Bits and pieces, news, views, reviews and stuff
Over the last twelve months I have posted 68 blog posts to the blog. This is less than in 2018 when I published 89 posts. However most of the 89 posts in 2018 were from the Gromit Unleashed 2 trail across Bristol. I did post 24 televisual advent calendar posts in 2019 so this boosted the total.
Most of the top ten posts are nostalgic posts about Bristol in the 1990s…
There are in reverse order starting off with the tenth most popular post on the blog.
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.
This was a real challenge to photograph, in the main as Bristol Energy Hub was always closed when I visited.
This was my second attempt to photograph 23. Featherertron 3000 which was behind a window. The first time the place had closed as it was Sunday after 4pm and on a repeat visit to get a photograph, the place had closed for a meeting for four hours….
That was my second visit.
On my first attempt, it was a Sunday and the Bristol Energy Hub had closed earlier, but you could at least see the sculptures inside the window, but this was virtually impossible to photograph due to the light reflection on the window as you can see.
Taking photographs through a window is really challenging, especially when the sculpture is black and there is bright sunshine behind you. Disappointed that this Feathers wasn’t more accessible.
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.
Probably supposed to be guarding the Bristol Harbourside, 17. Long John Wallace seems to be enjoying a cup of tea, no doubt laced with rum.
It’s sometimes the little touches that make these models special, notice the parrot (which I missed when I was there), the wooden leg, but also the gold tooth.
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.
The ten most popular posts from 2017 in reverse order.
9. Trenchard Street, Bristol, circa 1970s
8. Things never said in the office…
7. Cinematic Advent Calendar #05 – Leon
6. Bristol Harbourside in the 1990s Part Five
5. Bristol Harbourside in the 1990s Part Four
4. Bristol Harbourside in the 1990s
3. Bryan Brothers’ Garage Demolition, Bristol, 1999
Across this blog I wrote fifteen posts in 2016. As might not be expected most of the top ten posts that year were from 2016, and I was pleased to see how popular my 1990s photographs of the Bristol Harbourside were.
I visited Legoland in 2013 and felt that it was A bit tired and this was the tenth most popular post, dropping one place from last year.
Also about Legoland Miniland was the ninth post.
The eighth post was about Time travelling by train which was a post on the newly painted GWR High Speed Train in the classic 1970s blue and yellow.
The seventh popular post was inspired by a newspaper article and talked about the many Changes at the railway station in Weston-super-Mare.
The sixth placed post was from my 2012 series of Cinematic Advent Calendar posts, this one was #07 – The Eagle has Landed. There were quite a few films in the advent calendar that have significant memories over and above the film itself. Queuing for Star Wars was significant for example. With The Eagle has Landed I went to see it at the Aldeburgh cinema with my grandparents.
When I used film, I didn’t take than many photographs, but I did take a fair few of the Bristol Harbourside, so the fifth post was of the Bryan Brothers’ Garage Demolition, Bristol, circa 1999.
Three of the next four posts were similar and all contain photographs from the Bristol Harbourside in the 1990s.
Fourth was this post Bristol Harbourside in the 1990s and third was this one: Bristol Harbourside in the 1990s (second part).
The second most popular post was a comparison of Trenchard Street, Bristol, circa 1970s and the view today.
The most popular post of the year on the Stuff blog was a series of photographs of Bristol Harbourside in the 1990s.
So quite a few posts from 2016 in the 2016 top ten.
Though the Shauns have now left the centre of Bristol, I am still catching up posting my photographs of the ones I managed to capture with my camera.
We were passing by 40. On the Waterfront when I managed to find us a parking place, and over we went to get a photograph.
Reminding us of the waterfront with pictures of the docks, this Shaun was very much at home next to the water.
This was a very shiny sheep, 46. Shaun Bean was covered in chrome and was next to the Arnolfini.
Not sure of the connection with Sean Bean though.
Looking very much like Johnny Depp, 45. The Pirate Captain had a tricorne, flintlocks and a cutlass.
He was guarding the M Shed, or was he looking for buried treasure?
Over on the other side of the water, looking rather lonesome was 39. Air Fleece.
Very much a Red Arrows sheep, bright red and RAF symbols all over.
