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.

Walking Victorian Aberdeen

On impulse, a few weeks ago, I bought a copy of an 1866 map of Aberdeen. Pondering it, I decided to begin a series of walks to re-trace the roads of that time and see what buildings and features survived. I started today, with the stretch of land south of the railway (now disused but marked on my map) from Bridge of Dee to the railway bridge. Much of the grounds of the grand mansions has survived in the shape of Duthie Park and Allenvale Cemetery (both late C19th.) The only significant building which has survived, sadly, is Outseats House of 1800 which illustrates this post. It was a very interesting walk, accompanied by Alistair, the map, a highlighter pen ( to mark survivors) and a light rain. I spotted many interesting buildings and landscape features which I had not previously noticed.

Pipe down!

Please excuse the bodgyness of this picture, caused by extreme jet-lag. This is the public art outside our hotel in Vancouver, with the obligatory very cool Japanese girl posed next to it. Vancouver throngs with these girls, apparently half the population is Japanese, Chinese or Korean. They dress in a really interesting way, lots of bright colours and abstract shapes. The sculpture looks a bit like underground pipes bursting out.

Ultimate Tea

This pic is from a new watercolour pad, hence the textured look. Also using my Cotman travel watercolour set which is a purist one with no body colour provided (black or white paints).

Ultimate tea with Japanese cast iron teapot and hourglass tea timer set to four minutes, from awesome Vancouver restaurant CinCin.

Whale Mobile

I really love whales. The mobile joins my silkscreen pic of whales in the bathroom. (Pic is in bathroom, not whales). This is from the very cool Danish mobile making company Flensted and I bought it off Amazon. Mobiles are very relaxing.

Avengers style

My latest vintage find, from Cancer Research on Rosemount, Aberdeen. They have an awesome vintage rail and a cabinet for ornaments, books etc. The dress is probably from the early 60s and in a rather alarming (but easy care) fabric, possibly Dacron. I love stuff from this period which reminds me of some of my greatest style icons; Emma Peel from the Avengers and Audrey Hepburn.