Alberto's Hutte

31st March 2025 (Monday)    07.15 .... It's cloudy just now,  but the weather forecast is good;  "sunny with a gentle breeze".   Sunrise was at 06.45 so the the sun isn't very high in the sky yet; once it's higher we will have a lovely day.   It's quiet jut now, I don't think 'Blob' has got used to the clock change yet!   I certainly know that I haven't!   Anyway I'm up,  the auld bones have clicked into into a near vertical state, so I'm ready to start my 'today'. 21.30    I think I could become used to weather like it has been today;  'sunny and warm'.   Yes I like that!   Queen bumble bees were all over the place, prospecting for nest sites.   I don't think I have ever seen so many in one day.   Where was I?    At sand dunes at the edge of Leven beach!    Leven beach is beautiful beach... and bug.  It stretches all the way to Lundin Links a...

30th March 2025 (Sunday)     09.15 .... It's a lovely Spring morning, but there's a Northwesterly wind, so it's not very warm, and there's wintry feel to the air.    It will be cool on the beach and golf course, but should turn much warmer, especially where sheltered from the wind.   Actually the wind should  begin moderating around lunch time.  At the moment it's 9.5C.... and a good drying day!    I've had my breakfast.... a cuppa is what I need now. 12.00   The clocks have all been changed, including my watch.   The watch is the trickiest to do.  After that I spent most of the morning Spring cleaning the bathroom with the Superior 'Bathroom Cleaning' stuff I bought the other week.    The air is much warmer now (13.5C).... and the wind is moderating, so we should have a very pleasant afternoon.  I'm wondering if I should get the bike out after lunch? 21.30    It has been a lovely S...

  29th March 2025     08.45 .... We could have a few sunny spells in the morning, but a freshening wind  (F 7) with rain is forecast for the afternoon, and through to Sunday morning.   The bike won't be leaving the shed until Monday!   I'll change the clocks to 'Summer' time ..... and potter around Ivy.    14.30    I'd half hoped to see the partial eclipse of the sun through the clouds, but the clouds were too thick at the time.    However I enjoyed a walk, with the Hurdy Gurdy.   Using it takes the weight of my knee .... and... I can have a seat at any time.   It's definitely beneficial as far as 'walking' goes..... it gives  me some exercise.   I remember Jimmy took a while to get round to using it;  and I am the same.   I feel that I should be able to 'walk' without it, but it makes a huge difference.   Anyway I went out at 10.45 up to the golf course then...

28th March 2025 (Friday)     09.00 .... It's a 'bright and breezy' morning, with some fluffy white clouds scuttling over, on the frisky NW wind.  That reminds me:  "Grey clouds bring rain Grandad;  fluffy white clouds bring sunshine";  stated by Emily (granddaughter) when she was nearly 4 years old!... and wanting to go for a walk.   That was after Grandad, who wasn't keen to go walking at the time, had suggested ...  "it looks like it's going to rain!".  We have it all on video tape!   However, white clouds do make an interesting sky!... and grey clouds could bring showers.   And... it's very windy so there's a bit of windchill.   I'm going to have an early 'morning coffee'.      19.30   Although it has been a mostly sunny (we had a couple of showers) day there has been a wintry feel to the air, which kept me inside most of the time.  The TV on the news channel most of the...

27th March 2025 (Thursday)    I'll begin by wishing, No 1 son, Michael, in Sunny Sussex, a "Happy Birthday"!   I hope it is sunny doon there! 09.00    We have a grey, and wet, morning in not so sunny Fife.... and it's to be thus most of the daylight hours.  (I'm hoping for sunny spells).   A perfect 'shopping day';  but not a pleasant day for the roofers working across the road, on the roof of Flat No 3.  However, even though it's wet, it's not as cold as it was yesterday. 19.30    I enjoyed shopping in the 'Cheap Shop' (Home Bargains) with Alice this morning;  Jimmy and I  did most of our shopping there, followed by morning coffee in Sainsbury's Cafe.   Alice and I would have gone to the Cafe but it was 'Closed' and became Argos.   The woman that works in there (Argos) is one of those people not suited for the job she is in.   The one time I went in I came away thinking ... "she's ...

  26th March 2025 (Wednesday)     08.15 .... The sky is overcast just now, but the cloud will  move away to give us a, "sunny with  moderate Westerly breeze" day.      It's chilly just now, but should will be warmer by morning coffee time.... but always cool out in the open.  This is going to be a rest day for me.   We have the Chancellor of the Exchequer doing her Spring 'Statement' today;  that could be interesting.   I don't suppose she'll cut MP's perquisites .... or freebies.  She could put a tax on lining material for deep pockets! 12.00    The car was pointing North so I went up Ferry Road intending to go to Elie, but changed my mind and went  to 'The Store' (Ainster), via Kinneuchar and Balbuthie for a change of scenery, and hoping to meet some Ainster fold in the shop.   I didn't see anyone I knew, so that bit was a failed mission:  however the shopping was succe...

25th March 2025 (Tuesday)     09.15 .... It's a nice morning, 'sunny with a gentle breeze (W)';  and we have some fluffy clouds that make an interesting sky.    I'm taking advantage of it being a good washing day and have a washing going through the machine just now.    At the moment the air is cool but will be warmer once the sun is higher. ... but the wind chill factor could be annoying. 20.00   What I thought was going to be a straight forward, well planned day, turned into an eventful one.  All because of a power cut.   While having my after breakfast cuppa I decided I'd go to Leven to do a shopping;.... after I'd hung out the washing.    In the meantime, while waiting for the washing to go through I'd water the tubs.   Hey;  watering the flower tubs is a good thing by the way.   It's a 'job' that I have to do..... but not when it's raining!   Anyway I set about doing that ...

24th March 2025   (Monday)    09.30 .... It's a lovely, sunny morning, with a fresh (and chilly)  From the top of Balcarres Estate. SW breeze. ... a bonnie Spring morning.    The air is colder than I'd like for biking;  but, it should be warmer in the afternoon.    In the meantime I'll get the bike out and check the tyre pressures (I might even do the car too) so that I'm ready to go, when the air does warm up.  20.00    It's been a nice day, albeit cool;  but not the kind of damp cool you get off the North Sea,   It was too breezy for me going biking so the bike never left the shed.   I checked and topped up the car tyre pressures, but will do the bike tomorrow.   The weather is going to be much as it was today .... with the same wind direction but with less velocity.   And it's to be warm.   It was warm today, as long as you were sheltered from the wind.   After...

23rd March 2025 (Sunday)    09.15 .... Although cloudy and damp after overnight rain, it's a peaceful morning.   Unfortunately there's a chilly breeze from NE, but it's actually a bonnier morning than was forecast.... we might even get a few 'sunny spells';  having said that, it's still too cold for me going out on the bike.   I'll go up to Balcarres later (in the car).   Right now I need another cuppa, before going for the paper. 12.30    I've been for the papers and, feeling brave, I went down to the harbour.   In fact it wasn't as cold down there as I'd expected it to be, but it was much busier.   I arrived there just as the skiff was being launched so that was the main subject or today.   The sun is  trying hard to break through the cloud, but so far we've only had a few short short spells of sunshine, but it's a nice enough day to be out;  much better than Friday and Saturday. 19.00...

22nd March 2025 (Saturday)    09.45 .... The rain we had overnight is moving away, and the sky is beginning to show signs of brightening up;  to leave us with sunny spells and the chance of light rain showers.    The air feels warmer and there's only a light breeze so it could be pleasantly warm:  Definitely not bitterly cold like it was yesterday!   I'm having a quiet day pottering around Ivy.   Monday or Tuesday look like being days when I might get out on the bike. 22.00    It's raining (been out at the bucket),  so I had a look at the forecast "heavy rain tonight" then "cloudy and damp tomorrow".   The wind is going to be from the NE so it will be cold and wet.   Tomorrow is going to be another 'stay in  and stay warm' day. I didn't go anywhere at all today;  not locally anyway.   I've been to a few places on the computer, doing 'work' on the computer, but it hasn't been the kin...

21st March 2025 (Friday)    "Happy Birthday to Iain" who can start using his Bus Pass today!  08.20 .... "Sunny intervals with a fresh ESE wind" is the weather forecast:  at the moment we have the wind with a fleeting glimpse of the sun now and again.   Just now we have low cloud and mist that the wind has brought in from the North Sea;  which we hope the sun will burn off to give us long sunny intervals.   Until then it will feel cool on the beach or golf course.  The air should be warmer in the afternoon... but the onshore wind will be cold!   I don't think I'll be biking today. 19.30   I have been a lazy boy today!  I went out in the car to deliver piece's of cake to Kirsty, Myra and Jacqui;  at that time the weather looked reasonably promising and it wasn't that cauld.   Anyway I did my deliveries, then went back to Ivy and had a cup o' coffee and a piece of cake!  What else! After my mor...

20th March 2025 (Thursday)     10.00 .... We have another lovely morrrrrning, with wall to wall sunshine, after an early frost and mist.   The sun has burnt most of the mist off, but the 'sooth side' wasn't visible the last time I looked.   I'm washing new single , but I'm doing it anyway.     Lunch is taken care of at the 19th Hole  so I don't have to make much in the way of 'food' today. 11.15    The washing is out;  and the thermometer attached to the shed.    As you can see from the photo we had a light frost overnight.    The Max temperature was the living room yesterday afternoon. 19.30   It's strange the way the wind is behaving just now.   In the morning it's from the SW and warm;  in fact promising a pleasantly warm Spring day.   But no pleasantly warm Spring day for us!... the wind backed towards the East and we ended up 'sunny with a cold breeze off th...

19th March 2025 (Wednesday)     08.30 .... we have a beautiful, frosty Spring morning, with early frost and,  wall to wall sunshine that will shift the frost.   So nae scrapin' o' the car windscreen this mornin'.  The  frost reminded me that I'd bought a Maximum/Minimum thermometer, at Cupar Garden Centre, so that I'd know how cold it was overnight etc.   I don't know how cold it was outside last night, but I can tell you the the temperature was down to 13.9C in the living room .... where the thermometer is 'stood staunin' on the mantelpiece!    My first mission after breakfast (and when it's warmer) is to fix the thermometer on the North facing wall of the patio shed!  There's a light Westerly breeze just now (that explains why my breathing is good) but the wind is going to back to the Southeast later;  so it's not going to be overly warm on the beach!   I can't see the Sooth side so it's misty.  Bein...

1 8th March 2025 (Tuesday)     08.00 .... We have wall to wall sunshine just now, with a light breeze;  a perfect Spring morning, but cool after an early frost.   The forecast is good for today so I've got the last of the bedding in the machine.   That will be hang out.... then, after breakfast, I'll go go to Methil to visit Alice, and Leven for shopping.   21.30    I've had a quiet day.   Went to Alice'a then down to Leven (Sainsbury's to do a shopping;  including some bulbs for the patio tubs.   When we came out of Sainsbury's to back to Alice's, we both noticed that it was colder;  the wind had freshened and was  from the Southeast.   Actually by the time I left Methil it was bitterly cold.   I came home with some tubs that Alice had... including a big one.   Jackie probably told me what I should get to plant in a big tub;  but I'll need reminding.  ...

17th March 2025 (Monday)    I 'll begin by wishing all my Irish pals a "Happy St Patrick's Day"! 08.15    We have a lovely, sunny but cool, morning in Elie and Earlferry;  and there's a nice breeze from the East that will dry the bedding going through the machine just now.   Apart from the washing and admiring all ' my '.... er ... our ... Jackie's  work on the tubs yesterday, this is going to be a pottering around Ivy 'rest' day.  I might go biking in the afternoon ....if it's warm enough.   And I'm not sleepin'.  21.30    It has been a lovely day... but still cooler than I like for biking.   But it was warm on the patio so I  photographed  Jackie's work;  and the individual flowers. The washing dried  and has been ironed.   It wasn't the best of drying days as we had spits and spots o' rain in the morning;  between the chance of a shower and it being cold put me off an...

16th March 2025 (Sunday)     08.30 .... There's a lot of cloud around this morning, but we also have big blue patches to give us long sunny spells now and again.   I'm hoping the sun will burn off a lot of the clouds to give us long sunny intervals.   The actual forecast is 'light cloud with a gentle breeze'.   I hear Jackie and Iain working in the tubs;  I'd better get a move on.   We're not going to bother with Kirkcaldy today;  I might go online and  'buy and pick up' in the next few days. 20.30    Jackie ,  Iain , .... I (that's better)  have been busy with the patio tubs today.... as you can see.... my trousers are fawin' doon with all the work I've been doin'!    What?  There's nae watter comin oot o' the waterin' can? Oops... wrong photograph!   Silly boy!    "Fake news" has even infiltrated 'The Hutte'! While Iain and I went to Leven to get another couple...

15th March 2025 (Saturday)    09.15 ..... It's sunny (wall to wall blue sky) with a light Westerly breeze;  the bonniest morning we've had for a while, and warmer than of late.   I don't know when 'the Troops' will appear, but I hope to have a quick run 'roond the Ferrie' at some point, probably later in the afternoon.  21.30   Jackie, Iain and Catriona arrived about 10.30, (I'd just put the kettle on) so we had a cuppa and made a 'plan for today.    Steven, Hazel and Sorley  were on their way down from Inverness and would meet us at the Cupar Garden Centre... where we were had  lunch to celebrate my birthday and Iain's.   One thing we all noticed was how popular the Garden Centre restuarant is;  it was going all the time we were in there.  Mind you the food is excellent, so I can understand why it's popular.    We enjoyed our lunch (the service was a wee bit slow), but all our different choices a...

 14th March 2025 (Friday)     08.30 ..... I missed the partial eclipse  of the moon.   I checked to Grangehill. see if the moon was visible at 01.15 (it was).... went back to bed, and didn't wake up again until 06.15, by which time the eclipse was over, and the moon setting.  I had a good night's sleep!  The next eclipse (partial again in the UK) will be in September.    We have a lovely, sunny morning at Elie and Earlsferry;  there is a chill in the air, with a moderate NE breeze.   It it will be warm sheltered from the wind, and feel warmer than it did yesterday even out in the open when the sun is higher! 10.15    The wind has freshened, which I'm happy about because I have a washing on the line.   On the other hand, I need the wind to moderate later in the afternoon, so that it's warmer when  biking!   Ferry Road has been busy (traffic) this morrrrrning;  could be a busy we...

13th March 2025 (Thursday)     08.30 .... There's a  mix of cloud and blue sky, so we have a sunny spell now and again.   There's a light Northerly wind so it cold for this time of the year.   The wind is forecast to moderate in the afternoon, so it should be warmer... especially in places sheltered from, hopefully by then, a light.breeze. 17.15    As forecast the wind had  moderated by late afternoon, unfortunately the sky had also clouded over:  so it wasn't 'sunny and warm' when I went out on the bike ..... as I'd hoped it would be!  It was cloudy and cold, so I only went to Chapel Green;  mostly to exercise my legs, but also to get a few 'today' photos for the Alberto Archive.    I met a few folk out walking. but the best of the weather was long past.   Although grey, and cold, it wasn't raining! In the morning I'd  done a wee bit of work then  thought 'I'm not in the mood for this';...