North Fife 12th March 2013

North Fife 12th March 2013

 

Woods above Balhelvie Farm.

Normans Law.

 

Brunton close by.

 

Star Bank fields by Luthrie.

Mountquhanie fields by Brunton.

 

Normans Law looking South West. How different views are when the colour is largely away and lines. shapes and textures say it all, Qualities  important in drawing.

4hours later, colour becomes the dominant feature.

 

North Fife March 11th 2013

North Fife March 11th 2013

Heading West to Newbugh approaching Parbroath.

 

Sunset in a cloudless sky over the River Tay, High pressure and freezing conditions. Brrrrrr

Tayview March 10th North Fife

Tayview March 10th North Fife

A light dusting of snow in the morning.

More white than green bleating sheep cry out for food.

Hungry sheep,  full of expectancy ..... barrrr barrrr

Pinkfoot geese alight on seeing me approach,

They are off to safer havens.

 

Winging their way up stream over the River Tay.

As the afternoon progressed snow lay at lower levels.

World Junior Culinary Grand Prix at ScotHot Glasgow

Scottish Juniors Prepare for the ultimate Challenge

The Scottish Junior Culinary Team who are based at Adam Smith College will represent Scotland at the forthcoming World Culinary Grand Prix at ScotHot 2013 on 4-6 March at the SECC Glasgow.The students have been working hard to prepare for the challenge and  are hosting a run through dinner at the college St Brycedale campus in Kirkcaldy on Wednesday 27 February to do a final practice of their menu.

 

 

 

Students busy prepping for the final practice, 60 covers in all,.they appeared to be relaxed and engrossed in their tasks.

The Meal

Starters, "Arbroath Smokie" Cake on Curry Scented Monkfish and Sweetcorn, Buttered Spinach and Aubergine Relish.

Main Course,  Roast Rump and Herbed Faggot of Scotch Lamb with a Couscous Sauce, Carrot Puree, Potato Compression and Wilted Baby Gem Lettuce.

 

Dessert, Liquorice and Cherry Bavarois with Hazelnut and Ricotta Cake "Crabbies" Ginger Sabayon and Sour Cherry Sorbet.

Finished with Petits Fours and Coffee.

I shared a table with three others.

Marie-Clare James, Marketing and Events Manager for The Federation of Chefs Scotland.

 

Emma, Food blogger.

 

Ross Boyce  Previous Master Chef contestant.

Naturally we talked about food, a little of our selves since we had never met before, interrupted by mmmms and oooos of appreciation of the tastes and delights of the meal.

 

Ross Lyall  Chef and trainer at Adam Smith College, one of a team managed by Bryan McCabe, Department Manger, Hospitality and Fashion.

The team at the end of a long shift, looking suitably chuffed.

Counting the takings, the bottom line.

Tayview February 28th 2013

February 28th, The River Tay, placid water fronting the distant snow covered Perthshire Highlands.

 

After a largely sunny  day clouds came rolling in the afternoon.

Warmth of the sun has encouraged these miniature iris's to blossom.. A sign of impending Spring, at last.

River Tay Sky February 26th

River Tay Sky February 26th.

Another stunning sunset over the river Tay at Newburgh North Fife yesterday, virtually cloudless in the high pressure, cold nights but sunshine all day long.

 

Full moon through a hazy sky bearing its silent influence.

Tayview Feb 24th 2013 North Fife

Tayview Feb 24th, soft winter colour skies

4-30pm looking into Perthshire, in the distance snow on the mountains with Perth City out of site just beyond the middle escarpment.

I really love the soft pinks and greys in this light over Invergowrie on the outskirts of Dundee.

Half an hour later this magical transformation takes place as the setting sunlight  gets level and under the cloud cover. I always find it quite stunning. Quickly changing and very impermanent.

Tayview Sky Newburgh North Fife Feb 23rd 2013

Tayview Sky Newburgh North Fife Feb 23rd 2013. At last the days are drawing out and light is returning. Today at evening time the light had a wonderful quality, ever changing of course, cloudy to the West but less so to the East.

Looking West from Newburgh.

 

 Looking North  to a shaft of bright sunlight illuminatig the reedbeds surrounding Mugdrum Island.

 A few minutes later the light is even more dramatic.

Looking East to Dundee bathed in a warm glow.

 

 Almost full Moon

Dundee from BlackEarnside.

 

River Tay from Fliskmillan. This and the preceeding photographs span about 15 mins, it later gave up incredible scarlet vistas, too late I was having my tea.

Walsall Arboretum Boat House

Walsall Arboretum Boat House, boating, a much loved facility and enjoyed by many, I have more photos somewhere and will post them when found. These were taken 40 years ago.

Gas Street Canal Basin Birmingham

Gas Street Canal Basin Birmingham

Gas street as it was in 1972, in the days of J Price converter of working barges into floating homes. I often wonder where he has floated off too, maybe someone will know.

Dark Angle Shades Moth North Fife

Dark Angle Shades moth found yesterday evening outside on my kitchen window. Freshly emerged this female's wings had not fully inflated. The outside temperature was 4c. I am surprised to see her at this time of the year, she readily drank guava juice from soaked tissue paper and in the morning on placing outside, quivered a short while and took off. Completely out of season and unlikely to find a mate., most likely to be eaten by a hungry bird. Such is life.