Dell Directory October 2019 by Konect Magazines

October 2019

THE DELL DIRECTORY

FOOD AND DRINK:

INTERIORS:

SCOTLANDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PREMIUM ROASTERY

PLUS: health, food & drink, CLUBS & CLASSES, Puzzles, and much more inside! The monthly community magazine for Colinton, Craiglockhart and Kingsknowe

P17 TO OUR OCTOBER EDITION

reparing this Sustainability Special edition of Konect has been very interesting. It’s a vast topic, it touches every area of life and the articles in this issue are just a small selection. There was not space to print all the articles that I gathered on projects in West Lothian and Falkirk areas too, but they will be on our website at www.konect.scot. Did you know there is a premium coffee roastery just up the road in Livingston? Supplying premium coffee all over Scotland for years to the trade, Coffee Direct are launching their amazing coffee direct to the public – see pages 12-13, and there is a special offer for Konect readers on your first order. Coffee doesn’t come fresher. All our usual columns are here, I hope you enjoy the magazine this month.

THIS ISSUE The Pursuit of Convenience......................... 8 Feature: Coffee Direct, Premium

Coffee.............................................................12 Health: Golf Injuries.....................................17 Local Lab......................................................25 The Seasonal Touch...................................26 Lynne’s Column...........................................29 Notes from a Small Village.........................30 Puzzles..........................................................34 What’s On......................................................36 Clubs & Classes..........................................38

COVER IMAGE: What is your home’s signature seasonal scent?: See P26 for hints and tips from The Seasonal Touch.

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

CHARLENE GAFFNEY

E: editor@konect.scot

M: 07772 941899 E: charlene@konect.scot

Editor

@KonectMagazines

Account Manager

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Double Glazing Doctor Four Seasons Scotland Limited

The Lothians finest... • If we can’t fix it - it can’t be fixed. • Does your conservatory leak? • Do you have broken locks, hinges handles? • Are your sealed units misted or broken? • Is your original supplier no longer in business or just won’t honour your existing guarantee?

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WEIR GAS SERVICES Former Scottish Gas engineer

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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

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sight and out of mind for most of us, but it’s coming back to bite. We’re drowning in stuff that never goes away; we’re destroying bits of the planet and our local environments and even our own health in order to make everything easy for ourselves.

SUSTAINABILITY SPECIAL

Convenience will put up a big fight. It definitely does in my life. So when it comes to wanting to live in a low-impact, healthier way, we’re organising into groups - as a testament to the fact that a lot of people want to make changes, a large number of groups has sprung up - support groups, information services, grant funds for environmental health and education, and so on. We’re all in constant pursuit of convenience, so anything that makes life easier wins in everyday decisionmaking. And with relentless progress, with everything from sliced bread onwards, we’ll go for it in droves if it saves us a bit of time and/or energy. Individuals, businesses, producers – so much is driven by convenience, efficiency and cost saving. It’s been great for a hundred years or so; we’ve made massive progress in all sorts of things, and along the way we’ve chucked stuff away because it’s easier to do that than to wash and re-use and definitely easier than mending, and in some contexts more hygienic and safer; we drive everywhere because it’s quicker and we’re always in a hurry; we pour things onto and into crops and animals to make them more productive. It was out of

I’ve been speaking to some of them locally. In the course of this special edition I’ve spoken to people working on a huge range of issues related to sustainable living. A lot of changes that are better for our health and our environment are also fun, satisfying and even save money too – social groups for learning new skills for making, creating, and mending; reducing waste and sharing resources, growing your own food, and much more. The biggest changes will have to come from business and industry, and while there will ultimately have to be legislation for real change, in the meantime a lot of work is being done taking a scientific approach on a large scale. The Local Lab column from Heriot-Watt University this month gives an example, looking at tackling waste in the building industry. A beautiful environment and good health to enjoy? That will definitely be the best thing since sliced bread.

WATER OF LEITH CONSERVATION TRUST MY FAVOURITE ZERO WASTE CHOICES

9 S

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OUR O R Y IC O N T LI

K OU R LOO IN A B F A T S I U

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MENSTRUAL CUPS BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE @KonectMagazines

SUSTAINABILITY SPECIAL

WINTER TALKS PROGRAMME

All talks take place at the Water of Leith Visitor Centre, 24 Lanark Road, Edinburgh. Free for Members, Guest £2. The Water of Leith Conservation Trust invites you to our AGM and Members Evening Monday 28th October - 7.30pm Pete McDougall from the Saughton Park Project has been invited to join us and speak of the trials and tribulations of the spectacular renovation of the Park over the past 6 years. He will also update us on the progress of the installation of a new micro hydro in the river at Gorgie Weir which will help to power the park. The AGM and presentation will be followed by a drinks reception and a chance to get to know our trustees and other members. Past Lives of Leith Monday 18th November – 7.30pm John Lawson, City of Edinburgh Councils Archaeologist, will join us to reveal the fascinating results from the archaeological excavations undertaken by CEC and Headland Archaeology in 2009, in advance of the Edinburgh Tram in Constitution Street Leith. The project unearthed an unknown section of the graveyard associated with South Leith Parish Church. Detailed forensic analysis shed new details on the life and death of the ordinary inhabitants of Leith. #STOPThePlasticTide Monday 16th December, 7.30pm Catherine Gemmell, Scotland Conservation Officer for the Marine Conservation Society, will take us on a whistle stop tour of her journey to help Scotland #STOPThePlasticTide. From citizen science with amazing volunteers to personal plastic free journeys to campaigning for change at government level there have been some fantastic success stories over the last few years. Catherine will bring some Ocean Optimism to the conversation about what we can all do to help #STOPThePlasticTide for good.

@KonectMagazines

My Favourite ZERO WASTE Changes Emms Choice is a West Lothian business that stocks products with a strong ethical focus. We embrace zero waste and all things eco-friendly. Visit our online shop at emmschoice.com with free collection option. We also run a bulk and refill station in Bathgate aimed at reducing single-use plastic waste.

Here are some of my favourite products that have reduced waste in my home: Solid Soap Bars – gentle, natural soaps with plant-based ingredients, vegan friendly and plastic free packaging. Soaps for different uses; from dishwashing to hand/body and even hair care - shampoo and conditioner bars. Compostable Plastic Free Cleaning Products – biodegradable and made from plant-based materials like coconut hair, loofah, corn, bamboo, cotton and jute. Reusable, and durable scrubbies for plastic free cleaning of dishes, kitchen/ bathroom cleaning and body/shower. Bamboo toothbrush and eco floss for oral care. Other Favourites – rCUP: a lightweight, leakproof travel cup which is truly recycled – made from 6 used coffee cups and lids. Deodorant salt stick in sustainable cork packaging. Stainless steel straws with cleaning brush: reusable and sustainable. THE DELL | 9

Currievale

Plumbing & Drainage Services Family Business over 15 years experience Reliable, experienced, local plumber.

No job too small. All work guaranteed • Gutter cleaning • Blocked drains • Blocked toilets • Blocked sinks & baths • Outside tap fitted • Blocked Manholes • Burst pipes • Shower fitted & repaired • Storage tanks • New taps fitted & repaired • New installations • All Plumbing work carried out Tel: 0131 449 3071 Mob: 07849 393 364

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Would you like to advertise your business to over 50,000 homes throughout West Lothian, Falkirk and Edinburgh (West)?

Our contact details are on page 3.

THE DELL DIRECTORY

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Blaikie Tree Services Services: • Tree Felling and removal Forestry and arboriculture • Tree Pruning • Tree Reductions • All aspects of tree maintenance • Hedge cutting Family Run business with highly trained and professional Tree Surgeons

Please Call or email us for free advise and quotations Email: blaikietreeservices@gmail.com

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SCOTTISH

BARISTA ACADEMY

Sunrise over the Bathgate Hills

“If you are serious about your coffee, you come here”

The smell of good coffee; a roasting machine; bags of different coffee beans and lots of coffee paraphernalia greets you as you walk into the Scottish Barista Academy in Livingston. “Have I just walked into heaven?” I ask as Jim Watson, West Lothian resident, Scottish Barista Academy MD and certified coffee expert, emerges.

First things first, I need a coffee. “Do you drink filter coffee?” Jim asks. Because, you see, depending on whether you want filter, cafetiere or espresso coffee determines how he will select and grind the beans. There is no “all-purpose” coffee here. Arabica, Robusta, single-origin, espresso, aero-press, filter, bitter, sweet, acidic, Columbian, Brazilian, lungo, ristretto... the terminology of coffee can be as mysterious to the uninitiated as the legendary origins of coffee itself – and that’s before we even start on the list of coffees on a typical café menu (latte, cappuccino, Americano, macchiato, mocha…). The variety of coffee, where it’s grown, the way it is processed, roasted, ground, packaged and brewed all affect the way it tastes when it reaches your taste buds. If “all” you want is a 12 | THE DELL

Jim Watson: rt Certified coffee expe

good cup of coffee, it pays to find out at least a little about it.

The Scottish Barista Academy was launched in 2013 and is where café owners, restaurateurs, and baristas from all over the UK (and further afield) come to learn about coffee. In new premises at Newyearfield, Livingston, this is the only place in the UK where you can become qualified in all levels of the Specialty Coffee Association accreditations, an international organisation encompassing training in every element of the coffee production process. Jim is the first and only person in the UK and Ireland to hold all the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) professional qualifications as well as the SCA Coffee Diploma, meaning that he really knows his coffee. If you are serious about your coffee, and @KonectMagazines

want to learn more, the Scottish Barista Academy is the place to visit. And if you don’t want to learn but just want to drink coffee, you can buy incredibly fresh coffee - roasted and ground by the hand of one of the country’s leading coffee professionals. After a career in the army, followed by a directorship of a data communications company, how did Jim end up in coffee? As he grinds the beans and starts making my morning coffee, he tells me how it all started. A lover of hill walking, after a memorable cold wet hike in the Trossachs in 1988, Jim was desperate for a coffee. The one he was served in the café he alighted upon was woefully bad; all coffee lovers will relate to the bitter disappointment he felt as the acidic offering hit his taste buds. When he complained, the challenge from the café owner, “Well, could you do any better?” was what started Jim on his coffee journey. He was looking for a change of direction in his working life anyway so, along with his wife Maggie, set about learning all there is to know about coffee.

Wholesale coffee: If you run or work in a café or restaurant and need to boost your coffee skills or increase sales, please contact Jim. Via his wholesale business, Coffee Direct, Jim supplies his specially selected and roasted coffee and will provide full barista training here at the Scottish Barista Academy for you and/or your employees*.

*Terms and conditions apply - please contact 07720 509457 or email enquiries@coffeedirect.co.uk for more information.

Coffee is extremely reactive and sensitive stuff, and the coffee business is not for the faint-hearted. But Jim’s passion and knowledge is phenomenal. He maintains close links with suppliers in the countries where his coffee is produced and his attention to the details of the roasting and grinding process is second to none. His business, Coffee Direct, has been supplying the hospitality trade all over Scotland since he took good coffee back to the disgruntled café owner of the original story and showed him how to make it. The café owner then became one of Jim’s first customers. Coffee Direct has recently started selling coffee online to retail customers. Your online coffee order is specially hand-roasted, ground and dispatched here in Livingston, within 48 hours. A little known fact about Jim – he loves to start the day very early with a cup of tea, preferably watching the sun come up with a view over the Bathgate hills, before heading off to share the wonderful world of coffee with as many people as possible. @KonectMagazines

For more information on the Scottish Barista Academy, visit www.scottishbaristaacademy.com For more information on Coffee Direct and to order coffee, visit www.coffeedirect.co.uk This article was written by Helen-Jane Shearer after visiting Jim Watson of Coffee Direct at his roastery in Livingston. HelenJane is the editor of Konect magazines and lives in West Lothian with her family. THE DELL | 13

SUSTAINABILITY SPECIAL

Menstrual cups are the way forward, period. Guys, gals and non-binary pals, please welcome to the stage the rising star of the period world: the menstrual cup, fast becoming known as the new eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to sanitary pads and tampons. But what are the benefits of using one? And why is it so much better for the environment? While pads and tampons are partly bio-degradable cotton, they are also single use products which contain plastic in the form of applicators and packaging. Comparatively, menstrual cups are re-usable, long lasting, and made of silicone - an easily recyclable material. The average women might use thousands of pads and tampons in her lifetime, but just one menstrual cup can last up to ten years before it needs replacing. Just like making the switch to keep-cups from disposable coffee cups, changing to a sustainable menstrual cup can have an equally positive impact on the environment. As luck would have it, many women find menstrual cups easier to use in comparison to traditional period products. Long-term The Falkirk Flo Sisters offers information and support on menstrual and incontinence care, including information on CSP, cups, period pants and many more eco-friendly ways to use during your periods, as well as information on reusable incontinence products such as pads, pants, bed protection - this is of course open to men and ladies. See the page at www.facebook.com/falkirkflosisters 14 | THE DELL

Hey Girls is a Scottish Social Enterprise which sells environmentally friendly, ethically sourced menstrual products including cups, on a “Buy One Give One” scheme, so for every product you buy they give one away to help girls and young women in need. “We seek to enrich the lives of girls and young women in the UK by exercising social and ethical responsibility in every aspect of our work—from where we source our products through to our supply chain, and the way we run our social business.” Visit www.heygirls.co.uk for more information and to purchase your cup! cup user, Bethany, says using her cup is, ‘ so much less effort compared to pads and tampons. Rinsing it is comparable to (but less fiddly than!) wrapping up a pad, and there’s no need to dispose of it whenever I empty it. I don’t need to stock up and spend money on it every month like I did with pads and tampons. I just need to remember where I put it!’ Bethany is one of many women who prefer the sustainability and ease of the cup life, contributing to both a happier bank balance and a happier environment. Many women wear pads with their cups to catch leaks on heavier days, but tampons could effectively be written out of the equation - especially given menstrual cups pose little to no threat of toxic shock syndrome in comparison. Continued emphasis on encouraging positive conversations about menstruation, sustainability and intersectional access will not only tackle period poverty and sustainability, but also combat societal stigma surroundings periods. While they can be intimidating at first, a small amount of fore-thought and background reading can absolutely help you make this small change, which will have great benefits for the environment - and your purse!* * NB: some women may not be able to use cups because of vaginismus or trauma. If you need help with either of these, please chat to your GP about it. This article was contributed by Cara McKeown. Cara is studying Social Anthropology at the University of Edinburgh, and her interests include theatre, bachata dancing, intersectional feminism, and environmental sustainability. @KonectMagazines

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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

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Please contact us if you would like your business included in our Health & Beauty pages. Our contact details are on page 3.

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HEALTH

Golf Injuries – What you should Know Golf is an amazing sport. Regular readers of Konect will know from last month that playing golf has many benefits for our physical and mental health to improve both our well-being and quality of life. 55 million people across 206 countries play golf, so what do we know about the injuries that golfers may sustain? First of all, the rate of injury per hour of golf played is very low compared to other sports. Studies suggest that the rate if injury is between 0.28 and 0.60 injuries per 1000 hours of golf played by an amateur golfer. Professionals play more often, and so have a higher incidence. The vast majority of golf injuries are not the result of a single event, such as a fall on the course. Rather, they tend to occur as the result of tissue damage sustained over time. The repetitive micro trauma to soft tissues caused by a high volume of golf shots, particularly if swing mechanics are not good, causes pain to develop from conditions such as muscle strains, joint sprains and tendonopathy.

In amateurs, the most frequently reported sites of injury are the low back, the elbow, the shoulder and the wrist/hand. Injuries to limbs tend to occur more often on the lead side. This is the left side, if you are a right handed player. Male amateur golfers tend to be more susceptible to low back problems and female golfers tend to have more upper limb injuries.

Research from the USA suggests that a lightening strike is an infrequent occurrence but, of all sports, golf has the highest incidence. My Dad would agree – even although it is a rare event, he was knocked unconscious by a lightening strike while trying to walk off a course in a sudden storm. @KonectMagazines

Golf is a safe sport and one that will enhance our health and quality of life. By understanding the types of injuries and their causes, steps can be taken to reduce the risk of injuries. This may include adding a warm up and cool down routine to your golf so that your body is prepared for the challenges of 9 or 18 holes and can recover better. Paying attention to your swing mechanics can really improve your golf as well as reduce your chances of sustaining an injury. Also try to avoid a sudden increase in the volume of golf strokes, which can overload soft tissues causing pain and damage. Too often we Physios see golfers who have had a break from golf, then suddenly played a lot while on holiday. An injury is not the holiday souvenir you want to bring home! Advice will be available from your Club professional or local Physio to help ensure that you get the health benefits of golf, but stay injury free. As Arnold Palmer said, “Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated – that is why we love it!” The health column is contributed by McNaughton Physiogrange, Edinburgh www.physiogrange.co.uk

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CLEANING & MAINTENANCE • Rhone Cleaning & Repairs (cast iron or plastic) • Roof Repairs (tiles or slates) • Moss Removal • Pressure Washing

Call Kerr Middleton on: 0131 334 2080 | 07768 632 867 FREE Estimates & advice given Over 35 years experience

Currievale Drainage Services

24 hour call outs Family business, over 20 yrs experience Reliable and no job too small All blockages cleared: Drains, toilets, sinks, baths & showers Call Alexander:

07849 393364 • 0131 449 3071 Currievale Drive, Currie

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SMC JOINERY 07884 203 957 OXGANGS FARM LOAN, EDINBURGH, EH13 9QD

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LOCAL LAB

building a sustainable future Professor Gabriela Medero is a civil engineer at Heriot-Watt University who, for years, has been concerned about the huge amounts of waste produced in the construction industry. After many years of research, testing and development, she has produced a solution with revolutionary potential. How big is the issue of waste in the construction industry?: The construction and demolition sector is the largest contributor of waste globally. Around a third of the one hundred and twenty million tonnes of waste produced in the UK comes from construction and demolition. Forty five percent of total UK carbon emissions come from construction and thirty two percent of landfill waste comes from construction and demolition in the country. You’ve been working on this for a long time, why now?: Continuing in this way just isn’t sustainable. The UK’s construction industry is under increasing pressure to reduce waste and meet recycling targets of 70% of all building waste to be recycled from the year 2020. This has meant companies, governments and other funders have been focusing on real world solutions to reduce waste. For example, Zero Waste Scotland funded our prototype. So, What’s the solution?: Here at HeriotWatt, we’ve created a brick made of 90% recycled construction and demolition waste and requires one tenth of the energy to manufacture compared to traditional bricks. @KonectMagazines

This allows a much more circular approach as taking the waste from a building site, recycling it, making it into a new building material and taking it back to the building site will answer so many problems for the industry. When will the construction industry start to use your new bricks?: Thanks to funding from the Scottish Enterprise (High Growth Spin-Out Programme), the Royal Academy of Engineering, Construction Scotland Innovation Centre as well as Zero Waste Scotland, we’re in the process of taking the ‘K-Briq’ from prototype to market. The first building with K-Briq is starting construction this year and we are now taking orders for 2020. The Local Lab column is contributed by Heriot-Watt University to engage the public in a range of their research projects. Find out more on the Kenoteq website www.kenoteq.com THE DELL | 25

WHAT’S YOUR HOME’S SEASONAL SIGNATURE SCENT? Autumn. It’s always welcome in my home. While I can’t deny there’s a moment of mournful contemplation to honour summer’s passing, early October brings with it a tingle of excitement. It feels like the overture to a season which will finally reach it’s crescendo amid the full on festivities of late December.

For now, we’re treated to cool, crisp mornings, cosy nights in and a natural colour show like no other. Autumn also smells amazing! Did you know that smell has the ability to impact our emotions more than any of our other senses? We often focus on creating a certain mood in our homes with decor, lighting etc but we completely forget about adding scent. Pop into any of the show homes in the area and pay attention to how they smell. Those clever designers have included a plethora of reed diffusers throughout so that as you tour the home your brain starts sending you signals saying ‘you’d love living here because it’s so fresh/cosy/restful’. That scent sparks an emotional yearning to buy the house! Want some of that in your own home this season?

Simmer pot 26 | THE DELL

Handmade scented mug m ats

Scented candle Candles & Diffusers - If you’re buying scented candles or reed diffusers for autumn, look for ones containing notes of sandalwood, cedar, amber resin, red apple, cloves, cinnamon, pumpkin, nutmeg, mulled cider, musk, sage or eucalyptus. Create a simmer pot - For a more natural solution why not create your own combination with a simmer pot? Fill a small saucepan with water and bring to a simmer. Add your own combination of ingredients such as cinnamon sticks, chopped apple/orange (or just the peel), cloves, vanilla, star anise, nutmeg - experiment! Keep topping up the water as required. It will create a gorgeous scent which will permeate the whole house. Make a scented mug mat - If you’re crafty, why not make your own scented mug mat? When your steaming cuppa is placed on it you’ll release some warming seasonal scents. Add a cup of plain, uncooked rice to a small sealable bag or container. Add 6 or 7 drops of your favourite essential oils, seal and shake it then leave for 24 hrs. Craft a small square coaster from your favourite fabric and fill it with the rice. These make lovely gifts too! What will be your home’s signature scent this autumn? Lynn McMurray - Enthusiast of all things ‘home’ and owner at The Seasonal Touch. www.theseasonaltouch.co.uk @KonectMagazines

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IAN HODGSON & CO PAINTERS & DECORATORS Established 1980

We offer a complete decorating service. All our tradesmen have City & Guilds and are fully insured.

For a quotation without obligation from your local decorator Phone 0131 441 6524 Where Quality Counts!

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Getting Out There in October In September, my focus was going to be on cooking and eating habits but, true to form, I got slightly distracted along the way… I did go to Colinton Market but rather late in the day so there were no edible things on offer. The following week, though, I enjoyed partaking a lovely curry and a cheeky wee Prosecco at Curry in the Park in Spylaw Park. Whilst I may not yet have got to grips with any new mealtime regimes, I have been reminded what a cracking wee community we have in Colinton.

I have been trying to edge out of my comfort zone in other areas, though, with mixed results so far. First off, I tried a trampoline fitness class although I should really have heeded the wise words of my son when he said “Mum – you do know it’s a lot harder than it looks?” The gargantuan effort I had to put in just to maintain my dignity left me in pain across my chest and ribs for days! Thankfully one of my other “something new” things was to sign up for some physiotherapy for a sore shoulder that’s plagued me for ages so at least I was able to get some help with the pain! On a more successful note I’ve started listening to some guided mediation and @KonectMagazines

relaxing music clips before bedtime. I’ve never been very good at meditating as I find it really difficult to completely switch off my mind and focus on just one thing. That’s not to say that my head is always full of important stuff – it just tends to run a constant dialogue of reminders, song lyrics and random thoughts throughout my waking hours. I must be doing something right with these short videos, though, because I rarely reach the end of them!

In a moment of madness when booking a short break for the September weekend I thought it would be nice to try to prove to my kids that I’m not just a nagging harridan (although I am very good at being the latter, having put in years of practise)! To do something they wouldn’t expect their old, risk-averse Mum to do. So hopefully by the time you read this I will have conquered a fear by joining my

kids on a tree top trail and zipwire at Center Parcs. I’m hoping that this will be less painful than the trampolining and not end up in the “did that once – never again, thanks” pile! Barring all serious injury, though, it doesn’t really matter. My mission for October is to keep trying new things. If they don’t really suit me, I’ll just move on and be glad that I tried. I’ll still have a few good memories and the knowledge that I’ve pushed myself, even a teeny tiny bit, out of my comfort zone. One small step at a time. 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!

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I’ve lived in Balerno since 1991. It’s home. But Illinois, the American state where I grew up, is also home. I think of myself as a transplant – uprooted from the rich, dark farmland in the Midwest, and replanted in harder, rockier UK soil. Though I feel quite at home here, growing up in a place with different customs means that I don’t always see things in the same way as my neighbour. To market, to market … There was a time when the Balerno Farmer’s Market would have been a new and unusual idea for me. Although I grew up surrounded by farms, my family went to the supermarket for our produce. During my early days in this country, a friend took me to an open air market. I looked forward to it, but was disappointed when it started to rain. “Surely it will be cancelled and they’ll set a rain date?” I asked. “Suzanne,” she said, “if we cancelled events every time it rained, we would never do anything!” So I walked around in the drizzle, marvelling at how the hawkers loaded brussels sprouts into a small paper bag, gave it a twirl to seal it and handed it over. These men addressed me as “Love” though we’d never even been introduced. Shopping in the UK has changed a lot over the past three decades (Online shopping is fantastic – and still not available in much of small town America!). But initially I had to go to the greengrocers for fruit and vegetables, the butchers for meat and the supermarket for everything else. Oh, and milk arrived on my doorstop every morning in little glass bottles. I had a lot to learn. Each individual proprietor set their own hours and played by their own rules. The greengrocer followed me round the shop saying “Yes, please” until I finally understood that he was asking what I wanted. I 30 | THE DELL

left notes for the milkman rolled up and stuffed down the neck of the bottle. It was like sending secret messages. I never worked out the butcher’s hours.

Once, when my husband and I were still dating, I asked him over for Sunday lunch. He was sad to discover it was a vegetarian meal. “I went to the butcher’s yesterday afternoon,” I explained, “but he was all out of meat!” “What? Why would you leave it until Saturday afternoon?! Of course, he’s going to be out.”

“Could it be because I come from a country where the shops’ shelves are stacked to the ceiling,” I countered, “… where the customers’ convenience is the name of the game and the shopkeeper doesn’t close up early, leaving a note on the door explaining he’s gone home to watch the football!”

These days when I hit the shops I’m annoyed by the raucous “music” they pump out, and bemused at being told it’s “no trouble” to take my thirty quid. There – did you see how knowledgeably I used that term “quid”? For the longest time I thought it must be seafood. To be continued next issue …

Notes from a small village 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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THE DELL | 31

SUSTAINABILITY SPECIAL

PURE PASSION FOR FOOD EQUALITY It all started when a couple of guys working for a large supermarket were involved in delivering the supermarket’s donations to the food banks in and around Falkirk. “The donations are all very well, and the food banks rely on them, but we noticed the quality could be variable and often it was not the very freshest produce being donated,” explains Steve McQueen, one of the co-founders of Sustainable Thinking Scotland, which is now in its third year. “We wanted to be able to provide the food bank services with the very best fresh organic food, grown locally and delivered as soon as it’s picked.” It’s a wonderful initiative. For families finding themselves going through a period of food poverty, life is tough enough and necessarily, foodbanks have to operate using primarily tinned and packaged food so the dietary options available to people using the service can be limited. So Steve and his colleague Sean Kerr set about finding a premises, rolled up their sleeves and got to work. The premises is the historic walled garden of Kinneil House, Bo’ness. Most recently used as a plant nursery by Falkirk Council for growing flowers for the local roundabouts and planters, the huge walled garden is currently unused apart from the Sustainable Thinking Scotland Foodbank Farm. Steve and Sean are gradually clearing it and developing their farm, complete with a composting and a biochar zone. Biochar is form of carbon they are creating onsite, recycling timber into something which can be used as a soil additive to help increase crop yield. “I’m the grafter, Sean’s the scientist!” says Steve. They have made a weekly donation to the food banks, soup kitchens and food larders for 32 | THE DELL

CAN YOU HELP? Volunteers are needed to join the team at the walled garden to help with all aspects of the project – maintaining the polytunnels, building raised beds, planting and more. Donations of equipment, soil and anything to do with growing fruit and vegetables is always welcome. Please like and share the facebook page at www.facebook.com/pg/ SustainableThinkingScotlandCIC/

For more information or if you’d like to get involved in any way, please contact them via the facebook page or email sustainablethinkingscotland@gmail.com two growing seasons now, as well as running a busy programme of workshops with schools and community groups. “Neither of us had a lot of experience in horticulture but we’re learning fast!” Recipe ideas are included with their fresh produce, which is picked on the morning that it is delivered to the food banks, who then get it out to recipients same-day. “We’d ultimately like this to be rolled out elsewhere so that all food bank recipients can benefit from the best fresh local produce.” It’s ambitious, it’s impressive and they have big plans in the pipeline. They are currently unfunded and are demonstrating a huge amount of creativity and hard work to deliver that they do. It’s pure passion for food equality. Sustainable Thinking Scotland is a Community Interest Company highlighting alternative ways to rebalance economic, environmental and social values in modern society, ensuring that all members of our community are offered support and opportunities to live a happy, healthy life. This article was written by Helen-Jane Shearer after visiting the Foodbank Farm in the walled garden last month. Helen-Jane is the editor of Konect magazines. @KonectMagazines

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THE DELL | 33

PUZZLES

CROSSWORD

BUSTER THE DOG

Solution in the November edition ACROSS: 1. Actors in a play (4), 3. Grow or enlarge (8), 9. At rest (7), 10. Odd (5), 11. Numerical (12), 14. Short sleep (3), 16. Very angry (5), 17. Epoch (3), 18. However (12), 21. Call in (5), 22. Spiciest (7), 23. Agitated (8), 24. Classification (4). DOWN: 1. Ritual (8), 2. Divided (5), 4. Head movement (3), 5. Necessities (12), 6. The mean value (7), 7. Beige (4), 8. Exploratory (12), 12. Adjust (5), 13. Tape container (8), 15. Crushes (7), 19. Foe (5), 20. Above (4), 22. Owns (3).

Solution in the November edition

SUDOKU

34 | THE DELL

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THE DELL | 35

13TH OCTOBER TO 30TH NOVEMBER Pentlands Book Festival Range of events in Colinton, Currie, Juniper Green and Balerno. Packed programme covering every taste - crime, new aspiring local authors, poetry, fiction and fact. See www.pentlandsbookfestival.org for the full programme and tickets.

SATURDAY 12TH OCTOBER Balerno Farmers Market Main Street, Balerno, 9am - 1pm

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SUNDAY 27TH OCTOBER Halloween Party Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre, 71 Firhill Drive. 12.30 – 2.30pm. Disco, games, balloons, sweets, juice, fancy dress prizes. Tickets £1.50 per child (under 3s free) available from ONC office. Tel 0131 466 0678. SUNDAY 3RD NOVEMBER Fireworks Extravaganza in aid of Scottish Love in Action. George Watson’s Rugby Ground, see inside back cover for full details SATURDAY 16TH NOVEMBER Christmas Fayre St John’s Colinton Mains Church, 223 Oxgangs Road North. 11am – 1pm. Jewellery, home baking, Christmas stall, bric a brac, toys and who knows what else! Refreshments and books. WANT TO INCLUDE YOUR EVENT HERE? COMMUNITY AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT LISTINGS ARE FREE OF CHARGE. EMAIL EDITOR@KONECT.SCOT BY 15TH OF THE MONTH FOR FOLLOWING MONTH’S ISSUE. 36 | THE DELL

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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

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400 Lanark Road West, Currie

THE DELL | 37

CLUBS & CLASSES

SPORTS, HOBBIES, LEARNING, SUPPORT GROUPS & MORE... NEW CRAIGLOCKHART BADMINTON CLUB Craiglockhart Parish Church - We meet for social badminton on Wednesdays 8pm to 10pm from September to May. Contact Averil Sutherland on 07720 049705. MORNINGSIDE & NEWINGTON FLORAL ART CLUB Come along & enjoy relaxing evenings watching a floral demonstration with lively & interesting chat. You might even win one of the arrangements. We meet in Boroughmuir Rugby Club, Meggatland, off Colinton Road EH14 1AS from 7.30pm to 9.30pm approx on the 1st Monday of each month. Wine/tea/coffee available. New Members Only – come as a visitor for £7 on the 2nd September or 7th October which will be deducted from your annual subscription making it only another £28 if you decide to join us. We look forward to meeting you. For information please contact Joyce Rutherford 0131 443 2536 or joyce. rutherford@btinternet.com EDINBURGH CITY KORFBALL CLUB Korfball is a mixed-sex sport similar to netball. The club has teams at all levels, so whether you’re super competitive or looking for a recreational sport, we have a place for everyone. We train twice a week and have regular social events, so it’s a great way to meet new people and try something new. Meet Wester Hailes Education Centre, Mon 19:30-21:30 & Wed 20:00-21:30. First 3 sessions free for new members, various membership options available after that. Please contact Daniel Pratt (Coach & Development) eckc.development@ gmail.com or 07471894650. www.edinburghcitykorfball.com LITTLE STEPS Baby and Toddler Group, Weds 10am – 11.30am (term times). Play, Bible stories, crafts, singing, snacks for kids, coffee and homebaking. St John’s Colinton Mains Church, 223 Oxgangs Road North. See facebook: St John’s Colinton Mains EDINBURGH LINUS GROUP We are a small group who meet every second Tuesday afternoon in the Pentland Community centre and make quilts and incubator covers for the Sick Kid’s Hospital. New members are always welcome. More information from alisonjdunlop@yahoo.co.uk COLINTON & MERCHISTON CHOIR Amateur choral society, performing two concerts per year. We meet in the Music Department at Merchiston Castle School, Mondays 7.30pm to 9pm. All ages welcome, no audition required. Annual membership subscription of £35.00, which includes the hire of music. For more information, please visit www.colintonchoir.org HATHA YOGA Colinton Parish Church - Redford Room, Dell Road on Wednesdays 7pm - 8.30pm. For more details please email june4yoga@btinternet.com or call 07730 130435

38 | THE DELL

FRIENDLY BRIDGE Colinton Cottage Homes - 15 Thorburn Road, Colinton. Every Tues 2-4pm. Contact Ken McLeod, Tel: 0131 466 0888. COLINTON BADMINTON CLUB St. Cuthberts Church Hall, Westgarth Ave - Monday 8pm-10pm from Sept to March. Contact: Archie Clark on 0131 449 4703 STABLE ROOM PLAYGROUPS Colinton Parish Church, Dell Road Happy and stimulating playgroups from 2-5 years old. Mon, Weds & Fri 9.15am to 12.00pm. (term time). E: stableroomcolinton@gmail.com M: 07740 334967. STABLE ROOM & TODDLER GROUPS Colinton Parish Church, Dell Road - Thurs 9.30am - 11.30am (term time). M: 07740 334967. E: stableroomcolinton@gmail.com Please phone before coming as we operate a waiting list. PROGRESS FITNESS Fitness classes in Colinton and Juniper Green. Zumba, Zumba Step, Zumba Gold, Floor Barre, Yoga, Fitness Yoga and Total Body Conditioning. £5 per class or 10 classes for £45. For full details go to www.progressfitness.co.uk COMPLEMENTARY FITNESS CLASSES All level classes - Tues: Fitness Pilates 7.30pm in Craiglockhart Church Hall & Classes in Dreghorn Loan Church Hall, Colinton, on Weds: Fitness Toning 9.30am Thurs: Fitness Pilates/Yoga 7pm. Fri: Fitness Yoga 9.30am info & details www.complementaryfitness.co.uk COLINTON GARDEN CLUB Dreghorn Loan Hall - Meets 4th Monday of every month at 8.00pm. September to April. E: membership@colintongardens.org.uk W: www.colintongardens.org.uk BIDE & BLETHER LUNCH CLUB Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre, 71 Firrhill Drive, Edinburgh EH13 9EU Every Wednesday from 1.30pm to 3pm, starting from 7th June. Call us today to book your place on 0131 466 0678. CRAIGLOCKHART CHURCH GUILD Craiglockhart Church, Craiglockhart Drive North, EH14 1HS. We meet in Centenary Hall at 7.30 pm on 1st & 3rd Tuesdays from October to March to encourage men and women in their faith while hearing interesting talks, having fun and finishing with a chat over tea and coffee. Everyone most welcome. COLINTON LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY Dreghorn Loan Hall - Want to know about local history! We meet every other Monday evening in the Hall with Speakers starting at 8pm prompt. Visit www.colintonhistory.org.uk or contact enquiries@colintonhistory.org.uk EDINBURGH GUILD OF WEAVERS, SPINNERS AND DYERS Craiglockhart Church, Craiglockhart Drive North - Meet at monthly usually the third Saturday of the month. Our aims are to further the crafts of weaving,

spinning and dyeing, to learn from each other as well as from experienced craft tutors, and to create opportunities to display and pass on our skills. See www.ewsd.org.uk WEDNESDAY WALKING GROUP Meet every Wednesday for walks in the Lothians, Fife, the Borders and further afield. Transport from Currie Library car park, walks of various grades and distances (usually 6 to 8 miles). Just turn up and go. Contact: M. Timmins T: 0131 449 4525 or A Blythe T:0131 629 3644 (Balerno and District Ramblers) for details and a programme. SISTERS WITH SPIRIT Swing Café at Colinton Parish Church A new women’s group that meet on the first Thursday every month at 7.30pm. For more details on the themes for our meetings, and to book tickets, please visit facebook.com/sisterswithspirit or call 0131 441 2232. GO GET FITNESS Insanity Live classes - Max Interval Training for all fitness levels. Mon 8pm Spylaw Park, Colinton. Tues 8.15pm Pentland Community Centre. Thurs 1pm, Fri 9.40am North Merchiston Club (parents welcome to bring children to watch!) £5 per class or block of 10 classes for £40 For bookings and further details: emma@go-get.co.uk Visit: www.go-get.co.uk or facebook.com/gogetinsanitylive 7th EDINBURGH BOYS BRIGADE Co. We welcome boys of all school ages, from Primary 1 to S6 - For a real variety of fun, games, activities, outings & competitions. Most Friday evenings during school term at Dreghorn Loan Hall, Dreghorn Loan. Alastair Merrill (Company Captain); ajsmerrill@gmail.com; 0131 477 3982; 07766 246880. Martin Shand (P1 – P6); martinshand74@gmail.com; 0131 441 9149; 07860 368285. COLINTON LITERARY SOCIETY Dreghorn Loan Hall - Meets every Wednesday at 8pm from 9th October. Keep up to date with latest news about the Lit, on Church website www.colinton-parish.com CRAIGLOCKHART LADIES GROUP This group has been meeting for 40 years and continues to do so in Craiglockhart Parish Church starting at 8pm on Monday’s from September to March. Our first meeting this session is on September 9th. Do come and join us for our Welcome Night and find out our full programme. Membership fee £25. Contact- Peta Graham 0131 443 2150.

TO INCLUDE YOUR CLUB OR CLASS, PLEASE EMAIL DETAILS TO EDITOR@KONECT.SCOT CHARITY AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT GROUPS ARE FREE. THERE IS A SMALL CHARGE FOR OTHER LISTINGS. SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION. WWW.KONECT.SCOT

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£8.50 PER TICKET Family ticket discounts

AMAZING

EXTRAVAGANZA TH E G REATE S T SH OW

SUNDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 2019

George Watson’s Rugby Ground, Myreside Road, Edinburgh, EH10 5DB

BLUE SHOW Gates open 4pm Show Time 4.30pm – 5.15pm

SLA Y RIT CHA NT EVE

RED SHOW Gates open 6.30pm Show Time 7.00pm – 7.45pm

ENTERTAINMENT

Pipe Band, The MGA Academy of Performing Arts, Delighters Fire Circus Theatre, Fireworks Display by Pyromancer Fireworks, Compèred by Malcolm Reid and Dougie Robertson

Visit our website for full details of our fun, family event TICKETS ONLINE ONLY AT WWW.SLA-INDIA.ORG FROM NOON 10TH SEPTEMBER 2019

HO FOO T DRIND & K