As I was saying earlier: It was a dark and stormy night – in St Andrews, and the streets emptied fairly quickly when it got dark. So when it was time for us to make for home we decided to go via Anstruther. It always seems quite dangerous to me that the sea is right by the main street. Especially when there are pubs there and inebriated people are likely to be wandering around in the dark. But it’s the same in all of these coastal places.
The sea was quite wild but the wee boats were safe in the harbour. The noise was incredible though what with the wind itself and then the hissing noises it made in all the boats’ lanyards and ropes. Lots of clankings too, there must be metal things hanging from the boats.
Here I am having a hard time staying on my feet, what a grimace! The red light behind me is the harbour entrance and beyond that there was just complete darkness which I find very weird looking. I’m used to seeing huge tankers and naval ships out in the River Forth, just before it runs in to the North Sea. The ships are always lit up like Christmas trees but at Anstruther there seemed to be nothing between us and Denmark!
This is what we were in Anstruther for – fish and chips. It may not look the most appetising thing to eat but believe me, they were really tasty. The only thing which isn’t so good is that nowadays they don’t come wrapped in greaseproof paper with two or three pages of a tabloid newspaper over it. So there is nothing crazy to read whilst you’re eating. Shame – it was the only time I ever saw what nonsense the tabloids were printing!
This is the chippy which we got them from. It isn’t the one which everyone raves about and Prince Charles and Camilla have even used. We tried that one once and weren’t too impressed by it and we had to stand in a queue – I’m not kidding you – for about an hour! The Wee Chippy is on the left hand side of the main street facing the sea and it has been endorsed by the Guardian amongst others. The queue wasn’t too bad either.
The only downside is that the car still smells of fish and chips – five days later!
I really enjoy your photos Katrina! Someday we are going to travel to Scotland and Ireland and I am keeping a list of things I want to do when I get there! This looks like a nice little town to stop in and those chippys look yummy! I was born in Struthers Ohio, seeing this town’s name of Anstruther makes me wonder if my city was settled by Scots.
Peggy,
I’m glad you enjoy the photos. I hope you can manage to get to Scotland sometime. I’ve only been to Northern Ireland – I wouldn’t go again! I had a bit of a nose around the internet and it seems that Struthers was called after a man called John Struthers who was a Scot. I think Scots did settle in the area, there seems to be a town nearby called Campbell and a Craig Beach. Do you have any Scottish surnames in your family?
Katrina, you have to visit the west of Ireland! Donegal down to Cork, via Achill Island in Co. Mayo, Connemara, The Burren in Co.Clare, The Dingle Peninsula and all the other little fingers of land round the south west – even take in a trip to the Skellig Islands, and the island of Garinish off Glengarriff……. so much beauty!
Evee,
Blimey O’Riley! I can’t believe how well travelled you are, especially far-flung island-wise! I went to N.Ireland once – hated it. We’re still trying to see places on the British mainland that we haven’t got around to visiting yet.
Wow, the wind was really blowing! And with no rails or anything, I’d be worried people would fall into the harbor too!
Stefanie,
It can be ridiculously windy here, I’ve had to grab onto lamposts before now! People have been known to get into their car and drive into the sea, either drunk or by mistake in reverse!
Katrina,
Thank you for all the replies you’ve left on my blog!
What happened with your Jack and the strike?
Do tell! My heart and spirit are with him and his colleagues!
Judith (Reader in the Wilderness)
Judith,
Almost all of the schools in Scotland were closed on Wednesday as the strike went ahead. Hospital workers, local government workers,civil servants were all on strike with hospitals having just an emergency ‘skeleton’ staff. Negotiations have restarted but David Cameron is determined to make workers pay higher contributions for a smaller pension – and having to work longer! He is trying to divide and rule by making people working for private companies despise those who are public servants – and some people are so stupid that they are easily manipulated like that. There’s something truly disgusting about millionaires who have no qualms about fleecing people who work harder than they could ever imagine. He is determined to make teachers and the rest pay for the country’s deficit – instead of making the bankers who caused the problem stump up the cash. They are still giving themselves massive bonuses!! I’m spitting mad! There will be more targeted strikes in the future. Great to hear from you again. I know how busy you’ve been.
Retired bankers who have disgraced themselves still getting payouts that the rest of us can’t even imagine. It’s immoral, surely it has to be illegal, and I bet it’s fattening too! I wish all the strikers lots of luck, and thank goodness I am already retired.
Love Ainster, by the way.
Evee,
Jack is hoping to retire soon but feels for all those just starting out in teaching. Of course the different way of calculating the pensions will be robbing everyone anyway. They can’t have a conscience.