Newsletter No.48

July 25th 2005

by Mike Caluan

Welcome to the July edition of the Expats newsletter ...

We're easy to please here in South Wales... give us a little heatwave and we're happy! We've had just enough sunshine for the natives to start reminiscing about the famous summer of '76 and for the populous to begin worrying about a hosepipe ban. Yes you've guessed it; we've had just over two weeks in the company of the golden globe.

It's been glorious! It's even given me the chance to enjoy using my 1961 Lambretta without fear of getting drenched. It's been great fun. Let's face it, as most of you expats know, everyone feels better with the touch of the sun on your back. The sensation just lifts the spirits and fills you to your boots with the feelgood factor.

I often wonder what it would be like to live in foreign climes; in fact northern Italy has taken my fancy on more than one occasion. This emotion usually comes over me on dark December nights when winter has its grasp on our fair land and all at once summer feels an age away and a distant memory.

Oh you lucky expats, one day soon I'll take the plunge and join your ranks!

So without further ado here's the latest news from in and around your old backyard.

This month - How the sands at Barry Island still woo the sun seekers and the old town centre of Llanelli gets a facelift.

Also, if you fancy buying a part of Wales, land in Snowdonia is up for grabs and work has started to breathe new life in to one of Swansea's star attractions...

I've had an increasing number of expats and persons of Welsh descent contacting me requesting help in finding relatives... so I've put together a little article and some links that will hopefully help all you budding genealogists out there find what you're looking for.

On a what's on theme... a new company of acclaimed Welsh artists, calling themselves Faction Theatre, are brewing up a storm in Toronto, Canada. As part of the prestigious SummerWorks festival they will be performing the premiere of The War Is Dead Long Live The War at Theatre Passe Murialle from the 4th - 14th of August. It promises to powerful piece of contemporary drama!

And finally, Can anyone out there help a fellow expat? Bryan Owen, who is based in Muscat, is looking for two editions of Rugby Annual, a yearly magazine printed by Welsh Brewers (1973-1974 and 1976-1977).

He's hoping someone can help or advise him to where he can get hold of the two above editions. His e-mail is - bryan_owen@yahoo.co.uk

So until next month take care and enjoy the Expats newsletter.

Don't forget to check out the Expats Changing Wales and Expats Nostalgia sections for regular updates on what's going on.

Keep those articles and stories coming in, let me know what you've been getting up to. You can send them to me at mike.caluan@wme.co.uk

Pob lwc

Mike

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Barry Island still woo the sun seekers
Llanelli gets a facelift.
land in Snowdonia
Swansea's star attractions
Finding relatives