July 2020
THE DELL DIRECTORY
INTERIORS:
NO SPACE FOR A HOME OFFICE?
LOCAL PEOPLE:
LOCAL ENVIRONMENT:
PLUS: notes from a small village, COLINTON VILLAGE EVENTS, and more inside!
THE DELL DIRECTORY
P25
W
e’re back after an enforced break in production, and the pages of this magazine are testament to the resilience, positivity and determination of local people and businesses to rebuild. The incredible adaptability I’ve seen all around as I pulled this edition together has been truly inspiring. We could not go to print this month without adding our voice to the Black Lives Matter movement. Suzanne has interviewed some members of our community who share their experiences of racism. If there is one action that we can all take, it is “listen, learn, educate yourself about it.” I hope this article is a contribution to that. I’m delighted to be restarting print with a new column on Local Environment, bringing stunning photographs of wildlife by local photographers Scottish Sisters Photography. They have a permanent gallery on the BBC Wildlife Magazine website and are now sharing in a Dell Directory column too. Please support local businesses where you can. This magazine is smaller than usual because some of those who usually brighten its pages are not able to get back to work yet. Thanks for reading. As ever, drop me a line and let me know what you think.
u can know yo Did you to receive each e subscribissue of Konect e here new Subscrib online? scribe b scot/su konect.
THIS ISSUE Local People: “You shouldn’t be here!”.............8 Health: A socially-distanced appointment.....10 Lynne’s Column......................................................22 The Seasonal Touch: No space for a home office? Think again!................................................25 Local Environment: Otters? In the canal?.......26 The Small Business Owner’s Guide to successful #WFH....................................................29 Community: Colinton Village Enterprises.......30
The Dell Directory is distributed to 5,500 homes in the Colinton, Craiglockhart and Kingsknowe areas. There are 11 copies a year with a joint issue in Dec/Jan.
HELEN-JANE SHEARER Editor
E: editor@konect.scot
CHARLENE GAFFNEY COVER: “Otter in the Union Canal” by Scottish Sisters Photography. See our new Local Environment Column. @KonectMagazines
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M: 07772 941899 E: charlene@konect.scot THE DELL | 3
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“You shouldn’t be here!” Local academics share their experience of racism #blm The recent anti-racist protests and rioting sparked by the killing of George Floyd at the hands of white policemen have shaken our world. No, the threat of Covid-19 has not gone away – to make way for this latest crisis. Life is not like that. Angry protesters have gone ahead with their plans, seemingly not bothered about social distancing. And Mr. Floyd’s funeral was attended by some 500 people, despite the guidelines prohibiting or discouraging large gatherings due to the pandemic. Leaders and health officials suggested the protests be postponed until the virus was no longer an issue. But you can’t tell a volcano when to erupt.
incidents where they were the victims of racism. I find it hard to understand how anyone can deny it is ingrained in our culture.
friends who are people of colour. And every one of those I asked about it could describe
“But my greatest shock was the reaction of a lady who had walked into a shop ahead of me. Her young daughter, who was about six years old, ran ahead of the mother to hold the door for her. She was still holding the door when some white people went through. But as I approached, the mother came back and pulled her daughter away with such force that she released the door and it closed in my face.”
I asked Dr. Reginald Agu, who lives in Wester Hailes and is a Nigerian who came to Edinburgh in 1994 to complete his PhD programme, to tell me about his experiences of being treated differently due to his skin colour.
“My first experience of racism in The fact that the outcry has been “My Dad says Edinburgh was in 1996 when my international, not just limited to family joined me from Nigeria. house prices the States, points to the fact that As I was making my way to around here will racism is a worldwide problem. nearby shopping centre, a go down because ayoung And yet there are many who man confronted me and refuse to accept this. Some prefer you’ve moved in.” said, ‘You shouldn’t be here’. to gloss over what happened in When I approached him for an Minneapolis with comments such explanation, he moved away.” as, “Of course, there are a few bad cops”. Many Reginald says his children, who were between take offence at the slogan “Black lives matter”, the ages of one and eight when they arrived in believing it fights against the idea that “All lives Edinburgh, were discriminated against while matter”. And the term “white privilege” is greatly at the playground. “Some of the other children disputed, especially by whites who have had made racist comments,” he remembers, “and hard lives. they were very nasty. Throughout my life I have had a number of
Reginald and Geoff 8 | THE DELL
As he pursued his PhD at Heriot Watt University, Reginald worked with Professor Geoff Palmer, Scotland’s first black professor.
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Professor Palmer came to the UK from Jamaica in 1955. His mother had emigrated to London in 1951, and when he was one month away from turning 15, she paid the £86 necessary to bring him over. “Years later, whenever my mum and I argued, she’d say she wanted her £86 back,” he jokes.
Because of his age, Palmer had to go to school, though his mother had wanted him to work. He did well in school and eventually earned an Honours degree in Botany in 1964. That year he applied for a job in agriculture. “Why don’t you go home and grow bananas?” asked one of the people on the interviewing panel, a man who just happened to be a well-known politician.
Years later, when he’d accepted a position at Heriot Watt University and bought a house for his family in Penicuik, a little neighbour child told him, “My Dad says house prices around here will go down because you’ve moved in.”
Dr Reginald Agu
Another racist incident happened as recently as last year. “I was to give a lecture at the Edinburgh Festival, and when I arrived at the venue the attendant asked me what I wanted. I replied that I was giving a lecture at 2.00. She said, ‘You can’t be – that lecture is being given by a Professor Geoff Palmer!’”
“Injustice feeds on prejudice,” says Professor Palmer, “and prejudice is that wicked lie through which people distort the truth. It is also a dreadful disease caught in childhood that fosters hate, damages compassion and distorts the mind. Rules can control minds. Prejudice and counterprejudice solve nothing. Surely, true redemption from prejudice does not come from rules, it comes from education or a sudden moral shock that changes human beings for the better”.
BELOW: Professor Geoff Palmer
Reginald Agu says that the “sudden shock” Professor Palmer refers to could be something such as police officers, who are supposed to protect lives, taking a life due to racism. “The international protests that followed George Floyd’s killing could be the tipping point,” he says, “from which our society changes for the better.” The Local People column is contributed by Suzanne Green. Suzanne is a freelance writer/editor and writes regularly for The Dell Directory. She is married to Andy and they have two adult daughters. @KonectMagazines
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HEALTH
Physiotherapy and Coronavirus Getting used to a “new normal”. This is a phrase we are hearing more and more as we come out of lockdown. Life will not be as it was for quite some time. This is what this new normal will be like for McNaughton Physiogrange. We take the health of our patients and staff very seriously. As we begin to open the business again, we must take into consideration Government and Professional Body guidance on how to best do this to reduce the risk of catching this illness, which is a danger to life. The Coronavirus which causes the illness Covid-19 is a new one. As yet there is no vaccination against and no treatment for this illness. This has involved altering the look and layout of our clinic, training staff in the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and introducing strict infection control measures. Our appointment system has changed and now must include screening questions and risk assessment, done with Patient and Physio working together to determine the best treatment plan, particularly whether a face to face appointment is indicated or a video or phone appointment would be better. We cannot offer all our usual services, such as massage, at present. However, as the risk from Coronavirus lessens, we will be able to reduce precautions and return more towards normal. We are always happy to receive calls and will help in the best way we can. To determine this, you will be asked if you would like only a phone or video appointment which will be arranged immediately. Lockdown has shown us that we can help people a great deal, without being in the clinic. A good history can 10 | THE DELL
be taken, assessment done, education given with exercise and management plans started. Patients have told us how delighted they are in the improvements made. This has been reported in other healthcare settings as not having the stress of travel, finding parking and sitting in a waiting room are positives. After screening, as you visit our clinic you will notice differences. To help reduce infection risk we have removed all soft furnishings, fabric screens, towels and linen from the clinic. You will be given a disposable face mask and hand gel to use prior to entering the clinic and will be taken directly into a treatment room. We will keep to a socially distanced 2m during assessment, where possible, and limit “hands-on” treatment time in line with the latest guidelines to minimise the risks of infection. There will be a half hour gap before the next patient is booked to see that Physio to allow for correct removal of PPE, a full clean of the treatment room as surfaces will be washed with soap and water and then wiped with antibacterial spray before set up for the following patient. We want to do everything we can to ensure that you get the effective treatment you need as safely as possible. If you have any questions do please ask. The health column is contributed by McNaughton Physiogrange, Edinburgh www.physiogrange.co.uk @KonectMagazines
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HEALTH
SINGING FOR HEALTHY LUNGS: THE CHEYNE GANG Healthy lungs have moved up the list of things we’re suddenly extra conscious of and thankful to have. Last month I caught up with a local group which for the past seven years has been helping people improve their lung health through singing in a special community singing group. They are adapting to social distancing, and expecting to see increased need for their services. “Unfortunately people who have had Covid-19 may be left with respiratory problems,” explains Pauline Waugh, Chair of the Trustees and cofounder of the singing group The Cheyne Gang. “Access to help with lung health is going to be more important than ever.” The Cheyne Gang’s origins are in a research project that Pauline and other two other General Practice Nurses, Anne Ritchie and Sarah Marshall, started in Edinburgh in 2013. They had a special interest in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, asthma and bronchiectasis. They also enjoyed singing. Strengthening the lungs through singing and natural breathing exercises has been shown to help deal with shortness of breath, and help people manage much better with symptoms of various respiratory conditions. The project grew into a vibrant community singing group, with eight groups across Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Borders. They are a wonderful blend of social, singing and breathing, leading to measurable improvements on quality of life for the majority of their members. Singing sessions stopped at the beginning of March due to the pandemic, with many members being very vulnerable to the virus. There are unlikely to be physical group singing sessions for the foreseeable future. This has not stopped them though! Everything moved online, and it means they can reach people from further afield too.
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The song leaders all work as singing and music coaches. During lockdown each of them has been recording songs, breathing and relaxation exercises to share online, so there is now a series of videos to guide people practising at home. The lessons are available openly on the website, not just for Cheyne Gang members, so anyone can benefit from them. For Cheyne Gang members who are not able to access the website, a DVD is being produced to be posted out to them. Remote support will be in place for the foreseeable future, and the group leaders are constantly looking at ways of evolving the online facilitates to ensure members have access to plenty of fun, dynamic and interesting materials to keep theirs lungs and mental health in tip top condition. So far there has been no group singing practice online due to the technical challenge of the format, however they are looking at ways of doing small group virtual meet-ups or 1 on 1 singing lessons. All members are contacted every week by phone or email. Besides the new singing exercises on the website, there is also a “desert island disks” page where members are sharing their favourite songs. The Cheyne Gang community online is as friendly, cheery and supportive as it is offline. So if you experience breathlessness, or know someone who would benefit from joining the Cheyne Gang, please contact them for more information. Visit their website at www.thecheynegang.com This article was written by Helen-Jane Shearer after speaking with Pauline Waugh, Chair of the Board of Trustees of The Cheyne Gang, and a General Practice Nurse from Stockbridge, Edinburgh. Helen-Jane is the Editor of Konect magazines.
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SPOTLIGHT
A caring approach to Financial Protection Advice In these strangest of times and as people look to experts for help, understanding and support, it is arguably more important than ever that we ensure we get the right advice from the right people…
So is real advice just being told “stay at home” or is real advice “why you should stay at home”?
When it comes to Financial Protection, how “advice” is commonly given to people is by way of the lowest premium, largest sum assured or most health conditions covered. But is that in fact advice? Could it be that a deeper understanding of an individual’s personal circumstances, thoughts and experiences on all things income, health and life would create a more personal picture, which in turn would allow informed choices to be made? Is that not real advice? For example: do you know that most protection plans have things such as counselling, physiotherapy or legal support services included at no extra cost? Would these provide you with additional peace of mind? At 3 Pillars our client journey does not start with a discussion on insurance product or provider but guides clients through the three pillars of financial protection: Income, Health, and Life, so as to understand their personal needs. The Income pillar establishes a client’s financial picture. We talk about their need for income, their occupation and benefits and the effect their job has on their lifestyle. We understand the ‘must pay’ bills and the ‘chosen to pay’ ones. Our Health pillar looks at how clients take care of both their financial and physical health
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by discussing experiences of medical care and treatment, their health concerns and what support would give them peace of mind throughout life and not just when illness strikes. Lastly, the Life pillar is about what is important now and when they are gone. What are their aspirations for their children, business stability or provision for others? What would their priorities be if their voice could be heard when they are no longer here? Whether your needs are Income Protection, Critical Illness Cover, Private Medical insurance, Life Cover, Funeral Plans, Wills & Power of Attorney, Trusts or Business Insurance, our no cost, no obligation service is here to help you protect what matters.
We know that a client or their family, if the worst happens, can only say one of three things to their adviser: ‘I’m glad I took your advice’, ‘I wish I had taken your advice’ or ‘why didn’t you tell me? By providing real advice we know which one we will never hear, so speak to a specialist, speak to someone who cares. This article was written by Marcus Speirs DipFA, Managing Director, 3 Pillars Financial Planning. t: 0131 473 1194 e: admin@3pfplife w: www.3pfp.life
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Life After Normally this month I’d be writing about summer holidays and schools breaking up. But in this extraordinary year, the start of July will signal the end of over three months of children being home schooled whilst many of us worked from home or were furloughed.
As we’ve stayed home in order to minimise the devastating impact of coronavirus, there has been time to think and reflect on our priorities in life. Those of us not on the frontline have been enormously grateful for our everyday heroes and we’ve been able to reconnect with families, friends and neighbours, even if it’s been online rather than in person. Humour has shone through and given us something to smile about amongst the bleak news headlines. I will forever hear Janey Godley’s voice when I listen to Nicola Sturgeon’s speeches and I have loved Andrew Cotter’s hilarious narratives of Olive and Mabel, his two pet dogs. At time of writing we are cautiously beginning to ease lockdown measures. Whilst I will welcome the return of more freedom and increased social opportunities, I must confess that I harbour some mild anxiety about adjusting to post-lockdown life. I’m wary of accidentally doing the wrong thing and feel rather gauche about the new social etiquette that we will need to adhere to. There are some aspects of my own lockdown life that I want to continue in the future - the regular walks in the Pentlands or Colinton Dell, the opportunity to work from home more often and remembering to stay connected with the important people in my life. My abiding memories of this time will be the 22 | THE DELL
things that have made me smile. The amazing views of Edinburgh and the occasional glimpse of wildlife (deer, rabbits, bats, hedgehogs) from regular evening walks. The rainbows in the windows. The painted rocks and ribbons by the school gates and roadsides. And of watching my children grow in front of my very eyes (aided by copious amounts of sleep!) Bleary eyed teenagers clad in dressing gowns wandering though the kitchen at odd times of day clutching gargantuan bowls of cereal. When life is full on and busy it’s easy to forget how precious our families are and take for granted those people right under our nose. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that my own little family sometimes drive each other mad and we definitely don’t always see eye to eye. But I can think of no other people on earth that I would rather have shared lockdown with. Whatever the future may look like, I hope we can all emerge from this time with a renewed sense of priorities, more tolerance and compassion and stronger bonds with our loved ones than ever before. 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! @KonectMagazines
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Whether working from home is your new normal or you just need a place to pay your bills, it’s increasingly likely these days that you’ve considered adding some office space to your home.
However, what’s less likely is that you have a whole room available, ready to be reassigned to this purpose. Welcome to the dual-purpose room. When carefully created, this can offer the ideal solution. Unlike open plan living, where the space performs various duties all at once, a dual-purpose room has two unique uses but is only ever used for one of them at a time. The trick to designing a really workable room of this nature is to ensure it can be quickly and easily transitioned between uses, while looking suitably stylish in both. Which room in your house could double up as an office? Do you have a dining room that’s only used for high days and holidays? A stylish yet practical table is key here, one which can be dressed up or down. Choose a table that works whether it’s a desk, set ‘naked’ for a family meal or fully ‘dressed’ for Christmas dinner. Add closed cupboards for office supplies but consider ones in a ‘sideboard’ style. That way, there’s a surface suitable for either a printer or bar and buffet items. Consider chairs which are light and stackable when not in use. This makes switching a couple out for an ‘office’ chair much easier. How about a spare bedroom/office combo? Stick to bedroom style decor for office pieces and it’ll be a much easier transition when guests come to stay. A pretty table can double as a desk. Add some classy shelves and a stylish chair and you’re done. Designate closed storage elsewhere in the room to keep @KonectMagazines
Dining Room Office
either your office supplies or your decor accessories. That way you can easily switch out what’s not in Gateleg Table use. A gateleg table with integrated storage, along with a folding chair, might be another solution. Folded down it’s a shelf for a plant or vase. In use, it’s a stand alone office that works in any room. Success for any of these options depends on • Easily moveable electronics - consider a laptop or wireless desktop system • A switch between uses that takes minimum time and effort • Adequate, out of sight storage and ruthless control of paper clutter Now, where did I put that shredder? 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 THE DELL | 25
LOCAL ENVIRONMENT
Otters? In the Canal?
Otters? In the Union Canal? Never! It may come as a surprise that in both the canal and the Water of Leith there are frequent sightings of Eurasian otters who have captured the hearts of Edinburgh’s residents with their antics, especially during lockdown. The “Dratsi” as they’re known on Shetland, were once widespread across Scotland but numbers declined to a small population in the north and west due to pesticide pollution in the water. Thankfully as our waterways have become cleaner the number of urban otters has increased and they’ve become a common sight for people taking a stroll along the banks. If you’re out for a walk and hoping to see them, our top tip is to watch for the flick of a thick brown tail as they dive underwater to hunt. Earlier this year we were lucky enough to have an extraordinary encounter with a mother and cub on the Union Canal. Whilst her only cub stayed hidden, she worked her way up and down the water catching fish before disappearing into the reeds to join her infant and provide some much26 | THE DELL
needed food. Being on such a busy and narrow section of the canal, she appeared not to have a care in the world and happily posed for passers-by who all thoroughly enjoyed watching her go about her daily routine. Whilst the west coast and islands remain the stronghold, it’s exciting to see them return to areas accessible to everyone. 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. www.scottishsistersphotography.com
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Please contact us if you would like your business included in our Home Improvements pages. Our contact details are on page 3.
THE DELL DIRECTORY
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The Small Business Owner’s Guide to successful #WFH “Working from Home” has become a reality. What does this mean for you on the technology front? How do you stay safe? What happens if something goes wrong? What hardware and software do you need? Most important of all is your workspace; ensure you have a healthy set up with space for a comfy chair, a decent monitor (24” or higher), an external keyboard and mouse. DO NOT work permanently on your laptop’s touch pad and small keyboard as it can cause long term health issues. See the interiors column on P25 for advice on how to create this extra space in your home
With your health looked after, what about your technology? Hardware
For a new PC we suggest buying from a Tier 1 manufacturer to get 3 -4 years minimum from your investment. Go for at least Intel i5, 8GB memory and 256GB SSD. We can supply a machine fully setup and delivered for £450 If you already have a PC that is less than 5 years old and runs Windows 7 / 10 there is the option to upgrade the hard drive to an SSD. Cost: £125. Software
There are 5 core business applications you need: Email, Data, Communication, Backup & Virus Protection. You will hear terms like POP, IMAP, GMAIL. EXCHANGE, OFFICE 365, ONE DRIVE, GOOGLE DRIVE, DROPBOX, ZOOM, TEAMS. So, how do you choose? • Email - We recommend Exchange / Office 365. It gives you an email address that can be used on any platform (Android, iPhone, PC, MAC) and will synchronise across all devices. Cost: £4.99 per month per mailbox. • Data - It’s time to embrace the Cloud if you haven’t already. Massive data centres, replicated across multiple locations, look after your data which you can access on @KonectMagazines
your PC, MAC, mobile or any browser. We recommend SharePoint for any Small Business. Cost: free with Office 365.
• Communication - Aside from email, it is essential that you can now video conference. Zoom has dominated the headlines and it does the job admirably so download it and use it. Teams is also free with Office 365. • Backup - You will accumulate Gigabytes (if not Terabytes) of data. But what happens if the machine fails or your laptop gets stolen? You MUST have a backup. Do not rely on “you” backing it up every night; it won’t happen. You need an automated process that just does it every day. Cost: £2 per month per user • Protection - The world is full of scams, rogue emails, and get rich quick schemes. You must always be on your guard. It’s essential that you have good quality virus protection installed on your PC / MAC (Yes MACs can get a virus). Cost: £25 per annum Support
What happens if something goes wrong or you have a question about your technology? With a support contract you can contact Worx24 anytime and we will help you. We will also monitor your PC and make sure it is up to date, fully protected and running at its best. Cost: £15 per month for 1st device and £7.50 for each subsequent device. All prices quoted ex VAT. This article was contributed by Angus Kerr. Angus is the director of Worx24, a Colintonbased business IT support company. www.worx24.co.uk THE DELL | 29
Lockdown Community Spirit
Colinton Village Enterprise (CVE) SCIO would normally be busy preparing for Art in the Park now, Colinton’s biennial September festival. But with this unable to go ahead, and since Tea in the Park in May was cancelled too, the group’s formidable energy has been redirected to other initiatives.
I spoke with Lorraine O’Shea, Chair of CVE, to see what they’ve been up to since lockdown started. “We’ve been supporting other grassroots organisations in the community, and discovered a whole lot of community spirit. The pandemic has really bought people together to help each other and our neighbours.” CVE’s lockdown activities started with the idea of selling secondhand books from the large stock they had. “We normally sell them at the events. It’s always a good fundraiser, so we decided to bundle them into sets of 5 and sell for £2 per bundle via the CVE Facebook page.” They’ve been doing this throughout lockdown, providing people with a steady stream of books to read, or to give to their neighbours who are shielding, and so on. Fellow CVE committee member Jennie Loudon makes up the bundles and arranges non-contact pick up. “The money goes in an envelope through the door, so there is no physical contact. People have been phenomenal, many putting in more than the £2. We’ve raised money - all of which will be
donated to food charities, and got through most of our stock!” Colinton’s books have also been appreciated by other local charities who have included books for their users with food or clothing parcels. For example, the Eric Liddel Centre requested certain titles for their dementia sufferers, so Jenny has been doing custom bundles for them! LOVEGorgie Farm, Wester Hailes Youth Agency, Streetreads, Space & Broomhouse Hub, to name just a few, are other grassroots organisations who have been delighted to receive books. Then there was the soap. Lorraine became aware of an availability of soap from Glasgow the Caring City, through a connection with a resilience group here - Edinburgh Coronavirus Support. Via CVE, she took delivery of 2000 bars and got to work contacting her network of charities to see who would benefit from them. Unsurprisingly, they were in very high demand, going out with food and clothing bundles via local grassroots organisations to keep vulnerable people supplied during lockdown. It wouldn’t have been possible without the storage facility at ‘The Shed’ in Spylaw Park. The building, which facilitates Art in the Park too, has recently received the green light to be sold to CVE from Edinburgh City Council via their successful Community Asset Transfer application. The project to turn it into a Community Heritage Hub, in line with the character and the heritage of the building, is currently being concepted by an architect. It will be publicly available for groups to use, exhibitions and other community activities. This article was written by Helen-Jane Shearer after speaking with Lorraine O’Shea, Chair of the Colinton Village Enterprises. CVE’s supports the development of the Colinton community’s rich heritage by promoting social, artistic, recreational and commercial engagement. Helen-Jane is the Editor of the Dell Directory
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Children will need a sense of belonging more than ever when they go back to school in August. Their lives have been turned upside down and many of them miss the routine and normality of conventional school. Uniform plays an important part, even though some schools’ requirements may change as they adjust to the new situation. Sadly, many families have been plunged into hardship in recent months, adding to the thousands of children who are growing up in poverty and cannot afford the basics. Edinburgh School Uniform Bank is a small charity based in Balerno. We aim to give children dignity, confidence and the opportunity to do their best by providing new school uniform. We receive requests for help via professionals like
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pupil support teachers and family workers. Our team of dedicated volunteers make up bespoke packs of uniform for each child. One of our professional partners told us that “Many of the parents have broken down and cried with relief receiving the uniform packs�. This year we need your help more than ever. We usually ask our supporters to shop for uniform then drop it in to us, but this year we need to do everything online.
To find out how you can donate funds or uniform to support local youngsters, please visit our website www.edinburghuniform.org or email info.esub@gmail.com
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