Konect Linlithgow May 2019 by Konect Magazines

MAY 2019

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

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THIS ISSUE

TO OUR MAY EDITION

he photo on the front cover is from the Deacon’s Court Street Fair, which this year takes place on Saturday 11th May.

It’s a busy time of year, whether you’re tip-toeing around teens “studying” on examleave, ramping up preparations for Marches season, spending every spare minute sorting the garden and outdoors jobs, or looking for things to do with small children on the weekends. Speaking of gardening, Gardening Scotland is offering Konect readers a £5 discount on the ticket price! On our doorstep at Ingliston, it is the place to be for absolutely everything to do with your outdoor space, large or small. See pages 14-15 and book online. The Visit West Lothian column gives a rundown of what else is on in West Lothian this month. There is something for all interests, from Linlithgow Classic cars which starts up for the season this month; music at the Fly Open Air Festival at Hopetoun House, environmental photography at Blackness, and Beltane family activities at Almond Valley! There is much more; I hope you enjoy the magazine this month.

P8 Charity: Night Stop.......................................... 8 Gardening: Wasps: Friends or Foes?......... 11 Gardening Scotland: Celebrate

Summer..........................................................14 Property Matters............................................20 Parenting: Just Dribble it..............................24 Vet’s Tip..........................................................25 Paula Williams: Commissioner for Girlguiding.....................................................26 Health & Beauty............................................28 Clubs & Classes............................................28

COVER IMAGE: Deacon’s Court Street Fair. Photo by Andrew West.

Konect is delivered monthly to 7500 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

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M: 07772 941899 E: charlene@konect.scot

Editor

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Account Manager

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Nightstop: “It can be the one thing that saves them from homelessness” Sometimes, a meal and a bed for a couple of nights is all that is needed to help a young person get back on track. Or at least to stop them from sliding into homelessness. Nightstop, a programme being rolled out in West Lothian by the Rock Trust, provides just that via the homes of volunteers hosts who make a spare room available for up to 14 nights for a young person who, for various reasons, needs emergency accommodation. “We receive referrals for a whole range of reasons,” says Mark Fieldhouse, Nightstop Development Worker with the Rock Trust. “We help young people who find themselves in crisis, in many cases due to breakdown in family relationships. They need safe, friendly accommodation while we help them work on longer-term solutions.” There is a small number of host families already in West Lothian, and more are needed in all areas. Bathgate resident Moreen Watson is the Nightstop Development Worker for West Lothian. The Rock Trust, established in 1991 in Edinburgh in response to youth homelessness, helps young people aged 16 – 25 by providing advice and support, keeping their education on track, finding work, and a range of other services. Nightstop is the emergency element of this, where a young person in crisis can call a helpline and is provided with a safe place immediately, while longer-term supported 8 | LINLITHGOW

accommodation is arranged, or until they can return home. It is being rolled out in West Lothian. “Nightstop West Lothian provides a safe, family based, alternative to traditional hotel or hostel emergency accommodation.” A report in 2016 by Depaul UK, the organisation which set up the Nightstop programme, reported that young people “experienced very dangerous situations in their attempts to stay off the streets, including staying with strangers while constantly in fear of assault, lodging with an uncle addicted to hard drugs, going to all-night parties with predatory men or suggesting ‘sleepovers’ to school friends simply to find a place to stay.” By staying in a local host’s home instead, they are much more likely to get the time-out and breathing space that they need in a safe environment, and to move on to a positive resolution to their issues. Emily’s story: When Emily was 16 her living circumstances were “not the best,” and she says when her mum kicked her out of the house she went to the council. The council put Emily in touch with the Rock Trust who arranged a host for her. The first evening “the hosts knocked on my door and asked if I was hungry, and if I wanted to eat in my room or with them. I went and sat at @KonectMagazines

Could you be a host? the table. They had good banter. It was good. I tried to help them cleaning up but they said no and for me to sit and rest. ….I stayed 4 nights before going home. While I was there I realised that I’m my own person and needed to stop doing everything for everyone else. I realised that talking to good people makes you feel better and that I wasn’t such a mess up as I thought I was.”

Could you be a host? As a volunteer host, you are fully supported with training and support from the Rock Trust. You provide an evening meal and a bedroom for the young person, and you let them know which parts of the house they can use – just like you would in a normal bed and breakfast arrangement. (They are not at home during the day as they are out in education, work or being supported by the Rock Trust). Your expenses are covered. If you are interested in helping, please see www.rocktrust.org/nightstop or email moreen.watson@rocktrust.org. Host families are needed in West Lothian. @KonectMagazines

Do you or a young person you know need emergency accommodation? Call 0131 557 4059 The Rock Trust, 55 Albany Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3QY. Open Mon-Fri, 8:45-17:00. www.rocktrust.org/nightstop

The Rock Trust is a charity registered in Scotland, number SCO18708.

This article was written by Helen-Jane Shearer after meeting with Mark Fieldhouse and Moreen Watson, Nightstop Development Workers for Edinburgh and West Lothian. LINLITHGOW | 9

T: 01506 827110 M: 07778 339980 E: wafsltd@btconnect.com www.weldfabsolutions.com Unit 13 Links Court, Boâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ness, EH51 9UD

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GARDENING PROJECT

Wasps - friends or foes? Wasps suffer from bad press every year from July onwards. But from now until July they are a gardener’s best friend! The worker wasps collect aphids from our garden plants to feed the newly hatched wasps in their nest. In return they are fed sweet sucrose until the queen wasp stops laying eggs in mid-summer. Then sweet rewards stop and the workers have to find sweetness for themselves, becoming mischievous in the process. They are also tired as the end of summer approaches and being bad tempered now as well as hungry they are quick to sting us. Now is the moment to keep them at bay without stopping the good work they will do for the first part of summer. If you hang up ‘wasps away’, which are designed to mimic wasp nests, you will deter the queen bees building nests within 10 metres of the fake nests. They see your nests and

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fear attacks by enemy wasps so won’t set up home nearby. You can keep them away from Wasp away patios and children’s play areas. decoy We hang a few around our tearoom terrace here at the gardens to keep nest the hungry workers away after July. You don’t notice many wasps in early summer because they are too busy working and helping to control aphids in your garden.

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

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delivering more Put yourself in safe hands with our highly experienced legal and property teams.

Estate Agency and Conveyancing Buying, selling and marketing of residential and commercial property.

Private Client Wills, trusts, inheritance tax, powers of attorney, guardianship.

Family Law Divorce and separation, contact and residence, adoption.

Immigration All visa applications , citizenship, EU Law, appeals.

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Celebrate Summer at Gardening Scotland 2019

SAVE £5 on the gate pric e to Gardening Scotland 20 19 by entering promo code KON19 when you bo ok online at www.garden ingscotland .com/ tickets

Scotland’s national festival of flowers is 20 this year, so come along and celebrate summer at the show that makes gardening fun.

The event opens on Friday 31 May at the Royal Highland Centre Edinburgh and for three days the focus is on plants, people and glorious gardens. Want to fill your garden with colour? Then find everything you need, including beautiful flowers, expert advice and all the tools you need to tend your flowers. The Floral Pavilion will be packed with plants, courtesy of top nurseries from all over the UK and the growers are all eager to share their knowledge, with tips and guidance on how to get the best from your flowers. Planning a party on the patio? At Gardening Scotland you’ll find plenty to inspire you, including a centrepiece show garden by designer Lynn Hill, that’s made with entertaining in mind, including an outdoor bar fashioned from Italian glass and a fully-functioning outdoor kitchen. It’s just one of the show gardens designed to make you rethink your own space. And what about that bit in front of the house where you have to squeeze in wheelie bins and the car? Take a stroll down College Street, with its perfect front plots, and you’ll realise that your own garden can be practical and gorgeous at the same time.

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And that’s not all. In the Living Garden you’ll find all kinds of environmental organisations, including Plantlife Scotland, ready to answer all your queries about the threat to our wildlife and how gardeners can help. Visit the Plant Village and be bowled over by what’s on offer. Want instant colour to brighten up your doorstep? A climber to scramble over a drab wall? Armfuls of annuals or reliable perennials that will come back year after year? They are all on sale here. The Big Back Garden will be packed with fun and games for all the family, and the good news is that under-16s go free to Gardening Scotland. Or why not make a celebration of your day at the show by booking a delicious afternoon tea or popping into The Secret Herb Garden’s ‘Secret Gin Garden’ for a special Gardening Scotland cocktail or an amazing, colourchanging Old Curiosity Gin, made with botanicals grown at the foot of the Pentlands. Plus there’s the Craft Pavilion with its home and lifestyle accessories; original artworks; artisan food stalls and lots more, and it all adds up to a perfect day out in the garden. For more information visit www.gardeningscotland.com

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PROPERTY MATTERS

There’s no substitute for the genuinely personal

It is perhaps one of life’s little ironies that in a world of seemingly endless consumer choice so many businesses have lost sight of the customer experience.

We’ve all experienced the pain of trying to deal with utility companies, banks and internet service providers. All too often, we find ourselves caught up in automated phone or online menus where nothing makes sense or is relevant to us as an individual customer. Instead, we are faced by generic options and responses that really underline just how far companies and whole sectors have lost sight of customer needs - including of course the need for human contact for particular sets of circumstances. It’s one thing to check a product price online for example, but it’s quite another to discuss your precise requirements and explore options with the benefit of (hopefully) expert advice. Costs and the restructuring of organisations have of course driven much of this, but the damage to customer relationships has in many cases been incalculable. The thing is though, it really doesn’t have to be this way. Smaller businesses can learn from the mistakes of the big corporates by doing things differently. My sister experienced this first hand recently when she took some jewellery that belonged to our mother into a Jewellers in Glasgow to be re-sized and refurbished for her to wear and enjoy. While waiting for the work to be priced, she browsed other pieces and decided to buy a new necklace that she had been looking for. After processing the sale, the sales assistant went back into the workshop and returned a few minutes later to say that the owner of the shop wanted to waive all charges for the work on the 20 | LINLITHGOW

sentimental pieces and would also clean them, any time she was passing, free of charge. He said this was because he understood the emotional importance that the jewellery had for her, and, coupled with the purchase of the new necklace, wanted to make this gesture of goodwill. It’s a story that touched me, and will resonate with anyone who has experienced truly caring service that puts the individual customer and their needs first. As the owner of an estate agency, the story hit home with me on a business as well as a personal level. The jeweller’s kindness really reflects the values of that business and speaks volumes about its principles. At Turpie & Co., our primary role is to use our expertise and market knowledge to achieve the best possible selling price for clients. The result is critical, but so is the customer experience. Selling your home can be fraught with emotion, and how you are made to feel can be just as important. I know how I want our clients to feel. I want them to feel like my sister did when she walked out of that jewellers – that everything had been done just right, by people who genuinely cared. That’s a feeling that is priceless and can never be undercut by a competitor. 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. @KonectMagazines

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LaFood,Piuma: Family, Friends

“In Italy, food and family is a really important part of growing up. Food brings the family together to spend time, you spend time with your grandparents and learn from them, experiences that money cannot buy. I come from a farming background and fresh food, family and friends was always part of my life.” I’m visiting Daniele Tuveri at La Piuma, the restaurant he and his wife Gayle run in Bathgate, and over a very nice coffee learning his story.

“I moved to Scotland from Sardinia 15 years ago after meeting Gayle. I’ve worked in hospitality since I was 13 years old, and after working in many different restaurants, I wanted to create a restaurant where you could not only get excellent food, but a place you could feel at home.” The opportunity to have a premises in Bathgate came up, and they leaped at is as they were attracted by the community spirit in the town. So La Piuma opened in August 2017, to serve excellent Scottish food with an Italian twist in a friendly, welcoming restaurant.

Daniele’s passion for food is obvious, along with his passion equally for community, friendliness and the human touch. “We know our regular customers by name; they pop in for coffee and many have become firm friends. Here are La Piuma we create dishes you wouldn’t necessarily make at home. I believe you go to a restaurant for an experience, not just a plate of pasta. So the way we plate food up, the way we serve it, the way we look after our customers, is @KonectMagazines

Daniele Tuveri, proprietor, La Piuma all very important. You experience food you would not make yourself, but you feel at home.” All the pasta and bread is made by their chef onsite, who coincidentally is also Sardinian. Daniele tells me one of their waitresses said “At some places I have worked I used to dread asking customers how the food is. But here, I love it, because they are always so positive!”

Besides the A La Carte menu, there is a Market Menu, priced at £7.95 for one course, £11.95 for two courses and £15.95 for three courses. The focus is on fresh Scottish produce, stunningly presented. Plans for the restaurant this year include an outdoors dining area in the private back garden of the restaurant.

With three industry awards under their belt, including Gold at the 2018 Scottish Food Awards, Taste our Best from Visit Scotland, and being fully booked most weekends, Daniele and Gayle must be doing something right. “I’ve been told we could be even busier if we moved the restaurant into Edinburgh. But we wouldn’t have the community we have here, and that means a lot to us.” For more information and the current menu, please see www.lapiuma.co.uk 52 Hopetoun Street, Bathgate, EH28 4EU. Reservations 01506 650388

This article was written by Helen-Jane Shearer after visiting La Piuma. Helen-Jane is the editor of Konect magazines and lives in West Lothian with her family. LINLITHGOW | 23

PARENTING

Just Dribble it!

Gill Mudie The brains

ibble behind Dr

Before you have kids you get to know the place where you live. You know where you like to go out for lunch, you have your favourite hangouts for coffee and cake, places you like to go for fun or to relax…then along come kids and the place you thought you knew is like a whole new world. Suddenly your needs are completely different and your favourite haunts just don’t cut it anymore. Ever find yourself wondering where you can go that will have space for a buggy, or that has nice changing facilities, a good kids menu, or a play area? Well now, there is an app for that! Dribble is a new childfriendliness review app, the brainchild of an Edinburgh mum who found she was asking herself these exact kind of questions far too often and not coming up with enough answers. Using the app you can discover places close by that have been tried and tested by other parents and you can search for things according to your needs, whatever they may be! So rather than furiously texting your friends for help when you are stuck or at a loose end, all the info is at your fingertips with Dribble. And all the venues are suggested and reviewed by real people. For new parents especially 24 | LINLITHGOW

it makes the idea of getting out of the house just a little bit less daunting. And you can add your own comments too to help other parents – pay it forward an’ all that. Plus Dribble is not just an app there is a whole community growing around it on Facebook and it seems it is a great supporter of local businesses with lots of new partners offering discounts to so-called ‘Dribblers’ including in West Lothian - 20% off Kids Gone Wild, 15% 0ff Turtle Pack Swim Academy, free coffee at Tot’s Spot in East Calder, and one month free with Enjoy-a-Ball to name but a few. So, whether you need a child-friendly café, a nearby playpark to meet your mum mates or something to do on a rainy day – Dribble has you covered. There’s even a handy ‘Inspire me’ button if you just want some fresh ideas for things to do locally. I went looking for some inspiration for my girls and it suggested Conifox Adventure

Park, Aerial Adventures Livingston and Kids Gone Wild for my biggest girl who is outdoorsy and adventurous. For my youngest it was Gooey Events, the Stick Man Trail in West Calder and Potter Around in Kirknewton. Next up finding somewhere for my tea and cake! Dribble currently covers Edinburgh, the Lothians, and Fife, but they are really keen to grow their West Lothian listings so why not download the Dribble app now or find out more information at www. dribbleit.co.uk and you could be adding reviews about your favourite spots and putting West Lothian local businesses on the Dribble map! 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.

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VET’S TIP

Acupuncture Did you know that acupuncture – best known as a traditional Chinese medicine involving placing needles at certain points in the body – can be used to help animals as well as humans?

Dogs, cats, rabbits and other small furries such as guinea pigs can all be treated with acupuncture – although so far at our clinic we have only treated dogs and cats, using Western acupuncture, rather than the traditional Eastern version. Believe it or not, the majority of animals accept acupuncture really well and many enjoy their sessions as it can have a lovely relaxing effect. Much like in humans, pain is probably the most common reason for using acupuncture in veterinary patients - in particular muscular pain or chronic pain such as arthritis – and that’s certainly the case for the majority of pets we treat. The treatment works by inserting needles which stimulate the nervous system to block pain messages, as well as stimulating the animal’s body to produce its own natural pain relief. It can be combined with other conventional treatments where it can help to reduce the need for other medications with undesirable side-effects but it can also be used on its own. It can also be helpful with certain medical and dermatological conditions as it can stimulate the nervous system to promote healing and reset the body’s normal functioning so conditions such as inappetence – the loss or lack of appetite - or nausea can be treated in some cases.

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

BUSTER THE DOG

Paula Williams As well as leading one of Linlithgow’s Guide units, Paula Williams is the Commissioner for Girlguiding in Linlithgow. She’s been giving her time to the town’s Rainbows, Brownies and Guides for the last 20 years.

“I’ve always been part Girlguiding, since I was a Brownie, right up through Guides and then a Young Leader. While I was at University I wasn’t quite as involved, but my sister was also a leader and I would help out with their camps. When I moved to Linlithgow and was on maternity leave, I volunteered to help with a Guide unit. It helped me get to know more people in the town.”

You don’t have to have girls or even children yourself to get involved, you just need to be interested and want to do it. “It’s important for girls to have something that’s just for them, and that’s one of the things Girlguiding offers, which is quite special,” says Paula. Like any organisation, Girlguiding has had to come up with new ways of keeping the girls interested and move with the times. For example, badges are more modern – girls can now do things like mixology and vlogging, encouraging a different range of skills. Getting adult leaders for all the units is very much a challenge. “In Linlithgow we’re lucky to have very high girl numbers, despite competition from so many other clubs and sports in the town,” says Paula, “but we’ve always struggled to have enough volunteers. It’s trying to build in that resilience so if one person leaves, we don’t find ourselves in the position where we might need to close a unit. And we have found ourselves in that position over the last couple of years.” 26 | LINLITHGOW

The camps and pack holidays are almost always what Brownies and Guides say is their favourite part of being in Girlguides! They’re what help them make memories and build closer relationships. The friendships they make are important too, even for later on life. It’s different to school, where usually it’s very age-flat. At Rainbows, Brownies and Guides you’re making friends with girls from other schools in the town, and across different ages. In Guides in particular, that can help a lot when the girls start at the Academy – it can mean they often have someone in a year or two above looking out for them. Girlguides in Linlithgow are involved in the community in other ways - some of the units help with Burgh Beautiful – planting flowers in the planters on the High Street. “And girls in my unit often help marshal the children’s fun run in Linlithgow. The Thinking Day parade is also a good opportunity to show the community all of us, feel a sense of pride and it’s lovely to have the town’s Reed Band involved too.”

To volunteer with Girlguiding in Linlithgow email Paula at 4thlinlithgowguides@talktalk.net This article was written by Louise Taylor, after speaking with Paula Williams. Louise lives in Linlithgow and as well as writing, she likes running and researching family history. @KonectMagazines

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HEALTH

Eating your Emotions? Do you turn to food when you are angry, stressed or sad? To combat it, you need to identify the underlying issues affecting your relationship with food; the emotions that you are suppressing.

Stress - stop over-thinking your day/ situation. Distract yourself with an absorbing activity - go for a walk, have a nap, meditate or read a book. Eat slowly and mindfully and chew your food. Anger – try and confront the person causing you the grievance – if that is not possible then writing your thoughts in a diary can be therapeutic. You’ll start to feel the anger leaving your system. Boredom – find something engaging to do – time to start a new hobby, volunteer in your community, change job. Planning and deciding what to do will make a difference. Loneliness – its social nutrition you’re craving – time to phone a friend or tap into social media. Work out what non-food treats you would love: a bath; a box set; a massage; a manicure. In general, the urge to overeat will also reduce if you focus on eating the right combination of carbs, protein and fats, avoid sugar and limit caffeine and alcohol. For more inspired information on how to lose weight get in touch check out www.nutriclub.co.uk or call Louise 07837 794112. Classes and 1-2-1 coaching available in Linlithgow. 28 | LINLITHGOW

CLUBS & CLASSES

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

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) 6.30pm-7.30pm; 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.

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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. 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

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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 SINGALONG 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. PHYSIO LED PILATES The Scout Hall in Linlithgow, Monday evenings 6pm & 7pm and Sunday mornings at 10am. The Old Pavilion in Linlithgow Wednesday evenings 6:30pm. At Physio Led Pilates you can feel assured that exercises will be performed safely, effectively and modified to the appropriate level for you under the expert guidance of an experienced Physiotherapist. For booking and further info please see www.physioledpilates.com 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, 6.45pm. Play starts at 7p.m. New members are always welcome. If you are looking for a partner or would like more information please contact the club president Gwen MacLeod on 01506 846700 or email gwenmac37@icloud.com

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May

With summer only a matter of weeks away, here’s a quick rundown of events going on across West Lothian this month. Linlithgow’s Classics have begun their monthly meetings for 2019 – located in The Cross. Check out an array of preserved classics in the historic Burgh of Linlithgow. The event takes place on the fourth Saturday of every month (until October) from 10am. Nearby at Blackness Castle, you can retrace the footsteps of the leading Scottish American environmental conservationist John Muir. Explore the area through a photography exhibition by Ken Paterson that shares the beauty of both the Scottish and American wilderness that John Muir was so passionate about. The event takes place during normal Blackness Castle opening hours and is included in the admission to the castle (free to Historic Environment Scotland members!). In Livingston, at Almond Valley Heritage Centre join the fun family event “Brilliant Beltane” daily 3rd to 7th May. Get back to nature and celebrate a simpler time when life was closer to nature. There is a daily programme of light-hearted family activities that delight in the mysteries and wonders of a traditional springtime. Saturday 18th marks the start of Fly Open Air festival at Hopetoun House. Their biggest festival yet set in the beautiful grounds of Hopetoun House, one of Scotland’s finest stately homes. Tickets are available for the full weekend, or each individual day. Why not check out some of West Lothian’s Hidden Gems by taking a look at our newly updated website? You can see videos of locations before you go, as well as finding opening hours and more. Follow us on social media to stay up to date with the latest attraction information: www.facebook.com/VisitWestLothian www.twitter.com/SeeWestLothian www.instagram.com/VisitWestLothian 30 | LINLITHGOW

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