Alberto's Hutte

12th September 2025 (Friday)     08.30 ....  It's  a lovely morning;  a bit windier  (SW) than we've had lately so it will feel cooler, and, though mostly sunny, there's a chance of showers in the afternoon.   A nice day to be going to Leven Golf Club, to have lunch with the girls.   I haven't been outside yet, but I can see the branches walloping about on the apple tree.   I'd better pick up some of the apples to make myself an 'Eveline's Pudding'! 11.00    I went up to Elie (in the car) to buy milk, and get some money from the ATM cash point.    I'll need to take box with me box to stand on in future, if I need to use the machine  when the sun is on it.   Luckily there was a couple, out walking their dog, that helped me so it was a successful mission .... eventually. 18.45    Kirsty, Myra and I enjoyed our lunch at Leven Golf Club:  It was 'Fish n' Chips Lunch' day, so t...

11th September 2025 (Thursday)     24th Anniversary of the 'Twin Towers" terrorist attack. 08.30 .... We have a frisky breeze this morning;  with sunny intervals and shower clouds.   We could have an interesting sky today.   The wind being from the westerly direction means I can go out and about.... between the showers!   Ian should be here about 10 o'clock to pick me up, for a trip to Lower Largo and Lundin Links.    16.00    Ian took me for a run round Lower Largo and Lundin Links, to have a look at the places he visited with his parents when he was young;  including the place where they stayed when he was learning to walk!   From there we then went on a 'tour' of the East Neuk:  up to Higham Toll then along to Crail by 'the back road' and finally home. 18.30    We've had a lovely mostly sunny day;  in fact, if I remember correctly, the heavy shower, that passed over us 20 minutes...

10th September 2025 (Wednesday)     08.30 .... Showers are forecast for today, and they could turn thundery later in the afternoon.  Unfortunately, I began my morning with a migraine, and that will curtail my activities  for most of the morning.  I won't be going out on the bike, nor the buggy today;  unless the sunny spells between the showers are long ones.    Right now I need another cuppa ... and a  'Blob' digestive to shove down the pills. 13.00    Ivy Cottage door bell rang a couple of ours ago and I expected to find Bob or Anne there when I opened the door.... and was totally surprised to find Ian, whom I thought was still touring the Highlands, on his  way to, eventually, ending up at Heathrow!    Ian did quite a bit of the Highlands, having got as far as Skye, before getting 'homesick' for Elie and Earlsferry.   He was lucky enough to get back into 'his' flat at 'The Stables', as there had bee...

9th September 2025 (Tuesday)      On this date 64 years ago Maggie and I were married, by the Rev Robin Mitchell, in Kinneuchar Manse.   This also means that Mirabel, former waitress at 'The Craw's Nest, is 64 today.  So ...  "Happy Anniversary to Maggie and 'Me' .... and "Happy Birthday" to Mirabel. 08.00    We have a lovely, quiet Autumn morning.... with a sunny day ahead.     The wind direction has changed slightly;  backing to the SSE the SE... so it might be cooler in the afternoon.   20.00    I've had a busy and enjoyable day.   After a 'morning cuppa' at Alice's, we went to the shops... The Bargain Store and B n Q's.  We had  a successful mission in both shop;  especially B n Q's, where  Alice got a tall flower tub, and I got the 'sneck' I was looking for.  We then bumbled back to Alice's;  where Alice made up a 'turkey'(actually it was chicken) and salad'...

8th September 2025 (Monday)     08.15 .... At the moment we still have some early morning clouds, but the sun will quickly get rid of them, to leave us with a "bright and breezy" play day.   The air is slightly cooler than it has been lately, but it should be pleasantly warm in the afternoon.   I'm feeling frolicsome.... and that's before I have morning coffee! 12.00    I've done the Thistle, Rotten Row and Ferry corner walk;  and thinking of getting the bike out to go up to Kinneuchar.   I need a  cuppa before I do that. 14.45   I'd just got 'The Buggy ' out, to go for a run up to Chapel Green, when it started to spit rain.... so that plan was postponed, and the buggy is now back in it's nest.   There are few darker clouds around and this was just the edge of one of those.    I'll have a cuppa then check the Fife Weather cams again. 20.30    I eventually went up to Chapel Green, on...

7th September 2025 (Sunday)     08.00 .... The sun has yet to burn off the early 'The Braes' - Pittenweem. morrrrrning  cloud;  and.... after that happens we can look forward to, 'sunny intervals with light showers' around KY9 today.   It's a nice peaceful kind of morning;  a good morning for me pottering around Ivy.   I've had breakfast; now I need an early morning coffee;  that should help me come up with a 'plan' for the day. 11.45    I decided to go a wander out on the Middle pier at St Minnins;  but the St Minnins Festival is 'on' just now, with traffic cones (and cars) all over the place, so I abandoned that plan and went to 'The Braes' car park in Pittenweem.    The tide was out (it was too windy for reflections anyway) so which isn't the best tide time to photograph the West Shore houses.   Anyway I got a few photographs to play with so I'm happy. 'House on the rock' - Pittenweem Harbour. ...

6th September 2025 (Saturday)    09.15 .... we have a lovely, quiet  morning;  this might be the  day I get the bike out and go up to Kinneuchar:  once the sun burns off the early cloud.    I'm thinking of doing a spot of light gardening after breakfast;  and I might even have a walk up to the seat at the 17th.   An early 'morning coffee' to wash down the pills and I'll be ready to 'rock n' roll.   Well .... maybe not rock n' roll;  that would be too much!   The short walk?  I'll have the coffee! 20.00    I had a busy morning, mostly in the garden;  there's still room in the 'broon' bucket for some more garden rubbish, so I'll do that tomorrow morning.... if the weather is amenable .   I'm assuming my muscles will be.    It was too hot for me being out in the afternoon so began to watch The Tour of Britain;  fell asleep and missed the end of today's stage (it's n...

5th September 2025 (Friday)    08.45 .... It's a 'bright and breezy' morning;  much fresher, and slightly chillier than it has been lately (13.5C just now).   It should be pleasantly warm in the afternoon.    I'm going to Methil so see Alice, and we'll have a run along to Dysart Harbour for a change of scene .... and lunch at The Harbour Master's house. 19.00    Dysart Harbour was quieter than usual, with only one vehicle on the middle pier.   Actually that was good, because vehicles parked up on an old harbour spoil it:  takes away from the 'oldness'.   Alice and I arrived at Dysart with plenty of time to have a walk out on the Middle Pier, before going to 'The Harbour Master's House' Cafe for lunch.   The harbour is well used by pleasure craft sailors, mostly though ;  with a good number of yachts.   I imagine the Forth Bridges would be a regular cruise from Dysart;  just as North Berw...

4th September 2025 (Thursday)     07.45 .... The rain has moved away and we have a clearing Rook. sky, with  blue patches.   'Sunny intervals with a gentle breeze', is the forecast for KY9.... a welcome change from yesterday's gloomy weather.... and it could be a reasonable 'drying day'.   Ian should have good weather for his trip to the Highlands;  I think he's heading for Fort William today.  19.15    Ian is of on trip to Heathrow .... via a tour round the Highlands.    It's amazing how a wee village like Earlsferry gets into the hearts of folk.  I guess it's because Earlsferry (the Royal Burgh of) is like an old, much loved Grandmother, with a wealth of stories to tell.  If only The Royal Burg could talk!   Anyway Ian is off back home to Australia, with some more memories of 'Earlsferry and Elie'. After Ian went away I hung out the washing, then decided to go to 'The Store' for a bit of shoppin...

3rd September 2025 (Wednesday)    It's hard to believe, but .... on this date, 86 years ago, France and Great Britain declared War on Nazi Germany.  09.15 .... hmm ....  we have a grey, dreich morning, (low cloud and light rain);  and there's only a light breeze so the weather isn't going anywhere.   In fact the rain is going to become heavier in the afternoon.  However, I'm feeling positive, and... "it's an ill wind etc" ....I won't have to water the floo'er tubs today.  Pollen, UV, and Pollution levels are (like the cloud)... all 'Low'.   A few sunny spells would be very welcome! 17.30    It has been a damp old day, although it brightened up late in the afternoon;  in fact we had a couple of short blinks of sunshine.   With the improvement in the weather, I set of for the beach, but didn't get that far as it started to rain again.   Quite a few folk had the same idea and were out for a stroll. T...

2nd September 2025 (Tuesday)     08.00 .... We have a nice fresh morning, slightly chillier than of late;  a nice autumnal feeling air.   This fresh air has me feeling 'brighter eyed and bushier tailed' .... almost playful in fact.     The washing has been hung out, and I've had breakfast.   Ian is coming for me fairly soon;  I think he wants to do the East Neuk harbours today.   Must remember to take a warm jacket.   'Slight Flap On';  cuppa required! 17.45   Ian and I went to St Minnins, Pittenweem, and Anstruther harbours this morning:  we just had a birl roond St Minnins and Pittenweem;  and moored up in Anstruther, and had a short walk along 'The Folly', before having coffee and a goodie in the Fisheries Museum.   The coffee (and goodie) was followed by a short walk to Anstruther Fish Bar for a 'fish supper' lunch .... some of which we had on 'The Folly'.   ...

1st September 2025 (Monday)    07.00 .... It's mostly cloudy just now, with light rain in fact; but the sky is  beginning to break up from the SW, so we will have sunny spells and light showers later.   My friend Ian (Johnston) is over on holiday (from Australia) and will be staying in Elie and Earlsferry for a few days.   Ian's family moved to Earlsferry (from Edinburgh) during the war years, and he has amazing memories of the villages, and the Polish soldiers who were based here at the time.   Ian  was here last year and touring the North of Scotland, and spent a few days in the village.   Hey....  I'd better move the car before the workmen come to sort out the electricity supply. 10.30    I've been to the Chemist to pick up my prescription, and the car is now 'moored up' on Links Road.   The traffic Management bloke has turned up with a set of temporary traffic lights to bright up Ferry Road;  h...

31st August 2025 (Sunday)     09.00 .... The rain has moved away and we a lovely, bright and breezy,  morning, and cooler than it has been for the past few weeks;  a lovely morning for going 'out and about'.  I fancy having a short hirple round the Woodland Walk (Balcarres) in the afternoon.    Right now I need an 'early morning' coffee. 10.15   I've been doing stuff (and haven't had my 'early morning' coffee yet):  anyway, I just remembered that I am waiting for a DPD delivery today:  and I've found out that the parcel is on it's way to the Dundee Depot.   We have a'happy boy' at Ivy Cottage.   Orf to have that 'early morning' coffee at last.   Oh ... the Balcarres trip has been postponed until .... 'sometime'.   I'll get update(s) on the mobile phone, so I might have an idea when it (the DPD van is going to be in the area.   Finally .... I'm going to have the coffee;  an...

30th August 2025 (Saturday)     08.00 .... We have a lovely morning;  clouds, with sunny intervals and a fresh SW breeze.   Heavy rain is forecast for later in the afternoon, but right now it's a lovely (cooler than it has been for the past few weeks) morning, and some of the clouds look like they could produce a light shower .... but light showers aren't mentioned in the forecast.   15.45    I enjoyed my trip to Methil to 'annoy' Alice;  then, after a cuppa, we went to Sainsbury's (Leven) to do some shopping.  The shop was busy, (as were the roads);  then Alice reminded me that it was Saturday.  For some reason I had been thinking "Sunday".    I didn't linger long at Alice's today because of the expected DPD delivery.   Actually, I was back home by 13.40 and DPD hadn't been.   I put the messages away, made a cuppa, then fell asleep in front of the tele.... for almost an hour.  DPD ...

29th August 2025 (Friday)     08.45 ....  although there's a fair amount of cloud around, it's a lovely morning:  "showers (could be thundery in the afternoon) and sunny spells, with a gentle southerly breeze." is forecast for KY9.   A good 'play day' forecast.    I'm going to charge the bike battery after breakfast, and have a run up to Kinneuchar later;  depending on the frequency of the showers of course.    And how heavy!    I need a cuppa!.... before I run round wi' the hoover. 11.15     It's a lovely , warm and sunny, morning now;  there's still a slight chance of a light shower  coming over just now, but I've got the bike battery being charged  because I'm not expecting showers immediately.   That said I have a couple of  waterproof jackets over the bike just in case.    16.20   The batteries, on both 'The Buggy' and 'The Bike' are fully charged:...

28th August 2025 (Thursday)     08.30 .....  There's an interesting sky this morning, with a lot of clouds about and light showers.    The showers are to become thundery in the afternoon so we should have some really interesting clouds.   Although mostly cloudy, it's a quiet and peaceful morning, with a moderate southerly breeze and the occasional sunny spell.   11.15   It's a pleasant morning, warm (17.3C) with sunny spells... and the threat of showers.   I've been doing some catching up with the 'ousework;  annoyingly I've had a migraine  (not surprising due to the changing weather), and that will curtail my activities.   I've taken the pills, and  might go for a short walk after this update ....and another cuppa.   16.00   I went to Elie to hand in my prescription after lunch, then on to Ardross and home by way of Balbuthie and Kinneuchar.   The top photograph...

27th August 2025 (Wednesday)     09.30 .... Light rain showers are forecast later in the afternoon;  that means we could have some interesting clouds coming over.   At the moment we have a lovely morrrrrrrrrning, with an even mix of clouds and blue sky.  The breeze (moderate) is from the SE;  actually it could be a good drying day.... I'm going to do a washing:  'Flap on'. 19.00    When I took the top photo I was on my way the Nana's Seat;  but it started to spit rain so  that was as far as I got.   Anyway, I was happy with the rain; not because it stopped me from going to Nana's Seat ....   but because it was watering the flower tubs.   The rain didn't last that long but the tubs feel wet enough so I'm happy. The washing?.... I brought it in just before I set off for Nana's seat.   In fact ironing the bits and pieces that need ironing is my next job.   Actually I haven't ...

26th August 2025 (Tuesday)     08.30 .... After some light rain overnight, and there's a chance of more spells light rain spells to come.   However the sky is brightening up and we should have sunny spells .... with light rain now and again.   Actually, there's shortage of water after the dry weather we've had over the past few months, so a spell of wet weather wouldn't go amiss. 19.30    My word;  at 27.6C I think this has been the hottest day yet on the patio.  I wasn't out 'enjoying' it;   oh no... 'The Boy' was sound asleep in front of the TV.    Alice and I did some shopping in the morning, as per plan, but, by the time we left Sainsbury's (around 11.45) the heat was already building, and I was struggling.   However we went back to HQ and had a cheese roll salad, followed by plum crumble.   That reminds me;  I found a container full of Victoria plums  at the back door half an ...

25th August 2025 (Monday)     08.45 ..... It's a beautiful 'sunny and already warm morning' Park Place - Elie here  in KY9;  and it's going to be hot in the middle of the day.   There is a light breeze from the southerly direction, but I suspect that it could be uncomfortably hot for 'mature' people.  Me? ..... I'm waiting for the bin men emptying the 'broon' bin .... so that I can get rid of more weeds. 19.45    It has been a nice, warm and sunny day;  a little bit too hot in the afternoon (26.8C) for me. It's 22.7 just now... and I've just had a cuppa at the patio table.   It really is a lovely evening;  I might take a short walk up the road after this update.     I had a good work session in the morning, after the bin men had been.   All the pruning that Iain did has been cut to size, and put intae the broon bin ....  and I did a bit more pruning to the ivy.   This was going...