Alberto's Hutte

31st January (Thursday) .... 09.00     At this time we have a balmy   sunny Brighton ... the skinny pole has a viewing gondola that goes up and down the 'pole'. Sussex;    unfortunately, if the weather forecast is correct, all that will change by evening time.... with a spell of wintry weather;   including snow. Jenny is coming over (from Battle) to pick up ‘JB’ and me,   and the three of us are going down to Brighton.    I’m thinkin’ that we’ll need to keep an eye on the weather.   20.30       We had a braw run to Brighton and Hove.... but parking is not easy to find..... however we did eventually find a space and ‘JB’ was able to get measured for his suit;   which was the main reason going to Hove.   Jenny then took us the coast road to the restaurant atop Beachy Head where we had lunch.    The restaurant was busier than I expected for this time of year;   the food was excellent.     The 'donut' viewing platform. From Beachy Head we went to the b

30th January 2019 (Wednesday) .... 08.30         I check the Fife Weather cams every morning, and today in Sunny Sussex we have, more or less, the same, ’nearly wall to wall bloo sky’, as in the Royal Burgh.   There has been a light shower of snow last night, and it’s frosty so the pavements are slippery;   however the sun should clear the pavements once it gets up a bit.;   the frost and snow is already melting on the roofs across the road.    I might go down to the Coffee Shop about 10.00 .... if the pavements are clear.    Right now it’s breakfast time. 11.00       I’ve just noticed that the South Downs has a light covering of snow .... and the sky is beginning to cloud over:   the weather forecast for tonight and tomorrow morning, all over the Southeast, is not good.

29th January 2019 (Tuesday) .....  10.00    Wellll .... we have a bonnie Sunny Sussex morning just now, but the forecast is not good:   clouds coming in from the South (I can see them already appearing over the South Downs) with rain/sleet later.    I won’t venture very far today;  only as far as the new Coffee Sho p. 15.00     We have a dreich afternoon in Sussex.....   grey and wet, but no snow in Uckfield.      Of course there could be snow higher up in Sussex;   in Crowborough for instance.     Luckily I was back in “No 1” before the rain started’ The ‘new Coffee House was full up when I passed in on the way down, and also on the way back.... so I didn’t go in.      It was lunch time so I guess people that work in offices adjacent to the Cafe were having their lunch break.      I will time my visit to avoid lunch time in future.

28th January 2019 (Monday) .... 09.30     We have a perfect, ‘wall to Sunny Uckfield. wall’, “Sunny Sussex” morning ..... with only a breath of a breeze,     Janice tells me that it is cold.      I’ll have take a walk down to the Coffee Shop (there’s a new one opened halfway down the brae) in a wee while.     I might go all the way to the bottom of the High Street, and stop for coffee on the way up the hill.    Having said that .... I’m feeling sluggish this morning;    I think my late night   on Friday has caught up with me.      I’ll have another cuppa before I do anything. Uckfield houses. 21.00      Sunny Sussex has lived up to it’s name today .... then again nearly the whole of the UK has basked in sunshine.... though it has been cool.     I enjoyed a walk to the bottom of the town, and even found the uphill walk easier;   though I did have a few stops on the way.     One of the stops was in the new Coffee Shop near the top of the hill .... not too far from “No 1”

27th January 2019 (Sunday) .... 11.30     It’s breezy, and cold in sunny .... we  passed  this on our way to Eastbourne. Sussex.... but a bonnie enough day for going out.     I circled ‘the block’ which is a distance of about a mile;   I’ll measure is the next time I do it. Yesterday, when we were having lunch (at Sovereign Harbour) Ian and John were talking about the 1000 new houses being built on the edge of Uckfield;   the figure that surprised me was that 1000 houses = at least another 2000   vehicles on the roads around, and in, Uckfield.     They, the ‘powers that be’, say that the South east needs another 1,000,000 houses;   that would mean another 2,000,000 vehicles on the, already crowded, roads of the Southeast. London Road - Uckfield .... today. 20.00     Sussex has been windy and cold all day.... with a few rain showers .... so my day has been spent watching the TV, working on the laptop, and eating Janice’s scrumptious food:    a lovely way to spend a c

26th January 2019 (Saturday) .... 10.00     We had a hilarious Burns Michael and Janice.... at 'The Blackboys Inn'. Supper at the ‘Blackboys Inn’ last night .... the very man himsel’ (Robert Burns)   would have enjoyed it.     Michael, did the Address to the Haggis, and Tam O’ Shanter.... while ‘JB’ did a most memorable ‘Immortal Memory’.     A really   entertaining evening ended with Ken and Michael doing a joint rendition of Tam o’ Shanter, followed by Michael with ‘Kate o’ Shanter’.     We arrived back at “No 1” about 01.00.... tired and happy. We have a beautiful day here... warm , and mostly sunny, though we do have a few clouds in the sky.    ‘JB’ and I are going to Hailsham to have a pub lunch so I’d better go and get myself ready. 21.30     There’s a big drop in temperature tonight.... and  the  wind is taking of another couple of degrees so nit so cosy in Sussex tonight.    ‘JB’ and I went down to Hailsham in the afternoon, met Ian then went on down to Sove

25th January 2019 (Friday) ....   09.30     Hmmmm .... we have a ‘not so sunny Sussex’ this morning, the weather being overcast and wet.... but not cold and it   is forecast to brighten up by sunset (16.30).   The walk downtown has been put on hold Theresa's Tower. until.... wellll... probably   nearer lunch time.   I don’t think Theresa (squirrel) is going to be over active today, whereas the other Theresa {politician)   will be! 16.00     The weather did brighten up for a spell in the late afternoon, with a few small ‘bloo’ patches, but no sunny spells .... it hasn’t been a ‘pretty’ day;   and not a day for me walking far.    I seems that my knee can cope with being reasonably active for a couple of days then it has to be rested for a couple of days.    I’ll try that system.... beginning tomorrow;   after   the Burns Supper tonight. There has been much activity in the ‘Theresa Residence’;   the two   squirrels having chased each other all over the ‘tree’;   that’s th

24th January 2019 (Thursday) ..... 09.30     It’s a real ‘sunny Sussex’ Sunrise time from my bedroom window. morning, with a hard frost, ... so a bonnie   crisp morning;    I might wander downtown once the frost lifts;   the pavements are dangerous for us ‘auld yins’.   Theresa (the squirrel ... apparently there’s another Theresa) hasn’t been seen yet; perhaps   she is having a sleep in on this cold morning.    There are at least two squirrels.... a boy and a girl.     Unlike the ‘girl’ squirrel, the boy squirrel is shy and tends to stay in the background.     I must think of a name for him.    17.00     I’ve had another restful day,  and I now feel that I have arrived in Sussex.    Travelling always knocks me for six.   The weather went all dull on us after lunch time, and was bitterly cold, so I never ventured out;  but I did sort out some more photographs for Colinsburgh... and other computer things.    The temperature is forecast to rise tomorrow so I should get out.... ev

23rd January 2019 (Wednesday) .... 10.30     I’ve spent the last five Uckfield High Street at gloamin' time. minutes watching a squirrel in the tree at the bottom of the garden.     I first saw it when it jumped on to the top of the shed... from where it then went into the tree.     What a transformation.    It looked ungainly running along the hut;   as soon as it hit the tree it was in its element, flowing over the branches rather than climbing then.     It was beautiful to see;   the only thing wrong? .... it is a grey squirrel.     There is a family of them, and they live in the big tree on the north side of the house.   We have a mix of clouds and sunny spells in Sussex this morning.... and it is bitterly raw cold.     I am having a rest day (mostly because its cold), but I will go out after lunch.      ‘JB’ is sleeping after a night shift, and Janice and her friend Janette are off to the shops.    Hey that sort of makes me ‘in charge’. Uckfield High Street

22nd January 2019 Tuesday (Sussex) .... 10.00     It is ‘Sunny Sussex’ this Uckfield kirk tower. morning... with hardly any wind, and only a few clouds on over the South Downs.   I slept ‘in’ so I am running later than normal;   but I am feeling bright and breezy this morning, and feel like having a walk downtown.... as far as a new Coffee Shop, .only half way down the hill.      21.00     We’ve had a really ‘Sunny Sussex’ morning.... more like a Spring day;   but the weather turned cloudier and colder after lunch.     In the morning I  walked down to the bank, and to have a cuppa in the Luxford Centre;  it was really hot walking back up the hill.   By the time  ‘JB’ and I went down to Eastbourne in the afternoon, it was very cold:    but you wouldn’t believe it.... today I saw my first urban fox!    I was sitting in the car and saw, what I thought was a cat, passing behind a car parked at the kerbside.... when the ‘cat’ appeared from behind the car I realised it was a fox.  

21st January 2019 (Monday) .... 21.00      Myra, and Jim, delivered ‘The Boy’ to Kirkcaldy   Station this morning, and aforementioned ‘boy’ is now ensconced in Pre sunrise sky this morning. Uckfield, in ‘sunny Sussex’, after a pleasant and uneventful train journey.      That said, the train was 25 minutes late in arriving at Kirkcaldy,     This was caused by a local Scotrail train breaking down as it left Aberdeen Station and blocking the main line.... for the afore mentioned 25 minutes.     Of course this meant that the London express was out of sync with the timetable, and had to contend with other trains being in front of it:    for instance, We had to wait at Inverkeithing until a Fife Circle train left the station so that we could go on.     So we never made up any time, and in fact were 50 minutes late when we did arrive at Kings X.     The   food was good, as was my neighbour in the seat opposite ;    a gentleman from the Black Isle, returning to Epsom, where he now lives.

20th January 2019 (Sunday) .... 08.30      We have another grey morning, Elie, but there is a change of wind direction;    for the past few days the wind has been from the northeast...this morning it’s from the west.    It doesn’t look like it’s going to bring much change to the weather, but .... we might get a few sunny spells with this wind.     I haven’t been out anywhere yet, but I have done a small ironing, and there’s tidy up washing going through   the machine.    Now I need something to eat .... and to have a cuppa. 12.30      Hmmmmm .... the packing is nearly done:     I’ve been deliberating as to whether I take a suit, or my jacket and trews with me, for both the Burns Supper and Emily’s wedding.     I finally settled on the trews etc .... they weigh less.   Pittenweem. I took time out to go for a wee run to Pittenweem harbour, but there was very little happening there;   that said, I could hardly finds a place to park.     I didn’t see a lot of people but th

19th January 2019 (Saturday) .... 08.15    “Good Morning to all my Hutte Grey morning. friends, it’s good to be back” ....but the weather isn’t good this morning;   it’s heavily overcast and damp, after some overnight rain by the look of it;    and there’s a, light north-easterly breeze .... so not   warm.     We might have few breaks in the clouds later giving us short sunny spells, but right now it is dreich;   not a morning for the beach.     Sunrise is in quarter of an hour so take turn down there after this update... though I very much doubt if it (sunrise) will be visible.     10.00     The beach was quiet, with only one dog walker, and ‘the boy’ at first;   then a number of people appeared at the breakwater, and suddenly it was busy.     It’s not the bonniest of mornings but it   is a pleasant morning for walking.     That reminds me .... I can go for morning coffee this morning;   and I have a Memory Stick to deliver.     ‘Slight flap’ on now. 13.30     When we (t

18th January 2019 (Friday) ...    18.00     Eureka!!!!!    I am a happy bunny again;   my internet connection is back.   BT did say it would be fixed by the 18th.     I sincerely apologise to all the Hutte readers who missed their daily fix from the Centre of the Universe!     I must say that I missed doing the Hutte;   it has become the reason for getting ‘up’ in the morning, and I am really really glad to be back   with all my friends.    ‘The Hutte’ 18 th January ........ 14.00      Welll I’ have been busy this morning... so busy that I didn’t have time to go to the ‘Pav’.     My morning began, as they usually do, with stroll along the beach at sunrise.     The wind is from the south, and is cold ... in fact frosty cold;   I had to scrape the car windscreen. Where did I go in the car?    I went to Leven to buy a new telephone extension kit;    I’m truly fed up of being ‘off line’.     I tried four shops in Leven without success;   I eventually got what I needed in PC World

13th January 2019 (Sunday) .... 09.30     It’s breezy on the beach .... Bright and breezy Elie Bay at sunrise. gusting F4 – 5 at times;   but, funnily enough, it isn’t cold.... in fact the air feels mild.     If it wisnae for the wind I’d be running about in shorts.     Welll .... maybe not.    I felt sluggish first thing this morning, but a shower, then the walk on the beach blew all the cobwebs away;   now I feel reasonably frisky.    

12th January 2019 (Saturday) .... 10.00    My goodness .... we had a Bonnie pre sunrise sky. cracker of sky at sunrise time this morning:   a “red sky in the morning etc” sky right enough.    It was one of those really spectacular skies... that begin about half an hour before sunrise time.    The weather cams showed the potential for a bonnie sky so I was on the beach in plenty of time.     It fades as quickly as it ‘lights up’ so you have to be there at the right time.    Since that excitement the sky has become overcast... though sunny spells are mentioned in our weather forecast. 18.30     We did get some sunny spells so we’ve had a nice enough day, but it has clouded over and rain is forecast to pass through overnight.    I’ve been keeping myself busy, but I miss my morning coffee;   it’s not so much the coffee I miss, it’s the blethering.    Coffee sachets only satisfy the caffeine requirements. I had a good selection of sunrise photographs this morning;   sorting them

11th January 2019 (Friday).... 09.30      I would say that the beach is the A cosy glow Ferry beach at sunrise rime. place to be this morning:    there’s hardly any wind, and it’s warm.    It was bright and sunny at sunrise, but we do have clouds moving in from the Northwest.... which means we’ll have ‘sunny spells’ rather that wall to wall sunshine.    Having been to the beach, I’m ready for a shot of caffeine; after which I’ll bumble along for the paper. 20.30      The villages are awfie quiet now;     my own coffee, the new stuff I’m using is Owlbert proof, and tastes braw, but it’s boring without conversation.    I did the ironing, then fell out with some politician on the News Channel:   so went up to Woodhaven car park and walked out to, and plowtered around, the lighthouse.     I even had that to The cliffs from the lighthouse. myself.... though I did meet a couple walking their dog when I was on my way back to the car.    It was a lovely day for the lighthouse;