Alberto's Hutte

31st May 2023 (Wednesday)      07.00 .... This morning’s ‘Master Plan’ was to go for the paper by way of Elie Estate on the bike.... but we have low cloud and light drizzle at the moment, so the ‘MP’ was altered.    I went for the paper(s) in the car and will go biking through the estate when the ‘sunny intervals with a moderate breeze’ weather arrives.... as per forecast. 11.00     Having been to The Store (Ainster) I am now well ready for a bonnie afternoon.     The sky is still overcast but he drizzle has stopped.     I’m planning to go out in the afternoon when the sun has broken through.     That said.... the cloud could persist along the East Coast. I met Elizabeth in ‘The Store’:   she is looking well and.... looking forward to a holiday in the Lake District with Graham and friends.    It’s good seeing that things are getting back to ‘normal’; even the East Neuk being busier with holiday folk is good.... but I’ll have to get used to the roads being busier.    I think I deserv

30th May 2023 (Tuesday)     09.00.... This is definitely a sun-cream day;  bright and sunny with an Easterly breeze... and I haven’t been out on the bike.   I’ll do that in the evening when everything is quieter.    I’m hoping to do a longer run in the next few days .... especially if the weather stays  warm and sunny.   I’m thinking of Colinsburgh and Balcarres. 20.30    It has been a cracker o’ day and I have enjoyed it.   The roads were busy when I went to Methil;   and even busier on the way home.   Driving isn’t as enjoyable now as it was before COVID:   there always seems to be someone in hurry.    When driving along and you check the rear view mirror and see a pair of eyeballs.... that’s unnerving.....and that’s driving in the East Neuk nowadays.   I had a relaxing few hours with Alice... and her daughter’s Izzy and Theresa who dropped by (at different times).     There was much chatting, laughter and drinking of tea.   Alice and I also visited Marilyn, one of the neighbours

  29th May 2023 (Monday)    10.30 ....  I enjoyed the paper run this morning;  'Hermione' with the troops in tow.  the weather was (and still is) perfect with a bonnie early morning light for the camera.... with photographs jumpin’ out at me all the way round.    And I remembered to pick up the paper.     We have one happy boy at Ivy.... who is now  ready for morrrrrrrrning coffee before doing any ‘work’.   Enjoy you day....actually it’s a  it’s a ‘play’ day.  I might leave the ‘work’ until later. 19.38   (That was a good year)    I could get used to this kind of weather.... even with the East wind.   Apart from falling asleep in The Hutte for half an hour, I’ve had a busy and enjoyable day.   I cut down a Pendulous Sedge that I want rid of... and will have a go at uprooting the roots tomorrow.   Actually it’s hard to believe how Pendulous Sedge came into the garden but I am going to well you anyway.   The only place I have seen this sedge, in recent years, is at the Balcarres

28th May 2023 (Sunday)     07.00.... The breeze is from the Northerly direction so there’s a fresher feel to the air this morning;  but it looks like being a nice enough day, albeit with a cool onshore breeze.   After I go for the paper I shall spend most of my day around Ivy;  with ‘time out’ in the afternoon when the temperature is warmer....if the roads are not too busy. 19.45     I had a very enjoyable ‘paper run’ this morning (in the car); I remembered to actually get the paper (Sunday Post) – got to keep up with ‘Oor Wullie.   After the ‘Paper Shop’ I went to the harbour.    It was a really peaceful morning with the sea looking like a sheet o’ glass....with an abundance of reflection.    At that time the light breeze was from the North West so I ventured onto the beach;   I was a happy boy and feeling good. Neil was getting ‘Sea Nymph’ ready to go out sailing so I wandered out to the end of the pier   to get a few photos of Neil and crew going out.    It was a good day for a q

27th  May 2023 (Saturday)     08.00....  ‘Sunny intervals with a fresh breeze' Cruise ship 'Queen Victoria'.   is our weather forecast for today.... and the fresh breeze is from the West and, though frisky, won’t have that harsh Easterly feel to it.   That said we are only going to get one day’s respite (from the East wind).... the wind is going back to East again tomorrow.   Anyway we have a bonnie, bright and breezy day today;  I’m feeling bright eyed and bushy tailed and ready for a ‘play’ day. 22.00   With the weather being ‘sunny and warm kind the villages have been busy.... and will be much the same tomorrow;   though it might be cooler on the beach if the wind is off the East as it is forecast to be. I had an enjoyable few hours in the company of Alice, who arrived off the 11.00 bus.   When I went to Elie to meet the bus there was a notice on the kirk gate advertising a Coffee Morning in the kirk hall.... but it was too late to go to that....the   bus Alice was on

26th May 2023 (Friday)   08.15.... There’s a cool onshore breeze but once the sun burns off the cloud we should have another bright and sunny day;  the wind direction being the only problem.   This is going to be a ‘potter around Ivy’ day but I will take ‘time out’ to have short run out on the bike in the afternoon.   That reminds me .... I have the bike battery to put ‘on charge’. 09.15    The bike battery is ‘on charge’ and I am about to have an early morning coffee.... before doing some ‘ousework.     When I was out sorting out the bike I noticed that the breeze off the water is not warm;   in fact it’s cauld! 20.00    We’ve had a bonnie day.... but the onshore breeze took a few degrees off the temperature and spoiled what could have been a warm day.   I never went further than the front gate but I have been busy;  I even did some ‘ousework: Alice is coming along tomorrow.   Ivy Cottage has the man – cave look so I’m trying to sort of.... de man cave it.   Not very successfully I m

25th May 2023 (Thursday)    07.30 .... The thermometer is at 12C, but there’s a cool (F3) breeze from the Northerly direction so, out in the open, it’s cooler than I thought it would be;  I’ll go biking later in the afternoon when the wind is expected to have veered to the South and the air warmer.  At the moment the sky is overcast and the air cool; it’s going to be a good drying day after the sun breaks.  After a long unbroken night’s sleep I’m feeling lively, but will resist the temptation to go biking in this cool morning air.  09.00     The breeze has moderated and the early morning coolness has gone; when the sun breaks through we should have a lovely ‘play’ day.    I’m going to Leven and will ‘play’ in the afternoon.   When in Leven I'll find my way up to Methil and  drop in to see Alice, mooch a cuppa and have a cheerful chat.    Enjoy your day. 21.45    My word it has been a bonnie day.... and warm;  20C at one point in the afternoon.    I went to Alice’s and we both went

24th May 2023 (Wednesday)    08.00 .... If you are looking for fresh air this morning we have loads to spare; it’s a bonnie morning, but there’s a frisky Westerly breeze bringing a degree or two of wind-chill with it.  A lovely morning for doing the Coastal Path so I might bike up to Chapel Green to have morning coffee .... once the air warms up a bit.   However, this is going to be mainly a drawing, catch up with the ‘ousework kind o’ day for me .... a ‘lazy’ day. 11.15    The breeze appears to be moderating so I’m going to get the bike out;   I have to go out today as the wind is veering to the Easterly direction tomorrow.... that’s not good.    We will have bonnie enough weather it’s just the drying Easterlies that I don’t like;   however I’ll see how it is on the day(s). I have done some work this morning;   I fuelled up the car.... now I’m going to bike round The Ferry;   and maybe further.... depending on how I feel.    It’s a beautiful sunny day and it would be a pity to mis

23rd May 2023 (Tuesday)    09.00 .... I’ve been for the paper (and got it) and down to the harbour, on the bike.   It’s a cracker’ o’ a mornin’;  we have a good weather forecast for KY9; ‘sunny intervals with a gentle breeze (W) and precipitation is not expected’.... it is a ‘play’ day.   And there’s abig beach just now (the tide is going out). I’m going to Methil to annoy Alice (and look at old maps of Buckhaven Harbour);   after that the ‘plan’ is to go to the Bargain Store for some retail therapy.     19.00     My word....this has been a bonnie day and a busy one.    The weather has been perfect .... apparently this is the first of a number of ‘perfect’ summer like days;   so let’s enjoy them. As planned I went to Methil to Alice’s, where we had a cuppa before going to the ‘Bargain Store’ (the ‘Cheap Shop’....‘cheap’ as in the name of the store ... ‘Bargain’).    We did our shopping then went back to Alice’s for a blether.... in her (tidy) garden.    I mention ‘tidy’ because Iv

22nd May 2023 (Monday)    06.30 .... It’s a strange kind o’ mornin’; it’s misty with a thundery feel in the air, but quiet and peaceful with only a light breeze from the west;   The weather forecast for KY 9 is.... (one and a half minute pause).... ‘light rain and a gentle breeze’.     I’ll have a look at the Lightning site to see if there is thunder around and where it is.   “I’m back”; there’s a huge area of thunder storms in the middle of the North Sea...  from off Hull across to Holland and Germany.... hence the ‘strange’ feel to the air.   In fact the whole of Europe has had a seriously thundery night by the look of the map.  It's cuppa No2 time. 08.00    I went for the paper (forgot it) in the car and ended up at the harbour;  I didn’t linger there very long when it started to rain:  I went into the car and back to Ivy .... I hope to get out on the bike later.    The thunder storms in the North Sea are petering out, but are moving closer to the UK as they do so... almost off

21st May 2023 (Sunday)      08.30 ....  The Fife Weather cams are all showing grey on what is a damp and murky morning.     We had light rain/drizzle at 05.00 so I went back to bed for a couple of hours and, though it’s fair just now, it looks like we could get some more drizzle: it’s a bonnie morrrrrrning in a different way.  However.... it’s warm and I’m looking forward to sunny spells in the afternoon.   Plan’ for today?.... probably a lazy, drawing and research day. 15.30     The weather has been very uncooperative today;   oh... the greyness lightened up for a bit after lunch and I had high hopes of ‘sunny spells’ but, although it isn’t raining, the murkiness has returned and my ‘sunny spells’ have been shelved, until evening time I’m thinkin’.... if we get them at all. I’ve been working in The Hutte but, without the sun, it never really warmed up;   which is why I am in Ivy, having a cuppa and doing this update.    I’ve been copying a drawing, (from a sketch by W. Bell in 1806

20th May 2023 (Saturday)    08.15 .... It’s a quiet balmy mornin’... one of those peaceful mornings that would have had me doing a part of the Coastal path 10 years ago.   However I have something better in mind;  Alice and Eccles cakes.   I’ll have an early morrrrrning coffee then bumble along to Methil.    ‘Sunny intervals with a light breeze’ is the weather forecast for KY9 today.... but the clouds might thicken later in the afternoon.   21.15  My word ....after a cuppa and an Eccles Cake (home baked by Alice) we went up to Buckhaven to visit the remains of the harbour.... lost to rubbish from the Wellesley Colliery bing... and filled in eventually by Fife Council.   It’s an interesting place to visit but much has to be done to make this the real tourist attraction it should be.    Buckhaven Harbour was one of the busiest herring fishing ports in Scotland.... if not the busiest.   There’s not much to see but you get bonnie views of the Firth and the coast from the harbour site.   A

19th May 2023 (Friday)      07.00 .... We have a ‘bright and sunny’ start to what is going to be a bonnie day;    there’s a light breeze (W) and the air is starting to warm up.... a perfect day for ‘work and play’.      I haven’t been out yet... the ‘plan’ is to bike up to Barnyards and visit Shona later in the morning;   stopping at the Barnett’s (baker) on the way to buy a couple o’ goodies.    I’ve already hauled some weeds out..... some of the ‘work’ for the day. 10.15   The papers have been uplifted, goodies bought for Shona:  I did all that in the car because I was in need of milk.  I’ll take off for Shona’s after morning coffee, hoping that her boyfriend isn’t visiting;  because I only bought two goodies!   It’s a beautiful morning and I’m looking forward to going out on the bike;  the afternoon will be the main working part of my day. 12.00    There’s been a change o’ plan:  I had ‘morrrrning coffee in The Hutte, read some of the paper.... then fell asleep.   Shona’s goodies w

18th May 2023 (Thursday)      08.15 .... it’s slightly cooler, but the sun is working on the clouds so it should be brighter and warmer in a wee while.  Because it was cool I only went ‘roond the Ferry’ this morning;  there was a bonnie ‘light’ with an interesting sky so I have a batch o’ photographs to ‘play’ with tonight.     I think an early morrrrrning coffee would be a good idea. 17.30   I’ve had a ‘lazy’ day with Alice;  we enjoyed scoffing the last of her birthday cake, .... and a some birthday chocolates; oh .... and chatting.  I don’t know how she puts up wi’ me.... but we bumble along happily, and in ‘nae time it’s time for me to set off for home.   I’ve had a ‘thundery headache’ for the past couple of hours.... but that should clear once we have some rain somewhere.  Tomorrow will be a rest day!... and tonight an early night in bed. 20.30    The North of Italy is being clobbered with thunder storms and flooding:  there’s no doubt that there has been a big change in the weat

17th May 2023 (Wednesday)      09.30 .... It’s an absolute cracker o’ a mornin’ so I was out on the bike at 05.30 this morrrrrrrrrrrning.    The sun had appeared above the low cloud so it wasn’t cold and there was very little wind.... and the only wind chill  was when I was on the bike.  I might go out later in the morning;  after morrrrrning coffee.   Thankfully, my knee doesn’t bother me when I’m biking;  well it does but only when I’m getting on and off. 19.30    I enjoyed my run round the villages this morning.... and not having been on the bike for nigh on a week made it doubly enjoyable.  Early morning is the best time for me to be out.... in fact it’s the best time of the day:  the roads are quiet, the birds twitterin’ and it’s a good time to be out with the camera.   I ended up with a load o’ photographs to ‘play’ with.    I’ll finish sorting them out after this update. My main mission for today was renewing my Blue Badge;  which was easily done after I’d sorted out the bits a