Bohemian like You

As my regular Stylish Person feature; my colleague who uses a basket as a handbag, dresses like a fairytale character and has the most fabulous Pre-Raphaelite hair. You always look amazing and I salute you!

Holding Pattern

Yet again, I am very busy and so this is a 'holding pattern' picture until I have painted some more. It is my kitchen windowsill with a collection of malformed herbs I keep trying to grow even though I am in Aberdeen. This weekend I was staffing my work's Jousting Tournament (counting visitors, not riding horses, sadly.) Next weekend I am off to London but hope to do some lovely art soon. Please bear with me.

Normal Service will be Resumed Shortly

Apologies, there will be no History Walk today, due to excessive consumption of Birthday Cocktails last night. However, this week I plan to have History Walk from my Dumfriesshire trip...watch this space.

Albyn Place

Today's walk encompassed Albyn Place, an area I know well as my other half works there. It is a lovely, Regency feeling area of Aberdeen full of classical villas. This is my favourite, No26, designed by Archibald Simpson and dating from 1830. I have missed off the later rooflights to enjoy the proper appearance.
Albyn Place was built on the lands of Rubislaw, belonging to James Skene. He lived in Albyn Place in Edinburgh (hence the same name in Aberdeen), and based the neighbourhood on the New Town of Edinburgh. Interesting buildings and things to look for include Harlaw Academy (formerly Mrs Emslie's Institution for desitute and orphaned girls), The College Bar (formerly Christ's College training institute for Free Church clergymen) and St John's Well (associated with the Knights of St John of Jerusalem and formerly in the Hardgate). There is also a lovely small park with a huge old tree in it.

Holburn and Hardgate

Today's walk looped up Hardgate to the small roundabout and down Holburn Street to Riverside Terrace. It is a fun walk as Holburn Street is obviously the successor to the earler Hardgate, both the important roads travelling into Aberdeen from the south over Bridge of Dee. In 1866 these parts were dotted with small cottages and inns for the travellers. Some of the cottages remain, sadly (but presumably conveniently) altered with porches and dormer windows. The one I illustrate here, however (unnamed on map, but just south of the Spar) is very atmospheric and pretty. The right side is modernised so I faded it off tactfully. Other surviving buildings include Ruthrieston House (a plain block) Balgair Cottage and the Abergeldie Inn as well as the lovely old house by the roundabout next to the cake shop. This house has a fascinating window display of model aircraft made by the owner.