Alberto's Hutte

28th February 2019 (Thursday) ....   09.00    Hmmmm ... I was enjoying ‘wall to wall sunny Sussex’, but , as was forecast, that has all changed this morning , and now we have ‘wall to wall overcast Sussex’ .... in fact it could be ‘wall to wall overcast UK’.   At least it isn’t raining.      As you’d expect it is cooler , and there’s a light wind;    all a bit disappointing after the past couple of weeks, though it is still warmer than it should be for this time of year.    The last couple of weeks have been exceptionally warm/hot;   and enjoyable. 19.00     It may well have not been raining when I wrote the above update.... but it has been a mix of Scotch Mist and rain on and off for most of the day, with a few short sunny spells   in between.    ‘JB’ and I went to Eastbourne, where the weather was slightly better than inland.     We did the shopping, had food in our favourite Italian Restaurant, then went to ASDA’s for a few messages, before going for a run along the coast road

27th February 2019 (Wednesday) ....   08.00      We have another ‘wall to Ashdown Forest. wall sunny Sussex;   , though it is cool at the moment the sun will soon begin to raise the temperature.     They (the weather people) expect it to be hot, but don’t think the temperature record will be broken today.... and this is to be the last of this hot spell .... with more normal (for this time of year) weather tomorrow. I’m going ‘downtown’   before the temperature rises, so that I’m back at “No 1” before the High Street is like an oven.     Pollution levels are at Medium, which is uncomfortable in the heat.     They recommend that people with breathing problems should avoid doing too much.     Presumably people without breathing problems   can do anything they want;   hauling the pollution into their lungs and creating breathing The Memorial. problems for later in life.   Sussex, and the whole of the southeast, is beautiful, but there are hidden dangers in the air that’s for s

26th February 2019 (Tuesday) ....   08.00          Yet again we have another superb Sussex morning.... a wall to wall blue sky, and the prospect of another hot day ahead.     Yesterday we broke some kind of temperature record;   and it could be broken again today.      However things are forecast to get back to ‘normal’ by the beginning of next week.     ‘JB’ and I plan to go downtown in the morning then Ashdown Forest, for a walk, in the afternoon. 15.30      Oh my word .... this is the hottest February that I have ever experienced!      Today I had to abandon sitting out in the garden .... it was too hot;   actually I think I've  had an attack of ‘the mauchless’, because it’s hot with only a smirr of a breeze from the southeast.... sort of airless.     Having said all that any ‘plan’ to go ‘downtown’ was quickly abandoned because   the High Street is a sun trap and it’s like walking in an oven.    John and I might go out to the forest later in the afternoon.... but its sti

25th February 2019 (Monday) ....   09.30      we have another cracker o’ Buxted Park - the Hungarian Oak in the middle distance. a mornin’ in Sussex;   in fact I’d say it’s the bonniest so far this year ..... it has the feel   of being a warm/hot day already;   and that is after a light touch of 'nearly frost'. The ‘plan’ is for ‘JB’ (who is on ‘oliday) and me to take the car to the car park at St Margaret’s Church and have a walk round Buxted Park.     I can’t come to Sussex without visiting the Hungarian Oak.... and the other trees on the park.    The paths will be dry so walking will be safe.     With clay soil, even a single shower o’ rain can have the paths turn treacherous in ‘nae time’. I have just realised that when ‘JB’ starts his first shift at the (East Sussex National) after his ‘oliday, ... at 15.00 on the 6th March, I will be approaching Kirkcaldy on the Aberdeen train.     I am looking forward to seeing all my girl friends again... and the boys ... and

24th   February 2019 (Sunday) ....     10.00     I could see folk ending up The 'new' Cafe. with a touch of sunburn   now the ‘sunny Sussex’ is living up to its name;    yes .... we have another cracker of a morning... and there’s less mist about so it will be warm ... no... hot by lunch time.     It is foggier up in Fife just now, though that should clear soon.      I’m going out for a walk after this update..... , round by the former Council Housing estate, then up to Church Road, onto the High Street and the ‘ new Cafe’ for coffee.   King George V  letter box. 19.30        We’ve had another lovely Spring like day;   yet once again the temperature in the garden would have been around 18c.     I took advantage of the sunshine and sat out in the garden for an hour in the afternoon.... result?.... sunburnt nose!         I have been doing a lot more walking now that I’m feeling better;    I want to be reasonably fit for  ‘Em’ and John’s wedding next Saturday:   havi

23rd February 2019 (Saturday)      08.30   .... yessss... we have a real cracker of a ‘sunny Sussex’ this morning;     and it’s warm.     There is some mist towards Lewes and the South Downs, but it looks like being a really warm/hot day for this time of year.      My ‘plan’ is to go ‘downtown’ in the morning and watch the rugby in the afternoon. Michael and ‘JB’ arrived safely in Bournemouth, and it looks like the ‘boys’ will have a grand day for the clay pigeon shooting and other manly activities.     They travel home again on Sunday.

22nd February 2019 (Friday) ...09.30      Yesterday afternoon I walked round to Leeann and Martyn’s, taking a wrong turning on the way and walking about twice the distance that I should have;   however I enjoyed the exercise..... and was in plenty of time to enjoy food and goodies at Sully’s party.... and to have a blether.      I very nearly took another wrong turning on the way home, but found the ‘twitten’ I was looking for and was back on track, and well on my way to “No 1”. This morning we have fairly thick fog but it is warm, and it will be a bonnier day once the fog lifts..... which it is starting to do now.     I’ll go for a wander when the   sun breaks through. 17.30      Michael and ‘JB’ set off for Bournemouth about an hour ago:     they are going to John’s (Emily’s fiancée) stag party.     It’s a case of driving down there today, doing ‘man things’ tomorrow, then c home on Sunday..... ready for work on Monday.     They might have the odd refreshing drink. The ea

21st February 2019 (Thursday) .... 10.30     We have a quiet,   ‘everything waiting for something to happen’ kind of morning ;    hardly any wind,   warmer than yesterday, with an overcast sky.      Not the most exciting looking morning:      even the Wood Pigeons, that share the ‘big tree’ with the squirrels, are looking bored.      At the moment I am i/c, though I do hear some faint noises that suggest ‘JB’ could be   surfacing. We have Sully’s birthday party this afternoon   ... today is his actual birthday:   he is ‘4’.    That reminds me that I have a present to wrap. 14.00      The weather has brightened and we have had a few sunny spells in the past couple of hours.      I think that I’ll go for a daunder to take advantage of the better, and warmer, weather;   it’s forecast to reach 17c at the weekend.

20th February 2019 (Wednesday) .... 08.30     We have another lovely, 'Duddleswell Tea Rooms' - Ashdown Forest. early Spring like morning;    with a ‘wall to wall’ blue sky ....and there’s only a light breeze so it could be warm later.    I’m going ‘downtown’ to the shops .... including the Luxford Cafe.    The Fife Weather cams show me a cloudier, and windier Fife   .... with the chance of showers. 17.30      It’s been a lovely day.... but considerably cooler than of late:   it should be really warm again by the weekend.     I went ‘downtown’ in the morning, and bought   all the   bits and pieces that I needed .... including a cuppa and a cheese scone in the Luxford Centre. A peaceful corner of Ashdown Forest. In the afternoon ‘JB’ and I went for a short walk in Ashdown Forest .... from the Duddleswell Tea Rooms car park.      I remember the first time we visited this tea room .... it would be in 2006;    for two main reasons.     Emily had not long passed he

19th February 2019 (Tuesday) ....   08.00     There’s a fairly heavy early morning frost so windscreens are having to be scraped ;    but we have the makings of a gorgeous day .     I should get out .... once the frost lifts.     The ‘plan’ is to go to the Post Office and buy a couple of boxes to send home clothes;    I want my case to be as light as possible.     There’s a longing to see the sunrise over Elie granary, from the 'Royal Beach’ again.     We have bonnie sunrises (and sunsets) through trees around Uckfield, but nae beach! 13.30      We have a beautiful afternoon, though there are a lot of clouds bumbling over;   some of them fairly dark and threatening.... which could give us the odd shower.     I’ve enjoyed a daunder ‘downtown’   as far as Tesco’s... and the Luxford Centre for tea and a toasted T-cake.     The walk back up the hill is hard work, especially carrying a bag... but should get easier.     There’s actually a cool breeze today, though it is warm when

18th February 2019 (Monday) .... 09.30     Mmmmmm .... we have an overcast sky, and short spells of light rain were mentioned in the weather forecast..... so not a ‘pretty’ morning;   but it is warm, though not as warm as yesterday.    I’ll leave going out until later:    Oh ... at last I feel ‘normal me’ after three weeks of a double barrelled cold.     The fact that it (the cold) cleared up for about twelve hours then came back , worse than before, was depressing;    but  that is the way this virus works.    With a bit of luck this will be the last time I   mention ‘the cold’. 20.00       ‘JB’ and I walked down to Tesco’s in the morning, did a wee bit of shopping, went to The Luxford for coffee and cake, then walked back up the hill;   and I did all that, surprisingly, easily.     It was spitting rain when we arrived back at “No1”.     Since then I’ve solved three murders at Midsomer;     a bonnie place but it has more than its share of murders:   watched ‘The Third Secret of F

17th February 2019 (Sunday) .....     23.00     Late update.      After a glorious Spring like day, I am off to bed tired... and very contented.      Lee-Ann, Martyn and the ‘troops, Darcie and Sully joined us for a lovely Christmas Lunch; cooked by Janice, aided by Michael.     Darcie and Sully went off to bed, and the adults then played some games .... accompanied by a few refreshing drinks. I spent last night, and this morning, fighting this cold, and fingers crossed, I am beginning to feel better;   so much so that I might manage to go downtown tomorrow.... depending on the weather.      The evening ended with light rain.  

16th February 2019 (Saturday) .... 09.30     There’s a fairly heavy fog Spiderman with the party boy. around Sussex this morning, but it is forecast to get brighter later;   right now it’s murky.... and about 8c.     I’m feeling ‘brighter’ this morning .... but not ‘frisky’. We’re going out for lunch .... to a place called ‘The Laughing Fish’ (Isfield)   ... then onto Sully’s party at Isfield Hall. 11.00      I’d go for a walk round the block, but with the air being damp, and me trying to fight off this cold I’ll stay ‘in’.     “Stay warm, and drink plenty liquids” is what Doctors say... I’ll have another cuppa.     We are going out about midday   (for lunch) so I do have time for a cuppa!      The Fife weather cams tell me that you have a slightly brighter day then we have;   but not that much brighter.     Right now it doesn’t look like it’s going to brighten up that much in Sussex today.     "Happy Birthday Sully"  23.00      It   was good seeing all

15th February 2019 (Friday) .... 09.00     After a frosty start, with car Hot tub time! windscreens having to be scraped, we have a cracker of a day, though cool.     The temperature is forecast to reach 14c by midday.... much the same kind of weather as at the COTU.     I’ll go out once the air warms up.     My cold is ‘on the mend’;    but it does not take much to set it back, so I’m being extra careful this time;    I want to be fit for Em’s wedding, and to travel home. 18.00      It has been another lovely day in Sussex;   in fact it has been a lovely day all over the UK apart from the far West.    ‘JB’ and I completed our mission today, then went to the ‘New Coffee Shop/Cafe for lunch, before John went to work:   at  15.00.      I have done a bit more walking today, but feel very tired now.     The lassie in the coffee shop has had the cough for three weeks.     Everybody says that it takes a lot to get ‘shot of it’.     Anyway I have been feeling brighter today, but b

14th February 2019 (Thursday) .... 08.30     14th February 2019 (Thursday) .... 08.30    "Amor omnia vincit" ..... “I send St Valentine’s Day (((((((hugs)))))) and XXXXXXX’s”  to my FB friends all around the world!”    Have a lovely, and loving,  day.    ‘JB’ and I didn’t get back from visiting Jenny and Dave in Battle, until late last night, Battle - the horse is a 'Cob'. too late for me , a tired boy, to update the Hutte.   With this cold cramping my activeness  somewhat we only had a quick walk into the centre of Battle  where I took a few photographs, then went ‘home’ to ‘Forge Cottage’... where Jenny and Dave live.   We were surprised to see a horse (a Cob) towing a two seat trail buggy, going round ‘The Green’.      The Windmill at 'Windmill Hill' - from the car. 23.00     ‘JB’ and I have been busy today, having bumbled down to the ‘New Coffee Shop, then sussed out a secret mission.... all before going down to the beach at Pevensey, then

13th February 2019 (Wednesday) .... 09.00     When I first looked out   we had a mix of cloud and ‘bloo’ sky;   since then   a bank of fog has   rolled in so it’s now grey .... and not very warm, however the fog looks like it will break up soon .... it’s already brighter towards the south downs.      It is forecast to become much warmer by the day’s end.    10.30     The fog is thinning rapidly so it looks like ‘JB’ and I will get to Battle this afternoon.    The ‘plan’ is to meet Jenny there and have a snack;    and take a few pictures.     I’m feeling a bit brighter again, but we have to be careful;   it disnae take much to set this cold back.

12th February 2019 (Tuesday) .... 09.00      We have 50/50 cloud and One of the squirrels - there are three. ‘bloo’ sky this morning;    and by the look of the Fife Weather cams the weather is much the same in Fife.    I don’t have a ‘plan of action’;   apart from fight off this extremely frustrating cold.     It seems to have taken a couple of steps backwards, so I’m drinking copious amounts of water and staying warm! 14.00     We have a problem in the Theresa Tree;   last years offspring is still around and he’s a boy!     ‘Pater’ is now in the process of   trying to evict him from the family home.       There are sporadic bursts activity towards this end .... and much ‘threatening’ tail wagging.     The problem seems to be;     Junior does not want to leave the nest, and is ever so slightly faster than Paw.    It all makes interesting watching when trying to shake off a cold:    I’ve just had a Janice toddie.... and will now have ‘50’. 17.00    I have to admit to havin

11th February 2019 (Monday) .... 09.00     We have a “mostly sunny spells, St Margaret's Church, Buxted. Sussex” this morning;      the clouds, occasionally hiding the sun, spoil what could be a bonnie Spring day.    In fact the Northern sky has clouded over quite heavily in the last 20 minutes,,,, I don’t think rain was mentioned in the weather forecast.       There had been a light frost because I saw the man next door scraping his car windscreen.    I don’t have a ‘plan’ for today, though I shall go out for a walk ‘round the block’ mat some point.     Apparently it can take up to six weeks to shake of cough that I now have:    I can’t wait six weeks and hope to be rid of it by the   end of this week. St Margaret window in the Church porch. 21.00     John and I went out in the morning (in the car) to have a walk round St Margaret's Church on Buxted Estate;   it was too muddy to venture onto the actual Park.     With the soil around here being clay the paths ta

10th February 2019 (Sunday)   .... 12.00     Sussex is ‘wall to wall’ grey, Pauline and Janice. with occasional light rain, and nae wind;    and it’s warm.     I think the temperature is around 11c (outside) but I’ve had a ‘Janice Toddie’   so I feel very cosy.     The mix for a ‘JT’ is three quarters of a mug of water (need plenty liquids) splash of Malt Whisky and a dollop of honey;   but   the measures don’t have to be accurate.    I think that I have just had a large Malt Whisky with a dollop of honey.... and perhaps a splash of water!     I’m feeling happy.      Geoff - Pauline's husband. We’re going to my Sussex girlfriend for dinner this afternoon;    that’s Pauline , Janice’s sister, and her husband Geoff, who live about half an hours’ drive from Uckfield.    I’d better have 50 before I get ready to go;    I want to look my best. 19.30       Pauline, and Janice are excellent cooks, a skill that was inherited from ‘Mum’;      and today’s lunch, at Pauline an