Shaun in the City #4 - Bristol

[nanila]

On Tuesday I drove to Bristol to start hunting the 70 Shaun sculptures on display there. It was a more challenging drive than I was expecting as the motorways were busy plus driving in an unfamiliar city plus my satnav falling off the windscreen just as I was merging onto the M32. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the maps on my satnav have not been updated for four years and it was far easier to follow the signs to the car park. Still, I was tired by the time I arrived, so I’m pleased I actually managed to complete a trail (the Old City Trail, allowing Keiki and me to bagsie 10 Shauns) at all!


Keiki, me and Bagpuss Shaun in the Cabot Circus shopping centre.


Bagpuss Shaun on his own.


Lily, outside Cabot Circus.


Knitwit, near the ruins of St Stephens Church.


Me being ridiculous in front of Knitwit.


Woolly Shaun. Difficult to photograph due to being in a very tight space, so I was happy I brought the wide angle lens.


Honey.


Oh, is that me making a silly face again? Sorry/not sorry.


We found a clockwork dragon too.


Shaun on the Cob, with bonus random child. I stood there for several minutes and it was simply not possible to photograph this Shaun without a child on it!


Cecilia.


Please Stand By.


Lamb Chop.


Maisy and friends, at the end of the trail outside the Royal Children’s Hospital.


Bonus photo: Keiki and me at lunch in Small Street Espresso, which was this tiny hipster joint with wooden benches and tables. I went in because the coffee smelt so good, and I’m glad I did because it turns out hipsters make amazing toasted sandwiches. Coconut-infused halloumi, Thai chilli mayo and rocket? YES PLS MOAR LIKE THIS


The aforementioned sandwich and a macchiato.

Comments

[emelbe]

I love these hunts. I especially like the goofy selfies.

[nanila]

Other Shaun-hunters often ask me if I'd like them to take a photo for me and I almost always say no, because the silly faces and absurd angles are kind of the point. :D

[cxcvi]

It's always strange seeing someone write or talk about Bristol (especially with photos). I think it's partially "I _live_ here, dammit", and partially because I often end up finding out about things that I never even knew existed.

That sandwich sounds amazing. Sadly, the smell of coffee that will undoubtedly surround it does not. I have other recommdations for independent food places, if you're interested, including one that lurkingcat will probably recommend.

Speaking of, that's usually the place where I tend to recommend meeting people. Except I don't know if it will work for either of us (you because small children, even though the place is small child friendly; me because yay, depressive spirals of summer), which is why I haven't suggested it.

[lurkingcat]

Cafe Kino of the amazing bread and hummous? Yes, I'll second that recommendation :)

[nanila]

Is it on one of the Shaun trails? I want to come down again next week and do some more Shaun-hunting so it would be nice to have a tasty lunch target. :D

[lurkingcat]

Having checked it sadly isn't. The closest Shaun is No.33 on the map up on the Gloucester Road as part of the Farmyard Flock trail.

[nanila]

Oh, boo. Okay, I'll put it down on the list for the weekend trip (which will probably be in August). Thanks!

[nanila]

The smell of coffee was quite strong, and would, I believe, be off-putting to anyone who found it objectionable. :( Maybe you could get someone else to run in and grab you a toasted halloumi sandwich one day!

I'm planning on coming down again next week (my last week of maternity leave), just with the baby again. It'll probably be Monday or Tuesday. I'll message you beforehand, and if you feel up for it, we can meet up someplace.

[cxcvi]

That sounds plausible, although I'd prefer it if you could give me as much notice as possible. I believe you have my phone number already? I'll message it to you anyway, along with an email address that I check more regularly than the one that I use for this account.

[pulchritude]

Wow, you look so pretty in these photos! :) And the Shauns are cute, too.

[nanila]

Aw, thank you.

I only just noticed how worried Keiki looks in the lunchtime photo. He really wasn't! He had a great time gnawing on the halloumi.

[major_clanger]

Has he discovered the joys of Squeaky Cheese?

[nanila]

Oh yes. He thinks it's fantastic. Good for teething gums, and also delicious.

[whereisirisnow]

A really lovely trail! The last selfie is really nice as well, because we don't get to see Keiki's face a lot in the Shaun-selfies :)

[nanila]

Bristol is such a nice city. It has many of the perks of London without the drawbacks!

Heh, true; this is because Keiki's position in the sling is not reversible. It's meant to support the baby's hips and so he is koala'ed around my middle, facing me.

[lurkingcat]

I've been able to see that clockwork dragon from my morning bus for most of this year but sadly it's disappearing from view behind a new building that is slowly going up. That's a great picture of Honey. It was pouring with rain when we found him so we all kind of snapped him and ran for St Nick's :)

[nanila]

That's lovely (your daily view of Dragon). I got a nice thrill out of happening upon it.

There were queues for nearly all of the Shauns! At first I was baffled because never had to queue when I went to see the London Shauns...but then I remembered that I'd deliberately timed my visits to be outside of half-term. The Bristol trail is smack in the middle of the summer holidays, so there's no avoiding the hordes.

[boundbooks]

That photo of you, in front of Knitwit, is SOLID GOLD! Too cute! :D

[nanila]

Heh. I do wonder what Keiki is going to think when he looks back through these photos someday! :D

[lark_ascends]

Gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. And I love the silly faces!

[nanila]

Hee, thank you! I enjoy making the silly faces. :)