The Neep Fields by The Sea

 

This morning we walked from the Monthooly dookit, through showers of sleet and winds gusting to 50 mph,  along the back road to New Aberdour, turning back just short of the Mains of enjoyable walk with splendid views across Aberdour Bay where several large boats were sheltering. The wind was side on and We were surprised to see that a small patch of neeps growing at the side of a field was golden with large quantities of corn marigolds. The 'gules' still flowering amongst the neep shaws, in sharp contrast to the generally

Aberdour road. Despite the mainly foul weather, this was an

once we were wet it didn't much matter except for the stinging of the worst of the sleet.Looking down towards Dundarg Castle we could see gulls and cormorants on the sandstone rocks to the East of the ruins. There were curlews crying in the parks.

dull browns faded greens of the parks, seemed to be of another season and reminded me of Violet Jacob's poem;

'Ye'd wonder foo the seasons rin

This side o'Tweed and Tyne;

The hairst's awa;October month

Cam' in a whilie syne,

But the stooks are oot in Scotland yet,

There's green upon the tree

An' oh! what grand's the smell ye'll get

Frae the neep fields by the sea'