Alberto's Hutte

30th April 2025 (Wednesday)     08.30 .... I didn't go out on the bike early because there's a nip in the early morning air;  so I decided to wait until the sun is higher, and the air warmer.   I might have my morrrrrrrrrrning coffee up at Chapel Green;  by that time the air should be warm.  I'm hoping for 21C on the thermometer today:  at the moment it's 11.9C.... but there's still a cool breeze from the SSW. 11.45   I still haven't been biking, but it's a lovely morning and I've had morrrrrrrning coffee outside.  And I discovered a a snag with that;  insects seem to like coffee.... and end up in it. There's lot of work going on around Ferry Road just now, and the local pair of Blue Tits have added to the building activity.  I don't know where the nest is, but it isn't far away.   The 'Tree Bumbles' are also active; in fact all the local wildlife is active.  I'm starting to feel guilty;  I'd bett...

29th April 2025 (Tuesday)     07.15 .... Today and tomorrow are forecast to be the warmest days 18th fairway. for us;  I feel confident that the thermometer will reach 20C sometime this afternoon.     I'm biking up to the Pony Field after this update, to discharge the bike battery;  and take a few photographs.   I'll then charge the battery for a longer run on the bike later in the afternoon.   It's a lovely quiet start to Tuesday.... and it's going to be sunny with a light SW breeze, so a warm day ahead.  11.15    We have a lovely, almost summer like morning, after an early morning mist and thin high cloud.   There's only a light breeze, so it could be hot in the afternoon;  the thermometer is reading 16.2C at the moment. The bike battery is now being charged.... after I enjoyed a run up to the Pony Field the on to Chapel Green earlier in the morning.   I saw a few early morning dog wal...

28th April 2025 (Monday)    09.00 .... When I was in the shower I decided that I'd prepare for   the incoming 'mini heat wave', and wear a thinner, summertime' togs.   My first visit to the pavement changed that 'plan';   the breeze (Westerly) is not of a mini heat wave variety;  it's  chilly ... no... it's cauld!   However, the air will warm up quickly, once the sun burns off the cloud.  If the wind freshens, windchill might be the problem. 20.30    It has been a bonnie, warm, Spring day.   I thought the temperature might have reached 20C today but not quite;  19.9C was the maximum.   That said there was hardly any breeze in the middle of the day, and we had a  spell of 'mauchless' air.  I was bothered by 'mauchless air' in New Zealand now and again.    'Mauchless air' is when the air is hot, not moving, and there's less oxygen in the hot air.   I increase ...

27th April 2025 (Sunday)     08.45 .... We have a Westerly breeze this morning (I can see the 'Glenfuir' Union Flag) , but the sky is overcast just now.  "Sunny intervals with a moderate breeze" is the weather forecast.... and, this is the good bit, this is the first day of a spell of warm weather!   I might get the bike out after morning coffee;  must try to shake off 'side effects' of the East wind during the warm spell.  However,  there is one 'side effect' of the West wind that can be annoying at this time of year .... 'pollen'. 17.00     Although the thermometer of the patio shed is showing 19.5C  .... but it is to windy, and therefore cool, to sit out at the table and have my afternoon coffee.   It's a bit disappointing, but it is a brisk breeze.   I've been up to Kinneuchar to take the 'Kinneuchar kirk Spring' greens again.   I'm going to do this every second day (weather permitting) f...

26th April 2025 (Saturday .... 08.30 .... A light, southeasterly breeze, has brought in low cloud and drizzle from the North Sea, so although a quiet and peaceful morning, the dampness is disappointing.   But 'it's an ill wind etc' .... I won't have to water the tubs today.   If the brighter patches in the sky means anything we could get sunny spells in the afternoon.   I'm going to have a 'rest day'.  The funeral of Pope Francis is today, and on television:  that might my viewing for a good part of today.  16.00    The hectic day I had yesterday has certainly had me resting today;   I did some ooverin' and dustin' sat down with a cuppa to watch the funeral of Pope Francis.  I watched most of the service at St Peters, and all of the journey from St Peters to St Mary Major.    Considering that it was civilians, and not military trained personnel, moving the coffin it was all well done.   I read the...

25th April 2025 (Friday)     08.30 .... It's a nice calm morning;  clouds around just now, but 'sunny intervals with a fresh easterly breeze' is the local weather forecast.   A perfect drying day.  The wind, being off the sea, will feel cool on the beach, but it will be warm behind a windbreak.    I haven't made a 'plan' for today, but I'm thinking of going shopping.   I've had breakfast now I need a cup o' coffee.  20.00    I made my mind up to go to Sainsbury's (Leven) to do my shopping;  and I'd be doing it on my own as Alice goes shopping with Karen (daughter) on a Friday.  However they always end up in Sainsbury's, so I could 'bump into them'.   And that is what I did:  I bumped into Alice but never saw Karen.   She was busy chatting to a friend!   Alice was surprised at how much I had in the trolley,  (I'd bought a few 'Emergency Rations' on the way round);...

24th April 2025 (Thursday)     08.30 .... Its cloudy and, with the wind off the sea, it's not going to be warm on the beach today.   However, "sunny intervals" are forecast so, when the sun does break through, it will be warm sheltered from the wind.... and should be warm enough in the afternoon to have have coffee outside. ... unless the haar comes in.    That's about as far as I'll be going today .... the patio.  All the Fife Weather cams are showing grey ..... (and looking cold) just now! 12,00     I've had a good morning.   Derek came down to pick up his paint tray, so we had a cuppa and he updated me with the Colinsburgh 'news'.    When Derek left I decided to water the tubs before the sun came broke through;  which it is beginning to do now.   I've had a migraine since all that, so had to lie low for a bit.... watching Australians hunting for gold!   I'll take a couple of pills at l...

23rd April 2025 (Wednesday)      I'll begin by wishing all my English friends a "Happy St George's Day" .... enjoy Your day.    09.30 .... We have a grey start to Wednesday, but "sunny intervals with a moderate Easterly breeze" is forecast, so it should begin to brighten up soon.   I almost slept in again this morning, but I dragged the auld bones oot o' bed, at 07.00 and had a long hot shower.   I might bike up to Chapel Green at some point , but only if the weather is brighter and warmer..... and I could go round to the 19th to have lunch with the girls, but I'm not ready for a big lunch, so I'll pass on that.   This is going to be a rest day.    09.45   Happy News;  Emily (granddaughter) phoned to tell me that she is pregnant.    A playmate for Henry is due in the Autumn.   I'm a happy Great Grandad". 15.45   Haar started to come in from the North Sea in the afternoon, ...

22nd April 2025 (Tuesday)     09.00 .... I must have been tired last night;  I didn't wake up until 07.45!   Anyway I'm vertical (ish) and have been out as far as the gate.    It's a bright and breezy morning, with a chilly Westerly breeze at the moment; in fact a good morning for biking, and I intend going out once the air has warmed up.   I need a cuppa.   Oops ....  I sneezed.   I'd better make that cuppa and take the pills! 20.30    I don't know what I did yesterday that made me so tired, but I'm still tired.   That said I have biked up to Chapel Green twice today;  so I will most likely sleep in tomorrow morning.   It has been a really nice sunny and warm day:  at least it was, until the wind backed to the Easterly, early in the afternoon, and we ended up with a chilly breeze off the sea.  I was at Chapel Green both morning and afternoon. After my morning visit t...

21st April 2025 (Monday)     08.00 .... We have a cloudy sky with light rain at the moment, but  there are promising signs and I'm looking for 'sunny spells' with April Showers.... at least until morning coffee time.   I was up early to go biking but it was spitting rain so the bike is still in the shed.    Anyway tomorrow is going to be sunny.... and (a change of wind direction) the wind is going to be from the West, and warmer, so I'll go biking then.   I'm a 'happy boy'.   09.45    I haven't been anywhere:  actually that's wrong.... the bin men were here early so I brought the bin back to Ivy from the sub station.   The 'plan' is to go to Leven to do some shopping, sometime today.   Oh... and we have had a few sunny spells, but it's more light rain looking now.   I'm going to have morning coffee. 20.30    It looked like there was more traffic coming into the East Neuk,...

20th April 2025 (Sunday)     07.45 .... It's cloudy just now, with a chilly Easterly breeze:  sunny intervals are forecast, but the air will feel chilly (out in the open) all day, even in the sun.   I haven't been out on the bike out yet;  to be honest, with the air being chilly, I'm not that keen to go out just now.   I'm feeling bright enough;  it's the East wind that's the problem.   Another cuppa! .... that's what I need. 15.30    The sun burned the early morrrrrrning cloud off and we've enjoyed a bonnie Easter Sunday, albeit a cool one when exposed to the Easterly wind. I biked up to Chapel Green before morrrrrning coffee:  it was busy.   There was a group of people doing, what I took to be 'Yoga' in the North East corner of the green;  so that direction was 'out' as far as the camera went.  However I pointed the camera in other directions to get Easter Sunday photos for the Alberto Arch...

19th April 2025 (Saturday)    08.30 ....  At the moment the, mostly cloudy sky, is showing signs of breaking up to give us sunny spells;  which are mentioned in today's weather forecast.   Unfortunately there's a moderate ENE breeze, so it's always going to feel cold out in the open.    I very much doubt if I'll be biking today:  a short walk, once the temperature rises, is more likely.   Temperature? ..... it's forecast to be a maximum of 9C today.   Precipitation is not mentioned. 15.30    The forecast maximum temperature for today is a bit out as far as the back garden goes;  the patio thermometer (in the shade) is showing  15.5C just now.   That said, the breeze is swirling around  so it is actually too cold to have my afternoon coffee outside. ... and I won't be going out on the bike this afternoon.   I had been thinking of getting the bike out. I did go for a short walk af...

18th April 2025 (Friday)    08.45 .... The washing is on the line;  the sky isn't very promising looking at present, but I'm feeling positive!     "Light cloud with a moderate ENE breeze" is forecast ....and there's the chance of April showers (and April sunny spells) later in the afternoon.   It's a chilly morning (7.2C) just now, and it's going to be cool (for the time of year) all day:  so the bike won't be leaving the shed!   I might have a short walk with the hurdy gurdy later, but I think this is going to be a 'stay in and stay warm' day.   This cauld spell has upset my playing plans.   19.30    I've had a good day... which is apt because it's the first day of the Easter weekend....Good Friday!   The washing I did first thing was dry (and ironed) long before the rain reach us, but that was the only 'work' I did.   I browsed the Alberto Archive for a while (that's where today's...

17th April 2025 (Thursday)     09.30 .... We have a peaceful kind of morning... and we even had an early morning sunny spell. However the sky is cloudier now, and it's beginning to look like we could have April showers.... and also the chance of sunny spells.   I might get the bike out later;  there's only a light breeze and it isn't as cold as it was yesterday, my kind of biking weather.... and I'd only go to Chapel Green.   Right now I'm going to have a quick run round with the 'oover. 20.30    I had a run up to Elie to pick up my prescription in the morning.   Elie High street was busy,  (this is the Easter weekend)  and I'd moored up across from the Chemist:  the combination of heavy traffic and nae wind meant there was a lot of pollution.... and the auld tubes didn't like that.   I was glad to get back to the car and have couple o' puffs o' the blue inhaler.    Being that there was har d...

16th April 2025 (Wednesday)     08.45 .... There's a big change with the weather this morning;  with a cold, brisk Northerly wind bringing occasional squalls of rain.   "Strong winds and heavy rain is the weather forecast".   The first thing I noticed when I went out was the bitterly cold wind!   But we also get the odd, brighter, almost sunny spell.   Dogs will enjoy their morning frolic on the beach;  the dog walkers might not be so keen!   It certainly isn't holiday weather this morning.   Me? .... I'm feeling 'playful'.... but won't be going to the beach!  11.30   It has been a lazy day for me so far:  I've done some housework, had a wander out to the patio to check the temperature (9.2C), and taken a couple of photographs.  I don't think the tulips are going  open up today.... we've had a couple of 'brighter spells', but no proper sunny spells.   I'm going to hav...

15th April 2025 (Tuesday)    08.30 .... We had big patches of blue in the sky earlier, but it's  overcast and damp now, and  looks like being a showery day.   "Light cloud and light winds (NE)" is the forecast.   Forget the weather;  I've been sneezing which I'm taking as a sign that my cold is getting better.... and... I'm feeling a bit brighter, but not frisky.   20.30   With the weather being 'unsettled' I decided to go to Leven to do some shopping.  I phoned Alice to see if she was in a shopping mood;  and she was... so I louped intae the car and bumbled my way to Methil.    While having a cuppa we decided to go to the Wellesley Community Cafe for lunch, then go shopping afterwards.    The 'Cafe' was busier than usual;  most likely because of the school holidays.   We both had steak pie;  and it was excellent. The sun was shining by the time we finished lunch and I was...

14th April 2025 (Monday)     08.50 ....  It's a quiet damp kind of morning;  in fact we have light rain!.... which is a bit of a change from the sunny days we've been enjoying.   Actually the light rain is welcome, because it means I won't have to water the tubs.   It doesn't take much to make me a happy 'boy'.   That said, I don't think the holiday makers will be overly happy with the dampness.   I'm sort of hoping that the sky will clear to April showers;  that would have given us a bonnier sky for the camera.... but the forecast isn't good.    Not that I'm going anywhere;  this is a 'rest' day. 16.30    I had to go up to Elie to hand in my prescription:  I thought the Chemist would be Closed on Friday and Monday over the Easter weekend, but they are going to be 'Open' on Friday.   There's only one item on the prescription I need before Tuesday,  and that has been taken ...

13th April 2025 (Sunday)     10.30 .... It's a nice morning, but there's more clouds about and it's breezier and the air is chilly.   I've done a small washing which I'll hang out after this update:  Precipitation isn't mentioned in the weather forecast so the washing should dry.  Iain is still sorting out the shed, and 'The Hutte'!   Me? .... I've got a cold so will be lying low for a couple of days.... and won't be going out on the bike today. 19.45   Iain has been a busy boy;  and, in my way, I have been a busy boy too!   Iain 'serviced' my old bike so that 'JB' (or even Dad) could use it when up here;  that was a job needing done.   Iain also tidied up the shed;  my job now is to tidy up 'The Hutte':  this I will do, a wee bit at a time, dumping any mathoms I find.   Of which there will be many!   We still haven't found the 'safe place' with the collie solar lamp patio...