Hello
Hello, I’m Mike. I was born in Carmarthen in south-west Wales http://www.carmarthen.biz/" >http://www.carmarthen.biz/ Carmarthen is the county town of Carmarthenshire and the oldest town in Wales, dating back to Roman times and I am rather proud of it. It is a predominantly Welsh town (There are English parts of Wales and Welsh parts of Wales). Today it boasts one of the most eclectic and “interesting” collections of residents and visitors, from traditional farmers (it is also a farmer’s town), through hippies living in tepees, market traders, to self-styled mystics and New Agers and goodness knows what. That is why I like it, because it reminds me of my childhood as well as showing me a tapestry of modern (post-modern?) life to watch, enjoy and learn from. When life gets too much I will have a “Carmarthen day”, always on a market day when it is busy and all sorts of conversations and adventures are possible. People watching in Nott Square, picking up a bargain in the market, listening to farmers and their talkative wives over a pint in the pub and finally a good feast of faggots (yes we eat them in my part of the world), peas and chips.
My growing up years were spent in Cydweli (or Kidwelly if you want the anglicised version) http://www.kidwelly.gov.uk/content/menu.htm" >http://www.kidwelly.gov.uk/content/menu.htm. Cydweli is a magical place with a long and romantic history of kings and queens, battles, ghosts, a wonderful castle, myths and legends and connections with Dylan Thomas’s Under Milk Wood. My memories are of cricket and carnivals, rugby and religion, a Saturday and after school job at a local grocers, castle dances, tramping through the fields in endless summers, fishing, and helping farmers at harvest time for a couple of shillings and stronger cider than I had any business drinking at that age.
I now live in Swansea, the second city of Wales http://www.visitswanseabay.com/default/" >http://www.visitswanseabay.com/default/, and gateway to the beautiful Gower Peninsula http://www.explore-gower.co.uk/" >http://www.explore-gower.co.uk/. Swansea is known as the graveyard of ambition based on the saying “I came for a day and stayed for life”. Swansea is a coastal town with connections to Vikings (Swayne’s Eye), is the birthplace of Dylan Thomas (Oh as I was young and easy in the mercy of his means time held me green and dying though I sang in my chains like the sea) http://www.dylanthomas.com/" >http://www.dylanthomas.com/.
I am married to Ann, have four children, three grandchildren, a Yorkie dog and a laptop. I am, along with Ann, a director of a Christian charity called Reachout Trust http://www.reachouttrust.org/" >http://www.reachouttrust.org/. I have co-authored a book on Mormonism with my wife – Mormonism, a Gold-Plated religion, drawing on our experience as Mormons in the 1970s and 80s, a book on Christian apologetics with two friends – Should Christians Apologise?, a study of the Mormon missionary lessons – Mormon Teaching Notes, and have written hundreds of articles and commentaries mainly for the Reachout Trust but also for other periodicals and ministries.
I am interested in writing – words fascinate me (did you know the word “gullible” is not in the dictionary?), books (I own too many – I am told…), music (keep it live. Swansea is an excellent place for live music), a good-natured argument, good company (I don’t do small talk very well), painting, history, crime thrillers. My favourite season is autumn, my favourite natural phenomenon is clouds, my favourite place is Carmarthen. I am a Christian and know Jesus is Lord and I go to a Baptist Church in Swansea http://www.townhill.org.uk/" >http://www.townhill.org.uk/. I am also a romantic and sometimes wish fairies were real (guess which is my favourite Shakespeare story). I wish I were Henry V but am probably more like Hamlet – or even Bottom.
“Good company on the road is the shortest cut” Italian proverb
“We have enough masterpieces, what we need is a better standard of ordinariness” CS Lewis
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| Conversation Title | Latest Post | Latest Reply |
|---|---|---|
| I'm back | No Posting | Oct 27, 2011 |
| Happy Birthday | No Posting | Apr 29, 2010 |
| Ormondroyd hits the half-century | No Posting | Mar 18, 2010 |
| The ghost of Ormondroyd past | No Posting | Jan 3, 2010 |
| Happy Christmas | No Posting | Jun 3, 2009 |
MikeTea
Researcher U1251242
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