Stumbled on your web page. Not proper Brissle, me, but I lived there 1970-1978. Worked at first at Bristol Commercial Vehicles (guy on the broaching machine hung up a bunch of gears, and could play "A DOUBLE DIAMOND WORKS WONDERS!" on them with his spanner.) Worked at Bristol Tech/Brunel Tech. Enjoyed the brief revival of the speedway -- Bristol Bulldogs. Also a regular up at Mendip Raceway for the stock-cars. Forget most pub names, alas! Remember seeing a Russian sub coming into the harbour after being "accidentally bumped" by a freighter. Saw the Great Britain come back under the suspension bridge. Loved those Bristol cars; knew a guy at Glenfrome Motors who had a beautful 406, and one or two restorers. Ah, just remembered the scrumpy -- THAT'S WHY I can't remember the pub names. Feel free to put this on your ex-pats page, though I don't really count as a Bristolian. Here's my accent story: when we moved in, we wanted to buy/rent a cooker from the "lecky" board. When I went to sign up, the woman in the showroom asked me "WHAT AERIAL?" I was stunned; I just wanted one you plugged in to the mains electricity. "Aerial? Do they have aerials now?" "No, no," she said, "WHAT AERIAL DO YOU LIVE IN?" True.

David Kipling BC, Canada

Ow bist Dave? awl rite my luver. I luves it in diss arial. Glad to see dee doin so well fer de self. Swana cum back an see us my baaby. Sluvlay yer.

From Paddy A Bristol Girl.

Thanks for your message. I'm not much into computer language; that's where the old boy comes in handy.
I left Bristol in 1958, after I got married, we came back for three years between 59 and 62 so according to my father (dead now) I've given up my right to call myself a Bristolian. According to him people come to Bristol they don't leave.
When you fall hook line and sinker for a Londoner, you leave. It's still my home town even though we only come back very occasionally, last Friday week to be precise. So I trawl the net to get a fix.
I'm into finding out about my forebears - my great granny wasn't who she was supposed to be, the only document left that I haven't scoured is the 1841 census. We went to the Central Library and of course the microfische I wanted for Redcliffe was missing. The Records Office doesn't open on Fridays.
I thought Bristol was looking up - I didn't see the wooden structure - Is Neptune still there? I used to meet my boyfriends by Neptune (yes it was after the Dannel was filled in - I'm not that old). Sorry if I spelt it wrong but my aunt always said that her father told her if they wanted to get rid of anyone then they chucked 'em in the Dannel. I believe it's good Barton Hill slang.
I have to admit to feeling a bit overwhelmed by the changes taking place and all the incomers. But like anywhere else it's inevitable. Sorry to hear that Bristol Corporation, as it was in my time, are still a load of idiots. Some things don't change. I'm a member of the Friends of Arnos Vale - perhaps you could include some of this on your website - their site is almost impossible to locate and there must be lots of Bristolians like me who have relatives buried there. Perhaps if I delve deeper into the newspaper section I'll find something.
We live about ten miles south of Gatwick Airport in W.Sussex (until a year ago we lived for 30 years in Reigate/Redhill - 8 miles north of Gatwick) The countryside is beautiful and we enjoy being here.
Keep the website going - it's fresh and interesting - and in Clevedon it's the Itialian restaurant that we liked not the pub.

Paddy and Roy Kibby.

Thank you Paddy
Yes Neptune is still on the Centre but has been moved more into the middle of what I call Red Square. Like you, I remember waiting at Neptune for my dates, some times for hours. On one occasion, I had been there for a long time and while I was waiting an ambulance went dashing by. I later found out my girlfriend was in it. Oh all right Cath, I forgive you. But couldn't you have waved. The restaurant that Paddy mentioned is the Giardini Italiano on 'The Beach' before you reach The Moon & Sixpence pub ( Clevedon).
I will look for the Arnos Vale website if anyone knows it please let me know and I will make a link to it.