How I spent my holidays ...

Went to visit family in Swansea over 'the Twelfth' and we took a walk out to the Pier at Mumbles, which opened in 1898 and was a popular destination for holidaymakers. They arrived by train from Swansea in their thousands, band and choral concerts were provided for entertainment. The Pier was used regulary by paddle steamers and later screw driven vessels; there were sailings to Ilfracombe, Lundy Island and Gower coast cruises.

‘MUMBLES, a rather nice village, despite its name, right on the edge of the sea’ said Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas. Apparently, the name 'Mumbles' comes from the French word for 'Breasts'!! - I'm not sure which word that is because the only one I know is seins.

The name Mumbles is probably derived from the French word mamelles, meaning "breasts", which the two islets at the end of the Mumbles headland resemble. Strictly speaking mamelles means nipples or teats, which aren't quite the same as breasts.

The Mumbles Lifeboat House (seen in the background) was built in 1922 and still houses the present Tyne class boat - today the Lifeboat is launched from a Slipway built alongside the pier in 1916.

These are not the Mumbles' breasts mentioned above but belong to a mermaid supporting the balcony of a local hostellery known as 'The Mermaid' which was a former pub and haunt of Dylan Thomas. It was until recently a fired-out shell but has now re-opened as a restaurant.

Sadly we did not experience the same weather as blueboat of Belfast Daily Photo