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.

Parklife

As I don't have a garden, I go to a park once a wek for a nature fix. One of my favourites is Johnston Gardens. There is a large pond where we found these weirdly cute moorhen chicks. The huge feet, the tiny wings! We also found an armoured car in the neighbouring gardens of the Gordon Highlanders Museum. Less cute, but an equally pleasing surprise.

Afternoon Tea

My friends Elaine and Helen introduced me to the pinnacle of civilisation that is afternoon tea! I've wanted to go to a posh afternoon tea for ages. Here are finger sandwiches (no, not made with fingers in which would be yuck) with smoked salmon, cucumber, ham and egg. Fruit and plain scones with jam and clotted cream. Cream, lemon drizzle, pistachio and chocolate cake and mini fruit tarts. Champagne was available but sadly we were driving.