Thursday, July 31, 2008

Moishe's Bagel at the Big Tent

Moishe's Bagel at the Big Tent Festival North Fife. I first saw them at Falkland last year, enjoyable then only more so now.

After the well received first album by Moishe's Bagel they released their second album "Salt" the notorious `difficult' second album. Well have no fears those of you who bought the first album `Don't Spare the Horses' this album is a real corker! It is once again an album full of Rip-roaring, foot-stomping, jazz-inflected klezmer and Balkan music. An intoxicating, life-affirming mix of Eastern European dance music, Middle Eastern rhythms and virtuoso performances. Also as well as the passion there is a lot of humour in the music, with takes on the music of Philip Glass as an example, which then develops into a heady mixture of klezmer and Scottish reels!
Moishe's Bagel combines the energy and passion of Eastern European folk music with the excitement and soul of improvisation. Boasting some of the best instrumentalists that Scotland has to offer the band made up of charismatic violinist Greg Lawson also playing Mandolin, Phil Alexander on Piano AND Stylophone! Pete Garnett rock solid on Accordion the `Bill Wyman' of the group, Mario Caribe on double bass, guitar and Ukulele and Guy Nicholson multi- percussionist.
This album really grooves and you will find it hard to sit still, an album of passion for those who like world music and to those who do not follow the herd. Recommended. Also if you get a chance, go see them live. As reviewed by Bernard Price.
Play List:-
1. Tantz Glassidic
2. Sidi-Kasem / La Bonhomie
3. El Coche Amarillo 23
4. Czech Set (Pristav-The Bouncing Czech)
5. Give Me A Lift To Tsfat-Odessa Bulgar
6. Amondala
7. Seven-Eleven
8. Flying By Jewish Radar
9. Lament
10. The Spar Shuffle
11. A Nakht In Gan Eydn

Salt. Moishe's Bagel. Salt .

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

The Chipolatas at The Big Tent Falkland

The Chipolatas at The Big Tent Falkland, North Fife. A wonderfully entertaining show of which this is only part. Performed at Scotland's Festival of Stewardship.
For DVD.

Samye-Ling Shrine

Lama Thubten and Chenrezig statue in the Nyung-Nye Shrine room. Inside the Abbot's old office in Johnstone House is a shrine under construction that will be devoted to the Nyung-nyes, a special fasting practice. The main feature of the shrine is a 1000 armed Chenrezig statue, beautifully sculpted by Lama Thubten, a master craftsman from Tibet. On the right of the Chenrezig statue is a statue of Guru Rinpoche and on its left is a statue of His Holiness The 16th Karmapa. Also forming the Shrine are two statues, Hayagriva and Naga King now skilfully being painted by Sue Bradley who lives near to Samye-Ling in Eskdalemuir.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

6 Halyburton Place, Cupar for sale

6 Halyburton Place, Cupar for sale.
Offers over £147,500
Public Rooms : 1
Bedrooms : 3
Garage : yes
Garden : yes
A semi-detached villa situated within a corner plot in a popular residential area. Internally, there is accommodation formed over two levels which benefits from gas central heating and double glazing. Externally, there are gardens to the front, side and rear of the property as well as a garage and driveway which provide off-street parking. Reception hall, lounge, kitchen, two double bedrooms, dining room / third bedroom, bathroom, well presented accommodation, cul-de-sac location.

Pagan Osborne Property Services
Solicitors and Estate Agents
1 Crossgate
Cupar
Fife
KY15 4HA
Tel : 01334 656525
Fax : 01334 654119
E-mail : property-cupar@pagan.co.uk
Website : www.paganosborne.com

North Fife History. Cupar: A History History of North Fife Cupar. North Fife Property. Tour Scotland. North Fife Maps. St.Andrews and East Fife: Cupar, Anstruther and Crail (Explorer) Rent a Cottage in North Fife Scotland.

Kesara Belly Dancers at the Big Tent

Kesara Belly dancers at the Big Tent, Falkland North Fife.

Bellydancing with Kesara at The Big Tent. Scotland's Festival of Stewardship. A fantastic time with many stimulating and interesting happenings at Falkland North Fife.

Guru Rinpoche and Victory Stupa

Guru Rinpoche Statue close to Victory Stupa at Samye-Ling Tibetan Centre. Increasingly people from all over visit, from the East, West, South and myself from North Fife.



The Victory Stupa

Samye-Ling's Stupa has a unique feature. Its little shrine is dedicated to honouring people who have died and preserving their ashes. When people die, their coffin is placed inside the shrine with their head resting just above the mandala of the five elements. On the ceiling over the coffin is the purification mandala of Dorje Sempa. Monks, nuns and lay practitioners say prayers continuously for three days and nights, invoking the blessing of Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, and entrusting the mind of the deceased person to Amitabha, the Buddha of Boundless Light, praying that their mind takes birth in Dewachen, Amitabha's Pure Land of Great Bliss. After the period of three days is up, the deceased person's body is cremated and their ashes are placed inside the cupboards that surround the shrine. Then once a year there is a special ceremony conducted by a high lama in which the ashes are blessed and prayers are said for all those who have died.

The central statue inside the Stupa is that of Amitabha, the Buddha of Boundless Light. To his right is Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, and to his left is Vajrapani, the Bodhisattva of Great Might. Around Amitabha are different manifestations of the Medicine Buddha. Right at the top, surrounding the ceiling, are a series of small cabinets containing statues of the 35 Buddhas who are connected with purification of the emotional defilements that obscure our enlightened nature. The stained glass windows are imprinted with the Kalachakra mandala, the function of which is to restore balance and harmony.
For more information on Stupas visit: www.stupa.org/stupas.htm

Chöje Akong Rinpoche

Chöje Akong Rinpoche is a tulku in the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism and a founder of the Samye Ling Monastery. He was born in 1939, near Riwoche in Kham, Eastern Tibet. At the age of two he was discovered by the search party seeking the reincarnation the previous (1st) Akong, Abbot of Dolma Lhakang monastery in the Chamdo area of Kham. The search party was following instructions given by the 16th Karmapa. Akong Rinpoche is my teacher and guide of over 30 years.


This text is based on 20 years' Buddhist teaching in the West, and aims to help those seeking the truth about suffering and happiness. The first part deals with topics such as: impermanence; the right motivation; facing the situation; body, speech and mind; compassion; and mindfulness. The second part is devoted to exercises, meditations and relaxation techniques for body and mind, including: feeling; openness; taking suffering; bringing the Buddha to life; and universal compassion. The exercises, designed to provide a base of self-knowledge, mind-therapy and self-healing, have also been found beneficial in therapy workshops and in the treatment of psychological problems. The author comes from the Samye-Ling Tibetan Centre in Eskdalemuir, Scotland. Taming the Tiger: Tibetan Teaching for Improving Daily Life .

Monday, July 28, 2008

Samye-Ling from the West

Approaching Eskdalemuir valley on the Lockerbie road turning left at the church and through the villge passing the turn to Purelands on the left, the village community hall and right to Karma Drubgyud Darjay Ling (Samye-Ling)at my journeys end from North Fife.


One of two large self catering houses available for hire and retreats.

Samye-Ling from the North


Road to Samye-Ling from the North via Innerleithen, Tushi Law, Ettrick, just arriving. Along the way thoughts of James Hogg arose as I passed Ettrick Valley turn. I have made this journey many times from North Fife to Samye-Ling which I regard as home from home.

Portrait of James Hogg, The Ettrick Shepherd. James Hogg was born in 1770 at Ettrick Hall, at the top of the Ettrick Valley. The second of four sons of an impoverished farmer, he left school after six months' formal education. Aged seven, he began to work on the lowest rung of the farming ladder - as a cowherd.
But he had learned, at his mother's knee, the great oral tradition of ballads and folklore of the Borders. And her father, "the far-famed Will O'Phaup" was reputed to have been the last man to converse with the fairies. In his mid-teens, James Hogg taught himself to read and write, and to play the fiddle, and entered the skilled profession of shepherding. He began making songs and verses for local gatherings. The other young people of the valleys called him "Jamie the Poeter". His career had begun.
At the turn of the eighteenth century, Hogg was working as a shepherd on the farm on Blackhouse in Yarrow for the Laidlaw family, who opened their hearts and library to the young shepherd poet. It was at this time that Walter Scott, the newly appointed sheriff of Selkirk, was roaming the Border Valleys in pursuit of the disappearing ballads of the Borders. Through the Laidlaws, he met James Hogg and his mother who had a rich store of the ballads. The two young men were almost exact contemporaries. They began a friendship that was to last, despite many tensions, throughout their lives.
The pilgrims of the sun: a poem.

Of all the lasses in fair Scotland,
That lightly bound o'er muir and lea,
There's nane like the maids of Yarrowdale,
Wi' their green coats kilted to the knee.

O! there shines mony a winsom face,
And mony a bright and beaming ee;
For rosy health blooms on the cheek,
And the blink of love plays o'er the bree.

But ne'er by Yarrow's sunny braes,
Nor Ettrick's green and wizzard shaw,
Did ever maid so lovely won
As M\ary Lee of Carelha'.

O' round her fair and sightly form
The light hill-breeze was blythe to blow.
For the virgin hue her bosom wore
Was whiter than the drifted snow.

More
,

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Gateway to Samye-Ling

Today I travelled 100+ miles South from North Fife to Samye-Ling Tibetan Centre,this the gateway.

Ceremonial Arrow

Ceremonial arrow with copper flights, mahogany shaft with silver joints and arrowhead. As made at Flisk North Fife.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Skull Cup and Spoon

Over the years I have been requested to line human skulls with pure silver with a silver lid, interestingly, water remains sweet in pure silver containers on account of anti-bacterial qualities. In Tibet human bones have been utilised as in many cultures that have Shaman activities. Through long and focused ritual chanting, liquids are empowered and often shared with the participants dolled into the hand with a libation spoon shown below.

Libation Spoon in silver about half a cubit long with an eight pronged Dorje head with coral set with turquoise. All made here at Flisk North Fife. I sometimes think it very odd myself.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Chenrezig

Chenrezig Boddhisattva of compassion linked to the mantra om mani padme hung. Here depicted on this thanka (painting), four armed, two holding a wish fulfilling gem over the heart centre from where pure wish can actualise. A lotus flower and marla (counting devise) in the remaining hands.

An example of a hand crafted sterling silver engraved Gau made here at Flisk North Fife.

Dorje Palmo North Fife

Dorje Palmo North Fife. Dorje Palmo is the feminine wrathful deity in the Tibetan Buddhist way of seeing things. As the posts unfold over the next few days, esoteric aspects of my work will be revealed. This object, actually called a gau is worn over the heart centre and engraved with images integral to the purchasers inherent qualities, their meditative realm. Below is the Mandala to Dorje Palmo. Everything within the engravings is there for a reason. The garland of 32 flowers, the garland of 51 heads, the sun and moon discs, the knife, the landscape in fact all has meaning. There is a huge amount in there. To find out more and discover the true nature of mind, many find instruction at Samye-Ling Tibetan Centre.
Enjoy.

It is important to recognize the power of our emotions--and to take responsibility for them by creating a light and positive atmosphere around ourselves. This attitude of joy that we create helps alleviate states of hopelessness, loneliness, and despair. Our relationships with others thus naturally improve, and little by little the whole of society becomes more positive and balanced. - Tarthang Tulku.

For many people searching for ways to improve the qualities of their lives, Openness Mind clearly explains the value of meditation and how to proceed with its practice. Defining meditation as a way of opening our minds to the richness of experience, this book emphasizes a practical approach that anyone can apply to develop awareness, transcend the limitations of self-image, improve concentration, and effect positive changes in their way of being. Tarthang Tulku offers exercises to expand our understanding of reality and the nature of mind, and engages questions commonly asked by beginning meditators.

"By means of meditation we can teach our minds to be calm and balanced; within this calmness is a richness and a potential, an inner knowledge which can render our lives boundlessly satisfying and meaningful. While the mind may be what traps us in unhealthy patterns of stress and imbalance, it is also the mind which can free us. Through meditation, we can tap the healing qualities of mind." Tarthang Tulku. .Openness Mind (Nyingma Psychology Series)

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Mahakala North Fife

Mahakala North Fife. This engraving of Mahakala is a wrathful protector, just one in the pantheon of Tibetan Buddhist Deities. More on this in subsequent posts.

North Fife History. Cupar: A History History of North Fife Cupar. North Fife Property. Tour Scotland. North Fife Maps. St.Andrews and East Fife: Cupar, Anstruther and Crail (Explorer) Rent a Cottage in North Fife Scotland.

Lindores Abbey Annual Party

Lindores Abbey Annual Party North Fife. Each year Robbie McKenzie Smith, custodian of this beautiful historic site of Lindores Abbey invites friends to enjoy being in a relaxed and safe comfortable venue. The morning rain put off many but in the event it was fine.

To one corner of these beautiful and well kept grounds of Lindores Abbey we relax and enjoy. The Lindores

Convivial interaction of friends.



After a while indulgence takes its toll.

Tins and Derek provide well cooked BBQ ed Burgers, Vegetable and beef, Venison and Fish to accompany salads with sauces followed by afters of fresh berries with cream and more.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Fly Fishing North Fife


Fly Fishing on Lindores Loch North Fife. A beautiful yet under utilised place to fish in north fife. The loch is mainly fly fished for trout, it contains Perch, Pike and Eels also, it drains through the Den of Lindores to Parkhill millpond and into the River Tay. Along the way it passes through ancient Eel traps which have been in place from the at least the times of Lindores Abbey.

What a superb place to be, casting flies surrounded by an abundance of nature, Mallards, Coots, Moorhens, Swans and even Ospreys visit to partake of the rich pickings.

There is a building where one may hire or buy what is needed to indulge. For more information.
North Fife History. Cupar: A History History of North Fife Cupar. North Fife Property. Tour Scotland. North Fife Maps. St.Andrews and East Fife: Cupar, Anstruther and Crail (Explorer) Rent a Cottage in North Fife Scotland.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Rural property to rent wanted North Fife

Carl and family seeking rural property to rent in North Fife.

This email arrived today and I am happy to post it.

Hi there, myself, my wife and my two wee boys
have just moved to the Kingdom and are staying with
family and friends.It was lovely to click on your site
and find someone who celebrates this place. I'm a bit
stunned by its beauty and after ten years of
listening to London buses trundling past and I'm
thinking that this is the place where my boys should
be learning about life.
I have noticed how there are rental properties advertised through your blog and I was wondering if it would be possible to advertise our
situation? We are looking to find a rental property
long term based somewhere North Fife, Tayside or
further, something rural, unfurnished, a cottage
possibly with an outbuilding costing around £450 pcm.
I am a carpenter and my wife is an artist and we would
consider somewhere that may need a little work. We are
trying the usual ways but I thought it would be great
to post a message with your readership. Any help would
be greatly appreciated.

Kind Regards
Carl
email :- carlsmyth@btinternet.com

North Fife History. Cupar: A History History of North Fife Cupar. North Fife Property. Tour Scotland. North Fife Maps. St.Andrews and East Fife: Cupar, Anstruther and Crail (Explorer) Rent a Cottage in North Fife Scotland.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Parkhill Millpond Newburgh North Fife.

Parkhill Millpond Newburgh North Fife. A very lovely spot which I pass by frequently. Just by, is this development of the steadings into domestic houses. Now nearing completion. I have no financial interest in this but am happy to encourage others to live in this part of the world. Good climate, stuffed full of interesting history, Lindores Abbey is a hundred metres away, the River Tay a field away and Newburgh itself, Fantastic.

North Fife History. Cupar: A History History of North Fife Cupar. North Fife Property. Tour Scotland. North Fife Maps. St.Andrews and East Fife: Cupar, Anstruther and Crail (Explorer) Rent a Cottage in North Fife Scotland.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Logie Farm North Fife

Logie Farm North Fife. This evening I was able to capture this view which is not unusual when we have showery weather. That the rainbow ends on Logie farm may give understanding to the smile on Martin Hancock's face, the farmer.

North Fife History. Cupar: A History History of North Fife Cupar. North Fife Property. Tour Scotland. North Fife Maps. St.Andrews and East Fife: Cupar, Anstruther and Crail (Explorer) Rent a Cottage in North Fife Scotland.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

River Tay from Normans Law

River Tay from Normans Law North Fife. Looking West over the Tay into Perthshire, the river at half tide exposes the sand banks of which there are many. Although the deep channel is now marked by secure lighted posts the occasional ship even with a pilot manages to run aground.

North Fife History. Cupar: A History History of North Fife Cupar. North Fife Property. Tour Scotland. North Fife Maps. St.Andrews and East Fife: Cupar, Anstruther and Crail (Explorer) Rent a Cottage in North Fife Scotland.

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Otters North Fife

Otters North Fife. Where there are otters there will be fish, where there are Herons there will be fish, where there are fishermen there might be fish. Anyway, a while ago, in the car we met this otter on the road about 1/2 a mile from the river Tay, much as I tried to avoid it we collided. Here in a state of Rigor Mortis the otter sits. We decided to bury it to later retrieve the skull, this after consulting French cookery books (as like the Chinese) seem to eat anything. Inedible was the answer. Within a day or two a fox came along, dug it up and ate it. There is no accounting for taste. No skull, no otter.