COMMUNITY:
LOCAL WALK: MONEY MATTERS:
There is plenty going on locally this summer for all the family, including a sport and wellbeing festival at Livingston Cricket Club, and events such as Art in the Garden at New Hopetoun Gardens (always worth a visit for a de-stress and a coffee in their Orangerie tearoom). The next open day at Almondell Model Engineering is on 3rd August – see the What’s On page.
The beautiful Kirk of Calder is open for free Sunday afternoon tours over the summer as usual, and this summer are hosting an exhibition on the Calders Witches. It’s the product of a local research project over the past couple of years into the infamous Calders witch trials, to commemorate the local women who suffered. We’ve published articles on the Calders witches before, but re-run and update the feature in this issue using some of their new research, see pages 18-19.
Whatever you’re up to with home, health or family this summer, I hope you find Konect’s columns from our highly experienced, local expert contributors are helpful and interesting.
We have all heard of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which can be brought on by the lack of light in winter or is just a simple and natural reaction to long cold days. Few of us may have considered the very real concept of Seasonal Affective Disorder in the Summer.
After all, aren’t we all meant to get excited at the prospect of sunny days and don’t we spend the months between Christmas and June longing for that special time of year?
Well it may surprise you to learn that, for many of us, the answer to those questions is a resounding NO!!
Summer can have its own special stressors and so many reasons to feel bad about ourselves. We compare ourselves to those glossy magazine or social media images, look around us and see what we tell ourselves is ‘Everyone Else’ describing their exciting summer plans which look so much better than what we are going to be doing and we decide that what we are planing is never going to be good enough.
It’s important to remember that the only person we have to please is ourselves and trying to live up to what we think the summer holidays should look like, sunny weather, days is not a recipe for happy times.
Wouldn’t it be great to take the pressure off ourselves for once and for all and just decide to be kinder to ourselves? This year, let’s all have the summer that suits us and enjoy every moment we spend with our favourite people.
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
The KNEC Community Listening Project is all about encouraging the community to listen, support and encourage each other. Isolation is a big concern that leads to many other issues and so we aim to provide an escape from isolation for people of all ages.
It was set up in 2021 by Kirknewton and East Calder Parish Church, and is run by church members and local people for everyone in the community.
The project has continued to grow over the last year since our update in Konect last summer. We are so lucky to have lots of visitors who love to share company and form friendships as well as a wonderful group of 20 volunteers who are friendly and welcoming.
We would love to meet you at any of our initiatives. We will have fun days over the summer as well as the Hub. Details of our regular initiatives are in the table below. For the fun days please keep an eye on our Facebook page or phone for details.
Formal 1-1 listening sessions
The Hub
Craft and Chat Club
Bereavement groups & Parent support groups
Community Fun Days
CAN YOU HELP?
For anyone wanting to talk something though in confidence By appointment
Somewhere to come for company, friendship, soup or a cuppa
Here we try different crafts and share company
Mondays & Thursdays 11.00am - 3.00pm East Calder Church Hall
3rd Tuesday of the month 7.00pm - 8.30pm East Calder Church Hall
Enquire for more information As required
Look out for a couple of fun Days with Cool Creatures over the summer
Dates to be arranged. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for details.
Funding for the project remains a challenge. Applying for funding when we do not live in an area of deprivation is extremely difficult. In response to this, we have set up a Just Giving page to give the community a chance to get behind the Project and help support it. Please have a look at our Just Giving page where you will see a video all about the project and get a better idea of what goes on. Pictures speak louder than words! If you’d like to take part in an event; walk, run, swim, cycle, climb – or get creative about fundraising, we’d really appreciate your support.
The QR code for the page is below or search KNEC Community Listening Project on the Just Giving website. Please come along and visit us at the Project. It is open to all.
Elizabeth Pennykid, Project Coordinator
T: 07593 007068 | E: kneccommunitylisteningproject@gmail.com W: www.knecclp.org.uk | Facebook: KNEC Community Listening Project
KNEC Community Listening Project (Part of Kirknewton and East Calder Parish Church of Scotland). Scottish Charity No. SC006973
to keep your elderly parents well at home
We’ve all heard the saying ‘Prevention is better than cure’. While certain health issues may be unavoidable, in many cases early intervention can avoid a difficult situation.
It’s important not to view any deterioration in someone’s health as simply ‘getting old’. Inactivity, missed appointments, depression, a poor appetite, as well as trips and falls are all warning signs that require attention.
• Doctors orders - It’s important to keep up with doctors’ appointments and other checkups such as hearing and eyesight. It can be helpful to have systems in place, such as calendars or reminders, to help the person remember things like appointments or when to take their medication.
• Keep physically and mentally active - With warmer weather now upon us, encourage simple exercise such as short walks or an activity
like gardening, which can help to maintain muscle and flexibility while relieving stress.
• Maintain a healthy diet - Encourage a balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Choose wholegrain options, include oily fish in your diet and cut down on sugary snacks.
• Keep hydrated - It’s important to keep hydrated as it is involved in many important functions including regulating body temperature, helping our brains to function, and helping to prevent constipation.
• Companionship - Research shows that loneliness and social isolation are harmful to our health. Encourage your loved one to take part in local activities or one of the many communityrun social groups. Why not check out Home Instead’s “What’s on Where Guide” for ideas: www.homeinstead.co.uk/west-lothian/whats-onwhere or contact us on 01506 346046
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
My favourite food and wine pairing is an unusual one which involves a fruity, cherry laden red wine from Italy and one of Aberdeenshire’s favourite exports, a Buttery!
Butteries are a bit like croissants, with flaky texture, a buttery taste and savoury tang of salt. My favourite way to eat them is with a topping of sautéed spinach, a slab of Lanark blue cheese, pickled pear and chopped walnuts. Serve warm with chunky wedges and a salad and enjoy!
My red wine choice is a Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, a medium bodied, delicious red wine with a classic Italian nose of cherries and cedar spice. Low in supple tannins the wine isn’t big and chewy, but it is flavourful with a character that linger on the palate. The red wine and Buttery partnership works! Why? Firstly, the food and wine are matched in weight, the wine is medium bodied and the food doesn’t have a heavy sauce. The food doesn’t seem bigger that the wine and vice versa. If the wine were chewy and tannic in the mouth, we would lose the delicate flavours pear and walnut. The flaky texture of the pastry would be drowned in heavy tannin.
Secondly, the salt in the buttery and within the Lanark blue cheese is sharp and punchy on the palate, making us salivate. The acidity of the wine compliments the salt while also breaking down the fats and cream of the cheese.
Fortunately for me I don’t have to work hard in the kitchen to prepare the delicious food. It is on the summer menu of Contini’s Scottish Café and Restaurant at The Mound!
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
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THE KIRK OF CALDER in Mid Calder is currently hosting an exhibition curated by The Calder Witch Hunt. It focuses on the events of 1643-45, the frenzied height of witch hunting in the Calders, during which at least five local women were executed for witchcraft.
The Kirk is open for free tours every Sunday afternoon from 2pm – 4pm until October. There is no need to book, just turn up for the tour and you can visit the witches exhibition during this time. It commemorates the lives and persecution of five local women via stories in a factual, sensitive and interesting way.
The Calder Witch Hunt is a community project supported by West Calder and Harburn Community Development Trust and West Lothian Museums Services. It is a wealth of information about accusations of witchcraft in the Calders during the 17th century and provides opportunities to participate and commemorate the lives of the people affected. See calderwitchhunt.co.uk
ABOVE: Photo from “Witches in Word, Not Deed.” Dress created to commemorate Margaret Thomsone, on display in the Kirk of Calder.
When Mid Calder was gripped by the witch hunting craze of the 1640s, innocent women were dragged up Cunnigar Hill in Mid Calder and put to death. At that time the hill was just outside the village boundary. An artificial hill or “tumulus” probably dating from the bronze age, it earned the name of “Witches Knowe.”
A locally-born minister called John Spottiswood first took up witch hunting enthusiastically. He wrote of the winter of 1590 - 91 in Mid Calder, “Most of this winter has been spent in the discovery and examination of witches and sorcerers.” There are no records of women convicted locally at this time, so he was likely involved in cases elsewhere.
Fifty years later the witch hunt came to Mid Calder itself in a deadly way under the leadership of the Reverend Hew Kennedie. He was ordained in 1643 and began his career in Mid Calder with a zealous crusade against witches. His first victim was in February 1644, a certain Agnes Bischope, submitted to trial and examination. She confessed to being a “common charmer and a heinous and notorious witch” and was therefore condemned to death. Agnes is one of the women whose story is told in the exhibition in the Kirk of Calder this summer. Later that year it is recorded
that a parishioner from Nether Williamston (Murieston) had to remimburse the Kirk Session for expenses incurred in the trial, imprisonment and execution of his wife for witchcraft.
People in the parish were employed to guard suspects. They kept the women awake by piercing their flesh with pins and needles, and sometimes red hot sharp pointed irons if they refused to confess their guilt. It was believed that as soon as the witch slept the evil spirit left her and went about doing mischief. If she did not give a voluntary confession, before the trial began she was severely tortured in order to extort proof of guilt. Tortures included the thumb-screw, or keeping the woman from sleeping, or witch-pricking. A man skilled in this art would prick the woman all over her body until he found a “witch-mark” - usually a mole or birthmark - which was insensitive to pain, indicating that the devil had marked her for his own use. When a confession was finally made, the woman had to denounce twelve others, for witches met in covens of thirteen. And so the trials continued.
In 1590, Eupham M’Calyean of Cliftounhall, a lady of rank, was burned alive at Castle Hill in Edinburgh. Eighteen years previously she had consulted with an auld indytit witch of the fynest stamp, for to half poysonit Joseph
Douglas of Punfrastoune. Eupham’s story and her connection with Mid Calder is told in detail in The Calder Witch Hunt blog at www. calderwitchhunt.co.uk
By the late 17th century torture and witchpricking were finally declared illegal, although a case of witchcraft in Mid Calder came as late as 1720. The twelve year old Patrick Sandilands, son of James, 7th Lord Torphichen, was said to be bewitched. Declaring that some old women and a man in Calder had bewitched him, he fell down in trances, “from which no horse-whipping could rouse him till he chose his own time to revive,” pronounced prophecies, and was said to be the subject of other strange phenomena such as being lifted up into the air “by invisible hands”. Lord Torphichen finally believed him, and many unfortunate local people were arrested and put in prison. With the Crown refusing to proceed with a legal case against them. the family appealed through the parish minister to Linlithgow Presbytery, which appointed a delegation to meet in Mid Calder on 14th January 1720 for a day of congregational fasting and prayer. The sermon on the fast day was preached by Rev. John Wilkie, minister in Uphall. To add to the excitement, a certain “Tincklerian Doctor” left his shop in Edinburgh to make the journey to Mid Calder to exorcise the evil spirits there. He said, “I went to Calder, the 14th day of January 1720, before day-light, being eight miles, in ill weather, fasting, and on foot. I took the sword of the spirit at my breast, and a small wand in my hand, as David did when he went out to fight Goliath; so I went to cast out the devil of my Lord Torphichen’s son. When I went to his house, his servants were eating and drinking, although he had appointed it to be a fast day. I do think they might have fasted until the sermon was over upon such a weighty business; and they offered me some, but I took neither meat nor drink of his. Some think it a fast day when they hear a minister preach for the payment.” The arrival of the “Tincklerian Doctor” was not expected and the ministers of the Presbytery would have nothing to do with him; so he went to several of the accused to examine them, two of whom confessed their guilt. It seems that by the end of the day, five had confessed to being involved in the affair.
Fortunately the time had long since passed since people were executed for sorcery, and as Patrick Sandilands was perfectly recovered, the alleged witches were publicly rebuked in church and allowed to go free. There are
different accounts of what happened to them but at least two, possibly all of them, died not long after the January 1720 sermon. Their harsh treatment during a cold Scottish winter no doubt contributing to, if not causing, their deaths. Thus ended the final chapter in the story of the Calder witches.
A VERY SCOTTISH PLAGUE
Between 1560 and 1707 over 4000 people were put to death on a charge of witchcraft in Scotland, compared with only about 1,000 in England. The Swiss Protestant leader, Calvin, whose influence was strongly felt in the Scottish Church, had declared: “the Bible teaches us that there are witches and that they must be slain.” In medieval times witchcraft had been an accepted part of Scottish life - women with knowledge of herbal cures and “the gift of the gab” were valued, and found it profitable to be regarded as a witch. In 1563 Parliament first decreed death for anyone practising witchcraft or consulting a witch. The first great wave of persecution started under King James VI, who was fascinated by witchcraft after witnessing a trial in Denmark. The king personally attended a trial at North Berwick in 1590, when various people confessedafter torture - to having attempted to raise a storm to shipwreck the king’s vessel on his return from Denmark with his royal bride. The nation-wide publicity set off a wave of killings.
All information in this article is taken from the leaflet “The Calder Witches” published by the Kirk of Calder and available in the Church, and from the research on the website of The Calder Witch Hunt, calderwitchhunt.co.uk –please visit their website for more detailed and interesting information and Facebook: ‘The Calder Witch Hunt’ for updates.
Cunnigar Hill
Sometimes you look at wildlife and wonder what they’re saying to each other. It does look like the puffin on the left is telling the other one something quite interesting. Sharing locations of good sand eels, talking about the weather that day.
This was taken on the Isle of May, a small island in the Forth, which you can access from Anstruther or North Berwick by boat. It’s a seabird haven, with the cliffs full of these wonderful little birds and their companions such as kittiwakes, guillemots, and razorbills.
Having stayed in the North Atlantic all winter, they return to their breeding grounds across the U.K. to meet up with their mate. One of the main challenges our seabirds face is availability of food and studies of birds across various locations found they are having to travel further to find it. Recently, sandeel fishing in U.K. waters has been banned although this is being challenged by the E.U. post Brexit. They’re caught and processed for fish oil and animal feed, including for farmed salmon. Without going off on too much of a rant, I struggle to understand the rationale for decisions like this, which put endangered
species at even more risk. Our nature is facing some of its toughest, most challenging times and we should be doing all we can to protect it without fearing being told we’re “too green”
Maybe that’s what the puffins are saying, please help us!
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
JULY CROSSWORD
^^^ Solution in the July edition of Konect
ACROSS: 1. Well known (6), 4. Long curtains (6), 9. Grandparent (7), 10. Concur (5), 11. Flavour (5), 12. Loosening (7), 13. Marvellous (11), 18. Season’s crop (7), 20. Star sign (5), 22. Bet (5), 23. One of the three r’s (7), 24. Go back (6), 25. Alcove (6).
DOWN: 1. Brawls (6), 2. Breakfast, dinner etc (5), 3. Remove clothes (7), 5. Respond (5), 6. Piece (7), 7. Vehicle used on snow (6), 8. Make, produce (11), 14. Type of piano (7), 15. Turn aside (7), 16. Light rainfall (6), 17. Tree branches (6), 19. Mistake (5), 21. Elevate (5).
Insurance to shield your family from unforeseen events is an essential part of financial planning but few people find it an attractive proposition. Unlike a mortgage, there’s nothing aspirational about this household expense.
It is human instinct to assume ‘it’ll never happen to me’ or ‘my employer will look after me’, but unfortunately this isn’t always the case. It is important to consider who you’re protecting yourself for and to check what protection your employer provides.
There are many options available which can help provide an important financial safety net for your family.
If you’d like to provide security for your family, until your children are grown up, it may be worth considering ‘family income benefit’. This pays out a regular income until the end of a specified period, in the event of your death, and is relatively inexpensive. Critical Illness Cover provides another option, paying out a lump sum if you contract any of a specified range of illnesses and conditions. Life assurance is widely bought and can often be obtained cheaply.
Income protection is probably the most important type of cover to have; it will provide a specified level of regular income if you are unable to work due to sickness or disability; it is the most expensive choice because it is most likely to be called upon.
A financial adviser will be able to recommend the best solution for you and your family, and many will not charge for an initial meeting.
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.
As I emerge from the car, I am immediately met with the sweet aroma of warm spring air drifting over open country on a slight breeze.
The air is filled with the gently lilting, descending, laid-back song of willow warblers. The bubbling, haunting call of a curlew echoes across the plain laid out below.
I pause to take in the uninterrupted vista. I can see clearly to Tinto Hill (the highest point in Lanarkshire) in the south and, turning to my left, the profile of the Pentlands lies off to the north-east beyond Cobbinshaw Reservoir –my destination today. Cobbinshaw lies just five miles south of West Calder and was built by engineer James Jardine to feed the Union Canal. Although I am only twenty minutes or so from home, the big country views conjure the sensation of having been transported somewhere altogether more remote.
Having taken a small access road half a mile north of Woolfords, I’m parked in a layby beneath the forest plantation of Pearie Law. It’s a peaceful morning as I tramp down the tarmac in the direction of the reservoir. Red
campion and cuckooflower are in bloom by the roadside. A meadow pipit alights on a power line above. Soon, I am crossing a bridge over the railway line and arrive at a farmstead by the shore. Here, swallows swoop over the gardens and the song of blackbird and chaffinch reverberates through the trees.
I make my way over to the water’s edge and watch as anglers set out in small motorboats, puttering forth into open water. Lines are cast, rods arcing through the air, as gigantic wind turbines wheel silently on the horizon behind. I head down to the causeway that separates the southern quarter of the reservoir from the main body of water. As I make my way across, I feel the south-westerly breeze pick up and it ushers the clouds on sufficiently for the sun to break through, imbuing a little warmth and dressing the water’s wind-rippled surface in shimmering gold. Water breaks against stone in gentle, hollow slaps. Greylag geese are grazing on a promontory opposite. A small group take off, circling past. A redshank whirs by too, propelled by rapid wingbeats.
Once across, I head up the rise to another steading, then bear right, down towards a second, shorter, causeway. Here I spot more geese, Canada geese this time, who take to the water, meandering in my direction. A tufted duck forages in an inlet and is soon joined by another small flotilla of geese. A lapwing executes tumbling, diving aerial acrobatics whilst emitting surreal radio-tuner whistles, perhaps to distract the gulls, who soar the thermals above, from an egg-laden nest.
I sit on a large stone at the side of the causeway and pull out my notebook. The only sounds I can hear are the honk of the geese, the lapping of water, and the
song of a lark high over the fields nearby. If I were mixing a tonic of sounds to relax and nourish the soul, I could scarcely think of a better combination. Suppressing the urge to close my eyes and drift off, I make to set off again and, looking up, see two oystercatchers have alighted on the path ahead, looking splendid in their black and white attire with long, lipstick-red bill and legs. They retreat, flapscurry fashion, as approach.
I continue over rough pasture and, coming over a rise, the rust-red form of Tarbrax bing looms into view like a volcanic cone. In the foreground, a flock of sheep with young lambs regard me quizzically. Soon I reach a rough track which I join, heading west. This takes me past the remnants of old mine workings and, farther on, some ruined buildings standing forlorn, the windfarm as their backdrop – old and new juxtaposed. I am back at the railway now and cross a footbridge before turning right at a sign marked ‘0.7m to Cobbinshaw’. The path is also intriguingly signposted ‘The Fairy Path’. The reason for this soon becomes apparent - tree stumps decorated as fairy houses line the route and bring a smile as I pass. As well as its more mystical inhabitants, the railway siding is populated by rowan, birch, and goat willow – the catkins of the latter each a tiny explosion of pollen-laden bristles. Boughs are a-buzz with bees gathering nectar. An orange tip butterfly flaps by.
Before long, I am back at the access road and ascend back towards the car, thoughts elevated by this delightful walk. This area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and it’s easy to see why, with the wonderful variety of landscape, flora and fauna to be found here. As I cast my eye back the way I came, a low rumble signals the passage of the West Coast Line. I turn and continue back towards the car and the warblers sing me home.
The walk is approx. 3 miles over mostly level terrain and can be completed in 1-1.5 hrs, but it’s worth allowing a little longer for stops.
This article was contributed by William Weir. William is a scientist and amateur writer/ photographer who lives locally. In his spare time he enjoys exploring the trails and wild spaces of West Lothian and the Pentland Hills.
DAILY UNTIL THURSDAY 15TH AUGUST
Summer Adventures at Almond ValleySchools Out, it’s time to kick back and enjoy the fun of the summer. Daily alpaca feeding, meet the Clydesdales, animal handling, train and tractor rides and den building - how are you going to fit it all in one visit! Almond Valley Heritage Centre, Millfield, Livingston, EH54 7AR
SATURDAY 6TH JULY
Friends of Almondell & Calderwood Country Park Volunteering session - The Friends of Almondell's monthly practical project meeting. Volunteer group helping to conserve and maintain the 220 acre Almondell & Calderwood Country Park including the Oakbank extension. Please get in touch by contacting the Ranger Service on 01506 882254, or email almondell&calderwood@westlothian.gov.uk to find out more about getting involved. Facebook: Friends of Almondell & Calderwood Country Park
SUNDAY 14TH JULY
Coastal Capers - Come along to Blackness Castle and explore the seashore with the Historic Environment Scotland Rangers. Make some art and learn about the creatures that live call the shore their home. Blackness Castle, EH49 7NH, 1.00pm - 3.00pm. FREE
SUNDAY 14TH JULY
Almond Valley Nature Action PicnicAlmond Valley Nature Action for a picnic at Howden Park, Livingston, 1.00pm3.00pm. Please bring a packed lunch, we will provide refreshments and biscuits. Weather depending, we will carry out a Big Butterfly Count, a Flower Insect Timed (FIT) Count and practice woodland meditation. Further details available on our blog almondvalleynatureaction.blog/events
TUESDAY 16TH JULY
Printmaking Evening - Come along for our adults printmaking session from 7-9pm. Led by artist Carla Smith, the workshop will explore printmaking using recycled Tetra Pak. This is a great technique to learn and opens up a whole world of printing using materials you find around the house - the session even uses a pasta machine! Learn the basics of this technique and come away with your very own A6 prints! This workshop is suitable for both beginners and those who have some print experience. Tickets £25. Age 16 and up. To book please call us on 01506 238961. Potter Around, Overton Farm, Kirknewton, EH27 8DD.
THURSDAY 25TH JULY
West Lothian Prostate Cancer support meeting - West Lothian Prostate Cancer support group provides help and support for men recently diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. Next meeting, which includes guest speakers, is at 7.00pm on Thursday 25th July at Crofthead Community Centre, Livingston, EH54 6DG. All welcome.
SATURDAY 27TH JULY
West Lothian Pride - Howden Park Centre. Live music and entertainment, parade through town centre, information stalls, food and drink vendors. westlothianpride.org.uk
SATURDAY 3RD & SUNDAY 4TH AUGUST
Open Days at Almondell Model Engineering Centre - A fantastic family day out, with train rides on their new extended track through the woodland. Tea, coffee and snacks. Free parking, picnic area. 10.30am - 4.00pm. Drumshoreland Muir, Drumshoreland Road, Broxburn, EH52 5PF
SPORTS, HOBBIES, LEARNING, SUPPORT GROUPS & MORE...
MID CALDER COMMUNITY
HUB - Every Thursday 12 till 2.00pm. Institute Hall (Community Centre) Mid Calder. We have free teas and coffee along with cake and biscuits together with a warm welcome and friendly chat. Open to all. We look forward to seeing you soon. Any questions just pop in to see us.
MID CALDER WOMEN’S
GROUP - Mid Calder Women’s Group would like to welcome new members. We are a group aged 60+ who meet each Monday at the Institute Hall, Mid Calder, from 12.45pm until 3pm. Cost per week is £3/member. We organise various activities including, games, quizzes, bingo, well being exercises and regular talks from external speakers and entertainers. We also arrange coach trips to places of interest. Interested? Please contact Jackie on 01506 883205
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 1.00pm to 3.00pm (September-April). New members welcome. Contact Carole on 07821 699332 for further details.
MID CALDER BABY & TODDLER GROUP - Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9am11.30 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 9.00-11.00am 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: 7.009.00pm, 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.
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 (SeptemberMay) 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
SOLUTION TO JUNE CROSSWORD
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 lineone.net
CHOOSE YOU YOGA STUDIO & WELLNESS HUB
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
SOLUTION TO JUNE CROSSWORD
ACROSS: 1. Famous, 4. Drapes, 9. Grandma, 10. Agree, 11. Taste, 12. Untying, 13. Outstanding, 18. Harvest, 20. Virgo, 22. Wager, 23. Reading, 24. Return, 25. Recess.
DOWN: 1. Fights, 2. Meals, 3. Undress, 5. React, 6. Portion, 7. Sledge, 8. Manufacture, 14. Upright, 15. Deviate, 16. Shower, 17. Boughs, 19. Error, 21. Raise.
SOLUTION TO SUDOKU ON PAGE XX
- 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 & 7.308.45pm 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 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
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.
W: www.carers-westlothian.com
Publisher: Lothian Publications Ltd. Geddes House, Kirkton North, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 6GU.
- 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 Centrecall 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
ACROSS: 1. Famous, 4. Drapes, 9. Grandma, 10. Agree, 11. Taste, 12. Untying, 13. Outstanding, 18. Harvest, 20. Virgo, 22. Wager, 23. Reading, 24. Return, 25. Recess.
DOWN: 1. Fights, 2. Meals, 3. Undress, 5. React, 6. Portion, 7. Sledge, 8. Manufacture, 14. Upright, 15. Deviate, 16. Shower, 17. Boughs, 19. Error, 21. Raise.
SOLUTION TO SUDOKU ON PAGE XX
SOLUTION TO SUDOKU PAGE 28
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.
Magazine Design: Alan Stewart Design T: 07729 911858
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
NOT-FOR-PROFIT GROUPS ARE FREE. THERE IS A SMALL CHARGE FOR BUSINESSES. SEE WWW.KONECT.SCOT FOR INFORMATION.
Publisher: Lothian Publications Ltd. Geddes House, Kirkton North, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 6GU.
Magazine Design: Alan Stewart Design T: 07729 911858
Stunts have been around since the beginning of cinema. From Buster Keaton to Jackie Chan, from Stagecoach to Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning. Cinema has been shaped by the men and women who risk their lives to film some of the most dangerous feats.
The Fall Guy is a true love letter to stunt work. Focusing on our titular stuntman Colt Seavers, played by the always charismatic Ryan Gosling, as he comes back to work on a project directed by the love of his life that slipped through his grasp. Colt will do anything to reconnect with Joby but while filming the new film the main star has gone missing. Colt has been tasked to find him.
My biggest issue is present from the quick summary I gave: the film has two plot lines, the rom-com and the action-based manhunt. There is too much going on, and when the film is at its best, it focuses on the love storyline. Putting that aside though, The Fall Guy is an utter blast. The humour is top-notch. Ryan Gosling is such a talented actor that even the smallest action can be funny. Then the action and stunt work kicked into high gear and some moments blew me away. There is a helicopter fall that will make you audibly gasp.
The Fall Guy is just a good time and a solid watch. It is the perfect love letter for stunt work and performers, and I can’t wait to watch it again.
Available to buy or rent on digital platforms.
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.
If you or someone you know, has an interesting experience, an unusual job, does extraordinary charity work, has a crazy hobby..... get in touch via editor@konect.scot and we may be able to share it. (You need to live and/or work in the Mid Calder, East Calder, Kirknewton, or Pumpherston areas to feature in this magazine)
