Konect Calders May 2023

SPOTLIGHT: LOCAL ENVIRONMENT: LOCAL WALK:

We’re having a spell of sunshine as I write this, so hopefully the weather has turned for the summer! There is a local walk by the canal to enjoy, written when the weather was a little colder; and May is bike month, so to help motivate you to get out and about, Love to Ride West Lothian are running a bike challenge for all levels, with some great prizes up for grabs! See the What’s On page for sign up information.

Don’t miss the job opportunity on page 20, if you or anyone you know is looking for work. And this month’s local business spotlight is on Marc Van Cartier-Kerr Artisan, who can look after all your soft furnishing needs and brings a unique and broad approach to interior design.

I hope you enjoy the magazine this month. Thank you for reading Konect and supporting local businesses and organisations.

COVER IMAGE: Bike Month May is coming! See p35 for 'What's On'.

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

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It’s a chilly and windswept afternoon as we set off. Rain is threatening from the west, our direction of travel, but we press on. We are walking the stretch of the Union Canal between Lin’s Mill and Broxburn, a 2.5-mile section of the waterway.

We begin at the Lin’s Mill car park, accessed via the road past Clifton Mains and situated at the confluence with one of the canal feeder channels flowing down from Cobbinshaw Reservoir.

Although this will be an otherwise perfectly level walk (the canal being ingeniously designed to track the 73-metre elevation contour along its length thus avoiding the use of locks), we begin by descending and ascending the many steps as we go down, beneath the Almond Aqueduct, and back up the other side so we can access the walkway on the far bank. This proves ample demonstration of the imposing height of this Victorian engineering triumph. Gathering our breath and looking down from the guard rail at the shallow waters of the River Almond rippling over flat rock strata below, my stomach does a small somersault contemplating the dizzying drop. Incredibly, in the winter of 1895, water from the sluice overflow which controls the height of water

in the canal froze, forming an icicle which stretched all the way down to the frozen river 23 metres below. In another slightly chilling fact from this area’s past, a nearby information board notes that William Lin, who lived at the nearby mill, is said to be the last Scot to die of the plague in 1645.

Despite its wintry edge, the air is fragrant too, a mixture perhaps of the gorse (some already in flower), the cut reeds by the water’s edge, and the new crops beginning to sprout in the adjacent fields. There are few trees along this section of the canal and this allows clear views across to Broxburn and Greendykes Bing beyond. As we walk, the white-noise rush of traffic on the M8 builds steadily. Each of the bridges over the canal are numbered and soon we arrive at 21a, whose side bears the large letters MM – indicating the name by which it is better known, the Millennium Bridge. This bridge carries the M8 over the canal near the point where previously the road’s construction blocked the waterway, the canal having now been diverted 100 metres south to facilitate the new crossing. The bridge took on particular significance at the culmination of the Millennium Link project to reopen the canal when, in May 2000, two boats - one having departed from Linlithgow and one from Ratho - met here bow to bow.

All photos by William Weir

As we continue along the final stretch of our walk, as ever, we keep our eyes peeled for wildlife. However, we draw a blank and, with the wind biting, we conclude that local creatures must have withdrawn to nest or burrow, seeking warmth and shelter. Just as we are contemplating doing much the same, our thoughts turning to steaming mugs of hot chocolate, I glance across the water to see a dark chocolate shape disappear into the water. Just a tail. Too long to be that of a rat or water vole. Could it be…?

For a minute or two we scour the water’s surface, but to no avail. Then, after we walk another 50 metres or so, there is movement on the opposite bank. There, beneath the shelter of a gorse bush, a small otter is returning our gaze. It eyes us cautiously for a few moments before slipping back into the water with effortless fluidity and vanishing from sight…

Find out more about the Union Canal, its heritage and stories, and get the accompanying app, at unioncanalunlocked.org.uk

O- can be given to almost anyone and is known as the ‘universal’ blood group; making it extremely valuable in emergency situations.

Every single blood donor can save or improve lives. At our Livingston Blood Donor Centre, we’re looking for new donors, and asking people to return and donate if they have not given for a while.

Your gift of a blood donation could be needed at a hospital anywhere in Scotland, to support major surgery, accident victims and childbirth emergencies. They are also needed when illnesses such as arthritis or cancer cause anaemia, for premature babies and to treat patients who are bleeding for other reasons. There are 8 blood types, and some are more common than others. O+, A+ and O- are the most common blood groups, making up nearly 80% of the population. That’s why these blood groups are always in high demand.

More than two million people in Scotland have blood group O+, which makes it the most common blood group in the country. We aim to keep six days’ blood in stock to meet the needs of patients in Scotland. And with blood having a shelf life of just 35 days, we need hundreds of donors every day to come and give blood.

Two easy ways to book! Online at www.scotblood.co.uk Or, you can call us on 0345 90 90 999 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm). Our friendly team are here to help and can answer any questions you may have.

Find us at The Centre Livingston, situated next to Holland & Barrett, just along from Wilko. Open 7 days. A warm welcome awaits you.

0345 90 90 999 | scotblood.co.uk

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.

Staying physically active in old age is essential for maintaining good health and improving overall well-being. Regular exercise can help prevent a range of health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and some forms of cancer. It can also help to maintain mobility, strength and balance, which are crucial for preventing falls and maintaining independence.

Older adults can benefit from a variety of physical activities, such as walking, swimming, cycling, yoga, and strength training. It’s important to find activities that you enjoy and that are suitable for your fitness level and health status.

If you’re just starting out, start slowly and gradually increase the intensity and duration of your exercise. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week, and include strength training exercises at least two days per week.

It’s also important to incorporate flexibility and balance exercises into your routine. These can help to improve range of motion, prevent falls, and improve overall physical function.

Remember, it’s never too late to start exercising, and even small amounts of activity can have a big impact on your health. There are organisations that run groups across West Lothian to help adults over the age of 50 stay active, such as the Ageing Well Project and the West Lothian 50+ Network. Alternatively, Home Instead can help support you to keep active at home with everything from accompanying you on a short walk to supporting with physiotherapy exercises.

Ageing Well Project: 01506 237950 westlothianleisure.com/current-activities/ ageing-well/

West Lothian 50+ Network: 01506 635510 westlothian50plusnetwork.co.uk/

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

Looking for long, luscious lashes? Here’s how to get lashes you’ll be proud to flutter.

AT HOME SERUMS - Growth serums aim to strengthen lashes, promote healthy growth and reduce lash loss. At £37.99, the UKlash Eyelash Serum is on the pricier side, but it’s packed with vitamins and peptides, and fans rave about it. A good budget-friendly alternative is e.l.f. Enhancing Lash & Brow Serum, which is just £8.

LASH EXTENSIONS - The best thing about lash extensions is that they can be tailored to you from full, long, natural looking lashes to a more dramatic effect. Done well, lash extensions should last around six weeks, but you’ll need them in-filled every two to three weeks and you should take a break now and then to protect your own lashes.

LASH TINT - If you want something a bit more subtle, a lash tint could be perfect, particularly if you have naturally fair eyelashes. You can buy a kit to tint your eyelashes at home, but it is pretty fiddly to do yourself. Whether you go DIY or professional, a tint should last for around four to six weeks.

LASH LIFT - A lash lift curls your eyelashes upwards and is often combined with a tint to give the best results. It’ll make your eyelashes more visible, but it won’t add length or volume. A lash lift is semi-permanent, so should last for around six weeks.

THE BEST MASCARA - There are hundreds of mascaras to choose from so start your search by filtering for the one with the highest reviews. As an example,

Maybelline Lash

Sensational Sky

High Mascara has an average of 4.5 stars, from more than 1,500 reviews, but is actually one of the cheaper brands at £11.99.

Time to RETHINK those goals

At the beginning of every year most of us find ourselves setting out goals and making resolutions which are often swiftly followed by the crushing disappointment and sense of failure we feel when it’s too cold to go out running or those healthy salads just don’t tempt us.

Then, when spring arrives, we set out a whole new set of goals whether it’s spring cleaning, getting rid of clutter or focusing on healthy food choices. All goals which are very similar to the ones we laid out in January with just a little twist to reflect the latest trends.

It’s easy to blame ourselves for our lack of willpower but, to paraphrase Einstein, the definition of insanity is repeating the same thing again and again and expecting a different result. Isn’t it time to think about

those changes that we say we want to make and decide whether it’s really what we want or if it’s just what we think we should want? Running or going to the gym aren’t for everyone and deciding to concentrate instead on self care could change our lives forever. Not setting ourselves unrealistic goals at any time of the year and focusing instead on what we really want to achieve can be the beginning of a whole new, healthy habit. We could decide that exercise and a whole new eating plan isn’t as important to us as reading that book we always wanted to read, starting that new hobby or deciding to keep in better touch with those people we miss and want to spend more time with.

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

Around 80% of what we perceive of as taste actually comes from our sense of smell. Our sense of smell is very important and has a huge role in the art of wine tasting.

The key to detecting and describing smells isn’t in the number of expensive wines tasted over the years, it’s my day-to-day life of grocery shopping! You can’t describe a smell if you haven’t smelt it before!

If you would like to expand your aroma memory, I recommend you visit the local greengrocers. Purchase some of the fresh produce; dirty carrots, seasonal fruit, ripe tomatoes on the vine, different coloured grapefruit and citrus. Take your items home and spend time thinking about how each item smells. What does the damp soil smell like? What does the stalk of a tomato smell like? Can you remember smelling that green peppery smell before when you’ve visited a greenhouse? A ruby grapefruit smells and tastes very different to a yellow grapefruit. Peel back the skin and pith, think about the different smells and log them in your memory bank.

While I may never describe a wine as smelling of dirty carrots, I may use the term ‘earthy’ and recall the damp smell of earth on the carrots. Sometimes a white wine will have a strong vegetal note reminiscent of the green peppery notes of ripe vine grown tomatoes. These descriptors round out the tasting note and help others relate to the wine.

By paying attention to the smells around us and logging them in your memory bank, we improve our ability to recall aroma and describe a smell. Wine tasting is about the senses and smell is a huge part of that experience!

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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COLOUR & COMFORT: ARTISAN

Marc Van Cartier Kerr is a local artisan who, with a string of interior design credentials behind him, now focuses on beautiful made to measure curtains, blinds and upholstery work.

“I tend to work on restoration of family pieces that have sentimental value, such as an old family armchair,” he explains. His passion for his work is clear, creating something beautiful from high quality materials, either a restored piece of furniture or new soft furnishings. He loves to take on small commissions and bring a treasured piece back to life, as well as larger projects such as re-covering a sofa. He is able then if required to supply matching curtains, blinds, cushions, lampshades - any soft furnishings in fact, to create a complete look for the room.

The word “artisan” in Marc’s business name was deliberately chosen to express his way of working: the very opposite of mass produced

items designed for the short term. Marc’s work starts with a home visit, to see the room that will be decorated, to measure for the window coverings or to see the furniture in its context. He works with natural materials wherever possible, preferring horsehair, brushed cotton or linen for stuffing, and always selects the material that will give the best result for the project in hand.

Marc loves colour and comfort. He’s not a fan of white minimalism, so he’ll embolden you to go for the colours you know you really want. “Don’t paint a small room white. It won’t make it bigger, it will just make it look cold!” he says. At the same time though, his overriding priority is to help you express yourself and be comfortable at home, so if you really want white walls, he’ll work with it and the finished room will have the wow factor.

Marc’s background means he brings an invaluable broad perspective. Starting out in the fashion and textiles industry, he moved into interior design and has consulted on new-build show homes and worked with architects at the design stage.

“It’s vital to understand how a space is used every day and make the most of it, rather than simply imposing a theme,” he explains. Seemingly simple things make a huge difference, such as where light switches are placed, which way doors open, or

“As an interior designer, my job is to help you express your personality in your home, not to tell you what you should or shouldn’t do with it.”

looking at how people will flow through a social area. Taking care of these details means that when the finished room is dressed beautifully, it’s not just a surface-level beauty.

Marc offers a massive selection of high quality fabrics from his favourite supplier ILIV. He can handle shapes such as arched windows, and can make matching pelmets, cushion covers, lampshades, trims, as well as advise on and supply curtain poles and tracks.

“There is no such thing as an interior design sin. At the end of the day, we all want a place where we can relax and feel at home. So do what pleases you, not what pleases someone else.”

So whether you have a one-off special project to revive a treasured chair, or need a room by room transformation of your home, Marc is more than able to help you bring your ideas to vibrant life.

Off-market doesn’t have to mean off-limits

Finding your dream home via direct mail

At Turpie and Co, we know that finding and buying a property in the current market can be frustrating. The number of properties coming to market in most areas is lower than in previous years and buyer activity remains competitive.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of our business is helping movers find their dream home. Many buyers don’t realise that what they see advertised on the online portals is just a snapshot of what is actually available to purchase at any given time.

Over the years we have witnessed many buyers suffer from ‘buyer’s remorse’ when the house they’ve always coveted comes to market just months after they’ve moved into a new property. So sometimes you need to take a different approach.

To this end, we have invested in innovative new technology allowing us to post out a carefully crafted series of letters to specific people or addresses. One of the benefits of this new system is that it allows us to write to sellers as soon as their property

comes to the market (regardless of who they are selling their property with) offering to help them source the perfect property for their onward move. We can be very selective in terms of who we are targeting and why we are targeting them (for example, “We have a chain-free, cash buyer with a budget of X amount who has told us they may be interested in purchasing your property.”)

For many years we have worked to earn the trust of local homeowners by educating them with relevant market updates, news and insights – we know that homeowners are more likely to respond to reputable brands that they can trust. Whilst indiscriminate mail dropping rarely works and can

We can now discreetly approach home owners on a buyer’s behalf should a particular house or area be of interest. We can effectively target the homes that no one else can.

teach an audience to ignore marketing, this is different. It enables us to target specific homeowners with personalised and relevant communications that will help them find the perfect buyer. We can match buyers to their dream home, before the property reaches the open market.

This service is unique in the West Lothian area, and benefits both buyer and seller. It is a further development of our longstanding “Turpie Confidential” service, where we specialise in the sale of offmarket properties. Properties sold via Turpie Confidential do not appear in the public domain and many of our recent sales and purchases have been conducted in this way. Instead of bringing a property to open market with the usual initial exposure across the property portals

such as Rightmove and Zoopla, we make it quietly known that a property is for sale to suitable pre-qualified buyers. The new system lets us take this a step further and we can now discreetly approach home owners on a buyer’s behalf should a particular house or area be of interest. We can effectively target the homes that no one else can.

If you are currently on the market and still haven’t found a new home, or if you are delaying bringing your house to market as you just can’t find what you are looking for then speak to us and we may be able to assist you.

Call: 01506 668448

Email: info@turpies.com

Visit: www.turpies.com

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.

THRILLERS, FILLERS & SPILLERS

Are you looking for some inspiration for creating your summer displays this month?

First, choose a “thriller” plant like this Dahlia and place it in the middle of your pot, or towards the back if the pot is going to sit against a wall. This is the star performer in your cast of plants. Other ‘thrillers’ could include Marguerites, Upright Fuchsia, Upright Geraniums, Osteospermums and Salvias.

Surround your “thriller” with three or so “fillers” to support your star plant and fill in the main part of the pot. Here we used some terracotta coloured of Calibrachoas – they used to be called Million Bells, a dwarf relative of Petunia. Other ‘fillers’ might be Sweet William, New Guinea imps, Brachycome, Begonias and Pansies.

Finish off with three or more “spillers” to trail or spill down the sides of the pot, here we used a brightly variegated trailing Fuchsia making quite a dramatic statement in our tall terracotta Long Tom. You could choose other ‘spillers’ like Lobelia, Bacopa, trailing Surfinia, Verbena or trailing Geraniums. Now all you need to do is water very regularly and keep feeding your plants… and sit back and enjoy your creation.

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

3 THINGS TO CONSIDER FOR YOUR FINANCIAL PLANNING

It’s rare to have one job for life. Keeping track of your benefits and ensuring you know key information is crucial for your future retirement and financial planning. Here is 3 things to consider

1. WILL YOUR EMPLOYER MATCH YOUR ADDITIONAL PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS?

If you’re employed and eligible, you’ll automatically be enrolled in your workplace pension but you or your employer may be able to pay in more.

2. WHAT ‘S HAPPENING WITH YOUR OLD WORKPLACE PENSION?

Your old pension plan will still exist, even when you leave for a new job. However, your old employer will no longer contribute and any

automatic contributions you were making will also stop. A financial adviser can give you more details on the options available to you with an old workplace pension, including finding an old pension if you’ve moved house or lost policy details.

3. DO YOU HAVE ALL THE PROTECTION BENEFITS YOU NEED?

The benefits available to you, including death in service and sick pay, may have changed – make sure you still have the protection you need, again a financial adviser can help here.

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 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.

Whilst I’d love to have a picture of a kingfisher perched on a lichen-covered stick, or on top of a reed with a nice clean background, the reality of wildlife photography is that the species in question doesn’t always hang out in the pretty places.

Sometimes their favourite perch hangs down over a very muddy bank, which they use as a toilet and there are distractions everywhere (like the leaves of a dandelion) but we enjoy it anyway because seeing a kingfisher never fails to brighten your day.

Did you know, the flash of blue down the back of a kingfisher is actually brown? The bright colour we perceive is due to “structural colouration” and makes them more colourful than they appear at certain angles. It results in iridescent colours and another good example is the feathers of a peacock. Nature is truly wonderful!

This is a male bird and going by the dirt on his beak, he’s been doing some nest digging. The female has an orange lower beak. It’d be great if they raised some young, though as they nest in riverbanks if we have

any heavy rain it can put the location in danger. It’s important to note that Kingfishers are Schedule 1 protected birds and it’s an offence to intentionally disturb them throughout the nesting season.

I have to thank my friend John, who keeps a careful eye on them throughout the year and lets me know how they’re getting on.

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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PUZZLES

MAY CROSSWORD

^^^ Solution in the June edition of Konect

ACROSS: 1Small tunnel (6), 4. Rubbed out (6), 9. Stretchy (7), 10. Young females (5), 11. Type of music (5), 12. External (7), 13. Translated (11), 18. Window covering (7), 20. Nip (5), 22. Smell (5), 23. Passion (7), 24. Female relation (6), 25. Harsh (6).

DOWN: 1. Combines (6), 2. Highways (5), 3. Result (7), 5. Correct (5), 6. Outlive (7) 7. Bowls (6), 8. Escorted (11), 14. Becomes thinner (7), 15. Blow up (7), 16. Reverberates (6), 17. Alter (6), 19. Consent (5), 21. Innocent (5).

MAY SUDOKU

Rosemary-infused lamb chops

Let’s marry two of May’s finest ingredients, fresh rosemary and lamb, to make a simple and delicious dish.

Rosemary is easily recognisable this month with pretty flowers ranging from white to blue or violet and will infuse lamb with this easy peasy marinade to another flavour dimension - in the kitchen or on the barbecue. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 12 Scottish lamb chops

• 50-60ml or a good glug olive oil

• 1 lemon, juice only

• 2-3 rosemary sprigs, gently torn

• 3-4 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed

• salt and pepper to taste

Serves 4

Method:

1. Put the lamb chops into a dish.

2. Mix all the other ingredients together and pour over the lamb chops.

3. Allow to marinade at room temperature for a minimum of 1 hour, turning occasionally to fully infuse the flavours.

4. Grill or barbecue on either side, cooking to your preference.

5. Serve with roasted Mediterranean vegetables and roast or saute or mashed potatoes.

The recipe was contributed by Gina Giubarelli of ‘Bellini Cookery School.’ Gina lives in West Lothian and is passionate about food! She offers classes in basic cooking and a healthy diet.

SATURDAY 6TH MAY

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 10.00am until 12.00noon. See Facebook page @friendsofalmondell

SUNDAYS THROUGH THE SUMMER - 7TH MAY, 4TH JUNE, 6TH AUGUST, 17TH SEPTEMBER

Open Days at Almondell Model Engineering Centre - All welcome. Free admission and parking. Extended train route, train rides £5 first ride, £2 subsequent rides. Driver Experience £8. Picnic Areas. Refreshments and toilets. Open 10.30 to 4.00pm. Edinburgh Society of Model Engineers, The Almondell Model Engineering Centre Drumshoreland Muir, Drumshoreland Road, Broxburn, EH52 5PF

Love

WITHOUT LIMIT, Life WITHOUT

At

A talk on Christian Science

Fujiko Takai Signs, CSB

Location Contact

SC014327

Admission is free

SOLUTIONS

SOLUTION TO APRIL CROSSWORD

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

ACROSS: 1. Frantic, 5. Level, 8. Frequency, 9. Ban, 10. Harsh, 12. Release, 13. Demonstration, 15. Numeral, 17. Sugar, 19. Ice, 20. Buttercup, 22. Tests, 23. Desired.

DOWN: 1. Fifth, 2. Ale, 3. Toughen, 4. Congratulated, 5. Loyal, 6. Vibrating, 7. Lantern, 11. Remembers, 13. Dentist, 14. Answers, 16. Robes, 18. Rapid, 21 Car.

SOLUTION TO SUDOKU ON PAGE 33

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 PLAYGROUPMon-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.

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

Disclaimer: The publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage caused by error in the printing of an advertisement. We do not endorse any advertisers in this publication. All material is accepted for publication on the understanding it is copyright free. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior consent of the publisher.

Publisher: Lothian Publications Ltd.

Geddes House, Kirkton North, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 6GU.

Magazine Design:

Alan Stewart Design

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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.

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

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.

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 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 6.00-7.15 & 7.30-8.45pm Thursday. Iyengar yoga 9.4511.00am 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

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.

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 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 £20. Follow our Facebook page, visit www. westlothian50plusnetwork.co.uk or call 01506 635510

We live in an era where smartphones in our pockets are more powerful than the computers that allowed Apollo 11 to land on the moon. It’s quite scary how much technology has advanced in such a short time.

This advancement is perfectly highlighted in Matt Johnson’s recent film Blackberry. The film follows Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie during the rise and eventual fall of Blackberry. In a way, technology innovation perfectly parallels Matt Johnson’s directing. Previously, he mainly worked on films with a fake documentary style to them. This is his first film where this isn’t the case, and you would never have known.

The way he transitions to a more traditional film is utterly gripping and still feels like a film he would have made. The script is smart, intense and so witty it makes the most boring of topics. I feel like I’m watching the final act of Uncut Gems. Everyone in the cast is simply fantastic, making every scene engaging and thrilling. We believe these people are smart in their respective fields whether it’s technology or business.

The cherry on top of this delicious cake though is the soundtrack. The score has this groove and drive that makes you want to bop your head. Unlike Blackberry phones which are relics of the past, this film launches Matt Johnson’s career and is a defining project in his filmography. The film is simply incredible, and I feel one of the best films of 2023.

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.

AN INTERVIEW WITH MATT JOHNSON_

RE_ How was it to try and adapt that style you have worked over the years to a more traditional cinematic movie?

MJ_ I had to do a lot. I have never written a script before and I had never done anything like writing a movie before, and so I kind of needed to find ways of putting that stuff into the script and into characters’ dialogue with my co-writer Matt Miller. It was a totally like, I had to learn to make movies again. I had to completely teach myself to make movies from the ground up.

RE_ Was there a story you discovered during your research that shocked you and you kept in the movie?

MJ_ Every moment you find out in the script, be it Jim backdating the stock, the insane hiring of the American and international engineers, Mike inventing the Storm in the meeting - are literally what blew me away.

RE_ As a movie buff, what would be your rainy-day movie to put on?

MJ_ I am unique in this way, as I really hate watching movies I have watched before and I would prefer to watch something I hadn’t previously seen. But to play into the question I think movies I would watch over and over again and just love are I Heart Huckabees, the Disney animated Robin Hood and the original TMNT, the 1989 film.