Alberto's Hutte

30th June 2021 (Wednesday)     07.00 .... I don’t think I have ever seen the Fife Weather cam screens look so uniformly grey;  the only one that isn’t grey is the St Andrews Sky Cam and that’s because it is offline.   We have an overcast sky with only a breath of wind from the East;   the sun should burn off some of the cloud, to bring sunny spells by noon(ish), but right now it’s damp.   Mind you I imagine that the folk in the West of Canada would welcome some of our weather.... 50C is dangerously hot. 10.00     I’ve been for the paper on the bike, but, with occasional spells of Scotch Mist, which isn’t very pro camera, I only went round the villages;   however the Scotch Mist is no longer with us, and the sky is beginning to lighten, hopefully heralding a sunny afternoon.     Tomorrow looks like being the ‘good day’ this week.... that means it’s going to be a ‘drying day’ for washing. 23.00   It has been one of those balmy evenings.... so I had a wander down to the beach at sunset t

29th June 2021 (Tuesday)    09.30 .... After a bonnie sunset last night we do have a bonnie morning.... but there is a cool, frisky, easterly breeze, but really warm in sheltered from the breeze.      Unfortunately there’s haar lurking around and that will move in and out now and again;   it will be an interesting day for the camera.    I have been for the paper and down at the harbour (in the car), where I was lucky enough to catch ‘Whimbrel’ going out for a sail.    Actually ... there are two Whimbrels in the harbour this morning;   our local Drascombe Lugger and a visiting yacht.    I plan to out on the bike after morrrrrrrrrrrrning coffee. 16.30    I will have to get used to the roads being busier;  as they were when I went out on the bike about 10.00.   Not that I had any problems;   I find that most of the drivers around the villages are considerate .... though, sometimes it can be iffy on the main road,....  so I only use it where necessary.    I enjoyed a run up to the shops t

28th June 2021 (Monday)    06.30 .... There’s a lump of threatening looking cloud, across the Leven area, that is stopping me going out on the bike just now;   I don’t think rain is mentioned in our forecast, but this looks like an early morning shower.   Apart from that, we have a nice start to the day;  warm with only a light breeze.   I’ll have another cuppa.    17.30     I spent a pleasant hour having ‘morning coffee’ with Myra .... where we caught up with each other’s ‘news’.... sitting in the front garden at first, then inside when the breeze freshened and turned cooler.    Kirsty and Geoff had other engagements and will have to ‘catch up’ next time.   Ye Gods.... today’s stage (3) of the Tour de France Tour was eventful, with accidents occurring at regular intervals.... some of them looked serious and many riders will be sore tonight.     A wheel touch happens in the peloton and wallop;   you have a mass of competitors and bikes lying on the tarmac.     Within a few minutes m

27th June 2021 (Sunday)   12.00 .... we have a sunny and warm morning, and I had a really enjoyed the warm sunshine when I went for the paper.   I went for the paper later than usual and the villages were busy;  the beach will be busy in the afternoon. Iain is still looking through the attic for one box of ‘N’ gauge rail stuff;   he found a lot of it, but one box, containing points etc. is still ‘missing’.     I’ll have a look on the first rainy day:   this is Scotland, and its summer so there will be a few of those.    Rainy days i.e. 18.30  Well it has been a busy weekend.... and the one box we want is still ‘in a secret place’.    Ivy Cottage is full of secret places.... and all the secret places will be full!.... The problem is secret places can’t be found.   The Tour de France has been on the tele all afternoon and we took time out to watch that now and again.   Oops ‘Blob’ has made his way into in the computer room;  I’d better open the window, close the door and let him out. 

26th June 2021 (Saturday)   06.30 ....The sky is heavily overcast and, though Pettycur harbour. not raining now, it has been overnight and everything is wet.    It looks like we could have some more light rain before the cloud starts to break up;   sunny spells aren't mentioned in our weather forecast, but .... this is the 'COTU' so we might get lucky. 08.30     Jings.... even the quiet time at ‘The Store’ (Anstruther) is busy now.    When the restriction first came out I did my shopping at 08.00, then it began to get busier, so I made 07.30 ‘my’ time.      This morning I was there at 07.10 and it much busier so it will be 07.00 (or earlier) for me next week.     I dread to think what the East Neuk is going to be like when the holiday season begins in July.    Its good having visitors, and seeing folk enjoying themselves, but my word, it’s going to be chaotic on the roads....   and in the shops.    Anyway, with Iain coming down, I thought I’d better get some ‘emergency rat

25th June 2021 (Friday)    08.00 .... it’s certainly not hot and humid this 'Flying Scotsman' approaching Kinghorn Station. morrrrrning;   it’s winter jacket temperatures with showers coming in on a blustery wind from the Northeast.    I am thinking of going to Pettycur Harbour;  its not the perfect morning for going to a harbour, but the sky is interesting and I fancy a longer run in the car;   on the plus side.... it isn’t going to be too hot for driving.  15.00       Pettycur Harbour was just what I expected, and definitely a big step back towards my ‘old normal’.    Today was the first time I have been at Pettycur since before Christmas 2019.    Normally I have the harbour car park to myself, but not so today;   half a dozen cars turned up and the occupants went onto the beach to walk their dogs:   the tide was out and it’s a huge beach.    Unfortunately the sun only broke through now and again, to ‘light up’ up patches of the scene;   which made it interesting, but I woul

24th June 2021 (Thursday)     10.30 .... The paper run had to be aborted before I reached the harbour due to a shower of rain:  that said, it is a nice day, with long sunny spells.   Showers are due to bubble up in the afternoon.    I am going for a haircut so that will be my mission for today,.... it’s a good kind of day for haircuts. 19.00    Today was the first time I have been in Leven and acted, more or less, nearly ‘old normal’.    I took the car through the car wash (that was the best entertainment of the day by the way) then across the road to ‘The Cheap Shop’ to buy containers for freezing Cottage Pies etc.... before going to the ‘Woollies Car Park’, where I had the coffee and goodie, that I’d bought at ‘arbour ‘ouse.   I did a spot of shopping in the High Street, had another drop of coffee, before going to the Hairdresser.   By this time is was humid and hot;  I remember thinking, “ perfect migraine weather”.      The migraine started just as I got back home;  and that took

23rd June 2021 (Wednesday)   09.00 .... it’s cloudier and windier but not cold;  a good morning for working.   I actually remembered to get the papers this morning before going to the harbour and Elie Estate:  all is good in both places.    I need to go up to Elie later in the morning so will get a morrrrrning coffee at ‘arbour ‘ouse;   I’ll take the car so that I can ‘ave the coffee in a parking spot overlooking Kinneuchar.   12.30     I am going to have to get used to the villages being busy:  I went to the shops and they were all busy.   Harbour House had folk inside, and there was a queue outside Barnett’s;  I saw George disappear into the Chemist but by the time I got back there he had moved on.   In the end I decided to go back to Ivy, and have my own ‘morrrrrrrning coffee’ in The Hutte.... followed by a short siesta.     When I woke up I felt so full of energy that I grabbed the secateurs and cut the seed heads off some Pendulous Sedge.   The Pendulous Sedge first appeared in t

22nd June 2021 (Tuesday)     09.30 .... My word;  it’s a cracker o’ a  mornin’.   I went just after 06.00; I took my first photograph at 06.15 and the last one at 08.11 with a few in between.    I did the full circuit this morning, Chapel Green, Elie Estate, the harbour then home by way of The Terrace, South Street and the Breakwater.   Yes .... I enjoyed myself... and I was hungry by the time I was back at Ivy.   It’s a glorious morning for going out;  I imagine the Coastal Path and beach will be busy today.   I have still to get a paper, so I might venture out about lunch time. 19.30    Well.... as was forecast, it has been a gorgeous day, though the cool onshore breeze took the edge of the temperature in the afternoon.   Actually it was warmer, when I was out at 06.30.   I met a few joggers out at that time, enjoying a balmy mornin;  the best time of the day. Scotland are playing Croatia this evening, kickoff is at 20.00:   though there is pre-match discussion on an hour before t

21st June 2021 (Monday)       08.00 .... Summer Solstice .      At 03.30 I had a look to see if I was going to see the sunrise, but the sky was overcast, with the threat of rain so I had a cuppa, then went back to bed.    Anyway, today is the longest day of the year, with 17 hours, 36 minutes and 34 seconds of daylight;   the sun rose at (Edinburgh) 04.26 and sets at 22.03.    After today, the nights begin to draw in and it’s all downhill to the lovely cool days of winter:   However, we have our ‘summer’ to come, which usually begins now; when we should look forward to a warm/hot July, August and September.    Bring ‘em on.    At the moment we have an overcast sky, a light breeze from the East with occasional light rain.... though the sun will break through and we’ll have a bonnie day:    However, tomorrow (Tuesday), is going to be the really good day this week.    Hmmmm.... I’m thinkin’ that another cuppa is needed. 10.00     The sun broke through at 09.15 and we now have a lovel

20th June 2021 (Sunday)   06.30 .... when I first looked out (05.30) Ferry Road was dry and it’s now wet....  and the sky is overcast so rain showers are around, though, according to ‘Willy Weather’ (and other weather forecasters), mostly towards the West of us.   I had intended biking up to Elie for the paper.... but I’ll leave biking until later:  Sunday papers are big anyway, and nae problem with the car.   I’m feeling energetic this morning;  pity aboot the weather. 08.30    I’ve been for the paper (and cherries) then down to the harbour where I had a wander among the boats.    It was eerily quiet, the only sound was the water flopping onto the sand;   even the gulls were silent.    I could see a couple of dog walkers out....one   at the Breakwater, and the other on the Ferry beach.   It was spitting rain on and off at that time;   but the sky is starting to look more promising now.    I should get out on the bike sometime today. 15.30   After ‘morrrning coffee’ I decided to go to

19th June 2021 (Saturday)     08.30 .... we have a cloudy morning.... in fact Geoff's lupins. some spots o’ rain hit the car windscreen when I was coming through Kinneuchar, (on the way home from ‘The Store’).    At the moment the sky is beginning to brighten, bringing the hope of sunny spells, with possibly showers later.   There’s a cool breeze coming in off the sea:  I don’t think I’ll be going to Balcarres today. 21.00   Go to Balcarres? ..... I never even got the bike out at all.    It has been a  grey, unsettled kind of day, with more damp spells than sunny ones.   I never got any gardening done .... everything was too wet: I’m glad that I went to ‘The Store’, at least I had some exercise wandering round the aisles.    All the ‘work’ I have done today, is some ‘ousework, and an ironing.    Luckily there was football on the tele so I watched that in between doing things. Ferry Road this evening. Ferry Road was busy with cars this afternoon;  I often wonder where they actually

18th June 2021 (Friday)   08.30 .... It’s a lovely morning.... bright and sunny, Ketch 'Good Dog'. with a light north westerly breeze;  the breeze is going to veer easterly later so it will be cooler.    I slept in this morning;  didn’t get out of bed until 07.35;   however I feel lively so will go to Balcarres  for a potter around later.    In the meantime I think another cuppa wouldn’t go amiss. 22.30     It’s exciting being a Scotland supporter;   one game you’re doon in the dumps... next game you’re orbiting the Moon:   it’s a bit tricky on the auld nerves at times.... but my word it’s great being a Scot.     I missed the first 20 minutes of the first half;   but what I did see was entertaining and exciting.     Both teams had their chances so I guess a draw was a good result;   and it keeps the auld nerves tingling, ready for the next game.    I’m a happy boy. I’ve had a good day:   I didn’t get up to Balcarres because I used too much battery gaddin’ aboot in the mornin

17th June 2021 (Thursday)     12.30 .... It’s an absolute cracker o’ a day;   sunny and warn (nearly hot) with, luckily a light cooling breeze.   I photographed my way round the villages;  and remembered to pick up my paper, before meandering down to the harbour.    This was at  08.00 so there was warmth in the sun by that time.... and loads of folk out doing stuff. With it being a perfect drying day I did a washing that was in the machine;   probably less than half a load.... but I wanted to take advantage of the braw day.    I also put the bike battery on charge so I’ll have a fully charged bike for tomorrow;    I hope tomorrow is another day like today. My next mission will be to have lunch then get myself ready for Jim’s ‘Celebration of Life’ Service at Kirkcaldy Crematorium.     The service is at 15.45. and Geoff is picking me up at 15.00.    I’ll be ready in plenty of time, just in case Geoff arrives earlier. 22.00     Jim’s ‘Celebration of Life’ service was done perfectly;

16th June 2021 (Wednesday)      08.00 .... There was some ‘Scotch Mist’ falling when I went for the papers, but it didn’t last long....  and the sky is beginning to clear in the West;   so, we should have a brighter afternoon.    I’m going to ‘work’ this morning then go out on the bike in the afternoon.    There’s a brisk breeze but it’s comfortably warm;  not the temperatures they are having to endure in ‘Sunny Sussex’ and other places down south. 15.30     I have been a reasonably busy boy, having done a miniscule amount of weeding .... then did a woollen wash, after I decided that the sun was going give us a lovely late afternoon/ evening.... with a soft drying breeze.    I am now going to have an afternoon coffee, in the Hutte .... and do a Soduko.    The ‘plan’ is to go out on the bike when the roads quieten down. 21.30    I enjoyed a late afternoon/early evening run on the bike.... because the roads were quieter;  and for a change of ‘light’.   There was only a gentle breeze so