The Great Brick Lego Safari in Cardiff

I've mentioned before that every so often I will go into the city of Cardiff, sometimes for window shopping or sometimes for pleasure, but last month I found myself in Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay. 

As I turned the corner I was surprised to see the Mermaid Quay had become a temporary home to 12 life size wild animals made from Lego courtesy of Bright Bricks.  

Its the second time that Bright Bricks Great Brick Safari has been on display in Wales and you cannot help, but be impressed.  

The detail on the lion is quite amazing. If you look closely next to the lion there is a cub.

Life size African elephant which stands 2.5 metres high.

Birmingham Bears: Bearmingham - Big Sleuths

We were in the city of Birmingham a couple of weeks ago for a short break.

On the day we were leaving Painted Bear sculptures dubbed as The Big Sleuths were going on display all over the city.  There are over 100, but we managed to see a whole load purely by accident whilst wandering the city centre. 

You can also find the Big Sleuths at the Arcadian, Brindleyplace, Custard Factory, Gas Street Basin, Jewellery Quarter, Sea Life Centre and other locations in the city.  They will be on display until the 17th September 2017.

Let me first introduce you to Bearmingham.

Brighton Graffiti Street Art Part 2

This is part two of my random photographs of  Brighton Graffiti Street Art.

Coal Mining Mosaic at Crumlin, South Wales

About a year or so back, D and myself made a U-Turn when we caught a glimmer of radiant colours from the road.  We parked up and discovered this Coal Mining Mosaic in a little place called Crumlin in South Wales.  We took loads of photographs on the day and then went off on our merry way.

Crumlin Mosaic

Recently, on our way somewhere or other, we decided to park up and check the Coal Mining Mosaic again.  Sadly I noted parts of it were vandalised.  Some of the mosaic tiles had been pulled out deliberately and therefore damaged and destroyed.  I though I would share some of the photographs we had taken a year or so ago.   

Crumlin Mosaic

The mosaic depicts aspects of the mining industry.  Mining was one of the town's main industries. 

Crumlin Mosaic

Close up the details are fantastic and cover most aspects of mining

'A Chepstow Salmon's worth his weight in gold'

The past week we have been playing tourist guide. I have to say I am enjoying it, not only am I getting re-acquainted with some familiar parts of Wales and the changes, I am discovering unexplored parts.

Well, yesterday we found ourselves in the historic walled border town of Chepstow.

We parked our car at the bottom of the ruins of Chepstow Castle before taking a leisurely stroll to the town centre.

There were a lot of independent niche shops here.  Also we were very impressed with the welcoming pedestrian environment, improved massively by the public art that focused on the towns history: 'A Chepstow Salmon's worth his weight in gold'.

The most prominent public art perhaps is the curved carved and well-detailed wall in the town centre.  This wall was designed by Howard Boycott and carved by Tom Clark.  In 2005, it was voted the best UK Pedestrian Scheme and it truly shows why.   It really is a remarkable piece of work.

This is perhaps my favourite aspect of the wall.  Click on the image and find the mouse.

My mother in law really liked Chepstow because it did not seem to have the hustle and bustle of cities, so we will definitely be making our way back there again.

As we were about to drive out of Chepstow, we noted on approach to the roundabout this amazing willow sculpture just outside Chepstow Racecourse. I've always wanted to have a go at weaving and creating a vegetable basket or something like that, so have always been keen on admiring such sculptures made from natural resources.  Anyway, I was impressed with it so much to stop the car and get picture. Whilst taking the picture, someone else was there too snapping a photograph.  We learned it was Mike Hartley the artist who was commissioned to create this willow racehorse.   D and me smiled at each other, the last time we met the artist of a creation was in Glasgow for the Govan Mosaic Cherub.  So funny.  Oh whilst driving about, I also spotted some wild garlic for the picking.  I will be out foraging in the next couple of weeks for sure.