Alberto's Hutte

31st January 2023 (Tuesday)    07.45 ....There’s a fresh breeze this morning; it’s F7 out in the Firth so not a morrrrrning for the bike.... and it's to be windy all day.    I had a good night’s sleep and feel almost playful:  that said I have to cut that bit o’ plastic off the car before I can move it, so I had better try to get that done this morning.   Right now it’s breakfast time. 12.00       The car is mobile again....and not because I cut the plastic bit off.    Nope;    A man going for a game of golf course had ago at it and told me that I’d never be able to cut it off and that I should tie it up and onto something under the bonnet.    I had thought of tying it onto the mirror but decided that wouldn’t work.     Anyway I got some strong string out and threaded it through the plastic and made ready to open the bonnet, when Alistair came by walking his dog.    Alistair tied nice and tight onto a bit sticking out of the radiator and I closed the bonnet and was ready to go to

30th January 2023 (Monday)     11.00 .... The main mission of the day has been done;   I biked along to Elie and handed in my prescription... so I can relax.    There’s loads going on all over the villages:   Shona’s Ice Cream shop is having a   new floor laid today, The Ferry High Street is ‘Closed’ to traffic,...the work on the three houses on Chapel Green Road going on apace;   and has   been recorded for posterity;   and, finally, When I went down to the harbour (in the car) to catch the sunrise I tangled up wi’ an abandoned traffic cone and it unclipped the end of the lower fairing along the front of the car.    There’s nae damage done but the fairing needs to be clipped on again.... not something I can do nowadays so I’ll tie it up and the mechanic can clip it on again when it goes for in for a service;   or... I could remove it altogether and put it in the boot.    It’s ‘booked in’ but had to be rescheduled due to the mechanic illness.   Since then I have enjoyed going ‘roond t

29th January 2023 (Sunday)  08.30.... It’s windy (F5-6) and overcast this morning;  the weather forecast is ‘strong winds and squally showers’.... not a day for me going out.   I’m feeling friskier today after the past couple of late nights star gazing.   Although the Pole Star was just visible last night, I couldn’t see the comet... there was a layer of thin high cloud.   That was at 21.30. 19.30   It has been a breezy old day;  a good day to do some shopping.   As planned I went to Leven to the shops then up to Alice’s (Methil) to have  morning coffee.   The journey to Leven is easy ... from Leven to Methil can be awkward due to the ongoing work on the Bawbee Brig.   However I think I have it sussed at long last travelling via Lower Methil you can miss the Iron Brig.   I learnt to drive in Methil ... er in 1957.  The roads haven’t changed that much since then but much of the infrastructure has. After our ‘morning coffee’ .... I did a bit o’ tapestry!... before we went down to B n Q’

28th  January 2023 (Saturday)   09.00....  At this time the sky is heavily overcast, but ‘sunny intervals and a light breeze’ is the forecast;  it should be ‘bonnie but cool’ by morrrrrrrning coffee time.   This will be a ‘rest day’ for me after my pottering around with the night time sky.  I’m feeling ‘almost bright eyed and bushy tailed’ just now;   but it’s not a ‘play day’.   The ‘plan’ is to get a chicken casserole going in the crock pot after breakfast. 16.30     As is my habit when I go or the paper I had a run down to the harbour;   there wasn’t a lot happening on the ground,   but the sky was moody so I had a good time with the camera before going home to organise the casserole.   That was done by 11.00 .... just t time for morrrrrning coffee.    The sky began to clear by midday and I thought we’d have no problem   seeing     the ‘Green Comet’;   finding it would be easy.... it’s alongside the Pole Star.   As I expected I fell asleep in the afternoon and when I woke up the

27th January 2023 (Friday)    09.30.... it’s a cracker’  o’ a mornin’... “bright, sunny ... and -2C”, so it lacks the Spring like feel that the past couple of days had, but a bonnie day for being out.   I was ‘out’ in the garden up by The Hutte at 02.15, looking for, (and taking photographs of the starry sky), the comet.   It wasn’t as cold as I’d expected at that time;  but I was well wrapped up.   The mission to find the comet was unsuccessful, but I did get photographs of the stars....The Plough constellation in particular.   I have since checked (and found out) that it (the comet) will be roughly two thirds of the distance from the ‘pointer’ stars of The Plough to the Pole Star (at the end of the tail of the Little Plough).   I need a clear sky again tonight .... and a long catnap this afternoon.   I wrote that so that it is now embedded in the brain cell and I know where to point the camera.... if the sky is clear!    I need another cuppa. 23.30     After morning coffee I decided

26th January 2023 (Thursday)    09.15....It’s a Spring like morning.... one of those morning that makes me want to ‘work’!    I’ll do some ‘ooverin’ and dustin’ after breakfast, then get the bike oot and go to Elie Estate.   We’re going to the 19th for lunch so the main food intake is taken care of. 16.00     Kirsty’s birthday lunch at the 19th was very enjoyable;   as ever the company (four because Janet joined ‘The Team’) and food was excellent... we all had three courses!   It was a very enjoyable couple of hours.... and ...I think it’s the first time I have been out with three girls.    The chat around the table was wide ranging , and included   Geoff,.... and the fact that we would celebrate his 80th birthday in July.    We had hoped to see the comet tonight but the sky has clouded over so that won’t happen.   It’s visible for a few more days so we could get lucky and get a clear sky.    I shall now go and make myself a cuppa before settling down in front of the tele.... to fall

25th January 2023 (Wednesday)     264th Anniversary of the birth of Rabbie Burns.   09.00.... there’s a frisky breeze from the WNW which is breaking up the early morning cloud, so there’s an increasing chance of ‘sunny spells’.     It’s 8C at the moment but the breeze will make it feel cooler.    The plan’ is to go ‘roond the Ferry’ on the bike, then charge up the battery so that I can go out again in the afternoon.       09.45    The bike ‘plan’ has had to be put on 'hold';   we’ve just had a shower o’ rain.   I’ll have a cuppa. 16.30     We only had one short shower so I have been out on the bike;   Chapel Green in the morning then Elie in the late afternoon.    The bit in between was spent having lunch then sleepin’ in front on the tele:   I’m a mornin’ person. The villages were looking bonnie;   and it was warm, in what felt like early Spring sunshine.    I’d like this to be the beginning of Spring but I have no doubt there will be a bit more wintry weather to come.

24th January 2022 (Tuesday)    08.15.... although there was a bit of red in the early morning sky we should have a bonnie day:  the forecast is ‘sunny intervals with a moderate breeze’.    However, it could turn cloudier with the chance of light precipitation in the afternoon;  that should mean interesting clouds. 15.00     I can’t get over just how busy the road to Leven is nowadays.... no matter what time you travel:   however I enjoyed the morning in Leven, and got all the bits and pieces that I wanted.    I also remembered to go to the bank;   the letter I was bothered about is genuine so all is good there. Alice and I wandered up the High Street to visit the bookshop at the East end of the High Street, and I was surprised to find it was Bertie Gorrie’s (Colinsburgh) son who was behind the counter.    A long catch up conversion followed.      It’s a brilliant bookshop by the way;   with a good stock of new and second hand books.   A lot of serious browsing will take place in the

23rd January 2023 (Monday)     09.00 .... the sky is heavily overcast and there’s moderate breeze.... and the garden thermometer is at 8C;  it’s warm.    If the sun breaks through we’d have a really nice day!   I’m feeling friskier than I did yesterday;  almost playful in fact.   I have an appointment at the Adamson Hospital (Cupar)in the afternoon I am using the 'Lanchen Greig'.... and Alan is picking me up at 14.30.    Slight ‘flap on’ now.... I’m hungry. 12.00    The sun is trying hard to break through:  I know this because I’ve been to the shops and the harbour.   It is pleasantly warm (for the time of year);  even at the harbour.   There’s hardly any wind so nae wind chill.    I took  a few photos and thought about going to the lighthouse then remembered I have an appointment this afternoon.  I am easily sidetracked. 18.30     The Adamson Hospital was really busy this afternoon;   the busiest that both Alan and I have ever seen it.   They were short staffed and had three

22nd January 2023 (Sunday)   08.30.... if it wisnae windy and overcast, with a touch of dampness in the air it would be a bonnie morning;  but it is so it isnae.  It’s a stay in and warm kind of morning.   There was a bit of red in the sky but I only had a fleeting thought of going to the beach;  the kettle was coming to the boil!    ‘Thick cloud and fresh breeze is the forecast’:  throw in a few ‘sunny spells’ and I’d be a ‘happy boy’. 10.30    I haven’t been anywhere yet; actually I’m feeling sluggish after a broken night’s sleep;   a catnap would probably be a good ‘plan’.    The sky brightened up for a bit, and we had a sunny spell but it is mostly grey again.    I’m going to make the coffee, then find something to watch on the tele... and fall asleep. 16.00   I found something to watch on the tele... but didn’t fall asleep ‘cos it was an interesting nature programme.   It will be an early night in bed tonight!    When it finished I went out in the car:  the ‘plan’ was to take a

21st January 2023 (Saturday)    07.30 .... There’s rime on the car windscreen but it isn’t hard frozen;  I won’t use the car until the sun has risen and (hopefully) melts the rime anyway.  At the moment we have light frost with a raw feel to the air.... it’s cauld!    KY9 is forecast to have ‘heavy cloud with a moderate breeze’ today;  but I’m looking for sunny spells, though it might be a forlorn hope as there’s the chance of ‘light precipitation’ later in the afternoon.    At this time I am thinking about going to the beach to catch the dawn sky;  after I have another cuppa. 10.00    It was brilliant on the beach;   the sky was spectacular and continually changing. ... so I have a wheen o’ photies tae play wi’, having been down there from dawn through to sunrise;   it was very peaceful and relaxing.      It’s now morrrrrrrrrrrrning coffee time. 11.30    The paper has been uplifted, and Alan tormented;  I’ve had a good morning.   The ‘sunny spells’ I was looking for have been with u

20th January 2023 (Friday)    08.00.... ‘Sunny with a light breeze’ is the weather forecast for KY9 today;  a good day for walking.   I might go round the Ferry on the bike after the temperature rises a bit.  There’s a light touch of frost just now;  and the sun has yet to appear over the Lammermuirs so it’s cold.    But not as cold as it was yesterday;  having said that... I don’t think its going to be overly warm.    09.30    Having been as far as the pavement (to bring in the bucket) I can tell you that it is bitterly cold;   the chance of the bike being brought out is nil: unless there’s a dramatic increase in temperature.   Right now (after another cuppa) I’m going to iron the bed linen;   that’s a warm job. 19.15    It has been a lovely day....and it was warm in the sunshine.    The wind dropped to ‘calm’ so there was nae wind chill.     I have had a reasonably active day,  having ironed the bed linen and  made up the bed.   Making up a bed used to take ‘nae’ time... nowadays it

19th January 2023 (Thursday)    08.15....We have a bonnie start to the day... but it’s cold (-2C).... with a light breeze.   I hung out a washing, which was frozen stiff before I’d finished (as were my fingers).   Once the sun gets going the washing should defrost and dry:  that’s the theory anyway.   I’ll go for a paper after breakfast.... and after the sun has shifted the rime off the car windscreen! 21.15   It has been bitterly cauld all day.... but my bed linen dried so I ain’t complainin’.    Well ... that’s no’ true;  I am complainin’.... I’m not overly fond the cold weather. I’ve had one busy day.    After going to Elie for the paper I went to Leven to visit Alice, and, after a cuppa we went to the ‘Cheap Shop’ to do some shopping.    The ‘Bargain Store’ (or ‘Cheap Shop’ as I call it) is well named and definitely helps to bring the cost of living down a bit.    ‘B & M (Leven) is expanding into the former Argos site; when that is done it will be about the same size as the

18th January 2023 (Wednesday)      09.15 .... it’s 1C on the thermometer this morning, so not as cold as it has been on the past few mornings.    I haven’t been further than the garden ... feeding ‘Blob’, but it is a bonnie morning,.... and warmer;  but not warm enough.    I need another cuppa.  19.30    My word I was needing that.... and I can see my lugs!   Lorraine has worked her magic on my silver locks, and I feel comfortable again.   I didn’t go to the Colinsburgh Lunch;  my breathing has ‘iffy’ today, and I thought the hair appointment was vital and enough of a ‘plan’ for today.    I went to the ‘arbour after the haircut, then home to Ivy for a cuppa and a catnap.   Later in the afternoon I went up to Kinneuchar to get a few photographs of the village in the evening sunlight.... and that that has been my day. Although I felt it was warmer (than of late) first thing this morning that feeling didn’t last long, and I found  it bitterly cold most of the day.    I’ve had to have t

17th January 2022 (Tuesday)     09.30.... Beautiful sunrise this morning;  I’d have gone to the beach but I was only in my loungers so caught the sky from Ferry Road.    It is a a bonnie morning.... there a touch of frost, with a light NW breeze. A strange thing happened this morning;   I found a message on the answer machine timed at 06.20 (today) but the message was garbled;   it sounded like someone talking Mandarin.     The strange thing was that didn’t hear the phone ringing .... and I take the handset through to my bedside table at night.   I'm hard of hearing but not totally deaf! 21.30     My word it has been bitterly cold today.... but I did go out in the car.    I made an appointment to have a haircut (that’s happening tomorrow)..... and had a couple of visits to the harbour... but didn’t hang around;   on both visits. On my afternoon trip to the harbour I was got a decent photo of the ‘Eddystone’, a RO RO cargo vessel.   She is making for Sorreisa in Norway;    whi