Alberto's Hutte

31st January 2022 (Monday)    07.30 .... Last night’s wind has moderated to a frisky F6 (Largo Bay), and it looks like we’re going to have a bonnie, slightly cool, day.   I’m going to Cupar in the afternoon; but .... right now, I’m going to begin my day with a daunder to the beach to catch the sunrise.   10.30     There was a touch of frost in the air when I was on the beach;    I wasn’t cold (‘cos I was like a polar bear wearing a ski suit),..... and we had a lovely sunrise, with interesting clouds and light.    Now I suppose I’d better start thinking of Cupar, ‘cos I’m too late for the Kinneuchar walk. The IPSUM Team are doing things, with a   ‘drain sooker’ at Ferry Corner;   they should be finish the job today.    Slight ‘flap on’; it’s morrrrrrrrning coffee time, .... before I think of Cupar.     20.30    The sewer repair at Ferry Corner  is ‘done and dusted’, the cones have been uplifted and the road system is back to normal.   Things are quiet again in ‘The Ferry’. I had a pl

30th January 2022 (Sunday)    10.30 ....The IPSUM Team are finishing of the Ferry Corner roadworks this morning, so everything will be back to normal today.   It’s a bonnie day.... after a glorious sunrise, albeit a ‘red sky in the mornin’ one.   It was really calm and peaceful on the beach at sunrise time;  however that is forecast to change later, when Storm Corrie moves across us.  It’s morrrrning coffee time. 15.30    I ‘went’ to the kirk (online);  it’s not the same as meeting in the actual kirk, but online suits me.   I can have coffee/tea during the service... and have a ‘comfort break’ .... well in comfort.    I enjoyed the Sermon today;  bringing the natural world into the service is a brilliant idea.... and whales are fascinating animals.   The fact that we are studying them now, after bringing most of the species to the brink extinction, shows that there is ‘Hope’ for Mother Earth after all.  Of course there is always the problem of human greed:  when the whale population h

29th January 2022 (Saturday)    07.00 .... The wind has freshened since I got  ‘up’ and is forecast to continue to do so, up to F9 -10, until mid morning.    Not a pleasant morning to be on the beach;  it's F8 on Largo Bay just now.   There’s an Amber warning,  for strong winds, that covers the East Coast of Scotland.    Must go... ‘slight flap on’.... got a beach to visit: there's a sheltered spot that's well out of the wind.    10.30     There was a ‘brisk’ wind when I first arrive on the beach... probably F10 out on the bay, but the wind was moderating by the time I came off the beach.    It’s still blustery but will be around F8 now.    It’s a nice mornin’, and isn’t that cold in spite of the wind.   I might go down again at high tide. The  'sewer repair team’ appeared early this morning, to resurface the ‘hole’.... after repairing the sewer yesterday.    That’s quite impressive, when you think they actually lost a whole day at the beginning of the job. 21.30   W

28th January 2022 (Friday)      10.00 ....it’s overcast and windy this morning, and the wind is going to freshen later today;   tomorrow it’s going to be really frisky... up to F9.   Not good.     It is actually warm for the time of year, though wind chill will be a factor.  A couple of computer days ahead for ‘The Boy’.  21.30    It has been a strange day as far as the weather went: overcast and windy as forecast, with an ominous look to it.   Not a day that had me wanting to go out.   So I didn’t.   Luckily I was expecting a visitor, Nicola, and she arrived bang on time ....so I had someone to talk too.  We were talking about photographs.... and the villages in general.    As usual I talked too much but I certainly enjoyed our chat....  a positive ray of sunshine on a grey day,  thus doubly enjoyable.   Nicola had brought a pan of homemade soup;  my word it was delicious.   I used to make soup in the winter time; and I must get back into that habit again.     Homemade is much tastie

27th January 2022 (Thursday)      07.30 .... the wind has moderated, and not as cold as I thought it would be;  that said it is still windy so this will be a ‘wrap up well’ day.... but we can expect sunshine.   15.30   The company working on the sewer at Ferry Corner, had to bring in a huge vacuum to do the excavating, as they had come across other pipes and stuff using the mechanical digger.    This ‘oover is one powerful brute;  it sooks up rocks and everything else.   If it had a big enough nozzle, I’m sure it could clear my attic.   Yesterday was a ‘lost day’ as they had to arrange for the “sooper ‘oover” to come and do the job.    The Main Office is in Cheshire, but they have depots in Scotland.   I don’t know where it trundled its way from, but  big progress has been made today. I’ve been busy, on what is a gorgeous day.    I went to the beach for to catch the sunrise;   then had breakfast before loupin’ into the car and going up to Elie.     I came home by way of Kinneuchar,

26th January 2021 (Wednesday)     07.30 .... The weather cams don’t look promising, but I’ll have a walk to the beach, because that sets me up for the day.   There’s something magical about sitting there absorbing Elie and Earlsferry calmness.   14.30    I’m finding it cauld today, and feel that it should be raining;  we have a blustery wind  but, so far, no rain.   I went to St Monans, but was too late to even consider the walk;  but I had a walk up Narrow Wynd to Braehead, then along Braehead a wee bit and down past the Masonic Lodge to Narrow Wynd and back to the car.    Not long walk but there was plenty fresh air.   I thought I might meet the ‘kirk walkers’ but they must have gone towards the East end of town.   I did meet a group of folk out with their dogs;  I didn’t meet anyone I knew.    I felt auld. I have a delivery coming this afternoon. The first one of two things I ordered a couple of days ago.    The other one is coming by Royal Mail (today it’s Hermes) and I expect i

25th January 2022 (Tuesday)      263rd Anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns.   07.30 .... It looks like we’ve had a light shower o’ rain overnight;   the sky is heavily overcast, but rain isn’t mentioned in the forecast.   The Fife weather cams are different shades of grey just now;   sunrise is at 08.18.     I’ll have a wander to the beach after another cuppa. 08.30    It’s looking rather murky out so the beach ‘mission’ has been cancelled;  it’s more of an ‘ousework kind o’ day.     I’ll do some ‘ooverin’ and dustin’ then work in the kitchen.  Actually I’ll start by making rice pudding, as have a load of milk, then do the O and D.   Must ‘go’ slight ‘flap on’ now. 21.00    Going by the sky at sunset tomorrow is going to be a bonnie day.... however the forecast is for ‘cloud with strong winds’.  Funnily enough, even though today was a grey day I actually enjoyed myself.    I did all the things I ‘planned’ to do;  bit of ‘ousework,  made a few ready meals for the freezer.... and

24th January 2022 (Monday)    07.30 .... Anticipating a good drying day I have a washing going through the machine;  the Eastern sky is starting to lighten, I am on my second cup o’ tea, and there’s a light ‘drying breeze’.   Sunrise might not be visible due to low cloud, but I will have a walk to the seat on the beach, and ponder.  11.30     It was quiet of the beach.... and warm for the time of year.    Carol was out for her morning walk;   she was saying that, “if it gets much warmer she will have to dig out her shorts”.    Maybe that wasn’t ‘iggzactly’ what she said, but she did comment on it being warm. Things are happening at Ferry Road;     Ferry Road is being used as a vehicle park, with the actual works happening at   ‘the crossroads’.... the junction with the High Street.    Must go out with the camera in the afternoon. 21.00    I’ve had a funny old day;  couldn’t seem to ‘get into gear’.   Oh I did things but I wasn’t ‘fired up’.   Mind you, I went out with the camera and

23rd January 2022 (Sunday)      07.30 .... there’s a lot of cloud about, Janice and Mike at the Forester's. and  there’s a frisky breeze this morning.... but... it is mild for the time of year.   I’m going to loup into the car and go for the paper in a wee while;  I might take a run to the harbour.... for a change of sunrise time sky.   Oh ... I’m feeling brighter again after a bit of a ‘heid cauld’.... having gone to the beach with only a lightweight woollie hat on, one exciting morning last week.   Silly boy. 09.30     There was never going to be a visible sunrise this morning;   the sky being heavily overcast at the time..... actually, the sky is still heavily overcast and it looks like the sun isn’t going to be visible at all today.... but at it is not cold.     I didn’t go to the beach,   but did go for the paper and then on to Ainster to do a shopping at ‘The Store’.    The car can’t be ‘moored up’ on Ferry Road this week so I don’t want to have to carry heavy messages any d

22nd January 2022 (Saturday)     07.30 .... everything is wet , even ‘Blob’ looks bedraggled....  we must have had a shower of rain;  it’s too wet to be melted rime.    I am ready for a daunder to the beach;  it’s cloudy (checked the weather cams) but showers aren’t mentioned in today’s forecast.   Another cuppa is called for, before venturing out. 11.30     I had an enjoyable morning on the beach;   we had a bonnie sunrise, and conversations aplenty.    Old style conversation is gradually returning, though I think older folk still have to be wary.     Having said that; I’m treating the toilet roll like a Tibetan Prayer Wheel again ....that is definitely a positive sign.    I’m starting to feel peckish. 19.00   This has been a lazy afternoon;  I fell asleep in the chair after lunch, and woke up to a cauld cuppa on the coffee table.   The first thing to do in that situation is switch on the kettle;  which is what I did.   After a fresh cuppa I sorted out some of this morning’s photos,

21st January 2022 (Friday)    07.30 .... We have a bonnie start to the morning;  oh, there’s a light coating of rime on the car, but that should lift quickly once the sun is up.    I’m having a cuppa before going for my morning walk to the beach;  sunrise is at 08.27.    It will be cool down there..... even though there is only a light breeze. 11.00      ‘Sunrise time’ on the beach was lovely;    quiet, with a colourful sky, and it wasn’t too cold, though there was a brisk breeze.   Actually, I could feel the warm rays of the sun on the back of my neck as I left the beach.... and that was only ten minutes after the sun had risen.   I didn’t go for the ‘kirk’ walk.   I didn’t even go to the seats overlooking the harbour;    the asthma kicked when I was crossing Elie High Street on my way to the ‘paper shop’.    So, after a couple of ‘shots’ o’ the ‘bloo’ puffer.... I went to Ardross and did the shopping.     I might have a daunder to the beach after lunch.     20.30    This has been

20th January 2022 (Thursday)    11.00 .... we have a gorgeous day;  there’s a few light clouds’ bumbling over on a light Northwest breeze... and it is cool, but a nice day for doing things.    I had my morning walk to the beach first thing;  there was a bonnie sky though nothing like it was yesterday;  and sunrise happened behind a low cloud.    Angela came along the beach, walking her dog, and we chatted for a wee while, enjoying the ambience that is Elie and Earlsferry beach at the beginning of a bonnie day. 17.30    We had a really bright red sky at  sunset, so tomorrow should be a cracker.   I saw the sky from the back door, but didn’t go to the beach because I was watching game of bowls on the tele.  There’s usually loads of people out for a sunset walk so we should see a few photos on FB. 21.30    I set off for Ardross Farm Shop in the afternoon then discovered that I didn’t have my wallet with me, so that mission was abandoned before it had begun.   I stopped at the nearby lay-

19th January 2022 (Wednesday)     07.30 .... It’s a nice morning, but there is a frisky breeze which is forecast to freshen so it will feel cold;  it is cold.   I’m having a cuppa before my pre breakfast stroll to the beach.   Sunrise is at 08.30.....  but the sky is mostly clear so it should be a quiet one;  sunrise that is. 10.30     We have a cracker of a ‘bright and sunny’ day;   but, there is s frisky wind so there is wind chill.   It’s a nice day for working around the garden ..... or for ‘going out to play’. We had another bonnie sunrise.... not quite as impressive as yesterday’s one but bonnie in a quieter way.    It was the setting moon I kept my eye on;   and I eventually got the photo I wanted;   and a few more.     By the time I got back to Ivy it was too late to go to St Monans for the walk. 21.30    Having spoken to Davie (Budd) yesterday, and getting the whiff of paint in my nostrils I have decided to tidy up the front windows to make Ivy Cottage look better for the s

18th January 2022 (Tuesday)     10.00 .... sunrise time this morning was absolutely amazing;  it was like being in a dream.   The light was changing all the time ... and I was clicking all the time.   Oh my word I am a happy boy.    I have sorted out five photos to upload .... and have loads more to ‘play’ with later.    

17th January 2022 (Monday)    10.00 .... My word .... what a stunner of a sunrise sky we had this morning;  and the actual sunrise was bonnie too.  In didn’t know where to look;  all points of the compass were magical, so  the camera button was clicked a few times.   I have loads of photos to sort out but I’m hoping to get up to Kinneuchar..... no I won’t be there by 10.00 o’clock now as it’s already ‘10’.  I’ll finish this update and loup in the car and see if I can meet the walkers when they the finish their walk.   Must ‘go’ ... ever so slight ‘flap on’. 15.00    There’s one thing that the sun does faster than shift ‘snaw aff the tap o’ a dyke’;  it makes my ailments vanish swifter than Shadowfax on a mission..... and he is fast!  Asthma?.... what’s that?     After the excitement of ‘sunrise time’ I made a valiant effort to catch the Trinity Church walkers finishing this morning’s walk.... but missed them.   I did catch up with the group, just as they broke up to go home, so manage

16th January 2022 (Sunday)    09.30 .... I’ve had my morning stroll to the beach;  it was relaxing just strolling along the water’s edge, wee wavelets flopping onto the sand and a Redshank giving me a round of Redshank guns for disturbing it.   Sunrise was never going to happen.... well not visibly anyway due to low cloud; but it will be a bonnie day once the sun rises above the cloudbank.   12.00    I remembered to join the online kirk service... er.. slightly late because I forgot it began at 10.30.   This ‘going to the kirk’ ‘online, is actually a good way of doing it... for me.   I can bumble ‘in’ when I remember, don’t have to be ‘togged up’.... and can sing to my heart’s content because nobody can hear me.    Today I got caught out at the end, when I usually ‘Leave’ before joining a ‘room’;  today I ended up in Room 3, with microphone ‘muted’, and speaking to folk that couldn’t hear me.   I enjoyed it when I finally got organised. The ‘plan’ is to go for a short walk later in