 Stormy Weather At St Andrews
"Wind and rain causes pain, it's insane, wind and rain." Weather and sex are the most common topics of conversation on the planet, everybody's hooked on it and I've come to the conclusion that we were given a brain the size of a walnut just in case it rained on in bed! The fifty walnuts on this bus have dried up, and the ancient University town of St Andrews looks magnificent with its backdrop of the Firth of Forth, as we rumble over the crest of the hill on the outskirts, and past the West Port Gateway to the bus station. St Andrews has existed for more than 1000 years. For more detailed information about the town why not visit St Andrews Museum, Kinburn Park, Doubledykes Road, Telephone (01334) 412690. Admission is free and it is open all year round.
The American Declaration of Independence in 1776 was signed by three alumni of St Andrews University and John Bain cast the first dollar sign ever used in America in 1797. The town is invaded by English students
during term time, so if you want to see Sassenachs in
kilts, come on over. Kilts have become so popular, internationally,
that the kilt makers cannot keep pace with demand,so a
new NVQ educational qualification in kilt making is being
established in Oban - honest. So here I am struggling against the wind and rain in St Andrews cobbled streets, thinking about a malt whisky tasting festival in Crail which I missed....... ah well. The layout of this town retains the features of a medieval town and is a perfect blend of wynds, courtyards, streets andcloses, conveying the mood of a typical old Scottish Burgh. The mood I am in at the moment is typical of a cold,
wet, freezing, windswept individual and I'm forced to abandon my
wanderings for the moment but, luckily, I find shelter in a local
inn called the Featherie and Firkin so I may as well have a wee
refreshment while I'm here. The origins of golf in St Andrews is dated c.1552 and the oldest golf course in the world is the Old Course, of course, so if you fancy a round (make mine a pint!), the home of golf is the place to be, especially if you like wearing funny hats? The round at the Firkin was followed by a firkin wander
to the Castle, where the preacher George Wishart was burned
alive for heresy in 1546 and became a martyr for the Protestants
who took over the Castle, and their power made St Andrews
a haven for dissidents, where John Knox found his power as
a preacher and was able to preach undisturbed. The dreaded 95 bus to Leven is waiting, in the bus station,
to take me home so I must tear myself away from St Andrews
for today. Wandering Willie |
The
X60 Express bus from Leven to St Andrews has a seating capacity
of fifty-one and every seat was taken. 
On
the Tay Bridge at Dundee 80 m.p.h. gales had upturned a workman's
hut and a bakers van, and the wild geese at Kinross decided
to give migration a miss.
SCOTLAND'S
BEST KEPT SECRET
The
University of St Andrews is the oldest in Scotland, originating
in 1410 AD, and the students have been represented down
the decades by such famous rectors as Andrew Carnegie,
Sir James Barrie and, more recently, John Cleese and Frank
Muir. 
St
Andrews western approaches are dominated by its four golf
courses, and by the Old Course Hotel, opened in 1968. 
Down
at the sea wall it's on with the hat, scarf and thermal gloves
and, as the Americans say, the sea looks swell - but they
were keeping their distance from the crashing waves, cowards.
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