Hello Swansea

Thursday, August 14, 2008, 09:00

Below are some of the comments posted to Planet Swansea so far

Feel free to say hello by posting your own.

Hello Planet Swansea! Born near the Uplands and lived in Sketty till I went to college in London at eighteen. Before that was at Glanmor School - those were the days - ha - ha! Have lived in Germany for twenty-one years. Was an Evans before I was a Schmidt! Greetings to all there who may remember Swansea in the Swinging Sixties. (Glanmor Jazz Club - the Tiv - the Antelope - the Ups??) Cheers, Debbie.

Debbie Schmidt, Braunfels, GermanyHi Everyone, I am, amp; always will be, a "Swansea Boy" at heart. I've been in Canada for 35 years but, although I love it here, not a day goes by without me thinking of the Gower (ah,the Llangennith of my youth!), Joe's ice cream parlour (like the lady from Cambridge,Ontario..very close to where I live), the Mumbles, Singleton Park amp; the old boating lake there, Shepherd's store,etc etc. So many great memories. I've been back quite a few times over the years and,although the Gower never changes, I have been a bit disappointed with the City Centre. Nonetheless, the last trip back, a couple of weeks ago, to see my beloved Swans play Orient, was a wonderful experience. The club put a photo of my wife amp; I in the match programme amp; the good old Evening Post did a short article. We got to meet the players amp; came away with an autographed shirt. I'd love to start a Swans Supporters Club for overseas supporters ; if anyone is interested, just e mail me at a daibach@allstream.net.

I suppose that all of us, who have written in to this forum epitomise "Hiraeth" in our individual ways. Max Boyce had it right in his song "Swansea Town", where he spoke of the "Seatown sky where the seagulls fly" and of the "Lovely seatown morning" that will always be in our hearts. Good, bad or indifferent, Swansea will always call me back and "I'll be glad to see her"

Linden Rees, Toronto, Canada

Hi everyone. Well i'm living in a little town on the costa blanca after living for nearly 30 years in luxembourg but i'm a swansea girl through and through. I've got my children who live in gorseinon and would like to say hello to them, they know who they are. Also I had a good friend who lives in newcastle but i've lost touch her name is kathleen gray so if anyone knows of her ask her to get in touch please.

susan valeriani, oliva spain

Hello Swansea ! I live in Spain, but like to keep in touch with the rest of the world. I visited Wales lately and met a dinosaur, a real one, alive and kicking. He is from an extinct species called "Honest Politician". His name is Ioan Richard, and he is Councillor for Swansea. You'll know he is honest when you see how some other politicians hate him. He is fighting to save the Welsh landscape, and the tourism industry that depend on it, from the windfarm invasion. I pray that he succeed.

mark duchamp, Pedreguer, Spain

I have been to swansea four times. I was born in Canada, but my dad is from Swansea!! I think Swansea is a great city, with great people, Views, Culture, and and SHOPPING!! I especially enjoy visiting my family here, go to Mumbles, Worms Head, go to see the Marina, walk around the beach, go shopping and be in SWANSEA! I also have had alot of ice cream in my life time and Joes ice cream is like the best! I got to the Evening post website to see local news, see how the Swans are doing, and just see whats going on here. Swanseas the BEST!!

Charlene Williams, Cambridge, Ontario, Canada

I am a Spaniard that was living in Swansea for more than four years. The word Swansea bring me to the memory wonderful moments, friendly people, music in Uplands Tavern, great nigths out, kindness of the welsh people and so forth. I used to walk in the Gower in which one enjoy of outstanding views. Currently, I am living in Barcelona -Spain- and I am always looking forward to having a short trip to Swansea to meet friends at least once a year.

Jose Luis Curiel, BarcelonaBrynhyfyrd boy living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia but working in the Abu Dhabi UAE amp; Muscat, Oman on oil/gas related project. Nice to read the old Post even in the desert. Office: 971 2 5027530 Mb: 971 50 2652099 Email: john.dennis@dolphinenergy.com. johndennis88@yahoo.co.uk.

John Dennis, Abu Dhabi, UNited Arab Emirates

I am british, have lived in Porthcawl S.Wales before coming over to the USA quite a few years ago now. I was brought up in The Royal Forest of Dean, and it is to this, and visits to wales that I have written a book about. Some of my memories are hapy, other's sad, all are true. If anyone can help or advise me concerning finding a publisher in S.Wales I will be most grateful. To me, Wales is still 'home'. I truly believe that all welshmen are born with a song in their heart - I may not understand all of the words - but the melody can still bring tears to one's eyes. My late husband was an american, and this is what brought me over here, but such as his love of wales that the last trip he took abroad was not to some sunny far off beach, but to porthcawl, where the kndness of people we had met while living there remained with us still, now I carry those memories alone. To all our friends - Thank you. Elizabeth

Elizabeth Ann Lovic (nee Christie), Monroeville, pa. USA

Hi all you readers good to see ex Jacks take the time to drop a few lines. I have been in Melbourne Australia since leaving Swansea in 1972. I came to Melbourne to play football after playing for Cardiff City and a stint with LLanelli. Have travelled all over Australia and I must say it is a magnificent country. Sheridan Barfoot nee Parton, Palm Cove , Cairns Australia,I must say you are living in a great place.My time spent in Cairns was absolutely fabulous and I even worked on Green Island for a couple of weeks.For all you readers away from Swansea, another way of staying in touch with home is to log on to Swansea sound and get it live on line. The address if you dont know is www.swansea sound.com.Great reading the Post and great reading all your comments.Good luck to everyone and don't get too homesick.

Robert Kent, Melbourne Australia

I always login to see how the Osprey's and the Swans got on over the weekend, what a great season for Welsh Rugby !!!, i am originaly a Jack but moved to South Africa in 1983, I then moved to Australia 4 years ago. My sister Tina lives in Melbourne about an hour away from Ballarat. we are having very hot weather for this time of year, averaging 30 Deg C for autumn !!!

I think its wonderful that Swansea is having an uplift. Tha last time myself and family visited,the city was looking very drab and having worked in Swansea Quadrant when the complex first opened, it certainly had aged. I think that all of the development will certainly bring the city a new image and a great venus for tourism. We emigrated from Clydach in 1990 to Cairns North Queensland in Australia. At the moment we are experiencing the wet season and last week received 200ml of rain in 24 hours resulting in floods throughout the region. Last week Cairns hit headlines when a bush python ate a families dog, cat and guinea pig, thank goodness we dont see them very often We live in Palm Cove which is very beautiful and quiet life 20 minutes outside Cairns city. We regularly have visits from family and friends and its always great to catch up on all the Swansea news. We regularly logon to Swansea post and my husband Steve watches the Swans go the swans

Sheridan Barfoot nee Parton, Palm Cove , Cairns Australia

I was born in Waunarlwydd in 1939, and have lived in Norway for thirtyseven years. My wife, who is Norwegian and I try to get "home" once a year, and this time it will be in early July. We're really looking forward to seeing our friends and relatives I think living here in Norway is great, but, even so there's something special about Swnsea, that's why we come "home" so often. Regards to anyone who might remember me. Lawrence Ellefsen

John Lawrence Ellefsen, Toensberg Norway

Hi. I only just came across this section. I am welsh born and living in Neath. But I am emigrating to California to be married and to start my musical singer/songwriter career. I met my beautiful wife to be through youtube over 1 year ago with a very interesting story to tell. and I'm off to sunny CA in just under 2 weeks. So I find this section very i9nteresting. And will of course be reading the Evening Post from there.

Byron Gore, Neath

HI SWANSEA I GREW UP IN BONEMAEN WENT TO LLANSANLET SCHOOL IN 50s I LOVE THEM SWANS , IM COMEING HOME TO THE BONY IN JULY ICANT WAIT FOR A GOOD PINT.&TO SEE MY MAM SHE IS 93.

selwyn palmer, boston mass

i have been checkingin from timt to time to see if our old mates who moved to oz about 1963/64 john and jackie a,hern r online we would like to contact them so if u are looking hi from billy and hazel. get in touch

hazel arran, winch-wen swansea

Well done the swans, looking forward to next season, I read the post every day, and love to keep in touch, I was born in Morriston, married a Plasmarl girl, and we have lived here in OZ since 1965,have been back a few times and keep looking forward to our next visit,

Ronald Smith, Adelaide South Australia

Howdy Swansea from the good ol' USofA! I lived in Sketty Park in the 70' and 80's until I moved to Chicago with my wife Susan Phillips (from Killay). Glad to see Swansea City getting promoted as champions; I'am sure they will do well next year in the Championship if they keep to their footballing principles. Hope to be home soon to catch up with all my old pals

Andrew Vincent Petersen, Chicago

Hello Swansea. Born and lived in Mayals from 70's to '85 as a kid. Migraged to OZ and really missed Swansea. Go the Swans. Very proud of them. Excellent result in the 6 nations. Still take Wales over OZ in the rugby and always will. Work in finance for sport, entertainment, media coy.

Justine Ferguson, Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia

Hello Swansea. I worked at the new electric power station in Baglan Bay for a couple of years for GE with a large group of expats. from the US. Most of us lived in Swansea with the majority living in the Marina area. We pretty well stay in touch with each other and some of the Swansea area residents that we met. All of us miss the area and hope to return someday in the future to see the changes that we read about in the newspaper. Swansea, Wales is a lot different than Swansea, Massachusetts near where I was raised and home to an old friend of mine who I will try to contact to send information on his home town. Until then keep up the good work. Uncle Buck

Bryan Mahan, St. Augustine, FL. USA

I always login to see how the Osprey's and the Swans got on over the weekend, what a great season for Welsh Rugby !!!, i am originaly a Jack but moved to South Africa in 1983, I then moved to Australia 4 years ago. My sister Tina lives in Melbourne about an hour away from Ballarat. we are having very hot weather for this time of year, averaging 30 Deg C for autumn !!!

Lee Howard, Ballarat, Australia

I like to look up the Post and Llanelli star web sites to get the welsh version on news we have had a lot about Wales winning at Rugby also on the Oz t v at the moment the bad weather hitting south wales and the west country also all the good things that are going on at swansea and I hope the same will happen to my home town sospan fach. I left swansea (forestfach) in 1971 and settled in the Sydney area and have now retired in a costal town between Sydney and Newcastle and just south of Swansea NSW. All the best and give the Frogs a good game. Harry Davies.

Harry Davies, Sydney, Australia

Hi Planet Swansea! I hope that you are all keeping well in Swansea, hey it's really good news about the Leisure Centre re-opening-about time too! I was last in Swansea about a year ago, and at the moment I am living in Bangkok and working as a teacher. Today is actually a special day as it's the last day of term and we have just finished our performance. Even though my students are just 3-4 years old they did great, and the parents and students had fun. Have you ever heard of Herb Elbert and the Tijuana Brass Band? Well i used that song for part of the act, lots of fun, very Simpsons! Ok enough about all that, I just thought i'd drop you a line and say hi. Maybe I am getting homesick (looking forward to a short holiday next month and see my meats and family) So Bangkok, it's a cool city to live in, it has a good vibe and the people are generally friendly and smile. I think that we can learn a lot from them. When i was in Swansea, going to work on the bus it used to get me down when the driver was miserable and didn't achknowledge when I'd say "Thank you". It's not a big deal you might think, but when everyone around you is negative then it can affect you too. Here there is a positive, friendly vibe so generally I feel good, happy and positive. It's cheap to live here, I can eat well for under $5 (sorry no pound sign on this keyboard) beer 60p for a big bottle, bus is around 15p anywhere and the girls here are beautifull and act like girls they speak well and don't swear. It's good, but the pollution is bad (sometimes i have to wear a facemask like Wacko Jacko) and Thai's are always late for apointments! It's mainly because the Thai's have a saying "Mai pen rai" it doesnt matter. They dont get stressed out by trivial matters. One interesting thing (there are lots, lol)about teaching is the crazy names that the kids have, you might not even believe me about some of them, ok, here are a few Cake, Ice-cream, Gun, Porshe, Cop, Internet, Nano, Nemo, Harry Potter, James Bond, Bill Gates, Puff, Pancake, Cartoon, Snow...there are many more. I guess overall i like Bangkok because it's quirky, a little different, cheap and friendly. It's also warm and sunny. I hope that I can bring some of the sunshine back to South Wales when i come back! Take care

Robert Williams, Bangkok, Thailand

SAM (JOHN) SPIERS, FREEHOLD, NEW JERSEY, USA.

Hi, My name is Sam (aka John).

I grew up in Port Talbot and went to Dyffryn School. I started watching the Swans aged 14 and Aberavon RFC at about the same time. I was in the big 33 000 crowd at the Vetch for the visit of Arsenal and was there when Ozzie met Tommy not to mention hundreds of other joyous and heart break games.

I now follow the Swans via live text and I have managed to get to the Liberty Stadium three times to watch games plus I went to the ill fated play off final at the Millennium Stadium.

Interestingly, I fly from Liberty Airport to get to the UK.

I now live about 60 miles south of New York, 14 miles from the coast and am married to a Brooklyn girl whose family originally came from Italy.

It's very much a Mediterranean climate here, hot summers, cold winters and a long beautifully sunny Autumn ideal for golf.

Between here and the coast it is pretty flat and mostly forested with American Oak and Pine and the beaches are wide and sandy.

Everything is a lot cheaper here, petrol is around 1 pound 50 a gallon at the moment.

I read the Evening Post on line every day, it's a great way of keeping in touch with what's going on back in South Wales.

KELVIN WHITE, ORLANDO, USA

Hi, my name is Kelvin White and I am from St Thomas in Swansea. I am currently in Orlando Florida .

I am an Airship crew chief and I travel the world following various sporting events for which we carry out the aerial camera work. I have been in this line of work for 15 years.

If you do not know what an Airship is, it is a big Zepplin like the big Goodyear Zepplins.

My job is to manage a crew of 16 to travel to different destinations around the world. In April I will be going to Japan for a three month contract.

I will be back in Swansea around October and I really look forward to my return as it is so good to see my family and friends, and also to watch my beloved Swansea city football club.

I read the evening post on line every day, it just seems to make home feel a little closer. Keep up the good work.

KIRSTY, ALASKA, USA

It's a chilly day here today in Alaska, a balmy -44F. We forgot to plug in our cars last night so it was not a good start to the day when the battery was frozen!

I was born and raised in Swansea and have lived in the USA since the mid '90s. I check out the Evening Post online every day to see what's happening back home. I still have family that live in the Mumbles and I hope to be home to visit soon!.

TERRY CLARKE, NEW ENGLAND, USA

I moved here 'from Swansea' in 1979, along with my wife and two children.

One of the hardest things to get used to was the weather. We get hot summers, sometimes over 100 degrees, and cold winters with lots of snow. The snow storms drop as much as two feet or more, but it doesn't cause a big problem in getting around because the towns have the equipment to deal with it.

I like to go on line and read the Evening Post whenever I can. I check on what's happening around Swansea and how the Swans are doing.

We will be returning to Swansea in April for two weeks. We try to get back as often as possible and we like staying on the Marina. There have been many changes since we left, mostly for the better, and Swansea has become a great place to visit and see family.