Alberto's Hutte

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 ...

24th October 2025 (Friday)      09.30 .... . we have is cloudy sky, with a  cold NW wind... and light rain is forecast;  not a promising start to the weekend.    Iain is coming down (Auchnagatt) today;  and that reminds me  that I have his bed to make up.   I'll do that after this update, and another cuppa.   I plan to get some shopping in when Iain is here;  need to top up for the winter. 22.30    It has been a dreich afternoon, and it's still wet.    However it's to be dry and sunny tomorrow. Iain arrived just after 11.00,  just before the rain began.   He collected some of the usable fallen apples, but we never got any real work done.   He set up a monitor in the wee bedroom so that he could work on his photographs.   Of course I'll be able to use my laptop in there too, to work on my photies, if need be.  I'm happy enough with the computer being where it...

23rd October 2025 (Thursday)     09.30 .... We have a grey start to the morning.... with a chilly wind from the NNW;  a 'stay in and stay warm morning.   'Sunny intervals are mentioned in today's weather forecast so it should be brighter by midday.   'The pedals' will be my exercise today:  at least until the sunny intervals arrive;  when I might venture out for a short walk.   I have a nice warm job to do just now;  ironing a duvet cover and pillow cases. 19.30    Although chilly and overcast  most of the, we ended up with a nice enough afternoon and evening.   In fact the evening was actually the best part of the day as far as the weather went. I had a busy morning, washing two single bed sheets and a few dish towels.   I spent a bit of time looking for one of the sheets;  one that I thought was ready to fit on the bed!   I eventually found it on the bed.    The...

22nd October 2025 (Wednesday)     10.45 .... We have a bonnie sunny morning, with a frisky NW breeze so there is a wee bit of wind chill;  but it's an excellent drying day.    My washing went out at 08.45.     Other than getting the washing out I don't have a 'plan' for today;  however I'm thinking I might go for a run in the car after morning coffee. 17.00    As per decision over morning coffee, I louped intae the car and had a run up to Kinneuchar Kirk;  on what has been a gorgeous sunny day.   I wasn't able to walk all round the kirk yard, which is what I had in mind.    But I enjoyed being out in the fresh air, and browsing the grave stones.   I didn't realise that it's 8 years since 'Jimmy' died;  I had in my mind 5 years.   Time flies right enough.  I'm at the age now where browsing headstones brings back happy memories! It has been the perfect drying day;  all I...

21st October 2025 (Tuesday)     11.15 .... It's a nice, peaceful kind of morning even though we Balcarres Estate. have had light rain most of the time .... so far.    The sky is brightening as I type so I am looking for 'sunny spells in the afternoon.    Iain is coming down on Friday so I'll get the single bed made up;  that will be my exercise for the day.   That and the 'exercise pedals'.  they are bike pedals without the bike.   If sunny spells do come our way in the afternoon I might have a short walk to Nana's Seat.    16.00    The single bed downie, sheets etc. are now in the washing machine, ready to be washed early tomorrow morning (maybe even tonight) and out on the line.    That was the 'work' plan for today.   The weather forecast for tomorrow is good up until mid afternoon when showers could come over. The sunny spells I was looking for never came to much.   The...

20th October 2025 (Monday)     09.30 .... We have thick early morning fog, but it should evaporate to leave us with a sunny day.   The sky is already brightening .... and there's blue sky showing on the Lochgelly Weather cam.   At the moment we're only about a 1000 feet from a sunny morning.  17.30   The fog lifted by midday and we had a lovely, sunny and warm afternoon. While having morning coffee I made my mind up to go to 'The Store' in Ainster.   It was still foggy at the time but it was lifting.    However I'd made a rookie error;  I was driving East instead of West to Leven, where the sky was clearing;  and  driving into the fog the further East I went.   That said, the fog didn't bother me;  the 9 minute wait, at a set of four way temporary traffic lights in Pittenweem did, and as the biggest hindrance.   I took a few photographs form the car;  and decided to take t...

19th October 2025 (Sunday)     10.15 ....  As per weather forecast, it's raining., with a moderate breeze.   The Fife Weather cams are all showing a heavy sky, with a few brighter bits towards the SW.  However the rain is forecast to be heavier in the afternoon, so 'sunny spells are unlikely.   This band of rain is to clear away by tomorrow morning, to give us 'sunny intervals with a moderate breeze'.   I think this could be a 'browse the Alberto Archive' day.;  in between doing some 'ousework. 20.30    I say honestly say that this has been  one of the laziest day's I've had for years.   Luckily I found a Davis Attenborough nature programme to watch.... and Hamza early in the evening.   Oh ... I had a migraine (weather) so I don't feel that guilty about having a lazy day.   In between watching the tele I used made an  Eveline's Pudding;  the photo at the top of the page....

18th October 2025 (Saturday)     10.15 .... The sky is overcast with a light Southeasterly breeze just now,;  but 'sunny intervals' are forecast by midday.    I was disappointed to find the 'sunny intervals'  AWOL at sunrise time.   I went back to bed for another hour.   The sky is beginning to brighten now.    It's  about time I had 'morning coffee'. 16.30    The sun managed to break through around 14.30, and we now have a warm, and  sunny, afternoon.   By the amount of traffic on Ferry Road it would appear to be a 'change over weekend.   I think the Glasgow folk are going home, and the Edinburgh ones arriving.   It's all 'go' on Ferry Road just now.  I  set off for a walk to the beach but had only reached Ferry Corner when the camera battery went flat.   I went back to Ivy and had lunch.   I'd get 'The Buggy' out, but there's a car parked wh...

17th October 2025 (Friday)      11.00 .... It's one on those misty and melancholy kind of mornings that we get at this time of year .... a washing that I did is hanging on a clothes horse;  there isn't much point in hanging it outside, because there isn't any wind.    I  cancelled going to Leven Golf Club with the girls because I've got this cough.   I was hoping for 'sunny spells' ,but the weather forecast mentions light cloud .... with no mention of 'sunny spells'.    It's morning coffee time. 19.30    Although the sky brightened up a bit, the sun never broke through the clouds so we've had a grey, but pleasant enough day.   And 'The Ferry' seems busy  with holidaymakers.    I didn't go out today because I ended up browsing the Alberto Archive.    Am I glad that I photographed every local walk I did over the years:  because, although I can't actually do the now physically, I can s...

16th October 2025 (Thursday)     09.15 .... Although the sky is overcast just now, the sun is trying  hard to break through.    "Sunny intervals with a light breeze" is the weather forecast for KY9.    We should have a bonnie afternoon.     I'm going to have another cuppa before my appointment with Laurie (Nurse). 12.30     It's a lovely sunny day day now, But there is a chilly air.  After my appointment with Laurie I went out to Woodhaven to see what was happening out there.   The first thing I noticed was the house nearest the Woodhaven Car Park is being demolished.    I must look up the planning site to see what style of house is going to be built in it's place. I nearly forgot;  Laurie told me that Gill, the  Asthma Nurse, has retired;  and has been replaced by 'Jennifer'.    Anyway where was I? .... Woodhaven Car Park.   I took a few photographs , ...

15th October 2025 (Wednesday)     09.30 .... Good News this morning.... the barometer reading  has moved for the firs time in days;  OK it only fell by a millimetre, but it's the first sign of a change in the weather.   That reminds me I'd better water the tubs!    KY9 is forecast to have 'sunny intervals with a light breeze' today.;  the sky is already looking more promising than it has been for nearly a week. 19.45    As you can see from the Balcarres Crag photo we ended up with a bonnie, sunny day; and I took advantage of that.    I got 'The Buggie' out and set her up to be charged;  The setting up doesn't take long but the actual charging can take up to 5 hours.   Today it took three.    Anyway she is fully charged.    I didn't go out on her today because Ferry Road was busy. (the workmen are still in Flat No 3).   The other job I had to do was water the tubs.  ...