Saturday, January 31, 2009

Burns Supper Fife Arts Co-op

There you have it, Haggis, neeps and tatties accompanied with a wee dram of whisky and wine. A Burns Supper shared with Fife Arts Co-operative at The Steeple Arts Newburgh North Fife.



Fife Arts Co-operative Burns Supper at The Steeple. Haggis being played in by Dave Ford and carried by Lindsey Goring. Addressed by Graeme Russell and the Toast.

Selkirk Grace and response by Lindsey Goring and a song and murmur from us all followed by Tam O'Shanter by Julie Goring with asides Louise Moran.

Response by Lindsey Goring and on to more song. A truly splendid evening and one I enjoyed very much, meeting others for the first time and growing other friendships.What else can one wish for in a common interest.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Scots North Fife

At the Homecoming event at The National Museum of Scotland Matthew Fitt presented an entertaining discourse on the movement to encourage the knowledge and happy use of Scots. Rabbie Burns wrote in Scots, whose birthday it was. Imagine, the time honoured National Poet whose language is less and less understood. I was born in England, have lived in Scotland for 30 years and for all of that time have a local friend who writes poetry in Scots. You can see and hear Harvey Holton who has always explained that to say it as you see it, is all, then you've got it.




Winnie-the-Pooh in Scots

'Fair fa yer honest sonsie face Great chieftain o the pudding race!'To mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, Scotland's National Bard, Itchy Coo is proud to publish this lift-the-flap board book in the format of the hugely successful KATIE series.There will be many publications in 2009 to mark Burns' 250th birthday, but Rabbie's Rhymes is unique in bringing the best-loved lines of the poet to the very youngest readers. Children will love lifting the flaps to find out: where the wee sleekit cowerin timorous moose is hiding; what the haggis is wearing on his head; and what happens to the Highlander's kilt when the wind blows. A simple, funny, colourful introduction to Burns, Rabbie's Rhymes will entertain the bairns and encourage parents and teachers not only to recite the lines from the poems but perhaps also to sing the tunes to songs like Ca the Yowes and Ye Banks and Braes, A Red, Red Rose and, as a grand finale, Auld Lang Syne. Illustrated by award-winning Karen Sutherland, Rabbie's Rhymes will be one of the highlights of the 2009 Burns celebrations.

About the Author
James Robertson and Matthew Fitt have written numerous books together in Scots, including Blethertoun Braes, King o the Midden, A Wee Book of Fairy Tales and A Moose in the Hoose. Karen Sutherland is an award-winning artist who is also the illustrator of Animal ABC, A Moose in the Hoose and Eck the Bee.Rabbie's Rhymes: Robert Burns for Wee Folk (Katie)

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

River Tay 28th Jan North Fife

The River Tay 28th Jan North Fife. As still as a millpond at about half water with navigation lights looking twice their height with the reflection on a mirror surface.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Findlay Napier and the Bar Room Moutaineers

Findlay Napier and The Bar Room Mountaineers. Douglas Millar, Findlay Napier, Gillian Frame and Paul Jennings perform at the opening event of Homecoming Scotland at the National Museum of Scotland, Burns Day, Sun 25th January 2009

The unique Scottish act, Findlay Napier and The Bar Room Mountaineers hail from a “folk” background which makes it easy to pigeonhole most bands, but certainly not this one. Performing at the National Museum of Scotland on Burns Day 2009.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Robert Burns Day

Christopher Tait the worlds leading Robert Burns impersonator delivers at The National Museum of Scotland on Burns Day. 250th anniversary of his birth. I had travelled from north fife to Edinburgh to experience the first event of Homecoming Scotland 2009

At a portrait signing by Robert Burns for a wee Lassie I became involved in conversation with another spectator who claimed to be his mother. there followed a bizarre exchange with myself in the mindset of witnessing the bard himself and Christopher Tait's mum being truthful. Mrs Tait I'm sorry for being so dumb. I thought you were being exotically creative, please contact me to discuss issues.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Scottish Cooking North Fife

Scottish cooking north fife, it's always good to find a book of this quality, stuffed full of traditional and modern recipes. 'Scots' and 'cooking' aren't two words normally associated with each other, at least not in a positive light. Sue Lawrence readily admits as much in her introduction, and heartily criticizes the well-documented Caledonian penchant for deep-frying and chips with everything. She doesn't dwell too long on this relatively recent downside, however, and soon offers plenty of evidence to suggest that, culinarily, Scotland has much to be proud of. As a former BBC Masterchef and long-running recipe writer for the Sunday Times, she certainly has the credentials necessary to put forward her case, and promptly takes us back to the days before the reign of the ubiquitous deep-fryer. Oats, broths and oily fish are, rightly, heralded as exceptionally healthy foodstuffs. Old books have been unearthed, revealing a surprisingly wide variety of menus over the years. Granted, many of these were restricted to the occupants of the big houses, while the daily fare of the poorer Scottish people is described as 'plain, possibly mundane', with special dishes being enjoyed only on special occasions. People tended to survive on what was available locally, and it's interesting to read how modern luxuries like oysters and lobsters were once everyday sustenance for those living near the sea. The recipes are divided into various categories, from highly acclaimed and justifiably popular breakfasts through hearty winter-friendly broths to wonderfully named fish dishes such as 'crappit heid' and 'hairy tatties'. Sections on meat and poultry, game and baking, as well as many of the individual recipes, come with a potted history and the occasional personalized aside. Scotland's reputation for hospitality is also emphasized in this collection, which won the Guild of Food Writers Michael Smith Award, and the whole thing is offered up in a refreshing style that Lawrence attributes to the cooking itself - unintimidating and unpretentious. Scots Cooking: The Best Traditional and Contemporary Scottish Recipes
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North Fife Crows Jan 19th 2009

North Fife Crows today Jan 19th 2009 have begun to congregate just by my house at Flisk. I love their chatter and constant communication.

Tayview today 19th Jan. The weather is cold with gentle large flaked snow showering and settling in the garden but not in the adjacent fields below. Frequently we are on a snowline. The river Tay was as calm as a millpond.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

North Fife Photographs Tony Gorman

A north fife photograph of Tony Gorman relates to the last post. A friend and lover of reggae music since it began, Tony promotes through this site. And

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Bob Marley North Fife



Having now moved into my studio at The Steeple Arts Newburgh North Fife and sorting through my photographic archive, I am happy to have found these and many more images of Bob Marley and the Wailers. These as yet unseen photographs were taken at a sound check and performance at Bingley Hall Stafford in 1978. Memories came flooding back, the occasion was relaxed and professional and it was a delight to be present and mingle. From it I now understand the energy that performers receive from the the throng, having delivered, it is returned thousands fold. Extremely uplifting. Contact me if you have interest in downloading much higher resolution images.

Jammin Enjoying the practice.


The current album being promoted was Kaya.



Marley is in a mellow and happy mood as the album opens with "excuse me while I light my spliff" on "Easy Skanking" and maintains the feeling throughout. "Kaya" has one of the best bass riffs of any Marley song (played by the wonderful Aston "Family Man" Barrett). The hit single "Is This Love" is included and he sounds upbeat singing "She's Gone", although the subject is that his lover has just left him. Nothing fazed him; he was able to address political and emotional subjects with the same degree of feeling and his manner was truly saintly. KAYA is one of his finest moments. Kaya
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Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Tayview North Fife Jan 14th 2009

A lovely Tayview point near Newburgh North Fife. A cold frosty day taking in Newburgh, Mugdrum Island, The mist covered Carse of Gowrie, Errol, the frosted fields, russet coloured reed beds, frozen puddles. Yes a cold one.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Seagulls North Fife

Seagulls in North Fife, at this time off the year there is much ploughing of the fields and there is much following by hungry birds.

Sunday, January 04, 2009

North Fife Complete Indian Cooking

Simple grub in North Fife, not as high key as the book illustration but my goodness it tasted good.

This book was a Christmas present and contains 325 authentic recipes, today because we had a couple of pounds venison pieces I tried a dish of lentils with venison, fresh tomatoes and coriander, We are a family of 4 and it was that nice there was nothing left, plates wiped clean with remaining nan bread. Only 324 more different dishes to try.Complete Indian Cooking

Saturday, January 03, 2009

Jan 3rd North Fife

Dundee on Jan 3rd 2009 from Flisk in North Fife.

Ballinbreich, North Fife on a cold Jan 3rd. Sitting on the bank of the River Tay, always sunlit, the site was well chosen.

Slide show of Ballinbreich.

Thursday, January 01, 2009

New Years Day North Fife

New Years Day North Fife, Looking across The River Tay to Errol basking in the sun, if one can call it basking when it is so very cold.