Alberto's Hutte

31st July 2023 (Monday)    06.30 ....  There’s a bit of dampness around this bonnie morning:  all the Fife Weather cams are showing a grey sky ....we had a ‘red sky in the morrrrrrning’ with light drizzle at 05.30, but the forecast is ‘heavy rain with a moderate breeze’.  The pollen count is ‘low’;  and I'm hoping for 'sunny spells' later in the afternoon. 15.15   With the weather being dreich I have made good progress with the drawing, and have another drawing ready to outline with ink.   But... the sky is starting to look more promising; and, if the weather continues to improve, I might get the bike out in the early evening.   We might even have sunny spells.   I could be hallucinating’;  I’ll have another cuppa. 17.30   The ‘improving sky’ (mentioned above) didn’t last long, and the weather deteriorated again, and the evening ‘sunny spells’ a figment of my imagination;  I don’t think sunny spells are going to come our way until tomorrow morning.   I feel sorry for folks

30th July 2023 (Sunday)      07.30 .... After some overnight rain the sky is West Wemyss. beginning to break up; but we are getting heavy showers just now.  we should have ‘sunny spells’ by midday.....the weather forecast is ‘light showers with a moderate breeze’. ... hopefully, a bonnie albeit breezy, afternoon ahead.     I’m having a quiet day; I’ll nip along to Methil and have morrrning coffee with Alice, then work in the afternoon. 08.30    The weather has deteriorated to ‘heavy showers with not much of a gap between the showers’ ... so it’s wet and windy at the moment.   I’m still looking for sunny spells in the afternoon. 18.15    As mentioned above I ‘nipped’ along to Methil to have morrrrrning coffee with Alice.  When having our morning cuppa I suggested going to the former Buckhaven Harbour site for a potter around; and that is what we did.   On the way, to the harbour, (what’s left of it) we stopped at Eddy’s, a new (‘Food Station) shop, that opened in Buckhaven’ a few weeks

29th July 2023 (Saturday)      09.00 .... There’s a frisky SW breeze bringing  loads o’ interesting clouds.... and fresh air over the Firth.  The weather is forecast to be much the same as yesterday’s.... light rain showers with a moderate breeze’;  in fact that’s  the weather for the next few days.   I took the car up to Elie to get the paper   (and visited the harbour).    All is good at that end o’ the toon...though I noticed that Liberty is full of parked cars.     Going to Elie, via Liberty and Bank Street, could be difficult. 16.30   I went out on the bike about 11.00, but  ... my word the main roads were busy.  Anyway I wanted to go to Kinneuchar kirkyard to have a quiet moment at Harry and Sheila Joss’s grave side: Sheila was laid to rest beside Harry yesterday and I was unable to go to the funeral.  This was a nice morning for a bit of quiet thinking.   With the roads being busy I decided to come home by way of the Shell Bay/ Grangehill to Elie and Earlsferry road: it too w

28th July 2023 (Friday)      07.30.... The air is warm and the forecast good..., but.... just now the sky is heavily overcast with the look of rain about it so no biking until later in the day.  Apart from the cloud, it’s a nice enough morrrrrning ..... and  the cloud  should evaporate once the sun gets going, to leave  us with ‘sunny spells and the chance of showers’.     08.15   We did have a light shower o’ rain just before 08.00.... but the sky is clearing from the West and we should have the sunny spells by mid morning.   Lochgelly is already basking in warm sunshine! The satellite (Aeolus ) drops into the Atlantic Ocean later today; follow the link to a fascinating BBC article that tells you all about it.    Does this mean that our medium term weather range forecasting will go back to what it was before ‘Aeolus’ (Greek God of the winds) was launched.      There was a noticeable difference in the accuracy of the forecast when Aeolus became operational.    2nd Green. 10.30    We

27th July 2023 (Thursday)     08.00 .... Mmmmm...it’s overcast, with light drizzle, coming in off the North Sea on a light Easterly breeze; it’s not a bonnie start to the morning.    In fact, it’s a good morning for tormenting, and having morrrrrrrrning coffee with Alice:  we could do some shopping if necessary.   It should be brighter in the afternoon;  I’m looking for sunny spells! 18.00    I have been one busy boy today; and I haven’t done any drawing yet!   With the weather being damp in the morning I went to Methil to visit Alice. We had a cuppa and caught up with each other’s ‘news’ before going to Leven (Sainsbury’s) to get some vital shopping.    The shopping didn’t take long and Alice’s kettle switched to the ‘on’ within three quarters of an hour.    After another cuppa (and blether) I set off for Ivy, and was back in time to go round to the 19th and have a pre arranged lunch with Kirsty and Myra.   That took care of food for today Back home after saying ‘cheerio’ to the gi

26th July 2023 (Wednesday)    08.00 .... I didn’t go out biking first thing;  I was ‘up’  early enough but the sky was threatening rain at that time  (05.30);   there’s still a lot of cloud,  but the sun is trying to break through, so I’ll go out later.... once the weather settles down.   Funnily enough, I’m in a ‘drawing’ mood just now, so I'm going to have breakfast then go out to The Hutte.   14.40     I had a long drawing session this morrrning;   and I went out on the bike after lunch.    The biking was short lived as I caught the edge of a light shower at Kinneuchar.   I don’t like the bike being out in rain so I abandoned the exercise, and came back to Ivy and put the kettle on.    There weren’t any spits and spots o’ rain at Earlsferry so my washing was fine (I asked the joiner).    I’m going to have an afternoon coffee in The Hutte;   and a catnap.    I’m tired after a complicated   drawing session. 21.00   The joiners have made good progress with the roof on the new bu

25th July 2023 (Tuesday)     09.00 ....  The first thing I noticed this morrrrrrrrning was the temperature;  so I donned  heavy duty togs to go out on the bike.    It’s a nice enough morning  but there is a cool breeze;  definitely not the temperatures what we expect in July.   Anyway, suitably wrapped up, I went up to Elie for the paper and photographed my way back to Ivy Cottage, via Chapel Green.    This is arrest day and I shall spend most of it in The Hutte.... once the sun breaks through.   At the moment it’s breakfast time. 14.00   After a short spell of light rain the sky is beginning to brighten up... with a lot of blue sky beginning to show.... and... it isn’t as cold as it was earlier.   I’ve been drawing most of the morning;  making sense of some parts of the Rev Sime’s sketches can be tricky.  For instance, on one sketch plan he has a window down as a three light window;  the same window becomes a square ‘sort of window’ in another sketch.   It may have been ‘converted’ a

24th July 2023 (Monday)     08.20 .... I haven’t been anywhere on the bike so far this morrrrrrrrning.   Why haven’t I been out?..... because I slept in:  I didn’t wake up until  06.30.   But I did enjoy a long and unbroken night’s sleep!   Making up a bed (which I did yesterday) is not a hard job; it’s the recovery time that takes longer!     Anyway we have a bonnie morning, and I will go out on the bike later ....when the roads are quieter. 20.00    I eventually got into gear after breakfast, and went to Methil to visit Alice, and have morning coffee.   We had some shopping to do so we did that, then went back to Alice’s and had lunch.... so... I have   had a much needed restful day.    When I got back to Ivy I made a cuppa and promptly fell asleep in front of the tele.    It wasn’t even switched on. For some obscure reason I woke up thinking of the Kirk info form... that I hadn’t filled in; which has to be handed in by the end of this week.   If it isn’t handed in you are deleted

23rd July 2023 (Sunday)     09.00 .... There’s frisky wind from the North .... and it ain’t warm;  in fact there’s a distinct feel of autumn in the air.   Funnily enough I’m feeling friskier this morrrrning  but it’s too windy (and cold) for the bike... so I went for the paper in the car.   The sun is breaking through the cloudiness and I’m looking for sunny spells by midday;  a touch of positivity is what I need this morrrning.... and another cuppa! 10.30   Positivity? .... I have a washing going through the machine;  bring on the sunny spells. One of the jobs I least like is putting a downie intae it’s cover;   usually I end up crawlin’ aboot inside the cover trying to sort it.   Today, with the aid o’ claes pegs, I did it in a few minutes!   I’m thinkin’ that a celebratory mug o coffee.... and maybe even an Eccles cake, has been well earned.    I’m a happy boy. 15.30     The sunny spells began as predicted and we now have a beautiful ‘drying day’; and the aforementioned washing i

22nd July 22023 (Saturday)     09.30 .... It’s a lovely morrrrrrning;  but there’s a cool easterly breeze; however, once the sun breaks through it should be pleasantly warm;  but, unfortunately, not as warm as it should  be at this time of year.   I did a tour of the villages... and Elie Estate ....when I went for the paper this morning;   I also remembered to go for the paper.    19.15    The villages are busy;  I don’t think I saw a spare parking space in the Ferry when I was out earlier.   It’s good that the villages busy, after all it is the middle of the holiday season;  it’s just a pity the weather isn’t as it should be in July.   What have I been doing?....I’ve been busy;  jumping between watching the golf on ‘Sky Go’ (computer) and Stage 20 of ‘le Tour’ on the tele..... and popping out to ‘work’ in The Hutte at regular intervals.   I’d kinda half thought I’d get out on the bike in the evening but the weather is not agreeing with me.... so I’ll have another cuppa and watch the

21st July 2023 (Friday)    09.15 .... It’s a gorgeous morning.... I’ve been for the paper (in the car because I had to get milk).... and had a quick run up to Chapel Green on the bike.    I’m thinking of going shopping after this update..... and after I’ve had another cuppa. 13.00   I went to Leven to do this morning’s shopping;   normally I’d have gone to ‘The Store’ in Anstruther, but Leven has more shops to choose from;  and Alice lives just ‘up the road’ in Methil.  This is the day that Alice goes shopping with Karen, so I had to do without a cuppa.   I’d half hoped to see Alice and Karen in Sainsbury’s but didn’t.   I lingered around for a wee while....and while doing so a pack of two Eccles Cakes louped into my trolley.   This was naughty of them because I am on a diet;  however ‘waste not want not’ ....there’s only one left. We have a bonnie afternoon;   oh we have a few shower clouds around but.... as long as they stay around and not over we’ll be fine.    In fact, i f that

20th July 2023 (Thursday)     09.00 .... The paper run has been done.... and I got the paper!   It’s a bonnie, fresh morning.... and I’m feeling frisky.   I went out towards the lighthouse but, with the bike battery being on one bar I didn’t go all the way;  the battery flattened just as I got home.... perfect timing.   I’ll put it on charge when I get back from Methil. 17.45    Alice and I went to Dysart Harbour for a wander around before having a cuppa and scone in the Harbour Master’s House Cafe.   It was a bonnie morning ....a pity that the tide was out but that’s how harbours are .... and the Dysart Harbour atmosphere is very relaxing regardless to the state of the tide.   That said; high water does make for bonnier pictures.   Having enjoyed our cuppa (and scone) we travelled back to Methil where we studied  Alice’s pet ants who were in an agitated state, suggesting a nuptial flight might be about to take place.   We gave up watching the ants and had a bowl of soup for lunch, be

19th July 2023 (Wednesday)     07.30.... It’s cloudy but the sun should break through to give us sunny spells.... with the chance of a few passing showers later.   Funnily enough, in spite of the heatwave over our near neighbours in Europe, the temperatures here have been cool for the month of July: there is definitely something serious going on with our weather.   21.00     The ‘paper run’ this morning was different;   I set off up Ferry Road planning to go through Elie Estate via North Lodge, but It was a nice quiet kind of morning so I went up to Kinneuchar, this time planning to go to Elie by way of Balbuthie Loan.    I ended up on Balcarres Estate, via the Double Dykes and had a wee explore up to the Rires road end.   This ended up being the test run that I’ve had in mind since I had the bike fixed.    All is good;   the gears are all working so I can browse the myriad of roads on Balcarres.    I never got to Elie; so nae paper.   I came home through Colinsburgh where I met Alan

18th July 2023 (Tuesday)     09.45.... I had a really enjoyable paper run this East end of Elie. morning;   it’s bright, sunny and warm morning, with a beautiful early morning ‘light’.   And I remembered to get the paper!    I’ll have another cuppa after this update then work on the ‘Kinneuchar Project’ drawing.   I have another hard drawing to do.... then write it all up.  It’s a big task, but I’m enjoying the challenge. 16.45   The new build at Ferry Lodge is coming on in ‘leaps and bounds’;  and its traditional build.   Its great seeing a ‘house’ being built the ‘old fashioned’ way ....but with all the modern heat saving etc additions.   I’m enjoying seeing it all happen. Liberty - Elie. My ‘Kinneuchar Project’ drawing has also been making good progress;   and it too is being done the ‘old fashioned’ way: just like Rev Sime would have done 200 years ago.   I have also been watching Stage 16 (time trial) of ‘le Tour’,... but the TT is not the most exciting Stage to watch..... that

17th July 2023 (Monday)   06.30 ....Though mostly cloudy, it’s bright and dry,  with the chance of showers in the afternoon.  It’s not what I’d call a brilliant ‘drying day’, but I might do a washing; if showers come our way it would get an extra rinse, but that’s easy enough sorted.   For some strange reason I’m feeling ‘playful and mischievous’ this morning.  20.30     I went to Methil to visit Alice and do some shopping in the Bargain Store and Sainsbury’s.    We had a cuppa at Alice’s HQ before the shopping expedition.    Both shops were fairly busy....there was only one check out operational in Sainsbury’s, and there was a queue at it, so we did the self check out.    Most of our shopping was done in the Bargain Store but Sainsbury’s has items (Eccles cakes) that you don’t get in the Bargain Store.    I can never understand   the Bargain Store check outs; no matter how busy the shop is, going through the checkouts never takes long.     On the way out we met Honor and Jock coming