Alberto's Hutte

10th May 2024 (Friday)    08.15 .... we have a sunny and warm  morning, and we're going to have to get used to it for the whole day;  it's sun cream day even though there is  some light cloud about.   At the moment there's a light breeze from the southwest, but that is backing Easterly so there could be a light breeze 'aff the watter' in the afternoon.   It's a 'play day' and I will be out on the bike after 'morning coffee'.    16.30    This has been the best day of weather we've had for a long time (21C on the garden thermometer).   As 'planned' I went out on the bike.... the idea being to go for a longer run than yesterday.   I decided to start by making Chapel Green my first stop.  In fact it ended up being my only stop;  I was enjoying the sunshine so much that I just moved from one seat to another .... taking a load of photographs on the way round.  There was hardly a breath o' wind so the cliffs were reflected in the mirro

9th May 2024 (Thursday)     08.30 .... The sun is shining at Lochgelly, the light overnight rain has  moved away to the Southeast, 'bloo' sky is moving our way, from the West (Lochgelly etc), on a moderate westerly breeze;  sunny spells should be with us shortly.   This is going to be a 'rest and play' day for me;  I'm looking forward to going out on the bike! 10.45   I went to Elie (in the car) to pick up my prescription and met Moira who updated me on the 'croach News.  I had a quick visit to the harbour, then home;  forgetting that I meant to stop to pick up the paper.   I'll do that when I'm out on the bike.   It's cloudier than I thought it would be..... I was expecting loads of 'bloo' sky by now.   It's also breezier, with a little bit of wind chill.   22.00    The sky eventually cleared and we had a lovely warm afternoon;  in fact it was hot  later in the afternoon.   I went up to Elie on the bike, through through Elie Estate to c

8th May 2024 (Wednesday)     08.45 .... It's a lovely quiet morrrrrrning;  the sky is the  sky is 'Katherine Bank'. overcast but not threatening rain by the look of it.  There's a light breeze from the West so it's much warmer than it was yesterday;  and we should get sunny spells in the afternoon.  I'm thinking of going round the Ferry on the bike to flatten the battery, then charge it and go for a longer run in the afternoon.    I've been admiring a crop of dandelions in the front rhone;  now I'm contemplating getting the ladder out.   A couple of years ago I wouldn't have had to 'contemplate';  I'd have cleared the rhones.   I think it's called ' old a ...  er... not being as young as I was!  That reminds me;  66 years ago on this date I arrived at Aldershot to begin  National Service;  with, as I was to find out, two most exciting and enjoyable years ahead of me. I've had a look at the ladder;  and got the bike out!   

7th May 2024 (Tuesday)     08.15 .... The sky is overcast and there's a chilly breeze 'aff the watter'; but it's a peaceful kind of morning.... and isn't raining!   Hopefully the sun will break through and warm up the air.   I'll be ready to activate today's 'plan' ..... after I have another cuppa.   That reminds me.... I have to take my BP.  20.30   I sailed through the annual check up;  Laurie did it the last time I had a blood test;  in fact she does all that every time I have a Blood test.   Because the wind was a bit chilly I didn't go out to Woodhaven to take any photos.... choosing to go back to Ivy and have another cuppa before I went along to Methil.  There's a new set of temporary traffic lights in Leven:  they, the lights, were operating perfectly.... but no sign of any human activity.   The Bawbee Brig continues to be the major hold up: but, people in the know' use the Iron Brig', so it's busier!   I arrived at Alice&

6th May 2024 (Monday)     09.15 .... We've had a lot of rain overnight, and its still raining, but  should begin to fade away by midday.   On the bright side.... pollen levels are low... on the not so bright side, the wind is from the East.   It's a computer day for me;  computer and multiple cuppas!.... but, I'm expecting  sunny spells later in the afternoon! 10.45    The rain has slackened off since I first looked out;  I might venture down to the beach if it clears away.   It's not that cold out; just grey.... and wet. 15.00    The sky has brightened a bit since the rain stopped, but the light breeze is from the East.... and I do not like wind with East in it..   Having sad that, I'm happy that the weather is improving.... and we may yet end the day with sunny spells.  I have had a 'restful' day, that's the long way to write 'lazy':  however I'm feeling quite frisky after a long catnap.   If the sun does break through I might go out on t

5th May 2024 (Sunday)    09.00 ... It's warm and overcast, with occasional light rain showers.... and a light breeze from the West. Sunny spells should come our way by 'MC' time (11.00).   I'm thinking of getting the bike out when the sun breaks through;  it all depends on how frequent the light showers are.   I've been for the paper, (in the car).... I didn't bother with the harbour as it was spitting rain at the time.   It's a lovely morning... even though the weather is grey and damp. 16.30    With the weather friendly... and the wind from the West... I went out on the bike.... for the first time in  a couple of weeks.  I didn't set any records for going far, but the camera finger got plenty of exercise, even if the rest of me didn't: the intention being to get a few photos of the Spring greens of the trees and hedgerows.  I can well understand why our 'Pagan' ancestors worshipped  natural things, like the Sun, Moon, Stars and the natural

4th May 2024 (Saturday)    08.30 .... It's a peaceful kind of morrrrrrrrrring;  low cloud has drifted  in from the North Sea overnight with drizzle, but there's only a light breeze (ENE) so its wet.... but not cold.   All the Fife Weather cams are showing low cloud and dampness at present, but the light rain/drizzle should stop by the middle of the day.   Sunny spells aren't mentioned in the forecast, but we might get lucky be the end of the afternoon....pollen levels will be low!    I'll have a mix of writing/ research and watching the snooker World Championship, from the Crucible, Sheffield.  Busy day ahead. 17.00    The sky appears to be brightening up now, but most of the day it has been overcast..... and dry.  I took advantage of the drizzle moving away and had a walk down to, and along the bents.   The villages see to be busy, with more people walking on the beach than I expected;  it wasn't the bonniest of days, but at least it wasn't windy ad cold.  It

3rd May 2024 (Friday)     08.30 .... It's a lovely morning, but there is a chilly wind off the ENE:  it will be warm in sheltered places, but cool on the beach or golf course.   It will be a good 'drying day';  and we might have to look out the sunscreen.   I'm having a playing around Ivy day;  this means that I might paint some of the shed.... my breathing is much better after my appointment with Gil (Asthma Nurse). 21.00   This has been more like the kind of weather we need;  bright and sunny and very warm in the back garden, where it I was well sheltered from the Easterly wind.   At one time it was too hot and I was longing for the good old cold and wet, Scottish weather that we can cope with!   (I worry aboot me at times!)   I set about painting the front of the wee shed;  and managed to give it three coats.  It was bare in bits.    The bare bits were caused by wasps, using the dry wood to make their nests over the past few years.  The new paint will stop them doi

2nd May 2024 (Thursday)    08.15 .... It's bright and breezy in Elie and Earlsferry this morning.... Leven. however the wind is from the East and taking a few degrees off the temperature so not very warm on the beach!    Sheltered from the wind it will be really warm.... this has me thinking of painting the shed; it is sheltered from the wind, the patio being a real sun trap.   Anyway we have a bonnie morning ....  a day for doing things. 15.15   I had to go to Elie to hand in my prescription, so I decided to visit Alice when I was out in the car;  and I'd go to Boots to buy a BP monitor.   I eventually arrived at Alice's HQ, after negotiating two set of temporary traffic lights;  the first set at the former Lundin Links Hotel and the second at the ongoing works at the Bawbee Brig.  After admiring Alice's handiwork on the garden bench;  which is now Holly Green, instead of the Sea Green that it had been.   I'll take a photo of the finished bench next week.  I didn

1st May 2024 (Wednesday)    08.45 .... There's loads of May Day magical morning dew for washing our faces this lovely morning;  I used the dew from the rose bush!   This means I should have a flawless complexion for another year!   I'm a happy boy.  What's the weather like?....there's a heavy mist at present, but we did have a short sunny spell when I was doing the 'morning dew' thing!   The mist is forecast to morph into 'light rain' by midday:  and I'm hoping for more sunny spells!    With the wind "aff the watter", it is not as warm as it could be. 19.00    The sunny spells I was hoping for were few and far between, but at least the light rain didn't arrive until late in the afternoon (17.00 ish).    When we left the 19th (at about 15.00)  the Western sky looked bright;  but never came our way as the weather was coming from the East.   As ever we enjoyed good food, happy banter... and caught up will all the local 'News'. Ba

30th April 2024 (Tuesday)    08.30.... It's a nice enough morrrrrrning;  but the wind is off the water (Easterly) so the air is cool on East Coast;  the West Coast could see the temperature up in the high teens.   It will be warm (in the high teens) sheltered from the wind so I should get a bit more of the wee shed painted .... once the sun breaks through.   At the moment the sun is starting to burn off the early morning cloud. 19.00    It has been a lovely day.... but the Easterly breeze was annoying;  or, would have been if I'd gone to the beach.   I didn't go to the beach but enjoyed giving the first side of the wee shed 5 coats of 'Duck's Back' Cuprinol.   Doing the bottom third was the best bit;  that was a sitting down job.  And..... the shed is sheltered from the aforementioned wind!    I don't think I'll be painting tomorrow, because mist and light rain is forecast for KY9;  and, with the moderate wind being from the East, the weather is unlikel

29th April 2024 (Monday)    07.30 .... Although we have a bright and breezy start to the day, light rain is forecast to move in by lunch time.   At the moment there's a frisky breeze from the SW but is backing to the SE;  so much the same weather as we had yesterday, but warmer air should begin come our way today.   And  warmer weather will be very welcome.... and long overdue.    09.30    The sky has clouded over and we've had a shower o' rain as per weather forecast..... but the air is warmer.  Pity about the rain.    I'm in a research and writing mood so will work on the computer most of the day. 19.30    I've had a fairly busy day, working on the computer:  but I had to take 'time out' to go to Elie (in the car) and went out to Woodhaven car park to take a few photos.   (I'd been at the Surgery making an appointment to have my BP checked etc;  that happens next Tuesday).    Anyway, by this time the wind had freshened and backed to the SE so it was m

28th April 2024 (Sunday)    09.00 .... Light rain is forecast for our area today, and Ferry Road is Apple Blossom. wet so we've already had some rain;  I'm thinkin' that this could be a rest day.   There's a cold breeze from the NE and the sky looks much more threatening then it did an hour ago;  this means that we could be in for a spell of wet and cold weather;  with sunny spells later in the afternoon and evening.    19.38(That was a good year)    The weather has been a bit "iffy" today so I went to Methil to admire Alice's, freshly painted, garden seat.  Alice has done a good  of the actual painting;  but she doesn't like the colour now that she sees it on the seat....'Sea Green'!  Her favourite next choice colour would be 'Methil Purple'.... but I don't think B 'n Q will have that in stock; so she is thinking of any green that isn't 'Sea green'.   Due to the ever present chance of showers I never got any more o

27th April 2024 (Saturday)    09.00 .... It's a bonnie, sunny morning:  actually this might be the morning when I go out on the bike!    The air is cool for the time of year, but there's only a light breeze  (Easterly) so the wind chill is negligible.   If I do get the bike out it will be after morning coffee by which time the air temperature should be about 10C.    Must 'go' .... slight Flap On': I'm going to have an early 'morrrrrning coffee'.   The main 'plan' for the day is painting a bit o' the wee shed. 19.30    We've had a lovely day... and a lot of folk were out enjoying, but they were all well wrapped up against the freshening Easterly wind.   It was too cold for me going out on the bike so I did  few wee jobs around Ivy.... including getting the paint and ground sheet organised for doing the shed.  I eventually got round to actually dipping the brush in the paint and doing a bit of one side.   I'm trying to pace myself ...

26th April 2024 (Friday)    08.00 .... 'Blob' (Bless his feathery butt) is feeding as he does in the winter;  I open the front door and he is in the house looking for breakfast.   Normally, at this time of year he would be more distant and seen less often.   This weather has got everything 'mixed up'.   Anyway we have a lovely but cold, wintry type morning with a light breeze from the ENE.... and nothing good ever comes on an East wind. 16.30    It has been a gorgeous day, but too cold for me going out on the bike so I had short run, round The Ferry and up to Kinneuchar, in the car.   Dougie and Colin were working on the field north of the Kinneuchar Station road so I got a  few photos of them.  I don't know what was in the air today, but anytime I went out to go for a short walk (and it was short) ....I was allergic to whatever was in the air.   The light breeze has veered more towards the East, and pollution levels are at 'Medium', so I'm  guessing t

 25th April 2024 (Thursday)    08.30 .... we have a gorgeous, albeit slightly cooler than I'd like, morrrrrning;  a good morning for doing a bit o' the Coastal Path.   I might 'do' the Chapel Green bit in the afternoon.  The paper has been uplifted, the harbour visited, a few photographs taken;  I'm ready to do stuff.   I'll switch on the kettle. 19.30    It has been another lovely day .... but cold.   Alice and I did our shopping  at Sainsbury's and, when loading the messages into the car a light shower of hailstones passed over.   There's definite wintry feel to the air just now.   Tomorrow is going to be another cold day with the chance of showers. We had a short run down to the former Buckhaven harbour;  it's hard to believe that it was once almost as picturesque as Crail.   Unfortunately it fell foul of the greed for coal and the ravages of re development in the 1960's.  AS with all harbours it was cold at Buckhaven! Julie, (my next door ne

24th April 2024 (Wednesday)    08.00 ....  There's a chilly wind from the North, making, what  should be a bonnie Spring morning, feel more like a winter one.   I won't be travelling far today.   It's going to be a day for the computer.   I've already been browsing some of my older photos.... so I'll be doing more of that .... and a bit o' writing, if I get into the mood. 12.30   I am saddened and vexed today;  saddened because Tom has died, and vexed because I missed Tom's funeral yesterday.  It was a big shock when Myra told me on Monday that Tom had died.  It doesn't seem that long since I was speaking to Tom outside the 'paper shop'.   I wouldn't have been able to go to the funeral but I might have managed to go to the 'wake' in the Ferry Hall.  Tom was an Elie boy, who had been part of Elie and Earlsferry forever.... and will be sadly missed.  I'll miss our little chats outside the 'paper shop'... and the 'toot&

 23rd April 2024 (Tuesday)    "Happy St George's Day to all my friends in England". 08.00.... We have a beautiful start to St George's Day in Elie and Earlsferry.... and the forecast is good for the whole of today.   Might need to unearth the sun cream!    Although bright and sunny there is a cool breeze from the Northerly direction.... but it's a light breeze so the wind chill is low:  the temperature forecast to get up to 12C.   I might go up to Chapel Green on the bike after morrrrrrrning coffee. 10.00    This was to be 'rest day', but I hung out a washing because it's a good drying day now that the breeze has freshened.   It also feel colder thanks to the wind chill.   Most of my time has been spent watching the News;  it's depressing on all 'fronts'.... and  I've been reading the update about the plan of action for our local kirks, Kinneuchar and Elie.   Elie Kirk has to be 'Sold' by 2027 with the future of Kinneuchar sti

22nd April 2024 (Monday)    09.40 .... It's a funny kind o' mornin';  the sky is overcast, there's only a light breeze and everything is quiet.   I went for the paper, then to the harbour; even the seagulls were silent.... and they usually let us know they are around.   Anyway, it's a peaceful, dry, morning .... but light rain might move over in the afternoon.   Kirsty has just phoned to say that we are going to 'The Ship Inn' for lunch, so that is the plan for today.  18.30     'The Team'  enjoyed lunch at 'The Ship Inn';  I was surprised at how busy it was considering it was Monday!  After a delicious lunch (I had Cullen Skink followed by Pittenweem Strawberry sweet) Kirsty took us on a mystery tour that had us visiting Elie Harbour, Elie Surgery, Elie Estate, Kinneuchar Castle Estate, Colinsburgh, the wee car park bit overlooking the Cocklemill Burn near Ruddon's Point and, finally into the Shell Bay Caravan Park Coffee (Café Mirador)

21st April 2024 (Sunday)    08.00 .... The sky is overcast with light drizzle drifting in from the 'Jems' North Sea;  the dampness is spoiling a peaceful morning.   The drizzle is forecast to turn into 'light rain'.... and the evening to end with a 'sunny spells'.   Nice enough morning;  pity about the dampness..... it means I won't be able to sort out the wee shed.   The 'plan is to visit Alice, do some shopping and catch up with Alice's news.   I'll do more tidying up to the shed in the evening.... and enjoy the sunny spells! 22.30    My word.... I have been a busy boy.  As per 'plan' I visited Alice and, after a morning cuppa at Alice's HQ, we went to Leven shopping (Sainsbury's).   I got everything I wanted... but no goodies!    I have put 'Puku' on a diet because I have to have both asthma and hypertension checked.   One of the appointments (asthma) can be done on the phone but the other will be 'face to face

20th April 2024 (Saturday)     08.15 .... The sky is mostly overcast just now, but we might get a few East end of 'The Terrace' - Elie. sunny spells by morning coffee time (that's 11.00 for me).   There's a cool, light North Easterly breeze .... 'Blob' is acting like it's winter;   but i t will be warmer when the sunny spells arrive.   It might be warm enough for me to venture up to Chapel Green in the bike.   10.30    I've hung out a washing but I very much doubt if it will dry, because there isn't much of a breeze just now:  however the breeze might freshen.   In the meantime I'm going to have an early morning coffee before trying to move stuff around the garden.   19.38   Although it has been mostly overcast, we had a few sunny spells in the middle of the day;  in fact the washing was almost dry when I brought it in a few minutes ago.   I'll do the ironing after this update.  I actually spent most of the day pottering about the garden. 

19th April 2024 (Friday)    08.45 .... There's a cool Northerly breeze taking a bit off the temperature but, other than that we have, we have a lovely morning.   I've been for the paper.... and set off for the harbour but the crane was manoeuvring it's way down, so I diverted up Admiralty Lane then home by way of Kinneuchar.   It's a good morning for 'Crane In'. 17.30    It was a perfect day for 'Crane In'... apart from the cold North Westerly breeze.   I was on the bike so well wrapped up;  in fact the only bits of me that felt cold were the points of my fingers, because I had to wear fingerless gloves for the camera.   I was surprised to find that Nosebag (café) wasn't open;  and I'd taken money with me to buy a bacon roll for lunch.   Anyway hunger got to me eventually and I had to go home, before the yachts were craned in.   On the way home I stopped at 'Hyde Park' to take a few more photographs.   It was much warmer sitting on one o

18th April 2024 (Thursday)    08.00 .... The Fife Weather cams are all showing an overcast sky:  rain hasn't reached Fife so far, but is expected to arrive by mid morrrrrrrning...."light rain and a fresh Westerly breeze" being the forecast until later in the afternoon;  but we're going to end the day with a bonnie evening.  Hmmmmm .... I don't think I'll be painting any bits of the shed today; and that was my project to take my mind off the car.   Computer stuff it will have to be:  I'm actually in a writing mood so this might not be a wasted day. 09.00   Forget the heap oops... car (it's in the 'bad car' corner);  I'm excited because the workmen are here to begin work on the patio. They arrived a wee while ago;  unfortunately spits and spots o' rain arrived at the same time and, if  the rain is heavy and prolonged they won't be able to do much.   Showers are OK but not prolonged rain.  Must 'go' got to have another cuppa