Alberto's Hutte

31st October 2022 (Monday)   06.30 .... I’m ‘up’ and rarin’ to go  but sunrise isn’t until 07.20 (though the Eastern sky is already brightening up); I’m thinking of taking the bike out this morning, instead of going to the beach, but it depends on how the shower situation looks.   We had a light shower about an hour ago.   A wee bit o’ excitement this morning:   ‘Class One’ (Traffic Management Company) turned up at 06.30.... I think they intended taking down the signs and lights, but discovered that the ‘ole had still to be finished.    09.00    After a bit of dithering I  decided to go to the beach as there was a bonnie ‘light’ for the camera, and a nice morning for me to have   my slow daunder to the beach and back;   and I wasn’t disappointed.    I’m going to have breakfast, then a mug o’ coffee;   and make my mind up about going out on the bike.     The sky is beginning to cloud over and the wind freshen.... it's beginning to look 'iffy'.   There's a 'chance

30th October 2022 (Sunday)    08.30.... we had a beautiful sky at sunrise time (07.15), on a bright and breezy morning, with loads o’ fresh air on a beach busy with dogs walking their humans.   It’s bonnie morning for being out... and not cold considering the time of year and the friskiness of the wind. 19.15    The autumnal clock change seems to upset my body clock much more than the Spring one;  I hardly notice any difference with it (the Spring change).    (At least this year I am not working on Ivy Cottage time for a couple of days... as I have been known to do;  my clocks were all changed on Friday. I’ve been an active boy today.... having gone out on the bike after morning coffee ... the first time I’ve been for a reasonable bike run for a few days;     only as far as Kinneuchar Station then home by Elie Estate and the villages.    Not a great distance in miles but an hour in time with the camera;   I was taking autumnal shots.   I’d planned to do things after lunch but fell s

29th October 2022 (Saturday)    09.30 .... it’s a bonnie balmy, warm and "Good Morrrrning" from Elie and Earlsferry beach. (unfortunately) overcast start to the day:  the light breeze is from the Southeast so it could bring mist in from the North Sea.   I don’t want mist... I’d rather have ... yep .... sunny spells and bonnie clouds:  that said it’s a bonnie day for going out.   I went to the beach at sunrise time (there was never going to be a visible ‘sunrise’) and enjoyed a slow (what else) wander along the edge of the tide..... very relaxing.   I was thinking of going up to Balcarres but I want a sunny day for that.   It’s breakfast time... in fact it’s almost morrrrrning coffee time. 17.30    The Ivy Cottage clocks are at the ‘new’ time.... it’s been that kind o’ afternoon;   grey and wet.    Earlier I’d been to Leven (‘cos I’d forgotten half my shopping the other day) so, took a chance and went to annoy Alice for a couple of hours, and mooch a cuppa.   Oh... a Big “Tha

  28th October 2022 (Friday)      07.30 .... the weather forecast has changed from last night:  the wind strength remains at ‘strong’ wind;   but the rain intensity has been demoted from ‘heavy rain’ to ‘rain’;   and we might miss a lot of the ‘rain’.... so that's an improvement!.     It’s mild for the time of year;   it’s pity about the wind.     And the rain!     At the moment its dry so I’ll have a walk to the beach before the wind freshens... its F3 or so just now.... but still dark so I’ll have another cuppa. 09.00    I had the beach to myself this morning.... which wasn’t surprising, ‘cos the wind in freshening, and blustery showers are a constant threat.    I ‘bagged’ the camera when the first spot o’ rain hit me.     I enjoyed the fresh air but I was well wrapped up.    20.00    Who forgot to do the washing.... on what has been a perfect drying day?.... yep ... the boy’.   However I went to Elie (in the car – it was too windy for me on the bike) and handed in my prescripti

27th October 2022 (Thursday)      09.00 ....The beach was huge, and fairly busy at sunrise time; the sunrise was never going to be visible, due to a bank of low cloud, but there was a nice ambience around ...and loads o’ fresh air.  I’m going to have breakfast then go for the paper, and make an appointment with the hairdresser (Lorraine). 20.30    Progress with the Ferry Road ‘oles.... the pavement has been reinstated (I like that bit) and the road surface done tomorrow.... and back to normal.   It has been an interesting hole, but a bit boring, due to lack of activity for a number o’ days. I went to Leven to do a shopping this morning;  then went to Alice’s for morrrning coffee and a blether... followed by lunch.   A couple of Alice’s friends came round so we had a really good blether:  sorted the World out in fact.... before I set off for Ivy.   The roadworks at Leven are ongoing;  I don’t know what it is about that road but it gets it share o’ work.   Let’s hope this is the last

26th October 2022 (Tuesday)     10.00 .... there’s a brisk wind driving clouds over from the Southeast so we had an interesting sky at sunrise time:  the sun didn’t appear above the clouds until 30 minutes or so after actual sunrise time (08.05).   The wind has freshened since then and a blustery shower has just rattled over;  I doubt if I’ll get out on the bike... but the weather is supposed to brighten up by lunch time.   17.00    We ended up with a bright and breezy day.... in fact it was very breezy in the later part of the afternoon;  and so breezy that I didn’t go out on the bike.  However I went up Barnett’s (Baker) in the car, forgot the paper, but remembered to go to the harbour.   Forgetting the paper was a big mistake today;  the Ferry Road hole was filled in this morning so I have nothing to browse.   The final surfacing of the road and eventual removal of the temporary traffic lights should happen before the weekend.   But life won’t be boring.... because work is beginnin

25th October 2022 (Tuesday)      09.30 .... We had a beautiful sunrise time sky, on what is a quiet and warm (for the time of year) morning;  and I wasn’t surprised to find the beach busy of such bonnie day.   I was ‘up’ early and did a washing out before going to the beach.... now I’m well ready for breakfast.    I’ll have a browse through the sunrise photos, then...... I think I might have morrrrrrrrrrrning coffee up at Chapel Green. 12.00    I enjoyed having morrrning coffee at Chapel Green; I also managed to add a few more photos to the batch I took at sunrise time.... so will have plenty to keep me occupied this evening.   I only sort out a few (photographs) for the ‘blog’ and FB when I first get back to Ivy.   Is not the best of drying days.....the wind isn’t as fresh as I’d like it to be;  and I'm having to keep as eye on the clouds.... some of them are starting to look like ‘showers’. 19.30   I’ve been as excitable as a bag o’ ferrets today;  never really stopped potteri

24th October 2022 (Monday)    08.30 ....at the moment the weather is ‘overcast with light rain’ ....and the sky is not very promising looking.   However the westward pointing Fife weather cams do show promising signs... so I’m hoping that those ‘promising signs’ reach us before ‘Crane Out’ begins.... at 11.00 (ish).    I’ve been for the paper, and bought a copy of Pat Bell’s (Hughes) book about the local curling clubs;  I didn’t go to the harbour, and I didn’t even take a camera with me;  it’s that kind of morning.   However...I'm a happy boy ....there’s nae dust in the air, Lochgelly is basking in sunshine;  and there's a 'bloo' sky over Largo Bay.   Sunny spells coming soon! 16.00    The rain moved out... and sunny spells moved it;    a perfect morning for ‘Crane Out’.    The crane had been set up when I got to the harbour, and I enjoyed an hour or so of happy snapping, before photographing my way home to Ivy Cottage ....and a welcome cuppa.    At the end of the 20

23rd October 2022 (Sunday)   09.30 .... we have a mild start to the day with occasional showers... and bonnie clouds.   I went to the harbour (in the car) to catch the sun rising over the East links... the harbour was quiet;  in fact I was the only one down there!    However, the villages look busy (loads o’ parked cars) so I’ve no doubt the harbour will be busy later on.   I hope to go out on the bike.... but that depends on how frequent the showers are.   I’m hungry’. 12.30    I got lucky with the camera this morning;  towards the East I had the sun rising and to the West a rainbow appeared.   I have numerous photos of both.   Although bonnie the rainbow meant ‘iggzactly’ what its name suggests... ‘rain’.   I had to hirple hurriedly to the car, which thankfully wasn’t far.   The sky is mostly overcast now and we’ve had a light shower;  we might have had more showers but I fell asleep.   I’ll have some lunch now then see what the weather is doing in the middle of the afternoon: my fa

22nd October 2022 (Saturday)   08.15 .... the Fife weather cams are all grey this morning; so we have a misty, and mild, start to the day after some overnight rain;  ‘light rain and a gentle breeze is the forecast.    I’ll take the car up to Elie for the paper later in the morning....I'm meeting Alice off the bus ...I need to make an appointment with Lorraine (hairdresser). Who is Alice?  Alice’s husband George and I met when we finished our National Service (1960), and began working together with Rolland Decorators of Leven, then  Rolland  Decorators of Elie, before working with Stevenson and Horsburgh (Anstruther) on building sites around Fife and Central Scotland.   George and I ‘split up' (1980 ish) when I got a job at the Craw’s Nest (Anstruther) and George with Silberline (Leven).   George, Alice and by this family, lived in Colinsburgh when working locally, then moved to Leven when George started working with Silberline.   Alice is from a farming background, her Dad was

  21st October 2022 (Friday)       07.15 .... the sun rises at 07.57 this morning and sets at 17.58, so we could have 10 hours and 1 minute of ‘sunny spells’.   There are two very welcome changes with the weather this morning.... it’s not raining and it’s mild.    I might get the bike out to go for the paper.... assuming it stays dry; ‘Light cloud and a moderate breeze’ is the forecast. 09.45     We had a light rain shower when I went for the paper so I took the car;   I’ll go out on the bike after breakfast.    When I was out I went and   had   a wander round the harbour and noticed that moves are afoot for ‘Crane Our’ (Monday 24th).     I’m feeling brighter today and should get the drawing board lined later... when the sun breaks through. 16.30   It is a long time since I pasted paper so I enjoyed lining the drawing board, even though it wasn’t proper paper hanging;  as in ceilings or walls .... but I’m happy.   I eventually went out on the bike, but only as far as Chapel Green th

20th October 2022 (Thursday)     07.30.... It’s breezy and wet just now and I won’t be going to the beach .... but there are encouraging signs in the Eastern sky, suggesting the rain will move away, to leave us with a cloudy but dry afternoon.   Of course I’m hoping for ‘sunny spells’.... but right now this is not a ‘play day’. 10.30     Forget the bit about ‘encouraging signs in the Eastern sky’ mentioned above ... the weather has deteriorated and we have a ‘wet and windy’ morning, with the wet being heavier that in was earlier.    I haven’t been further than the front gate so far today so I haven’t been out with the camera.... but I have been working in the kitchen:   The slow cooker (crock pot) has been fired up with stewing steak I bought yesterday.    My next ‘plan’ is to set up one of my drawing boards with an A3 sheet of drawing paper;   regrettably I won’t get the new drawing board lined today.... unless the sun breaks through later! 14.30    Hmmmm.... it looks like ‘sunny spe

19th October 2022 (Wednesday)      08.00 .... I intended going to the beach for sunrise but there was a light Scotch mist blowing in at the time so that idea was cancelled;   unfortunately the wind is from the ESE so we could have spells of light mist now and again.... the forecast is ‘light cloud and a moderate wind (ESE) with the chance of precipitation’.     It’s a ‘light spot o’ retail therapy morning’.... not an enjoyable experience at today’s prices and knowing   that the extra money we’re paying is going towards widening the gap between rich and poor.    Actually I’m feeling ‘happy’ this morning;   not because I’m one of the ‘poor’ helping the rich get richer;   I’m happy   just because I’m ‘me’ and will mooch a cuppa with Alice when in Leven..... and, if the Scotch Mist moves away I might yet get to the beach after breakfast. 09.00   I had a walk to the beach but Scotch Mist blew in so I bagged the camera and abandoned the walk.    There's frisky wind but it's not too

18th October 2022 (Tuesday)    09.30 .... we had a stunning sunrise sky this morrrrning.... and the plaintiff sound of two Whooper swans for a couple of minutes;  the stuff dreams are made of.   Not only that, sunrise time coincided with high tide so the ‘Blue Tits’ swimmers were going in for a swim.... brave ladies on what was a bonnie but slightly chilly morning.   I intend having a run out on the bike after breakfast and once the air warms up a bit.   It’s a ‘play day’. 20.30    My word, it has been a bonnie day.... and not too cold considering the wind had veered to the Easterly direction.   Although I planned this to be a ‘play day’, that’s not how it turned out;  I ended up ‘working’ ... and enjoyed it.   I trimmed a bit of plywood to a drawing board size, and then extricated the paste table from the shed (that was a big job).   By the time I’d done all that I was in full flight mode, so measured, and cut the lining paper to size ready to cover the ply tomorrow.   The biggest j

17th October 2022 (Monday)      10.00 .... It’s all ‘appening at Ferry Road this morning;   a fresh set of temporary traffic lights so that Scottish Power can replace a junction box ... on the pavement outside Ferry Lodge.    I imagine this will mean we’ll have ‘power cuts ‘;    mind you, we haven’t had any notification .....   so far.    Must ‘go’ slight flap on;   things could be happening outside.... and, more importantly, I switched the   kettle   ‘on’ half an hour ago....that’ll need to be fired up again! I’m feeling frolicsome this morning.... and it’s a bonnie start to the day so I’ve been to the harbour on the bike (and forgot the paper);  strong winds with rain is forecast for later in the afternoon.   I might go out again.... after morrrrrning coffee. 18.00   I don’t know where to begin, Ferry Road has been a hive o’ activity all day:  the result of all this activity?.... two lovely holes (well worth a browse), and Balvonie without scaffolding.   There was so much ‘appening