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.

Read past and current issues online

ONLINE LIBRARY

Editor

Jun 8, 20212 min read

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!”

West Lothian Dippers : Braving the winter water

Editor

Feb 7, 20215 min read

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, 20203 min read

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, 20203 min read

"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

Matt Grieve: Finding my rhythm in teaching!

Editor

Apr 21, 20202 min read

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...

African soul, crafted in Scotland: Gold medal-winning rum from Matugga Distillers

Editor

Apr 10, 20204 min read

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

“Grab a notepad and write down anything that pops into your head.”

Editor

Apr 4, 20202 min read

“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...

Waz and Assfa – Keeping Supplies Rolling

Editor

Mar 30, 20202 min read

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, 20204 min read

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, 20203 min read

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, 20192 min read

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, 20193 min read

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...

Rainbow Tree Music - Inspiring Young Musicians

Editor

Sep 7, 20192 min read

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,...

Jackie Mcgeachie: "I didn’t want to give up my life, I just wanted to give up alcohol."

Editor

Jul 19, 20192 min read

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...

“No-one knows the river like its anglers.”

Editor

May 15, 20194 min read

“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...

Linda Scott: From horses to politics via catering

Editor

May 14, 20192 min read

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, 20183 min read

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, 20182 min read

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, 20183 min read

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...

World-class chocolatier, local person: Sebastian Kobelt

Editor

Nov 8, 20182 min read

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...