Potato Field North Fife

Potato field near my home in North Fife showing the vegetation killed off by the sprayed application of sulphuric acid. The acid kills off any blight which grows in the leaves that migrates into the tubers also making the harvest by machine more efficient also when a field is grown and sold as seed potato the seed size is kept within limits suitable for machine sowing the following year.

Tayview sunset August 28th North Fife

Another wonderful sky over the River Tay North Fife last night, I never cease to notice and enjoy, so rich and dramatic, I hope you too can enjoy. Sometimes the morning sky is equally dramtic though it's not my time of day and so largely goes unrecorded.

Tayview 28th August 2011.

A closer look at the fire in the sky on the 28th Aug.

Tayview Sunset North Fife

Tayview August 24th 2011. Again a wonderful sunset over the River Tay, It's said "red sky at night, shepherds delight" well to day it really rained hard.

Peacock butterfly North Fife

This week has seen the emergence of Peacock Butterflies in North Fife

Peacock butterfly feeding, I don't think it will find much joy on this thistle head which is in seed.

Freshly emerged peacock, the wings not quite fully expanded.

The adults spend most of the morning nectaring. Males set up territories around midday, often on the sunny side of a wood, where they wait for a passing female. Males will fly up at any dark object, which is one way of sexing this species since the two sexes are very difficult to tell apart, being almost identical in appearance. When a female is found she flies off, trying to escape the male that is in pursuit. If he succeeds in staying with her then the pair mate. Females subsequently take great care when egg-laying, selecting foodplants that are in full sun, These usually being stinging nettles.

Adults emerging in summer nectar on a variety of flowers, building up essential body fats before overwintering.

The Peacock is a familiar sight in gardens across the British Isles and is unmistakable, with quite spectacular eyes on the upperside of the hindwings that give this butterfly its name. These eyes must appear very threatening to predators, such as mice, that confront this butterfly head-on. The underside is a different matter altogether, being almost black, providing perfect camouflage when the butterfly is at rest on a tree trunk, or when hibernating. In addition to camouflage and large eyes, the butterfly is able to make a hissing sound by rubbing its wings together that is audible to human ears. All in all, this butterfly must appear very threatening to any predator that might come across it.

Rape seed North Fife

Oilseed rape.

Oilseed rape field cut and ready for harvest. growing such a crop is a win win for the farmer as the roots fix nitrogen into the soil, reducing the fertilizer needs for other following sown crops.

Rape seed pods resting on the stalks to dry before combine harvesting.

Urban Garden Birmingham

Garden in Birmingham, average city size but extremely productive in soft fruits, vegetables yet still being a decorative and pleasant place to lounge and enjoy. The greenhouse provides 50+ kilos of black desert grapes and Tomatoes. Raspberries, blackberries, red, white and black currants, I am always impressed.

Urban garden some 360 miles South of north Fife and it shows in the abundance of fruits.

Fuchsia flowers have a very long flowering period and always do well.

Victoria plums.

Chinese pear which ripens on the tree unlike British conference pears which are picked unripe and hard requiring patience before you can sink your teeth into.

Eating apple of unknown name.

Bramley apples, always a heavy cropper and worth it.

Figs grown in this urban garden, once very popular in Victorian and Edwardian times, now making a come back. The fruit is formed on new growth so for maximum production pruning is required whenever the branches become 2 centimetres.

Figs in abundance, fresh straight from the plant are a real delight, quite different from dried ones which are chewy with gritty seeds.

M6 Birmingham heading North

Joining the M6 motorway heading North at Birmingham, it doesn't take long to grind to halting progress caused by the conjunction of the M5 and M6. Tedious in the extreme with little let up until Lancaster where spaces begin to open up and driving can become a pleasure, getting even better in Scotland. The reverse trip can be a nightmare as density increases towards journey's end. I'm so glad I live in Scotland.

Samye Ling Wedding

On my journey North from England I called in to Samye-Ling Tibetan Centre, on entering the shrine room, behold there was a wedding taking place in rich splendour and ceremony. The marriage was of Tulku Ogyen Nyima and Dolkar Lhamo presided over by Akong Rinpoche and Sangha. A wonderful and happy occasion as can be seen.

Food and drink is shared by everyone present.

View from the back of the shrine room.

Friends in the congregation.

Speaks for itself.

Showered with blessings and silk scarves.

Lighting butter lamps.

Relaxing outside after lighting some of the 1000 butter lamps.

Samye Ling Tea Party 2011

People travel hundreds of miles to attend Samye Ling's Annual tea Party as so do I, indulge in cream cake, sandwiches, nibbles and meet new and old Dharma friends and teachers.


Samye Ling Tea Party

Akong Rinpoche with Sherab Palden.

The cake.

Finishing touches being made to Sherab's birthday cake.

Uncle Sherab makes the first cut.

Marion and Edie cut the cake along with all those present born in August.

Sherab's tribute book as presented to him by Akong Rinpoche.
A new book, put together as a tribute for the Tibetan Thangka painting master, Sherab Palden Beru, on the special occasion of his 100th birthday celebrations that was held at the Annual Tea Party, 14th August 2011, of the Kagyu Samye Ling Tibetan Buddhist Monastery in Scotland.

This beautifully illustrated book was recently complied at the request of Dr. Akong Tulku Rinpoche. Within there is a brief biography, tributes from friends and students, and many illustrations of some of his works, a number of which have never been published before.
This can be viewed and ordered by clicking this link.

Smooth Newt North Fife

Smooth Newt (Lissotriton vulgaris). This one is a female, I found her lanquid on the road and removed her to the garden near the pond where she was probably born.
Our most widespread newt, is found throughout Britain and is the only newt species to be found in Ireland. It can grow to 10cm and is most often found in ponds during the breeding season between February and June. The Smooth Newt is brown, the female being relatively plain whilst the male is spotty and develops a continuous wavy crest along its back in the breeding season. The belly of both sexes is yellow to orange with black spots and the spots on the throat provide a good way of telling this species apart from Palmate Newts (which have no spots on their throat). Outside the breeding season newts come onto land and live in damp places; they are most frequently encountered underneath logs and debris at this phase in their annual cycle. Newts found in these circumstances are sometimes confused with lizards but lizards are quick and active and have scaly rather than smooth skin.

Newts eat small invertebrates either on land or in the water. Like frogs and toads they have a tadpole stage; a newt tadpole is called an eft. Unlike frogs and toads, the tadpoles of newts develop their front legs before their back legs. Newt efts breathe through external feathery gills which sprout from behind the head. Spawn is laid as individual eggs each of which is carefully wrapped in a leaf of pond weed by the female newt.

The Smooth Newt, like the Common Frog is often found in garden ponds, frequently arriving of its own accord. Like the frog its tadpoles will be eaten by fish if they are present. Garden ponds have become extremely important for this species especially as ponds in the wider countryside have become fewer and more polluted.

Smooth Newts are protected by law in Great Britain against being sold or traded in any way. In Northern Ireland they are fully protected thus prohibiting killing, injuring, capturing, disturbance, possession or trade.

Tayview 4th & 5th August 2011

Tayview 4th August, always the same but different.

Tayview 5th August.

River Tay sunset.

Ford Model T

Driving towards Edinburgh I came across this Ford Model T, the second this year. (The first.) Nearly 90 years old these cars, the first mass produced on production lines that presaged present methods of car manufacture, of their time time cheap, cheerful, coloured black and in many forms. This is a Sedan version.

Slowing down to 30 miles per hour as one should.

Climbing the hill.

Well it beat me to the roundabout and shot off in the direction of Bathgate.

the Book of Answers

Along with a group of friends this weekend we had enormous fun consulting this publication, sometimes sharing the question, other times not but all seeing the revealed the answer which led to much humorous speculation and further questioning. Worth having.

This previously self-published book has been an inspiration to thousands since its first publication, for within its pages lies the answers to all the questions of daily life.

HOW TO USE THE BOOK OF ANSWERS

1.HOLD THE CLOSED BOOK IN YOUR HAND, ON YOUR LAP OR ON A TABLE.
2.TAKE TEN OR FIFTEEN SECONDS TO CONCENTRATE ON YOUR QUESTION.
QUESTIONS SHOULD BE PHRASED IN THE FOLLOWING STYLE:
‘IS THE JOB I’M APPLYING FOR THE RIGHT ONE?’ OR,
‘SHOULD I TRAVEL THIS WEEKEND?’
3.WHILE VISUALIZING OR SPEAKING YOUR QUESTION (ONE QUESTION AT A TIME), PLACE ONE HAND PALM DOWN ON THE BOOK’S FRONT COVER AND STROKE THE EDGE OF THE PAGES, BACK TO FRONT.
4.WHEN YOU SENSE THE TIME IS RIGHT, SIMPLY OPEN THE BOOK AND THERE WILL BE YOUR ANSWER.
5.REPEAT THE PROCESS FOR AS MANY QUESTIONS AS YOU HAVE.

With a solution on every page, The Book of Answers is intriguing, inspiring and enormous fun to use. It’s also the perfect gift book. Over 700 pages.
RRP: £10.00
Price: £7.99 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery.
Treat yourself and others and buy here. The Book Of Answers

Bird's-foot Trefoil and Red Clover

Bird's-foot trefoil with red clover just two more of the wayside flowers by the road to Newburgh North Fife. Incidentally Red clover has a wide use in natural medicines. To look deeper.

Bird's-foot trefoil, Lotus corniculatus, common name, Eggs and Bacon.