Alberto's Hutte

31st July 2016 (Sunday) ..... Mmmmm ... it’s a lovely morning for a walk.     I’m going to go over towards Shell Bay via Grangehill, up ‘Lady’s Walk’ to where Kincraig House used to be, and down the other side, via the old ‘Seaweed road’, to the Kincraig Point Coastal Path then follow it south and east, along the top of Kincraig to ‘The Royal Burgh’.    The weather forecast suggests a good chance of showers in the afternoon;   I should be back by then.     20.00    The walk this morning was tremendous:  the was weather perfect, and I met lots of folk who were, like me, out for a morning walk.    There was a lassie from Pittenweem, walking her dogs, on her favourite walk when the weather is good, as it was this morning, and a family from the Shell Bay ... oops ...  Elie Caravan Park , walking their dogs.    I also met three blokes from Germany, each with a huge rucksack, who were in the process of doing the whole length of the Fife Coastal Path, and expect to finish it on Tuesd

30th July 2016 (Saturday) .... 10.00    It’s a nice morning for pottering ‘up town’ and having a coffee;   I might do that later.    In the meantime I have the bunk Earlsferry beach ‘bedding’ going through the machine, being as we have a good drying day, ... however showers are forecast for the afternoon. There was a nice ‘freshness’ in the air when I went round the villages, on the bike, earlier ... it, the fresh air, reminded of Austria for some reason.   I wouldn’t mind going  back to Austria again;   but it wouldn’t be the same on my own.   I’ll bike up to Balcarres instead.   Must go ‘slight flap on’ .... I’m hungry. 22.00     Oh boy .... this has been a brilliant day.   The weather has been ‘nearly amenable’... meaning that we did get a rain shower, but only after I’d brought in the The threatening clouds mentioned in the blog. washing:    the greater part of the day has been ‘bright, breezy and sunny’.... a really good day for getting things done.    I got int

29th July 2016 (Friday) .... 17.00    I have been a busy ‘boy’ today .... the washing is dry and ready to iron, and the kitchen, bathroom and front lobby all tidy.  Elie at morning time    The ants have been few and far between today, so I think my original idea, ....  that they had come from an abandoned ‘nest’, is correct.   I had a look around the garden for a ‘nest’ but there doesn’t appear to be one.   Anyway they, the ants have ‘gone’.    Now I’m missing the little blighters! The only time I stopped today was when Jimmy appeared for his morning cuppa ... at midday.    The rest of the time I have been ... ‘working’(?).    Right now I’m ready for food! 22.00     It’s a weary ‘boy’ that will he going off to bed in half an hour or so;   I’m shattered.    Having been on my feet most of the day, (I did the ironing in the evening) The Doo's cave and Chains 6 and 7, Kincraig Earlsferry my hip and leg muscles are tired.    Although I did get the bike ‘out’ I didn’t go o

28th July 2016 (Thursday) .... 13.30    The weather forecast has been ever so slightly ‘wrong’ .... we have had a bonnie, sunny and warm morning, with the odd cloud covering the sun now and again.   The forecast was for it to be cloudier with the Elie chance of showers later;  the ‘showers could happen later in the afternoon;  the clouds are beginning to look more threatening! ‘M’ and I have been up to Cupar where I took ‘M’ to the only ‘proper’ shop in the town .... “Fisher and Donaldson’s”!     We had a latte and a Fudge Doughnut.... the last of the holiday foods.    As we were leaving the shop, we met Michael and Janice on the way in;    they had been to a ‘Country Wear’ sale in Strathmiglo.. and were in need of ‘food’. ‘M’ and I came home from Cupar, via Ladybank and a lot of country roads, ending up on the Largoward – Elie road eventually. 22.30    Ivy is empty tonight ... and I am not liking it at all.    Janice, Michael, (and ‘Bonnie’) set off on the drive home, to

27th July 2016 (Wednesday) .... 08.45    I found it cool on the hands when Sleepy looking village. out on the bike this morning, but it is a bonnie morning, “bright and breezy” as per weather forecast..... after a wet night.    I don’t know what the ‘troops’ are planning to do today;   I’m going to do some more gardening, now that I’m in that mood.    There’s plenty to do as everything, native and cultivated, is growing like the clappers;   Ivy garden is like a corner of Balcarres.    I like that. 23.30     Oh my word .... I’ve been up at the 19th with Janice and Michael, for a quiet drink (I had a half pint of some kind of lager and a latte) because this is their last night before they go home to Sussex.  “Bonnie” the Westie surprised me;   she settled ‘in’ nae bother, and took to my bed (when she could sneak in) like a duck to water.    I’ll miss them .... and will have to get used to things being quiet in Ivy once again.    Sixth Green Michael and Janice did the coa

26th July 2016 (Tuesday) ....  08.00   It’s a nice, ‘bright and breezy, fresh morning ....  a morning for pottering around on the bike.   However, instead of ‘pottering around on the bike’,  I’m going to Leven to get a much needed haircut... Janice and me on the Old Course St Andrews  right now I look like one of those things with long necks,... you can see them in a field up at Arncroach ..... got it .... an Alpaca!     Orf to have breakfast.  23.30    At last .... I have lost the ‘Alpaca look’, and feel much more comfortable.     I went to Elie to ‘catch’ the “No 62” bus, that was supposed to be in Elie by 08.51 but never turned up ... so I got on the “95”,which was on time at 09.14.    I was lucky in the hairdressers as a lady, her hair covered in bits of aluminium foil, had to wait half an hour, until whatever was inside the foil, had done it’s stuff.    I was taken straight away, and was ‘sat sittin’ in Stuart’s, with a coffee and German biscuit, ten minutes later! On

26th July 2016 (Monday) .... This is a morning for doing things ... ‘bright and breezy’ with a healthier coolness in the air.     I like this fresher air.    Primrose was down at the harbour this morning, looking ‘prim’ and ‘rosy’ as she always does.    She is an amazing lady ... always smiling, in spite of what she has been Happy Monday morning boy! going through since she broke her arm.   We are lucky living where we do, though the villages were busy over the weekend.... which gave them a frenzied feel.   That said, it’s good to have folks around, bringing the old place to life. Janice and Michael are going to ‘do’ the Kincraig cliff walk today;   I’m going to pick up ‘M’ and go ‘somewhere’ .... and have a coffee.    There has been a lot of overnight rain so I’m thinking Dunino Den may be too wet for a couple of geriatrics’ wandering around.  23.30      Oh my word .... this has been an eventful, and absolutely enjoyable, day.    I picked up ‘M’ (from St Monans) and we de

24th July 2016 (Sunday) .... 10.30   I got a pleasant surprise when I went down to the beach this morning .... four ‘big’ yachts leaving Elie, probably making or North Berwick.    It’s a nice morning, but not for sailing ... there’s nae wind, at least The start of the 'Ferry Passage' race. not just now;   the sea is like a mirror.    Although it’s ‘nice’ it the sky is overcast, with a threatening greyness in the West.   I don’t think the rain is supposed to reach us until midday.    We’re going up to St Andrews, so I do not want rain... not until I’ve got a few photos of the Swilcan Brig.      21.00     In spite of the weather being a bit ‘iffy’, we manage to have a walk around the first, seventeenth and eighteenth fairways on the Old Course (St Andrews) while it was still ‘fair’.... i.e. not raining;    there isn’t any golf played over the ‘Old’ on Sunday’s:   apart from extra special occasions such as ‘The Open’.    The fairways were ‘busy’ with holiday makers, from al

23rd July 2016 (Saturday) ... 11.00    wellll .... I slept ‘in’, and missed the best part of the morning;   and the roads around the villages will be busy with cars by My drill being used! now.    I’ll bike up the ‘Ferry Road’... in the general direction of Balcarres, away from the local ‘hustle and bustle’.    I need to have a relaxing poodle round up in Balcarres Estate to unwind after the emotional day we had yesterday.    The weather is nice for biking, mostly ‘bright and sunny', with a cooling breeze from the southerly direction.      22.00     The road was too busy this mornin, for me to go out on the bike anyway;  so I Sailing ship and Bass Rock relaxed by baking scones and Melting Moments.     Janice and Michael went to St Andrews, by way of the ‘95’ bus, .... and a change of viewpoint from the top deck of the bus.   The ‘95’ poodles it’s way round the coastal part of the East Neuk, and takes an hour to do, what is a very scenic route. Most of my day w

22nd July 2016 (Friday) .... 22.00    I’m sorry to have been so late in updating ‘ The Hutte’ today, but I haven’t been malingering... I’ve just been ‘on the go’ from morning to evening.    The weather has been less summery than the past few days, Elie Harbour this morning but nice enough... being mostly overcast and warm, with occasional sunny intervals, and occasional light showers.    I started my day, by going down to the Elie Harbour beach there was hardly a breath of wind... so there would be reflections on the water.    I walked out to where I wanted to be, and had an enjoyable 20 minutes.    Back on the pier I met a man out taking photos of birds so we chatted about our hobby.    On the way home I got a paper, then headed back to Ivy, where I dropped off the milk and paper, then went up the Boss’s Seat  for ‘instructions’. By the time I got back to Ivy, Michael had breakfast underway.... a very welcome egg and Lorne sausage sandwich!     “Puku” is enjoying life just

22.00     We’ve had a busy day today, and another busy day is planned for tomorrow.     Today we went to Cupar and Falkland... in “Sooper Buggy”, with Michael driving, so the cinders have been well burnt out.    Janice ‘browsed’ multiple shops in Cupar;   Michael Janice and Bonnie Michael and I browsed one .... Fisher and Donaldson’s cafe wherein we had a cuppa and a Fudge Donut!    A braw, energy giving,  start to the day out!    Full of the aforementioned energy, Michael and I then wandering up street until we met Janice.    On the way back to the Car Park did we had to pass Fisher and Donaldson’s, but couldn’t;    Michael and Janice went in and bought goodies/ FD’s ... for our ‘sweet’ tonight.    “Puku” is enjoying being fed succulent, ‘vigour’ giving foods!    This may be alright for “Puku” ... but I have to carry ‘him’ around! Falkland, and it’s Palace, has always been one of my favourite places to visit ... the whole place is so photogenic.    We began by visiting the Pa

20th July 2016 (Wednesday) .... 09.30    Oh my word ... it’s turning awfie dark to the Southwest, and thunder can be heard ‘rolling around’ in the distance;   it Before the storm might be going to rain soon.   It was bright earlier, with occasional blinks of sunshine... and we did have spits and spots of rain when I was out for the paper.    This must be the ‘Yellow weather warning’ stuff coming in now.   I am slightly perturbed by this as I intend walking along to the Church ... car parking is seriously limited in Elie just now.  22.30      Bring on the nice cool days of Autumn this heat is causing me to have a touch of the ‘leth’ (lethargic)!    Since the main thunderstorm period passed over this morning, we’ve had ‘hot, sunny and humid’... a nice afternoon for the digging holes in a ‘beach’.    All is quiet again Brenda’s Commendation Service was beautifully done... and well attended.   I went upstairs to my usual seat in the gallery, but decided to go “down into the

19th July 2016 (Tuesday) .... 09.30    We have a beautiful morning... sunny, and warm, a perfect morning for being ‘out and about’.    I was ‘up’ and down on the Earlsferry beach at 06.30 this morning. beach by 05.45, very closely followed by a “Dad” and his two – three year old son.    It’s the “early birds that get the worms” ... the three of  us had the ‘worms’ (beach) to ourselves, for all of 10 minutes then a lady, walking her dog, appeared from the Breakwater.     The beach was a busy place by 06.30!    I went back up to Ivy to get the my bike, then did the ‘villages’, Elie Estate, then out to Shell Bay and home via the ‘eleeven trees’ road;   so called because there used to be eleven trees alongside it. Michael and Janice are away to do the Chainwalk so I’m i/c at Ivy.    Jimmy has an appointment at St Andrews this afternoon, so driving him up there will be my ‘mission’. 22.30     This has been the best day we’ve had for a while, having been warm/hot/very hot and

18th July 2016 (Monday) .... 10.00    Oh my word ... it may be overcast but it’s warm already;   and it is forecast to be sunny, and hotter, in the afternoon... and even hotter tomorrow.    Hot = lethargy .... not nice.    Wednesday is going to be lovely, ....hot and wet! ‘The Troops’ are away to Kirkcaldy to do some shopping, so, I have been doing ‘ousework:    the intention is to go out on the bike in the afternoon.   Michael and Janice will be going to the beach to soak up the heat and sun;   I’ll be biking through Elie Estate, under the trees and out of the sun.   Janice Bonnie and Michael - Earlsferry beach 22.00     Oh ... this heat is just too much;   even I thought of wearing shorts, then  thought again ... of my legs.   That was not a pretty ‘thocht’.    However, on the first really warm summers day they’ve had,  Michael and Janice went down to the beach in the afternoon;  taking “Bonnie” with them.    I decided to go down and get some summery beach photos;   it wou