Bits and pieces, news, views, reviews and stuff
Outside Hargreaves Lansdown is a Wallace sculpture.
COCK-A-DOODLE DOO!! Watch out, Rocky, this plucky, free-range Wallace, designed by Peter Lord, Director of Chicken Run, is ready for his next starring role. Rooster Booster would make a cracking egg-stra for the next Chicken Run!
Hiding away in the foyer of We The Curious is Astrognome.
On his way to the stars, Astrognome, by Nick Park, is inspired by Wallace & Gromit: A Grand Day Out. He leaves a trail of stardust as he explores new worlds – one galaxy at a time. Don’t forget the crackers!
Hiding out in IKEA is Marigold. I hadn’t actually planned to go to IKEA to photograph the Gromit, so was pleasantly surprised I could tick off another sculpture from the list.
Dressed as Bollywood royalty and wrapped in vibrant reds, greens and marigold yellows, this Gromit is ready to steal the show with every wag and pose. There’s a new four-legged star in the city!
For the first time in nearly thirty years I was up early enough to head to Ashton Court for the morning ascent of the International Bristol Balloon Fiesta.
Since I moved to the South West in the early 1990s I have visited the Bristol Balloon Fiesta a number of times, but the last time I managed to make the 6am morning ascent was back in the 1990s.
We were lucky and we had green smoke and a lot of hot air balloons ascended and drifted across Bristol.
Far Away from most of the sculptures, in Puxton Park, near Weston-super-Mare is Poppy.
The last time I was in Boulogne was probably sometime in the early 1980s, or even the late 1970s. It wasn’t really a place we stayed long at, usually it was an overnight stay after crossing the channel in our sailing yacht before we then moved down to Dieppe or Fecamp.
In July I did a driving holiday to France staying outside Calais in Guines. One of the places we did visit whilst we were there was Boulogne.
We arrived and followed the signs for the parking, but we had a little trouble in parking, as there was a market on. We found an underground car park so we parked there.
We walked down to the harbour and then down to the seafront. We walked along the breakwater.
Walked back into town and up to the castle. The castle was really impressive as were the old city walls. I did initially think that the city walls would be like those in York with a narrow walkway, but no these walls were very wide and there was lots of room as we walked.
Inside the walls were some lovely old traditional French buildings.
I did wonder if any of the town would be familiar, it wasn’t. Though I think a lot had changed over the last forty or so years.
After enjoying my National Trust membership in 2023, I decided I would rejoin the Trust for 2025.
Some things just don’t go to plan. Having spent a lot of weekends attending university open days and going on holiday, despite travelling a lot I’ve not had the chance or the time to visit any National Trust properties.
So, having dropped of my daughter at a camp site in Wiltshire and having some time, I wanted to visit a National Trust property in the area, and chose Westwood Manor.
However, upon arrival, it was obvious that I was not the only one to make that choice, and the car park (and the overflow car park) were both full and lots of cars were parked on the side of the quite narrow road.
So after waiting a while I headed home. I will attempt to visit again sometime this year.
Gromit is sizzling hot in his 1950s retro makeover. Ready to rock ‘n’ roll all night, this busy pooch with the classic Americana flair of jukeboxes and milkshakes must stop chasing his tail and get his skates on!
You all know Roald Dahl’s The BFG. Now, meet the Snozzcumber eating Big Friendly Wallace. He’s here to catch your good dreams, sip fizzy Frobscottle from his teacup, and wait for the whizzpopping to begin!
Over the last thirty odd years I have often visited the Bristol Harbour Festival which takes place in July in the heart of the city around the docks.
I made a visit there this year and though I enjoyed my visit I do feel that it both wasn’t as good as previous years, but also wasn’t as busy. I was expecting there to be a lot more market stalls and food places, but Queen’s Square which is usually heaving with stalls on both sides of the road on all four sides was quite bare in comparison.
The highlight for me was the Spanish galleon, the Galeón Andalucía at Bristol which was looking magnificent. Though back in the day there were a lot more ships and boats in the harbour compared to this year.
There were a lot of stages and bands playing, and I enjoyed some of the music in Queen’s Square.