The Materialistic Tramp

No idea who this chap is, but he really is quite a character...

Often spotted in and around town with what can only be described as STUFF.

Sort of like Propane Pete and his props, I've seen him about with a kettle and a large 1980's keyboard, but most recently he was spotted by me and my mate one saturday night.
First of all he was pushing a small pink childs bike past Top Shop, with all glittery streamers hanging from the handlebars and a little tinkly pink bell... Then later on he was sat on the church steps next to Gilcolmstoun Tramp with whom he was sharing a can of special brew.

He was hugging his pink bike guardedly and glaring at everyone (apart from Gilc Tramp who can clearly be trusted with small pink bicycles) in case they might try to take it from him!

Markies Street Preacher #1

There have been so many different Men Of God ranting outside Markies over the years that I'm actually going to have to do this in 3 posts! Three! Not that I'm desperate for post ideas mind...

Markies Street Preacher #1 was tall and thin and was affiliated to the Sally Army. He looked very smart indeed - I bet Peter Dow found him an inspiration in his early campaining years!

He would stand outside Markies with what I think was the case for some sort of brass instrument. And on this case, written in the parallellogram (see? Standard Grade Maths did teach us something!) shaped gold door letters that you get in B&Q, he'd have his Religious Message Of The Day.

And thus, with his beliefs proclaimed in beautiful signage, he would speak God's word to anyone who would listen. And probably be spat at by the White Heather Wifie... Gawd Bless 'Im.

Squeak

Squeak.

Squeak.

Squeaky F**king Squeak Squeak Squeak.

I'm sure you ALL know who I'm talking about. Perhaps there isn't actually any need to go on. But I shall. Squeak was one of Aberdeen's most persistant street artists - a fine quine of admirable robotic movements that would stand outside Markies on her "plinth" entertaining the fine folk of the Granite City with her impression of an android that's got a dog's chew toy stuck in it's throat.

She was dressed all in white from her white leg warmers and wooly tights (sorry, but I have to back her up here... Aberdeen is bloody cold at times) to her skirt made out of lace curtain screens and her sparkly white and silvery top, to her goth-white robotic face.

And boy... Did she squeak. I remember being in the Clydesdale applying for my mortgage. Everything was going very well until Squeak came back from lunch and once again took her plinth. At this point the nice Clydesdale lady made a face I've only ever seen in films where someone is suffering Chinese Water Torture. Squeaky Squeaky. Squeaky Squeaky. Squeak. Squeak. Squeaaaaaaaaaak. Poor bank lady couldn't get out of the mortgage interview room quick enough! Actually... considering the state of the flat I moved in to, I should maybe track Squeak down and thank her for her assistance in pushing my mortgage through...

Sadly, she's either Squeaking in another lucky city, far from here or has gone and gotten herself a proper job, as I've not seen her about Aberdeen for a long, long time...

Big Aggie

Big Aggie isn't Weel Kent.

Although hopefully after this, she will be... because she damn well deserves to be!

Big Aggie first came to my attention in an email forwarded on from a workmate. It's a sound file recorded from the answering machine of a friend of a friend. I'll let you listen to it to decide exactly why she deserves fame...

Classic. Every second of it.

Listen to it here: Big Aggie Speaks!

Warning - contains some foul language! (And I wouldn't have it any other way)

Mr Buggrit

More or less taken out of the pages of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels, Mr Buggrit is (or was...?) a familiar sight to many Aberdonians-about-town.

Aberdeen's very own version of Foul Old Ron was often spotted... Often!? I mean ALWAYS spotted walking about Union Street and surrounding environs with a bit of a stoop, hands clenched behind his back and grinning up into the faces of passersby (with the expression of a 'Here's Johnny' Jack Nicholson) shouting "BUGGER YE!" "BIG PAPS!" or some such similar comedy cry.

He was always in a city centre record shop a friend of mine used to work in, demanding "JIMMY SHAND!!!! JIMMY SHAND????" at the top of his voice, or being spotted in the post office going "AYE! AYE AYE!! AYE YE BUGGER!"

I remember one time he'd gotten hold of a small Mr Blobby Doll and was shuffling up Union Street grinning and going "BLOBBY! BLOBBY? BLOBBY BLOBBY!" to anyone that would listen.

Sadly... I fear he has gone the way of the White Heather Wifie as I've not seen him about for a good few years. Not since I used to live in Stafford Street (Not really giving away my identity here as I'm sure most Aberdonians have had the pleasure of living in Stafford Street at some point in their lives) and would hear him from my bedroom, walking up the street, muttering "Buggerit. Bugger em. Bugger Ye! Bugger it aaaaa!"

He'll be sadly missed.

A Long Overdue Post

OK OK, So I've not posted for ages... I've not had the time or energy to do a bit of Trampspotting (Hmmm. I'm picturing an amusing Page Logo in my head here...) in, like MONTHS!

And it seems people have actually started reading this site :P So I'd like to take the opportunity to thank everyone at...

donstalk.co.uk AFC discussion board
aberdeencruiser.com A discussion board for Boolie Bashers? Cool!
belmont-street.com discussion board
tastelessspoon.com
and of course granitecity.org

... for paying attention and making their various comments at the various sites.

So what am I going to do? Well... OK so first of all I have a few tramps/weel-kent-fowk I've never gotten around to writing about... Mr Buggrit, Squeak, The Markies Street Preachers

I've never written about tramps/weel-kent-fowk of the past (for which I will ask one of the best sources around... My Dad) such as Snuffy Ivy.

and then there's all the suggestions you've all made plus the weel-kent-fowk on Knowhere which I've had my attention drawn to.

I guess I'll get around to them all eventually :D I'd like permission to quote some of you though, especially on some of the tramps and weel-kent-fowk I don't know too much about myself.

Watch This Space!