Alberto's Hutte

28th February 2017 (Tuesday) .... 09.30    Having been down on the beach at sunrise time, which ‘event’ was obscured by low clouds, I can tell you that it Ten minutes before sunrise. was freezin’;  no wonder the beach was quiet!     I found shelter, from the Northwest wind, in the lea of the bents... but, even there is was cold.    That said, there was a peaceful ambiance  about that made me feel warmer.    I didn’t delay leaving the beach .... Ivy Cottage was warm;   and I was ready for my porridge! 22.00     The last day of February has been really ‘Spring’ like, after the early frost;  it was warm in the sun as long as you were sheltered from the Northwest breeze.    The temperature in Ivy garden reached 11c ... and 25c in the Hutte.... and... the washing I hung out first thing is dry. Sunrise time. Sunrise time. After our morning cup o’ tea in Ivy Jimmy and I went along to Leven, and had another a cuppa and goodie in Sainsbury’s Cafe.    Jimmy wanted some shopping .

27th February 2017 (Monday) ... 09.00      Having extracted myself from under the duvet at ‘silly time’, I decided to go for an early morning walk over to Elie from Chapel Green this morning. West Bay.    It was/is a nice morning for walking but, cauld on the lugs.    However, (after I pulled my hat doon, ower my lugs), it was enjoyable, and my lungs are full of very fresh air:   I walked 3.38 kilometres (2.1 miles ..or 133,070 inches) and only saw one other person;  a lady walking her dogs.    The sun was up by the time I got back to Ivy;   and I was well ready for breakfast. 20.30    With it being such a bonnie morning I decided to clean the windows, inside and outside.    When I started it was warm, because most of “Ivy” windows are on the east side of the cottage, therefore sheltered from the southwest breeze.   However the wind backed round to the South southeast;  suddenly, it was cold!    This had me scampering round to the West side of Ivy and cleaning the back door;  

26th February 2017 (Sunday) .....  09.00    My ‘plan’ for this morning was to walk up to Kinneuchar Kirk;  the idea being to combine physical well Kilconquhar Church. being with spiritual well being, however it’s raining so the physical well being will have to wait until after lunch.   There was a red sky sunrise this morning ....  not a good sign.    I’m in ‘mild flap on’ state ....  a cuppa  is required, after which I’ll get myself into gear, and organised. 21.00     Kinneuchar kirk was well crowded today;  with a lot of strangers in the congregation.... of course that could be because I haven’t been at the kirk for a while!     The photograph I’ve uploaded to ‘The Hutte’  doesn’t really show the number of people  at the actual ‘service’:   the photo was taken after the service.... when many of the congregation had meandered, either off home, or through to the ‘coffee hall’.    It was an enjoyable service, and the sermon, about Antioch (Syria) was interesting:  Antioch was

25th February 2017 (Saturday) ... 09.00    The rain is battering into the window as I type... and, having been out to the ‘broon bucket’ with some rubbish, I can Elie beach this morning. definitely say that it is very wet, and very grey, ....the weather i.e., not the ‘broon bucket’;  however the weather forecast tells me that the sky should begin to clear by lunchtime (having an early lunch disnae count) and it should be fine for going out in the afternoon .... maybe.    I’m considering ‘playing’ with the Hoover. 10.00    Our weather forecasts must be working on Athens time .... the sky has started to clear and we’ve even had a blink of sunshine,....  and it isn’t ‘my’ lunch time yet!     It’s time to go down to the beach .... I’m ‘fed up’ o’ playing with the Hoover anyway. Elie Bay this afternoon. 21.30    The weather went into “bright and sunny” in  the afternoon;   the morning brightness, that had me going down to the beach, didn’t last long, so I did some more ‘ouse

24th February 2017 (Friday) ... 11.00    It’s absolutely  stunning at Elie Kincraig cliffs. and Earlsferry today;   bright and sunny after an early morning touch of frost.    “Doris” has moved into the ‘records’... and ‘she’ won’t be missed! I blundered out of bed feeling very frolicsome this morning, saw that it was a bonnie morning and went out for a walk out to West Bay.    It was actually quite cold at this time because there was a touch of frost, which soon disappeared when the sun got higher.   I’d left Ivy with the idea of doing the ‘roond the Chapel’ walk but once I saw the tide was ‘out’ I decided that West Bay would be the ‘target’ this morning;   a decision I was well pleased with when I saw the cliffs, and the wet sand. 21.30    I’ve had a busy, and really enjoyable day .... a day that started on the beach  with a bonnie sunrise, met and chatted to Carol, then got  some nice ‘reflection’ shots over at West Bay.     It was a contented, happy, and hungry ‘boy’, tha

23rd February 2017 (Thursday) .... 09.30    Wellll ....’Storm Doris’ has Largo Law had a dusting of snow this morning. arrived.    I wouldn’t call the maist attractive of ‘storms’;   she’s dull, windy and very wet .... we have sleet mixed in with the rain:  definitely a day for scoffing Lemon Meringue Pie!    I’ve been up to Elie for the paper (in the car;  and down to the harbour.    It was quiet ....“very quiet” down at the harbour... ‘Doris’ and I were the only ‘ones’ down there;   hardly surprising ‘cos ‘Doris’ isn’t exactly a lovable kind of ‘girl’:   being bothered with the aforementioned, wind,....  and water!    Must ‘go’... slight flap on;  got a meringue pie to organise for Jimmy’s morning cuppa! Elie Harbour. 20.30      Mmmmmm .... ‘today’ has been drab to say the least:  luckily we had the ‘Drop in Cafe’ to brighten our afternoon:   and, by the time I left the ‘cafe’ the rain had stopped, the wind had moderated, though still drab, at least it wasn’t raining

22nd  February 2017 (Wednesday) ....  10.30  Jings there’s a fair breeze blowing today.... it certainly blows the cobwebs away.    “Storm Doris” is on ‘her’ way Elie. right enough.    I walked over the ‘wee course’ and down Woodside Road then back home, via a meandering route, to Ivy ... a total distance of 3.46 kilometres (2.1 miles).    I had two stops: the first one at the surgery to make an appointment, the second at the ‘Paper Shop’.    I had 94 subsidiary stops ... to take photographs!     I feel really fresh... and lively .... I  might go out again in the afternoon... after the light lunch at Colinsburgh.    Elie. 21.30     Oh my word:   it seems that storm ‘Doris’ is going to disturb the tranquillity that exists at the Centre of the Universe;   we might waken up to s-n-o-w tomorrow morning.   This is ‘bad’ .... in fact it’s ‘bad bad’.     Of course the snow might only be on the higher ground .... such as the ‘Pony Field!    In anticipation, of naughty ‘Doris’, I tr

21st February 2017 (Tuesday) ... 09.30    It’s a bonnie morning, though slightly colder than it was yesterday, with less wind:  unfortunately the sky has begun Elie sunrise. to cloud over in the past hour so it isn’t as bonnie as it was at sunrise time.    I had the beach to myself at that time, though Sally came down the road on her bike as I was walking down the Wynd.    My ‘plan’ was to wash the lobby floors etc this morning but that ‘plan’ was made when the sun was shining. 22.00    By the time I got out for a walk the sky was overcast, the wind had risen and, although nice enough it wasn’t what I expected when watching the sun rising over the East Links, a few hours earlier. Sixth green  I’ve had a busy enough day, having finally finally got all washing, and ironing finished, folded and away!    In fact I did a small washing this morning to ‘test’ my washing machine which has developed a glitch:   it does the wash phase fine, but then thinks the door is not prop

20th February 2017 (Monday)    14.00 ... we have a lovely day, but very windy, however it isn’t that cold... even exposed to the wind.    I walked along the Earlsferry beach this morning. beach to the “Paper Shop” in Elie, first thing this morning... at that time the sky was overcast with clouds scuttling over from the West.     Since then the clouds have melted away, and we have 90% ‘bloo’ sky... but the wind has increased to round about F7.... but it’s warm.   It’s 13c in Ivy garden. Jimmy and I went along to Leven to do some shopping ... in Lidl’s for a change.    I got Persil washing powder considerably cheaper than it would have been in Sainsbury’s , and dish washer tablets, also cheaper.    Of course I offset the bargains by buying a stock of plain biscuits etc!... and a packet o’ Japanese ‘monkey nuts’ covered in Wasabi flavoured green stuff:  this has turned out to be very ‘nippy’, and excellent for clearing the tubes!     Probably make no bad paint remover too! E

19th February 2017 (Sunday) .... 09.00    we had a lovely sunrise this morning.... one of the kind where, “everything seemed to ‘stand still’ for a few Sunrise. minutes”, waiting for the sun appear:  magical it was.    The weather forecast is for us to get a few ‘bright spells’... this was one of those!    Having mentioned the weather, California has been going through the mill recently ... even Laguna Beach, got its share of wild weather.... and Laguna Beach is the ‘Elie and Earlsferry’ of California!     I’m hoping for a nice ‘drying day’ as I have a washing going through;   it is supposed to cloud over, but stay dry! 20.30     Today Jimmy and I visited St Monans and Pittenweem harbours;   Jimmy walked to the end of the middle pier in St Monans but didn’t leave the car at Pittenweem.     Harbours are never the warmest of places and they certainly weren’t today:  having said that it was braw getting out in the, very, fresh air.     Both St Monans and Pittenweem harbours had so

18th February 2017 (Saturday) .... 09.00   we have drab looking morning, but not that cold in spite of a brisk wind from the Southwest.    I know all this Sunrise time at Elie. because I went down to see the sunrise (07.31), but I didn’t...  (see the sunrise) because there was a bank of cloud on the Eastern horizon.     Nevertheless, even though the ‘sunrise’ wasn’t visible there was a bit of colour in the sky .... and loads of fresh Elie and Earlsferry air! I’m sure you will be happy to know that the microwave porridge was a complete success this morning.....  three, minutes and ten seconds takes it up to ‘the point of overflowing’ ... a quick stir, then back in again for another 20 seconds, and that’s it.   A bigger bowl would be ideal but I don’t think I have one.    That said, there most likely is one, .... Maggie had everything that any kitchen needs!    Oh no ....  it’s getting awfie ‘rainy’ looking from the West;   just when I was going out for a walk! 21.30     Thi

17th February 2017 (Friday) ... 09.00   Hmmm .... ‘we’ had a slight malfunction with the first attempt at, ‘Virgin Train Menu style’, porridge making ... I Kincraig from the golf course. had it in the microwave too long.    It, the porridge  that was left in the bowl, tasted brilliant, but I should have read the ‘rools’ properly!    The microwave has been cleaned ... and the tomorrow’s attempt should be ‘malfunction’ free!    The "Centre of the Universe" is bathed in sunshine this morning.... I’m going out for a walk.    21.30     Oh my word .... this ‘boy’ has been busy today.   After I cleaned the microwave , I went for a walk over the golf course, round to Colbakie beach, up to the top of the Polish soldiers machine gun Ivy crocuses. hill, then through the Dome Park, and onto the Coastal Path,  where I met Jimmy on his way to “Alice’s Seat”.     The seats were too wet to sit on so we went down to Ivy for a morning cuppa. When Jimmy went orf home I did a

16th February 2017 (Thursday)  .... 09.00     It’s bright and breezy at the “Centre of The Universe” this morning;   a lovely morning, but cool in the brisk Morning time at Elie. westerly wind.    I’m thinking of doing housework (small amount of) before wandering down to the beach for low tide... 11.15.   It is vital that  I do not allow myself to be sidetracked, as I’ve to be in Anstruther for 12.30.  21.30    Who’s a clever boy? ... Yep ... Me!     I didn’t get sidetracked, and managed to be in Anstruther for 12.30 to have the new ‘specs’ fitted.    That only took a few minutes so I wandered along Shore Road before going up to the ‘Store’ to buy porridge.    I couldn’t find the normal packets of Scott’s Porridge Oats and ended up buying a box full of 13, individual portion sachets, an expensive way to buy porridge.    I’ll get a proper packet next time I’m in Sainsbury’s.... or some similar shop.    Kincraig cliffs-  Earlsferry Tomorrow morning I’ll be having porridge

15th February 2017 (Wednesday) ..... 21.30    We’ve had a gorgeous day at the Centre of the Universe.... in fact it was really warm, considering the time of Elie Bay in early morning light. year.   Even when I was down on the beach early in the morning it wasn’t as cold as I’d expected it to be!     Although mostly overcast at that time the ‘auld place’ was looking bonnie ....  as ever!  After breakfast I went to Sainsbury’s to get some supplies to fill up the freezer etc.    This turned out to be a successful mission as I found Sainsbury’s ‘Premium’ fish pies, which I’m hoping are of the same quality as the fish pies we had from Tesco’s in Uckfield.    I only bought one, to see how it compares, which will be tomorrow’s dinner.    Jimmy arrived right on cue .... the kettle came to the boil as he ‘moored’ up at the door. The sun beginning to break through. Today was “Friendship Lunch” day, which always guarantees a pleasant hour eating and chatting.     William “T” came