Alberto's Hutte

31st January 2025 (Friday - Auchnagatt)    09.30 .... It's a lovely sunny morning at Auchnagatt, but Jackie said it is cold out.   I haven't been out;  in fact I didn't get up until 08.45 so I am well behind schedule.  Iain has a colony of Tree Sparrows living in the garden and they are busy contemplating the nest boxes!   The sun has them thinking it's Spring.    I'm thinking it's breakfast time. 16.30   Jackie and I took advantage of the lovely weather and went to Collieston, one of the smaller harbour villages dotted around the NE coast.   Work was being done on the access road to the harbour so we couldn't park there.   Jackie took the car to the big car park (three minutes away) while I took a few photos at the harbour;  then went up to join the path to the car park, to meet Jackie.    That was a good bit of exercise for me, but I managed, albeit with a few stops for a 'breather'.  ...

30th January 2025 (Thursday)     09.00 .... It's an absolute cracker o' a mornin' ... a perfect morning for travelling to Auchnagatt.   We had a slight touch of early morning frost, but the sun is up and the air should warm up a bit, though it's always going o feel cool in the light breeze.   Then again it is winter, and it's warmer than it should be for this time.   The next update will be from the 'Back hill of Inkhorn' (near Auchnagatt). 21.00   M y goodness, this has been one lovely, almost Spring like, day.  Iain and I enjoyed our journey to Aberdeen, where we stopped to pick up Jackie from the office.    Jackie then drove to our final destination... the Backhill of Inkhorn (Auchnagatt}.    As usual Dundee was busy, as was going down to Aberdeen Harbour.   However being in the passenger seat made it much easier!    That said I am tired from all the travelling and should sleep well t...

29th January 2025 (Wednesday)    08.45 .... We're under a layer of fairly heavy cloud just now, but we should have sunny spells by morrrrrrrrrrrning coffee time.   There's a light breeze so there is some wind chill:  however I need a breeze because I am going to hang out a washing!    I am excited about going up to Auchnagatt for a few days, and to meeting Great Grandson 'Sorley' for the first time.   I have yet to feed 'Blob'.... and have my own breakfast.   I slept 'in'!   09.30   I've just been into my 'Inbox' and found an email, from Neil to let me know that he'd put a temporary fix at th rhone.   I never heard a him at any time, and I don't think I was out.  "Thank You" so much Neil;  I'll phone Scott and get him to sort both ridge and rhone.   (And I've been told I don't need a hearing aid)!   I need an early morning coffee! 16.15     It has been a bon...

28th January 2025 (Tuesday)    09.00 .... It's a peaceful sort of morrrrrrrrning with an even mix of cloud and blue sky.   There's a light, but chilly breeze ... with a unfriendly looking bank of cloud over the 'Sooth side'.   The weather forecast is "sunny intervals with a moderate breeze from the NNW backing West".   A good drying day but not overly warm. 11.30    We have a sunny 'play day' now.... and not that cold because there's only a light breeze so very little wind chill.   I've been for a paper, and down to the harbour, then home by way of Kinneuchar.   I noticed some slates lying about at the granary, and a patch of cement blown off the granary wall.   That's a different kind of wind damage!   20.30     I've got most of the stuff I need ready to throw into a weekend case tomorrow.  I don't want overwork.   Iain coming on Thursday morning,  and we are to...

27th January 2025 (Monday)    (Holocaust Remembrance Day)      08.45 .... The rain had stopped when I put out the bucket 15 minutes ago; let's hope that's it for the day.....  in fact lets hope for a sunny spells later:  there are blue patches in the Lochgelly cam!.... and there's more oxygen in the air this morning (yesterday was abysmal) so I'm feeling almost playful.   Unfortunately it's not a morning to go out playing.    I plan on going to Leven and Methil because Alice needs annoying .... and I'll do a small shopping in Leven. 21.30     I had an enjoyable morning with Alice;  and her neighbour  Barbara who came over to update Alice about the repairs to the blown fences etc..... and ended up staying and  chatting for almost an hour.   Alice and I had been to Sainsbury's to do some shopping earlier, and a fter Barbara left, Alice dished up a tasty fish in a sauce lunch (she spoils me), f...

26th January 2025 (Sunday)    09.30.... It' a nice morning, but there is a cold wind so definitely a day for an extra layer.   I had a good night's sleep (after a 'Janice Toddie') but the cold air means that I  stay 'in'.   I'm trying to shake off the lingering effect of that throat bug I had at Christmas.   However, the plan is to have a wander to the beach once the sun gets going.   Unfortunately it's never going to be 'warm' today, so I'll be well wrapped up.   'Gusty winds with rain later' is our weather forecast. Storm Eowyn is past but the damage has to be fixed;  however that is 'in hand'..... so the stress levels are falling rapidly.  I think an early morning coffee might help!   17.00   It has been a mostly grey and cold day as you can see from the photos I took when I went out in the car in the afternoon.    Actually that was quite exciting.   Going along the Bal...

25th  January 2025 (Saturday)     08.30 .....  Well .... that was one frisky wind yesterday Candlelight evening....Unfortunately not a romantic one! afternoon;   from 14.30 to 17.30 it was absolutely ferocious.    And I got some damage at Ivy Cottage;  a ridge tile blew off, slid down the roof and broke the rhone (guttering I thinks it's called now) so that will have to be repaired.  A Red Warning of wind means damage and that's what we have;  not only at Ivy but at other places around Elie and Earlsferry.... and over the whole area of the red Warning.   I only hope no one was injured by stuff being blown around in the wind.    It's the worst wind I have ever experienced in Earlsferry.   I have never felt so useless .... and helpless.    My neighbour Mathew came round to see if I was OK.... which I really appreciated;  I enjoyed talking to him.... it calmed me down a bit.  ...

24th January 2025 (Friday)     08.45 .... It's a breezy old morning, so a lot of wind chill:  best to stay indoors and not far from the kettle switch.   The barometer is at 970 (and falling):  so not a day for pottering about outside.   The lights are starting to flicker now and again so I'd better get this uploaded just in case we have a power cut.  I have a gas cooker so can get hot water.... and hot food.  'Blob' has been fed .... now it's my turn.   'Slight Flap on' ;  I don't like this wind!   "Severe gales and heavy rain" is the forecast.... with the middle of the day (10.00 - 15.00) being the worst time for us.  11.15     We had a power cut from 10.00 to 10.30: which I thought I was well organised to cope with.... you know torch, matches etc.   Unfortunately my matches were slightly vintage (as you can see in the photo) and didn't work!   I went out to see if t...

23rd January 2025 (Thursday)     08.15 .... Sunrise is at 08.24 and it looks like it could be a bonnie one.   It's a peaceful morning with a lot of cloud and only a light breeze just now, but 'heavy rain with a moderate breeze is forecast' so not a drying day!    It's the calm before 'Storm Eowyn' comes in tomorrow.  Not looking forward to gales and rain!    I'm going to Methil, then onto Thornton with Izzy and Alice to visit Joyce.   Must 'go'....slight Flap On!   Got to have breakfast! 19.30    I had a most enjoyable morrrrrrrrrrrning coffee with Joyce, Alice and Izzy at Joyce's residential HQ in Thornton.   Conversation among a group of friends is one of the most important form of relaxation I can think of... and that is what we had this morning.   I felt that perhaps I should have combed my hair, because the girls always looks pristine pretty!   Me a creep?   Neve...

22nd January 2024 (Wednesday)    08.45 .... It's a dull damp (spitting rain when I was feeding 'Blob') and cauld morning;  I don't think I'll be going far from the front gate today.... but I might take the car up to Chapel Green, if the sky brightens up;  but sunshine isn't  mentioned in the forecast.  Anyway, I have loads to do on the computer, so it is likely to be a 'rest and work on the computer day' for me! 18.45    I took some time out from watching indoor bowls to go for a short walk up to the golf course, on what has been a day of, grey and uninspiring weather.    The workmen have been working on Ferry Road  putting a new new electricity cable in.   They dug a big bit of the trench last summer into which they buries heavy duty plastic piping to take the electric cable.  Pulling, and shoving, the cable through the piping is what they were doing today. Understandably the golf course was quiet this afternoon;...

21st January 2025 (Tuesday)     08.45 ..... It was spitting rain when I was out giving 'Blob' his breakfast half an hour ago;  however the forecast is 'sunny intervals with a gentle breeze', so we should end up with a bonnie afternoon.   It's my turn for breakfast now;  and I'll catch up with the 'News';  which I imagine will be mostly about  the actions of the 47th President of America. 19.00   The sun broke through just before midday and we had a lovely afternoon.   I  was awake at 04.15 and remembered what it was I planned to do today!   I'd take the car though the car wash at Leven.  And that is what I did after breakfast.   Th last time took 'her' to the car wash  I gave her the 'Rain Guard' wash (£12);  today I gave her the £13 wash (I've forgotten the name of it) and it is so much shinier.  It looks like I'd washed and polished it myself.   Before going to Leve...

20th January 2025 (Monday)    08.00.... It's cloudy just now but 'sunny intervals with a gentle breeze' is the weather forecast for our area.   At the moment there is only a light  breeze, and the air is cool but not frosty.   I'm ready to go to the dentist, or will be after I have breakfast and an early morning coffee.   My appointment is at 09.30 and I'm hoping the sun is up by then:  the 'plan' is to get some photos of Anstruther harbour etc.  It's breakfast time. 11.45    Everything went perfectly at the Dentist;  and, although the work half an hour, it was never uncomfortable.   However, by the time I was back at the car the wind had freshened and it was cold, so I  modified my action plan for the camera;  I only walked out on the Middle Pier.  Unfortunately the sun was behind clouds, so Anstruther wasn't as I'd hoped it would be!  That said.... I'm happy with what I got; and I can ...

19th January 2025   (Sunday)    "Happy Birthday to my Great Grandson Henry who is 1 Henry and Dad at Birthday party. year old today"!      08.00 .... The car windscreen has a hard layer of ice (-2C), so  I'm not going to the harbour for sunrise.   I am not in a windscreen scraping mood!   (The cold air has clobbered the breathing).    At the moment we have a lot of cloud, and sunrise will be short lived .... with the sun coming over the horizon, then disappearing behind the clouds.   It's quite misty and damp too, so not the bonniest of starts to the morning.    According to the forecast we can look forward to 'sunny intervals', but they can be hit or miss;  a bit like yesterday's weather.   At the moment it's a 'stay in and stay warm day' for me.  09.45    I've been for the paper... and visited the harbour!  You can see from the above photo that we have a ...

18th January 2025 (Saturday)     09.00 ....  There's a lot of cloud about just now, but 'sunny intervals with a moderate breeze' is forecast for KY9.   The air feels slightly cooler than it has been of late, but it's still warm for this time of year.  Everything is wet, but it hasn't been raining;  it's just dampness.  I didn't go down to the beach at sunrise time;  it was a bonnie sunrise, but not spectacular.    I've had breakfast and now need another cuppa. 20.30    The sunny intervals were few, but we did have some brighter spells in an otherwise grey sky.   Most ft the sunshine was along the 'sooth side.  After that cuppa mentioned above, I felt that Alice must be in need of annoying....(and she had been baking biscuits), so  went to Methil.   The roads busy for a Sunday:  then found out, when I got to Alice's, it was Saturday!   That explained the busy roads.  W...

17th January 2024 (Friday)    10.15 .... It was a quiet kind of morning, so went down to the beach to catch the sunrise (08.32) sky.  There was a breeze but not much and I was well wrapped up.   Anyway I got a load of 'sunrise' time' photos.... and had my exercise for the morning!   I am now ready for morrrrrrning coffee. 17.00     This has been a mostly grey day;  in fact sunrise, and sunset time were the best  bits.  So it could be e brighter day tomorrow. Work continues at the Ferry Road sub station and the trench has been reopened right across the road;  the bit on the East side has a cover over the filled in trench to allow the traffic to pass reasonably 'bump' free.  I was wondering how I was going to get any messages to my door, but the traffic management workmen reset the lights etc. for the weekend, leaving a couple of parking places.   This cheered me up, so I went to Ainster Store and did a ...

16th January 2025 (Thursday)     09.00 .... Unfortunately I was still in my 'loungers' at sunrise time or I would have gone to the beach to get the brilliant sunrise sky.    I did think about donning a jacket and going down, but common sense prevailed!   (Doesn't always)!    Anyway we had a gorgeous sky, at the start of what is forecast to be a "sunny with moderate breeze" day.... but slightly cooler. 11.30     Temporary traffic lights have been set up on Ferry Road;  and it's to do with cabling, not the roof of No3 Flat.  It's part of the same work as is going on in th  Ferry High Street.   My car is now moored up round at the 19th... that reminds me;  I'm going round there for lunch at 13.00.   Oh ... there's definitely a chillier feel to the air today. 20.30   Lunch at the 19th was very enjoyable:  the food and service was excellent.   Kirsty and I had Chicken...

15th January 2025 (Wednesday)     08.45 ..... we have a mostly cloudy but start to Wednesday, but the forecast is;  'sunny with a moderate breeze', so a nice day  once the sun gets going.   The first thing I noticed, when out feeding 'Blob' at 07.30, was how warm the it was!   It feels like a balmy Spring morning!  In fact, I might take a turn round The Ferry on the bike later. 11.45   The sky has cleared to give us a bright and breezy day.   In fact the breeze is...well ... more of a wind than a breeze, so there's a bit of wind chill.  That said it's a nice day (a braw drying day) and I might get the bike out after lunch.    I've been to the Surgery to hand in the result of the hearing test I had the other day;  all I do now is await the Doctor's decision as to whether I need a hearing aid, or not.   If the answer is 'yes' I'll probably have to go to the House of Hearing (St Andrew...

14th January 2024 (Tuesday)    08.30 .... we had a bonnie sunrise sky to start the day.... and the weather forecast is good.   There has been some overnight dampness, and there's a lot of cloud just now, but the forecast is "sunny intervals with a moderate breeze".    And ... it's going to be warm (for this time of year).  15.30   We have had a nice enough day, but the air was cooler than I expect ed to be.   Bruce's car was showing 9C so  it was actually warm for January.   Anyway I had a short walk up to the golf course, which turned out to be an interesting one;  there was a bonnie 'light' about, and things happening, on (and off) the course.   That reminds me;  I hung out a washing this morning.   It hasn't been a great 'drying day' but I'd better check to see how dry it is. 22.30    This morning I found a film 'The Brave don't cry' (1952) about the Knockshinnoch mining dis...

13th January 2025 (Monday)     09.00 .... the sky is overcast, and, although dry just now light rain is forecast, and to be with us most of the daylight hours.   The air is warmer, but feels cool when exposed to the fresh breeze.   I'm feeling frisky, but the weather is against me actually being frisky;  this will end up being a 'rest day'.   We had a bonnie sky at sunrise time;  had I noticed it sooner I might have gone to the beach.... I then remembered that it would be windy down there!   I had another cuppa instead! 19.30   It has been a funny old day for me.    I was planning on going Methil to annoy Alice but felt a couple of degrees under the weather.   I assume it is the change in the weather.   Anyway I ended up with with a hoarse throat so decided to 'self isolate' until that clears up.  Bring on Spring and the 'daffy down dilly' weather! I had some stuff to take to t...

12th January 2025 (Sunday)   09.30 ....  Although cloudy just now, 'sunny intervals with a light breeze'  is today's weather forecast.   It's cold but not freezing this morning ....and; we can look forward to the air turning warmer over the next couple of days!    Havin' said that;  I prefer frosty and sunny mornings to a grey and damp one, as it is at them moment.   Bring on the sunshine!  15.45   The beach was fairly busy when I was down there at midday(ish).   The sun was trying hard to break through;  actually it was creating a lovely soft light at the time, so that was well photographed.   It was cold, though not of the frosty kind:  the kind of cold we had at that time was the raw damp kind.   I prefer the frosty kind!   The sun eventually broke through for a wee while, but not long enough to have me unearthing the sun cream! I had a short wander along the bents...

11th January 2025 (Saturday)    09.30 ....It's a lovely, bright sunny and frosty, morrrrrrrrrrning;  a morning for walking.  It has been the coldest night of the winter (so far) up in the Northwest Highlands (Altnaharra -18.7C).   We were only -2C.   It's going to be another cold day, but with only a light breeze walking dogs will be very enjoyable.... and could feel warm in the sun.   I might try for the beach in the middle part of the day. 11.45   After scraping the car windscreen I decided to go to St Minnins to warm up the car (the squirters were frozen).   At St Minnins I had a walk out on the Middle pier, took a load of photographs to 'play' with, then came home by way of Balbuthie Loan and Kinneuchar.   The Balbuthie road had patches of black ice  so I was extra careful.   And there's a bank of fog along the 'sooth side' and  towards Kirkcaldy;  which the sun might shift. 17....