Alberto's Hutte

31st May 2018 (Thursday) .... 09.30     We have heavy Scotch Mist this Elie Harbour. morning;   it’s grey and wet.     It looks like we’ve had some light rain overnight, but only enough to lay the dust:   the gardens are needing a really good soak.     I’ve been up to Elie for the paper, and at the surgery;   after that, as I was in the car, I went down to the harbour.     It is a good morning for doing some ‘ousework, though frankly, I’m not in an ‘ousework mood.... I still have that one degree under feeling.      This calls for another cuppa;   after that I’ll make a ‘plan’. 21.30      The ‘plan’ that eventually came up with didn’t involve too much heavy lifting, or stuff like that;    I decided to have a quiet day.     I saw Brian and Gary teeing off on the eighteenth so I went up to see how they were getting on:   and arranged to have a cuppa with them up at Arncroach in the afternoon.     When I was up at Arncroach I’d go for a walk round Gillingshill Nature Reserve.  

30th May 2018 (Wednesday) ....09.30     I’ve been for the papers (two on Wednesday), on the bike, then back to Ivy, and down to the beach after breakfast.      It’s Elie Bay. another misty morning, but the sun is trying to break through so we should have a nice afternoon again:     that said, there’s a slight chance of rain later in the afternoon.     I have to stay   around Ivy Cottage until after Dr Francis phones;   after which, I’ll go out.... somewhere.    It depends on the weather, where ‘somewhere’ is.   In the meantime I'll have another cuppa before having a look at the garden. 21.00       ‘Somewhere’ turned out to be the Colinsburgh Lite Lunch’, which I’d forgotten about .... but Myra left a message on the answering machine to remind me.    Doctor Francis phoned and said that my knee is definitely arthritic, but not yet ready for replacing.    We settled on leaving it for a few months to see I how I cope with using a walking with a stick.... and how the pain de

29th May 2018 (Tuesday) .... 08.00     Hmmmm .... we have heavy mist; Foggy Earlsferry.   heavy enough for me to get wet when I went round the ‘Royal Burgh’ on the bike.     I daresay it will burn back to the North Sea and we should have another ‘bright and sunny’ afternoon.     It is breezier, cool .... and, damp.    We had fireworks going off at 22.30 last night;   some kind of celebration for which noise was essential.    There are a lot of inconsiderate people on Mother Earth, and, regrettably, our auld villages are beginning to get their share of them at holiday times. I’m feeling as frisky as a frolicking ferret this morning;    actually,  I might go for a daunder up Balcarres Den later.... that would burn some of this energy off. Balcarres Estate.... the B941 St Andrews road. 19.00        Oh my word;     Balcarres Den was so green... different shades of green, full of the aroma of the Wild Garlic and utterly relaxing.     It was hot in the Den, sheltered fr

28th May 2018 (Monday) .... 09.00    We’ve got the haar this morning .... but Peaceful morning. that should burn back to leave us with a really nice day.     There is a light breeze, but it isn’t cold;   even on the beach where I’ve spent an hour pottering about at the edge of the tide.     It’s so peaceful this morning that even the wavelets that we have got aren’t flopping onto the sand .... they’re gently creeping over it.     Everyone on the beach, and there were a few early morning walkers,  was enjoying the stillness.    It was like someone had pressed the ‘pause’ button.       17.00     We’ve enjoyed a lovely, ‘sunny and warm’ afternoon;   in fact I’d say this could be the   start of ‘summer’.    I biked up to Elie for the paper.... and had coffee in Harbour House.    Sitting watching the traffic surprised me:   I didn’t realise just how busy the junction outside Harbour House can be on a holiday weekend.       Our quiet villages The Ferry beach. aren’t so quiet

27th May 2018 (Sunday) .... 08.30     When I went out for the paper   (in the Pittenweem. car) I popped along  to Pittenweem, via Kinneuchar,   for a change of scenery.    Kinneuchar was busy;     Bob and Sheena were on the move.     When I think about it Kinneuchar wisnae that busy;    Bob and Sheena were the only folk I saw!     On the way to Balbuthie I stopped and took photo of Kinneuchar kirk;   yes another one.    I like the view from the spot that I park.     Pittenweem harbour was busier than I expected, with a couple fishermen working on their boat.     I noticed a Belfast registered boat,  a Fowey registered one, and a Hartlepool one in the harbour... their numbers standing out among the many Scottish boats.    I had a walk out on the middle pier, then decided that I wanted food so came home;    and forgot to go for a paper.    I’ll get the bike out later. 20.00     It’s been another lovely day;   even the cool breeze didn’t stop people padding around in their shorts.

26th May 2018 (Saturday) .... 08.30     There’s a different ‘air’ about today;   Elie at 10.00 this morning. the sky is mostly overcast, and the wind, which is brisk,   and from the ENE, is warm(er) because the air originates over Africa.    I still don’t like the East wind... but a warm East wind feels better than a cold one.    It could be a nice enough day, albeit windy.... but nae 'heat wave' here.       I’m taking advantage of the drying wind, with a washing going through the machine.     After breakfast I’ll get the bike out and ‘point myself’ towards the Coffee Morning. 20.00    We had an excellent Coffee Morning, with q few new faces:   the ‘new faces’ would be visitors here for the holiday weekend.     I was along there in plenty time for the baking stall, and bought a mix of ‘goodies’, including a Ginger Bread.    There was a book stall with a really good choice of books, so I bought three (new authors for me) for bedtime reading.    Oh...   I won a priz

25th May 2018 (Friday) .... 08.30       Thick fog has crept in from the North Early morning dog walkers. Sea overnight, but the sun is beginning to burn it back:   it looks like being a ‘bright, sunny and warm day.’     At the moment there’s only a light breeze from the North, so the chill factor is negligible;   however, this being the East Coast the haar could creep back in again, in the afternoon. When I went for the paper I popped down to the harbour (I was in the car), then went to the beach when I got back to Ivy.       All is quiet... the auld places are very peaceful this morning.    I’ll get the bike out later and go up to the Chapel Green. 20.30     It has been a ‘sunny and warm’.... as long as you were out of the wind day.    Alas the wind strengthened, and made what was a bonnie day into a cool one.    I enjoyed myself fixing the bike, doing a wee bit of painting, and some weeding.     I take rest at the hottest time of the day, having been ‘up’ since ‘silly ti

24th May 2018 (Thursday) .....   09.00     Mmmmm .... the sky is heavily overcast, the wind is direct from the East, and, though not cold it isn’t “iggzactly” A new 'thing' (marquee) at the Ship Inn. warm.     The sun should break through, and, away from the East coast, it could be hot by afternoon.     Our pollution level is at Medium.        It’s raining in ‘Sunny Sussex’ so their pollution level is ‘Low’.     The villages are beginning to fill up for the Bank Holiday weekend;   I suppose this is the beginning of the summer holiday season .... when ‘locals’ can feel overwhelmed.     I just bumble about on the bike;   and fall in love with the   girl visitors.      Hey .... I need food.      Jim has been seen bumbling down Ferry Road in the buggy, .... and I haven’t had breakfast yet. 21.00     There was only Geoff and I for coffee in Harbour House   this morning;   Jim and Myra had other appointments.    Having said that,   Harbour House was busy;   and will be o

23rd May 2018 (Wednesday)      08.30      Hmmmm   .... it isn’t “iggzactly” Jogger prints. warm this morning, but it will become warmer once the sun burns off the clouds;   however there’s an easterly breeze taking a few degrees off the temperature.        It, the east wind, is forecast to be with us for the next week or so.    I’ve been down to the beach..... it was quiet, only a couple of dog walkers, and a set of jogger footprints. 21.30     Regrettably the East wind has been with us all day, and is has been cold, even when the sun did finally break through about 15.00.     And that was short lived.      I took the car up to Elie in the morning, got the papers then went to Harbour House to "Hamburg" entering the Firth this morning. have coffee with the troops.     Following the coffee break we went to Leven where I paid for my share of the Cornwall holiday:   Jim got the ‘invoice’ yesterday.    Now that the trip has been paid for we can start looking forw

22nd May 2018 (Tuesday) ..... 08.00     There’s a noticeable drop in Pittenweem Recycling Depot display. temperature, and in the strength of the ENE wind, this morning.... it feels like   a step back to winter, after the recent hot days.     This is the day that I’ve chosen to go to Leven and have my haircut:     my head is beginning to look like I’m growing my own blankets.     I’ll do a shopping when in Leven.     This weekend coming up, is a holiday weekend (Whitsun) so I’d better stock up, because the villages will be busy. I won’t be out on the bike in this wind .... but Ivy garden is sheltered so I’ll get some more tidying up done, and take the bags of weeds along to Pittenweem re-cycling... remembering that they are closed on Wednesday. Kellie Castle. 18.30      It has been a nice enough day;   bright and sunny, most of the time, .... but, the brisk north easterly wind kept the temperature down.     It was warm out of the wind. In the middle of the afternoon I we

21st May 2018 (Monday)      09.30 ......    We have a serene morning .... a Kinneuchar Loch. morning to ‘fall apart’.     I’ve been round the villages on the bike, bought a paper, then went up through Elie Estate to Kinneuchar Loch .... and everywhere I’ve been has radiated peace, tranquillity and love.      My next move, after breakfast, is to attack another bit of the garden;   having said that the ‘broon bucket’ is full so I’ll need to find bags to put the weeds in.    Orf to have breakfast .... I’ve been on the go since 06.00. and I’m beginning to feel hungry. 17.00      Oh my word, it was 22c in Ivy garden this afternoon.     I had to have a siesta.... I cannot work when it’s hot like that.     I settled down, in the Hutte with a bottle of water and the paper.     The garden work is progressing;    I found the bags that Kinneuchar Kirk. I use for the weeds, and one of them (as well as the ‘broon bucket’ is already full.     My hips and knees are enjoying the exercise