Another Bench!

Walked through Duthie Park in Aberdeen this afternoon in search of another BookBench, which I found close to the cafè.

It was designed by local artist Johanna Basford and portrays what she says  you would see on a walk through a wildflower garden.  She describes herself as an Inky Illustrator and Colouring Book Maker.  Her colouring books, aimed at adult market, proved to be big sellers during Covid.

Her bench is on display in the extras.

I have given pride of place to another bench in the park one which is dedicated to John McLeod, a brilliant scientist, who led the Toronto Team which discovered insulin in 1922.

He was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and attended the city’s university. He and his team were awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1923.  Insulin has saved the lives of millions of people with type 1 diabetes.

I think you will agree that his sculpture/bench is a very impressive bench indeed.

While in the park I saw two very sizeable planes belonging to the US Airforce beginning their descent into Aberdeen Airport. The park is close to the flight path. They were about twenty minutes apart and had flown from North America.

The first plane had flown from Dover, the capital city of the state of Delaware.  The second flew in from Gander in Newfoundland.  They are here ahead of President Trump’s ‘informal’ visit to Scotland.

He is visiting both of the golf courses he owns in the country.  Turnberry in Ayrshire and Trump International in Aberdeenshire.  He is celebrating the opening of a second course in Aberdeenshire, which is named after his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod.  She was born on the Isle of Lewis in 1912.

I think that as well as  members of his security team the planes would also be carrying bulletproof cars to ensure his safety.  The last time he visited Aberdeen and Turnberry he had a lot of abuse ‘hurled’ at him!  He wasn’t president on that occasion but I think given recent events that have taken place since his inauguration in January he can expect even more abuse being shouted at him and on display on placards and banners!  Welcome to Scotland, Donnie!!

Better viewed in the large setting.

NEWS EXTRA
I have seen a post online from a BBC Scotland reporter which includes footage of a Sikorsky helicopter being unloaded from the first of the planes!  Also on the runway were four  Chinook helicopters.  

I’m guessing that they may have flown down from RAF Lossiemouth where the US Airforce have a base.  I have read reports about joint ventures involving the RAF and USAF and also have seen planes from both forces working in tandem in the sky as they practise manoeuvres.  

The president will fly into Prestwick Airport, just north of Turnberry, on Friday.  It is expected he will back to the USA early next week from Lossiemouth.