Alberto's Hutte

30th Sep 2021 (Thursday)     08.00 .... It’s a damp start to the day, as was New 'Starbucks' _ Leven. forecast;   the sky is overcast with light rain;   not a picturesque morning.   Not a morning for going out to play, (unless you have a dog).... it’s a morning for a good book.... or film on the tele.     I need to go to Leven so that will take care of ‘my’ morning:  the afternoon is supposed to be cloudy but dry. 10.30     Wellll .... I’ve been to Leven and got the stuff I wanted at B n’ Q’s... and the   ‘Cheap Shop’ next door.     There’s a new ‘Starbucks’ between   B n’ Q’s and the Bargain Store (Cheap Shop), and I can’t think of what was there before.    I think they must have acquired part of B n’ Q’s outside Garden Centre bit. And part of the back storage of the Bargain Store.    It’s ‘drive thru’ (their spelling) and that part was busy.... I didn’t see many people sitting in but it was early.   The roads were busy and very wet.... however that mission is done, and I a

29th September 2021 (Wednesday)    07.00 ...I was ‘up’ (05.30) and rarin' to go for sunrise.... unfortunately there is a bank of low cloud so sunrise won’t be visible at sunrise time (07.14).    I’ll have another cuppa.... then catch the sun coming up from behind the low cloud.   It looks like being a bonnie day.... with only a light breeze, though it will freshen later.   10.00     Although sunrise wasn’t visible we had a bonnie sky when the sun eventually started to break through the low cloud;     when I did the ‘villages tour’.      I had intended going further ,but decided to do that later in the day once the temperature had risen..... there’s a chilly air just now. The villages were quiet;   I chatted to Stuart when down at the harbour.... he couldn’t stop long as he had to go home to get Lorraine’s breakfast organised;   he spoils that girl.    All was quiet around the villages;   I saw swimmers (heads) off the Breakwater,   a lady walking her dogs at Boat Wynd, and ‘Brea

28th September 2021 (Tuesday)     09.30 .... although breezy and cool, the ‘paper run’ was enjoyable this morning.   I went to Kinneuchar then came home by way of Elie Estate and a tour of the villages:  Everywhere seemed to be quieter than of late;  then again, it was a holiday weekend, and the roads were extra busy then. We had a bonnie ‘light’ this morning and I think I got a few bonnie photos of Kinneuchar;   I’ll check today’s batch,   after I have breakfast. 15.00    We’ve had some light rain for the past couple of hours.... but the sky looks like it’s beginning to break up already.... we might have a lovely evening.    Tomorrow looks like being the ‘good day’ this week;  so the bike being charged up as I type.  Jings;   no wonder I am tired.... typing and charging up the bike battery.... two things going at the same time!.... I need a cuppa. 21.30   When the sky brightened up at sunset time I ventured down to the beach;  the heavy rain clouds had moved away to the East, leavi

27th September 2021 (Monday)     08.30 .... the dampness is due to clear from the West later in the morning, to give us ‘sunny spells with the chance of showers’ in the afternoon’.    At the moment dust and pollution levels are ‘low’.    I’m going to have a quick(?) walk down to the High Street to get a ‘wet look photo.    09.00    I wasn’t ‘iggzactly’ surprised to find the a lack of folk wandering around the High Street, when I went out, but .... the rain isn’t as heavy as it was, though the sky shows no sign of breaking up yet.   It’s not a nice morning for being ‘out and about’. 17.00    The afternoon turned out bright and breezy, with occasional blustery showers.... and a noticeable e drop in temperature.    I went out on the bike, the intention being to do the ‘villages tour’, but it began to spit rain when I was at Chapel Breen so that was as far as I went.   Lot of bonnie clouds around but the wind was cauld on the lugs. 19.00   My word;  it is cauld tonight.... I’ll have to fi

26th September 2021 (Sunday)     10.30 .... We have another quiet Peaceful Elie Bay. morning;  there’s a bit more cloud about.... there are showers around,....  but it is warm;  it was 15c at sunrise time.   I’ve been out for the paper, and actually remembered to get a paper this morning.... before going to the harbour;  where I got excited by the light.  A few photographs were taken ... in fact I ‘took’ a lot of photographs, before making my way to Chapel Green;  stopping at my favourite places on the way.      I am a happy boy, and well ready for breakfast. 18.30    I am one tired boy tonight .... having had a busy day taking photographs, sorting photographs, making ready meals, watching The World Championship Cycling Road Race from Flanders.... I did all that without falling asleep at any point;  finally, I did some lopping of the bush at the back window, so the broon bucket is half full already. ...and ... there’s more light getting through the computer room window. Being otherw

25th September 2021 (Saturday)   11.30 .... Although the wind has moderated (F3) the Skiff Regatta has been postponed because the wind is on the ‘cusp of naughtiness’ and you can’t take chances, especially if you have inexperienced rowers in the crew(s)... and Elie Bay is still too busy with other water users to have an alternative, inshore, course.   It must have been a hard decision to make.   Jennifer has done a lot of baking for the day, and I have gained a plate of tray bakes to go with my morrrrrrrning coffee.... so ‘it’s an ill wind that doesn’t blow someone some good’ right enough. I’d been out early to catch the sunrise from Chapel Green.... and did the villages tour, finishing up at the harbour.     By the time I was back at the Breakwater(without a paper) the beach was busy (with walkers) and Angus was getting his Water Sports stuff ready for the day’s activities. Back at Ivy I had a cuppa, then decided to take another trip to the harbour to see what was happening.    

24th September 2021 (Friday)   08.30 .... It’s cloudy and breezy... and ... we had a ‘red sky’ so it looks like we’re in for mixed spell of weather;   which is not unusual around the equinox.     Instead of going to the harbour I went to ‘The Store’ to do a small shopping:  by the look of some of the shelves along there we’re going to have a tough winter.   It’s going to take a long time to shake off the effects of the pandemic;   we’re going to have to get used to a ‘new normal;   like the huge increase in the cost gas.... actually I’m  wondering where the extra money we’re paying for gas is actually going.   It’s got to be going into someone’s pocket. 22.00     It’s been a bonnie day... and warm even though it was windy;   it would have been a good drying day..... now I wish I’d done the woollen wash I’ve been meaning to do.    I’ll do that tomorrow.     Today has been   a quiet day:   I went up to Chapel Green for 13.00, the time of the Memorial Service for my cousin Mabel, in Kint

23rd September 2021 (Thursday)     07.30 .... The light rain of last night has moved away, and we now have a conveyor belt of clouds scuttling over on a brisk North-westerly wind;  the clouds remind me of a huge flock of sheep ‘M’ and I watched, being moved from one pasture to another, in New Zealand .... where a flock of sheep can number several thousand.   There is a scattering of blue patches through the clouds;  so we could get some sunny spells now and again.... and .... although breezy, it’s not as cold as I thought it would be. 15.00    I have thought through the options regarding attending Mabel’s Celebration of Life Service on Friday at Kintore Kirk.    Normally I would have driven up without thinking anything of that, but not having driven any distance, or on major roads, for a couple of years I have reservations;   not about my driving, I am confident enough about driving, and enjoy driving, but I tire quicker nowadays, and that is not good on busy roads.     Alan from Harb

22nd  September 2021 (Wednesday)   09.30 .... we have breezy morning, with a lot of cloud about;  however we get frequent short sunny spells.  There’s a chance of showers in the afternoon.    The washing (I forgot about it last night) is dry, but I think a pillow slip might be on its way to May Island.... which is hardly surprising considering the wind we’ve had.   I’m feeling frisky this morning and I remembered to go for the paper(s)... but didn’t go to the harbour;  it would be blawin’ a hoolie’ .   My cousin Mabel’s funeral service is in Kintore Kirk on Friday so I’m trying to work out the best way to get there.   I haven’t done any real driving for a couple of years so I’m a bit apprehensive of doing the journey by car;  which is how I would normally travel.   I’ll check the train times from Kirkcaldy and phone Ian tonight.   ‘Slight flap on’....I need another cuppa. 16.00    I see spots of light rain on the window, which is no surprise because we have had a threatening sky for

21st September 2021 (Tuesday)    08.30 .... there’s a brisk wind this morning, the first of the equinoctial winds/gales we get at this time.    The equinox is tomorrow, when day and night are of equal length, and the first day of autumn (astronomical).    I work on what is called the meteorological version of the season calendar, and autumn began on the 1st September.   That said, the seasons don’t stick to a manmade timetable; but they do respond to manmade damage to the ecosystem .... Mother Earth is changing. 18.30    Kirkcaldy Crematorium Chapel was packed for Kenny’s (Crossan) ‘Celebration of Life’ Service this afternoon.    The impression I came away with was of ‘love’:   the Chapel was full of the ‘love’ generated by the memories of all those therein.   Oh there was sadness, much sadness;  but the overwhelming feeling was of ‘love’ for Kenny, whose life was cut short far too soon.   22.00    I suppose I could say that this has been a ‘lazy’ day, but it hasn’t.   I delivered Jim

20th September 2021 (Monday)     10.30 .... We have a bright and sunny autumnal morning;  everything is where it should be;  including the washing I have on the line.   I’ve done the ‘paper run’, but got excited by the ‘light’ and....forgot the paper bit of the run.  There’s still a lot of reading in yesterday’s paper.    Anyway .... the washing is out and the bike ‘on charge’;  I’ll mull over the next part of ‘the Plan’ over morrrrning coffee.   18.30    This ‘Boy’ has had a busy day;  so busy that I never went ‘out to play’ in the afternoon.... I have a fully charged battery on the bike for tomorrow morning.    The washing dried and has been ironed....I’ll make the bed up tomorrow.     I decided to make a batch of ‘Cottage Pies’ in the afternoon ,because the World Cycling Championships are being held, in Belgium), just now, and is being shown on the TV in the afternoons.    Today it was the Women’s Time Trial:  watching cycling fits in perfectly with my way of working in the kitchen

19th September 2021 (Sunday)  15.00 .... It has been a mixed sort of day so far, mostly cloudy with the occasional spits and spots o’ rain, but we did have a spell of brighter sunny spell weather around lunch time.   I’ve been making up one bed, and stripping another in anticipation of a good drying  day tomorrow.    Sorting out the beds used to be an easy job but it takes a bit longer now.   I have plenty tea breaks;  and ended up watching ‘Goodbye Mr Chips’  at what ended up as an extended ‘tea break’.    I’ve been for the paper, but didn’t go to the harbour as it was spitting rain at that time.   I’ll get the bike out in the evening. 21.00     Apart from going for the paper I haven’t been further than the front gate;   but I have had a busy day.     I have organised the beds... and the bedding from the single bed in the computer room should be on the line tomorrow.     The weather forecast is good;    ‘sunny intervals and a moderate breeze’, .... no mention of rain.    The downie c

18th September 2021 (Saturday)     06.30 .... ‘JB’ set off about 06.10, making for Carlisle where Jenny (Mum) has been on holiday with friends;  they should be back home, in Sussex, about dinner time.   The sun has yet to appear above the Eastern horizon but it is light enough, though cloudy, to wander to the beach etc.   I’ll have another cuppa before louping into the car and going for the paper.    The bike I’ll get out later in the morning. 09.00 .... It’s too quiet in Ivy Cottage now;   but that’s how it always is after visitors leave.     I did loup intae the car this morning.... and ended up at ‘The Store’ where I did the wee shopping that JB and I had intended doing at Sainsbury’s yesterday;     only I was so long having my eyes tested etc. that we decided to skip Sainsbury’s and make for the, more important, Fudge Doughnut Factory in Cupar.    I’m thinking of getting the bike out and have morrrrrrrning coffee up at Chapel Green. 14.00    Myra and I enjoyed morning coffee at Ch

17th September 2021 (Friday)     08.00 .... It’s a quiet, still, kind o’ mornin’, when even the Herring Gulls are silent.   It looks, and feels, like we could have a bonnie day;  the forecast is ‘light cloud with a moderate breeze’.   I’ve been for the paper but didn’t go to the harbour;  the camera was ‘resting’ at home.   I’d forgotten it:  probably ‘cos I have an eye test on my mind. 21.30   Silly boy ....  I forgot to publish the Hutte this morning, though I did actually sit down and write a wee bit.    Anyway;  ‘JB’ and I have been busy today:  the main, and first mission was to go to Leven, where I had an eye test appointment.   I have never liked eye tests;   the dentist I don’t mind, but I just don’t like going for an eye test;  though they are vital, especially for elderly people.   I went in at 09.30 and came out, a happy boy, at 10.45;  I think it’s the length of time that bothers me about eye appointments.    My eyes have deteriorated a wee bit but not much.... and I pick

16th September 2021 (Thursday)      07.30 .... It’s a lovely morning, and is John off Elie pier. forecast to be a bonnie,.... and pleasantly warm, day.   JB had a walk to the beach at sunrise time, while I had a shower and put the kettle on;   the ‘plan is to go out on bikes, about 09.00 and have a run through Elie Estate. 21.30    It did turn out to be a sunny and pleasantly warm day ..... and ‘JB’ and I enjoyed it.     We did Elie Estate, then circumnavigated Kinneuchar, then got back in time to have a cuppa, before going to the harbour at high tide, so that ‘JB’ could do some pier jumps.   Then it was back to Ivy... a hot shower and another cuppa before going to do a wee shopping.   We were going to go to the Deli but there was a queue so we thought we’d go to ‘The Store’:  well that was a big mistake..... it was lunch time for the Waid pupils and most of the school appeared to be making for ‘The Store’;  we abandoned that ‘plan’ and decided to go back home by way of the back road,