Saturday 26 November 2016

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (pt 1)


The nights are drawing in and the weather has taken a definite turn to the chilly side (it's winter wooly weather folks) 

But Aberdeen is still sparkling!

Thanks to the beautiful 35ft Norwegian Spruce which was gifted by the people of Stravanger the Medieval Castlegate looks very cheery and festive on these cold dark evenings.



New for 2016! Local chainsaw wood carver, Garry Shand has been commissioned to create 12 unique wooden sculptures based on the popular carol The Twelve Days of Christmas. Located across the city centre, this mini-trail is sure to be a popular challenge for all ages.  Always up for a challenge, Donny the Sheep and I are going to find out where they all are and snap a few pics for the album.

We saw the first one (A Partridge in a Pear Tree) beside the tree in Castlegate.



To find out more about Castlegate and its long and sometimes bloody history Hidden Aberdeen operate tours of the area, they say " Castlegate hides many secrets – it was once the place of public execution, the ‘Gibbet Stane’ reveals the site of the gallows; it was the market place, made more genteel by the addition of the 17th century stone mercat cross; many famous citizens lived here and caused great trouble, including men like the 5th Earl Marischal, George Keith, who founded Marischal College; Gilbert Menzies of Pitfodels, who had a great town house next to the Keiths, and who, like many members of his family, was Provost of Aberdeen and ‘Skipper’ Scott, a famous sea captain and Jacobite, who entertained the Old Pretender, James III, in his house which was later to become the home of dancing master, Thomas Peacock of Peacock’s Close.  Come along with us and discover more about the old Castlegate."

We are so glad that it is now a place for celebration and community gatherings.

Thursday 24 November 2016

The Tour Begins!

Little Donny the sheep and I are off on our adventures!  We were given a lovely send off at Aberdeen Football Club's Pittodrie Stadium by the Lord Provost of Aberdeen and our big cousins Angus The Bull and Donny The Sheep.


We can't tell you how excited we are to be traveling to other Aberdeen's, sharing in their culture and visiting their sights.

It's not all one sided though, we will continue to explore our very own Aberdeen, Scotland and letting the rest of the world see how fantastic it really is.  If you have any ideas or suggestions for us, if you want us to visit your favourite places or if you would like to show us your school, community group, local park, communal green space etc then please leave a comment here or visit the contact us section of our web site and you never know, we might turn up and surprise you.

Follow our adventures on Facebook, Twitter and on our web site.  Over the course of our Tour we will visit Europe, Asia, America and Australia and we will have traveled 84,405 miles doing so, that's more than three times round the world!

We were joined by a wonderful group of people who have made our journey possible, the staff and volunteers of Shopmobility Aberdeen our friends at White Wolf Collective,  Aberdeen Football Club and the AFC Community Trust and of course our fantastic "travel agent" Hellmann Worldwide Logistics who perhaps had the toughest job of all making sure we arrived safely at all the different Aberdeen's around the world.



Who knows what we will see, where we will go and who we will meet. It's going to be FUN!



Friday 18 November 2016

Donny's Delhi Delights

Pic 1: During the Durga Puja festivities in Kolkata. A once in a lifetime experience for sure #LilAngusOnTour— at Durga Puja.




Pic 2: At the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata. Last stop of the journey #LittleAngusOnTour — at Victoria Memorial, Kolkata.


Pic 3: Amazing towel art :-) #LittleAngusOnTour — at Club Mahindra At Ponducherry.


Pic 4: While Angus has been gallivanting around Delhi, I just returned from a week long trip to Chennai and Pondicherry. #LittleAngusOnTour — at Chennai International Airport.

Pic 5: Boat trip across the Holy Ganges. Dakshineshwar Temple in the background, one of the most visited temple in India #LilAngusOnTour — at Dakshineswar Kali Temple.



Pic 6: Out and about in Delhi Metro during rush hour. Phew, I thought the London tube was busy #LittleAngusOnTour


Pic 7: At the Maitri Mandir (Mother's Temple) in Auroville. Fantastic place and an amazing concept. One can feel the spirituality in the air. Guys do read about the Auroville Village. We need more of these kinds of places in today's world. #LittleAngusOnTour — at Auroville Village.

Pic 8: Waiting in sunny Frankfurt for my connecting Flight to New Delhi, India #LittleAngusOnTour — at Frankfurt Airport.


Pic 9: Anybody fancy a Lambretta ride?#LittleAngusOnTour — at Pebble Street Connaught Place.


Thursday 17 November 2016

Travelling around Scotland


Pic 1: Visiting Skibo Castle 


 Pic 2: Visiting our Capital, Edinburgh. More specifically The Shore, Leith. 

 

Pic 3: A quick visit to Stonehaven. 


Pic 4: I don't know what they have against clay pigeons at Rothiemurchus but they have a pop at every one they see! Glad I'm a sheep.


Pic 5: Loving the Scottish weather and getting excited to visit warmer climates


Pic 6: Went to the Turriff show today look who I found.#LittleAngusOnTour


 Pic 7: The Kelpies are 30-metre-high horse-head sculptures, standing next to a new extension to the Forth and Clyde Canal, and near River Carron, in The Helix, a new parkland project built to connect 16 communities in the Falkirk Council Area, Scotland.


Pic 8: Checking out the fish at Bluereef Aquariam, Newquay


Pic 9: Taking a tour of Pitlochry


Pic 10: Hello Ullapool


Pic 11: Catching a boat at Oban



Pic 12: Visiting Callander



Pic 13: Visiting the beautiful Castle Mey, Highlands, United Kingdom

Pic 14: I spy Ardgour

 
Pic 15: Views at Oban 




Sunday 6 November 2016

Angus walks on fire for Inspire




We want to say a huge thank you for the Inspire Aberdeen team for giving Angus the opportunity to firewalk on bonfire's night. 

Angus and his helper tested their bravery by walking over hot coals and raising funds towards Inspire’s vital work supporting local people with learning disabilities. 

A bit of history

Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Day, Bonfire Night and Firework Night, is an annual commemoration observed on 5 November, primarily in Great Britain.

Its history begins with the events of 5 November 1605, when Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was arrested while guarding explosives the plotters had placed beneath theHouse of Lords. Celebrating the fact that King James I had survived the attempt on his life, people lit bonfires around London, and months later the introduction of the Observance of 5th November Act enforced an annual public day of thanksgiving for the plot's failure.

Within a few decades Gunpowder Treason Day, as it was known, became the predominant English state commemoration, but as it carried strong Protestant religious overtones it also became a focus for anti-Catholic sentiment. Puritans delivered sermons regarding the perceived dangers of popery, while during increasingly raucous celebrations common folk burnt effigies of popular hate-figures, such as the pope.

Towards the end of the 18th century reports appear of children begging for money with effigies of Guy Fawkes and 5 November gradually became known as Guy Fawkes Day. Towns such as Lewes and Guildford were in the 19th century scenes of increasingly violent class-based confrontations, fostering traditions those towns celebrate still, albeit peaceably.

In the 1850s changing attitudes resulted in the toning down of much of the day's anti-Catholic rhetoric, and the Observance of 5th November Act was repealed in 1859. Eventually the violence was dealt with, and by the 20th century Guy Fawkes Day had become an enjoyable social commemoration, although lacking much of its original focus. The present-day Guy Fawkes Night is usually celebrated at large organised events, centred on a bonfire and extravagant firework displays.

Settlers exported Guy Fawkes Night to overseas colonies, including some in North America, where it was known as Pope Day. Those festivities died out with the onset of the American Revolution. Claims that Guy Fawkes Night was a Protestant replacement for older customs like Samhain are disputed, although another old celebration, Halloween, has lately increased in popularity, and according to some writers, may threaten the continued observance of 5 November.

[Adapted from Wikipedia]