My Aberdeen: Part 6 (The Shopping Town)

You'll have to excuse these pictures. They aren't very good and I didn't get many of the best places in town. There is a pretty nice cemetery and I little park and quite a few statues. Unfortunately, my journey today didn't take me near any of those. I had to go get some supplies for the poster we're making in Psychology (because we're apparently in 3rd grade) and pillows which meant going to Union Square and Bon Accord. Union Square is an indoor mall though the hobby store is one of the stores that has a front on the street. Bon Accord is an indoor mall as well, but it's also got some outdoor shops. I am lounging on my new pillows and am quite happy since I've been sleeping with just one since those darn hooligans took my bag of pillows back on my first night back.



A small side alley. The stairs to the left lead up to the main street (Union Street). I prefer to take the smaller roads during the day because there are less people which means less hassle.

The outside of part of Bon Accord. Usually there are street performers in this little outdoor area.



This is a little road in between one part of the Bon Accord and the other. I actually quite like this little street. It leads to two very nerdy stores and to the pub we frequent on Wednesday Nights.



George Street. George Street leads straight from Bon Accord to my flat. There are building that are pretty on George Street but they are usually overshadowed by the smell of hobo piss and vomit. This street doesn't really sell Aberdeen does it? It's really not that bad during the week. 

Yep, these aren't too good nor do I think they show off the true beauty of Aberdeen. Most of the people here think I'm crazy for saying things like this, but I think that Aberdeen really is very pretty. I guess it's because you don't really find towns like this in the States. Except for maybe on the East coast. But I live on the West coast so...yeah, don't really see towns like this.

My Aberdeen: Part 5 (More of the Campus)

Well finally, as promised, here are a few more pictures of the campus. Unfortunately Aberdeen doesn't seem to be lightening up on the weather front. It also doesn't appear that it will be lightening up any time soon. My hair hasn't been thanking the weather any. You see, my hair tends to poof up when it comes into contact with water...especially water in the air. But, I'm getting sidetracked.  

This is the building that I have been spending most of my time in for the past few weeks. This is William and Guild and it houses the Psychology department's office.



This is the pathway from William and Guild to the other parts of campus. That building is the back side of Edward Wright. I just happened to think that this looked pretty today.



A nice, simple alleyway. There are a few of these on campus and for some reason, they make me really happy.

William and Guild, from that picture, may not look very big or imposing. But this morning, on my way out of one of those Psychological tests that I'm required to do for course credit, I got a little lost on my way out. Yeah...I'm not that directionally adept, but even if that's true it's still impressive that I managed to get lost in the little part of the building I was in.

What will tomorrow bring? Well, I actually have no idea. I'm not doing much tomorrow except hiding away in the library writing my essay. Perhaps some of the Taylor Building or...I don't know. Some pictures of a park if I decide to get off my lazy rear end and go for a jog. I think I might have to. I've been doing nothing but eating sweets for the past few days.  



My Aberdeen: Part 4 (My Walls)

Right, well. I wasn't on campus during light hours like I thought I would be. I didn't end up being on campus until it was dark and wet and just plain icky. So, no pictures of that today. Today was actually quite boring if I may be honest. Meant to do some work on my essay...didn't and went to a game. That's when I realised I haven't shown you the inside of my flat. 

Well, I didn't want to walk around the whole flat and take pictures as, really, it isn't all that interesting. But I thought you might like to see my room. Or, rather, the walls of my room. (I have neglected the floors for about a week and mean to straighten up tomorrow or Tuesday). 

I'm still trying to figure out what else to put on my walls because they are still fairly bare as you will shortly see.   



The wall over my bed has a Dr. Who? poster and a small mirror. I'm thinking about getting a new, bigger mirror.



In the corner you can see the pictures of Freya and Rocco. Hopefully, I'll have one of Hilly to add to that soon.

One of my walls next to my bookcase (yes, in that door is a bookcase) is my Animal (from the Muppets) poster and my GDB calender. 

The bit of the wall over my radiator and next to my desk has my cork board and a small scroll that says, "LOVE". Still thinking of what to actually put over my desk.

So, there you have my walls. If by the end of the week I am out of pictures I'll take a picture each of the other rooms in the flat, but that's a last resort.

Postponed My Aberdeen

For today, I wanted to postpone my picture of Aberdeen for a day to post about Veteran's Day. I wanted to thank all of them out there especially the one's in my life. 

That's my granddaddy Ed on the right and my Grandmother on the right. My Grandfather Ed and Grandmother are both buried in Arlington cemetary. I miss them.



My grandfather Charles and Me and Hilly (now my forever dog) this past summer at Crater Lake.



Freya (my first Guide Dog puppy) and her handler. I don't know if he counts as a veteran actually, but I believe he does. He used to fly helicopters. *smile*

You guys are great! Thanks for everything you've done.

My Aberdeen: Part 3 (the New Library)

I know, I know. I said I was going to get you pictures of the city centre at night. Unfortunately, I didn't end up going into town last night. But I do have some pretty pictures of the new library for you. It isn't even technically done yet, but it's done to the point where we can use it.



The outside of the library. Yeah, I know it looks like a blue and white Zebra. I personally am not a fan of the modern architecture being plunked down in the middle of all the old buildings, but oh well.  



I go up to a 7th floor study room whenever I'm feeling upset or stressed. Not only is it where Psychology is so the books are handy, but the view is great. Especially when you're not having the best of weeks. I went up there this afternoon to just relax a little. I think it's beautiful.



The view from the 7th floor study room.

 

There are a few problems with the new library. For one, the cafe downstairs is really ugly. They say that they are going to leave the concrete walls just as they are. I'm hoping they don't. For another, it's about ten times the size of the old library but doesn't hold all of the books. This means that if you want a book that is in storage you end up having to wait two days for them to be able to get it to you. By that point, I just don't think it's worth it. But, otherwise it's pretty ok.

My Aberdeen: Part 2 (Bits of the Neighbourhood)

This morning I went to the closest grocery store for the much needed soy milk and bread and thought I would take some pictures on my way home when I entered what I consider "my neighbourhood". I live in the "Great Northern Road" area of Aberdeen. Lisa and I live in the slightly nicer bit. It's not living in high society or anything, but it's not too bad either. I start considering it my neighbourhood once I pass a traffic light. I don't know why, but I have a theory that it's because it's the way I come home from campus when it's late do I know the area really well.

Unfortunately this morning is a little grey. I wish it was sunny for you guys because Aberdeen can actually be quite pretty when it's not completely gloomy.

Right after the traffic light.

A bus stop on the street I use to get home.

Aberdeen is really grey isn't it? Grey skies, grey sidewalks, grey buildings...

Over to the right you can see the local convenience store. It's like a minute walk from my flat but I only go there in emergencies because it's actually pretty expensive.

After the convenience store I turn onto my street.

Not very exciting I know. But hopefully tomorrow will be! I'll be taking some pictures of the City Centre at night tonight!

My Aberdeen: Part 1 (The Gardens)

I thought I would start off this week's theme of "Aberdeen" by showing you where I live. Now, my first plan was to walk around my neighbourhood and take pictures, but the weather had other plans for today. So, I'll cover my neighbourhood tomorrow and just show you the outside of my flat. Now, I originally took a photo of the building and then realised how depressing it looked. So, imagine an all white building that houses four flats. Basically, what I have for you are pictures of our yards.

Our back yard. We have the closest gravel bit and the whole grass bit up until half way through the drying green. Notice the grass is all the same length. I fixed it. *smile*





This is the front garden. It's basically all ours to maintain. I need to trim this grass when possible it just isn't all that unruly like the grass in the back garden.



The fact that we have a front and back yard is really what sold me on the flat when we were viewing it. I like having yards to take care of even if I'm not the best at it. It also has grass and gravel which is great for Guide Dogs.

Also, I don't know if I've posted this before but I'll do it again anyway. You see that line of hedges in the front garden? That's our responsibility to trim. There's one lone bush on the other side of the pathway leading to the front doors. Now, it wasn't very well trimmed and at night I kept running into an overhanging branch. It was little so it wasn't hurting me or anything, but it was annoying as all hell. So the first day I tried to mow the lawn to find out that we needed an extension cord I decided to trim that hedge a little thinking the hedges were our responsibility. I started trimming it and this old lady comes out form next door and says that I don't touch that hedge and that it was the upper flat tennants' responsibility. It was an odd experience which led me to make sure what parts of the garden were ours to maintain. I honestly don't think the upstairs people would mind if I trimmed their one hedge, but you know, that lady sure thought so. At least I got that overhanging branch beforehand.