Lockdown PhotographyLike most keen photographers, lockdown
forced me to look closer to home to find some new sources of
inspiration. We’ve always fed birds in our garden, so it seemed
like a good idea to try my hand at photographing them. I’d never
really attempted much wildlife photography, and have always felt
that more specialised gear was needed and that it involved sitting
for hours on end in quiet out of the way locations (I’m not known
for my patience!). We are lucky here in the Crescent to have so
many different species visit our gardens, so thought it would be
worth giving it a go.
One piece of advice I was given by a friend, was to attach a
branch to the feeder station where the birds could perch and “pose”
for the camera and hopefully give a more natural looking image.
This worked well, apart from the woodpecker, it always seemed to
head straight for the feeder and was also much more wary than other
birds. I found that a tripod was useful, especially when used in
conjunction with an easily available phoneapp, which allowed me to
view and trigger the camera remotely. This worked particularly well
with our nesting box. I was able to set the camera up close to it
and take some video footage as well as still shots.
I’m sure I’m not the only one to have given this “backyard
safari” a go and, hopefully when this crisis is over, I can take
what I’ve learned and go further afield in search of more wildlife
subjects to photograph. I might just have to invest in that big
telephoto lens...and learn to be more patient!
‘More Please’
‘About to fly’
‘Goldfinch’
‘Nuthatch’
‘Woodpecker’
‘Soaked Sparrowhawk’
Next Eskbank and Newbattle Community Council Meeting 3rd
February – Zoom – Contact the secretary forthe zoom link nearer the
time if you would like to attend the meeting.
New Plastic Free Grocery Delivery Service
The Refillery in Edinburgh have recently launchedan out of town
delivery service and Dalkeith is within their catchment area. If
you would like toshop for plastic free and ethical groceries check
them out online at www.therefillery.co.uk.
Delivery is free with a shop of over £50 (they suggest maybe
people could club together with friends or neighbours – could we do
this at Newbattle?).
Lots of their range is sourced locally and the majority is
organic. All loose food and bakery is delivered in paper bags,
fruit and veg is loose andhousehold detergents can be purchased and
refilled straight from their van (although not whileCovid
restrictions are in place). It is ‘next day delivery’ if orders are
before 4pm.
If anyone would like to explore this more as a new year
resolution for how we could potentially collectively reduce our
impact on the planet do get in touch with NACRA with your
research!
Newsletter Editor OpportunityIf you would like to take on
creating the NACRA News please get in touch with NACRA. There are
66 homes which receive the newsletter in hard copy, and others
received it online, many who do not use social media have said they
like the senseof connection it brings. The newsletter is meant to
go out four times a year.
http://www.therefillery.co.uk/?fbclid=IwAR02SlvJ4R4o9STfAJiBjDTe_SyRZCz7bFbXwSqJkORJo2ycSapP2-Kqayc
A Short Story from the East
THE DIAMOND
The sanyassi had reached theoutskirts of the village and
settleddown under a tree for the nightwhen a villager came running
upto him and said, "The stone! Thestone! Give me the precious
stone!"
"What stone?" asked the sannyasi.
"Last night the Lord Shiva appearedto me in a dream," said the
villager,"and told me that if I went to theoutskirts of the village
at duskI should find a sannyasi who wouldgive me a precious stone
that wouldmake me rich forever."
The sannyasi rummaged in his bag andpulled out a stone. "He
probablymeant this one," He said, as he handedthe stone over to the
villager. "I foundit on a forest path some days ago. You can
certainly have it."
The man gazed at the stone in wonder.It was a diamond, probably
the largestdiamond in the whole world, for it wasas large as a
person's head.
He took the diamond and walked away. All night he tossed about
in bed,unable to sleep. Next day at the crack of dawn he woke the
sannyasiand said, "Give me the wealth thatmakes it possible for you
to givethis diamond away so easily."
*from a collection collected by Anthony de Mello
NACRA Committee
The NACRA Committee is a small, friendly groupthat have short
meetings about 4-6 times a year,mainly to organise the Bonfire and
to carry outany decisions made at the Resident’s Meeting(AGM). You
are very welcome to come along toa meeting or join the committee.
(Call Kate)House / phone:
Kate Taylor (chair) 140 660-1774Bill Elliott (treasurer) 157
663-1369Ali Bowden/Paul de Roo 224 654-0870Susan Dalgliesh 220
07729922403Joy Godfrey 131 660-6145Keith Miller 223 663-0567Mick
Wilson 219 07739-373210
Useful ContactsPlanning Permission (Did you know that special
conditions apply to the estate because it’s a conservation area and
it takes up to 2 months to complete?): call 271 3302
[email protected]
Community Police Officer: call 101
Lawfield Estates (owners of the land around the edge of estate,
at King’s Gate, and along the river, regarding things like trees
overhanging gardens, hazards on the river bank): Davidson &
Robertson Rural: 449 6212
Flooding from the estate’s mains drainage systems: contact Pat
Frankland (on the estate) in the first instance 660 9801
Bus Shelter condition and information boards: Travel Team 561
5445, or [email protected]
Refuse Collection, bulky uplifts, special collections, street
cleaning: call 561 5284
Recycling Helpline: call 561 5284
Roads, Potholes, Pavement, Street Lights:
call 0800 232323
Dog Fouling: call the Environmental Warden: 271 3555
mailto:[email protected]
NACRA NewsNACRA Committee
