Well Done Old Course Hotel

I've mentioned the super St Andrews festival that's been running across the town several times on the blog this week and today it ended for us with a great afternoon at The Old Course Hotel. Having stayed at The Old Course quite a few times we know that they do things well and it was no surprise to us that their Christmas Emporium was a wonderful afternoon of family entertainment. We started with mulled wine and mince pies, listened to a local choir singing carols, took Rose to see if she wanted to see Father Christmas (she didn't), bought some bits and pieces from the festive market and then sat in the fabulous boardroom for a wine tasting and ordered a case of excellent wine for Christmas dinner. There was plenty more that we didn't see (such as cake decorating and cocktail making demonstrations). And how much did we have to pay for such a pleasant afternoon? Nothing, zilch, nada - it was all put on by The Old Course who deserve a feather in their cap for doing things so well. (Other hotels in the town please note).

A Wine Tasting With A View

We only managed to get to a fraction of the week's events and are sorry that we missed the choral concerts and performing arts but there's always next year. Well done to the festival organisers for providing such a varied programme. 

It was yet another sunny day in the town and the "Chariots Of Fire" beach looked spectacular against a background of snow capped hills.

We passed the old town walls at just the right time to catch this shadow before the sun went down.

 I know I'm starting to sound like a stuck record but St Andrews really is a brilliant place.

A Case Of Mistaken Identity

We're sitting in Mitchells in Market St enjoying some delicious scones and coffee. I'm reading through the programme of events for the St Andrews festival.

'Oh look', I say 'Frank Muir's talking about his new book at the library on Thursday evening as part of the festival and Book Week. Do you fancy going?'

'That would be good' says Marion 'I haven't seen him on TV for ages'

'No. It's years since he was on Call My Bluff ' I consult the pocket oracle that is the iPhone. 'Yes it last aired in 1988'

'He must be quite ancient by now. He was pretty old then. Remember his books? The kids loved them'

'Yes' I say ' The ones about a dog. An Afghan hound wasn't it?'

'That's right. What-A-Mess'

'Ah What-A-Mess, I remember. Have we still got them.'

'Yes' says Marion. 'Sarah's got them in Rose's room'

'Perhaps we could get him to sign them for Rose'

'Good idea. He must really be knocking on a bit though' I check the phone again. 'Hang on a minute. According to Wikipedia he died in 1998'

'Well you know how unreliable Wikipedia can be'

'No. He's definitely dead. He would have been 92 if he were still alive'

'So who is this impostor who's talking at the library'

'Seems he's a crime writer who sets his novels in St Andrews'

'Shall we ask him to sign What A Mess? ' says Marion