'Fittie'

We had time to use before the departure of the ferry from Aberdeen this evening so we had a wander through the city with stops for bookshop and cuppas, returning via a soggy, windy Esplanade with some grand views of rainstorms coming through (over us!) and out to sea.

At the end of the Esplanade as the sun finally emerged, we came across this wonderful tiny fishing village of Footdee, pronounced 'Fittie'.  Apparently it was designed by the architect of Balmoral with all the houses facing inwards, leaving the backs of them to take the brunt of the seaborne weather.  We caught an inviting glimpse of one street through a gap in the wall and had to find a way in.  The householders have decorated the fronts of their houses with flowers and signs, bits of decorative driftwood etc.  They have also transformed their sheds with bright colours and witty signs. My favourite was a 'blue plaque' which read 'Grandad Raymondo -Grandad since1993, Best performer, dancer, listener and story teller lives here.'  One 'shed' is an art gallery with some excellent work.

So as the ferry left the harbour for our overnight journey, it had to be this blip of Fittie as we passed by.