Last week was the start of the festival season in and around Wales and I could not have witnessed two more diverse events only 50 miles or so apart.
Remember that I’m writing this in the knowledge that, although Dylan spoke only English, (more…)
Bob Zimmerman, Dylan and John Lennon – what’s in a name?
Oh dear – I’ve just offended an American!
I stumbled across a blog called the Ten Minute Ramble with some videos of Bob Dylan and just pointed out that he took his name from our own Dylan.
If I did! (more…)
Which way would Dylan have voted?
Dylan had a youthful interest in left wing politics and attended a rally at the old Plaza Cinema (what a place – huge! I remember watching Gandhi – the film! – there in a packed cinema) with his communist grocer friend Bert Trick (strangely our next door neighbour at Number 5 is called Robert Trick although I’m pretty sure that he is not a communist!). The story is that they got ejected.
I don’t know what Dylan would have made of modern elections but I’m sure he would have plenty of comments about candidates strutting their stuff over the past four weeks.
Volcanic ash – making a crisis out of a puff of smoke?
Yesterday we arrived home from an extended holiday in Spain – thanks to the fallout (or should it be “fallouts”?) from the Icelandic volcano eruption our stay was extended from seven to fourteen days.
Most people who I’ve spoken to today congratulated us on our good fortune – an extra week they exclaimed – none realised that we were away for a week longer from our businesses at a crucial time of the year. (more…)
Next big children’s author from Swansea
I came across an hilarious book today – Gastronimus and the Legend of Mr Grrrumblebum (3 x Rs!) and also learned that the author Charlie Duncan was brought up in Swansea not two miles from Number 5.
Charlie’s story is aimed at eight to eleven year olds which is great because it brought out the kid in me. (more…)
Under 30? Written any published work? Want £30,000?
CALL FOR ENTRIES FOR £30,000 DYLAN THOMAS PRIZE
The world’s biggest literary prize for young writers
Entries are invited each year for the world’s biggest literary award for young writers – the £30,000 ($45,000) Dylan Thomas Prize – which will be awarded for the best published work in the English language by an author under the age of 30 from any country in the world.
Easter events – which one would Dylan choose?
Easter always seems a bit on a non event as a Bank Holiday weekend. The promised sun never seems to materialise and this year it was rain and cold winds to make it feel more like December.
While the beaches and attractions suffered we were ones to gain with a steady flow of house tours. I got me wondering which of the events of the weekend would Dylan have chosen? (more…)
Big Charabanc, little car
We’ve developed our tours and walks with the emphasis on the ambulant. Not that you need to be an Olympic athlete but Swansea, hilly as it is, inevitably means there’s a climb involved.
Our latest project has been to design a day long visit for an elderly group of literature lovers. (more…)
Good local food – try Vincent’s
Eating out can sometimes be a bit of a gamble but we’d heard such good reports of Vincent’s in Eversley Road, Sketty that we sent John, Eric and Lorraine there last week – they were not disappointed so when Ian Griffiths and Carol came over from Suffolk we decided to put our money where our mouth was and give it a try. (more…)
Youtube video captures spirit of Number 5
Join Dylan for breakfast
“…the most inspirational house in Wales…”
Leading European writer Eric Verdonck and his Welsh guide John Wake stayed at Number 5 during Eric’s visit to research a book about Wales.
John’s video is accompanied by evocative music from the group Osian whose lead singer Lorraine King joined them on part of their stay.
Dylan Thomas Birthplace / Family Home 5 Cwmdonkin Drive, Swansea, Wales, UK 