Today is what is known by the newspaper industry as a slow news day. It’s also freezing cold, raining and generally horrible.
Last night was Burns Night so below is the first verse of his poem Address to the Haggis. The original is in Scots language. An English translation is below.
Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o' the puddin-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy of a grace
As lang's my arm.
Fair full your honest, happy face,
Great chieftain of the sausage race!
Above them all you take your place,
Stomach, tripe, or intestines:
Well are you worthy of a grace
As long as my arm.
The haggis is my favourite sausage so next time I go shopping a purchase is assured. I must remember to buy a turnip, potatoes and a bottle of whiskey. I will then enjoy my own belated Burns Night sans Piper. That bit I won’t miss. If I desire supper accompanied by that racket I’ll throttle a cat.
Today was a birding day………….I have had my customary success so you proper birders out there still have no competition. We have seen a Sparrow Hawk and the remains of a pigeon that it had for lunch. The Kingfisher is hiding in a hole in a wall. We sat for a while hoping it would do hopping onto a branch. It didn’t.
The following pictures are I think of a crossbred Mallard but it is much warier than Mallard so could be something else…………..a Goosander maybe. It did seem bigger than a Mallard.
This is all for today…………..not one of the best. Tomorrow we are back exhaust hunting but will have another go at the birds first…………..Now there’s something for you to look forward to!
Mmmmmm Haggis! I have never tried it - but given my motto of "try anything once... unless it is food, in which case it is a good idea to try it twice" I would love to give it a try sometime. :o)
ReplyDeleteI love your dipper shots, they are so fun! They are such cute little birds.
The priory/sandstone shot is gorgeous! I love sandstone and the way it wears and erodes, it is a very interesting process.
Keep warm out there! Have a pint for me! :o)
Krista, half the Scots in the world are in Canada. Ten percent were sent to Australia. Haggis is made from the contents of a sheep's innards, lungs included. It is superb.......your ancestors were presumably German. They have some revolting sausage but they taste good. Nothing quite as awful as the Frankfurter which was invented just south of you. A Frankfurter would not be seen dead eating one, he eats a Wanker. Language is superb.
ReplyDeleteGoosander it is Adrian; and a male :)
ReplyDeleteI'm jealous of the Dipper shots. I've not seen one of those in years, and you go and get two!
Keith, cheers. A cause for celebration. Quick wee devils are Goosander. There are a pair here. (If the female is mottled brown). So will have another go tomorrow and if I fail the day after as well. Dippers we have a plenty up here but for a tiny bird they have very big eyes. They can see me at a hundred yards. Life is fun.
ReplyDeleteThe Dippers were the best, I haven't seen one at this time of year, but it is good you. Great shootings.
ReplyDeleteGreat Dipper shots Adrian. Now you have found them you will soon get much closer. You are correct...they do not fly far. Long lens and a little Ray Mears and you will be posting a cracker of a shot.
ReplyDeleteLove the photos of the Dippers...looked them up and found this interesting
ReplyDeletehttp://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/families/dippers.aspx
Also fascinating about the sandstone, mortar info. Hope the weather warms up for you tomorrow (today, now) and that you are have a successful photography day. Forget to mention last time that the doggies looked very dear after their hair styling :)
Bob, I'll have another go at the birds.
ReplyDeleteTrevor, I'll go and settle in the river bank and we'll see.
Glo, Dippers are wonderful little birds. They don't half move fast. It's damp cold and dark here. Horrible!