Cracking Gromits, Gromit!

Not a day goes by when we don't give thanks for the amazing treatment that Daughter received at the Bristol Royal Children's Hospital. She was born with a large exomphalos (or omphalocele if you're in the US), spent the first four months of her life in hospital and had a huge medical team behind her for the next two years. Every single one of those people were really important, but the paediatrician and the surgeon from the Children's Hospital were just that little bit extra special. The latter performed life saving surgery, and then further corrective surgery, and we to'd and fro'd to see her at the Children's Hospital for seven years. We'll hold Miss C in our hearts forever. When Daughter was discharged from her care we knew that none of our bunches of flowers, bottles of wine or a book token gifts could ever match our gratitude. Although we have tried, there will never be any fundraising event big enough either; all we can do is to keep on giving thanks and to keep on supporting Wallace and Gromit's Grand Appeal for the Children's Hospital however we can.

Ironically the first Gromit we found was the one
that is furthest away at London, Paddington!

When we heard that this summer, the Grand Appeal's latest venture was going to be the Gromit Unleashed trail; 80  five foot high Gromit sculptures placed around Bristol and the surrounding area, there was no question about it. We'd have to get out there Gromit spotting at some point in the holiday!

A Close Shave by Harry Hill at the Bristol TIC

All the Gromits have been sponsored and decorated, some of them by well-known celebrities, and come October will be auctioned for the Grand Appeal. Judging by the sale of Bristol's gorillas (a similar project in aid of Bristol Zoo) in 2011, they should fetch many thousands of pounds for the hospital.

Carosello by Guiliano Carapia at the Spyglass, Welsh Back

We thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon on the trail of the Gromits. Such a great atmosphere, and a super summer holiday activity. Bristol is buzzing with people (not just families, lots of adults too) following the maps or using the Gromit Unleashed app on their phones to track them down. 150,00 maps were printed and the Tourist Information Centre has already run out, which gives you some idea of the trail's popularity! As well as the map reading and the art appreciation there's some history too as it takes in lots of famous Bristol landmarks, as well as areas of Bristol that a little more off the beaten track. There are also several trails within the trail (a Harbourside trail, a Heritage trail and a Central Trail) and there's a Passport to be stamped at six different passport stops. If you wanted to find all 80 Gromits, you could have several days of fun in Bristol!

Salty Sea Dog by Peter Lord CBE

Living 20 miles or so from Bristol, we're unlikely to see them all, but doing the trail has inspired plenty more Wallace and Gromit activity at home! There are games and activities on the Gromit Unleashed website, Son has decorated his own Gromit on paper, and it goes without saying that there are all the films to be watched again!