I’ll take you to the candy shop (and other bucket list priorities)

The other day, I went to Candy King. You know the place I’m talking about – that sad excuse for a candy bar lodged between the booth for nicotine addicts […]


The other day, I went to Candy King. You know the place I’m talking about – that sad excuse for a candy bar lodged between the booth for nicotine addicts and the wannabe Boots meal deal display in Tesco. Those artificially coloured sweets in plastic containers of questionable hygiene had always caught my eye, but somehow in between dodging awkward aisle conversations and pushing through hordes of Madras teenagers at lunch, I never found the time to indulge in my unfulfilled Sofia Coppola/Juno-pastel-gummy-chewing-girl fantasy. Until the other day, that is, when after spending an inordinate amount of time weighing the pros and cons of cherry vs. coca cola gummies, I took myself to Candy King and fulfilled one of the items on my St Andrews bucket list.

Candy King was high on my St Andrews bucket list, near having an academic family, walking the Fife coastal path, and actually getting into the sea at May Dip without dying from hypothermia. Though I realize I should probably take a second look at my life ambitions, I experienced a wondrous feeling of accomplishment upon crossing Candy King off of my list. The point being the following piece of advice: get your priorities straight from the start. By priorities, I don’t mean buy a May Ball ticket, attending all the fashion shows, campaigning for a Sabb position, or rocking that internship in the summer of your third year.

I mean the little things.

I wish I’d take the time to know the back streets of St Andrews (and learn their names!). I wish I took more walks and explored the woods I hear exist in that faraway kingdom past Lade Braes. I wish I had gone to the freaky abandoned house somewhere on the outskirts of town or fed the ducks on the river near the travelator. I wish I had more sausage dinners, went to the beach more often, had a cheesy nacho pub crawl, and made more trips out to Morrisons. (Well, that last one’s a lie, but you get the idea).

The problem with bucket lists is that no one ever really drafts them until they feel the impending doom of a good thing coming to an end. Then, it becomes into a forced rush to cram in as many otherwise pleasant activities into one massive hyperactive anticlimax. Let’s change this. Whether you’re in first or fourth year, here’s to pacing ourselves with these “to do’s” before we kick the proverbial St Andrews bucket (aka graduate). See you at Candy King.