TurfZone – ChariotsFire
There are not many things in life that I really don’t like, though anything with cheese would most certainly be up there and cheese scones should be a crime. But there’s one thing I really hate having to do and that is going to weddings. Okay, it’s not the ceremony itself, nor the evening meal, not even posing like a gormless idiot for photographs. No, what I really hate is the dancing or ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee) afterwards. The jumping about like a mad thing is bad enough but it’s the loud music that gets me. Why on earth does it have to be so loud? My phone app topped out at 100 decibels, that’s hearing damage territory. Okay, stop, enough, rant over. If I say any more, I’ll be in trouble. Better not start on the crazy amounts of money spent on weddings.
TurfZone – EastGreen
However, having got all that off my chest, one good thing came from this trip to St Andrews in the Kingdom of Fife, in addition to the fine meals we had, of course. ChoccyMuffin and myself were able to do some turfing with our first stop being Cupar, a town associated with two musicians, Craig and Charlie, otherwise known as The Proclaimers. Thankfully, I didn’t have to walk 500-miles to take the 14 zones in the town, as being seasoned travelling turfers, we had our folding Brompton C-Line bikes with us. It’s so much faster on a bike than walking.
Turf Zone – LadysTower
That was on the Friday, the day before the wedding and on Saturday we were into St Andrews early for some turfing before the ceremony at St Salvator’s Chapel, part of St Andrews University and which costs between £1000 and £1600 to hire, about the same price as our Brompton bicycles. Unfortunately, we had to leave the bikes at Kilconquhar Castle where we were staying as we were dressed in our finery and oily bikes and smart togs do not go well together. Managed one turf session before the ceremony and another afterwards. We had wisely forgone the provided transport to the reception in favour of independent mobility. Must mention the fine example of a METHIL brick found near the accomodation.
Turfing next day was in Elie, wandering around and taking the handful of zones there. Weather had turned cold and windy, bloody freezing in fact, and most disappointing after the warm sunshine of the previous day. Travelling along the coast we ticked off a few zones in Pittenweem, then continued to Dysart. Here, we took to the Brompton’s and soon realised we were under-dressed for the conditions. The wind was a so-called lazy wind, the type that does not bother to go around you but feels like it goes straight though you, chilling you to the bone. We decided to call it day and sought out a cafe for some sustenance and warmth in lieu of light hypothermia.
Tuesday saw us heading back to home in Bonnyrigg, but not before stopping in Anstruther for another turf session. Tempted to stay longer but the kitchen was getting refurbished next day and we had a lot of clearing out to do. Quite surprising how much stuff there is inside kitchen cupboards, at least half of it never used. Anyway, some good turfing was had over the past few days with 5 monument zones added to the tally, leaving only another 14 required for the Monumental medal. For those looking to turf in Fife I can recommend Kilconquhar Castle for accomodation and the on-site Bistro resturant is pretty good. As is the Ship Inn in Elie and the Kinneuchar Inn in Barnyards. The landy above was spotted at the West Sands Cafe in St Andrews. Just something to droll over and dream about. I want one. Back again soon.
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