Alberto's Hutte

31st May 2019 (Friday) ....   08.30     I’m in Ivy, having my second cuppa, Quiet kind of morning. watching the ‘News’ while waiting for the weather forecast to come on.     We have a misty damp morning;    a sky that has the ‘rainy look’ about it.    Oh .... there’s the weather forecast.      Oops ... spells of rain moving over at times during the day....heavy at times.     No wonder the sky has the ‘rainy look’.     It’s a grand morning for visiting ‘Jimbo’;    and doing any shopping that I need.... ‘vital rations’ etc. 09.30      I’ve been down on the beach;   there’s hardly any wind, with brighter bits in the sky towards the south.... though that’s not a good ‘sign’.     A “clear sooth drooned’ the plooman” is one of the old sayings from Buchan.... but we could have a bright spell before that happens.     Right now it’s overcast, dry, and pleasant with a lot of early morning dog walkers out.    Orf to have breakfast. 14.30     ‘Jimbo’ was in good form this morning, be

30th May 2019 (Thursday) .... 08.30     Oh dear we have much wetness this Ferry Road. morning;   it’s raining, and   the forecast I watched a few minutes ago was not pretty.    It looks like we’re in for a day of rain.... and tomorrow didn’t look too promising either:   I’d better check my stock of tea-bags. I haven’t made my mind up as to what I’m going to do:    I have some photographs to print off .... that is a cosy, and tea time consuming, job... one I like doing in the evening.        I’ll have breakfast, go for the papers and morning coffee, then do .... ‘ousework I guess. 13.00      Forget ‘ousework;   I went to Halford’s in Kirkcaldy and bought a bag for the bike ....to carry a repair kit etc.    From Halford's I went to Dysart for morning coffee at Dysart Harbour with Arthur's Seat in the distance. The Harbour Master’s House, because it wasn’t raining at Kirkcaldy.     It wasn’t particularly bonnie, but it was dry.     I reached the Checkbar road junct

29th May 2019 (Wednesday) ..... 06.30     There’s still a bit of mist and cloud Kincraig cliffs at 06.45. around, but the sun is beginning to burn that stuff away, and we should have a brighter morning soon.... more cloud, bringing showers, is forecast for the afternoon.    I’m going out on the bike now, after I have a cuppa. ... if the weather forecast is right, it looks like this could be the best part of   the day.     So far I am remembering that today is ‘Colinsburgh Lite Bite Lunch’ day!     My problem is being ‘diverted’ by something. 09.00     I had a braw run out on the bike;   round the villages then home by Ardross, Balbuthie Loan and Kinneuchar.     Sadly I forgot to switch on my tracker so I don’t know the distance of this run, but it’s one that I will do often;   all I need to do is remember to switch the tracker on.     The e-bike made this effortless;   its like I’m 50 years old again.    I’m loving it.     The sun has broken through and we have a bonnie, El

28th May 2019 (Tuesday) .... 09.00    A couple of heavy showers passed over Evening sunshine on Grange Road Earlsferry. in the past hour, so everything is wet and the sky doesn’t look promising:   however the rain is due to move off to the southeast leaving us with long sunny spells by midday(ish).     Bring on the sunny spells!     I fancy a coffee .... and not one of my own making.     I wonder where Myra and Geoff are having coffee today? 14.30      You’re not going to believe this, but it is absolute fact (nae ‘fake news’ on the Hutte)..... that the Coalton of Balgonie Post Office has a Fisher and Donaldson Bakery section and it sells their specialty ;     Fudge Doughnuts!      Let’s be honest the Coalton Of Balgonie is not the kind of place you visit on a regular basis, it’s more of a ‘pass through on the way to somewhere else’ place;   which it was for me today as passed through it on my way to Leslie Bike shop in Glenrothes.      I spotted the Fisher and Donaldson s

27th May 2019 (Monday) .... 09.00     There’s a cool wind from the North –west and, although overcast it is dry with the rain front moving south overnight.... and The 'Centre of the Universe' at midday. the chance of sunny spells later on.     In British politics both the so called ‘main’ parties will be floundering around looking for a ‘bright spell’ after the (well deserved) thumping they got in the European Elections.      I have no doubt that everyone will be out of step bar Conservative and Labour supporters.     Good old ‘Nige’ .... even though I don't like what he represents, he is the proverbial ‘cat among the pigeons’ right enough.       Must ‘go’ ever so slight flap on this morning, I am feeling playful.... but it doesn’t look like being a biking day;   there’s still a lot of cars around. Golfers on the tenth fairway. 12.30      I’ve been to ‘Nana’s seat’ and the beach on what is a lovely morning.     We did have few spits and spots of rain from a he

26th May 2019 (Sunday) .... 09.30     We have dreich weather this morning;    heavy ‘Scotch Mist’ with hardly a breath of wind, but ..... it is warm.     When the The Ferry High Street. clouds, and wet stuff, clear away we could have sunny spells later.     I can hardly believe me:    for the past couple of weeks I have been looking forward to the Christian Aid Coffee Morning.... even going to the kirk hall a week ago thinking it was on (19th).     So how did I manage to miss it yesterday?    It was raining .... and I was browsing the photographs I ‘d taken earlier.    14.30     The sun broke through an hour ago, giving us a sunny, warm, but now rather windy afternoon.     I might get out on the bike come evening time;   when, and if, the roads   are quieter.     I’ve been working all morning, tidying up and printing off photographs. Oh we have good new from sunny Sussex:    Janice is a ‘Nannie’ again.     One of Michael’s (Janice’s son) cats has had kittens, and the o

25th May 2019 (Saturday) ...... 06.30     When I went out on the bike at 04.30 Earlsferry - 04.35. the air was warm:    by the time I got back to Ivy at 05.30   it was cauld..... but it is the time to be out on the bike.     Unsurprisingly I had the streets to myself as I scuttled up to Chapel Green, then to Elie, down to the harbour, and home via Elie Estate.      It was magic going through the estate as the birds were giving the dawn chorus laldie....   the thrushes and blackbirds being the loudest.     At the loch, the last wisps of an early morning mist, was rapidly clearing and Herbert seemed in a peaceful mood.... probably because no other swans were near him.    The pre-sunrise sky was colourful:   yes ...   all is good at the Centre of the Universe.    Now I am ready for breakfast. Elie harbour just before sunrise. 15.00      I got the best of the day when I was out.... and I doubt if I’ll need to get up early tomorrow morning.     Light rain moved over about 12.3

24th May 2019 (Friday) .....08.30     “Good Morrrrrrrrrrrrrning” from   a Elie - from Rires Farm . ‘bright and breezy’ Centre of the Universe, .... and warm too,... out of the wind.     Being as its ‘broon’ bucket day I’ve been uprooting a few weeds, so haven’t been anywhere yet.     Actually it is a good gardening morning so I might continue with that after breakfast;   and go biking in the afternoon.      Slight ‘flap on’... it’s breakfast time. 18.30      I’ve done well in the garden today, but I never went out on the bike;    the roads were too busy with holiday makers arriving for the weekend.     In the garden I tidied up the steps up to the Hutte, and began to unearth the other set of steps up to the East end of Colinsburgh from Rires Farm. top part of the garden.... so I’m happy enough with the work effort today.     I did worry about the weight of the 'broon' bucket.... I visualized the handle being ripped off when the machine went to lift it!    AS for bik

23rd May 2019 (Thursday) .... 09.00     Wellll   .....   the ‘plan’   for today did Elie - from Rires Farm. not include me ‘sleeping in’;   but I did .... and didn’t wake up until 08.00.      “The best laid schemes o’ mice, men and Alberto.... gang aft agley” right enough.    I think all the floundering about with the car MOT the other day must have caught me up... however, I do feel better after a really good night’s sleep, but today’s plan is now three hours behind schedule.     After breakfast I’ll go up to Balcarres on the bike:   it’s a nice morning with long sunny spells... and a brisk westerly wind. 13.00      Over breakfast I had another change of ‘plan’;    I decided to go to Leven and get my haircut (Kirstie works on Thursdays), then I’d visit Jim.    At breakfast, my ‘late’ breakfast time the sky busy with clouds some of which looked like they could give us a shower, and that is why I changed the plan. Once again Kirstie worked her magic, and I came out feeling hap

22nd May 2019 (Wednesday) .... 10.00    We have a gorgeous morning, Earlsferry town hall spire. mostly long sunny spells with the occasional cloud hiding the sun for short ones;   spells i.e.     I’ve had an enjoyable bumble ... no this bike doesn’t do ‘bumble’ .... it frolics;  so we frolicked round the villages, from Chapel Green to the harbour stopping at points in between;   actually there’s chilly feel to the air.... fresh might be a better word.      The villages are looking good .... and ready for a busy holiday weekend. 12.00      The weather has turned ‘iffy’, with spits and spots of rain now and again;   it’s not raining but it is threatening to.    I charged up the bike battery planning to bike up to Colinsburgh/Balcarres but that has been put on ‘hold’;   if it continues ‘spitting and spotting’ I’ll go to Leven to get my haircut, and do a shopping for the weekend.     The Colinsburgh ‘Lite Lunch’ is next Wednesday.... . not today as I’d hoped.    Now I have to go

21st May 2019 (Tuesday) .... 08.00       The garden is wet so we must have Elie High Street - from the Bus Stop. had a shower overnight.    |The sky is mostly overcast just not, but the sun is trying to break through, so I guess that sunny spells and showers could be our forecast for today.     I’m taking the car to the garage (Leven) first thing;    when in Leven I’ll visit Jim, and generally mess about around Leven until the car is done. 21.30      It’s been a hectic day .... the easy bit was taking the car to Leven, but, as it was well down the list to be done, it wouldn’t be ready until late in the afternoon.... so...   I got a bus back to Elie, and spent the middle   part of the day pottering around Ivy, before going up to Elie to catch the 15.23, ‘X60’ (St Andrews to Edinburgh) too Leven.     The weather had been bonnie up till then... up till the X60 Elie High Street - on my way to the Bus Stop. reached Upper Largo.... when the heavens opened.      We drove through

20th May 2019 (Monday)      09.00 .... at the moment we have one of those Kinneuchar loch. benign, overcast kind of mornings;   when everything seems to be waiting for something to happen.     I’m waiting for the sun to break through.     Sunny spells are forecast, and the sky is beginning to lighten and break up.... the sun will have broken through by the time I go for the paper.    I have to remember that I may get some form of communication from the delivery people today.... either e-mail or phone, so I can’t stay out for very long. Chapel Green. 14.30      Is it only me, or is there a thundery feel to the air... there must be thunder somewhere.    I’ll check after this update.     Actually I’ll do that now.      (5 minutes later)..... Hmmmm;   there is thunder, rattling around about 100 miles East of Crail. Oh .... I’d just got back from ‘morning coffee (in the Deli) when the delivery van appeared with the bike.      It was folded (in a big box);   all I had to do w

19th May 2019 (Sunday) .... 08.30      Jings.... while playing with Elie harbour beach. photographs on the computer last night I’ve discovered, from the ‘BBC News’, that I missed the Eurovision Song Contest.    Apparently the UK, or, as Steve Levine (Music Producer) a guest on the BBC sofa put it, “England came last”.   That's where the UK normally is ... so nothing new there.    We have a lovely morning here, ‘cloudy and with good sunny spells’, hardly any wind and dry.   It rains for one day and it feels like it’s rained for a week, one decent sunny spell and its summer.    Yes we have the start of a bonnie day. Balcarres House. 11.30     It is a bonnie day, and I have been down at the harbour enjoying the sunshine.    I met a lady from Copenhagen who said the we are not alone when it comes to mixed weather.    It was raining when she flew out of Copenhagen yesterday.     I didn’t get back from the harbour until 10.30.      It really is a morning for watching the