Alberto's Hutte

1 2th November 2025 (Wednesday)     08.45 ..... There's a chillier air this morning, but it's dry  and we should have sunny spells once the sun is higher.   Actually this could be a good drying day so I'll  do  a washing while waiting for the boiler engineer.   He's due in the afternoon.    Ferry Road is starting to get busy with traffic.    I was thinking of taking  'The Buggy' out but the cold wind has put me off that idea. 17.15    The time given to me for the arrival of the  boiler engineer was 14.30;  and that is 'iggzactly' when he arrived.   That's the best timing ever!    I just left him (actually there might have been two) get on with the job, while I sat down to watch something on the tele.   I was asleep in 'nae time' and only woke up when the engineer called to let me know that he'd finished and needed a signature.   Normally I offer them a ...

11th November 2025 (Tuesday)      Armistice Day "We shall remember them".  09.30 .... We had a red sunrise (bonnie....not a good weather sign) but we now have a grey gloomy looking  sky, with a brisk SW breeze, and Light rain forecast.   The late afternoon might be brighter with 'sunny spells'. 19.30    The weather has been wet and gloomy all day, but I have been busy.   I organised a boiler service;  which is going to take place tomorrow afternoon, so that gave me some work to do,, emptying shelve in the boiler cupboard. I watched the Armistice Day Commemoration  on BBC, then did some stuff on the computer;  including catching up with my emails.  My afternoon siesta was longer than usual, but that would be because I am still tired after yesterday.   I had hoped for 'sunny spells' so that i could go out for a short walk... but, as I've already mentioned, the sunny spells never happened.    I...

10th November 2025 (Monday)      07.45 .... We've had some rain overnight, but the sky, although mostly cloudy, has some clearer patched.   'Light rain' is forecast' so I'm looking for sunny spells later in the afternoon. I'm ready for the trip to Kirkcaldy... and even remembered my hearing aids.    Ans the car keys.   I'm feeling 'bright eyed and bushy tailed' this morning.    It has taken a while but the good news is;   I think the bug has gone. 19.00     This has been a busy day;  and an interesting one.   Sandy came for me at 09.00, we then went to Alice's where we had a cuppa, before going on to the Victoria Hospital.  Sandy dropped us off at the hospital (in plenty of time) then went off home.    I got booked in, then Alice and I walked from Main Reception to the scanning dept, where patients are injected with thee radio active stuff.   We then had three hours t...

9th November 2025 (Sunday)      10.15.... We have a 'dreich' start to Remembrance Sunday.   It's a day for thinking of those that gave their lives on the battlefields of WWI, WWII.... and  the many wars that have taken place, since WWI, the "War to end Wars".    "Man's inhumanity to Man make countless thousands Mourn!". Due to the weather I didn't go to the War Memorial Service at Elie,.  Instead I watched the National Service from the Cenotaph, on BBC1.   It's always a poignant Service;  and the weather was fine.   The photograph of HM The King was taken from the BBC News Channel. The weather here has been rain most of the day;  however it ended with a promising sunset.   When I saw a big patch of blue sky coming over, I grabbed the camera and had a short walk up to the golf course.    A couple of golfers were plying the 18th, and a dog walker on the 5th fairway.   It was warm for ...

8th November 2025 (Saturday)      09.00 .... We have a damp morning, with mist coming in from the North sea on a light SE breeze;  not a bonnie morning;  but it's warm, and could brighten up later.   If it does, I  might get 'The Buggy' out;  as long as it's not actually raining.    I'm going to have an early morning coffee.   Kirsty is picking me up at 10.00 and we're going to see her new house up in Elie. 13.30    I've had a browse round Kirsty's new house;  one of her neighbours is Maurice, Maggie's cousin, whom I haven't seen for a good number of years.  It's a roomy house (it needs a name) with plenty off street parking,, and a huge garden.    The 'Team' will have to do some stripping of old wallpaper;  then again 'The Team' might have too many tea breaks to be of much use.   I used to have a steam stripper which would be invaluable for that wallpaper stripping job.  ...

7th November 2025 (Friday)      09.40 ....  We have a lovely, sunny and warm, 'Autumnal  mists' kind of morning ;  absolutely gorgeous.     I've been busy hanging out a washing but there isn't much of a drying breeze just now, so I don't think it will dry very fast;  unless the wind freshens.    I'll have another cuppa before going up to Elie to pick up my prescription.... and a paper!   Might even go to the harbour! 15.15    My word .... this has been a really gorgeous ' Indian Summer' like day.... and I have enjoyed it.  As planned Im went to Elie to get a paper and pick up my prescription.   Of course, with it being a bonnie day I went down to the harbour. and enjoyed myself with the camera.      Steve was there sorting out one of the yachts.   I enjoyed chatting about the boats:  and he was saying that the yachts active on the water  last summer and he t...

6th November 2025 (Thursday)       09.30 .... It's cloudy this morning, and warm for this time  of year.    There has been rain overnight, so everything is wet.   However the sky has a more promising look than it did at any time yesterday;  we could have 'sunny spells' later.    I'm feeling brighter, and  ready to go to Leven.... just need another cuppa.  16.00    I'd say that we've had a nice day for the time of year.   In the middle of the day the sun was shining at Methil and it was warm.    15.6C  at Ivy Cottage).    I enjoyed my trip to Leven and Methil;  the first time in nearly 5 weeks.    As ever nowadays the roads were busy, with hardly any road works to bother about.  There was one set of temporary traffic lights in, Lower Methil, but I could have missed them had I taken the other road.   Which I did on the way home. 19.15  ...

5th November 2025 (Wednesday)     10.00 .... The weather is not of the most cheerful kind just Strange looking spider. now;  we have an overcast sky, with light rain now and again.   However the Fife weather cams have promising signs, but none are showing  actual 'sunny spells';   however we might be lucky!    At the moment it looks like 'ousework, and computer for me today.   I'm not that keen on the 'ousework bit! 19.30    I've been busy on the computer (on and off) most of the afternoon.   The weather has been of the damp kind most of the day;  we didn't have any sunny spells, so I didn't go out in the car.  Today's photies are from the archive. I see on the News that the Supreme Court of the USA is questioning the use of tariffs by President Trump.    The capitalist world has to thank a Fife man, Adam Smith , from Kirkcaldy; author of   'The 'Wealth of Nations' ; the...

4th November 2025 (Tuesday)     10.15 ..... I decided to have a walk up to the phone  box, and contemplating doing the 'Rotten Row' walk but it began to rain.   I took a few photies then scampered(?) home.   I think the rain should clear away to give us 'sunny spells' by midday.    There's no wind and it's warm so we could end up with a nice afternoon.    The Fife Weather cams show a clearing sky to the West of Lochgelly. 18.45    It stopped raining around midday, and we had a nice afternoon.    It was good to see the sun after what had been a wet morning. I did a few chores around Ivy when it was raining;  including hooverin' up my tae nail clippins.    By this time I was ready for lunch.   It was a lite bite lunch because I was looking forward to sausages and mash for dinner.    The 'after lunch siesta' lasted for 45 minutes.   I was well ready for a warm cuppa...

3rd November 2025   (Monday)     09.30 ....  we have light rain with the chance of sunny spells just now;  but the light rain is to be more prolonged in the afternoon.   That means any sunny spells in the after noon will be short ones.    It's much warmer this morning;  13.4C when I checked the thermometer half an an hour ago.     19.15    As you can see from today's photies I've been 'out and about;  just to Elie, then home by way of Kinneuchar.   Oh... and I went down to the harbour;  the first time I've been down there for a number of weeks. The bots have been 'craned out' but I knew I'd miss that because i was 'under the weather. I met Rosie up in Elie and had a good catch up chat about History Society stuff.   It's the History Society coffee morning on Wednesday at the Pavilion:   I might go to that, but it depends on how I'm feeling.   This morning...

2nd November 2025 (Sunday)      11.00 .... It's a beautiful morrrrrrrning;  I actually louped into the car and went for the paper .   Marcia and Irene came into the 'Paper Shop' ;  they were going to the church Service in Elie..    The last time I was at the kirk was in 2019 (pre COVID).    I thought about it, after the girls mentioned it, but noticed that it was midday (kirk clock)  when I got to the car, so I was too late.   That is my excuse anyway.   As a matter of fact, the Elie kirk clock stopped, about the same time that I stopped going to the kirk).... and was eventually set to midday.    12.15     The main 'News' today is about innocent  passengers, travelling on an LNER train, being attacked, by two, 'British Nationals' with knives, near Huntington, in Cambridgeshire.   Apparently it isn't a 'terrorist' attack;  but it must have been terrifying for thos...

1st November 2025 (Saturday)    10.45 ..... There's rain blowing through on a brisk breeze, so not a very Strathairly House. pleasant start to the day.   At the moment it looks like the sun could break through to give us 'sunny spells and light rain.    The air is colder (only 8.9C on the patio 10 minutes ago) which probably explains why I'm not quite 'bright eyed and bushy tailed' this morning.   This could be a day to browse the 'Albert Archive' .... looking for Muircambus Mill dam photies.     Ferry Road is busy with cars just now;  I don't think they're holiday makers going to the beach!   I won't be going further than the  front gate;  and the patio thermometer! 20.30    The dreich morning cleared up to give us 'sunny spells' until later in the afternoon when squally showers arrived.  The thermometer reach 12.1C in the warmest part of the afternoon.    It was cold (8.6C) and wet...

31st October 2025 (Friday)     10.00 .... The patio thermometer is at 11.7C .... so already warmer than it was at anytime yesterday.    That is after an overnight low of 5.4C.    We have a lovely, warm and sunny morning, with a chance of light showers at anytime.    There's a moderate SSE breeze but it must be originating from somewhere warm because it's... well ....  a warm breeze.   There's o 'plan' for today so far;   I'll have an early morning coffee, and see what the brain cell comes up with. 19.00    I've had a reasonably busy day;  well did have until I fell sound asleep in the afternoon.   Since then I've been free wheeling.    There's been a change in th air and the auld tubes don't like it. I can only count 5 chocolate crispies on that plate;  a plate I found at the back door in the afternoon.   I'm sure there were six on it originally.!   Anyway, ...

30th October 2025 (Thursday)     09.00 ....We have a quiet, sunny morning after a cold night:  the patio thermometer overnight low was 1.4C (it's now 4.1C and slowly climbing).    Although the temperature is low, there's no wind chill with only a light SE breeze so it doesn't feel as cold as it has been lately with wind chill.   I'm getting ready to go to the Skeith Centre, then 'the Store' on the way home.  The wind is going to freshen in the afternoon, and bring light rain from the North sea. 13.45    Both missions to Anstruther were a complete success;  especially the visit to 'The Store' where I bought a couple o' goodies.   'The Boy' is definitely on the mend.    On the way home by way of the Kellie Castle road, I stopped in a lay by (we could do with more of them)  to take some photies of a long skinny cloud.    The cloud photie isn't the most exciting to look at, but it's a'different' c...

29th October 2025 (Wednesday)     09.15...  There's a lot of cloud about just now, but 'sunny intervals with a moderate breeze' is the forecast so we should have a bonnie albeit cool, day, with the chance of showers at any time.   A good kind of day to be a 'rest' day.   Actually I have a washing going through the machine.... the showers might will miss us.    Oops.... we have a shower passing over just now.    14.15     Although it has been cold all day, we have only had that one spell of light rain;  and the washing I hung out is almost dry.   I'm a 'happy boy'.    The work I did yesterday caught up with me today, but, having had an extended cat nap, I am starting to feel frolicsome.   Well maybe not quite frolicsome but definitely brighter.   In fact I thought about going out on 'The Buggy', but there's still the threat of showers.... and cold.   It's 9....

28th October 2025 (Tuesday)      09.45 .... The overnight rain has moved away, and we now have a bright and breezy morning;  with the chance of squally showers.    The wind should moderate by lunch time (I'll have an early lunch) and the 'squally showers be  'relegated to just plain old 'showers'.     I might go for a short walk after the wind dies down a bit:  I wouldn't say I was feeling frisky, but I am feeling 'brighter eyed and bushier tailed'.   Unfortunately I had a migraine to start my day but the pills have nudged that into the background. 21.00    I did, what I call the Golf Course Rotten Row short walk before lunch;  the wind hadn't moderated by much, but, after the golf course I was sheltered by houses.   I took a few of the usual photies I take on this walk;  and thought about going to the beach but decided it was too windy.   Back at Ivy I sorted out the photographs, th...

27th October 2025 (Monday)     09.30 .... Bring on the 29th March next year!   Why? .... because that's when the clocks change (forward) to BST 2026!   I'm fed up o' 'winter' already!    Actually we have a lovely, sunny morning, so I'm a 'happy boy' today!    There's a chilly breeze from the NW but it's an excellent dry day and I have a washing on the line.   A 'welcome' (think floo'er tubs) band o' rain if going to move over later in the afternoon/ evening, but the washing will be dry, and ironed by then.   I'm going to have an 'R and R' day today. 19.15   The patio thermometer only reached 9.4C this afternoon;  needless to say I didn't have my afternoon coffee outside.    However, it was an excellent drying day and my wee bit washing dried perfectly .... with the bits that need ironing anyway already ironed.    I took a turn out in the car in the afternoon;  only up to Ki...

26th October 2025 (Sunday)     09.45 .... At the moment the sky is overcast, and there's a cold Westerly wind;  but, the light rain that's mentioned in the weather forecast has yet to arrive.    That said the Western sky is dark and heavy looking so it (the rain )isn't far away.   Because the clocks were changed last night, Iain will be leaving after an early lunch to get home during daylight hours.   Actually it's still BST in the kitchen;  the kitchen clocks haven't been changed yet! 20.30    Iain arrived back home to a power cut;   but it was fixed  not long ago so all is good at Auchnagatt. Iain did some work in the morning before the rain came:  I just concentrated on getting food ready for an early lunch.   Which we had at midday;  and Iain set of for home at around about 12.30.   I put the dishes in the dishwasher, then sat sown with a cuppa to have my afternoon siesta. ...

25th October 2025 (Saturday)     12.45 ....  Iain and I have been to Sainsbury's to do a shopping, so the food cupboard  has been topped up, and I'm making Cottage Pies for the freezer in the afternoon.   That was our mission for today.   It is a bonnie day albeit a cold one;  there's a definite wintry feel to it.  ;  Sainsbury's was quiet at that time of morning;  but the roads were busy.   Iain was driving, while I got a few photographs. 20.30   It has been a bonnie, sunny day here at Elie and Earlsferry.... but it has also been a cold one.   Some places could have frost tonight; especially in remote highland glens. Iain did some work outside while I stayed in and organised food etc.   Iain saved the apples that could be used for Apple Crumbles etc.  When shopping this morning,  I bought mince to make Cottage Pies;  I might do that tomorrow because it's forecast to ...