Pastures new.

After the balmy Mediterranean weather of the last three days we're back to the reality of living in Scotland. Before we've even opened the bedroom curtains the sound of the rain beating against the windows tells us there's an Atlantic storm heading our way. This morning it's chilly - as in time to put on a jumper - chilly. A couple of weeks and the heating will need to be turned on.

This week we're using the last of the long days to head out and discover new places to eat. With one or two exceptions the restaurants in St Andrews have gone downhill since we arrived. Brexit made finding kitchen and front of house staff difficult while Covid closures layered on debt. £120 tasting menus have become a thing in the fancier places in town but they fail to impress. In general peak season prices have doubled since 2022 while quality has gone in the opposite direction. I'm guessing we'll see a couple of well known names close after the summer season is over.

We set off south down the coast to a little fishing village in search of a place that the locals say good things about. The restaurant nestles on the waterfront at one end of a long sweeping harbour. Parking is a nightmare. Medieval streets and modern cars do not make happy bedfellows. Finally, we find a spot on top of the hill. It's a five minute walk but the rain has eased to a drizzle.

The restaurant menu, posted outside the door, is just about discernible through the rain.

The fish, as you might expect in these parts, is as fresh as you could get anywhere. In this case it's travelled all of a hundred yards since it was landed four hours ago.

Heading back to the car we find another, less grand, place to eat. 

I thought the tables in the restaurant we just visited were close to the sea but here the tables are almost in the water. What a place to sit outside, eat crab and watch the sunset ( clouds willing ).

After two years of settling in we find the fish , meat and vegetables to be as good as anything you'd find in France. In some cases ( meat and vegetables ) they're better. What we miss is the fresh fruit. Peaches, which Angus used to live on for three months of the year, arrive in these northern parts chilled. They soon develop  the texture of wood chippings. 'The Font' has had to throw out six this week. My other great favourite - Victoria pineapples - are unknown here.