The Comfort of Comfrey

A cooler cloudy morning today. I blame the NE wind, it's clearly coming straight from the Arctic Circle.
Just after 12 we decided to head out to Culross again to go and have a look at the Abbey which we missed last week.
Don't do it! Having climbed the not inconsiderably steep road up to the Abbey we were greeted with that infuriating sign from Historic Scotland saying that it was closed for safety checking reasons. A small sign by the direction board at the bottom of the hill, to say it was closed would not have gone amiss. I am fed up with Historic Scotland and their safety closure programme. So many things are closed so they can check it they are safe. You'd have thought that was one of the things which could have been being done as we were coming out of the pandemic. The majority of the closures are ruins and so out of doors. I am not belittling safety checks just the way they are being done. All of the Border Abbeys are closed and a huge number of castles. I really feel that my membership is not giving value for money and nor has it since 2020. Rant over!
Having said all that we did spend a long time exploring the parish church which dates from the 16th century and commemorates St Serf and St Mungo. The tower, which is only open one day a year, includes a level where suspected witches were imprisoned.
There is a wonderful 16th century marble monument to George Bruce who was responsible for bringing prosperity to the town. The monument, (extra) to George, his wife and their eight children is more like those I've seen south of the border.
The graveyard was full of interesting stones, many masonic ones and several with interesting inscriptions. Sadly though it's in a very poor condition, it belongs to Fife Council. Many stones are toppled over and the whole thing completely overgrown.
We had lunch in the Biscuit cafe once again. A very tasty and freshly prepared menu. The cafe had tables outside at the back and it's above the pottery shop which is worth a browse too. I bought a couple of cards with decorative glass hangings on them.
The comfrey of my blip I spotted as we walked along the shore path. It was one of my mum's favourite wild flowers. The bees were enjoying it today. Lots of hawthorn and elderflower were lining the path, the sun had come out later in the afternoon and it was really beginning to feel as if we are moving towards summer.