Abdie old church Lindores North Fife

Abdie old church Cemetery Lindores North Fife.

Abdie Gravestone North Fife

I am drawn to this Abdie gravestone by the the design and quality of the workmanship, it's a pity the columns are missing. There are many very interesting stones within the confines of this ancient place of worship. The Parish of Abdie has reduced in size over the centuries, notably by the growth of Newburgh.

Abdie Lindores North Fife

Today I wandered across to Abdie churchyard to have a look. It so happened that along the way I noticed that the Gean (bird cherries) were ripe and beginning to fall. Indeed they are of such profusion this year that there are far too many for the birds to consume, I too was well satisfied with the unexpected mid morning snack. Nice Eh!

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today,
Tomorrow will be dying.


Abdie Looking across Lindores Loch to Normans Law.

TO THE MOST FAIR AND LOVELY MISTRESS
ANNE SOAME, NOW LADY ABDIE.
by Robert Herrick

SO smell those odours that do rise
From out the wealthy spiceries ;
So smells the flower of blooming clove,
Or roses smother'd in the stove ;
So smells the air of spiced wine,
Or essences of jessamine ;
So smells the breath about the hives
When well the work of honey thrives,
And all the busy factors come
Laden with wax and honey home ;
So smell those neat and woven bowers
All over-arch'd with orange flowers,
And almond blossoms that do mix
To make rich these aromatics ;
So smell those bracelets and those bands
Of amber chaf'd between the hands,
When thus enkindled they transpire
A noble perfume from the fire.
The wine of cherries, and to these
The cooling breath of respasses ;
The smell of morning's milk and cream,
Butter of cowslips mix'd with them ;
Of roasted warden or bak'd pear,
These are not to be reckon'd here,
Whenas the meanest part of her,
Smells like the maiden pomander.
Thus sweet she smells, or what can be
More lik'd by her or lov'd by me.

Factors, workers.
Respasses, raspberries.
Pomander, ball of scent.

What sentiment,
as penned by, Robert Herrick, poet.

Abdie old church Lindores North Fife Scotland

Along with the Pictish stone pictured below this stone is housed in the same place. I am quite taken by the strong design which is particularly well drawn and executed.Any heraldic coats of arms which may have been depicted on the shields are no longer evident.

Abdie old church Lindores North Fife

This Pictish Stone is housed in a little out-building next to Abdie Church Cemetery. Over the centuries It has been made into a sundial, the Roman numerals within a square and a deep central vertical slot in the centre where the Gnonom was fixed. At a later date in the nineteenth century a surveyors bench mark was added without regard to its origins. The detail is more evident by a click on the image. It may actually have started out as a sundial, the knowledge and use of has been around for over two and a half thousand years. Who knows? Whatever, it's a stone that many craftsmen have been connected to and it survives.

An Inconvenient Truth in Fife

An Inconvenient Truth. I make no apology for posting this video as it clearly demonstrates potential change, whatever the causes.

Newburgh Highland Games North Fife

Cycle racing Newburgh Highland Games.
With the unexpected loss of the normal venue this year Newburgh Highland Games was cancelled. I am assured that alternative sites have been identified and Newburgh will rejoin the Highland Games circuit next year.

Tossing the caber, what a proud man he must be.


Newburgh Highland Games North Fife. One of the Heavyweight events, hurling a weight over an ever increasing high bar.

Pheasants that may soon be in North Fife

Extraordinary Pheasants
The author and photographer who brought Abrams Extraordinary Chickens (now in its fourth printing) is back with another singular and charming book. With gorgeous color photographs and informative text, Stephen Green-Armytage turns his attention to the pheasant family, capturing with his camera pheasants of all sizes, shapes, and colors and illuminating gorgeous feather patterns and other decorative details worthy of French fabric designers. The varieties included range from the noble Ringneck pheasant, so popular with hunters, to the gorgeous Congo peacock. Breeders and enthusiasts will find this volume a treasure they must own; for others it will be a revelation, worth having for the sheer enjoyment of the striking photographs and the amazing birds they portray.

It has long been my intention to breed and release some of these exotic pheasants into North Fife, How it goes remains to be seen but it is a way of creating a subtle paradise. As conservation and habitat quality are more to the fore of peoples awareness it could become a viable happening. Mind you the thought of them being shot for pleasure appals me. I will be happy to receive any advice on such an endeavour.

Pheasants North Fife

In North Fife they are bred to be hunted and are shot in great numbers. The doggerel "up flies a guinea, bang goes sixpence and down comes half-a-crown" reflects that they are often shot for sport rather than as food. If eaten the meat is somewhat tough and dry, so the carcasses were often hung for a time to improve the meat by slight decomposition, as with most other game. Modern cookery generally uses moist roasting or farm-raised female birds.
Pheasant farming is a common practice, and is sometimes done intensively. Birds are supplied both to hunting preserves/estates and restaurants, with smaller numbers being available for home cooks. Pheasant farms have some 10 million birds in the U.S. and 35 million in the United Kingdom. The Common Pheasant is also one of the prime target of small game poachers. The Roald Dahl novel "Danny the Champion of the World" dealt with a poacher (and his son) who lived in the United Kingdom and illegally hunted common pheasants.

Each year a brace or two nest in my garden at Flisk North Fife, though this nest pictured seems to have been deserted, the hen road killed or a fox had a meal.

The bird was brought to Britain around the 10th century but became locally extinct in the early 17th century; it was reintroduced in the 1830s and is now widespread. Repeated reintroduction has made the pheasant a very variable species in regard to size and plumage. Pheasants were introduced in North America in 1913, being released at Dog Ear Butte. They are most common in the Great Plains, where they are often seen in hay, grass wheat, and CRP fields. A preferred nesting site for them is along fence rows, wheat, and under old machinery.

The Green Pheasant of Japan is very similar to Common Pheasant, but the males have greenish plumage. The Ring-Necked Pheasant is the state bird of South Dakota, one of only three US state birds that is not a species native to the United States.

Balmerino Abbey North Fife Scotland

Balmerino Abbey North Fife Scotland. This is largest part still standing and is further pictured below.
Balmerino Abbey North Fife.

Sweet Chestnut Tree Balmerino Abbey North Fife

This Sweet Chestnut Tree is thought to be around 700 years old. It is propped up in various places to maintain its integrity but as can be seen is quite something.