Alberto's Hutte

31st July 2022 (Sunday)     06.30 ....Hmmmm; the sky is overcast and it does This lorry was a surprise on a Sunday morning. look like we could get spells of ‘light rain’, as mentioned in the weather forecast.  However it’s forecast to brighten up by midday, though there will still be the chance of showers.  There’s a cool, light breeze from the Northeast but we can look forward to a warm afternoon;  and I’m going to have another cuppa then go for a quick tour of the villages ....weather permitting. 10.15     All appears to be good in Elie and Earlsferry this morning;   but we do have a lot of visitors, going by the number of parked cars;   and I met a huge delivery lorry coming along Liberty.   I think it’s going to be a bonnie day yet; apart from being overcast it’s a nice enough morning just now... and not cold, even with a breeze out of the Northwest.    And I remembered to go for the paper. 21.00   I have been a busy boy... at both work and play: ‘Housework’ being the ‘work part

  30th July 2022 (Saturday)     09.30 .... Everything is wet in the garden after overnight rain, but the rain has cleared away, to give us sunny spells.... and another bonnie day.... in fact it could   be a ‘bloo’ sky, and hot, later in the afternoon.     This will be a changeover day for holiday house, so the East Neuk roads will be busy:   that said, I’m finding that the roads are always busy nowadays.... even the quiet ‘back roads’.    But they are busier on changeover days.    I suppose I should get the bike out and take a turn round the villages before the streets become too busy;   but not until I have another cuppa. 20.30   It has been a beautiful day... and I was active until the heat of the day when I had to hide in Ivy.  I never went out on the bike;  I was going out a couple of hours ago, but changed my mind when a migraine cut in;   I should be bright eyed and bushy tailed tomorrow.    The Commonwealth Games means we can have interesting television to watch;  not that

29th July 2022 (Friday)   08.00 .... It’s s drab looking start to the day but it isn’t raining ....and should brighten up, for a wee while, soon.   Low cloud and a moderate breeze is the forecast.... with the chance of precipitation in the afternoon.    I’ll get the bike out to go to the ‘paper shop’ and Chemist.;  after another cuppa. 21.00    My word we ended up with a cracker o’ a day;   warm and sunny.... a really bonnie day for our holiday makers.    I had an enjoyable day with Alice;   getting into Methil is a bit ... well... different, with all the preparatory work   going on towards replacing the Bawbee Brig.    The first thing I did when I got to Leven was take the car through the car wash, thence to Sainsbury’s.    The problems began when I left Sainsbury’s:   traffic can’t travel south from the Sainsbury’s roundabout so I ended up going to Windygates and coming into Methil from the West.    However after a cuppa and chat at Alice’s we set off for Ivy... and Alice knew the b

8th July 2022 (Thursday)     06.30 ....(Note to me;  remember Tesco at 10.00).   November sunrise - 2014 There’s a light ESE breeze bringing cloud in from the North Sea, but it’s warm and dry so, though the clouds are of the not very interesting kind, it’s a bonnie enough start to what could be a nice enough day.... once the sun breaks through.   There’s the chance of showers in the afternoon.    I won’t be going out on the bike until after Tesco has been in case I get sidetracked and end up on Balcarres Estate. 11.00    Tesco arrived right ‘on the button’ and everything has been sorted and put away:   I was cleaning the glass (door fanlights) when he arrived so there was no chance of missing him.   The sun is trying hard to break through... and I need it to succeed ‘cos I have a washing out.    I was going to do a woollen wash but I’ll leave that until Saturday, when it’s forecast to be a better drying day.    Meanwhile, I’ll have a cuppa then finish off cleaning the glass. 15.00  

27th July 2022 (Wednesday)      10.00 .... The paper has been uplifted... I remembered to visit the harbour:  and we have a really peaceful and bonnie day.   On the way home from the ‘paper shop’ I went through Elie Estate;  my word... the loch, which  was like a mirror, has been photographed tae bits.    I suppose I’d better think of ‘work’ now;  thinking about I’m good at....’doing’ ... not so good.   I have another two weeks before Michael and Janice arrive.   Loads o’ time! 22.30   I hope I have ‘loads o’ time’, because I haven’t done much today.... not ‘work’ anyway.    I went up to Chapel Green and reminisced on The Boss’s seat, took a few photos, then went to see if Heather, Ray and Alistair were in residence:  but I’d left it too late, so I missed out on the coffee,.... and blether.   I had ‘morning coffee’ back at Ivy, and fed the Blob family. After a lite lunch I did a wee bit ‘o housework before giving in to the desire to have ‘50’.    I slept for nearly an hour;   put th

26th July 2022 (Wednesday)      06.30 ....I’m feeling rested and ready to play Kinneuchar. work, on what is a fresh morning.  There’s a cool light breeze from the WNW with a few clouds about:  the forecast is for showers to bubble up in the middle part of the day.... as they did yesterday.   I’m going to have another cuppa then, once the air is slightly warmer, I'll get the bike out.    It’s 10C just now. 12.30    Ye Gods;   bumblin’ around on the bike is tirin’.     I had an enjoyable, early morning run up to Kinneuchar then home by way of Elie (forgot the paper) and was well ready for breakfast when I got back to Ivy.   I played with the photos I got then fell fast asleep for three quarters of an hour after breakfast.      It must be all the fresh air I got when out.    Anyway when I surfaced I thought it was Wednesday, and promptly went into ‘Flap on’ mode because I had a prescription to hand in.    I had a cuppa then louped into the car and went to the Chemist, to find it was

25th July 2022 (Monday)   07.30 .... The sky is starting to cloud over and the breeze has freshened in the last hour on what is a really bonnie morning; unfortunately light rain is forecast for the middle of the day.     I watched an episode of ‘Endeavour’ until five minutes after midnight last night  (that’s late for me) and I am tired this morning.    Yesterday I was in the mood for doing ‘ousework.... and didn’t know when to stop.   Today is going to be a ‘rest’ day; having said that, I have to stay around Ivy in case I get the bike back, so I’ll end up doing stuff around Ivy to pass the time: such as falling asleep. 15.00    Well ... I have been ‘working’ but not as hard as I did yesterday;   probably more like glorified pottering about rather than ‘working’.  ‘Pottering about’ included dead heading some roses.    Then the rain came.... and has been ‘on and off’, for most of the middle part of the day so far.    The sun is trying to break through now, so we could end up with a bon

24th July 2022 (Sunday)    10.30 .... Light showers (possibly thundery) and a fresh breeze are mentioned in the weather forecast for KY9 today;  the thundery showers will be ‘later’...  I have a washing on the line! ‘Two Wheel Care’ (Pitscottie) has uplifted my trusty steed and is off to have a new tube and tyre fitted.    I shall be doing a ‘roond the villages’ tour in the next few days.   I think this is a good excuse ...oops.. reason, for a celebratory shot o’ caffeine. 12.00    ‘Maggie’ must have been down on the beach when I was at the harbour;   we have sandy footprints all over the living room carpet!     I’d better do some ooverin’.... and perhaps some dustin’. We have a good drying day and the washing is almost ready dry:   I’ll get it in and on the ironing table soon.    Up to now I have been doing some ‘ousework and sittin’ in The Hutte doing a Sudoku and feeding two fledgling robins.   I’m hoping these two make it through to adulthood.    Feeding?.... that reminds me

23rd July 2022 (Saturday)    08.30 .... We have a bonnie, warm (19C) morning:  there is a lot of harmless looking cloud around just now, which the sun might burn off to give us a ‘bright and sunny’ day.  It looks like being a good day for the Fayre on the Toll Green this afternoon. 10.00    That’s the bike taken care of;   I phoned Two Wheels in Pitscottie and they are picking the bike up tomorrow morning at 10.00.     A few years ago I’d have been able to do the job myself but for some (obscure) reason everything is trickier with electric bikes... even a simple job like changing a tyre.    Must ‘go’.... it’s nearly morning coffee time. 21.00   I always thought that much of the weight of my bike was in the battery;  it isn’t.   When I took the battery off I was surprised to discover it isn’t nearly as heavy as I expected it to be.    It’s a solidly built bike is the Raleigh Stowaway.   I also discovered that I can turn the bike upside down to repair punctures.   Messing about with the

22nd July 2022 (Friday)   09.00 .... With a fresh breeze from the East there’s a noticeable drop in the temperature this morning;  but, other than that, it’s a bonnie start to the day.   I’ve been for the paper and had a quick trip to the harbour..... where I met, and chatted too, Neil.   Everything is where it should be down there....and, though it is cool just now I imagine the air will warm up by midday. 19.00    I’ve had a bonnie if slightly lazy day... no cancel ‘lazy’;  this has been  a rest day.   It’s the same thing but it suggests that I was active yesterday.    I like that.   I went to the surgery and had blood taken then, on the way home I went up to the Kinneuchar Station road to get some photos of poppies with the kirk in the background.    Unfortunately I only had the wee camera with me, and the light wasn’t the best, but I took a couple anyway.    I met Jacqui and friends who had been for their morning walk;   it was good to catch up with Jacqui, I haven’t seen her fo

21st July 2022 (Thursday)     06.30 ....There’s a lot of cloud but I there are blue bits here and there, so we should have a few sunny spells later;  the  best thing is that the air is healthier.... by that I mean fresher and breathable.   I’m going to have a short walk after this update. 08.30     I am a happy boy this morning;   I’ve been down to and actually walking on the beach... the first time I have done that for many weeks.    It was magical seeing everything from the actual beach again;   oh... all is good on the beach.    I didn’t (can’t) walk far but my word I feel ... almost bright eyed and bushy tailed.    What a difference getting air right down into the bottom of the lungs makes..... even my knee didn’t feel as sore as it usually does.    I’m going to have   an ‘early morning coffee’ to celebrate the air being so fresh. 17.30   Stages 16, 17 and 18 of the  Letour (‘Tour de France) have been so exciting that I was never able to fall asleep.  Tadjec Pogacar, Jonas Vingega

20th July 2022 (Tuesday)     07.30 .... Another lovely morning, warm with a light breeze.....it’s 20C on the garden thermometer.    I’m going to start my day with a run to the West Braes then do Elie ‘arbour, and pick up the papers, on the way home.  I had ‘Red Wasp’ (vespula rufa) in the bathroom this morning;  funny little things.  They are mini wasps that kind of fly like hoverflies, and sound like a big mosquito.   They are not rare in the UK, but are uncommon in the East of Fife.   I don’t know where the nest is, but it isn’t in Ivy garden. 10.30     I’ve had a brilliant morning, catching up with all the Pittenweem ‘news’ when I met Wullie Wood at the West Braes.    When I was walking I used to meet Wullie on the Coastal Path between Pittenweem and St Monans regularly;   so I never got to Elie ‘arbour.    I am well up to date with   Pittenweem and Ainster news though and I enjoyed meeting Wullie again. The pool at Pittenweem had a good number of the ‘Menopausal Mermaids’ in it:

19th July 2022 (Tuesday)    07.00 ....there’s a cool light breeze from the SE just now, but that is going to veer Westerly later in the morning... so it’s going to be hot again.... at the moment it’s 19C.   I’m havin’ breakfast then I’m going to loup intae the car and go for the paper.   It’s a nice morning, but that air is not friendly.... nonetheless, ‘ever so slight flap on’;  it’s high tide at 07.23 and I want to be at the ‘arbour then. 10.30    When I did the aforementioned ‘car louper’ I had decided to go too Pittenweem ‘arbour for a change of scene: however when I saw our own Elie ‘arbour that was it... and I spent an hour clicking happily...197 times.    I now have some photos to sort out.     I might go to Pittenweem in the evening.    It’s coffee time. 17.00   It has been another bonnie day for holiday makers enjoying the beach.  The shade temperature in the garden reached 26C;   it would be warmer out in the sun.   I had Stage 16 (Letour) to watch and enjoyed not being out

18th July 2022 (Monday)    09.00 .... we have a sunny and warm start to the day;  it was 16C on the thermometer at 06.00.    I’ve been to the harbour... got excited and forgot to stop at the ‘Paper Shop’ on the way home... so no paper. But I got loads of photographs at the harbour; different photographs of the same views.    I’m a happy boy... and ready for breakfast. 10.00    It’s cosy outside... 22C on the garden thermometer... 20C on the barometer (inside).  Luckily there’s a light breeze keeping us cool.... but it will be unpleasant in the Red warning area.   I’m having morrrrrning coffee before doing a wee bit o’ work;  I’m going to remove a Presta valve from the bike and it is an  awkward job. 19.00    The garden thermometer reached 26.5 late in the afternoon so ... it has been cosy.   I stayed in Ivy from 14.00 to 18.00... it was too hot for being out.    In the evening I went to Colinsburgh Filling Station to make my contribution to the oil company (BP) profits.  I put in £47

17th July 2022 (Sunday)      06.30 .... As was forecast we have light rain this morning;  but, forget the light rain.... it’s a nice enough morning and the rain is going to move away and we will have sunny spells soon.   I’m in a ‘want to go out to play’ mood, but there are two variants of ‘the bug’ doing the rounds so I guess ‘playing’ is not a good idea.  I’ll have another cuppa then loup intae the car and go for the paper. 09.00     Everyone will be pleased to know that “all is good at the harbour” with everything being where it should be;   and I remembered to pick up the paper.    It was spitting rain when I was out but the sky should brighten up by midday.    I’m thinking that a spot of caffeine would be a good idea. Although the villages are busy I don’t think they are as busy as they usually are when ‘The Open’ is on. 19.00    My word ... ‘The Open’ was a cliff hanger right to the end.  The winner putted brilliantly yesterday .... and today.  I have to admit  I was hoping th