Culross

We were rather late getting up this morning (partly since A had called me on her way into work worrying about how to handle an issue with a grant application), and after some admin, tea and toast we decided to make the most of some lovely bright weather and go to visit Culross. I’ve never been before but have heard about it and seen quite a few recommendations about how unspoilt and pretty it is. Sure enough, it was a little time capsule, so no wonder it has been used so much for various film locations. We started with some coffee and scones in the Biscuit cafe which had quite a nice wee art gallery attached and then went into the ‘palace’ to look around. Built at the end of the 16th century it had been abandoned for many years before being rescued and restored by the National Trust (who then renovated many other smaller houses in the village which remain as private residences). It was fascinating, and very beautiful to see it in such original condition including its painted ceiling (extra) and panelling and the lovely large garden. One of the guides told us all about how many commonly used phrases came from those times (‘threshold’ as the barrier at the front door to stop the ‘thresh’ of straw and herbs which covered the floor escaping out of the house, and many phrases to do with ‘boards’ such as above board, board and lodgings, side board, which all came from the name of the wooden board used as a movable top for the main dining and entertaining table, with the host’s seat called the ‘chair of the board’.)
We really enjoyed looking round and learning all about Sir George Bruce who’d developed the mining and salt panning industries that built the town and who’d constructed himself such a splendid house. The colour of the walls came from the iron ore in the local rocks that was extracted to make paint amongst other things.
We had a walk around the little vennels and wynds of the town, admiring all the very old houses and cobbled streets, before going to the garden centre to buy bedding plants for my window boxes. Home mid afternoon by which time we were ravenous so we improvised some late lunch from leftovers then set about planting up my window boxes which was messy but quicker with both of us doing it. Once we’d cleaned up again afterwards it was time for a lager and some crisps and I did a bit more catch up admin whilst we watched some more Emily in Paris. Mt texted to say the weans had settled back into school well and were joining the fencing club!
We didn’t feel like the supper we’d planned so just had some fruit and yoghurt later then had an early night…I was tired since I’d gone to sleep late last night and woken early even though I hadn’t actually got up then!