Alberto's Hutte

21st August 2025 (Friday)    09.30 .... there's a slight change with the weather;  we have an overcast sky with occasional light showers this morning.   However it should have sunny spells in the afternoon.   WE were contemplating going to Gillingshill but the rain has put that plan is, temporarily, on the 'back burner'   We were going look  for butterfly's, but we need sunshine for them to be active.    In the meantime I'm going to put the kettle on. 19.00    Iain, er ..we've''' been busy today.   In the morning we went to B n Q's (Leven) to get bits to finish of the scooter shed.   In the afternoon we went to Gillingshill and  'Then Store' (Ainster) to do some shopping.   Iain finished off the scooter shed, and had lunch in between runs out in the car. We were looking forward to visiting Gillingshill  because a Wall Brown butterfly has been seen there, but when we got there w...

21st August 2025 (Thursday)     08.00 .... It's a nice, peaceful morning, with a mix of light cloud and blue sky at present.   There's a cool, ESE breeze just now;  however if the sun burns the cloud off, it could be pleasantly warm in the afternoon.   Must go .... 'slight flap on' this morning;  got Iain's bed to make up.   18.45     Iain expects to arrive at Ivy about 20.00;  and he has a bed to flop into.   Actually, I've had a busy day, and will be glad to 'flop' imtae my bed tonight.   I haven't been anywhere today:luckily Kirsty came in with a couple of books so we had a good old natter'.   We restart our monthly 'Team Lunch' in September, having had a break of two month's during the busy holiday season.    22.45   Iain arrived at 19.50 and we've been fed, had cuppas, sorted out the Planet;  and now we're tired after all that.   All is good u...

20th August 2025 (Wednesday)     08.15 .... The Fife Weather cams are all showing an overcast sky;  the Lochgelly cam has some promising breaks in the cloud, but the wind is from the East so those breaks are never going to come our way.   We are relying on the sun burning off the cloud.... which it should do soon.  'Sunny intervals with a moderate breeze' is the forecast for today.   I'm feeling 'brighter eyed and bushier tailed' this morning;  which is good because I have things to do before Iain arrives tomorrow. 12.15    The sky is slowly brightening up, with big patches of blue sky to the West of us;  Methil for instance!   We'll have blue sky soon.   I forgot to tell you about the pillow case ironing!   As usual I read a bit of my bedtime book, then put the light out at 23.45.   I woke up at 01. 05, had a 'comfort break' and back to bed.   I then woke up at 02;11 and ...

  19th August 2025 (Tuesday)    09.45 .... I must have been really tired last night;  I didn't wake up until 08.25.    I feel perkier, almost playful in fact, but this is going to be a 'rest day'.    It's a nice morning albeit cloudy with a cool ENE breeze.  It might not be hot in the afternoon... not as hot as recent afternoon's have been anyway.   Havin' said that;  if the sun burns the cloud off, I suspect that it well be hot on the patio..... the sky looks like it's brightening up. 19.30    With the wind being from the North east there has been a noticeable drop in temperature.   That said it the patio thermometer got up to 20.4C  in the afternoon.   But that is sheltered from most winds.... due North being the direction that gets right in to it. I've been feeling lethargic all day;  sort of chasing my own tail most of the time.   I made 'sausages and mash' one of my favour...

18th August 2025 (Monday)    08.00 .... It's hard to believe but it's 16 years ago, on this date,  that  Maggie died.    I'm still blundering around:  she is still 'The Boss'... and I still try to iron everything the way she did it;  aye, even the downie covers. We have a nice, quiet  morning at Elie and Earlsferry;  there's light cloud  off the North Sea  just now, but that could burn off, to give us sunny spells in the afternoon. 19.30   Methil was basking in sunshine when I got there this morning, and was sunny and warm all the time I was there.  After our morning cuppa,  Alice and I went to Sainsbury's to do the shopping.   By Sainsbury's standards the shop was quieter than usual.   We met Honor and Jock on the way round, and caught up with the 'News' from the Elie end of 'Elie and Earlsferry (Royal burgh of).   All is good at Stenton Row.   We chatted for a few m...

17th August 2025 (Sunday)     11.30 .... I went up to Elie, on 'The buggy' to get the paper, and chatted to Cath before going down to the Toft;  I wanted to find out how the buggy coped with the Toft hill, coming up from the harbour.   I didn't go to the harbour, because of the sand just beyond the Ship Inn.   Anyway I took a few photos from the Toft then bumbled up the hill 'nae bother'.   I wouldn't say it was fast coming up the hill but it coped with it.   I'm now thinking of the hill at Kinneuchar manse;  that's probably the steepest hill I'll have to cope with.    I think Balcarres would be a step too far. 20.00    It has been another lovely, sunny and warm, day.   the temperature got up to 24.1C on the patio thermometer.   I had afternoon coffee outside but it was really too hot. My run out on the scooter went well, but the streets between Earlsferry and Elie are no not Mobili...

1 6th August 2025 (Saturday)     09.30 .... Cloud has drifted in from the North Sea overnight;  but  the cloud should burn off to give us sunny spells .... and another warm day.    It's 18C just now.   There's only a light breeze off the East so, although nice enough, it's lacking 'fresh air'.   I have only been as far as the patio, but might venture a wee bit further after morning coffee. 12.15    The wind (Easterly) has freshened a wee bit, so there's a fresher feel to the air.   I haven't done very much, other than hang out a washing;  taking advantage of a perfect drying day.    I'm hungry and ready for a 'lite bite' lunch. 21.00    The temperature on the patio thermometer reached 24C this afternoon, not quite as warm as yesterday but still too hot for me being active.   Anyway I stayed in and, the doorbell rang!.... to my surprise, there, 'stood staunin' on the doorstep wa...

15th August 2025    .... 80th Anniversary of VJ Day. There's still a bit of cloud around this morning, with a 'low chance of precipitation';  but 'sunny intervals' are forecast to arrive soon.  The thunder has left us with a fresher feel to the air, so it might not be oppressively 'hot' in the afternoon.    I don't have any 'plan' for today;  in fact I think a relaxing 'rest day' wouldn't go amiss.   I might have a daunder up to the seat at the 17th, later in the morning, and get some 'golf'action' shots. 20.30    I've had the relaxing day that I wanted;  the only 'work' I did was wash the downie cover and a couple of towels.   That didn't involve much effort but it means I can make up the wee bed for Iain who's coming down in the next couple of weeks.    I watched the Service, from the Arboretum in Shropshire, to mark the 80th Anniversary of 'VJ' day.   The most poignant moment for me was the w...

  14th August 2025 (Thursday)    08.00 .... There's a bit of mist just now, but that will burn off, to  give us another 'sunny, warm  and humid day' ..... with a chance of showers, perhaps thundery in the afternoon.   I slept well last night with only one break because of the heat, during which I read a my book.   I then slept through until 07.00.    I'm going to visit Alice, then go shopping in Leven, this morning.    A light 'flap on' now;  got the car windscreen washer thing to top up.  09.00    Squirters topped up, pills taken;  time for another cuppa before going to Methil. It's a lovely morning, with a nice fresh breeze at the moment.   The thermometer is at 17.5C.   Off to make that cuppa. 16.00    Michael phoned to tell be that it's the Eastbourne Air Show this weekend (4 days including today).   Anyway I have just watched the Red Arrows live on You ...

13th August 2025 (Wednesday)    08.45 .... I decided to get 'up' and out (in the car) before 06.00 this morning, to go to the harbour and get a few early morning photographs before it becomes too hot and humid.   There is a touch of 'autumnal mists' this morning, not unexpected at this time of the year..   What I wanted was reflections;  and, with hardly any breeze, the tide in, and calm water ....  I got reflections.   There was another surprise;  'His Nibs' (heron) posing on Apple Rock.   It was a good morrrrrrrrning for the camera.     20.30    This has been the hottest day so far, 28.3C on the patio thermometer.   The patio is a suntrap but it was unbearable in the middle of the afternoon.   I went out to check the thermometer, because it was warn even inside.   I'd left the back door open so the heat was coming in!    I've been tidying up outside (in th...

12th August 2025 (Tuesday)     09.15 .... I don't have to say that it's going to be hot today;  it Sheffield Park - Sussex. already 18.5C (shade).   We have am absolutely beautiful morning, sunny and warm with only a breath of a breeze;  perfect day for beach.    Low tide is at 11.15 so there will be a big beach in the middle of the day.  I'd go down to Nana's Seat but it's going to be too hot for me:  I might get 'The Buggy' out if the streets aren't too busy;  but I suspect we will have day trippers on a day lovely like this.   Anyway, let's enjoy this less intense Scottish version, of the  heat wave they are having to put up with down in 'Sunny Sussex' and the South East.     11.00   I've just seen on the News that there's 'Heat Health' warning out for the whole of England;  different coloured warnings for different areas.   That means it's going to be hot and humid her...

11th August 2025 (Monday)    08.45    We had some light rain overnight, but that is moving away and the clouds breaking up, to give us sunny intervals with light breeze .... so it will be hot in the afternoon.   I'm thinkin' I might have to water the tubs;  it looks like the overnight rain wasn't enough. 20.15    It has been a nice day.   I did some gardening, including watering the tubs, and began cutting back Maggie's ivy.   Cutting back the Ivy is not my favourite job, so there's usually a number of 'cuppa breaks' involved.   All that was before the heat of the afternoon.   When I went out after lunch the air felt hot;  luckily I'd done most of the work in the morning, so abandoned the'work' plan, and went back into Ivy;  where I watched the 'News' and catnapped.    It's going to be warm for the next few days;  they may end up as 'computer' days.    22.00...

10th August 2025 (Sunday)     09.30 .... Low tide is at 10.07 so there will be a big beach for most  of the afternoon.   High tide is at 16.35.   It's a lovely 'sunny with a moderate breeze' morning;  actually there's a touch of autumn in the early morning air but will soon warm up.   It will be hot in the afternoon.   I have some small 'patio jobs' to finish, so that's going to keep me happy, until it's too hot to stay outside.   I haven't been anywhere yet but might try to reach the seat at the 17th sometime today. 21.00   I've had a productive day;  i.e. I finally managed to fit a handle onto 'The Buggies HQ' door.   A job I've been meaning to do for about a week.   At the moment I'm at the computer, and looking out at  lovely rain clouds, that I hope are going to water the tubs.    Light rain is forecast overnight.  I didn't get up to the seat 17th green...

9th August 2025 (Saturday)     09.30 .... There are showers around just now, but they are forecast to move away to leave us with a 'bright and breezy' day.   We've just had a light shower but I don't think we've had enough rain to water the tubs, though we might get another shower, or two, before they clear away to the SE.   The wind is going to freshen to 'quite frisky' level by midday; "strong winds and sunny intervals" being the forecast for KY9.   The wind will be 'very  frisky' around midday the start to moderate in the afternoon. 20.00    It has been a breezy day, but the showers missed us and the woollen wash I did, dried perfectly.   It was a good day for that. I managed short walk up to the phone box.... but, it was too windy to go further.  I set off, planning to go as far as the seat at the 17th green.    The golf course was busy, and there was a lot of people out walking.   It has ...

8th August 2025 (Friday)     08.45 ....  There's a nice, fresh, autumnal breeze just now.    In fact it' going to be windy  all day, with the chance of of showers in the morning.   It will be warm in the afternoon, albeit with a cooling breeze.    At the moment it looks like the tubs are about to be watered!  The Fife Weather West facing cams are showing shower clouds, but they should clear away by midday. 20.30    As planned I went to Methil to visit Alice and do some shopping.   I actually enjoyed driving today,  but the road was quiet on the way to Leven:  except for a hold up in Lundin Links where a broken down vehicle was being loaded onto a breakdown truck.   Police were directing the traffic so the hold up wan't lengthy. After a cuppa at Alice HQ we went shopping, then back to HQ for an excellent lunch, home made Gammon and egg pie.... followed by a lemon pie for dessert.  ...

7th August 2025 (Thursday)    09.30 ....It's a bright and breezy morning;  and I'm feeling "bright and breezy" too!   There's a low chance of a light shower in the morning:  actually when I think about it the light rain that was supposed to water the tubs never made an appearance!    That's a disappointment. I don't  want light showers now, but, it would be useful if one did come our way.  Low and behold!..... a light shower has appeared right on cue!     I'm a happy boy.  l'll hang the washing out after the tubs have been watered! 11.00   The tubs have been watered and the washing is on the line;  the next mission is to get the buggy battery on charge.   I can do that inside it's wee 'garage', without worrying about it being hit by rain. An occasional light shower might come our way, though I don't need one now. The top photograph is of the Wellington motorway (NZ).   'M' and I wer...

6th August 2025 (Wednesday)     11.30 .... If I had a schedule planned for today I am well behind it;  I slept in.   Didn't get up till 08.50 (which is late for me);  but have nearly caught up with where I wanted to be at 08.00!    Anyway it's a lovely, fresh morning, with a nice autumnal air out of the Northwest at present.   The amended plan is to have a couple of lazy days.... just 'falling apart' and relaxing.   Might even get 'The Buggy' (maybe even the bike) out in the afternoon.   It's actually quite breezy (F3) just now, so there's a wee bit of wind chill; because of the wind direction. 14.30   Although breezy it's starting to feel hot. ... as I found out while pottering around on the patio.  I'm going to have a cuppa, then contemplate going 'roond the Ferry' on 'The Buggy'.  Havin' said that, I'll probably fall asleep havin' the cuppa!   Oh .... I made up the double bed so ...