Alberto's Hutte

30th April 2023 (Sunday)    09.00.... There’s been some rain overnight, and Apple blossom time. light rain is mentioned in the weather forecast for KY9 today, but at the moment its warm and muggy;  I’m looking for sunny spells in the afternoon.... with the chance of light precipitation.   With only a light breeze (E) there’s nae wind chill to bother about;   it’s a quiet and peaceful morning.  The villages could be busy with ‘Scarecrow Seekers’. 21.00      I bumbled along to Alice’s, by way of the Bargain Store (Leven) where I had a small bit o’ retail therapy.    (Retail Therapy?.... shopping is anything but that nowadays).   There was a lot o’ water on the roads so, after I finished shopping, I went to Methil via Windygates ....to avoid the deep puddle that fills the dip (to a depth of 12 inches or so) at the South end of the ‘Iron Brig’.    I arrived at Alice’s in time for a morrrrrning cuppa.    We then spent the morning having a good, old fashioned blether.... before having a bow

29th April 2023 (Saturday)      08.00.... the Fife Weather Cams are all ‘grey sky’ just now, and if there was one in Elie and Earlsferry it would be showing a grey sky too;    we have an overcast, damp and cool morning.... not a bad day for doing the ‘Scarecrows’;    it’s not too warm for wandering around the villages.    Although there’s a breeze (F3-4 NE), it’s not a good morning for me being ‘out and about’ on the bike so I’ll be pottering around Ivy most of the day.    I might have a wander to the beach .... when (or if) the temperature rockets up to 9C.    It’s 5C (but feels colder in the wind) just now. 11.30    I decided to venture down to the beach to get a touch of fresh air and have  the cobwebs blown off; I can tell you it is not warm out... in fact it’s bitterly cold when exposed to the wind.   Having said that, the cold hasn’t deterred folk from coming to have wander round, admiring the ‘scarecrows’.   And there’s much to admire.   It’s too cold for the bike just now, but

28th April 2023 (Friday)    08.30.... Hmmmm.... it’s overcast just now, with a look o’ dampness in the air; it’s not actually raining, but light rain is forecast for the morning, with sunny intervals in the afternoon;  the air is much warmer (10C), so we should have a ‘sunny and warm’  afternoon with only a light breeze from the SSW. 20.00     It was 16C in the garden at one point this afternoon;   pleasantly warm... and mostly sunny.    After going for the pater  I decided to go to Ardross Farm Shop to buy mince for a batch cooking session... and to get photographs of ‘Sheepscape’ and Baaaat - Bee’, two of The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society’s, ‘Flock to the Show’ public art trail sheep, that are at Ardross until 1st May.   I bought the mince and a few vegetables, then photographed the sheep.    The World Sheep Shearing Championships is being held at the ‘Highland Show’ this year (22nd to 25th June).     I met, and chatted to William ‘T’ (from Colinsburgh) before coming home

27th April 2023 (Thursday)    08.30.... the sky is heavily overcast with light rain mentioned in the weather forecast for KY9;  though it isn’t raining just now I get the feeling that it isn’t far away.   There’s a moderate wind from the East so a cool, damp day is on the cards. The Swallows and House Martins back in numbers (I saw my first Swallow on St George’s Day)... but, like us they will be looking for warmer weather.    I think that is forecast to happen.... sometime.   Hopefully soon. 20.00     It hasn’t been the bonniest of days as far as the weather went (grey and damp mostly) but I’ve had a productive... and enjoyable day.    I went to Leven to do some shopping;   you know vital things ..... such as claes pegs.     I now have a wee bucket with 107 claes pegs in it;   I didn’t like the bucket being quarter full.    Now it is three quarters full and I’m much happier.   I can safely say that I won’t need to buy claes pegs for about another 20 years. At Leven I sussed out w

26th April 2023 (Wednesday)   08.00....it’s a quiet morning with only a light breeze.... and there’s an interesting sky.... but it is cold.  There’s a chilly feel to the air.  If it wasn’t for that chilly air I’d loup onto the bike and go through Elie Estate; instead I’ll take the car to go for the paper.  I’m vertical, but this cold weather is crampin’ my outdoor activities; however, I am in a drawing mood and will have a day with pencils and pens; I feel lively so could get a lot of ‘work’ done. 20.00     This late cold spell is taking too slow moving:   out in Spain they are expecting temperatures up to 40C this week.   Ye Gods.... that would be much worse than being cool, like we are here!     I’m lovin’ this weather! I’ve had a busy, and relaxing and very satisfying day with my pencils; I’ve always enjoyed drawing and the ruin at Kinneuchar kirk has always interested me.   Now I can   visualize what the pre- Reformation kirk looked like.    And doing all this is challenging....

25th April 2023 (Tuesday)    08.15 .... My word.... there’s a chilly north wind;  definitely a stay inside ‘The Hutte’ day.... and very little chance of going out on the bike.   But, who knows I might feel brave, once the temperature rises... and the wind drops as it will do later in the afternoon;  however, it’s going to be a ‘work in the Hutte’ day mostly. 20.30     I must have felt ‘brave’ ‘cos I got the bike out and went up to Chapel Green:   the wind had moderated considerably by the time I did that, so it didn’t feel that cold.... and I was well wrapped up.    I stopped at Jim’s seat because it is sheltered from a north wind.    It was warm sitting the sun but the clouds were a nuisance:   however they made the sky interesting.    I then went round and stopped at Maggie’s seat .... and promptly   thought of the ‘ousework.    (I might be doing ‘ousework tomorrow). I had a late lunch then went out to The Hutte.    The boys were busy next door;   I relaxed watching;   it’s very r

24th April 2023 (Monday)      08.00.... we have an interesting  mornin’;  there’s a mix o’ clouds and sunny spells with a cold wind off the North.... (it could be an good day for the camera).... and chilly when exposed to the wind:  I’m actually contemplating going to the beach after the air warms up.... on Thursday.   10.45     I haven’t been to the beach yet, but I have been for the paper (actually got it) and down to the harbour.     It is a bonnie morning but cool in the fresh breeze.     All is good at the harbour.    I've had breakfast.... and about to have morrrrrrrning coffee before starting ‘work’. 19.38    I’ve has a reasonably busy day.... but a big bit of the afternoon is spent dozing, though I feel brighter in the mornings now.   I think this booster has ‘bothered’ me the most;  nothing serious just bothersome things like falling asleep, sair muscles and being dizzy.  I managed to get some work done but not as much as the workmen at Earls Lodge.   I had dozed off in

23rd April 2023 (St George’s Day)    “Happy St George’s Day, to all my friends in ‘sunny Sussex’ ....and in the less sunny parts of England”..... enjoy your day. 07.00     The sun is slowly being obscured by a bank of seriously dark cloud, moving down from the North East at present, so I cancelled my planned run round the Ferry on the bike;   not so much because of the cloud but the sudden demise of the sun was frustrating.... as was the cold air.    I’ll take a walk down to the beach later... once I see what the weather is doing.    There’s a ‘chance of precipitation’ but we should have sunny spells in a wee while.  I'll have another cuppa. 09.30     We have one happy boy this morrrrning.... I finally made it down to the beach (*pranged knee a few weeks ago) and can report that all is good;   plenty sand to play with (the tide is out) and there’s loads o’ fresh air.    Alas there was also a touch of the aforementioned ‘precipitation’ but not enough to stop me taking photographs

22nd April 2023 (Saturday)     08.00 .... There’s a wintry feel to the wind this morning; it’s ‘bright, breezy and cauld’.... actually a good morning to be out and about.   Light rain is mentioned in the weather forecast for the afternoon, so now is the time to ‘play’;  actually it is ‘patchy light rain’ that is forecast, so we could miss it. We’re going to have a few cold days this week, with the threat of early morning frost;  just in time to catch the blossom on my apple tree!   It did last year. 21.00     Well....I just can’t believe how busy the road to Leven is nowadays.... in both directions.    However, busy traffic or not, I made it to Methil.   The work at the Bawbee Brig is starting to look a bit more than diversion signs, traffic cones and temporary traffic lights;   the temporary bridge will soon be operational.... and there’s a new roundabout where it junctions with South Street.... that’s the road you take when you exit the West end of the Bawbee Brig to go to East Fif

21st April 2023 Friday   07.30 .... There’s a bitterly cold, raw feeling wind from the NE this morning;  definitely a winter jacket morning.   This ‘boy’ won’t be venturing further than the car ...to go for the paper.   This is a pottering about in The Hutte day I’m thinkin’....which is good because that is what I was going to do anyway!    ‘Sunny with a fresh breeze’ is the forecast, the temperature 11C.  I need another cuppa. 21.45      I went for the paper;   and, feeling brave(ish) I visited the harbour to take a few photos from my sheltered corners..... so I didn’t feel that cold.    I came home by way of Balbuthie and Kinneuchar;   and never went outside the gate after that.     Ferry Road is always cold on an East wind;   and the Hutte is always cosy!    I made good progress with the Kinneuchar stuff today;   mind you I have half a dozen drawings to do.... today I finished the first one and set up the drawing board for the next one.    With the wind being from the East... and

  20th April 2023 (Thursday)      09.00 .... We have another ‘wall to wall’ bloo Anstruther. sky.... but the NE breeze is fresher than t was yesterday so it’s cold out in the wind.    It’s a bonnie morning but I won’t be out on the bike.... unless the wind moderates later in the afternoon.    It’s a working day..... I’m taking advantage of the drying wind and doing a woollen wash; and most of my day will be spent in working The Hutte.   I notice a few clouds starting to bumble over... adding some interest to the wall to wall blue sky; or could it be haar moving in? 17.00    It was 17C in Ivy garden this afternoon....welll sheltered from the fresh Easterly wind (F3-4).     I went to ‘The Store (Ainster) to do some shopping;   my word the prices are noticeably rocketing upwards.    My check out came to £56 ....and that was without any ‘goodies’.    Unfortunately food is a necessity.... but   I spend carefully;   nae browsing.    I bought ingredients for batch cooking freezer meals hence

19th April 2023 (Wednesday)   07.00.... We have ‘wall to wall bloo sky, with a 'Saipem 7000'. moderate wind from the East out in the Firth (Saipem 7000) just now.... a bonnie morning but cool in the easterly wind.   I might go for a short run up to Chapel Green (to flatten the bike battery) once the air warms up around about morning coffee time.   In fact I might take the coffee with me.    09.00      ‘The Boy’ (that’s me) has been busy;   I’ve been for the paper(s) and hung out a washing.   Though still feeling slightly under the weather, I’m feeling brighter; and hoping that the side effects from the booster jab are past.   We have one ‘almost playful’ boy this morrrrrrning.    15.30    I’ve been up at Kinneuchar kirk, sorting out the family burial places that have been attached to the remains of the old kirk,  since the Reformation.  All this is keeping the brain active.  The ‘almost playful’ feeling evaporated fairly rapidly and I feel that the ‘jab’ has kicked in;  as i

18th April 2023 (Tuesday)    08.00 .... The sky is heavily overcast this morning (as per weather forecast) and there’s a cool, light breeze off the water; however ‘sunny intervals’ are also forecast by lunch time.   I’m feeling one degree under (side effect of the jab) so this will be a drawing day.   However, (and because I want to flatten the battery), I might have a short run on the bike when the air warms up. 18.30  I have had a restful but productive day:  in the morning I took some glass stuff to the Woodhaven re-cycling Depot, then did a wee bit o’ ousework, before  morning coffee time.   After ‘MC’ I went up to Kinneuchar kirk to check some measurements before drawing a ground plan of the pre Reformation kirk. I have the Rev Sime’s drawings from the then parish kirk of 1818; the remodelled Pre Reformation one, but I have to work out which parts of the ‘old kirk’ were removed in the remodelling.... and what new bits were added.   All that remains of the ‘old kirk’ are the arche

17th April 2023 (Monday)    07.30....The thermometer is at 11C already on an overcast balmy morning.   The weather forecast for KY9 is ....nae  pause (I’m fed up o’ those (stupid) long pauses)....’light cloud with a moderate breeze from the ENE’.   With  low cloud drifting in from the North Sea we’ll be lucky if we get sunny spells’ today;  however it’s a bonnie morning in a non sunny kind of way.   09.00     I’m feeling playful this morning.... and will take a turn round the village after breakfast;   I’d go further but the battery on the bike is ‘low’, it will be put on charge after aforementioned trip round The Ferry.    To be honest I sort of expected to feel ....wellll .. not playful today, after having the booster jab on Saturday.   I’m a ‘happy boy’.   14.30    I’m even happier now;  I remembered that it was Monday and ‘Crane In’ at the harbour... and it was a perfect day for it.... nae wind and nae rain.   The harbour is now ‘alive’ and ready for another season.   I had a run

16th April 2023 (Sunday)    10.00 .... we have one of those peaceful Elie and Earlsferry mornings;   there’s only a light breeze and it’s warm and humid.... in fact I had to put the camera away when we had some spits and spots o’ rain.   Nothing to bother about.... and it should be a bonnie day with ‘sunny spells by mid morrrrrrrrning. I went for the paper, in the car because of the threat of light showers, but intend going out on the bike later.   It’s time for breakfast and morrrning coffee.    At the moment I have no effects from the ‘jab’.... though I expect I’ll be sleepy in the afternoon.     11.00 The ‘plan’ is to go out on the bike after morrrrrrrrrrrrning coffee.... not too far yet but further than I have been doing over the winter.    I’d like to make it to Balcarres next week sometime.   I managed a hirple to the beach this morning so the sair knee is slowly recovering. 19.38 (that was a good year).    When I went up to Chapel Green on the bike (after morrrrning coffee) I