One of the great things about writing blogs about Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire is that you get to learn a lot more about our city and the surrounding countryside. Also, I’ve learned so many new things about my colleagues at RGU, who are more than happy to tell us about their interests, whether in equestrianism, mountaineering or Kendo. One thing is certain; they are a talented lot!
Other than the interests of the RGU staff, there are lots of fascinating facts and figures out there on the internet, but they do have to be read with caution sometimes. For example…
I read recently that there is a record number of whisky distillers in the area. Now, depending on where you draw the line for ‘the area’, that’s broadly true, however, the article where I read this fact rather spoiled the effect by telling us, in the first sentence, that “The Aberdeen area has the largest number of whiskey distilleries …”. That will be news to the Irish and the Americans, who produce whiskey. I’m not a whisky drinker, but I’m pretty sure the stuff we make doesn’t have an ‘e’ in it!
Later on in the same article, I came across another really interesting fact that I wasn’t aware of, namely that the Dutch footballer Ruud Gullet said that his toughest opponent on any football field was Aberdeen’s legendary captain, Willie Miller, and that the Dons are his favourite British team. To be fair, Willie Miller is probably the toughest opponent many footballers have faced, but I find it hard to swallow that this is what Ruud Gullet thinks, unless he is, by chance, related to the more famous Rudd Gullit.
Elsewhere, we learn that the Brig o’ Balgownie is Scotland’s oldest bridge. Unfortunately, the next sentence begins… “The Brig o’Balgowne near Seaton Park..”.
Now, I know that “there but for the grace of God go I” (and I suspect there will be the odd typo in some of our blogs too) but all these mistakes made me smile. However, these errors have, inadvertently, drawn my attention to the facts that underlie them and I’m going to go to make a point of learning about the Brig o’ Balgownie (so you can expect to find out more in a forthcoming blog!). And I cherish the thought that Ruud Gullit’s favourite football team in Britain is Aberdeen. Given the Dons’ form in the last few months (leaving the Rangers result on one side), he’s not alone in that!
Julie Skinner, Resourcing & Benefit Specialist
Email: j.skinner@rgu.ac.uk