Alberto's Hutte

29th February 2020 (Saturday)     08.30 .... Today is the extra day we Busy beach .... and I thought it was cold! get every four years;  what I’d like to know is why do we get this extra day at this time of the year and not a long warm day in the summer time?   Anyway today it is ‘extra day’ and it is overcast, breezy and cold....but at least not raining;  unlike in Wales where there’s more rain exacerbating an already horrendous situation.    And I’m worrying about cleaning my windows?    Silly boy.   Actually we have ‘sunny spells’ in our forecast so, though cold, it could be a bonnie day. 12.00     We do have ‘sunny spells’   in fact we’ve had one long sunny spell since about 10.30, but it’s cold,   and especially so at the harbour.    There appears to be a lot of visitors around.... and the beach was busy.... busier than I expected it to be.   If the weather stays as it is   I’m thinking that I might tidy up a bit in the garden in the afternoon. The former Colinsbur

28th February 2020 (Friday)      08.30 .... After the past few sunny days Overcast morning. it’s disappointing to have an overcast sky again;   and the forecast is for rain to move in by midday.... and the wind is to back to the southeast so it could be a dreich afternoon.     I have much to do today;   I had a thought (fleetingly) of cleaning another window but it’s too cold for doing the outside .... so it will be shopping after morning coffee then computer stuff in the afternoon.     With this being a Leap Year I have an extra day to clean the outside of the windows. 14.30      The trip to ‘The Store’ was successful and I am well stocked up with food....   and emergency rations in case we have a spell of inclement weather.    The weather has deteriorated and, as expected we now have a ‘dreich’ afternoon:   the Ivy hatches have been battened down , the kettle is ‘on’ and I am going to have a fresh cuppa, followed by a quick ‘50’ before beginning ‘work’ ...   on the computer.

27th February 2020 (Thursday)    08.30 .... it’s another ‘bright, sunny Elie Bay this morning. and crisp’ morning for KY9;   definitely a morning for wrapping up and getting out.     Once the sun gets up a bit I might do a spot of tidying up in the garden. I can’t get the hang of the new bucket collection system;   one time   both Brown and Blue buckets go out on the same day, then it’s back to only the Blue one, as it is this week, (according to ‘my bucket’ online calendar)... the Broon one goes out on March 13th.    Anyway as far as I see it’s the ‘Bloo’ one tomorrow! 13.00     This is hard to believe but I actually cleaned window (inside and outside) this morning;   when it was time to go for morning coffee I was reluctant to stop.    Aye that’ll be right.     Put another way;   since I came home I haven’t cleaned any more windows.     Steve anti fouling Sundance . Harbour House was busy with many secrets rattling around;   of course I have forgotten them all.  

26th February 2020 (Wednesday)      08.00 .... it’s a gorgeous crisp start Chapel Green end of the beach. to the day after a light touch of frost.... and, as far as I can see we have a ‘wall to wall’ blue sky!    It looks like being a really bonnie day albeit a cold-ish one.    I’ll go for a wander after I’ve had a cuppa.... the tide should be half out so loads of beach.    I’ve just had a look at the weather cams and there are a few fluffy shower clouds on the Lochgelly cam;   photograph enhancers I call them though there could be light showers towards the West of Fife.    I have a small washing going through the machine;   it  looks like being a good ‘drying day’ ....  it's all ‘go’  in 'Ivy Cottage'.    Slight flap on now .... the beach is calling me. 20.00     I am really tired tonight after a fairly busy day.    I walked to the Chapel Green end of the beach to get some photos of Chapel Green House with the demolition contractors stuff in the garden;    th

25th February 2020 (Tuesday)       08.00 ....   Nice crisp morning (we St Monans. have a touch of frost) with a light westerly breeze;   definitely a morning to get out and about.    What a difference it makes when the sun is visible.     According to the weather forecast it‘s going to be cold today with the odd chance of a shower coming across..... it’s a ’wrap up well and explore’ morning.     I’ll take the car to St Monans,   bumble around the harbour then have coffee in the ‘Diving Gannet’ with the ‘Troops’. 13.30     It was a beautiful morning for bumbling about St Monans harbour.... and   I enjoyed a coffee in ‘The Diving Gannet’ with ‘The Troops’ midday through my morning.    Jimmy’s son, Ian was busy getting ‘Shearwater’ ready for the lobster season Links Road - Earlsferry. having had a frustrating time with the weather trying to get the work done. I am happy with today’s batch of photographs;   the light was perfect and a few clouds came over to make the sky in

24th February 2020 (Monday)     08.00 .... “Dreich” is the most apt The place to find cheerfulness in tasty packaging! description of our weather this morning.     We have an easterly wind (F4) with a leaden sky and rain/sleet.     It isn’t warm.     I have only been out as far as the front gate, ....   far enough to know anywhere I do go today will be in the car.    The kettle will be boiling.... it will be in state ‘on’ most of today I’m thinkin’.    I might manage to visit Jim later .... probably after lunch when the rain/sleet is forecast to ‘sort of’ fade away. 13.30      This drab kind of weather has its benefits;   I have done the ironing, ate stuff, and worked on the computer.   I’ve been out in the car a couple of times;  I’d forgotten to take money with me the first time.   The sky appears to be turning  ever so slightly brighter now, but it’s still raining.... but not as heavily as it was before I fell asleep in It has been raining most of the day. front of the t

23rd February 2020 (Sunday)      20.00 …. We’ve had a busy day;   Iain Crail harbour. did a load of work in the morning…. I made regular mugs o’ tea.    The new computer set up is brilliant for working on my photographs;   instead of two small screens I now have one big one on which I can move stuff all over the place.    I am a happy boy. We went up to Colinsburgh to fuel up the car;   and I managed to do it   ‘nae bother’ having remembered the way Christine (and Janice) did it.    Back at Ivy we checked The Hutte roof because it had developed a small leak.    The wind had popped half a row of nails so I hammered them back in and nailed firmly the place where the wind was getting in under the roof felt.    I would have sealed it all with the Crail. felt adhesive that I ‘have’ only I can’t find it.    It will be in a safe place in the shed… or the greenhouse… somewhere.     Anyway when I find the adhesive I will seal everything. Ian went off home after lunch and su

22nd February 2020 (Saturday)       08.30 .... I bought   a pack of four Upper Largo in sleet shower. things called bagels   yesterday so, this morning I toasted two of them then spread them with butter and some of Jackie’s raspberry jam.    The hole in the middle of them is a ‘pain in the bu ... posterior’ when spreading them.     Somehow, going by the mess my hands were in putting the jam on them, I got the feeling that they are not supposed to be laden with raspberry jam.    They tasted really good though!     What’s the hole in the middle of them (the bagels) for anyway? We have a ‘nae bad’ morning after a wild night of wind and rain.    The plan is to go to Kirkcaldy after breakfast then go to The Harbour Master’s House (Dysart) for lite bite lunch. 09.00     Bagels are of Polish Jewish origin;   the hole makes for even baking and for carrying, displaying etc.    Jam is not mentioned but cream cheese etc is.... it’s a ‘roll with a hole’ really:    extremely tasty with h

21st February 2020 (Friday)      08.00 .... there’s a hoolie blawin’ this mornin’,   it’s starting to rain.... and is isn’t ‘iggzactly’ warm so not a mornin’ for the beach:    there could be some bonnie clouds   though.        Iain is coming down from Auchnagatt   to upgrade the computer set up after he finishes work (in Aberdeen) so that will brighten up the weekend.     At the moment the wind is F8 out in the Firth but is forecast to increase for a spell later in the afternoon.    Sunday looks like being the best day of the weekend.     The kettle is ‘on’.   22.00     Iain arrived bang on time.... just as the macaroni cheese was bubbling away nicely.    We’ve had our food.... and a cuppa;   now we are making plans for tomorrow.      We will probably go to Kirkcaldy to get a couple of bits and pieces. Today has gone as per ‘plan’.... that I can assure you is surprising.     I had morning coffee with the ‘Troops’ then went to ‘The Store’ in Anstruther, came   home and had lunch

20th February 2020 (Thursday)        08.00 .... oh dear... we have a dreich The harbour this afternoon . start to the morning;   and it looks like it has been raining all night.     However the rain is should clear away in a few hours and we will be inundated with ‘sunny spells’... albeit cold ones as the temperature is not going to climb very far up the thermometer today.     In fact sleet/snow showers has been mentioned for higher ground.    That usually means interesting clouds.    I must remember not to get ‘diverted’ as I am going to visit the ‘Colinsburgh girls’ in the afternoon.    20.30     I enjoyed my afternoon with the ‘Colinsburgh Girls’:   we had a look at a few photographs on the laptop, chatted over a cuppa, scones and cake and I passed a cold afternoon in comfort with the lovely ‘Colinsburgh Girls’..    The weather brightened up around midday but it did turn colder when the sky cleared;   we also had a few heavy sleet showers.    Tomorrow is forecast to be w

19th February 2020 (Wednesday)       08.00 .... it’s a nice morning but Watery looking sky. windier and colder than I expected it to be, however it isn’t raining though rain should come our way around midday.    I’m not sure about going out on the bike; I’ll have a walk to the beach first to see how windy it is out in the open.    Oh, this is Wednesday .... I’ll meet ‘The Troops’ in ‘arbour ‘ouse and find out what exciting things they have been up to over the weekend.     Jings that was bothersome ... for a fleeting moment I had the urge to do ‘ousework. 10.00    I enjoyed a short walk on the beach.... (it’s actually ‘nae bad’ down there but you have to be wrapped up).... it was busier than I expected it to be.    That urge to do ‘ousework is on me so I am seriously thinking of starting on the bookshelves;    after lunch time.     It all started when I visited ‘The Boss’ a couple of days ago;   it is coming up to Spring and that means ‘Spring clean’! Looks like there co

18th February 2020 (Tuesday)       09.00 ....   it’s “bright, breezy ... and colder” Cracker of a mornin'. this morning;    definitely a wrap up well kind of day.     I’ve been to the beach and there’s a brisk wind a blowin’ down there:   I forgot to wear a   scarf so didn’t linger long.     It looks like being a bonnie day but there are showers about;   I was late for the beach because it was raining when I first   ventured out. I’m going to visit Jim this morning;    I suppose I’d better ‘browse’ Sainsbury’s when in Leven.    There’s bound to be a few bits and pieces I need ... want. 13.00      The Nurse was sorting out Jim when I arrive at the Care Home this morning (10.30) so I went to the lounge and made a mug of coffee for us:   he arrived about 10 minutes later.     Jim took one sip of the coffee and decided to forget it and concentrate on the two goodies I had taken in.     Jim was in fine form and we chatted about Elie and The Royal Burgh.    It had been

17th February 2020 (Monday)      09.00 .....When I see the devastation Nice morning for a walk on the beach. wrought by ‘Storm Dennis’ in other parts of the UK I realise that, much as I detest the wind, we are lucky it was only the wind that clobbered us and not the floods that other areas have been hit with .... again.     The tax payers money being squandered on taking 15 minutes off the journey from London to Birmingham would be better on flood protection and other less glamourous .... and more useful projects.     That’s it .... moan over. It’s ‘bright and breezy’ at the Centre of the Universe this morning but not as breezy as it has been for the past few days.... only F6 – 7.     Actually it’s a good drying day I might do a wee washing;  no ... showers are mentioned in today's weather forecast. Breezy afternoon. 12.30     Oh dear .... I made the mistake of visiting ‘The Boss this morning and have been doing ‘ousework ever since I got back to Ivy;    15 minutes