Balerno's Waffle Queen
"Sharon spotted I’d got a new puppy, deduced that I was looking for a lifestyle change, and approached me about working for them!”
Explore!
Explore! Our articles cover anything and everything to do with West Lothian, West Edinburgh and Falkirk.
A selection of what goes into print is published here.
Browse the archives below or use the archive menu to sort by category, or use the search bar to find a specific reference.
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Editor
- Feb 7
- 5 min
West Lothian Dippers : Braving the winter water
In the sea, lochs and reservoirs; in freezing or (occasionally) balmy weather, West Lothian’s wild swimmers are in the water for an invigora
Editor
- Jul 7, 2020
- 3 min
Isolation? Been there, done that
For many people the Covid-19 lockdown has been a first and unwelcome taste of social isolation and restricted movement. Not seeing friends,
Editor
- Jul 2, 2020
- 3 min
"You shouldn't be here"
#blm I asked Dr. Reginald Agu, who lives in Wester Hailes and came to Edinburgh to complete his PhD to tell me about his experiences
Editor
- Apr 21, 2020
- 2 min
Matt Grieve: Finding my rhythm in teaching!
The April Local People column is an interview with Matt Grieve, nursery teacher at Dean Park Primary School, Balerno. Interviewed before...
Editor
- Apr 10, 2020
- 4 min
African soul, crafted in Scotland: Gold medal-winning rum from Matugga Distillers
You might think the ingredients for gold medal-winning rum is all in the molasses and copper pot stills. But you’d be only partially correct
Editor
- Apr 4, 2020
- 2 min
“Grab a notepad and write down anything that pops into your head.”
Local People: Scott Fleming “Writing was never my plan, but as I could see my 40th birthday on the horizon, I suddenly found the notion...
Editor
- Mar 30, 2020
- 2 min
Waz and Assfa – Keeping Supplies Rolling
The only man with a reliable supply of toilet roll for miles around is busy, of course, when I call in to find out how he does what the...
Editor
- Mar 26, 2020
- 4 min
The Sunday Dinner Lady
“Sunday dinner was always a tradition in my family,” says Winchburgh resident Anne Wilson, aka the Sunday Dinner Lady. “I love a Sunday...
Editor
- Mar 4, 2020
- 3 min
Allison Poulter, Cat Sitter
It’s an unusual occupation, one born from a passion for cats. Allison Poulter is a home-visiting cat sitter. Or Cat Whisperer. Or...
Editor
- Nov 11, 2019
- 2 min
Spotlight on Harvey Bruce
“It was when I had to miss my son’s first day at school due to work commitments, and then his swimming gala finals, that I decided I...
Editor
- Nov 4, 2019
- 3 min
Spotlight on Taylor Roofs
Jamie Taylor’s work ethic has taken him from a 16 year old school leaver in Armadale hungry for work in the trades, to running a sizeable...
Editor
- Sep 7, 2019
- 2 min
Rainbow Tree Music - Inspiring Young Musicians
Rainbow Tree Music, an innovative new music school, has just launched a range of exciting new classes in Bathgate. The first of its kind,...
Editor
- Jul 19, 2019
- 2 min
Jackie Mcgeachie: "I didn’t want to give up my life, I just wanted to give up alcohol."
“I stopped drinking 16 years ago. It was a very isolating experience. For a long time I’ve wanted to create a place where people who...
Editor
- May 15, 2019
- 4 min
“No-one knows the river like its anglers.”
“I remember a time when sometimes the river ran red, sometimes it ran blue,” says George Mackintosh, talking to me about the River Avon...
Editor
- May 14, 2019
- 2 min
Linda Scott: From horses to politics via catering
“You need to choose, Linda, is it university or the horses?” “For me it was a no-brainer; I went with the horses,” says Linda Scott, CEO...
Editor
- Dec 5, 2018
- 3 min
Dignity Boxes
“I’d like people to be able to have essential toiletries and personal hygiene products without having to ask, and without needing to...
Editor
- Nov 26, 2018
- 2 min
JamQueen: Pole Fitness
Various forms of dance have made their way into the fitness studio in recent years as we’re always looking for fun and different ways of...
Editor
- Nov 8, 2018
- 3 min
Ali Carlyle: Committed to quality
Ali Carlyle is head chef at Carlyle’s Bar and Kitchen in Balerno. He got his start in catering at age 15, and since then has taken...
Editor
- Nov 8, 2018
- 2 min
World-class chocolatier, local person: Sebastian Kobelt
“It’s a long story - longer than we have time for - for how I ended up in Scotland,” says Scotland’s Chocolatier of the year 2018. I’m...