February 2021
THE DELL DIRECTORY
LOCAL CHARITY:
Walking towards SPOTLIGHT:
ARTISAN BAKING AT ITS BEST
wellness:
LOCAL ENVIRONMENT:
Is this Balerno’s best-kept secret?
PLUS: the new normal, LYNNE'S COLUMN, health, Puzzles, and much more inside!
THE DELL DIRECTORY
I
THIS ISSUE
t’s been a challenging start to the year, and not what we were all hoping for.
However, as ever the local area is a rich source of inspiration and information. The cover picture is the Director of Counselling at local charity, The Wellness Centre, based in Balerno. They’ve been open 12 years, but perhaps now more than ever their services are invaluable in the community. See the feature on pages 8-9. I also had the pleasure of discovering more about Bakery Andante, one of the regular stalls at Balerno Farmers Market (normally!) and the Edinburgh Farmers Market, and learning about the authentic and meticulous methods they use to produce their amazing bread. They deliver daily in Edinburgh, see page 11. All our usual columns are here, our team of local contributors have all pulled together their inspirational, interesting and informative takes on their areas of expertise to start the year off for us. Thanks for reading The Dell Directory and supporting local businesses and organisations.
u can know yo Did you to receive each e subscribissue of Konect e here new Subscrib online? scribe b scot/su konect.
P8 Wine Tasting: The Hills are Alive.............................6 Spotlight: Bakery Andante........................................7 Charity: The Wellness Centre...................................8 Puzzles............................................................................10 Interiors: The Seasonal Touch...............................12 Ask Your Pharmacist: Here for you in 2021......15 Dental Health: Tips.....................................................15 Health: Low back pain, when to seek help......17 Local Environment: Loved ones are near when robins appear..................................................22 Lynne’s Column..........................................................29 The New Normal: Zoom, zoom, zoom...............30 Dementia Friendly Pentlands: Tips for Carers..............................................................................34
The Dell Directory is delivered monthly to 5,500 homes in the Colinton, Craiglockhart and Kingsknowe areas. It is also available online: konect.scot/subscribe
HELEN-JANE SHEARER Editor
E: editor@konect.scot
CHARLENE GAFFNEY COVER IMAGE: Local Environment: Loved ones are near when robins appear. See P22. @KonectMagazines
Account Manager
M: 07772 941899 E: charlene@konect.scot THE DELL | 3
R E PA I R S , S A L E S , S PA R E S & S E R V I C I N G Full supply, delivery and installations of new integrated and free standing appliances Washing Machines • Cookers • Tumble Dryers Dishwashers • Vaccum Cleaners We repair & service all of the major brands: • Bosch • Hoover • Hotpoint • Beko • Neff • Siemens • Lamona • And many more Email: appliancesofedinburgh@hotmail.com Web: www.appliancesofedinburgh.co.uk
4 | THE DELL
400 Lanark Road West, Currie
@KonectMagazines
@KonectMagazines
THE DELL | 5
WINE TASTING
THE HILLS ARE
Alive
I’m often asked what my favourite wine is. My answer changes depending on the season. In the depths of winter, a French Cotes du Rhone is a favourite go to; a blend of Shiraz, Mourvedre and Grenache pairs beautifully with a comfortable chair and a fireside. As the seasons change my preference turns to ‘mountain style white wine’.
Mountain wine conjures up scenes from Heidi or The Sound of Music – a beautiful mountain, clean air, alpine and edelweiss. Life on the mountain slope is hard. The steep vineyards, high altitude and thin soils pose a physical challenge to growers. Vines cling to the rocky ground, pushing roots deep into the available soil to establish themselves, finding pockets of moisture and nutrients. The tough growing conditions produce racy, lean wines well deserving of the wine awards and medals they win.
Stay visible, reach more customers “It has been a really easy and straightforward process to work with you and I look forward to the response we get from potential customers” Daryl Dunnigan, Seed Financial Planning
Please contact us for help to arrange your affordable LOCAL advertising package for 2021. Our details are on page 3. 6 | THE DELL
Favourite examples of this style come from the Alto Adige region of northeastern Italy. The best Pinot Grigio from this area is pristine, fresh and unoaked with clean aromatics of green apple and pear, delicate floral blossom and a distinctive taut minerality. The aromatic continues to the palate where bright acidity awakens the mouth. Torrontes from Argentina is another white grape variety that grows especially well in the high-altitude vineyards, this time the slopes of The Andes. Torrontes is aromatic and often a richer on the palate with a tropical expression. One to look out for this spring and a great wine to pair with Thai dishes. The monthly wine tasting column is contributed by Joanne Frette. Joanne lives in Juniper Green with her 3 children. She is a Sommelier Wine & Spirit Specialist who runs Swirl Sip Socialise, an online wine tasting business which connects friends and family across the UK. @KonectMagazines
ARTISAN BAKING AT ITS BEST The smell of freshly baked bread is universally irresistible. But for those who care about more than just the aroma those in the know in Edinburgh - get their bread from Bakery Andante. Regulars at the Balerno Farmer’s Market, the Edinburgh Farmer’s Market, a shop in Morningside and home delivery service, Bakery Andante is celebrating 10 years of baking amazing artisan bread.
breads have extended prove times and use poolishes for added flavour and texture. Our baguettes use a poolish (a pre-ferment) and take three days too; our croissants take us 2 days. We have very little machinery, so we shape and mould by hand.” The proof, as they say, is in the eating; and if the legions of loyal customers are anything to go by, you won’t be disappointed if you get your home delivery order in for a whole new, slow bread experience. Order at www.bakeryandante.co.uk Delivery daily within the Edinburgh bypass; Saturdays in Balerno/Currie/Juniper Green.
Their success – thanks to the incredible authentic flavours of their breads - is based on a passionate pursuit of the art of baking, and nothing is left to chance. Every detail regarding the ingredients, and authentic processes for each type of dough, and much more, is carefully crafted. Owner and head baker Jon Wood explains their process: “As far as possible we make everything from scratch on our premises, so we can control what is in it – we make our own pastry cream, marzipan etc. We also use very high quality ingredients, locally sourced where we can. Our eggs and milk are local, and our flour comes from Shipton Mill, which is recognised as some of the best flour in the UK. “All our breads are made without additives, enhancers or improvers. All our patisserie avoids additives too - I don’t let them use food colouring even. We have one of the largest selections of sourdoughs in Edinburgh, if not the UK (on a Saturday we field 7 different types). We make proper sourdoughs using just flour, water and salt, and leavened with our now 20 year old sourdough mothers. We don’t add any baker’s yeast at all, as we think that stops it being a proper sourdough. “We use long prove times to give our breads added flavour and texture, so they take us 2-3 days to make. For the sours we feed the sour on day one, mix on day 2, and shape and bake on day 3. Even most of our yeasted @KonectMagazines
Bakery Andante, 352 Morningside Road, EH10 4QL T: 0131 447 8473 W: www.bakeryandante.co.uk E: homedelivery@bakeryandante.co.uk THE DELL | 7
Walking towards wellness: Is a life-changing counselling service Balerno’s best-kept secret? “I was in crisis. Having someone walk alongside me, asking the right questions, has enabled me to be at peace and to look to the future with hope.” “It [counselling] has been the best thing I have ever done in my life.” These words were given as feedback to the team at Life and Soul Counselling, operating out of The Wellness Centre on Bridge Road, Balerno, directly across from the high school. Opened 12 years ago and funded by local St Mungo’s Church, the centre is an organisational member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and adheres to its ethical framework, including a strict confidentiality policy. It is run by Director of Counselling Lynn Millar, Wellness Centre Manager Siobhan Short, and 38 volunteer counsellors, men and women of all ages and from all walks of life. These counsellors have been trained to national standards. All hold a minimum qualification of a COSCA (Counselling and Psychotherapy in Scotland) validated Diploma in Counselling and each one is an individual member of a professional counselling body. Five have earned additional qualifications in couples counselling and 13 have been specially trained to work with children and young people. Lynn, who started at the centre in 2015 as Clinical Manager, had become interested in counselling when she began to understand how much talking with others had helped her through various struggles and challenges. “Also, when I realised that friends often came to me with their difficulties, I decided I’d like to be better equipped to help them,” she adds, “so I began training as a counsellor, first doing a Diploma in Counselling and then a master’s at Edinburgh University. She sees counselling as “a brave thing to do” and a chance to invest in yourself. “It’s an opportunity to ponder your stories,” she says, “and to make sense of your life.” Lynn has seen how stress 8 | THE DELL
caused by the pandemic has increased strains on people’s mental health. “Many are struggling with anxiety, loneliness, loss, and other issues,” she comments. “But our clients are taking steps to unburden themselves from the things they are carrying.” Life and Soul is a generic counselling service, working with people who struggle with depression, anxiety, anger, isolation, low selfesteem, shame or relationship difficulties. “We also counsel those who have experienced lifechanging events that have caused loss or grief or have stopped them from living life to the full,” says Lynn. Although GPs and schools make referrals, it is also possible to self-refer. “We counsel both individuals and couples,” explains Lynn. “And we have a children and young people’s service called BeMe, offering play and creative therapies, alongside talking therapy, from the age of six.” The Wellness Centre is funded by a church, but people from all faiths and none are welcome. A person interested in counselling would first come for an assessment appointment, to help them decide whether counselling would be beneficial and to help the service determine whether it would be suitable for them. If they go ahead, it will probably be for at least six sessions, and usually more. There is no charge, though clients are asked to make a financial donation if they can afford to. Currently Life and Soul is operating via online appointments. When it opens to the public again strict anti-Covid measures will resume, ensuring face-to-face meetings are safe. @KonectMagazines
The Pandemic and Mental Health As of late August 2020:
• Almost half (49%) of the Scottish population had felt anxious or worried in the previous two weeks
• All these emotional responses were higher amongst those with a preexisting mental health condition
• Just over one in five people (21%) reported feeling lonely in the previous two weeks
• The proportion of people who had experienced suicidal thoughts or feelings in the previous two weeks was also reasonably steady at approximately 11%
• 18% of the population reported feeling hopeless, whilst just over one in ten (12%) stated that they had been panicked in the previous two weeks
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc, as part of a study being conducted by The Mental Health Foundation. Total sample size was 2,049 Scottish adults (18+).
• Similarly,19% had felt afraid
For more information, phone the Wellness Centre on 0131 451 5226 or email: lifeandsoul@stmungos.org This feature was contributed by Suzanne Green. Suzanne, a freelance writer/editor. She is married to Andy and they have two adult daughters.
@KonectMagazines
THE DELL | 9
PUZZLES
CROSSWORD
^ ^ ^ Solution in the March edition of Konect ACROSS: 1. Hint (4), 3. Contrary (8), 9. Error (7), 10. Frolic (5), 11. Eager (12), 13. Informal (6), 15. Titbit (6), 17. Alphabetical reference books (12), 20. Propose (5), 21. Produces lava (7), 22. Vacations (8), 23. Wagers (4). DOWN: 1 Business (8), 2 Distressed (5), 4 Lyrical (6), 5 From time to time (12), 6 Suggests (7), 7 Acquire (4), 8 Produced (12), 12 Flowers (8), 14 Talented (7), 16 Carry (6), 18 Picture (5), 19 Weapon (4).
^ ^ ^ Solution in the March edition of Konect
SUDOKU
10 | THE DELL
@KonectMagazines
BILL REID & SON
DOMESTIC HEATING & PLUMBING 0131 449 5538 07710 458739 2 Turner Avenue Balerno @KonectMagazines
THE DELL | 11
- A year for ‘slow decorating’
For many of us, current circumstances are forcing a slower pace to life. There’s a strong case for this being no bad thing, particularly when it comes to feathering our nest. Welcome to the world of ‘slow decorating’. Where once we felt pressure to execute rapid renovations, to just get it done (remember last spring?) there’s now a growing trend towards an unhurried approach to designing and decorating your space. It’s all about being intentional, about relaxing and finding your own style. With limited resources available to us right now this feels like the perfect approach to home decor in 2021. A leisurely pace allows us to get the true feel of a space first, especially after moving into a new home. How does a room’s light change throughout the day (or year!)? What’s the mood of a room? How do you actually use the space? A phased approach works well too. Live in phase 1 for a while, learn from it and ensure it works before moving on to phase 2. This year, let yourself dream, imagine, plan and relish in the process. Being super ‘on trend’ can be quick and easy but is it best? Anyone can rush to buy a bunch of stuff that’s the ‘in thing’ just to get the job done but allowing your own individual style to develop and influence your decor choices takes time and patience. It can be tricky to just conjure up a home vibe you love. It’s more of an aesthetic which builds over time, allowing you to tell your family’s story one photo or decor accessory at a time. Additional benefits might include fewer poorly made snap decisions and more time to save for better quality purchases. At the very least it’s the perfect excuse - ‘Oh this mess? We’re just doing some slow decorating!’ The Seasonal Touch column is contributed by Lynn McMurray, Balerno resident and enthusiast of all things ‘home,’ serving the local community and beyond with her home & gift business The Seasonal Touch. www.theseasonaltouch.co.uk 12 | THE DELL
@KonectMagazines
@KonectMagazines
THE DELL | 13
14 | THE DELL
@KonectMagazines
DENTAL HEALTH
Tips for healthy teeth and gums Good oral hygiene is essential to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Research has shown that there is an association between health of person’s mouth and their overall health. Following are some tips to keep your teeth and gums healthy. 1. Brush twice a day - Use a fluoride-containing toothpaste to brush your teeth in the morning and before bed. Use small circular motions, brush front, back and top of each tooth. Spit out, but do not rinse your mouth with water. 2. Floss or use interdental brushes once a day - This can remove plaque from areas in between teeth that cannot be reached by a toothbrush. These are the areas where dental decay are most often present. 3. Limit sugary foods and drinks - Try to avoid sticky sugar containing foods altogether. Eat sugary foods at meal times only. 4. Be aware of acid erosion of Enamel - Acids in our foods and drinks can cause teeth wear. This will lead to sensitivity and associated problems from teeth. Most common culprits are fizzy drinks and certain fruit juices. Avoid highly acidic foods/ drinks and DO NOT brush your teeth for at least 30mins after a meal/drink. 5. Visit your dentist regularly - It is recommended that you see your dentist every 6 months for a check-up. Any decay or gum disease can be identified early and fixed. Dentist will also check for any signs of Oral cancer and any other dental problems and signs of some medical problems that are often seen in the mouth.
ASK YOUR PHARMACIST
Remember your Pharmacist is here for you in 2021 Are you looking for advice about common winter ailments during these uncertain times? The safe and welcoming environment of your local Lindsay & Gilmour pharmacy team is here for you when you need it.
We offer the NHS Scotland Pharmacy First service at all of our pharmacies, allowing patients to access advice and appropriate treatment for minor illnesses and common health complaints without the need for a GP appointment. lindsayandgilmour.co.uk/services/ pharmacy-first
If it’s Repeat Prescriptions you need, did you know that Lindsay & Gilmour offer a handy, free, collection & delivery service? Find out more online at lindsayandgilmour. co.uk/services/prescriptions/ Please note: Our pharmacy opening hours are NOT affected by the current government restrictions. You will find details of our opening hours here: www.lindsayandgilmour.co.uk/location/ Your nearest branch and Pharmacist: 18-20 Comiston Road 0131 447 2336
Dr Vineeth Balachandran provides Dental Implants and Invisalign Orthodontics at Seven Hills Dental Practice, Edinburgh. The practices also provide a full range of Dental and Hygienist Services. www.sevenhillsdental.co.uk @KonectMagazines
THE DELL | 15
For Recovery And Beyond Knowledgeable Experienced Friendly Physiotherapy Relief from Back and Neck pain, Muscle Aches and Sports Related Injuries Make an appointment with us
0131 337 5135 Online booking now available
www.physiogrange.co.uk No GP referral required Free Parking
Gillis Centre 100 Strathearn Road Edinburgh EH9 1BB
16 | THE DELL
@KonectMagazines
HEALTH
Low Back Pain
– When to seek help Low back pain is incredibly common, affecting about one third of UK adults each year and almost all of us at some point in our life. Most back pain is non-specific or mechanical back pain where a muscle, joint or connective tissue has been irritated. An episode of back pain can be a frustrating and sometimes scary experience. Suddenly developing pain and muscle spasm that makes moving difficult and going to work impossible is understandably upsetting. The indignity of having to try to lasso your foot with underwear in an attempt to get dressed is not fun, and some find that wearing socks is simply not worth the effort as the pain of bending forwards is too much. The good news is that 90% of people with low back pain find that their symptoms settle in 4 – 6 weeks, or even sooner, with self-help treatment methods such as over the counter medication to help with pain, staying active and moving as normally as possible, avoiding sitting for too long, and lifting carefully. However, sometimes back pain requires further investigation or even immediate action. As Physiotherapists, we often get asked by our patients with back pain “when should I worry and what should I do?” These symptoms are rare, but knowing what to do is important, particularly how quickly to seek help. When to seek advice from your GP or health care provider? Certain symptoms suggest that you should seek help, but not necessarily on the same day are: • Back pain which continues to get worse • Back pain which spreads from your back like a band around your body • A feeling of heaviness in your legs or unsteadiness walking • Back pain which gets worse when you lie down, or stops sleep @KonectMagazines
• Developing a fever or chills with your back pain When to seek help the same day or go to A&E? There is a rare condition called Cauda Equina Syndrome with the following symptoms. This can be treated and the sooner this is done, the better the outcome. Seek help immediately if you develop the following along with your back and leg pain: • Numbness around your bottom or genitals • Altered feeling when using toilet paper to wipe yourself • You cannot pee or it is increasingly difficult to pee • You cannot control when you pee or poo. • You cannot tell if your bladder or bowel is full or empty Serious spinal conditions are very rare and other things may cause these symptoms. To put this in context the UK has approximately 56.5 million adults. If one third of these develop back pain in a year that is 18.8 million people. There are somewhere between 600 – 1000 cases of Cauda Equina per year in the UK. We pass on this information, not to scare you, but to reassure you that serious problems are rare, but if recognised early, can be fixed. Help us to help you by recognising when to seek help quickly. If you have any concerns – ask! The health column is contributed by McNaughton Physiogrange, Edinburgh www.physiogrange.co.uk THE DELL | 17
20 | THE DELL
@KonectMagazines
@KonectMagazines
THE DELL | 21
LOCAL ENVIRONMENT
The
Robin Whilst we weren’t lucky enough to have a white Christmas, we were certainly treated to a few days of the white stuff, which created a rather beautiful winter wonderland. I had promised an article about waxwings, but they haven’t turned up, (unless you live in Elgin), and we can’t travel to see them, so I’ve turned my attention to Britain’s most popular bird, the robin.
saying is “loved ones are near when robins appear”, and as we again face uncertain times, we like to think they represent the hope we all continue to hold.
They’re the ones currently singing their hearts out in the morning whilst it’s still dark, and is one of the reasons they’re so special. The robin is one of the only birds who sing throughout winter, and we definitely love hearing them filling the streets with their melodic tune.
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
Robins are symbolic birds, and a common 22 | THE DELL
@KonectMagazines
0131 477 1167 Fully stocked & fully trained professional Locksmiths 24 hours a day www.1stcall-locksmiths.com
Keith Wales
WEIR GAS SERVICES Former Scottish Gas engineer
WINDOW CLEANING
Reliable 4 weekly service
0131 449 4379 • 07895 916800
www.kwaleswindowcleaning.co.uk @KonectMagazines
Tel:
07981 366 988
Central heating - service, repairs Gas fires, cookers, hobs installation, service & repairs General Plumbing services Garden taps, washing machines, dishwashers Landlord safety inspections email : lesweir@blueyonder.co.uk
THE DELL | 23
24 | THE DELL
@KonectMagazines
@KonectMagazines
THE DELL | 25
GERRY AITKEN
Painter & Decorator Juniper Green
Get in touch for a FREE Estimate: T: 07798 565 321 • E: junigig@aol.com
@KonectMagazines
THE DELL | 27
Boiler Replacements, Servicing & Heating Upgrades We provide free fixed price quotations Please contact us for more information
0131 669 5906 info@smartheatingedinburgh.co.uk www.smartheatingedinburgh.co.uk
SMC JOINERY 07884 203 957 OXGANGS FARM LOAN, EDINBURGH, EH13 9QD
• Supply and Fit Kitchens • Maintenance / Letting Work • All joinery work undertaken • Kitchens • Windows • Doors • Skirting • Facings • Ceilings • Roofs • Decking • Fencing • Double Glazing • FREE ESTIMATE • ALL TRADES SUPPLIED • FULLY INSURED
Get in touch: 0131 466 3494 E: smcjoinery@hotmail.co.uk
28 | THE DELL
@KonectMagazines
Our Street Group Chat
Happy New Year! Cheers!
00:01
Wishing you a 'socially distanced' Happy New Year! #staysafe
00:00
Hip hip hooray!
00:00
#HappyNewYear from everyone at number 42! Have a great night!
00:01
Happy New Year! Wishing you and all your family the very best for 2021 00:02
Amazing as it seems, here we are again at the start of a new year. Whilst most of us weren’t too sad to see the end of 2020, we’ve had to have a cautious, subdued approach to starting the new year. No big parties or meet ups with friends and families to see in 2021 and a lot of uncertainty in the first few weeks coupled with cold wintry weather has not done much to lift the gloom that many people feel at this time of year, even in the best of times. A couple of positive things have struck me, though. Firstly, whilst we were unable to meet with families and friends much, if at all, over the Christmas and new year period, there were many new people in my phone contacts to wish season’s greetings to. The various WhatsApp groups set up by old school friends to keep in touch during last year’s lockdowns, the local street group set up by neighbours to keep an eye on each other at the start of the pandemic last year and the global group of fellow French learners I met via Zoom last summer – all of these were awash with messages of cheer and hope and love. Christmas 2020 was the first year I have ever sent to or received warm Christmas wishes from my entire street. I’ve always known we have a great local community – in the past we’ve had a street party for the royal wedding in 2011 and a local igloo building during the “beast from the east” back in 2019 – but this definitely served to reinforce it. The second thing is the amount of local “trading” that has gone on. Both the street WhatsApp group and a local Facebook group @KonectMagazines
Happy New Year! Wishing you all the best for 2021
00:03
have allowed people to offer and request goods that can be shared or reused within the local community. We’ve shared apples from orchards and excess shopping, and we’ve exchanged items that we no longer need or use. A variety of items have been left on doorsteps, garden walls and in porches for safe, socially distanced collection. Items as diverse as TV aerials, DVD players, tripods, rugs, coat stands and jackets have been exchanged for organic apple juice, wine, chocolates and general bonhomie - surely the very definition of community recycling! As we start February, we are still some way off living our lives like we used to but there is hope on the horizon with the arrival of vaccines. Whilst this time last year we had no idea what lay ahead (thank goodness) this time this year we are armed with knowledge, data and an immunisation programme. The pandemic will, in time, be a thing of history but hopefully the community spirit that we have learned to build and appreciate it during these times will not. Lynne lives in Colinton with her husband and two children. She dreams of being a freelance writer when she grows up but mostly just avoids growing up! THE DELL | 29
THE NEW NORMAL
Zoom, zoom, zoom! Because I work part-time at the library, I know “Zoom, Zoom, Zoom” is a fun song for preschool children. I sang it with groups of little ones when the libraries were open and fully functioning. Later, when the first lockdown was instated, I began videoing myself singing it, and other songs and nursery rhymes, for an online version of the library’s “BookBug” sing-a-long sessions.
At the same time, I was taking part in more and more online meetings and social communications via Zoom. So, before long I was “zooming” with both children and adults! Today my husband and I use video conferencing for work, family chats, my book group discussions, his hiking group meetings, church events and even dinner parties. I regularly used Zoom back in 2016/17 -- before many people had even heard of it. Because I worked for an international organisation, I was often in meetings with people based all over the world. Once, when a meeting started early (UK time), I decided to leave my video off. I heard one of my colleagues tell another person on the call, “It looks like Suzanne’s webcam isn’t working.” “Umm…actually, it does work,” I confessed. “But I don’t have my make-up on yet.” It could have been worse. I’ve heard of people on Zoom who dress their top half smartly, while wearing only pants on the bottom half. All is well until they forget and stand up to get a coffee! And there’s more than one hilarious YouTube video of a person who leaves a Zoom meeting for a toilet break and absent-mindedly takes their phone with them. It’s quite important to check the technology before a video conferencing call. When I first started using Zoom, the other participants 30 | THE DELL
always cracked up when I came on. Crying with laughter, they choked out the information that my voice resembled that of a chipmunk. This happened even when I had checked my microphone beforehand. The only way I could fix it was to exit and re-enter the meeting. Video quality is important too. My husband and I invested in a decent webcam so we wouldn’t look like faceless blobs. Tip: If you’re hosting a meeting, make sure to open it early so you can check yourself in the mirror (whoops, I meant screen!) before the others arrive. Whatever the issues, we’re blessed to have such technology available to us, when we can’t go to the office or to the home of a friend. No, virtual meetings aren’t as good as actual, physical ones. But they help to keep us connected when these aren’t possible. We’ll just have to learn to cope with the embarrassment that comes at the end of the meeting, when everyone is smiling, waving and trying to leave quickly. Sadly, there’s always some poor soul who stays on until the bitter end, looking nervous and repeatedly asking, “How do I get out of here?!!” The New Normal is contributed by Suzanne Green. Suzanne, a freelance writer/editor. She is married to Andy and they have two adult daughters. @KonectMagazines
P R O P E R T Y
SMALL AD
BIG Impact
To be included in The Dell Directory, please contact us. Our details are on P3.
@KonectMagazines
THE DELL | 31
SMALL AD
BIG Impact
To be included in The Dell Directory, please contact us. Our details are on P3.
If you or someone you know, has an interesting experience, an unusual job, does extraordinary charity work, has a crazy hobby.....get in touch via
editor@konect.scot and we may be able to share it.
Got a story? WE LOVE TO CELEBRATE ALL THINGS LOCAL!
32 | THE DELL
(You need to live and/or work in the Colinton, Craiglockhart, or Kingsknowe area to be featured in The Dell Directory)
THE DELL DIRECTORY
@KonectMagazines
@KonectMagazines
THE DELL | 33