Alberto's Hutte

30th June 2023 (Friday)     07.30 .... I’m thinking that I should have gone out on the bike at 05.30 , before the cloud started to move over from the West... as it has done.  It now looks like the ‘light rain’ mentioned in the weather forecast is going to be with us in the not too distant future.    I suppose it’s ‘sod’s law’;  I get my bike back so the weather changes.  At the moment it’s going to be a drawing day for me;  it isn’t actually raining, but the air is much cooler and  the sky doesn’t look very promising;  but it isn’t as cold as the 7C that the BBC weather app is showing... it’s 14C in Ivy garden. 11.30   I haven’t been able to get going this morning at all and relying on the morrrrrrning coffee caffeine boost getting me ‘fired up’.   The weather isnae doing very much.... it isnae even raining;  it’s just dull and not very encouraging.   The Tour de France starts tomorrow .... I’ll see if it’s on the tele (it usually is); all I have to do is find out which Channel.   I t

29th June 2023 (Thursday)     08.30 .... There’s a nice fresh feel to the air this morning.... almost a  touch of Autumn in it.     Only jokin’ .... it’s  ‘play day’ kind of weather, but light showers are forecast for the middle part of the day.... much the same as yesterday;   I’ll be playing in the late afternoon evening/ early evening  on the bike.   I’m dashing along to Methil just now;  Alice has been baking!.... and I’m in a tormenting mood. 22.00     I enjoyed my few hours Methil;   Alice’s banana bread was excellent and that set the mood for the rest of the day.    Joyce (who used to live next door to Alice and George) came along from Thornton after lunch; and the three of us ‘put the world to rights’ ... again.    I took a photo of the girls (and a few of the floo’ers in the garden) before setting off for home. Joyce and Alice. I planned to go out on the bike later in the afternoon (once the roads were quieter) but didn’t get out until evening time.    It was actually quite

28th June 2023 (Wednesday)      08.30 .... I had the urge to go out on the bike .... Cruise ship 'Deutschland'. then remembered its being serviced;   so the car it was.   I picked up the paper(s), then went to the harbour to get a photo of the cruise ship ‘Deutschland’ on her way to Leith.    It’s a lovely, fresh morning after the rain yesterday.... with ‘light showers’ are forecast for the middle part of the day.   This is going to be a ‘rest day’ for me.... I’ll get the pencils out;  and if I’m feeling really frisky, might even do some ‘ousework. 21.00    It has been a bonnie day, though it has been slightly cooler than of late.... and we had some dampness after lunch.    But that’s not the important news:  I’ve got my bike back and the battery is being charged as I type.   It has new cassette and gear shift (Shimano).... and will be ready for action tomorrow morning.   That said it depends on how the weather is:  the forecast is ‘mostly good’ for tomorrow....the ‘fly in th

27th June 2023 (Tuesday)     07.00 .... Hmmmm.... the sky is overcast and the rain (possibly heavy at times) that is mentioned in our weather forecast looks like it will be with us soon.   That said ... we need rain.   I’m going to Methil to see Alice.... and get putty at B n Q’s, so the rain won’t bother me too much. ‘Sea Cloud Spirit’ was off (middle of the Firth) Elie and Earlsferry at 02.00: I’m depending on her going out in daylight to get a photograph. 16.30   At long last we have had a spell of rain that will do a lot of good to the garden;  and, here’s a bonus (for me anyway)...the rain means I haven’t missed the bike today! It was fair when I left Ivy to go to Methil, but the rain started to hit the windscreen when I got to Upper Largo.... and it was raining steadily by the time I got to  B n Q’s.  They, B n Q, didn’t have any putty in stock so that mission was a ‘failure’..... but I did enjoy a cuppa, and tormenting session, with Alice.  It was when chatting to Alice about

26th June 2023 (Monday)      08.45 .... we have a ‘bright and breezy’ start to the 'President' tractor. day;  a good day for doing things.    My plan is to work on the Kinneuchar drawings for most of the day.... more or less a ‘rest day’.    I’m really looking forward to getting  the bike back  sometime this week;   biking is my best way of getting around.... with the Elie Estate  run one of my favourite local runs. 14.15    I’ve been following the cruise ship ‘Sea Cloud Spirit’ for the past few days, hoping that she would eventually come into the Firth of Forth as she cruises down the East Coast.   She is coming into the Firth and docking at Leith; unfortunately her arrival time at Leith is 02.30 tomorrow (27th) morning.    I’d hoped to get photos of her from Chapel Green but it looks like she’ll be off Elie and Earlsferry in the middle of the night.    Why am I interested in her?.... she is a sailing ship (built in 2021) with three masts and loads of billowing sails. Edinbur

25th June 2023 (Sunday)    09.00....  There’s a bit of cloud around and the air is definitely cooler;  in fact its comfortably cool after yesterday’s heat.    I’ve been for the paper, and visited the harbour... and hung out a washing.   I’m now wondering if I should to go to the Vintage Rally:  I’ll phone Alice after I make a cuppa and have breakfast. 19.00    Alice was happy to go to the Vintage Rally at the Fife Heritage Railway (Kirkland Yard):  so I louped intae the car and was in Methil before the kettle had boiled.   We had a cuppa, then we both louped intae the car, and were at the Fife Heritage Site in ‘nae time’.  We had no problem mooring up the car and didn’t have too far to walk to the entrance.  There was a big and varied selection of vehicles on display with owners willing to chat about their ‘loved ones’... some even mentioned their wives.  It was a bit humid and hot by the time we got round tall the exhibits.... and my knee was not in a good mood.  We found a stall tha

24th June 2023 (Saturday)     07.30   .... the sky is overcast and the air warm The 'Dunblane' rose.   and humid at present;   however the forecast for KY9 is....   five minute pause (to make the tea) ..... ‘sunny intervals with a moderate south-westerly breeze’.    The temperature is 19C just now so the afternoon could be hot... too hot in fact.     It should be a good drying day and I have a washing going through the machine;   but right now it disnae look like a good drying day.... but it's a 'good drying day' forecast.... and I see 'bloo' bits in the Western sky. 15.00    It has been 25C on the thermometer this afternoon;  a beautiful drying day.  I was only out long enough to read the thermometer and bring in the washing;  then  back in to Ivy and enjoy another refreshing cuppa.  I’ll go up to The Hutte in the evening and do some drawing. I went to Elie (in the morning) to get my prescription and the paper;  it was hot even then.   Getting ‘moored up

23rd June 2023 (Friday)    08.00 .... the light rain showers mentioned in the weather forecast, came in sooner than  expected, so I imagine we will have a mix of showers and sunny spells by the end of the day.   I’m feeling frolicsome but can’t frolic because it’s raining.... and I don’t have the bike anyway.    Although there’s a spot o’ dampness it’s a nice enough morning;  warm with a light southerly breeze.  16.30      I went to Methil to visit Alice; Alice needs to be tormented now and again.... and tormenting I do well.   She was in a state of excitement when I got to Methil.... not because I’d arrived;   Alice had found an ant wandering about on the front lobby floor.... and Alice always gets excited when one of her ‘little friends’ decides to visit.    Actually Alice, and her neighbours are plagued with ants and are all on ‘little game hunting alert’ at this time of year.    I have ants outside The Hutte door but I don’t think I’ve ever had one in the house;   to celebrate Ali

22nd June 2023 (Thursday)     09.15 ....  Being a lovely morning, and me without the bike, I wandered down to the beach;  and found the beach busy.... but not as busy as I imagine it will be in a wee while.     The weather forecast is good and the tide on its way out so there will be a big beach to wander along soon (LT 11.41).    I’m having a ‘rest’ day ;  lunch at the  ’19 th’ , with Myra and Kirstie, being the only activity planned for today. 11.30    I had a run along to ‘The Store’ (Ainster) to top up with vital necessities for the weekend.     The ‘store’ was busier than I expected, as were the roads;  but I remembered not to come home by way of Kellie Castle as the roadworks in this bit of the East Neuk are ongoing;  at least the signage is. I can’t believe it:  I spent the past few days worrying about the workmen having to move my shed.   After browsing this morning’s photographs, I got the camera and went out the get a few photos of the shed being moved;  and found that the

  21st June 2023 (Wednesday)..... the Summer Solstice. Elie High Street. 08.15     There was a bank of low cloud on the Eastern horizon at sunrise time (04.22)   so I   went back to bed and got ‘up’ at 05.30, by which time the sun was above the clouds.    There’s a fresh NW breeze this morrrrrrrrning with a noticeable drop in the temperature.   I know the sun reaches its highest point in the sky today (15.37) and the nights start drawing in tomorrow, but I didn’t expect the temperature to drop this soon!        Actually it’s a bonnie day, but light showers are mentioned in our weather forecast.   I’m looking forward to getting my bike fixed later today... it will be a play day tomorrow. 20.30     It has been a lovely day;   a bit too hot for me in the afternoon but I know how to cope.... cat nap.    I enjoy the Lite Bite lunch at Colinsburgh (I think it’s called something else now);   the next one is on the third Sunday of September. My bike was picked up as per ‘plan’ this aftern

20th June 2023 (Tuesday)     08.00....  The Brighton folk had early call this Busy sky over Elie. morning;  a huge thunderstorm bumbled across the city at 06.30; when all that was happening at Brighton, I went down to Nana’s Seat to enjoy what is a peaceful morning;  however that is  forecast to change to ‘thundery showers with a gentle breeze’ by midday.....that should mean an interesting sky. 21.00   I’ve had a mix of work and play today;  emptying some ‘stuff’ out of the shed being the ‘work’ and going for a run on the bike being the ‘play’.    I didn’t go far, only up to Chapel Green then up to the seat at the 17th green.   I like the colour of the course just now;  it is early for it to be so brown but we have had very little real rain up till now.... after a dry Spring. The bloke that’s going to repair my bike is coming tomorrow at 16.45;   and I have lunch at Colinsburgh at 12.30.    Tomorrow is going to be a busy day because I will remove some more ‘stuff’ from the shed.   

19th June 2023 (Monday)      07.00 .... The rain has moved away and, although we have lot of cloud about,  it looks like we could have warm and sunny day by lunchtime: ‘light rain showers with a moderate breeze’ is the forecast.    I didn’t hear any thunder during the night;  the nearest lightning strikes being  SW of Edinburgh (Gorebridge).   Anyway we have blue patches starting to appear in the sky..... the countryside will look fresh after the rain; ..... and the kettle has boiled.   It’s a ‘play day’. 09.45    I decided to go for a wander up to the seat at the 17th green for a change o’ scenery;   when I got there, feeling slightly ambitious, I went for the Pony field and golf course.    It was a bit o’ a struggle as it’s not a good ‘breathing day’.... however I fancied the exercise, the golf course was looking colourful after the rain.... and I could see a load o’ photographs that I wanted.     It was a slow wander but I did it and I’m happy with the photographs.     Today is now

18th June 2023 (Sunday)      07.00 .... we don’t have a wall to wall blue sky but Creel boat we do have a sunny and warm morning;  with a cooling onshore breeze.    There’s definitely a better air around and this has me feeling .... sort of mischievous;  an ‘Alice tormenting’ mood.      08.30    The Sunday Post has been uplifted and the harbour visited, on what is a really nice fresh morning.   The washing is on the line, I’ve had breakfast;   now I’m ready to torment Alice.... after another cuppa. 19.45    We’ve been lucky with the weather compared to many places south of ra border that have had thunder storms and heavy rain:  having said that, rain is much needed and very welcome;  well .... perhaps not ‘very welcome’, but definitely much needed!  The heavy rain is forecast to come our way overnight and tomorrow morning. Alice and I had a ‘happy day’;  we like ‘happy’.    We went to Sainsbury’s  where I did my wee bit shopping... and Alice got rid of a load of brown money by pouring

17th June 2023 (Saturday)     09.15 ..... There’s a change with the weather today;  we have a cloudier  sky, instead  of the ‘wall to wall’ bloo that we’ve had the pleasure of for the past couple o’ days.    I’ve been for the paper via a devious route so varied selection of photographs ( FB page ) this morning. .... and I remembered to pick up the paper.   Since then I’ve had a migraine so this is now a ‘rest’ day:  I’d hoped to go and torment Alice but I’d better no’ drive.    Did I hear a sigh o’ relief coming from Methil just now?   I’ll start a new drawing and spend the day with that and Soduko’s .... and Blob. 20.00   It has been a funny old day for me;  I never really got going after I had the migraine;  that said I’m feeling brighter now so I’m guessing there’s been rain somewhere not to far away.   I started my next ‘Kinneuchar arches’ drawing but it is going to be tricky sorting out measurements, when they converted toe ‘old’ church into one to suit Protestant (religious) ser

16th June 2023 (Friday)    08.45..... It’s another lovely morning .... it’s already Ye Gods ... it will soon be harvest time! warm and sunny, with  a hot afternoon to come.    On hot days the onshore breeze  is welcome;  the pollution from the continent isn’t.   Myra and I are going to Dorothy’s (Mennie) for morning coffee so I haven’t been ‘out and about’ yet.   I might try for the beach after this update. 16.30   I’ve just woken up after a long siesta; and I actually I feel quite playful now.   As planned Myra and I went to Dorothy’s for morning coffee and had a good old catch up with each other’s, and local, news.  After an enjoyable hour and a bit of chatting (and sipping coffee) we have decided to meet up once a month to keep in touch.  Face to face ‘keeping in touch’ conversations are very important, especially in the COVID aftermath... and especially so for ....er ... not so young folks. The ‘warm and sunny morning’ morphed into a hot and sunny afternoon, as has happened for