linhouse Water to the site of the “bridge to nowhere”. This bridge was built at great expense and completed in 1830. It had been intended to carry a new road across Linhouse Water, a direct route from the Falkirk cattle markets, straight through to the Cauldstane Slap (the gap in the Pentlands used by drovers) and on to England. It would have made their route much easier. The road itself was never completed though. The Earl of Morton was having none of it; he objected to the road crossing his land, so it petered out just south of the new bridge. The bridge has gradually given way to nature; the keystone fell in early 2009, and today you can see remains of the arch lying in the water.

Camilty bridge remains

At the beginning of each new year, the rich indulgence during the prior months finds many of us reassessing our overall health and new diets.

When it comes to healthy eating, every food group is important. This includes carbohydrates – the high energy group that fuels everything we do, however low carb diets have been adopted by people wishing to achieve significant weight loss. Before we stampede to throwing our loafs of bread in the bin, is this diet safe and appropriate for everyone?

Famous low carb, high fat diets helped give carbs a bad reputation, but it’s important to understand there are healthy high-carb foods needed to perform essential bodily functions and physical activities.

What to eat on a low-carb diet:

• Unprocessed whole grain like brown rice and whole wheat pasta

• Fruit and vegetables such as bananas and sweet potatoes

• Legumes – beans and chickpeas

What to limit:

• Highly processed grains/cereals e.g. white bread, sweetened cereals

• Highly processed snacks, cookies & pastries

• Fizzy and sugary drinks

Evidence shows low-carb diets aid weight loss and manage blood sugar levels however experts believe that long-term low carb intake can affect a person’s overall health, and therefore you should always consult your doctor before making any changes to your diet.

For more information on losing weight, visit: www.nhs.uk/better-health/lose-weight/

The Living Well column is contributed by Home Instead Livingston. Contact them for advice and support on 01506 346046 or see www.homeinstead.co.uk/livingston

NOT BEHIND THE CHAIR

There is more to our wonderful industry than many think. Every programme you’ve watched, every catwalk show, every music video, magazine cover, there will have been a hairstylist.

Last year I went through an extensive audition process which has landed me as a member of The Fellowship for British Hairdressing F.A.M.E Team. The Fellowship Academy of Merit and Excellence offers myself and fellow team members a platform for exposure within the hair industry and the opportunity to establish myself further to hopefully one day be able to give back into education and developing young stylists.

This year is already looking exciting for me. We already have a couple of trips to London for photoshoots which will hopefully be published. A potential trip to Italy to immerse ourselves in the product brand Davines. Hair shows. Fashion weeks. All headed by our lead mentor who is 3 times British Hairdresser of the Year, Sally Brooks.

I really cannot wait to get started, and I hope to bring you all on the journey with me. Keep an eye on our socials! It’s set to be exciting!

This column was contributed by Steph@Wonderland www.wonderlandlivingston.com

The year ahead has been widely trailed as a time when we will all have to tighten our belts with talk of energy price hikes and an ever-worsening cost-of-living crisis. Every time we hear this repeated there is an extra little twist of anxiety with many of us feeling trapped and helpless in the face of what we see as insurmountable issues.

My key message in times of crisis has always been that it is best to turn off the news and avoid filling our heads with negativity that we can do nothing about. However, not dwelling on things is not the same as ignoring what’s going on entirely and we are still going to feel the impact. We can’t control the events that are causing these anxieties, but we can control how me manage our feelings.

We have all developed infinite resources over a lifetime of finding solutions to issues that have arisen and are all much stronger than we think we are. Remembering what we have dealt with up until now and getting in touch with our own power and inner strength supports us to deal with anything that life throws our way.

When we are faced with challenges and it all just seems too much it is important to remember that most of us will have been here before and we are still standing.

Remember, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel, and it is unlikely to be an oncoming train.

The Life Coaching column is contributed by Francine Orr, NLP coach, hypnotherapist & reiki practitioner. Francine is based within Linlithgow Chiropractic on Wednesday afternoons and is also available online. See www.orrganise.co.uk

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To be included in Konect, please contact us. Our details are on page 3.

Winter in the winemaking calendar is usually a quiet time, a time to relax after a busy period. This is not true for winemakers in the coldest regions of Canada, Germany and Austria.

Winemakers here are carefully watching thermometers, waiting for the moment the temperature drops to -8C (20F). When that moment comes, usually at night before sunrise, teams of pickers spring into action and the race is on to harvest bunches of frozen grapes to produce Eiswein in Germany or Ice Wine in Canada.

When a grape freezes, water in the grape is frozen but the dissolved components containing sugars and acidity do not freeze. The frozen water can be separated leaving behind a highly concentrated sugar solution. Wine made from this concentrate is very sweet with a bright acidity. When the grapes freeze, the entire crop must be harvested immediately, if the grapes thaw, they cannot be refrozen as ice crystals will damage the cell walls of the grape and cause it to spoil.

Making ice wine is a gamble. The grapes are on the vine throughout the summer and autumn and a vulnerable. Entire vineyards of ripe grapes waiting for the first hard frost have been devoured by hungry birds, spoilt by rot or damaged by bad weather. Other attempts have failed because the temperature did not drop low enough and the grapes did not freeze.

The resultant wine is worth the effort! The sweet dessert wine is delicious and unlike other ‘sticky’ sweet wines. It is highly prized and is usually sold by the half bottle.

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

How long has it been on the market?

If you ever find yourself in this position, evasive action should be taken to avoid your property losing value – even if you are content to wait until a buyer is found. The reason is that the longer your property sits on the market the lower the price expectation. Everyone in the market should have been offered your property and even those entering the market will most likely know how long it has been for sale as the property portals usually state when a property first became available.

Good quality marketing is all good and well and is essential in presenting your property in the best way possible. However this is only one part of a very complex process and it is easy to overlook the ultimate aim of the marketing campaign. This of course is to achieve a successful sale at the highest possible price. High quality, professional marketing tends to reach a wider audience which in turn produces a higher number of viewers. These viewings then convert to offers and it is the role of a skilful negotiator to maximise the sale price for you at this point. It’s never widely publicised but the selling prices achieved between different selling agents varies significantly, which has been particularly revealing in the buoyant sellers market of 2022, so it is worth ensuring that your property is in the most capable and experienced hands.

Kerb appeal and the internal presentation of a property are important in any market and these factors are generally calculable in terms of the value and price achieved in a sale regardless of market conditions. The property market will undoubtedly react to the current transitional economic climate as we move through 2023

and buyers will become less forgiving in terms of the condition of a property versus the asking price, or the price they are willing to pay, than they have been of late. It is therefore not unreasonable to expect that if a seller is looking for or expecting ‘top dollar’, the property must be in top condition too.

Fortunately, there are things you can do to maintain your price and your saleability, and our firm offers a free, no obligation home audit to help identify why your property hasn’t sold and how a bespoke campaign, unique to your property, will attract buyers. We will advise you how to get the absolute highest price the market will pay for your home and discuss the difference between functional and cosmetic issues, and how easy-to-fix and inexpensive problems may be costing you money.

If you are thinking about selling in 2023 or are interested in discussing and reviewing your current sales campaign, please contact our Sales Director, Gillian Greenwell, for a confidential, no-obligation chat.

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.

Many people who are selling their property understandably become anxious if, after a few months on the market, it still hasn’t sold.

We specialise in household alterations and repairs. To discuss your construction project, please call Colin on:

or email:

Extensions | Bathrooms | Kitchens

Alterations | Structual Work

Maintenance & Repairs | Landscaping

Driveways | All Trades

This is the month to be indoors enjoying the view of your garden and making plans for any gardening projects for the coming year. Which rooms have the best views of your garden and what are you seeing? Have you got bird feeders and a birdbath in sight, perhaps some evergreen shrubs giving life to the view, a few flowers showing, like winter flowering heathers or Lenten Hellebores, and a piece of art for your eyes to rest on?

‘Fry the friendly dragon’ was on display as part of our art in the garden summer event here at New Hopetoun Gardens. He was created by Justin Starke and Joy Parker and was a great favourite with our visitors. In July and August every year we install original works of art by artists working in Scotland in our demonstration

gardens, both to entertain our visitors and to encourage them to install some exterior art pieces in their own gardens. Viewing them from inside is a particularly great addition to your winter garden scene.

Perhaps you know someone who would like to put a piece into our art in the garden event this summer, get them to contact us! Meantime what might you add to (or create for) your garden this year by way of a piece of art and how you might place it alongside some new plants to create a delightful feature?

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

Fry the friendly dragon

As we approach the financial year end in April, ensure you have used all your tax allowances:

Make the most of your ISA allowanceEveryone can put up to £20,000 per person into an ISA each tax year and is a great way of making your money work harder for you, as any money you put into them is free of any liability to Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax. Pay what you can into your pension - A pension is a tax-efficient way of saving for your retirement and due to greater choice and flexibility, it’s a more attractive option for retirement savers than ever before. It really is worth topping up your pension as much as you can and making use of any unused allowances from previous tax years.

Use your gifting allowances to avoid unnecessary IHT - Although the tax-free inheritance threshold of £325,000 per person may seem generous but the 40% rate of Inheritance Tax (IHT) is not. Your annual gifting allowance is £3,000 and you can make as many separate gifts of £250 as you like (excluding recipients of £3,000). Seperately to this you can make gifts out of excess income but seek advice to ensure you confirm with taxation rules.

The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select, and the value can therefore go down as well as up. You may get back less than you 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.

The new year is often a time to set goals and attempt to form new healthy habits. On 1st January 2017 after arriving home from a night out, I started my search for a netball club. A club that didn’t take things too seriously and would welcome an unfit, inexperienced player like me!

Luckily, I stumbled upon the West Lothian Netters Facebook page and I’ve been hooked ever since.

West Lothian Netters began in January 2016, the first ‘Bounce Back to Netball’ (BBN) club in the area. Our ethos is to be a safe, inclusive and fun space for people to play netball together. We are non-competitive and welcome anyone over 18, regardless of previous experience, ability or fitness level.

Exercise is known to benefit our mental health through release of endorphins, increasing self-confidence and the camaraderie of meeting people and building our social circle. Many members of the Netters have experienced these benefits including an opportunity for people moving to the area to make friends and new mums to get out of the house.

We play Wednesdays 8-9.30pm in Inveralmond Community High School with occasional friendly matches, festivals and social events throughout the year.

If you fancy improving your fitness, making new friends and having fun, why not come along and give West Lothian Netters a go?! We would love to see you!

Get in touch on westlothiannetters@gmail.com or via Facebook.

Book in at bookwhen.com/westlothiannetters

First session FREE with code: NETBALLNEWBIE2023

This article was contributed by West Lothian Netters

Art from The Kirknewton Story, the history of Kirknewton in a comic book format, is to be exhibited at the Howden Park Centre in Livingston from 3rd February to 9th April. Some of the artists involved will also attend a ComicCon on Saturday 11th March from 10am to 5pm

The comic, supported by Heritage Lottery Scotland, has been made up from memories and stories from members of the Kirknewton community. The exhibition and comic also features work from Kirknewton Primary School children who researched local history and produced their own comics.

Tony Foster, who has co-ordinated the exhibition, explains, “The Kirknewton Story is a good example of how the medium can inform all ages on any subject, in this case making history come alive.” Stories include Dr William Cullen, Burke and Hare, Waterloo Tower, the Secret Bunker, the JFK Assassination and the Kirknewton Unexploded Bomb.

Colin Maxwell, writer, explains his involvement, “Tony knew my background in historical comics. The book tells the story of the village based around the basalt rocks that can be found on nearby hills. It starts in prehistoric times with the formation of the rocks and ends with a piece of Charles Jencks public art made of basalt being constructed in the village. Everything from Romans to flying saucers are covered in the intervening years. Obviously, it will be of great interest to locals who perhaps don’t know much about the history of their home, but to outsiders, the wealth of artistic talent that has been involved makes the comic quite unique. We have the cover by the late Ian Kennedy, then pages within by artists who’ve worked on 2000AD, Marvel and DC comics.”

Everyone in Kirknewton got a free copy of the

book. You buy a copy at the exhibition and enjoy the artwork, the original script and modern comics by some of the artists. You can get a copy of the Kirknewton Story at theshiftstore/ products/the-kirknewton-story

More details on The Kirknewton Story Comic Art can be found at the website comicscene.org

All animals need exercise and cats are no different. You might be considering buying a harness and talking your cat for a walk. While this may be possible if you start when they are a kitten, but it’s really not recommended for the following reasons:

• Cats are naturally cautious and want to explore at a pace that feels safe for them. They will want to be able to hide, run away or avoid potential threats without restriction.

• Cats are very attached to their home and need to feel they always have access to this. Being taken on a lead takes them into new territory and prevents them from being able to access their own space.

• If the lead is dropped or they escape their harness they are likely to bolt in order to reach a place of safety and will be at risk from cars on the road and other threats.

• Dogs have a high chase drive and, if they see a cat, may try to run after them. Being on a lead or harness makes your cat vulnerable to all sorts of dangers like this that they would naturally avoid.

Rather than using a harness and leash to provide access to the outdoors, the RSPCA recommends providing your cat an enclosed outdoor space with cat-proof fencing.

ACROSS: 7. Not occupied (6), 8. Musical dramas (6), 9. Vehicle for hire (4), 10. Opposite (8), 11. Not as dark (7), 13. Old coin (5), 15. Regularly (5), 17. Culinary herb (7), 20. Very cold (8), 21. Relax (4), 23. Large fight (6), 24. Hinder (6). DOWN: 1. Mother (4), 2. Disappear (6), 3. Piled up (7), 4. Connects (5), 5. Closer to (6), 6. Railway coach (8), 12. Casual (8), 14. Haggle (7), 16. Votes for (6), 18. Scratch (6), 19. Repairs (5), 22. Fizzy drink (4).

FRIDAY 3RD FEB TO SUNDAY 9TH APRIL

Comic Art Exhibition - Free entry at Howden Park Centre, Livingston. The history of West Lothian and Comic Art today.

With a ComicCon on Saturday 11th March 10.00am – 5.00pm (details on page 33)

SATURDAY 4TH FEBRUARY

Keep our Park Beautiful - There’s always lots of jobs to do in the country park. If you'd like to join the Friends of Almondell and help to keep our park beautiful, why not come along to our next Saturday session - on the first Saturday of every month? Meet at the Visitor Centre in Almondell Country Park at 10am until 12pm. See Facebook page @friendsofalmondell

SATURDAY 4TH FEBRUARY

Absolute Elvis - At Reconnect Regal Theatre. Absolute Elvis feat Johnny Lee Memphis, a multi award winner. Two hours of Elvis classic hits and some incredible costumes feat. JLM band and Memphis Belles singers. A must for all fans. 8pm. Booking via Reconnect Regal www.reconnectregaltheatre.com

SUNDAY 5TH FEBRUARY

Winter Wildlife Wander - Help us celebrate World Wetland Day by joining one of Historic Environment Rangers on a walk around Linlithgow Loch, keeping a look out for the wildlife that calls it home. Route is wheelchair accessible although does involve rough tracks and slopes. 1pm – 3pm. Free, but booking in advance required. To book please contact the Historic Environment Ranger Service on 0131 652 8150 or rangers@hes.scot

SAT 11TH TO MON 20TH FEBRUARY

First Tingles of Spring - Spring is in the air, so at Almond Valley Heritage Centre we’ll be planting seeds, colouring flowers, searching for the first signs of new life, and looking forward to a brilliant year to come. For more info and entry prices please see www.almondvalley.co.uk or call 01506 414957

WANT TO INCLUDE YOUR EVENT HERE? COMMUNITY AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT LISTINGS ARE FREE OF CHARGE.

EMAIL EDITOR@KONECT.SCOT BY 15TH OF THE MONTH FOR FOLLOWING MONTH’S ISSUE.

FEBRUARY SUDOKU

SPORTS, HOBBIES, LEARNING, SUPPORT GROUPS & MORE...

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.

The crossword puzzle can be found on page 34. See page 38 for solutions.

SUKHA YOGA - Getting back on your mat with real yoga every Wednesday 7.00 –8.30pm, Dave King Partnership Centre, East 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 CLUBWe 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.

LADIES CIRCLE - Dave King Community Centre, Main Street, East Calder. Second Thursday of every month at 1.30pm-3.30pm

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 premade 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

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: Mon 7.30-8.45pm;

Vinyasa/Yin: Tues 6.00-7.00pm and 7.20-8.20pm; Seasonal Yoga (gentle): Wed 5.30-6.30pm; Yoga in Polish: Wed 9.30-10.30am, Tai-Chi: Thurs

9.30-10.45am; Iyengar Yoga: Thurs 7.30-8.45pm; Yoga in Polish: Fri 6.00-7.00pm. Carmondean, Livingston.

Email: info@chooseyouyoga.co.uk

Tel.: 07810 824 195

www.chooseyouyoga.co.uk or on Facebook

CARERS OF WEST LOTHIAN - Support and social activities for Carers, Young Carers and Disabled Adults. Services currently via Zoom/ phone: weekly Coffee Morning; monthly Mental Health Support Group, Evening Support Group & Bereaved Carer Support Group as well as groups for Young Carers and Young Adult Carers. Regular Social Groups for Adults with disabilities. Virtual Power of Attorney Clinic & Benefits Advice and Counselling. For information:

T.: 01506 448000

E: office@carers-westlothian.com

W: www.carers-westlothian.com

GENERATION ARTS - Creative activities for people aged 50 and over, either living at home or in care with complex needs. Online and offline activities in West Lothian such as a dance dvd, art demos, reminiscence, recipes, music and song playlists, dance and song classes. Creative activity and learning can unlock memories and skills that have been lost and creates a spark of joy for all. Contact generationarts.coordinator@ gmail.com or phone 07521 358 239 for further information.

MACMILLAN CANCER INFORMATION & SUPPORT - A free, confidential service providing a ‘listening ear’, emotional and practical support, help to access benefits/financial advice and other local services. Expert information for anyone affected by cancer – yourself, a relative, friend or carer. Face to face appointments at Partnership Centres in Bathgate, Livingston North, Broxburn, Fauldhouse and Blackburn. Short health walks leaving Bathgate Partnership Centre - call to book a place. Phone and email support also available. Please call 01506 283053 or email MacmillanWestLothian@westlothian.gov.uk

WEST LOTHIAN 50 PLUS NETWORK - Social activities for the over fifties. Run largely by volunteers we offer a wide range of interest groups to help you stay fit and healthy in both mind and body, whilst socialising with others. Something for everyone, but, more importantly, the chance to meet up and join in with old friends or make new friends along the way. Annual joining fee £20. 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 konect.scot for information.

SOLUTIONS

SOLUTION TO DECEMBER CROSSWORD

The title feels very poignant; the film could be described as a sunburn which only with Aftersun can be soothed and eased into something truly beautiful.

I felt a whole range of emotions watching Aftersun, ranging from times in France playing arcade games like Time Crisis surrounded by older teens to how I feel at present. When I walked out of the film, I didn’t originally feel this way about it. If it wasn’t for the stellar performances by Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio then I feel the film simply wouldn’t work. It is built upon them as the foundation, so if that foundation is flawed in any way the film falls apart.

Charlotte Wells simply did a fantastic job with the direction. From the way it lingers on shots to the creative and confident editing, screams someone with tons of experience behind the camera - which makes it even more surprising that this is her first feature.

I would be lying if I said this wasn’t a must-watch film. It will leave you thinking and in powerful ways haunt you. I couldn’t stop thinking about it for hours even days afterwards, which just shows how powerful cinema can be. Upon listening to Under Pressure featured in the film, it all clicked into place and I had to do my best to hold back the emotions. I’ve never experienced a feeling like that before.

Aftersun is available to stream on Mubi. It will also be available on DVD and Blu-ray February 2022.

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.

ACROSS: 7. Tomato, 8. Around, 9. Dead, 10. Restrain, 11. Scatter, 13. Cries, 15. About, 17. Good-bye, 20. Familiar, 21. Need, 23. Reveal, 24. Grease.

DOWN: 1. Done, 2. Bandit, 3. Journey, 4. Harsh, 5. Horror, 6. Entirely, 12. Cabbages, 14. Courage, 16. United, 18. Donkey, 19. Girly, 22. Easy.

SOLUTION TO SUDOKU ON PAGE 36

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