Alberto's Hutte

31st March 2019 (Sunday) .... 08.00     The beach was quiet at sunrise .... I Sunrise at  Elie and Earlsferry. had it to myself.     We have another calm, but cool on the lugs, morning:   there’s a noticeable drop in the temperature, however there’s only a light breeze, so very little wind chill.     It’s a perfect morning for walking!     I’ve got the kirk in the morning, so might go out in the afternoon.... it, kind of, depends on how much cake I eat at the kirk!      20.30     We’ve had a bonnie day, but there has been a cool breeze, and it feels like we could get down to near freezing by the morning. I’ve had a busy day and will be glad to get into bed tonight.   The kirk service was in Colinsburgh Town Hall, (Colinsburgh Kirk has been sold) and there was a good crowd there.    Irene collected the ingredients with which to bake a cake (I didn't tell her that she'd be light on the fruit owing to the fact that I ate some of it);  then we ate one that she had mad

30th March 2019 (Saturday) ....07.00     There wasn’t much happening on Sunrise over The Toft - Elie. the beach this morning..... even the birds were quiet:   actually it was only 05.30 so hardly surprising that it was quiet.      (I must have got rid of the cold because I had the urge to catch the sunrise this morning).    Sunrise wasn’t spectacular, but it was serene, the way the sun came up through the clouds.    It’s a wee bit misty just now, and there’s only a light breeze;   a cool ‘light breeze’ I should say.... a nice start to the day.       22.30       We had a couple of hours of heavy ‘Scotch Mist before midday, but that cleared away and we ended up with a balmy afternoon.... and a beach busy with folks enjoying the ‘balmy afternoon’.     The villages have been busy this weekend;   I don’t know if it’s some kind of holiday weekend, but it looks like it is.... the villages are livelier.     I know all this because I made a mug of coffee and went down to Nana’s Seat a

29th March 2019 (Friday)     08.30 ..... The forecasters were right about it Earlsferry High Street (East end). turning colder .... it has.     We have a bonnie morning in the East Neuk, but there’s a cold wind that has a wintry feel to it.... add to that the wind chill factor and ...yes .... it’s cauld.      It’s a morning for walking in woods I’m thinkin’.... well sheltered from the wind.     So far I’ve been as far as the front gate;     putting out the blue and broon buckets.     20.30    I had a migraine this morning;  the first one for a couple of months..... most likely brought on by the change in the weather.    It has been a nice enough day .... and the villages are busy with visitors tonight.    I went up to Harbour House... and to buy a paper in the morning.... then did the ironing, before having a ‘lite bite’ lunch and going up to the Hutte to have ‘50’. Earlsferry High Street - bit of. Leven Beach, the care home that Jim is in, is a quality place with plent

28th March 2019 (Thursday) .... 08.00     Joyful me .... I’m feeling Crane on Chapel Green Road - Earlsferry.   energetic this morning, .... well I was until I went out to the front gate, to be met by an unexpectedly cool breeze:    I was looking for ‘warm and sunny’.    That said... I’m sure the sun will burn back the clouds and give us ‘hot and sunny’ by mid morning.   At this very minute, I am having a cuppa and listening to the washing machine churning away in the background:   not the most calming sound.     The beach is calling me! 19.30    Oh my word .... we have one tired bunny in Ivy Cottage tonight:  which kinda surprises me ‘cos I managed to side step any thoughts of ‘work’ that attracted my brain cell.    I’ve been playing .... er doing inspiring things all day.  At 09.30 Myra and I went to the Elie School ‘Intergenerational’ Coffee Morning;  lets face it....  who couldn’t go to an intergenerational’ coffee morning.    It was actually very interesting Gillingsh

27th March 2019 (Wednesday) .... 09.00    Mmmmmm ... it’s heavily Cavall Place - Williamsburgh. overcast, and I was looking for sunny and warm!.... however Marcia assures me that tomorrow will be sunny and warm .... and a good drying day.    Today we have the Colinsburgh Lite Lunch .... (soup, sweet, coffee/tea and biccies) .... guaranteed to brighten up the dullest of days.     With a bit of luck   ...   the sun could break through and give us a few sunny spells later today.... and it should begin to feel warmer.      I think a cuppa is required. 18.30      The sun did break through about midday, giving us a pleasant afternoon .... and I took advantage of the sun and went for a walk on the golf course;     that was in the middle of the afternoon ....I’d done other things before that. As per normal I went up for the papers, had morning coffee with Abby and Geoff... and Myra;    after she got back from the hairdresser.     Lunch was well taken care of at Colinsburgh, and I w

26th March 2019 (Tuesday) ....   08.30     It’s a bonnie mornin’ ....   the air  Ferry Road.... at 07.30. cool as yet but not frosty, and it will quickly warm up.    There is a thin layer of cloud but nothing to bother us Scots.     I’m thinking that it’s a good drying day.... I’ll put on a wee washing. I have Helen’s Memorial Service in the morning, then an appointment at St Andrews in the afternoon .... so a fairly busy day ahead. 21.30     There was a big attendance at Helen’s Memorial Service .... taken by the Rev Jim Campbell.    The service was one of those sad/happy occasions:   sad because Helen is no longer with us, but happy because we were all lucky enough to have known her.    The family invited everyone for tea/coffee etc in the Kirk Hall, and I’m sure many went to the Hall;  unfortunately I had my appointment in St Andrews so couldn’t. The Ferry beach, I had a successful mission to St Andrews.... my PSA reading has settled down and my next appointment i

25th March 2019 (Monday) .... 07.00     Yesss .... we have a lovely start to Bonnie but there's a cool breeze. the day, but it is cauld on the lugs... well .... it is down on the beach.     I   will get some tidying up done in the garden... but not before the sun is higher, and with it the temperature.     Anyway ... it’s breakfast time.....  Weetabix and a touch of caffeine. 15.30    It has been a perfect day for working in the garden;   I even forgot about going to the ‘Pav’ for coffee.    By the time I did remember, it was coming up for lunch time.    However, a good bit of progress has been made in the garden, and the ‘broon’ bucket’ is nearly full .... with only enough space left for a couple of kitchen caddy bags.    It has been pleasantly warm .... 14c at  Ivy Cottage  Daffies. 12.30.;  having said that, the sky has clouded over now, but not with rain clouds.    I’m having a mid afternoon tea break before I tidy up the last of the Clematis clippings.   I should

24th March 2019 (Sunday) .... 09.00       there’s a frisky wind this morning, Frisky clouds over Kinneuchar. and it’s a cold one; furthermore, there are a lot of ragged clouds being blown over and some of them look heavy enough to give us a shower.    However, I’m feeling positive;   so ‘positive that I have a jersey out on the line! I’ve been out in the car.... and it is a good morning for going out for a walk up Balcarres Den ... or some other walk that’s out of the wind.     I’ll plan some activity after I’ve had breakfast. The Den Burn with the Balniel bridge in the background. 16.00      We’ve been lucky with the showers;   only catching the edge of a couple of them..... with insignificant wetness, so the jersey I hung out is near enough dry.   I went up to Balcarres in the afternoon and, parking the car off the road, I walked down the Balniel road to the bridge over the Den Burn, where I had a bumble around in the woods by the burn.     I have to take my stic

23rd March 2019 (Saturday) ..... 08.30    It’s a beautiful morning at the Catriona and Jackie in the succulent house. Centre of the Universe;   a perfect morning for working in the garden!      Maybe.     There is a cool air, but that’s easily taken care of with a warm jacket.    The ‘troops’ from Auchnagatt are coming down later;   this means I’d better do some ‘ooverin’ and dustin’.     First I need to have breakfast. 20.30   We’ve had a gorgeous ‘sunny and warm (out of the wind) day’... and I have had a brilliant birthday.    The  Auchnagatt troops arrived about 10.30;  we had a cuppa and devoured some of the goodies they’d brought with them.   Suitably fuelled up, Catriona and Iain went up to the attic to have an explore, I can’t remember what they were looking for, but they brought down an ancient record player that is still in working order.    To know that Catriona has inherited the ‘we need to keep that’ gene is a load off my mind.   All the family heirlooms(?) that Mag

22nd March 2019 (Friday) .... 09.30      Mmmmm .... it’s overcast,   windy Overcast morning. and colder,   but not yet raining;     though it looks like it could rain later, but hopefully not here.   If it does rain I’m going to sort out my sock drawer;   that is a big job, with a lot of socks heading for the bin. I woke up feeling really refreshed this morning, after a good night’s uninterrupted sleep.... I didn’t wake up in the middle of the night at all.    When I went to bed I felt truly contented;   I think my afternoon with the ‘Colinsburgh Girls’ relaxed me in a way that I haven’t been in a while.     I don’t know why that should be ..... it was like being ‘at home’.     My nex t Power Point Presentation is going  to be what I think are the best Heavy sky over the cliffs. photographs of my main ‘play area’:    that is a triangle, with Kilbrackmont as its apex, with one side going down to the coast at Lower Largo and the other to St Monans.     I’d enjoy doing that

21st March 2019 (Thursday) .... 08.30      It could be my imagination ... but Peaceful afternoon. the air seems colder and damper this morning;   having said that, it is overcast, and there is a brisk wind so it probably is colder.     Rain is in the forecast for tomorrow. I’m feeling kind of ‘playful’ this morning;   in fact so playful that I thought   about cleaning the windows, however I quickly tuned in to another, more sensible, brain cell;   the ‘leisure activities’ one.    I’ll have another cuppa while mulling over the choices. 12.00     This is Thursday... the day that I’m talking to the Colinsburgh girls.     In the afternoon so I’d better get a move on;   I still have the ‘rools’ type up, and print off. The sky has broken up to give us a lovely day .... and the wind has moderated some so it feels warmer.    I’ve been up to Elie for the paper... and morning coffee... and came home via Balbuthie Loan.   Williamsburgh. 20.00     Oh ... what an enjoyable afterno

20th March 2019 (Wednesday) Spring Equinox (and full super moon). 'This afternoon' from Chapel Green. 08.30       Although overcast it’s a pleasant enough morning.... and I’m feeling frisky.     Unfortunately viewing the full moon looks like being a random chance thing .... it’s in the sky over New Zealand just now. I’m going to fire up the main computer and tweak the presentation,  then get it onto a ‘stick’;  that won’t take long.    That said I have to also get the pictures onto a DVD in case we have to use the television to do the show.    That’s a bit unhandy because the tele is not compatible with the Power Point.     Spring is here! 16.30      Jings .... I ran out of Digestive .... and Rich Tea .... biscuits;    this puts Brexit in the shade.     I ‘jamp’ in the car and went to Sainsbury’s to do a proper shopping;   the first one I’ve done since I got back home.     I’ve done mini shops but not a proper one:   at last Ivy Cottage has Digestive   .... an

19th March 2019 (Tuesday)   .... 09.00      Mmmmmm .... the sky is overcast, The north side of Lathallan mill . but not heavily, so the sun could easily break through later..... and there’s only a light breeze, so isn’t cold.    It’s a nice morning, and it could get better..... I might go for a daunder round Kinneuchar later.     I’m hungry!     Catch you later .... slight ‘flap on’.... just remembered that I haven’t had breakfast. 12.30      Well .... I set off in the car making for Balcarres Estate, but drove into a shower of rain, so had to abandon that idea;    however I went as far as Colinsburgh and put fuel in the car so it wasn’t a wasted trip.     The first part of the morning had been taken up with doing the ironing, and going to the ‘Pav’ for coffee:  actually, I see that the sun has broken through again so I might yet get out for a wee ‘explore’.... after a quick ‘50’ in the Hutte. Balcarres Snowdrop. 16.30    Although it has been overcast for most of the day,