Sad News Re. Swansea TIC

Unfortunately, according to rumours currently circulating around the city, it looks like Swansea will soon be losing its Tourist Information Centre. Unfortunately, its location, tucked away (some could easily describe it as hidden away) out of view near the entrance to the Quadrant bus station, can hardly have helped attract visitors - which is a shame really. In fact, it is a scandal. Swansea should be shouting out proudly about all it can offer, not hiding away its Tourist Information Centre and then actually closing it down. I am still hoping that this rumour is wrong, but even if it is and the Centre does actually survive, please Swansea Council, be proud of the city and its neighbouring countryside and move our TIC somewhere where it can actually be seen!

Lionheart and Lightsout

Lionheart and Lightsout by Bedwr Williams

Located near the soon-to-be-demolished Oceana complex building on The Kingsway is this interesting public artwork by Bedwr Williams. Comprised of four brass high-heeled footprints set in four connecting pavement slabs, the piece celebrates an incident which occurred outside the nightclub in 2009.

Cage-fighters Daniel Lerwell a.k.a. ‘Lionheart' and James Lilley a.k.a. 'Lightsout’ were on a night out in Swansea's city centre when they were set upon by two drunks who took exception to the atheletes' drag outfits. The drunks had already caused a scene by setting upon other members of the public and, fired up by this previous fracas, they then attacked the two, unbeknown to them, cage-fighters. The fight lasted just seconds and was captured on CCTV. The video, showing the two violent drunk's comeuppance at the hands of Lionheart and Lightsout, went viral when it was released on social media and led to the two cage fighters being celebrated across the internet, tabloids and TV.

Bedwr Williams' outdoor art installation, memorialises the events of that night and literally sets in concrete the fight against harassment and persecution that was symbolised in the digital CCTV footage of the fight.

Swansea's Peat Bog Forest

An Ancient 10,000 Year Old Tree Stump on Swansea Bay

Whilst standing on the vast sands of Swansea Bay, looking out over the Bristol Channel to the distant coastline of England, it is difficult to imagine that the scene here looked distinctly distant to our ancestors. 10,000 years ago, or thereabouts, all that separated Swansea from England was a small, meandering river which fed between a huge forest that joined the two nations. As the last Ice Age retreated, so the sea level rose - to a degree when it eventually flooded the forest to form Swansea Bay - as well as the numerous other beaches that lie further west along the Gower Peninsula.

Whilst this may well be a curious thought, what is perhaps a stranger one, is that remains of this vast forest are still visible today. Emerging from the sands of Swansea Bay, fragments of ancient tree stumps and roots can still easily be discerned. Preserved for an Age in stretches of old peat bog that lie beneath the bay, these trees remind us both of the ever changing habitats that fill the space around us and that current environments often hold clues to those that preceded them.

Remains of the Immense Forest Which Once
Occupied What Is Now Swansea Bay

More Peat Bog Remains of Swansea Ancient Forest

The Quiet After The Storm

After the fury of Storm Katie, Swansea Bay was quiet this afternoon. The temperature had taken a definite downturn and there was still a bit of a hefty breeze tousling the sand, the sea and the clouds. But, as I hope I have already demonstrated on this blog, whatever the weather condition, Swansea Bay appears beautiful:

Waterlogged: The Swansea Bay Cycle Track

Swansea Bay and Mumbles

A seagull Struggling Against the Wind over Swansea Bay

The Ever-Beautiful Swansea Bay

Swansea Sea Glass

I regularly search Swansea Bay for sea glass. Though it is not the best beach for such finds, it is my nearest bay and there are a few good examples to be discovered there from time to time. This morning, after the worst effects of Storm Katie had passed, I was lucky enough to find these two lovely examples of sea glass amongst the shells scattered along the tide line:

A Gloomy Evening's Walk Through Townhill

I headed out for a walk through Townhill this evening, despite the gloomy rain that has been falling on Swansea for most of the day. Was really impressed how my iphone 4S coped with the conditions too:

Townhill Road

Townhill Water Tower

Townhill Skateboard Ramps

The Phoenix Centre Walkway

A Few Closed Pubs

Bird In Hand Inn, Clase Road, Morriston

There is not much left of the Pines Country Club, Llangyfelach Road...

Pub Sign - all that is left of the Pines CountryClub Sign, Llangyfelach Road

The Dillwyn Arms, Llangyfelach Road

Sketty Hall Shelter

A little within the grounds of Sketty Hall lies this very unusual dome-roofed Ingress portal.

This building is the modified remains of the old late 19th Century Swansea folly known as the 'Temple of the Winds'. Originally, the dome rested upon four slender marble columns and surrounded a central ceramic feature. The building fell into quick disrepair and the west side of the temple was filled in during the late 1930's. During this time a wooden seat was added to the structure. The two remaining pillars were filled in during the early 1990's, leaving only the east site of the temple open. At this time, the seat was also removed. Part of the original ceramic feature is now mounted on the back wall of the building.

Cable and Phone Boxes, Townhill

Another Lost Glove, Mayhill

I do not know what is going on but I must walk past at least two lost gloves on the streets of Swansea every day. Here is the latest one, which I found here on a roundabout in Mayhill:

Lost Glove, Clase