Working hard all week as we do, come the weekend you’re ready to relax. A few chores, a bit of DIY (yeah, right) entertaining on Saturday evening and then, along comes Sunday. A whole day of nothing to do stretching ahead of you, with the big question hanging over us…“Where shall we go today?”
Coming up with an answer is getting harder and harder.
Over the years we’ve done Historic Scotland, the NTS, English Heritage, the Countryside Commission, RSPB, museums, castles and more castles, galleries and so on, and so forth.
We’ve walked up hill and down dale. We’ve been there, done that. Bought more than a few T-shirts.
And so it was that we found ourselves referring to the pocket booklet pictured above. A Christmas stocking filler jam-packed with things to do. Stuff that wouldn’t cross your mind in a month of Sundays.
Like visiting the Tunnocks teacake factory in Uddingston, the Pineapple at Airth, Earthquake House at Comrie, Ebeneezer Place, Wick and – who could resist? – the Victorian Toilets, Rothesay (men only though).
If you’re clean out of ideas then this is the book for you.
And so via this most unusual of routes, we stumbled across the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum in Fife. A wondrous institution where bus fans can really let their freak flag fly.
49 acres and 190 vehicles, 160 of which are buses. A cafe, a shop and an entrance charge that includes a guided tour of the whole site in a vintage bus.
Who could resist? We couldn’t and so five went off on an adventure.
Run by former bus drivers, conductors, and fanatics of all ages, the museum will transport you back a bit, and then some. There are double deckers, single deckers and many other retired vehicles of all descriptions, including a boat, a tank and a bubble car.
Highlights include the 1928 Leyland Titan TD1 GE2446, the 1950 Bedford OB SS7501 and the1976 Daimler Fleetline CRG6LXB SMS120P. If you’re into omnibology then this is heaven. Other bits of bus memorabilia – clippies’ uniforms, fleet books, ticket machines, old radios and wirelesses – complete the experience.
Well, almost.
Because we’ve yet to mention the star of the show, the piece de résistance. Ladies and gentlemen, may we introduce you to the Scottish Museum of Ashtrays.
This, without doubt, must be the most bizarre collection ever encountered. Round ones, square and rectangular, of varying colour and design, together confronting the viewer with a social commentary that is truly quotidian.
I think we’re safe in saying it’s the most comprehensive collection of ashtrays you will ever cast your eyes on (after all, there can’t possibly be any other ashtray museums out there, can there?).
So go see, go on a Sunday … make your day.