Konect Calders March 2015 by Konect Magazines

KONECT

WALK

M ess ag e from the editor

FEATUREs Hooked on Huskies Inter view with Scott Dixon Regal Radio Jak’s Journey (continued)

08 16 26 42

month, in this issue we take a look back at one slightly unusual winter activity in our main feature – it’s all about a West Lothianbased team of huskies.

REGULARS Technology Walk Recipe

24 46 52

We wanted to pay our own tribute to Jak Trueman this month. After speaking with Jak’s mum, our writer Suzanne Green has put together a piece about his legacy and moving forward with his dreams and his vision, see page 42.

COMPETITIONS & PUZZLES Howden Par k Ticket Competition Crossword & Sudoku Kids Puzzles

48 50 56

COMMUNITY What’s on Useful Information Spr ing Fair for Oldeani Clubs & Classes

54 54 58 59

s we look forward to Spring A with lighter evenings starting at the end of this

We also learnt about West Lothian’s new local community radio station and, after tuning in a few times, went behind the scenes at their studio in the Regal Theatre, Bathgate – see the feature on page 26 and make sure you tune in and support them! Walk feature, food notes and other regular columns are all here. If you’ve got something interesting and different going on that you’d like to share with the local community, do get in touch and we may be able to feature your story in an upcoming issue.

Helen-Jane, Editor hj@konectdirectory.co.uk 29th March 0100 clocks go forward 1 hour

Front Cover: Allison Barr with Walter Barr & Neill Alexander. Photo by Suzanne Green.

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INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

Advertising Enquiries JENNY THOMSON 07824 469266 jenny@konectdirectory.co.uk CHARLENE GAFFNEY 07772 941899 charlene@konectdirectory.co.uk Advert booking deadline: 15th of the month prior to print. Artwork/copy deadline: 18th of the month prior to print. The Konect Directory is delivered to homes in Balerno, Currie, Juniper Green, Baberton and Ratho. Copies /KonectDirectory are also left at the library, community centres, convenience stores and various other locations within the area.

@KonectDirectory

Suburban Window Cleaning

Murieston & Mid Calder Private Hire

Window cleaning Rhones cleaned & painted

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Free estimates for offices, shops, pubs, clubs. Licenced and insured

Call Ian on 07834 685663

AKT Bookkeeping Airport & City Transfer Specialists Local & Long Distance Up to 8 Passengers Golf Trips

Tax Returns • Accounts, Bookkeeping • Payroll, CIS • VAT Phone Kevin on 01506 201459 from 8.00am to 4.00pm or emailkevin@aktbookkeeping.co.uk

Advance booking required

MARCH PROMOTIONS

RICCARTON GARDEN CENTRE AMAZING DEAL ON COMPOST

4 bags multi-purpose compost (50ltr) Spring bedding Pansies, viola etc

4 packs for £10

only £10

Primulas

Herbaceous & Shrub

6 for £5

3 for £10

Lots of colours

(huge collection)

Lots more deals through-out the garden centre

Riccarton garden centre and coffee shop Be the first to know about our weekly plants deliveries, promotions etc. and see photos and the coffee shop menu

Coffee Shop • Open 7 days

New kids corner to entertain your little ones while you are enjoying coffee or lunch

0131 449 4004

FREE WIFI

Huge car park • Riccarton Mains Road (nr Heriot-Watt) 4

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Boiler Repair Boiler Service Boiler Replacement Full Central Heating Installation Gas Safety Certificates PAT - Portable Appliance Testing Boiler Service Contracts Power Flushing

Kitchens supplied and fitted UPVC fascias and gutters Doors and Windows - wood/UPVC Built-in wardrobes • Misted d/g units replaced

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GORDON SCOTT

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FUR & FEATHERS PET LODGE HOME BOARDING AND DAYCARE FOR DOGS THAT ‘DON’T DO’ KENNELS

• • • • •

We offer the best standard of home boarding and daycare Collection and return service We cater for all your dog care needs while you are away on business or holiday We are a fully licensed and insured premises We also provide boarding at our home for all small pets and birds.

We are situated in a rural location on the outskirts of Kirknewton, off the A71 and within easy reach of the railway station.

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Tel: 07740 203254 or 01506 885775 Email: info@furandfeatherspetlodge.co.uk www.furandfeathershomeboarding.co.uk

LANDSCAPING CENTRE

0131 6035300

Eastfield Drive Eastfield Ind. Est. Penicuik, EH26 8BA

For all your Mono Block, Slabs, Decking, Fencing, Artificial Grass Decorative Gravel & much more

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For a FREE quote email: penicuik@beatsons.co.uk

www.beatsons.co.uk Gutters can accumulate a lot of debri, mostly leaves and twigs over a winter which will inevitably cause clogs and overflow. This is especially bad for your roof because standing water in a gutter can get up under your roofing and begin to rot your fascia and sub roofing in your home. SkyVac reaches over awkward spaces like extensions and conservatories. No need for expensive scaffolding and ladders. We help with cleaning of: ∏ ∏ ∏ ∏ On-Board camera system ensures operative leaves nothing behind

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Gutter ∏ Conservatories Solar Panels ∏ UPVC Caravan Exterior Driveway ∏ Patio

Strata Cleaning Tel: 01324 712484 Mobile: 07732 291477 sales@strata-cleaning.co.uk

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FEATURE

By Yvonne MacMillan

The month of March sees the beginning of spring and brings to an end the dogsled racing season. To find out about the sport I catch up with a Livingston-based dog-sled team, and Ladywell resident, Ewan Robertson, who eats, sleeps and breathes Siberian Huskies and dogsled racing. Ewan and his wife, Bridget, have kept Siberian Huskies for 18 years. For them, daughter Kayleigh and many of their friends, Siberian Huskies are a way of life with a social circle all its own. An Openreach engineer and seasoned musher, Ewan’s been involved in dog-sled racing for 17 years, ever since joining the Scottish Siberian Husky Club and the Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain and meeting others who worked their dogs. “It’s the best way to exercise Sibes,” he says, “They’ve been bred for hundreds of years as working dogs.” The Siberian Husky is a breed he’s always liked and explains why. They’re independent animals but live as a group and work well together, they’re intelligent and tough with a desire to please. They have great stamina too, his dogs will happily run for 5 miles, and in the past he’s run teams for 10 plus miles. And they come wrapped in a duvet-like coat of two layers - a dense, soft undercoat and a rougher topcoat, designed to protect the breed in temperatures as low as -50 to -60°C, topped off with another distinctive trait - almond-shaped eyes, varying in colour from pale blue to dark blue, amber, green and brown. His dogs are named after the original, captive Sawtooth wolf pack in Yellowstone. Matomo is grey and white and his name means “He who Goes First” in Native American, the others are mainly dark dogs with marked faces (sometimes known as dirty-faced dogs) and their names are Wyakin

Ewan and another competitor on a passenger rig at a fund-raising event at Keilder Castle (meaning Spirit Guide), Chemukh (meaning Black), Piyip (meaning Boy) and Amani (meaning To Speak the Truth). The team’s name is SnoPeak and is Kennel Club registered. The 5 dogs (2 bitches and 3 dogs, age range sixyears-old to ten-years-old) run together in harness, pulling a 3-wheeled rig (looks like a tricycle without a seat) or a sled, depending on conditions. When competing, the idea is to get round the course in one piece in a reasonable time. There’s no lead dog in the team, says Ewan, all the dogs are trained to run in any harness position so that if a dog can’t run due to illness or injury, the impact on the team is limited. An X-back harness is used, plus a shedload of other equipment - collars, leads, team lines, stake-out lines and pins. And depending on the number of dogs you’re running, a scooter, mountain bike or 3 or 4-wheeled rig or sled if there’s snow, plus a quad or passenger rig for heavy training and a suitable vehicle for transporting the dogs and gear. Between October and March, Ewan and his welltravelled dogs compete in rallies the length and breadth of the UK. His favourite course, he tells me, is Bowland Trails just outside Blairgowrie, a good course and amazing views.

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Husky Heroes - The 1925 serum run to the town of Nome, also known as the Great Race of Mercy, saw the safe delivery of diphtheria antitoxin by sled-dog relay across Alaska. Twenty mushers and 150 sled-dogs covered 674 miles (1,085 km) in five and a half days, in blizzards, across shifting ice, and in temperatures of -31C, saving the citizens of Nome and the surrounding communities from an epidemic. Balto, a Siberian Husky, led his team on the final leg. He became a national hero - a statue of him stands in New York Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Central Park.

FEATURE around 1 mile per dog). The best conditions as far as Ewan’s concerned are around 2°C or below, because the dogs don’t heat up as quickly, so run faster and longer. Each team is allocated a start time. As the start time approaches, the four-legged competitors’ excitement levels go crazy like fans at a boy band concert. Desperate to run, the dogs work themselves up to a frenzy of barking, whining and howling, then suddenly the barking stops as the dogs are released and whoosh! Over 100kgs of DNA-fuelled dog power disappears down the trail. Top teams, says Ewan, exceed 25mph and average about 18 - 20mph over a four to six mile course.

Piyip and Matsi having a well-earned drink. At a rally, different classes of competition for a variety of breeds are on offer. Junior sections mean 8 -11 year-olds can run 1 dog and 12-15 year-olds can run 2 dogs. Most rallies attract at least 50 dog teams, and big events like The Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain’s annual rally over two days at Aviemore in January, attracted 250 mushers and 1,000 sled-dogs. Frustratingly but understandably, due to iced-over trails, racing on the second day was cancelled for the safety of both dogs and mushers. If the weather see-saws the other way, some Race Organisers will cancel rallies if temperatures go above 10°C, as it’s considered too warm for the dogs’ welfare.

“As the start time approaches, the four-legged competitors’ excitement levels go crazy like fans at a boy band concert.”

Mushers shout encouragement. They yell, “Hike on!“, and “Gee” to turn right, left is “Haw” and stop is “Woah”. No-one says “Mush!” except in the movies. How does he feel during a race? “Relaxed and calm. Just out on the trail with the team.” Has he had any narrow escapes? It’s certainly dangerous, he says, friends have broken bones and been knocked out but, touch wood, all he’s had are a few scratches, bruises and cuts. And future plans for the SnoPeak team? That’s easy, “Keep running the dogs as long as they are happy to,” says Ewan. www.sleddog.info

Ewan’s dog Matomo

The routine on a race day is always the same. An hour before the race the dogs are given a drink, so they’re properly hydrated, (they’ll be covering a distance of about four to six miles, on average

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Telephone Engineer New sockets fitted for phone, internet or sky TV

Over 16 years experience All work guaranteed

Repair to internal phone and broadband faults Removal of unsightly old wiring and sockets CCTV (Home and Commercial)

I can supply and install Easy to use big button voice amplified hearing aid compatable phones with hands free calling. Loud audio phone ringers with flashing indicators

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PF FLOORING • Free measures & estimates at a time to suit you! • Great range of Carpets & Vinyls • Professional friendly service with at affordable prices over 20 years fitting experience • Shop @ home flooring service

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FEATURE

GOLF: A different approach Interview with Scott Dixon

“The first rule is, there are no rules.” Not precisely golf coach Scott Dixon’s words, but definitely the gist of his approach. “The perception is that golf is an incredibly complicated and frustrating game,” he says, “and in many ways it is. But I allow people to explore and experiment rather than getting hung up on what is technically ‘correct’”. I met Kirknewton-resident Scott at his base at the Dalmahoy Golf Club. He’s a keen sportsman who has taken up every sport that came his way - anything to do with hitting or kicking a ball, and has even dabbled in running (gaining a decent marathon time before abandoning it); and golf is the sport that has endured for him. He became addicted as a teenager, spending many hours on the course with his mates. A PGA Professional, he is a full time coach at the Dalmahoy Golf Club where he has been employed for nearly 20 years. And in his spare time? “I play golf,” he says, looking at me as if it were a crazy question... Scott’s coaching philosophy is based on his experience of nearly losing his passion for the game due to getting too fixated on technique. “I loved golf until the day someone said to me that I had a fault in my swing that needed to be fixed. From that day I became obsessed with technique and would come away from coaching sessions in a worse state than before.” It changed when someone gave him a totally different lesson; rather than talking about fixing faults it was all about how the ball and club worked, so that he could start to work out the best way for himself. He got his passion back.

Scott making golf fun for kids.

Scott Dixon, golf coach at Dalmahoy Golf Club “I coach children a lot, who are fantastic the way they learn. Adults tend to think they need something more complex, but in fact we need to break it down into making each task simpler and keeping it fun. Observing the way children learn is a great lesson we can apply to adult coaching too.” This year Scott is experimenting with alternative forms of golf so people can enjoy it without being intimidated by it. “Golf is struggling with reduced membership of clubs across the board, and it’s struggling for a reason,” Scott says. “If you look at other sports there are often different versions - such as tennis/paddle tennis - to appeal to a broader range of people. I’d like to see that for golf. In the past in my coaching sessions I’ve used bigger golf balls and higher tees which is great for building confidence and getting gratification more quickly.” And finally, what sets golf apart for him? “It sounds like a cliché but it really is a game the whole family can play together. You’re on the course together, you’re outdoors spending quality time – that’s the essence of good golf.”

Kids Golf Camps 2015 at the Marriott Dalmahoy - Five day camps in July and August at Dalmahoy Golf Course. All coaching from PGA Professionals on a 1:8 ratio. Ages 8 – 14. We believe in the kids and their ability to work golf out through play, experimenting and exploration. We provide the tools, the place and the support to let the magic of your child shine with discovery and talent. Book now for the summer. For more information please call or email Scott on 07931 176 154 scott.dixon@marriotthotels.com.

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Linwater Lodge A new luxurious self-catering Lodge sleeping 4/5 in 2 en-suite bedrooms. • Fully fitted kitchen, diner and lounge opening onto large decking with Seating and Barbecue. • Pet friendly with lovely walks adjoining. • Opening offer £600 per week - see website for more information. Open all year.

Tel: 0131 333 3326 www.linwater.co.uk

Linwater Caravan Park, West Clifton, East Calder, EH53 0HT

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New NHS and Private patients are always welcome Our friendly, family run dental practice offers a full range of NHS and private cosmetic dental treatments Early and late appointments available Free parking, disabled access and next to major bus routes Currie Dental Care 58 Bryce Road, Currie, EH14 5LD

T: 0131 449 2100 www.curriedentalcare.co.uk

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

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

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01506 654557 07935 882992 www.tatta.co.uk 6 union road, bathgate

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

You want someone to take the time and listen to you… You want to have choice. You want your teeth to look better. You want pain free dentistry. You want to see the same faces each time you come for routine check. But most of all you want someone you can trust. Let us look after you.

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Fed up with wearing dentures or missing teeth...? Affordable dental implants available at Balerno Dental Care FOR A FREE CONSULTATION PLEASE CALL US OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE QUOTING REFERENCE 100

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LATE NIGHT & SATURDAY APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE

24 Main Street, Kirknewton EH27 8AH

Kirknewton Pharmacy offering Pharmacy Services to Kirknewton, the Calders, Pumpherston and surrounding areas.

•

Visit our friendly new clinic for all your foot care needs. We offer a wide range of treatments including:

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

Free Prescription Collection & Delivery to your door

• Repeat Dispensing - we can automatically reorder your repeat medication on your behalf saving you time and hassle.

• Dosette Boxes - we can dispense medication

into multicompartmental packaging (MDS dosette boxes) which may aid those who have difficulty remembering to take medication or those who receive care at home.

Please call in to the pharmacy or phone to ask about other services including Holiday Healthcare, Stop Smoking Service and advice on treating Minor Ailments.

Phone 01506 883048 20

To book an appointment please call Jackie on:

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Your Local Florist

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Jane & Friends Hairdressers

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01506 880704

Up-do’s for special occasions Open: Tue/Wed/Fri - 9am - 5pm Thur - 11am - 7pm Sat - 9am - 3pm Closed: Sunday & Monday

Classes available in: West Calder, Livingston, Linlithgow, Murieston, Ratho and South Queensferry

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Nicola Brett B.A. Hons

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www.notabenedesignuk.co.uk

The Toning & Beauty Clinic MARCH OFFER Back, neck and shoulder massage + Elemis Booster Facial

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FOR MOTHERS DAY

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Wedding Fayre Sunday 29th March between 12pm & 4pm For the latest trends, wedding cakes, photographers, accessories, grooms wear and that all important dress â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Dalmahoy Wedding Fayre is the place to be! Get inspirational ideas and advice at our newly refurbished

Dalmahoy Suite.

For more information please contact us on 0131 333 1845 DALMAHOY Marriott Hotel & Country Club I Kirknewton I EH27 8EB MarriottDalmahoy.co.uk I DalmahoyWeddings.co.uk

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TECHNOLOGY

The top tech for 2015

1. Bragi’s The Dash wireless headphones and fitness monitors. 2. Oculus VR virtual reality headset. 3. Ninebot personal transporter. 4. Sony’s ultra-slim Sony Bravia

The tech you might be watching this year - if it isn’t watching you

Every year, the great and the good of technology travel to Las Vegas for the annual Consumer Electronics Show, CES. It’s where we see the top trends for the coming year and the tech firm’s best ideas. So what’s coming our way in 2015? TVs were big this year, literally: screen sizes are getting bigger and bigger, with resolutions increasing too: if you thought True HD was impressive, 4K Ultra HD offers twice the picture quality. Some firms are also trying to convince us that curved screens are the way forward, but so far such screens appear to be little more than a gimmick. We’re much more enthusiastic about firms using OLED (Organic LED) displays, which deliver amazing colours and deep blacks while using relatively tiny amounts of energy. Also on the TV front was Android TV, Google’s third attempt to take over our living rooms. All 2015 Sony Bravia TVs will have Android TV inside to deliver the usual Netflix and iPlayer services plus specially developed Android apps and games, and lots of other TV firms are making Android TV sets too and separate Android TV boxes too. The other big trend on show was fitness technology and wearable computing. Bragi’s “The Dash” manages to pack fitness tracking into a tiny pair of wireless headphones, and we saw endless fitness tracking bands and smartwatches from the likes of Withings and Sony. We even saw a smart belt:

3 Belty, which automatically adjusts its fit as your measurements change and which tells your phone whether you’re getting bigger or smaller. One of the oddest gadgets was the Belfie stick. You may have heard of Selfie Sticks, which enable you to take selfies by sticking your phone on a long pole and shooting yourself from a distance; the Belfie stick is an evolution of that idea, designed to take selfies showing your bum. If that makes you despair of the real world, why not try a virtual one instead? Virtual reality headsets were everywhere and 2015 should see the likes of the Facebook-owned Oculus VR, Sony’s Project Morpheus and similar sets from firms such as Microsoft taking gaming and movies into a new dimension. VR has been overhyped for years, but in 2015 it’ll actually start to deliver on its promises first for gamers but ultimately for everyone. Fancy a Facebook where you can actually see your friends when you talk to them? We saw lots of transportation ideas at CES this year, with Mercedes Benz showing off a particularly stunning self-driving car concept, but there were plenty of smaller transporters too. There was Onewheel, a skateboard with an electric-powered wheel in the middle and clever technology to keep you balanced; the GenZe, Inu and Ecoreco lightweight electric scooters; and the Ninebot, a “personal transportation robot” that looks like a shrunken Segway and which can travel 20Km at 20Km/h on a single charge. The devices differ in how they look and work, but they all have the same aim: to get us out of our cars and onto cleaner, more eco-friendly transport. Or you could always walk.

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14/01/2015 10:38

FEATURE

Regal Radio With around 20 hours of live shows per week, West Lothian’s fledgling community radio station is already off to a flying start. Have you tuned in yet? Around 12 months ago, a Facebook message drew a few interested individuals to a Bathgate cafe to discuss developing a community radio. The upshot is a station broadcasting from a studio built by the enthusiasts themselves from recycled equipment and hard work in two small rooms on the top floor of the Bathgate Regal Theatre. I called in one Monday evening, when their regular Brothers In Soul show was being broadcast. There is a different live show every weekday evening, and a live show for 1.5 hours every morning. The rest of the time, prerecorded shows and music is broadcast 24/7. Their website states, “The main aim of Regal Radio is to bring you as much audio content about our area as possible, plus a varied mixture of music chosen by our enthusiastic presenters.” “Our first rule is to have a lot of fun!” explains Station Manager Steve Webster. Steve’s background is in the telecommunications and broadcasting industry so it falls to him to look after the technical health of the station and to keep it on air. The quality of the sound is a testament to the skill of the little team; they broadcast at a bitrate of 128kbps – on a par with most stations in the UK.

“The main aim of Regal Radio is to bring you as much audio content about our area as possible, plus a varied mixture of music chosen by our enthusiastic presenters.” A team of 11 individuals now operate the station, doing everything from presenting, interviewing and technical operations; only a few had any previous experience in broadcasting. Their aim is to develop from their current 20 hours of live shows per week to a full schedule including news and local interest talk-based content, “although,” adds Mike Kelly (lead presenter and trainer) “we’re less interested

Monday night - the management team plus Brothers in Soul. in broadcasting a generic hourly news update – which you can get anywhere – than in shows specifically relating to West Lothian and the people here. I’d rather concentrate on one significant piece of West Lothian news per day than an hourly repeat of the same news as everywhere else.” This sums up the motivation behind Regal Radio’s incredibly enthusiastic volunteers – orientated towards community service and wanting the station to be genuinely useful and interesting to West Lothian listeners, as well of course as playing a great selection of music and having fun in the process! They are developing more and more ideas from people keen to get involved to make programs with a local community flavour. The main limitation is the time availability of the volunteers for training more presenters and recording programs. The opportunity to be creative on a community radio brings a great sense of pride and achievement and it’s a great learning opportunity to improve public speaking, recording and technical skills. Tune in and you’ll be impressed at what the time, skills, energy and creativity of this small group of volunteers has created. Regal Radio can only be received with an Internet connection – go to RegalRadio.net or via the mobile phone radio app, TuneIn.com.

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The Regal Radio studio has been put together from donated and recycled equipment; the sound quality is on a par with any commercial station.

The group is totally unfunded, and without the support of the Regal Theatre the radio couldn’t have happened. Besides hosting the studio free of charge, the Theatre has promoted the radio group and many other community arts start ups under The Regal Theatre’s umbrella. Bathgate is fortunate to have this unique art hub which hosts an impressive list of local groups, media activities, training, musical development, touring shows and the arts. Regal Radio have broadcast live shows from the theatre’s auditorium and hope to develop opportunities to do more of this to take productions on to the web. Sponsors, donations of equipment and suggestions for funding are being sought to take the station to the next level, and if you can help with any of these things they would love to hear from you. Contact Campbell Troup, Communications Manager on info@regalradio.net, tel 01506 632669 (answering machine) KONECT

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Interiors feature

5 reasons why the free-standing bath is the choice of celebrities by ecko

What do Julianne Moore, Nicholas Cage and Sarah Jessica Parker all have in common apart from being fabulously wealthy and in the movie business? They all have sumptuous bathrooms and the focal point in every case is a luxurious free-standing bath. There’s something about a free-standing bath that exudes an air of opulence even if it is the simplest of designs. With that in mind EKCO brings you 5 reasons why the free-standing option is the bath of choice for many celebrities.

Traditional styling – Imagine a roll-top enamel bath with ornate claw feet and you have just conjured up the most popular image of the free standing version preferred by the likes of Christina Aguilera or Kate Winslet. This has been a firm favourite for the past few hundred years and blends in well with period features and lots of gold leaf. However it can contrast well with more modern and contemporary surroundings

Modern and contemporary – A free-standing bath doesn’t have to be traditional. The quirky SJP of Sex And The City fame has opted for a bath with a beautiful low and long eggshell design and single filler tap. The bath is centrally located and flanked by his and hers vanity basins. I wonder which one is Matthew Broderick’s?

Freedom of expression – The free-standing bath allows you to create a focal point and build around it. Julianne Moore for example converted the entire third floor of her townhouse into a bathroom which is light and airy with a bath in the centre and a marble fireplace to one side just in case she feels the need for some extra heat

The spacious choice – We all need some space from time to time and having your bath in the middle of the room gives you just that. Maybe you could do what Mariah Carey did and paint your ceiling blue with fluffy white clouds so you can drift away. Or is a ceiling mural similar to the Sistine Chapel more your thing?

Lap of luxury – People of a certain age will remember a TV ad for Imperial Leather soap in which the leading character and his wife are enjoying a soak in a freestanding tub when the good lady suggests that they should go to Bermuda. Her husband picks up the phone and says ‘Simon, Bermuda.’ Simon replies ‘Roger, Wilco’ and takes the private jet they are all in to a different destination. Well it’s not a private jet but Nicholas Cage has a bathroom which could have been plucked straight off a sumptuous ocean liner. His free-standing bath sits in the middle of a marble surround and is complemented by the same cream coloured materials around the walls. Some people really know how to live. I wonder if he uses Imperial Leather?

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TRIBUTE

Fulfilling the dreams of my beautiful boy

Jak Trueman

by Suzanne Green

It’s hard to overestimate the impact made on local communities by 15-year-old Jak Trueman from Mid Calder. This young man, who last August learned that he had the rare form of cancer, Gammadelta T-cell lymphoma, was known and loved by so many people in the Calders, Livingston, Balerno and beyond! My daughter Julia met him, at St Mungo’s youth group, and I wish I’d had the same privilege. “Jak was an ordinary boy, but these last six months have defined him,” said Mark Traynor, Jak’s tuba tutor. And, as I’ve reviewed the past half year’s posts by Jak on his Facebook page, Jak’s Journey, soon to be renamed Jak’s Journey (continued), I have been touched by his positive outlook, his gratefulness to those who encouraged him and supported his fundraising efforts and his lovely smile. The posts describe Jak’s treatment, his good days and bad days. They detail the progress of Team Jak, the fundraising initiative he set up to help lymphoma and leukaemia patients (more than £65,000 has been raised so far). And they’re full of photos of his mum, Allison Barr, and sister Aimee, his girlfriend Hannah Boyd, his grandparents Walter and Ishbel Barr, and many others. There are photos of Jak with footballers who called in at the hospital to see the young Rangers fan, and photos of Jak and Hannah at their prom – organised by

West Calder High School two years early so that he could attend. He was due to have a bone marrow transplant in January. But, sadly, this plan had to be abandoned when doctors discovered that the cancer had spread. “When we knew Jak didn’t have long, I asked him what his wishes were,” Allison explained. “Right away he said, ‘I want you to be happy, Mum, and I want you to continue with Star Harmonies’.” Star Harmonies is primary teacher Allison’s Musical Theatre School. Jak’s sister, Aimee, tutors Singing, Dancing and Drama there, and Jak was Sound Engineer and helped backstage. It is open to children aged 5-18, and there are no auditions. “Every child can shine in some way,” says Allison. “We try to bring out the best in each one.” Jak, who was goalie for the Mid Calder Colts 99s, had wanted to gain qualifications and then teach football and other sports and act as a referee at Star Harmonies. Now that this is not possible, Allison’s goal is to see his wishes for Team Jak fulfilled. He was very definite about the need to establish the purpose-built “Jak’s Den” somewhere near Mid Calder, to be used by Star Harmonies as well as cancer patients. It will help not just cancer patients and their families, but also children and young people from West Lothian and beyond by providing:

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Jak’s d en • Counselling rooms, and professionally trained counsellors, for the siblings and families of cancer patients and others • Loud room, for those who want to scream, shout or let off steam • Large hall for musical theatre and sports classes/parties • Music and drama rooms • Neutropenic café (with a football and fast car theme) for cancer patients who can’t risk infection • Ordinary café (with a music theme) • Outdoor football goals, a music sensory garden and quad bike tracks • Claw machine (filled with sweets)

Allison Barr with Walter Barr and Neil Alexander

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In addition, Jak wanted funds to support continuing lymphoma/leukaemia research and to aid affected families. It was also his desire to assist the hospitals that had helped him. Allison says her family has been overwhelmed by the kindness and support of the local community, as well as many other people, some of whom were complete strangers. One day she received a phone call from Joanne Alexander, whose husband Neil is a Hearts star and ex Rangers’ goalie. “She asked me if Jak would want Neil to visit him,” says Allison. “I said yes, and this was the start of a great friendship between my son and Neil. One day Jak asked him to be the patron of his charity, and Neil agreed. I know that we gained more than a patron – Neil and Joanne will be our friends for life. “Of course, I am devastated at the loss of my lovely boy. “But I’m comforted by the fact that Jak’s fundraising will help other cancer patients. My son’s legacy will be to improve many, many lives.” To find out more, to donate or to help with fundraising, go to www.teamjak.co.uk Learn more about Star Harmonies Musical Theatre at www.starharmonies.co.uk

Jak’s prom night

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WALK

Karen Murray takes a stroll along the Forth

A walk along the shoreline of the Firth of Forth is always a fabulous way to blow away the cobwebs, clear your head and chill out, particularly when the winter is receding a little and the spring is thinking about bursting forth. While I have continued to walk throughout the winter as I enjoy the exercise, and a winter walk on a crisp day can’t be topped, there is something special about early spring, as the snowdrops peep their heads above the earth and when leaving work the sky is bleached a lighter shade of pale by the last of the daylight. So when I had a chance to sneak out of work a bit early and catch a couple of hours before dark, I decided to head to the Forth and take a walk. You could of course walk for miles but I didn’t have long before dark so I decided on Blackness toward Bo’ness. There are a couple of lovely beaches at Blackness with great views over the water, towards the Ochil Hills, still snow tipped when I was walking. The dramatic 15th century Blackness Castle provides the scenic backdrop (and if you have time it is an interesting, historic place to visit with ruined parts and complete rooms, turrets and towers and lots of room for exploring) with the beaches and the village spread along the shoreline. With no time to linger, I planned a stroll along the shore towards Bo’ness, enjoying the peace and tranquillity. Heading west away from the castle, you follow a track above the shore which is really for access to the owners of the houses along there that all have spectacular views. At the end of the track a narrow path continues in the same direction and you can wander along it enjoying the views across the water, lights beginning to dot along the opposite shore and all manner of lights on the various barges and machinery moored in the Forth. The Rail Bridge can also be seen and admired.

Carriden Church You don’t have to stay on the track however, you can step down onto the shore and walk along there. I love walking right on the shore as close to the water as possible, but you might find it a bit stony and prefer the path. The choice, as they say, is yours. After a while you will have to walk on the path above the shoreline, going straight ahead at a signpost. You will come to some denser woodland, where the path splits. Keep to the path closer to the shore which veers close to the beach as you get near to Bo’ness. At a fork, stay right following the water. The path eventually leaves the Firth of Forth to go left behind Carriden Boat Yard. This brings you to an access road where you go right to busier road, then left. You can take a little diversion here if you fancy and walk up to see Carriden Parish Church and then further up the hill, the ruins of an older church. If you have made the ecclesiastical diversion, then retrace your steps to where the path left the shore and ultimately back to Blackness. You could continue on away from the shore and into the town of Bo’ness and then grabbing public transport back to Blackness to pick up your car later, but the round trip although it is not a circular walk is a satisfying one and more views over the water on the way back are always going to be different than those on the way there as the light changes so much.

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The round trip is about 5 miles and will take between 2 to 2.5 hours depending on diversions to churches, visits to castles and general taking in of viewsâ&#x20AC;Ś

Blackness Castle. Photo by Karen Murray

The Counterfeit Sixties A showcase of the great bands from the unforgettable sixties.

Enjoy the fantastic music of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Dave Clark Five, The Kinks and The Monkees to name but a few. The Counterfeit Sixties show encompasses everything from that period, from the clothes that were worn, to flashbacks from television history. The band members have a wide range of music experience having individually worked with notable artists such as The Searchers, The Ivy League, The Fortunes, The Tremeloes and many more.

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SUDOKU Sudoku solution on page 61

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RECIPE & FOOD NOTES

Cookery Books By Anne Pinkerton

Cookery books are highly collectable. They are a source of daily information, social history and answers to the question “what shall we eat tonight?” Elizabeth David (personality writer and cook) left a library of 6000 volumes on food; I have a smaller collection, but the books give inspiration, recall past meals and aid in the daily business of cooking at home. Nowadays you hardly need any cook books with internet, magazines and information cards in the supermarket; tap in the food you have in the fridge and an app on your phone will suggest a dish. So why are there new books almost daily? What makes a good cook book and do you need one at all? Old books still have a point. You could live well on the food in the original Mrs Beaton published in 1861. Some of the instructions are for work we no longer even have to consider (keeping the fire in the range, cleaning pans with silver-sand), however recipes for biscuits, roasting meat and making salads are all relevant today. The instruction manuals for the early gas or electric cookers are still worth reading if only to make you

Lady Warner’s Green Tea Ice Cream From Vogue 1970 ½ pint milk 2 large eggs Sugar…. (No amount given but about 1 heaped tablespoon) 3 teaspoons powdered green tea ½ pint double cream

pleased with the efficiency of modern equipment. My grandmother’s Cannon Cookery Book, 1932, has a good and -from the stains on the paper - much used baking chapter. The Overnight Cake is a standby for me. “Learning to Cook the Girl Way,” published by the Gas Council in collaboration with Girl Comic (remember that?) in 1959, uses strip cartoons to instruct the reader in everything from Risotto and Cheese Soufflé to Meat Loaf. Liver-Sausage in Aspic and Cabbage Rose for “party snacks” may not be quite our style today! By the 1960s colour printing and photography was changing the look of cookery books. Developments in style are beautifully covered in “Food in Vogue” 1976 - Six Decades of Cooking and Entertaining. Vogue published top class food journalism and always used the most highly regarded writers of the day. So here we find Aldous Huxley, Robert Carrier, Elizabeth David and Jane Grigson, their work illustrated by fashion photographers Cecil Beaton, Norman Parkinson and Tessa Traeger. At the same time reference cookbooks were reinventing themselves. The French “bible” of food, La Rousse Gastronomique, was translated. The Constance Spry Cookery Book, Good House Keeping, Reader’s Digest and revised Mrs

Method - Heat the milk. Beat together the eggs, sugar and green tea and pour on the milk, stirring. Return the mixture to the pan and, without boiling, heat until custard coats the back of the wooden spoon. Cool, add the whipped cream. Cover and freeze. This reflects the style and assumed understanding of both the cook and the magazine reader; very Vogue. An elegant end to a smart meal.

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Beaton were the mainstay of many kitchens. Personality writers were being popularised, the first of whom was Elizabeth David, who it is said changed the style of cooking from the dull, overcooked food of depressed post war Britain to the lively cuisine of the south. She and Jane Grigson, Julia Child, Margaret Costa, Katie Stewart and Delia Smith all published books designed to support people more interested in flavours and ingredients. They removed the mystery of complicated old methods and simplified classical dishes to meet modern tastes. Since then, we’ve met chefs/personalities with every style of cooking in studio setups and on camp fires in exotic travelogues. They’ve been filmed on bikes, boats, trains and any other transport editors can dream up. Competitive knock-out shows try to find new foodie talent. All have produced books. Some full of fabulous photos and good recipes; all beautifully produced. But they have not made us, as a nation, cook any more or better. Equipment such as microwave ovens or deep freezers have in a way permitted us to buy fantasy food whose hidden ingredients are making us fat and in some cases long-term ill. Some have tried really hard to influence food policy and worked on school and hospital food; Jamie Oliver is a hero for his efforts. Internet blogs are a good place to look-up ideas but you have to feel sure the writers know what they are doing before you spend cash and time on their ideas. Sainsburys’ replacement for Jamie, “Jack Monroe: cook, campaigner, Guardian columnist, mother, author etc” is down to earth and practical. Look her up at http:// agirlcalledjack.com My cookery heroes include Simon Hopkinson, Tessa Kiros, Lady Mclean, Delia and Raymond Blanc. But most of all I love the recipes on backs of envelopes and scraps of paper hand written by friends and relatives. We do need cook books to help us and I urge you to cook for yourself because when you do you know what you’re eating. The two recipes in this feature are from books mentioned above.

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Overnight Cake from the Cannon Cookery Book 1930 250g flour 125g granulated sugar 70g butter 125 g mixed dried fruit 70g mixed peel 1 large egg Pinch of salt 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda breakfast cup milk Method - Rub the butter into the flour till you have fine bread crumbs, add the sugar and fruit and mix in the beaten egg. Dissolve the bicarb and salt in the milk and add to the mixture. It should be sloppy. Leave in a cool place overnight. Next day bake in a slow oven, 120C, in a silicon paper lined cake tin for up to 2 1/2 hours. Test with a metal skewer after 2 hours. I love this cake and usually double the ingredients making a bigger cake! You can vary the proportions of fruit but need the same total weight.

WHAT’S ON

and Useful Information Saturday 21st March

Howden Park Centre Howden Park Centre has a busy programme of events including live music, dance, theatre, workshops and exhibitions. See their website at www. howdenparkcentre.co.uk for complete up to date listing or contact the box office: 01506 777666

Livingston Highland Society Ceilidh Strathbrock Community Centre Broxburn, 7.30 – 11.15pm. Band & Guest(s): Johnny Duncan Duo. Tickets £5

Thursday 26th March Ladies Night at the Centre, Livingston A fabulous fun-filled, discount-packed, entertainment-stacked, one-night-only evening for the ladies. It’ll put spring ’15 fi rmly in your step. Pre-register for this event at thecentrelivingston.com

Sunday 22nd March

Bathgate Regal Community Theatre The Regal hosts an exciting programme of film ,music, theatre, comedy and children’s events. See page opposite for upcoming events and website at www. bathgateregal.org for complete up to date listing.

Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories afternoon St Joseph’s Hall, Balerno Parish Church., 2-4pm. Stories from recent visits by members of Christian Aid, Church of Scotland, and Scottish Episcopal and United Reformed Churches to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. With prayers for peace.

Sunday 29th March Jack and Jill Market Up to 45 stall bursting with quality nearly-new baby & kids toys, buggies, clothes, cots & more for 0-9 yrs! Adulst £1.50 to come & shop or BOOK A STALL today, clear out and cash in! West Lothian College, Livingston. 10.30am – 1pm. www,jackandjillmarket.co.uk

Library Information East Calder Library Main Street, East Calder, EH53 0EJ 01506 883633 or email: eastcalder.lib@westlothian.gov.uk Opening times: Please note the library now opens at 10.30am on Wed Monday & Friday – 9.00am to 5.30pm Tuesday & Thursday – 9.00am to 8.00pm Wednesday– 10.30am to 5.30pm Saturday – 9.00am to 1.00pm Please note Registration Services are now available by appointment only. Monday – 2.00 to 4.30 Wednesday – 10.30 to 12.30 Friday – 2.00 to 4.30 Telephone 01506 884680 Bookbug: All under 3’s bring along your adult for some stories and rhymes - phone or email library for dates and times. Bookgroup: 1st Tuesday and last Thursday each month at 6.45-7.45pm IT Class: New Drop in IT class for all your employment issues. Every Thursday 10.00 – 12.00 Come along for free help and advice.

Each week at the Green Room, Kirknewton Mondays: 3.30-5pm – Face to face, a life skills course for children 6-7pm – Keyboard lessons Tuesdays: 9am-1pm – Drop in 10.30am – Bookbugs (10th March) Wednesdays: 9am-1pm – Drop in (Half price teas and coffees for over 60s) Cards, dominoes, board games. 6.30pm – Family book club Thursdays: 9am-1pm – Drop in 1.30-2pm – Kirknewton babies Group 2.30-3pm – Bookbugs (26th March) Fridays: 9.30am-1pm – Access 2 Employment Job Club and Appointments. 10am-12pm – Financial inclusion network 6-8pm – Youth Club

Drop-in Employment based computer class: every Thursday from 10.00-12.00, open to everyone.

Pumpherston Library Drumshoreland Road, Pumpherston, EH53 0LF 01506 280996 or email: pumpherston.lib@westlothian.gov.uk

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

Opening times: Monday – 14.00 to 17.00 Wednesday – 14.30 to 16.30 Thursday – 14.00 to 18.00

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FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Mar - Apr 15

The Regal hosts an exciting programme of film, music, theatre, comedy & children’s events.

March wed 4th fri 6th Sat 7th fri 13th Sat 14th wed 18th thu 19th fri 20th Sat 21St fri 27th Sat 28th

The InvIsIble WoMan - FIlM (2013) regal rocks scoTTIsh opera - opera hIghlIghTs paranorMal InvesTIgaTIon ac/Dc TrIbuTe The lunchbox - FIlM (2013) The regal shoWcase carol Mcgee MeDIuM bIg YIn revIsITeD & Fankle Weslo coMeDY nIghT ssW WresTlIng

7.30pm £4 7.30pm £4 7.30pm £11 / £5 9pm-3am £30 7.30pm £15 7.30pm £4 7.30pm £10 7.30pm £16 7.30pm £10 7.30pm £10 7.00pm £10 / £5

aprIl wed 1St fri 3rd Sat 4th thu 9th fri 10th Sat 11th Mon 13th fri 17th

prIDe - FIlM (2014) neW JerseY boYs paula sWarbrIck - psYchIc MeDIuM roY orbIson regal rocks FreDDIe sTarr a nIghT oF DIrTY DancIng MeeT The McDougalls

7.30pm £4 7.30pm £15 7.30pm £10 7.30pm £20 7.30pm £4 7.30pm £25 7.30pm £20/ £18.50 1pm £8 / £6.50

See website at WWW.baThgaTeregal.org for complete up to date listings and booking. box oFFIce is open 10-2pm weekdays and 1 hour before evening shows. ring 01506 630 085 and leave a message. 24-34 north Bridge Street, Bathgate, eh48 4PS KONECT

NURSERY & OUT OF SCHOOL CARE

Free Registration

New allotment - we are growing fruit & veg. New animals - rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens & ducks! CCTV ■ three separate age-appropriate enclosed gardens ■ extended opening 7.15am to 6.15pm. drop off/pick up from local state nurseries/schools

All inclusive packages - nappies, wipes, breakfast, two course lunch & afternoon snack

CALL TODAY ON 01506 413500 1 Beveridge Square, Almondvale Livingston EH54 6QF www.abcprivatenursery.co.uk

DONATE YOUR FURNITURE AND ELECTRICALS and we’ll pick up your items for FREE

Your unwanted furniture and electricals can help us fight back against heart disease. We collect all sorts of items: • • • • •

Sofas, beds, tables, chairs TVs, Hi-Fi’s Washing machines, fridges Small electrical items Games consoles, docking stations

Call 0131 341 2992 or book online at bhf.org.uk/collection Please don’t be disappointed if we are unable to accept items for reasons of safety or quality © British Heart Foundation, registered charity in England and Wales (225971) and in Scotland (SC039426).

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COMMUNITY

Spring Fair for Oldeani Join the Kirk of Calder for a Spring Fair on Saturday 28th March in the Institute Hall, Mid Calder, 10am to 12pm. All proceeds raised will go towards building a children’s home in Tanzania. To mark the 500th anniversary of the start of the Reformation in 2017, the congregation of Kirk of Calder has a vision of linking up with a project in the developing world. In partnership with the Vine Trust, the congregation, with the help of other local churches and communities, wants to raise funds to build a safe home, at Oldeani, where 40 vulnerable children will be educated and cared for. The target for the project is £85,000. Tables at the fundraising fair will have a wide variety of goods, including books, toys, crafts and home baking. A silent auction will also take place on the day, with lots of exciting prizes including a meal voucher from the Harvester, Livingston. A beautifully crafted rocking horse will be on display and everyone will have the chance to ‘guess the name’ of the horse and one lucky person will be in with a chance of winning this lovely prize.

Kirk of Calder project with Vine Trust - To mark the 500th anniversary of the start of the Reformation in 2017, the congregation of Kirk of Calder - which worships in a pre-Reformation building – is linking up with a project in the developing world, where age-old European differences are not recognised. We are doing this in a spirit of ecumenism, as a shared experience with our friends in the local Roman Catholic congregations together with other local churches and community groups, thus marking the event as a celebration of the ways in which churches in the 21st century are working together in Christian unity to help some of the poorest people in the world. In partnership with the Vine Trust, the project is to build a safe home in Oldeani, Tanzania, where 40 vulnerable children will be educated and cared for by the autumn of 2017 - a fitting way to mark the anniversary, bringing our local people together to work for the future well-being of our friends in Tanzania. Visit https://secure.vinetrust.org/ fundraise/pages/kirk-of-calderproject for further information. For further information on Kirk of Calder visit http://www.kirkofcalder. com and Like us on Facebook. Contact Details: Louise Hendrie – louisehendrie@hotmail.com

A cafe will be open to buy teas and coffees, and the Kirk of Calder welcomes everybody to come along and join them to raise funds for this very worthwhile cause.

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clubs & classes

Sports, Hobbies, Learning, Support Groups & more... Firefly Arts

East Calder Youth Club

Firefly Arts provide fun and friendly theatre, film and drama workshops for children and young people (5 to 25 years) in venues across West Lothian. Call 08447 744496 or email admin@firefly-arts.co.uk for more information on our current programme. Firefly Arts Ltd, Howden Park Centre, Livingston, EH54 6AE. www.firefly-arts.co.uk

East Calder Community Centre. Fri 6.15pm - 8.45pm. Ages 10 to 14 yrs. Cooking, football, baseball and other outdoor sports, pool, video games, board games and arts/crafts. Contact Gary Sneddon 01506 774473

Lothian Running Club

This group is for new mums of any age. East Calder Community Centre. Mon 11.00am – 12.30pm. Free. Contact health visitor via health centre for further details 01506 880582

We welcome runners of any standard. We believe that running clubs are not just for the elite (although we will let fast people join too). Suitable for all ages and we have a junior section from age 6. Training sessions in/around Livingston, meet at Inveralmond High, Craigswood Sports Centre and Dechmont Law car park. For more info see website www.lothianrunningclub.co.uk.

West Lothian Clarion Cycling club – our aim is to help cyclists plan and reach their own goals through training with, and seeking advice and support from fellow club members. Weekly club runs leave from Linlithgow Leisure Centre and East Calder Sports Centre. See www. westlothianclarion.co.uk or email secretary@westlothianclarion. co.uk

EAST CALDER Pre-birth Yoga East Calder Community Centre. Wed 5.15pm – 6.45pm. 6 week programme starts 24 September. For more details: 07767 777044 or ruth@sukha.co.uk

Forget-Me-Not Café East Calder Church Hall, Manse Court. Last Thursday of the month, 10am – 12pm. A meeting place for people with dementia and their carers of all ages. Drop in and join us for information, support and social activities. Supported by Alzheimer Scotland and East Calder Church. For more information please phone 01506 533 116.

East Calder Bowling Club Bingo every Sun and Wed 8pm– 9.30pm. Junior coaching (10 to 16 years old) every friday 2pm – 4pm. We can also coach adults, free, so come along and give it a try. Hats every Mon 6-30pm. See club website at www.eastcalderbowlingclub.com. Members can find details here of competitions, play by dates and club news.

New Mums Group

Breast Feeding Support Group East Calder Church Hall. Wednesday 11.30 am – 12.30 pm. Contact Health Visitors via Health Centre for further details 01506 880582

Bingo Pigeon Club, East Calder. Sun 8.00 - 10.00 All welcome

Boys Brigade East Calder Church Hall. Anchors (age 5 - 8) Fridays 6.30 - 7.30pm Juniors (age 8 - 11) Fridays 6.45 - 8.15pm. Company Section (age 11-18). Fridays 7.30 - 9.45pm. Call Jean Gilchrist 01506 880367

East Calder Playgroup Now located in East Calder Community Centre. Mon-Fri 9am-11am from 2 years. For the best introduction to your child’s education - lots of fun to be had! £4.50 per session. Contact Carol on 07748 053340.

Rainbows, Brownies and Guides East Calder Primary School. Rainbows Mon 6.30 – 7.30pm and Wed 6.15 – 7.15pm. Brownies Tues 6.30 – 8pm & Wed 6.30 – 8pm. Guides Mon 7 – 8.50pm & Wed 7.30 – 9pm. Contact Gillian Maben 01506 880640.

Toddler Clinic East Calder Health Centre. 1st Tues every month. Drop in for advice & support 1.30–3.30pm

East Calder Scout Group Scout Hall, Calderhall Terrace. Beavers Mon 6.15 - 7.15pm (boys 6 - 8 yrs). Cubs Mon 7.30 - 9.00pm (boys 8 - 10 yrs). Scouts Tues 7.15 9.00pm (boys 10 - 14 yrs). Contact Jack Galloway on 077907 93889 eastcalderscouts.org.uk

East Calder Jog Scotland Group

Needlecraft Club

Meet every Tuesday at East Calder Health centre car park at 7pm. All abilities welcome, a social way to get fit, make friends and enjoy local countryside. Contact Dawn on 01506 883330 or 07806 772935 for more details.

East Calder Community Centre. Thur 7.00pm - 9.00pm. Contact Blanche on 01506 882427.

Yoga for Everyone East Calder Community Centre. Wed 7.00pm – 8.30pm For further info contact Ruth Plevin: 01506204338 or ruth@sukha.co.uk

East Calder Colts FC

KIRKNEWTON Kirknewton Babies Music Group The Green Room. Thursdays, 1.30 – 2.15pm. Songs, stories and rhymes just for the little ones. Meet other Mum’s & make new friends.

East Calder Park. We are currently recruiting for an under 10’s team born 2002. For information required regarding any of our teams please visit our website www.eastcaldercolts.co.uk or contact Head Coach Paul Garrad on 0797 959 2674. Let’s put the fun back into football. All welcome.

Kirknewton Youth Group

East Calder Old Folks Club

Kirknewton Primary School. Babies class up to age 8 Thurs 5.30 - 6.30pm. Junior/senior class Thurs 6.15 - 8.00pm. For info contact Trisha on email t.ewing@btinternet.com

East Calder Community Centre. Last Thursday of the month, September to April 1.30pm - 3.30pm. Pensioners and nonpensioners welcome. Contact Carol Anne Murray (Secretary).

East Calder Ladies’ Circle East Calder Community Centre. Second Thursday of the month, September to May at 1.30pm - 3.30pm. Secretary: Mrs E Bennett, 73 Mansefield, East Calder, West Lothian EH53 0JE.

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The Green Room. Fridays 6-8pm. For P7+

Kirknewton Starlets

Kosy Kaff Kirknewton Village Hall. Fridays 4pm – 5pm term time. Free home baking, hot chocolate, games and activities for primary school aged children. See www.knec4jesus.org.uk for more information.

clubs & classes Daytime Pilates Classes Kirknewton Village Hall: Thursdays: 9.10 to 10.00am; 10.10 to 11.00am for beginners. Kirknewton Church Hall: Fridays 9.10 to 10.00am. For more details contact elise@ekpilates. co.uk. You’ll also find me on facebook.com/ekpilates.

Kirknewton Rainbows Kirknewton Village Hall. Wed 5.00pm - 6.00pm. For girls aged 5-7. Please contact Gill Greaves for more info on 01506 883261

Toddler Group Kirknewton Church Hall. Parents/carers with tots aged 0-3 yrs, friendly group with play, stories and craft for the children and meet up/chat for parents. Thur 9.30 - 11.30am

Douglas Pilates Classes Designed to help achieve health and fitness goals through expertly designed exercises. Because classes are limited a maximum of 12 people, you will get plenty of personal attention. To contact Susan Douglas and for classes info visit http://www. douglaspilates.co.uk/

Physio Pilates Classes

Mid Calder Institute Hall. Highland, Disco Tues 6.00pm - 7.00pm and Fri 6.00pm - 9.00pm. Various ages. Contact Heather 01501733054.

Myra Mackie School of Dance Classes in Livingston, Uphall Station, Mid Calder and Broxburn. Please see our website for full timetable and venues. Children from 2 years to adult.www.myramackieschoolofdance.co.uk incorporating our competitive cheer division the Scottish Starlets.

Star Harmonies Musical Theatre School. Mid Calder Institue Hall.Tuesdays 10-3011am- Baby Starz; 11-15-11-45am- Little Starz. Other classes in Polbeth. Black Bull Inn Thursdays 6:10-7:10pm Liv’n Harmoneez Kids/Teenz Choir; 7:30-9:30pm The Liv’n Harmony Singers adult choir. Contact 07545 178310 for more information. See www. starharmonies.co.uk email: starharmonies.musicworkshops@ gmail.com

Mid Calder Mother and Baby Group Institute Hall, Tuesdays Drop in 10am-12pm. Newborn to Walking, £1 per baby, all welcome. Please e-mail midcalderbabygroup@ gmail.com for more details or find us on facebook

Modified Pilates taught by a Chartered Physiotherapist. Kirknewton Village Hall. Tuesdays 6.45pm and 7.45pm suitable for beginners or improvers. Spaces are limited so for more information or to book contact Dianne on 07795466464. diannemackenzie1@gmail.com. Facebook: Physio Pilates Classes

West Lothian Women’s Cycle Club

Kirknewton Runners

Mini Music Makers

Meet at Kirknewton Park every Monday at 19.30 Tennis and squash. Burnwynd, Kirknewton. Social and competitive play. LTA-qualified tennis coaches. Contact Carol Blamire 01506 880208

Glenalmond Hall, Main Street, Mid Calder, EH53 0AN. Weekly interactive music classes on Thursday mornings in Mid Calder. Singing games and rhymes are used bring these interactive music education classes for pre-school children and their parents/carers to life. Booking enquires: claire.ashwood@nycos.co.uk, 0141 287 2943. Find out more: www.nycos.co.uk/mini-music-makers

Kirknewton Stompers

The Willows Playgroup

Walking group, meeting at Kirknewton Park entrance on Park Terrace. Every Wed 7.30pm. Join the group on the community facebook page where people post details of the walk, or any other time they are walking.

School Lane Mid Calder. Children from 2 - 5 years (nappy changing facilities). Mon - Thurs 9 - 11 am. £5 per session (snack provided). Further information available from Karen on 01506 882832.

Hatton Sports Club

Simply Play Kaspars Out of School Care for Kirknewton. Kirknewton Primary School. Mon – Thu 3.15-6.00pm, Fri 12.30 – 6.00. Call 07871 791000

Kirknewton Women’s Rural Institute Come and join us for a friendly evening of craft, demonstrations and fun. 2nd Thursday of each month, 7.15pm in Kirknewton Church Hall.

Potter Around

Meet every Thursday at Mid Calder Primary School Car Park at 6pm. Get on your bike! All abilities welcome, should have own bike and kit. A great way to get fit, have fun and meet new friends around the local area. Contact Elizabeth Logan on 07515 161 307.

Welcome Café Glenalmond Hall. Every Tuesday 10am-12noon. This is a Fair Trade Café all proceeds of which to the Vine Trust in Peru. Do come along and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and some home baking with friends.

Mid Calder Camera Club Institute Hall, Market Street. Wed 7:30pm – 9:45pm. All levels of photographers are welcome. For more information, visit www.mccc.org.uk or call Steve Collier at 01506 881398 or Gordon Scott at 01506 882616.

Studio at Overton Farm, Kirknewton, EH27 8DD. Clubs including oil painting for both children and adults, jewellery workshops, fused glass, candle making, knitting, scrapbooking, kids craft club, Warhammer club. Craft shop, beads, children’s parties, baby prints and more. Plus drop in any time for pottery painting. For all class times, bookings and more information call 01506 238961 or email chat@potteraround.co.uk. www.potteraround.co.uk.

Mid Calder Colts FC

Kirknewton Play Group

Mid Calder Mother & Toddler Group

Teams covering all ages, playing soccer 7s, 11-a-side and also a soccer school. For more information see the Colts’ website www. mid-calder-colts.org. Contact Carole 883934. Contact@mid-caldercolts.org.

Kirknewton Village Hall. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays 9am – 11.15am. Ages 2- 4 ½ years. £5.00 per session. Call in and see us during session times.

Institute Hall, Tuesdays and Thursdays 9am-11am. £1.50 per child per session, all welcome. Please e-mail midcalderbabygroup@ gmail.com for more details.

MID CALDER

Rainbows, Brownies and Guides

5th West Lothian Mid Calder Cub Group Mid Calder Institute Hall. Thursdays 7.20 to 8.30. New cubs welcome. Aged betweem 9 – 10 years. Please contact Vroni on 07900 907297.

Mid Calder School of Dance

Rainbows Wed night, Brownies Tues night, Guides Mon and Wed nights. To register please go to the Girl Guiding website, Parent’s sections.

Yoga Classes Masonic Hall. Wednesday evening class 7.30 -9pm. Contact Linda Bibby 01506 884115. www.wholebodybalance.co.uk KONECT

Folk Club

Church of Scotland

Meets every third Tuesday of the month 8pm at the “Tap Shop”. The MidCalder Inn, Mid Calder

Kirknewton Services 9:45 in the Kirknewton Kirk, Station Rd. East Calder Services 11:15 in the East Calder Church, Main St. Sunday School and creche available. Rev Dr AJ Groenewald 8 Manse Court East Calder EH53 0HF. 01506 884585 or 07588 845814. groenstes@yahoo.com website www.knec4jesus.org.uk

Choral Highlights Ladies’ Choir Kirk of Calder. Rehearse Sun 11.45 -12.45pm and Wed 7.30 8.45pm. Repertoire includes songs from Musical shows, Scottish songs, Religious and Pop music. Perform 2 concerts a year, one in May/ June and a Christmas concert in early December. All concert venues considered. New members very welcome, come and join us! Contact: John Rankine, Musical Director LLCM (TD) on 01506 880029. www.kirkofcalder.com (Church Organisations)

POLBETH Star Harmonies Musical Theatre School Polbeth Harwood Church Mondays: Drama: 6-6-40pm- P1-3; 6-45-7-25pm- P4-7; 7-30-8-10pm- S1+ Dance: 6-6-30pm- Nursery-P2; 6-30-7-30pm-S1+; 7-30-8-10pmP3-P7. Tuesdays: 3-15-3-45pm- Baby Starz; 3-50-4-20pm- Little Starz; 4-20-5pm- Little Harmoneez. Other classes in Mid Calder. Contact 07545 178310 for more information. See www starharmonies.co.uk email: starharmonies.musicworkshops@ gmail.com

Mid Calder Services 10.30 every Sunday in the Kirk of Calder, Main St, Mid Calder. Sunday School and crèche available. Pumpherston services - The Kirk of Calder also holds fortnightly services on Wednesday mornings at 10:15 at the Pumpherston Institute Hall. The website www.kirkofcalder.com has full details of current activities/services.

To include your club or class, email details to editor@konectdirectory.co.uk. Charity and not-for-profit groups are free, there is a small charge for other listings. See our website for details. www.konectdirectory.co.uk

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

Solution to Feb Crossword Across: 7 Vacant, 8 Operas, 9 Taxi, 10 Contrary, 11 Lighter, 13 Groat, 15 Often, 17 Parsley, 20 Freezing, 21 Rest, 23 Battle, 24 Impede. Down: 1 Mama, 2 Vanish, 3 Stacked, 4 Joins, 5 Nearer, 6 Carriage, 12 Informal, 14 Bargain, 16 Elects, 18 Scrape, 19 Fixes, 22 Soda.

PUMPHERSTON Pumpherston United FC Four groups, including a soccer school for 5-12 yrs (Thur 6.00pm - 7.30pm); 1998 age group (Tuesdays); 1997 age group (Mon and Wed) and 1995 age group (Mon and Wed). Training at Pumpherston Recreation Park. For more information, please email feedback@pumpherston-united.co.uk

Uphall Station Creative Play Meets in Uphall Station Institute Hall. Tues 1-3pm and Thurs 9.3011.15am. Parents/carers of babies/toddlers age 0-5 very welcome. Supported by SureStart. Different play activities every week.

The Look Group

Solution to Sudoku Page 50

Outdoors activities in Almondell and Calderwood Country Park for ages 8-12. Meeting at Visitor Centre 10.30 - 12.00 Saturdays - not every Sat, check programme with the Rangers on 01506 882254.

WEST CALDER West Lothian Fibromyalgia Support Group Meets on the third Sunday of the month 1.30pm – 3.30pm, at West Calder Community Centre. New members always warmly welcomed. Join us for support, information, friendship, talks and outings. See sites.google.com/site/wlfibromyalgia or call Sheila on 0844 887 2388 for more information.

18th West Lothian Scout Group West Kirk Hall, West Calder. Beavers Mon 6-7pm. Cubs Wed 6.167.30pm Scouts Thurs 6.30-8pm. Girls and boys 10.5 - 14 yrs. Contact Jean Walkinshaw 01506 873638.

West Calder Walking Group Every Thurs at 12.30. Meet outside the Co-op, West Calder Main Street. Walk approx 1 hr then coffee/tea stop to finish. Call 01506 871773 for more info.

CHURCHES

Whilst every care is taken to ensure accuracy, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss, damage or omission caused by error in the printing of an advertisement.The Konect Directory does not endorse any advertising material that appears in this publication. Adverts are accepted on the understanding that descriptions of goods and services are fair and accurate. All material is accepted for publication on the understanding that it is copyright free.The Konect Directory accepts no liability for any subsequent copyright issues. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior consent of the publisher.

Polbeth Harwood Church

Publisher: Lothian Publications Ltd, Overton Farmhouse, Kirknewton, EH27 8DD.

Service 11:15 am every Sunday. West Kirk of Calder Service 9:45 am every Sunday. Minister: Rev Dr Jonanda Groenewald, 8 Manse Court, East Calder EH53 0HF. Tel 01506 884802

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

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INDEX OF ADVERTISERS ACCOUNTANT/BOOKKEEPING AKT Kevin Thomson Accountant

AERIALS Aerial Man

ARCHITECT Plan It Design

BARBERS TJ’s Barbers

BATHROOMS 1st Choice Living Bathgate Bathroom Studio Ekco

15 35 41

BEAUTY Lisa Blair Beauty Therapy The Toning & Beauty Clinic

22 22

BOWLING CLUB East Calder Bowling Club BRIDAL SHOP Nota Bene Design

12 22

DENTIST Balerno Dental Care Currie Dental Care No9 Dentist

20 18 19

ELECTRICIAN A&A Electrical Riddell Electrical Services Simply Electrical

28 38 29

ENTERTAINMENT Regal Community Theatre Bathgate 55 FITNESS Marriott Dalmahoy The Douglas Method

23 21

FLORIST Flowers by Jak Quite Contrary Vicky’s Flowers

21 21 22

FOOTCARE Foot Clinic

GARAGE DOORS Max’s Garage Doors Ltd

GARDEN & LANDSCAPING Beatson’s D Greaves Riccarton Garden Centre

6 31 4 5

PET SERVICES Claylands Cattery Fur & Feather Tilly Chance Dog Grooming

45 5 44

PHARMACY Kirknewton Pharmacy

PLASTERER Nu Walls

PLUMBING SERVICES EPH 29 The Livingston Plumbing Company 34 PRINTING KABOOM!

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE Cleaning and Maintenance

PUBLIC HOUSE Black Bull The Grapes Bistro

49 33

RESTAURANT Al Borgo Sky Kitchen

51 51

ROOFING Thomson Roofing Services

SELF CATERING Linwater Caravan Park

SOFT FURNISHING Style Rite Blinds

BUILDER Almond Building Company

BUILDING SERVICES Build-It

BUILDING SURVEYOR David Hastings

Car Bodywork Chips Away Finishing Touch

GLAZER R McNeill Joiner & Glazer

36 37

GOLF CLUB Baberton Golf Club

CAR SALES Colin Nixon Hermiston Motors Peoples Ford

64 2 13

GRAPHIC DESIGN KABOOM!

STORAGE Storage Containers

HAIRDRESSER Jane & Friends

TAKEAWAY Sky Kitchen

CAR SERVICE/REPAIR Autocare Solutions Colin Nixon Hermiston Motors Kirknewton Garage Pumpherston Autocentre

39 64 2 39 37

HANDYMAN 1st Call Handyman

TATTOO REMOVAL Tatta Ltd

TAXI/PRIVATE HIRE Murieston & Mid Calder Private Hire 4

CARPETS P F Flooring

Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning C and W Cleaning Services 44 CHARITY Action Group

CHARITY/FURNITURE SHOP British Heart Foundation

CHILDCARE/CHILDREN’S NURSERY ABC Private Nursery

CHIROPODIST Barefoot Chiropody and Podiatry Livingston Chiropody & Podiatry

20 18

CLEANING SERVICES Strata Cleaning Limited

COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES Whole Body Balance

COMPUTER REPAIRS Sort My PC Sprint Computers

25 17

DANCE SUPPLIES Highland Dance Shop

HEATING L & S Heating

TELEPHONE ENGINEER John McGraw Telephone Engineer

HOMES Stewart Milne Homes

JOINER Craigcrook Joinery Geoff Vinter Joinery R McNeill Joiner & Glazer

THEATRE Regal Community Theatre Bathgate 55

28 29 5

KITCHENS 1st Choice Living Alba Kitchens Ekco Ian Merriman S & S Home Improvements UV Kitchen Wraps

TILER B. Edwards Tiling Service With A Tile Tile-a-ramic

30 29 28

15 34 41 28 63 7

TREE SURGERY Maxwell Tree Care

VETERINARY Albyn Veterinary Centre Pentland Veterinary Clinic

44 45

LOCKSMITH West Lothian Locksmith

WHEEL REPAIR Finishing Touch

37 15 31

MOBILITY Med-Ecosse

OVEN CLEANING Shiny Bright Ovens The Clean Team

WINDOWS 1st Choice Living Red Hot Windows

38 38

PAINTER/DECORATOR Braekirk Decorator’s DM Decorators Nu Walls

WINDOW CLEANING Gordon Scott Window Cleaning Suburban Window Cleaner

28 34 15

5 4

KONECT

01506 650 397 07450 876 999

info@sashomeimprovements.co.uk

www.sandskitchenreface.co.uk

FIXED PRICE INCLUDING VAT AND FITTING

THE FIXED PRICE KITCHEN WILL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: • 10 units, any combination • Stainless Steel - Single Oven • Hood • Hob • Sink & Taps • 2 x 3m laminate worktops 38mm thick • Two lengths of cornice, plinth and pelmet • Vast range of doors with 6 yr guarantee • Professionally designed and installed • Can also provide tiling and flooring (not included in price) ALSO AVAILABLE

BEFORE

AFTER REFACE

Check Customer reviews on Trusted Trader

• Kitchen Refacing • Bathrooms - supplied and fitted • Save up to 40% on price of new kitchen

FOR LESS STRESS, CHOOSE S&S! KONECT

COLIN NIXON MOT SALES & SERVICE CENTRE

Looking for a quality, reliable second hand car? Come to a local well-established business for honest advice and excellent customer service.

On-site selection of pre-selected quality, low-mileage vehicles ... or tell us what you need and we will source a suitable vehicle to your specification and budget

All vehicles have had our stringent pre-sales service 12 month warranty* We only deal with good quality cars so you can buy with confidence

Tel: 01506 882 185 Email: info@colinnixonautosafe.co.uk Web: colinnixonautosafe.co.uk Edinburgh Road, East Calder EH53 0ET

ESTABLISHED OVER 25 YEARS *some vehicles excepted