Living in Scotland after 14 years in China. Location has changed, but the idea has stayed the same. Hopefully interesting or showing something different from my viewpoint. Everything is always unedited, mistakes and all. Welcome to my world.
@@Trond_travels hoping it will be. It is the trip I'm looking forward to. Haven't been on a ferry in a really long time and never a trip quite that long
@@scottg2754 I’m planning a trip to Shetland for next summer. Will take a direct flight from Bergen (where I live). But I’m sure the ferry trip is more enjoyable than a flight.
@@lv9970 overall, I think not. There are quite a few good spots to shoot if you're doing photos and it is only a couple of blocks. One end of Union Street is completely open as always. It is the stretch between Market Street and Bridge Street that is closed. The views of Union Terrace Gardens are not obstructed. Honestly, the area I shot today is the sum total of the closed area. More than anything, it was an update to a video I shot at least a month ago.
@@scottg2754 Thanks for your reply 🙂 We booked a hotel in the city center near the bus station and plan to walk as much as we can. Now I watch videos and read about Aberdeen. I really like Scotland. Do you live in Aberdeen? Maybe you also know how real it would be to see dolphins? 😊 Warm greetings from Estonia 👋🌞
@@lv9970 I live in Aberdeen and have been here about a year. Your location near the bus station is quite central. It is attached to Union Square. There will be a lot of chances and places to walk in the city. I get around by walking or taking the bus, so it should work out quite well for you. There are places where you may have a chance to see dolphins. I haven't seen them myself, but there are a couple of spots where that is possible. Good luck and I hope you enjoy your time here when you arrive.
@@scottg2754 Thanks again 🙂 I believe that these days in the granite city will be nice (a small tour of Scotland is also planned). I am also following your videos from Aberdeen, they are helpful. Have a nice weekend 🌞
Thanks for the vid! Spent a good few years in Aberdeen from 2009 to the end of 2012. havent been back since. Planning to visit soon! Great to see the city council finally doing something to revive Union Street (which i was told has been in the pipeline for many many years). Exciting times! cheers from KL, Malaysia.
I spent some time in KL myself...loved it there too, as well as Penang. As far as the council here, they're trying, but seeing how other councils have gone about making changes and upgrades, they seem slower and haphazard here. I hope they get it right, especially since it will be closed for so long.
@@Sp0oney1 Thank you! I'll keep you posted as I make my way around the city. Union Street has a "working wall" like I used to see in China on construction sites when I lived there. I should be in the area in the next couple of days to shoot the progress, assuming I can actually see any.
Interesting how LIDL promotes Scottish identity using its flag and makes an effort to source Scottish foods but for its English stores, NOTHING! No effort to source from England!
When I lived in Canada, I always bought Canadian first and would check labels. All I see them doing with this is saving me a step. If you look at their cheeses, you'll find they are well marked too. Also, Morrison's does the same. So does ALDI.
@@_RabbitLeader I get that. Just pointing out they're not the only ones doing it. What I was saying about what I did in Canada was just to show I did it to avoid buying anything American in Canadian supermarkets or anywhere whenever I could. That was a personal choice then and now.
Well you would be upset if LIDL did not promote Canadian products in Canada as they are failing to promote English sourced foods in England or fly any English foods as they do with Scottish and Welsh flags.
@@_RabbitLeader not disagreeing with that. I wonder how much complacency there is among English consumers. My actions began in response to advertising I used to see from the US. That made me check labels. Some products are highlighted here and in Wales, but I am in the minority for checking for myself. I wonder how many in England actually check. You're right that they could do that as a company too, but I suspect you're also in a minority for spotting that they don't highlight there.
The North East of Scotland only gets around 30 days of sun per year. Sun in Aberdeen is a rare thing. Better hope the dark clouds don't roll in within the next 30 mins.
@@scottchristie6734 you're right about that. Have been to both many times. Actually got stopped from shooting video at Union Square right after Christmas and don't go there very often now.
Oh believe me, it does! I'm on this bus twice a week, at least. There is a way to fix it, but I don't think more than a couple of drivers do it. They COULD do it by opening and closing the doors once or twice. That should, in theory, reset the system.
Nothing like what I had seen in pictures and videos going back to even the early 2000s. It is something that I'd like to see come back, but I know it never will
@@TravelAbventuresUnbound totally understand that. I spent 14 years in China and it was the same. I've also been to Japan a couple of times and noticed the same attention to detail and problems.
Aberdeen, officially voted the most miserable city in Europe. Union street, vape shops, pound shops and charity shops, well that is what the taxi driver said in Glasgow, lol.
Not surprised someone in Glasgow said that. I'm waiting to see how long the Union Street work will take. I actually saw something happen yesterday. First or second time since the barriers went up.
it'll take more than18 months if we take Union Terrace Gardens as the template. Every time I passed the 'workers' had their feet up on the dashboard of their digger texting or watching Tik-tok.
built in stages usually because different legal firms built a few houses at a time in the 19th century. Used to be a big cinema opposite Northern Hotel where shops are, called the Astoria.
What I have been reading is that it may become another student accommodation site. Whether that comes to pass remains to be seen. I'll be curious as to what happens. I'm not going to speculate, but keeping it somehow economically viable is what I'd like to see. Being vacant is a waste of a good building, but something that somehow contributes is reasonable...
I genuinely haven't let it bother me. If you know anything about the history of the area, granite was accessible and would keep the cost down. Do more, cost less. It looks good on a sunny day. Looks dreary on a wet day. Kind of appropriate.
Given what I know now about that time, the number of offshore workers would have been quite high. It was a good place to work and be, by all accounts I've heard. Know people who worked deep sea and called Aberdeen home
Honestly, no. I lived near the US border in southern Alberta for a long time and just couldn't see that happening. The last time I toyed with the idea was the late 90s (97-98) and spent some time in Washington State. I was in the Tri-Cities. I liked it then, but wouldn't do it now. Being here in Scotland is the right decision for me.
They were lucky getting such sunny weather for the parade and the afternoon in Duthie Park. A few days earlier it would have been cold with grey skies which have by no means disappeared.
This will decimate the remaining shops on the mile long street. Ok there will be some access. So much for the foresight of ACC. So this disruption, the bus lanes and LEZ will take its toll on business.
@@scottg2754 Union St and the other streets were the traditional shopping thoroughfares. But like it or not folk prefer a range of shops et al in these centres. In the toon centre or the outskirts.. That's modernity for you. Not to mention the Internet. It's a hard one. To try to please everyone. You can't force businesses to take up the shops on the street, unless ye offer rates relief. There are some well known shops that love that, exploit it fully and move on. I'm happy to trek up and down Union Street myself, the few times I now go to the 'deen. Can't say I'm a shopping centre fan. I rarely dally in Union Square. Less it's passing through, bus to train station.
@@baphomet66and6 I don't spend a lot of time in Union Square either. I do find myself on Union Street almost every day. You're also right about the expense of rental rates on Union Street itself. The higher they are, the harder it is for a business to manage. The vacant shop fronts tell the real tale. Whether it's towards Castle Gate or Holburn, there are a large number of empty shops.
@@scottg2754 those who slag off Union Street are the same ones happy to shop in the likes of Union Square et al. Crossing Union Street now is so easy. Well till the disruption really starts. Folk are never happy. But then I don't really see the point in shopping say further afield. I make do locally or the deen and.... Online.
@@baphomet66and6 being in Aberdeen I shop locally here and almost never buy online. I may be a rare person, in the sense that I like Union Street and the surrounding streets.
I'll have a look for that. I find street names interesting, especially when they get reused in other places too. The significance is always surprising and can tell stories themselves.
It is a bit over a mile from the train station. It is in walking distance though. I did a roundabout walk to get there. There is probably a much easier route than I chose today, but I keep looking for different ways to get around.
Glad you liked it. Reminded me of many supermarkets and much bigger corner shops I was in when living in China. Even the bilingual signs were as I remembered
Always like to catch the blossom myself, if you can see it in the sunshine it's extra special. As you seem to haunt North Aberdeen I've got a couple of suggestions. Powis Circle. Very interesting and a bit peculiar! Don Street, that's Old Aberdeen not Woodside.
Thanks for the correction on Don Street. I'll check out Powis Circle. I live in Torry, but spend most of my time around North Aberdeen out of need and necessity.
I wasn't sure where it was at first until you said it came out on George Street. I'm intrigued by some of the names in this area like Calsayseat and Kittybrewster.I'm sure there must be an interesting explanation behind this.
Probably run from there. I've seen companies providing services here from Ellon, Stonehaven, Oldmeldrum and other places. Services contracted by tender. Lowest price wins.
Born in Scotland, raised in Canada and have a background in radio and television (on air and technical)...also spent 14 years teaching in China. I suppose it is a blend of Scots and from western Canada. Thank you very much.
@@baphomet66and6 you’ve projected your own insecurity onto my comment. Appreciating the mellifluous quality of one accent does not imply disdain for other accents which may not have a similar cadence.
I am an old Aberdonian in Canada, I still love to see my old toon! Union Street is memorable. In 1950 we used to walk the ‘ Mat’ does anyone remember that? It was to meet a ‘Lad’ or ‘Lassie’ Or a Loon, and Quine!!🤣I lived in Kirkhill, also Bedford Ave during the war! Cheers to all, and my old hometown!🏴🇨🇦👍🏻🙋♀️
I have read many accounts of what a weekend on Union Street was like...they are similar to other places in action and reason. Seems a really common occurrence, especially when people didn't go far afield.
There may be, but would be further down. Anything towards Footdee will be smaller, older buildings, so I'm not quite sure. Will check a bit once I get a chance to get further round the point...on a good day
