Alberto's Hutte

28th February 2023 (Tuesday)     08.30.... There’s lot of broken cloud around so there’s chance of sunny spells... and light precipitation: on the other hand it’s a bonnie morning, with an interesting sky, so I’ll have a wander to the beach after breakfast.  There is a breeze from the NE so it’s auld on the lugs. 12.30     It’s a bonnie day so I had a short walk to the beach by way of Williamsburgh;   I might go up to the seat at the 17th green in the afternoon.    It’s too cold for me to go out on the bike.    It’s good to see the beach busy at this time of year (on a   Tuesday) .... but maybe the teachers being on strike has something to do with that.   20.45    The wind freshened a bit after lunch so it has been a bitterly cold day.... in fact there was spits and spots o’ light rain when I was out at the bucket just now.   However the postie brought a surprise from Australia:  a book that will be my bedtime reading for the next few weeks.   Actually I didn’t expect it so soon.    

27th February 2023 (Monday)   08.00....The sky is overcast just now but we should have ‘sunny spells’ before morrrrrrrrning coffee time.   There’s only a light breeze (F1 on Well Safe Guardian) from the Northerly direction so, although light, it a cool breeze (2C on the garden thermometer).   I might go out on the bike in the middle of the day.... when the air is a bit warmer. 11.00   I’ve been up to Elie to hand in my prescription, and had a run down to the harbour in the car.  It’s bitterly cold out, so I very much doubt if I’ll be out on the bike; unless the temperature rises dramatically when the sunny spells arrive.   Actually there isn’t much sign of them coming our way until after midday.  The Harbour beach is having the seaweed removed this morning;  always a sign that the holiday season is coming.   Easter Sunday is on the 9th April. 17.00     We might get lucky and see the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) tonight;   as we have seen on the News it was visible as far south a

26th February 2023 (Sunday)     09.00.... ‘Sunny intervals with a light NE breeze’ is the weather forecast for KY9 today;  it will be cold but not bitterly cold like it was yesterday.   Precipitation is not expected.   It’s a quiet morning;  though this is going to be a ‘rest day’, I might go for a short walk after breakfast.  I have France v Scotland Six Nations rugby in the afternoon;   and this is supposed to be a ‘rest day’. 21.00     I have had a really lazy day;   the weather was ‘nae bad’ but I didn’t go anywhere ‘cos I was feeling ‘one degree under’ most of the day.    The rugby was exciting: however it didn’t have the ending I wanted.... but, at times it looked like it might have. I couldn’t get ‘fired up’ at all today;   I did bits and pieces around Ivy but only because I felt I had to do something.        I’m going to browse the TV magazine to see if there’s anything I fancy watching;   if not I’ll have an early night in bed with my book. We’re going to have another ‘qu

25th February 2023 (Saturday)     09.00... it’s not a mornin’ for straying far from  a cosy fire;  we have a brisk, cold northeast wind (F4) on ‘Well Safe Guardian’, anchored in the Firth.... and it feels about the same in Ivy garden... where the temperature is 6C (sheltered from the wind).   It isn’t a ‘play day’.   I’m hoping for sunny spells later but I doubt if it will feel warm even in a sunny spell. 20.00    It has been a bitterly cold day;   definitely not a day for me going out to play.       So I didn’t!     As planned, Alice came along on the 11.30 (X60) bus and we went to Bowhouse;   my word it was busy.   The main exhibition area was full of colourful stalls .... including ‘Cairn O’ Mohr’ selling their wine... alcoholic and non alcoholic.     I bought two bottles.... one for Alice and Izzy to take with them when they visit Burn’s country for a long weekend.    When Maggie and I were operating as ‘A & M Lawrie’ selling out craft products (Mini golf clubs mounted on the

24th February 2023 (Friday )     “Happy Birthday” to ‘JB’ who is .... 31 second pause .... who is .... 31 today! 08.15....There’s  wind is from the NNW so it’s colder this morning.... and there’s lot of interesting clouds about, so we could catch the edge of a shower;  there is a ‘low chance of precipitation’.   I’m feeling frolicsome after a good night’s sleep, and looking forward to going to ‘The Ship Inn’, with Calumn, at lunch time. 16.30    Calumn and I ended up going to the ‘Baern Cafe’ at Bowhouse for Lunch;  the food was brilliant, the staff friendly and it was busy.   That’s always a good sign.    We had a bowl of really tasty onion soup follow by a huge pork sandwich .   The ingredients are locally sourced.... and the choice of sandwiches surprising.   I enjoyed lunch.   We came home by way of Colinsburgh garage where I wanted to buy oil for the car. 'Bowhouse'. Back at Ivy I made two of my top of the range coffees which we had with a goodie that Calumn brought.   We

23rd February 2023 (Thursday)      08.45 .... we have a ‘bright and sunny’ morning with a light breeze;  it’s a bonnie drying day..... a really good morning for walking.   The air is cool after a touch of early frost but that has gone with the sun.... so the washing won’t freeze.  It’s just too cold for me going out on the bike .... I might do that later in the afternoon.   19.00     Now that Alice is recovering from COVID I decided that the time was ripe to pop along to Methil to annoy her.    After a cuppa and catch up blether we went to Leven to have a look round the newly expanded B & M’s shop.    Although open for business it has yet to be properly stocked up;   many of the shelves in the new bit (the former Argos store) are full of various sizes of storage containers so not really very interesting.      However, once it is fully stocked up and operational it will be a useful shop.    We each bought a few bits and pieces but then did our proper shopping in the nearby ‘Cheap S

22nd February 2023 (Wednesday)   08.30.... ‘light rain with a moderate breeze’ is the weather forecast for KY9.... and that is what we have.   It is not a bonnie morning;  but it will brighten up at lunchtime: I am  having lunch in the 19th with Kirsty and Myra.  The laurel hedge will be ‘lapping up’ this rain;  that reminds me that it’s also my breakfast time. 18.30   Lunch at the 19th was, as ever, excellent..... good company, food and banter:  and nae wrinkles on puku at the end of it.   (Puku – Maori for stomach).   I don’t think I’ll need to eat again until Friday breakfast time.  After a very frustrating morning I needed to relax and that is ‘iggzactly’ what I did.  I probably talked too much. So what happened in the morrrrrning?     Well.... I had a letter to post to Australia which meant going to an actual Post Office.   So whistling merrily, and thinking happy thoughts, I louped into the car and made my way to Anstruther only to discover when I got to Ainster that the PO ha

  21st February 2023 (Tuesday)     09.00.... Ye Gods.... I must have been tired yesterday:  I went to bed at 22.30, read my book till about 23.00, fell asleep and woke up at 07.00.    I don’t know what made me so tired but it wisnae ‘work’! We have a bonnie mornin’;   the sky is mostly overcast and there a brisk SW breeze... actually it could be a good drying day.   I enjoyed a wander to the beach around sunrise time;   the ‘plan’ is to for the paper after breakfast. 19.00   I went to Elie, picked up the paper and bought a padded envelope then had a quick trip to the harbour before travelling home by way of Balbuthie Loan.   This has been a funny kind o’ day for me;  I did think of going out on the bike in the afternoon but the air felt cold so I worked on the computer;  then had another trip to the harbour:  I spotted an oil platform being towed into the Firth and wanted a few photos of it.   Actually it wasn’t the best of afternoons for the camera... and it was late.... so I hope

20th February 2022 (Monday)   09.00.... ‘Fresh winds with light rain’ is the weather forecast for KY9;  at the moment we have the wind but no light rain.... though the rain disnae look far away.  I’m hoping for a calmer and brighter afternoon...but I doubt if I’ll go biking today. I have stuff to do on the computer;  that will be my morning activity. 22.30    It has been reasonable day as far as the weather went;  a bit breezy but nae rain worth bothering about.   I managed to get my ‘computer work’ done in the morning.... but all I could do in the afternoon was potter around Ivy.... including making sausages and mash for dinner.   For some reason I kept dozing off after lunch so I have to say this has been a ‘rest day’.   I went down to the Ferry High street with the camera to photograph some interesting clouds but I couldn’t get fired up to go to the beach.   Irene came down Ferry Road at the end of her afternoon walk, and we chatted for a while:  talking is one of the best ways to

19th February 2023 (Sunday)     08.15.... There was a red sky along the Lammermuirs this morning...the rest of the sky was a 'not very interesting grey';  drab would be the best way to describe it.   The air is cooler but not frosty (4C):  the actual weather forecast for KY9 being .... (22.5 second pause) ....“strong winds and a light breeze, with a low chance of precipitation”.   Not the most stimulating start to the day.  I don’t think I’ll be going far on the bike! 19.00    I’ve been busy on the computer for most of today;   but I took time out to go to the ‘Store’ to do awe bit shopping.     I realised that the lassie on the checkout was from the USA or Canada.    When I asked her she told me that she was originally from New York;   it was then that I realised I was talking to Gail, who is married to David, a friend and fellow ex Craw’s Nest employee.     We had a good blether while checking out and caught up with each other.    It’s a small world right enough. I never w

18th February 2023 (Saturday)    09.00.... It’s a dreich morning;   we have a light easterly breeze bringing in low cloud (and drizzle) from the North Sea.... not a pleasant morning.    I’m hoping for the sky to break up by midday and for us to  have a few blinks o’ the sun eventually... but that isn't mentioned in our forecast.    However ..... it's an ill wind that doesn't do some good!   The rain should help Tom and Natalie’s hedge across the road.... even if it only dampens the leaves.   Mind you it’s going to take a whole load of rain to get down to the roots... but at least it’s coming from the right direction.  I won’t be going out on the bike.   The ‘plan’ is to set the crock pot going with a batch of Scotch Broth after breakfast 1 9.30    It has been a mixed day of weather... from damp and drizzly in the morning, followed by a brighter spell (with occasional sunshine), and finally rain coming in later in the afternoon.   The rain has stopped and .... hard to belie

17th February 2023 (Friday)     08.00.... The weather is ‘bright breezy’ this morning (F8 out in the Firth – ‘Saipem 3000’), but it is already at the start of a decreasing trend so should be bikeable by midday.   It isn’t cold... or wouldn’t be if it wasn’t wind.  ; I kept waking up because I was too hot in bed last night.   In fact I thought the heating was ‘on’ but it wisnae: however, I still have the winter TOG downie on the bed:  and “ne’er cast a cloot till May is oot” applies tae the downie as weel as my claes. 18.30     It has been a bit blowy today, but at least it was dry.    It was the middle of the afternoon before I went up to Chapel Green on the bike;   the wind had calmed doon to F4 - 5.   There was a bonnie kind o’ light about so I managed to take a few photographs;   including the progress with the new build and renovations on Chapel green road houses.    The new house on the former ‘Chapel Green House’ site is progressing well;   the stonework is the something else....

16th February 2023 (Thursday)     09.00.... We have Geoff’s Memorial Killingworth Sword Dance Team. Service at Elie Kirk this morning so this will be a day of mixed feelings;  happy because we were lucky enough to know Geoff and be part of his life... and sad because we are saying “Cheerio” to an old friend.   My thoughts are with Geoff’s family and friends at this time.  The photo is of Geoff in his University days; as a member of the Killingworth Sword dance team. 16.30    Geoff’s Memorial Service, led by Douglas (Rev Douglas Creighton) our Minister, was as he would have liked.    Douglas read out a short ‘life history’; a history full of happy memories of an active and sometimes ‘... er .... how do I put this ... Dan (son) explained that it could be ‘lively’ when it came to fireworks.   It was a really lovely and ‘happy’ service for a sad occasion.   I sat beside Brenda, who I haven’t seen for a while, and discussed how hard working Alan has been with the revamp of ‘arbour ‘ouse.  

15th February 2023 (Wednesday)     09.00.... We have a mostly overcast sky this morning... and there’s a ‘low chance of precipitation’ before morrrrning coffee time (11.00);   followed by sunny spells in the afternoon.    I haven’t been anywhere so far; I’m feeling sluggish and choked up with a heid cauld... and;   I have muscles ....some of them to be sair.    This could well be a stay in and warm day;   now that I have new reading glasses I’ll be able to draw without straining my eyes.    The Varifocals glasses were not good for drawing. I don’t think I’ll be going to the Colinsburgh Lunch.... I’ll see how I feel after morrrrrrrning coffee.   20.30    The lassie from Govan’s phoned to let me know that me new distance glasses (spectacles) were ready so I had a cuppa, then  louped intae the car and went to Ainster to collect said glasses.    They are definitely better than the varifocals for clarity.... and once I get used to physically changing from distance glasses to the reading

14th February 2023 Tues ... oops St Valentine’s Day   11.00.... Luv is in the air;   and clouds which I didn’t expect.    Myra has been collected from the garage as per plan and we had morning coffee at Myra’s when we got back to The Royal Burgh. First thing this morning I louped on the bike and went for a paper, the plan being to discharge the bike battery completely so that it could be fully charged for a longer run in the afternoon.    When I left Ivy the battery was showing two bars, by the time I was in Williamsburg(about 50 metres)it was one bar.... then flat before I got to the bank.     A battery assisted bike is a hard pedal when there’s nae life in the battery... and not much more in the legs.   However I made it to the paper shop and home (it’s mostly doon hill or level, travelling from Elie to The Ferry)... well ready for a reviving cuppa.     The bike battery is on charge and should be ready for the afternoon. 15.30     The bike battery is fully charged but I am not g