Alberto's Hutte

  30th November 2020 (Monday)   Today we celebrate ‘St Andrews Day ... and Irene’s Birthday’;    so Happy St Andrew’s Day to everyone and “Happy Birthday .... and St Andrew’s Day ", to Irene xx. 07.30     There’s a slight chance of light rain first thing but, if it does rain, it’s not going to last long and should clear away to ‘sunny spells’ round about midday.   I ts overcast just now (not raining – yet) with a brisk breeze:    I’ll probably take the car when I go for the paper.    15.00      I didn’t go for the paper until later in the morrrrrrrning.... and went on the bike:   The light absolutely brilliant.      I did the tour of the auld villages and enjoyed every minute of it;    with a few ‘click’ stops, on the way round.      There was much going on, and the road to the harbour was awfie quiet.     I took advantage of the fact that The Ship Inn garden was empty and got some photos (and was ‘caught in the act’ by Richard).    At the harbour ‘The Beach Cafe’ was being dism

29th November 2020 (Sunday)      08.00 .... The sky is overcast this morning Elie Bay this afternoon. and there is no frost;   and there I was, hoping for another day like we had yesterday.     It’s going to be a nice enough day, according to the forecast, but with more cloud about.... and only a light wind.    It’s supposed to be cold , though it didn’t feel cold when I was out just now.    I need to have another cuppa... and breakfast  .... before doing anything else.    Slight ‘flap on’ now .... I’m hungry. 17.00     I had a walk to the beach in the middle of the afternoon expecting it to be quiet, with not much to photograph on a grey day;  I was pleasantly surprised to find folks walking their dogs, and two sailing dinghy’s and a canoe on the water.   There’s always something going on at....  “The Centre of the Universe”. In the morning I went to Leven, to deliver the Christmas cards for Lesley to post.    On the way along I decided to skip the shopping bit;   the shops would b

28th November 2020 (Saturday)     10.00 .... This is my favourite kind of autumnal morning;   a touch of frost at sunrise time, giving that fresh feel to the air....hardly a breath of wind and some warm sunshine once the sun gets going.    Having said that we did have a ‘red sky in the morning’ sunrise... but that ‘omen’ won’t apply to us, at the Centre of the Universe. 19.00    Welll ... this has been a crackin’ day;  even Dod managed to get out,.... and take a photo of the sunrise!   It’s been all ‘go’ all over the place today.    I set off to go to Carnbee kirk and ended up at Pittenweem harbour;  actually by my standard of diversion, today’s was a near miss.... I often end up going in the completely wrong direction altogether.    The direction the car is pointing when I go into it has a lot to do with where I end up.    Today we were pointing south and I realised that the tide was coming in and there was nae wind so there would be reflections ...... Pittenweem harbour plopped into

27th November 2020 (Friday)     07.30 .... There’s a lovely ‘feel’ to the air .... not quite frosty but a sharpness that I like;   my favourite kind of autumnal morning.    This is going to be a rest day for me so I am going to ‘The Store’ first thing.... I need some supplies.    Hopefully I’ll get out on the bike later.... or perhaps somewhere ‘different’ in the car.    Enjoy your day.... it looks like being a bonnie one albeit slightly overcast most of the time.,... if the weather forecast is correct. 11.00      ‘The Store’ was quiet this morning....  and enjoyed a wee browse round the aisles.     I got everything on the list (and fell in love with the lassie at the checkout).... so all in all a good morning at ‘the Store’.     The messages have been put away;   now I am ready for the rest of the day.    I checked the Fife website and found that we still have to book a place at the re-cycling place at Pittenweem, that means the last three bits of the old gas fire will have to lie i

  26th November 2020 (Thursday)      10.00 .... It’s done!..... the china West Shore - Pittenweem. cabinet has been emptied, everything washed, and put back (maybe not ‘iggzactly’ as it was)   .... now I can begin to relax.    The bookshelves are still to do but I enjoy doing them;  they take a long time. We have a lovely morning.... at the moment the sky is overcast (the sun is working on that problem) and there’s very little wind ... so a really nice morrrrrrrrrrrning for doing things in the garden.... and going out to ‘play’.     I’m going to9 have a cuppa before going for the paper and morning coffee.    ‘Slight flap on’! 21.00       As planned I went for the paper, and ‘morning coffee’ from ‘arbour ‘ouse eventually... I   had to go back to Ivy to get mu coffee mug (it keeps the coffee hot).      However I managed to get myself organised and went to Pittenweem Braes.    I knew the tide was in and that there was only a light breeze, so there was a good chance that West Shore woul

  25th November 2020 (Wednesday)     09.30 .... It was a morning for a walk Elie bay. on the beach at sunrise time today;  my word it was beautiful.   There was never going to be a visible sunrise (at sunrise time) but the ambience ... that was something else.    It was so peaceful:  one of those dream kind of mornings. I am going to have a quiet day around Ivy, mostly pottering around the garden;   but I will take time out in the afternoon.    The washing is on the line (before 07.00) and it should dry even on a day when the daylight hours are few. 19.00    The top two shelves of the china cabinet have been done;  that’s the crystal glasses etc, and a lot of things that we collected here and there on our travels.   That leaves one shelf to do .... the one with the wedding china.   I’m thinking of doing it first thing tomorrow morning.   Once the china cabinet is done I can relax:  Even I can’t break books .... but I do get ‘diverted’.   I went up to Kinneuchar on the bike in the aft

24th November 2020 (Tuesday)       07.30 .... Welllll .... it isn’t windy and   it Dog 'biker'  - East Links. isn’t cauld;    but it is wet .... a distinctly dreich morrrrrrrrrrrrning.     It’s one of those drab looking mornings you can get in November, with wet leaves and a general look of decay in the countryside as autumn fades into the crispness of winter.      However the drabness is going to peter out by midday, with a bonnie afternoon to follow.    Tomorrow is going to be bright, sunny .... and a good drying day.    Ye Gods! .... I feel ‘amorous’ this morning.... must ‘go’ slight flap on;   ‘Blob will be looking for his breakfast.   10.00      Although there was light rain when I was at the harbour, there was an interesting sunrise sky and the light was tremendous ....so I’m a happy boy.     The sky is clearing and we get occasional ‘bloo’ bits;   I might get something done in the garden in the afternoon.     Right now I’m well ready for ‘morrrrrrrrrrrning coffee’. 20.

  23rd November 2020 (Monday)       10.00 .... We had a cracker of a sunrise sky this morning;   probably means something wet later on, but my word it was bonnie. ... and well worth a spot o’ wetness (should it happen).    I went out for the paper, but got excited and have still to go for the paper;   I went straight to the harbour.    I’m excited yet.... need another cuppa. It’s a lovely morning, albeit breezy and cauld on the ‘stickin’ oot bits’ on your heid ... er....   appendages... i.e. lugs.    I’m going to have that other cuppa (3rd ... or is it 4th?) then I’ll do some ‘work’.    Must go;     in ‘excited flap on state’.     Enjoy your day. 18.30    I went out on the bike today.... only up to Chapel Green because the bike battery was low.   It’s now fully charged ready for a decent trip out.... probably Wednesday or Thursday;  or both. Someone else waiting for the sun to rise. I spent some time sorting out this morning photos..... then went to Colinsburgh to put fuel in the c

  22nd November 2020 (Sunday)       10.00 .... my word we do have a cracker of a mornin’, but there is a brisk breeze and it isn’t warm.    I went for the paper early.... and bought two papers;   The Observer (to read the news, articles and comments) , and the Sunday Post ‘cos I fancied havin’ a look at ‘Oor Wullie and The Broons’.   From the ‘paper shop’ I had my daily   visit to the harbour to catch the sunrise.    It wisnae a spectacular sunrise but it was bonnie     I had the harbour to myself. When I got back to Ivy I thought I’d go to the beach to get a few early morning photos:    I was pleasantly surprised to find the ‘Blue Tit’s’ swimmers going in for their morning dip.... I counted 12 heads in the water.   I can’t say that it is   warm this morning   .... but I can say that “it is all good at the Centre of the Universe”. Local swimmers going for their morning 'dook'. 21.30     ‘The Boy’ (that’s me) has had a productive and enjoyable day.    I spent a lot of time in

  21st November 2020 (Saturday)    09.30 .... Joyful ‘me’ .... we have a bonnie morning;  however  it is cauld in the brisk wind, but, well wrapped up, it’s a good day for doing things outside.    I have yet to go for the paper but I’ll do that in the middle of the morning because I have to go to the Chemist. The ‘plan’ (well a small part of ‘the plan’) is to make/bake a Victoria Sponge.... I went to Ainster to do a wee shopping and bought the ingredients.    ‘The Store’ was busy.... but I only met one person I knew (Kathy) who quite often walks her dogs round the East Links.     She is looking well ... and coping fine with the crisis. 14.30    I’ve done the paper and the Chemist... and went down to check out the harbour:   as ever it was windy and therefore cauld down there but there was a nice ‘light’ about so as is my wont, I took a few photographs.   And I’m happy with the results.   Right now I am having a cuppa before making the aforementioned Victoria Sponge.     It’s a bonn

  20th November 2020 (Friday)       09.00 ....   ‘Thanksgiving Day’ in the Kinneuchar from the Balbuthie road. United States is always celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.    The day after ‘Thanksgiving Day’ is called ‘Black Friday’ and signals the start of the Christmas shopping season in the USA.     I often wondered what ‘Black Friday’ was about.... though I don’t actually know why it’s called ‘Black’..... it’s all about separating people from their hard earned cash. We have a ‘Grey Friday’ here, but there is a clear strip along the southern horizon;  there's an old saying ...“a clear sooth drooned the plooman” ...  so the clear strip is not a particularly good sign.   It could be damp later;  hopefully not at the Centre of the Universe.   I’ll go for the paper after ten o’ clock so that I can get myself an ‘arbour ‘ouse’ morrrrrrrrrrrrning coffee and ‘ave it in the car. Canterbury Cathedral. 11.30     I got the morrrrrrrrrrrrning coffee (and a piece of drizzle cake) a

  19th November 2020 (Thursday)       10.00 .... It’s a beautiful morning:   yes West Shore - Pittenweem. ... there is a cool wind from the Northwest, but it’s not that frisky so wrapped up you hardly notice it.    I’ve been for the paper, was halfway to the harbour when I realised that the motor coming into park, as I was crossing the road was Alistair... so I missed a chat.     Sorry about that Alistair ... I get excited when it’s a bonnie morrrrrning. I ended up at Pittenweem Braes to catch the early morning sunlight hitting West Shore;   it’s a pity the tide was wrong but that will change in a few days. I’m in a ‘working’ mood now .... after one of my own morrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrning coffee’s.      Oh .... I have a washing to hang out before ‘mc’. 16.30      It has been a good day for ‘working’ in the garden.... and the ‘broon bucket’ is full.     I pruned a lilac tree.     It is supposed to be a lilac tree but it has never flowered so I don’t really know what it is.    I’ll cut it f

  18th November 2020 (Wednesday)       08.30 .... lovely sunrise sky this morning.... not a particularly good sign, but awfie bonnie!     ‘Slight flap on’ this morning;   got to take the car to get it’s bits and pieces fixed. 15.00    Janet and I managed a short walk before having a cuppa in the conservatory with the doors open, thus observing the ‘rools’.    Normally Janet would have gone twice as far in the time we were out, but my wee legs dictated the speed we walk at... so a short walk it was.    I was back at the garage just as the rain started to get serious.    The car has it’s MOT for another year, but it’s unlikely that I’ll be travelling very much until next summer now;  Leven, St Andrews, Crail, and points in between will be the limits of my journeys until next summer. The sky appears to be clearing so I may have a   walk to the beach in a wee while;    in between spells of rain..... though they are becoming shorter and further apart. 17.00      There’s a frisky wind a-bl

  17th November 2020 (Tuesday)      08.00 .... It is breezy, and overcast, this mornin .... but funnily enough it isn’t a cold wind.     That said I would say that it was warm, but I expected it to be really cold when I went out to give ‘Blob’ his digestive biscuit (bit of).     I’ll go for the paper later in the morrrrrrrning;    I have a prescription to pick up from the chemist. 15.30     I don’t understand this;    I have never stopped all day, and have nothing to show for it .... apart from feeling happy!     I went for the paper and the chemist, as per plan, then down to the harbour...   and stopped at The Toft on the way up from ‘arbour to9 take some photos,... Fiona came along with the dogs and I chatted to her ... and the dogs.    I then drove home by way of Kinneuchar.    Oh I remember .... I fired up the wee laptop after that, and backed up some photographs;   that’s where the time went.     I found the Canterbury photos , taken when ‘JB’ and I visited Canterbury in 2011....