Merry Christmas

As its Christmas I thought I would dig out an old photo. Many years ago I was flying along and three men with beards started following me on camels. I flew for miles but they wouldn't leave. In the end I asked some shepherds where I could hide from these men. They panicked at first but after I said I wasn't going to eat them or their sheep, well maybe a little nibble, they calmed down and suggested a stable nearby. They said I could get something to eat there as well. So I flew off and found the place. I landed and found some people with a baby and thought it would be nice to give them some gold from my hoard as they obviously had no money. Then who should burst in but the men on their camels followed by the shepherds. One of the bearded men didn't have anything with him so gave the baby my gold I had already given him, cheek! They claimed to be wise men, didn't seem that wise to me following a dragon and then pretending my gold was his. I had a camera with me and got one of the shepherds to take a photo of us. Obviously back then we didn't have digital cameras so I've scanned this in from a print I had done later in Rome on the way back to Wales.

Clifford's Tower in York

I'm standing in front of Clifford's Tower. Its part of what's left of York Castle. Originally built by William the Conqueror the castle has been changed over the years. The original wooden tower was burnt down in 1190 and rebuilt. In the middle of 13th C Henry III decided to knock it down and build an entirely stone tower. Wooden castles aren't really that useful, especially against us dragons. For people that can't fly (I don't know how they manage) there are steps going up to the tower. The path used to wind round the mound up to the tower, which sounds more fun than the straight steps there now. Nobody knows why its called Clifford's Tower - they could tell you that before making you climb all those steps to read the information inside the tower.

York Tyburn

I'm at the site of York gallows in Knavesmire, know as York Tyburn. Knavesmire is about a mile from York Castle and is a marshy area. Executions used to attract large crowds who would gather in nearby pubs and get drunk before going to watch the hangings. The gallows were here until 1801 and is now home to York race course, so it still does attract large crowds who get drunk before the entertainment. The most famous person executed here was Dick Turpin in 1739.

Shaun the Sheep - Bristol IV

From Dusk 'til Shaun. A nocturnal Shaun with a sunset colour scheme. I like this one, very colourful. He is in Brandon Hill Nature Park. Hill is the important bit there. It's quite steep. Nice park, but steep. In the background is Cabot Tower, built in 1897 to commemorate the voyage of John Cabot from Bristol to Newfoundland (they thought long and hard over naming that). It's 100 feet high and you can climb to the top using the staircase inside if the climb up the hill wasn't enough for you, or you can fly if you have wings.

Shaun in the City - Bristol III

Shaun on the Cob, Shaun the Sheep crossed with a corn on the cob. In a shopping centre, just outside a fairly well known shop. Having met this Shaun I started feeling peckish, not that dragons eat vegetables but they do eat - better not say it around Shaun -. Which probably explains why I kept fancying a snack.

Shaun in the City - Bristol II

This Shaun is Cecilia. Cecilia is covered with Laura Ashley designs and is in one of the shopping centres in Bristol - there's a few of those and you can't always tell one ends and another begins. Cecilia was very nice, only trouble is he looked like a duvet so I kept thinking it was bed time. The noise in the shopping centre would have kept me awake and it was a bit bright, I prefer my nice dark caves.

Shaun in the City - Bristol I

Off to Bristol for more Shauns. Bristol is the home of Shaun the Sheep and is a rather nice city, it's also close to Wales which makes it even nicer, but not as nice as if it was in Wales. Anyway, this Shaun is Bagpuss Shaun in Cabot Circus. I know who Bagpuss is, but I don't get the frog on his head. Still he seemed a nice enough frog, not keen on the banjo though. I was hoping to find Jessica Fletcher but Shaun and the Frog didn't know who I was talking about. I guess they had only lived in Cabot Circus for a couple of days so didn't know everybody yet.

Shain in the City V

Here is Liberty Bell. I like this one, you get to see the Statue of Liberty without flying over the Atlantic. Saved my wings a lot of work. Liberty Bell is outside Fenchurch Street Station. For a major station its very difficult to find. All the other central London stations are on big busy roads. Fenchurch Street is on a tiny side road, from one side its a narrow alley. Maybe they want to keep the trains clean so don't want people finding the station and making them all dirty.

Shaun in the City IV

Shaun The Pearly King at Liverpool Street Station. Very easy to find this one as he is just by one of the Central Line exits at Liverpool Street Station. There are quite a few exits at this station, but luckily I know the place well. Liverpool Street Station is all bright and modern now. I think I preferred it when it was all dark and old fashioned.

Shaun in the City III

The third Shaun is 'The Gruffalo Shaun'. I found him near Piccadilly Circus. It's close to sunset, the sun setting behind me. I wasn't sure what a Gruffalo is, I thought he played the Hulk, its the right colour. Turns out its a monster from a childrens book. Why invent things when they can write about lovely real dragons?

Shaun in the City II

This Shaun is in Leicester Square next to Mossy Bottom in the previous post. He is called 'Woolly Jumbo' and looks like a plane. Even though he has wings, he can't fly. I suggested we have a race but he didn't accept. Well maybe they do work but he knew he couldn't beat a dragon at flying even with the engines fitted to him.

Shaun In The City I

The latest trail in London is Shaun in the City. It features Shaun the Sheep from Wallace and Gromit. This Shaun is 'Mossy Bottom' and is one of two in Leicester Square.

Paddington Trail IV

Back to the Paddington Bear Trail. Of the ones I saw this is one of my favourites. This is Paddington Lloyd Webbear and is the work of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. Looks like it he is inspired by 'Cats' for this. It was in Gerrard Street in China Town.

St. Davids Day

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_David%27s_Day

London Bus Sculpture Trail VII

This bus is 360°Panorama of London by Rob Wilson. It is in Trafalgar Square on one of those featureless grey traffic islands that are dotted around it. At least this bus brightens it up a bit. This design is quite clever. The artist has painted what you see in front of you as you look at the bus. Where you see Nelsons Column the bus has part of the column painted on it and it lines up with the real column. Painted on another side there is the base of the statue it shares the island with. Because this photo is taken at an angle it doesn't work, but this way you can see more of the design.

I like this bus it brightens up the square, it's brighter than the real square. Its a pity it won't be kept here as its the best thing about Trafalgar Square since they got rid of the road in front of the National Gallery and the pigeons. The bit in front of the National Gallery is now populated with people painted silver pretending to be statues or Yoda – not sure am I why Yoda someone would paint themselves as, nor money give to them another – I say bring back the traffic and pigeons.

London Bus Sculpture Trail VI

Here's another bus. This one was in an alley near Leicester Square Station. It goes by the name of Swinging London and is by Sian Storey. The design is inspired by London in the 'swinging sixties'. In this photo you can see the Carnaby Street road sign on the front and a car - I like the car all buses should have one painted around the driver. On the other side from where the photo was taken there is a road sign for Abbey Road and a large picture of Twiggy.