Dell Directory March 2022 by Konect Magazines

March 2022

THE DELL DIRECTORY

LOCAL HISTORY:

WINE TASTING:

THIS ISSUE

pring is in the air, and with it, spring cleaning – not to mention fixing of storm damage from the past month. The clocks go forward on Sunday 27th March and it’s nice to think the longer days are coming. Whether you’re cleaning inside and out, sorting the garden ready for spring, looking for ideas or needing repairs done, browse the pages of this edition to find businesses to help you with everything you need. Our local history feature looks at the history of the Lanark Road. Apparently Robbie Burns called it “Lang Whang, Lang Whang, Lang Bloody Whang” and he would likely have been very familiar with it, being the main road direct from Ayr to Edinburgh. The state of the roads is a perennial theme! I hope you enjoy all our usual columns this month from our local contributors. Thanks for reading the Dell Directory and supporting local businesses and organisations.

P22 Local History: The Lang and Winding Whang......................................................................8 Spotlight: Colinton Arts..................................... 11

Lynne’s Column: Enjoy Your Self................... 22 I love food: No sense of taste......................... 28 Wine tasting: Ice or Fire?................................. 29

Recipe: Lamb filet with beans........................ 30 Puzzles.................................................................. 31 Local Environment: Great Crested Grebe... 38

Local Lab: IndyLan............................................ 44 Clubs & Classes................................................. 46

COVER IMAGE: Spring promise

All enquiries, E: editor@konect.scot M: 07854 492638 @KonectMagazines

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 THE DELL | 3

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LOCAL HISTORY

THE LANG AND WINDING WHANG: The Lanark Road then and now

Little more than a dirt track for millenia, the route of the Lanark Road has seen plenty of action since prehistory, at times on the edge of momentus events. In 1666, the Scottish Royal Army marched from Slateford to Currie past some landmarks familiar today, en route to the Battle of Rullion Green in the Pentland Hills. From this massacre of Covenanter rebels, flashing forwards nearly three hundred years to the most recent war, the same route became a tar-covered road and was a navigational aid for bombers, with bomb craters to prove it.

Between these bookends of violence the Lanark Road has been a prosaic constant to local life. Change was slow. Until relatively recently the biggest worry tended to be the cost of keeping the road passable to foot traffic and pack animals. From the 1700s major roads in Scotland were constructed as ‘toll roads’, paid for by the local landowners. Contractors were appointed for construction, and ‘roadmen’ employed for maintenance including shifting horse manure into piles in little stone laybys (since it was ‘laid by’ i.e. put aside to deal with later). Constant upkeep was needed, and just as now, budgets were always a concern. From the mid-1700s the road had improved to the point where wheeled carts could operate instead of just pack horses, thanks to a series of Turnpike Acts.

A toll had to be paid to use the Lanark Road, the sum depending on the goods and the wagon loads involved. There were stiff penalties for any who tried to evade paying dues by slipping through fields or along side roads. To stop such evasions, additional toll bars known as check-bars were often erected on these side roads. With improved surfaces came wagons carrying valuable freight, and so attacks by robbers increased. One particularly colourful local character was Captain Will Baillie, known as the “Gentleman Gypsy”, a Romany skilled at disguise who often adopted the persona of an educated, rich man. Baillie was famous for gestures of generosity and care towards the poor, while helping himself with style to the money of the better-off. Another kind of criminality was foiled by two stone breakers working on the Lang Whang, recorded as becoming suspicious of a load of straw driven by two other men. Following the drivers into Jenny’s Inn they overheard conversation which confirmed their suspicions – there were corpses in the wagon, stolen from Lanark Graveyard! The criminals had hoped to sell the corpses to the medical school in Edinburgh, but were captured by the excise man at Balerno. Currie Toll House

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By 1790 the whole Lanark Road had been completed and for the next fifty years it was a busy through route connecting the capital with the cotton mills of New Lanark. In 1791 the minister of Currie parish wrote in glowing terms of the now-complete Lanark Road. He remarked that it was now possible for a single cart to carry 150 stones of hay in the charge of two horses and one man, where forty years earlier fifteen horses and seven men had been needed to transport the same load, as carts became bogged down in the mud if too heavily laden. The minster reported with approval that stage coaches now ran twice a week between Edinburgh and Lanark, but he was not universally impressed with better transport links: “Till within these few years the people of this parish were sober, industrious and economical. The vices of the capital, however, are beginning to spread fast among them, and those baneful articles to the poor, tea and whisky, will soon produce that corruption of morals and debility of constitution which are already so severely felt in many parishes, and which must soon materially injure the real strength and population of Scotland.” The toll points continued until quite late in the 19th century, and the first edition Ordnance Survey maps (of the 1850s) show their position - often chains over the road, and a wee bothie or house for the Toll Keeper or his employee to watch out and operate the barrier. We don’t know what accommodation the toll keeper in Currie had for the first 90 years, but in 1840 the toll house (pictured) was built, and it stood until the 1960s at the junction of Riccarton Mains Road and Lanark Road West. Today the position of the well serving the house is marked on the footpath. A precursor of things to come appeared on the road north of Currie in the 1820s and 1830s – steam coaches! These puffing monsters polarised opinion, but the naysayers got the

upper hand with their claims that lives were endangered by the panic induced in passing horses. The perception of danger was so widespread that steam coaches were withdrawn throughout the Edinburgh region, to the great relief of stagecoach, canal and train operators. As the railway network expanded through the 1840s there was a three-way fight between road, rail and canal transport. Many stage coach operators protested about the size of the toll dues they were forced to pay and were given reductions to allow them to stay in business. By 1847 one coach operator, James Waterston - who ran his service between his inn at Little Vantage and Edinburgh - was struggling. He reported that his coach had been off the road for six months due to the high cost of feeding his horses, but that if the road trustees would further cut his rates of toll per horse he might restart it. Despite this, all coach services ceased shortly after the opening of the Caledonian Railway in February 1848. The railway effectively sidelined the road west of Balerno, the 20 mile section we call the “Lang Whang” which runs across high bleak moorland to Carnwath. So as you’re driving along the Lanark Road in peak hour traffic spare a thought for our forbears. They contended with mud and potholes, footpads and occasionally soldiers, had the effort of a 1000 foot climb, and had to cajole their beasts all the way to distant Lanark!

Location of the Currie Toll House today

This article was written by Helen-Jane, editor of Konect magazines, and was first printed in Konect in 2011. Sources: Shaw, D (1989) The Balerno Branch and the Caley in Edinburgh, Oakwood Press. Balerno SWRI (1967) Balerno, the village and district. @KonectMagazines

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Since the gallery opened in October, 30 artists have shown their work in a variety of mediums from paintings and sculpture to collage. Gallery Manger Lesley Briggs will be curating and collaborating with established and emerging artists to create inspiring exhibitions.

Colinton Arts has been a fixture of village life for over 40 years and popular with locals and visitors alike. Originally a gift shop and framer, the shop now has a new lease of life as Edinburgh’s newest contemporary art gallery with framing and restoration service. Owners Lindsey and Cath Alexander recently relocated from South Africa, to take over the reins of the shop from Lindsey’s father Bill who was retiring. The couple have reimagined the space to make the art and framing the focus of the business. They created a bright and modern gallery that plays host to a rolling programme of exhibitions and events.

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The Colinton Arts framing, and art and document restoration service is provided by a skilled team who, over the years, have made thousands of frames for artworks, sports paraphernalia or official certificates and paperwork. Colinton Arts offer a complimentary framing consultation where you work with the in-house experts to choose from an unparalleled selection of wood, colours and mounts to create your bespoke frame. This is then made in the gallery workshop. Join their mailing list to keep up to date with private view events, artists joining the gallery and framing news. @COLINTONARTS W W W. C O L I N T O N - A R T S . C O . U K

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Caring for a loved one?

We understand that considering a care home can be daunting. Our free guides provide practical and emotional advice as you navigate caring for a friend or family member. Call us on 0330 127 7678 for a friendly chat or to request A helping hand guide, or download a copy at careuk.com/a-helping-hand

Trusted to care. A helping hand Advice and inspiration for families caring for an older loved one

For family carers

Our care homes in Edinburgh Cairdean House, Colinton Lauder Lodge, Portobello Murrayside, Corstorphine

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Ravelrig RDA:

A new charity shop, events and introducing “Gus” Everyone associated with the Stables knows how much our horses and ponies are loved.

It is therefore very exciting that we have a new 4-legged member join the Ravelrig Family. Barbara recently returned from a trip up north with a 20 month old Cob called Angus. He has settled down very well here at the Stables, and is much loved – so much so that we call him ‘Gus’. The plan is that he will soon get the chance to be integrated with the other ponies and then come the Autumn, will start his training to become an RDA pony that will take him 5 years to complete.

Gus

This article was contributed by Ravelrig RDA, 21 Ravelrig Gait, Balerno. Ravelrig Riding for the Disabled is a registered charity, number SC 028670.

The Barn Charity Shop - We have been so lucky to have a number of people who regularly donate items to the Stables. So plenty has this been that we have decided to give a new fundraising venture a try. We have set up the charity Shop inside the Big Barn on the Stables site. Thank you to everyone who has donated items from furniture pieces, to clocks, china and crystal and bric-a-brac. The shop will be open most Saturdays and you are welcome to see what we have. Some of the items we will advertise on the various social platforms, but mainly our Ravelrig RDA website. FUNDRAISING EVENTS:

Car boot sales - Sunday 5 June, Sunday 17 July, and Sunday 4 Sept (provisional dates). If anyone would like to register their interest and to take part in any of these events, please email fundraising@ravelrig-rda.org.uk or call the Stables on 0131 449 7994. Book sale - We are looking forward to seeing you all at the Gyle on the weekend of Saturday 2nd & 3rd April. Our sincere thanks goes to Liz Sim, who has sorted through hundreds of donated books, into different genres ready for transporting to the sale. 14 | THE DELL

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Last month I took a piece of my own advice and actually saw through an idea I’d been harbouring for some time. I wrote a column called “Free Time for Me Time” last August and floated my idea of WOMB breaks (Women and Mother Breaks) and I was delighted with how many friends told me it really resonated with them. No matter what our home-life set up, it seems we all feel we can benefit from some solo time. I’ve travelled solo in the past but never for pure leisure. Back in the distant past of my life BC* I’d gone to conferences etc. but you’re never really completely alone at these things as you generally socialise with other attendees in the evening.

Gradually over the last couple of years I’d started to feel that I was edging away from my true self and becoming a rather dull, moaning nag. Unlike some of my female friends, I had never really been aware of the ticking of the biological clock when I was younger but, latterly, I was starting to feel as though I had been fitted with some sort of Doomsday clock. I swear I could sometimes hear the precious seconds of my life noisily ticking by as I spent my evenings rearranging piles of laundry and dishes after 8 solid hours of screen time. Supported (some might say a tad over-

enthusiastically) by my husband, I took myself off for a couple of nights. I didn’t go far – just to Stirling – but it did me the world of good. I dittered about the shops, walked for miles, had tea and cake overlooking the Wallace monument, read books and soaked far too long in the bath. Bliss! A couple of weeks later I followed this up by a wee solo trip to the museum. I’ll admit I was slightly jealous watching all the people with little kids and felt nostalgic remembering taking my own pair there when they were younger. But it was also lovely to be able to wander round at my own pace then stop for a leisurely lunch in the café.

I don’t tend to think of myself as an introvert and I do love spending time with friends and family but I’ve also realised that I sometimes need to recharge by doing things that are 100% about me. That might sound selfish but I’d rather see it as selfpreservation. Let’s face it - we’re in our own company all the time so it’s important that we enjoy it. So, if you see me in one of our locals nursing a cup of tea and scribbling in my notebook it’s not that I’ve fallen out with everyone – I’m just taking time out to hit reset and recharge.

* Before Children. Although Before Covid also works and seems equally long ago! 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  FOOD

How much of your day has to do with food? Thinking about it, buying it, preparing it, fretting about the fats or carbs in it, savouring it, dealing with leftovers, daydreaming about more food … I realised a long time ago that I was fairly consumed with what I consumed! Some people eat to survive. For others, like me, thoughts of breakfast get us out of bed in the morning!

No sense of taste I haven’t been infected with Covid-19. That is, I don’t think I have been! And if I had, I imagine there would have been worse symptoms to deal with than losing my sense of taste. Still, it’s not a happy thought. Before Christmas a friend got hit with the virus. One day her Facebook post read: I have lost my sense of taste! What if it doesn’t come back in time for Christmas dinner?! I can understand her concern. Although love for what we eat can involve all of our senses, I think everyone would agree that it’s primarily about taste! That’s why producers of vegan and vegetarian meals work so hard to make them taste like beef burgers, or enchiladas or chicken tikka masala. I can appreciate the artistry of a beautifully decorated cake. But if that cake is dry and tastes primarily of sugar, I’m not interested. Many people love the smell of coffee, but hate the taste! So a person’s eyes and nose could tell them they’ll love the piece of cake and cup of coffee they’ve been served. But if their taste buds are not equally delighted, they will push them away. When I think about what I was taught in school about taste buds, I remember learning that different areas of the tongue detect whether a food is salty, sweet, sour or bitter. But that particular teaching has now been debunked. 28 | THE DELL

Apparently, any of these tastes can be picked up by receptors anywhere on the tongue.

The more shocking thing about my education: I do not recall hearing that there is a fifth taste known as umami. Did anyone else miss this?! Because this term, which sounds like ‘ooh, mommy’, seems to be cropping up a lot these days, I consulted google. I discovered it means ‘savoury’ and is commonly associated with cooked meats and broth. Other foods with strong umami flavour include cheese, tomatoes, shellfish, soy sauce and mushrooms. I’m still shaking my head. How come I’ve only just learned this? I could understand if it was identified as one of the five basic tastes fairly recently. But a Japanese chemist coined the word in 1908! And I’m sure I went to school after that. Sweet, salty, sour, bitter, umami. Hmm. Which one is the odd one out? I think we need an English translation for umami! Considering it has been defined as ‘deliciousness’, and so that it will sound something like the original word, I suggest we call it ‘ooh, baby’. What do you think?

I FOOD is contributed by Suzanne Green. Suzanne is a freelance writer/editor. She is married to Andy and they have two adult daughters. @KonectMagazines

WINE TASTING

The clocks ‘spring forward’ this month and thoughts turn longer days and warmer weather. Vine growers across Europe will be holding their breath as the delicate shoots and buds that form flowers and eventually clusters of grapes start to emerge. Spring 2021 was a disastrous season for growers and wine makers across Europe when hundreds of vineyards were caught out by a sudden severe frost and three days of subzero temperatures. Unlike a brewery or distillery, wine makers have one shot at a vintage and a wine maker can only make good wine from good grapes. Growers have a few tricks they can employ in the vineyard to prevent frost damage. Growers can warm the air with anti-frost candles, small fires and smudge pots lit between the rows of vines. Or in a surprising move, growers might

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choose to spray water over the emerging shoots and buds, encasing them in a protective jacket of ice. This month I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for better weather in Europe and support French growers by drinking delicious, chilled Chablis. Chablis produced using Chardonnay grapes is less rich and round than what you’ll find in California or Australia. Instead, Chablis is austere, unoaked with crisp apple notes, mineral purity (think of wet flagstones) and citrus. The limestone soil in the Chablis region is key to this unique flavour profile. Chablis is the perfect partner to seafood, grilled chicken salads and warmer spring weather. Cheers! The monthly wine tasting column is contributed by Joanne Frette. Joanne lives in Juniper Green with her husband and three children. For wine recommendations, reviews and details of future tasting events, please go to swirlsipsocialise.com

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FOOD & DRINK

Seared Lamb Fillet

with beans and garlic minted dressing Spring is the perfect time to enjoy lamb. This is a light flavoursome dish that is delicious served warm or cold. Ideally, marinate the lamb the night before to enhance the flavour.

Ingredients:

• 500g lamb fillet • 1 garlic clove, crushed • Grated zest of 1 lemon • 1 tsp cumin powder • 1 tbsp olive oil plus a little extra for frying • 150g green beans or sprouting broccoli, trimmed • 250g mixed green leaves, baby spinach or rocket leaves • 150g cherry tomatoes, halved • ½ red onion, finely diced

Dressing:

• 1 bulb of garlic • Drizzle of olive oil • 200g Greek yoghurt • Handful of mint leaves • 1 tsp honey or maple syrup • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar • Pinch of cumin • ½ tsp Dijon mustard

Preparation time: 15 minutes Marinate: 1 hour or overnight Cooking time: 50 minutes Serves 4 30 | THE DELL

The perfect time to enjoy lamb

Method:

1. For the lamb, mix together the garlic, lemon zest, cumin and olive oil and rub over the lamb. Leave to marinate in the fridge for at least 1 hour or overnight.

2. For the dressing, place the garlic bulb in a piece of foil and drizzle over a little oil. Bake in the oven for about 30 minutes. Cool slightly then squeeze out the garlic pulp into a blender. Add the remaining ingredients for the dressing and blend together. Season to taste. 3. Preheat the oven to 220oC/200oC fan/ gas mark 7. Sear the lamb in a frying pan with a little olive oil so that it is brown all over. Place in the oven and roast for 15-20 minutes. Allow to rest for 5-10 minutes. Slice thinly.

4. Blanch the beans or broccoli in boiling water until al dente, drain and refresh under cold water. Pile the green leaves on a platter and top with the beans, tomatoes and onion. Arrange the lamb on top and drizzle over the dressing to serve. @KonectMagazines

PUZZLES

MARCH CROSSWORD

^^^ Solution in the April edition ACROSS: 1. Money (4), 3. Used in board game (5,3), 9. Scold severely (7), 10. Electronic post (5), 11. Young cabbage plants (6,6), 14. To allow (3), 16. Type of drum (5), 17. Joint (3), 18. Seen in a rink (6-6), 21. Violent disturbances (5), 22. Stabbing weapon (7), 23. Supporting column (8), 24. Popular sport (4). DOWN: 1.Advises (8), 2. Serious (5), 4. Stowed away (3), 5. Lock picks (8,4), 6. Loyal (7), 7. Story (4), 8. Eats its own kind (12), 12. Doomed (5), 13. Alcoholic appetiser (8), 15. Twice as much (7), 19. South American dance (5), 20. Hold tightly (4), 22. Type of snake (3).

SUDOKU

^^^ Sudoku solution on page 46

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GERRY AITKEN Painter & Decorator Juniper Green

Get in touch for a FREE Estimate: T: 07798 565 321 • E: junigig@aol.com

0131 477 1167 Fully stocked & fully trained professional Locksmiths 24 hours a day www.1stcall-locksmiths.com

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WEIR GAS SERVICES Former Scottish Gas engineer

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LOCAL ENVIRONMENT

It’s nearly the time of year when Linlithgow Loch’s star attraction makes its appearance. The great crested grebe can fly under the radar throughout winter when their plumage isn’t quite as striking as it will be soon. They morph from almost black and white to their spectacular breeding plumage with those bronze head feathers, and very impressive crest on top of their head. They have an unusual and elegant courtship display, which is commonly referred to as a dance and involves lots of head bobbing, and shakes to show off that beautiful crest. The grand finale is when they both dive down to gather some weeds before rushing across the water together. It doesn’t last long and can be hard to capture on camera, which is clearly evidenced by the fact I’m not sharing an image of this display! Great crested grebe nests are built on the surface of the water, and as they aren’t always the most structurally sound they are very susceptible to flooding and if Spring is too wet then it can really impact the success 38 | THE DELL

of their breeding season. Their young are affectionately nicknamed “humbugs” due to their striped feather patterns, which you can be lucky enough to see as they catch a ride on their parents back, where it’s much warmer and safer than the cold water. How can you spot them? Look for the photographers gathered in the corner of the loch, hoping to catch a shot of their wonderful courtship ritual. 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 @KonectMagazines

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THE

COMMUNITY CHEST - LATEST GRANTS

Funds for the Community Chest are provided annually by the Rotary Club of Currie Balerno and Balerno Village Trust with support from CALA Homes. The scheme started in December 2017 and since then 97 applications have been submitted from organisations and schools in Balerno, Currie, Juniper Green, Kirknewton, Ratho, Wester Hailes, Longstone and Colinton. Grants are awarded in June and December each year. Grants awarded in December 2021 were: • Currie Football Club - for girls’ football goals, balls, bibs and cones • Balerno Parish Church - for lights for the Church community tree, to be combined with the village Christmas lights • Youth Vision - towards building a forge for metal working, for the design and creation of their own branded jumpers, and for facilitating a dry stone dykeing course • Pentland Mens’ Shed - to purchase an insurance-compliant dust extraction system and to adapt a standard vacuum cleaner into a portable duct filtration system

the purchase of two Electricity Kit Classpacks, to aid an understanding of electricity for Primary 3-7 children

• Currie Community High School Breakfast Club equipment to enable the offer of free breakfast to students • Pentland Environmental Network, Fruit Tree Project - for the purchase and planting of five rootstock apple trees in a local residential green space to test the feasibility of more green spaces becoming productive for community benefit – purchase of trees, stakes and tree guards. Further grants will be considered in June based upon applications submitted by 31st May. Information about the Community Chest is available on the Rotary website at www.cbrotary.org and the Balerno Village Trust website at www.balernovt.org.uk

• Nether Currie Primary School – for This article is contributed by the Rotary Club of Currie Balerno, see www.cbrotary.org 40 | THE DELL

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Got a story? WE LOVE TO CELEBRATE ALL THINGS LOCAL! 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. (You need to live and/or work in the Colinton, Craiglockhart, or Kingsknowe area to be featured in The Dell Directory)

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LOCAL LAB

“How can you learn our language if you don’t know how we live?” An innovative way of learning Gaelic, Scots, Cornish, Basque, Galician and Northern Saami has been developed by Heriot-Watt University, along with international partners across Europe.

These languages all have indigenous and endangered status, and “IndyLan” is a new mobile app which is freely available for anyone who wishes to learn more about these languages.

It contains more than 4,000 vocabulary items (terms and expressions) in about 100 categories, as well as phrases, dialogues, grammar, aural comprehension exercises and a dedicated culture tab. This culture tab is what makes the app different from other language-learning tools. The culture tab includes texts, music and images with information about festivals, sport, customs and practices, so that users are able to learn more about the heritage and culture of the people speaking the selected languages. Áile Javo, the Secretary General of the Saami Council, a partner in the project, has stated “How can you learn our language if you don’t know how we live?” Languages do not exist in a vacuum; they exist and they develop in societies with real people, landscapes and ecologies. It’s important to know this context, which is why the project is emphasising the culture and heritage aspect in language revitalisation.

Our vision is for the IndyLan app to contribute to endangered language learning and revitalisation so that these languages remain alive and relevant in contemporary societies and economies.

The project has received excellent feedback from users so far, particularly because for some of these languages there is a lack of resources that are freely available, or easy to use. Dr Philip McDermott, external evaluator to the project and Senior Lecturer at the University of Ulster, has stated: “This app is more than just a technological piece of software. It’s a showcase of the vibrancy of each of these languages, their role as part of the cultural wealth of Europe, their role within landscapes and the environment. We must ensure that this a growing project that will continue to have an impact.” The IndyLan app is funded by the EU and is free to download on iOS or Google Play. For more information, visit indylan.eu This article was contributed by Dr Katerina Strani, IndyLan project co-ordinator at Heriot-Watt Universtiy. For more infoirmation please contact her at A.Strani@hw.ac.uk

IndyLan includes a wide range of material from complete beginners to more advanced level, so it’s suitable for both learners and competent speakers who need a refresher. It’s easy and fun to use. Users choose the language they speak and the language they wish to learn more about. Then they choose a category, and they navigate through the different tabs in an intuitive way.

EDGAS Pirates A5 Artwork.qxp_Layout 1 13/10/2021 12:57 Page 1

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SOLUTIONS

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

SOLUTION TO FEBRUARY CROSSWORD

DESTINATION JUDO @ CRAIGLOCKHART Craiglockhart sports Centre. Wednesdays 3.45pm (5-8 year olds) and 4.30pm (9+ year olds). Judo is a dynamic sport based on a combination of balance, co-ordinationation and reaction. Most importantly judo helps children become more self aware, disciplined, and polite. Of course we teach all this in a fun way. For information please email callum@destinationjudo.com or call 0131 467 9043.

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COLINTON LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY Want to know about local history? Visit: www.colintonhistory.org or Email: enquiries@colintonhistory.org

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COLINTON LITERARY SOCIETY Our talks are postponed until October 2022. Keep up to date with latest news about the Lit on the Church website www.colinton-parish.com

ACROSS: 1. Majesty, 5. Basil, 8. Sprinkler, 9. Arc, 10. Sabre, 12. Outpost, 13. Flamethrowers, 15. Dukedom, 17. Exams, 19. Ego, 20. Elevation, 22. Yield, 23 Strayed. DOWN: 1. Masks, 2. Jar, 3. Sincere, 4. Yellowhammers, 5. Beret, 6. Soap opera, 7. Locates, 11. Black hole, 13. Fidgety, 14. Open-air, 16. Dread, 18. Synod, 21. Ivy.

COLINTON GARDEN CLUB Club members share their love of gardening, gardens and nature, and work together to preserve and add value to our quality of life here in south-west Edinburgh. Monthly meetings on a Monday currently via Zoom. For more information see www.colintongardens.org.uk or Email: membership@colintongardens.org

SOLUTION TO SUDOKU ON PAGE 31

LUNCHCLUB Every Wednesday 1pm – 3pm, 3 courses £4. Spaces are limited, first come first served. Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre, 71 Firhill Drive, EH13 9EU. Please visit: www.oxgangsneighbourhoodcentre.org.uk PARENT AND TODDLER GROUP Tuesdays, am session and pm session for two age groups (all under 5s). Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre, 71 Firhill Drive, EH13 9EU. Contact for details Tel.: 0131 466 0678 or Email: oxgangsneighbourhoodcentre@gmail.com OXGANGS NEIGHBOUR CENTRE CAFE 10.00am to 1.00pm. Bacon rolls, baked potatoes, toasties, specials, teas, coffees and cake. Sit in or takeaway.

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