The Shoulder of Mutton Pub, High Street

High Street Graffiti by Photini Matsi

After what might be decades of neglect, High Street Swansea is finally emerging from its chequered history in a blaze of colour. After the opening of the marvellously designed 'Creative Cluster', the latest eye-catching to blossom on the once very troubled street is this gloriously graffiti building, designed by the artist Photoni Matsi. It is an incredible and awe-inspiring site and a timely reminder that whilst more and more shops are closing in the city centre, other areas of the city are trully blossoming:

The piece was created as part of the arts project Station to Station. They tweeted about it with the words "Las year you asked for more colour on Swansea High Street, this spring we are delivering it!"

Sundog Over Caersalem Newydd Chapel

I am not usually too alert on my way in to work in the mornings. But I was lucky enough to spot this fairly rare Sun Dog whilst stuck at the traffic light outside Caersalem Newydd Chapel this morning. Lovely little thing ain't it.

Books For Free

The charity 'Healthy Planet' have a great free bookshop down on the Kingsway. The company operates by saving books no longer needed by libraries and other charity shops and offers them back to the reading public for free. They also accept donations.

The books are mostly in great readable conditions and you can find a wide variety of reading subject here from various decades. Run by volunteer staff, the opening times are a bit hit and miss, but the place is definitely worth checking out. You might be surprised just what you might find in there.

A Brisk Dusky Stroll

After fortifying myself with a Verdis' sundae, I took a brisk, dusky, stroll around the Mumbles prom. Despite the sun having already set, evening colours were gorgeous and the clouds quite amazing. I also had an encounter with a very friendly robin and met an even more social cat down on the seafront. A great walk, up there with the best of 2016 so far:

Seagulls decorating a beautiful cloud-painted sky over Swansea Bay

Mumbles Pier

A very friendly Robin

Swansea Pier

Swansea Promenade at dusk

Swansea Bay

Fishing along the  Mumbles Promenade

Ending the evening's walk with a cwtch with a
very social cat along the seafront

A Verdi's Raspberry Sundae

I had a delicious raspberry sundae down in Verdis this evening. An utterly divine experience. The place was packed with cusomers, but I still managed to snag a window table overlooking Swansea Bay. Highly, highly recommended.

Eden Closes in City Centre

It is sad seeing so many shops in the City Centre continuing to close. Where are things going to improve here?

Noah's Yard

I am always fascinated by the signage above Noah's Yard, located in the Uplands area of Swansea. The bar has a rather interesting habit of using its front signage area to relay messages to passers by. All sorts of statements can be found on display there - this being probably the most newsworthy to date. Today, I was rather hoping to see some mention of the current furore surrounding David Cameron's hypocritical tax concerns, but no, the signage read:

Mmm? I have to admit being intrigued by this announcement.  Luckily, via the internet, I was able to deduce the bit of local gossip that lay behind these words. I won't be repeating the tale here though sorry.

Singleton Park's Swiss Cottage

If 2 Somerset Place is my favourite building, then the Swiss Cottage in Singleton Park has to a close runner up. Designed by architect Peter Frederick Robinson, who also designed Sketty Hall, the building is Grade II listed was built in 1826 and is a real feast on the eyes.

Half ruined in a fire in 2010, its major refurbishment really has to be commended and today it looks better than I have ever seen it.

‘Lebe so dass du wieder leben magst’ - translates as
Live that you may live again

Currently owned by Swansea Council, due to financial restraints inflicted by the evil Tories, the building is up up for either Let or Sale. Hopefully, its new owner, whoever eventually takes it on, will re-open the small coffee shop that used to operate from the house...

Swansea's Gorsedd Stone Circle

Set in the grounds of Singleton Park, near its Sketty entrance, can be found an interesting Stone Circle. The circle, however, is not a prehistoric monument but a Gorsedd Stone Circle. It was erected here on July 2nd 1925 for the National Eisteddfod of Wales' Proclamation Ceremony. The circle was later enlarged for the Eisteddfod's revisit to Swansea in 1964 to allow more people to participate in the ceremony.

The Gorsedd is the organising body of The National Eisteddfod of Wales - a druid-influenced celebration of Welsh culture and art. When the Eisteddfod visits a locale, it is traditional for a stone circle to be built if there is not one already in existence on the site. Gorsedd Stone Circles are important icons of the National Eisteddfod of Wales. Not only do they stand as monuments to previous visits of the Eisteddfod, but they are also important features used for ceremonies by the organisation. It is within these circles that future Eisteddfod's are announced (traditionally a year and one day prior to the opening of the event). These Proclamation Ceremonies are lead by the Archdruid of the Gorsedd of Bards. It can often be disappointing when it is discovered that a well-loved stone circle is not as ancient a monument as it may at first appear. Yet the reverence in which such later formations were built and their importance to the ceremonies that were held within them should always be remembered.

Singleton Park Ruins

This in an interesting ruin. It can found in Singeton Park, near to where it joins Swansea University. I haven't been able to find any history of the place yet but I am guessing that maybe it is a folly. Still, it is a fascinating feature and, hidden away in a less visited part of the park, is a real treat to stumble upon and explore