Lots to amuse at pier

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, October 1, 2011, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.
 

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Lots to amuse at pier

A big day out!

RICHARD THOMAS heads to …

Mumbles Pier in Swansea.

WHY?

One of Wales’ last Victorian piers, Mumbles Pier offers visitors some of the most spectacular views of natural beauty in Wales. From the iconic walkway you can see the breathtaking scenery of Mumbles Bay, Mumbles Lighthouse and Port Talbot.

QUIRKY HISTORY?

Mumbles began its status as a popular tourist haunt when Mumbles Pier, designed by W. Sutcliffe Marsh and promoted by John Jones Jenkins of the Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway, first opened on May 10, 1898. Stretching 225 meters out into Mumbles Bay, the Victorian built pier was once the only way to visit Swansea in style. The White Funnel paddle steamers of the Bristol-based P & A Campbell Ltd company would dock on the end of the pier unloading tourists who would then make their journey via the Swansea and Mumbles Railway: the world’s first passenger railway.

Despite its happy history, however, there is a ghost story linked to the popular Victorian attraction. The figure of a young woman wearing a long white dress and what looks like a scarf or shawl wrapped around her face has been seen walking on the pier late at night after the pier closes. This apparition allegedly disappearing before startled onlookers can ask her who she is, or, what she is doing there.

WHAT TO TAKE?

There is a small charge of 50p to enter Mumbles Pier itself. Food and drink are available in the pier’s café and pub.

LOOK OUT FOR?

Although in recent years the pier has fallen into a state of disrepair with a large section fenced off to the public, the bustling holiday magnet still has lots to offer visitors. In the amusements arcade you can try your luck at the slot machines while the children play all the latest video games. There’s also ten pen bowling and an array of prizes to be won on the cranes.

WHEN TO GO?

Mumbles Pier is open seven days a week between 9am to 8pm. On Sunday October 30 between 2pm and 6pm there will be a special Halloween party at the pier where they’ll be a disco, apple bobbing, face painting, magic show and BBQ. The highlight of the event will be a fancy dress competition with a special prize for the best dressed family. To take part in the fun only costs adults £1 and kids can join in for free. The organisers of the event have setup a Facebook page which you can find by searching for Halloween Haunted House kid`s party!!!

TELL ME MORE

Mumbles Pier is situated in Mumbles five miles from the centre of Swansea. Their address and postcode is: Amusement Equipment Co Ltd, Old Lifeboat Cottage, Mumbles Road, Mumbles, Swansea, SA3 4EN. For more information you can call on 01792 365220 or go to www.mumbles-pier.co.uk.

Gateway close to home

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, September 24, 2011, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.

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Gateway close to home

A big day out!

RICHARD THOMAS heads to … Gower.

WHY?
The Gower Peninsula is an area of immense unspoilt natural beauty unparalleled in South Wales. Home to some of world’s best coastal scenery, the Gower had the honour of being the first part of Britain to be designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which means you will not find high-rise hotels or neon-lit beach bars spoiling what the writer Wynford Vaughan Thomas called: “a secret that people hug to themselves.”
WHAT’S THE BUZZ?
The Gower is home to some of Britain’s best beaches. These include neat Caswell, tiny Bracelet, and the stunning Three Cliffs Bay, with its odd tidal pools. But most families will often choose sturdy Langland. The picture-perfect bay with its beach huts, rock pools and cliff path walks is ideal for beach goers of all ages.
A stroll along the cliff tops almost anywhere in the peninsula will take your breath away. The most spectacular is the walk from the cliff tops of Rhossili out along the promontory known as Worm’s Head.
But Gower isn't all about the world class beaches, there are a wide range of activities to enjoy down Gower too. The Gower’s ancient churches host a series of intimate music events, which feature the Swansea Bach Choir and the Prince of Wales’s personal harpist, Claire Jones.
At Gower you can also enjoy sailing round the coast with Gower Coast Adventures, departing from either Port Eynon or Mumbles. The purpose-built jet boat can manoeuvre safely in shallow waters, so you can get close to secluded bays and local wildlife. On the voyage you can see animals ranging from gannets and shearwaters to seals and porpoises.
Afterwards you can have dinner at Welcome to Town in Llanrhidian. Master chef Ian Bennett specialises in local produce. Items on the menu include hand-dived scallops, tian of dressed crab, and lobsters and crabs fresh from Oxwich bay.
ANY HISTORY?
The Gower is also rich in myth and history. Arthur’s Stone is just a short walk away from Cefn Bryn Common. The 25-ton capstone roofs a Neolithic burial chamber, long ago emptied by relic hunters. Legend has it that the stone is a pebble that King Arthur removed from his boot on his way to his last battle at Camlann in 539 CE. From this point you have a 360-degree view of the Gower, from the salt marshes to the north to the Southern bays.
WHAT TO TAKE?
There are lots of other hotels and restaurants to choose from. On the common in Reynoldston is the King Arthur Hotel, which is everything a country pub should be. The King Arthur is renowned for traditional ales and delicious home-cooked food, suited to all tastes. On their specials board you can chose from seasonal game, Welsh black beef, locally caught fish, as well as vegetarian options. All are served in their restaurant, family room, main bar and at outdoor tables on the green. You can also sample local Welsh brew or any of their range of beers, fine wines or spirits
WHEN TO GO?
The Gower is only five miles from Swansea city centre and buses from Swansea regularly run passengers to and all over the Gower. First Cymru, the region's largest bus operating company, even run an open top bus service between Swansea city centre and Bracelet Bay.
TELL ME MORE
For more information visit www.swansea.gov.uk/aonb.

Take a tour of castle

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, September 17, 2011, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.

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Take a tour of castle

A big day out!

RICHARD THOMAS heads to …

Oystermouth Castle in Swansea.

WHY?
The Norman stone castle overlooking the Mumbles reopened in July with a fantastic event which included falconry displays and medieval themed shows. This month the Friends of Oystermouth Castle will be holding photographic exhibitions at the castle where visitors can see photographs of the battlement over the years by local photographers.
QUIRKY HISTORY?
Oystermouth Castle was built around 1100 by William de Londres and later rebuilt in the 13th century by the infamous de Breos family, after being burnt down by the Welsh twice. Like a lot of buildings with a long and violent history there is a ghost story attached to the castle. Known as The White Lady of Oystermouth Castle, this apparition of a woman dressed all in white has been experienced many times by visitors to the battlement. The White Lady is usually seen weeping, with the back of her dress ripped away and a series of bloody welts on her back. The woman then abruptly vanishes before confused onlookers can offer her any assistance. Reports of the woman in white go back centuries, leading some paranormal investigators to believe she might have died after being tortured on the medieval whipping post which still stands in the castle’s dungeon.
WHAT TO TAKE?
There is a small charge for admission into the castle to help towards conservation work currently underway at the site. Their admission prices are:
Adult: £1
Concession: 80p
PTL: 60p
Children under five go for free. There are currently no credit/debit card facilities on the castle site, though, so don’t forget to bring cash. Also, make sure you wear suitable footwear for the uneven terrain.
LOOK OUT FOR?
In July a new 30-foot-high glass bridge opened allowing access to the part of the castle called Alina's Chapel for the first time in hundreds of years. The chapel was added to the castle in the 14th century and marks the attraction’s highest medieval point.
WHEN TO GO?
The castle will be open daily between 11am and 5pm until 30 September. Last admissions are 30 minutes before closing. Next weekend (24 and 25 September) there is a special Medieval Costume Weekend with Ostreme Theatre Players, where you'll be able to wander around the castle and catch a glimpse of 14th century characters like Lady Alina and her father William de Breos.
WHERE TO GO?
Oystermouth Castle is located in a beautiful location on the hill in Mumbles overlooking Swansea Bay. Follow the A4067 into Mumbles and then turn right up Newton Road at the mini-roundabout by the White Rose. The castle is halfway up Newton Road on the right hand side. For sat nav users the castle’s postcode is SA3 5TA.
CONTACT DETAILS?
For further information contact Oystermouth Castle Community Officer Erika Kluge on 01792 635075 or visit www.swansea.gov.uk/oystermouthcastle.

Heaven and Hell with Amanda Jones - Deputy Headteacher at Clase Primery School

Below is a "Heaven and Hell" feature I did with the Deputy Headteacher Amanda Jones for the Saturday, September 3, 2011, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.

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Heaven and Hell 
  

   
Deputy Headteacher AMANDA JONES at Clase Primery School tells us about her holiday highs and lows.
 
What was your best holiday?
"My best holiday was in Kenya, the Samburu District. It was more of a working holiday as I helped to do a few things for the communities there. I was on a project called Operation Raleigh which involved me helping to build a pharmacy and a school in two small villages. I also taught in some schools and that is where I decided that I wanted to be a teacher. I loved being with the children.”
   

What was your worst holiday?
"My worst holiday was when I went to Albufeira in Portugal. It was full of crammed holiday resorts, many being constructed and it was quite noisy! I missed the opportunity at the time to go on the beach and swim in the water and I don’t think I would go back there either. However there are some wonderful places else where I would like to go in Portugal as I know it is steeped in history and has beautiful villages to visit!”
  

What was your most memorable holiday moment?
“My most memorable holiday moment was dancing in a ditch with lots of school children, singing! The ditch was the foundations for their school and I was helping to build it. I can’t remember the name of the village but I think it was about 20 miles outside Maralal in the Samburu District of Kenya. It was one of the projects I was working on when I went on Operation Raleigh.”

What was the best experience in a hotel you have had?
"My best experience in a hotel was lying in bed in a wooden hut in an exclusive resort in Kenya feeling sleepy but the view was so incredible that I tried really hard to stay awake. The resort was called Lake Baringo Island Camp and it was right in the middle of a lake. I had spent some time at the lake logging animals that we could find and analysing water samples back at the lab on the banks of the lake. There were hippos there and we took turns to watch out through the night. It was really hard work, physically and mentally, and we worked long hours. Afterwards the hotel owners invited us to stay and use their facilities, we ate like kings with fresh food that they kindly provided for us and I slept in a beautiful bed for the first time in weeks instead of a sleeping bag on the floor.”
  

What is your fantasty holiday?
"My fantasy holiday is going to the mountains of the Himalayas - walking to base camp Everest and maybe doing some voluntary work in schools along the way. I would like to voluntarily teach the children in the villages at the bottom of Everest. I would also like to work in a hospital of some kind looking after sick children, or maybe an orphanage.” 

My school photo with Karate instructor Tracy Thomas

Below is a "School Photo" feature I did with Karate instructor Tracy Thomas for the Friday, September 9, 2011, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.

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My school photo

Karate instructor and Second Dan Black Belt, TRACY THOMAS, who teaches at Kenshin Karate Club in Morriston tells us about her school days.

“I went to Cwmrhydeiceirw Infant school and then Clase Junior School. When I left to go to Secondary school I went to Mynyddbach Comprehensive School for girls.
When I was in the infant school I was a bit of a Tomboy. I liked to play in the water, generally splashing the other children and tipping water from one container to the other. I look back now and think where is the fun in that!”
“My favourite teacher was Mrs Williams. She had thick curly fair hair and glasses and was really caring towards me, she gave me cuddles and hugs all the time and I saw her as my second mum. I was a bit naughty in school on times and I remember once kicking a football in class on my last day of school in the infants. The classroom had been newly painted and I left a great big muddy patch on the shining white ceiling. I certainly left my mark on that school!”
“When I went to Junior school my favourite teacher was Mr. Uren. It had to be really because he was the only teacher I had. It was really unusual to have the same teacher for three years on the trot and unlucky for him I was in it!”
“I hated school dinners and was the only child who came home at lunch time. One time my Mum said I could stay home if I wanted and of course I took her up on this magical moment. I used my time to go and talk to the lolly pop lady. She was a really kind person and I loved to listen to her stories. She was kind of like my third Mum. However, it was doomed from the start and I got caught loitering by my teacher. In shock I ran and leapt over a wall crouched down and hid until he had passed. This didn’t go unnoticed of course and I had a row the next day.”
“My favourite subject has always been PE. My teacher used to give us the lesson plans for the week and put them on the board. We always knew what was coming up next. Friday afternoon was timetabled for PE and I loved it. I looked forward to that time of the week, however, I was usually held back from the lesson for not finishing my work plan.
When I went to secondary School I was in all the top sets for all the subjects. Of course,
PE was still my favourite and my teachers names were Mrs Lindenberg and Mrs Cuthbert. They both encouraged me to run for the school in sprints and relays. To this day I love running and run regularly four times a week. At lunchtimes they used to let me use the gym. I was always in there either playing tennis, badminton, or practising the high jump. I loved the ropes on the high bars and loved the challenge of climbing them, touching the top bar and shining back down.”
“When I was a young girl I wanted to do Kung Fu, but my mother always said it was a sport for boys and I wasn’t allowed. When my daughter was 11 years old I took her to karate lessons. I was determined that she was going to have every opportunity that I had missed. I used to watch her training and would be on the edge of my seat desperate to join in. An opportunity arose when Peter Jones set up a club called Kenshin Karate Club in the Sacred Heart Centre in Morriston. Twelve years on I am now still at the club and supporting Peter as an assistant coach. I am a Second Dan Black Belt and I also run a female adult class on a Thursday evening from 6-7pm. Karate is my passion. It gives me confidence, respect and is a great tool for stress relief. The club has many members who gel well together and welcome new students. It is like my extended family and I couldn’t live my life without it.”
 
Kenshin Karate Club can be found in the Sacred Heart Centre, School Road, Morriston, Swansea, SA6 6HZ. Phone 01792 323477 or visit www.kenshinkarate.co.uk for more information.

Family fun at city farm

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, September 3, 2011, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.
 

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Family fun at city farm

A big day out!

RICHARD THOMAS heads to …

Swansea Community Farm in Fforestfach.

WHY?

With the school holidays about to begin, what better way to start enjoying the long summer break than with a trip to Wales’ only city farm.
WHAT’S THE BUZZ?
Swansea Community Farm in Fforestfach, Swansea is a community-led farm run by local people for the benefit of the wider community. The farm provides a fun location where people of all ages can learn about the environment, organic gardening and animal care. Activities held on the 3.5 acre site are run in a way that minimises any negative impact on the environment whilst helping to enhance local biodiversity and encourage nature conservation.
ANY HISTORY?
The farm was conceived in 1992 but it wasn’t until 1998 that a suitable site was found for the city farm. The registered charity was setup to provide opportunities for local volunteers to develop new skills running the farm and to teach visitors about the environment. Volunteers of all ages and abilities have been instrumental in all stages of the farm’s development from the start: setting up a management committee, consulting with the community, planning the site layout and building site structures.
The farm has benefited from substantial development in recent years. In 2004 the front of site was landscaped to make the entrance more attractive, and in 2006 the workshop and animal house was built. The arrival of the first animals to the farm also brought a new interest from adults and children wanting to work with animals in a farm setting. Soon after a raised bed garden was constructed to provide opportunities for volunteers with mobility constraints to participate in farm activities. By the end of 2006 an apiary was constructed under the guidance of The West Glamorgan Beekeepers Association who also provided training for volunteers interested in learning about beekeeping.
The farm now opens six days a week and have 200 child and youth members, 155 adult volunteers, over 50 animals, 10 trustees and nine members of staff.
WHAT TO TAKE?
The farm depends on membership and donations. A years membership only costs £5. Bring a packed lunch with you and don’t forget to bring your camera.
LOOK OUT FOR?
The 3.5 acre site consists of an office, workshop, animal house, cafe, wildlife pond, duck pond, allotments, orchard, apiary, paddocks, adventure play area, fire pit, compost demonstration area, raised beds, and picnic space. There’s also over 50 different animals to see, including sheep, pigs, chickens, rabbits and ducks.
WHEN TO GO?
The Farm is open six days a week: Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm.
TELL ME MORE
Their address is: 2 Pontarddulais Road, Fforestfach, Swansea, SA5 4BA. You can phone on 01792 578384 or visit their website at www.swanseacommunityufarm.org.uk.

Glasshouse is still hot

Below is my “Big Day Out” column from the Saturday, September 10, 2011, Swansea edition of the South Wales Evening Post.

 
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Glasshouse is still hot

A big day out!

RICHARD THOMAS heads to …

Plantasia in Swansea.

WHY?
A superb all weather attraction in the heart of Swansea, Plantasia houses a huge variety of unusual animals and exotic plants, some of which are extinct in the wild. In October Plantasia are holding two special Halloween themed events, Animal Antics: Spooky Animals and Halloween Spooky Night.
WHAT’S THE BUZZ?
The tropical paradise is housed inside a unique glass pyramid and is just bursting with plants and wildlife. The hothouse contains three climate zones: Tropical with a rainforest, Arid and Humid. The collection includes over 5,000 plants ranging from banana plants, giant bamboo, coconuts and collections of ferns and cacti. Along with the plants there are several species of fish, exotic insects and other animals to see. These include piranhas, a bearded dragon, a chameleon, tarantulas, snakes and even tamarin monkeys. In the butterfly house butterflies can be seen flying freely and viewed at various stages of development.
ANY HISTORY?
Plantasia opened in 1990. In recent years the hothouse has been used as a filming location for two Doctor Who episodes, The Doctor's Daughter and Cold Blood.
WHAT TO TAKE?
There is an admission charge into Plantasia of £3.35 for adults and £2.35 for children. Under 3’s visit for free. Family tickets and annual membership are also available. There is no charge, however, to just sit back and relax in their coffee shop or browse through their fantastic gift shop while others enjoy the exotic plants and animals. Afterwards, you can all enjoy a Joe’s ice cream or fresh donates sold in the stores by the Plantasia entrance.
LOOK OUT FOR?
If you visit during the school holidays there’s usually something extra to entertain the children including treasure trails and interactive animal handling shows. In August Plantasia was visited by the hugely popular Rainforest Roadshow hosted by naturalists David Shaw and his wife Sue. At this special event children had the chance to meet scorpions and stick insects, see a genuine blowpipe, and learn how tribal people hunt and what they eat. The Rainforest Roadshow will be returning to Plantasia next year.
In October there are two other holiday events to look forward too at Plantasia. On October 25, 26 and 27 there’s Animal Antics: Spooky Animals, a special talk where young explorers can get hands on with spooky animals like spiders and other creepy crawlies. Then on October 30 and 31 there’s Halloween Spooky Night when Plantasia opens its doors after dark and lets children dressed in Halloween costumes take part in a ghost trail and explore the depths of the hothouse at night! Both of these events are very popular so pre-booking is essential.
WHEN TO GO?
They are open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm. Last admissions at 4.15pm.
TELL ME MORE
Plantasia is located in the Parc Tawe retail park. For sat nav users their address and postcode is: Plantasia, Parc Tawe, Swansea, SA1 2AL. To book phone 01792 47455 or for more information visit www.plantasia.org.