James Clay Stuff

August 6, 2015

I am not a number…

Over the weekend, taking advantage of the good weather we went for a picnic on the Downs in Bristol. As well as having some nice food and fun in the sun, we also took the opportunity to hunt down some more of the Shaun the Sheeps dotted across the city. A previous post shows the Shauns we found on the Downs, and there is a page with all the Shauns we have seen so far.

After venturing from the Downs and down Whiteladies Road, we parked in Clifton Village. As it was Sunday it was easy and free to find parking, we ventured over the first of the Shauns, 23. Bloomin’ Gorge-ous which sits on the grass on the other side of the road to Christ Church.

Looking up at the butterfly on his head, this is quite a calming Shaun. We liked the flowers growing up his legs.

Then we hiked over the Suspension Bridge to find 18. Isambaaard guarding one side of the suspension bridge, complete with Brunel’s quintessential top hat.

Back over the bridge and climb up quite a steep path to the Clifton Observatory to find 19. A Sheep’s Eye View. Another shade of blue this one, with the kinds of views you would expect from the Observatory painted on the side. This Shaun had a watering can and a flower, no idea why.

There are some fantastic views of Bristol and the Suspension Bridge from the Clifton Observatory, so the (short) steep climb is worthwhile. We were tempted to go into the Observatory and down into the caves, but we were on a mission to find more Shauns, so back down the steep path and a short walk to Sion Hill. Here was 20. Baa-lloon!

Covered in flying hot air balloons, this Shaun celebrates the annual International Bristol Balloon Fiesta (which takes place from today (6th August)).

The next Shaun was on the Terrace of the Avon Gorge Hotel, 21. Wish Ewe Were Here. Quite challenging to find and take a photograph as the Terrace was packed with people enjoying a drink in the warm afternoon sun.

The Mall Gardens, which after working out how to get in we found 22. The Shear Speed Helter Skelter.

With a classic funfair look, this was cleverly done.

There are two more Shauns in the Ashton Court Estate, which we didn’t get to, mainly as it was getting late, we were getting tired, and to be honest we’ll probably make a day of it visiting Ashton Course some time (or visit them during the Balloon Fiesta at the weekend.

August 5, 2015March 26, 2020

Impressive SFX

Really impressed with the special effects that were used in Ripper Street recently.

This video shows how footage of real trains was incorportated with digital scenes to create trains running (and crashing) in Victorian London.

Ripper Street trains Breakdown from Screen Scene on Vimeo.

August 3, 2015

…and then we added some more!

The first one was quite a challenge to find, as we stopped the car on our way to the Downs on Canford Lane. We didn’t find the Shaun at first, but after seeing that the Shaun was at 25 Canford Lane, we realised we needed to go further down the road. This we did and we found number 13. Bristol Beauty.

This was simplistic Shaun, pink and blue and covered in Bristol place names. his one was outside the C J Hole estate agents up in Westbury on Trym, a bizarre location we thought at first until we realised that this Shaun had been sponsored by C J Hole.

We drove past 12. Bumble and didn’t stop as we were driving along a busy road, but parked in the Downs intending to walk back Bumble, but we didn’t, so we walked the other way across the Downs to 10. Ram-ble.

Very bright green, this Shaun was very easy to spot from across the Downs, it was also surrounded by people, like us, taking photographs.

The next Shaun was a little challenging to find, as it was hidden away in the entrance drive to the University of Bristol’s Botanical Gardens. 11. Shaun of the Jungle.

Beautifully painted, lots of lovely detail and hidden in the shade, this is one Shaun well worth finding and taking the time to view.

If you are finding this one, be aware (at weekends at least) there is parking within the Botanical Gardens site, so you can safely drive in, park, take your photographs, check off the app, make a donation to the gardens. We chatted with the volunteer by the Shaun and made the decision that we would make a return visit one day to view the gardens.

After a picnic on the Downs and an explore, we started driving over to Clifton village where there are six, we stopped on the way to get a picture of 9. Tutti Frutti.

This was a bizarre looking Shaun, almost zombie’sque in appearance with those tomatoes for eyes. Clever combination of painting of fruit and vegetables. This was a very busy street, so only time for a quick view, a quick photo and a quick sales pitch from the staff at the Kitchens Cookshop, which did sponsor this Shaun and of course where the Shaun is located.

Getting back into the car, we headed off to Clifton Village to find those Shauns on the Brunel Trial, but that’s another story…

July 27, 2015

That’s one scary landing…

The big storm in the Netherlands made for some difficult landings at Schipol Airport as you can see with his landing captured on video.

Glad I wasn’t in that plane.

July 26, 2015

My name is Shaunus Romanus, commander of the flocks of the North, General of the Aries Legions

51. Shaunus Romanus

Up on the top of Victoria Hill in the park (by the coffee bar) is Shaun the Sheep 51. Shaunus Romanus.

My name is Shaunus Romanus, commander of the flocks of the North, General of the Aries Legions and loyal servant to the TRUE emperor, Gromiticus. Father to a murdered lamb, husband to a murdered ewe. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.

It had been raining, so the ground and Shaun were a little damp. I was impressed with how this one had been done, the metal helmet, shield and armour were nice touches.

July 24, 2015

…and so to the beginning

…and so to the beginning of the Shaun the Sheep trail. This required a visit up to the Mall at Cribbs Causeway to see the three Shauns that are in situ around the North Bristol out of town shopping centre. You also get the chance to visit the Shaun the Sheep shop at the Mall too.

1. Fab-ewe-lous

Set out in the front, this ice cream flavoured Shaun the Sheep is perfect for summer, complete with a ’99 My Whippy and a FAB iced lolly.

2. Shrek Shaun

On first sight I didn’t think this was a Shaun, what with the Shrek-esque ears. One of the few Shauns that has its own backdrop and scenery. You find this one in the Shaun the Sheep shop, along with lots of other smaller Shauns painted by local school children.

3. Bee-dazzled!

This Shaun has extra bling and bees.

These have been added to my page of Shauns and as they are numbered one to three at least that page looks like it has stuff on it, and it isn’t just a list of numbers.

July 23, 2015

Spectre

Well the new trailer for the new James Bond film has been released and I am somewhat a little bit excited for this new instalment.

Spectre is of course the name of the original bad guys who were outside the traditional government spy agencies. I recently rewatched From Russian with Love with Sean Connery where the bad guys were Spectre, as James Bond steals a KGB encoding machine from the Russians, not realising that this was all part of a Spectre plan.0

The new film, looks like it will build on the foundations laid down by the previous Bond films, but will reboot Spectre in the same way they have with other aspects of the Bond universe in the other Daniel Craig films.

Looking forward to it.

July 22, 2015

Shaun in the Centre

Over the weekend we were at the Bristol Harbour Festival and managed as well as everything else, to get a few more Shauns into the visit.

55. Please Stand By

Those people who have never seen the BBC Testcard may have no idea why this Shaun is painted as he is. Like other test cards, it was usually shown while no programmes were being broadcast. In today’s world of 24 hour TV, we no longer experience the “joy” of watching the testcard and getting freaked out by that clown and little girl (oh then again go and watch Life on Mars).

54. Shaun on the Cob

On a previous visit to Marks and Spencers , Shaun on the Cob had been replaced by the Temporary Shaun while he received some tender loving care (fixing the vandalism). This vegetable sheep is very well painted and cleverly done.

25. King Arthur of Lambelot & Excalibaaar

Over by the Cathedral is not just a Shaun, but also a sword. As it was really busy in Bristol on that day, I found it challenging to get a photograph of the sheep and the sword (you can just see a little hand in the picture) so may go back another day when it is quieter to grab a better shot.

68. Willow

Willow stands next to St Mary Redcliffe church and looking very nice in the sun.

Here is the page of all the Shauns we have captured so far.

July 18, 2015

Tranquil Knightstone Island

Marine Lake isn ot quite still enough for a perfect reflection, but still enough to reflect.

The tide was in, which always seems like a rare occurrence in Weston super Mare, even if it does happen twice a day. This is mainly due to the how far the sea goes out at low tide.

July 17, 2015

Temporary – Shaun in the City

Despite they’ve only been in the city for a while, at least one of the Shauns as been damaged and has been taken away for some TLC. So not to disappoint people, a temporary green Shaun is put in place, until the original has been fixed, repaired and then returned.

I also took some new shots of two I have already photographed, not sure why.

Another shot of the Great West Shaun

Also another of Bagpuss

See my page of all the Shauns I have captured so far.