Konect Directory Calders April 2013 by Konect Magazines

konect the

rs & Offe ers h c u vo cal from lo ses s e busin

April 2013

directory

From grime to golf The story of Pumpherston golf course No April Fools Odd Gadgets Keep on Running Running for Charity

WIN

4 ball at Pumpherston Golf Club Crossword Competition plus local businesses, community information and more!

The Calders, Kirknewton & Pumpherston

COLIN NIXON MOT SALES & SERVICE CENTRE NOW OPEN - BODY REPAIRS

AND SPRAY PAINTING FACILITIES

Our choice of vehicles, selected by Colin Nixon, come complete with a Pre-Sales Service and 12 Month Warranty on some of our vehicles.

ESTABLISHED OVER 25 YEARS Telephone: 01506 882 185 Email: info@colinnixonautosafe.co.uk Web: colinnixonautosafe.co.uk 2

Edinburgh Road East Calder EH53 0ET

Please remember to mention The Konect Directory when contacting advertisers

Editor’s Message Welcome to the April issue of the Konect Directory. We hope you like the new look for the magazine. Our feature article this month - “From grime to golf” - reveals some interesting details about the site of Pumpherston golf course. And as it’s the season for marathon training, our usual walk feature is replaced by a look at running instead of walking. New columns include gardening tips and a look at technology. As usual, many local businesses are offering generous discounts for Konect readers, so leaf through carefully and find all the offers! Congratulations to Tony Lavelle of Wilkieston who won the crossword competition in the last issue. This month the prize is 4 ball at Pumpherston Golf Club, so try your luck with the crossword on page 38. Thanks for reading the Konect Directory and have a great Easter break!

Helen-Jane, Editor hj@konectdirectory.co.uk 07854 492638

Contents

Feature Article Pumpherston Golf Course 8 Local Walk 18 Family History 24 Pets 32 Recipe & Food Notes 42

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Competitions & puzzles Prize crossword Community What’s on Useful information Clubs & Classes Index of Advertisers

38 48 48 50 54

The Konect Directory is delivered to homes in Kirknewton, East Calder, Mid Calder and Pumpherston. Copies are also left at the libraries, sports centre, convenience stores and various other locations within the area.

Advertising enquiries: Jenny Thomson 07824 469266 jenny@konectdirectory.co.uk Charlene Gaffney 07772 941899 charlene@konectdirectory.co.uk Advert booking deadline: 15th of the month prior to print Artwork/copy deadline: 18th of the month prior to print

Front cover photograph by Jenny Thomson: Pumpherston Golf Course

To advertise call Jenny on 07824 469266 or Charlene on 07772 941899

Contact: Geoff Vinter 07817 073 577 Joinery 01506 414 573 All types of joinery work including: Doors, Floors, Skirtings & Facings Kitchens, Custom Built Fitted Wardrobes, Decking & Fencing

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Visit Our Exclusive New Showroom

Kitchens Bathrooms Conservatories Blinds & Shutters Windows & Doors Sun Lounges & Orangeries

FREEPHONE 0800 247 1187 6-10 Glasgow Road Bathgate EH48 2AA

www.1stchoiceliving.co.uk sales@1stchoiceglazing.com

To advertise call Jenny on 07824 469266 or Charlene on 07772 941899

Nu - Walls Qualified in all aspects of painting, decorating & plastering ■ internal plastering ■ external/internal painting & decorating ■ ceiling / wall replacement ■ coving All estimates free, insurance quotes welcome Established 1985 3 Turner Street, Bathgate, EH48 4AR Tel 01506 634056 or 07765 402012 nu-wallsdec@hotmail.co.uk

The Clean Team Scotland Ltd

Dry Cleaners, Alterations, Laundry Covering Clackmannanshire, Edinburgh, Fife, the Lothians and Perth & Kinross We are currently looking for new agents to offer a Dry Cleaning drop off and pick up service from their premises. Excellent opportunity to increase your turnover without spending anything up front. Please call Adrian on 07872 900065 for further details.

Flowers by Irene

10 Faraday Place Addiewell, EH55 8NG

01506 854522 www.flowersbyirene.co.uk flowersbyirene@btconnect.com Many more flowers at www.flowersbyirene.co.uk

Tailoring ~ Alterations ~ Dry Cleaning 21 Almondvale Centre, Livngston, EH54 6NB

ial £10 wedding dress alterations Specer OFF with this advert f of

01506 438 000

stitchexpress@gmail.com www.stitchexpress.co.uk 6

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Under new management Computerised Injection (virtually pain free) Intraoral camera /caries detector Laser dental treatment Laser tooth whitening in just 45 minutes. Up to 40% OFF private dental treatment

We are now registering new NHS, Denplan and Private patients

To advertise call Jenny on 07824 469266 or Charlene on 07772 941899

Feature

Pumpherston Golf Course

Normally the retort is “I can remember when all of this was green fields” as you look at some urbanindustrial landscape or concrete jungle, “if only we could turn the clock back”. While West Lothian has certainly had its fair share of development, since 2002 a visitor to Pumpherston can turn back the clock, to the year 1883 when a lease was signed with the local landowner to establish the Pumpherston Oil Company. Back then the views around Pumpherston Farm stretched over the Almond valley to the Pentlands beyond. The area had once been the site of the ancient Pumpherston Castle, located to take advantage of a defensive position as the ground falls down to the Almond river. This is a story of grass to industrial grime, and then from grime to golf. It’s not only a local story but also an international one with businessmen from all corners of the world fighting over ‘Big Oil’ as the world’s increasing and insatiable demand for energy created some of the world’s largest companies. Today all is green and the impressive 18 holes of the Pumpherston Golf Club provide golfers with vast water features and plenty of testing bunkers that add to the beauty of the course. Here both experienced golfers can be tested, especially when the wind whips up, but the club also provides a welcome to young and inexperienced golfers. It was recently awarded the Scottish Golf Union’s junior charter – an accolade only given to the most “junior friendly” golf clubs.

From grime to golf By James Thomson

golfers in America as BP has also reclaimed back the site of another refinery in Casper, Wyoming. The Three Crowns golf course opened 3 years after Pumpherston’s enlarged course in 2005 and sits where another old established (1913) oil refinery had grown to become the largest plant in the world for US gasoline production. Pumpherston’s golf course has other unique stories to tell. It has moved around the area since the first 9 hole course was set up by the shale oil workers in 1895 at Harrymuir farm (which is now Houston Industrial Estate). By 1908 the course had been moved closer to the shale oil refinery only to move again in the 1930s to the west side of Pumpherston. It finally returned to the 1908 site in 1945 – but still as a modest 9 hole course. The 1998 Lottery award of £785,000 extended the site from 25 to 150 acres and in 2002, now in its 5th incarnation, the 18 hole course opened. Everyone that visits for the first time is impressed by the quality of the golf, the well maintained greens, the modern clubhouse, and the friendly welcome they receive.

Pumpherston Oil Works

The present scene is partly down to the largest lottery grant ever given to a golf club which, along with other funders and the oil giant BP, has transformed an area that, for more than a hundred years, Course Aerial view of Pumpherston Golf had been despoiled and tarnished by shale oil refining, bings of spent shale ore, mining works, tar residues and other petrochemical nasties. BP was keen to improve its green credentials, as long gone are the days when indiscriminate dumping of waste is acceptable. Interestingly Pumpherston has a sister-scenario for

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From Sir William to Prince William Sir William Fraser, Baron Strathalmond of Pumpherston William's father, also William, had been the manager of the Uphall Oil Company and in 1883 signed the lease for mining shale near Pumpherston. William senior had both the practicaoil experience and foresight to keep Scotland's early eastablishedl oil business going, as more efficient oil well extraction from The Emir of Kuwait with Sir William overseas brought in competition. He brought various local shale oil works together and created at Pumpherston a centre for local oil processing and innovations to keep costs down. He invented and patented the 'Pumpherston retort' in 1894 which was widely used across the Pumpherston works invested heavily and led with this shale oil shale oil industry, but the extraction technology. William junior was fortunate to witness and then play a leading amalgamation of oil starting at Pumpherston and ending with role in the global the creation of BP. This began in 1908 with the first commercially significant find in the Middle East where another Scottish company took the lead. Although the find was made by the Anglo-P ersian Oil Company (the pre-cursor to BP), in 1909 this company became a subsidia Company to exploit the Persian (Iran) opportunity. He became ry of Glasgow 's Burmah Oil Petroleum Advisor to the War Office and Pumpherston was a significant contributor to maintai ng oil reserves as half of Britain's crude oil tankers, bringing in much needed foreign oil, were sunk by U-boats. He was knighted in 1939 and became Chairman of Anglo-Persian in 1941 shortly before it was renamed British Petroleum. It was said that he had â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pumph erston oil in his veinsâ&#x20AC;? and the Pumpherston name lives on as he was then raised to the peerage as Lord Strathalmond of Pumpherston. The blood today is a little more blue the 3rd Lord Strathalmond's daughter, Virginia Fraser, is one of the loyal William & as set in London. Now who would have thought that Uphall and Pumpherston shale bingsKate would bring you closer to royalty?

To advertise call Jenny on 07824 469266 or Charlene on 07772 941899

The Shop for All Your Floral Needs...

Thomas Grieve & Son Funeral Directors 24 HOUR SERVICE

33 Greendykes Road, Broxburn 50 Main Street, West Calder 4 East Main Street, Blackburn

Tel: 01506 856 580 Tel: 01506 873 558 Tel: 01506 655 203

Monumental Sculptors Large Showroom at Broxburn

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HARBURN GOLF CLUB

Join before the last putt in US Masters and no up front fee required £49 a month on Direct Debit

**Don’t miss out on this offer. If you join after 15th April a £150 deposit is required to join.**

Offer ends 15th April Enjoy Harburn’s friendly clubhouse, quality catering, plus our much-envied and challenging heathland golf course with extensive opportunity for competition An inspection round for £10 can be booked and if you join you get your £10 back Great deals for junior memberships from £20 annually Family membership rates Please call 01506 871 131 Office hours 9am – 1pm Mon – Sat. info@harburngolfclub.co.uk ■ www.harburngolfclub.co.uko. uk

To advertise call Jenny on 07824 469266 or Charlene on 07772 941899

Treat your feet Give your feet some TLC with a treatment at Livingston Chiropody & Podiatry â&#x20AC;&#x201C; your local foot care specialist. Call now for an appointment

01506 466 006 Livingston Chiropody & Podiatry 4 Bankton Square Murieston Livingston EH54 9EY

A straighter smile for adults ...means no longer being an Ugly Betty!

9 East Main Street Broxburn EH52 5AB 01506 857717

After Before

Beautifully straight teeth in six months at No9 Free ning white ch a e h it w fitted brace

Shortlisted for

If you would like to know more please contact us

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Jane & Friends Hairdressers

109 Main Street, East Calder

01506 880704

Up-doâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for special occasions Open: Tue/Wed/Fri - 9am - 5pm Thur - 11am - 7pm Sat - 9am - 3pm Closed: Sunday & Monday

Classes available in : West Calder, Murieston, Dedridge, Deans, Linlithgow and East Calder.

Instructor : Susan Douglas

OAP specials: All day Tues/Wed Thur 11am - 4pm

Pilates & Fitness Expert: classes & personal training, plus instructor training, assessing & mentoring. Specialising in siatica, ante & post natal, osteoporosis, back problems, MS & arthritis

Contact Susan on 01506 870062 susan@douglaspilates.co.uk www.douglaspilates.co.uk

To advertise call Jenny on 07824 469266 or Charlene on 07772 941899

Thought for the Month

Train your mind By Jackie Whigham

better on the inside except a shift in our thinking and attitude to life. You can command everyone to ‘shut-up’ which will give you silence but it won’t give you peace!

Recognise all struggles that we experience are coming from our lack of acceptance of and our own resistance to ‘Life as it is’. It is our own judgements of what is that make us resist life and creates chronic discontentment within ourselves.

The easiest and quickest way to train your mind from constant resistance is to consciously bring your mind into the present moment, to the here and now and accept what is. Right now is all any of us have. Right Now is all that is real! Right now is where your power to change resides. Have a great day!

We have not yet learned to accept life on life’s terms, so instead we try to manipulate and control everything and everyone to our liking, thinking that will make us feel better inside. But it can’t. Nothing external can make us feel

Jackie is a Transformational Life Coach and Beauty Therapist at Xcite East Calder. For more information about her work go to www.jackiewhigham.com or you can reach me at info@jackiewhigham.com or 07845239490

Most people go through their whole lives struggling within themselves. Their lives can feel like they’re constantly pushing water up a hill or that they’re on the outside looking in.

TJ’S BARBERS 159 MAIN STREET EAST CALDER NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY GENTS £6.50 SENIORS £3.50 £5.50 BOYS

Tues - Fri 9am-5pm Sat 8am-3pm

Don’t just put up with painful feet...

Foot Clinic

Elizabeth Storrie, Foot Care Professional 124 Main St, East Calder, EH53 0HD

Professional treatment for: • corns • ingrown nails • hard skin • hard-to-cut nails Call 01506 883379 for an appointment Available Mondays & Tuesdays : early, daytime and evening appointments

Please remember to mention The Konect Directory when contacting advertisers

(Formerly Woodfield Beauty)

Fake Bake, Xen Tan, Bio Scultpture Gel Nails. Shellac, Ciate Nail Pots, Bare Minerals, LVL Lash Lift, Micro Dermabrasion, Specialist Waxing, HD Brows (coming soon), Natural Elements Organic Skin Care, Facials, Masssage.

SPECIAL OFFERS

■ Express facial & back

massage £27 (normally £39)

■ Full body massage £25

(normally £32)

■ LVL lash lift £22

t: 01506 872300 14 Union Square West Calder EH55 8EY e: info@retreathealthandbeauty.com www.retreathealthandbeauty.com

Visit our friendly new clinic for all your foot care needs. We offer a wide range of treatments including: Contact Julie 01506 885849 / 07706 389828 sewyou@btinternet.com www.spanglefish.com/sewyou

Routine Footcare Problem & Ingrown Nails Corns, Callous & Verrucae Nail Surgery Biomechanical Assessments Insoles & Orthotics Footwear Advice

To book an appointment please call Jackie on:

01506 884321 info@barefootchiropody.co.uk

www.barefootchiropody.co.uk 17 MAIN StReet, MId CAldeR, eH53 0AW

To advertise call Jenny on 07824 469266 or Charlene on 07772 941899

Established since 1992

No job too big or too small Free estimates

I provide expert advice on all building projects with a free consultation to determine viability.

All aspects of joinery : Kitchens, bathrooms, doors, double glazing, extensions, conservatories, garage conversions, flooring, fencings etc

Tel: 01506 464510 Mobile: 07989 421535 Turning your house into a home... We supply and fit the following ranges: • vertical • roller • wooded • pleated • apex • roman • panel • venetian • Vision • Shutters • conservatory • Perfect Fit • Intu Blinds • printed blinds • PVC Plus a wide range of made-to-measure curtains, tiebacks and poles.

£30 OFF any blind order over £150 with this advert

£50 OFF

any curtain order over £300 with this advert

www.stylerite-blinds.co.uk Unit 10, Abbotsford Rise, Dedridge, Livingston, EH54 6QD Tel: 01506 461721 (lines open 9am –10pm) Showroom open 9am–5pm Mon–Fri, 11am–4pm Sat

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Grant’s of Bathgate Ltd

City centre selection at out of town prices Personal friendly service Great deals on sofas, furniture, beds & floor coverings Large showroom Free delivery

GRANT’S OF BATHGATE

74 North Bridge Street, Bathgate, EH48 4PP

Tel : 01506 633286 www.grantsofbathgate.co.uk

INTEREST FREE CREDIT AVAILABLE Terms & conditions apply

To advertise call Jenny on 07824 469266 or Charlene on 07772 941899

Keep on Running

Running for Charity

the Edinburgh Half Marathon on 26 May. “I’m running with friends in Kirknewton or with my husband and that makes it more fun, but the hills are still tough,” she says. However Sally says the best thing about running is that she has discovered lots of new paths that she didn’t know existed and this has made her appreciate living here all the more. A perfect 10K loop for Sally and pals is from her house in Kirknewton, through the village, up Leyden Hill, along the Lang Wang, then down past the airfield and home.

As you may or may not have noticed, it is that time of year again when the roads seemed filled with lycra and fluorescent jackets. Yes, it is training time. Moonwalk, Marathon, Race for Life - there are numerous annual events that involve walking or running long distances in aid of charity or sometimes just for fun. Of course, while raising money and awareness is an admirable reason for running, getting fit is probably a prime motivator for most. The Rookies As regular readers probably know, walking is really my thing but I have been tempted to the ‘dark side’ and have taken up running! Getting fit is a motivator but I am also training to run the Race for Life 10K in Edinburgh on 16 June to raise money and awareness for Cancer Research. My friends Fiona and Lynne convinced me I could run even when I was adamant I couldn’t. And guess what, they were right. I can do it. We downloaded a running app on to our phones, donned the lycra and off we went. Before you knew it the nine week programme was complete and we were running 5K. Next step 5K-10K. Quite a bit step and a lot of sweat for me but I am sure I can do it. Only drawback is that the route involves running up Arthur’s Seat and me and hills do not quite go together yet! The Pros When it comes to hills, meet Sally. She is much harder core. Running now for around 18 months, Sally has a number of events under her belt already - her first being the Edinburgh BUPA 10K. Training has begun in earnest this year for the Rock and Roll Half Marathon in Edinburgh on 14 April and

By Karen Murray

The Kids The running bug seems to have been caught by the kids too - Andrew and Fergus, perhaps not previously known for their sporting prowess, have signed up for a fun run with Fergus’ brother Sandy, in order to give them the motivation to start running and getting fit. To complete the Livingston Round Table 5K Fun Run on 8th June is their mission and training has begun although with no lycra in sight! “We just wanted a reason to try something different and do some exercise,” say the boys. “We hope to make a good time but we will need to do quite a lot of training.”

Running apps to download Couch to 5K and 5K to 10K from Run Double Map my Run Technical equipment for the more professional nce Garmin watch - will log your dista and time accurately. Has a heart r. monitor. Downloads to compute

Feeling inspired? Get some running shoes and off you go…there’s no stopping you.

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Valet Master

Ltd

Valeting, Detailing, Body Repair DRIVE THRU CAR WASH NOW OPEN AT HOUSTON IND ESTATE Car Wash from £4

Joinery | Painting | Tiling | Sash Window Repairs etc

‘No job too small’...we will even change a light bulb. Kris Keegan Proprietor

Kris Keegan

Proprietor 9 Rosehill Place t. 07988 682 609

t. 07988 682 609e. info@westlothianhandyman.co.uk Eliburn, Livingston

e. info@westlothianhandyman.co.uk EH54 7DW w. www.westlothianhandyman.co.uk w.www.westlothianhandyman.co.uk

Mini Valet from £12

alet Free V ody b y n a h wit b or o j ir repa ash W urb r f e a r C ls alloy , whee advert is th &Wax s h re wit d & ty cleane £5 d e il o CALL FOR LATEST DEALS advert with this

tel 07733 885 986

enquiries@valetmasterscotland.com

Grange Rd, Houston Ind Estate Livingston EH54 5DE www.valetmasterscotland.com

To advertise call Jenny on 07824 469266 or Charlene on 07772 941899

£20 off

LLY REPA* GU IRS AR AN TEE

Quality, mobile car paintwork repairs at a fraction of body shop costs ✓Kerbed alloys ✓Bumper scuffs

✓Paintwork scratches

✓Minor dents ChipsAway Available: Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday 10am - 4pm

Franchisee Name now to arrange for Call ChipsAway F & N Georgeson now to arrange

your free estimate

01506 871 01234 456 891 789 or 0800 028 7878

S TE IR AN A P R RE UA G LY

or visit www.chipsaway.co.uk

* £20 discount only applicable to bookings over £100 and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Offer only available through ChipsAway Franchisee Name until 31st January 2011. Please produce advert at time of estimate.

KIRKNEWTON GARAGE 1 - 3 Main Street

RECOVERY ANYWHERE IN WEST LOTHIAN ONLY £40

M.O.T s £35.00

LABOUR RATE £10 PER HOUR

•CARS & VANS •SERVICING TOP PRICES •EXHAUSTS PAID FOR M.O.T. FAILURES •WELDING SCRAP CARS WANTED - FREE UPLIFT

ESTABLISHED 1950 20

FULL ENGINE SERVICE FROM BARRY’S TYRES

£65

PRICE INCLUDES FITTING 175x70x13........£21 165x70x14........£23 205x65x15........£30 195x60x15........£30 215x60x15........£35 205x50x16........£40 215x40x17........£49 225x40x18........£60 225x35x18........£70 175x14x8PLY......£33

TYRES FITTED FROM £10

Tel: 01506 885566

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Family business established over 40 years

Edinburgh’s best selection of

used vans All makes and models Opening Hours

Mon - Fri 8.30am - 6.00pm Sat 8.30 - 2.00pm

Part exchange welcome Licensed credit broker Full dealer facilities

All major credit cards accepted

VOSA - Approved MOT Centre

Class 4,5 & 7 for cars, vans, campervans and minibuses All servicing and repair work carried out Same day service All makes and models Fleets welcome Servicing • Tyres • Exhaust • Clutches • Batteries • Diagnostics Short walk from Heriot Watt University (Riccarton Campus) opposite park and ride on A71 Calder Road

0131 449 4098 07771 998546 or 07860 619850 sales@hermistonmotor.co.uk

www.hermistonmotor.co.uk 17 Hermiston Village, Edinburgh, EH14 4AW

To advertise call Jenny on 07824 469266 or Charlene on 07772 941899

Spotlight on: Finishing Touch

If the potential cost and inconvenience of getting body repairs done to your car is putting you off getting the work done, you need to call Finishing Touch. Established in 2005 by Derek Ogilvie, over the past eight years they have steadily built the business based on quality of work and customer service. After serving his apprenticeship with Audi and subsequently working for another body repair business, Derek became frustrated as he could see a much better way of doing things. So set up his own business with his brother and one vehicle. Now with a total of six people and plans for further expansion, the business is going from strength to strength. So what is the secret of their success? “I wanted to be the best at what I did,” Derek says simply. “All our staff have served full apprenticeships of 4.5 years, and all are approved by specific manufacturers. Each one of us has worked in an approved dealership, either BMW, Aston Martin or Mercedes.” So confidence in their workmanship is the key point. But they also focus on convenience to the customer combined with competitive pricing. Finishing Touch is a mobile service. Being without your car can be a barrier to getting bodywork done. But when you call Finishing Touch for a quotation, they come out to you, assess the car and give you a written quotation. If you decide to go ahead, they arrange the time and place most convenient to you – on your front drive at home, or in your car park at work for example. The technician will explain to you what will be done, then they install a canopy over your car and get to work. They finish with a courtesy wash to your vehicle and a follow-up call a few days later to make sure you were happy with the whole experience. How can I be sure that the work Finishing Touch does to my car on my front drive is as good as taking it into a bodyshop? Firstly, confidence in their skill and passion for what they do. Derek feels that his

apprenticeship at Audi taught him a lot about quality and high customer expectations. But they bring the same level of service and care to any car, not just the top-end ones. And their pricing is on average more competitive than most body shops, making them accessible to everyone. Secondly, their approach and equipment. “There is no vehicle on the road we can’t colour match. We can match all paints including metallics and pearlescents,” says Derek. The colour match is done by computer just as it would be in a bodyshop – all their vans are equipped with laptops and paint mixing equipment. And to prove their confidence in their work, it is all backed up by a three year guarantee (except rust). Where necessary, they can strip and fit panels, bumpers and wing mirrors if they need to be replaced rather than repaired. Alloy wheel repairs is a pick-up and dropoff service, as the diamond cutting and powder coating has to be done back at their premises, but they always give you spare wheels to keep you on the road in the meantime. They offer an alloy wheel dent and crack repair service. Finally, Finishing Touch also carry out caravan repairs and machine polish. Many bodyshops shy away from caravan repairs as aluminium can be tricky to deal with and the profiles stamped into the metal can make dent repair difficult. But Finishing Touch has invested in all the necessary equipment and training and their caravan repair side of the business is also going from strength to strength. My overwhelming impression is that Derek and his team understand customer service – you want the job done well and you don’t want any hassle. The word-of mouth recommendations that are building his business say it all.

Please remember to mention The Konect Directory when contacting advertisers

To advertise call Jenny on 07824 469266 or Charlene on 07772 941899

Family History

Newspapers

wildcard options still did not give me any hits.

Newspapers can be a fascinating and intriguing archive to search for stories about the lives of your ancestors. If they ran a business, were involved in some kind of scandal, were injured or even killed in an accident it is worth searching through the newspapers of the day for some insight into their lives. The National Library of Scotland hold a comprehensive guide to Newspaper archives on http://www.nls.uk/collections/ newspapers/indexes/index.cfm It is however important to remember, as with any archive, that the information may not always be 100% accurate. I was doing some research into miners who lived and worked in West Calder in the 1860’s and came across an article in the Hamilton Advertiser dated the 3rd March 1866. The article told of a fatal pit accident at Addiewell, West Calder when a 43 year old miner named William Wardrop was buried alive at Shale Pit number 5. William’s workmates dug him out but the miner was dead and left a widow and 9 children. Wardrop is not a very common name and as I have a family friend named Wardrop I was keen to see if I had found a connection to this unfortunate family. My first task was to find William’s death certificate, but there was no death certificate for a death of a William Wardrop in Scotland in 1866. One of the things that we can be sure of is that all deaths had to, by law, be recorded and a miner being killed at work must have been registered. A search using all 24

By Maureen McIntyre

So the newspaper either had the name or the date wrong and to cut a long story short, William’s name was not Wardop but DUNLOP, he was 40 years old, not 43 but the one detail that they had correct was that he did leave a widow and 9 children. The oldest child was Elizabeth who was 20 when her father was killed and the youngest was Janet who was only 7 months old. William’s place of death was given as Shale Pit number 5 and the cause of his death was “injuries received in shale pit 5”. His death certificate was signed by his 17 year old son. So how did the family cope without their husband and father? The answer is they did amazingly well despite the hardships they must have faced. The fact that at 17 Alexander was able to sign his father’s certificate was encouraging as it showed he was educated and by the 1871 census Alexander was the family’s main breadwinner. He was living at 5 Livingston Street in West Calder and was a Blacksmith. His mother and 6 of his siblings were living with him. James at 16 was an apprentice cooper, John at 14 was a labourer and Margaret 12, Isabella 10, Robert 7 and Janet 5 were all at school. So the lesson here is not everything you read is correct, the press make mistakes – even in 1866! Maureen offers free and practical advice to anyone who is researching their family tree. Please contact her by email on: rootsandbranches@hotmail.co.uk

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BABERTON GOLF CLUB SPECIAL 2013 LIMITED OFFERS ON MEMBERSHIPS See the fantastic new clubhouse and course improvements!

Full Memberships—CONTACT US FOR SPECIAL LIMITED OFFER WITH ENTRY FEE REDUCED BY 50% FOR FIRST 50 APPLICANTS 6 Day Membership. Play Sun—Fri, NO ENTRY FEE Midweek Membership. Play Mon—Fri, NO ENTRY FEE Young Adult (Age 18—30) Membership. NO ENTRY FEE Use our interest free direct debit scheme to spread the cost at no charge! Number of places are limited so to book your discounted trial round (£10) and for further details phone Club on 0131 453 4911 Mon—Fri Pro shop on 0131 453 3555 Sat—Sun email: manager@baberton.co.uk website: www.babertongolfclub.com

To advertise call Jenny on 07824 469266 or Charlene on 07772 941899

Green Fingers

Gardening jobs for April A new column by Anne Pinkerton

April is a difficult month for Scottish gardeners but there are always jobs to be done inside and out. So with lengthening days and the soil beginning to warm it is time to plant, sow and prepare the ground for the approaching season. General Garden Work • Clean and sharpen all your tools • Check the mower and get ahead of the queue for repairs; fill it with new fuel • Get on top of the new weeds before they take hold • Finish top dressing with your well-rotted compost • Give the lawn a cut on dry days if it has started to grow • Clean the green house to ensure good plant health and prevent reinfection from over-wintering plant bugs Plant • Chitted potatoes. There are those who always plant their spuds on Good Friday, but the date can vary by up to a month and this year it was very early • Shallot and onion sets • Asparagus crowns • Apple trees and, if still dormant, fruit bushes • Summer flowering bulbs Sow • Most vegetable seeds starting with broad beans and the first carrots. Follow on with salads and by the end of the month second sowings of favourite plants to ensure a continuous supply till autumn • Peas and runner beans at the end of the month • Hardy annuals into the ground where you want them to flower Prune • The last of the roses • Shrubs which are grown for winter coloured stems, Cornus (dog-wood) and Salix (willow) Harvest • Slowly as you want to eat it, Rhubarb To learn much more about the growing fruit and vegetables in Scotland beg, borrow or perhaps not steal, but buy… This book will I am sure become a bible for Scottish gardeners. “Fruit and Vegetables for Scotland “by Kenneth Cox and Caroline Beaton published by Birlinn 2012

D.GREAVES LANDSCAPE GARDENERS

Kirknewton

No obligation FREE QUOTES Local Business

Fencing • Decking • Removals Levelling • Garden Design Clearance and more.... Call Dan now on: 07970 700192 dgreaves@hotmail.com

SG Landscapes For all your garden needs Garden tidy-ups, lawns, hedges, treework, patios, driveways, fencing etc Contact Steve on

0800 652 8828 or 07891 029764 www.sglandscapes.co.uk Small ad,

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To advertise call Jenny on 07824 469266 or Charlene on 07772 941899

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ESTIMATES & PHOTOGRAPHIC REPORTS

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Bathroom Studio Bathgate Quality, Choice and Service at an Affordable Price

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West Lothian’s Most Experienced Bathroom Specialists To arrange a free quotation call in to our newly extended showroom at

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23 Bank Street Mid Calder EH53 0AS

Property Repair Service • Electrical solutions • Landlord and home sellers electrical Test Certificates • Annual electrical testing and certification • Portable appliance testing

Mobile 07977 685656 email: propertyselec@aol.com

Domestic, commercial and agricultural Free estimates • Professional and reliable service

Braekirk Decorator’s

First class decorator

64 Braekirk Avenue, Kirknewton, EH27 8BL

Interior and Exterior work Wallpaper hanging

Call Willie Jamieson 07779 186298 maryjamieson64@googlemail.com

Rejuvinate your old kitchen units and furniture. Have them hand painted in a colour of your choice. Ian Merriman Ltd 0131 478 7339

ian@kitchenspainted.com

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73 Riccarton Mains Road, Currie, EH14 5ND

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LANE DECOR Painting & Decorating - Graining & Marbling - Wallpaper specialist - Faux Effects - Spray Application - Interior & Exterior - Trompe Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Oeil & Murals

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Local Charity

Wing and a Prayer Rescue

Margaret’s Story

She didn’t know “When I first saw Margaret what grass was she was a bag of bones,” says she’d never seen it before.” Eventually Fi Reekie of Wing and a Prayer she regained her strength, her feathers – a new rescue group based in grew back and now, four months Balerno for hens from commercial egg on, “Margaret has blossomed into a producing farms. “She was lying down beautiful, confident and healthy girl who and could barely keep her eyes open. is fully integrated into her flock. She is She had very few feathers and looked full of personality and it’s amazing to see as though she had lost the will to live.” her racing around the garden.” Fi was collecting some rescue hens for Wing and a Prayer Rescue at their first Jackie has just arranged re-homing in September last den the rescue of 700 hens year. Having rescued explores the gar sly vou ner ret Marga ring her recovery. du e who need new homes. ex-commercial hens tim t firs for the They are initially bought previously, she was to the homes of the Wing looking around for and a Prayer volunteers someone in the where they are can relax Edinburgh area who and explore for the first was providing a retime. They receive any homing service when veterinary treatment she met Jackie Balfour required and are fed of Balerno who was quality, nutritious also looking to adopt food and supplements suitable for ex-commercial hens. laying hens. Re-homers are asked for a Since the British Hen Welfare Trust donation to help cover the costs, as Wing closed its re-homing centre in Scotland, and a Prayer is funded entirely by the there appeared to be no-one providing volunteers themselves out of their own a sourcing and re-homing service, so pockets and from fundraising activities. together Fi and Jackie set up Wing and a Prayer. Along with fellow volunteers, Today Margaret confidently they sources hens from farms that are forages in the garden. due to “depopulate.” Once commercial egg producing hens reach around 18 months old it is no longer commercially viable for the farmer to keep them so they are sent to slaughter, even though they are still producing eggs well. Wing and a Prayer negotiates a price with the farmer to secure the release of the hens. “We feel strongly that they deserve to live out the rest of their lives in comfort and in loving, forever homes.” Many, such as Margaret, are in a poor condition. Fi remembers, “I put her in a pet carrier and took her home to our ‘hospital wing’ - a guinea pig cage on the living room floor! We gently cleansed her and nursed her back to health. At first she was frightened of everything. 32

Hens make fantastic and very rewarding pets, not to mention the supply of lovely fresh eggs! If you would like to give an ex-battery hen a new forever home, please contact Wing and a Prayer on e: wingandaprayerrescue@hotmail.co.uk or phone 0131 449 7901.

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Claylands Cottage Cattery ...for contented cats

Established in May 2006, we provide first-class holiday accommodation for up to 35 feline guests. Single and double cabins, as well as large cabins for families, each comprises an upper sleeping area (heated in winter) with an exercise run below. A collection and drop-off service is available Fully licensed and insured

Proprietors: Pam and Bill Clark Phone: 0131 333 1636 Email: mail@claylandscottagecattery.co.uk Off Claylands Road, Newbridge, EH28 8LZ Conveniently situated near the airport.

www.claylandscottagecattery.co.uk To advertise call Jenny on 07824 469266 or Charlene on 07772 941899

Brown’s Plumbing Plumbing – Heating – Gasworks

From tap washers to re-plumbs We undertake all plumbing work

0131 478 5356 07720 890 226 Free estimates

Tile-a-ramic Specialist in ceramic, mosaic, porcelain & natural stone on walls and floors Under floor heating supplied & fitted Alan McChesney

Tel: 01506 871030 Mob: 07841 523624

www.tile-a-ramic.co.uk

Free estimates. All work guaranteed and fully insured

G BEATSON ELECTRICAL Currie

Free Estimates Tel: 0131 466 0214 Mob: 07732 866 983 Email: gbeatsonelectrical@hotmail .co.uk

Mackenzie Contracts Complete bathroom fitting

Wet rooms a speciality

Special care bathrooms No call-out charge Supply & fit or fit only

Contact Alistair on 01506 872647 or 07967 584412

YourÊLocalÊWestÊLothianÊLocksmithÊ Ê  UPVC Patio Door Repairs  Lock Changes/Upgrades

A & A Electrical Solutions Ltd Balerno All electrical work Private or commercial No job too big or small All work guaranteed Free estimates Professional and reliable service

Alan: 07969 929327

or email alskie@hotmail.com 34

 British Standard 5 Lever Insurance Approved Locks Fitted  24 Hr Emergency Lockout Service  Window Locks Supplied & Fitted

01506 238048 Or Call Tom On

07542781131 For All Your Security Needs www.caledonianlocksmiths.co.ukÊ

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Plan-It

Red Hot

WINDOWS Unit 1, Mosshall Ind Estate Blackburn, EH47 7LY

01506 630036

Chartered Building Surveyors Loca family l -ru busine n ss

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Plan-It provide architectural services to home owners & businesses throughout Edinburgh and West Lothian. We are happy to help in the following areas:

Architectural Services Planning Permission Building Warrants Project Management Licence Applications We specialise in extensions and alterations Window repairs ■ Supply and fit windows and doors ■ Trade welcome Major credit cards accepted See website and facebook page for photos of our work www.facebook.com/redhotwindows www.redhotwindows.co.uk

For a complimentary consultation please contact Bruce on

01506 884216 www.plan-it-design.co.uk

B EDWARDS TILING SPECIALIST LOCAL WALL AND FLOOR TILER

All aspects of tiling undertaken including Kitchens, Bathrooms & Conservatories Using ceramics, porcelain, natural stone & mosaics Professional & friendly service

For a free estimate call Barry Mobile: 07944 176663 Home: 01506 432159

D.B. General Builders ■ Fencing ■ Driveways ■ Decking ■ Landscaping ■ Monoblocking ■ Groundworks Sn ■ Home renovations Cle ow ari ■ Property maintenance ng

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To do v:oices

-Pay in nery o i t a t s y -Bu t c e n o K l l -Ca ting local re getmers! custo Please call

Jenny on 07824 469266 or Charlene on 07772 941899 www.konectdirectory.co.uk 36

AKT Bookkeeping Tax Returns • Accounts, Bookkeeping • Payroll, CIS • VAT Phone Kevin on 01506 201459 from 8.00am to 4.00pm or email- akt.blue@blueyonder.co.uk

Colin Williamson

Formal/After Dinner Speaker Specialising in Scottish history, ethnology & folklore.... Colin uses his professional storytelling skills to entertain & Diploma in Scottish Studies inform MA (Hons) Scottish Ethnology Accredited Storyteller with the Scottish Storytelling Centre

t. 07927 962 120 e. colin@scotstory.co.uk

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Competition

Win 4 ball at Pumpherston Golf Club See advert on page 39

Across

1. Jewels (4) 3. Allowed in (8) 9. Worried (7) 10. Annoy (5) 11. Fading away (12) 13. Deny (6) 15. Interfere (6) 17. Directions (12) 20. Ships load (5) 21. Vital part of healthy diet (7) 22. Enjoyed (8) 23. Repair (4)

Down

1. 2. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Protecting (8) Blends (5) Dismiss (6) Crossroad (12) Taught (7) Deceased (4) Contests (12)

12. Flavoured (8) 14. Army rank (7) 16. Flexible (6)

18. Overweight (5) 19. Mark left by wound (4)

Complete the crossword & send to: The Konect Directory, Overton Farmhouse, Kirknewton, EH27 8DD. Please include your name, address & phone number. Closing date for entries 15th April 2013.

Sudoku

Sudoku solution on page 46

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ol ! r en ow n

Principal: Ms K. Sara J. Wood BA (HONS), RAD RTS, Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Dance

Lessons for age 2 years and above

New Adult Ballet Class! Studio Locations: Edinburgh College - Sighthill Campus Ratho Community Centre

07723 589 280 www.edinburgh-ballet.co.uk info@edinburgh-ballet.co.uk To advertise call Jenny on 07824 469266 or Charlene on 07772 941899

Like us on

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Recipe & Food Notes

Spices

By Anne Pinkerton

I had a little nut tree nothing would itâ&#x20AC;Ś

Wars have been fought over them, fortunes paid for them, unappetising food enlivened by them, nursery rhymes sung about them and they have been used in medicine, but with the exception of chili and saffron, none are grown in Britain. The topic this month is spices. It is quite difficult to define â&#x20AC;&#x153;a spiceâ&#x20AC;? precisely. A rough attempt would be to say spices are the dried, non-leafy parts of plants: flower buds - cloves bark - cinnamon seeds - cardamom, vanilla or five spice berries - all-spice, pepper or juniper nuts - nutmeg and its outer covering mace roots - fenugreek or ginger Ginger shows the problem of definition because it can be used as the dried, ground -up root or fresh or crystallized and preserved. Most spices are harvested from trees or plants which grow in the Far East, India or China. Many are rare and have therefore been expensive. However they are not bulky for their value and it is worthwhile to trade them over great distances. The Silk Road from China to Europe was the route used from the time of Alexander the Great (born in 356 BC). In Britain at this time, cloth, dyes and tin were exchanged for spices. During the medieval period the City State of Venice Raw spices gained huge wealth from its ability to control the Mediterranean sea trade routes including controlling the supply of spices to northern Europe. It was not until the Portuguese established new sea routes via The Cape of Good Hope in the 17th century that supplies became more plentiful, the price

of spices in northern Europe began to fall and their use becomes attainable to more people. Nowadays the main trading centre for spice is Singapore, but there are still large British trading interests working there. Cyclones, earthquakes and monsoons can all affect the price of this valuable trade. Our colonial history served to reinforce the British delight in spiced food. Other cuisines from Mexico and the Caribbean have educated our palettes and widened the range of flavours we enjoy eating. Now we take a good curry, Thai carryout or a chilli super as a normal part of our daily diet. The international spice trade is to be thanked for this.

ground Spice seller in Essaouira, Morrocco. The beautiful pyramids of air. If spices are just for show as spices lose their flavour in the open container sealed a you buy some spice from him he serves you from

The most valuable spices are saffron, vanilla and cardamom, in that order. Saffron comes from the dried stamens of Crocus Sativus, there are only five threads on each flower, and they have to be picked and dried by hand. Vanilla is the seed pod of a tropical vine and one of the few spices indigenous to the Americas. The flowers

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last only one day and their only pollinators are humming birds or one type of bee. The French took plants to their tropical colonies in the 1820s. It was not until a former plantation slave in Reunion discovered a practical way of artificially pollinating the flowers that the vine seedheads could be harvested in commercial quantities. Extracting the flavour from the seedpod and preserving it is complicated. 80% of the world’s vanilla comes from Madagascar, The Comoro Islands and Reunion. All the spices we use in the kitchen have similar interesting histories. However there is little point in knowing about their origins unless we look after them and get the best from them. It’s best to buy small quantities of whole spices. These keep their subtle flavour longest. Keep all spices in a cool dark place; not on a display shelf above the cooker, however nice this looks. Through the ages special containers, often made of precious materials, have been made to keep spices under lock and key. Grinding and mixing your own spices for hot cross buns or curry fills the kitchen with good smells and builds anticipation and helps enjoyment of the food. However when time is short fresh spices from the shop in small re-seal jars are fine. Don’t keep them for years and then expect your cooking to taste subtle and delicious. Here are some examples of the way you can use these wonderful flavours. Ginger is a favourite for beer, cakes, icecream, biscuits, curries and casseroles. Apple Grasmere This is a crust, more interesting than plain crumble, to cook on top of apple or in the summer raspberries. Put peeled, cored and sliced apples in a pan and cook until the apples have “fallen”, add a little sugar to taste. Turn into a deepish oven proof pie dish. Topping : Rub 150g softened butter into

220g sieved plain flour to which a pinch of bi-carbonate of soda has been added, until it looks like bread crumbs. Add 75g each of soft brown sugar, (not Demerara), white sugar and a rounded teaspoon of ground ginger. Mix lightly with a knife and spread over the apples. Bake 160ºC till topping is pale biscuit colour. Serve cold with cream. If you make this with raspberries they do not need pre-cooking and you can use frozen fruit. Gado-Gado A cooked vegetable salad from Indonesia 1 per person just hard-boiled egg cut in quarters Bean sprouts, fine cut carrots, bite sizes green beans and very finely sliced white cabbage all blanched separately for one minute in boiling water. Waxy potatoes cooked and sliced and cucumber sliced. Layer all the vegetables, startling with the potatoes and ending with the eggs, on a serving dish. Make the Gado-Gado sauce: 3 cloves garlic crushed 1 teaspoon anchovy sauce or shrimp paste (from Chinese food store) Up to 7 chillies (seeds removed) 250g crunchy peanut butter Sliced stem lemongrass 1 inch root ginger 1 teaspoon soft brown sugar or more if liked 3/4 pint thick coconut milk Little oil and the juice of 1/2 lemon or a little wine vinegar With a hand blender in a beaker smash the garlic, ginger, lemongrass, anchovy paste and chillies. Fry them in a little oil. Do not burn. Add the peanut butter and sugar mix and heat together in a saucepan. Then add the coconut milk, bring to a gentle boil and cook till the sauce thickens, it should be easy to pour. Away from the heat add the lemon juice or vinegar. Pour the sauce over the vegetables and decorate with chopped celery and flat leaf parsley leaves.

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Live Music at The Grapes

130 Main Street, East Calder

6th April Blind Lemon 60’s and 70’s covers

12 April 80’s Disco / Karaoke

Charity night in aid of St Johns Special Care Baby Unit. Fancy Dress Competition, Raffle, Games, Buffet Guest DJ’s

27th April We Are Not Iguanas Pop and Rock covers

To advertise call Jenny on 07824 469266 or Charlene on 07772 941899

Until April 30th 2013

Down: 1 Extra, 2 Thieves, 3 Entertainment, 4 Ethnic, 5 Concentration, 6 Bible, 7 Sighted, 11 Cuddles, 13 Private, 14 Stated, 16 Mouse, 17 Needs. 46

Solution to Sudoku

Solution March 13 crossword

Across: 1 Extreme, 5 Cubes, 8 Twist, 9 Handbag, 10 Advertisement, 11 Casual, 12 Stupid, 15 Demonstration, 18 Loudest, 19 Irate, 20 Scent, 21 Dinners.

Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss, damage or omission caused by error in the printing of an advertisement. The Konect Directory does not endorse any advertising material that appears in this publication. Adverts are accepted on the understanding that descriptions of goods and services are fair and accurate. All material is accepted for publication on the understanding that it is copyright free. The Konect Directory accepts no liability for any subsequent copyright issues. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior consent of the publisher. Publisher: Lothian Publications Ltd, Overton Farmhouse, Kirknewtonk, EH27 8DD. Editor :Helen-Jane Shearer 07854 492638 hj@konectdirectory.co.uk

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What next for Kirknewton Community Development Trust?

Find out at

your A.G.M.

23rd April 2013 7.30pm in the Village Hall Refreshments provided ALL WELCOME! If you require primary age childcare to be able to attend the AGM please let us know on : 01506 883988 or e mail infokirknewton@gmail.com by 9th April

To advertise call Jenny on 07824 469266 or Charlene on 07772 941899

What’s On & Useful Info Friday 29th March – Monday 15th April Easter Eggcitement at Almond Valley Heritage Centre Meet lambs, chicks and other new arrivals on the farm, hunt for hidden eggs, and crack the clues in the springtime trail. Make Easter bonnets, and rabbit masks, and join in with other seasonal silliness. With additional attractions over the four days of Easter (29th, 30th, 31st March and 1st April), including our famous plastic duck race along the mill lade. Saturday 13th April Opening day at Oakbank Bowling Club 1.30pm for 2pm. At night Johnny B playing. Friday 26th April East Calder Playgroup fund raising Chippy Disco East Calder Pigeon Club 7.30pm. Tickets £6 includes your bag of chips. Saturday 27th April Mid Calder Primary School Spring Fair 11am-1pm in the school hall. Stalls galore, games to play, face painting, our fantastic raffle, café, hot dogs, bouncy castle and a mobile play bus! Only £1 entrance fee per adult and over12’s.

April East Calder Library information Main Street, East Calder, EH53 0EJ 01506 883633 email: eastcalder.lib@westlothian.gov.uk Opening times Mon, Wed & Fri: 9.00am - 5.30pm 9.00am - 8.00pm Tues & Thurs: Saturday: 9.00am - 1.00pm Pentland Inspirations Competition : Inspirational Art and Photographic exhibition Available to view in the library 8th -19th April. Easter crafts Saturday 30th March 10.00am - 12noon Book Group Tuesday 2nd April 6.45p.m. and Thursday 25th April 6.45p.m. New issue system now available in the library. Come along and serve yourself. Staff, as always, will be happy to help. Library will open at 11a.m. on Thursday 11th April 2013 The library service is available 24/7, 365 days a year on www.westlothian.gov.uk Mobile library timetable Alternate Tuesdays in Kirknewton: Linburn Centre 10.00 – 12.00 Kirknewton Primary 13.15 – 14.15 14.20 – 14.45 Kaimes Crescent Sawmill 14.55 – 15.15 Roosevelt Road 15.20 – 15.30 15.30 – 15.45 Brae Kirk Avenue Roadman’s Way 15.55 – 16.15 Alternate Wednesdays in Mid Calder: Almondside 13.30 – 14.30 Spottiswoode Gdns 14.40 – 16.20 Police Station 16.30 – 17.30 Alternate Thursdays in Kirknewton: Kirknewton Primary 9.30 – 11.30

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East Calder Commun 1st Tuesday of every ity Council Community Centre atmonth in the 7.00pm Kirknewton Comm 2nd Tuesday of everyunity Council month in the Village Hall at 6.30pm Mid Calder Commun 2nd Thursday of every ity Council Institute Hall at 7.30pmmonth in the . (Recess July and August).

Pumpherston Library information Drumshoreland Road, Pumpherston, EH53 0LF 01506 280996 email: pumpherston.lib@westlothian.gov.uk Opening times Mon 14.00 - 17.00 Wed 14.30 - 16.30 Thurs 14.00 - 18.00

What can be placed in the blue recycling bin? Tins and Cans Lightly rinsed aluminium and steel cans

Paper Newspapers, magazines, brochures, catalogues, unwanted mail, telephone directories

St Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital 01506 523000

Card/cardboard cereal boxes, kitchen and toilet roll tubes, washing powder boxes, heavy cardboard

To include your event here, please email hj@konectdirectory.co.uk or call 07854 492638

Plastic bottles

East Calder Medical Practice 147 Main Street, East Calder, EH53 0EW 01506 882882

Last Post Times Kirknewton Post Office Mon - Fri 5.00pm then a few minutes later from the box near the level crossing. Sat 11.15am East Calder Post Office Mon - Fri 5.20pm Sat 11.15am Mid Calder Post Office Mon - Fri 5.15pm, Sat 11.35am Pumpherston Post Office Mon - Fri 5.15pm, Sat 11.00am Collection from box at Livingston Delivery Office, Fairbairn Road, at 6.30pm

(lightly rinsed, squashed, lids removed)

Plastic soft drinks/ water bottles, milk bottles, detergent/ shampoo bottles Cardboard-based drinks cartons Juice cartons, fresh soup cartons, smoothie cartons

School Term dates

(from www.westlothian.gov.uk) Term ends Thursday 28th March Summer Term Mon 15th April - Friday 29th June.

No : Plastic bags, glass (please take to a glass bank); other plastics including polystyrene; food waste; disposable nappies

To advertise call Jenny on 07824 469266 or Charlene on 07772 941899

Clubs & Classes EAST CALDER East Calder Jog Scotland Group Meet every Tuesday at East Calder Health centre car park at 7pm. All abilities welcome, a social way to get fit, make friends and enjoy local countryside. Contact Dawn on 01506 883330 or 07806 772935 for more details. East Calder Bowling Club Bingo every Sun and Wed 8pm– 9.30pm. Junior coaching (10 to 16 years old) every Fri 2pm – 4pm. We can also coach adults, free, so come along and give it a try. Hats every Mon 6-30pm. See club website at www.eastcalderbowlingclub.com, members can find details here of competitions, play by dates, club news. East Calder Colts FC East Calder Park. We are currently recruiting for an under 10’s team born 2002. Information required regarding any of our teams please visit our website www.eastcaldercolts. co.uk or contact Head Coach Rab McCulloch on 07920 482216. Let’s put the fun back into football. All welcome. Bingo Pigeon Club, East Calder Sun 8.00 - 10.00 All welcome East Calder Old Folks Club East Calder Community Centre Last Thursday of the month, September to April 1.30pm - 3.30pm. Pensioners and non-pensioners welcome. Contact Carol Anne Murray (Secretary) East Calder Ladies’ Circle East Calder Community Centre Second Thursday of the month, September to May at 1.30pm - 3.30pm. Secretary: Mrs E Bennett, 73 Mansefield, East Calder, West Lothian EH53 0JE. Scottish Slimmers Pigeon Club Tues 6.00pm Call 0800 362636 for more info. Young Mums East Calder Community Centre Mon 11.00am – 12.30pm. Free. Contact health visitor via health centre for further details 01506 880582 Circuit Training Sunday’s 6 – 7pm East Calder Scout Hall, £3 per session. An instructor-led class of pre set workout stations, the complete body workout, suitable for all levels of fitness, 16yrs plus. Under 16s welcome with participating adult, see website for further details Please contact: Email ailsa@amcfitness.co.uk Tel: 07808 161634 Web: www.amcfitness.co.uk

Sports, Hobbies, Learning, Support Groups & more... Step Into Dance with Vicky East Calder Church Hall Highland, Cheerleading, Tap, Freestyle Disco, Ballet, Hip Hop and a boys-only Hip Hop. Classes for ages 2 to adult, on Thurs & Fri. See www.stepintodancewithvicky.co.uk for more information or contact 07719 646942 Boys Brigade East Calder Church Hall Anchors (age 5 - 8) Fridays 6.30 - 7.30pm Juniors (age 8 - 11) Fridays 6.45 - 8.15pm. Company Section (age 11-18) Fridays 7.30 - 9.45pm Calll Jean Gilchrist 01506 880367 East Calder Playgroup Now located in East Calder Community Centre. Mon-Fri 9:15am-11:15am from 2 years For the best introduction to your child’s education - lots of fun to be had! £4.50 per session. Contact Carol on 07748 053340 Rainbows, Brownies and Guides East Calder Primary School Rainbows Wed 6.15 – 7.15pm Brownies Tues 6.30 – 8pm & Wed 6.30 – 8pm Guides Mon 7 – 8.50pm & Wed 7.30 – 9pm Contact Gillian Maben 01506 880640 Toddler Clinic East Calder Health Centre 1st Tues of every month. Drop in for advice and support 1.30pm – 3.30pm Karate East Calder Sports Centre Ages 5 - 15 yrs . Junior Class: Fri 6.00pm - 7.00pm Intermediate/Advanced Class: Fri 7.00pm - 8.00pm Wadokai Karate, both boys and girls welcome, £4.00/ session. Contact David Ewing on 0131 657 2085 Firefly Arts (Youth Theatre) East Calder Primary School Juniors (P5 - P7) Fridays 2.30pm - 4pm £2.50 per week (1st week free). Classes also availble in Kirknewton, West Calder & Howden Park Contact 01506 773883 Yoga for Everyone East Calder Community Centre Wed 7.00pm – 8.30pm For further info contact Ruth Plevin: 01506204338 or ruth@sukha.co.uk East Calder Youth Club East Calder Community Centre Fri 6.15pm - 8.45pm. Ages 10 to 14 yrs. Cooking, football, baseball and other outdoor sports, pool, video games, board games and arts/crafts. Contact Gary Sneddon 01506 774473 Needlecraft Club East Calder Community Centre Thur 7.00pm - 9.00pm Contact Sheila (Secretary) on 0131 333 2217

EC Allsteps Cheerleaders East Calder Church Hall and West Lothian College Competitive cheerleading squad. Also adult squad fun class at East Calder Sports Centre Mon 9.00pm - 10.00pm. For more information see www.ecallstepcheerleaders.co.uk or call 07719 646942 East Calder Scout Group Scout Hall, Calderhall Terrace Beavers Mon 6.15 - 7.15pm (boys 6 - 8 yrs) Cubs Mon 7.30 - 9.00pm (boys 8 - 10 yrs) Scouts Tues 7.15 - 9.00pm (boys 10 - 14 yrs) Contact Jack Galloway on 077907 93889 eastcalderscouts.org.uk Breast Feeding Support Group East Calder Community Centre Wed 11.30am – 12.30pm except during school holidays. Free. Contact Health Visitor via Health Centre for further details 01506 880582

KIRKNEWTON Kirknewton Starlets Kirknewton Primary School Babies class up to age 8 Thurs 5.30pm - 6.30pm. Junior/senior class Thurs 6.15 - 8.00pm. For info contact Trisha t.ewing@btinternet.com Zumba with Kat Village Hall, Kirknewton, Thursday 7-8pm. Class is from age 16 up or age 12 if accompanied by an adult. Contact 07940 245151 or see Zumba Kat on facebook Firefly Arts (Youth Theatre) Kirknewton Village Hall Juniors (P5-P7) Tues 4.30 - 6.00pm £2.50 per week (1st week free). Classes also availble in East Calder, West Calder & Howden Park Contact 01506 773883 Kirknewton Rainbows Kirknewton Village Hall Wed 5.00pm - 6.00pm For girls aged 5-7. Please contact Gill Greaves for more information on 01506 883261 Toddler Group Kirknewton Church Hall Parents/carers with tots aged 0-3 yrs, fridndly group with play, stories and craft for the children and meet up/chat for parents. Thur 9.30 - 11.30am Kosy Kaff Kirknewton Village Hall Fridays 4pm – 5pm term time. Free home baking, hot chocolate, games and activities for primary school aged children. See www.knex4jesus.org.uk for more information.

Douglas Pilates Classes Designed to help achieve health and fitness goals through expertly designed exercises. Because classes are limited a maximum of 12 people, you will get plenty of personal attention. Classes are held on: Mondays Ratho Community Centre - 6pm Tuesdays Murieston Village hall - 9:15am West Calder Community Centre - 6:45pm and 8pm Wednesdays West Calder Community Centre - 6pm Grand Central Pub, Deans – 7:45pm Thursdays Dedridge Baptist Church - 8pm Fridays Kirknewton Church - 9:15am To contact Susan Douglas and for classes information visit http://www.douglaspilates.co.uk/ Hatton Sports Club Tennis and squash. Burnwynd, Kirknewton Social and competitive play. LTA-qualified tennis coaches. Contact Carol Blamire 01506 880208 Potter Around Studio at Overton Farm, Kirknewton, EH27 8DD Clubs including oil painting for both children and adults, jewellery workshops, fused glass, candle making, knitting, scrapbooking, kids craft club, Warhammer club. Craft shop, beads, children’s parties, baby prints and more. Plus drop in any time for pottery painting. For all class times, bookings and more information call 01506 238961 or email chat@potteraround.co.uk. www.potteraround.co.uk KASPARS Afterschool Club Kirknewton Church Hall. Afterschool care Mon - Thu 3.15 - 6.00, Fri 12.30 - 6.00. Breakfast Club Mon - Fri 8.00 - start of school. Call 07871 791000 Kirknewton Play Group Kirknewton Village Hall Mon – Fri 9.00am – 11.15am Ages 2 to 5 yrs. £5.00 per session. Call in and see us during session times Kirknewton Women’s Rural Institute Come and join us for a friendly evening of craft, demonstrations and fun. 2nd Thursday of each month, 7.15pm in Kirknewton Church Hall Kirknewton Stompers Walking group, meeting at Kirknewton Park entrance on Park Terrace every Wed 7.30pm. Join the group on the community facebook page where people post details of the walk, or any other time they are walking Kirknewton Runners Meet at Kirknewton Park every Monday 19.30

Clubs & Classes Kirknewton Pensioners Club Kirknewton Village Hall 1st Wednesday of Month 1.00pm - 3.30pm and 3rd Thursday of Month 7.00pm - 9.00pm Everyone aged 60 years and over welcome

MID CALDER Mini Music Makers Glenalmond Hall, Main Street, Mid Calder, EH53 0AN Weekly interactive music classes on Thursday mornings in Mid Calder. Singing games and rhymes are used bring these interactive music education classes for pre-school children and their parents/carers to life. Booking enquires: claire.ashwood@nycos.co.uk, 0141 287 2943. Find out more: www.nycos.co.uk/mini-music-makers Myra Mackie School of Dance Classes in Livingston, Uphall Station, Mid Calder and Broxburn Please see our website for full timetable and venues. Children from 2 years to adult. www.myramackieschoolofdance.co.uk incorporating our competitive cheer division the Scottish Mid Calder School of Dance Mid Calder Institute Hall Highland, Disco Tues 6.00pm - 7.00pm & Fri 6.00pm - 9.00pm. Various ages Contact Heather 01501733054 Mid Calder Mother and Baby Group Institute Hall Tuesdays 10.00 Please call Vicky Ramsay for details on 07515 495101 Yoga Classes Masonic Hall Wednesday 7.30pm - 9.00pm Contact Linda Bibby 01506 884115 www.wholebodybalance.co.uk The Willows Playgroup School Lane, Mid Calder Recently refurbished, places available for children from 2 years. Mon – Thurs 9-11am. £4 per session. Snack provided, nappy changing facilities. For more information please contact Sam on 01506 882832. Folk Club Meets every third Tuesday of the month at the “Tap Shop” The Midcalder Inn, Mid Calder at 8pm Rainbows, Brownies and Guides Rainbows Wed night Brownies Tues night, Guides Mon and Wed nights. Contact Katrina Wallace on 01506 883816

Sports, Hobbies, Learning, Support Groups & more... Zumba with Lorraine Tues, Mid Calder institute hall 7.15pm -8.15pm Wed and Fri East Calder church hall 9.30am -10.;30am Thurs Mid Calder Primary School 8.30pm – 9.30pm Sat Mid Calder Institute Hall 10am- 11am Kids zumbatomic classes age 7 -12, East Calder scout hall Wed 3.45pm – 4.30pm, please contact Lorraine as spaces are limited. Lorraine Farmer 07816 835926, email lfarmer@f2s.com Mid Calder Baby & Toddler Group Institute Hall. Tuesdays 9am - 11am. £1.00 per parent/ carer. New parents/carers, toddlers and babies welcome. For further information please email christiealldridge@ hotmail.com Oakbank Bowling Club Oakbank are having a Ladies Day/Night on October 27th – tickets are £10 (on sale now) – Comedian,Singer and Disco plus food. All welcome 2pm – late. Contact Mrs J McElhinney, Secretary, Oakbank Bowling Club. Choral Highlights Ladies’ Choir Kirk of Calder Rehearse Sun 11.45-12.45pm & Wed 7.30 -8.45pm Repertoir includes songs from Musical shows, Scottish songs, Religious and Pop music. Perform 2 concerts a year, one in May/ June and a Christmas concert in early December. All concert venues considered. New members very welcome, come and join us! Contact: John Rankine, Musical Director LLCM (TD) on 01506 880029 www.kirkofcalder.com (Church Organisations) Welcome Cafe Glenalmond Hall Every Tuesday 10am-12noon. This is a Fair Trade Cafe all proceeds of which to the Vine Trust in Peru. Do come along and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and some home baking with friends. Mid Calder Camera Club Institute Hall, Market Street Wed 7:30pm – 9:45pm All levels of photographers are welcome. For more information, visit www.mccc.org.uk or call Fred Roe at 01506 202190 or Steve Collier at 01506 881398 or Gordon Scott at 01506 882616. Mid Calder Colts FC Teams covering all ages, playing soccer 7s, 11-a-side and also a soccer school. For more information see the Colts’ website www.mid-calder-colts.org Contact Carole 883934 contact@mid-calder-colts.org Calder Bells Glenalmond Hall, Mid Calder Rehersals Mondays 7.30pm New members welcome

POLBETH Polbeth W.R.I. 1st Wednesday of the month at 7pm. Come along for an interesting programme of talks and demonstrations. New members always welcome. Further information on 01506 435708.

PUMPHERSTON Parent, Baby and Toddler Group Meets in Uphall Station Institute Hall every Thursday during term time, 12:15 - 2pm. A warm welcome to new members from the surrounding areas. The Look Group Outdoors activities in Almondell and Calderwood Country Park for ages 8-12, meeting at Visitor Centre 10.30 - 12.00 Saturdays - not every Saturday, check programme with the Rangers on 01506 882254 Zumba with Lindsay Monday East Calder Church Hall 7pm to 8pm Wednesday Uphall south parish church Hall 6pm to 7 pm Check out my facebook page - zumba with Lindsay for more details or contact me at: lindsayandersondance@yahoo.co.uk 07834183084 www.zumba.com Ditch the workout and join the party Pumpherston United FC Four groups, including a soccer school for 5-12 yrs (Thur 6.00pm - 7.30pm); 1998 age group (Tuesdays); 1997 age group (Mon and Wed) and 1995 age group (Mon and Wed). Training at Pumpherston Recreation Park. For more information , please email feedback@pumpherston-united.co.uk

WEST CALDER

CHURCHES Polbeth Harwood Church Service 11:15 am every Sunday West Kirk of Calder Service 9:45 am every Sunday. Interim moderator : Rev Dr AJ Groenewald 8 Manse Court, East Calder, EH53 0HF. Tel 01506 884585 Church of Scotland Kirknewton Services 9:45 in the Kirknewton Kirk, Station Rd. East Calder Services 11:15 in the East Calder church, Main St Sunday School and creche available Rev Dr AJ Groenewald 8 Manse Court East Calder EH53 0HF. 01506 884585 or 075 888 458 14. groenstes@yahoo.com website www.knec4jesus.org.uk Mid Calder services 10.30 every Sunday in the Kirk of Calder, Main St, Mid Calder. Sunday School and crĂ¨che available. Pumpherston services - The Kirk of Calder also holds fortnightly services on Wednesday mornings at 10:15 at the Pumpherston Institute Hall. The website www.kirkofcalder.com has full details of current activities/services.

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