Up on the Roof of Aberdeen Art Gallery

on the roof of Aberdeen Art Gallery

You can now go up on the roof of the newly done-up Aberdeen Art Gallery. It’s quite nice up there among the green domes of the city. That’s the theatre straight ahead and Union Terrace Gardens (also going through the process of change) to the left.

His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen, as seen from the roof of Aberdeen Art Gallery

Arriving on the roof of Aberdeen Art Gallery

I was relieved to arrive up on the roof during my recent visit. I’d displayed distinctly codger-like tendencies until then. Where were the old marble stairs? Why were there new plastic-covered ones instead? How was that an improvement? And what about the fountain and the thing that used to be in the middle of it?

Works of Art

‘The thing’ was on the roof, and I was glad to see it.

oval form, Aberdeen Art Gallery
Oval Form – Trezion
Dame Barbara Hepworth

There were other old favourites throughout the gallery too, and photography was allowed everywhere.

Penelope, her milkshake bringing all the boys to the yard:

Penelope and the suitors by John William Waterhouse
Penelope and the Suitors
John William Waterhouse

A lit-up love poem:

For You by Tracey Emin, Aberdeen Art Gallery
For You
Tracey Emin

Then there was a buttery, a local delicacy, a sort of salty, fatty squashed roll. Unfortunately, I did not note the name of the artist.

buttery as art

Visit the official website of Aberdeen Art Gallery.

Kirk of St Nicholas

The Kirk of St Nicholas could be seen from the roof of the gallery. I do seem to see it wherever I go in the city.

View from the roof of Aberdeen Art Gallery

I wandered down to the kirkyard before leaving Aberdeen. The grass had obviously not been cut all season, giving the place an unkempt and uncared-for feel. There was a poppy, though. And that was beautiful.

poppy below the steeple of St Nicholas Kirk in Aberdeen

People accused of witchcraft were imprisoned in the old steeple of that kirk long ago, as mentioned in THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR.

The Mermaid and the Bear by Ailish Sinclair, and a harp

Taking place mainly in a castle, THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR blends an often overlooked period of history, the Scottish witchcraft accusations, in particular the 1597 Aberdeen witchcraft panic, with a love story.

See the press release here

Amazon UK

Amazon Worldwide

From the Press and Journal: New book by Fraserburgh author highlights horrific extent of witch trials in Scotland 

feet

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Some Depressing Time Travel

time travel with a book

That’s what my son said of my little video attempt below. “Wow, that’s some depressing time travel.”

Romantic Time Travel

I do like those sad stories, though. Not that they’re sad, beginning to end, these books. There’s romance in them all, happy romance, sometimes a little bit naughty too. And one of them has chocolate… No actual time travel, though. None at all.

You can be depressed by them all here in the UK, or for worldwide depression, go here.

Writing with no time travel

I’ve been writing, writing, writing, living in the intense and sexy atmosphere of A Dancer’s Journey. I love it. I don’t want to leave it. It’s fun and romantic, if a little devastating and dramatic in places. But leave it, I will, later this year, when all three books finally get released.

More on the series:

Pink Things

I’ve been enjoying the pink phase of the garden…

pink bench in a time travel post
Pink bench and cherry blossom

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Ailish's feet

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Just Some Spring Flowers

spring flowers - crocus in the garden
In the garden

It’s good to see the spring flowers. And the sunshine. As illness recedes a little along with the winter.

SISTERS

Ethereal and spellbinding

Romans + Celts = some rather complicated romance!

Set in 1st century Scotland, the novel features a neurodivergent main character, chosen sisters, fierce warriors and the battle of Mons Graupius between the Romans and the Caledonian tribes.

Amazon UK

Amazon Worldwide

    Newsletter

    Go here to sign up for occasional emails that always include some exclusive photos and news of my writing and life. They’re a more intimate space than the blog. If you would rather just hear about new books and offers, you can follow my Amazon author page.

    My About Page

    castle roof

    Read my bio and see all the social links and articles here.

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    Dark and Brooding Skies

    Dark and brooding skies over the loch

    There’s brooding skies over the loch now. You can see the wee island that the landowner is building for wildlife. But the snow has turned to sleet, so things are about to get less pretty. Will these little daily blogs continue? I don’t know. Perhaps. Other scenic things may happen.

    It’s Mermaid Time!

    The Mermaid and the Bear by Ailish Sinclair. Christmas image.

    Everyone knows about the Salem witch trials that took place in seventeenth century America, but less well known are the instances of witch hunting that occurred across Scotland.

    Ailish Sinclair painstakingly researched this fascinating and terrible subject for more than a year, before blending it with a love story in her debut novel, THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR. Featuring three real women who were accused as part of the Aberdeen witchcraft panic of 1597, the book is set against the beautiful backdrop of the Aberdeenshire countryside and tells the story of Isobell, and her desperation to escape London and an arranged marriage, to find a better life.

    Upon landing in Scotland, Isobell’s dreams of faery castles, ancient woodlands and misty lochs seem to be coming true, as she finds herself kitchen maid to a handsome Laird, who offers not only safety but also the hope for a brighter future, filled with love and kindness. All is not how it seems, however, and enemies, both from the past and the present, conspire to test Isobell to the limits of endurance, and beyond.

    Amazon UK

    Amazon Worldwide

    Signed copies

    The Mermaid and the Bear Christmas

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    I swear, I’m not a mermaid…

    I'm not a mermaid...

    Article

    I’m not a mermaid, nor do I have a pet bear as is suggested in this article: 8 Strange things I saw while I was definitely not stalking Ailish Sinclair 😀

    Calm

    SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD has been out for three days now and I think it’s going quite well. I’m staying calm and mellow anyway…

    Reviews

    Review from Lizanne Lost in a Good Book: “This is a complex mystical tale of bloody conflict between two disparate civilisations, but also about sisterhood, romantic love and dramatic choices. Morragh is not like most of us. Her actions are instinctive and passionate, but her certainty is persuasive.” See the whole review here.

    And here’s the book being read in France.

    A wee flip-through on TikTik:

    @ailishsinclair

    Out today! Paperback & kindle on Amazon. From the provocative opening scene to the later dramatic and devastating events of the story, SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD is a book that will continually surprise, delight, and sometimes shock the reader. #historicalfiction #booktok #romance #ancientworld #neurodiversity

    ♬ original sound – suneysounds ♬
    SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD with a misty mountain view

    Set in 1st century Scotland, SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD includes the battle of Mons Graupius between the Romans and the Caledonian tribes. The book features a neurodivergent main character and some rather complicated romance!

    Amazon UK

    Amazon Worldwide

    “Ethereal and spellbinding….” Historical Novel Society

    The Edge of the World

    the edge of the world on Bennachie
    Bennachie in Aberdeenshire

    The Romans had a point. Parts of Scotland really do feel like the edge of the world.

    Two Sisters…

    Two Cultures…

    Out now!

    The Romans called it the Edge of the World.

    Sisters released on the 21st of September 2022, in both paperback and kindle and on kindle unlimited.

    I’m calmer this time. It doesn’t feel like quite such a great big worrying thing. And, as you can see, I’m having fun playing with imagery for marketing.

    Normal blogging will resume shortly…

    SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD with a misty mountain view
    Background image also taken on Bennachie

    Set in 1st century Scotland, SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD includes the battle of Mons Graupius between the Romans and the Caledonian tribes. The book features a neurodivergent main character and some rather complicated romance.

    “Ethereal and spellbinding….” Historical Novel Society

    See the press release here

    Amazon UK

    Amazon Worldwide

    Read the article Roman Aberdeenshire features in author’s new book from Grampian Online.

    More of my Books

    books on pink

    Set in an Aberdeenshire castle, THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR features the Scottish witchcraft accusations, a handsome Laird, an ancient stone circle and a love story.

    FIREFLIES AND CHOCOLATE was inspired by the 18th century kidnapped children of Aberdeen and is set in both Scotland and Colonial Pennsylvania.

    Paperbacks and kindle: Amazon UK or Amazon Worldwide

    “Filled with excitement and suspense…” Historical Novel Society

    ballet novel, TENDU, by Ailish Sinclair

    See my About Page here

    Newsletter

    Go here to sign up for my (roughly monthly) newsletter. It’s a more intimate space than the blog and always includes some exclusive photos from the edge of the world!

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