Konect Linlithgow August 2019 by Konect Magazines

AUGUST 2019

DO YOU LIKE PIÃ&#x2018;A COLADAS?

PLUS: HEALTH & BEAUTY, Garden Project, and more LOCAL FEATURES inside! The monthly community magazine for the Linlithgow area

THIS ISSUE

TO OUR AUGUST EDITION

e’re always looking for somewhere different to walk, somewhere that has a feature of intrigue or a bit of history, so last month we checked a place near Airth – the Dunmore Pineapple. It’s not enough of a route to drive up especially, but if you are headed Stirling direction it’s worth working in a detour to take a look; see the feature on pages 8-9. There are still a couple of Wednesdays of Scotch Hop at the Palace, and it is of course the month of the annual Canal Centre Fun Day, and Party at the Palace. And elsewhere in West Lothian,with Livingston’s first ever soapbox race, the Dog’s Trust Fun Day, Five Sisters Zoo BBQ and lots more going on, summer is in full swing so if you’re back from holidays away, or are not going away, there are plenty of things to get involved in. The regular Visit West Lothian column gives a quick overview, and, if you’ve got children to keep entertained, our Parenting column too.

P26 Walk: Do you like pina coladas?................... 8 Property Matters............................................12 Foundation Apprenticeships: a new option for young people:..........................................14 What’s On......................................................20 Health.............................................................20 Vet’s Tip..........................................................22 Gardening: Morag’s Trousers!....................23 Music Review................................................24 Parenting: Rainy Days and Mondays.........26 Bridge column...............................................28 Clubs & Classes............................................28

COVER IMAGE: The Dunmore ‘pineapple’. See our Walk feature on pages 8-9.

Konect is delivered monthly to 7,500 homes and businesses in Linlithgow, Linlithgow Bridge and the surrounding area. Copies are also left at the library, post offices and other locations.

HELEN-JANE SHEARER

CHARLENE GAFFNEY

E: editor@konect.scot

M: 07772 941899 E: charlene@konect.scot

Editor

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WALK

“IF YOU LIKE PIÑA COLADAS, AND GETTING CAUGHT IN THE RAIN”

Well, it’s not quite piña colada, but it is a pineapple and you may well get caught in the rain. This month we visited what is described as “the most bizarre building in Scotland” - the Dunmore Pineapple near Airth - to check out the garden and walks nearby. Within Dunmore Park are gardens maintained by the National Trust for Scotland, the remains of what was Dunmore House (not accessible) ... and an extraordinary stone pineapple.

The “Dunmore Pineapple” is clearly signed from the A905 (25 minutes from Falkirk) and a track of about a mile takes you to a small car park. Walk through the gates into the walled garden and you are presented with a sloping vista north to south. The gardens are dominated by the huge stone pineapple. The pineapple was built by the 4th Earl of Dunmore, John Murray, most likely on his return from Virginia where he was routed as the last royal governor in 1776 as the American War of Independence kicked off. It stands some 14m high and was built on top of a pavillion which he had had built in 1761 in his walled garden. Walled gardens were built in Scotland to allow

Intricate masonry

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plants to be protected against the vagaries of the climate and to enable more exotic species of plant to be grown. The walls here had a cavity through which hot air was circulated to allow the cultivation of exotic fruit. Lord Dunmore’s son, the 5th Earl wrote how “hothouse fruit ... was sent every fortnight from Dunmore Park, where my father had no house, but an excellent garden.” Pineapples were seen as a great symbol of wealth in the 18th century, and the folly is perhaps a rather vulgar symbol of the Earl’s wealth. Nonetheless, the detail of the work is outstanding. The construction is fine example of masonry with the leaves designed in such a way that they are largely immune from frost damage. The architect is unknown, the design and workmanship outstanding, and the mystery of the pineapple is enhanced by the complete lack of any references to it in diaries or records from the time. Lord Dunmore had no house here, but this spot must have been quite special for him to have conceived of this extraordinary monument here, tucked away on his quiet Scottish estate, a far cry from the subtropical heat and rebellious turbulence of Virginia that he had recently left; it is perhaps a statement that despite the defeat in America, he was back, wealth intact and larger than life.

Stone bothies either side of the pineapple pavillion, which were built for gardeners, are now holiday cottages which are available for hire via the Landmark Trust.

The gardens themselves have a mixture of mature plants growing against the walls, with roses in full bloom when we visited. The garden slopes down through two avenues of trees to a pond which marks the southern boundary. At the top of the garden on the right there is a gate which takes you on a delightful walk through mature woodlands. There is another walk through a second walled garden, which is being restored, through an avenue of Redwood trees planted by the 4th Earl to celebrate the marriage of his son in 1804. The walk takes you to the ruins of Elphinstone Tower. Verdict: You can bring a picnic and have a pleasant afternoon in a garden that radiates tranquillity, with the pineapple definitely adding a curiosity factor. Best visited in the spring and summer; the walled garden, the pond and the short woodland walks are a delight. One criticism is that the walks are not well sign-posted so it is easy for you to go off piste. Dogs are welcome if kept on a lead. Airth Castle is nearby for those who want lunch, which is £12-£15 for two courses. @KonectMagazines

This article was written by Helen-Jane Shearer after visiting the Dunmore ‘pineapple’. HelenJane is the editor of Konect magazines and lives in West Lothian with her family.

THE EARLS OF DUNMORE

Dunmore’s beautiful The garden’s instigator was the 4th Earl of Dunmore who was walled gardens the last colonial Governor of Virginia. Described as “vain and vexatious” by Patrick Henry, the American founding father, he helped ferment what was already a fraught situation between the native Virginians and their British Colonial rulers. In 1776 he had to flee the colony. However even without anything to govern he still managed to draw his salary until 1783. Previous Earls had been imprisoned in the Tower of London for supporting the Jacobite cause. The 8th Earl was a distinguished soldier who went on to win the VC during the Boer War. The present Earl is a marine contractor and lives in Tasmania. @KonectMagazines

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SPOTLIGHT

On trend new grey kitchen added to our client’s home

The strapline “for beautiful homes” says it all; Derrick and his team at Bathgatebased 1st Choice Living want your home to be beautiful, and whether it’s one new window or a large extension, they will look after the whole process. Here, they share some pictures and comments from recent work. What a difference a room makes. We are so happy with our garage conversion, we now have the dining room we always wanted. Keep up the good work guys”. Stunning extension with bi-fold doors and floor to ceiling windows “We can’t say enough about the service from start to finish excellent, all the staff were lovely and easy to speak to and we love our new patio doors, giving such more light and now opening onto our decking in the garden makes our living space look bigger. Would recommend 1st Choice Living to my family and friends and if we are looking for work to be done again we would not hesitate asking 1st Choice for their service again!

Stunning sunlounge in keeping with original house

Converting small french doors into a large patio door, included a cut down with building warrants

New front door and side panel installed this week - really impressed with the service from the salesperson who visited to the joiner who carried out the install. Would highly recommend to friends and family ”

1st Choice Living would like to invite you to visit their showroom in Bathgate. The 2,500 sq ft display area brings together a range of luxury bathrooms and kitchens, designed to create space and add value to your home. We supply A-rated windows and doors, sunrooms, conservatories and orangeries, garage and loft conversions, roofline products, bathrooms (including Villeroy & Boch), kitchens and bespoke joinery services. 6-10 Glasgow Road, Bathgate, EH48 2AA 01506 238133 (Showroom)

www.1stchoiceliving.co.uk sales@1stchoiceliving.co.uk

Growing New Homes Stylish new homes are part of the lifeblood of a community: well designed homes can improve the fabric of a local area, as well as being an important part of a thriving local economy. Woodthorpe Gardens is a development that does just that. Situated north-west of the town of Bathgate and in a semi-rural location, Woodthorpe Gardens harks back to the origins of the site as a popular garden centre that was here for decades. Today, it has a new lease of life as a small development of 11 new homes that pay homage to the original purpose of the site by maximising its connection with the natural environment. Interior and exterior design: All of the properties here have been designed to make the most of the outdoor spaces. Open plan kitchen and family rooms, which are essential for modern living and family life, allow for direct access to garden and patio areas that are set against a wonderful, semi-rural backdrop. Layouts have been arranged to allow for formal and informal living, including dining and relaxation – indoors and outdoors. This is style with substance: these homes have 4 – 5 bedrooms, including luxurious en suites, and all of the properties have either a detached or integral garage, making them truly practical homes. Variety and character: Variety is the spice of life and these homes reflect that with 5 original and different styles that create a unity, but also allow for individuality. It means that the development forms a cohesive whole and feels like a neighbourhood without individual houses looking too similar. Character is an important component here and it’s a local one: all houses here have been designed specifically for this location by an architect who knows the area intimately. Local development: The development has been carried out by I & H Brown, a Scottish firm with over 60 years’ experience. The firm founded by two brothers, Ian and Hardie, who cut their teeth on repurposing land. They started in 1955 with a farm that still had a concrete aerodrome on it from World War II. Undeterred, they rented a 12 | LINLITHGOW

Traxcavator to break it up. Such was their success that they were soon called on to move earth in the area, buying and hiring plant to do this. A sense of purpose: A particular talent of the brothers was their ability to see how land previously used for other uses could be repurposed to make something new. Where other people saw perhaps just a single use for a piece of land, Ian and Hardie could see two or even three. Over their six decades of work, they have carried out everything from demolition projects to farming and haulage, to road-building and open-cast mining. Housing and making land appropriate for it were and are central areas of the company’s focus, particularly remediation or restoring land previously used for agricultural or commercial purposes. All of that expertise has been deployed to full effect at Woodthorpe where the site of the old garden centre has been carefully refashioned to take account of its heritage, making it a place that meets and surpasses everyone’s expectations of home. 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.

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FEATURE

FOUNDATION APPRENTICESHIPS. early access to future talent The expansion of the apprenticeship family to include Foundation Apprenticeships not only provides school pupils with an exciting new work-based learning opportunity, it also gives employers a chance to attract highly motivated young people who are equipped with recent, relevant work experience. Foundation Apprenticeships support the Scottish Government’s Youth Employment Strategy Developing the Young Workforce - and form part of a wider focus on improving school-employer connections and broadening the career pathways available to young people. For pupils in S5/S6, Foundation Apprenticeships can be selected as a subject choice alongside Highers and Nationals. This fantastic qualification allows pupils to gain work experience while still at school; it also opens up a wide range of future progression routes including further study or a Modern Apprenticeship.

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Foundation Apprenticeships have been developed for twelve of Scotland’s growth industries including Software Development and Engineering, meeting real skills demands from employers to fit with economic need. Learners develop an understanding of the workplace responsibilities and duties placed on employers and employees. Employers are able to identify potential early on, thus creating a talent pipeline for future recruitment opportunities. Involvement in Foundation Apprenticeships is cost-free, yet there is plenty of added value for employers. Providing staff to mentor pupils is an excellent professional development opportunity, developing existing staff’s coaching, communication and leadership skills. For employers, getting involved in Foundation Apprenticeships is a winning formula. To find out more about Foundation Apprenticeships, visit www.dyw-wl.com This article was contributed by DYW West Lothian. DYW aims to connect employers with schools and colleges and prepare young people for the world of work.

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LIFE COACHING

Here Comes SUMMER

MONDAY 8TH TO WEDNESDAY 10TH AUGUST Pop Up Shop In the former library at the Vennel, Linlithgow, hosted by the Rotary Club of Linlithgow Grange. 10.00am – 4.00pm, lots of pre-loved items. In aid of Myra’s Wells, and other local good causes. THURSDAY 22ND AUGUST 2nd Linlithgow Boys Brigade Registration Night At the Cross House, 6.30 – 7.30pm. We hope to see you there! For further details please contact us at linlithgowbb@outlook.com or find us on Facebook. SATURDAY 7 SEPTEMBER Antonine Ensemble Concert 7.30pm in St Michael’s Parish Church, Linlithgow. Directed by Alison Hastie, and featuring Sue Evans of Armadale as soloist in Bach’s glittering Flute concerto. Admission free, donations are invited for the MHF Mental Health Foundation. TH

SATURDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER An Antique, Vintage & Collectors Fair At Linlithgow Academy, in aid of the new Linlithgow Museum and hosted by the Linlithgow Heritage Trust. Parking is free and doors are open 9am until 4pm. Admission £1.00, children under-14 go FREE. Raffle, tea, coffee and home baking, and a pop-up café selling hot food and ice cream. WANT TO INCLUDE YOUR EVENT HERE? COMMUNITY AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT LISTINGS ARE FREE OF CHARGE. EMAIL EDITOR@KONECT.SCOT BY 15TH OF THE MONTH FOR FOLLOWING MONTH’S ISSUE. 20 | LINLITHGOW

I always love the effect that a little bit of sunshine has on everyone’s mood. It seems that just the sight of the sun creeping out from behind the clouds can lift the spirits and fill us all with a sense of optimism and excitement about the season ahead.

I think it’s important to enjoy every new season, whether it’s the leaves on the trees as they change from green to gold, cosy winter evenings spending time with family and friends or the beginning of spring. However, most of us really look forward to the summer, whether it’s the end of term at school, college or university or that precious and eagerly anticipated annual holiday, these months can be the most enjoyable of the year. While we look forward to our summer holiday, whether it’s at home or somewhere exotic and ultra warm, some people feel that they must make dramatic changes to their appearance before they can face the sun with confidence and embark on a mission to achieve that perfect ‘beach body’ status. Instead of looking forward to their summer break, they proceed to spend weeks filled with self-judgement, anxiety and panic. We all deserve to be happy in our own skin and we can be if we learn to move our focus from chasing something that isn’t real and begin to love and appreciate ourselves exactly as we are. The ‘perfect body’ can be the very body we are currently living in. The life coaching column is contributed by Francine Orr. Francine is a locally based NLP coach, Hypnotherapist and Reiki practitioner who runs www.orrganise.co.uk She set up the business to support people to find real and practical solutions to the things that hold us all back in life. @KonectMagazines

Home-Start West Lothian provides quality support and friendship to vulnerable families with very young children in their own homes and communities through volunteer befriending.

Can you spare 2 or 3 hours a week to support a local family? The next training course for home-visiting volunteers will start in September 2019 (date & time tbc) It runs for 8 weeks, 3 hours/ week

For an application pack or to ask about any other volunteering opportunities with us, please contact us on: 01506 415755 or jacqui@homestartwl.org.uk Start your volunteering journey with Home-Start West Lothian and make a difference

Because childhood canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait

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Please contact us if you would like your business included in our Health and Wellbeing pages. Contact details are on page 3.

Cameron House 13a Fairbairn Road, Livingston 01506 415755 www.homestartwl.org.uk Scottish Charity No SC 029770

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BUSTER THE DOG

VET’S TIP

Blue-Green algae There’s nothing dogs like more than a good romp in a loch or a stream especially when the weather is warm and they are looking to cool down. But a warning issued a few weeks ago concerning bluegreen algae at Linlithgow Loch served as a reminder that a cooling splash in the water could have its dangers for your dog. Cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae) are microscopic bacteria found in freshwater lakes, lochs, streams, ponds and brackish water ecosystems. They can produce toxins (such as microcystins and anatoxins) that affect people, livestock and pets that swim in and drink from the algae-contaminated water.

Dog owners should refrain from allowing their dogs to swim in any bodies of water where the risk of blue-green algae is possible, such as Linlithgow Loch. Exposure to blue-green algae may result in liver damage or failure in the most extreme cases. Signs of liver injury include vomiting, diarrhoea, blood in stool or black, tarry stool, weakness, pale mucous membranes, jaundice, seizures, disorientation, coma, and shock. Blue-green algae poisoning can be fatal so the reasons to be careful around potentially affected bodies of water are clear. Unfortunately, there is no antidote for the toxins produced by blue-green algae. However, immediate veterinary advice should be sought if you believe your dog may have been exposed to or has digested blue-green algae.

Blue-green algae poisoning can be fatal

The monthly Vet’s Tip column is contributed by Stuart McMorrow. Stewart is head vet at Westport Veterinary Clinic, 8 Preston Road. Please call 01506 844 165, or visit their website at www.westportvets.com 22 | LINLITHGOW

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Morag still can’t remember where she left her jeans!

Morag’s Jeans

Why not recycle your old jeans by planting them up? You can sit them in a large planter full of compost or plant them in a flowerbed. At this stage of the summer you might choose small plants like Violas or Pansies as it is too late to use the bedding plants we used in Morag’s old jeans in June. You might choose to use herb plants like parsley, sage, and thyme. As autumn approaches we would use small patio bedding plants like Ivies, Ajugas, small ornamental grasses as well as Pansies and Cyclamen.

When planting though the pockets and slashes at the knees make sure you have cut right through to the compost so the roots are in contact with the compost. They might look like old jeans but they are now your baby and depend on you for water and food, just like any planted pots!

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

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Face the Future Not for local favourites, Snakeskin Shoe Review, the perennial curse of the ‘difficult second album’. Their sophomore offering, Futurists, gives us more of what we loved about its predecessor; the quirky lyrics, sublime harmonies and accomplished solos – but this time with added refinement in terms of both musicality and production values. To be fair though it’s been over two years since their debut, Criticism – hence, Futurists easily sidesteps any charge of being rushed. SSR aren’t a band to whom a particular genre can easily be pinned. They’re equally at home rocking out on numbers like songwriter James Kerr’s autobiographical 1979 or Modesty Sometimes -which taps into All Mod Cons era Jam - or easing it back on their more restrained, more melodic pieces. She’s Gone (not to be confused with the Hall & Oates classic of the same name) is a dulcet ode to lost love which showcases co-writer Stevie Dunn’s plaintive vocals. The pick of the album’s more subdued songs though is undoubtedly Distance, a sombre but delightful ballad on which singers Louise Ware and Gemma Pepper are given free rein on lead vocals. The poppy You Bring Me Changes then revitalises the roster and gives session sax man, Darrell Morrow a chance to show off his stylish chops. When Will We Be Married (not to be confused with the Waterboys’ classic of the same name) rounds the album off fittingly. Where else on the album could it go, ending appropriately as it does on the lyric “… it’s finished now”? Futurists is available now on the usual steaming services or, if you’d prefer an actual CD that you can hold, from the band’s website and Facebook page.

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

Our contact details are on page 3.

This month’s Music Review is a guest column written by Jeff Yates to promote the new album, ‘Futurists’, by Snakeskin Shoe Review. 24 | LINLITHGOW

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PARENTING

Innoflate

Rainy Days and Mondays

ling 10-Pin Bow

Kids driving you up the wall yet? Run out of ways to keep them entertained? You are not alone. It’s usually about this time that I start counting down the weeks until they go back to school, when life will return to something resembling “normal” and I can take solace in a bit of everyday routine. At the start of the holidays it’s all shiny and new and exciting. I’m full of ideas and things I want to do with them. But as the Mondays keep on coming the well of ideas starts to run dry. In good weather you can always at least just get outdoors. But what I really dread is a rainy day…and sadly we’ve already had a fair few of those this summer. Bad weather often sends me into a bit of a spin while I come up with something to do before we all go stir crazy. But in truth there’s still a lot of indoor fun to be had around these parts. If you’re feeling creative we love Potter Around in Kirknewton. It has lots of crafts and workshops on offer or you can just drop in and see what ceramic

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painting you fancy. At The Centre Livingston this summer kids can check out the Prehistoric Pals who have taken up residence around the shops until 16th August. We enjoyed an epic day out tracking down all the dinosaur eggs in shop windows and on the plus side I managed to nip into quite a few shops on the way around too! The new Paraffin Works outdoor play area is now open at Almond Valley and we can’t wait to check it out. It is all under cover so kids can climb up and hurl themselves down the massive oil pipes and their spirits won’t be dampened by any bad weather. We recently had our first visit to Innoflate and it was a big hit with my girls so I’m sure we’ll be back there again to burn off some energy on a rainy day. There was plenty of bouncing action for big kids and even a quieter space for wee ones to explore. And at the end of the day you just can’t beat a good ol’ trip to the bowling alley

at Deer Park – take out your frustrations on the pins rather than the kids! There’s even activities to be found in the most unexpected of places during the summer. Pets at Home in Livingston are offering Cool Pets workshops in store so kids can get up close with some little furries and learn how to care for them. And nearby Hobbycraft is the place to go for regular Kids Craft Club workshops and Slime Saturdays. Fingers crossed there’s more sunny days than rainy days over the next few weeks but it’s always good to have a few ideas up your sleeve just in case! 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 full-time personal assistant to her two girlie girls. @KonectMagazines

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BRIDGE COLUMN

Is there no cure?

Many have speculated on the root cause of my holiday bridge partner, McNumpty’s phenomenal incompetence at the bridge table. I’m forced to conclude, after many embarrassing episodes, that he has some genetic defect rendering him permanently, perhaps incurably, unable to play bridge in any meaningful sense. As tone deafness is to music, this inherent mysterious defect is to bridge. It could be that poor old Nigel is ‘bridge blind’, for lack of a better term. I should perhaps explain that his full title is Dr McNumpty and his thesis was in theoretical physics. Admittedly not from one of our most prestigious educational establishments, but still. Also, he is a 1500 rated chess player which is pretty good. So, lack of intelligence is definitely not the problem. He can also perform mental arithmetic at prodigious speed and accuracy even under pressure as I’ve noticed when the dinner bill arrives, and he’s had a few. When I stumbled upon an ancient tome ‘The Beasley Contract Bridge System’ in a Wigton bookshop one day, I became very excited and thought maybe this archaic and primitive bidding system might alleviate, if not cure, McNumpty’s crippling disability. Contract bridge, as we understand the term, was only about eight years old in this country when Colonel Beasley penned his masterpiece in 1935. Here is a extract: “I have not tried to deal with the human side of Contract Bridge. Psychology is important but no book can deal with that.” Whether this book helps McNumpty or not, only time will tell. Watch this space. The bridge column is written by John Samson who lives in Currie, Midlothian. John is a member of the Pentland Bridge Club. 28 | LINLITHGOW

CLUBS & CLASSES

SPORTS, HOBBIES, LEARNING, SUPPORT GROUPS & MORE... LINLITHGOW NEW PROBUS CLUB We meet in Linlithgow Rose Club from 10.00am-12.00pm every second Wednesday from September to May. The club is for retired or semi-retired men and women or others who may work shifts or have flexible work hours. We have a varied programme of talks and presentations as well as entertainment, team quizzes and visits to places of interest. To get in touch or to find out about planned events visit our web site at www.bolinprobus.org. Or, feel free to come along as a guest and see if you would like to join.. LINLITHGOW BSL GROUP LISTING Are you a BSL user or have learned British Sign Language and don’t want to lose the skill? This group meets at the West Port Hotel for a BSL chat. Anyone welcome, Deaf and hearing of various levels from interpreters to beginners attend the group for a chat in this wonderful language. We meet every two weeks during term time and occasionally for holiday events. For dates please check out our facebook by searching “Linlithgow BSL group.” Alternatively you can contact Alice Lane on 078168 29946. LINLITHGOW LONGCROFT TABLE TENNIS GROUP (LLTTG) The club will restart for the new 2018/19 season on Wednesday 5th September. The LLTTG meets every Wednesday night from 8.15pm to 9.45pm in the Longcroft Hall, Philip Avenue and gives an opportunity to play Table Tennis in a friendly and not too competitive atmosphere. Open to everyone and we have a mixed range of ages and ability. No special kit is required. Bats can be provided. Cost is £3.00 per night or £2.00 for under 18’s. For further information please contact Allan Scott on 01506 842602. RAINBOW UNITS (Girls aged 5 - 7 years old) take place on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. For more information please visit www.girlguiding.org. uk/get-involved or alternatively you can email us on westlothiangirlguiding@gmail.com. BROWNIE UNITS (Girls aged 7 - 10 years old) take place on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. For more information please visit www.girlguiding. org.uk/get-involved or alternatively you can email us on westlothiangirlguiding@gmail.com. GUIDE UNITS (Girls aged 10 - 14 years old) take place on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights. For more information please visit www.girlguiding.org. uk/get-involved or alternatively you can email us on westlothiangirlguiding@gmail.com. SENIOR SECTION UNIT (Girls aged 14 - 25 years old) take place on Friday night. For more information please visit www.girlguiding.org.uk/get-involved or alternatively you can email us on westlothiangirlguiding@gmail.com. POSITIVE PATHWAYS – BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT Meets in the Canal Tearoom at 6.30 pm on Thursdays fortnightly. The group is led by a trained bereavement listener. £3 per meeting which goes towards the cost of hiring the tearoom. There is no magic formula which will take away the pain, but by listening and sharing with others, it is often possible to lessen the sense of isolation, chaos and despair felt after the death of a loved one. You will be warmly welcomed. For further information contact Sheila Rae by phoning or texting 07719 966273 or email sheila.ruth.rae@gmail.com. Bereavement Support Team St Michael’s Parish Church, Linlithgow.

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2ND LINLITHGOW GIRLS BRIGADE Girls Brigade P1 – S6. Come and join in the fun 6.30 Wednesday evening in term time. St Michaels Kirk Hall, Cross House. Contact Captain Clare at 2ndlinlithgowgirlsbrigade@gmail.com 2ND LINLITHGOW BOYS BRIGADE Meet at Cross House on a Thursday evening. Anchor Boys (P2-P3) 6.30pm7.30pm; Junior Section (P4-P6) 7.00pm-8.15pm; Company/ Seniors (P7-S6) 7.45pm-9.45pm. You can contact us on facebook at 2nd Linlithgow Boys Brigade or email us at linlithgowBB@outlook.com. CLASSICAL PILATES CLASS – FIRST CLASS FREE! Linlithgow Bowling Club on Thursdays at 10am. Improve posture, flexibility, strength and stability with classical pilates. For booking and further information contact Maria on 07513 116490, e: mariahybszerpilates@gmail.com or check our website mariahybszerpilates.weebly.com NUTRICLUB Nutrition-focussed weight-loss classes in Linlithgow. To learn more about healthy eating and nutrition focused weight loss, get in touch with Louise. Tel: 07837 794112 www.nutriclub.co.uk www.facebook.com/ nutriclublinlithgow. SANGSCHULE We are a friendly and informal group who meet together to sing and learn new songs from our tutors. Meeting most Wednesdays in term-time in Linlithgow Academy staff room, 7.30-9.30pm All welcome, no experience needed, no need to read music. Under16s must be accompanied. More details from Susan on 01506 843592, and on our website www.angelfire.com/folk/ sangschule/programme LINLITHGOW NIBBLE & NATTER Are you over 60? Looking to get out and meet some new people? Come and join our weekly get together in Longcroft Hall, Linlithgow, where we enjoy coming together and meeting new people. Have a chat and a choice of biscuits and cakes with a cup of tea. A welcoming atmosphere awaits you! Cost is just £1 and all are welcome. If you’d like more info get in touch with Cyrenians OPAL (Older People, Active Lives) service on 01506 815815 or e: opal@cyrenians.scot LINLITHGOW WRITERS CIRCLE We meet every second Wednesday in the Linlithgow Tap in Linlithgow, from 7.30pm until 10pm. It’s for aspiring writers in and around Linlithgow to come together and write, share our work for critique and make some writing friends. It’s free to come along. For further details e:linlithgowwriters@gmail.com or findr us on Facebook. 2ND WEST LOTHIAN SCOUTS The Scout Hall, 6 Dog Well Wynd, Linlithgow. Beavers (age 6-8) meet Wednesdays; Cubs (age 8-10.5) meet Mondays; Two Scouts troops (age 10.5 -14) meet Wednesdays and Thursdays. Contact Group Scout Leader Nick Moody at scouts2wl@hotmail. co.uk. Substantial waiting lists for all sections - new adult volunteers always welcome. THE CARING CAFE Low Port Centre, 1 Blackness Road, Linlithgow, EH49 7HZ. The Caring Cafe is a meeting place where people with dementia and their carers have a chance to meet others in a similar situation. Meets monthly on the 3rd Wednesday of every month 10am-12noon. For people who are able to attend safely on their own or who are accompanied by someone to support them. Contact Margaret or May from Linlithgow Link on tel: 01506 845137 or e: co-ordinator@linlithgowlink.org.uk LINLITHGOW SPEAKERS Are you and your staff interested in improving speaking in public and leadership skills? Do you know about Toastmasters? Linlithgow Speakers is a local voluntary group that can help develop these skills. We are looking for new members in Linlithgow. Come and visit on Tuesday night (we meet every second Tuesday at 7.30 at the Low Port Centre in Linlithgow. Please contact me for more info: Sheila Fraser 01506 650953 or 07968 233324.

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LINLITHGOW KEEP FIT CLUB We meet every Thursday from 19:00-21:00 at the gym at the rear of Linlithgow Academy. We have limited spaces for new male members. We resume on the 27th August. Call Brian on 07984 930235 or e: gallacherbrian@hotmail.com for further information. LINLITHGOW STRING ORCHESTRA We meet weekly on Monday 7.30-9.30pm (term-time) at Linlithgow Masonic Lodge. We are a friendly group and welcome players aged 16+ with a minimum standard Grade 5 or equivalent. New Players from Linlithgow and the surrounding areas are welcome. Please bring music stands. Contact us in advance on: linlithgowstringorchestra@gmail.com or search for us on Facebook BADMINTON CLUB Small, friendly club meets Wednesday evenings at Lowport Centre, 7-9pm. We are looking for new members who have played before. Adults only. LINLITHGOW & DISTRICT EMBROIDERS GUILD Linlithgow and District Branch of the Embroiderers Guild meet the last Wednesday of the month in Linlithgow Academy Library from 7pm till 9pm, September to May. Variety of Speakers and classes. Beginner or experienced, or not a stitcher all are welcome. SUNSHINE SING-A-LONG Kirk Hall, St Michael’s Parish Church, second Thursday every month 12-1.30pm. Caring for those living with memory loss. Light lunch then singing your favourite songs. A warm welcome awaits you, no church connection needed, just turn up on the day. Disabled parking in the Vennel Car Park adjacent to Kirk Hall. SCOTTISH SENIORS COMPUTER CLUB Star and Garter (Above the lounge), Station Road. Thursday nights 7pm – 9pm. For the over 50s to find out what you can do with your computer, laptop, iPad/tablet or smartphone device. Enjoy the experience; learn and share! Contact: Tom Lambert, Linlithgow Computer Club. Call 07418 331656 or just call in. FORTH VALLEY ORIENTEERS Come and try orienteering! Learn to navigate with map and compass with FVO club coaches. Junior classes (9-13 years old, with or without parent). Adult newcomer classes for all ages. £5 per session. Contact Jen Lenoard on 01506 843552 or e: membership@ fvo.org.uk for more info. MALE VOICE CHOIR We meet every Monday from 19:45 in the Rugby Club. If you would like to come and try us out please do. Or if you have any questions please phone Chris Thomas on 07823 884802. STEP TOGETHER FAMILY SUPPORT Support for those affected by the addictive behaviour of a loved one. Being in a close relationship with someone struggling with addiction can be a painful, frustrating and lonely journey. Our group focuses on establishing healthier relationships with our loved one and others, restoring balance to our lives and developing more helpful coping strategies. We meet in the evening on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday each month. For more info call or text 07592 226917. LINLITHGOW BRIDGE CLUB Meet every Tues and Thurs in the Burgh Halls at 6.45pm. Play starts at 7pm. New members are always welcome. If you would like more information please contact the club president Alasdair McKechnie on 01506 842293 or email alasdairmckechnie@btinternet.com

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INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

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BATHROOMS & KITCHENS 1st Choice Living 5 Paragon Bathroom Solutions 2 S and S Home Improvements 31 BEAUTICIAN Browhau5 Microblading

CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING James Burnett Carpet Cleaning 10 CLEANING: HOUSE / OFFICE Dusty Springclean 7 COMPUTER / PHONE REPAIRS Sprint Computer Repairs CURTAINS & BLINDS Harvey Bruce

DENTIST Livingston Dental Care ENTERTAINMENT & ATTRACTIONS Eeek Escape Rooms ESTATE AGENT Drummond Miller Turpie & Co

16 18 21 5 4 12

FENCING, RAILINGS, GATES Welding & Fabrication Solutions 4 FURTHER & HIGHER EDUCATION West Lothian College

GARAGE DOORS Garolla 6 GARDEN CENTRE New Hopetoun Gardens GARDEN DESIGN / MAINTENANCE Evergreen Balerno

23 25

GARDEN FURNITURE AND BUILDINGS Champfleurie Estate 32 30 | LINLITHGOW

GLAZING REPAIRS CR Smith

GYM / HEALTH CLUB Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club 27 JOINERY DJMS Geoff Vinter Joinery

SOLUTIONS

SOLUTION TO JULY CROSSWORD

18 24

LANDSCAPING SUPPLIES Beatsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Building Supplies 25

LOCKSMITH CVC Locksmiths and Security 24 West Lothian Locksmith 10 PEST CONTROL Frontline Pest Control PLASTERING Nu Walls

6 10

PLUMBING & HEATING SERVICES Mech A Tech Home Heating Services 10 McLellan Plumbing 6 ROOFING Taylor Roofs

SPORT & LEISURE Elevation Cycles

19 5

TRUSTED TRADER SCHEME West Lothian Trusted Trader Scheme 19

VET & ANIMAL WELLBEING Mackie & Brechin 22

YOUTH EMPLOYMENT SCHEME Developing the Young Workforce 14

ACROSS: 1. Deaf, 3. Formerly, 9. Croquet, 10. Annoy, 11. Manufactured, 14. Era, 16. Cease, 17. She, 18. Nevertheless, 21. Coast, 22. Putting, 23. Everyday, 24. Asks DOWN: 1. December, 2. Adorn, 4. Out, 5. Measurements, 6. Runners, 7. Yo-yo, 8. Sufficiently, 12. Chart, 13. Messages,15. Average, 19. Exits, 20. Acre, 22. Pea

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