Konect Livingston September 2021 by Konect Magazines

SEPTEMBER 2021

WHAT'S ON:

PARENTING:

COMMUNITY:

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’m delighted this month to be able to publish a selection of articles from different local community organisations who are getting on with the business of normality – and who would love you to be involved! The annual September Doors Open Days for West Lothian is organised by the Linlithgow Civic Trust, and this year there is a mix of virtual tours and in-person visits possible. This is a chance to take the time to see inside some buildings that you’d normally pass perhaps without thinking about their stories or what goes on inside them, see p40 for details. Another local organisation, Love to Ride West Lothian, is encouraging everyone to get involved in the Cycle September Challenge. Laura turns her attention to the beginning of autumn in her parenting column. Warming treats are sometimes required to motivate kids and adults alike to get out and about as the weather cools down! She mentions some lovely places to grab a treat, and don’t forget too the delightful Open Door Cafe in Uphall, which is a non-profit cafe with a warm welcome and open 4 days a week. All our usual columns are here from our wonderful local contributors and experts. I hope you enjoy them in this issue, as ever, please let me know what you think.

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

THIS ISSUE What’s On: Cycle September................................8 Community: The Open Door.................................9 Living Well: Day in the life of a caregiver........10 Hair: The break-down...........................................15 Spotlight: husse: Pet Nutrition.............................17 Technology: Is the internet really damaging the planet?...........................................30 Puzzles.......................................................................31 Property Matters: Autumn’s all Go!...................32 Local Environment: Whitethroat.........................34 Garden Project: Late summer glut...................36 What’s On: Doors Open Days............................40 Business: Kickstart.................................................42 Parenting: You are in for a treat.........................44 Thought for the Month / Film Review................45

COVER IMAGE: You are in for a treat... See P44 for our Parenting column.

Konect is delivered to 20,000 homes in selected areas of Livingston and Uphall, alternating between two areas of 10,000 homes per month. It is also available online: konect.scot/subscribe LIVINGSTON | 3

SET MENU

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LIVINGSTON | 7

We’ve all been hearing about the benefits of exercise for our mental and physical wellbeing… but it’s not always easy to get started. At Love to Ride West Lothian, our ‘Cycle September’ campaign is aimed at getting more people cycling, and we would love it if you would join us! We run lots of fun challenges year-round. Our website is packed with local information on cycle routes, events, community groups, and so on. You can record your cycles, set goals and win achievement badges. Inspiring stories and photographs from local cyclists encourage you to get out and about - give them a virtual highfive of encouragement as you read their stories!

WHAT IS CYCLE SEPTEMBER?

Cycle September is a work-place challenge designed to get groups of colleagues cycling (together or separately) to compete against other local individuals and work places. It’s fun, friendly and there are great prizes to be won. There are, of course, points to be gained for each ride and for distance covered, but there are also big points awarded for getting other people to join you and giving them the confidence to give cycling a try. You only have to cycle for 10 minutes to get points…and to realise why so many people love cycling. This is a great way to bring people back together (physically or virtually) and work towards a common goal. You can even invite other workplaces to compete against you for a bit of friendly competition, for example teachers in one school can challenge the teachers of another school. Great fun!

HOW DO YOU JOIN?

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health benefits can last a life-time. You can start at any time in September. Record any rides and you’re in with a chance of winning.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU DON’T KNOW HOW TO GET STARTED

Please get in contact at lyndsey@lovetoride.net if you would like help to get started. We can put you in touch with clubs, show you where to find maps and even help you access bikes. We are lucky to have the West Lothian Bike Library on our doorstep here. There are also some fantastic local cafes to head towards as a reward for your efforts. Some we love are Abby J Cakes in Mid Calder, The Park Bistro in Linlithgow and, for a longer cycle, Hickety Pickety Tea Room near Forth. There is also a fantastic new business in Livingston called Ptarmigan Coffee who do ‘Pop-up’ events selling their artisan bakery goods and roasted coffee – and for when you don’t feel like cycling to reach them, then they deliver their products to you by bike (in Livingston area). Come join the challenge, have fun with colleagues, enjoy the health benefits and win some prizes. This years prizes include lots of biking merchandise, a £50 voucher for the Park Bistro, £50 voucher for Ptarmigan Coffee, and a decadent cheesecake from Abby J Cakes. Lots more prizes on the website. Register at LOVETORIDE.NET/WESTLOTHIAN This article is contributed by Lyndsey at Love to Ride West Lothian. Love to Ride West Lothian is funded by West Lothian Council

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By 11:30 most weekday mornings there is a lively buzz of conversation going on in the Open Door café.

website www.thebusyproject.org.uk for more information on this.

In common with many businesses, it has been a difficult year and a half for the Open People have come in with their friends and Door and its customers, some of whom have family, or met their friends there. Others have desperately missed their ‘home from home’ but come in alone and are engaged in debate with the forced closure provided the opportunity someone at the next table, or are engrossed in for a refurbishment and a rethink their daily paper, just enjoying the the way some things are done. general atmosphere. Coffees and “What has not of The volunteers are delighted to home made scones have been served and lunch orders of bacon changed is the be open again, with a new table layout, some upgraded cleaning rolls or freshly made toasties are underway in the kitchen area. This warm welcome, and sanitising measures in place and a new table service regime. is a typical day in the Open Door. has not changed is the the low prices What A local charity, the BASICS Trust, warm welcome, the low prices and established the café more than high quality of home baking, and the high the twenty years ago, when premises confirmed by customers’ positive on East Main Street in Uphall quality of home feedback. became available to them, the The Open Door also carries a same premises they are in today. good stock of greetings cards, baking” Their aim has always been to offer with a Christian focus, and at a warm and friendly welcome to Christmas time, a great selection of Christmas the local residents of Uphall and Broxburn, cards. A jigsaw exchange is now operating a place to socialise, and a listening ear to with a wide selection of second-hand puzzles someone in need of it. The door is open to to buy, or you can bring one you have already anyone and everyone, and there is the hope completed, and swap it for another. that it makes a positive difference to the quality If you have not yet visited, why not pop in and of life for individuals locally, and a positive see for yourself? contribution to the local community. The operation is managed and staffed by a team of volunteers, currently fifteen people, who give their time and energy to the successful running of the café. Any profits are reinvested in the local community by supporting youth work organisation, the BUSY Project. See @KonectMagazines

This article was contributed by Susanne Wilson, a trustee of the BASICS Trust, Scottish charity number SC026791. The Open Door is at 28 East Main Street, Uphall, and is open Monday through Thursday from 10:00 – 1:00. LIVINGSTON | 9

LIVING WELL

A day in the life of a

C aregiver

Over the past year, the important work that carers do has been in the spotlight, keeping older and vulnerable people safe in their own homes throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Working in care is a truly important role, and one that more and more people are turning to; But what does the role actually involve?

Carers throughout the sector, whether working in a residential facility or within people’s homes, provide companionship and company. This has been so important throughout the pandemic, as many older and vulnerable people have been isolating and unable to see family and friends for many months at a time. Providing companionship can mean anything from sitting down for a chat with a cup of tea, completing a jigsaw or an activity, or even going for a day trip to somewhere new.

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Companionship is at the base of care, and building strong relationships with your clients is important to keeping them feeling happy and comfortable.

Carers of course carry out other roles including personal care, helping clients dress and shower, as well as sometimes providing medical assistance. You may also help a client around their home, carrying out cleaning or shopping tasks, providing all-round support to older and vulnerable people. A local client comments: “Getting a welcoming smile and knowing someone is caring for you brightens up your day”.

Working in care presents real progression opportunities, offering a real career path. Carers can progress to supervisor and management positions, helping older and vulnerable people across the wider community. You can also contact your local Home Instead office for advice and support on 01506 539541 or by visiting homeinstead.co.uk/livingston

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As a regular meditator, one of the most important aspects of practice in daily life is to be able to practice the pause.

This has become something I have learnt to cultivate 90% of the time. When difficulties or strong emotions arise, frustration is often felt in the body, therefore practicing the pause is essential to prevent reactivity that can be hurtful to yourself or another or both. The action of learning to pause helps us to drop into the body and when we do, the option to have a conscious breath, to feel the breath slowly enter and release from the body, two or three times really helps. On the out -breath we can connect to any tension that has arisen and invite a sense of releasing on the out-breath. The pause also offers us the opportunity to make a wise choice about how we would like to be in the next moment - reactive versus responsive. If anger is present, it can be like holding a hot coal in your own hand and throwing to someone else, both of you get hurt. When you adopt the pause, you are no longer in possession of the hot coal. As we come out of lockdown, fears and frustrations have the potential to create reactivity. Embrace practicing the pause and see for yourself the difference this can bring into your life. Simply stop, breath, drop into the body, release and notice the benefits this simply activity can bring. Tina Gilbert lives in Livingston and teaches** yoga and meditation. Visit her website at www.yogamed.co.uk (**All my classes are currently running online) 12 | LIVINGSTON

ART EXHIBITION Daily until 28th September Visitor Centre, Almondell Country Park Free entry, all welcome, large selection of paintings from the Simpson Art Group to enjoy and purchase

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THE BREAK-DOWN Hair breakage will affect all of us at one point and can be caused by many factors such as stress, dehydration, overwashing, overheat styling, and excessive brushing and combing. Your diet is crucial when it comes to strong healthy hair. They don’t say ‘you are what you eat’ for nothing. Proper nutrition will encourage hair growth, healthy scalp, and good elasticity in the same way as it will for your skin. Make sure you get a good dose of vitamins in the food you eat and zinc, iron, and protein. This goes hand in hand with helping to ease stress- a nourished body makes for a healthy mind. Don’t forget to hydrate drinking water is so underrated when it comes to keeping scalp and skin healthy. Another common cause of breakage is heat damage. I think it's really important to address this because with so many cordless heat tools becoming available on the market the temptation to use heat on your hair more than once a day is at its highest. Invest in a good quality tool, ceramic plates only please, and make sure the temperature is no hotter than 200 degrees. Shield your hair using a heat protector spray/lotion/ gel. I don’t care what it is but make it good quality and use it religiously! This will help to retain moisture within the hair and prevent it from drying out. Ideally wash your hair 2-4 times a week with a good quality product, washing too often will also strip back the moisture levels and we really want to keep the hair and scalp nice and supple and full of moisture. Your hair is the accessory you never take off, so love it and treat it well and if you tie it up please be gentle!

The Hair column is contributed by Sophie Laidlaw. Sophie is Director @wonderland Livingston. www.wonderlandlivingston.com @KonectMagazines

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Tel 01506 437096

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Established

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“All creatures great and small, we care for them all” Our caring, experienced and dedicated veterinary team is committed to providing the best possible care for your pet, horse or farm animal in the Linlithgow, Edinburgh, Lothian and Central regions. Our practice is modern, well-equipped and progressive, with a strong emphasis on preventative healthcare and advice.

Linlithgow Branch Surgery, 256 High Street, Linlithgow, EH49 7ES Tel: 0131 333 3203 reception@mackieandbrechin.co.uk www.mackieandbrechin.co.uk

24 HOUR ON-SITE EMERGENCY SERVICE At our Kirkliston Surgery, 29 Main St, Kirkliston, EH29 9AE Tel: 0131 333 3203

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Introducing

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to the West Lothian area

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you. My name is Diane Miller, and I have recently launched Husse West Lothian. I offer a complete service of great products and pet advice, all brought directly to your door. I'm a trained pet nutritionist and offer advice, dry food samples and delivery all FREE to help find the best match for you and your pet’s needs. We have a large range of Delicious Nutritional Husse products for Dogs, Cats and also Accessories and Horse food Supplements. Our products are fully loaded with Super-Premium goodness and are highly digestible meaning your feed rates are lower and your bag lasts longer. In fact, our digestibility rates are better than many other top brands out there! Better

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digestibility means more goodness stays in your pet. Husse's SuperPremium food contains proteins, carbohydrates and fats of the highest quality, as well as natural additives, we also have a variety of products targeted to aid any allergy or health conditions your pet may have as a healthy pet is a happy pet! To celebrate this new start for Husse I am pleased to be able to offer all new customers, a special 20% discount on their first order. Please don't hesitate to call or email me with any questions, or for advice.

07821 265879 | diane@husse.co.uk

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Is the Internet Really Damaging the Planet? Climate change is a hot topic and we’re all increasingly aware of the little things that make a big difference, be that swapping our gas guzzlers for electric cars, taking a reusable cup for our morning coffee or being vigilant with separating the recycling. But when was the last time you stopped to think about the impact your daily consumption of the internet was having on the environment? It can’t be that bad, can it? In 2020 global internet use doubled with over 4.4 billion people turning to it for work, entertainment and to stay in touch with family and friends. All that online activity requires A LOT of energy, so much so that it’s estimated by 2030 digital technologies will account for a staggering 20% of global greenhouse emissions. We need to remember that the internet isn’t actually ‘in the clouds’, it’s hosted in massive data centres across the world using energy sapping servers (often ran with nonrenewable, greenhouse gas emitting energy sources) to store every video, picture, email and WhatsApp that anybody has ever sent and saved. Add into this the carbon footprint of manufacturing then shipping tech hardware and the home consumption of energy to power users, and the hidden impact of the internet is colossal. It’s not all bad though. Streaming a one-hour video still has a smaller carbon footprint than eating a beefburger or driving a petrol car less than half a mile, and the big players in the digital world are taking drastic steps to reduce their impact on climate change. Apple, Google and Facebook already use 100% renewable energy to power their operations and Microsoft has gone even further committing to be carbon negative by 2030 and to have offset all their historical carbon emissions by 2050. Companies such as Volkswagen Canada are launching more environmentally friendly websites too; using less colours, media and imagery drastically reduces carbon footprint left by online visitors. Check out www.vw.ca/ carbonneutralnet/en/gen Canada to see how the future of web design looks. 30 | LIVINGSTON

As individuals there are lots of small steps we can take to reduce our digital carbon footprint. For example, streaming videos and audio accounts for 63% of internet traffic; next time you’re watching Netflix on your phone try standard definition instead of 1080p, there’ll be minimal difference in quality yet in doing so you’re reducing emissions by up to 90%. Similarly on web calls ask yourself if you really need video. Audio only reduces carbon footprint by up to 96%. There are over 300 billion emails sent globally every day filling up servers and draining power, by deleting emails you don’t need any more, sending direct instead of replying to all and unsubscribing from newsletters you’re not interested in you’re saving huge amounts of digital storage. It’s not only data centres sapping energy. A quarter of residential power consumption is used by devices in idle mode; try setting your laptop to shut down rather than sit in standby and turn your phone off for periods of the day to conserve battery. Is the internet damaging the planet? Yes, but it doesn’t have to. If we act responsibly and consciously, we can all make a significant difference … small actions today in a digital world, have a huge impact on the physical world of tomorrow. This column is contributed by Eve Wardman, co-founder and director of Wardman UK Ltd, the Lothian’s premier IT and Microsoft Cloud Solutions provider.

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CROSSWORD

SUDOKU ^^^ Sudoku solution on page 46

PUZZLES

ACROSS: 1. Entrance (6), 4. Be owned by (6), 9. Hold (7), 10.Previous(5),11.Brush(5),12.Conversing(7),13.Promises(11), 18. Sediment (7), 20. Undressed (5), 22. Avoid (5), 23. In the open air (7), 24. Guard (6), 25. Grown-ups (6).

^^^ Solution in the October edition of Konect

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DOWN: 1. Blame (6), 2. Type of light boat (5), 3. Soap (7) 5. Banish (5) 6. Belief (7) 7. Car repair centre (6), 8. Directive (11), 14. Make clear (7), 15. Caught fire (7), 16. Snakes (6), 17. Worships (6), 19. Curse (5), 21. Small hill (5)

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PROPERTY MATTERS

As we reach the end of the summer months, the expectation is the property market will become active once again as homeowners consider a house move through the autumn.

The period between schools going back after the summer holidays and the mid-term October holidays is typically the second busiest time of the year in terms of sales volume in the property market. The continued upward trend in property prices over the first half of the year, created a shortage of properties for sale over the summer leaving buyers frustrated and homeowners who are looking to sell nervous about listing when there’s nothing new on the market for them to buy yet. The imbalance of supply and demand still means that there are more buyers in the market than properties available for sale. Sellers who enter the market ahead of this expected rush are likely to be the winners, not only with the backlog of frustrated buyers they will only be competing with low stock levels, plus those properties that haven’t sold over the summer. Property which is new to market is highly

prized and any agent will tell you that, in current market conditions, most (but not all) properties are likely to sell within the first few weeks of marketing. This is the period when buyers are most excited, and motivated, often leading to a closing date as buyers compete for your property.

So, if you are contemplating selling in the next 6 months, we suggest you take advantage of the situation and position your property for an early sale at a time when demand is likely to continue outstripping supply. Experienced agents know how to navigate and maximise current market conditions, can offer advice on your onward move and create a bespoke Marketing Plan that really works for you over the coming weeks. You never know, you might just be putting your Christmas tree up in a different house this year!

The monthly Property Matters column is contributed by Craig Turpie. Craig is a director at Turpie & Co Estate Agents and Letting Agents with extensive knowledge of the West Lothian Property Market and over 20 years experience in bespoke sales and marketing. 32 | LIVINGSTON

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LOCAL ENVIRONMENT

Is it just me, or has 2021 flown by so far? It feels like only yesterday I was looking forward to the return of our migrant species, and within the next few weeks many of them will be heading back to their winter habitats. The positive side of this is it does mean that after this transition period, we can welcome our winter visitors back. This includes the common whitethroat. These can be found hopping about the trees and bushes making their raspy call as they hunt for insects and gather berries or fruit. I was delighted to see this bird around the ponds in Wester Inch, Bathgate, earlier this year. He was singing his very loud song from the tops the trees. Migratory birds always fascinate me. This little bird travels c11,000km twice a year from the Sahara, what an incredible distance! It was thought birds used stars as a way of migrating, and whilst this is true it’s mostly related to the North Star directing the birds in the right direction i.e., South. Many species migrate at night as it’s safer given 34 | LIVINGSTON

there’s not as many predators around. With birds using stars to migrate at night, increasing light pollution can disorient them causing them to be drawn to brighter lights, put them off course, and cause fatal collisions with buildings. Research is still ongoing into this, but we can all do our bit to help the birds by turning off excess lights both indoors, and outdoors when they’re not needed. 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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Late Summer Glut?

taste. Process at full speed until smooth, pour into a bowl and chill thoroughly. Finely chop some of the ingredients for a garnish. Serve cold and enjoy! Fingers crossed for that Indian Summer…

Hopefully we will be enjoying an Indian Summer when you read this and you may have a glut of tomatoes to use? Chilled Spanish Gazpacho could be the ideal soup now, our version doesn’t involve adding bread as we prefer it without. Skin 700g of ripe red tomatoes (cut a cross in the skin and cover with boiling water for two minutes and then they are easy to peel – the soup isn’t sieved so you do need to get rid of the skins) and roughly chop. Peel and chop 12cm (5”0 of cucumber. Chop 3 spring onions or one small onion. Crush one or two cloves of garlic. Deseed and chop one green pepper. Put everything into a food processor adding 1 heaped tbsp chopped basil (or thyme or marjoram), 4 tbsp olive oil, 1.5 tbsp red wine vinegar, lemon juice, and black pepper to

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Gazpacho

The gardening project is contributed by Dougal Philip, New Hopetoun Gardens. Inspiring, informing and entertaining, for more than 40 years.

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EXPLORE SITES ACROSS WEST LOTHIAN (AND THE REST OF SCOTLAND) FOR FREE

In September, West Lothian will again take part in this year’s Door Open Days event, Scotland’s largest free festival of places, history and culture. Venues are working hard behind the scenes helping put together a programme of in-person and online events and activities.

Inspired by the success of Doors Open Days’ first ever digital festival in 2020, which welcomed 184,000 virtual visitors from across the world, the 2021 festival will have both online and inperson events and activities. The combination of in-person and online events will enable more visitors than ever before to explore some of West Lothian’s places and hundreds of others across the length and breadth of Scotland.

It is Scotland’s largest free festival that celebrates our places, history and culture, new and old. Each September, the festival offers access to over a thousand sites and events across Scotland. The aim is to ensure that Scotland’s built and cultural heritage is made accessible to people living in and visiting the country. Doors Open Days forms part of Scotland’s contribution to European Heritage Days, which sees over 25 million people from 50 countries take part annually, uniting our communities in a unique celebration of heritage in our own special ways. Doors Open Days is coordinated nationally by the Scottish Civic Trust with annual support from Historic Environment Scotland and others. Local

area programmes are co-ordinated by a network of local authorities, heritage consultancies, civic societies and heritage groups who are in turn supported by a large number of volunteers, businesses, community organisations and building owners.

Linlithgow Civic Trust has organised West Lothian’s Doors Open Days event since 2011 and are proud to be doing so once more in 2021. Allan M Robertson of Linlithgow Civic Trust and the West Lothian Doors Open Days Co-ordinator said: “It will be particularly pleasing to welcome visitors back into buildings for in-person events again this year so we can all reconnect with our neighbours and some of our local places after what has been a difficult and challenging time for us all.” West Lothian’s Doors Open Days festival will take place over the weekend of 11/12 September 2021. For more details of what is happening with Doors Open Days in Linlithgow, West Lothian and across the country as whole, please check out the official event website at www.doorsopendays.org.uk

COVID-19 restrictions: Event organisers only encourage people to attend in-person events in accordance with the latest Scottish Government COVID-19 guidance. The events and buildings that will be open for in-person visits will ensure safe access according to the most current guidelines.

This article was contributed by Allan M Robertson, Linlithgow Civic Trust and West Lothian Doors Open Days Co-ordinator. E: perambulation@lbt.scot. For more details on the activities of Linlithgow Civic Trust please visit lbt.scot/civic-trust. Linlithgow Civic Trust is part of Linlithgow Burgh Trust. Linlithgow Burgh Trust is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Scottish Charity No. SC047211) 40 | LIVINGSTON

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We specialise in household alterations and repairs. To discuss your construction project, please call Colin on: or email:

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LIVINGSTON | 41

BUSINESS

young people at the start of their career journey to gain valuable work experience and transferable skills that will improve their job prospects.”

Can you change a young person’s life and offer them a six-month work placement, fully paid for by the Government’s Kickstart scheme?

Any business can apply to Kickstart no matter how big or small. This includes sole traders and charities. Employers across a range of sectors, from hospitality and retail to administration, warehousing and manufacturing have already signed up and are starting to see the benefits.

The UK-wide Kickstart Scheme is a A family run business in Bathgate, The £2 billion fund to create hundreds of Fairway Hotel and Restaurant, who are thousands of high quality six-month job currently supporting the Kickstart scheme, placements for young people as part of the said, “We have recently joined the Kickstart Government’s Plan for Jobs. The funding program and really recommend it to other available will cover the relevant National businesses. We are proud to be giving Minimum Wage for 25-hours per week, back to the community”. plus the associated employer National Insurance contributions With customers and employer minimum “ WE HAVE RECENTLY JOINED being at the heart of automatic enrolment THE KICKSTART PROGRAM AND their business, the contributions. Fairway Hotel and REALLY RECOMMEND IT TO Employers will also Restaurant pride OTHER BUSINESSES. WE ARE be given a £1,500 themselves in offering grant per placement to PROUD TO BE GIVING BACK TO Kickstart participants’ THE COMMUNITY ” support set-up costs excellent customer and employability service training. FAIRWAY HOTEL AND support. They are delighted RESTAURANT, BATHGATE to be supporting Through Kickstart, young people in the local community and companies and organisations throughout recognise the benefits to their business in the UK will be able to access a large pool developing young talent. of young people with potential, ready to embrace an opportunity and move into the If you think you could create a bespoke, workplace. Initially the scheme will prioritise entry level role fully funded by the Kickstart young people who are claiming universal scheme go to www.gov.uk/Kickstart, or credit and are aged between 16 and 24. contact our team via kickstart.east@dwp. Their Jobcentre Plus Work Coach will gov.uk who will be happy to assist you with support them to find suitable opportunities the application process. and enrol in the scheme. Apply today to Kickstart a young person’s Linda Gibb from Kickstart, said: “It’s great career. to see an increasing number of employers in Scotland and West Lothian signing up to Kickstart. Across our West Lothian job This article was contributed by Kickstart centres we’re working closely with more Bathgate, Jobcentre Plus, Government than 1,000 young people who are looking Buildings. 31 - 33 Whitburn Road, for work. It’s so important to support our Bathgate, EH48 IHG 42 | LIVINGSTON

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LIVINGSTON | 43

PARENTING

Milkshakes!

You are in for a treat. . .

Cupcakes!

As summer starts to feel like a distant memory September is when my thoughts usually turn to autumn. Walks in your wellies, hunting for conkers, picking pumpkins…and of course taking home all sorts of “treasures” in your pocket whenever you’re out with the kids.

But if I’ve learned one thing over the years it’s that once autumn arrives any walk we go on needs a treat at the end of it either to motivate the kids or warm up the grown-ups.

After all, what could be more important than a little something to eat…I think Winnie the Pooh said that (perks of being a parent I can quote all sorts of influential and important characters). Anyway, we’ve discovered a few great wee spots perfect for this purpose while we’ve been out and about during the summer. The Murieston Trail in South Livingston is ideal for crunching through autumn leaves and at nearby Bankton Mains Park the new Greedy Gecko Snack Bar is now a great spot for a wee treat afterwards. From 44 | LIVINGSTON

a bacon roll in the morning to totally indulgent waffles and pancakes or magic milkshakes there’s plenty to tempt everyone in the family. There are even a few pocket money items to pick up. And now that the Junior Parkrun has started up again at Bankton Mains Park on Sunday mornings this is also the perfect place for keeping parents fed and watered while they cheer their kids on from the sidelines…or for rewarding their mini athletes after the run.

If you were exploring around the Livingston Village area I’d recommend you pop in to Castaway Coffee for some hearty soup or a tempting cupcake. They even sometimes have pupcakes or woofins for your furry friends and there’s fresh organic fruit and veg up for grabs too when you’re

busy grabbing your food to go. It’s the perfect pit stop for weary walkers looking for a pick-me-up. And whilst I love to shop local and support these lovely wee small businesses when talking about treats I couldn’t not mention the new Stack & Still pancake place at The Centre in Livingston. My girls were desperate to go and we were not disappointed when we made it! Like Ratatouille said if you are what you eat, I only wanna eat the good stuff! The parenting column is contributed by Laura Archibald. Laura lives in West Lothian with her family and their campervan Hank. She is mummy, wife, blogger and fulltime personal assistant to her two girlie girls. @KonectMagazines

FILM REVIEW

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 Livingston or Uphall area to be

featured in the Livingston magazine)

Disney’s live-action output in recent years has not exactly been my cup of tea. So heading into Cruella I was verysceptical. Surprisingly it wasn’t a traditional remake like Aladdin or Mulan but more of a film that takes characters and ideas we know from their original animated films and tells a new story with it, in the vein of Maleficent. Cruella genuinely shocked me. I was not expecting to like it as much as I did. A big reason why I like the film comes down to the performances. I thought the entire cast comprising of famous faces like Emma Stone, Emma Thompson and Mark Strong were all great. Cruella also has a great sense of humour to it; there are moments I was simply just laughing out loud, and I’m not scared to admit to that. With a film based around fashion the most important aspect must be the costumes. It’s essential that all the clothes look fantastic, and they absolutely do. Jenny Beavan, who is the costume designer, did a fantastic job with this film and without the great costumes I feel the film wouldn’t have as much of an impact as it did. While there are some scenes that I can only describe as being cringe, the line “It’s pronounced De Vil” did give me flashbacks of Solo. I still really enjoyed this film, and I can’t wait to pick the film up on Blu-ray when that is released. Cruella is just that good. The Film Review is contributed by Robert Ewing. Robert is passionate about film as an art form, and shining a light on films that may not be on people’s radar. Robert is from Kirknewton.

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LIVINGSTON | 45

SOLUTIONS

SPORTS, HOBBIES, LEARNING, SUPPORT GROUPS & MORE... CHORAL HIGHLIGHTS LADIES' CHOIR - Missing singing? We're back, following Covid restrictions that apply, but still having fun! Why not come along and join us? We meet in Mid Calder at 7.30pm on a Wednesday. Our music consists of a wide range of material from musicals, traditional, pop favourites and lots more. To find out more or join us, please contact John Rankine on 01506 880029. We'd love to welcome singers from across West Lothian.

Health Support Group, Evening Support Group & Bereaved Carer Support Group as well as groups for Young Carers and Young Adult Carers. Regular Social Groups for Adults with disabilities. Virtual Power of Attorney Clinic & Benefits Advice and Counselling.

CHOOSE YOU YOGA STUDIO & WELLNESS HUB - Dedicated yoga studio in Carmondean, Livingston. Build strength, flexibility and resilience, and support mental health, joint pain/illness/ injury recovery. Vinyasa Flow: Tues 6.00pm-7.00pm & Tues 7.20pm-8.20pm; Seasonal Yoga: Wed 5.30pm-6.30pm; Tai-chi: Thurs 9.30am-10.45am; Yoga: Thurs 7.30pm-8.45pm; Yoga: Fri 9.45am-11.00am. Carmondean, Livingston. Email: info@chooseyouyoga.co.uk Tel.: 07810 824 195 www.chooseyouyoga.co.uk or on Facebook

GENERATION ARTS - Creative activities for people aged 50 and over, either living at home or in care with complex needs. Online and offline activities in West Lothian such as a dance dvd, art demos, reminiscence, recipes, music and song playlists, dance and song classes. Creative activity and learning can unlock memories and skills that have been lost and creates a spark of joy for all. Contact generationarts. coordinator@gmail.com or phone 07521 358 239 for further information.

CROCHET CLUB WORKSHOPS (MONTHLY) - 6.00pm-9.00pm • 2nd Wednesday of the month Craigsfarm, Craigshill • 3rd Monday of the month - Gooey Events Livingston Village If you'd like to learn a new craft, or build your crochet abilities - this is the club for you! Learn a new crochet project each month with expert tuition on hand. Beginners encouraged! No commitment, Just book your space each month by contacting Leigh at 07715 251123 / thecolourdasher@gmail.com (£25 materials provided) DOWN TO EARTH YOGA AND MASSAGE - Yoga for everyone regardless of age, sex or your flexibility level. Private sessions available or spread the cost and practice with a friend/s. No experience necessary and beginners are welcomed. Massage in a warm welcoming safe environment. Choose from a clothed floor based Thai Yoga Massage or an oil massage on a table with hints of Swedish and Thai fusion. Contact Kirsty to book on 07936 925040. Quote ‘Konect’ for £10 off first treatment or session. CARERS OF WEST LOTHIAN Support and social activities for Carers, Young Carers and Disabled Adults. Services currently via Zoom/phone: weekly Coffee Morning; monthly Mental

46 | LIVINGSTON

SOLUTION TO AUGUST CROSSWORD

For information: Tel.: 01506 448000 Email: office@carers-westlothian.com Website: www.carers-westlothian.com

MACMILLAN CANCER INFORMATION & SUPPORT - A free, confidential service providing a ‘listening ear’, emotional and practical support, help to access benefits/financial advice and other local services. Expert and easy-to-understand information on a range of cancer-related topics. For anyone affected by cancer – yourself, a relative, friend or carer of someone with cancer. Face to face appointments at Bathgate Partnership Centre every Wednesday. Phone and email support also available. Please call 01506 283053 or email MacmillanWestLothian@ westlothian.gov.uk WEST LOTHIAN 50 PLUS NETWORK - Social activities for the over fifties. Run largely by volunteers we offer a wide range of interest groups to help you stay fit and healthy in both mind and body, whilst socialising with others. Something for everyone, but, more importantly, the chance to meet up and join in with old friends or make new friends along the way. Annual joining fee £10. Follow our Facebook page, visit www.westlothian50plusnetwork.co.uk or call 01506 635510. To include your Club or Class, please email details, up to 75 words, to editor@konect.scot Not-for-profit groups are FREE. There is a small charge for businesses. See www.konect.scot for information.

ACROSS: 7. Remove, 8. Loughs, 9. Sofa, 10. Envelops, 11. Ignored, 13. Steel, 15. Clues, 17. Provide, 20. Tolerant, 21. Pale, 23. Weight, 24. Roused. DOWN: 1. Zero, 2. Potato, 3. Referee, 4. Slave, 5. Mullet, 6. Shepherd, 12. Galloped, 14. Writers, 16. Energy, 18. Vapour, 19. Cacti, 22. Lies.

SOLUTION TO SUDOKU ON PAGE 31

Disclaimer: The publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage caused by error in the printing of an advertisement. We do not endorse any advertisers in this publication. All material is accepted for publication on the understanding it is copyright free. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior consent of the publisher. Publisher: Lothian Publications Ltd. Geddes House, Kirkton North, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 6GU. Magazine Design: Universal Appeal Ltd. M: 07729 911858 W: www.universal-appeal.com E: info@universal-appeal.com

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Konect Livingston September 2021

Articles inside

Business: Kickstart

Community: The Open Door

What’s On: Cycle September