Konect Linlithgow June 2022 by Konect Magazines

JUNE 2022

LOCAL CHARITY: LOCAL ENVIRONMENT:

VET’S TIP:

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P28 in 6 people are affected by a mental health challenge at any given time. A gloomy statistic, but the flip side is that there are wonderful people all around who are moved to do what they can to provide help and support – to friends, family or in a broader community sense. I interviewed one such local person for the charity article this month. Misty Hannah is a West Lothian resident who has taken the plunge to set up an organisation with a fresh approach to supporting people, in what she saw as a gap in the services currently available. Compassionate Accompaniment CIC is as much about prevention as support too, see the article on pages 8-9. Marches Day is back, and we wish everyone a wonderful day on the 14th, as well as all the various events and parades in the run up to it. The Perambulation of the Marches is on Thursday 8th June; Linlithgow Civic Trust warmly invites town residents and visitors alike to attend – see page 26 for details. Thanks for reading Konect and supporting local businesses and organisations. As ever, let me know what you think!

THIS ISSUE Charity: Compassionate Accompaniment CIC..........................................8 Living Well: Understanding Parkinsons...... 12 Life Coaching: Here comes summer.......... 14 Garden Project: Purple Piglet Projects....... 17 Property Matters: Virtually staging or renovating.......................................................... 20 What’s On: Perambulation of the Marches.............................................................. 26 Vet’s Tip: Travel with pets.............................. 28 Sudoku Puzzle.................................................. 28 Local Environment: Protecting wildlife........ 29 Parenting: Stage School!............................... 30 Film Review: The Batman............................... 31

All enquiries, E: editor@konect.scot M: 07854 492638 Wishing all readers a happy Marches month!

Konect is delivered monthly to 7500 homes throughout Linlithgow and Linlithgow Bridge. It is also available online: konect.scot/subscribe @KonectMagazines

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Caring for ourselves is essential for our health and well-being and helps us to care for our communities.

This is the central principle of a new health and well-being service set up by West Lothian resident Misty Hannah: Compassionate Accompaniment CIC. Misty wanted to fill what she noticed is a gap in community support services for emotional and mental well-being. Working with cancer patients, she was primarily moved to help people cope with the often overwhelming anxiety they experience during the cancer care process. But her vision for the new service is much more than that. It brings together therapies and ideas from many years of experience and research in Sensory Awareness and compassionate care practices. Learning how to feel seen, heard, connected and more aware of what your body is communicating can transform the way you approach life’s challenges. Misty’s vision is for everyone to have the opportunity to access the resources within themselves for resilience and well-being. Compassionate Accompaniment offers support across the Central Belt for anyone struggling with isolation, anxiety, grief, chronic illness, exhaustion, recovery from surgery, or end-of-life. “Compassionate Accompaniment” is about helping you to accompany yourself with compassion and kindness. Some challenges in life are with us for the long term, or are things that

CONTACT DETAILS:

For support, more information, book a place at the next Share Our Table, or to volunteer, please contact Compassionate Accompaniment CIC: 8 | LINLITHGOW

we have to learn to live with. There are support services out there (some provided by the NHS) but finding out about them and accessing them can be difficult, or there are long wait times. The unique principle behind Compassionate Accompaniment is that you are given the support to create self care practices that help you live with these challenges in your daily life without them becoming overwhelming.

“When things are uncomfortable or painful, many of us want to turn away from them,” says Misty. “But turning away means we’re still carrying them, which can sometimes manifest as chronic health conditions or even illness.” More and more studies are showing that compassionate care is hugely beneficial to our well being and can help to prevent illness and alleviate chronic health conditions. “When we find ways to be with what is difficult, we may find treasures and resources within ourselves we never knew we had.” Compassionate Accompaniment provides 1 to 1 and group sessions that are delivered both in person and online. Support sessions are rooted in meeting each person where they are as they are and are based on somatic sensory awareness – tracking body sensations to feel what is really happening in you, and find ways to support yourself. Our bodies hold onto stresses and trauma in different ways t: (Misty Hannah) 07752 680 261 w: compassionateaccompaniment.com e: connect@compassionateaccompaniment.com @compassionaccompaniment @compassionate_accompaniment @KonectMagazines

so by learning to identify where tensions are, checking in with your body’s natural rhythms with attention to breath and body sensations allows your mind and body to work together to release them. Misty is passionate that everyone should be able to access the support they need. “We would never turn anyone away simply because they can’t afford to pay for help,” says Misty. “Compassionate Accompaniment is a community interest company, and operates on the basis of pay-what-you-can.” Sensory Awareness is a life practice. It changes the way we see ourselves so that we can prioritise self-care and be healthier not only for ourselves but to be there for others too. If you or someone you know needs support with self compassion/well being, grief support, caregiver support or end of life accompaniment, Compassionate Accompaniment is here to help. Misty would also love to hear from anyone interested in volunteering in administration or fund-raising event organisation roles. All contact details are at the end of this article.

YOU’RE INVITED! - Share Our Table

Gatherings: A day to celebrate life with a farm to table lunch, Compassionate Care workshop and time to be with the animals. Yes, we are hoping we will get to hold baby goats. You will have time to spend with wonderful farm animals! Being with animals has become a growing part of our work. More and more research is showing how animals can assist us with calming our nervous systems, relieving depression and anxiety, and bringing a sense of connection and compassion with ourselves and other beings. All ticket sales go towards funding our free services for compassionate care, grief support for 1:1 and groups, end of life accompaniment and our future therapet visits. Please email to register your interest and for more information. The next gathering will be Saturday 24th September.

This article was written by Helen-Jane Gisbourne after meeting Misty Hannah, Founder & Director of Compassionate Accompaniment CIC. HelenJane is the editor of Konect magazines and lives in West Lothian with her family. @KonectMagazines

ABOUT MISTY

Misty has been a Tai Chi/Qi Gong practitioner for over 20 years. She is also the only Sensory Awareness Leader in the UK and delivers weekly online sessions for people all over the world, and she is an Misty Hannah, End of Life Companion MA, SME/T, with a focus on grief Founder & support. The cancer Director of care organisation Compassionate she works for locally Accompaniment brought her in to CIC. develop and deliver Qi Gong sessions for “Caring for patients, a service that ourselves helps has proved immensely us care for the beneficial with the world” number of people attending quickly reaching full capacity. From her early years she knew the value of dance and movement as a way of healing and connection, and has a Masters degree in Dance and Somatic Well-Being. She received funding in 2019 from Firstport to set up Compassionate Accompaniment CIC - her vision for bringing all these threads together to reach as many people as possible with compassionate care services. She has recently been awarded additional funding this year to continue bringing these services to communities.

DO YOU HAVE A FRIENDLY AND SOCIABLE DOG? - Compassionate

Accompaniment is partnering with Canine Concern to offer their new service - bringing pets to visit people who are not able to live with one themselves at home, in care homes, hospitals and universities. The health benefits of spending time with pets is well-known, and therapet visits are often transformative and an essential element of emotional support. If you have a friendly and sociable dog, could you volunteer to accompany them on emotional support visits? You would receive full training and always be with a Compassionate Accompaniment volunteer on a visit. Please contact Compassionate Accompaniment for more information on how you and your pet can volunteer. LINLITHGOW | 9

www.aquateccarpetcleaning.co.uk Marc van Cartier-Kerr

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LIVING WELL

Parkinson’s Disease affects approximately 1 in every 100 people over the age of 65. It’s thought to be slightly more common in men than in women. Most people develop the condition at approximately the age of 60, but one in 12 people with Parkinson’s disease have symptoms before the age of 50. Parkinson’s is a chronic, progressive neurological condition which causes cells in the brain to stop working properly and over time these cells are lost altogether. These brain cells produce a chemical called dopamine and symptoms start to appear when the brain can’t make enough dopamine to control movement properly. Researchers think a combination of age, genetics and environmental factors cause the dopamine-producing nerve cells to die. Although there are over 40 symptoms, the 3 main symptoms are: tremor/shaking, slowness of movement, and muscle stiffness. However

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symptoms vary for each person and can change from day to day and even hour to hour. Many symptoms can be treated or managed with medications and therapies and many people can lead active and fulfilling lives. How is Parkinson’s diagnosed? 1. Investigating symptoms, reviewing medical history, and conducting a medical examination for typical signs of Parkinson’s 2. Response to Parkinson’s drugs 3. Tests carried out by specialists including MRI scans, heart scan, lumbar puncture (testing spinal fluid surrounding the brain) If you think you may have Parkinson’s, you should speak with your GP so they can refer you to a Parkinson’s specialist. You can also receive free, confidential help and advice by contacting Parkinson’s UK on 0808 800 0303. The Living Well column is contributed by Home Instead Livingston. Contact them for advice and support on 01506 346046 or see www.homeinstead.co.uk/livingston

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LIFE COACHING

In another life when I used to enjoy picking up a glossy magazine, the May and June pages would be full of summer clothes and articles about holidays in the sun. I remember there always seemed to be a delicious promise that, around the corner, just out of sight, there was a golden time that would bring with it long days of sunshine and outdoor living. It used to make me laugh that the shops would be full to bursting with summer t shirts and pretty clothes and whatever the weather, there was absolutely no chance of finding knitwear or heavy jackets anywhere. Life seemed to have a pattern that was almost invisible to us and that we all took for granted. There would surely always be shops and lunches or walks with family and friends, the seasons would change, and the familiar, comfortable routines would just roll on.

Then came the strangest two years that most of us have ever lived through and life changed for so many of us. Things we thought would always be there were suddenly gone. But now the shops and cafés are busy again and many of us are looking forward to brighter times ahead as we all look forward to sunshine and holidays even if it’s just in our own backyards. But, before taking a headlong dash into what we hope will be a Covid free tomorrow, maybe we should take the time to consider which of the habits we developed to help us cope over the last two years would also be beneficial to take forward into our future. The Life Coaching column is contributed by Francine Orr, NLP coach, hypnotherapist & reiki practitioner. Francine is based within Linlithgow Chiropractic on Wednesday afternoons and is also available online. See www.orrganise.co.uk

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Planting dwarf alpine plants and truly miniature conifers in a trough is a great way to enjoy these small plants and makes an attractive feature in a sunny part of your garden. Once you’ve collected all the things you will need, putting them together will only take you half an hour or so, a great weekend project! Our purple piglet project leaflet explains exactly how to go about creating your alpine trough and the best plants to choose and how to arrange them in your trough. If it isn’t very sunny where you want to sit the trough we have a list of plants that will cope with these conditions. The three things to remember when creating your trough is good drainage, good drainage and good drainage! Drowning

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Alpine trough these little plants is the easiest way of killing them. Our leaflet will show you how to create good drainage, from the drainage holes in the bottom of the trough, through layers of gravel to a really gritty compost (John Innes No 1 + Potting grit 50/50). The gardening project is contributed by Dougal Philip, New Hopetoun Gardens. Inspiring, informing and entertaining, for more than 40 years.

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The benefits of virtually staging or renovating As Estate Agents we are often asked if we offer a service to prospective sellers providing advice on what they might consider doing to their property in order to best present it to the market when selling. This can range from minor cosmetic upgrades to major renovation or remodelling work.

It’s a service we not only enjoy providing but it can prove invaluable to the seller, potentially saving thousands of pounds in unnecessary expense. Most sellers are aware of the importance of making the right first impressions and sometimes making even the smallest changes can have a significant impact on the kerb appeal (online and actual) of their property to potential buyers. Technology has long played a part in property marketing however the evolution of photographic and video equipment coupled with the continuing development of sophisticated editing software has allowed advancement in this area that can benefit sellers whether or not they have the appetite or budget to make the recommended improvements to their property prior to listing for sale on the open market. Two products that our agency uses regularly are ‘Virtual Staging’ and ‘Virtual Renovation’ imagery. These allow sellers to digitally enhance or alter the actual image 20 | LINLITHGOW

taken of a particular room (or rooms) in their property via virtual staging by, for example, adding or removing furniture or changing the décor or carpets.

This is particularly helpful for buyers who are considering viewing a property that is empty, possibly an ex-rental property that the Landlord has decided to sell, or perhaps an executory sale when a family may be selling on behalf of a relative or as part of an estate, in order to show perspective or scale in relation to furniture or even how a room might be furnished or laid out. The Virtual Renovation product takes the possibilities a stage further and is often used in conjunction with Virtual Staging. This allows buyers to see how a property could look after future renovation work has been carried out and is often used by sellers if they are selling their property with planning permission already in place to extend or remodel the existing footprint or layout without the work having been carried out. @KonectMagazines

Occasionally we may suggest to the homeowner that potential buyers may want to consider changing the layout or current configuration of the property by perhaps removing a wall to open a kitchen up into a kitchen/diner/ family space or the reverse of this to potentially split one large bedroom into 2 smaller rooms with connecting bathroom which might appeal to a broader market and also potentially add some value. Both of these products begin with professionally photographing the property in the same way as any standard campaign. Certain rooms are then identified for digital

Virtually renovated enhancement and passed to the graphic designers to carry out the virtual staging or renovation to the brief provided. The technology is so flexible that it allows us to choose the style of furniture, colour of décor, carpets even the artwork on the walls and soft furnishing accessories. Every image used in a sales campaign that has been enhanced using this technology is of course clearly identified in the marketing and sales particulars to ensure they are not misleading and we always have the original photographs of the ‘actual’ room should anyone wish to see these prior to arranging a viewing. If you are considering selling your property and need some advice on how best to present your property to the market (virtually or otherwise) please don’t hesitate to contact us and one of our experienced property managers would be happy to arrange a free visit and consultation.

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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Perambulation of Linlithgow Marches 2022 The Perambulation of the Marches takes place on Wednesday 8th June starting at 7pm at March Stone No. 1 in front of St Ninian’s Craigmailen Church on Falkirk Road (just west of the West Port Hotel) and proceeds in a clockwise direction round the route. The Perambulation compliments the Marches by walking the line of the Linlithgow parliamentary boundary as established in 1832.

The walk is four miles long (6.5k) and passes seven out of the eight marches stones, (one original and seven replica stones installed in 2014). It will be led by the provost, flagbearers and the halberdiers of the Deacons Court, and the town crier.

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The organisers, Linlithgow Civic Trust, warmly invite town residents and visitors alike to attend.

Chris Long, LCT Perambulation Co-ordinator. This article is contributed by Linlithgow Civic Trust, part of Linlithgow Burgh Trust. Linlithgow Burgh Trust is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Scottish Charity No. SC047211.

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PUZZLE

JUNE SUDOKU

Summer is upon us and with it the holiday season. More of us are venturing further afield this year after the lifting of restrictions and many for the first time with pets. So what should you be aware of? Firstly check the requirements for the country you are travelling to and what you need to reenter the UK. Rules vary among airlines – some allow dogs in the cabin, some in the hold - as do restrictions on ferries – for instance, some ferries ask that dogs on deck are muzzled, so check before you travel. If your pet needs an animal health certificate (for EU countries and Northern Ireland), please contact your vets well in advance – only certain vets are eligible to issue them.

SORRY, no crossword puzzle this month. See page 34 for sudoku solution.

Animals travelling in cars must be secured; cats and small animals in carriers, dogs in crates or with a dog seatbelt attached to a harness – never a collar. Make sure microchip and ID tag details are up-to-date and check where the nearest vet is where you are staying in case of an emergency. If you pet gets stressed when travelling, contact your vet to see if medication would help. Make sure there are plenty of stops en route for drinks, especially if the weather is hot, and that they are travelling on something comfortable which doesn’t slide about. Travelling can be tiring for pets too, so give them plenty of opportunities to rest after the journey. Contributed by Stuart McMorrow, head vet at Westport Veterinary Clinic 8 Preston Road. 01506 844 165 | www.westportvets.com 28 | LINLITHGOW

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LOCAL ENVIRONMENT

The last couple of articles I’ve written have been quite light-hearted but this one is going to be somewhat more serious. We’re in the middle of nesting season and birds are working incredibly hard to raise this year’s brood, facing many challenges including potentially adverse weather and predators on the lookout for an easy meal. These are things we can’t control but what we can, is our behaviour around the wildlife. Just last week I had to shout at someone to put their dog on a lead as it crashed around the local ponds, scaring away coots and moorhens. The bigger concern came from the male swan who is defending his nest from anything which comes too close, and made a beeline for the dog. This could end badly for both the swan and the dog if it came to a full attack (I’ve seen pictures of something similar in Musselburgh recently). It doesn’t apply to just nesting birds on ponds but coastal areas, and farmland where there are animals grazing. I’m not @KonectMagazines

trying to lecture anyone but equally, I cannot stress enough how important it is to keep your dog on a lead at this time of year. Even if you think your dog can be trusted off lead, it’s still an animal with its own mind and could easily be distracted by something unexpectedly. Wildlife has a hard enough time as it is and we should be doing as much as we possibly can to protect it. 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 LINLITHGOW | 29

PARENTING

A wicked week at stage school! Something wicked this way comes…ah yes, it’s the summer holidays! Another seven weeks off school approaches. Don’t get me wrong I’m certainly looking forward to a few weeks off work with the fam. As usual though it’s the other five weeks of no school which worry me. And so the annual challenge of coming up with what to do with the kids while I’m at work begins. However, unlike some years I know what is at the top of their list. They’ve only asked me about it approximately 3,284 times since Easter. During the Easter holidays this year my girls both went to the Proscenium Stage School Easter camp. A week of singing, dance and drama that had them staging shows around the house for weeks afterwards. I had planned to have a week off with them over Easter to enjoy some quality time. But then my eldest was snooping through my social media - as only a child who is yet to get a phone of their own can - and she spotted that for the Proscenium Easter week they were going to be doing stuff from both Wicked and High School Musical. Well there was no way I could compete with that. So off they went each day with their packed lunch and their song sheets. No complaining that they didn’t want to go. No asking why they couldn’t just stay at home and play. They were literally dying to get down there each day. And each day they came home and promptly disappeared off to practise in front of the mirror. I’ve never seen them throw themselves into something with such abandon. 30 | LINLITHGOW

By the time Friday came I was dying to see more. I helped them at home in the evenings to learn some lines and practise song words but they were very set on not spoiling the show, so they never let me see too much. Of course after two years of no school assemblies or Nativity performances to coo over I was a pretty sure bet. So Friday came and there I was in the front row ready to clap and cheer at whatever was about to happen on the stage. With all the screeching and giggling when they were “practising” at home I wasn’t convinced they could have achieved that much and that would have been fine. But I was amazed at what they had put together in just a week. Seeing all the kids’ happy, smiling faces absolutely delighted with themselves for putting on a show was nothing short of magic. Ever since then all they’ve been asking me is when they can go back to Proscenium. Those weekly classes are looking more and more appealing just to get some peace. Needless to say I’m now stalking their social media so I’ll be the first to hear about their summer week. That’ll be one down, four weeks to go! 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

The world’s greatest detective is back and this time he is doing detective work. It’s strange to think that after many incarnations of this beloved character it took so long for the detective side of the character to be front and centre. Similar to films like Seven, The Batman is a story about Batman trying to solve the crimes being committed by the Riddler. The film spans a massive 2 hours and 56 minutes runtime. It’s simply too long, and can really drag at times; I wish it was closer to 2 hours than 3. Also, the crimes that are committed feel watered down and not gruesome enough. They tell you that these crimes are horrific and shocking, but personally I was never truly shocked by the crimes. I feel that it was held back by trying to go for a PG-13 rating in America and I’m shocked it got a 15 rating in the UK. There are many positives though. The film is just gorgeous from the opening shot and it’s the best-looking superhero film in a long time. The cast is amazing: Robert Patterson does a great job and Colin Farrell is unrecognisable. There are many scenes that are truly gripping. But at the end of the day, the film is simply way to long. Rewatching this film was more of a slog than a joy - and I hate saying that as there is a lot to love about this film. Available to rent on all major platforms. 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. @KonectMagazines

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WEST LOTHIAN EAGLES – AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL - Come along and try Australian Rules football! We are recruiting for the 2022 season for both our men’s and women’s teams. If you’re looking for a new sport, new friends and looking to get fitter then get in touch today! No experience is required and our team of coaches are on hand to teach you all there is to know! We train at Linlithgow Academy every Thursday 7.00pm-9.00pm, see you there! Find us on social media. W: linktr.ee/WestLothianEagles E: westlothianeagles@gmail.com TABLE TENNIS - LINLITHGOW - Under appropriate guidelines our club has restarted for the 2021/22 season.

Wednesdays, Longcroft Hall, Philip Avenue, Linlithgow. Main Hall 8.00pm - 9.45 pm

Annual Membership £10.00 £3.00 per night (Under 18’s £2.00). Play Table Tennis in a friendly and not too competitive atmosphere. The Club has “Active Assured” status on the West Lothian Council Accreditation scheme. Contact Allan Scott on 07485 001819 or e-mail linlithgowlttg@gmail.com WHITBURN AND DISTRICT PROBUS CLUB - A local association for retired and semi-retired men to meet for fellowship and friendship. Meetings are held at the Hilcroft Hotel each Wednesday morning at 9.30 and usually conclude around 12 noon. An extensive programme of speakers is planned throughout the year and periodic lunches, dinners and outings are planned. Interested? Contact Rod Dow (Probus Secretary) on 01506 462772 or come along any Wednesday morning for a coffee and a warm welcome. WEST LOTHIAN u3a - Retired or semiretired and looking for a new way to spend your free time? Why not try u3a? u3a is a UK wide movement for retired or semi retired people who wish to make new friends, continue learning in an informal setting, and keep active. Most groups meet at Uphall Community Centre. No formal qualifications are required and non given. For more information see; W: u3asites.org.uk/westlothian/home Facebook: www.facebook.com/WestLothian-u3a-106310894889317 E: memsecwlu3a@gmail.com T: 01506 844274.

LINLITHGOW STRING ORCHESTRA We are a friendly group who meet weekly on Monday’s 7.30-9.30pm (term-time) at Linlithgow Masonic Lodge. Players aged 13+ with a minimum standard Grade 5 or equivalent (no audition) from Linlithgow and the surrounding areas are welcome. Please bring music stands. Contact us via email: linlithgowstringorchestra@ gmail.com through our website: linlithgowstringorchestra.co.uk or search for us on Facebook. LOCHSIDE PLAYGROUP - Parent-run playgroup located in Linlithgow provides 2.5hrs registered childcare during West Lothian School term-time for children

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aged 2yrs 3mths to 5 years, 9.15-11.45am Monday-Thursday. A great setting for children to begin their journey into nursery/ school, ensuring a stimulating and caring environment (with healthy snacks). Council-funded places for 2-year-olds available to eligible families. Contact us for more information/to add a child to the waiting list, email: lochsideplaygroup@ yahoo.com, through our website www. lochsideplaygroup.org or on Facebook.

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SOLUTION TO MAY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

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

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. 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 information for anyone affected by cancer – yourself, a relative, friend or carer. Face to face appointments at Partnership Centres in Bathgate, Livingston North, Broxburn, Fauldhouse and Blackburn. Short health walks leaving Bathgate Partnership Centre - call to book a place. 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.

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ACROSS: 1. Oven, 3. Admitted, 9. Extract, 10. Tower, 11. Contemporary, 14. Mrs, 16. Plane, 17. See, 18. Explanations, 21. China, 22. Emotion, 23. Disaster, 24. Cell. DOWN: 1. Overcome, 2. Eaten, 4. Dot, 5. Intersection, 6. Thwarts, 7. Dire, 8. Caterpillars, 12. Plain, 13. Personal, 15. Sixties, 19. Olive, 20. Acid, 22. Ewe.

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