Alberto's Hutte

31st March 2021 (Wednesday)     09.00 ....it’s a cracker o’ a mornin’;  very Harbour beach being cleared of seaweed. peaceful.... very Elie and Earlsferry in fact.    I did a shopping (at the Store) first thing so haven’t been round the villages yet;   I’ll do that after breakfast.... but it is a mornin’ for being ‘out and about’.   The bloke at the checkout was saying how much he was looking forward to going hill walking again;  that had me thinking of the ‘good old days’.    Balcarres Crag is about my limit now.   Orf to have breakfast....  then get the bike out. 12.30     I have has a really enjoyable morning with the camera and all I did, was bike round the villages.... from Chapel Green to the harbour and back.    The sea was flat calm and there was much going on; creel boats working, a single boat after ‘spoots’ (with diver) in West Bay.... and the harbour beach being cleared of seaweed.     And walkers out walking dogs.     Busy place.     At the harbour I met Derek (my broth

30th March 2021 (Tuesday)      08.00 .... I had the beach all to myself this morning.... which surprised me because it is a lovely morning.  There’s a light breeze from the West but it isn’t cold, so a grand morning for ‘going out to play’.   I’ll do that after lunch;  I feel in a working mood just now, so I’d better strike while the iron is hot, ‘cos that urge (to work) will wear orf quickly.   It will probably have worn off by the time I’ve had breakfast. 09.30    Well .... I did some ‘ousework then thought I’d go out on the bike for a run up to Chapel Green ....but, the sky has clouded over (only for a brief spell I think) so I’ll leave the biking until later in the day. There’s a pair of Collared Doves nesting in a bush that I want to lop, so that job has been put on ‘hold’ for the time being.    In the meantime the male dove is ‘singing’(?);   he might lack in singing skills, but, my word, he is persistent!.... he’s been at it for the past hour with hardly a break.   I think it

29th March 2021 (Monday)    08.30 ....There’s a brisk wind (F6 – 7) with a lot of cloud in the sky, but the most noticeable fact with the weather is the temperature;  12c on the garden thermometer 10 minutes ago.    So, although windy it is not cold.    I am going for the paper later in the morning;  I need to hand in a prescription at the Chemist;  I’ll then do the harbour before settling down to do some ‘work’.   It’s strange how it always takes me a day or two to get back into my natural rhythm after this clock change. 11.30     I’ve been for the paper and checked out the harbour;   all is good and where it should be .... except disintegrating seaweed that has blown into the Ship Inn outdoor seating area overnight.    There was queue outside the baker’s (not Alan) so I went back home had a cuppa then went to the Baker’s and Ardross Farm Shop.     I have been a busy boy.... now I feel in a drawing mood:  I plan to have all my projects completed before next winter. There’s a burnt

28th March 2021 (Sunday)     07.30  08.30 ....According to the computer clock the clocks must have changed to BST last night;   Ivy Cottage will catch up in a few minutes.... I thought I got ‘up’ at 06.00 when in fact it was 07.00. We’ve had some rain overnight and, though dry at present, there could be more rain to come later.     I haven’t been for the paper;   before I do anything else I need another cuppa, to move my brain forward an hour. 10.00     I’ve been for the paper....   and down to the harbour;   the car is now moored up and so am I.    It’s a bonnie day but there could be more rain later.    I’m going to get myself organised to ‘go to the kirk’;    by ‘organised’ means .... that I need to make a mug of coffee. 12.30    We had a sad announcement at the Kirk Service this morning;   Olive (Weir) our Session Clerk died yesterday afternoon.   Olive was a ‘weel kent’ and much loved ‘girl’, and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.    My thoughts and prayers are with K

  27th March 2021 (Saturday)   "Happy Birthday" to Michael (Uckfield) in Sunny Sussex" ... have a great day.   07.30 .... there was one, cotton wool cloud bumbling across a wall to wall blue sky, when I was out opening the Hutte;   it’s a gorgeous, bright and breezy day for bumbling about, but it is not warm.... it was only 2c on the garden thermometer at that time (07.00).    After the Hutte warms up (which won’t take long) I will go out there to ‘work’.    Today’s sketch is the inside (hidden from the street) view of Ferry corner as memorised by Jimmy (who lived, as a small boy, in the two storey house that had to be demolished, next to ‘Toni’s shop) and his friend Sydney (Reekie).     It’s all ‘go’ at Ivy Cottage this morning.    08.00  All of a sudden the ‘lonely cloud’ isn’t ‘alone’.... it has been followed, by a few mates, scampering over from the northwest.... there could be the chance of a shower.    23.15     I have had a ‘lazy’ but enjoyable day.     I went up

26th March 2021 (Friday)      07.00 .... There has been some overnight rain.... and it seems like we could have a few more showers, by the look of the sky which is heavily overcast.    Sunny spells are forecast for later in the morning/afternoon.   I’m feeling ‘bright eyed and bushy tailed’ this morning, but I’m going to have another ‘rest’ day;  to be honest.... I am enjoying drawing, so ... I’m going to do a coloured pencil drawing (of Ferry Corner) today.    Must ‘go’ .... ‘flap on’;  I’m going for the paper and to check the harbour.   I haven’t been down there (the harbour) for a few days! 08.30     Welllll .... I’ve been for the paper and down to the harbour, but, it isn’t the best of mornings to be dog walking.    The showers, which are fairly frequent just now, are heavy, squally.... and best avoided.   This is the first morning I’ve been to the harbour since I caught the chill I’m shaking orf.    I well remember that morning:   it was a nice morning, cold with a brisk breeze..

25th March 2021 (Thursday)      08.30 .... After a few overnight rain showers we have a bright and breezy morning;  and, just like the weather, Marcia was bright and breezy, having been out with the dog bright and early.    Meanwhile, the bold ‘Alber’ (that’s me,) had looked out at 05.30, but decided to have a ‘lie in’ because it Ferry Road was wet.... I eventually got ‘up’ at 07.00.   I am thinking of biking along to St Monans today but I’ll wait to see how the weather develops;  at the moment it looks promising.   The only problem might be the wind, which is forecast to freshen and would be ‘in my face’ (and probably blustery) on the way home.   According to the forecast, Saturday looks like being a really nice day, but the roads are always busier at the weekends now.    20.30     Would you believe it:    I went out with the camera, with a view to getting a photo of a tree Bumblebee, only to find that, although the flowering currant was being used by a wheen o’ Bumble bees, they wer

24th March 2021 (Wednesday)       07.00 .... It’s going to be a bonnie day with long sunny spells, but, there is a brisk cold wind .... with a wintry feel to the air.   It’s a good morning for a brisk walk along the beach.... or, in my case, a not so brisk walk, up Balcarres Den, sheltered from the wind.    I might do that in the afternoon;  unless I am really engrossed with other things. 11.00     I am having cake and coffee while I contemplate my next move.     So far I have been to Ainster (‘The Store’) to have an amble round the aisles;   When I was packing into bags Sam appeared .... Sam is Jimmy’s Grandson .... and I caught up with his latest ‘plans’.     I didn’t recognise Sam at first... actually I did but I wasn’t sure if it was Sam , or a ‘stranger.   The East Neuk has a lot more ‘unfamiliar people’ around and I tend to assume, if I don’t immediately recognise someone, that it’s a ‘stranger’.     That is one ‘side effect’ that the pandemic has had on me.    Next move? .... I

23rd March 2021 (Tuesday)      08.30 .... typing today’s date reminded me that it’s my birthday today:  I am maturing blissfully.     It’s bitterly cold this morning;   the sky is overcast and there’s a brisk wind.... not a morning for the bike.   I must wrap up and have a walk on the beach, once (if) the sun breaks through;   I’m feeling creative so most of ‘the day’ will be spent   .... well ... being creative and drinking cuppas.    I had intended having coffee up at Chapel Green but it’s far too cold and windy for that just now: hopefully it will be warmer in the afternoon.     It’s time for breakfast.... followed by an, earlier than usual, Cappuccino this morning. 16.00    When I got out of bed this morning I was feeling frisky and even thinking of starting a diet (just a little diet):  however the diet bit is on hold, for a series of tomorrows, because I have birthday presents to enjoy, some by way of nibbling (which I am good at) and others by way of reading or planting and g

  22nd March 2021 (Monday)       07.30 .... The forecast for KY9 is, ‘light cloud and a moderate breeze’;     at present we have a lot of ‘not so light cloud’ and the moderate breeze.    Hopefully the sun will burn off some of the cloud by mid morning;   at the moment it doesn’t look like we’re going to have a repeat of yesterday’s weather.    22.00    The moderate breeze was a bit blustery when I was out on the bike.... I had an enjoyable run to Kinneuchar by way of Balbuthie, but I was biking into the wind, on the exposed bit of the road from Balbuthie Farm to Kinneuchar.    It was good to be out again.    Oh .... I’m feeling ready to, (probably), overdo it again, as soon as a really warm days comes along. I took the car for the paper run first thing this morning.... at that time it was overcast and cold.... and I didn’t fancy biking in the cold air.    Mind you it has been cloudier today.... but warm enough in the Hutte where I spent a good bit of the day.    The delivery that wa

21st March 2021 (Sunday)      08.00 .... it’s a really quiet morning, with almost 'Four Winds' building site. a wall to wall blue sky;   there’s a cool air, the temperature is 3c on the thermometer, but, once the sun is higher in the sky, it will be warmer.  I’m going to get the bike, out after this update, and take a turn up to Chapel Green before putting the battery on charge:  the intention being to have a longer run in the afternoon.    Another cuppa is required .... I feel lazy! 10.00    It’s absolutely gorgeous out;   I had my run up to Chapel Green, took a few photos then sat down on Maggie’s Seat... and promptly thought “oops.... I haven’t done any ‘ousework this morning”.     I then remembered that I’d done, and hung out a washing.... so sat back and relaxed.    On the way home I spoke to Fiona, who was out with the dogs, then went home to have breakfast.    I still feel 'lazy' so I suspect that this is going to be another ‘rest day’.    14.00   It’s a brillia

20th March 2021 (Saturday)     09.00 .... we have a breezier morning so there is  a bit of wind-chill, but, it’s not cold.  The sky is overcast but the sun is beginning to burn off the cloud, so ...  we should have sunny spells soon.    My ‘plan’ for today, is to sort out the Hutte and potter around Ivy most of the day.   I’ve been for the paper.... now I need breakfast. 21.00    My word..... I have had a lazy restful day.   I had big plans to finish the Hutte but they all fell by the wayside.    Remember Thursday .... that gorgeous, hot sunny day?  the day that I went out twice on the bike, and did a load of work on the Hutte?     Well it caught up with me today.... I never got out of pottering mode.     I did a lot of small jobs:  like setting up the easel:  hanging the Port and Starboard lamps.... stuff like that.    And browsing .... oh I did a lot of browsing:  actually some of the stuff I did has surprised me.   One other surprise I got, was disturbing a hibernating Queen wasp

19th March 2021 (Friday)     08.30 .... All is good in Elie and Earlsferry this balmy morning;   the garden thermometer was at 1c earlier..... so it's cooler than yesterday.   There's only a smirr of a breeze (from the NNE) so no wind-chill.    It’s a beautiful morning for finishing off the Hutte Spring clean;  there’s not that much to do so it shouldn’t take long.    I guess it all depends on how many ‘tea breaks’ I take. 11.00    The Hutte Spring clean is going to take slightly longer than ‘planned’:   I found old sketches and books that have to be ‘browsed’.    I’m having my ‘coffee break’ just now, then, going out on the bike, for some exercise, before settling down to ‘browse’ the aforementioned ‘stuff’.   It’s a nice day.... but definitely cooler than yesterday, with the sun disappearing behind clouds fairly often. 21.00    I ended up doing too much browsing and not enough Spring cleaning;   the Hutte will be finished tomorrow.   One of the sketches I found is one that

18th March 2021 (Thursday)       07.30 .... Although overcast, the cloud is EAG taking advantage of perfect painting weather. going to break up by mid morning, giving us, ‘warm sunny spells with a light breeze’.     According to the auld girls,  “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”!   We don’t want dull boys, or girls,  so let’s have, “A bit of work and a bit of play.... makes for us, a happy day”.    Enjoy your day. 10.00     The ‘work’ part of my day (up until lunch time) is giving the Hutte a Spring clean:   this could be a fairly long job, very much needed after winter.   I need space in which to set up my easel.      I see that you still have to book a time to visit the re-cycling depot at Pittenweem.... so .... Blue Bucket it is for any landfill stuff. I’m doing this update in my coffee break;    that reminds me.... ‘slight flap on’ now;   I haven’t made the coffee. 16.30      What a gorgeous day this has been;   20c on the garden thermometer at one time.    I have spe