Here’s Bristol in miniature, well kind of….
“Experience the world famous sights and events of Bristol, carefully crafted to give the illusion of smallness!”
Remembering the Bristol Temple Way Flyover
I moved to Bristol in the 1990s and living in Southville and working at Ashley Down meant that driving home I had the fun that was driving over the Temple Way flyover.
I remember the first time I did it, thinking, what is this, is this a real road? I would often decide to drive over it even if it wasn’t quite the best way to get where I was going.
It was never for the faint hearted, though I never heard of a car driving off the side of it.
The flyover was taken down in 1998 as part of road changes in that area.
I believe it was actually sold to another council.
Of course today there are ongoing roadworks in that area in order to improve traffic flows.
View from the Cheesegrater Bridge
The view from Mead Reach Bridge looking towards Valentine Bridge in Bristol.
Photograph was taken with an iPhone 8 and then edited in the Snapseed app.
The bridge was closed on September 18th in 2017 after a lorry tried to cross it. After 20 months it was re-opened in May 2019.
My top ten tweets of 2018
Last year I posted my top ten tweets for 2017 and I did the same in 2016 which were interesting to see which tweets of mine were popular.
The top tweet back in 2016 was this one for #WednesdayWisdom
Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana. #WednesdayWisdom
— James Clay (@jamesclay) May 18, 2016
Whilst top tweet for 2017 was this one from the 2017 ALT Conference and it was my sketchnote of Bonnie Stewart’s keynote on openness.
My sketch note of the @bonstewart keynote here at #altc pic.twitter.com/1ZvARS9R7t
— James Clay (@jamesclay) September 5, 2017
My tenth most popular blog was a response to another tweet of mine which was responding to the question:
Men of Twitter, is there a woman that you look up to in your own field or in another one? Who is she and why does she inspire you?
Also @dresdeb @nicwhitton @liz_isabella @RosieJHJones @EdTechYogi @TrabiMechanic @angefitzpatrick @senorcthulhu I learn so much from these people and they inspire you to think differently about stuff. Just one, no there are many.
— James Clay (@jamesclay) July 26, 2018
The ninth most popular tweet was a response to a Jeremy Vine about tweeting and cyclists. My point was that signs don’t work!
This should read
— James Clay (@jamesclay) July 2, 2018
If every sign saying CYCLISTS DISMOUNT was replaced by one saying EAT DOUGHNUTS we would solve the obesity crisis https://t.co/gcMzVpJueM
The tweet at number eight was responding to the question:
Men of Twitter, is there a woman that you look up to in your own field or in another one? Who is she and why does she inspire you?
There are many great women in edtech that I look up to. follow @MarenDeepwell @sheilmcn @DonnaLanclos @LornaMCampbell @sarahjenndavies @bonstewart @audreywatters @KerryPinny @ambrouk @VivienRolfe @chrissinerantzi @suethomas @suebecks @Dr_Black @actualham @WarwickLanguage @jsecker
— James Clay (@jamesclay) July 26, 2018
The seventh most popular tweet was my sketch note of Maren Deepwell’s keynote at the 2018 ALT Conference.
#altc my sketch note of the @MarenDeepwell keynote hare at the ALT Conference pic.twitter.com/Jahr4BWJuk
— James Clay (@jamesclay) September 13, 2018
The tweet at number six was about Bristolian emoji.
Inspired by @natlibscot here ‘s some Bristolian emoji
— James Clay (@jamesclay) July 18, 2018
😘 Alright my luvver?
👥 Babber
🧠 Keener
😳 Ark at ee
😄 Gert
❤️ Gert Lush
🛍 Cribbs
👍 Innit
🏘 Sadly Broke
🌉 Brizzle
👍🚌 Cheers, drive!
💚 Mint
🥙 Jason Donervan
💙 Proper
🍏🍺 Scrumpy
🗺 Where's it to?
❗️Mind
Fifth tweet was a reply to Andy Ihnatko with a composed image of Andy with Beyonce on the International Space Station.
Okay… Will this help? pic.twitter.com/rFaP0WropO
— James Clay (@jamesclay) January 30, 2018
No real idea why the tweet at number 4 was so popular, it was just a complaint about some issues I was having with Twitter back in April.
Still having @Twitter issues. Unable to access many pages on the web app, and tweets not loading on the iOS App. Tweetdeck working as is https://t.co/jnkaZ1wG4O which is why I can post this. Bizarre.
— James Clay (@jamesclay) April 17, 2018
The third tweet which saw The Range competing with WHSmith on shop floor tidiness.
Ah The Range trying to outdo WHSmith. cc @WHS_Carpet pic.twitter.com/YaUjyEmIpn
— James Clay (@jamesclay) February 8, 2018
Second most popular tweet was about a carpet, a carper in a WHSmith in the Bristol area.
Some great looking @WHS_Carpet here from the [REDACTED] WHS store. All the carpet was like this. It really needed replacing. I felt dirty just walking on it. pic.twitter.com/wTZUY6kLIE
— James Clay (@jamesclay) August 21, 2018
My most popular tweet in 2017 was about the newly revamped WHSmith at Bristol Temple Meads complete with storage cage!
Ooh nicely spruced up new WHSmith at Bristol Temple Meads Railway Station. Compete with new flooring (no carpet), new signs, new shelving. Original storage cage in shop floor though. cc @WHS_Carpet pic.twitter.com/fJg0EgO6f8
— James Clay (@jamesclay) June 21, 2018
Stuff: Top Ten Blog Posts 2018
Over the last twelve months I have published 89 posts.
The tenth most popular post on my personal blog was Cinematic Advent Calendar #07 – The Eagle has Landed.
In at number nine, is one of a few posts about the harbourside in Bristol, Bristol Harbourside in the 1990s Part Five
Eighth most popular post, was about how Trenchard Street in Bristol had changed from the 1970s to today.
At number seven, was a post about the Bryan Brothers’ Garage Demolition, Bristol, in 1999.
The sixth most popular post was about A nice clean new shiny Millennium Falcon as would be seen in the Solo: Star Wars Story film.
The post at number five was a post containing photographs from the harbourside in Bristol. Bristol Harbourside in the 1990s
Fourth most popular post was Bristol Harbourside in the 1990s Part Three. This was another post containing photographs from the harbourside in Bristol.
Post at number three, Changes at the railway station, was how things have changed at Weston-super-Mare railway station.
Second most popular post was some photographs from the Bristol Harbourside in the 1990s
The most popular blog post this year was Cinematic Advent Calendar #05 – Leon.
Success – Gromit Unleashed 2
Yes we managed to get them all… I have seen and photographed all 67 sculptures. Here they all are, click the images for larger versions.
Out of the 67 I don’t think I could choose a single one as a favourite. I really like 65. Swallows & Amazons as well as 33. Rocket Man. 50. Spock made me smile as did the cleverness of the Lego constructed 38. Cracking Build Gromit!. I appreciated the poignancy of 25. Bristol’s Own and the wonderfully clever 29. Alex the Lion.
So no I didn’t have a favourite, but I did enjoy “collecting” them all.
14. The Wensleydale Kid
Walking up the steep slopes to the Clifton Observatory you can find 14. The Wensleydale Kid.
Complete with hat, this cowboy themed Wallace looks a lot like Woody from Toy Story.
I like the description from the sculpture page which is all old west in style.
Howdy, y’all, and welcome to Bristol’s very own slice of the Wild West, sponsored by Darcy Associates. Painted by artist Paula Bowles, you can bet ‘The Wensleydale Kid’ is decked out in the whole wrangling kit and caboodle. Cowboy hat? Check. Cowboy boots? Check. Bandana? Check. Horse? Erm… looks like a park bench will have to do for now! Yee-haw! So pony-up and skedaddle over to Clifton Observatory to meet this buckaroo! Giddy’up!
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.
13. Light as a Feather
On the “other” side of the Clifton Suspension Bridge you can find 13. Light as a Feather.
This balloon themed Feathers has lots of nice touches like the baskets for feet.
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.
11. Wallace in Wonderland
In the heart of Clifton Village you won’t find the Queen of Hearts, but you will find a Mad Hatter’esque Wallace in 11. Wallace in Wonderland having a cup of tea in The Mall Gardens.
Complete with a cup of tea, Wallace could have just come from the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, but there was no dormouse to be found.
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.
46. George
Sitting on his own on the Downs near to the water tower is 46. George.
As the description says “perhaps fresh off of a jousting match or just back from slaying a fire-breathing dragon” we find George (or Wallace) encased in armour with a cup of tea.
Though this was one of the first sculptures I saw, at the first attempt, it was really hard to park close enough, so we left him for another day. There was more room on a later date, so found a parking space and took some photographs.
I really like the coat of arms on the cup complete with Gromit and Feathers.
Smiling away, he seems happy.
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.