Simple enjoyment.

 

St.Andrews Day weekend. The town looking particularly spick and span. The old buildings are illuminated and all the windows glow with light. After last months rain the weather is on its best behaviour - the skies almost cloudless and the air still. We see  shooting stars - one of which falls in the sea in front of us. Neither of us have ever seen such a thing.

Tonight the fountain in the town centre is illuminated. This could have been a tacky gesture but turns out to be well done. The thistles a cheerful touch.

The crest of the Saint on the town hall facade is also lit up - but in a more low key way. 

Down by the town gate there is a Ceilidh. A fiddle band plays and the University choir sing Taylor Swift songs. They are remarkably good although our knowledge of Taylor Swift songs is limited. There is dancing - some coordinated - some less so.  A barber shop octet sings 'The Rowan Tree' and everyone joins in.

 

There are pipers....

 

and there are torches.....

..... and a long, long  procession that stretches from the centre of town  down to the shore. The route pilgrims used to take when they came to visit the shrine. In those days people would wash off the grime of the journey in the sea before heading off to make penance in the cathedral. You would need to be exceptionally devout to try that on a cold night like this although some of the student alpha males will try to impress their partners by doing just that.

To end it all there is a wonderful fireworks display that lights up the sky. Many firework displays disappoint with penny pinching brevity. This one doesn't. It's bright and loud and skilful and lasts a full twenty minutes. It ends in a riot of Scottish blue and white.

I guess if you're going to celebrate St.Andrews Day then this is the place to do it. Perhaps the most remarkable thing is that in the twenty first century such unpretentious enjoyments not only survive but  thrive. In its simplicity it was perfect. We had great fun and head back to the car as a band strikes up with this old tune :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2svmUcsKeg  What better song could there be to end the celebrations?