38. Cracking Build Gromit!

Many of the sculptures this year have been sponsored by bug companies, in the case of 38. Cracking Build Gromit! Lego went one step further and actually built their Gromit out of Lego.

38. Cracking Build Gromit!

Built with over 30,000 bricks it certainly looks the part.

38. Cracking Build Gromit!

Close up you can see the bricks.

38. Cracking Build Gromit!

Back in 2015 I attempted to see and photograph all 70 Shaun the Sheeps I managed to get 62. This time I am aiming to get all 67 sculptures.

I have created this page to record all the sculptures we find.

Download the app to find the sculptures.

12. The Bristol Hound

So 2018 sees another trail featuring Aardman’s characters from Wallace and Gromit. Back in 2015 I attempted to see and photograph all 70 Shaun the Sheeps I managed to get 62. This time I am aiming to get all 67 sculptures.

Guarding Clifton Suspension Bridge Park is 12. The Bristol  Hound which you can tell is very much a Bristol Gromit with the amount of Brizzle (the language of Bristol) on the sculpture.

54. The Bristol Hound

54. The Bristol Hound

It’s in a great location with the Clifton Suspension Bridge in the background.

54. The Bristol Hound

54. The Bristol Hound

I have created this page to record all the sculptures we find.

Download the app to find the sculptures.

Gromit Unleashed 2

So 2018 sees another trail featuring Aardman’s characters from Wallace and Gromit.

In Gromit Unleashed 2 Nick Park’s Academy Award®-winning character Gromit has returned to Bristol for his second starring role in the award-winning charity’s sculpture trails, but this time he’s not alone; the loveable pooch is joined by his pal Wallace and arch nemesis Feathers McGraw! The criminal mastermind penguin is on the loose again and the dynamic duo is out to track him down! Gromit is raring to go, but Wallace can’t resist having a nice sit down to soak up the scenery, and enjoy a lovely cup of tea at every opportunity. The trail features over 60 giant sculptures designed by high-profile artists, designers, innovators and local talent. Sculptures are positioned in high footfall and iconic locations around Bristol and the surrounding area, perfect for a family day out around the city and beyond.

I have captured a couple, but am planning to capture them all.

In the galleries is 35. Caractacus Paws, which sees Gromit riding his version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

9. Caractacus Paws

In Quakers Friar is 37. Fromage McGraw we see the cheeky penguin masquerading as a cheesy chicken.

22. Fromage McGraw

Back in 2015 I attempted to see and photograph all 70 Shaun the Sheeps I managed to get 62. This time I am aiming to get all 67 sculptures.

I have created this page to record all the sculptures we find.

Download the app to find the sculptures.

Sunny Oxford

I took the time to take some photographs on a visit to Oxford. I had a presentation to give at a recent meeting which was taking place in Oxford. The weather was beautiful and as it was relatively early the roads and pavements were not as crowded with tourists as they can be.

Walking in from St Clements Street by The Plain I walked down the High Street across Magdalen Bridge, taking a photograph of the Magdalen Bridge Boathouse.

Magdalen Bridge Boathouse

There were already quite a few people waiting to hire out punts and boats.

The crenellations of Magdalen College looked impressive in the sun.

Magdalen College

My meeting was taking place in the Oxford University Examination Schools, however Apple Maps on the iPhone took me down Merton Street to the back entrance, however I was lucky enough to be able to sneak in, and make my meeting.

Merton Street

I took the slightly longer route back to the car, as I wanted a quick nostalgic visit to the Covered Market. All Souls College looked rather magnificent in the sun.

All Souls College

Hiding behind the tree on the high street is All Saints Church which is now the Library of Lincoln College. In 1971, All Saints Church was declared redundant and the City Church moved to St Michael at the North Gate. All Saints was thus deconsecrated and offered to Lincoln College, located immediately to the north of the church. Since 1975, after conversion, the building has been Lincoln College’s library.

Library of Lincoln College

With any city the side street often offer interesting buildings and architecture. Oxford has a range of these side streets of which King Edward Street is just one.

King Edward Street

Another view of Magdalen College, it is one of the wealthiest colleges in Oxford.

Magdalen College

Magdalen College

Looking the other way on Magdalen Bridge there were a range of punts, I expect in the summer holidays and weekends these will be heavily used.

Magdalen Bridge

The Plain includes a small but prominent building facing Magdalen Bridge, Victoria Fountain. The fountain is protected by a roof on stone columns. On top is a small clock tower. The fountain was a gift to the city by G. Herbert Morrell.

Victoria Fountain

Though it was a quick visit to Oxford it was nice to be back.

Comrade Doctor

Though they have been removed from most high streets across the UK, in Glasgow you can still find Police boxes, the kind that the TARDIS disguised itself as back in 1963 when it landed in Totter’s Lane junkyard.

There is a police box at 27 Sauchiehall Street in the heart of Glasgow.

Red TARDIS

It’s red though, not blue.

Ah Comrade Doctor.

The Routemaster

The Routemaster

Though there are many new buses in London, it still gives me a warm nostalgic fuzzy feeling when I see an old Routemaster still in service, usually as I walk down The Strand in London. These classic old buses epitomise London and though the new modern flash ones are more environmentally friendly, accessible, and “better” I still have a place in my heart for these old red double deckers.

We’ve seen the teaser, now we have the trailer

After the teaser, we now have the trailer for Solo: A Star Wars Story.

When I saw the teaser I was impressed with the shiny new Millennium Falcon, however I wasn’t sure about the story, as there wasn’t much to get from the teaser.

The new trailer though does provide a deeper insight into the story and I am now looking forward to seeing the film at the end of May.

I really enjoyed Rogue One and I think Solo has a lot to live up to, to match the quality of that film.