Porthcawl. And people went out in this?????

If people want to kill themselves - fine, but to put others at risk, by saving the risk-takers, is criminal.

The Pride and the Passion....

When Wales played Belgium in the EUFA semifinal, it obviously got to some people.  :-))

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!!

Brecon Canal Basin, and Abergavenney.

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 .....

Mumbles, Swansea .....

Dickslade, Southend, Mumbles ....

Looking down "Mumbles Hill" towards Dickslade ....

The sign showing the way down - or up Mumbles Hill ......

Well worth the climb!!!!

Mumbles Pier, Swansea .....

Deemed unsafe for the public to walk upon, it waits for a verdict ....

Looking down on Limeslade ....

Rooftops of Higher Lane ....

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Enjoying the waves at Langland ....

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((

Nostalgia ......

 

Memories of a wonderful brother in law .....

Thistleboon. Gower. Wales.

From top to bottom .....
1) The old Plunch Lane in Thistleboon. The new road is wider and bypasses this remaining section of the old lane .....
2) Looking towards Langland from Thistleboon head ....
3) Looking towards Mumbles from Thistleboon head ....

Langland Bay. Gower. Wales .....

On a fairly recent trip to Wales. These shots were taken at Langland Bay on the Gower peninsular, and more particularly of the Surfside cafe.
You can see it on the right side of the top photo, next to the ramp.

A bit behind ....

A bit late maybe, but I hope all Welsh people everywhere had a very happy St David's Day ....

Forgive me for not posting lately, but having just retired, and finding myself more busy than when I was working - well you know :o))

Deepening Darkness at Magical Mumbles ....

Magical Mumbles ....

Verdi's at the Knab Rock .....

A Welsh flashback ....

Dusk falls at Southend, Mumbles, Swansea. I'm meeting an old friend at Verdi's restaurant on the Knab Rock.
We're both old enough to remember when there was a Knab Rock at the site of Verdi's .....

The end of a great day - the coffee at Verdi's was excellent, and the company of a wonderful friend that I've not seen for donkey's years was even better!!

All in all - it was a perfect ending to a perfect day .....