Don't worry about seemingly daft questions - I've asked one or two of them and always received a helpful answer - and welcome to *this* forum.

Here's my attempt in FastStone
Straighten it, reduce the highlights a bit to improve the sky, add a tiny bit of red, remove a tiny bit of blue to warm it up and finally, a very small amount of unsharp mask

The wall art ones are particularly nice.

I prefer the colour version but was such a drastic crop needed? The 'blob' only needed reducing in size a bit rather than total removal? Even so, it holds your attention however you deal with it.

This one is really thought provoking. Thank you.

Thank you both. Having had a lens jam in the camera (one with a Richo pin that I failed to notice) I wasn't happy to experiment with something else having extra appendages on its rear end.

I have noticed that certain Takumar M42 lenses have additional bits and pieces on the mount end. I know what the little silvery 'auto' pin is for - most of them have this. However, some have a robust looking lever sticking out that is similar to the iris actuator on the M and A series (and upwards) lenses. There is also a solid looking, square block of metal about 5mm x 5mm on the edge of the screw threaded m42 flange.

What are these for please and will such appendages foul anything if used in a modern DSLR?
Also, if the lever is a secondary device to control the iris, is the Auto Manual switch rendered inoperative?

Most of mine have daylight filters on them - it's these that need cleaning now and then.

I got that message too.

The computer is complaining that, having received and extracted a BINary file, it expected this to have interacted with its own operating system (to install itself on the computer, for example). When this didn't happen, the computer threw a wobbly and told you about its fears and worries. Since THIS file isn't intended for the computer, its fears are groundless, but it isn't to know this! The file in front of you is intact and as it was intended to be.

I used the BIN file to update my own K5 firmware without a hitch only yesterday.

I use M42s all the time on a K5 and I have never had a problem. It certainly is easier to screw the adapter onto the lens and then mount it as you would a K lens. As was said above, when you remove the lens the adapter stays put and you have an m42 K5.
Unless you bite your nails down (when you will need a tool) removal of the adapter is simply a case of holding the camera in the left hand and placing the right palm area above the lens hole so you can stick the end of your right thumbnail in the slot to disengage the spring, Holding the adapter with thumbnail and forefinger, you turn it anti clockwise and it drops out. It takes just seconds.