A spot I'm planning on visiting when next in UK.

Penllegare Valley Wood. Walking distance from Gorseinon.

A small selection from Mumbles .....

It was a grey day - but I enjoyed it immensely.

A little ray of sunshine came out at just the right time!!

Bridging the past .....

Some old arches in Clyne Valley, Swansea .....

Bryn. The Barber of Killay .....

In August of 2008, I put a post on here about a painting of The Mumbles Railway that had been painted from an old black and white photo I'd taken years ago. I'd lent the photo to my barber - Bryn Parkyn of Killay, Swansea, and then forgot all about it.
He used to paint pictures and sell them in his barber shop. It was like getting your hair cut in an art gallery!!
The story and the picture can be seen on this blog by clicking on the Label "The Mumbles Railway".
On the post I asked anyone if they had any information about the picture.
Well unbelievably I've had two replies to that post, and the latest reply came from Bryn's grandson who has very kindly sent me a picture of Bryn working in his shop in Killay in the 1950's, and one of the outside of the shop itself.
The photos to me are like being taken back in time, and to times when Bryn placed a plank across the arms of his barber chair - for me to sit on it - just to raise me up so he could cut my (then) growing curls!!

This photo is one of Bryn's barber shop in Killay. You can tell he was a painter :o))

The old "Clippy" has gone now.
Like my hair, it's disappeared. A lot of hair was cut in that little shop, and a lot of memories were created by a real village character!!

The next shot (from Google Streetview) is one of Gower Road looking from Killay square towards St Hillary's church (in the distance, on the left).
Bryn's shop would have been in one of the houses on the right, but as you can see, things have changed.

Times have changed, and people move on, but even if buildings have altered to the point where I can no longer recognise them, the memories that they once generated are still strong.
I hope these old pictures will rekindle memories in some of a lovely man and a little shop in (what was then) a quiet Welsh village.
Like I said, time moves on .....

Jim's World .....

Looking good boyo!!!
Jim the Swim .....

To see more of this lovely spot (from Rotherslade to Langland) and more from a great photoblog - click here!!!

Just another sunset .....

I must really try and stick to my New Year's resolution ..... 

I promised myself that I'd put my photos on Chippbutty first and catch up on my email discussion group second!!!!  Not the other way round!

Going to the email group first means no new photos on here at all :o((

I've been here often - just not lately

Dixslade, Southend, Mumbles, Swansea.
The white cottage used to belong to my sister and her late husband. It's walking distance to "The George" pub, and a few more steps to the beach. I used to take "The Mumbles Train" to go and visit them. Great memories :-))

Mumbles Railway

Below is a photo of a painting in my home in Canada by "I Web" or "J Web" - I can't quite make the name out - can anybody help??
It's of the Mumbles Train approaching Southend station on the way to Swansea. The view is from a long gone footbridge over the line.
About 45 years ago I took a black and white photo of this very same scene, and lent it to my barber, a Mr Bryn Parkyn - (also artist) of Killay, Swansea, who wanted to use it for a painting.
He used to hang and sell the paintings in his barbershop opposite St Hillary's Church in Killay.
I never had the photo back, but on past visits to Swansea I've seen souvenir postcards in W H Smith and other stores that are identical to my pic and I wonder ......